NORTH KINGSTOWN SCHOOL COMMITTEE

Wednesday, May 21, 2003

6:30 PM School Reconfiguration Worksession Meeting

North Kingstown High School 150 Fairway Drive

“Challenging Student Excellence”

Reconfiguration Worksession Minutes

I. Pledge of Allegiance

II. Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 6:33 PM.

Roll Call Present: Chairperson Don DeFedele; Vice Chairperson Dr. Denise Coppa; Carol Hueston; Barry Martasian; Bill Mudge; Kevin Mulvey; and Pat Watkins (arrived at 6:50)

Absent: Cathy Kaiser, Jamestown Representative

Administration Present: James M. Halley, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools; William J. Daly, Director of Human Resources; Daniel J. McGregor, Ph.D., Director of Pupil Personnel Services; Barbara A. Fitzsimmons, Ed.D, Curriculum; and Maureen Buck, Controller

Absent: Director Joseph F. Quinn, Jr., Director of Administrative Services

III. Presentation Dr. McGregor’s Report (Appendix A)

According to this report the North Kingstown School Department currently has 750 special education students, 29 in preschool and 30 outside the district.

Dr. McGregor graciously answered questions of the School Committee:

¨ Bill Mudge: There are currently 29 special education preschool students at Fishing Cove? Are they being integrated with other students in compliance with special education regulations? Dr. McGregor responded that these students are integrated with the YMCA program which is also situated at Fishing Cove.

¨ Kevin Mulvey: If Davisville Elementary needed a general classroom could special education be moved to Fishing Cove? Dr. McGregor responded that it was a possibility however it would be another transition for students. Dr. Halley stated that there was a need to avoid creating a “special education center” which would be discouraged by law.

IV. School Committee Survey Preliminary Report

A preliminary report of the School Committee Survey (Appendix B) which had gone out to parents of elementary school students had been received. Of the 958 surveys received, 458 were included in the report. The top three values in importance to parents were:

¨ c). I want my child to stay in the same school during his/her elementary years.

¨ d). I want my child to have the same educational programs available to him/her no matter what school he/she is in.

¨ k). I want my child to attend a school that is not crowded.

V. Reconfiguration Discussion

Dr. Halley presented the plan that the School Committee requested that he prepare (Appendix C). He recommended in this plan that “the reconfiguration plan proposed for the southern zone of the town be adopted by the School Committee.” He recommended that the northern end of town’s students remain at the schools that they currently attend, “with the exception of the students who live south of Quonset in the vicinity of Fishing Cove School. These students, who reside off of Post Road, would attend Fishing Cove as is proposed in the K-5 Reconfiguration committee Plan.”

After presenting the plan, Dr. Halley answered questions presented by the School Committee:

¨ Denise Coppa had two questions of Dr. Halley’s plan:

1. What is the longevity of this plan? Dr. Halley responded that the southern end of town’s redistricting plan could last 5-10 years.

2. Doesn’t it take at least 3 years to get an addition built on to a school? Dr. Halley responded that yes it does take that long to build an addition.

¨ Bill Mudge declared that he “takes exception” to the fact that Dr. Halley states that the K-5 Committee recommended any plan. The K-5 Committee drew up proposals for the School Committee to use in their reconfiguration decision making.

VI. Open Forum

¨ Korrinne Erikson, a DES parent, we do want our 4th and 5^th grade students back, but when we are ready for them, when the school is ready to accommodate them.

¨ Sheila Turner: parents who had multiple children received multiple surveys

¨ Mary DaSilva was only recently made aware of the map, and my kids will be passing 3 schools on their way to school at Fishing Cove from Butternut Drive.

¨ Kristin Baxter has concerns with present proposal considering the lengthy bus ride her children will be taking

¨ Mary Kate Mulligan: her children currently have a ½ mile walk to Wickford Elementary; please address the bussing situation as they now will be riding a bus farther to school.

¨ Candace Summaz, Juniper Hill, submitted a letter to the School Committee outlining her concerns. It is appended to these minutes (Appendix D).

¨ Kathy Brown, Prospect, hoped for an input regarding “trading of neighborhoods”. Hoped that School Committee would keep the “natural neighborhoods” intact. Are there any deadlines for Fishing Cove construction? Is there a plan for a presentation to the School Committee by the PR firm who handled the survey?

¨ Pam Ferrante: Dr. Halley’s plan outlines 9 factors that made him decide to leave the northern zone as it is, but he did not outline any factors that made him choose the K-5 Committee’s plan for the southern zone.

¨ Lorena Pugh: Mt. View parents support Dr. Halley’s plan

¨ Pat Silvester: wonders if Dr. Halley is aware that there are 42 new homes going up off of Fletcher Road

¨ Joseph Avenzato: feels as if School Committee and administration is repeating what was done last year, particularly egregious as to special education, asks School Committee to vote against proposal.

