Middletown Public Schools

Middletown, Rhode Island

 

May 17, 2007

 

6:00 p.m. – Executive Session

7:00 p.m. – Regular Meeting

 

MICHAEL S. PINTO CONFERENCE ROOM

 

Members Present:                   Theresa Spengler, Vice-Chair

                                                William Coogan

                                                Edward K. Draper

                                                Liana F. Fenton

 

Member Absent:                     Michael Crowley, Chairman

                                               

Also Present:                          Rosemarie K. Kraeger, Superintendent of Schools

                                                Catherine McLeish, Business Manager

                                                Edward Collins, Director of Facilities

 

 

            The meeting was called to order at 6:05 p.m. by Vice-Chairman Theresa Spengler. 

 

            MOTION:  1)            Theresa Spengler, 2) Edward Draper.  To go into Executive Session 42-46-5 (a) 1, 2,5,8,9 at 6:05 p.m.  Unanimous vote.

 

            Mrs. Spengler announced that the School Committee voted to support the Superintendent’s  recommendation on student discipline.

 

            MOTION:  1) William Coogan, 2) Liana Fenton.  To seal the minutes of the Executive Session.  Unanimous vote.

 

            The regular School Committee Meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Vice-Chairman Theresa Spengler.  Administrative staff members present were Linda Savastano, Gail Abromitis, Michelle Theberge, Vincent Giuliano and Stephen Ponte.  The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 

 

SPOTLIGHT ON TEACHING AND LEARNING

 

            No “Spotlight on Teaching and Learning” for May 17, 2007.

 

(Minutes of May 17, 2007 School Committee Meeting, page 2)

 

 

PROCLAMATIONS/AWARDS

 

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

o   Newport Daily News Student of the Week

o   Newport Daily News Athlete of the Week

o   Island-Wide Portsmouth Art Guild Show

o   R.I. Youth Art Competition – Flag Design

o   R.I. Youth Art Competition – Post Card Design

o   Carnegie Hall Performance

o   Jr. Division All-State Chorus

o   Jr. Division All-State Orchestra

o   Jr. Division Honors Chorus

o   Sr. Division All-State Chorus

 

A brief recess was taken.

 

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

 

No “Student Activities” for May 17, 2007.

 

INFORMATION

 

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

 

·         Career Technical Center newsletter

·         Response to student who was interested in year round school.  This was an English class project.

·         MuniBlue outreach program sponsored by BCBS of RI.

·         Commissioner’s Decisions

 

CORRESPONDENCE

 

Letter from Cheryl Boergesson, Junior Class Post Prom Committee Member, requesting funds to help offset the cost of the Middletown High School Junior Post Prom Party.

 

MOTION:  1)            Liana Fenton  , 2) William Coogan.  That the School Committee receive the communication and move to an Action Item.  Unanimous vote.

 

 

(Minutes of May 17, 2007 School Committee Meeting, page 3)

 

 

Letter from Sue Dugan, Senior Class Post Prom Committee Member, requesting funds to help offset the cost of the Middletown High School Senior Post Prom Party at the Newport County YMCA.

 

MOTION:  1)            Liana Fenton, 2) William Coogan.  That the School Committee receive the communication and move to an Action Item.  Unanimous vote.

 

CONSENT AGENDA

 

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

 

·         Approval of Minutes of April 9, 2007 School Committee Meeting

·         Approval of Monthly Financial Report, dated April 30, 2007, in the amount of $23,143,820.41

·         Approval of Invoice Register, dated April 3, 2007, in the amount of $1,529,817.40

·         Approval of Invoice Register, dated April 17, 2007, in the amount of $249,145.63

·         Approval of Invoice Register, dated April 18, 2007, in the amount of $28,223.90

·         Approval of Invoice Register, dated April 23, 2007, in the amount of $2,800.41

·         Approval of Invoice Register, dated May 1, 2007, in the amount of $476,265.53

·         Approval of Invoice Register, dated May 11, 2007, in the amount of $1,004.89

·         Approval of Special Grants Register, dated April 5, 2007, in the amount of $26,111.01

·         Approval of Special Grants Register, dated April 17, 2007, in the amount of $25,650.50

·         Approval of Special Grants Register, dated May 2, 2007, in the amount of $29,343.58

 

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S RECOMMENDATION ON PERSONNEL

 

COACHING APPOINTMENT

 

Kyle Morin                                         Girls’ Assistant Varsity Lacrosse

 

RESIGNATION

 

Mary Beth Murphy                            Senior Class Co-Advisor

Deanna Smith                                                Senior Class Co-Advisor

 

RESCIND LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOR 2007-2008 SCHOOL YEAR

 

Cheryl Wenzel                                   Science Teacher, J.H. Gaudet School

                                                           

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

 

Alison Belcher                                                Grade Two Teacher, Aquidneck School

                                                            From September 4, 2007 to October 9, 2007

(Minutes of May 17, 2007 School Committee Meeting, page 4)

 

 

ACTION ITEMS

 

COACHING POLICY – 2ND READING

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

 

AUTHORIZE SUPERINTENDENT TO APPLY FOR CONSOLIDATED RESOURCE GRANT, DOD FUNDING AND COZ GRANT

MOTION:  1)            William Coogan, 2) Liana Fenton.  That the School Committee authorize the Superintendent to apply for Consolidated Resource Grant, DOD Funding and COZ Grant.  Unanimous vote.

 

 

 

POST PROM

MOTION:  1) Edward Draper, 2) William Coogan.  To support the Junior Class Post Prom activity in the amount of $250.  Unanimous vote.

 

 

MOTION:  1) Edward Draper, 2) William Coogan.  To support the Senior Class Post Prom activity in the amount of $250.  Unanimous vote.

 

Mr. Draper mentioned that the Middletown Substance Abuse Prevention Task Force would like to support this activity also.

 

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

            No “Old Business” for May 17, 2007.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

·         Advisory Committee – Mrs. Fenton requested this item be put on the agenda and recommended the establishment of three advisory groups.  Advisory groups would help sustain programs when budgets are short.  The advisory committees recommended are 1) Sports and After school activities, 2) Fine Arts, and 3) Math/Science/Engineering.

 

·         Charter Review – Section 814 of the Town Charter, relating to the School Department, needs revision to be consistent with the town purchasing policy.  A letter will be forwarded to the Chair of this committee. 


(Minutes of May 17, 2007 School Committee Meeting, page 5)

 

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORTS

 

·         CURRICULUM – Activities are beginning to wind down for the year.  Planning is beginning for next year’s Consolidated Resource Plan.  Each school improvement plan is being reviewed.  Gaudet School’s report card survey results are included in the School Committee package.  There were many good responses from parents.  Administration will take the recommendations to the Teacher Report Card Committee.  Mr. Draper asked if there is a way to provide feedback to people who participated in the survey.

 

 

·         FINANCIAL – The Business Office is closing out activities for the fiscal year.  Seventy percent of the budget has been expended, which is consistent with prior years.  Public Hearings will be held at Town Hall on May 23rd and May 29th at 6:30 p.m.  We need to communicate to the Town Council the importance of funding the school department budget at 5.25%.  Anything lower will result in more cuts to programs. 

 

·         FACILITIES – Mr. Collins and Mrs. Kraeger met with town officials regarding the school department fields.  It was a very productive meeting.  The town will keep supplying those services to us so we will not have to incorporate them into our budget or workload.

 

·         The electrical line item has realized a $38,000 savings thus far.

 

·         Mr. Collins is looking to obtain an anemometer to mount on the flag tower at Gaudet School to measure wind velocity.  Roger Williams University was handling the towers/meters, but R.I. Wind Alliance has taken this responsibility over.  A study is out that will list the general areas in Middletown which show high wind velocity locations. 

 

·         CORE FACILITIES COMMITTEE – The committee has decided on “Option C”, which is the consolidation of elementary schools, as well as the consolidation of the high school and middle school, in order to share health/fitness and performing arts services.  All are in agreement as to the concept, but we need to be creative on funding.  The group will meet again within the next month.  Furniture for the Gaudet School library project was donated by G-Tech. 

 

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

(Minutes of May 17, 2007 School Committee Meeting, page 6)

 

 

REPORTS OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES

 

Mrs. Fenton –

 

·         May 4th - Civic Education Meeting at the State level.

·         May 10th - Physics First Meeting which looked at Physics, Chemistry and Biology in the schools.

·         May 12th - RISBA Annual Meeting.  The topic was “Being Green”. 

·         April 30th - Aquidneck Island Forum on Education, Unions and School Committees.  The theme was to collaborate and develop trust.

·         Mrs. Fenton has been Judging Capstone Projects at Middletown High School.

 

Mr. Draper –

 

·         Reported that the Substance Abuse Prevention Task Force has taken off on its own.  New participants are welcome.

·         The Safety Advisory Committee Meeting on May 15th was very informative regarding the bomb threats.  The group discussed bullying issues and would like to get students and parents more involved.  Mr. Coogan said that he has traveled to many high schools around the state recently and has seen a wrecked automobile at the entrance to schools to send a clear message to students regarding drinking and driving.  Middletown has done this in the past – can it be done again? 

 

Mr. Ponte will be on next month’s School Committee agenda to discuss the Wellness Committee.  Mr. Draper said that we need to find a way to layer physical activity with nutrition and we need to continue to find funds for intramurals to keep students active.  Discussion also occurred about the new nutrition guidelines.

 

MOTION:  1)            Theresa Spengler, 2) William Coogan.  To adjourn from School Committee Meeting at 8:08 p.m.  Unanimous vote.

 

                                                                        Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

 

                                                                        Rosemarie K. Kraeger, Clerk