NORTH KINGSTOWN SCHOOL COMMITTEE APPROVED 11-16-05
Wednesday, November 2, 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 at
his/her discretion
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 7:10 pm.
B. Roll Call
Present: Vice Chairperson,
Janice
DeFrances; William Brennan,
Absent: Chairperson, Donald DeFedele
Administration
Present:
Resources; Daniel J. McGregor, Ph.D Director
of Pupil Services; Maureen Buck, Director of Administrative
Services; Lee Rabbitt, Director of Information
Technology
Absent: Barbara
Fitzsimmons, Ed.D Director of Curriculum
Legal
Representative: Kelly Fracassa
C.
Calendars
1.
Dr. Halley went
over the important dates in November with the Committee. A special executive session was scheduled for
November 15, 2005 to hear NEANK grievances.
There is a Keyworks meeting to discuss goals and objectives on November
9th at 6:30pm that is not on the calendar.
2.
Dr. Halley
announced that the NK Teacher of the Year, Barbara Morse, is a finalist for
D.
Ground Rules
Dr.
Coppa read the ground rules for the committee to follow that were agreed upon
at the last meeting.
Item
A of New Business was moved to this point in the meeting due to students and
parents being present in the audience to
hear
this item.
Consideration
of Girls Swim Team at High School
1. Keith
Kenyon, Director of Athletics and Student Activities, requested approval of a
high school girls swim team. There
have been over 20 girls interested in the team, a coach is available, parents
will provide transportation and the swimming supplies needed. The Booster Club has donated $2,000.00 to the
start up team and parents will pay any remaining costs.
2. The
committee questioned future financial support for the team and was assured that
students and parents were fully committed to continue with funding. Dr. Halley stated that there is a possibility
to do more of these self-supporting athletic programs in the future if there
are continued budget problems, and recommended support of this program.
3. Renee
Cockerill commended Mr. Kenyon for advocating for students and making a program
work without requiring money from the school budget.
4. Barry
Martasian thanked the parents and Booster Club for contributing to make this
program a success.
Janice
DeFrances motioned to support the swim team indefinitely without any
appropriated school funds. Mel
Benson
seconded.
Denise Coppa
amended the motion for the swim team to be approved but not to be a line item
on the School
budget. Barry Martasian seconded.
Dr. Coppa
withdrew the amendment.
Bill Mudge
amended the motion to support the swim team indefinitely but without any
appropriated school funds in
2005-2006.
Janice DeFrances seconded.
Mr. Mudge withdrew the amendment.
Public
Comment:
Dr.
Cammara congratulated Mr. Kenyon and the group for going forward with this
team. She stated that $20,000 had
previously been given to the hockey team.
Dr. Cammara then donated $100 to support this program.
Chris
Prata agreed with Dr. Cammara.
Bill Mudge made a motion to vote on the
original motion. Barry Martasian
seconded.
Vote:
Unanimous 6 to 0 to vote on the original motion.
Vote:
Unanimous 6 to 0 to approve the high school girls swim team.
II.
Routine Items
A. Correspondence:
1. Dr. Halley referred to a letter in the
committee’s packets regarding a legal opinion concerning commenting to the
public
during citizen comments.
2. Bill Mudge submitted a summary given to the
Town Council of a NK School Facilities Building Study done in
1990
(Appendix A). He also submitted a copy
of a purchase order from Wholesale Educational Suppliers and
requested
this to be put on a worksession agenda (Appendix B).
CONSENT AGENDA
Approved
items on the consent agenda
are marked with * on a
motion by Barry Martasian/Renee Cockerill 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 *
C. Disclosure
of Executive Session Votes**
On 11-2-05 a motion was made to extend
the Superintendent’s Contract.
Vote: Barry
Martasian yes Melvoid
Benson no
Denise
Coppa yes Bill
Mudge no
Janice
DeFrances yes Renee Cockerill no
Don
DeFedele yes
Motion passes 4 to 3.
