Middletown Public Schools
7:00 p.m. – Regular Meeting
MICHAEL S. PINTO CONFERENCE ROOM
Members
Present: Michael F.
Crowley, Jr., Chairman
Liana
F. Fenton, Vice-Chair
William
Coogan arrived at 7:41 p.m.
Edward
K. Draper
Theresa
M. Spengler
Also
Present: Rosemarie
K. Kraeger, Superintendent of Schools
Catherine
McLeish, Business Manager
Edward
Collins, Director of Facilities
The
regular meeting was called to order at 7:04 p.m. by Chairman Michael
Crowley. Administrative staff members
present were Steven Ruscito, Vincent Giuliano, Stephen Ponte, Michelle Fonseca,
Gail Abromitis, as well as Linda Savastano.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
MOTION: 1) Theresa Spengler, 2) Liana Fenton. To move agenda item “Proclamations/Awards”
first, before “Spotlight on Teaching and Learning”. Unanimous vote.
PROCLAMATIONS/AWARDS
· STUDENT AWARDS – Student Awards were presented in the following categories:
o Newport Daily News Student of the Week
SPOTLIGHT ON
TEACHING AND LEARNING
Rhode Island Department of Education
Superintendent
Kraeger reviewed the RI Department of Education’s School/District
Classifications results.
Superintendent
Kraeger introduced Dr. Mary Canole from the RI Department of Education. She explained to the school committee what
the classification “Progressive Support and Intervention” means as it relates
to the test results. Dr. Canole
reassured the committee that these results and classification were not
something to be alarmed about. She asked
us to take a close look at test scores for
(Minutes of January 17, 2008 School
Committee Meeting, Page Two)
out
of district placement students. She
suggested we focus on our special needs students and assure they are being
exposed to the curriculum. Is our
curriculum and that of out of district placement schools aligned with GLEs and
GSEs? Dr. Canole referenced page 13 for
reviewing the conditions for classification of “needing improvement”, as well
as page 14 for RIDE’s response to districts when they are classified. She said once districts submit the CRP, RIDE
would look at activities which support students with special needs and looking
for the correct alignment. Dr. Canole
then referred to page 28 of the report which lists the schedule of districts with
the classification of needing improvement.
There will be a formal meeting with the deputy commissioner to review our
data. The Superintendent, School
Committee, SpEd Director, and others should brainstorm together and look for
barriers as to why these students are not meeting the requirements. We should put a plan together. Then we will be in “Watch” mode. Dr. Canole said that RIDE is prepared to help
in any way they can with technical assistance.
They have faith that this district will do what needs to be done. This is a very well recognized school district
and we should be proud.
Theresa
Spengler asked how the number of military families affects us in this report.
Dr.
Canole said that mobility is a huge issue.
She said we should look at students who have gone through our entire system
and compare to the transfers. In some
districts, the transfers did better than the stable residents.
Mr.
Draper asked how the ESL impact these test results. Mrs. Kraeger said those scores aren’t counted
if students are not in the country for three years.
Mr.
Crowley asked if the classification was a result of NCLB? Dr. Canole responded with a “yes”. He stated, as he did once before, that there
needs to be a National Common Assessment implemented. The response given to Mr. Crowley was “That
would embarrass too many states”, and “it undermine the whole education system”.
Mrs.
Kraeger said the commissioner addressed this issue in Washington and the
response he heard was “Let the states decide”.
Mrs.
Fenton asked if RIDE was doing anything about the PR regarding this
report. Dr. Canole said Commissioner
McWalters has responded to the press, stating that more districts will be in
this situation.
We
need to look at subpopulations and their proficiency rates. Mr. Draper asked what kind of support can
RIDE give us. Can we petition for
additional resources?
We
can expect level funding at best. Mrs.
Fenton asked about graduation with proficiency?
(Minutes of January 17, 2008 School
Committee Meeting, Page Three)
Dr.
Canole asked if the model was accountable enough. She said they are looking at multiple
measures.
Mrs.
Kraeger said our next step is an action plan with RIDE.
STUDENT
ACTIVITIES
INFORMATION
Mrs. Kraeger noted items of information in the School Committee Package:
· RISSA – There is a ceremony scheduled in the State Room at the RI State House to present the First Paul W. Crowley Award posthumously to Representative Paul W. Crowley along with a scholarship
· President of Naval War College letter was received which thanked the Middletown School System for developing a new ESL program.
CORRESPONDENCE
CONSENT AGENDA
MOTION: 1) Liana Fenton, 2) Theresa Spengler. To approve the Consent Agenda. Unanimous vote.
