NORTH KINGSTOWN SCHOOL COMMITTEE

NORTH KINGSTOWN SCHOOL COMMITTEE

May 10, 2006

6:00 pm Executive Session for Parent Appeal of the Kindergarten Entrance Age

Pursuant to RIGL 42-46-4 and 42-46-5 (8)(b)

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. Chairperson, Don DeFedele, called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.

B. Roll Call

Present: Chairperson, Donald DeFedele; Vice Chairperson, Dr. Denise Coppa; Renee Cockerill;

Bill Mudge; Barry Martasian; Janice DeFrances and Melvoid Benson

Absent: William Brennan, Jamestown Representative

Administration Present: James M. Halley, Ed.D, Superintendent of Schools; Daniel J. McGregor, Ph.D., Director of Pupil Services and Barbara Fitzsimmons, Ed.D, Director of Curriculum; William J. Daly, Director of Human Resources; Maureen Buck, Director of Administrative Services, and Lee Rabbitt, Director of Information Technology

Legal Representative: Kelly Fracassa

C. Calendars

Dr. Halley went over the important dates with the Committee:

1. May 11 – High School and middle schools Jazz Concert at 7:00pm in the high school

2. May 17 – Keyworks session has been cancelled

3. May 18 – SELAC meeting at 7:00pm at the town Library

4. May 23 – Wickford Middle School Band Concert at 7:00pm in the high school

5. May 24 – School Committee Business meeting at 7:00pm following an executive session at 6:00pm. There is also a reception for RI Honor Society students at 7:00pm in the high school.

6. May 25 – SORICO annual meeting at 5:30pm and a Wellness Sub-Committee meeting at 6:30pm.

D. Ground Rules

Don DeFedele referred to the list of ground rules for the Committee to abide by at this meeting.

Motion was made by Don DeFedele to approve the ground rules. Seconded by Barry Martasian.

Vote: 6 to 1 to approve with Bill Mudge voting no,

Mr. DeFedele moved item III-B, Modernization of Wickford Middle School/ Davisville Elementary School, to this

point in the agenda. The Town Council has requested that the current School Committee vote on this item.

Motion was made by Don DeFedele to approve the Asset Management Commission’s proposal for the modernization of Wickford Middle School and Davisville Elementary School as it relates to the $27 million bond. Seconded by Denise Coppa.

Bill Mudge felt that there was not sufficient information to make a decision. The environment has changed since the RGB report and other issues need to be considered such as the empty Wickford Elementary building, reconfiguration of schools or a new school in the southern end of town.

Mr. Mudge submitted his prepared document title “Audited School Fund and School Capital Reserve Fund Data” (Appendix A) and felt that we still do not have enough justification or analysis work done on this project.

Don DeFedele summarized the background of these projects by stating that when he was first elected, the modernization of Wickford Middle School was talked about. The Asset Management Commission was not rating projects at that time and a feasibility study was requested. The School Committee spent $90,000 for RGB to do this study. The Asset Management Commission made a recommendation to the Town Council for a $9million bond for the schools but the

School Committee felt we should fund those projects from the Capital Reserve fund. The bond was approved for select projects. The Town Council asked us to phase in our projects, we met with the Asset Management Commission and put

Davisville Elementary together with Wickford Middle School. The Asset Management recommended the $27million project and the Town Council is poised to accept this and go to the voters. The Town Council is now looking for a re-affirming vote from the School Committee on the Wickford Middle School/Davisville Elementary modernization as it relates to the $27million bond.

Dr. Halley reminded the Committee that the Board of Regents has approved these projects for the 30% state reimbursement but that the funding runs out next April.

Barry Martasian felt that it is critical to move forward with these projects as the buildings are getting older and if we wait, we will have to start all over. He felt the School Committee has done its homework with the feasibility study.

Bill Mudge felt that the Asset Management Commission only heard from a few people, that the Department of Education did not look at this completely and the RGB report is flawed.

Denise Coppa stated that Mr. Mudge misrepresents the issues. The School Committee approved the analysis of the RGB report and asked questions at meetings. We know what the space requirements are, have talked to teachers and had presentations about these issues. There is a real problem with space. Eighty students who should be attending Wickford Middle School are going to Davisville Middle because of lack of space. Dr. Coppa felt we should move forward.

Motion was made by Denise Coppa to end debate. Seconded by Barry Martasian.

Vote: 6 to 1 to approve with Bill Mudge voting no.

