NORTH KINGSTOWN SCHOOL COMMITTEE

Wednesday, June 16, 2004

6:30 PM Special Budget Business & KeyWorks Meeting

Central Administration Building 100 Fairway Drive

“Challenging Student Excellence”

Minutes

I. Meeting Organization

1. Call to Order

a. Pledge of Allegiance

b. Don DeFedele called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm.

2. Roll Call

a. Present: Chairperson Don DeFedele, Vice Chairperson Dr. Denise Coppa Carol Hueston, Barry

Martasian, Bill Mudge, Kevin Mulvey, and Cathy Kaiser, Jamestown Representative

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

c. Absent: Daniel J. McGregor, Ph.D., Director of Pupil Personnel Services, Barbara A. Fitzsimmons, Ed.D, Curriculum Director

3. Citizens’ Comments on Agenda Items

Although not initially on the agenda, the chairperson allowed time for the public to speak.

a. Resident and parent, Terry Ohs, who spoke at a previous meeting about what she thought was occurring with the scheduling and discontinuation of AP classes at the high school, apologized to the committee stating that she spoke with Patty DiCenso and discovered otherwise. Even though some classes are still being discontinued due to a lack of interest or overcrowding and a lack of a teacher.

b. Barry Martasian thanked Ms. Ohs for her apology because the committee does “not get a lot of that.”

c. Pat Watkins also thanked Ms. Ohs stating that she was given the information about with whom to discuss the problem, and she went and did so. Mrs. Watkins wished that those who take issue with the committee or administration would do the same.

d. Pat Peterson, a strings instructor, thanked the committee for “a wonderful year.” Parents and teachers have told her that they were thrilled with the program.

e. Maureen Galster thanked Pat Peterson for her work with the strings program stating that “If it weren’t for Pat, there wouldn’t be a strings program.”

f. Don DeFedele recognized members of the school department for their recent awards:

1. Donald Analdo, art instructor at the high school has received the 2004 Outstanding Secondary Art Educator of the Year Award given by the RI Art Education Association

2. Joe Quinn has received the RI Business Manager of the Year Award given by the RI Association of School Business Managers

3. Maureen Buck has been recognized for her Outstanding Contributions to the Profession by the RI Association of Business Officials

II. Budget Cut Discussion and Action (By discretion of the chairperson, this item was moved up on the agenda)

Pat Watkins motioned to accept the superintendent’s recommendation to raising the high school class size to 20. Kevin Mulvey seconded the motion (63,286.00).

Kevin Mulvey stated that the minimum class size at the high school is 15. If the action is not taken, the district runs the risk of adding 4 teachers.
Dr. Halley said the high school ran the schedule at 20 per class and adjustments may still need to be made in terms of the budget. He also made mention of the adult education program offering students and adults CCRI classes, in a partnership with the community, as well as other schools, for college credit.
Carol Hueston mentioned that she had previously taught an honors class of 28 sophomores; it is difficult, but it can be done.
Denise Coppa asked which other classes would be affected.
It is impacting a number of classes. As an example, the Cisco academy is running without its full number of sections.
Bill Mudge asked if this information had been provided to anyone else, such as parents. He felt it was “outrageous”.
Dr. Coppa stated that she was unaware that this would affect this many courses. If it is possible to make the CCRI program to work it would make a difference. Cutting courses impacts on other courses. It not only affects AP students, but those students who are considered “average”.
Don DeFedele said that there was still going to be an issue at the high school. They were going to be asking for more teachers. He said “I brought this topic up at a Town Council meeting because the committee is bound legally. Personnel costs drive everything. The community has now voted and spoken and said that we have to do with less. The high school has been looking at schedules because Dr. Halley has said they have to look at a different way to do it.”
Pat Watkins stated that she has a problem with taking away a program or a teacher. She felt that this is an easier way to accomplish things.
Don DeFedele said that because the curriculum is market driven, some classes might not be offered since there may be too few students choosing specific classes.
Bill Mudge brought up the fact that there is an interim vice principal position at the high school that he felt needed to be discussed.
Pat Watkins declared a “Point of Order” stating that this is not the topic of the motion even though it might be a worthy discussion to have to understand the process.
Don DeFedele upheld the “Point of Order” and called the question of the motion on the table.
The vote on this motion was 5 in favor, 2 (Bill Mudge, Denise Coppa) opposed.

Bill Mudge motioned to submit 4 contracts to the attorney for review. These contracts are those of the principals of Wickford Middle School, Fishing Cove Elementary School, Hamilton Elementary School, and a Vice Principal at the High School.

Mr. DeFedele stated that there was no need for a motion, and asked Mr. Quinn to do so.
Mr. Quinn responded that if he was to follow suit that he officially requested the committee reinstate $30,000.00 to the legal budget.
Mr. DeFedele asked the committee if they felt that was necessary, only Mr. Mudge agreed that it was.
Kevin Mulvey stated that Mr. DeFedele did not have the consensus of the committee to turn the contracts over to the attorney.
Mr. DeFedele said that he asked if it was the consensus of the committee.
Mr. Mulvey responded that Mr. DeFedele stated that he had the consensus, but did not ask the committee for it.
Mr. DeFedele then asked the committee for their consensus to turn the contracts over to the attorney for review. He did not receive the consensus of the entire committee. The majority felt it was a poor way to use the school department’s funds, and the therefore the contracts will not be given to the attorney.

