Middletown Public Schools
Middletown, Rhode Island
MIDDLETOWN SCHOOL COMMITTEE
MIDDLETOWN, RHODE ISLAND
January 26, 2023
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
Members Present: Theresa Spengler, Chair
Tami Holden, Vice-Chair
William O’Connell
Greg Huet
Wendy Heaney
Also Present: Rosemarie K. Kraeger, Superintendent of Schools
Teresa Gomes, Interim Business Manager
David Annese, Director of Educational Technology
Poe George, Director of Facilities
The Middletown School Committee Meeting was called to order at 3:33 p.m. by Chair Theresa Spengler. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Administrative staff members in attendance were Jeffrey Heath, Ph.D., Jon Devolve, William Niemeyer, Rebecca Silveira, Lisa Birkett, Erica Bulk, and Kiki Fulmer.
WORKSHOP – The Workshop began at 3:33 p.m. Testing Results, School Rankings, and High School Program of Studies were discussed.
Mrs. Kraeger mentioned the Administration Team met with RIDE to discuss the State testing results and ranking.
Mr. O’Connell asked if the district pays for the PSAT.
Dr. Heath mentioned the PSAT state exams are free.
Vice-Chair Tami Holden wondered if the new ELA curriculum was adopted after these tests were administered.
Mrs. Fonseca answered yes.
Vice-Chair Tami Holden asked if the additional 9.6 ELL needed were filled, or not in the budget.
Mrs. Kraeger said there is no funding in the budget. Although the Governor set aside money in his budget for ELL students the district is still down .6 million dollars.
Chair Theresa Spengler thanked Mrs. Fonseca, the whole administrative team, building Principals, teachers, and entire district team for their hard work.
MOTION: 1) Theresa Spengler 2) Greg Huet. That Proclamations and Awards be moved above Public Forum on the Agenda. Unanimous vote.
● Students of the Week and the Girls Soccer team were recognized for receiving the Gianna Cirella Memorial Sportsmanship Award.
4:53 Recess was taken
4:55 Meeting reconvened
School Committee Chair, Theresa Spengler, acknowledged and welcomed Town Council Liaisons Peter Connerton and Emily Tessier.
· Dr. Heath outlined the MHS Program of Studies for 2023 – 2024.
· Discussion followed regarding expanding CTE program.
Ronald Heroux, Ph.D., of 51 Bay Ridge Dr. encouraged the School Committee to create a joint educational planning committee on regionalization with the Newport School Committee and provide a written report on how school regionalization can be achieved.
● Superintendent’s Chats with Aquidneck Elementary School and Forest Avenue Elementary School
● Questions from School Committee Member Greg Huet Regarding Assistant Network Administrator and Lead Technician Job Description and Superintendent’s Response to Mr. Huet’s Questions Regarding Assistant Network Administrator and Lead Technician Job Description
Mrs. Kraeger stated she, Mr. Huet, and Mr. Annese have a follow-up meeting scheduled to discuss the Assistant Network Administrator and Lead Technician Job Description.
· Middletown High School Student Government President, John Wiest, Vice-President, Isabelle Huntoon, and Freshman Class President, Chloe Tysor, gave a presentation on “Abolishing External Reporting of Class Rank.”
Vice-Chair, Tami Holden asked what other schools were doing.
Student President John Wiest said they pulled data from a lot of California schools that had very successful programs who do not have class rank. What they found was these schools were more successful. Students who were high- achieving were able to take classes of interest rather than classes that would boost their rank.
Mr. Huet asked what system they had alluded to earlier in the discussion that they would be putting in place before abolishing class rank.
Student President John Wiest said their recommendation would be for a Latin Honor system or something similar the School Committee would see fit.
Chair Theresa Spengler commended the Student Government for addressing this issue.
This topic will be addressed at a future School Committee meeting.
MOTION: 1) Tami Holden, 2) Greg Huet. That the School Committee approve the Consent Agenda. Unanimous vote.
| Middletown Public Schools | |||
| Vouchers | |||
| 11/28/22 - 1/18/23 | |||
| | | | |
| | | | |
| Vouchers | Date | Total | |
| 1102 | 12/2/2022 | $630,076.95 | FY23 |
| 1112 | 12/8/2022 | $141,047.69 | FY23 |
| 1123 | 12/28/2022 | $1,681,281.33 | FY23 |
| 1143 | 1/17/2023 | $519,216.87 | FY23 |
| | | | |
| | | $2,971,622.84 | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
● Approval of Minutes
o Minutes of December 1, 2022, School Committee Meeting and Executive Session
o Minutes of December 7, 2022, School Committee Orientation
Mr. Huet commented that he wants to make sure we have the same information on the Secretary of State web page as the Town of Middletown web page.
