Members in attendance

 

School Committee

Erika McCormick – Chairperson

Colleen Rose – Clerk

Coleen Pendergast

Member David Medbury

Linda Savastano– Superintendent

Robert Baxter - Director of Administration & Finance

Jon Anderson - Attorney

 

1.       Open Meeting – Call to Order- Chairperson McCormick at 6:31 pm

             

2.       Approval of Executive Session Minutes of July 14, 2026: MM v. Scituate School Department, No. LL 25-24 (Special Education Due Process) pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(a) (litigation); Job Performance of an individual pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(a)(1) the individual was provided prior written notice that the individual’s job performance would be discussed and that the individual could require that discussion to be held during the Open Session; Job Performance of an individual pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(a)(1) the individual was provided prior written notice that the individual’s job performance would be discussed and that the individual could require that discussion to be held during the Open Session.

 

3.       Regular Meeting Called to Order – Chairperson McCormick at 7:06 p.m.

 

Chairperson McCormick reports that the votes were taken to approve the minutes of July 14, 2026, and approval of homeschooling and non-resident students. Motion passed 3/1 recusal (Pendergast) for minutes and 4/0 for homeschool and non-resident students.

 

A.     Pledge of Allegiance

B.      Consent Agenda

1.      Minutes from July 14, 2026

2.      Bills

a.       General Fund bills $589,474.65

b.      Grant Fund bills $44,482.39

c.       School Food Service Funds $47,366.76

 

Motion to approve the consent agenda as stated by Member Rose and seconded by Member Medbury.  Motion passed 3/1 recusal. (Pendergast)

 

C.      Owners Project Manager Update – Ms. Savastano updates on the Hope Roof Project.  The Hope roof is on track for schools to open, reminding everyone that it is still a construction site, and we must honor that.  There have been challenges with the weather.  Due to rain, there was some damage to the library and those are currently being accessed.  We do expect things to be restored and possibly better than it was before.  We are lucky that it was mostly just the library.  The other piece is the vestibule.  The dollars that were approved are not enough to make the vestibule the best and this is an area we hope to improve.  We want to address this in the new Stage I and Stage II with a new architect.  The third piece is the architect and planning for Stage I and Stage II.  She asks Mike from Peregrine Group to speak to this item.  Mike says you have the OPM report.  In mid-June we did a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a new architect.  We had nine submissions.  We met with a committee, and we did a scoring rubric.  From the rubric we put forth two firms.  There was then an interview process and Studio Jaed was put forward to the Building Committee and now the School Committee.

 

Motion to take item 3G1 out of order made by Member Medbury and seconded by Member Pendergast.  Motion passed 4/0.

 

Phillip Conte the President and Architect from Studio Jaed does an introduction to his company. (please refer to the video)

 

Motion to approve the contract with Studio Jaed for RIDE Stage I and Stage II Application made by Member Medbury and seconded by Member Pendergast.  Motion passed 4/0.

 

D.     Superintendent’s Report – Ms. Savastano displays her report and goes over the highlights.  School begins on August 25, 2026.  She goes over the Scituate School Department Goals.  She speaks to staffing and how they make sure all positions were in the budget, and she goes over the hiring process.  Next is an enrollment update.  She states these numbers are still not solid.  We now have two full day preschool classrooms.  One at Clayville and one at Hope.  She moves on to the Professional Learning Community (PLC) and how we collectively work together to do great things for kids.  She speaks to the different levels of MTSS.  She said that at the leadership advance today they discussed the instructional model for a classroom.  She says the district had learning walks; we will have learning walks 2.0.  We will have pineapple days, that means that the teacher is open for business on the day of the walk through. Member Pendergast asks if the teachers are welcoming this.  Ms. Savastano says it feels like it. We are moving to I-Ready for assessments.  We piloted it and then we used it during the SPARK program. It sets growth and gives a clear understanding for parents.  The SPARK program ran from July and ended last week.  We worked in small groups and we targeted student needs.  Member Pendergast asked about participation and Ms. Savastano says there were 50 students and everyone was invited.  Ms. Savastano thanks the Hope Pond Camp for working with them.  Member Rose says that she would like for the information on summer programs to go out earlier so parents can plan. Ms. Savastano says that we have been actively pursuing grants.  She speaks to the new Interdistrict Special Education Collaborative, and she says it is going well. ALICE training is ongoing.  Ms. Savastano does an update on the facilities work that is going on.