¨ Kathy Esposito: Disappointed with most of School Committee; K-5 Committee never divided town into 2 zones

¨ Ellen Paster, a member of SIT at QES concerned about the accountability regarding the 4^th grade test scores

¨ Michelle Cihat, parent of a 4^th grader at Quidnesset (should be at DES), believes that DES will never see the planned modifications; COZ funding is not guaranteed from year to year, and a reconfiguration plan should not be based on that; DES is operating effectively because of an effective principal and the fact that they are K-3. She suggests putting the 4^th grade students back at DES, but leave the 5^th grade at QES so that they do not have to move again.

¨ Debbie O’Connor questioned why full day Kindergarten is only offered at Davisville Elementary School. Suggested having a lottery for the program and offering it at whichever school has the space for it.

¨ Muriel Cammara interested in how much money would be saved by going back to the old system. She would rather see the money saved spent on programs. She would also like to see Fishing Cove reopened as a Kindergarten Center.

¨ April Brunelle concerned that the meeting not advertised, and Dr. Halley’s plan introduced at the last minute

¨ Joanne Sprague recommends Fishing Cove be reopened as a Kindergarten Center and adds that a school is needed in the Slocum area

¨ Sharon Schubert uneasy about the movement of children who have been moved before. She knows that there is a policy about this. What about these bell times? Self-contained classrooms: PDD and autism at Fishing Cove and DES – removing it from DES would give them a little more room.

¨ Kristin Auger: appreciated survey; will Fishing Cove be ready in September? Teachers don’t have any idea where they are going…will all be ready for job fair?

¨ Lisa Edwards: child was a Fishing Cove student – reopen it please. What were the problems? Had a Kindergartener this year as well and never did understand why Fishing Cove was closed.

¨ Robert Feinberg: even with new people on board, community’s needs are still the same. As a collective body, School Committee’s philosophy is unknown.

¨ Tony Cirillo: Chair of the K-5 Advisory Committee, repeated that the committee never divided the town in half, but that they did divide the town into 45 distinct cells. He also repeated that the committee did not make a specific recommendation, but did provide the School Committee with 4 proposals. The committee felt that the issue was about equity and Dr. Cirillo felt that the survey results agreed. Any plan that the School Committee picks “should allow for equity of programs throughout the district. Basing any plan you pass should be long term, equitable, and fair.”

¨ Pam Thomas: QES parent stated that a vote at this meeting would shock a lot of people. Camp Avenue parents sent their requests to Dr. Halley:

1. Concerned about a principal at Fishing Cove – this is not a learning experience

2. A computer lab

3. Maintenance

4. Bus time

5. Gym/cafeteria

6. Art and music – SmART program?

7. Transition team – all this by September?

¨ Karen Flynn: “Shock and Awe” regarding the 9:30 start time – totally unacceptable for students to return home at 4:15 cannot play sports, difficult to include Religious education etc.

¨ Jennifer Sharp: remembered hearing of mishandling of OT services behind a curtain on the stage of WES cafeteria. Wickford Elementary cannot remain as it is right now.

¨ Barbara Guillette-Perry: finds it frustrating that this information is last minute. Nothing has changed since last year. Equal opportunity for all students needs to be addressed; address issues of overcrowding; heard nothing mentioned regarding middle schools; what is point of survey if vote is prior to full report? Keep in mind a long term solution; and be fair.

¨ Anestis Halkidis: 3 children in Wickford Elementary (eldest was first in Stony Lane) and is demanding that they remain there.

¨ Robert Sullivan: new School Committee inherited task of prior committee; needs to ask themselves if Superintendent’s plan is part of a long-term plan.

¨ Jennifer Gill: did not like the idea of “first-come first-served” when it came to full day Kindergarten registration last year at DES.

¨ Also submitted is a letter signed by the residents of Porter Estates (Appendix E) expressing their concerns with the proposed redistricting plan.

A 10 minute break was taken at 8:50 pm. The meeting resumed at 9:00 pm.

At this point, Chairperson Don DeFedele chose to answer some of the questions that were posed by members of the audience during the Open Forum:

¨ Regarding the opening of Fishing Cove School, Mr. DeFedele asked Superintendent James Halley if he felt that the school will be ready for opening day, and Dr. Halley responded in the positive.

¨ Regarding the probability of the passage of a bond, Mr. DeFedele responded that he had no idea, of course, if that would occur. A report was given to the School Committee by the School Modernization Advisory Committee requesting a feasibility study to ascertain the scope of work necessary on 4 schools. That is in the works at the moment, which will help determine the necessity.

¨ Regarding the possibility of DES losing COZ, Mr. DeFedele responded that COZ is awarded to DES based upon the free and reduced lunch population. If that population were to change, then a reapplication for COZ would have to occur.

¨ Regarding the bell times, Mr. DeFedele responded that either of the proposals would keep the bell times as they are. The bell times have not been fully discussed. Dr. Halley expects that Forest Park and Hamilton to keep the bell times that they have, and Fishing Cove to go to the middle bell.

¨ Mr. DeFedele stated that the School Committee and the Administration is trying to develop a long range plan to keep students from moving around.

¨ Regarding middle school students, Mr. DeFedele stated that there are no changes in the middle school boundaries.

