APPROVED: 10/26/05
NORTH KINGSTOWN SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
6:00 pm
Executive Session for the Superintendent’s Evaluation
Pursuant to RIGL 42-46-4 and 42-46-5 (a) (1)
*The
employee has been notified that this personnel matter may be heard in public
7:00 PM Worksession
Central Administration Building 100 Fairway Drive
“Challenging Student Excellence”
Minutes
I.
Meeting
Organization
A.
Call to Order;
Pledge of Allegiance
1.
Vice Chairperson,
Denise Coppa, called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
B. Roll Call
Present: Chairperson, Donald DeFedele; Vice
Chairperson, Dr.
Absent: Janice DeFrances
Administration
Present:
Resources; Maureen Buck, Director of
Administrative Services, and Lee Rabbitt, Director of Information
Technology
Absent: Daniel J.
McGregor, Ph.D., Director of Pupil Services and Barbara Fitzsimmons, Director
of Curriculum
C.
Calendars
1.
Dr. Halley went
over the important dates in October with the Committee
D.
Presentations:
1. Eileen Moser presented the Strategic
Planning/Community Engagement Update to the Committee. Ms. Moser distributed a Working Planning
Document outlining the district’s mission and belief statements, long range
goals, and strategies, objectives and action steps for the district. An Involvement Chart explained the roles of
those involved. Focus groups are now
being formed to gather information to form one strategic plan. The focus groups will include parents,
teachers, students, and community and business leaders. There will be an Educational Summit on
December 3rd to take a final look at the planning document.
Ms.
Moser asked for and received the Committee’s comments on seven strategies that
RIDE has developed and that the district will try to use in the strategic
plan. (Appendix A)
2. Sharon Schubert presented the SELAC (Special
Education Local Advisory Committee) end of the year report to the
Committee. The report included a list of
members, elected officials, and 2004-2005 goals. Also distributed was a draft of SELAC goals
for 2005-2006 and a report of unresolved issues. (Appendix B)
In the coming year SELAC would
like to get the community more involved in special education issues as well as
be involved with School Committee goals in regard to special education. The group would like the School Committee to
discuss special education needs along with all students needs such as being
included on the budget task force.
Barry
Martasian clarified that the budget task force is not a School Committee
subcommittee and suggested that SELAC report to the School Committee on a more
regular basis.
Don
DeFedele recommended that a representative of SELAC be at each School Committee
meeting.
Don DeFedele motioned to request a
quarterly formal written report from SELAC to the School Committee. Seconded by Renee Cockerill.
Vote: passes
5 to 1 with Bill Mudge voting no.
Melvoid Benson motioned for a designated
representative of a parent with special needs student to attend the School
Committee meetings.
Seconded by Bill Mudge.
Denise Coppa stated that SELAC has already agreed to
have a representative at the School Committee meetings.
Don
DeFedele stated that this shouldn’t be burdensome to the SELAC as they are
already providing minutes of their
meetings and a quarterly report.
Dr. Halley felt that designating a representative is
a SELAC decision and the School Committee should not mandate it.
Mel Benson
withdrew her motion.
Melvoid Benson motioned that the School
Committee send an invitation to SELAC to make a decision to have a
representative at each School Committee meeting.
Seconded by Bill Mudge.
Mrs.
Schubert stated that there usually is a representative at School Committee
meetings and would like to know when it is appropriate to comment at the
meetings.
Dr.
Coppa explained that the School Committee policy states that at worksessions
the public has the opportunity for comment after each agenda item; at business
meetings there is public comment at the beginning and end of each meeting.
Vote:
failed 4 to 1, 1 abstain Mel
Benson yes
Denise
Coppa no
Barry
Martasian no
Renee
Cockerill no
Don
DeFedele no
Bill
Mudge abstain
II.
Routine Items
A. Correspondence:
Dr. Halley
stated that there was a fire marshal report, enrollment report and an RGB
report on Wickford Middle School
included in
the correspondence in the School Committee packet.
Mr. Mudge
asked for correspondence to be submitted including an e-mail to Dr. Halley
regarding enrollment questions
(Appendix C)
and an e-mail to the School Committee regarding the Superintendent’s evaluation
(Appendix D).
Questions
about what could be included as correspondence were clarified by Attorney Kelly
Fracassa. Mr. Fracassa
stated that
the policy to submit correspondence to the chairperson must be followed and
there is not a problem to
request an
item be included at a future meeting.
Dr. Coppa
did not accept correspondence from Mr. Mudge that was stamped “draft” because
the Committee would not
know what
the final document stated.
