NORTH KINGSTOWN SCHOOL COMMITTEE

Wednesday, October 8, 2003

6:30 PM Reception to Honor Teacher of the Year, Kathleen Mellor

7:00 PM Worksession

Central Administration Building 100 Fairway Drive, North Kingstown

“Challenging Student Excellence”

Minutes

Prior to the start of the meeting, a reception was held to honor this year’s North Kingstown Teacher of the Year, Ms. Kathleen Mellor. Ms. Mellor was chosen because of her many accomplishments as well as her outstanding teaching career. Ms. Mellor teaches English as a Second Language at Davisville Middle School, and has vastly contributed to the ESL program in the district.

Nominated by fellow ESL teacher Patricia Kirwin for basically founding the current English as a Second Language program in the North Kingstown School district, Ms. Mellor has stated that her students’ overall successes also depend on the work of all classroom teachers. Ms. Mellor thanked those who nominated her as she “respects and esteems them as colleagues”, and she thanked Dr. Halley for “supporting the initiative”.

Ms. Mellor is also a finalist for the Rhode Island Teacher of the Year award.

I. Pledge of Allegiance

II. Call To Order The meeting was called to order at 7:14 PM.

III. Roll Call Present: Chairperson Don DeFedele; Vice Chairperson Dr. Denise Coppa;

Carol Hueston; Barry Martasian; Bill Mudge; Kevin Mulvey; Pat Watkins; and

Cathy Kaiser, Jamestown School Committee Representative

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

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

IV. Routine Items

A. Correspondence and Good News

· Pat Watkins congratulated Teacher of the Year, Kathleen Mellor, on the reception of her award.

· Joseph Quinn, Director of Administrative Services, stated that Davisville Elementary School would reopen Thursday, October 9, 2003, after being closed for roof repairs.

B. Calendars – Dr. Halley and Don DeFedele went over the calendars for the next two weeks with the School Committee

V. Presentation Robinson Green Beretta Corporation ~ Feasibility Study Discussion

Steve Hughes and David DeQuattro of RGB went over the Existing Facilities Minimum Repair Cost Report (Appendix A) which was requested by the School Committee. Each school outlined in the report, Davisville Elementary, Fishing Cove Elementary, Forest Park Elementary, Wickford Elementary, and Wickford Middle School, was discussed, line-by-line with the School Committee and a few members of the Asset Management Commission. Some of their questions included:

· Bill Mudge questioned whether the mentioned toilet renovations at Davisville Elementary School were complete replacements or repairs to existing plumbing fixtures. Any ADA violations? RGB Response: No, Davisville Elementary School is ADA compliant in this area.

However, school is K-3 and toilet fixtures need modernizing to make ready for K-5 school.

· Carol Hueston questioned whether or not the septic system could handle the addition to Davisville Elementary. RGB responded in the affirmative, and stated that it too could be added on to.

· The members of the Asset Management Commission had questions regarding the necessity of the perimeter fence surrounding each elementary school as Davisville Elementary School already has a fence surrounding its playground. The assumption being that the playground fence is to keep the children in, and yet the perimeter fence is to keep unwanted individuals out. Dr. Halley responded that yes, this was the case and the inevitability for the perimeter fences appears to be an increasing probability given the current climate of society.

· They were also interested in the necessity of “Central Air Conditioning” at Davisville Elementary because of the 7 figure cost. RGB responded that it was not a central air conditioning system but a mechanical ventilation system which is within mechanical code compliance. There will be AC to the cafeteria only.

· The members of the Asset Management Commission were interested in the lighting at Davisville Elementary School and Wickford Middle School as both schools are dark and students and staff must find it difficult to see. RGB stated that DES currently has fixtures that can be retrofitted, but WMS must be rewired and the lighting must be upgraded throughout.

· The sprinkler system at Fishing Cove Elementary was also of interest to the Asset Management Commission, and discussion was made as to the installation. RGB stated that the sprinkler system will be a drop type system.

· Carol Hueston questioned if any of the work listed for Fishing Cove Elementary had been done since the reopening. RGB responded negatively.

· Don DeFedele wanted to know if any of the buildings could be used during the work. RGB replied that depending on the work being done arrangements could be made for the usage of the buildings.