Bill Mudge had concerns about the vote because he felt
there was a lack of notification and information. Dr. Coppa
stated that Mr. Mudge did not attend the executive
session and his opinion is not shared by the rest of the Committee.
Kelly Fracassa will provide a legal opinion on this
issue. He asked to be with specific
questions that are requested to be
addressed.
D. Approval
of Minutes of Prior Meetings
1. October 26, 2005**
Renee Cockerill requested to have the time that she left placed
differently in the minutes. The
statement will be
inserted after the last vote that
she participated in.
Bill Mudge requested that wording be changed on page 3, item 5C from
“asked if” to “stated”.
Motion to approve the minutes of October 26, 2005 as amended was made
by Renee Cockerill. Seconded by
Melvoid Benson.
Vote: Unanimous to approve 6 to
0.
E. Bids and
Awards – none submitted.
F. Personnel
Items**
1.
Appointments, Non-Certificated Staff:
a)
Eileen McGiveney,
Special Education Paraprofessional at Hamilton Elementary School, 6 hours per
day, 5 days a week for a total of 30 hours per week, Step 6 @ $13.67 per hour,
effective October 25, 2005 – budgeted.
b)
Tina Bilodeau,
Special Education Paraprofessional at Hamilton Elementary School, 6 hours per
day, 5 days a week for a total of 30 hours per week, Step 1 + a Bachelor’s
degree, $10.84 per hour, effective October 24, 2005 – budgeted.
Motion to approve items F-l, a and b was
made by Renee Cockerill. Seconded by
Barry Martasian.
Vote:
Unanimous to approve 6 to 0.
c)
Susan Higgins,
Special Education Paraprofessional at Meeting Street, 6 hours per day, 5 days a
week for a total of 30 hours per week, Step 1, $10.84 per hour, effective
October 24, 2005 – unbudgeted.
d)
Jason Jacques,
Information Technology Technician Intern, up to 20 hours per week, $9 per hour,
effective October 1, 2005 – unbudgeted.
e)
Andrea Colby,
Special Education Paraprofessional at Davisville Middle School, Step 1 plus a
Bachelor’s degree, $10.84 per hour, effective October 24, 2005 – unbudgeted.
Bill
Mudge questioned what account items F-l c, d, and e were being funded
from. Mr. Mudge stated that he does not
think that staff are notified that they are being hired without the consent of
the School Committee.
Denise
Coppa explained that anyone who is hired is told that it is on the condition of
approval of the School Committee.
Bill
Daly stated that offers of employment are contingent upon approval of the
School Committee and no commitment is made.
An employment offer is made but they are not officially hired until
approved.
Mr.
Mudge referred to a policy stating that an emergency meeting could be called to
discuss new positions. Dr. Coppa asked Mr.
Mudge to get the policy number for all members to review.
Kelly
Fracassa stated that Dr. Halley has the exclusive authority to appoint
personnel but not enter into contracts.
Appointments are approved by the School Committee. When an employee starts, the contract is
ratified back to the start date.
Janice
DeFrances suggested that a new hire be paid a substitute salary until the
position is approved and made permanent.
Motion to approve items F-l, c, was made
by Renee Cockerill. Seconded by Barry
Martasian.
Vote: Unanimous
to approve 6 to 0.
Motion to approve item F-l, d, was made
by Renee Cockerill. Seconded by Barry
Martasian.
Bill
Mudge asked if this was a temporary position and if there is a position
description.
Bill
Daly responded that this was a college intern and could remain for the school
year and that there was a job description.
Mr.
Daly explained that there are no benefits provided and this department is down
two staff members, the position is needed and there are funds to support this
position.
Vote: Denise
Coppa yes Bill
Mudge no
Renee
Cockerill yes
Melvoid
Benson yes
Barry
Martasian yes
Janice
DeFrances yes
Motion passes 5 to 1.
Motion to approve item F-l, e, was made
by Bill Mudge. Seconded by Melvoid
Benson.
Vote: Unanimous
to approve 6 to 0.