Public Comment:

Kathleen Brown stated that she had a problem with the expansion of Davisville Elementary. When the RGB report was done, Davisville Elementary was a K-3 school and the other elementary schools were K-5. The RGB report addressed returning the fourth and fifth grades back to Davisville and keeping the remaining schools K-5. This would bring the school to the level of equity with Stony Lane, Quidnessett and Hamilton. Expanding Davisville Elementary sets it up to be a K-5 school. The population is 187 and has gone down. Mrs. Brown questioned how to evaluate the elementary schools now with the new configuration and asked if we would be expanding Fishing Cove and Forest Park with new gyms also and bring them back to neighborhood schools. Mrs. Brown suggested looking at what is working or not working with this configuration and stated that expanding Davisville Elementary sets it up for a K-5 school. The community deeply wants the K-5 schools back and will go to the polls to get the K-5 back.

David Wrenn asked the Committee to consider added language to go to the Town Council on the design of the building. He suggested adding wording that this will be a project that includes sustainable building practices. There has been a lot done with the design of buildings since RGB prepared their report and we should consider things such as using solar panels for hot water. He stated that he held the Committee responsible if this was not put into the language. Mr. Wrenn agreed that the Wickford Middle School conditions were deplorable but urged the Committee to look ten years down the road. The town has grown in the southwest corner and there is talk of a possible merge with other school districts. He stated that RGB’s first recommendation was to add a school in the southwest corner and the second choice was to repair the schools. Mr. Wrenn suggested that if the Committee moved forward it should go with sustainable building practices.

Due to the overcrowding of the building, the meeting recessed at 7:45pm and moved to the high school auditorium.

Meeting resumed at 8:07pm.

Amendment to the motion was made by Janice DeFrances to include that we consider using sustainable building practices. Seconded by Melvoid Benson.

There was discussion if adding this language to the motion would add to the cost of the projects, and who would be overseeing the projects.

Mr. Mudge asked legal counsel to research who is responsible and who controls these projects.

Motion was made by Melvoid Benson to end debate on the amendment. Seconded by Janice DeFrances.

Mrs. Benson withdrew her motion.

Motion was made by Denise Coppa to end debate on the amendment. Seconded by Barry Martasian.

Vote: 6 to 1 to approve with Barry Martasian voting no.

Vote on amendment to the motion: Unanimous to approve.

Vote on the main motion on modernization of Wickford Middle School/Davisville Elementary School:

6 to 1 to approve with Bill Mudge voting no.

Presentations:

Start Time Committee Final Report:

Madeline Perreault, chairperson of the Start Time Committee, presented a report and recommendations of the Start Time Committee (Appendix B). Mrs. Perreault thanked the committee for their hard work and stated that the charge of looking at the school start times was complicated. The committee’s primary consideration was what was in the best interest of the students.

A summary of recommendations include:

1. Conduct a survey of parents as to actual use of school transportation

2. Enforce radial distances allowances for transportation eligibility

3. Assure bus capacity utilization based on 90%

4. Expand distance between bus stops for middle and high school students

5. Where feasible, combine K-5 students on the same bus

6. Transport students in the same neighborhood to the High School and Wickford Middle School

7. Transport students in the same neighborhood to Davisville Middle and Quidnessett

8. Consider high school students residing on Post Road utilizing RIPTA busses

9. Start High School between 7:30am and 8:00am

10. Start both middle schools between 8:00am and 8:30am

11. Start elementary schools between 8:15am and 8:45am

12. Share transportation costs with other districts

13. Establish collaboration with CHARIHO district for vocational offerings

14. Use smaller busses for private/parochial schools

15. Offer a program for parent/student education of issues surrounding sleep and nutrition.

Members of the School Committee thanked Mrs. Perreault and other members of the Start Time Committee.

Comments from the School Committee included:

A feeling that the report ignored research and has not gone far enough in the medical research.

Adolescents cannot go to sleep earlier because of melatonin in their bodies.

Moving the start time one-half or one hour will not have much effect on students.

The committee did not have enough time to cover all aspects of this subject such as daycare, employment, etc.

The recommendations are doable and research was considered.

Thirty minutes difference in start time is a lengthy ride for middle school students.

There could be a discipline problem by putting high school and middle school students together.

There are many good suggestions brought to the Committee.

Request that the surveys be forwarded to the School Committee.

Some start time suggestions seem contrary – if the High School and WMS are picked up together, both middle schools could not start at the same time. It might not be physically possible to have the last run at 8:45, but it can be tried.

Possible reconfiguration could help with this problem.

The Start Time Committee did an excellent job.