Mrs. Kraeger responded that when we post the agenda on the Secretary of State web page there is a link to the information on the Town of Middletown web page.
● Presentation on Dissolution of Regional Special Education Program by Sarah Kraeger, Director, Newport County Regional Special Education Program and Middletown Superintendent, Rosemarie Kraeger
Several parents asked questions about the dissolution of the Regional Special Education Program. The Superintendent and Special Education Director, Sarah Kraeger answered their questions.
6:29 p.m. Recess was taken
6:31 p.m. Meeting reconvened
● Presentation on Out of District Special Ed Placement by Sarah Kraeger (in response to a question Superintendent Kraeger received from School Committee Member Greg Huet)
● Chair Theresa Spengler Explained Process Used to Extend the Superintendent’s Contract Extension in Response to a Request by Mr. Huet
Chair Theresa Spengler commented that the School Committee discussed the process at the November 10th meeting. The School Committee thought it was important to put it on the agenda for the November meeting because if Regionalization passed, they would have stability and consistency heading into the transition, as well as a positive working relationship and history between the Newport Superintendent and Mrs. Kraeger.
If it did not pass, they thought the consistency of the one-year contract would keep Middletown going forward whether it be transitioning in a new Superintendent, working with the Building Committee, or continuing the relationship with the Town Council and Finance Department in hopes of opportunities for consolidation. In addition to the three contracts they were working on.
There is a 45-day clause in the Superintendent’s contract. It is a win-win situation. There are no dollars attached to it. No raise, no salary, no obligation on the part of the School Committee.
They also had advice from Legal regarding this process.
Mr. Huet stated he wanted to talk about it because a lot of people in town were upset by it. He called Bill O’Connell, Tami Holden and Theresa Spengler before that vote was taken and advised them that there was no urgency in taking the action. That there were two people who were going to be seated in less than two weeks and that the two outgoing Committee members did not need to live with that decision. He thought it was unethical and he wanted that put into the record. He thought it was wrong. Regionalization was not an issue at the time. This was no reflection on Mrs. Kraeger. He thought the process was wrong and they should have waited.
Chair Theresa Spengler expressed concern about the word unethical. Unethical is defined as not morally correct, and they did not do anything as a body immoral. She thought it was a very strong word. Based on the information and legal advice, she felt she was not doing any unethical with her vote.
With the new Board coming in there is such a large learning curve, to extend that process further was not what we had decided as a School Committee body. Ms. Spengler struggled with the word unethical and said they could respectfully agree to disagree. She felt on public record it is important to represent the process of where the School Committee came from with the facts, the information, and legal advice.
William O’Connell stated he was there. He weighed everything. Not only did he think it was good for the school system, but he thought it provided stability. They needed to keep things stable regardless of Regionalization. He is thankful to Mrs. Kraeger for agreeing to the contract. No money was involved.
Vice-Chair Tami Holden said she agreed with Mr. O’Connell and Ms. Spengler. For consistency and stability, it was in the best interest of the community at the time.
HOME SCHOOLING MOTION:
1) Tami Holden, 2) Greg Huet. That the School Committee approve Home Schooling 22-23-33
MOA FOR 21ST CENTURY TECHNOLOGY AND FURNITURE FUND MOTION:
1) Tami Holden, 2) Greg Huet. That the School Committee approve the MOA for the 21ST Century Technology and Furniture Fund SBA Capital Fund.
POLICY #7060 “SUICIDE PREVENTION” -1st READING MOTION:
1) Tami Holden, 2) Greg Huet. That the School Committee approve Suicide Prevention - 1st Reading.
POLICY #7060A “SUICIDE PREVENTION PROTOCOL” -1st READING MOTION:
1) Tami Holden, 2) Greg Huet. That the School Committee approve Suicide Prevention Protocol - 1st Reading.
POLICY #7050 “ANTI-DISCRIMINATION/ANTI-HARASSMENT AND GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE” -2nd READING MOTION:
1) Tami Holden, 2) Greg Huet. That the School Committee approve Anti-Discrimination/Anti-Harassment and Grievance Protocol –2nd Reading.
AMENDED POLICY #7050 “ANTI-DISCRIMINATION/ANTI-HARASSMENT AND GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE” -2nd READING MOTION:
1) Tami Holden, 2) Greg Huet. That the School Committee approve amended Anti-Discrimination/Anti-Harassment and Grievance Protocol –2nd Reading to replace “corning” with “cornering.”
ASSISTANT NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR AND LEAD TECHNICIAN JOB DESCRIPTION – 2nd READING MOTION:
1) Tami Holden, 2) Greg Huet. That the School Committee approve the Assistant Network Administrator and Lead Technician Job Description – 2nd Reading.
