NORTH KINGSTOWN SCHOOL COMMITTEE
March 8, 2006
6:00 pm
Executive Session for Discussion of Transportation Incident
Pursuant to RIGL 42-46-4 and 42-46-5 (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, North
Kingstown
“Challenging Student Excellence”
Minutes
I.
Meeting
Organization
A.
Call to Order;
Pledge of Allegiance
1.
Chairperson Don
DeFedele called the meeting to order at 7:08pm.
B. Roll Call
Present: Chairperson, Donald DeFedele; Renee Cockerill;
Janice DeFrances;
Melvoid
Benson, and William Brennan,
Absent: Vice Chairperson, Dr. Denise Coppa (arrived
at 7:30pm)
Administration
Present:
Absent: Daniel J. McGregor, Ph.D., Director of Pupil
Services and Lee Rabbitt, Director of Information Technology
Legal
Representative: David Reilly,
Esq.
C.
Calendars
1.
Important dates
in March were reviewed with the Committee:
a. SELAC
meeting on 3/13 at 7:00pm in the NK Library
b. Start Time Committee meeting on 3/14 at 7:00pm
in the Admin Building
c. School Committee Keyworks meeting on 3/15 has
been cancelled
d. High School Musical on 3/17, 3/18 and 3/19 at
the high school
e. Wellness Committee meeting on 3/20 at 6:30pm
in the Admin Building
f. A joint
meeting with the Town Council and School Committee on 3/20 at 7:30pm in the
Senior Center
g. A School
Committee business meeting on 3/22 at 7:00pm in the Admin Building with an
executive
session at
6:00pm.
D.
Ground Rules
A
list of ground rules was referred to for the Committee to approve and abide by
at this meeting.
Motion to accept the ground rules was
made by Janice DeFrances. Seconded by
Barry Martasian.
Vote:
Unanimous to approve, Bill Mudge abstaining.
E.
Presentations:
1. Start
Time Committee
Madeline
Perreault, Chairperson of the Start Time Committee, read a report of an update
of what the committee has been working on up to this point. (Appendix A)
The
Committee’s work was commended by School Committee members. It was asked what the next step would
involve, such as addressing sleep time issues.
It was questioned if there is a possibility of not having athletic games
scheduled after 7:00pm and changing the North Kingstown weekend practices to
later in the morning or early afternoon.
Ms.
Perreault explained that the coaches set the times of games and practices.
It
was recommended that the Start Time Committee go out to the community to
contact businesses and the Chamber of Commerce to get their reactions on the
impact of school start times.
The
timeline of a start time change was questioned.
This has not been decided yet and the Start Time Committee will make a
future presentation to the School Committee with recommendations.
Thomas
Mezzannotte, Director of the RI Interscholastic League, has recommended that a
high school day span from 8:15am to 2:30pm.
A
request was made that an estimate of the impact of transportation and personnel
costs be provided with the
Start
Time Committee’s recommendations.
2.
Use of
Jamestown Middle School
William
Brennan, Jamestown representative to the School Committee, introduced Cathy
Kaiser and Julia Held of the Jamestown School Committee and Kathy Sipala,
Superintendent of Jamestown School Department.
Mr.
Brennan explained that the student population in Jamestown has been declining
and they would have room in their middle school to support addition students. This would allow them to help the Wickford
Middle School facility.
Mr.
Brennan showed a powerpoint presentation which compared the Jamestown school to
both the Davisville and Wickford Middle Schools. The entryways, main office, common learning
room, stage area, art room, library, computer lab, resource room, science room,
band room, foreign language room, heating system, family and consumer science
room (which Jamestown students participate in after school hours), robotics
room, cafeteria, and gym were showcased.
Jamestown
education results are comparable to North Kingstown schools. Jamestown is also a high performing and
improving district. With a population of
245 students, Jamestown could accommodate 100-125 students from Wickford Middle
School on a long term or temporary basis.
Mr.
Brennan stated that Jamestown was open to ideas and willing to help.
Denise Coppa arrived at 7:30pm.
II.
Routine Items
A. Correspondence:
1. Committee
members received a response from the Attorney General regarding two separate
open meeting law complaints filed by Douglas Roth and Eugene Fry. The Attorney General found no violations in
either case.