· The members of the Asset Mgmt. Commission were curious about leakage and cost of removal of underground oil tanks at Fishing Cove. Joe Quinn responded that the cost of the removal of the tanks at the High School was approximately $300,000.00. They also wanted to know if the heat would be replaced with gas heat, and RGB responded in the affirmative.

· A member of the Asset Mgmt. Commission requested that RGB go back and double check the cost listed for the emergency lighting for Forest Park Elementary School; there appears to be an error. RGB agreed that the cost appeared to be excessive and they would adjust their figures.

· Kevin Mulvey questioned whether any of the work on these lists would be duplicated if the entire scope of work in the Feasibility Study were later taken on. RGB responded negatively, except for the possibility of Wickford Middle School.

· Bill Mudge stated that the problem at Wickford Middle School appeared to be capacity only. Dr. Halley disagreed, and said that it is a “program problem”. The building “does not allow for programs to function effectively” for students.

· Discussion ensued between the Asset Mgmt Commission, RGB, the School Committee and the Administration regarding the upgrade of the tennis courts and fields at Wickford Middle School. The members of the Asset Mgmt Commission felt that as members of the community also use the tennis courts, perhaps there may be other methods of funding this portion of the project such as the Enterprise Fund. Dr. Halley reminded the members of the 30% funding to be received by the state.

· Bill Mudge questioned if anyone had checked to see if it were possible to use the projected area for a septic system at Wickford Middle School.

· Barry Martasian also wanted it noted that “drainage of the fields goes hand in hand with the septic system correction”. RGB replied that Mr. Martasian’s assertion was correct.

VI. Open Forum – David Brynn stated that problems have been identified in Wickford Harbor because of failing septic systems. “It would behoove us to look into the environmental impact” of Wickford Elementary School and Wickford Middle School’s septic systems.

A ten-minute break was taken at 9:05 pm. The meeting resumed at 9:15 pm.

VII. New Business

A. Adoption of Handwriting Program for Elementary

· Denise Coppa questioned when the instruction of cursive handwriting is instituted, as it appears that some schools start it at different grade levels than others. Barbara Fitzsimmons, Director of Curriculum, replied that this had been noted and adoption of this program would resolve that issue.

· Pat Watkins/Carol Hueston motioned to send the item to the October 22, 2003 Business Meeting for adoption. Vote: 7/0

B. Revised School Calendar

· Dr. Halley suggested that January 23, 2004 be used as a make up day for students district wide, in place of a Professional Development day, for one of the days lost due to the strike.

· David Brynn questioned if it were possible to make it so that school does not begin until after Labor Day. Dr. Halley explained that although students still attend school 180 days, Professional Development days for teachers which are being adopted state wide, are lengthening the school calendar.

· Kathy Brown reiterated her request to take some of the make up days from the 2-week Christmas vacation, and was curious to know when the students from DES would be making up the days lost from the roofing repairs. Dr. Halley said that he has requested input from the Commissioner and from the SAC at Davisville Elementary School.

· Pat Watkins/Carol Hueston motioned to send the item to the October 22, 2003 Business Meeting for adoption. Vote 7/0

C. 2004-05 School Budget – As there was no discussion on this topic, the item has been moved to the November 5, 2003 Worksession Agenda

VIII. Unfinished Business

A. School Modernization Implementation – See Presentation

B. 2002-03 School Budget – No discussion

C. 2003-04 School Budget – No discussion

D. 2003-04 School Department Goals and Objectives – KeyWorks meeting scheduled for October 15, 2003 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm has been changed to a School Committee meeting for a discussion of the RGB Feasibility Study.

IX. Comments

· Korrine Erickson was concerned with the continual discussion of “bean counting” but pleased that Dr. Halley did eventually mention students, and feels that the town still has great educational programs in spite of the facilities.

· Kathy Brown is pleased with the list serves used by some of the schools. The open houses that she attended worked out well even without the teachers – she learned a great deal at the High School open house. Dr. Halley advised parents in the audience to set up an appointment to meet with teachers if they felt the need for more information.

X. Motion to Adjourn to Executive Session pursuant to RIGL 42-46-4 and 42-46-5 (1) and (2) for Personnel Issues*, negotiations, and Home Schooling Requests was made by Kevin Mulvey/Carol Hueston at 9:50 pm. Clock counter 2:49:02:26. *At the election of the employee, the personnel matter may be heard in public.

Respectfully submitted,

_______________________________________

Konnie M. Mazur

School Committee Secretary