Middletown Public Schools

Middletown, Rhode Island

 

Thursday, March 15, 2007

 

MICHAEL S. PINTO CONFERENCE ROOM

 

BUDGET WORKSHOP

 

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

                                                Liana F. Fenton, Vice-Chair

                                                Edward K. Draper

                                                Theresa M. Spengler.

 

Member Absent:                     William Coogan

 

Also Present:                          Rosemarie K. Kraeger, Superintendent of Schools

                                                Catherine McLeish, Business Manager

                                                Edward Collins, Director of Facilities

 

            The Budget Workshop was called to order at 5:10 p.m.  Mrs. Kraeger and Mrs. McLeish met with the Budget Subcommittee to review the latest figures.

            The School Department budget request for FY07-08 must stay within the 5.25% tax levy.  The town could possibly apply for a waiver as a result of decreased Impact Aid funding.  This revenue has been reduced by $1,075,927.

            Mr. Draper asked if we could work with Shawn Brown, Finance Director, to show what students at the Anchorage Housing property are costing the school department.  There are approximately 55 students at the Anchorage Housing who are all civilian. 

            Mr. Draper asked about staffing at Middletown High School.  Mrs. Kraeger said that the staff reductions reflect the decreased enrollment, as well as capping classes to a minimum of 12 students.

            Mrs. McLeish and Mrs. Gagne provided Shawn Brown with the information on Impact Aid.  Census numbers show that the number of “A” students who are military students who reside on-base has declined drastically, while the number of “B” students who are military students who reside off-base has remained fairly constant. 

On other budget items, committee members feel that if textbooks and supplies are cut, sports need to be cut as well.  Mrs. Fenton asked about having the General Assembly change the laws to allow school departments to charge fees for certain things – “Pay for Play” and private school transportation.  Additionally, Mr. Draper said that we need to look at capacity, relative to busses, sports programs and classrooms.

(Minutes of March 15, 2007 School Committee Meeting, Page Two)

 

 

            Additional cuts that have been made are:

 

  • Textbooks and Supplies
  • 1 Non-certified position
  • 1 - Elementary teacher – which will put class size at the maximum
  • 1 Reading teacher
  • 1 ESL teacher
  • 1 Guidance counselor
  • 1 Nurse
  • High school reorganization
  • Sports
  • Blue Cross & Delta Dental

 

            Mrs. Spengler is very concerned about cutting a nurse and guidance counselor.  Mr. Draper said that our community has many weak points and we need to have safety nets in place.  Mrs. Fenton questioned what the effects of all these cuts will be in the future.  Mr. Crowley said we need to take a heavier look at sports and high school reorganization. 

            At the Thursday, March 22, 2007 workshop the full budget will be presented.  NECAP test results will also be discussed.

           

MOTION:  1) Theresa Spengler, 2) Liana Fenton.  To adjourn from Budget Workshop at 6:20 pm.  Unanimous vote.

 

MOTION:  1)            Theresa Spengler, 2) Liana Fenton.  To go into Executive Session 42-46-5 (a) 1, 2,5,8,9 at 6:21 p.m.  Unanimous vote.

 

            The Regular School Committee Meeting was called to order at 7:07 p.m. by Chairman Michael Crowley.  Administrative staff members present were            Vin Giuliano, Michelle Fonseca and Gail Abromitis           .

 

            Mr. Crowley announced that no votes were taken during Executive Session.

 

 

PROCLAMATIONS/AWARDS

 

·         Student Awards were presented in the following categories:

 

o   Newport Daily News Athlete of the Week

o   First Lego League Robotics Week

 

 

(Minutes of March 15, 2007 School Committee Meeting, Page Three)

 

 

SPOTLIGHT ON TEACHING AND LEARNING

 

“Implications of Readers and Writers Workshop“

 

            Mrs. Anne Coogan, Grade One Teacher, Aquidneck School, gave a presentation on Readers and Writers Workshop.  Mrs. Coogan videotaped classroom sessions with her students to share with other teachers.

            Mrs. Coogan explained how students developed a story by creating a beginning, middle and ending.  The student does one version of the story, then has a conference with the teacher, and then completes a final version of the story. 

 

 

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

 

No “Student Activities” for March 15, 2007.

 

 

INFORMATION

 

Mrs. Kraeger noted items of information in the package:

 

·         RI statewide curriculum initiation.