2.
Appointment,
Certificated Staff:
a)
Jessica Giguere,
1.0 FTE Itinerant Guidance Counselor at both Wickford Middle School and
Davisville Middle School, Step 7 plus Master’s Degree with a total annual
salary of $53,541, effective September 21, 2005 – budgeted.
Bill
Mudge asked why this position was being hired and then requesting a leave of
absence (4-a).
Bill
Daly explained that this counselor has been in the district, has bid into this
job and is now requesting maternity leave.
This is not a new hire that is going out on leave.
3.
Resignation,
Non-Certificated Staff:
a)
David Wright,
Senior Computer Technician, effective November 4, 2005.
4.
Request for
Unpaid Parental Leave of Absence, Certificated Staff:
a) Jessica
Giguere, 1.0 FTE Itinerant Guidance Counselor at both Wickford Middle School
and Davisville Middle, Step 7 plus a Master’s Degree with a total annual salary
of $53,541, from October 21, 2005 through he remainder of the 2005/2006 school
year.
Motion to approve items 2-a, 3-a, and
4-a was made by Melvoid Benson. Seconded
by Barry Martasian.
Vote: Unanimous
to approve 6 to 0.
END OF CONSENT AGENDA
III. Unfinished Business
A.
2005-2006 School Budget
1. Bill Mudge stated that there is no place in
the yellow six school budget that the School Committee accepted the
grant program, or
voted to spend Medicaid revenue, nor was it in the Town Manager’s budget.
2. Dr. Halley stated that the grant program was
discussed during budget talks. There
were discussions about moving employee benefits into the grants. Portions of
the $700,000 in Medicaid funds were also discussed and both were clear in terms
of the final budget.
3. Dr. Coppa suggested deferring the discussion
because Mr. Mudge will never be satisfied with the administration’s answers and
the meeting needs to go forward. Dr.
Coppa stated that we are spending hundred of dollars on attorney fees to
satisfy Mr. Mudge.
4. Mel Benson stated that the committee needs to
get on with business and some conversations need to be cut off. Grants have already been settled.
Motion was
made by Barry Martasian to end the debate on the budget. Renee Cockerill seconded.
Vote: Denise Coppa yes Bill
Mudge no
Melvoid Benson yes
Barry Martasian yes
Janice DeFrances yes
Renee Cockerill yes
Motion passes 5 to 1.
D. Slide
Presentation of Wickford Middle School Modernization was moved to this
point in the meeting.
1. Nancy Laposta-Frazier, a science teacher at
Wickford Middle School, showed a slide presentation that compared Wickford
Middle School to Davisville Middle School.
The slides compared the inequities of the entrance, main office, common
learning room, stage, art room, library, resource room, science room, band
room, foreign language room, heating system, family & consumer science
room, cafeteria and server room. In some
cases, Wickford Middle School did not have any of these areas.
2. It was pointed out that it is required to
pass through the woodshop to get to another side of the building, and pass
through a classroom or office to get to the elevators. Wickford Middle School needs renovation and
an addition and
the
School Committee has voted to pursue modernization. The community must contact the Town Council
to support a referendum for Wickford Middle School modernization in November.
Public Comment:
1.
Steve Colucci
stated that he was co-chair of the Wickford Middle School SAC and was
pleasantly surprised at
the
community support for WMS. This is not
just a maintenance issue, but the quality of education for our kids. This needs the help of everyone. There will be a greater cost for not doing
this modernization.
2.
Donna Kallian
appreciated the slide presentation and asked that every comment be sensitive to
the fact that people are on
the clock and asked that the committee be mindful of
the time their comments take.
3
Larry Ceresi
thanked the committee for the presentation and stated that the school was in
dire need of renovations and updates.
Mr. Ceresi asked where Davisville Elementary stood in the area of
renovations. Dr. Halley responded that
Davisville Elementary still needs to be addressed but with reconfiguration it
no longer needs an addition to make it a K-5 school. Repairs are planned for next summer.
