NORTH KINGSTOWN SCHOOL COMMITTEE

Wednesday, May 26, 2004

5:30 Executive Session for Parent Appeal

7:00 PM Business Meeting

Central Administration Building 100 Fairway Drive, North Kingstown

“Challenging Student Excellence”

Minutes

I. Meeting Organization

A. Call to Order Don DeFedele called the meeting to order at 7:05 pm

B. Roll Call Present: Chairperson Don DeFedele; Carol Hueston;

Barry Martasian; Bill Mudge; Kevin Mulvey; Pat Watkins and Cathy Kaiser, Jamestown School Committee Representative

Absent: Vice Chairperson, Dr. Denise Coppa

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

C. Calendars Mr. DeFedele and Dr. Halley went over the important dates on the

calendars with the School Committee.

1. June 12, 2004: Budget Referendum to Restore School Budgets

2. June 14, 2004: School Committee Special Meeting at 6:30 to discuss budget cuts if referendum does not pass. If referendum passes, School Committee will meet with Town Council at their meeting in Town Hall at 7:30.

3. June 16, 2004: School Committee KeyWorks meeting to discuss 2004-05 Goals & Objectives as well as budget cuts for 2003-05 if still necessary.

D. Presentation: COZ & Summer School ~ Donna Thompson (Appendix A)

1. Pat Watkins/Carol Hueston moved to accept the 2003 Summer School final report. The vote on this motion was 6/0.

a. Pat Watkins questioned if the SOS program significantly helped students prepare for the following year. Ms. Thompson replied that it does increase their skill base and prepare them for September; however 50% need the homework club services, and come back in SOS the following summer.

b. Bill Mudge asked if Ms. Thompson sees the same students year after year in summer school. Ms. Thompson responded that, “by and large”, she did.

c. Mr. Mudge asked if this equated to a lack of parental guidance or if the students were just not “tuned in”. Ms. Thompson replied that she wished she knew what the cause was.

d. Ms. Thompson reported that the COZ was funded this year with $40,000 less than previous years.

e. Mr. Mudge was interested in where the funding came from. Ms. Thompson responded that she secures core funding from the department of health, mental health and the department of education. The balance of the funding comes from grants.

f. Mrs. Watkins stated that “the North Kingstown COZ program has been presented as a model across the state. The items that Ms. Thompson has put into place have been used as guides for other cities and towns to draw from” and that we owe a lot to Ms. Thompson and her abilities.

II. Citizens’ Comments on Agenda Items

A. No audience member elected to speak.

III. Routine Items

A. Correspondence

1. Don DeFedele introduced the following correspondence into the record:

a) Letter dated May 20, 2004 from NEASC regarding their recent report on the High School’s accreditation. Principal Gerry Foley will be giving the School Committee a formal presentation regarding the very favorable report at the June 9^th Worksession.

B. Disclosure of Executive Session Votes

1. On May 12, 2004, there were three votes taken in an exception to policy. The vote: 4/1 in favor.

2. On May 26, 2004, there were three votes taken in an exception to policy. The vote: 4/2 in favor.

CONSENT AGENDA

Approved items on the consent agenda are marked with * on a motion by Pat Watkins/Carol Hueston with a vote of 5 in favor and 1(Bill Mudge) opposed.

Approved items that were exempted or amended within the consent agenda are marked with ** as indicated immediately following the item.

Withdrawn or Tabled Items from the consent agenda are marked with *** as indicated immediately following the item.

C. Approval of Minutes of Prior Meetings*

1. March 10, 2004 School Committee Business Meeting Minutes

2. April 21, 2004 School Committee Worksession Minutes

3. April 26, 2004 School Committee Special Meeting Minutes

4. May 12, 2004 Executive Session Minutes

D. Financial Reports*

1. Financial Reports Overview

2. Year to Date Expenditure Report

3. Monthly Deficit Monitoring Report

E. Bids and Awards: Bus Contracts requested by:**

1. Paul and Toni Mumford

2. Joseph Peck

3. John Gibbons, Jr.; John Gibbons, III; and Edith Dutra**

a. Kevin Mulvey asked to be recused from this vote.

