NORTH KINGSTOWN SCHOOL COMMITTEE APPROVED 1-11-06
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
6:00 pm Executive Session for Negotiations
with the Principals’ Association
Pursuant to RIGL 42-46-4 and 42-46-5 (2)
7:00 PM Business Meeting
Central
Administration Building
“Challenging Student Excellence” |
I.
Meeting
Organization
A. Call to Order; Pledge of Allegiance; Don DeFedele called the meeting to order at 7:15 pm.
B. Roll Call:
Present: Chairperson
Janice DeFrances, Bill Mudge, Melvoid
Benson and William Brennan,
Absent: Renee Cockerill (Arrived at 7:50pm)
Administration Present: Daniel J. McGregor, Ph.D., Director of Pupil Personnel Services; William J. Daly, Director of Human Resources; Maureen Buck, Director of Administrative Services; and Lee Rabbitt, Director of Technology
Legal Representative: David Reilly
Don DeFedele announced that Dr. Halley was absent because he was not feeling well.
C. Calendars:
1. Don DeFedele went over the dates of interest in December and January with the committee. The Committee received a CD from the high school music department and thanked the band and choir for sending it to them.
D. Ground Rules:
Don DeFedele referred to the list of ground rules for the Committee to approve and abide by at the meeting.
Motion to approve the Ground Rules was made by Denise Coppa. Seconded by Barry Martasian.
Vote: Don DeFedele Yes Bill Mudge Abstain
Denise
Coppa Yes
Barry
Martasian Yes
Janice
DeFrances Yes
Melvoid
Benson Yes
Motion passes 5 to 0, 1 abstain.
E. Presentation:
John Earle, Special Education legal representative working with David Reilly’s office, presented a powerpoint outlining new Special Education regulations (Appendix A). Mr. Earle reviewed the significant changes concerning Assistive Technology, Due Process, Early Intervening Services, Highly Qualified Teachers, Paraprofessionals, IEP’s, Evaluations, Parentally Placed Students and Specific Learning Disabilities. Dr. McGregor reviewed the Response-To-Intervention program that collects data, develops a plan with the parents and monitors the child’s progress over time.
Bill Mudge asked if someone must be present at the IEP meeting who can agree to the provisions of the IEP. Mr. Earle responded that there must be a representative of the LEA present at the IEP meeting. It is usually an administrator, but can be an authorized person.
Renee Cockerill
arrived at 7:50pm.
II. Citizen’s Comments on Agenda Items
A. April Brunelle read an e-mail to the School Committee from Lynda Avanzato concerning a signed affidavit in
her possession and her request for a partial forensic audit and a re-vote of the Committee on ordering a forensic audit.
III. Routine Items
A. Correspondence:
Don DeFedele stated that the School Committee received the following correspondence:
1. Clarification of Wickford Middle School bond issue request submitted to the town;
2. List of Wickford Elementary School funding for FY2006;
3. Minutes of School Committee meetings on February 23, 2005 and September 14, 2005 in which votes were taken to submit the $51,225,210 budget to the Town Manager and to accept the suggested adjustments;
4. An article in the Providence Journal in which the Attorney General stated that public officials should not respond to citizen’s questions at meetings unless the item is on the agenda. Bill Mudge stated that this article is not correct. The Attorney General ruled that less than a quorum can address the speaker at meetings. Don DeFedele read part of an Attorney General opinion regarding Exeter-West Greenwich on this topic. Bill Mudge asked to read another paragraph but Mr. DeFedele stopped the conversation because this agenda item was correspondence and the subject was not on the agenda.
*Bill Mudge asked for a future discussion about the FY05-06 budget adoption.
*Mel Benson asked for a complete ruling from the Attorney General concerning responding to citizens questions
that are not on the agenda. Don DeFedele read an advisory opinion from the Attorney General to Exeter/West
Greenwich that concerned this same issue (Appendix B).
*Bill Mudge submitted an e-mail concerning his request for a presentation to explain how the $50,000 restored to
the athletic department would be spent (Appendix C). Mr. Mudge stated that he will ask for the money to be
rescinded if there is no explanation and requested that this item be put on the next agenda.
