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
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
regular meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m. by Chairman Michael
Crowley. Administrative staff members
present were Tim Ryan, Steven Ruscito, Vincent Giuliano, Janet Sheehan, Gail
Abromitis, Michael Mancieri, Maureen Cicchitelli, Stephen Ponte, as well as
Linda Savastano. The Pledge of
Allegiance was recited.
SPOTLIGHT ON
TEACHING AND LEARNING
“Joseph H. Gaudet Middle School“
·
Michael Mancieri showcased a presentation of Gaudet
Middle School highlighting what a successful schools embraces:
o Guaranteed and viable curriculum
o Challenging goals and effective feedback
o Parental and community involvement
o Safe and orderly environment
o Collegiality and professionalism
o Building a Community
Mr. Ron Dumais showcased the schools’ technology/library programs, Mrs. Denise McCarthy then referred to the schools’ connection to parents. Mrs. Debra O’Bryan expressed the importance of community involvement and highlighted the Starbase Atlantis program offered to our students by the Newport Naval Base. Mrs. Donna Chelf spoke about the School Improvement Team and Professional Development; Mrs. Donna Murphy spoke about their safe and orderly environment and the help advisory & the bullying committee provided in order to accomplish this; Mr. Dan Seger shared the collegiality and professionalism that Gaudet maintains.
PROCLAMATIONS/AWARDS
·
Retiring
Personnel
o Total of 137 years of service between the five retirees:
§ John H. Anthony – Grade 8 Science, Gaudet School
§ Deborah C. Kern – Dean, Middletown High School
§ Barbara H. Reed – Social Studies, Middletown High
School
§ Carol E. Turcotte – English, Middletown High School
§ Linda G. Welch – Special Education, Forest Avenue
School
· Student Awards – Student Awards were presented in the following categories:
o Newport Daily News Athlete of the Week
o Girls’ Swim Team ~ Division III Champions 2008
o Wrestling Champions
o District Spelling Bee Winners
STUDENT
ACTIVITIES
No “Student Activities” for March 20, 2008.
INFORMATION
Mrs. Kraeger noted items of information in the School Committee Package:
· Position paper on equity funding of Career and Tech schools
· Registration for 2008-2009 begins April 1st for Grades K, 1st and 9th
· MAPIT letter to parents
CORRESPONDENCE
·
NEARI letter,
dated March 7, 2008
MOTION: 1) Theresa Spengler, 2) Liana Fenton. That the
School Committee receive the communication. Unanimous vote.
CONSENT AGENDA
MOTION: 1) Theresa Spengler, 2) Liana Fenton.
To approve the Consent Agenda. Unanimous
vote.
1000. Approval of Minutes of November 20, 2007 Town Council/School
Committee Workshop
1010. Approval of Minutes of January 31, 2008 Budget Workshop
1020. Approval of Minutes of February 7, 2008 High
School Program of Studies Workshop
1030. Approval of Minutes of February 14, 2008 Budget Workshop and
School Committee Meeting
1040. Approval of Minutes of February 25, 2008 School Committee Meeting
1100. Approval of Financial Report, dated February 29, 2008, in the
amount of $17,563,937.90
1200. Approval
of Invoice Register, dated February 19, 2008, in the amount of $424,613.52
1110. Approval
of Invoice Register, dated February 22, 2008, in the amount of $1,793.42
1220. Approval
of Invoice Register, dated March 4, 2008 in the amount of $740,703.17
1230. Approval
of Invoice Register, dated March 6, 2008 in the amount of $2,358.75
1300. Approval
of Special Grants Register, dated February 19, 2008, in the amount of
$42,767.76
1310. Approval
of Special Grants Register, dated March 4, 2008, in the amount of $115,342.02
1400. Superintendent’s
Recommendation on Personnel
SUPERINTENDENT’S RECOMMENDATION ON PERSONNEL
FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE ACT
Mary Clark First Grade
Teacher, Forest Avenue School
March 11th
through March 14th, 2008
Christa Robinson Multi-Age Teacher, Forest
Avenue School
March 11th
through March 13th, 2008
Linda Ferreira Teacher
Assistant, Forest Avenue School
February 25th
through March 31st, 2008
Lanni Sullivan Clerk,
Oliphant Administration
From March 13th,
2008 for approximately four weeks
MATERNITY LEAVE - ARTICLE XIV, C, OPTION #1 (NEA/Middletown)
Robyn Borges Change start date from
January 2, 2008
To December 20, 2007
2007/08 SPRING COACHING APPOINTMENTS
Eric
Godin Head
Varsity Baseball
Michael
A. Yates Assistant
Varsity Baseball
John
A. Cawley Junior
Varsity Baseball
Brian
Dahlheimer Freshman
Baseball
Christopher
Greene Gaudet Baseball
Robin
Ramey Head
Varsity Softball
Christine
Elliott Assistant
Varsity Softball
Jesse
Alvanas Junior
Varsity Softball
Heidi
Gauch Gaudet
Softball
Shane
Fennessey Head Varsity
Boys’ Track & Field
Justin
Buffman Assistant
Varsity Boys’ Track & Field
Hubert
“Ted” Hersey Head Varsity
Girls’ Track & Field
Kristen
A. Seyster Assistant
Varsity Girls’ Track & Field
Lucien
E. Forbes Head Varsity
Boys’ Lacrosse
Richard
Formica Assistant
Varsity Boys’ Lacrosse
Courteney
McKay Head Varsity Girls’
Lacrosse
Alexandra
Botelho Assistant Varsity
Girls’ Lacrosse
Lisa
Clark Head
Varsity Golf
Maryanne
Curtis Head Varsity
Boys’ Tennis
ACTION ITEMS
BUDGET
ADOPTION
MOTION: 1) Theresa Spengler, 2) Edward Draper. That the School Committee approve the School
Department Budget in the amount of $36,306,487.00 for the 2008-2009 School
Year.
AFFIRMATIVE
ACTION POLICY
MOTION: 1) Liana Fenton, 2) Edward
Draper. That the School Committee approve the Affirmative Action Policy.
BATTING CAGE
DONATION
Mr.
Draper suggested a thank you note be sent for this generous donation.
NEW BUSINESS
·
High School
NECAP Results
Steven
Ruscito and Janet Sheehan presented the 2007-2008 NECAP test results for 11th
grade students. This is the first year
11th graders have taken the NECAP test.
·
Activity Fees
o Mr. Draper proposed an
“activity fee” concept. The “activity
fee” would apply to all families in the school system.
o Mrs. Kraeger will ask the school
attorney to investigate the activity fee concept
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORTS
·
CURRICULUM –
Mrs. Kraeger invited Maureen Cicchitelli to provide an update on the ESL
program. Other curriculum items include:
o
A Safe
Schools/Healthy Student grant has been submitted
o
Mr. Coogan asked
Mrs. Kraeger to express the positive feedback he is receiving on the Fireside
Chat meetings with parents of high school students by Mr. Ruscito.
·
FINANCIAL –
o
The budget
information needs to be communicated to the community.
o
Impact Aid is
level funded. Mrs. Kraeger is going to
Washington for the Impact Aid Conference at the end of March.
o
53.42% expended
in current year’s budget
·
FACILITIES –
o
200 pieces of
furniture were donated by the Navy Base and have been immediately put to use. Mr. Draper asked that a Thank You note be
sent out.
o
Roughly 94 tags
were handed out to students for the MAPIT program. The tags will be read next week. Mrs. Spengler asked if Mr. Collins has read
any of them yet. He responded that he reads
them every afternoon and the participation is strong. The program is going well.
o
Utilities – comparing
to last year: the school department is approximately $5K over on electric, but $5K
under on gas
MOTION: 1) Theresa
Spengler, 2) Liana Fenton. That
the School Committee receive the Superintendent’s Reports.
Unanimous vote.
MOTION: 1) Theresa
Spengler, 2) Edward Draper. To adjourn from School Committee Meeting at 9:16
p.m. Unanimous vote.
Respectfully Submitted,
Rosemarie
K. Kraeger, Clerk