Middletown Public Schools

Middletown, Rhode Island

 

Thursday, November 16, 2006

 

MICHAEL S. PINTO CONFERENCE ROOM

 

SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING

 

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

                                                Liana F. Fenton, Vice-Chair

                                                William Coogan

                                                Edward K. Draper

                                                Theresa M. Spengler

 

Also Present:                          Rosemarie K. Kraeger, Superintendent of Schools

                                                Joseph P. Maruszczak, Assistant Superintendent

                                                Catherine M. McLeish, Business Manager

                                                Edward Collins, Facilities Director

 

            The meeting was called to order at 6:16 p.m. by Chairman Michael Crowley. 

 

MOTION:  1) Theresa Spengler, 2) William Coogan          .  To go into Executive Session 42-46-5 (a) 1, 2,5,8,9 at 6:16 p.m.  Unanimous vote.

 

            Mr. Crowley announced that one vote was taken – a unanimous vote to deny a grievance.

 

The meeting was called back to open session at 7:10 p.m.  Administrative staff members present were Steven Ruscito, Vincent Giuliano, Gail Abromitis and Stephen Ponte.  The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

 

SPOTLIGHT ON TEACHING AND LEARNING

 

“Natural Helpers Program”

 

            Mr. Tim Sunn, Natural Helpers Coordinator, spoke about the program which began in California in 1975 and was introduced in Middletown in 1990.  Over 400 students have been trained.  Students are identified by their peers as individuals who are approachable and responsible.  Several High School students were recently trained.  Mrs. Kraeger is interested in implementing a similar program at the middle school.

 

PROCLAMATIONS/AWARDS

 

·         American Education Week – This year students were presented with a plaque in recognition of American Education Week, as well as a book for their school library. 

 

 

(Minutes of November 14, 2006 School Committee Meeting, Page Two)

 

 

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

 

No Student Activities for November 16, 2006.

 

INFORMATION

 

            Mrs. Kraeger noted items of information:

 

·         Letter from Newport Collaborative withdrawing from project.

·         Letter from a parent volunteer regarding baseball.  This will be addressed at the December meeting.

·         Thanked Mr. Ponte for chairing the Food & Nutrition Advisory Board.

·         Minutes from October 13th Career Tech Meeting.

 

CORRESPONDENCE

 

No Correspondence for November 16, 2006.

 

CONSENT AGENDA

 

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

 

·         Approval of Minutes of October 19, 2006 School Committee Meeting

·         Approval of Financial Report, dated October 31, 2006, in the amount of $32,708,759

·         Approval of Invoice Register, dated October 6, 2006, in the amount of $1,921.77

·         Approval of Invoice Register, dated October 13, 2006, in the amount of $805,470.86

·         Approval of Invoice Register, dated October 17, 2006, in the amount of $498,225.21

·         Approval of Invoice Register, dated October 20, 2006, in the amount of $4,048.83

·         Approval of Invoice Register, dated November 2, 2006, in the amount of $858,367.62

·         Approval of Special Grants Register, dated October 5, 2006, in the amount of $36,642.06

·         Approval of Special Grants Register, dated October 18, 2006, in the amount of $146,931.90

·         Approval of Special Grants Register, dated October 31, 2006, in the amount of $60,430.30

·         Contracts

 

            As part of the Consent Agenda, the contracts of the Superintendent, Business Manager and Facilities Director were extended for one year. 

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S RECOMMENDATION ON PERSONNEL

 

APPOINTMENTS

 

Jeffrey Pine                             Skilled Maintenance Level One, Facilities Management Department

Daniel Toner                          Skilled Maintenance Level One, Facilities Management Department

Lisa Ferreira                           Acting Science Department Head (One Year Only)

 

(Minutes of November 14, 2006 School Committee Meeting, Page Three)

 

 

RESIGNATION

 

Mary-Beth Connerton                       Parents As Teachers Program

 

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

 

Erin M. Doorley                     Multi-Age, J.F. Kennedy School

                                                From October 2, 2006 to January 2, 2007

 

LEAVE OF ABSENCE

 

Ann M. Tetrault                     Teacher Assistant, Forest Avenue School

                                                From December 4, 2006 to February 12, 2007

                                               

MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL ADVISOR FOR 2006-2007

 

Tim Sunn                                Natural Helpers Advisor

 

J.H. GAUDET SCHOOL ADVISOR FOR 2006-2007

 

Kim D’Aprino                                    Mock Trial Advisor

 

REGIONAL SPECIAL EDUCATION RESIGNATION

 

Margaret Nelson                    Resource Teacher, J.F. Kennedy School

 

REGIONAL SPECIAL EDUCATION

 

Kimberly Hope                       Teacher Assistant, J.H. Gaudet School

                                                Leave of Absence for six weeks

 

ACTION ITEMS

 

BUS MONITOR POLICY (2nd Reading)

MOTION:  1) Theresa Spengler, 2) William Coogan.  That the School Committee approve the Bus Monitor Policy 2nd Reading.  Unanimous vote.

