Middletown Public Schools

Middletown, Rhode Island

 

November 15, 2007

 

7:00 p.m. – Regular Meeting

 

MICHAEL S. PINTO CONFERENCE ROOM

 

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

                                                Liana F. Fenton, Vice-Chair

                                                Theresa M. Spengler

 

Member Absent:                     William Coogan

                                                Edward K. Draper

 

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 7:02 p.m. by Chairman Michael Crowley.  Administrative staff members present were Steven Ruscito, Vincent Giuliano, Michael Mancieri, Stephen Ponte, and Linda Savastano.  The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

 

 

SPOTLIGHT ON TEACHING AND LEARNING

 

Middletown Substance Abuse Prevention Task Force Program

 

The Middletown Substance Abuse Prevention Task Force Program has renewed enthusiasm and energy under the leadership of task force member Lori Verderosa, Coordinator of the Substance Abuse Prevention Task Force Program.

 

Ms. Verderosa, along with Ms. Nan Heroux, presented the plans for prevention programs in Middletown.  The task force received a grant, Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant (SPFSIG), for strategic health and human services – amounting to $140,000 for each of the next three years, totaling $420,000.   The SPFSIG grants’ intent is a data driven planning process that builds infrastructure in The Middletown Community to address substance abuse prevention issues.

 

A needs assessment will be completed.  Ms. Verderosa will report back to the School Committee on the findings.

 

 

 (Minutes of November 15, 2007 School Committee Meeting, Page Two)

 

PROCLAMATIONS/AWARDS

 

·         AMERICAN EDUCATION WEEK – Proclamations were presented to school principals.

 

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

o   Newport Daily News Athletes of the Week

 

 

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

 

No “Student Activities” for November 15, 2007

 

 

INFORMATION

 

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

 

·                     Mr. Ruscito submitted an update to NEASC,

·                     Town surplused a rescue wagon which is now being used in our maintenance department,

·                     Foods Nutrition Committee met on November 5th and,

·                     MRSA info was provided to district employees and parents.

 

 

CORRESPONDENCE

 

Letter from Jerome Egan, requesting the School Committee commence contract negotiations with the Middletown Association of Auxiliary Personnel/NEARI/NEA.

 

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

 

 

CONSENT AGENDA

 

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

 

1000.   Approval of Minutes of October 18, 2007 School Committee Meeting

1100.   Approval of Financial Report, dated October 31, 2007, in the amount of $1,870,715.50

1200.   Approval of Invoice Register, dated October 12, 2007, in the amount of $1,655.58

1210.   Approval of Invoice Register, dated October 16, 2007, in the amount of $517,007.01

1220.   Approval of Invoice Register, dated October 19, 2007, in the amount of $1,791.08

1230.   Approval of Invoice Register, dated October 26, 2007, in the amount of $1,492.99

1240.   Approval of Invoice Register, dated October 30, 2007, in the amount of $467,530.10

1250.   Approval of Invoice Register, dated November 2, 2007, in the amount of $1,486.05

1300.   Approval of Special Grants Register, dated October 16, 2007, in the amount of $38,617.52

(Minutes of November 15, 2007 School Committee Meeting, Page Three)

 

1310.   Approval of Special Grants Register, dated October 30, 2007 in the amount of $118,398.47

1400.   Superintendent’s Recommendation on Personnel

 

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S RECOMMENDATION ON PERSONNEL

 

APPOINTMENTS

 

John Hanos                .4 Math Teacher ~ One Year Only, Middletown High School

Roger Guilmain          .4 Science Teacher ~ One Year Only, Middletown High School

Dianne Beaulieu         .4 Spanish Teacher ~ One Year Only, Middletown High School

Maria Daly                 Teacher Assistant - (Part-Time - 3 Hours), Forest Avenue School

 

TRANSFERS

 

Stephen Tetzloff         Custodian II (2nd Shift) Floater

                                    to Custodian I (2nd Shift), Gaudet

Patrick Cleary                        Custodial Foreperson Level II, Oliphant

                                    to Custodian II, Middletown High School

David Beebe               Custodian II, Forest Avenue School

                                    to Custodial Foreperson Level II, Oliphant

 

EXTENSION OF FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE ACT

 

Jaime Sheridan           Grade Five Teacher, Gaudet Middle School

                                    For the remainder of the 2007-2008 school year

 

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

 

Kristin MacLean        English Teacher, Middletown High School

                                    Extend leave through January 21, 2008

 

2007/08 WINTER COACHING APPOINTMENTS

 

Michael P. Clancey                Boys’ Varsity Basketball (until 1/7/08)

David G. MacGregor             Boys’ Assistant Varsity Basketball

Raleigh Brennan                    Boys’ 6/7/8TH Grade Basketball

Justin Buffman                       Girls’ Varsity Basketball (until 1/7/08)

Shane Fennessey                    Girls’ Assistant Varsity Basketball (until 1/7/08)

