Middletown Public Schools
Middletown, Rhode Island
April 13, 2022
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
Members Present: Theresa Spengler, Chair
Douglas Arnold, Vice-Chair
Tami Holden
William O’Connell
Liana Fenton
Also Present: Rosemarie K. Kraeger, Superintendent of Schools
Michelle Fonseca, Assistant Superintendent
Robert Pacheco, Director of Facilities
The Middletown School Committee Meeting was called to order at 3:35 p.m. by Chair Theresa Spengler. Administrative staff members present William Niemeyer, Rebecca Silveira, Jeffrey Heath, Dennis Soares, and Lisa Birkett.
There was no Public Comment for April 13, 2022.
· Month of the Military Child – Captain James McIver thanked the school system for the support for the military students and families. Middletown schools have 29% military students. A proclamation was read from the State.
· Student of the Week – The following students were introduced by their Principal and recognized by the School Committee:
o Maggie Berkeley, Grade 4 – Principal Silveira
o Carlos Reyes Gomez, Grade 7 – Principal Niemeyer
o Chloe Tysor, Grade 8 – Principal Niemeyer
o Samaa Alsharabi, Grade 9 – Principal Heath
o Alayna Connell, Grade 9 – Principal Heath
(Minutes of April 13, 2022 School Committee Meeting, Page Two)
No “Student Activities” for April 13, 2022.
· Grades 6-12 ELA Curriculum – Michelle Fonseca introduced the committee that worked on the curriculum for the ELA program Grades 6-12. The committee included Dr. Heath, Principal Niemeyer, Assistant Principal Soares (Chair), and teachers Caroline Corr, Julia Casberg, Amanda Budzyna, Sophia Perrotti, Jane Violet, Amy Smith, Lee Ann Wells, Michelle Smith and Christopher Richards. The Committee chose “studysync” which was vetted using three criteria and meet the expectations of high-quality curriculum. This gives the opportunity for grades 6-12 teachers to work together. The curriculum is in 10 different languages. Students will still have an actual book in hand in addition to the technology. The purchase is written into ESSER 3 funds is within the budget. There will be a textbook for each student at the high school along with an app.
Mrs. Kraeger noted the following items of information:
· ESSER Grant Award
· Presentation by Dr. Heath to the Town Council regarding partnership and career exploration
· Letter to parents and staff regarding the budget deficit
· Letter to School Committee Chair from the Auditor General
· Letter to Town Council President regarding absence at a Town Council Meeting
· Purple Up for Military Kids
· Latest edition of The Wave
No “Correspondence” for April 13, 2022.
MOTION: 1) Douglas Arnold, 2) Liana Fenton. That the School Committee approve the Consent Agenda. Unanimous vote.
(Minutes of April 13, 2022 School Committee Meeting, Page Three)
| Middletown Public Schools | | |
| Vouchers | | |
| 3/11/22 - 4/05/22 | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| Vouchers | Date | Total |
| 1224 | 3/16/2022 | $1,750.00 |
| 1225 | 3/24/2022 | $1,750.00 |
| 1236 | 2/16/2022 | $1,260.34 |
| 1237 | 4/1/2022 | $1,394,020.37 |
| | | |
| | | $1,398,780.71 |
| | | |
· Approval of Vendors/Purchases over $5,000
· Approval of Minutes
o Minutes of March 3, 2022 Budget Workshop
o Minutes of March 9, 2022 Budget Workshop
o Minutes of March 17, 2022 School Committee Meeting
o Minutes of March 22, 2022 School Committee Meeting
· Clean Energy Presentation – Mr. Pacheco introduced Julian Dash from Clean Economy Development who recently received approval and is partnering with the Town of Middletown to enter into a partnership for the benefit of Middletown Public Schools. RNM is a state incentive program that allows municipalities to receive renewable energy savings from projects. The Town of Middletown is participating and has requested the school also participate. The term of the contract would be 25 years with a start date of January 1, 2023.
