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South Kingstown School Committee Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, August 28, 2018
South Kingstown High School Library
215 Columbia Street
Wakefield, RI 02879
Attendees - Voting Members
Roland Benjamin - Chair
Stephen (Scott) Mueller - Vice Chair
Michelle Brousseau
Alycia Collins
Emily Cummiskey
Kate Macinanti
Raissa Mosher
Attendees - Other
Kristen Stringfellow - Superintendent
Pauline Lisi - Assistant Superintendent
Maryanne Crawford - CFO
Robert Hendriks, Educational Legacy Planning
David DeQuattro, RGB
1. 6:00 PM -The School Committee may seek to convene in executive session
in accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws for the purpose(s) of:
A. Personnel (RIGL 42-46-5(a)(1)) - rescission of notice of non-renewal
B. Collective Bargaining - discussion of MOA with NEASK (RIGL 42-46-5(a)(2))
Roland Benjamin called the August 28, 2018 school committee meeting to order at 6:05 PM.
Unanimous roll call vote to enter executive session for the purposes of personnel and litigation at 6:01 PM.
2. 6:30 PM - Call to Order
A. Call to Order
Roland Benjamin called the August 28, 2018 School Committee meeting back to order at 6:33 PM. He reported that no votes had been taken in executive session.
MSV (2) move to seal the minutes of the Executive Session.
Motion made by: Raissa Mosher
Motion Seconded by: Michelle Brousseau
Vote:
Roland Benjamin - Yes
Stephen (Scott) Mueller - Yes
Michelle Brousseau – Yes
Alycia Collins - Yes
Emily Cummiskey – Yes
Kate Macinanti – Not present for this vote
Raissa Mosher - Yes
3. Consent Agenda
A. Personnel Actions
B. Expenditure over 10,000 - Pre-school playground equipment through TCPN (The Cooperative Purchasing Network)
C. Expenditure over 10,000 - MPA #464 O'Shean for Community Cloud Service
Kristen Stringfellow reviewed the Personnel Actions.
MSV (3) move to approve the consent agenda.
Motion made by: Raissa Mosher
Motion Seconded by: Michelle Brousseau
Vote:
Roland Benjamin - Yes
Stephen (Scott) Mueller - Yes
Michelle Brousseau – Yes
Alycia Collins - Yes
Emily Cummiskey – Yes
Kate Macinanti – Not present for this vote
Raissa Mosher - Yes
4. School Committee Business – A
A. Update regarding Stage 1 and 2 Facilities Application-Robert Hendriks and RGB
B. Presentation by Robert Hendriks of the Educational Program Plan
Roland Benjamin explained that the entirety of the presentation tonight will be on the high school, not middle school or elementary.
Robert Hendriks apologized for raising expectations that he could have done all three ed specs this evening.
He explained ed specs are a stage 2 issue.
It is important that we start early to give the architects time to create the drawings. The purpose of tonight is to give the School Committee and the community a sense of the plan so that you can tell us that we are going in the right direction.
Although this evening was advertised as a vote, we do not actually need a vote to proceed, just a sense of consensus that you would like us to proceed. If you say keep going, then RGB can begin the process of conceptual design.
Robert described the early draft of a 54-page document.
Kate Macinanti arrived at 6:38PM.
Important notes:
• At SKHS, 95% of teaching stations are not up to RIDE minimum classroom size for new construction.
• Our classrooms are 600 sq. ft. and 700 sq. feet
• Our special education rooms are 800 sq. ft.
• Our science labs are 1,000 sq. ft.
• All would need to be sized up in order to meet RIDE minimum classroom size if we were building a new high school
• Our high school is deceiving because of these undersized teaching stations. He gave the analogy of an undersized house with 5 bedrooms.
• All the high school plans align with a block schedule
• Most high schools in the country are on a block schedule
• The longer that kids are in classrooms, the more they need to move
• We will replace furniture over a number of years to create more flexible space and circulation
• These high school plans create larger flexible learning spaces.
• At this stage we try not to be too design-specific because we are not the designer
Robert Hendriks stated that the wood shop would be razed and a new space would be created within the high school main building.
Robert described a bioswale, a landscape element that helps with drainage and environmental impact, but also serves as a unique design element that discourages intruders and that will make clear which entrance is the front.