B. Disclosure of Executive Session Votes – none to disclose.
Item IV– A, High School Program of Studies, was moved to this point in the agenda for a vote.
Motion to approve the High School Program of Studies was made by
William Brennan. Seconded by Barry
Martasian.
Denise Coppa asked if the requested changes had been made. Gerry Foley answered that they had been made.
Vote: Unanimous to
approve.
CONSENT
AGENDA
Approved items on the consent agenda are marked with * on a motion by Denise Coppa. Seconded by Barry Martasian with a vote of 7 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.
C. Home Schooling Requests*
D. Approval of Minutes of Prior Meetings:
1. December 7, 2005 Worksession*
E. Financial Items:
1. Monthly Financial Update*
2. Year-To-Date Budget Report*
3. Monthly Deficit Monitoring Report**
Bill Mudge asked about the difference in the October and November Deficit Monitoring Report. October reported a deficit of $173,000 and November reported a surplus of $14,000.
Maureen Buck explained that there are now 16 more students from Jamestown which resulted in the difference.
Mr. Mudge remarked that we cannot spend that additional money. Mrs. Buck replied that the only money that we cannot spend is the $14,000 in surplus. Mr. Mudge disagreed and stated that we cannot spend money that is not appropriated.
Don DeFedele asked that the Town Manager’s office be contacted for clarification of what is the exact authorized expenditure of the School Committee.
Motion to approve the Monthly Deficit
Monitoring Report was made by Denise Coppa.
Seconded by Barry
Martasian.
Vote: Denise
Coppa Yes Bill
Mudge No
Renee Cockerill Yes
Don DeFedele Yes
Janice DeFrances Yes
Melvoid Benson Yes
Barry Martasian Yes
Motion passes 6 to 1
F. Bids and Awards: none submitted
G. Personnel Items:
1. Appointment, Non-Certificated Staff:*
a) Christopher Scheib, Computer Technician, annual salary of $38,000, effective December 30, 2005 – budgeted.
b) Rhonda Barner, Special Education Paraprofessional at Wickford Middle School, 6 hours per day, 5 days a week for a total of 30 hours per week, Step 1 @ $10.84 per hour, effective January 3, 2006 – budgeted.
2. Increase in FTE, Certificated Staff:*
a) Donna Noonan, Occupational Therapist, from .4 FTE to .6 FTE, Step 10, pro-rated at .4 FTE for 75 days and 111 days at .6 FTE in the 2005/2006 school year with a total annual salary of $33,248, effective January 3, 2006 – budgeted.
3. Retirement, Non-Certificated Staff:*
a)
Linda Corey, Educational
H. Reports: Security Reports*
Food Service Report*
END OF CONSENT AGENDA
IV. Unfinished Business
A. High School Program of Studies – previously discussed and voted on.
B. School Modernization Implementation:
· The Wickford Middle School Modernization Committee has been advertised with a request for volunteers and the
School Committee will get an update when the committee is started.
· There was a discussion of what was submitted to the Town concerning the modernization of Wickford Middle
School. Maureen Buck explained that the school department submitted the RGB recommendations to the Town
Manager and he submitted the information to the Asset Management Committee. The amount requested was
divided into two phases at the town level. All agreed that the original submission – not the divided
recommendation - should be sent to the Asset Management Committee in order for them to review what was voted
on by the School Committee.
Recess
was taken at 8:35pm. Meeting resumed at
8:45pm.
C. 2005-2006 School Budget:
Melvoid Benson brought up a previous motion concerning a forensic audit.
Don DeFedele stopped the discussion because this item was not on the agenda.
Motion to order a forensic audit was made by Melvoid Benson. Seconded by Bill Mudge.
Don DeFedele did not allow this motion explaining that it was
inappropriate to this agenda item.
Mr. DeFedele stated that this item was advertised as a specific agenda item for a previous meeting and it could not be discussed at this meeting. It would need to be put on the next agenda.
Mrs. Benson continued to discuss the item. Mr. DeFedele continued to rule it out of order.
