Middletown Public Schools

Middletown, Rhode Island

 

Thursday, May 19, 2005

 

MICHAEL S. PINTO CONFERENCE ROOM

 

5:00 p.m. - Executive Session

7:00 p.m. – Regular School Committee Meeting

 

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

                                                            Liana F. Fenton, Vice-Chairman

                                                            Edward K. Draper

                                                            Theresa M. Spengler

 

Member Absent:                                 William R. Coogan

 

Also Present:                                      Rosemarie K. Kraeger, Superintendent of Schools

                                                            Joseph R. Krupowicz, Assistant Superintendent

                                                            Catherine M. McLeish, Business Manager

                                                            Beth Perrin, Director of Facilities Management

 

            The Regular School Committee Meeting was held in the Michael S. Pinto Conference Room and called to order at 7:01 p.m. by Chairman Michael F. Crowley, Jr.  Administrative staff members present were Vincent Giuliano, Janet Sheehan, Steven Ruscito, Fran Blaess and Gail Abromitis.  The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

 

            Mr. Crowley announced that a vote was taken in Executive Session and a Level III grievance was denied.

 

MOTION:  1) Liana Fenton, 2) Theresa Spengler.  To move Proclamation and Awards before Spotlight on Teaching and Learning.  Unanimous vote.

 

PROCLAMATIONS/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        Leukemia Poster Child

o        Shadow Tech Robotics Team

o        Robotics – Partnerships & Teams/Coaches

 

            Thirty-eight students from Middletown, Portsmouth, Little Compton, Tiverton and Bristol Warren are involved in the FIRST robotics program.  Three new high schools will be added next year.  Local partnerships include NUWC and Raytheon.

            Mr. Crowley thanked the sponsors, as well as Mrs. Fenton, for their hard word.

 

 

(Minutes of May 19, 2005 School Committee Meeting, Page Two)

 

 

            Banners were presented to the High School and Gaudet Schools for being “Regents Commended” schools.

 

MOTION: 1) Theresa Spengler, 2) Ned Draper.  To move to Correspondence to this portion of the meeting.  Unanimous vote.

 

CORRESPONDENCE

 

Letter from Russell Forgue, Wrestling Coach, requesting funds to help offset the cost of jackets for the wrestling team, who won the Division II State Championship.

 

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

 

Mary-Beth Connerton, Destination Imagination, requesting funds to help offset the cost of the Destination Imagination Team traveling to the Global Finals in Knoxville, Tennessee, on May 25-28, 2005.

 

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

 

ACTION ITEMS

 

MOTION:  1) Theresa Spengler, 2) Liana Fenton.  That the School Committee give $300 to help offset the cost of jackets for the wrestling team, who won the Division II State Championship.  Unanimous vote.

 

MOTION:  1) Theresa Spengler, 2) Michael Crowley.  That the School Committee give $150 dollars to help offset the cost of the Destination Imagination Team traveling to the Global Finals in Knoxville, Tennessee, on May 25-28, 2005.  Unanimous vote.

 

HOT LUNCH PRICES

MOTION:  1) Liana Fenton, 2) Theresa Spengler.  That the School Committee approve the hot lunch prices as follows:  $2.00 High School, $2.00 J.H. Gaudet School, and $1.75 Elementary Schools.  Unanimous vote.

 

            Mrs. Spengler said that at a previous meeting there was some disappointment in the size of the food portions at Middletown High School and asked if it had been corrected.  Mr. Ruscito said that the portions do meet the Federal guidelines, but some students are not taking the vegetables and all components of the lunch.

 

 

 

 

 

(Minutes of May 19, 2005 School Committee Meeting, Page Three)

 

 

RECALL/RESCIND PENDING FUNDING

MOTION:  1) Ned Draper, 2) Theresa Spengler.  That the School Committee authorize the Superintendent to send the appropriate rescission and recall letters to the teachers involved, as funding becomes available.  Unanimous vote.

 

TRANSFER OF FUNDS

MOTION:  1)            Theresa Spengler, 2) Liana Fenton.  That the School Committee authorize the transfer of funds to the appropriate lines of the budget.  Unanimous vote.

