NORTH KINGSTOWN SCHOOL COMMITTEE

August 22, 2001

7:00 PM Business Meeting

Stony Lane Elementary School                                                                                                          825 Stony Lane, North Kingstown

“Challenging Student Excellence”

Minutes

 

           I.          Pledge of Allegiance

         II.          Call to Order                        The meeting was called to order at 7:08 PM.

A.            Roll Call                 Present:  Chairperson Lynne Haft, Vice Chairperson Karin L. Forbes, Denise Coppa, Dr. Janice DeFrances (present at 7:40 PM), Carol H. Hueston, Michael R. Northup and Cathy Kaiser, Jamestown School Committee Representative

                                                Absent:  Patricia E. Watkins

 

                                                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 and William J. Daly, Director of Human Resources

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

 

       III.          Open Forum

q       Barry Martasian of Waterwheel Lane questioned what the procedures are for school bus drivers and paraprofessionals on the bus in terms of how they treat the children.  Is there a handbook for parents regarding rules and regulations for paraprofessionals and bus drivers?  Dr. Halley said that individual instances of mistreatment need to be reported.  Mr. Daly will have an orientation for paraprofessionals on August 30 dealing with De-escalation Techniques and Bullying and Teasing.

 

       VI.          Routine Items

A.                  Correspondence

q       All members received a letter from Representative Benson.

q       Karin Forbes received a telephone call regarding the use of the weight room at the high school.

q       Lynne Haft received a letter regarding walkways on Fairway and Annaquatucket that was referred to the Town for a response, and a telephone call regarding redistricting.

 

B.                   Calendar-  Dr. Halley reviewed the calendar for the next two weeks with the school committee.  The school committee is invited to tour the schools during the first days with the superintendent.  School starts September 4 for grades 1-8, September 7 for kindergarten, and September 10 for grades 10-12.

 

CONSENT AGENDA

Approved items on the consent agenda are marked with * on a motion by Denise Coppa and seconded by Carol Hueston (5/0).

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

C.                   Approval of the Minutes of Prior Meetings*

1.                    August 8, 2001 School Committee Worksession

D.                  Bids and Awards

1.                    Special Needs School Bus Replacement Bid*-  Dattco, Inc. is awarded $108,330.88 as the lowest qualified bidder for two Special Needs Buses per bid specifications.  The cost will be funded by the budgeted amount of $100,000.00 with the remaining $8,330.88 being charged to the transportation account.

 

 

2.                    Reconditioning of Wrestling Mats Bid*-  Resilite is awarded $10,090.00 as the lowest qualified bidder to recondition the wrestling mats.

 

3.                    NKHS Window Cleaning Bid Results*-  The semi-annual cleaning of the NKHS windows, as determined by the Supervisor of Plant and Grounds is authorized.  TC Janitorial & Window Cleaning is awarded $5,000.00 per cleaning as the lowest qualified bidder.

 

4.                    Insurance Bids**- This item was exempted by Dr. Halley for discussion.  Mr. Quinn was pleased to report that insurance coverage by the RI Interlocal Risk Management Trust will result in better coverage for less money.  A motion to approve insurance coverage by the trust conditional upon approval by the Town Council on 8/23/01 was made by Mike Northup/Karin Forbes (5/0).

 

E.                   Quarterly Security Report- April-June, 2001*

F.                   Personnel Items*

1.                    Appointments, Non-Certificated Staff:

 

a)                   Cindy Highling, 3rd Shift Custodian at the North Kingstown, Step 1 @ $10.90 per hour, effective August 20, 2001.

 

b)                   Robin Tallman, Food Service Worker at Wickford Elementary School, 2 hours per day, 5 days a week for a total of 10 hours per week, Step 1 @ $7.55 per hour, effective August 30, 2001.

 

c)                   Deborah A. Gardiner, Breakfast Supervisor at Wickford Elementary, 1 hour a day, 5 days a week for a total of 5 hours per week, Step 2 @ $7.77 per hour, effective August 30, 2001.