Mr. DeFedele left the meeting at 8:50pm.
Vice-Chairperson, Denise Coppa, took over as chair of the meeting.
Mrs. Benson again wanted a motion to order a forensic audit.
Dr. Coppa stated that it was already ruled that this subject could not be discussed and would be placed on the next agenda.
Renee Cockerill asked legal counsel if the forensic audit could be discussed under the “Review of Joint Town Council/School Committee Meeting” agenda item.
David Reilly responded that the Committee could review the items that were discussed at the joint meeting, but could not add any new items. If this subject was discussed at that meeting, the Committee could review it.
Dr. Coppa moved on to the next agenda item.
D. 2004-2005 School Budget:
Mr. Mudge asked for the final surplus on each account in the budget and the total surplus for 2004-2005 school year.
This includes the 117 account funds and the 200 account funds.
Mrs. Buck will provide the information at the next meeting.
E. 2005-2006 Goals and Objectives:
Goals and objectives were discussed at the December 3rd Educational Summit. A final document will be sent to the
School Committee when completed.
Bill Mudge questioned why agenda items such as Graduation Requirements and Town Council Audit were not on
the current agenda.
Denise Coppa replied that these items had been previously discussed.
Motion to adjourn was made by Barry Martasian. Seconded by Janice DeFrances.
Vote: Janice
DeFrances No Denise Coppa
Yes
Melvoid
Benson No Barry
Martasian Yes
Bill Mudge No
Renee Cockerill No
Motion fails 4 to 2.
IV.
New Business
A. 2006-2007 School Budget:
Motion that the School Department order a
forensic audit on July 2, 2006 was made by Melvoid Benson.
No second.
Denise Coppa stated that this motion has nothing to do with the 06-07 budget.
Mrs. Benson withdrew her motion.
Barry Martasian left the meeting at 9:05pm.
Town Council Budget Policy:
The Town Council would like to have a zero based budget from all departments. The cap for 06-07 will be set at a 4.76% increase over last year.
Mr. Mudge stated that approximately $37 million of the school department’s $50 million budget comes from tax revenue. The state has indicated that education will be level funded this year, so the taxpayer will pay 6 ½ to 7% more in taxes to support education. This will put the tax rate over the 5.5% required tax cap. This situation should be addressed now to avoid planning problems with the budget.
Budget Standards:
Dan McGregor asked the Committee to review the standards in the packet. The legal requirements are listed.
Bill Mudge questioned the high school custodian ratio compared to the elementary and middle school ratios.
Denise Coppa stated that the high school is used more by the community and is a larger facility than the other schools.
Mr. Mudge suggested that the ratio be changed to number of custodians per square feet instead of custodians per student.
Dr. Coppa asked that the Superintendent compare how other districts set the standards for custodians.
Denise Coppa suggested lowering the nurse standard to 1:650 to agree with the professional standard.
Motion to adjust the nurse standard to
1:650 was made by Melvoid Benson.
Seconded by Janice DeFrances.
This change would be for planning purposes and could be changed if necessary.
Bill Daly stated that there was an additional nurse added this year which is not reflected in these standards. The district now has six nurses. The staffing standard will be updated.
It was suggested that the legal requirement column specify if this standard is federal, state or a professional standard.
Dr. McGregor replied that these are all state standards that are listed.
Bill Mudge questioned if it would be better to say one nurse for each school.
Mel Benson asked if the requirement was one nurse per district.
Dr. McGregor replied that the state standard requires only one nurse per district.
Janice DeFrances suggested spending more time looking at all the issues rather than vote on any one item at this meeting.
Mel Benson withdrew her motion.
Kathy Brown asked to discuss the standards but was denied. Mrs. Brown was asked to bring this subject up under comments at the end of the meeting.
B. Review of Joint Town Council/School Committee Meeting of December12, 2005:
Attorney David Reilly reminded the Committee that they could review the meeting, discuss and inform the public what happened at the meeting.
