NORTH KINGSTOWN SCHOOL COMMITTEE

Monday, May 6, 2002 7:00 PM

Worksession on Reconfiguration of Schools

Central Administration Building 100 Fairway Drive, North Kingstown

“Challenging Student Excellence”

Minutes

I. Pledge of Allegiance

I. Call To Order The meeting was called to order at 7:04 PM.

Roll Call Present: Chairperson Lynne Haft, Vice Chairperson Karin L. Forbes, Dr. Denise Coppa (present at 7:42 pm), Carol H. Hueston, Michael R. Northup and Patricia E. Watkins

Absent: Dr. Janice DeFrances and Cathy Kaiser, Jamestown School Committee

Administration Present: James M. Halley, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools, Barbara A. Fitzsimmons, Ed.D., Curriculum Director, Joseph F. Quinn, Jr., Director of Administrative Services, William J. Daly, Director of Human Resources and Maureen Buck, Controller

Absent: Daniel J. McGregor, Ph.D., Director of Pupil Personnel Services

II. Correspondence

· Carol Hueston received three letters from Davisville Elementary regarding overcrowding and possible solutions.

· Pat Watkins received letters regarding reconfiguration and telephone calls from staff members at Davisville Elementary about recent occurrences that they’re uncomfortable with.

· Lynne Haft read the following letter from the staff at Davisville Elementary School:

We have been hearing a lot about “Reconfiguration” and “School Pairing”, but we are hearing much less about “Equity” in a positive sense. As we look around at these meetings we come together to stand up for what we believe in. We need to make our school district equal. Each and every elementary school in North Kingstown needs to receive equal respect, equal dignity and equal services. There is no reason why one school should receive more than another school nor should one school be divided when there are other options. We should come to these meetings to work together, as a United School Community. United is a word we hear a lot of now days, let’s use it and believe in it. We need to start being concerned about OUR students’ education and OUR children of the future.

Many of us are worried about a change. We need to come up with a plan that will solve OUR problem for all students. It is not just the Davisville Community; it is every single elementary school in North Kingstown that someday may be overcrowded. We believe in looking out for what’s best for the children in the North Kingstown School District. To achieve this we need to make our schools equal, beginning with equal space.

If we are going to be EQUAL then we need to start now, make every single elementary school equal – equal classrooms, equal services and equal space. We are a community and we can make it happen. Let’s work towards equity for all students in North Kingstown.

I ask that you please keep this in mind as you make the best decision for ALL the students in the North Kingstown School District.

Remember- “An Equal Opportunity for ALL Students”

“Challenging Student Education” – We cannot challenge student education if we do not have ADEQUATE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS.

· Dr. Halley received a notice of the Town Wide Grade 5 Track Meet that will be held on May 30 at the NKHS Track, information from the Planning Department via April Brunelle regarding Slocum Woods and its progress, a letter from the General Assembly regarding a program for assistance with special education programs and a letter from SchoolMatch congratulating the North Kingstown School District on being selected for the 2002 Eleventh Annual School System WHAT PARENTS WANT AWARD.

III. Reconfiguration of Schools clock counter (cc) 608

The following memorandum was provided by Mr. Quinn, Director of Administrative Services on the topic of portable classrooms/trailers.

In order to place portable classrooms to support the temporary movement of students ranging from 50 to 75 many issues have to have to be considered. Some of these issues are:

§ Title One Schools may use Title One monies for equipment only where there is a direct connection between the equipment being purchased and the students utilizing the equipment. Portable classrooms would be considered equipment and if used by students would meet the requirements but generally is not favored as Title One Funds are primarily intended to provide or enhance services.

§ Housing Aid eligibility would not exist as the School Department is not at or over capacity. Another alternative to trailers exists, that is redistricting. Housing Aid is when the Town would receive 30% reimbursement the year after expenditure. Because we are not at capacity we would not be eligible for such reimbursement.

Portable classrooms must be at least fifteen feet from the building proper yet connected via corridor to provide bathroom facilities. Such a building must be connected to the fire alarm system, be ADA compliant and would require a new electrical service.

A minimum of a three-year lease would be necessary at approximately $100,000 per year. This price includes classroom and corridors. An additional estimate the first year of $25,000 would be required to provide the necessary power, fire alarm connection, telephone and computer connections.

Even if portable classrooms were placed at Davisville Elementary there would be, at best, a severe strain on that building’s core facilities including the playground area.

The 2002-03 Budget has no monies allocated for portable classrooms.

Trailers would need to be set on ground and leveled.

Right now, there is only time for two lunch periods at Davisville Elementary and if the number of students increases, there may be a need for another lunch period. This may generate contractual problems in terms of scheduling problems and changes.

Trailers could be in place by September; however, services such as electricity would not be in place.

Dr. Halley requested the school committee to take this issue off the table in terms of the discussion of any plans since trailers cost more money, the district is not at capacity (there are ten open classrooms in the district) and Davisville Elementary School is already stressed. The school committee wishes to explore other options. Financial impacts should be part of each proposal/discussion.

The following memorandum was provided by Mr. Quinn, Director of Administrative Services on the topic of transportation.