Motion was made by Melvoid Benson to accept the Start Time Committee’s Report. Seconded by Bill Mudge.

Public Comment:

Many students addressed the School Committee by stating that the current High School start time is too early. It is hard to get out of bed and be ready to start learning at 7:05am. All agreed with the Start Time Committee that that High School should start between 7:30am – 8:00am. Students stated that even a start time that was a half-hour later would make a big difference to them. They also stressed that it should not start too late because it becomes difficult to participate in community service that colleges look for on their applications, and interferes with after school jobs and extra-curricular activities.

Paul Dion vouched for a high school neighbor who walks to a bus stop between 6:00am -6:15am each day. Mr. Dion noted that when he brings his child to daycare in the Forest Park area, there are 7-10 kids waiting for a bus who are in the radial walking distance to Forest Park if it were still a K-5 school. He stated that Quidnessett parents have said the same thing. Mr. Dion stated that you cannot deny the link between reconfiguration and start times.

Recess was taken at 9:25pm; Don DeFedele left the meeting at 9:25pm

Meeting resumed at 9:32pm

The Start Time Committee’s Report was accepted by the School Committee.

Denise Coppa took over as chairperson of the meeting.

Middle School Foreign Language Presentation:

Barbara Fitzsimmons presented a change in the implementation of the middle school program of studies for foreign language next year. (Appendix C)

The seventh graders will have an expanded literacy block and the eighth graders will have two choices of world language options – take a full year of a single language or a full year of world languages.

Dr. Fitzsimmons reviewed the rationale, benefits, introduction to World Languages, the literacy block and the projected outcomes.

Parents have been notified, teams have been made up and teachers have been prepared for this change in foreign language delivery.

There was discussion that participation in foreign language studies should begin earlier than middle school.

Dr. Fitzsimmons agreed and stated that there would need to be support from the Committee.

Mr. Mudge stated that the Committee should vote on curriculum changes and asked what we wouldn’t be able to do if this change is implemented.

Dr. Fitzsimmons explained that we are increasing the literacy program and offering an opportunity for all students to take a foreign language.

Motion was made by Bill Mudge to move the foreign language forward to another agenda for a review of this issue. Seconded by Renee Cockerill.

Renee Cockerill requested to hear from a foreign language representative to ask questions about their opinions on this subject.

Dr. Halley stated that this is not a change in curriculum.

Vote: unanimous to approve

Barbara Fitzsimmons requested that if Committee members have specific concerns that they e-mail questions ahead of time and state why they think this is not a good move.

Public Comment:

Dee Dee Chatham stated that she could see the motivation for the change that students need more literacy but could not see just doubling the time in literacy.

Kathleen Brown pointed out that this could have an impact on the budget with books, etc. and this should not be skipped. Mrs. Brown suggested that this could be piloted at WMS next year. Foreign language could be a crash course in seventh grade which would be an introduction to work languages.

Renee Cockerill suggested moving the legal counsel representative topic up in the agenda.

Dr. Coppa responded that she would try but there were other things we needed to get through first.

II. Routine Items

A. Correspondence – Janice DeFrances submitted an e-mail from Larry Ceresi concerning special needs transportation to be

included as correspondence at the next meeting.

B. Disclosure of Executive Session Votes:

At the executive sessions before this meeting there were two motions made for an exception to the kindergarten age

entrance policy. One vote was to accept and passed unanimously. The other vote was to reject which passed 3 to 1 with

Mr. Martasian, Dr. Coppa and Mr. DeFedele voting yes, Mrs. Benson voting no.

CONSENT AGENDA

Approved items on the consent agenda are marked with * on a motion by Melvoid Benson/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.

C. Home Schooling Requests – none submitted

D. Approval of Minutes of Prior Meetings:

1. April 26, 2006 Business Meeting*

2. April 26, 2006 Executive Session*

E. Bids and Awards - none submitted

F. Personnel Items:

1. Appointment, Non-Certificated Staff – budgeted*

a) Jane Schavone, Food Service Worker and Breakfast Coordinator at Fishing Cove School, 3.5 hours, Food Service Worker + 1 hour, Breakfast Coordinator per day, 5 days a week for a total of 22.5 hours per week, Step 1 @ $8.44 per hour, effective May 1, 2006

2. Request for Approval for an Unpaid Parental Leave of Absence, Certificated Staff:*

a) Laurie Deignan, 1.0 FTE Reading Teacher at Davisville Middle, unpaid parental leave of absence from April 10, 2006 through June 11, 2006.

