Middletown Public Schools

Middletown, Rhode Island

 

Thursday, September 15, 2005

 

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

                                                Joseph R. Krupowicz, Assistant Superintendent

                                                Catherine McLeish, Business Manager

                                                Edward Collins, Director of Facilities Management

 

            The NEASC Workshop began at 5:35 p.m.  Mr. Steven Ruscito, Middletown High School Principal, introduced Mr. David Picard, Co-Chair of NEASC Committee.  The NEASC visiting team will arrive on Sunday, September 25th.  Both Mr. Ruscito and Mr. Picard feel that the high school has prepared well for this process.  Two Endicott studies have been done to look at growth, attitude, changes and impacts that have taken place over the previous year.

            A reception will be held on Sunday at the high school, attended by teachers, administrators, students, parents and members of the community.  A preliminary report will be given on Wednesday, September 28th at 1:45 p.m. in Room 212.  The final report of the committee will be available in December or January.

            Mr. Ruscito reviewed questions that the visiting team could ask the School Committee.  Leadership and Organization is an area that will be heavily probed by the team.  The School Committee needs to convey to the visiting team that the High School is moving towards meeting standards, is categorized as High Performing and Improving and that the School Committee recognizes and supports the work that is taking place.

            Another NEASC Workshop is planned for Wednesday, September 21st at 5:30 p.m.

 

MOTION:  1) Theresa Spengler, 2) Liana Fenton.  To adjourn from the NEASC Workshop at 6:45 p.m.  Unanimous vote.

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Minutes of September 15, 2005 School Committee Meeting, Page Two)

 

 

            The regular School Committee Meeting was called to order at 7:14 p.m. by Chairman Michael Crowley.

 

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

                                                Liana F. Fenton, Vice-Chair

                                                William Coogan arrived at 7:28 p.m.

                                                Edward K. Draper

                                                Theresa M. Spengler

 

Also Present:                          Rosemarie K. Kraeger, Superintendent of Schools

                                                Joseph R. Krupowicz, Assistant Superintendent

                                                Catherine McLeish, Business Manager

                                                Edward Collins, Director of Facilities Management

 

            Administrative staff members present were            Gail Abromitis, Steven Ruscito and Maureen Cicchitelli.  The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

 

SPOTLIGHT ON TEACHING AND LEARNING

 

            There was no “Spotlight on Teaching and Learning” for September 15, 2005.

 

PROCLAMATIONS/AWARDS

 

            There were no “Proclamations/Awards” for September 15, 2005.

 

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

 

·         STUDENT COUNCIL OFFICERS – Mr. Brian Buck, Student Council Advisor, introduced President Megan Larcom, who shared with the committee a list of ideas/goals the Student Council has developed for this school year.  This included:

 

o        Raising more money

o        Updating the MHS Profile

o        Fixing mirrors in the restrooms

o        Regulations for school dances/proms

 

            Mrs. Kraeger requested a student to be on the Student Safety Committee.  A date for a meeting of student council representatives from Aquidneck Island is being determined.

 

 

 

 

 

(Minutes of September 15, 2005 School Committee Meeting, Page Three)

 

 

INFORMATION

 

            Mrs. Kraeger cited the following pieces of information included in the School Committee package:

 

·         Providence Journal article regarding High School schedules.

·         Report to the Pennsylvania School Boards Association.  Mr. Crowley had requested that this information be distribute.

·         Letter regarding Teacher Assistant negotiations.

 

CORRESPONDENCE

 

Letter from Jennifer Silves, Assistant Executive Director, NEARI, requesting a meeting to begin negotiating a successor agreement to the current teacher contract.

 

MOTION:  1) Liana Fenton, 2) Theresa Spengler.  That the School Committee receive the communication.  Unanimous vote.

 

 

Letter from Joe Butz, Championship Director, 2006 U.S. Women’s Open, requesting to utilize the Middletown Public Schools for parking areas during the July 2006 championship.

 

MOTION:  1) Edward Draper, 2) Theresa Spengler.  That the School Committee receive the communication.  Unanimous vote.

 

            The Superintendent has offered the High School and Gaudet School, but the organization would like to utilize all facilities.  A number of tickets will be given to the school department.  Mr. Collins will meet with Mr. Butz to determine what facilities will be utilized.

 

Letter from Linda M. Chaves, requesting that the Middletown Public Schools retire the #5 jersey after the 2005 football season.

 

MOTION:  1) Theresa Spengler, 2) Liana Fenton.  That the School Committee receive the communication.  Unanimous vote.

 

            Mrs. Kraeger will set up a meeting with the Athletic Director, football coach and principal to discuss retiring the #5 jersey.

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORTS

 

·         CURRICULUM – The School Committee retreat will be held on October 1st from 8:00 to noon at EBEC in Warren.  From October 3rd to October 21st, all grade 3-8

(Minutes of September 15, 2005 School Committee Meeting, Page Four)

 

 

students will be tested with the NECAP Assessment.  All school personnel involved in test administration have attended workshops on administering the test.

