MIDDLETOWN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

MIDDLETOWN, RHODE ISLAND

 

SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING

December 16, 2004

 

Members Present:                               William R. Coogan

                                                            Michael F. Crowley, Jr.

                                                            Edward K. Draper

                                                            Liana F. Fenton

                                                            Theresa M. Spengler

 

Also Present:                                       Rosemarie K. Kraeger, Superintendent of Schools

                                                            Joseph R. Krupowicz, Assistant Superintendent

                                                            Catherine M. McLeish, Business Manager

                                                            Beth Perrin, Director of Facilities Management

 

            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   Vincent Giuliano, Steven Ruscito, Janet Sheehan, Stephen Ponte and Gail Abromitis.  The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

 

SPOTLIGHT ON TEACHING AND LEARNING

 

No “Spotlight on Teaching and Learning” for December 16, 2004.

 

PROCLAMATIONS/AWARDS

 

No “Proclamations/Awards” for December 16, 2004.

 

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

 

No “Student Activities” for December 16, 2004.

 

INFORMATION

 

·        A letter was received from Police Chief Pesare congratulating the Middletown Public Schools for their “High Performing and Improving” status.

·        A chart was provided with the number of military students in Middletown schools.  There are currently 891 students, compared to 996 last year.  This will have an effect on Impact Aid revenues.

 

CORRESPONDENCE

 

No “Correspondence” for December 16, 2004.

 

 

(Minutes of December 16, 2004 School Committee Meeting, Page Two)

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORTS

 

·        CURRICULUM – Mrs. Kraeger thanked the Technology Department for their work with elementary teachers in having the report cards available on-line.  Aquidneck School teacher Jeannine Magliocco is being honored at the State House tonight for receiving her National Board Certification.  A statewide curriculum team is being developed.  A meeting is scheduled for December 17th regarding high school regulations.

·        FINANCIAL – By Town Charter, the school budget must be transmitted to the Town Council 100 days prior to the end of the fiscal year.  Two members of the School Committee are needed to serve on a budget subcommittee.  Mr. Crowley has asked the school department to develop a budget guideline for the public.  To date, 30.15% of the budget has been expended. 

·        FACILITIES – The “Accessibility Report” from the R.I. Governor’s Commission on Disabilities is included in the packet.  Beth Perrin, Director of Facilities, is developing a 3-year plan to address the concerns.

·        FACILITIES ADVISORY COMMITTEE – Mr. Draper said that the report is almost complete.  The committee will develop a detailed plan that overlays the existing conditions with the building needs.  Mrs. Kraeger said that Kaestle Boos has completed their study of Middletown High School and Gaudet School and will report at the January School Committee Meeting.  Mr. Quinn reported that the committee has completed the first step.  The next step will be to develop a comprehensive program for the planning of future renovations.  When this is complete, the committee will have a projection of the ideal space program.

·        FOOD ADVISORY COMMITTEE – Mr. Ponte reported that the roles and responsibilities of the committee were discussed.  Mr. Steve Carey, State Nutritionist from the Department of Education, will attend the next meeting on February 8th at 6:30 at the Oliphant Board Room.  Keypad systems will be installed in elementary schools by the end of January.  There was discussion about nutrition and students who bring their own sweets when they purchase a hot lunch.

 

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

 

CONSENT AGENDA

 

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

 

·        Approval of Minutes of October 13, 2004 Special School Committee Meeting

·        Approval of Minutes of November 10, 2004 Special School Committee Meeting

·        Approval of Minutes of November 18, 2004 School Committee Meeting

·        Approval of Minutes of November 30, 2004 Special School Committee Meeting

·        Approval of Minutes of December7, 2004 Special School Committee Meeting

·        Approval of Financial Report, dated November 30, 2004, in the amount of $9,234,646.77

(Minutes of December 16, 2004 School Committee Meeting, Page Three)

 

 

·        Approval of Special Grants Register, dated November 16, 2004, in the amount of $10,405.24

·        Approval of Special Grants Register, dated December 1, 2004, in the amount of $30,039.00

·        Approval of Invoice Register, dated November 17, 2004, in the amount of $630,499.64

·        Approval of Invoice Register, dated November 24, 2004, in the amount of $426,447.32

·        Approval of Invoice Register, dated December 3, 2004, in the amount of $1,200.29

