Middletown Public Schools

Middletown, Rhode Island

Thursday, February 24, 2005

MICHAEL S. PINTO CONFERENCE ROOM

Members Present: Michael F. Crowley, Jr.

Edward K. Draper

Liana F. Fenton

Theresa M. Spengler

Member Absent: William Coogan

Also Present: Rosemarie K. Kraeger, Superintendent of Schools

The Regular School Committee Meeting was held in the Michael S. Pinto Conference Room and called to order at 7:02 p.m. by Chairman Michael F. Crowley, Jr. Administrative staff members present were Gail Abromitis and Stephen Ponte. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

SPOTLIGHT ON TEACHING AND LEARNING

No Spotlight on Teaching and Learning

PROCLAMATIONS/AWARDS

No Proclamations and Awards

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

No Student Activities

INFORMATION

· Letter from Paul W. Fogarty, Senator, District 23, supporting legislation for education funding at a minimum of 5%.

· Letter regarding reimbursement for expenses incurred for snow removal during state of emergency. The school department’s portion was $16,430.

CORRESPONDENCE

Letter from Antone C. Viveiros, regarding release of the Facility Advisory Committee Report, as well as a School Committee Member serving as a voting member of the Facilities Advisory Committee.

MOTION: 1) Edward Draper, 2) Theresa Spengler. That the School Committee receive the communication. Unanimous vote.

Mrs. Kraeger will meet with Mr. Viveiros and Mr. Quinn of the Facilities Advisory Committee.

(Minutes of February 24, 2005 School Committee Meeting, Page Two)

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORTS

· KAESTLE BOOS PRESENTATION – Report will be presented at the March 17, 2005 meeting.

· FINANCIAL – Work continues on the 2005-2006 budget. The audit report for 2004-2005 will be received shortly. Senator Chafee has joined the Impact Aid coalition. All of the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation are now part of the Impact Aid coalition.

· FACILITIES – The metallic odor that has plagued the guidance area at the high school has returned. Honeywell was called, but nothing out of the ordinary was found. An air quality firm in Massachusetts will be at the high school on Friday or Monday. The staff has been relocated.

MOTION: 1) Edward Draper, 2) Liana Fenton. That the School Committee receive the Superintendent’s Reports. Unanimous vote.

CONSENT AGENDA

MOTION: 1) Liana Fenton, 2) Theresa Spengler. To approve the Consent Agenda. Unanimous vote.

· Approval of Minutes of January 20, 2005 School Committee Meeting

· Approval of Minutes of January 20, 2005 Executive Session

· Approval of Minutes of January 13, 2005 Budget Workshop

· Approval of Minutes of January 27, 2005 Budget Workshop

· Approval of Financial Report, dated January 31, 2005, in the amount of $14,420,189.88

· Approval of Special Grants Register, dated January 13, 2005, in the amount of $5,777.00

· Approval of Special Grants Register, dated January 26, 2005, in the amount of $32,561.16

· Approval of Special Grants Register, dated February 11, 2005, in the amount of $30,129.87

· Approval of Invoice Register, dated January 19, 2005, in the amount of $4,279.61

· Approval of Invoice Register, dated January 28, 2005, in the amount of $653,076.68

· Approval of Invoice Register, dated February 4, 2005, in the amount of $3,718.04

· Approval of Invoice Register, dated February 11, 2005, in the amount of $393,114.71

SUPERINTENDENT’S RECOMMENDATION ON PERSONNEL

RESIGNATION

Christina Campos Grade Eight Resource Teacher, J.H. Gaudet School

RESIGNATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF RETIREMENT

Gretchen N. Lendrum English Teacher, Middletown High School

Annemarie Moitoza Special Education Teacher Assistant

(Minutes of February 24, 2005 School Committee Meeting, Page Three)

MATERNITY LEAVE - ARTICLE XIV, C, OPTION #1 (NEA/Middletown)