3. Resignation, Non-Certificated Staff:*

a) Marina Barbesta, Paraprofessional (currently on a leave of absence), 6 hours per day, 5 days a week for a total of 30 hours per week, effective at the end of the 2005/2006 school year.

b) Marcel R. Bedard, 3^rd Shift Custodian at the North Kingstown High School, 8 hours per day, 5 days a week for a total of 40 hours per week, effective May 11, 2006.

END OF CONSENT AGENDA

Item IV-B, Bus Contractor’s Contract, was moved to this point in the agenda.

Maureen Buck stated that the school department has met with the bus contractors and reached a mutual agreement. There will be a 4% increase in the first year, a 3% increase in the next two years and CPI plus the cost of living which will result in 2-4% in the last two years.

There was discussion concerning including a requirement to record mileage for reimbursement in the contract. Mrs. Buck

explained that the mileage is recorded on the driver’s time sheets. If they do not record it, they will not get paid.

Motion was made by Bill Mudge to add a provision to the bus contractor’s contract that the drivers submit a signed

certificate for mileage reimbursement. Seconded by Renee Cockerill.

It was stated that this is going beyond the contract and into administration of the contract. The contract develops parameters, not

all of the specifics. This statement is not necessary as it is already being done.

Vote: Melvoid Benson yes Denise Coppa no Don DeFedele absent for vote

Renee Cockerill yes Barry Martasian no

Bill Mudge yes Janice DeFrances no

Motion fails due to a tie vote.

There was discussion concerning field trips and how busses were assigned. There is a rotation schedule set up for these trips.

Entering into a contract with a company other than the Association was discussed. This would affect the entire fleet, not just one

or two busses.

The school department will review and approve all bus specifications before any bus is placed in service.

Motion was made by Melvoid Benson to add to number 3-a that should the school department enter into a contract with an

entity other than the Association, the bus drivers be given a 60 day notice. Seconded by Bill Mudge.

Dr. Halley stated that the bus contractors have agreed to this contract so why put in more restrictive language.

Dr. Halley advised the School Committee that they have a responsibility to the taxpayer, public and school department to negotiate

in a way that is beneficial to the school department, not beneficial to the other entity.

Vote: 4 to 2 to reject, with Melvoid Benson and Bill Mudge voting yes.

Motion fails.

Motion was made by Bill Mudge that any evaluation of a bus monitor’s performance be documented to the

Transportation Office. No second.

Motion was made by Bill Mudge to add a requirement that active cameras be installed on all busses. Seconded by Melvoid

Benson.

There is currently one digital camera in the district that can be installed on any bus as needed.

There is a cost of approximately $2,000 per camera which would be $52,000 plus installation to install a camera on every bus.

Mrs. Benson withdrew her second on the motion.

Motion was made by Barry Martasian to approve the bus contractor’s contract. Seconded by Renee Cockerill.

Vote: 5 to 0 to approve with Bill Mudge abstaining.

Motion was made by Bill Mudge to adjourn after comments. Seconded by Barry Martasian.

Vote: unanimous to approve.

Public Comment:

Kathleen Brown requested an updated Start Time Committee report and asked that her name and the name of April Brunelle be

taken off the report as they only participated in one meeting.

III. Unfinished Business

(For Discussion and Possible Action)

A. Superintendent’s Contract – Restructuring of Compensation Package – no discussion or action taken

B. Modernization of Wickford Middle School/Davisville Elementary School – discussed previously in meeting

C. 2006-2007 School Budget – no discussion or action taken

D. Bond Issue Update – no discussion or action taken

E. Discussion of Issues Pertaining to the Physical Limitations of WMS as Related to Current Middle School Programs – no

discussion or action taken

F. 2005-2006 School Budget – no discussion or action taken

G. 2005-2006 School Committee Goals and Objectives – no discussion or action taken

IV. New Business

(For Discussion and Possible Action)

A. New Policy #GBEB – Standards of Employees Conduct – no discussion or action taken

B. Bus Contractor’s Contract – discussed previously in meeting

C. Strategic Plan – no discussion or action taken

D. Southern RI Legislative Coalition – no discussion or action taken

E. Building Feasibility Study of Wickford Elementary School by RGB – no discussion or action taken

F. Return of Wickford Elementary School to the Town of NK – no discussion or action taken

G. Governing Style Policy/Committee Self-Assessment Policy - no discussion or action taken

H. Consider Letter to Town Regarding High School Band Room Repair – no discussion or action taken

I. Consider School Committee Policies on Website – no discussion or action taken

J. Legal Representation at School Committee Meetings - no discussion or action taken