Middletown Public Schools

Middletown, Rhode Island

 

September 20, 2007

 

7:00 p.m. – Regular Meeting

 

MICHAEL S. PINTO CONFERENCE ROOM

 

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

                                                William Coogan arrived at 7:54

                                                Edward K. Draper

                                                Theresa M. Spengler

 

Member Absent:                     Liana F. Fenton, Vice-Chair

 

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 7:07 p.m. by Chairman Michael Crowley.  Administrative staff members present were Timothy Ryan, Steven Ruscito, Michelle Fonseca, Gail Abromitis, Maureen Cicchitelli, Stephen Ponte, and Linda Savastano.  The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

 

 

SPOTLIGHT ON TEACHING AND LEARNING

 

No Spotlight on Teaching and Learning for September 20, 2007

 

 

PROCLAMATIONS/AWARDS

 

·         Presentation to Richard Updegrove, Esq. – Mrs. Kraeger introduced Attorney Richard Updegrove.  Mr. Crowley commended and thanked Mr. Updegrove for his service to the Middletown school community.  All school committee members wished him good luck with his endeavors.

 

 

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

 

No Student Activities for September 20, 2007

 

 

(Minutes of September 20, 2007 School Committee Meeting, Page Two)

 

INFORMATION

 

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

 

·                     Letter of substantial approval of CRP

·         Legislation on peanut and nut tree allergy

·         State’s interest in collaboration of services ~ state-wide school supplies is already in place; the 2nd piece is to implement a state-wide transportation bid

 

 

CORRESPONDENCE

 

Letter from Kelsey Dugan, Class of 2007 President, requesting funds to help offset the cost of a new Middletown High School sign.

 

MOTION:  1) Theresa Spengler, 2) Edward Draper.  That the School Committee receive the communication and hold it in abeyance until the October 18, 2007 meeting when budget will be approved.  Unanimous vote.

 

Theresa Spengler asked if the request could be submitted to Middletown Education Collaborative.  Mrs. Kraeger said she would like to meet with Kelsey Dugan to talk about other fund raisers.

 

 

CONSENT AGENDA

 

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

 

1000.   Approval of Minutes of August 16, 2007 School Committee Meeting

1100.   Approval of Invoice Register, dated August 9, 2007, in the amount of $82,296.25

1110.   Approval of Invoice Register, dated August 21, 2007, in the amount of $503,515.05

1120.   Approval of Invoice Register, dated September 4, 2007, in the amount of $439,711.82

1200.   Approval of Special Grants Register, dated August 21, 2007, in the amount of $5,810.07

1210.   Approval of Special Grants Register, dated September 4, 2007 in the amount of $762.21

1300.   Superintendent’s Recommendation on Personnel

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Minutes of September 20, 2007 School Committee Meeting, Page Three)

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S RECOMMENDATION ON PERSONNEL

 

 

APPOINTMENTS

Martha A. Ullman, M.D. School Physician

Hakan Durudogan, D.D.S.             School Dentist

Carmela Geer                                     COZ Family Center Coordinator

Tara Sweeney                                     Grade 5, Gaudet – One Year Only

 

TRANSFERS

Mary Clark                                          Multi-Age Teacher, Forest Avenue School

                                                                to Grade One Teacher, Forest Avenue School

Joanne Reilly-Chaves                       Grade Two Teacher, Forest Avenue School

                                                                to Grade Three Teacher, Forest Avenue School

Christa Robinson                              Kindergarten Teacher, Aquidneck School

                                                                to Multi-Age Teacher (One Year Only), Forest Avenue School

Jennifer LaMond                               ESL Teacher to Grade Seven ELA Teacher, Gaudet

James Williams                                 Guidance Counselor, Gaudet to Grade Six Teacher, Gaudet

Karen Massaro                                   PE/Health Teacher, Gaudet to PE/Health Teacher, Middletown High School

Michele Smith                                    Special Education Teacher, Middletown High School

                                                                to Literacy Teacher, Middletown High School

David Kilmer                                      Team Leader Custodian Foreperson Level II (Day), Aquidneck School

to Team Leader Custodial Foreperson Level I, Gaudet Middle School

Robert Marshall                                 Team Leader Custodian Level I (Night), Middletown High School

to Team Leader Custodial Foreperson Level II (Day) ~ Aquidneck School

Susan McIntosh                                 6-hour Teacher Assistant, Forest Avenue School to Middletown High School

 

RECALLS

Tara Mellow                                       Grade One Teacher, Aquidneck School

Cynthia Tanguay                              Grade Four Teacher, Aquidneck School (One Year Only)

Heidi Gauch                                       Grade Seven Social Studies Teacher, Gaudet