In a preliminary review of our busing requirements and with the many scenarios being considered it can generally be stated that we should be able to handle most cases within budget. School Pairing may require realignment of start times. Seven neighborhood schools with half time Kindergarten would require two or three new bus contracts.

With pairing of schools and full day kindergarten, transportation would be within budget. With six K-5 schools and half day kindergarten, transportation would be within budget. With seven K-5 school with half day kindergarten, an additional $100,000-$150,000 would be needed. Bus contracts cost approximately $50,000 each. The problem is the number of buses needed at any particular time. Building another middle school is not on the table according to Mr. Quinn.

Other “financial things to be considered” submitted to the school committee are as follows:

1. To consider converting any elementary school to a grade 6,7,8 middle school would require a bond issue to update the gym, library and/or cafeteria to the current middle school standards. A bond issue requires at least two years to acquire and another year to implement.

2. The Town Council has reduced our 2003 budget by $275,000. Closing a school saves $268,254.

3. It is probable that there will be a challenge to our budget for $480,487.

4. We must consider the cost of moving and restocking a school (desks, chairs, books, etc.) in our financial equation. Most equipment will follow the children but not all; in some scenarios there will be a need for some new furniture. These expenses will augment our budget cut and possible referendum.

5. Pairing of schools allows the Food Services department to consider portion size in implementing the state and federal guidelines. In some scenarios this will save dollars however any savings would accrue to the enterprise account and should not be a budget consideration.

6. In consideration please remember that an average teacher with benefits costs us $53,162 and a paraprofessional costs $22,069.

Dr. Halley said that Fishing Cove School is adequate as a primary school and as a K-5 school. It is inadequate as a grades 5-6 school. Costs to convert Fishing Cove School to an elementary school are minor and include restroom upgrades and room dividers. The cost of equipment to open a seventh elementary school pales in the light of the cost of personnel. Full day kindergarten requires more furniture. It would cost $8,000 to enable Fishing Cove School to serve lunch.

School committee members mentioned that a philosophical discussion wishing to change the concept of the middle school program as well as a philosophical discussion of the concept of pairing has not taken place. Dr. Coppa has received many e-mails asking for redistricting instead of pairing.

School capacity figures were itemized in terms of number of classrooms, not people.

Mr. Quinn provided the following information on converting Fishing Cove School to a K-3 school and to a K-5 school:

K-3

It would be relatively inexpensive to convert Fishing Cove School to a K-3 school. It would cost approximately $20,000 and that includes $10,000 for the cafeteria, dividers for the classrooms and furniture and fixtures. There is no impact on the playground or parking. The open loft for the gym area works only for small kids.

K-5

It would cost $30,000-$35,000 to convert Fishing Cove School to a K-5 school. Fields would need upgrading, and an extra $25,000 would be needed for furniture if you have seven schools instead of six. Need to know if there will be six or seven grades in elementary schools; however, both scenarios can work by September.

Dr. Halley said that pairing does not change philosophy, it changes the delivery model. Ms. Watkins asked that viable options for September be dealt with and then look at the long-term.

Having an elevator installed in Wickford Elementary School would cost $85,000-$125,000. To make the school accessible would cost $200,000-$300,000 and this change would not be done by September.

Much information was requested from Administration.

A break was taken at 8:58 PM, clock counter 1:55:01. The meeting resumed at 9:07 PM.

IV. Open Forum cc 15501

The following topics and concerns were voiced during the meeting’s open forum.

¨ Provided research on the negatives of pairing and the loss of achievement in testing years.

¨ Commented regarding a Focus Group meeting.

¨ Thanked the school committee for working so hard; the facilities at each school need to be equal; and needs an accurate count of rooms by the principals and how the rooms are being used.

¨ Asked the committee to revisit facts from the Planning Board regarding Slocum Woods, Phases 1 & 2 that has seventy-seven lots. We need to have provisions in Hamilton or Stony Lane. We need to look at restroom facilities at Fishing Cove School. What is the Wickford Middle School Annex? Can you make the Use of Wickford Middle School as an Annex part of the criteria?

¨ Provided research on Saving Historic Buildings and Grade Configurations.

¨ Asked if there is a financial impact to having the pre-school program moved out of Fishing Cove School. Configuring grades four and five together is wonderful for a special needs child. This would also benefit Davisville Elementary.

¨ Commented regarding information about Wickford Elementary School, take care of Davisville Elementary, financial data, and that square footage of a school per person is state law.

¨ Commented that transitions occur at critical testing grades, does not want full day kindergarten, and needs the accurate number of rooms in each school.

¨ Asked the committee to consider not closing Wickford Elementary School- it’s too valuable.

V. Comments cc 25322

· Karin Forbes asked for number of classrooms and 90% capacity figures to be included on the Enrollment Report.

VI. Motion to continue the worksession on reconfiguration to Monday, May 13, 2002 at 7:00 PM was made by Carol Hueston/Pat Watkins (6/0) at 10:08 PM, clock counter 2:55:05.

Respectfully submitted,

_______________________________________

Donna F. Keough

School Committee Secretary