MOTION: 1) Douglas Arnold, 2) Liana Fenton. To go into Executive Session 42-46-5 (a) 2 at 5:15 p.m. regarding possible litigation and collective bargaining (discussion of employee separation agreement), legal advice regarding employee separation agreement and potential litigation, collective bargaining with certified and non-certified staff. Unanimous vote.
Roll Call Vote.
YAY
William O’Connell
Tami Holden
Liana Fenton
(Minutes of April 13, 2022 School Committee Meeting, Page Four)
Douglas Arnold
Theresa Spengler
MOTION: 1) Douglas Arnold, 2) Liana Fenton. That the School Committee Meeting reconvene at 6:05 p.m. Unanimous vote.
Mrs. Spengler announced that no vote was taken.
MOTION: 1) Douglas Arnold, 2) Liana Fenton. To seal the minutes of Executive Session. Unanimous vote.
MOTION: 1) Douglas Arnold, 2) Liana Fenton. To readjust the agenda and move Action Items up on the agenda. Unanimous vote.
MOTION: 1) Douglas Arnold, 2) Liana Fenton. That the School Committee approve the “Title IX Policy and Protocol for Reporting and Investigating Sexual Harassment and Retaliation”, 1st Reading. Unanimous vote
A coordinator and investigator will need to be identified for all scenarios.
MOTION: 1) Douglas Arnold, 2) Liana Fenton. That the School Committee approve the annual Memorandum of Understanding between the Middletown School Department and the Middletown Police Department. Unanimous vote.
This is the annual renewal with the Police Chief. Officer Twomey is the new SRO at Middletown High School.
POLICY REVISION - ”DIRECTOR OF FINANCE”
MOTION: 1) Douglas Arnold, 2) Liana Fenton. That the School Committee approve revisions to the “Director of Finance” Policy. Unanimous vote.
(Minutes of April 13, 2022 School Committee Meeting, Page Five)
VEHICLE CHARGING STATION
MOTION: 1) Douglas Arnold, 2) Liana Fenton. That the School Committee approve a 25 cent per KWH fee for charging vehicles. Unanimous vote.
HOME SCHOOLING
MOTION: 1) Douglas Arnold, 2) Liana Fenton. That the School Committee approve Home Schooling 21-22-30. Unanimous vote.
GRADE 6-12 ELA CURRICULUM
MOTION: 1) Douglas Arnold, 2) Liana Fenton. That the School Committee approve the adoption of Study Sync for the Grade 6-12 ELA Curriculum. Unanimous vote.
MOTION: 1) Douglas Arnold, 2) Liana Fenton. That the School Committee support the Town Council Resolution regarding support for the ARPA Proposal. Unanimous vote.
The Town Council approved the resolution and it has been forwarded for approval.
CLEAN ENERGY
MOTION: 1) Douglas Arnold, 2) Liana Fenton. That the School Committee approve partnering with the Town Council on the Clean Energy Project. Unanimous vote.
NEAM CONTRACT
MOTION: 1) Douglas Arnold, 2) Liana Fenton. That the School Committee approve the Collective Bargaining Agreement with NEA Middletown, expiring August 31, 2023. Unanimous vote.
RESIGNATION
MOTION: 1) Douglas Arnold, 2) Liana Fenton. That the School Committee approve the following resignation:
Kirstin Stahl Guidance Counselor, Middletown High School, August 31, 2022
MOTION: 1) Douglas Arnold, 2) Liana Fenton. That the School Committee approve the separation agreement subject to execution of agreement and receipt of the letter of resignation. Unanimous vote.
(Minutes of April 13, 2022 School Committee Meeting, Page Six)
Mrs. Spengler thanked the teachers for their hard work said the 1.3% increase is reasonable and encouraged the Town Council to approve this contract and fund the budget. Mrs. Kraeger said the Town Council will receive this in Executive Session on Monday for a first reading. There will then be a decision in two weeks whether to approve or not.
· Enrollment Update – Enrollment is currently at 1972, with 9 new registrations since March 17th.
· Building Committee Update – The Building Committee wanted to meet tomorrow, but we were unable to get all members together.