Michelle L. Fonseca Principal, Aquidneck School

From April 25, 2005 to the end of the school year

Kimberly Pearce Grade Three Teacher, J.F. Kennedy School

From April 25, 2005 to the end of the school year

Cheryl Wenzel Science Teacher, J.H. Gaudet School

From May 17, 2005 to the end of the school year

Danielle Spies English Language Arts, J.H. Gaudet School

From March 16, 2005 to an undetermined date

Christine D’Andrea Foreign Language Teacher, J.H. Gaudet School

From April 8, 2005 to the end of the school year

FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE ACT

Renee Kaminitz Elementary Librarian

From March 7 to March 21, 2005

RETURN FROM LEAVE OF ABSENSE

Kellie Sorel Ducharme Science Teacher, Middletown High School

M. Jessica Mulvena Business Teacher, Middletown High School

Hannah Goodman English Teacher, Middletown High School

Ramona Bessinger English Teacher, Middletown High School

Maureen Sullivan Multiage Teacher, Forest Avenue School

Courtney Hughes Literacy Coach

OLD BUSINESS

· AQUIDNECK SCHOOL PLAYGROUND UPDATE – Mrs. Kraeger and Mrs. Fonseca met with Mrs. Amy Murphy recently. Mrs. Murphy gave an update on what the committee has done to raise funds. Twenty items were chosen and students voted on them. The total amount of funds needed for the playground is $42,000. To date, $29,000 has been raised. The installation fee, which is included, is $16,000. The goal is to have the playground ready for September 2005. The playground meets State handicapped guidelines. Mrs. Spangler reminded the committee that the Forest Avenue and Kennedy School playgrounds also need work, so any funds allocated would need to be divided by the three schools. Middletown Little League and YMCA have made donations.

· STUDENT FUNDING REQUESTS – At the last meeting, two students came forward requesting funding for activities for the Congressional Student Leadership Conference and for the All-Eastern Division Chorus in Baltimore, Maryland.

MOTION: 1) Theresa Spengler, Liana Fenton. To move the Student Funding Requests to an action item. Unanimous vote.

· LINDEN SCHOOL –Senator Chafee’s office has approached the Town Council with possible Congressional dollars available for projects. Mr. Kempen has suggested a joint

(Minutes of February 24, 2005 School Committee Meeting, Page Four)

project for recreation and the Alternate Learning Program. The Town Council has submitted a number of requests for these funds, but also wanted the School Department’s input. Mrs. Spengler questioned what would happen if we invest in this and it is decided that the Linden School site will be used for the new school. Linden School would be ideal because it is on the bus line and close to Newport.

NEW BUSINESS

· PROGRAM OF STUDIES – Mr. Allen Waite, Career Education Department, said that the “Small Engines” class will be changed to “Home Improvement” class and will include light carpentry, wall coverings, repairs, electrical, etc. The class will meet the standards by getting students to determine how to solve problems and get involved in career opportunities. Students will need to think through what you need for the project, where you would purchase it, etc. This could collaborate with the community service requirement. Mrs. Fenton said that this would fit into the construction career pathway. Construction companies are willing to help.

Mr. Jim Ascoli and Mr. Tom Burns, members of the Mathematics Department proposed a AP Statistics course. This class would focus on juniors and seniors preparing for college, but could be open to sophomores through seniors..

ACTION ITEMS

MOTION: 1) Liana Fenton, 2) Theresa Spengler. The Superintendent recommends to the School Committee the termination, effective at the end of the 2004-2005 school year, of teacher A-2/24/05, due to being reduced to less than full-time. Unanimous vote.

MOTION: 1) Theresa Spengler, 2) Edward Draper The Superintendent recommends to the School Committee the termination, effective at the end of the 2004-2005 school year, of the teachers and substitute teachers, B-2/24/05, C-2/24/05, D-2/24/05, E-2/24/05, F-2/24/05, G-2/24/05, H-2/24/05, I-2/24/05, J-2/24/05, K-2/24/05, L-2/24/05, M-2/24/05, N-2/24/05, O-2/24/05, P-2/24/05, Q-2/24/05 and R-2/24/05, due to the expiration of their limited employment contracts, unless terminated sooner by a teacher returning from leave, as well as the uncertainty of sufficient local, Federal and State funding for programs for the 2005-2006 school year. Unanimous vote.

MOTION: 1) Edward Draper, 2) Theresa Spengler. The Superintendent recommends that based on the uncertainty of sufficient Local, Federal and State funding for programs for the 2005-2006 school year, the consequential program reductions, consolidation of classes, realignment of staff, possibility of funding a sabbatical, and elimination of positions to more effectively and efficiently use the school system’s assets, the School Committee terminate teachers S-2/24/05, T-2/24/05, U-2/24/05, V-2/24/05, W-2/24/05, X-2/24/05 and Y-2/24/05, effective at the end of the 2004-2005 school year, due to their present positions being recommended as eliminated. Unanimous vote.

MOTION: 1) Theresa Spengler, 2) Michael Crowley. The Superintendent recommends that based on the uncertainty of sufficient Local, Federal and State funding for programs for the 2005-2006 school year, the consequential program reduction, consolidation of classes, realignment of

(Minutes of February 24, 2005 School Committee Meeting, Page Five)

staff and elimination of positions to more effectively and efficiently use the school system’s assets, the Superintendent recommends to the School Committee the termination of teacher Z-2/24/05, AA-2/24/05 and BB-2/24/05, effective at the end of the 2004-2005 school year, due to being displaced by a more senior teacher. Unanimous vote.

