Middletown Public Schools

Middletown, Rhode Island

 

February 14, 2008

 

7:00 p.m. – Regular Meeting

 

MICHAEL S. PINTO CONFERENCE ROOM

 

Members Present:                   Michael F. Crowley, Jr., Chairman

                                                Liana F. Fenton, Vice-Chair

                                                Theresa M. Spengler

 

Member Absent:                     William Coogan

                                                Edward K. Draper

 

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 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Michael Crowley.  Administrative staff members present were Vincent Giuliano, Michelle Fonseca, Steven Ruscito, Stephen Ponte, and Gail Abromitis.   The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

 

 

SPOTLIGHT ON TEACHING AND LEARNING

 

·         TIEnet

 

            Mrs. Kraeger introduced Linda Savastano, Middletown Public Schools’ Director of Technology.  Mrs. Savastano presented an overview of TIEnet highlighting the needs and its’ uses:  ease for teachers to access data for IEPs, PLPs, 504s, and assessment results; centralized curriculum management for the district, including instructional resources for teachers; and improved special education census management.  The technology department will be providing staff development for the implementation.

 

            Mrs. Kraeger thanked Mrs. Savastano for her leadership.

 

 

(Minutes of February 14, 2008 School Committee Meeting, Page Two)

 

PROCLAMATIONS/AWARDS

 

·         STUDENT AWARDS – Student Awards were presented in the following categories:

o   Newport Daily News Athlete of the Week

o   Newport Daily News Student of the Week

 

 

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

 

·         Gaudet Students’ Presentation

o   Mr. Buffman’s advisory group presented a fundraising idea – an overnight lock-in or Midnight Madness event at Gaudet on March 28th.  All proceeds would be donated to UNICEF.  The students would use the Gaudet gym, cafeteria, health room, and locker rooms for the event.  Some ideas for the event would be to have the music group, Bloody Knuckles, movies, board games, etc.  They would have a maximum of 150 students, with 7th and 8th grade teachers and parent volunteers for chaperones.  A discipline policy will be set, with a second warning requiring parental pickup.

 

 

INFORMATION

 

            Mrs. Kraeger noted items of information in the School Committee Package:

 

·         Family Fun Night at the Planetarium was very successful.  The evening was sold out!

·         A retirement party for Barbara Nash, town clerk, is on March 15th

·         Congratulations to Mr. Collins.  He was the recipient of the RI Interlocal Trust Scholarship Award of $2,000.

·         Lou Nelsen, substitute custodian, has retired after 14 years of service.

·         Mr. Crowley attended a School Board leadership conference in Washington, D.C.

 

 

CORRESPONDENCE

 

No “Correspondence” for February 14, 2008.

(Minutes of February 14, 2008 School Committee Meeting, Page Three)

 

CONSENT AGENDA

 

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

 

1000.   Approval of Minutes of January 17, 2008 School Committee Meeting

1100.   Approval of Financial Report, dated January 31, 2008, in the amount of $14,286,137.10

1200.   Approval of Invoice Register, dated January 22, 2008, in the amount of $215,233.73

1210.   Approval of Invoice Register, dated January 25, 2008, in the amount of $3,983.81

1220.   Approval of Invoice Register, dated February 5, 2008, in the amount of $743,225.23

1230.   Approval of Invoice Register, dated February 8, 2008, in the amount of $3,113.30

1300.   Approval of Special Grants Register, dated January 22, 2008, in the amount of $25,204.90

1310.   Approval of Special Grants Register, dated February 5, 2008, in the amount of $42,003.73

1400.   Superintendent’s Recommendation on Personnel

 

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S RECOMMENDATION ON PERSONNEL

 

RESIGNATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF RETIREMENT

 

John H. Anthony                               Grade 8 Science Teacher

Deborah C. Kern                                Dean of Students

Linda G. Welch                                  Grade 4 Teacher, Regional Special Education

 

 

RETURN FROM LEAVE OF ABSENSE for 2008-2009 SCHOOL YEAR

 

Jeannine K. Magliocco                       Grade Four Teacher, Aquidneck School

 

 

RETURN TO FULL-TIME TEACHING POSITION for 2008-2009 SCHOOL YEAR

 

Maureen Sullivan                              Kindergarten, Forest Avenue School

 

 

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

 

Erin Doorley                                       Multi-Age Teacher, John F. Kennedy School

                                                            Change start date to January 30, 2008

                                                            Change return date to April 21, 2008

 

 

(Minutes of February 14, 2008 School Committee Meeting, Page Four)

 

ACTION ITEMS

 

DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY ADMINISTRATOR’S CONTRACT

MOTION:  1)            Theresa Spengler, 2) Liana Fenton.  That the School Committee extend the Director of Technology Administrator’s contract through 2011.

