The regular meeting of the South Kingstown School Committee was held on December 14, 2010 at the South Kingstown High School Library at 7:00 PM; following an Executive Session at 6:00 PM. 

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:  Maureen Cotter (Chair); Anthony Mega (Co-Chair); Kevin Jackson, Raissa Mosher, and Elizabeth Morris (arrived at 6:30 PM). 

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:  Richard Angeli and Scott Mueller.

 

ADMINISTRATORS PRESENT:  Kristen Stringfellow, Superintendent.

 

I.          Call to Order:

 

            Maureen Cotter called the December 14, 2010 School Committee Meeting to order at 6:25 PM. 

 

• Executive Session:  Personnel, Collective Bargaining and Litigation:

 

MSV (1) move to recess to Executive Session under Title 42, Ch. 46, Section 5 of the General Laws of Rhode Island for Personnel, Collective Bargaining and Litigation at 6:25 PM.  Jackson, Angeli (4-0-0). 

 

The Committee returned to open session at 7:00 PM.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:  Maureen Cotter (Chair); Anthony Mega (Co-Chair); Kevin Jackson, Richard Angeli, Raissa Mosher, and Elizabeth Morris. 

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:  Scott Mueller.

 

ADMINISTRATORS PRESENT:  Kristen Stringfellow, Superintendent; Mary Kelley, Assistant Superintendent; John Ritchotte, Director of Administrative Services; Nancy Nettik, West Kingston Elementary Principal, and Michelle Little, Wakefield Elementary Principal.      

 

• Call to Order:

 

            Maureen Cotter called the December 14, 2010 School Committee Meeting back to order at

7:02 PM. 

 

II.        Delegations (Spotlights):  Legislative Agenda:

 

            Dr. Stringfellow welcomed Senator Susan Sosnowski and Representatives Teresa Tanzi, Spencer

Dickinson, and Donna Walsh.  She asked the legislators to share their thoughts on the funding formula,

binding arbitration, state mandates, and advertising of the school committee agenda.  Discussion followed.

 

Brief recess from 7:45 PM to 7:52 PM.

 

III.       Superintendent‘s Report:

 

1)      Meeting Calendar:

 

Dr. Stringfellow reviewed the meeting calendar through January, 2011. 

 

a.       Initial Budget Meeting with Town Council – December 20, 2010, 7:00 PM, Town Hall – TC Chambers.

b.      Accountability Sub-committee Meeting – January 3, 2011, 8:30 AM, South Kingstown Administration Building.

c.       Professional Development Sub-committee Meeting – January 4, 2011, 8:45 AM, South Kingstown Administration Building.

d.      School Committee Meeting – January 11, 2011, 7:00 PM, South Kingstown High School Library.

e.       School Committee Meeting – January 25, 2011, 7:00 PM, South Kingstown High School Library.

f.       School Committee Meeting – February 8, 2011, 7:00 PM, South Kingstown High School  Library. 

g.       Accountability Sub-committee Meeting – February 22, 2011, 8:30 AM, South Kingstown Administration Building.

h.      School Committee Meeting – February 22, 2011, 7:00 PM, South Kingstown High School Library.

i.        Professional Development Sub-committee Meeting – March 1, 2011, 8:45 AM, South Kingstown Administration Building.

j.        School Committee Meeting – March 8, 2011, 7:00 PM, South Kingstown High School Library.

k.      Operating Budget Work Session with Town Council – March 15, 2011, 6:30 PM, Town Hall – TC Chambers.

l.        Accountability Sub-committee Meeting – March 22, 2011, 8:30 AM, South Kingstown Administration Building.

m.    School Committee Meeting – March 22, 2011, 7:00 PM, South Kingstown High School Library. 

n.      Professional Development Sub-committee Meeting – April 5, 2011, 8:45 AM, South Kingstown Administration Building.

o.      School Committee Meeting – April 12, 2011, 7:00 PM, South Kingstown High School Library.

p.      Public Budget Meeting – April 13 & 14, 2011, 7:00 PM, Town Hall – TC Chambers.