Gail Sullivan-McCune                     Full Time Art Teacher

Gary Sebastiao                                   Full Time Music Teacher

Kellie Sorel Ducharme                     Grade Seven Science Teacher, Gaudet

Ann Sullivan                                      .2 Social Studies Teacher, Middletown High School

Philip Statser                                      Full Time Music Teacher

Robyn Borges                                     Grade Two Teacher, John F. Kennedy School

Erin Doorley                                       Multi-Age Teacher, John F. Kennedy School

Lori Call                                               Multi-Age Teacher, John F. Kennedy School

Laurie Oliveira                                   Grade Three Teacher, John F. Kennedy School

Jane Violet                                           Grade Five Teacher, Gaudet

Jamie Sheridan                                  Grade Five Teacher, Gaudet

Ronald Dumais                                 Technology Integration, Gaudet

Allan Waite                                         Industrial Arts, Middletown High School

Justin Buffman                                   Grade Seven Math Teacher, Gaudet

Susan Cunningham                         Science Teacher, Middletown High School

Linda Ferreira                                    6-Hour Teacher Assistant, Forest Avenue

(Minutes of September 20, 2007 School Committee Meeting, Page Four)

 

FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE ACT

Jaime Sheridan                                  Grade Five Teacher, Gaudet Middle School

                                                                For a period of Twelve weeks starting from September 5, 2007

 

RESIGNATIONS

Margaret Palmer                               Grade Four Teacher, Forest Avenue School

John Milliken                                      Custodian, effective December 28, 2007

Karen Armstrong                              Grade Eight Teacher, Gaudet Middle School

 

2007 FALL COACHING APPOINTMENTS

Eric Godin                                           Head Coach Girls Varsity Soccer

Shannon Lewis                                  Girls JV Soccer

 

2007 FALL VOLUNTEER COACHING APPOINTMENTS

Christopher Greene                          Volunteer Boys’ Soccer Coach

Richard Formica                               Volunteer Boys’ Soccer Coach

Ted Hersey                                          Volunteer Gaudet Cross Country Coach

 

MHS STUDENT ACTIVITIES

Patrick Aylward                                Student Activities Coordinator

Michelle Oliveira                               Senior Class Advisor

Susan Sisson                                      Senior Class Advisor

Philip Statser                                      Junior Class Advisor

Michele Smith                                    Sophomore Class Advisor

Maria Dowler                                     Sophomore Class Advisor

Renee Brietzke                                    Freshman Class Advisor

Marianne Curtis                                Freshman Class Advisor

Stephen Fagan                                   Math League Advisor

Kevin Zahm                                        Fall Dramatics Directorship

Kevin Zahm                                        Spring Dramatics Directorship

Steven Ruscito                                    Student Council Advisorship

Philip Statser                                      Band Directorship

Claudia Vars                                      Choral Directorship

Frank Lema                                         Flag Team Coordinator

Sue Suprock                                        Tempo

Ramona Bessinger                            Tempo

Philip Statser                                      Tempo

Alicia Hicks                                        Yearbook

Karen Sheely                                       Yearbook

Barbara Reed                                      National Honor Society

Carol Turcotte                                    National Honor Society

Timothy Sunn                                    Natural Helpers

(Minutes of September 20, 2007 School Committee Meeting, Page Five)

 

ACTION ITEMS

 

MISA 2007-2008 Position Paper

MOTION:  1)            Edward Draper, 2) Theresa Spengler.  That the School Committee endorse the 2007-2008 Position Paper from the Military Impacted Schools Association.

 

 

JOB DESCRIPTIONS – 2nd Reading

MOTION:  1)            Theresa Spengler, 2) Edward Draper.  That the School Committee approve the job description for Child Opportunity Zone (COZ) Family Center Coordinator.  (2nd Reading)

 

 

STANDING ORDERS FOR NURSES

MOTION:  1) Edward Draper, 2) Theresa Spengler.  That the School Committee approve the Standing Orders for Nurses.

 

 

TOWN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

MOTION:  1) Edward Draper, 2) Theresa Spengler.  That the School Committee appoint Michael Crowley to the Town Information Technology Advisory Committee with Edward Draper as the alternate.

 

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

Advisory Committee -- Mrs. Fenton had previously suggested the development of three advisory committees.  She suggested contacting community members and parents to serve on three committees for sports and after school activities; mathematics, science & technology, and fine arts.  A group discussion should take place about funding, how to sustain and enhance the programs and the implication of the Fielding Nair facilities study.

 

Edward Draper said he has received positive feedback on the discussion of high school and Pop Warner programs and how they are working together.

 

Liana Fenton and Rosemarie Kraeger will be meeting with the Economic Development Board.

