Middletown Public Schools

Middletown, Rhode Island

Monday, April 09, 2007

MICHAEL S. PINTO CONFERENCE ROOM

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

Theresa M. Spengler, Vice-Chair

William Coogan arrived at 7:10

Edward K. Draper

Liana F. Fenton

Also Present: Rosemarie K. Kraeger, Superintendent of Schools

Joseph Maruszczak, Assistant Superintendent

Catherine McLeish, Business Manager

Edward Collins, Director of Facilities

The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m. by Chairman Michael Crowley. Administrative staff members present were Gail Abromitis, Steven Ruscito,

SPOTLIGHT ON TEACHING AND LEARNING

No “Spotlight on Teaching and Learning” for April 9, 2007.

PROCLAMATIONS/AWARDS

· MIDDLETOWN TEACHER OF THE YEAR – Mrs. Kraeger introduced Mrs. Ann Sullivan as 2006-2007 Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Sullivan has been a social studies teacher at Middletown High School since 1998. Mrs. Sullivan said she was thankful for being able to work with wonderful teachers and students.

· RETIRING PERSONNEL – The following personnel are retiring with a total of 237 years of service between them:

Kathleen R. Barrette Career Technology Department Head 21 years

Jacqueline Gorman Speech-Language Pathologist 28 years

Elizabeth D. Hughes Elementary Teacher 35 years

Elizabeth N. Ivy School Nurse/Teacher 21 years

Linda Lapointe Elementary Teacher 28 years

Janet K. McCarthy Guidance Counselor 21 years

Madeleine J. Panaggio Career Education Teacher 33 years

Robert Williams Custodian/AV 30 years

Phyllis L. Wilson Teacher Assistant, Special Education 20 years

Total 237 years

(Minutes of April 9, 2007 School Committee Meeting, Page Two)

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

No “Student Activities” for April 9, 2007.

INFORMATION

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

· “Spring Has Sprung” Recreation Program

· Aquidneck Island National Police Parade requested to use parking lot

· MHS student Nicholas Callahan’s letter to School Committee regarding students who participate in sports should get credit for PE.

CORRESPONDENCE

No Correspondence for April 9, 2007.

CONSENT AGENDA

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

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

· Approval of Minutes of March 15, 2007 Executive Session

· Approval of Minutes of March 22, 2007 Budget Workshop

· Approval of Monthly Financial Report, dated March 31, 2007, in the amount of $19,965,540.97

· Approval of Invoice Register, dated March 6, 2007, in the amount of $698,411.46

· Approval of Invoice Register, dated March 9, 2007, in the amount of $823.95

· Approval of Invoice Register, dated March 6, 2007, in the amount of $128,920.92

· Approval of Invoice Register, dated March 20, 2007, in the amount of $228,293.16

· Approval of Invoice Register, dated March 27, 2007, in the amount of $217,647.21

· Approval of Special Grants Register, dated March 20, 2007, in the amount of $35,926.64

· Approval of Special Grants Register, dated March 26, 2007, in the amount of $2,000.00

SUPERINTENDENT’S RECOMMENDATION ON PERSONNEL

RESIGNATION

Meg C. Kolb 3-Hour Teacher Assistant

Forest Avenue School

(Minutes of April 9, 2007 School Committee Meeting, Page Three)

ACTION ITEMS

07-08 SCHOOL CALENDAR

MOTION: 1) Edward Draper, 2) Liana Fenton. That the School Committee approve the school calendar for 2007-2008. Unanimous vote.

Mr. Draper asked about parent teacher conferences. Mrs. Kraeger said that they are now part of the teacher contract time beyond the school day. Graduation has been moved to June 22^nd because seniors now need to complete 180 instructional days. Mr. Ruscito will be conducting a survey of the 2008 graduating class requesting their input on changing the day of graduation from Sunday to another day. Mrs. Spengler asked about starting school before Labor Day. Mrs. Kraeger said that administration has worked with the teacher leadership to come up with the start date for school. The calendar needs to be submitted to the Department of Education by the end of this month.

SUMMER SCHOOL POLICY – 2^nd Reading

MOTION: 1) William Coogan, 2) Theresa Spengler. That the School Committee approve the Summer School Policy – 2^nd Reading. Unanimous vote.