Dr. Coppa
also did not accept correspondence from Mr. Mudge that was addressed to the
Town Manager regarding
audits. Correspondence must be addressed to the
School Committee.
CONSENT AGENDA
Approved
items on the consent agenda
are marked with * on a
motion by Don DeFedele /Barry Martasian with a vote of 6 to 0.
Approved items that were exempted or amended within the consent agenda are marked with ** as
indicated immediately following the item.
Withdrawn or Tabled Items
from the consent agenda are marked with *** as indicated immediately following
the item.
B. Home Schooling
Requests – no items submitted
C.
Disclosure of Executive Session Votes**
Motion
to allow Mr. Daly to distribute forms necessary to evaluate the Superintendent
until a legal opinion can be obtained concerning the taping of the executive
session.
Vote: passed 5 to l with Melvoid Benson voting no.
Motion
that no materials would be distributed and Mr. Daly would make appointments
with School Committee members regarding the evaluation of the Superintendent.
Vote: failed 4 to 2 with Mr. Mudge and Mrs. Benson voting yes.
Denise Coppa motioned to accept the
disclosure of executive session votes.
Seconded by Barry Martasian.
There
was a question if executive session disclosures should include amendments.
Kelly
Fracassa stated that the most conservative action would be to include the
amendment if a vote was taken on the amendment.
If there was only an amendment made, it is not necessary to record.
Vote to accept the disclosure of
executive session votes: Passed 4 to 2 –
Mr. Mudge and Mrs. Benson voting no.
D. Approval of Minutes of Prior Meetings
1. September 21, 2005**
Mel Benson suggested not approving the
minutes because they are stamped “draft”.
Denise Coppa explained that the
minutes always come to the Committee as a draft until they are approved and
then
they are no longer a
“draft” and that wording is removed and they are put into the permanent record.
2. October 5, 2005**
Same
as above.
Don DeFedele motioned to approve the
minutes of September 21, 2005 and October 5, 2005.
Seconded by Barry Martasian.
Vote: passed 5 to 1 with Bill Mudge voting no.
Mr.
DeFedele suggested that if a specific School Committee member wants a copy of
the approved minutes, they can
request one.
Mr. Mudge and Mrs. Benson would like an approved copy.
E.
Financial Items - no items submitted.
F.
Bids and Awards
1. Gardiner Bus Contract – to
replace existing contract*
G.
Personnel Items**
1.
Appointments, Certificated Staff:
a)
Robert McHenry,
1.0 FTE Media Specialist - 1 Year Only
at Davisville Elementary School, Step 1, pro-rated for 162 days in the
2005/2006 school year with a total salary of $30,704, effective October 6, 2005
- budgeted
b)
Holly Mather, 1.0
FTE Kindergarten Teacher at Davisville Elementary School, Step 4, pro-rated for
165 days in the 2005/2006 school year with a total salary of $37,368, effective
October 3, 2005 - unbudgeted
c)
Lori Randall, 1.0
FTE 6th Grade Teacher at Davisville Middle School, Step 1, pro-rated
for 166 days in the 2005/2006 school year with a total salary of $31,462,
effective September 27, 2005 - budgeted
d)
Jonathan Quinn,
.5 FTE Itinerant PE/Adaptive PE/Health Teacher, Step 2 with an annual salary of
$18,649, effective August 29, 2005 - .3 FTE Budgeted, .2 FTE unbudgeted
e)
Terena Hogan. .5
FTE Special Educator at Quidnessett Elementary School, Step 1, pro-rated fro
169 days in the 2005/2006 school year with a total salary of $16,015, effective
September 27, 2005 - unbudgeted
2.
Appointments,
Non-Certificated Staff:
a)
Betsy Wozniak,
Special Education Paraprofessional at Forest Park Elementary School, 6 hours
per day, 5 days a week for a total of 30 hours per week, Step 1 @ $10.84 per
hour, effective September 28, 2005 - unbudgeted
b)
Timothy Harrison,
Mini Bus Driver, Step 1 @ $72.83 per day, effective October 3, 2005 –
unbudgeted.