 

SECURITY BID

MOTION:  1) Ned Draper, 2) Theresa Spengler.  The School Committee recommends that due to budget constraints we phase in district-wide security measures using Electronic Alarm Systems, Inc. of Warwick, Rhode Island.  Unanimous vote.

 

            Mr. Draper asked if this was the lowest bid.  Ms. Perrin said that it is the lowest qualified bid.

 

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

MOTION:  1) Ned Draper, 2) Theresa Spengler.  That the School Committee authorize the Superintendent to apply for Consolidated Resource Grant, DOD Funding and COZ Grant.  Unanimous vote.

 

            Mrs. Kraeger said that Mr. Krupowicz is working on the Consolidated Resource Grant and there is a great deal of material and information involved in the grant application.

 

GREENHOUSE

MOTION:  1) Theresa Spengler, 2) Liana Fenton.  That the School Committee authorize the Superintendent to explore Greenhouse structures for Middletown High School.  Unanimous vote.

 

            Mrs. Fenton asked about partnerships with any person or business in the Town.  Mr. Hawes, Horticulture Teacher, said he has a number of connections in the community and that he would look into forming partnerships with them.

            Ms. Perrin spoke to the Fire Marshal as to specific codes for the new greenhouse.  The Public Works Department has offered to dig the trenches and do other work on the project as a collaborative effort.  The background work will be completed and an RFP will go out in June.  Ms. Perrin said that there are only a few companies that do this type of work.

 

 

 

 

 

(Minutes of May 19, 2005 School Committee Meeting, Page Four)

 

 

SPOTLIGHT ON TEACHING AND LEARNING

 

“High School Regulations”

 

            Mr. Steven Ruscito, Middletown High School Principal, described the new High School Regulations.  Present high school freshmen will need a portfolio, a Capstone Project, 20 Carnegie units and the community service component to graduate.  This is the graduate by proficiency regulation.  Every school in the State will comply.

            The 20 Carnegie credits include 4 years of English, 3 years of math (or 4 years for students who are struggling - robotics, accounting, woodworking, etc. will count towards this fourth year), 2 years of science, 3 years of social studies, 1 semester of health, 4 semesters of physical education, 1 semester of art & music and 1 semester of computer science.  Students will be required to complete 40 hours of community service.

            The graduation portfolio is a folder that stores the students work electronically.  The five academic areas support the portfolio collection.

            All students are scheduled into a Capstone Project class.  Students can take three or four of these classes, but only get credit for no more than two.  As a result of the seven period schedule, class time will be reduced from 82 minutes to 64 minutes each and there will be no study halls, per high school regulations.

            Special Education – Middletown has fourteen intensive classes with no more than ten students in each.  Next years model moves to six intensive classes taught by a special education teacher and a content area teacher.  Collaborative classes will increase.  All special education students will have the same case manager that will move with them for four years.

 

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

 

            There were no Student Activities for May 19, 2005.

 

INFORMATION

 

            Items of Information included:

 

·         Accountability Report

·         Standard

·         Middletown High School PTG Newsletter

·         Chartwells letter regarding Comalex

·         Johnston School Board regarding funding case.

·         Chair of NEASC is a principal from Martha’s Vineyard.

·         Summer school brochure.  This year summer school will be K-9.  There will be no high school, but students can go to Portsmouth High School.

·         BRAC Report

·         CIM celebration

 

(Minutes of May 19, 2005 School Committee Meeting, Page Five)

 

 

·         Letter to media regarding safety.  Student Councils on the island will all meet in September to brainstorm ideas to engage students in responsible choices.

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORTS

 

·         CURRICULUM – There is a schedule for judging Capstone Projects.  A CIM Celebration will be held on June 1st.  A meeting will be held with Grade Leaders to review the Middle School schedule.

·         FINANCIAL – Public Workshop dates are scheduled for May 31st and June 7th.  Parents and staff are encouraged to speak at workshops.

 

·         FACILITIES – The Kaestle Boos final document is finished.  Ms. Perrin thanked Public Works for their help in getting the mound of fibar at J.F. Kennedy School playground flattened and the fence moved.

 

MOTION:  1) Liana Fenton, 2) Theresa Spengler.  To extend the meeting past 9:00 p.m.  Unanimous vote.

