January 5, 2010 Special Meeting
Meeting Date:
Tuesday, January 5, 2010 - 5:40pm
NORTH SMITHFIELD SCHOOL COMMITTEE
SPECIAL MEETING
January 5, 2010
North Smithfield Middle School Cafeteria
Members Present: R. Lafleur (Chair), C. Bonas (Vice-Chair), P. Vadenais, F. Johannis
Others Present: M. Chevrette, J. Riley
Meeting was convened at 5:40 p.m.
Roll call was taken with four members noted as present. M. Flaherty was noted as absent.
2. Dr. Chevrette delivered a PowerPoint Presentation to the Committee regarding the Race to the Top proposal. This is a federal grant awarded to states that have made progress in four areas:
World class standards and assessment
Longitudinal data systems
Improving teacher effectiveness and performance
Intervening and supporting persistently low performing schools.
North Smithfield can become either a participating (at P2 level) or involved district or can choose not to participate. A participating district chooses to work with RIDE on all or significant portions of the state plan; Title I districts receive a proportionate share of 50% of state’s grant award; district funds are structured around two types of expenditures – prescriptive funds to address key aspects of state’s proposal and flexible funds to allow options inn implementation based on district needs. Involved districts choose to work with the state to implement some portions of the state plan including those that necessitate full or nearly-full state implementation such as common state standards and developing a longitudinal data system but an involved district does not receive a shard of the 50% of the state grant award. States may provide funding from the remaining 50% or from other sources to involved district (involved districts will not receive substantial funding.) Districts that choose not t take part will forfeit their Title I based allocation.
Participation requires collaboration between RIDE, School Committee, district leadership, and teachers’ union leadership.
The benefits of participation to North Smithfield are:
We will receive some funding to support reform efforts; and,
We will have a “seat at the table” which provides local input to changes which will affect our district whether it participates or not.
3. On motion by P. Vadenais, seconded by F. Johannis, the Committee unanimously voted (4-0) to support the Race to the Top Proposal and authorized the Chair to sign the Memorandum of Understanding.
4. FY ’11 Budget Process: The Committee requests that Mrs. McGahan, Clerk of the Committee, contact Mrs. Todd, Town Clerk, to poll the Town Council for their availability for a special meeting to be scheduled for January 25, 2010, at 6:00 p.m. at Kendall Dean Auditorium.
5. On motion by P. Vadenais, seconded by F. Johannis, the Committee unanimously voted (4-0) to approve the overnight field trip request for the Northmen Outdoor Adventure Club to Mount Snow in Vermont from January 22-24, 2010.
6. On motion by C. Bonas, seconded by F. Johannis, the Committee unanimously voted (4-0) to approve the appointment of Michael Menissian as a Volunteer Assistant Girls’ Basketball coach for the 2009-2010 school year only.
7. On motion by P. Vadenais, seconded by F. Johannis, the Committee unanimously voted (4-0) to approve the appointment of Sean Radican as Junior Varsity Boys’ Basketball coach for the 2009-2010 school year only.
8. On motion by F. Johannis, seconded by C. Bonas, the Committee unanimously voted to adjourn (4-0 vote).
Meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
Download Minutes:
