NORTH KINGSTOWN SCHOOL COMMITTEE

Monday, September 24, 2001

7:00 PM Business Meeting

Central Administration Building                                                                                                                    100 Fairway Drive

“Challenging Student Excellence”

Minutes

 

           I.          Pledge of Allegiance

 

           I.          Call To Order                      The business meeting was called to order at 7:03 PM.

 

A.            Roll Call                 Present:  Chairperson Lynne Haft, Vice Chairperson Karin L. Forbes, Denise Coppa, Dr. Janice DeFrances, Carol H. Hueston and Patricia E. Watkins

                                                Absent:  Michael R. Northup and Cathy Kaiser, Jamestown School Committee Representative

 

                                                Administration Present:  James M. Halley, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools, Daniel J. McGregor, Ph.D., Director of Pupil Personnel Services, 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.

 

         II.          Open Forum- None

 

       III.          Special Report                     Sport Camps Financial Report by Aaron Thomas  cc (clock counter) 120-  Approved on a motion by Pat Watkins/Carol Hueston (6/0).

 

       IV.          Routine Items

 

A.                  Correspondence  cc  250

Ø       Karin Forbes received correspondence from two Wickford Elementary School parents regarding the class size in the second grade and a telephone call from a parent of a high school senior with questions about senior year.

Ø       Pat Watkins received an invitation to Unity Day that will be held on September 29 from 3-7 pm in the high school cafeteria.  The proceeds will benefit the victims of the disasters and their families.

Ø       Lynne Haft received a memorandum from Dr. Gamble that Davisville Elementary School and Fishing Cove School have each received $10,000.00 Reading Excellence Grants, and a press release about Ms. Penny Hall, teacher of German at the high school, who will receive a Certificate of Merit from The American Association of Teachers of German (AATG) and the Goethe-Institut New York.

Ø       Dr. Halley mentioned that the school department has received a $358,317.00 “COPS In Schools” grant which will support the employment of three additional police officers who will serve as full time School Resource Officers at Wickford Middle School, Davisville Middle School and North Kingstown High School (one at each school).

 

B.                   Calendar  cc  725- Dr. Halley reviewed the calendar for the next two weeks with the school committee.  A Child Opportunity Zone meeting will be held on Thursday, October 4 at 5:30 pm at Davisville Elementary School.  NKESP labor/management meetings will be held on the second Tuesday of each month with NKAPP labor/management meetings being held on the third Tuesday of each month starting in October.  NEA/NK labor/management meetings are to be arranged.

 

CONSENT AGENDA  cc  1046

Approved items on the consent agenda are marked with * on a motion by Pat Watkins and seconded by Carol Hueston (6/0).

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

 

C.                   Approval of Minutes of Prior Meetings*

1.                    August 8, 2001 School Committee Executive Session

2.                    August 22, 2001 School Committee Executive Session

3.                    August 22, 2001 School Committee Business Meeting

4.                    September 12, 2001 School Committee Worksession

 

D.                  Financial Reports*

1.                    Financial Narrative from the Director of Administrative Services

2.                    NKSD Revenue Comparison Report as of 6/30/01

3.                    NKSD Estimated/Actual Revenue Comparison Report for 2001-2002

4.                    NKSD Project Status Report for June, 2001

5.                    NKSD Food Service Statement of Income and Expenses as of 6/30/01

6.                    NKSD Year-To-Date Expenditure Report as of 6/30/01

7.                    NKSD Year-To-Date Expenditure Report as of 8/31/01

 

E.                   Personnel Items*

1.                    Appointments, Certificated Staff:

 

a)                  Brenda Glover, 1.0 FTE 2nd Grade Teacher at Stony Lane, Step 2 with an annual salary of $32,582, effective August 30, 2001 with a seniority date of September 11, 2000.

 

b)                  Lynn Plotkin, .6 FTE Business Teacher at Wickford Middle School, Step 1 with an annual salary of $18,478, pro-rated for 180 days in the 2001/2002 school year with a total salary of $17,883, effective September 10, 2001.

 

2.                    Appointments, Non-Certificated Staff:

 

a)                  Carol Welesko, Specialized Paraprofessional at Quidnessett Elementary School, 6 hours per day, 5 days a week for a total of 30 hours per week, Step 2, Level III, $12.52 per hour, effective September 10, 2001.

 

b)                  Cindy Narcovich, Special Education Paraprofessional at the North Kingstown High School, 6 hours per day, 5 days a week for a total of 30 hours per day, Step 1 @ $9.09 per hour, effective September 18, 2001.

 

3.                    Appointments, 2001/2002 Curriculum Coordinators:

 

Edward Ferrario                                    Science                                  $1121

Jean Larsen                                           Art                                          $1681

Dena Chamberland                              Reading                                 $2242

Suzanne Barry                                      Mathematics                         $2242

Audrey Friedman                                 Language Arts                     $2242

Toni A. Silveira                                    Music                                     $1681

 

4.                    Increase in Hours, Non-Certificated Staff:

 

a)                  Kathleen Morin, Special Education Paraprofessional at Forest Park Elementary School, from 4 to 6 hours per day, 5 days a week for a total of 30 hours per week, Step 2 @ $9.59 per hour, effective September 17, 2001.

 

5.                    Increase in FTE, Certificated Staff:

 

a)                  Tara Harrington, from .8 FTE to 1.0 FTE Art Teacher at the North Kingstown High School, Step 3 with an annual salary of $34,848, effective August 30, 2001.

 

6.                    Approval of Parental Leave of Absence, Certificated Staff:

 

a)                  Terri Mirandou, 1.0 FTE Elementary Teacher at Quidnessett Elementary School, from September 27, 2001 through January 18, 2002.