4
DeeDee Chatham
stated that it is clear that a lot is needed for Wickford Middle School and
asked about short term plans.
Dr.
Halley replied that as part of the bond there will be $1.5 million spent on
items such as fire alarms and a sprinkler system. This will not address the problem of the
building not being an appropriate facility for a middle school.
Dr. Coppa thanked Mrs. Laposta-Frazier for the
presentation.
The Overview of Special Education Report was
moved to this point in the meeting.
1.
Dr. McGregor
referred to the original report given in August and had additional information
to give to the committee
There was an updated package distributed
which included names of specialists and teachers. Dr. McGregor reviewed
answers to questions that were presented
to him previously concerning assignment of specialists, caseloads, space in
schools, class sizes, pre-school, and buses.
2.
The district will
be using the new state recommended portfolio for special education so that all
students will be using the same portfolio.
3.
Mel Benson asked
if there were a description for each special education program. Dr. McGregor stated that the
principal at each school will provide a
description of the program offered at that school for parents.
Public
Comment:
1.
Larry Ceresi,
SELAC co-chair, stated that he hasn’t seen the updated information and has not
had time to review the report. The
original motion in August was to table the overview and the Committee never
voted to accept the report.
2.
Sharon Schubert,
SELAC co-chair, stated that the pre-school is not integrated. This requires 51% of typical children to be
considered integrated. Dr. McGregor
replied that this is the recommended amount and the district is working toward
this number.
Mrs.
Schubert felt that the three self-contained classes in one wing at Davisville
Elementary were segregated from the rest of the population and that this was
not the least restrictive environment.
Dr.
Halley stated that parents with special education students had been asked which
classrooms that they would prefer and they chose to have the two self-contained
rooms together. There is a restroom in
the classroom and it is in better proximity to the cafeteria.
Recess was
taken at 9:10 pm.
Meeting resumed
at 9:40 pm.
3.
Dr. Coppa stated
that as long as there is integration with typical students during the day,
students are considered
integrated. Students would be in a closed space no matter
where the classroom was located.
Mrs. Schubert stated that her son could
spend the entire day in the classroom and would only see typical students when
they walked by and these classrooms were
isolated to the typical student.
Dr. Halley inquired if he was in that
classroom.
Mrs. Schubert replied that he is
not. Mrs. Schubert stated that at
Fishing Cove there were typical classrooms surrounding
the self-contained rooms.
Motion to accept the Special Education Overview Report
was made by Barry Martasian. Seconded by
Renee Cockerill.
Vote: Barry
Martasian yes Bill Mudge
no
Renee
Cockerill yes Melvoid
Benson no
Janice
DeFrances yes
Denise
Coppa yes
Motion passes 4 to 2.
B.
New Board of
Regents Regulations of Length of School Day/School Start Times
1. Sleep Needs/Start Time information has been
put on the school department website.
2. Barry Martasian and Denise Coppa have offered
to give a presentation to the PTOs of the schools on sleep needs
and start times. They will meet with Quidnessett in December.
3. Requests for volunteers for the Start Time
committee are being advertised this week.
Dr. McGregor will be the
administrative liaison for the
committee. The first meeting will be
before the end of November.
4. Mr. Brennan will recommend two
representatives from Jamestown.
Public Comment:
1.
Kathy Brown asked
what the goal would be for the PTOs regarding the presentations. Dr. Coppa explained that they would only be
giving information to the PTO on the health issues involved in changing the
start times. Mr. Martasian added that
the only intention is to spread as much information as possible to the public.
E.
2004-2005
School Budget
1. Bill Mudge requested that 04-05 purchase
orders be put on an agenda.
2. Dr. Coppa stated that Mr. Mudge went to the
Town Council asking questions and she wasn’t aware that just one
member of the School Committee could
submit anything to the Town Council. Mr.
Mudge replied that he gave
the chair the information as to what he
said to the Town Council.