Renee Cockerill suggested a vote for a forensic audit be put on the next agenda so that an audit and the related affidavit can be discussed without question of an OMA violation. Mrs. Cockerill asked for legal council concerning separate agenda items for these issues.
Mr. Reilly stated that the affidavit is part of the forensic audit and would not need to be a separate item.
Motion to adjourn was made by Melvoid
Benson. No second.
Bill Mudge submitted a suggested list of audit topics to be discussed in relation to what should be included in an audit request (Appendix D).
Dr. Coppa requested that the Superintendent ask the Town Council for a list of exactly what topics their audit will include and if it will be a forensic or compliance audit.
C. Wickford Middle School – Current Maintenance Issues:
Maureen Buck reported that the Asset Management Committee has been given information on the bond issue and the capital improvement items. They will issue their report in January.
Bill Mudge asked why the School Committee was not informed in September that the Wickford Middle School project that was submitted to the town was split funded.
Renee Cockerill would like to know what can be done now for Wickford Middle School outside of the bond. She requested feedback from the principal and teachers for suggestions about what can be done now programmatically to improve equality.
Bucky Brennan offered to show a presentation of the available Jamestown facility to help with the middle school issues. He will make a presentation at the March 8th School Committee meeting.
The Capital Improvement list was discussed. Capital items listed by building were asked to be prioritized.
Motion to prioritize the Capital
Improvement List by year was made by Melvoid Benson. Seconded by Renee Cockerill.
Vote:
Unanimous to approve.
Motion to adjourn after citizens/committee
comments was made by Janice DeFrances.
Seconded by Bill Mudge.
Vote:
Unanimous to approve.
VI. Reports
A. Special Reports – no discussion or action taken
B. Standing Committee Reports – no discussion or action taken
C. Ad hoc Committee Reports – no discussion or action taken
VII.
Committee
Member/Citizens’ Comments:
Citizens Comments:
· April Brunelle stated that on November 16th there was a discussion and vote concerning legal counsel giving advice
to the Committee and this discussion was allowed under the budget agenda item. If the Committee is to be held
accountable to uphold the open meetings law, it must be consistent at every meeting. Tonight some of the
Committee fought not to discuss a forensic audit under the budget item. The School Committee attorney should
also be held accountable to uphold the law.
· Muriel Cammara stated that there is a need to prioritize Wickford Middle School. She compared the Warwick
CCRI building that was in disrepair, to the Lincoln campus that has a pleasant atmosphere and suggested getting
similar advice to come up with something more feasible for WMS.
Dr. Cammara felt it is wrong not to vote for a forensic audit because members think there is nothing wrong. She
would like to see an audit to prove there is nothing wrong and restore credibility. She suggested choosing specific
items for a forensic audit.
· Kathy Brown spoke of letting the public speak about new items on the Business Meeting agenda, especially if there
will be a vote on those items. Mrs. Brown asked if there would be updated copies of the personnel standards
available.
Denise Coppa replied that we cannot answer questions as it would be a violation of the open meetings
law. Bill Mudge commented that Kelly Fracassa stated that the Committee could answer the public. David Reilly
stated that Mr. Fracassa’s opinion was given before the Attorney General’s decision to Exeter/West Greenwich.
Mrs. Brown noted that the source of the personnel standards should be noted on the handout.
Mrs. Brown asked if the middle school is receiving less money this year for supplies.
Maureen Buck explained that this was a typing error and will be corrected.
Mrs. Brown thanked Bill Mudge for clarifying the Capital Improvement List.
Committee Comments:
· Mel Benson feels that she was elected to represent the people and she should be allowed to speak at meetings.
Business needs to be done in a better way. She felt the forensic audit should have been discussed tonight.
· Bill Mudge wished everyone a Merry Christmas.
· Janice DeFrances asked if advice will be given by legal counsel on agendas with the intent to keep the information
flowing.
· Renee Cockerill wished everyone a blessed Christmas.
· Denise Coppa wished all a happy holiday.
VIII.
Adjourn
Meeting adjourned at 10:30pm.
Respectfully
submitted,
_______________________________________
Karen A. Nutini
Administrative Assistant
to the Superintendent