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

No New Business for September 20, 2007

 

 

(Minutes of September 20, 2007 School Committee Meeting, Page Six)

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORTS

 

·         OPENING OF 2007-2008 SCHOOL YEAR

 

·         It was a smooth opening of school.

·         There are some overages in classrooms—particularly at the high school, and we are working with union leadership to balance the classes.

·         Enrollment and staffing continues to be difficult to predict.

·         Enrollment is declining, however data does not suggest students are leaving for private schools,

·         Military movement creates enrollment fluctuations

·         Staff reductions did hold in most cases

·         Limited English Proficiency (LEP) population is another unpredictable factor

·         Mr. Ryan and Mrs. Cicchitelli have been working with the state department to design a new model to provide services to LEP (i.e. collaborative classes, assessments during school year, and a more systematic approach for identification.)

·         Mr. Crowley suggested looking at professional development for teachers throughout the district so they have instructional strategies to use with the LEP students in the classroom.

·         Mr. Crowley asked if the War College could work with us more to support these families.

·         Edward Draper asked about the LEP students and how many are from the War College.  Mr. Ryan said about 80-90 percent.

 

 

·         CURRICULUM –

 

·         Michael Mancieri, Vincent Giuliano, Maureen Cicchitelli, and Gloria Howard are meeting with parents regarding the standards based report card on September 25th at 6:30 at Gaudet.

·         TIENET – The curriculum piece has been put into TIENET as well as released NECAP item tasks.

·         Roger Taylor, an educator with experience in differentiated instruction, will be at the high school on October 9th.

·         GLE booklets are at the printer.  Thank you to Maureen Cicchitelli, Linda Savastano, and Gloria Howard.  These booklets will help with the understanding of the standards based report card.  All booklets were printed using grant funds.  Mr. Draper asked if there could be scoring information for the report card in the booklets.  This concept could be developed with future booklets.

·         AP scores – Review the information in the packet.  There are some identified trends.  Mr. Ruscito and Ms. Sheehan will present information at the October meeting and frame an action plan.

 

 

(Minutes of September 20, 2007 School Committee Meeting, Page Seven)

 

·         Planetarium activities include:  Birthday Party With the Stars.  Family Fun Nights on October 15th and November 19th, and a six-week after-school program staring on Thursday’s beginning October 11th.

·         The Middletown Recreation Program is looking to provide after school programs at Gaudet.

 

 

·         FINANCIAL –

 

Cathy McLeish is working on the numbers to finalize the 2007-2008 Budget.  The first payroll went out successfully.  Thank you to all in the Business Office staff.  We needed to order textbooks for the high school.  Mrs. Kraeger will attend the Impact Aid Conference in Washington in the end of September.

 

 

·         FACILITIES –

 

The buildings are in good shape.  The facilities staff deserves a great deal of credit.  We have been removing all of the old finish on the floors, and we are using all GREEN products.  We are one of two school districts in the state who has gone entirely GREEN.  The Press Box is being constructed at Gaudet field.  In another month, the storage facility will be started.

 

 

·         CORE FACILITIES COMMITTEE –

 

We are still working on getting a November date from Town Council.

 

 

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

 

 

REPORTS OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES

 

Mr. Coogan asked if we could document bullying incidences. Mrs. Kraeger said the district can cull out data from the discipline reports.  Mr. Coogan asked how do teachers and administrators identify/differentiate bullying from other incidences.  Mr. Draper talked about a book which helped the Safety Advisory Committee members understand how to identify incidences of bullying.

 

 

 

(Minutes of September 20, 2007 School Committee Meeting, Page Eight)

 

Mr. Draper said the bullying topic was well received by the Safety Advisory Committee and the program is moving forward.  We are getting assistance from Women’s Resource Center relative to violence prevention.  The SPFSIG grant will assist our approach in schools.

 

Mr. Crowley attended an executive meeting at RIASC.  The officers of RIASC will meet with the new Board of Regents chair.  The Island Funding Committee is moving forward with more information from RIPEC.

 

Mrs. Kraeger commended the Forest Avenue Staff:  Mr. Ponte, Principal; Mrs. Colaneri, Lead Teacher and staff in response to the water line break on Forest Avenue.  The staff and students were evacuated to Gaudet Middle School.  Mr. Giuliano, principal of Gaudet, had plans ready.  Connect Ed was an excellent tool to contact parents quickly.

 

 

ADJOURN FROM MEETING

 

MOTION:  1)            Theresa Spengler, 2) Edward Draper           .  To adjourn from School Committee Meeting at 8:16 p.m.  Unanimous vote.

 

                                                                        Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

 

                                                                        Rosemarie K. Kraeger, Clerk