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S RECOMMENDATION ON PERSONNEL

 

FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE ACT

 

David A. Aull                                     Facilities Management

                                                            From January 3, 2005 to January 14, 2005

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

·        MIDDLETOWN EDUCATION COLLABORATIVE – Mr. Armand Mazzuli and Mr. Athol Cochrane, representing the Middletown Education Collaborative, presented the Middletown School Department with checks totaling $2,700 for school “wish list” requests.  The wishes included:

 

o       $302 for equipment for the Middletown High School exercise room

o       $200 for Aquidneck School multi-age class field trip

o       $200 for Aquidneck School playground fund

o       $320 for eight micro-cassette recorders at Forest Avenue School

o       $200 for Forest Avenue School playground fund

o       $676 for outdoor benches at J.F. Kennedy School playground

o       $824 for J.F. Kennedy School playground fund

 

The Middletown Education Collaborative website is www.middletowneducationcollaborative.org.  Mrs. Kraeger thanked all the members of the Middletown Education Collaborative.  Mr. Coogan said that in a time of extremely tight budgets, this makes a big difference for the schools.  A “wish” is required to be approved by the school principal before it is put on the website.  Mr. Draper said that this is a great example of the community coming together.

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

·        PROGRAM OF STUDIES – Mr. Ruscito reported on the progress of the Program of Studies.  After the draft was completed, there were 49 items identified that needed changing.  Course prerequisites have been relaxed.  No new courses have been added.  Because of the importance of scheduling, the Program of Studies should be


(Minutes of December 16, 2004 School Committee Meeting, Page Four)

 

 

approved tonight so it can be printed in a timely manner.  Mr. Ruscito said that influences that affect the Program of Studies include high school regulations, No Child Left Behind Law, Middletown Initiatives, the new high school diploma and 330 minutes of instructional time.  There are very few changes that are curricular in nature.  Mr. Draper requested that vehicle and pedestrian safety be added to the health curriculum.  Mr. Ruscito said that it is done at middle and elementary grades.

 

·        NEASC UPDATE – Mr. Ruscito reported on NEASC.  The School and Community Report has gone through several edits and has been completed.  The other seven committees are ahead of schedule.  Mr. Crowley will be meeting next week with Mr. Ruscito for a one-on-one session to bring him up-to-date.

 

ACTION ITEMS

 

SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING DATES

MOTION:  1) Theresa Spengler, 2) William Coogan.  That the School Committee approve the School Committee Meetings for 2005, as well as budget workshops for 2005.  Unanimous vote.

 

NEGOTIATOR

MOTION:  1) William Coogan, 2) Theresa Spengler.  That the School Committee appoint School Department Attorney Richard Updegrove as negotiator for the Middletown Teacher Assistants.  Unanimous vote.

 

PROGRAM OF STUDIES

MOTION:  1) Theresa Spengler, 2) Liana Fenton.  That the School Committee approve the Program of Studies for school year 2005-2006, subject to changes.  Unanimous vote.

 

REPORTS OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES

 

December 2, 2004 – Mr. Crowley was invited by the Jamestown School Committee to attend a meeting where budget issues, charter school and pension increases were discussed.  Representative Bruce Long was in attendance.

 

December 7th – Mr. Crowley, Mrs. Fenton, Mrs. Kraeger and Mr. Rodrigues met to discuss budget, budget development, a School Committee/Town Council workshop and the challenges that will be faced.  They will meet the first Tuesday of every month at 8:00 a.m.

 

December 9th – Mr. Crowley, Mrs. Fenton and Mrs. Kraeger met with the leadership of the teachers union.  They discussed pension and health care issues.

 

December 11th – Mr. Crowley and Mrs. Kraeger attended a workshop sponsored by the Rhode Island School Board Association.

(Minutes of December 16, 2004 School Committee Meeting, Page Five)

 

 

December 14th – Mr. Crowley attended the Middletown Public Schools Technology Committee Users Group meeting.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

MOTION:  1) William Coogan, 2) Theresa Spengler.  To go into Executive Session 42-46-5 (a) 1,2,5,8,9 at 8:45 p.m.  Unanimous vote.

 

 

                                                                        Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

 

                                                                        Rosemarie K. Kraeger

                                                                        Clerk