Barrington School Committee

Barrington Public Schools

Barrington, RI 02806

 

Joint Legislative Forum - November 16, 2021

 

Present at meeting:

Cynthia Coyne, Senator, District 32

Liana Caesar, Representative, District 66

Jason Knight, Representative, District 67

School Committee: Gina Bae, Amanda Regino Basse, and Patrick McCrann

School Administration: Michael Messore, Paula Dillon, and Douglas Fiore

Town Council: Michael Carroll, Jacob Brier, Annelise Conway, and Carl Kustell Town Administration: Jim Cunha, Kathleen Raposa

 

Absent:

Rob Humm, Town Council

Megan Douglas, School Committee

Erika Sevetson, School Committee

 

Mr. Carroll called the Town Council meeting to order and Ms. Bae called the School Committee meeting to order at 8:10 AM.

 

The Town Manager and Town Council reviewed their concerns including the bike path bridge construction, a climate change and its effects on Barrington, allowance for members of the public to participate in public meetings virtually, advocating for better roads and sidewalks with the Department of Transportation, and including municipalities in the conversation around how to spend money from the American Rescue Funds.

 

The School Administration and School Committee reviewed their concerns regarding unfunded mandates using the example of training needed to meet the Right to Read Act that was recently passed, bike path bridge construction and the need for more sidewalks in town, looking at the funding formula and use of free and reduced lunch applications which many families have not been applying for due to the current free lunch program, advocating for a state contract for out-of-district special education placements, and extending or creating similar programs like the Skills RI Grant.

 

Mr. Carroll asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting which passed with all Town Council members voting in the affirmative.

 

At 9:00 AM, Ms. Bae asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. McCrann moved and Ms. Basse seconded the motion. The motion passed 3-0 with all present members voting in the affirmative.