·         Registration for Kindergarten, 1st Grade and 9th Grade students will begin held

April 3-24.

·         Various Commissioner’s Decisions

 

 

CORRESPONDENCE

 

No “Correspondence” for March 15, 2007.

 

 

CONSENT AGENDA

 

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

 

·         Approval of Minutes of February 1, 2007 Budget Workshop

·         Approval of Minutes of February 7, 2007 High School Reorganization Workshop

·         Approval of Minutes of February 15, 2007 Budget and School Committee Meeting Workshop

·         Approval of Minutes of February 15, 2007 Executive Session

·         Approval of Invoice Register, dated February 9, 2007, in the amount of $4,403.89

·         Approval of Invoice Register, dated February 20, 2007, in the amount of $361,718.19

(Minutes of March 15, 2007 School Committee Meeting, Page Four)

 

 

·         Approval of Invoice Register, dated February 22, 2007, in the amount of $1,563.36

·         Approval of Special Grants Register, dated February 20, 2007, in the amount of $41,445.01

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S RECOMMENDATION ON PERSONNEL

 

SPRING 2007 COACHES

 

Heidi Gauch                                       Gaudet 6/7/8 Softball

Steve Ponte                                         Gaudet 6/7/8 Baseball

Eric Godin                                          Varsity Baseball

Michael Yates                                     Assistant Varsity Baseball

Paul Reynolds                                                Jr. Varsity Baseball

John Cawley                                       Freshman Baseball

Shane Fennessey                                Boys’ Varsity Track & Field

Justin Buffman                                   Boys’ Assistant Varsity Track & Field

Ted Hersey                                         Girls’ Varsity Track & Field

Kristen Seyster                                   Girls’ Assistant Varsity Track & Field

Robin Ramey                                      Varsity Softball

Christine Elliot                                   Assistant Varsity Softball

Jesse Alvanas                                     Jr. Varsity Softball

Lucien Forbes                                     Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse

Richard Formica                                Boys’ Assistant Varsity Lacrosse

Michael Whaley                                 Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse

TBA                                                     Girls’ Assistant Varsity Lacrosse

David Leys                                         Boys’ Tennis

Lisa Clark                                           Coed Golf

 

            Some of the coaching positions are the result of parent funding.

 

 

ACTION ITEMS

 

07-08 LUNCH PRICES

MOTION:  1) Edward Draper, 2) Liana Fenton.    That the School Committee approve school lunch prices at the rate of $2.25 for secondary and $2.00 for elementary.  Unanimous vote.

 

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION POLICY

MOTION:  1) Liana Fenton, 2) Theresa Spengler  That the School Committee approve the Affirmative Action Policy.  Unanimous vote.

 

            We are required by law to update this policy yearly and publish in the Newport Daily News.

(Minutes of March 15, 2007 School Committee Meeting, Page Five)

 

 

VOLUNTEER POLICY – 2nd READING

MOTION:  1)            Edward Draper, 2) Liana Fenton.  That the School Committee approve the Volunteer Policy – 2nd Reading. Unanimous vote.

 

            Mrs. Kraeger thanked Mr. Draper for his work on the policy.  Mr. Draper requested that another policy be developed for regular coaching staff, specifically the evaluation by players of the coaches and program.

 

VIRTUAL COURSES POLICY – 2nd READING

MOTION:  1)            Theresa Spengler, 2) Liana Fenton.  That the School Committee approve the Virtual Courses Policy – 2nd Reading.  Unanimous vote.

 

SUMMER SCHOOL POLICY – 1ST READING

MOTION:  1)            Liana Fenton, 2) Theresa Spengler.  That the School Committee approve the Summer School Policy – 1st Reading.  Unanimous vote.

 

            This policy was formulated by a group that is taking a closer look at summer school policy and practice.  Mrs. Fenton asked about the timing of the policy, because families decide what kinds of activities their children will participate in earlier in the year.

 

BUILDING USE POLICY – 1st Reading

MOTION:  1) Edward Draper, 2) Liana Fenton.  That the School Committee approve the Building Use Policy – 1st Reading.  Unanimous vote.