 

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

 

CONSENT AGENDA

 

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

 

·         Approval of Minutes of April 14, 2005 School Committee Meeting

·         Approval of Financial Report, dated April 30, 2005, in the amount of $22,595,484.43

·         Approval of Special Grants Register, dated April 19, 2005, in the amount of $132,515.12

·         Approval of Special Grants Register, dated April 29, 2005, in the amount of $1,500.00

·         Approval of Special Grants Register, dated May 3, 2005, in the amount of $34,702.99

·         Approval of Invoice Register, dated April 15, 2005, in the amount of $734.67

·         Approval of Invoice Register, dated April 19, 2005, in the amount of $472,622.40

·         Approval of Invoice Register, dated April 26, 2005, in the amount of $915.84

·         Approval of Invoice Register, dated May 3, 2005, in the amount of $291,064.22

·         Approval of Invoice Register, dated May 9, 2005, in the amount of $1216.01

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S RECOMMENDATION ON PERSONNEL

 

RESIGNATION

 

Ben Bona                                            Part-Time Custodian, Facilities Management Department

Michael E. Dugan                              Part-Time Custodian, Facilities Management Department

Hannah Goodman                             English Teacher, Middletown High School

 

(Minutes of May 19, 2005 School Committee Meeting, Page Six)

 

 

FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE ACT

 

Camille Moy                                       Kindergarten Teacher, Forest Avenue School

                                                            From May 31, 2005 to the end of the school year.

 

EXTENSION OF FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE ACT

 

Danielle Spies                                     English Language Arts, J.H. Gaudet School

                                                            Until the end of the 2004-2005 school year.

 

SPRING COACHING APPOINTMENTS

 

John J. McDevitt                                Head Varsity Softball Coach

Christian LeBlanc                              Boys’ Tennis Coach

 

LEAVE OF ABSENCE

 

Fran Blaess                                         Grade Two Teacher, Aquidneck School

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

·         FOREST AVENUE PLAYGROUND – Ms. Colleen Murphy spoke on behalf of the playground committee.  Items for handicapped students in wheelchairs have been incorporated into the playground design.  The cost of the playground is $87,400.  If old equipment is removed by the PTG, $7,700 will be saved.  $16,000 would be saved on installation, but Ms. Perrin said that the playground needs to be professionally installed by the company.  Installation by anyone else could possibly void the warranty.  The committee will explore grants to help pay for the project.  There have been numerous fundraisers – “Pennies for Playground”, a bike raffle and Toyota of Newport did a matching fundraiser to go along with the “Pennies for Playground” where they matched the $1,700 that was raised.  A total of $18,000 has been raised to date.  The School Committee thanked the Forest Avenue parents and community for all their hard work.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

·         EMPLOYEE CONTRACT INFORMATION – Mr. Mark Colborn has developed a benefits profile on the Teacher Assistant Contract.  This is now available to the public and it will be posted on the school department website.  Mr. Colborn will begin working on the teacher’s contract analysis next.

 

REPORTS OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES

 

            Mrs. Spengler attended the NSBA Conference in California in April.  She attended a session on virtual high schools.  There are currently a number of AP courses

(Minutes of May 19, 2005 School Committee Meeting, Page Seven)

 

 

at Middletown High School that are not held due to low enrollment which could be provided over the Internet.  Mrs. Spengler also attended a session on arts and music.

            Mrs. Fenton attended a 3-day grant writing workshop.

            Mr. Crowley also attended the NSBA Conference.  The conference will be held in New Orleans next year.  He also attended an all-day meeting of RIASCA.  He is now on the Executive Board of RIASCA.

            Mr. Draper attended an IT Town Committee Meeting.  Additionally, Mr. Draper mentioned that the School Committee Budget Subcommittee has been very helpful and there was a strong communication mentioned with the town.

 

ADJOURN FROM MEETING

 

MOTION:  1) Ned Draper, 2) Theresa Spengler.  To adjourn from School Committee Meeting at 9:30 p.m.  Unanimous vote.

 

                                                                        Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

                                                                        Rosemarie K. Kraeger

                                                                        Superintendent of Schools