2. Information
on the Dance/Drama program was included in Committee members’ packers.
3. A letter
from residents of North Kingstown who are employed by Blue Cross was sent to
the School Committee requesting that the Committee consider all factors in
deciding on a health care provider.
(Appendix B)
Mrs. Benson stated that she did not receive the
letter. All other Committee members were
in receipt of the letter.
Mrs. Benson did not see the significance of adding
this to the minutes and stated that she had received it after the vote had been
taken on the health care contract.
4. A
celebration of Youth Art Month will be at the NK Library from March 4 – 31.
5. On Friday,
March 10th, there will be a
breakfast at 7:30am at Davisville Middle School to celebrate Middle School
month. All Committee members were
invited to attend.
6. Bill Mudge submitted the NKTO recommendations
on reducing the budget increase for 2006-2007.
(Appendix C)
B.
Disclosure of
Executive Session Votes:
On 3/8/06 there was a motion to support the actions of
the Administration in relation to a transportation incident.
The motion was unanimously passed with four members
present.
CONSENT AGENDA
Approved
items on the consent agenda
are marked with * on a
motion by Denise Coppa/ Barry Martasian with a vote of 6 to 1 with Bill Mudge
voting no.
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. February 8, 2006 Worksession Meeting*
2. February 15, 2006 Business Meeting*
3. February 16, 2006 Budget Meeting**
Motion was made by Renee Cockerill to
review the tape to verify her comment on page 2 under Committee
Comments regarding submitting
the budget and asking the Town Council for more. Seconded by Denise
Coppa.
Vote: Unanimous to approve.
Mr. Mudge felt that there needed to be more details
in the minutes of the meeting and wanted documented what was
said by whom.
Mr. DeFedele referred to paragraph six of the minutes
policy #BEDG that states if a member wants a comment
included in the minutes, it must be
submitted in writing at the meeting.
Forms are
included in each member’s folder for this purpose.
The School Committee minutes policy is based on the
open meetings law.
Motion
was made by Bill Mudge to reflect more detail in paragraphs two and three under
New Business and
Maureen
Buck’s statement on the second page.
Seconded by Melvoid Benson.
The philosophy of the minutes policy was stated: “Minutes should be so constructed so as to
provide a historical record of
the School
Committee’s work and should serve as a record of decisions. . . .
The Committee does not expect minutes to be
an exact recording of specifically everything that was
said and by whom but rather, that they reflect what was discussed, what
the significant points of discussion were, and what
action was taken in consideration of the deliberations which took place.”
Members cannot expect the secretary to know what specific
comments they want included if they do not say which ones to
include. These
are what must be submitted in writing by the member at the meeting.
It was stated that the School Committee follows the
open meetings law as it applies to minutes to a “T” and goes beyond
what the law requires.
We are struggling to put information in minutes that are not required.
It was suggested to discuss this subject later in the
agenda, as the Committee needs to move on.
Vote on
motion: Janice DeFrances Yes Renee
Cockerill No
Melvoid Benson Yes Denise
Coppa No
Bill Mudge Yes
Don DeFedele Yes
Barry Martasian Yes
Motion
passes 5 to 2
Motion was
made by Bill Mudge to clarify the statement that discussion was started on how
to proceed with budget
cuts. Seconded by Renee Cockerill.
Vote: Approved 6 to 1 with Denise Coppa voting no.
Motion was
made by Denise Coppa to approve the minutes of 2/16/06 as amended. Seconded by Melvoid Benson.
Vote: Approved 6 to 1 with Bill Mudge voting no.
E. Bids and
Awards – none submitted.
F. Personnel
Items:
1.
Appointment, Non-Certificated Staff:
a)
Mark Dawson,
Custodian at Stony Lane, 4 hours per day, 5 days a week for a total of 20 hours
per week, Step 1 @ $12.19 per hour, effective February 27, 2006 – budgeted*
2.
Appointment,
Certificated Staff:
a)
Barbara Smith,
2006 Extended School Year Coordinator, salary $5,250 – budgeted**
It
was questioned if this is a new position.