 

• Collaborative Transportation Bid: 

 

John Ritchotte advised that there was some interest in a collaborative transportation bid after a

conversation with other districts and RIDE; and we are now working with RIDE to develop a bid document to represent the interested districts.  Mr. Ritchotte advised that our contract is $3.5 million and anything that our district can do to lower the price is better.

 

2)      Race to the Top Program Enhancements:

 

Dr. Stringfellow provided a brief PowerPoint presentation regarding Race to the Top Program

Enhancements which included information about the following:  Race to the Top Priority Areas; State Goals, SK District Goals; School Goals, Standards and Curriculum; Instructional Improvement Systems; Standards and Curriculum, School Goals, and statement by Commissioner Gist.  Discussion followed.

 

MSV (2) move to accept and place on file the Superintendent’s Report.  Angeli, Jackson (6-0-0).

 

IV.       Comments from the Community: 

 

            Jonathan Daly-Labelle, resident, asked for clarification of the by-laws regarding comments from the community and community members.

 

V.        Consent Agenda Items:

 

Dr. Stringfellow acknowledged the resignation of Nancy Nettik and retirement of Michelle Little.  She shared their professional accomplishments and advised that they will be sorely missed by the South Kingstown parents, students, and staff.  Members Cotter, Angeli, and Mosher shared comments as well.

 

Ms. Cotter noted a correction to the November 16, 2010 School Committee minutes, advising that the Accountability Sub-committee should include Kevin Jackson. 

 

1)      Approval of minutes meeting of:  November 16, 2010

Executive Session Minutes of:  November 16, 2010

2)      Personnel Action(s)

3)      Bid Award(s)   #2271 – CISCO SMARTNET Contracts and Renewals

 

MSV (3) move to approve the Consent Agenda with the amendment to the minutes as noted. 

Mega, Jackson (6-0-0).

 

VI.       School Committee Business:

 

1)      Expenditure(s) over $10,000:   

 

a.      Wheelchair Bus:

 

Mr. Ritchotte explained the requirement to add an additional wheelchair vehicle, which will

increase the transportation cost by $51,794.00 for the remainder of the school year. 

 

MSV (4) move to approve the December 2, 2010 memo from John Ritchotte regarding the

addition of one special education school bus with a wheelchair-accessible lift at a cost of $51,794. 

Jackson, Mosher (6-0-0).

 

2)      Report on School Committee Reorganization:

 

Dr. Stringfellow reported out the School Committee reorganization discussed in Executive Session

for the following negotiation committees:

 

v  NEASK:

Ø  Richard Angeli

Ø  Liz Morris

Ø  Scott Mueller

 

v  SKESP:

Ø  Kevin Jackson

Ø  Anthony Mega

Ø  Raissa Mosher

 

v  Council 94:

Ø  Maureen Cotter

Ø  Kevin Jackson

 

v  Meet and Confer:

Ø  Maureen Cotter

Ø  Anthony Mega

           

3)      SORICO:

 

Dr. Stringfellow provided an update on the status of SORICO.  Discussion ensued.

 

MSV (5) move to direct the Superintendent to notify the Commissioner of our intent to withdraw

from SORICO effective June 30, 2011 with the understanding that rescinding the notice of intent to withdraw is possible.  Mega, Angeli (6-0-0).

 

4)      Budget:

 

Dr. Stringfellow previewed the information she planned for the joint School Committee/Town

Council Initial Budget Hearing on December 20, 2010, as she wanted to be sure that her plan met with the School Committee’s expectation.

 

VII.     Comments from Committee Members:

 

            Ms. Mosher advised that she would encourage anyone in the community to contact her with any questions they may have and she will try her best to answer them. 

 

            Dr. Mega wished everyone a happy, safe holiday.  He also spoke a word of caution regarding K2, which is a new synthetic substance that can have mind-altering effects.  Dr. Mega stated that we should talk to our legislators about adding Rhode Island as one of the states that bans K2.

 

VIII.    Adjournment: 

 

            MSV (6) move to seal the minutes of the executive session and adjourn at 9:43 PM.  Angeli, Jackson (6-0-0).                   

 

                                                                        Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

                                                                        Kristen E. Stringfellow, Clerk

                                                                        South Kingstown School Committee

 

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