3. Approval of Advanced Degree
Increment, Certificated Staff – budgeted
a)
Sara Goldenberg,
1.0 FTE Elementary Teacher at Stony Lane Elementary School, Bachelor’s + 15
credits, total annual increment of $1062.
b)
Judd Silvia, 1.0
FTE Special Education Teacher at Wickford Middle School, Bachelor’s + 15
credits, total annual increment $1062.
c)
Diane Henault,
1.0 FTE Elementary Teacher at Davisville School, Bachelor’s + 15 credits, total
annual increment $1062.
d)
Kim Johnson, 1.0
FTE Elementary Teacher at Quidnessett Elementary School, Bachelor’s + 15
credits, total annual increment $1062.
e)
Mia Conti, 1.0
FTE Mathematics Teacher at the North Kingstown High School, Bachelor’s + 15
credits, total annual increment $1062.
f)
Cheryl Buck, 1.0
FTE Special Education Teacher at Davisville Elementary School, Bachelor’s + 15
credits, total annual increment $1062.
g)
Barbara Morse,
1.0 FTE Mathematics Teacher at the North Kingstown High School, Bachelor’s + 30
credits, total annual increment $1670.
h)
Lori Longtin, 1.0
FTE Elementary Teacher at Hamilton Elementary School, Bachelor’s + 30 credits,
total annual increment $1670
i)
Susan Jay, 1.0
FTE School Nurse Teacher at Hamilton Elementary School, Bachelor’s + 30
credits, total annual increment $1670
j)
Jessica Giguere,
10 FTE Health Teacher at Wickford Middle School, Master’s Degree, total annual
increment $2887.
k)
Jennifer Poli, 1.0
FTE Elementary Teacher at Davisville Elementary School, Master’s Degree, total
annual increment $2887.
l)
Savas Synodi, 1.0
FTE Foreign Language Teacher at the North Kingstown High School, Master’s + 15
credits, total annual increment of $3340.
m)
Stephanie Griffin,
1.0 FTE Elementary Teacher at Stony Lane Elementary School, Master’s Degree,
total annual increment of $2887.
n)
Caroline
Bradshaw, 1.0 FTE Special Education Teacher at Fishing Cove School, Master’s +
15 credits, total annual increment of $3340.
o)
Stephanie
McKiernan, 1.0 FTE Literacy and Math Coach at
4.
Appointments,
2005/2006 Advisors - budgeted
Davisville Middle School
Robert
Shaffer Drama Club $630
David
Hoffer Games Club $630
Savas
Synodi International
Club $548
Audrey
Friedman Knitting
Club $405
Mary
Barden Outdoors
Club $630
Stephanie
Griffin Rock
For World Peace $315
Tanya
Signore School
Newspaper $1035
Michael
Thibodeau Student Council $855
Edward
Packham Wrestling
Club $315
Cheryl
Pierce Yearbook $2948
Bridge
White Co-Youth-To-Youth $382.50
Steve
Enright Co-Youth-To-Youth $382.50
Wickford Middle School
Judd
Silvia Co-Youth-To-Youth $472.50
David
Aubin Co-Youth-To-Youth $337.50
Nancy
LaPosta-Frazier Co-Science Olympiad $505
Colleen
Pickering Co-Science
Olympiad $170
Paula
Judge-Brown Co-Homework Club $315
Judd
Silvia Co-Homework
Club $315
Buzz
Hebert After
School Shop $585
Linda
Law Games
Club $405
Denise
Mancieri Co-Leadership $585
David
Aubin Co-Leadership $585
Kelly
Harrington Yearbook $2948
5.
Appointments,
2005/2006 Intramurals - budgeted
Davisville Middle School
Marcia
Sahagian Director $1138
Marcia
Sahagian Fall
Tennis $
452
Marcia
Sahagian Winter
Volleyball 2 $
452
Marcia
Sahagian Spring
Tennis $
452
Savas
Synodi Football $ 452
Savas
Synodi Spring Team
Games $ 452
Dennis
Brown Winter
Volleyball 1 $
452
Dennis
Brown Spring
Basketball $ 452
Ann
Bianchi Walking
for Wellness $ 452
David
Hoffer Table
Tennis $
452
Wickford Middle School
Lynne
Huber Director $1138
Lynne
Huber Street
Hockey/Outdoor Games $ 452
Colleen
Pickering Street
Hockey/Outdoor Games $ 452
Lynne
Huber Lacrosse/Soccer $ 452
Colleen
Pickering Lacrosse/Soccer $ 452
Lynne
Huber Handball/Indoor
Games $ 452
Colleen
Pickering Handball/Indoor
Games $ 452
Lynne
Huber Volleyball
Tournament $ 452
Colleen
Pickering Volleyball
Tournament $ 452
6.
Retirement,
Certificated Staff:
a)
Theresa
Perreault, 1.0 FTE Technology Educator, effective October 1, 2005.
7.
Resignation,
Non-Certificated Staff:
a)
Konnie Mazur,
School Committee Secretary, effective September 29, 2005.
Mr. Mudge questioned five unbudgeted positions as to
where the money would come from.
Dr. Halley explained that we are now in the process
of completing a personnel reconciliation as is done every year. When
this is finished the total cost of personnel will be
known and a recommendation will be made to the School Committee.