MOTION: 1) Liana Fenton, 2) Theresa Spengler. The Superintendent recommends that based on the uncertainty of sufficient Local, Federal and State funding for programs for the 2005-2006 school year, the consequential program reductions, consolidation of classes, realignment of staff and elimination of positions to more effectively and efficiently use the school system’s assets, the Superintendent recommends to the School Committee that teachers CC-2/24/05, DD-2/24/05, EE-2/24/05 and FF-2/24/05, effective at the end of the 2004-2005 school year, displace (bump) a teacher with less seniority due to position elimination, or be terminated. Unanimous vote.

MOTION: 1) Theresa Spengler, 2) Liana Fenton. The Superintendent recommends that based on the uncertainty of sufficient Local, Federal and State funding for programs for the 2005-2006 school year, and the consequential program reductions, consolidation of classes, re-alignment of staff and elimination of positions to more efficiently and effectively use the school system's assets, the Superintendent recommends to the School Committee that effective at the end of the 2004-2005 school year, teacher GG-2/24/05 be returned to their original 2003-2004 position. Unanimous vote.

Mrs. Kraeger said that this is always a difficult part of the year. The goal is to bring back as many teachers as possible. Support is needed from the Town Council, parents and teaches.

STUDENT REQUESTS

MOTION: 1) Theresa Spengler, 2) Edward Draper. To grant the two students that have approached the School Committee $250 each and in the future there will be a new policy in place with specific direction. Unanimous vote.

BUDGET REDUCTION

MOTION: 1) Edward Draper, 2) Theresa Spengler. That the School Committee approved budget changes for 05-06 budget in the amount of $155,756 in budget increases and $812,472 in budget reductions. Unanimous vote.

This is in preparation for the March 10^th Budget Workshop. The increases include Workers Compensation, an additional High School reading teacher, an increase in unemployment, and student awards based on approval of policy

POLICY 5126 – HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT RECOGNITION AWARDS/STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS (1^ST READING)

MOTION: 1) Theresa Spengler, 2) Liana Fenton. That the School Committee approve Policy 5126 – High School Student Recognition Awards/State Championships (1^st Reading). Unanimous vote.

POLICY 5126.5 – FUNDS – PARTICIPATION IN RECOGNITION PROGRAMS (1^ST READING)

MOTION: 1) Liana Fenton, 2) Theresa Spengler. That the School Committee approve Policy 5126.5 – Funds – Participation in Recognition Programs (1^st Reading). Unanimous vote.

(Minutes of February 24, 2005 School Committee Meeting, Page Six)

A line amount will be set for this in the future. Students would have to meet criteria. All policies will be sent to entire staff for feedback at the March School Committee Meeting.

PROGRAM OF STUDIES – PROPOSED NEW COURSES

AMENDED MOTION: 1) Edward Draper, 2) Theresa Spengler. That the School Committee approve the Program of Studies – Proposed New Courses, subject to administration review of a career pathway for this program. Unanimous vote.

Mrs. Fenton would like to see a career pathway come from the “Home Repair and Maintenance” course.

RESOLUTION

MOTION: 1) Liana Fenton, 2) Edward Draper. That the School Committee approve a resolution by the Middletown School Committee and Middletown Town Council supporting increased group home funding. Unanimous vote.

Mrs. Kraeger will forward this to Mr. Kempen to put on the Town Council agenda.

REPORTS OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES

· On January 2^nd Mr. Crowley attended an all-day workshop with the School Board Association in Warwick.

· On January 29^th Mrs. Fenton and Mr. Crowley attended a follow-up to the recent South County meeting on the pension increase.

· On February 11^th all School Committee members attended a meeting with the Town Council and legislators regarding pension issues and other funding concerns.

· On February 17^th there was a meeting with the union leadership

· On March 5^th Mrs. Fenton will be attending an East Bay Educational Collaborative meeting with legislators, school board members and superintendents regarding charter schools, busing and fire codes.

· On March 12^th all in attendance at the March 5^th meeting will meet with the Southern Collaborative to see what bills will be introduced.

ADJOURN FROM MEETING

MOTION: 1) Theresa Spengler, 2) Liana Fenton. To adjourn from School Committee Meeting at 8:19. Unanimous vote.

Respectfully Submitted,

Rosemarie K. Kraeger, Clerk