3. Dr. Halley stated that Mr. Mudge cannot
represent the School Committee. He can
represent himself or have the
vote of the School Committee to be their
representative.
4. Mr. Mudge stated that he did not say he
represented the School Committee.
5. Maureen Buck referred to the 04-05 purchase
orders that Mr. Mudge feels were illegally drawn on the last day
of the fiscal year. A report was sent in August explaining that the
purchasing of some curriculum and
central supply items had been delayed and
now there was enough money to purchase those items. This is not in
violation of any policy.
6. Mr. Mudge recommended an audit to address
the question of when material is purchased and what fiscal year the
money is taken from.
7.
Dr. Halley
explained that because of budget problems last year, purchasing was
frozen. At the end of the year
some items were purchased that had been
delayed. The School Committee was
informed, purchases were made
and there was nothing wrong or illegal in
doing that.
8.
Denise Coppa
asked Mr. Fracassa for a legal opinion if there was any policy or law that
forbids this practice.
Bill Mudge stated that he will forward
details of the questions to Mr. Fracassa and Dr. Coppa.
F. 2004-2005 Goals and Objectives
1. Goals and Objectives will be discussed at
next week’s Keyworks meeting starting at 6:30pm.
IV.
New Business
A.
Wellness
Committee and Food/Nutrition Policy
1. There is a
meeting on November 17th to discuss the state-wide policy on Food
and Nutrition. The Policy
Subcommittee will convene to
discuss the action that needs to be taken.
B.
Return of
Wickford Elementary Building to the Town of North Kingstown
1. Bill Mudge
stated that this building is a valuable asset that needs to be protected. Mr. Mudge asked what is
currently happening with the
building and if we need a custodian at the school.
2.
Dr. Halley stated that Mr. Mudge wanted this item on the agenda to make
a motion to return the building to the
town.
We are now putting together information to see how much it would cost to
upgrade the building so that the
School Committee can make an
informed decision.
3.
This item will be put on the next worksession to discuss.
Motion to adjourn was made by Janice
DeFrances. Seconded by Barry Martasian.
Public
Comment:
1.
Kathy Brown
suggested to combine item H- Disposition of Contents of Wickford Elementary
School – with the discussion of returning the building to the town. Mrs. Brown asked to move up the sports camp
report and the forensic audit report on the agenda.
2.
Dave Wrenn asked
if security throughout the district would be an agenda item soon and would like
to look at alarm systems in each building.
Committee
Comments:
1.
Bucky Brennan offered
the use of a Jamestown building if we needed an interim facility for Wickford
Middle School.
2.
Bill Mudge stated
that there have been accusations made and feels we have made a step forward to
resolving them with Mr. Fracassa’s intervention. He believes there needs to be an audit and
will pursue this action.
3.
Janice DeFrances
is glad to get results from a lawyer to end the controversies.
4.
Renee Cockerill
would like to see agenda items disposed of and not adjourn.
Vote to adjourn: Janice DeFrances yes Melvoid
Benson no
Barry
Martasian yes Renee
Cockerill no
Denise
Coppa yes Bill Mudge no
Tie vote – motion fails.
Motion to approve the 2005 Sports Camp
Report was made by Bill Mudge. Seconded
by Melvoid Benson.
Vote: Unanimous
to approve 6 to 0.
F. Forensic Audit of the School Department
Finances
1. Mrs. Benson feels the need for an
audit. She stated that the Town Council
said the School Committee needs to do
their job.
2.
This item will be put first on unfinished business on the next
worksession agenda.
V.
Reports
A. Special Reports – discussion and
action taken previously.
B. Standing/Sub Committee Reports – No
items, discussion, nor action taken.
C. Ad hoc Committee Reports – No items,
discussion, nor action taken.
Motion to adjourn was made by Barry
Martasian. Seconded by William Brennan.
Vote: Unanimous to approve 6 to 0.
Meeting adjourned at 10:35pm.
Respectfully
submitted,
_______________________________________
Karen
A. Nutini
Administrative
Assistant
to
the Superintendent