Carol Hueston motioned to reduce the school nurse teachers by one ($87,952.00). Barry Martasian seconded this motion.

1. Dr. Coppa stated that she is “vehemently opposed to cutting school nurses”. She stated that she had other items that she could bring up that would not affect children.

2. Pat Watkins said that she would hope that IEPs would cover children that would require personal nursing care. A nurse teacher is different.

3. Barry Martasian stated that he would like to see a nurse teacher in every school; however, his concern is that if the committee does not cut this position they will impact the district even greater.

4. Dr. Coppa said that the committee should look at a day in the life of a nurse teacher before they cut the position.

5. Bill Mudge stated that he agreed with Dr. Coppa that there are many other things that could be cut.

6. Dr. Coppa asked about the letter she requested be sent to the associations regarding they take a 1% cut in their raise this year.

7. Kevin Mulvey declared a “Point of Order” stating that the committee had strayed from the topic on the table.

8. Don DeFedele called for a roll call vote:

Pat Watkins In favor Don DeFedele In favor Carol Hueston In favor

Bill Mudge Opposed Barry Martasian In favor

Kevin Mulvey Opposed Denise Coppa Opposed

Denise Coppa motioned to cut the Professional Development Coordinator’s position by half. Bill Mudge seconded the motion.

Don DeFedele stated that this cut would not restore the nurse teacher position.
Denise Coppa informed the committee that it was an “Administrative position to coordinate and notify teachers of professional development,” and has no direct affect on students. She stated that she was adamantly opposed to keeping the position intact while cutting others which directly affected students and programs.
Carol Hueston was curious as to how to cut the position by half.
Dr. Halley replied that the position had been in effect for 6 years, and in order to cut it in half, one would have to have the coordinator teach a class for part of the day as it is a position for a “teacher on assignment for three years”.

A ten minute break was taken at 7:45 pm

The vote on this motion was 2, Dr. Coppa and Bill Mudge, in favor and 5 against.

Kevin Mulvey motioned to pull the strings program off of the table. Denise Coppa seconded that motion. Carol Hueston withdrew her motion to return the strings program to extracurricular activity only.

Bill Mudge suggested obtaining confirmation from the Town Council that they will be forgiving the Workers’ Compensation debt in the amount of $133, 003.00. Mr. DeFedele asked that Mr. Quinn obtain that. Dr. Halley agreed with Mr. Mudge, although he suggested thanking them.

Bill Daly stated that he will be scheduling the teachers’ job fair for Wednesday, June 23, 2004.

III. Goals and Objectives for 2004-05 School Year

Pat Watkins and Bill Mudge excused themselves for this portion of the meeting.
Dr. Halley said that some of these needed to be restated.

1. Implementation of Full day K should be continued

2. Continual Improvement of Facilities should also be carried over

3. Need to start working on 05-06 goals

4. Adjust the recommendations at high school and include the recent accreditation areas for improvement

5. Still have to improve student results by 2% every year for NCLB even though we’re already at 2011

6. This is the beginning of the budget process for next year.

Don DeFedele interjected that they should not add programs that they cannot fund.
Denise Coppa stated that the committee should evaluate the programs that have just been cut and their affect on the district.
Barry Martasian added that they should send that evaluation to the Town Council.
Kevin Mulvey said that the committee should still set their goals even if they cannot reach them because of financing. He would like to see all elementary schools be SmART schools.
Dr. Coppa said the Goals and Objectives format was to be laid out differently, but that will be discussed at their retreat in August. She also feels that the committee should meet with the Town Council in September to discuss the recent budget cuts and personnel “so that they understand that Dr. Halley doesn’t just come up with numbers” that the committee “rubber stamps”.
Kevin Mulvey agreed and stated that the committee had to do a better job of communicating with the Town Council.
Denise Coppa stated that the committee must “show them that this is the reaction of their action”. She felt that the School Committee “did not convince them of that last year”.
Barry Martasian agreed with this assertion and stated that he believes in open government.
Dr. Halley cautioned the committee not to be “hung up on the Town Council.” He said the people that the committee must convince are the voters. “That is where we did not do a good job.”
Barry Martasian concurred, and said that the committee did what they had to do in making the budget cuts, but “We don’t have to like it.”
Don DeFedele said that he also agreed and that the committee was elected to make the cuts.

IV. Committee Member/Citizens’ Comments

Although not initially on the agenda, the chairperson allowed time for the public to speak.

Lori Viner requested information on the list of cuts and if it would be available.
Terry Ohs again spoke to the committee about the quality of the colleges to which the North Kingstown seniors were being admitted, and was dismayed that the committee made the cuts to classes at the high school that they did.

V. Motion to Adjourn: A motion was made by Barry Martasian, seconded by Carol Hueston, which passed by unanimous vote to adjourn at 9:40 pm.

V. Respectfully submitted,

V. _______________________________________

V. Konnie M. Mazur

V. School Committee Secretary