Bill
Daly responded that this is required by Special Ed regulations and this person
will coordinate the extended year program.
It is done every year.
It
was questioned if this was grant funded.
Mr.
Daly stated that it was part of the regular special ed budget.
It
was stated that the ESY program is required by law, but questioned if the
coordinator is part of that law.
Mr.
Daly explained that the program is required but the coordinator is not
specifically required, but we need someone to run the program.
It
was asked where this was accounted for in the budget.
It
is on page 222 of the technical support section of the budget under General
Support – ESY Coordinator.
Mr.
Mudge noted that we don’t approve the grant budget.
Mr.
DeFedele stated that we have always approved the appointments of people who
work for the school department.
Motion to end debate was made by Denise
Coppa. Seconded by Don DeFedele.
Vote: Approved
5 to 2 with Janice DeFrances and Bill Mudge voting no.
Motion to approve item F2a was made by
Denise Coppa. Seconded by Barry Martasian.
Vote:
Unanimous to approve.
3.
Approval of
Payment of Stipend, 2005/2006 Certificated Staff:*
Marianne Kirby Senior
Project Coordinator $1283 - budgeted
Joanne Matisewski Electronic
Portfolio Coord. $641.50 – grant funded
(1/2 year)
4.
Request for
Unpaid Educational Leave of Absence, Non-Certificated Staff:*
a)
Gloria Greene, Paraprofessional
at Stony Lane Elementary School, 6 hours per day, 5 days a week for a total of
30 hours per week, effective from March 13, 2006 through May 6, 2006.
5.
Increase in FTE,
Certificated Staff – non – budgeted*
a)
Courtney
McKay-Sandham, from .6 FTE to .8 FTE Social Studies Teacher at the North
Kingstown High School, Step 2 plus a
Master’s Degree, pro-rated for 94 days @ .6 FTE for $12,184.28 and 92 days @ .8
FTE for $15,901.28 with a total annual salary of $28,085.56, effective January
26, 2006.
6.
Appointment,
2005/2006 Advisor – budgeted*
Wickford Middle School
Aleeza
Hagerty Homework Club $315
7.
Appointment,
2005/2006 Interscholastic Coach – per NEA/Teacher’s Contract*
North Kingstown High School
Jonathan
Quinn Assistant
Softball Coach $2546
8.
Revision to
Agenda Item, II.F.3, Appointments, 2005/2006 Advisors, NKHS, School Committee
Meeting December 7, 2005 – budgeted*
Tom
Doran Co-Graduation
Advisor $75.00
James
Simmons Co-Graduation Advisor $75.00
Jerome
Simmons Co-Graduation Advisor $75.00
Aaron
Thomas Co-Graduation
Advisor $75.00
Julie
Maguire Co-Graduation
Advisor $75.00
Mia
Conti Co-Graduation
Advisor $75.00
9.
Termination,
Non-Certificated Staff:*
a)
Paul Johnson,
Itinerant Custodian, 8 hours per day, 5 days a week for a total of 40 hours per
week, effective February 28, 2006.
10.
Retirements,
Certificated Staff:*
a)
Dianne Grinnell,
1.0 FTE Language Arts Teacher at Wickford Middle School, effective at the end
of the 2005/2006 school year.
b)
Paula
Judge-Brown, 1.0 FTE Special Education Teacher at Wickford Middle School,
effective at the end of the 2005/2006 school year.
11.
Resignation,
Certificated Staff:*
a)
Liz Parvo,
2005/2006 Assistant Softball Coach at the North Kingstown High School,
effective February 17, 2006.
b)
Judd Silvia,
2005/2006 Homework Club Advisor at Wickford Middle School, effective October
13, 2006.
G. Policies: #BE – School Committee Meetings*
#BEDG – Minutes/School Committee Meetings*
END OF CONSENT AGENDA
Recess
was taken at 8:30pm. William Brennan
left the meeting at 8:30pm.
Meeting
resumed at 8:40pm.
Don DeFedele read the Ground Rules approved by the
School Committee. (Appendix D)
Mr. DeFedele reminded the
Committee of these rules and asked them to abide by them for the remainder of
the meeting.
It was asked what corrective
action could be taken when the rules are not being followed.