COACHING HIRES EFFECTIVE MARCH 21, 2022
Lauren Rogers 6/7/8th Grade Softball
Ashley Silvia Varsity Softball
Jake Cathers Jr. Varsity Softball
Bob Loughlin Assistant Varsity Softball
Eric Godin Varsity Baseball
John Cawley Jr. Varsity Baseball
Michael Schuermann Assistant Varsity Baseball
Jamie Puleo Varsity Outdoor Track
Maria Coleman Girls’ Assistant Outdoor Track
Eric Wicks Boys’ Assistant Outdoor Track
Eric Wright Varsity Boys’ Tennis
Lisa Clark Varsity Golf
Blair Alexander Varsity Girls’ Lacrosse
Neal Harrell Varsity Boys’ Lacrosse
Kathryn Hamilton Assistant Varsity Girls’ Lacrosse
HIRE EFFECTIVE APRIL 11, 2022
Lauren Neilsen Building-Based Substitute, Gaudet Learning Academy
(Minutes of April 13, 2022 School Committee Meeting, Page Seven)
HIRE EFFECTIVE APRIL 11, 2022 PENDING COMPLETION OF PARAPRO COURSE
Marlene Brooks 4-Hour Teacher Assistant, Aquidneck School
BEYOND THE BELL HIRES EFFECTIVE MARCH 25, 2022
Anne Murphy Grades 6-8
Kristen Moniz Grades 6-8
BEYOND THE BELL HIRE EFFECTIVE APRIL 12, 2022
Katherine Perry Grades 6-8
RESIGNATION EFFECTIVE AUGUST 31, 2022
Kirsten Stahl Guidance Counselor, Middletown High School
Curriculum – Mrs. Fonseca reported that attending Middletown outreach meetings with the Town. Funding is being reviewed. We will have the Beyond The Bell Program November – May fully covered, including teacher salaries, materials and busses. The partnerships with the Boys’ and Girls’ Club and MCOZ will all be fully funded. The summer program totaling $253K is included in the Town budget. Teacher salaries, teacher assistant salaries, bussing, coordinator stipends, transitional staff, and supplies and materials will all be covered. StemKamp is fully funded by a DoDea Grant. This will take place the first week of August. Future funding from the Town, which is included under the Town Administrators proposed funding, includes the MHS Career Teacher, Early Childhood Parents as Teachers Program, Beyond the Bell Coordinator overseeing all school coordinators, and November through May Beyond the Bell funding. Beyond the Bell currently has 375 students. A very successful February Vacation Camp was held with over 60 students. April Vacation Camp has over 60 students registered.
Finance – The Interim Finance Director is still working on numbers. Weekly meetings are being held with the Director of Finance and the Town Administrator. Ms. Dutremble will be going through all budget lines. The restricted budget will be submitted soon.
Facilities – No Report.
Technology – The Technology Director is currently working on system-wide phone installation. Aquidneck and Forest Avenue Schools are complete. The High School and Middle School will have installation next week during vacation.
(Minutes of April 13, 2022 School Committee Meeting, Page Eight)
MOTION: 1) Douglas Arnold, 2) Liana Fenton. That the School Committee receive the Superintendent’s Reports. Unanimous vote.
Mrs. Spengler clarified the regionalization issue. Newport and Middletown Councils started meetings together without the School Department’s input. There is still a lot of ongoing discussion with regionalization and administration.
Mrs. Fenton – Asked about connecting green economy at MHS with blue economy and partner with URI. A conversation needs to be had with the High School Principal. Mr. Pacheco is meeting with a MHS parent and student regarding the MHS greenhouse.
Mrs. Fenton attended a R.I. School Board Association meeting on educational funding. The Committee presented a book to Superintendent Kraeger along with a gift certificate for a 6-month membership to the YMCA to raffle off.
MOTION: 1) Douglas Arnold, 2) Liana Fenton. To adjourn from School Committee Meeting at 6:36 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Theresa Spengler, Chair