      Many professional development meetings have been held since the beginning of school, including:

 
  • K-4 Report Card
  • Interview Committees
  • K-4 Social Studies Review
  • High School Peer Review Training
  • 5-8 Report Card Committee
  • Mentor Training
  • EBEC Meetings/KITES
  • Disciplinary Literacy
  • Planning of Administration Retreat

 

·         KATRINA UPDATE – To date, 17 students from Louisiana and Mississippi have registered for school; four kindergarteners, four 1st graders, two second graders, one third grader, one fourth grader, two fifth graders, two seventh graders and one twelfth grader.  There are still seven or eight more student that need to be registered.

 

            Mr. Krupowicz reported on the various efforts to assist the evacuees from Hurricane Katrina.  The School Department was prepared to accept 150 students.  Meetings were held with the School Department, Town and other organizations involved in assisting.  Many individuals and businesses in town have volunteered to help and have donated necessary items, as well as money.  Mrs. Kraeger has received a letter from the Department of Health stating that there is no need to repeat inoculations on these students because they have come from school systems that require immunizations.

            To assist students with the transition to their new school, “buddy” systems have been formed to link the student with another student from the school.  Families have also been linked with families in town.  A district-wide fundraiser raised over $5,000 and a meeting will be held shortly to brainstorm with each school as to how the money will be distributed.   Some of the funds raised were already used for Picture Day at Kennedy and Gaudet Schools.  Stop and Shop has provided backpacks for each student and supplies have been donated by various individuals.

 

·         FINANCIAL – Mrs. Kraeger reported that $1.4 million in Impact Aid payments were received, which was a combination of this year and prior year payments.  Mrs. Kraeger will not be attending the Fall Impact Aid Conference this year due to the fact that the NEASC evaluation will take place at the same time.

 

Current positions that need to be filled include a .6 Librarian, Teacher Assistants and a .8 Foreign Language position.

 

·         FACILITIES – Mr. Ed Collins, Director of Facilities Management, distributed a breakdown of work orders by school.  The Greenhouse will be complete the second

 

(Minutes of September 15, 2005 School Committee Meeting, Page Five)

 

 

week of October.  There were no provisions in the plans for lights, clock system or fire alarm system.

          A neighbor of Gaudet School complained about a loud noise coming from the school roof.  Mr. Collins said that it coming from compressor on the roof.  A jacket was previously installed, but it has not alleviated the problem.  He hopes to have a resolution by next week. 

          Another complaint about removal of shrubs around the butterfly garden at J.F. Kennedy School and garden at Aquidneck, School.  Mr. Coogan would like a way to mark important plantings that were purchased for significant reasons so they are not removed.  Mr. Collins said that there needs to be better communication between the Grounds crew and the building principals.

 

·         OPENING OF SCHOOL – Mrs. Kraeger said that we were very fortunate to have a smooth opening of school.  The bus complaints were limited and mostly due to the shortage of drivers.  Mrs. Spengler suggested sending home a letter to inform parents as to why the busses are late, as well as another letter when the busses are back on schedule so that students will not miss the busses.  Mrs. Kraeger has visited all the schools and said the classrooms look great.  A two-day New Teacher Orientation was held to discuss district initiatives including, standards-based report cards, Special Education, Principals of Learning, Disciplinary Literacy, teacher evaluation and NEAM information.  The Technology Department also distributed information.  On Opening Day, workshops were held about Destiny, components for portfolio development and Share Point.  All workshops were conducted by staff members.

           Mr. Coogan questioned if we still have to pay Laidlaw if there are not enough drivers.  If they cut back on drivers and double up on routes will the rate be adjusted?

           Mrs. Spengler said that the Chartwells menu looks good and she is glad to have whole milk back on the menu.  Mrs. Spengler also feels that it is not necessary to have all low fat snacks on the menu because the effects of the sugar alternatives that are used in these food items are still unknown.  Mrs. Kraeger said that she can request that the dieticians from Chartwells attend a School Committee Meeting in the future.

          Mr. Draper commented that with all the issues, including NEASC, Hurricane Katrina, work on the budget, a new Facilities Director, technology and staffing issues,  it was still an incredibly smooth opening of school.

 

·         ENROLLMENT – Below is a breakdown of the current enrollment, compared to last year:

 

·         Aquidneck School has 34 less students than last year, but the same number of classes.

·         Forest Avenue School has 37 less students than last year.  A Kindergarten and Grade 3 classroom has closed.

·         J.F. Kennedy School enrollment is the same, but a Grade 1 and Grade 4 classroom has closed.

(Minutes of September 15, 2005 School Committee Meeting, Page Six)

 

 

·         J.H. Gaudet School is 31 students less than last year.  A Grade 6 classroom has closed.

·         Middletown High School has increased by 11 students.