It was stated that a point
of order could be called by any member.
Motion was made by Melvoid Benson that when it is noticed that the
ground rules are not being followed, corrective action should be that a point of order would be
made. Seconded by Renee Cockerill.
Vote: Unanimous to approve.
The above statement will be added to the Ground Rules.
III. Unfinished Business
(For Discussion and Possible Action)
A. 2006-2007 School Budget
Motion was made by Renee Cockerill that a
list of programs be provided that are required by law as well as
discretionary programs that are not mandated. Seconded by Bill Mudge.
Dr.
Halley stated that this would be very difficult to do if not impossible because
of the complexity of items. Examples
were given of the Extended Year Program being required, but not the coordinator
to run it; an athletic program is required but it is not defined as to how many
sports must be offered; a curriculum is required but it is not defined or told
how it is to be managed.
Mr.
Mudge noted that the state law was clear – we must fund a basic education. Do we need boatbuilding? We need to look at mandatory courses versus
elective courses. There are certain
courses required to graduate.
Mr.
Martasian stated that there are courses that are integrated into other
courses. Math is integrated into
boatbuilding. We can start to dismantle
what is important to our philosophy of education.
Mr.
DeFedele referred to the program of studies of the high school and stated that
if we separate out programs, 90% of our programs would not be required. AP courses, electives, foreign language are
all not required. The standards in the
budget show what is required by law.
Mrs.
Benson stated that certain things are needed in order to be accredited by the
state and we need that list.
Dr.
Halley responded that it is much more complicated. There is the Basic Education Program that
defines what every school should have, but the legislation goes beyond that
with regard to nurses, physical education, English – but does not give
specifics on these courses. There are
secondary school reform regulations, middle school reform regulations, special
ed laws, all of the IDEA laws and No Child Left Behind that has certification
and achievement requirements.
Denise
Coppa suggested reversing the question and ask if a program considered as a cut
is a required program. Dr. Coppa did not
think we should decide on a program based on only what is required. We can’t meet students needs in that way.
Mrs.
Cockerill stated that she does not want to provide only what the state law
requires.
Mr.
Mudge suggested starting with a zero-based budget and adding up. What essential things are needed to stay
within our budget? Is SmART more
important than the literacy program or boatbuilding?
Mrs.
Benson felt Dr. Halley did a good job with the programs we have and stated that
Mrs. Cockerill was asking what the basic requirements are under the law. What is required to open a school and be
accredited?
Recess was taken at 9:15pm.
Meeting was adjourned at 9:25pm due to a member not
feeling well.
No discussion or action taken:
1.
High School Vice-Principal
2.
Professional Development Coordinator
3.
Professional Development Increase
4.
Principals Salary Increase
5.
SmART Program
6.
Unbudgeted Teachers
7.
Curriculum increase
8.
Computer Assisted Learning Increase
9.
Article 31 Increase
B. Budget and Personnel Standards
C. Discussion of Issues Pertaining to the
Physical Limitations of WMS as Related to Current
Middle School Programs
D.
2005-2006 School
Budget
E.
2005-2006 School
Committee Goals and Objectives
New
Business – no discussion or
action taken
(For Discussion and Possible Action)
A.
New Policy - #GBEB Standards of Employee Conduct
B.
Strategic Plan
C.
Approval of the 2006-2007 School Committee Meeting Schedule
D.
Energy Guidelines
E.
Building Code Feasibility Study of Wickford Elementary School by RGB;
Return of Wickford
Elementary School to the Town of
North Kingstown
F.
Governing Style
Policy/Committee Self-Assessment Policy
G.
Request to
Withhold Information Forms
H.
Consider Letter
to Town Regarding High School Band Room Repair
I.
Consider School
Committee Policies on Website
Reports –
no discussion or action taken
(For
Discussion and Possible Action)
A.
Special Reports:
1.
Middle School Foreign Language Program
2. Drug/Alcohol Report
B. Standing/Sub Committee Reports
C Ad hoc Committee Reports
Committee
Member/Citizen’s Comments – no comments.
Respectfully
submitted,
_______________________________________
Karen
A. Nutini
Administrative
Assistant
to
the Superintendent