 

d)                   Julia Moon, Food Service Worker at the North Kingstown High School, 5 hours per day, 5 days a week for a total of 25 hours per week, Step 3 @ $7.99 per hour, effective August 27, 2001.

 

e)                   Robert Rodrigues, Sr. 3rd 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 @ $10.90 per hour + an hourly stipend of $.20 with a total hourly rate of $11.10, effective August 23, 2001.

 

f)                    Susan Boudreau, Breakfast Supervisor at Forest Park Elementary School, 1 hour per day, 5 days a week for a to total of 5 hours per week, Step 2 @ $7.77 per hour, effective September 4, 2001.

 

g)                   Lisa Van Berlo, Food Service Worker at the North Kingstown High School, 3 hours per day, 5 days a week for a total of 15 hours per week, Step 1 @ $7.55 per hour, effective August 30, 2001.

 

h)                   Margaret Kohlman, Food Service Worker at Forest Park Elementary School, 2 hours per day, 5 days a week for a total of 10 hours per day, effective

August 30, 2001.

 

i)                     Joyce Belshaw, Itinerant Media Clerk, 7 hours per day, 5 days a week for a total of 35 hours per week, Step 1 at $10.57 per hour, effective September 4, 2001.

 

j)                     Shauna Bucci, Specialized Paraprofessional at Fishing Cove School, 6 hours per day, 5 days a week for a total of 30 hours per week, Step 1, Level III @ $12.03 per hour, effective August 30, 2001.

 

2.                    Request for Unpaid Parental Leave of Absence, Certificated Staff:

 

a)                   Susan Alexander, 1.0 FTE Elementary Teacher at Hamilton Elementary School for the 2001/2002 school year.

 

3.                    Appointments, Certificated Staff:

 

a)                   Cathleen Dowd, 1.0 FTE Dance/Drama Teacher at Quidnessett Elementary School, Step 1 with an annual salary of $30,797, effective August 30, 2001 with a seniority date of March 20, 2001.

 

b)                   Kim Johnson, 1.0 FTE 2nd Grade Teacher at Stony Lane School, Step 3 with an annual salary of $34,848, effective August 30, 2001 with a seniority date of February 18, 2000.

 

c)                   Catherine Bodner, 1.0 FTE Dance/Drama Teacher at Stony Lane Elementary School, Step 10 plus a Masters with an annual salary of $58,446, effective August 30, 2001.

 

d)                   Barbara-Jean Medeiros, 1.0 FTE Dance/Drama Teacher at Forest Park Elementary School, Step 7 plus Masters + 30 credits with an annual salary of $47,565, effective

August 30, 2001.

 

e)             Susan Imschweiler, 1.0 FTE Special Education at Davisville Elementary, Step 4 with an annual salary of $36,798, effective August 30, 2001.

 

4.                    Appointment, 2001/2002 Advisors:

 

North Kingstown High School

 

Richard Dunne                     Senior Class Co-Advisor                                    $1030

Charles King                         Senior Class Co-Advisor                                    $1030

Ronald Kenyon                    Junior Class Advisor                                           $1648

Thomas Doran                      Sophomore Class Co-Advisor                           $  618

Darrel Sutton                        Sophomore Class Co-Advisor                           $  618

Charles King                         Yearbook Advisor                                               $1545

Harry Aharonian                  Computer Science Club Advisor                       $  624

Lynn Sironen                        Environmental Club Co-Advisor                       $  390

Lynn Wolslegel                    Environmental Club Co-Advisor                       $  351

John Daneau                         Explorers Club Co-Advisor                                $  429

Donna Manchester              Explorers Club Co-Advisor                                $  429

Linda Twardowski               Interact Club Advisor                                         $1014

Teresa Lowe                         Math League Co-Advisor                                  $  351

Richard Ku                            Math League Co-Advisor                                  $292.50

Lisa Garcia                             National Honor Society Club            $331.50

                                                Co-Advisor

Matthew Blaser                    National Honor Society Club                             $331.50

                                                Co-Advisor

Brian Lacroix                         Ski Club Advisor                                                  $  546

Mary Gardiner                      Student Council Advisor                                    $  624

Mary Gardiner                      Close Up                                                                $  702

 

5.                    Approval of Job Sharing, Certificated Staff:

 

a)                   Cheryl DeCotis-Thomas, .6 FTE English Teacher at the North Kingstown High School, Step 8 plus a Masters with an annual salary of $29,523, effective August 30, 2001.