He described adding innovation labs, which promote hands-on learning. This will be done by combining two teaching stations to 1250 feet, which brings the square footage up to RIDE minimum new standards.
He described adding learning commons areas and learning studio communities.
He talked about a change in the orientation of the front of the building, because security is our paramount priority and we need a single point of entry that is clearly identifiable.
There is the potential of a real music suite, but that will be a future budget discussion.
Liz Gledhill asked why he made School Street the front and not Columbia Street. Robert responded that there are lots of reasons. One being security. Schools are known to be soft targets and we want to harden this target to make it very difficult for a potential intruder to gain access. He also wants to capitalize on the existing architecture of the spine of the building from cafeteria to library to courtyard to gym. It will be much cheaper to work with that already existing design. If we were to build a new space that is the design, we would suggest and we already have that here. Columbia Street does not have the capacity to do that.
He described the space relationship diagram.
Scott Mueller asked about the timeline and the flow of the project, and when those decisions on music suite and gym and other budget determined elements get decided.
Robert explained that after tonight the architect will get started drawing. Stage one is submitted before September 15th, then on September 28th, Robert will present the high school sketches and the elementary and middle school ed specs. In November, RI voters will decide whether to endorse article 9 for statewide school construction which, if approved, may add 20 more points to our reimbursement potential.
Stage 1 is the planning. Stage 2, which is due February 15th, is the schematic design and locking in a price, so budget decisions will need to be made in November and December. That is why he would like to get the ok tonight to start drawing. The sooner you start, the better the outcome. Then there is South Kingstown voter referendum approval, and then the architect comes in to fine tune the plans.
Alycia Collins asked if Robert could link this work to best practices and research. Robert discussed safety, lighting, movement, discovery, and hands on learning vs. lecture, and spaces that support that kind of learning.
Kristen Stringfellow asked if there would be any upgrades to the auditorium.
Robert responded that there will be upgrades but not a complete overhaul. He acknowledged that it is an outdated space.
Raissa Mosher asked about HVAC and air quality. Robert stated that would definitely be included.
Emily Cummiskey asked about securing other entrances such as the gym. Robert said that would definitely happen.
Scott Mueller asked how we could ensure that doors are not chucked open and that students are not opening doors to let folks in.
David DeQuattro responded that there are electronic strikes and dashboards that can be controlled in the office. It is overridden by fire alarms and a red button in case folks need to evacuate in a hurry.
Scott Mueller raised a concern about open classrooms being the fad many years ago and making sure that we are not committing to spaces that will be outdated immediately. Robert responded that open classrooms put school architecture back 30 years. He pointed out that these spaces are flexible, so that a number of different programs can occupy them; as education changes, the use of space can change.
Robert Hendriks stated that to do additional upgrades such as the gym and music suite and auditorium would add a significant amount to the budget. The School Committee will make the decision to either add those components in now because the reimbursement rate will be high, or not add them at all, or after this project is complete, go back to the voters with a phase 2, concentrating just on those additional projects. That will be the School Committee’s decision.
Alycia Collins commented on the health center. Robert explained it is much more than a nurse station. There could be a need for dental or a social emotional learning space, family services, etc.
5. Comments from the Community
A. Comments from the Community
1. Liz Gledhill urged Robert to be realistic about the numbers. She does not want to see the Town Council or School Committee becoming the bad guys who are shortening the teacher and parent wish lists.
2. Beth Berry asked about the use of Hazard and the traffic flow.
3. Liz Gledhill asked about the CTE program plan of being on the 1st floor
There was discussion about the needs at Hazard. There will be a separate briefing on the high school needs and special education space and Hazard at a later meeting.
4. Nicole Mulanaphy reviewed the timeline.
5. Dorald Beasley spoke about storage, building a new school PK-1.
Roland Benjamin closed community comments.
6. School Committee Business-B
MSV (4) move to authorize RGB to proceed in the design process of developing the plans that would be stage 2 with drawings for the High School.
Motion made by: Stephen (Scott) Mueller
Motion Seconded by: Michelle Brousseau
Vote: Unanimously approved
It was clarified that although two motions were planned, they were not needed this evening.
7. Adjournment
A. Adjourn meeting
MSV (5) move to adjourn at 9:24PM.
Motion made by: Kate Macinanti
Motion Seconded by: Michelle Brousseau
Vote: Unanimously approved
Respectfully submitted,
Kristen Stringfellow