January 19, 2010 Meeting
Meeting Date:
Tuesday, January 19, 2010 - 5:37pm
NORTH SMITHFIELD SCHOOL COMMITTEE
MEETING
January 19, 2010
North Smithfield Middle School Cafeteria
Members Present: R. Lafleur, C. Bonas, P. Vadenais, F. Johannis, M. Flaherty
Others Present: S. Lindberg, I. Scripsack, R. Mezzanotte, J. Lahar, D. Jolin, C. Frayne, R. Brown,
J. Riley, C. Carr, M. Taylor, B. Sardinha, several teachers & parents
Meeting was convened at 5:37 p.m.
1. On motion by C. Bonas, seconded by F. Johannis, the Committee unanimously voted to move into closed session pursuant to RIGL42-46-5(a)(1), Job Performance Superintendent, RIGL42-46-5(a)(2), Collective Bargaining NSASSP & NSTA, and Litigation.
2. The Superintendent was notified in writing that his job performance would be discussed in Executive Session. He chose to have the discussion remain in Executive Session.
3. The meeting reconvened in Open Session at 6:49 p.m.
4. Good & Welfare: There were no requests to address the Committee.
5. Roll call was taken with all members noted as present.
6. On motion by C. Bonas, seconded by F. Johannis, the Committee unanimously voted to approve the minutes of December 15 and 21, 2009, and January 4 & 5, 2010, as written.
7. The following disbursements for December 2009 were approved on motion made by C. Bonas, seconded by P. Vadenais & F. Johannis, and passed on unanimous vote:
Manual Checks $550,337.05; Net Payroll $714,749.76; Wire Transfers (Payroll taxes) $205,056.20;
Additional Vouchers $659,132.42; Grand Total approved $2,129,275.43.
8. Motion was made by C. Bonas, seconded by P. Vadenais, and passed on unanimous vote to accept the Cash Receipt Report for the month of December 2009 in the amount of $448,981.29.
9. On motion by P. Vadenais, seconded by F. Johannis, the Committee unanimously voted upon recommendation of the Superintendent to approve the appointment of Jennifer Shaker as a (.4) School Librarian @ Halliwell, Step 1B, start date 1/20/10, and for the remainder of the 2009-2010 school year only.
10. Business Manager’s Report: The Town Auditors conducted an audit of our books for stimulus funds received. Staff and payroll data were audited. At the conclusion of the audit, all looked good.
11. Correspondence Received: Mr. Lafleur submitted for the record a response received from Senator Fogarty regarding Senate bill 2009S-777 (Substitute A) as amended and House bill 2009H-5613 (Substitute A) both entitled An Act Relating to Insurance – Teachers’ Health Insurance.
12. Legislative Update: Nothing to report at this time.
13. Mrs. Beth Sardinha presented an overview of our Kids Care Program which is a tolerance of diversity program introduced at North Smithfield Elementary & Halliwell Schools this year for preschool through grade 5 students. Students participated in structured activities designed to teach tolerance and acceptance of others that include reading and hands-on activities. The program was primarily funded by a $5,000 CVS Caremark Community Grant. National Marker Company located in North Smithfield also donated signs to NSES & Halliwell. John Moran matching grant funds were received in order to offset the cost of Kaleidoscope performances.
14. Middle School Construction Project Update: Punch list complete. Waiting to sit down with Town finance to finalize the project.
15. On motion by P. Vadenais, seconded by F. Johannis, the Committee unanimously voted upon recommendation of the Superintendent to approve repairs to the NSES water system by Northeast Water Solutions in an amount not to exceed $21,008.
16. FY ’11 Operating/Capital Budgets: Mr. Lindberg advised the Committee that the Town Council denied their request to extend the due date for submission of the school department budget. It is due to the Town Administrator, per charter, on February 15, 2010. It was noted that per law the Town must present the school department with revenue projections 90 days before final submission of the school department budget. This has not been received. The Committee postponed the FY11 budget presentation originally scheduled for February 9, 2010, until February 22, 2010, with adoption at their regularly scheduled meeting on February 23, 2010. Following adoption, the FY 11 budget will be forwarded to the Town Administrator. A letter will be sent to notify the Town.
ARRA funds (1 year only) are gone. The school department will be requesting every dollar of the 4% increase allowable on the local appropriation under S3050. A preliminary meeting was held with Ms. Hamilton, Town Administrator, regarding the FY ’11 budget. In attendance were Mr. Lindberg, Mrs. Scripsack, Mrs. Johannis, and Ms. Ficarra. Ms. Hamilton advised that the Council is expecting level- funded budgets to be submitted to them for review/consideration. Mrs. Johannis advised that this was not acceptable and the school department will request the maximum increase allowable under the law. Mrs. Johannis also asked that the Town provide their projected revenues which by law (S3050) must be submitted to the School Committee 90 days prior to submission of the school department budget. The Town will work on getting this information to the Committee.
