POSTED: January 21, 2025

Executive Session January 23, 2025 at 5:00 PM

Regular Meeting: January 23, 2025 at 5:30 PM

SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLETOWN, RHODE ISLAND

Having been filed with the Middletown Public Schools under the Rules of the School Committee, the following business items will come before the School Committee at a regular meeting on January 23, 2025. Executive Session at 5:00 at the Michael S. Pinto Conference Room, 26 Oliphant Lane, Middletown, Rhode Island 02842. The meeting will be in person. Members of the public may access and listen to the meeting in real time on the Middletown Public Schools YouTube channel.

The agenda and supporting documents are at https://clerkshq.com/middletown-ri. The public is welcome to any meeting of the School Committee or its committees. If communication assistance (readers/interpreters/captions) is needed or any other accommodation to ensure equal participation, please get in touch with Middletown Public Schools at least two (2) business days before the meeting at 849-2122. 

The items listed in the consent portion of the agenda are to be considered routine by the School Committee and will ordinarily be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a member of the Committee or a member of the public requests and the School Committee Chair permits. In that event, the item will be removed from Consent Agenda consideration and considered in its normal sequence on the agenda. All items on this agenda, except for the Public Forum/Comment Session, may be considered, discussed, and voted upon in executive and/or open sessions.

According to RIGL §42-46-6(b). Notice – “Nothing contained herein shall prevent a public body, other than a school committee, from adding additional items to the agenda by majority vote of the members.” And “…Such additional items shall be for informational purposes only and may not be voted on except where necessary to address an unexpected occurrence that requires immediate action to protect the public or to refer the matter to an appropriate committee or to another body or official.”

1. Opening Items

1. Call To Order

2. Determination of Quorum

3. Pledge Of Allegiance to The Flag

4. Moment of Silence as appropriate

1.5   Public Forum/Comment

Individuals may address the School Committee on only one (1) relevant education-related topic included on the agenda that is not related to personnel or job performance nor revealing personally identifiable information regarding students. Individuals may speak for no longer than three (3) minutes and must submit a public participation form to the School Committee Clerk before the start of the meeting. Non-agenda items discussed in the public forum will not be voted upon at this meeting. 

1.6 MPS Mission Statement (for informational purposes)

We are committed to a collaborative culture of professional learning communities, where we challenge, inspire and empower ALL students. Through innovation and personalization, we ensure that all students acquire the skills, knowledge and confidence necessary to become college and career ready.

5:00  - EXECUTIVE SESSION 

School Committee may seek to convene if warranted: Executive Session Under Jurisdiction of Rhode Island State Law, Chapter 46, 42-46-5 - (a) 1,2,5,8,9 (RI Open Meetings Law).

1. Update on Staff Member Investigation

2. Vote to approve 42-46-5(a) personnel Legal advice regarding separation agreement with   employee 

3. Discussion of Town Council Member as an observer in participating in specific school committee business.

4. Legal advice regarding potential OMA violation. 42-42-5(a)(2) potential litigation  

5. Vote to adjourn the Executive Session and re-convene in Open Session.

5:30 PM - REGULAR MEETING

5.   Return to Open Session –Disclosure of Executive Session Votes and Disposition of Minutes

6.    Consent  Agenda

6.1  Vouchers

6.2  Invoices 

6.3  Minutes, re:  Regular Meeting, December 12, 2024

6.4 Approval of homeschool instruction requests: 24-25-38, 24-25-39, 24-25-40, 24-25-41, 24-25-42  

7.    Action Items

7.1 Consider and Vote on the Superintendent's recommendation to approve the employee separation agreement. (Executive Session item)

7.2 Consider and Vote on Approval of Budget Calendar 

7.3 Consider and Vote on Substitute Pay

7.4 Consider and Vote to approve the contract for Khan Academy

7.5 Consider and Vote on first and final reading Policy 9000 Facilities Use 

7.6 Consider and Vote on first and final reading Policy 4180 Background Investigation Check

7.7 Consider and Vote on first reading Policy 1041 School Committee Policy Process

7.8 Consider and Vote on the Project Labor Agreement  That the Town Administrator authorized to seek services of conducting a feasibility study for a project labor agreement pertaining to the new middle-high school construction project.

7.9 Consider and Vote on the recommendation to the Middletown Town Council, to name the new building/schools Middletown Middle School and Middletown High School

8. Old Business 

8.1 Consider and Vote on Sub-Committee Assignments

Information from the previous meeting:  That the School Committee approve the Motion to delay the nomination of Sub Committee Assignments until the next regularly scheduled School Committee meeting in January 2025, with the stipulation that members provide preferences for assignment in writing and in priority order to the Chair with a copy to the Clerk no later than two weeks prior to the scheduled January 2025 School Committee Meeting.

9.  Reports/Updates from the Superintendent and Staff

9.1 Personnel 

9.2 Enrollment

9.3 Financial  

9.4 Curriculum

9.5 Student Services  

9.6 Technology

9.7 Facilities

9.8 Middletown Military Consultant Progress Report

9.9 News article published about MPS Multi-Language Learner Collaborative

9.10 2025-26 RIDE Recommended School Calendar

10. Correspondence