Mr. Mudge made accusations regarding the budget and Mr.
DeFedele called a point of order.
8:30 pm – recess was called.
8:43 pm – meeting resumed.
A discussion was held regarding the hiring of an
additional kindergarten teacher at Davisville Elementary School.
Mrs. Cockerill asked if an
additional teacher would be needed if transferred students had not been
approved.
Dr. Halley responded that if we moved the
transferred students back to their home schools, we wouldn’t need an additional
teacher. He felt that we shouldn’t
disrupt the students at this point and felt that there was a commitment to full
day kindergarten so recommended the hiring of this position.
Dr. Coppa stated that if this position is not
approved, students would have to go back to half-day kindergarten.
Mr. Mudge felt hiring should not be done without
School Committee approval.
Dr. Halley stated that it is his responsibility to
operate the school district and hiring is within his authority. It is the School Committee’s responsibility
to approve or disapprove his recommendations.
Don
DeFedele stated that the Superintendent has to hire personnel based on
enrollments, IEPrequirements, etc. and we don’t always know how much staff is
needed in advance when authorizing the personnel budget. He felt the administration acted properly.
Don DeFedele motioned to approve all of
item G – Personnel Items. Barry
Martasian seconded.
Renee
Cockerill asked for the motion to be broken out to not include item G1b –
kindergarten teacher at Davisville Elementary.
Don DeFedele withdrew the motion.
Don DeFedele motioned to approve all of
item G with the exception of G1b. Renee
Cockerill seconded.
Vote:
passed unanimously 6 to 0.
Bill
Mudge asked the advice of counsel with regard to the Superintendent’s authority
to hire staff without School Committee approval.
Mr.
Fracassa replied that RIGL 16-2-11(a)7 states that the Superintendent , under
the direction of the School Committee, has the care and supervision of the
public schools and shall be the chief administrative agent of the School
Committee. In addition to the care and
supervision of public schools and appointment of employees in the district, it
shall be the duty of the Superintendent to appoint all school department personnel
with the consent of the School Committee.
Don DeFedele motioned to approve item
G1b. Barry Martasian seconded.
Vote:
passed 4 to 2 with Mrs. Cockerill and Mrs. Benson voting no.
END OF CONSENT AGENDA
Don DeFedele asked that School
Modernization Implementation not be discussed tonight due to the sensitivity of
the Open
Meetings Law.
Tonight’s agenda had to be advertised before last week’s discussion of
the modernization of Wickford Middle
School, but in the future this topic will be specific to Wickford Middle
School.
III. Unfinished Business
A. 2005-2006 School Budget - no discussion or action taken
B.
Discussion of New
Board of Regents Regulations of Length of School Day
Barry
Martasian requested that this topic be discussed in conjunction with school
start times. Mr. Martasian stated that
the School Committee should give direction on how to proceed in forming a
partnership with the community to brooch this issue.
Don DeFedele motioned to form a public
advisory committee to look at issues as related to all school start times. Barry Martasian seconded.
Mr.
DeFedele stated a need to address all issues that are impacted throughout the
community.
Bill
Mudge suggested that Dr. Halley submit a plan of his suggestion to the
community.
Denise Coppa amended the motion to include
a representative from all schools on this committee.
Dr. Coppa then withdrew her amendment.
Don DeFedele also withdrew his motion.
Don DeFedele motioned to form and
advisory committee to include all areas of the community that has an interest
in the issue of school start times.
Barry Martasian seconded.
Vote:
passed unanimously 6 to 0.
Mr. DeFedele left the meeting at 9:30pm.
A
discussion followed on how to organize the committee.
Dr.
Coppa stated that the committee will need direction and requested that Dr.
Halley provide a written charge for the committee at the next meeting, then
convene a committee, set up a meeting and provide a timeline.
Bill Mudge motioned for Dr. Halley to
provide three or four recommendations for a plan related to school start times.
There was no second to this motion.
Public
Comment:
Chris
Prata stated that Mr. Martasians’s idea to have the community involved is
excellent. He remarked that it is great
to hear the School Committee in agreement and providing a good roadmap to
making decisions.
Bill
Gilbert questioned the notice on the bottom of each agenda that encourages the
public to comment, but then the Committee limits those comments.
Dr.
Coppa explained that the Committee needs to keep comments related to agenda items,
but observations can be made at the end of the meeting.
Mrs.
Cockerill requested the results of the survey distributed at the high school
open house be provided at the next meeting.
Barry
Martasian requested that the Superintendent put the start time information on
the website.
Melvoid Benson motioned to adjourn
except for public and School Committee comments.