A letter will be sent to the Town Council asking that the school department budget is heard first as opposed to last. A request will also be included requesting to schedule a joint meeting with the Council for sometime in February.
Full-Day vs. Half-Day Kindergarten: The Committee continued to discuss the possibility that due to budget reductions kindergarten may have to be reduced from a full-day program to a half-day program. The savings are not significant (~ $58,000) but as the school department has had to make deep cuts in its budget over the last several years every dollar must be looked at and evaluated. It is not something that the administration recommends but it must be considered. The Committee opened the discussion to attendees at the meeting. Several parents and teachers voiced their support of the full day kindergarten program. Speakers included Mrs. Meo, Mrs. Baillargeon, Mrs. Daigneault, Mrs. Bertherman, Mrs. Lombardi, and Mrs. Taylor. The School Committee strongly urged the audience members to contact the Town Council now (not in June) to offer their support of education. It was noted that the Town had a $500,000 surplus in their fiscal year budget. The Committee will have a decision sometime in March.
17. Town/School Collaboration: A meeting has been scheduled for January 21, 2010, to begin formal discussions about areas that the Town and school department may be able to collaborate.
18. Update School Committee Request of Burrillville, Lincoln, Smithfield regarding Regionalization – Mr. Lafleur advised that a meeting will be held on February 2nd or 3rd with the School Committee Chairs in the above-mentioned districts. Following the preliminary discussion, the Superintendents of the districts will also be invited to meet with the Chairs.
19. On motion by P. Vadenais, seconded by F. Johannis, the Committee unanimously voted upon recommendation of the Superintendent to table the DECA request for allocation of funds to offset costs of their previously approved overnight field trip for further analysis of the current budget.
20. On motion by P. Vadenais, seconded by F. Johannis, the Committee unanimously voted upon recommendation of the Superintendent to table Agenda Item XI.8, Approval Purchase of Special Education Laptops until grant funds have been received.
21. On motion by P. Vadenais, seconded by F. Johannis, the Committee unanimously voted upon recommendation of the Superintendent to table Agenda Item XI.9, NSES Wiring Upgrades until grant funds have been received.
22. Mr. Mezzanotte delivered a PowerPoint presentation that updated the Committee on preparations that the high school is making in anticipation of a NEASC visit that will be conducted in 2012. The exact date will be provided sometime in August of this year. NEASC evaluates the district on seven rigorous standards all of which the high school is addressing right now:
- Teaching & Learning Standards: (1) Core Values, Beliefs, and Learning; (2) Curriculum; (3) Instruction; (4) Assessment of and for Student Learning
- Support Standards: (5) School Culture & Leadership; (6) School Resources for Learning; and (7) Community Resources for Learning.
Depending upon whether the NEASC visit happens in the Spring of 2012 or the Fall of 2012, the corresponding budget will be affected. 2008 cost projections indicate that the visit will cost the district a minimum of $17,932.
Mr. Mezzanotte’s presentation also provided the Committee with a synopsis of the Commissioner’s Review and site visit on November 13, 2009. Final report of the Review is due in January 2010 but has not been received as of this date. While we await the final report, the high school has already taken steps to address concerns highlighted, is following recommendations while simultaneously preparing for NEASC, and is awaiting official notification regarding acceptable/not acceptable diploma system (determined in 2012.) The high school received preliminary approval of its diploma system from RIDE in 2008.
23. On motion by P. Vadenais, seconded by F. Johannis, the Committee unanimously voted upon recommendation of the Superintendent to table Agenda Item XII.2, Food Service Program Review/Recommendation.
24. On motion by P. Vadenais, seconded by F. Johannis, the Committee unanimously voted upon recommendation of the Superintendent to approve the 1st reading of Policy #IKH, “Substitute Teacher Employment Policy” with the following change: consider reducing the number of sick days allotted for substitutes who teach for one school year.
25. On motion by P. Vadenais, seconded by F. Johannis, the Committee unanimously voted upon recommendation of the Superintendent to approve the 1st reading of Policy #GAA, “Support Staff Substitute Pay Rates.”
26. Action related to Job Performance Superintendent: No action needed.
27. Action related to Collective Bargaining NSASSP: No action needed.
28. Action related to Litigation: No action needed.
29. On motion by F. Johannis, seconded by P. Vadenais, the Committee unanimously voted to recess open session and reconvene in Executive Session pursuant to RIGL 42-46-5(a)(2) Collective Bargaining NSTA at 8:27 p.m.
30. The meeting reconvened in open session at 10:15 p.m.
31. On motion by C. Bonas, seconded by F. Johannis, the Committee unanimously voted to retain the minutes of closed session as closed to the public pursuant to RIGL42-46-7(c), and RIGL42-46-5(a)(1) and RIGL42-46-5(a)(2), as previously outlined.
32. Action related to Collective Bargaining NSTA: No action needed.
33. On motion by M. Flaherty, seconded by R. Lafleur, the Committee unanimously voted to adjourn.
Meeting was adjourned at 10:17 p.m.
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