b. Pat Watkins/Carol Huston motioned to approve the Bus Contracts. The vote: 6/0

F. Quarterly Security Reports*

G. Personnel Items

1. Appointments, Non-Certificated Staff:*

a. Marcel Bedard, 2^nd Shift Custodian at the North Kingstown High School, 8 hours per day, 5 days a week for a total of 40 hours per week, Step 1 @ $11.58 per hour, effective May 4, 2004- budgeted.

b. Christopher Hannon, 3^rd Shift Custodian at the North Kingstown High School, 8 hours per day, 5 days a week for a total of 40 hours per week, Step 1 @ $11.58 per hour plus an hourly stipend of $.20 for a total hourly rate of !1.78, effective April 29, 2004 – budgeted.

c. Jean Leich, Special Education Paraprofessional at Fishing Cove School, increase from 4 to 6 hours per day, 5 days a week for a total of 30 hours per week, Step 1 @ $9.51 per hour, effective April 26, 2004 – non-budgeted.

d. Nancy Cimmenelli, School Paraprofessional at Fishing Cove School, increase from 4 to 6 hours per day, 5 days a week for a total of 30 hours per week, Step 1 @ $9.51 per hour, effective May 3, 2004 – 4 hours budgeted – 2 hours non-budgeted.

e. Albert Norman, Temporary Maintenance Worker, 8 hours per day, 5 days a week for a total of 40 hours per week, Step 2 @ $13.79 per hour, effective May 24, 2004.

2. Appointments, 2003/2004 Advisors – budgeted.*

Wickford Middle School

Nancy LaPoste-Frazier Co- Science Olympiad $504

Colleen Pickering Co-Science Olympiad $168

Linda Law Newspaper $420

Judd Silvia Youth-To-Youth $924

Delores Jablonski Co-Yearbook $1379

Jane Laczynski Co-Yearbook $1379

3. Approval of Request for Unpaid Parental Leave of Absence, Certificated Staff:*

a. Catheryn Franco, 1.0 FTE Special Education Teacher at Hamilton Elementary School, effective for the 2004/2005 school year.

b. Paula Schiavone, 1.0 FTE Foreign Language Teacher at the North Kingstown High School, effective April 27, 2004 through the remainder of the 2003/2004 school year.

c. Barbara-Jean Medeiros-Mancini, 1.0 FTE Dance/Drama Teacher at Forest Park Elementary School, effective May 5, 2004.

4. Termination, Non-Certificated Staff:**

a. Lisa Bennett, Special Education Paraprofessional at Stony Lane Elementary School, 4 hours per day, 5 days a week for a total of 20 hours per week, effective May 26, 2004.

1) Pat Watkins asked to be recused from the vote.

2) Carol Hueston/Kevin Mulvey motioned to accept the item.

Vote: 6/0

5. Resignation, Non-Certified Staff:*

a. Elisha Martinez, Bus Paraprofessional for the North Kingstown School Department, effective May 3, 2004.

b. Susan Snyder, Clerk at Hamilton Elementary School, 3.5 hours per day, 5 days a week for a total of 17.5 hours per day, effective July 16, 2004.

END OF CONSENT AGENDA

I. Unfinished Business

A. Senior Project

1. Pat Watkins motioned to approve the process of the continuation of the Senior Project. Carol Hueston seconded the motion. The vote on this motion was 7/0 (included Cathy Kaiser).

2. Mr. Lalli then questioned if this motion included the High School’s request of the School Committee to make the Senior Project a graduation requirement.

3. Mr. DeFedele thought that the vote on that would be taken further along the line when the High School came back with more detail on the project.

4. Carol Hueston stated that having worked with high school students in the past she is well aware that unless there is some grade associated with the Senior Project “it is not going to happen.”

5. Kevin Mulvey reminded the committee that at the last meeting he wanted to see the criteria around the “pass/fail”, and what time frames around it. He also understood that the committee was in agreement that they wanted further information from the high school.

6. Dr. Halley said that the School Committee could support the concept of a requirement, but that they want the High School to report back with further details.

7. Mr. Lalli said that he was hoping that he could get something from the School Committee so that he could tell parents of next year’s freshmen that the students not only are required to do the Senior Project, but they are required to pass it in order to graduate.