 

b)                   Lynda Tisdell, .4 FTE English Teacher at the North Kingstown High School, Step 10 plus a Masters with an annual salary of $23,378, effective August 30, 2001.

 

END OF CONSENT AGENDA

 

 

 

     VII.          Unfinished Business

A.                  2001-02 Budget

The enrollment report was discussed in terms of the possibility of adding a minimum of two elementary teachers at a conservatively estimated cost of $100,000.

 

B.                   Discussion of Capital Improvement Committee Report and School Committee Process/Timeline for Capital Improvement Plan

 

Dr. Halley explained that there is adequate classroom space in the kindergarten and elementary schools.  The distribution of schools is not good and redistricting is an ever-present problem.  Pairing of grades would help class sizes be more consistent.  Middle school capacity is barely adequate at this point.  According to the Superintendent, there are programmatic problems at Wickford Middle School and no flexibility to deal with it.

 

Options 1 and 2 that were developed by the Capital Improvement Advisory Committee are favored since they do not involve a bonding proposal this year.  A combination of a less expensive bond issue and budgeted capital improvement money offers just one alternative in a range of options for the future.

 

As stated per the Capital Improvement Advisory Committee’s Final Report, Options 1 and 2 are described here.

 

Option 1:       Capital improvements to existing schools; no new school; no grade reconfiguration.

Summary:     Currently identified capital needs (total)                                                  $2,455,000             

                                        Davisville Elementary listed improvements             $  150,000

                                        Wickford Elementary listed improvements              $  365,000

                                        WMS listed improvements                                         $1,940,000

 

Additional classrooms, to increase Middle School capacity; Davisville Middle School or Wickford Middle School, 6-8 additional classrooms (est. $200 sf, 750 sf each)                                                                                                           $1,200,000                                                                                        

 

Elementary school improvements, including special instructional and media spaces (Wickford Elementary, Forest Park, Davisville Elementary)                                                                                                                               $3– 4,000,000

 

Total estimated costs                                                                                                                                          $6.655 – 7.655 m

                                                                                                            

 

                                Option 2:       Reconfigure grades of schools through pairing.

 

                                                        Pair elementary schools within familiar communities (gym and without gym)

                        Full time K-2nd grade

                        3rd – 5th (6th) (depending on middle school numbers)

 

                        Forest Park with Quidnessett

                        Davisville with Stony Lane

                        Wickford with Hamilton

                        Fishing Cove as an additional Pre-K – 3

 

                                A motion was made by Mike Northup/Carol Hueston (6/0) that administration be directed to prepare information on Options 1 and 2 to be presented at open hearings as scheduled. 

 

 

 

 

 

C.                   Annual Agenda

 

The committee addressed the frequency with which the following reports are received.  For some documents/presentations, the frequency of reporting will differ going forward.

 

Report                                                                                                                                    Frequency

 

Financial Narrative from the Director of Administrative Services                                Monthly (same)

NKSD Year to Date Expenditure Report                                                                           Monthly (same)

NKSD Grant Status Report                                                                                 End of Year (was monthly)

NKSD Food Service Report                                                                                               End of Year (same)

NKSD Revenue Comparison Report                                                                 Quarterly (was monthly)

Security Report                                                                                                                    Quarterly (same)

LINKS Report                                                                                                                       End of Year (was bi-annual)

SELAC Report (SELAC President invited to report at end of year)                             Bi-Monthly

 

   VIII.          New Business

A.                  2001-02 Standing Orders as Amended for Approval

A motion to approve the following additional text (in bold print) to the 2001-02 Standing Orders was made by Mike Northup/Karin Forbes (6/0). 