1000. Approval of Minutes of December 20, 2007 School Committee Meeting
1010. Approval of Minutes of December 20, 2007
Executive Session
1100. Approval of Financial Report, dated December 31, 2007, in the
amount of $11,987,251.47
1200. Approval
of Invoice Register, dated December 21, 2007, in the amount of $308,509.94
1210. Approval
of Invoice Register, dated January 4, 2008, in the amount of $3,300.95
1220. Approval
of Invoice Register, dated January 8, 2008, in the amount of $801,562.08
1230. Approval
of Invoice Register, dated January 11, 2008, in the amount of $1,376.56
1300. Approval
of Special Grants Register, dated December 21, 2007, in the amount of
$58,836.91
1310. Approval
of Special Grants Register, dated December 21, 2007, in the amount of $124.05
1320. Approval
of Special Grants Register, dated January 8, 2008, in the amount of $50,165.01
1400. Superintendent’s
Recommendation on Personnel
(Minutes of January 17, 2008 School
Committee Meeting, Page Four)
SUPERINTENDENT’S RECOMMENDATION ON PERSONNEL
RESIGNATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF RETIREMENT
Barbara H. Reed Social Studies Teacher,
Middletown High School
Carol E. Turcotte English Teacher, Middletown
High School
APPOINTMENT
Maha Chamseddine ELL Teacher Assistant (3 Hour)
For remainder of
2007-2008 school year only
TRANSFERS
Bryan Dumond From Custodian (Floater)
To Custodian II
(Night), Aquidneck School
Effective January 21,
2008
RETURN FROM LEAVE OF ABSENSE
Jaime Sheridan Grade Five, J.H. Gaudet
School
Beginning the
2008-2009 School Year
MATERNITY LEAVE - ARTICLE XIV, C, OPTION #1 (NEA/Middletown)
Erin Doorley Multi-Age Teacher,
John F. Kennedy School
Anticipated leave
from February 8, 2008 to April 11, 2008
Christine Karoly Foreign Language Teacher, Gaudet
Middle School
Anticipated leave
beginning March 31, 2008
Returning no later
than the first day of SY2008-2009
FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE ACT
Christina Logothets LSP Teacher, Forest Avenue School
To January 25, 2008
(Minutes of January 17, 2008 School
Committee Meeting, Page Five)
2007/08 WINTER COACHING APPOINTMENTS
David G. MacGregor Boys’ Varsity Basketball (remainder of the 07-08 season)
Michael
Yates Boys’
Assistant Varsity Basketball (remainder of
the 07-08 season)
WINTER VOLUNTEER COACHES
William J. Nash, Jr. Varsity Hockey
Kristin Leskowitz Varsity Gymnastics
Henry Lombardi Gaudet Wrestling
ACTION ITEMS
NEW BUSINESS
·
Budget Workshop
dates are scheduled for January 31, 2008; February 14, 2008; and February 25,
2008. Mr. Edward Draper said he would
continue on budget sub-committee.
·
MHS Course of
Study Workshop with the schools committee is scheduled for February 7, 2008.
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORTS
·
CURRICULUM –
It’s been a very busy month regarding the curriculum.
·
Techlology-
Tienet is being used to manage tasks aligned with GLEs and GSEs, PLPs, and IEPs. The Technology Department is researching
iParent for parents to access their child’s student records, completed tasks,
disciplines, and multiple information.
·
Curriculum booklets – GSEs are currently being generated for grades 9-12.
(Minutes of January 17, 2008 School
Committee Meeting, Page Six)
·
ELL- This
program is going very well.
·
Forest Avenue has SALT visit next week. The school is
READY! We wish them good luck.
·
There is a Program of Studies workshop scheduled
for next week.
·
Planetarium
– Family Fun nights continue to be scheduled.
·
Graduation –
This date was originally listed as “TBA” on the school calendar. The RI Department of Education initially
stated that ALL students were required to complete 180 days of school. In late December, we received notice that
this requirement had changed for seniors.
A teacher poll was conducted at the high school asking the teachers what
date they felt was best for the Class of 2008 graduation. There was a 44-2 vote to have graduation on
Saturday, June 14th. Mrs.
Kraeger said she supported the shared-decision procedure at the high school and
she is supporting the teachers’ vote for Saturday, June 14th.
Mrs. Cheryl Boergerson requested to speak. She asked why the traditional date of Sunday
was changed to Saturday based on the teachers voting. Jessica Sweeney, a high school senior, spoke
regarding the changed date as well. She
explained that her dance school scheduled a recital for the 14th of
June months in advance, based upon the traditional graduation date always
taking place on Sunday.
School Committee member, William Coogan, questioned
why the “teachers” were polled and not the seniors. He felt that maybe we should keep graduation
on Sunday this year and then change it to Saturday in the future.
·
Mrs. Kraeger
announced that the Middletown Substance Abuse
Prevention Task Force will be presenting their initial Strategic Prevention
Framework Plan and the Middletown Community Needs Assessment to the community
at a meeting at the Middletown Town Hall on February 4th at 6:00
p.m.
·
FINANCIAL –
·
Governor
Carcieri’s plan is grim. Our first budget
workshop is scheduled for January 31st. We have a gap of over a million.
·
There are planned
meetings with our principals regarding staffing and scheduling needs
·
Our State aid is
being level funded next year
·
We received 1.3M
in Impact Aid for the current school year.
We are scheduled to received 900K next year
·
Will work with the
council on the 5.0% cap
(Minutes of January 17, 2008 School
Committee Meeting, Page Seven)
·
FACILITIES –
·
Electricity
figures for December are not in yet
·
The Gaudet storage
area is up. There is a meeting planned
for Saturday, January 19th, to discuss the separation of space. There is also an agreement being written for
the building to be turned over to Middletown Public Schools
·
The facilities
personnel are currently being trained in key cutting
MOTION: 1) Theresa
Spengler, 2) William Coogan. That the School Committee receive the
Superintendent’s Reports. Unanimous vote.
MOTION: 1) Theresa
Spengler, 2) William Coogan. To adjourn from School Committee Meeting at
8:38 p.m. Unanimous vote.
Respectfully
Submitted,
Rosemarie
K. Kraeger, Clerk