 

HOME SCHOOLING

MOTION:  1)            Liana Fenton, 2) William Coogan.  That the School Committee approve Home Schooling     06-07-07, 06-07-08, 06-07-09, 06-07-10 and 06-07-11.  Unanimous vote.

 

ELEVATOR BID

MOTION:  1)            William Coogan, 2) Theresa Spengler.  That the School Committee award the elevator bid to Kone Elevators.  Unanimous vote.

 

 

(Minutes of November 14, 2006 School Committee Meeting, Page Four)

 

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORTS

 

·         CURRICULUM – Mr. Maruszczak provided an update on district curriculum.  On October 31st, all grade 7-10 mathematics teachers met and began the process of mapping the math curriculum to see what is being taught at each grade level.  The group plans on continuing the work in early December.  From the gap analysis, recommendations will be made on the changing scope and sequence of courses, mostly at the high school.  When the group is finished meeting, a recommendation will be made for curriculum revisions that will eventually involve K-12.

 

PERSONAL LITERACY PLANS – All students reading at least three years below reading level are given a PLP, Personal Literacy Plan.  A small committee of literacy coaches met for a session on PLP’s.  This session was facilitated by East Bay Educational Collaborative.  80% of students with PLP’s also have an IEP. 

 

Middletown recently received news regarding the High School’s school accountability classification for 2006.  Rhode Island’s ranking system is aligned with No Child Left Behind.  There should be 100% proficiency in ELA/Math by 2014.  Each school needs to show adequate yearly progress in their subgroups and totals.  Classifications are based on 21 data areas to determine if the school’s classification will be High Performing, Moderately Performing or Insufficient Progress.  This year, Middletown High School is classified as “Insufficient Progress” because a target for students with IEP’s in Math was not met.  School-wide, Middletown High School did well, but the sub-group did not.  Mr. Crowley said that this gives the school a label that the school as a whole is not doing well, when it is really only a small sub-group.

 

Mr. Maruszczak recognized Mr. Ponte and the parents from his school for their work on the playground.  The school recently received a $25,000 grant from the Van Buren Foundation to make the playground handicap access.

 

·         FINANCIAL – To date, 20.9% of the budget has been expended, which compares favorably to past years.  Mrs. McLeish has begun working on numbers for next year’s budget.  Retirement contribution has increased from 11.62% to 13.04%.  As a result of losing his Senate seat, Senator Chafee will no longer be a member of the Impact Aid Coalition.  Mrs. Kraeger will send an information packet to Senator-Elect Shelton Whitehouse requesting that he joint the coalition.

 

·         FACILITIES – Ed Collins reported that there is a collaboration with the Town Recreation Department to do preventive maintenance on the school’s athletic fields.  Fields will now be aerated and seeded at the end of each season.

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Minutes of November 14, 2006 School Committee Meeting, Page Five)

 

 

·         STAFFING/ENROLLMENT – Mr. Ruscito gave presentation on the Program of Studies Preview for 2007-2008.  Proficiency based graduation requirements will be the backbone of the Program of Studies.  The state reference exam is to count for no more than 10%of the graduation requirement.  For the Class of 2008, students must complete 1 ELA common task, 1 math common task, a Capstone Project and demonstrate applied learning.  Challenges include accommodating IEP’s, curriculum alignment, timing and scheduling, success on State reference exam and the organizational structure.     As the Program of Studies is reviewed, there are 14 classes being run with under 10 students. 

 

Mr. Draper inquired about students only having one semester of health during their entire high school career and asked if curriculum be restructured so students can get health beyond the freshman year.  This is a concern of the community, since there are issues with student substance abuse. 

 

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

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

·         Legislative Update – The legislative meeting with the Town Council was cancelled last week.  At the rescheduled meeting the items will remain the same.

 

·         Facilities Study – Mrs. Kraeger received a letter from Newport Collaborative withdrawing from the study.  The cost of the study has been lowered from $150,000 to $135,000.  The scope of work still remains the same.  A community meeting is scheduled for November 27th. 

 

·         Planetarium – Administration is still working with Brown University to secure a person to oversee the planetarium.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

·         Retreat – The annual retreat with building principals will be planned shortly. 

·         The “Swearing In” of School Committee and Town Council members will take place on Monday, November 27th at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall.

 

REPORTS OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES

 

Edward Draper – Attended a Food and Nutrition Committee Meeting.  One issue is that parents would like to see what students are eating when they purchase Chartwells lunch.  Mr. Draper also attended a Safety Advisory Committee Meeting.  The focus of the committee is shifting back towards students in the schools.  The committee would like to work more closely with Mr. Collins, Director of Facilities.

 

 

(Minutes of November 14, 2006 School Committee Meeting, Page Six)

 

 

Liana Fenton – On October 27th, Mrs. Fenton took a group of high school students to NUWC for Engineering Day.

 

ADJOURN FROM MEETING

 

MOTION:  1) Theresa Spengler, 2) William Coogan.  To adjourn from School Committee Meeting at 9:03 p.m.  Unanimous vote.

 

                                                                        Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

 

                                                                        Rosemarie K. Kraeger,

                                                                        Clerk