 

                Page 6

 

                Under “DOCUMENTATION”

 

2.                    A report containing all pertinent information relative to a serious accident or emergency sustained by a student staff member, or visitor must be completed by the school nurse, school principal, or person delegated by him/her prior to the end of the school day DURING WHICH THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.

 

Page 7

 

Under “MEDICATIONS IN SCHOOL”

                “General Guidelines”

 

1.             A certified school nurse teacher shall administer medications to students within the school setting (with the exception of Epi-Pen administration and self-carry provisions).  No layperson, other than a parent shall administer medication to a student with the exception of Epi-Pen administration for an emergency, UNLESS SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED IN WRITING BY A PARENT/GUARDIAN.

 

 

B.                   Career/Vocational Curriculum and Textbooks for Adoption-  Motion to approve Career/Vocational Curriculum and Textbooks for Adoption as presented at the 8/8/01 worksession by Mike Northup/Carol Hueston (6/0).

 

C.                   Presentation Format Draft for Approval-  A motion to approve the Presentation Format Guidelines as presented at the 8/8/01 worksession by Denise Coppa/Mike Northup (6/0).  Denise Coppa will draft a template for reports submitted to the School Committee in order to highlight the type of information that is required.  The report template will include information about how written reports must be distributed to the school committee before the presentation at the meeting.

 

 

 

 

D.                  Labor/Management Committee Liaisons

Labor Management Committee Liaisons for School Year 2001-02

Teachers-NEA/NK                              Mike Northup, Carol Hueston

Support Personnel-NKESP Karin Forbes, Pat Watkins

Paraprofessionals-NKAPP                 Dr. Janice DeFrances, Lynne Haft

 

E.                   Homework Regulations for Acceptance- NSBA # IKB-R

A motion to accept the homework regulations was made by Mike Northup/Carol Hueston.  The motion was amended by Dr. DeFrances/Mike Northup to add number seven to the regulations- “Appropriate accommodations per IDEA or 504 Plans will be made.”  The motion as amended passed unanimously. 

 

 

NORTH KINGSTOWN SCHOOL COMMITTEE                                             IKB-R

 

        ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATION

for Policy on

Homework

 

PURPOSE:

 

                The purpose of this directive is to set forth administrative guidelines and general expectations in regard to the fulfillment of the School Committee’s intent in stipulating that the assignment of homework becomes, and is maintained as, an integral and important component of a student’s education and preparation for life.

 

DIRECTIVE EXPECTATIONS:

 

                To insure the maintenance of a proper perspective in the fulfillment of the policy, the following guidelines are set forth:

 

1.                    Homework may include reading and study assignments in a given subject, written and oral practices and review, and preparation for upcoming class work.  Homework may also include extended or long-term projects requiring significant amounts of time.  These projects are intended to be carried out incrementally over time rather than in a single evening and should be planned for accordingly.  Such long-term assignments should be given in writing with time and requirement specification and shall be accompanied by guidance to students on the importance of time management.

 

2.                    The requirements of the curriculum, individual student differences, and teacher judgment are all factors affecting the amount of homework assigned to students.  Homework assignments should increase gradually in difficulty and frequency throughout the grades.

 

3.                    The following general parameters are designed to provide district-wide coordination of the average amount of homework time expected of students from one grade level to the next, among the schools within the district, and from classroom to classroom at the secondary level.  Specific reference to an allocation of time should be interpreted to mean “not to exceed” that collective amount of time for all homework assigned for the time period in reference.

 

a.     Kindergarten:                Parents are encouraged to review the child’s day with him/her, using the papers brought home as a starting point.  Children will also benefit from reading and playing numbers games regularly outside of the classroom.  Materials for these purposes may be sent home occasionally.

b.     Grades 1,2 and 3:          10 to 35 minutes per night

c.     Grades 4 and 5:             45 to 50 minutes per night

d.     Grades 6,7 and 8:          1 to 1 ½ hours per night

e.     Grades 9-12:                  1 ½ hour to 2 ½ hours per night

4.                    At the elementary Level (Grades K-5), homework should not be assigned on Fridays or before holidays and school vacations.