BUILDING USE POLICY – 2^nd Reading

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

Mr. Collins said that no feedback has been received on the first reading.

COACHING POLICY – 1^st Reading

MOTION: 1) Edward Draper, 2) Theresa Spengler . That the School Committee approve the Coaching Policy – 1^st Reading. Unanimous vote.

Mrs. Kraeger has been working on developing an evaluation portion of the policy.

TUITION RATE

MOTION: 1) Theresa Spengler, 2) William Coogan. That the School Committee approve the tuition rate for the 2007-2008 school year. Unanimous vote.

OLD BUSINESS

No “Old Business” for April 9, 2007.

(Minutes of April 9, 2007 School Committee Meeting, Page Four)

NEW BUSINESS

No “New Business” for April 9, 2007.

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORTS

· CURRICULUM – Mr. Maruszczak has contracted with an on-line survey company -www.SurveyMonkey.com. Currently, there is a survey on the COZ program that parents can complete which was distributed on the list serve. To date, there have been 53 responses out of the 150 parents on the list serve. A Middle School parent survey will go out next week on the standards-based report card.

· FINANCIAL – The budget has been submitted to the Town Council. School Department/Town Council Budget Meetings will be held on May 8^th and May 10^th at 6:30 p.m. Public Hearings will follow. If the Council decides on a 5% tax increase instead of a 5.25% increase, $50,367 will still need to be reduced from the budget. If they decide on a 3% tax increase, an additional $453,310 would have to be reduced. Enrollment is a concern with the possibility of more students being housed in the new Green Lane housing. Mrs. Kraeger and Mr. Crowley will meet with the Town Council President to discuss the budget. The message to the school community and the Town Council is to fund the schools at 5.25%. Mr. Kempen has put the school committee budget forward to the town council reflecting the 5.25% increase.

Mr. Crowley said that it is important to understand that the budget has been reduced to 5.25% and that over $1 million in Federal aid has been lost. With S 3050 tax levy, school departments are looking at cuts every year until the tax increase reaches 4%.

Several Gaudet School students and parents spoke on the issue eliminating Gaudet School and freshmen sports. Under Rhode Island law, school departments cannot use a “pay to play” system for sports. In past years, the Superintendent has appealed this but it was denied at the State level. School Departments need to work with legislators to make this change. There is a possibility the Boosters could pay for these sports through fundraisers.

To date, 61.06% of the budget has been expended 61.06%. This is conservative compared to previous years. Senator Whitehouse has joined the Impact Aid

(Minutes of April 9, 2007 School Committee Meeting, Page Five)

coalition. $100,000 in prior year Impact Aid payment has been received and will be applied to the FY 07-08 budget.

· FACILITIES – There was a Facilities Advisory Committee Meeting on March 26^th to bring the members up to date on the work of the Core Committee.

Mr. Collins has been researching the number of students on school busses at Gaudet School. There is a big discrepancy with the numbers that Laidlaw has and the actual count. There is the possibility of 150-200 additional students in Green Lane Housing. This needs to be checked with the Town Council.

Mr. Collins supplied the School Committee with a breakdown of electricity and gas usage. The schools are down in consumption. Recent heating issues at Gaudet School have been resolved.

Mr. Coogan asked about the use of wind turbines on school properties. Mr. Collins will investigate this.

· CORE FACILITIES COMMITTEE – The next meeting will be on Tuesday, April 10^th. Prakash Nair will be attending.

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

REPORTS OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES

Mr. Coogan – Middletown Education Collaborative’s most recent grant funding was $8,296. Every school was represented.

Mrs. Fenton – Attended a K-16 Governors Council Meeting.

Mrs. Kraeger announced that the FIRST Team will compete in Atlanta, Georgia.

Mr. Draper – Safety Advisory Meetings have been well attended. Mr. Draper thanked Mr. Maruszczak for his work on a grant which would give at-risk students the opportunity to participate in a sailing program.

ADJOURN FROM MEETING

MOTION: 1) Theresa Spengler, 2) William Coogan. To adjourn from School Committee Meeting at 8:44 p.m. Unanimous vote.

Respectfully Submitted,

Rosemarie K. Kraeger, Clerk