 

Matthew Allen – Hope Furnace Road – He has questions about IReady – (Please refer to the video)

 

E.      Finance Report – Mr. Baxter – The fiscal reports are in your packet.  In FY26 our revenue exceeded budget by $120,000 favorable variance with out of district tuition. Estimated expenditures are below budget by about $476,000.  We are on track to start our field work for the fiscal 26 audit. Once we close fiscal 26, we will recommend a revised budget. With regards to the school lunch programs payment options, The RI General Assembly put a 2% cap on electronic payments, and the rate is lower than the vendor’s fee.  That means they turned off electronic payments.  Mr. Baxter explains that if the state doesn’t make an adjustment that the charge may fall on the district.  Member Pendergast asks what that would cost the district and Mr. Baxter said a couple of thousand dollars.  The fiscal 25 audit is complete, and we should be receiving hard copies.  There were two findings, maintenance of effort and our procurement policy.  These have already been corrected.  The team is doing great things.  We changed the way we record the due to due from to align with the Town.  The RFP for the press box has been released.  The bid for Specialized Services has been structured in such a way to build a portfolio of services.  Mr. Baxter updates on transportation.  We are receiving buses and the drivers have been hired.  They have begun training.  The routes are still being worked on.  We are beginning to look at fiscal 28 preparation. We are beginning the process for position control. 

 

F.      Public Comment – There is no public comment

 

Motion to take item G3 under New Business out of order is made by Member Pendergast and seconded by Member Medbury

 

G.     New Business

 

3.      Discussion/Action/Vote: Superintendent’s Amended Contract – Chair McCormick explains that this was just to align Ms. Savastano’s vacation time with the other administrators. At the July meeting I was told if we added the additional vacation days at that meeting it would be a violation of the Open Meetings Act.   Mr. Anderson explains that on the July agenda it was stated as “Superintendent’s Amended Contract, you can amend the contract in any way, when an item is on the agenda.  You would then make the motion and seconded.  People don’t have to give amendments ahead of time and they don’t have to be on the agenda.  Member Pendergast says it is listed as a discussion/action/vote.  Motion to approve the Superintendent’s Amended Contract is made by Member Medbury and seconded by Member Pendergast.  Motion passed 4/0.

 

1.       Discussion/Action/Vote: Approval of Contract with Studio Jaed for RIDE Stage I & Stage II Application.  Motion to approve the Contract with Studio Jaed for RIDE Stage I & Stage II Application is made by Member Medbury and seconded by Member Pendergast.  Motion passed 4/0.

 

2.       Discussion/Action/Vote: Authorize Superintendent to Execute Contract with Constellation Energy – Motion to approve the Superintendent to Execute Contract with Constellation Energy made by Member Pendergast and seconded by Member Medbury.  Motion passed 4/0

 

4.       Discussion/Action/Vote: Superintendent’s Goals - Motion to approve the Superintendent’s Goals is made by Member Medbury and seconded by Member Rose.  Motion passed 4/0

 

5.       Discussion/Action/Vote: Coach/Consultant Contract Template – This item was tabled.

 

6.       Discussion/Action/Vote: Repeal the Job Description for Director of Operations.  Motion to Repeal the Job Description for Director of Operations made by Member Medbury and seconded by Member Pendergast.  Motion passed 4/0.

 

7.       Discussion/Action/Vote: Approval of Job Description for Director of Facilities – Motion to approve the Job Description for Director of Facilities.  Motion passed 4/0

 

Brendan Machowski – Quaker Lane – Asks about Technology and Transportation- Ms. Savastano says we currently have the Data Manager overseeing Technology and Transportation is currently being shared with Mr. Baxter and staff.  Member Pendergast explains that the Director of Operations previously had a different skill set.

 

8.       Discussion/Action/Vote: Policy #8000 Student Admission – Motion to approve the Policy #8000 Student Admission made by Member Medbury and seconded by Member Pendergast.  Motion passed 4/0

4.       Announcements – There are no announcements.

 

5.       Motion to adjourn at 9:22 p.m. made by Member Medbury and seconded by Member Pendergast.  Motion passes 4/0.

 

 

Respectfully Submitted 

Colleen Rose

Scituate School Committee Clerk Minutes were prepared by Patty Martin, Recording Secretary. Neither the Clerk nor the Recording secretary is the designated Public Records contact for the Scituate School Committee or Scituate School Department under the RI Access to Public Records Act (“ARPA”). For all APRA inquiries, please contact the Superintendent’s Office.