NORTH KINGSTOWN SCHOOL COMMITTEE

Wednesday, December 4, 2002

5:30 PM Executive Session for a Student Expulsion Hearing, and

6:00 PM Executive Session for a Level III Grievance Hearing

Pursuant to RIGL 42-46-4 and 42-46-5 (1) and (2)

7:00 PM Worksession

Central Administration Building 100 Fairway Drive, North Kingstown

“Challenging Student Excellence”

Minutes

I. Pledge of Allegiance

II. Call To Order: Roll Call: The meeting was called to order at 7:06 PM.

Present: Chairperson Don DeFedele, Vice Chairperson Dr. Denise Coppa, Lynne Haft, Patricia E. Watkins, Barry Martasian, Bill Mudge, Kevin Mulvey, and Cathy Kaiser, Jamestown School Committee

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 Quinn, Director of Administrative Services,

William J. Daly, Director of Human Resources, and Maureen Buck, Controller

III. Joint Meeting: North Kingstown/Jamestown School Committees Tuition Contract for

Discussion and Action

The Jamestown School Committee respectfully asks the North Kingstown School Committee to Consider:

An Immediate change in start date for the tuition year/new rate (see Appendices A1 and A2)
The formation of a North Kingstown School Committee subcommittee to meet with a Jamestown School Committee subcommittee to continue discussion and revision of the tuition calculation procedure.

Comments:

Lynne Haft stated that there has been a working relationship between the two towns for the past 25 years, and she would like to commend the quality of the students that come from Jamestown.

Bill Mudge felt that there were four items that were involved with this issue that he felt were important: scheduling, equity, legality, and rate. However, he stressed the legality of the issue and feels that it is the Town Council’s responsibility to levy revenue, and that the School Committee does not have the power. His position is that “only the town council/town manager have the authority (he states Town Charter Sections 908, 1004, and 1005) to determine what revenues are to be included in the town’s budget. Therefore, the town council must approve and/or set the tuition rate for all out of town students attending North Kingstown to establish the overall budget revenue derived from tuitions. The School Committee does not have the authority to forgive or forego established tuition rates/revenues which are derived from the approval of the town budget by the Town Council.”
Peter Olsen, solicitor for the North Kingstown School Committee, submitted his written opinion on the legality of the agreement between the two school committees (Appendix B), and respectfully disagreed with Mr. Mudge.

Motions:

Bill Mudge made a motion that the authority of the School Committee to establish/set the tuition rate be reassessed by the Town Solicitor. Barry Martasian seconded the motion; the vote was 1 in favor, 6 against.
Pat Watkins made a motion to accept the request by the Jamestown School Committee to change the start date of payments to the end of the first semester of this school year and to establish a subcommittee to look into the matter of revising the current contract with Jamestown. Lynne Haft seconded the motion. Bill Mudge added an amendment to the motion of having the Town Solicitor reassess the authority of the School Committee to levy revenue prior to action being taken on this motion. The amendment received no second. The vote revealed Don DeFedele, Denise Coppa, Lynne Haft, Kevin Mulvey, and Pat Watkins in favor; Bill Mudge voted against the motion because he feels the school committee has no authority in this issue; Barry Martasian and Cathy Kaiser abstained. During discussion, mention was made of the fact that the approval of this motion would result in the forgoing of approximately $86,400.00 to the town budget.

IV. Open Forum:

Bob Sullivan would like to echo Lynne Haft’s comments regarding the quality of the students from Jamestown. He finds them to be excellent students. He also hopes that the School Committee members received a letter from the NEANK regarding negotiations and he anticipates working with the School Committee in the New Year.

V. Routine Items:

A. Correspondence and Good News

· Pat Watkins would like to congratulate the schools receiving honors.

· Bill Mudge submitted 2 emails for the minutes of this meeting (Appendices C and D)

· Denise Coppa received two letters regarding the pre-calculus class and a health issue.

· Don discussed an article he read regarding Davisville Middle School’s recent high achievement.

· Dr. Halley mentioned that it was not only DMS, but also Forest Park and Hamilton Elementary who received recognition by the state as a Regent School. North Kingstown was second in the state in number of schools recognized, and he would like to commend the teachers and students for their remarkable achievements.

B. Calendar – Dr. Halley reviewed the calendar for the next two weeks with the school committee.

C. Bids and Awards

VI. Unfinished Business

A. 2002-03 School Budget – none

B. 2002-03 School Department Goals and Objectives – none

C. 2003-04 School Department Goals and Objectives – none

D. School Modernization Advisory Committee – Made its presentation at this meeting. The report was accepted by the School Committee and placed on the December 18, 2002 Business Meeting agenda, an item to authorize a comprehensive facilities study to upgrade Wickford Middle School, and possibly others. Copies of this report are available at the Central Administration Building.

E. Elementary K-5 Organization Advisory Committee – School Committee to take the report given by this committee, and the School Modernization Advisory Committee, into consideration during upcoming reconfiguration planning stages.

VII. New Business

A. High School Pre-Calculus Class: Discussion – Initially placed on this agenda when parent Dr. Robert Binek complained to the School Committee that there were 33 students in the pre-calculus class and some were failing.

A report to the School Committee on The Process Used at NKHS to Establish and Monitor Class Sizes was detailed by Gerald Foley, Principal of the High School. After much discussion with parental, teacher and administrative input, a motion was made by Denise Coppa to put an item on the December 18, 2002 Business Meeting to add an additional teacher to instruct the subject. Bill Mudge seconded the motion. A vote was taken on the motion, which passed with Denise Coppa, Bill Mudge, Barry Martasian, and Don DeFedele voting “Yes”; and Lynne Haft, Pat Watkins, and Kevin Mulvey voting “No”.

B. Elementary PE Curriculum – School Committee impressed with level of improvement of curricula. Lynn Haft stated she has greater appreciation of level of achievement each child must attain. This item was accepted by the School Committee and will be placed on the December 18, 2002 Business Meeting agenda for vote.

C. Housekeeping: How does this Committee wish to Conduct Business? – This item not discussed due to time constraints. Is moved to 12/18/02 agenda.

a. Keep Worksession packets for Business meetings; School Committee Secretary will send along any additional items with new agenda, minutes, and calendars

b. Packet Descriptions and Recipients

D. Policies - none

VIII. Comments

IX. A 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 Don DeFedele/Pat Watkins at 11:15 PM, clock counter 2:04:35(second tape). A roll call vote yielded unanimous approval. The school committee will return to open session following the executive session; however, no business will be conducted. *At the election of the employee, the personnel matter may be heard in public.

Respectfully submitted,

_______________________________

Konnie M. Mazur

School Committee Secretary