MOTION: 1) Tami Holden, 2) Greg Huet. That the School Committee approve the Building Committee Recommendations to build a combined middle school high school and allot dollars for our elementary PreK-5. Unanimous vote.
MOTION: 1) Tami Holden, 2) Greg Huet. That the School Committee approve the Budget Adjustments. Unanimous vote.
Mr. Huet questioned what the stipends were for in the seven line items close to $100k.
Mrs. Fonseca responded that if they were funded by a grant, it could be stipends for staff
who are coaches outside of the school day, such as Beyond the Bell.
MOTION: 1) Tami Holden, 2) Greg Huet. That the School Committee approve the Budget Workshop Calendar. Unanimous vote.
MOTION: 1) Tami Holden, 2) Greg Huet. That the School Committee approve a Proposed Joint Meeting with Newport School Committee to Discuss Opportunities to Collaborate and Share Services. Unanimous vote.
Mr. Huet said Newport School Committee has not been too helpful with Regionalization. He stated he thinks this is something we need to work towards and proposed they develop a subcommittee.
Chair Theresa Spengler said she thought it was an excellent idea, but prior to developing a committee the two Superintendents need to have a conversation and decide on a path.
Mr. Huet stated that Regionalization only failed by three hundred votes. He looks at this as a School Committee responsibility.
Chair Theresa Spengler stated at this point Rogers is Rogers and they need to be careful not to confuse the public. They just approved the Building Committee plan, She would feel more comfortable using the words “shared services.”
Vice-Chair Tami Holden said she liked the idea of getting together with the other School Committees and discussing shared opportunities.
Mr. Huet said he wants to ask Newport School Committee - “Will you engage?”
Chair Theresa Spengler said she will ask the Chair of the Newport School Committee if they can set up a meeting. Before the meeting, the School Committee needs to have a very strategic approach. She thinks it is important as a body that they have a direction, even if they do not agree. She would be more comfortable with the term “shared services.”
Mrs. Heaney said she can see the Superintendents getting together as well as the two School Committees.
Mr. O’Connell stated that if they discuss shared services, he is all for it, but he is not in favor of Regionalization.
The Superintendent Recommends: That the School Committee approve a Proposed Change in School Committee Meeting Times. No Vote Taken
A discussion was had regarding the School Committee meeting time. It was decided the Superintendent will send a survey to parents asking if they would attend the School Committee meetings if they were held at a different time, and if so, their preferred time.
The February 16th School Committee meeting will begin at 3:30 p.m.
MOTION: 1) Theresa Spengler, 2) Tami Holden. That the School Committee extend the meeting. Unanimous vote.
MOTION: 1) Tami Holden, 2) Greg Huet. That the School Committee approve the following resignations for the purpose of retirement effective the last day of the 2022-2023 school year. Unanimous vote.
● James Williams Guidance Counselor, Middletown High School
● Jill Armstrong Art Teacher, Middletown High School
● Jennifer LaMond ELL Teacher, Gaudet Learning Academy & JH Gaudet
MOTION: 1) Tami Holden, 2) Greg Huet. That the School Committee approve the following resignations. Unanimous vote.
● J. Michel Martineau - 4 Hour Teaching Assistant, GLA, effective December 22, 2022
● Personnel
o Report on recent personnel actions by the Superintendent
● Curriculum
o Beyond the Bell is up to 490 students and 44 teachers throughout schools
o Homeless population is 89 – Homeless Liaison has done a complete report
o Virtual Learning Plan has been fully approved in the event of a storm
● Finance
o Tami Holden, Theresa Spengler, Superintendent, Town Administrator, Town Council President and Vice-President and legal representation met to discuss consolidation of finances. Town Administrator was tasked with developing a job description.
o Governor’s recommendations on State Aid came out and Middletown is losing $531k. Funding formula has changed. Lots of districts lost aid.
o Enrollment is down throughout the state.
o Business Office has completed Impact Aid application and mailed out W-2 and 1099 forms
● Facilities
o Inspections by RIDE at Gaudet and High School
o Review and revising school recycling program which is outdated (20 years old)
State has passed new legislation requiring zero food waste
o Working with Beacon Energy to subsidize $44k a year in energy costs through solar farms
o Finishing budget
● Technology
o 21st Century grant will provide district with 80 Smart Boards
MOTION: 1) Tami Holden, 2) Greg Huet. That the School Committee receive the Superintendent’s Reports. Unanimous vote.
MOTION: 1) Tami Holden, 2) Greg Huet. To adjourn from School Committee Meeting at 8:15 p.m. Unanimous vote.
Respectfully Submitted,
Theresa Spengler, Chair