8. Pat Watkins motioned to approve the Senior Project, effective with the class of 2008, as a requirement to graduate, “with the understanding that the School Committee will be kept fully advised of criteria, the process, the grading, so that if in the future whatever committee is sitting wishes to change any part of it, they certainly have the right to do that.” Carol Hueston seconded the motion

9. Kevin Mulvey took exception to the motion and stated that the problem with it was that it essentially made the Senior Project a “Pass/Fail”. He suggested an amendment which was not allowed because it should have been another motion.

10. Carol Hueston stated that students should not be handed a surprise in their junior year that their Senior Project is a requirement for graduation.

11. Dr. Halley said that it is prudent now to make it a requirement. The School Committee can always revise it at some later point if they so desire.

12. Barry Martasian stated that he supports the motion as it is presented. Students perform better knowing what is required of them.

13. Don DeFedele suggested putting this discussion on a Worksession agenda so that the School Committee could work with the High School on the Senior Project rubric. Mr. Lalli agreed, saying that he always brings forward what he has to the committee for suggestions and approval.

14. Pat Watkins suggested having the discussion after the November elections so that the new committee could weigh in with their thoughts.

15. Bill Mudge put forth an amendment to the motion stating that he approved of the “Pass/Fail” portion of the original motion “with the contingency that the criteria be developed and subject to separate approval someday”. Mr. Mulvey seconded the motion.

16. Pat Watkins stated that she felt this was another motion. She supported the concept, but did not feel that it needed to be tied to the motion of a senior requirement. Any future committee can do what they desire.

17. Kevin Mulvey said that he seconded the motion because he felt that the committee should approve the “Pass/Fail” criteria. However, he does not feel that they should be tied to a time frame.

18. Barry Martasian stated that he was “bogged down” with all the motions. He felt that Ms. Watkins motion was all that was required. The project was in capable hands at the High School. They will bring to the committee the details when they have them.

19. Mr. Lalli would like to include the words, “successful completion” of the Senior Project.

20. Vote on Mr. Mudge’s amendment: 1 in favor and 6 against

21. Vote on Mrs. Watkins motion of the Successful Completion of the Senior Project as a Graduation Requirement in 2008. Vote: 6 in favor and Bill Mudge against.

B. School Modernization Implementation

1. School Modernization Implementation Advisory Report

a. Kevin Mulvey moved to accept the report and move it forward to the Town Council and accept the report and request that they pursue enabling legislation. Pat Watkins seconded the motion.

b. Bill Mudge stated that he did not receive the space deficiency documents regarding the elementary schools and middle schools that he requested from Dave Burnham when he gave his report at the last meeting.

c. Don DeFedele said that he understood what Mr. Mudge was looking for, but felt that as educators and residents that what they should want is for all school buildings to be “equal for our programs.”

d. Mr. Mudge did not feel that the RGB report addressed the space issue with all the elementary schools. “How did we have 6 elementary schools two years ago, and run them effectively?”

e. Mr. DeFedele responded that the parents of the district clearly stated that they wanted 7 elementary schools.

f. Mr. Mudge: “I don’t care what the parents say.”

g. Mr. DeFedele: “Well, I do!”

h. Mr. Mudge stated that he felt there is no need for an additional 28,000 feet of educational space in the schools.

i. Mr. DeFedele replied that Mr. Mudge is entitled to his opinion.

j. Mr. Mulvey asked if Mr. DeFedele would see if there was a consensus to provide the committee with the information that Mr. Mudge desired. He did not receive one.

k. Mr. Martasian stated that there was plenty of crowding in specific elementary schools, and anyone could see that by simply visiting them.

l. Pat Watkins suggested that Mr. Mudge could solve his dilemma by simply calling Mr. Burnham and asking for the documents that he is seeking.

m. Mr. Mudge questioned the methodology of the vote that was taken on the Modernization Committee’s Report. He asked Mr. Quinn if everyone was present who voted, and Mr. Quinn responded that there was one proxy vote. Mr. Mudge was not pleased with this response.

n. Mr. Mulvey stated a “Point of Order” and said that it is not the School Committee’s business to determine how the Modernization Committee came about the vote on the report that was presented to them. Mr. DeFedele agreed.

o. Mr. Mudge then asked to amend the motion on the table: To provide documentation of the School Modernization Advisory Committee’s vote on their report, and to provide copies of all of the documents that Mr. Mudge requested of Mr. Burnham. This amendment did not receive a second.

p. Vote on the original motion is 5 in favor, Bill Mudge against.

