NORTH KINGSTOWN SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Worksession Regarding
Reconfiguration of Schools
Monday, May 13, 2002 7:00 PM
NKHS Media Center 150 Fairway Drive, North Kingstown
“Challenging Student Excellence” |
I.
Pledge of Allegiance
I. Call To Order The meeting was called to order at 7:21 PM.
A. Roll Call Present: Chairperson Lynne Haft, Vice Chairperson Karin L. Forbes, Dr. Janice DeFrances, Carol H. Hueston, Patricia E. Watkins, and Michael R. Northup
Absent: Dr. Denise Coppa and Cathy Kaiser, Jamestown School Committee
Administration Present: James M. Halley, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools, Barbara A. Fitzsimmons, Ed.D., Curriculum Director, William J. Daly, Director of Human Resources, Joseph F. Quinn, Jr., Director of Administrative Services, Maureen Buck, Controller and Karin Pierson, Supervisor of Transportation
Absent: Daniel J. McGregor, Ph.D., Director of Pupil Personnel Services
II.
Correspondence
· All members received correspondence regarding reconfiguration.
· Pat Watkins made the following statement:
I would like to make a statement
before we begin the meeting.
No one is elected to this position with
a full understanding of its obligations, but we learn. All of us have been on that side of the
table advocating for our individual concerns.
After being elected, we begin to understand that everyone in the
district is our responsibility and that our educational decisions must
be made for the good of the entire district, not just one area or group of
people. We, as a school committee need
to hold firm to our vision of providing the best possible education for all of
North Kingstown’s children.
It would be helpful to us in doing our
job if everyone would remember the above and refrain from personal insults and
shouting out personal opinions as we attempt to do the job you elected us to
do. There are many issues, all of them
complex, that we must analyze. We must,
in the near future, resolve the issue of overcrowding at Davisville Elementary
School. We also need to begin the
process of planning a long-term solution to the face of education in North
Kingstown.
Please help us by holding your comments
until the last half hour to permit us to do our work.
To that end, Madame Chair, I would like to suggest that we begin to narrow down the plans presented to those that are viable.
· Lynne Haft received a report regarding capacities of the elementary schools.
III.
Reconfiguration of
Schools
Dr. Halley presented two additional proposals: Proposal 11- Seven schools with full time kindergarten, and Proposal 12- seven schools with half time kindergarten.
With seven schools and full day kindergarten, there are 21 classrooms left over and 100 teachers would be needed. With seven schools and half day kindergarten, two additional teachers would be needed. Additional administrative costs ($268,000) for the seventh school would also be incurred. Transportation would be more expensive for half day kindergarten. An extra 3-5 buses would cost $150,000-$250,000. Two additional teachers would cost approximately $108,000. Davisville Elementary and Forest Park Schools each have only one extra classroom with the full day kindergarten scenario. Davisville Elementary would be a 90% walking population. Transportation savings with full day kindergarten total $190,000. In either scenario, the preschool would stay at Fishing Cove School. With seven schools, we still have pockets of large class sizes. With this much money, we shouldn’t have to spot redistrict again according to the chairperson.
Dr. DeFrances suggested Proposal 13: Move kindergarten back to the elementary schools, move Davisville Elementary grades K-2 to Fishing Cove School, pilot full day kindergarten at Fishing Cove School, and leave the pre-one program intact. Dr. Halley was requested to develop a spreadsheet depicting this scenario.
Mike Northup said that the committee must begin to discuss the situation at Davisville Elementary. Some issues at Davisville Elementary will not be addressed by juggling children. Our plan is the budget.
After discussing the viability of each plan, the committee narrowed the number of possible proposals to six- Proposals 5, 7, 10, 11, 12, and 13. These proposals are attached to the minutes with the exception of Plan 13, which is yet to be illustrated on a spreadsheet.
Plan 5: Classroom Figures with Half Time Kindergarten with DES Fourth and Fifth Grade in QES, WES to FCES.
Plan 7: Classroom Figures with Mixed Time Kindergarten with DES and FPES Fourth and fifth Grade in QES, QES K-3 to FPES, WES to FCES.