 

DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES MANAGEMENT’S CONTRACT

MOTION:  1) Theresa Spengler, 2) Liana Fenton.  That the School Committee extend the Director of Facilities Management’s contract through 2011.

 

HOME SCHOOLING

MOTION:  1) Liana Fenton, 2) Theresa Spengler.  That the School Committee approve Home Schooling 07-08-04 and 07-08-05.

 

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM

MOTION:  1) Theresa Spengler, 2) Liana Fenton.  That the School Committee approve the Capital Improvement Program.

 

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORTS

 

·         CURRICULUM –

·         Mrs. Kraeger announced the Middletown Teacher of the Year Mrs. Janice O’Donnell, Technology Integration Specialist, at Gaudet School.  She will be publicly honored at the March 20th School Committee meeting.

·         Mrs. Savastano has  provided TIEnet training at the high school and Forest Avenue school

·         Forest Avenue School had a very successful SALT visit, with final report due out in about a month.  The job was well done by Forest Avenue staff.

·         High School test scores in NECAP will be out next week

·         Teachers for Grades 1-8 are working on common assessments

·         Literacy teachers are developing teaching strategies and tools

·         Graduation date is set for Saturday at noon on June 14th

·         Miss Call and Miss Daughan polled 68 seniors.  Of the group polled, 56 wanted Saturday or were indifferent, and 12 seniors wanted the date changed to Sunday.

 

Mr. Crowley clarified that the school committee doesn’t set the graduation date, administration sets the date.

(Minutes of February 14, 2008 School Committee Meeting, Page Five)

 

·         FINANCIAL –

·         43.45 % of the budget has been expended to date (approximately the exact percent at this point last year)

·         Impact aid dollars will be available after the March conference

·         Special Ed Transportation is being reviewed for the possibility of collaboration with Bristol/Warren, East Providence and Newport County

 

·         FACILITIES –

·         Utilities charts are enclosed in package, no serious heat issues

·         The Town Council voted to fund the basketball court repairs.  The bid opening is February 22nd.  Work is planned to being this spring.  The project will be paid by the town.

·         CIP- Education Plan 2009-2017 (final elementary school piece) still has a balance available to repair windows.

·         Town officials are meeting to create a master recreation plan to identify outdoor facilities in town.  They will be looking for strengths/weaknesses of areas and will break down the information and provide a report.

 

 

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

 

 

REPORTS OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES

 

Mrs. Fenton attended a Governors K-16 Council meeting.  A few highlights are:

o   an update on graduation requirements (eight schools needed to improve and are looking at intervention);

o   academic and career interests;

o   internships and career tech centers

 

Mrs. Fenton said she will be attending a Newport Career Tech meeting in March and hopefully the costs would be resolved; she will follow-up with Senator Theresa Paiva-Weed.  Mrs. Fenton also attended a meeting today at the RI Foundation and will hand out grant opportunities after the meeting.  She will write a robotics grant for Middletown (Legos, Vex and larger robots).

 

Mrs. Spengler wanted to touch on a segment of the Department Of Education’s dietary guidelines.  There was coverage on the news regarding Splenda in diet foods.  The report findings were that diet foods are not working because individuals’ sugar cravings are not satisfied – so people are eating more.  The community needs to be educated.

 

(Minutes of February 14, 2008 School Committee Meeting, Page Six)

 

Mr. Crowley attended the National School Board Leadership Conference a few weeks ago and will distribute handouts.

 

 

ADJOURN FROM MEETING

 

MOTION:  1)            Theresa Spengler, 2) Liana Fenton.  To adjourn from School Committee Meeting at 8:03 p.m.  Unanimous vote.

 

                                                                        Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

 

                                                                        Rosemarie K. Kraeger, Clerk