 

            Mr. Paul Murphy, Middletown Little League President, spoke on the Building Use Policy and how it affects the students who use the Gaudet School Gymnasium on Sundays for practice.  The gym is used from the beginning of February until April.  The group is now paying double time for the custodian since it is used on Sundays.  Mr. Collins said that the present policy states that when a building is used, there is a fee associated with it.  He feels that a custodian needs to open and close the building, but it is not necessary to have the building covered for 8 hours.  Volunteers monitor the students and Middletown Little League has its own insurance.  As was past practice, keys will not be handed out to individuals not employed by the School Department.  Mrs. Spengler requested that the opening and closing of the building be coordinated with the building check.  There was also a question about snow removal in the winter.  This policy will give the school department the option of not opening if there is a storm. 

 

CONTRACT

MOTION:  1) Theresa Spengler, 2) Liana Fenton.  That the School Committee approve the Council 94, Local 1823 Contract for years 2007 - 2010.  Unanimous vote.

 

 

 

 

(Minutes of March 15, 2007 School Committee Meeting, Page Six)

 

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

            No “Old Business” for March 15, 2007.

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

                No “New Business” for March 15, 2007.

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORTS

 

·         CURRICULUM – Mr. Maruszczak will be attending the ASCA Conference in Anaheim, California, from March 17-19th.  He has been holding grade level meetings to examine the NECAP results.  A Writing Curriculum Committee has been established.  Mr. Giuliano, Mr. Mancieri and Mr. Maruszczak presented a parent workshop at Gaudet School about standards-based report cards.  The workshop was attended by about 55 parents.

 

Another meeting will be held next week to decide what the site-based council will look like at the high school.  The dialogue needs to continue.  Mr. Draper would like priority put on the advisories at Middletown High School. 

 

·         FINANCIAL – At the Budget Workshop next Thursday, the Committee will vote on the budget, which must come in with the tax cap of 5.25%.  Mrs. Kraeger will attend the annual Impact Aid Conference in Washington from March 17-20, and will meet with the Congressional Delegation.  Mrs. Kraeger will send out an email notifying all of potential cuts to our staff.

 

·         FACILITIES – Mr. Collins reported that a breakdown of overtime is in the School Committee package.  For the April meeting, he will put together a utility breakdown.

 

·         CORE FACILITIES COMMITTEE – This past Monday, Mr. Collins, Administrators and principals met with the Fielding Nair Group to discuss options that will be presented to the Core Committee.  Mr. Crowley reiterated that he would like to have Amy Rice’s and Charlie Shoemaker’s group invited to the next Core Committee Meeting.  Prakash Nair will attend the meeting on April 10th.

 

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

 

(Minutes of March 15, 2007 School Committee Meeting, Page Seven)

 

 

REPORTS OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES

 

Mr. Draper –

 

·         Attended a meeting of the Health and Wellness Committee.   Chartwell’s has done a good job on the nutritional aspect and have been very responsive.  The next step is exercise and wellness.

·         Safety Advisory Committee, along with the Middletown Substance Abuse Prevention Task Force, submitted a grant for over ˝ million dollars over a three year period to assist in combating drug and alcohol abuse.  Middletown qualifies for this because of the extremely high ranking for substance/alcohol abuse in the country.

·         The Technology Committee is looking at aligning island-wide municipal  IT Departments to see what can be shared.

 

 

Mrs. Fenton –

 

·         Mr. Crowley and Mrs. Fenton attended a Civic Education Meeting where discussion revolved around putting civic education into history and social studies.

·         Both Mrs. Fenton and Mr. Crowley attend Senate 3050 meeting to learn more about the law and its impact on school districts.

 

Mr. Spengler –

 

·         Attended a meeting last Thursday sponsored by the Newport County Fund on “What is a school?”  The meeting was more focused on charter schools and MET schools than public schools. 

 

Mr. Crowley –

 

·         Attended a RIASC Meeting and will be Chairing a subcommittee that is looking at mandates. 

·         Met with the Commissioner of Education last week and hopes to make it a quarterly event with RIASC.

·         Will attend a meeting dealing with legislative issues this Saturday. 

 

ADJOURN FROM MEETING

 

MOTION:  1) Theresa Spengler, 2) Liana Fenton.  To adjourn from School Committee Meeting at 8:47 p.m.  Unanimous vote.

 

                                                                        Respectfully Submitted,

 

                                                                        Rosemarie K. Kraeger, Clerk