Heidi Gauch                           Girls’ 6/7/8TH Grade Basketball

Russell Forgue                        Varsity Wrestling

Richard Francis, Jr.                Assistant Varsity Wrestling

Andrew Bulk                          6/7/8TH Grade Wrestling

Theresa DiGiovanni               Varsity Swim

Timothy Anderson                 Assistant Swim

Shannon Farrell                     Varsity Gymnastics

 

(Minutes of November 15, 2007 School Committee Meeting, Page Four)

 

Stephen Saunders                  Varsity Hockey

Jay Punsky                              Assistant Varsity Hockey

Sharon Thibeault                   Cheerleading

 

 

ACTION ITEMS

 

No “Action Items” for November 15, 2007

 

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

·         An Executive Summary of the Fielding Nair Report was reviewed in preparation for the Town Council/School Committee Workshop on November 20th at 6:30.  Mr. Crowley wants to stress that this is a long range view of what we as a group see as the needs of educational facilities in Middletown based upon the educational requirement for of our students.

o   Utilizing the buildings we have now, but realizing the need for replacing/updating these facilities.

o   Middletown community was unanimous in drawing up conclusions and presenting this plan.

o   The enrichment center being a community asset, not just for schools, but using our schools for public functions.

o   Emphasize community access to all facilities.

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

·         Mr. Chris Collins’ presented the Mobile Accountability Program (MAP) as a pilot program for the Middletown Public Schools.

 

This program will address:

§  Child accountability and

§  Utilization of Bus fleet & management

 

The program uses:

§  RFID-radio frequency identification tags that students put on their backpacks

 

The pilot program will begin on 2 buses at beginning of 2008 for 3-4 months; no cost to the school department.

 

First Student Bus Company has cooperated in this effort.

 

 

(Minutes of November 15, 2007 School Committee Meeting, Page Five)

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORTS

 

·         CURRICULUM –

o   Gaudet Report Card – There is ongoing work with the Gaudet standards-based report card, including meetings with parents, ELA and Math teachers, and revising the parent guidebook.  Mr. Giuliano, Mrs. Howard, and Mrs. Cicchitelli are facilitating these efforts.

o   Science - The regional curriculum leaders met with EBEC to review the status of the KITES Kits being used for science instruction and the correlation of the topics with the new state science GSEs.

o   MHS Course of Study – Mr. Tim Ryan has been meeting with content area personnel at Middletown High over the past several weeks to assist in developing the Program of Studies.

o   MHS Site-based Council - The Site-based Council had its first meeting on November 6.

o   MHS Directors - As a result of the Director’s presentation last month, we are working on releasing them from one class.

o   ESL/English Language Learners Program - A meeting was held on October 12, 2007 with the Literacy Teacher at Middletown High School and the ESL Teacher.   The discussion focused on the needs of the secondary English Language Learner.  Rosetta Stone, a language-based computer program will assist the ESL students.  A meeting is set for November 30th with at the War College to address the new Middletown ESL students.  Mrs. Cicchitelli has met with state to review the plans for the program.

 

·         FINANCIAL –  

o   There is a chance state aid will not be level funded; Catherine McLeish has prepared the 3050 projections of 2008-2009 through 2011-2012.  We will start meeting with principals/staff to discuss the challenges facing the district.  The goal is not to compromise the quality of education to our students.

 

·         FACILITIES –

o   Last month a utilities bid process was complete.  Many projects are going on in district.  Boosters are working on the Press box and the Pop Warner storage project is underway.

 

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

 

 

 

(Minutes of November 15, 2007 School Committee Meeting, Page Six)

 

REPORTS OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES

 

·         Mr. Crowley talked about the Proposed Regulations of the Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education Governing the Education of Children with Disabilities

 

·         Mrs. Liana Fenton has attended Governor K-16 council meetings.  At a meeting, discussion centered around workforce partnerships, students graduating from high school and going into workforce, and students at the post secondary level who were not completing their degree.

 

Mrs. Fenton also mentioned that the Physics First Program is working well.  Mrs. Fenton met with the Economic Advisory Council for a STEM Council meeting regarding grants.

 

Mrs. Fenton met the new director of the Newport Area Career Tech Center, Karen Mellen.  Currently, there are five career paths the center is now offering.  Two concerns Mrs. Fenton has are:  1) is this right model for Newport County, and 2) the cost is high.  She mentioned the inequity of career centers statewide:  Davies is paid for by the State, all other Career Tech Centers depend on local funds.  Her goal is to work at state level with the general assembly to make that more equitable.

 

·         Mr. Crowley stated that RIASC began their quarterly meetings with the officers and Judge Flanders, chair of the Board of Regents.

 

 

MOTION:  1)            Theresa Spengler, 2) Liana Fenton.  To go into Executive Session 42-46-5 (a) 1, 2,5,8,9 at 8:38 p.m.  Unanimous vote.

 

            Mr. Crowley announced that no votes were taken during Executive Session.

 

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

 

 

ADJOURN FROM MEETING

 

MOTION:  1)            Theresa Spengler, 2) Liana Fenton.  To adjourn from School Committee Meeting at 10:25 p.m.  Unanimous vote.

 

                                                                        Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

 

                                                                        Rosemarie K. Kraeger, Clerk