 

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

 

CONSENT AGENDA

 

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

 

·         Approval of Minutes of August 18, 2005 School Committee Meeting

·         Approval of Minutes of August 18, 2005 Executive Session

·         Approval of Invoice Register, dated August 16, 2005, in the amount of $283,611.96

·         Approval of Invoice Register, dated August 25, 2005, in the amount of $266,840.30

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S RECOMMENDATION ON PERSONNEL

 

APPOINTMENTS

 

Susan Lima                                         .6 Special Education Resource Teacher (One Year Only)

Angela M. Nunes                               .5 Special Education Resource Teacher (One Year Only)

Lisa Carr                                             Teacher Assistant, Middletown High School Library

 

APPOINTMENT TO SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 

Beth Paris

 

RESIGNATION

 

Kendra S. Tarlton                              School Bus Monitor

                                                            Teacher Assistant, J.F. Kennedy School

 

LEAVE OF ABSENSE

 

Valerie H. Long                                  Teacher Assistant, Middletown High School,

                                                            From September 7, 2005 to an undetermined date.

 

LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOR THE 2005-2006 SCHOOL YEAR

 

Patricia Atkinson-Santos                   Multi-Age, Forest Avenue School

Julie Chaves Braga                             .8 Foreign Language Teacher, Middletown High School

 

 

 

(Minutes of September 15, 2005 School Committee Meeting, Page Seven)

 

 

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

 

Alison S. Belcher                                Grade One, J.F. Kennedy School

                                                            Changed to August 30, 2005 to November 23, 2005

 

COACHING APPOINTMENTS

 

Andrew Leys                                      Head Varsity Football

Stephen Ponte                                                Assistant Varsity Football

Andrew Bulk                                      Assistant Varsity Football

Shane Parker                                      Assistant Varsity Football

Dustin Almeida                                  Head Freshman Football

James Grauer                                      Assistant Freshman Football

Luis Oliveira                                       Boys’ Head Varsity Soccer

Christian LeBlanc                              Boys’ Assistant Varsity Soccer

Kendra Lanzire                                  Girls’ Head Varsity Soccer

Keith Kosut                                        Girls’ Assistant Varsity Soccer

Stephen Croughan                             Head Varsity Cross Country

Hubert “Ted” Hersey                                    Assistant Varsity Cross Country

Kristen Seyster                                   J.H. Gaudet Cross Country

David Leys                                         Girls’ Head Varsity Tennis

Cathleen Silveira                                Girls’ Head Varsity Volleyball

Lynda Hoyle                                      Girls’ Assistant Varsity Volleyball

Kelly McCarthy                                  Cheerleading

Kimberly Tibor                                   Cheerleading

Gail Abromitis                                    Athletic Trainer/Strengthening

Andrew Leys                                      Athletic Trainer/Strengthening

 

VOLUNTEER COACHING APPOINTMENTS

 

Alexander Fernandez                                    Varsity Football Volunteer Coach

Richard Formica                                Boys’ Head Varsity Soccer Volunteer Coach

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

·         FAC REPORT – Mr. Quinn, Mr. Lawrence, Mr. Collins, Mrs. Spengler, Mr. Draper and Mrs. Kraeger met to review the Facilities Advisory Committee Report prior to the Town Council Meeting.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

·         NEASC UPDATE – The High School is prepared for the visiting team to arrive on September 25th.  Invitations to the appropriate people will be sent.

 

 

 

 

(Minutes of September 15, 2005 School Committee Meeting, Page Eight)

 

 

ACTION ITEMS

 

POLICY ADOPTION – SECTION I (CONTINUED) (2nd READING)

MOTION:  1) Theresa Spengler, 2) William Coogan.  That the School Committee adopt Section I of the policy book, “Superintendent, Administrative Practices, School Committee Communication, School Improvement Teams, Shared Decision Making, Use and Abandonment of School Buildings, and Master Plans & Strategic Plans, ”, as a second reading.  Unanimous vote.

 

POLICY ADOPTION – ZERO TOLERANCE

MOTION:  1) William Coogan, 2) Liana Fenton.  That the School Committee approve the annual renewal of the Zero Tolerance Policy.  Unanimous vote.

 

REPORTS OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES

 

Theresa Spengler, who is a member of the Middletown Historical Society, said the society is anxious to get more involved in the schools.  Bussing is an issue, but could be paid by grants.  Witherbee School, Paradise School and Whitehall tours should fall under educational grants.

 

William Coogan reported that Rick Lombardi, a retired Newport Police Officer, has traveled all over country giving Drug Training/Drug Impairment Training for education professionals.  The school department should explore this free program to train personnel to identify and help students with drug issues.

 

Liana Fenton reported on partnerships with business for the Senior Project, Capstone and student internships. The 3rd High School Summit will be held on October 19th to encourage businesses to support the graduation by proficiency requirement.  Mr. Bob Delaney from CCRI is interested in a Career Pathway in technology.

 

Mike Crowley reported that the Middletown Educational Collaborative Reception and Golf Tournament raised over $10,000.  The ribbon cutting ceremony for the Aquidneck School playground was held in August.

 

ADJOURN FROM MEETING

 

MOTION:  1) Theresa Spengler, 2) William Coogan.  To adjourn from School Committee Meeting at 8:46 p.m.  Unanimous vote.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

 

Rosemarie K. Kraeger, Clerk