Plan 10: Pairing with Full Day K (DE/FP, HE/SL and WE/QE) East FP to QES, Old Baptist/Davisville To QES, Annaquatucket to QES/WES.
Plan 11: Seven Schools with Full Time Kindergarten.
Plan 12: Seven Schools with Half Time Kindergarten.
Plan 13: Move kindergarten back to the elementary schools, move Davisville Elementary grades K-2 to Fishing Cove School, pilot full day kindergarten at Fishing Cove School, and leave pre-one program intact.
Mike Northup commented that the committee does not know the philosophical difference between pairing versus neighborhood schools. Karin Forbes would like to know too. Mr. Northup requested that a spreadsheet be generated showing Davisville Elementary redistricted. Fishing Cove School would remain a kindergarten school. This is Proposal 14.
Karin Forbes reported observations that Carol Hueston and she made while visiting Bradford Elementary School’s Full Day Kindergarten class in Westerly. The teacher spoke of a huge difference in readiness for first grade. In the full day program, kids could take their time and there is a relaxed feeling. Teachers needed no additional training. A schedule of a typical week will be distributed to the school committee.
IV.
Open Forum
The following concerns and comments were voiced at the meeting.
· This crowd is evidence of concern in the community. There is no detailed process here. Some of the steps to solve a problem have been skipped.
· Start the process over.
· There is a lack of an open, serious and professional process.
· Joe Avenzado read a petition asking the school committee to reject and withdraw from any further consideration the two proposals presented at the “focus group” sessions. Other requests were made relating to allowing community discussion and input, postponing a decision to redistrict, postponing implementation of any decision, and addressing Davisville Elementary concerns. The petition received approximately 600 signatures.
· Chris Curley read a “Declaration of No Confidence” by parents and concerned residents of North Kingstown against Dr. James Halley. The declaration received approximately 600 signatures.
· This gathering does not represent a small group. Communication is long overdue.
· Commented regarding pairing of schools and equity of the facilities.
· Go back to square one, need more time, take the smallest bite and solve Davisville Elementary School's problems.
· There is a crisis now at Davisville. Need a fair and equitable solution now, this year. The solution cannot be made in isolation.
· Commented regarding inconsistencies in classroom numbers.
· The timeframe is grossly inadequate, trust has been lost, table plans indefinitely, need a long-term comprehensive plan.
· Comment regarding inconsistencies of the capacities of the elementary schools, and Medicare reimbursement account questions.
· Not seeing any details.
· A town-wide solution in two months is not what the people want.
· This problem is a town-wide problem.
· Comment regarding equity and criteria.
· Open and honest communication; and not enough time to make this decision.
· This decision will affect many years to come.
· What it means to be a town- we have a sense of neighborhood. School pairing rips that apart.
· The most effective configuration is one supported by the community.
· Would not support any action or inaction that builds a wall around Davisville Elementary School (DES).
· Comment regarding DES space limitations, wants K-5, equity, Quidnessett addition money should have gone to DES.
· Why are you moving kindergarten before DES is addressed? Keep kindergarten at Fishing Cove School and find a solution for DES.
· The problem is money and how to find it to fix DES; are any out of district students attending DES now? Ask students to voluntarily go to other schools.
V.
Comments
·
Dr. Halley
talked about budget cuts. With 4.6%
projected state aid, this could mean a cut to the budget if revenues fall
short. Closing Fishing Cove was to meet
this cut. There has been concern for
DES for several years. On June 8, there
will be a budget referendum. A cut of
$275,000 has already been made. Another
$480,000 could be cut. “We have a
frugal budget.”
·
Pat Watkins
appreciates the parent involvement.
·
Karin Forbes
thanked everyone who sent emails. The
website references were very helpful.
·
Ms. Haft read a
list of the Superintendent’s accomplishments during his tenure since 1995.
·
Dr. Halley said
that strong teachers, parents, administrators, school committee, and community
members have all contributed to these accomplishments.
VI.
A motion to
recess to Wednesday, May 15 was
made by Mike Northup/Karin Forbes (6/0) at 10:24 PM.
Respectfully
submitted,
_______________________________________
Donna
F. Keough
School
Committee Secretary