Barry Martasian seconded.
Mrs. Benson withdrew her motion.
C. School Modernization Implementation –
no discussion or action taken
D. 2004-05 School Budget – no discussion
or action taken
E.
2004-05
IV.
New Business
A. 2006-2007 School Start Times and
Student Sleep Needs – discussed under length of school day.
B. Forensic Audit of the School
Department Finances – no discussion or action taken
C. RI High School Diploma System – no
discussion or action taken
D. Return of Wickford Elementary School
Building to the Town of North Kingstown -
no discussion or action taken
E. General Welfare of the School System
– no discussion or action taken
F.
Fire Code
Violations
Dr.
Halley referred the Committee to a fire code report on each school. All are in a standard format issued by the Fire
Marshal.
Attorney
Kelly Fracassa stated that there is a legal difference between a violation and
a deficiency. For a deficiency the Fire
Marshal cites a problem and gives thirty days to correct; a violation is a more
urgent matter that needs immediate attention.
Dr.
Coppa stated that these reports contain deficiencies, no violations are
reported.
Dr.
Halley reviewed each school’s deficiency and cover page which shows the actions
taken and status of each item.
Some
repeat deficiencies are things that can occur each year, such as a light being
burned out. None of these deficiencies
are life threatening and no students are in any danger. There is nothing that prohibits the building
from being occupied.
The
deficiencies at Wickford Elementary School prohibited the building from being
occupied such as the stairway not being protected by sprinklers, etc.
Barry
Martasian referred to and article in the NorthEast Independent in which the
Fire Chief stated that there is no danger to children in the schools.
Dr.
Coppa restated that there are no violations in any school, only deficiencies.
Mr.
Mudge demanded to know about violations, asking many questions in a row.
Dr.
Halley asked Mr. Mudge not to interrupt as he tried to answer. Mr. Mudge continued to make demands.
Dr.
Halley left the meeting at 10:10 stating that he would not stay under these
disrespectful conditions.
Dr.
Coppa stated that the meeting would adjourn after public comment.
V.
Reports
A. Special Reports : Emergency and
Dismissal Advisory Committee update – no discussion or action taken.
B. Standing/Sub Committee Reports – no
discussion or action taken.
C. Ad hoc Committee Reports – no n
discussion or action taken.
VI.
Committee Member/Citizen’s
Comments
Chris Prata
stated that some fire code violations are repeats and Wickford Elementary had
enough to be condemned.
He
suggested that the fire code reports be posted on the website.
Kathy Brown asked about the amount budgeted for middle
schools in regard to #G4 item on the consent agenda relating to
middle school advisor appointments. Dr. Coppa replied that the money is divided
proportionally and is discretionary for
principals to use as they see
fit.
Mrs. Brown
stated that agendas are sometimes confusing with worksessions having a consent
agenda included.
Dr. Coppa stated that this is needed because
the consent agenda deals with day to day issues and the Committee needs to
approve these items.
Mrs. Brown
stated that there needs to be public comment at the beginning of worksessions
because with the statement “For
Discussion and Possible Action”
on items, the public doesn’t know what will happen.
Dr. Coppa explained that there
are time when the Committee has to vote on issues and will do so at
worksessions if
necessary.
Mrs. Brown
also stated that the business meeting agenda should not have new business
included.
Bill Gilbert
asked for clarification of the hiring of employees. He asked if Dr. Halley can hire staff before
the approval of
the School Committee.
Kelly
Fracassa stated that the language of the statute says that the Superintendent
makes all appointments with the approval
of the School Committee.
Mr. Gilbert
asked about liability if a person starts working and has not been formally
approved by the School Committee.
Mr. Fracassa
replied that there could be a temporary contract subject to School Committee
approval.
Dr. Coppa
requested that Mr. Fracassa provide an opinion in writing to the Superintendent
and School Committee as to
whether the Superintendent can
allow people to start working without School Committee approval.
Terri Ohs questioned along with “can” the
Superintendent hire staff – “should” he hire staff.
Doug Roth stated that the budget task force is an
advisory to the Superintendent but he would like to see it as a School
Committee subcommittee.
Denise Coppa stated that this task force came from
the Superintendent because he wants the public involved before his
budget is presented to the
School Committee.
Dave
Wrenn stated that the budget advisory committee could be under the School
Committee. He feels that having it fall
under the Open Meetings Law is
important. We need a budget to stand
public scrutiny and other committees have been
successful.
Meeting Adjourned at 10:35 pm.
Respectfully
submitted,
_______________________________________
Karen
A. Nutini
Administrative
Assistant
to the Superintendent