 

7.                    Disability Retirement, Certificated Staff:

 

a)                  Nancy Mercurio, 1.0 FTE Enrichment Coordinator, effective September 20, 2001.

 

8.                  Resignation, Certificated Staff:

 

a)                  Michael Donahue, Director of Guidance at the North Kingstown High School, effective September 10, 2001.

 

b)            Linda Parente, .6 Business Teacher at Davisville Middle School, effective September 7, 2001

 

END OF CONSENT AGENDA

         V.          Unfinished Business

 

A.                  2000-01 School Budget  cc  1117-  A motion to delete the 2000-01 School Budget as an agenda item for future agendas was made by Pat Watkins/Karin Forbes (6/0).

 

B.                   2001-02 School Budget  cc  1143- Bill Daly and Joe Quinn informed the school committee that temporary custodial help is needed to supplement the current staffing at the high school.  One or two custodians may eventually be hired on a permanent basis.  This is an exception to the budget.  The committee had no objections to this plan.

 

C.                   High School Opening Celebration  cc  1625- The Ocean State Follies are scheduled to perform at the high school during the dedication weekend.  Their presentation will be adjusted for propriety with respect to younger students.

 

       VI.          New Business

 

A.                  Conduct Policy- First Reading  cc  3157

This policy is being deferred to the 10/10/01 worksession.  Mr. Peter Olsen and the Department of Education are reviewing the Conduct Policy.  Mr. Olsen is also reviewing the policies on Searches and Seizures and Weapons in Schools.

 

B.                   Policy Subcommittee Recommendations for Approval  cc  3300

1.                    Assignment of Students to School of Attendance (JCA) for amendment

NSBA Policy # JCA for amendment as per the 9/12/01 worksession minutes with the following change was approved on a motion by Pat Watkins/Carol Hueston (6/0):

Add the words “kindergarten and” under the Policy Statement section, under item number 2, last sentence:

2.             Each student will attend the elementary or middle school located in the attendance area within the stipulated boundaries as established by the accompanying administrative directive to this policy, while the entire boundaries of the district shall serve as the designated attendance boundary lines for kindergarten and high school students.

 

2.                    Deviation from Attendance Boundary Policy (JCAC) for amendment-

A motion to approve NSBA Policy # JCAC for amendment as per the 9/12/01 worksession minutes was made by Pat Watkins and seconded by Carol Hueston. 

Lynne Haft passed the gavel to Karin Forbes and presented the following motion for Mike Northup, who was absent, at his request: That Policy JCAC be amended by the addition of the following words (in bold) to the last sentence of #1E:  “…as determined necessary by the Superintendent and approved by the School Committee.”  Denise Coppa seconded the motion.  The motion to amend failed unanimously.

 

NSBA Policy # JCAC for amendment as per the 9/12/01 worksession minutes was approved unanimously.

3.                    Town Treasurer and School Funds (BCBB) for rescission*

4.                    Principals/General Provisions (GCAA) for rescission*

5.                    Leave of Absence Procedures (GCBD-GDBD) and Absences and Leaves (GDBD/GCBD) for rescission*

6.                    School Day Deviation (ID) for rescission*

 

*Agenda items VII. B. 3.-6. were approved for rescission on a motion by Pat Watkins/Karin Forbes (6/0).

     VII.          Reports

 

1.                    Enrollment Report  cc  4044- Current enrollment is 4,545 students which is down a little from last year.  A number of classes are close to having 25 students in them throughout the district.  Dr. Halley will remain watchful over class sizes.

 

2.                    Policy Subcommittee Report  cc  4220- Karin Forbes asked the committee to revisit the policy on Districting/Redistricting (JCAA) in terms of which criteria they wish to keep in the policy.  Policy # JCAA along with eight other policies will be on the 10/10/01 worksession agenda.

 

3.                    RIASC and other Legislative Activity  cc  4524- Karin Forbes reported that the Federal Government is still considering Special Education Legislation.  Pat Watkins spoke about the Federal Government moving forward to produce a comprehensive educational packet that puts required testing into place.  Ms. Watkins suggested that the district stay alert to any financial support it may receive to implement the testing.

 

   VIII.          Comments  cc  4705

 

Ø             The committee praised the schools for great “open house” evenings.

Ø             Everyone thanked Denise Coppa for writing an excellent letter to the editor of the Standard-Times.

Ø             Carol Hueston was asked to compose a paragraph to include in the High School Dedication Program.

Ø             Joe Quinn commented regarding a capital improvement program.  Special needs buses will be continued at one per year, an addition to Davisville Elementary School, modifications to Forest Park Elementary School, modifications to Wickford Middle School, and as a last priority, construction of a new central administration building were noted bringing the number of requests to five.  Rough estimates will be incorporated into the Municipality Report.  The capital improvement program will be presented at a formal hearing before the Asset Management Commission. 

Ø             Denise Coppa complimented the new art work in the Margaret Jones Room. 

Ø             Barry Martasian suggested that students help with cleaning duties after school.

Ø             Dr. Halley said that for the most part, the high school program has been functioning.  There is concern regarding getting technology up and running.  Teachers are working around adversity and doing a great job with offering the program.

Ø             The superintendent informed the committee that next week SORICO is holding a meeting in the Decision Center on superintendent/school committee relationships.

 

       IX.          Home Schooling- Home Schooling requests were approved on a motion by Pat Watkins/Karin Forbes (6/0).

 

         X.          A motion to adjourn was made by Pat Watkins/Carol Hueston (6/0) at 8:13 PM, clock counter 1:10:15.

                                                                                                Respectfully submitted,

 

                                                                                                _______________________________________

                                                                                                Donna F. Keough

                                                                                                School Committee Secretary