C. 2004-05 School Budget

1. Dr. Halley provided information to the committee regarding teacher salaries with benefits:

a. Cost of a step 5 teacher = $65,000

b. Cost of a step 10 teacher = $85,000

c. Two teachers paid unemployment = $11,000

d. Paraprofessional 6 hours with paid benefits = $30,000

e. 47 individuals have received layoff notices

2. Mr. DeFedele asked for a list of the just the positions of those individuals who have received layoff notices, and where they teach. He is concerned that there is a possibility of losing the SmArt program in some schools.

3. Dr. Halley agreed, and said that there was a possibility of the strings program also going. He then mentioned the referendum on June 12^th and that some members of the School Committee had put together answers to questions about how the budget works. This is now on the website at www.nksd.net.

4. Mr. Mudge then spoke up and questioned who had approved this. Who is answering the questions and answers?

5. Mr. DeFedele: The people who deal with the budgets.

6. Mr. Mudge: Who are they?

7. Mr. DeFedele: (looking at Mr. Quinn, Director of Administrative Services) Joe, you work in that department, don’t you?

8. Mrs. Hueston: And Maureen…

9. Mr. Mudge: So if I call, I see the questions and answers and I want to call an individual to talk about that…is it articulated on that question and answer?

10. Mr. DeFedele: There is a telephone line that you can call, and a special email address set up that you can email your questions and someone will answer you.

11. Mr. Mudge: And that is town resources being used to promote the budget.

12. Mr. DeFedele: To answer questions about the budget, yes, you are 100% correct.

13. Mr. Mudge: Now, can anybody ask questions on that budget, and can anyone comment on that?

14. Dr. Halley: No.

15. Mr. Mudge: No? You mean, in other words, I couldn’t ask a question and comment; I couldn’t rebut to the accuracy of the answers?

16. Dr. Halley: Well, we want accurate information.

17. Mr. Mudge: That’s right Mr. Halley! And I will tell you one thing; they are not getting it from you! You know it too.

18. Mrs. Watkins: Stop it.

19. Mr. DeFedele: We are not going here!

20. Mr. Mudge: We just went there! Excuse me! Excuse me!

21. Mr. DeFedele: We are not going here!

22. Mrs. Watkins: Point of Order.

23. Mr. Mudge: He just accused me…he just accused me of not providing false information!

24. Mr. Mulvey: No, you need to stop. Point of Order!

25. Mr. DeFedele: Bill, I have a Point of Order!

26. Mr. Mudge: Point of Order?! He should be fired!

27. Mrs. Watkins: We cannot discuss…

28. Mr. DeFedele: You need to be quiet, and I won’t tolerate another outburst from you. I will not!

29. Mr. Mudge: Is that right?! Well, what about that outburst he just made…that my information is inaccurate!

30. Mr. DeFedele: I have a Point of Order. You need to remain quiet!

31. Mr. Mudge: Yea? Well, tell him to be quiet! You allow him to do it, Mr. Chairman!

32. Mr. DeFedele: Bill, do you know what the word “quiet” means?

33. Mr. Mudge: Do you know the word “integrity”?!

34. Mr. DeFedele: Do I have a motion to adjourn?

35. Carol Hueston: So moved!

36. Mr. DeFedele: Do I have a second?

37. Mr. Martasian: Second!

38. Mrs. Watkins: Second!

39. The vote on the adjournment was unanimous. Mr. Mudge thanked the committee.

The remainder of the agenda was not reviewed, nor moved to another meeting.

D. 2003-04 School Budget

E. 2003-04 School Committee Goals and Objectives

· The KeyWorks meeting scheduled for June 16, 2004 will be held in the Central Administration Building. Topics for discussion are Goals and Objectives for the 2004-05 school year, and budget cuts should the referendum to restore the school budgets not pass.

II. New Business

III. Reports

A. Enrollments

B. Standing Committee Reports

C. Ad hoc Committee Reports

IV. Citizen Comments

V. Adjourn

• Motion to adjourn was made by Carol Hueston and seconded by Kevin Mulvey at 9:15 pm, cc: 1:47:21:29. There were no home schooling, negotiations, or personnel matters for School Committee members to attend to, and therefore they did not adjourn to Executive Session.

Respectfully submitted,

_______________________________________

Konnie M. Mazur

School Committee Secretary