¨ Regarding the question of where special education preschool children would be placed, Mr. DeFedele responded that Dr. Halley had previously stated that these students would remain in Fishing Cove.

¨ Mr. DeFedele stated that this decision must be made soon as the Administration is up against a wire with Job Fair closing in on June 12^th.

¨ Regarding a question of how much money was saved by closing Fishing Cove, Mr. DeFedele responded by stating that $285,000 was saved. Regarding the question of how much money was made by closing Fishing Cove, Mr. DeFedele stated that $95,000 was made, and the revenue goes to the Town of North Kingstown.

¨ Regarding a question of why does it cost over $700,000 to reopen Fishing Cove, Mr. DeFedele responded that upgrades in technology, upgrades to make it an elementary school as opposed to a K-center, and staffing all cause this increase.

¨ Regarding a question of why DES for full-day Kindergarten, Mr. DeFedele responded because it had the highest free and reduced lunch population, and therefore would have a greater impact on kids who were at a greater risk. Implementation of full-day Kindergarten will take place in 2004-05 at all schools.

¨ Regarding new housing and a shift of population, Mr. DeFedele stated that neighborhoods in the northern end of town appear to be stagnant; whereas the southern end of town is growing.

School Committee members were then given an opportunity to make statements regarding the redistricting plans, and the assertions made in the Open Forum:

¨ Kevin Mulvey: At no time did the K-5 Committee divide the town into two sections. This (the Superintendent’s) proposal continues overcrowding at Forest Park; some of the overcrowding at Quidnessett can be addressed. Nothing will be built in one year. There is no proof that the town will bite the bullet and approve a bond. This is a 3 year plan at best. Regarding the K-5 plan, the first step should be to redistrict; bussing is bussing it doesn’t matter which school. The COZ services are not a given. The Davisville Community doesn’t want their 4^th and 5^th graders at Quidnessett.

In general:

1. I feel the Superintendent’s plan unfairly treats Quidnessett and Forest Park. Quidnessett is top heavy, and this is not appropriate. Forest Park has no room for a full-day Kindergarten.

2. The K-5 plan has a life of 7-10 years.

3. If you eliminate 4^th and 5^th graders at Quidnessett maybe you could change the start time at Forest Park

4. I propose, instead, that we grandfather in the 5^th graders in the school that they choose

5. The Superintendent’s plan does not allow for growth, but there is turnover and an increase of growth at DES, and no room for that type of growth at Forest Park.

¨ Bill Mudge complimented Kevin Mulvey for his convictions and opinions, and stated that the K-5 Committee offered another option not mentioned: A K-Center will save $600,000; $2,000 per child. No educational difference between K-center and Kindergarten in neighborhood schools. I am not very happy that we have not looked at all the data. January of last year, the budget never mentioned closing a school. On March 13^th it was on the agenda. It really bothers me that $248,000 was all that we saved. There was a minimum of $171,000 surplus in the town audit and the Town Manager set aside $120,000 of the capital reserve so that we couldn’t touch it and use it to reopen Fishing Cove.

¨ Barry Martasian: Parents have asked if Fishing Cove opens as an elementary school, will music, art, dance and drama have a dedicated space. Fishing Cove will have the same programs; whether or not it is a SmART school depends on the staff that ends up there and whether or not they have the training. I feel I owe the community an explanation of sorts: I cannot justify moving kids back into Davisville Elementary until the school is ready to accommodate them. Those kids are lucky now they can spread their wings because they have some room. We need to get those numbers down and increase trust.

¨ Pat Watkins: We are here to advocate for what is best for your children. We need to adopt a long term plan. I have to agree with Tony Cirillo, the K-5 Committee gave choices they did not make recommendations. I agree with Kevin and Barry. Dr. Coppa said we formed the K-5 Committee and the Modernization Committee because we needed to do something with the schools in the northern end of town. We need to know that those schools are going to be able to accommodate students. I have seen special education at DES and full-day K; both are very special programs. DES wants their 4^th and 5^th graders back but they want to be able to accommodate them.

¨ Denise Coppa: We must go back to our basic policies – one mile rule; grade 1-5 move them once. Geographic distribution of children in town should preclude drawing lines.

¨ Don DeFedele: I was never in favor of closing Fishing Cove. It is the School Committee’s responsibility to request this recommendation of the Superintendent…we have done that. I find it a little curious that we get ridiculed for doing that, however.

We have discussed this issue; we need 7 elementary schools; I fought for this budget and we have a budget to do that. I know that we are advocating for the entire district.

¨ Dr. Halley: I want to address that the plan has a northern zone and a southern zone because the town has a northern end and a southern end. I think that essentially as I see it that there are 2 options on the floor, and I need to know that you are going to consider Fishing Cove as an elementary school and that there will be 2 plans for a vote at the Business Meeting on May 28^th.

¨ Pat Watkins suggested that this be accepted for vote on the 28^th.

VI. Motion to Adjourn

A motion was made by Denise Coppa/Kevin Mulvey (7/0) to adjourn at 10:55 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

_______________________________________

Konnie M. Mazur

School Committee Secretary