 

5.                    Each individual school must establish specific written guidelines for completion and return of homework and should reference:

a.        its impact on a student’s grade

b.       consequences for failure to complete

c.        amount of parental involvement

d.       Teachers shall distribute these guidelines to parents and students.

 

6.                    All students need to be aware of the importance of reading on a daily basis whether or not reading is specifically assigned as homework.

 

7.                    Appropriate accommodations per IDEA or 504 Plans will be made.

 

Adopted: May 17, 1982

Amended 8/22/01

 

F.                   Position Paper to Support Special Education for Approval

A motion to approve the following Position Paper to Support Special Education was made by Karin Forbes/Carol Hueston (6/0).  A copy will be sent to State Senators and Representatives and the Town Council.

 

North Kingstown School Committee

 

Position Paper

Federal Financial Support of Education

(approved by the North Kingstown School Committee on 8/22/01)

 

In 1977, Congress passed P.L. 94-142 which entitled students with special needs to a free and appropriate education.  The local educational agencies have implemented this law which is now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) at great expense to their local budgets.

 

                Congress initially promised that 40% of the average per pupil expenditure (APPE) would be funded by the federal government.  This promise was never kept with the public schools throughout the United States.  Recently, there have been bi-partisan efforts in Congress to keep that promise of fully funding IDEA.  One such bill is the Hage/Harkins Amendment currently under consideration in congress calling for the full funding of IDEA within the next six years.

 

Over the course of ten years, local school districts could potentially treat as local funds up to $77.12 billion in federal funds.  Special Education would retain a minimum total allocation of $104.06 billion over the same period.  This assumes that the school districts would exercise their right to treat as local funds up to 55% of the increased federal funds each year as provided under the Hage/Harkins Amendment.

 

  The North Kingstown School Committee supports the Hage/Harkins Amendment currently under consideration in congress.

 

 

 

 

       IX.          Reports

A.                  Enrollment Report- This was discussed under Item VII. A.

B.                   Policy Subcommittee- The Policy Subcommittee will have available for discussion three policies dealing with Attendance and four policies recommended for rescission at the 9/12/01 worksession.  The Policy Subcommittee was asked to determine if there is a policy regarding AM/PM Kindergarten. 

 

         X.          Comments

q       Dr. DeFrances questioned Dr. Halley about the distribution of SPECTRA between schools.  Dr. Halley explained that some schools are not yet in the implementation phase. 

q       Lynne Haft wished everyone a happy school opening.

q       Mr. Quinn updated the committee on construction projects.  At Davisville Middle School, lighting improvements will be completed shortly.  At Quidnessett Elementary School, work is progressing well and the foundation is expected to be poured in October.

q       Dr. Halley said that progress at the high school is going well.  The school committee is invited to opening day at Davisville Middle School on August 30 at 9:00 AM. 

q       A parent asked what the procedure is for any situation that may not be covered under school policy.  In these cases, usually state law can be referred to or a school administrator may be consulted. 

q       Dr. Halley proudly mentioned that he is looking forward to working with the “best group of administrators we’ve ever had.  It’s going to be a great year.”

 

       XI.          A motion to adjourn to Executive Session pursuant to RIGL 42-46-4 and 42-46-5 (1) and (2) for Personnel Issues*, and Home Schooling Requests was made by Mike Northup/Dr. DeFrances at 9:05 PM.  A roll call vote yielded unanimous approval.  At the conclusion of the executive session, the School Committee will return to open session; however, no business will be conducted.  *At the election of the employee, the personnel matter may be heard in public.

 

 

                                                                                                Respectfully submitted,

 

 

                                                                                                _______________________________________

                                                                                                Donna F. Keough

                                                                                                School Committee Secretary