South Kingstown School Committee Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, January 9, 2018

 

South Kingstown High School Cafeteria

215 Columbia Street

Wakefield, RI  02879

 

Attendees - voting members

Roland Benjamin - Chair

Stephen (Scott) Mueller - Vice Chair

Michelle Brousseau

Alycia Collins

Kate McMahon Macinanti

Raissa Mosher

 

Members absent

Emily Cummiskey

 

Attendees - other

Kristen Stringfellow, Superintendent

Pauline Lisi, Assistant Superintendent

Maryanne Crawford, CFO

 

 

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. Discussion regarding matters of security including, but not limited to, the deployment of security personnel or devices (RIGL 42-46-5(a)(3))

B. Collective Bargaining - NEASK - MOA (RIGL 42-46-5(a)(2))

 

            Roland Benjamin called the January 9, 2018 School Committee Meeting to order at 6:05 PM.

Unanimous roll call vote to enter executive session at 6:05 PM for the purposes of discussion regarding matter of security, and collective bargaining at 6:05 PM.

 

2.         7:00 PM - Call to Order

A. Call to Order

 

Roland Benjamin called the January 9, 2018 meeting back to order at 7:04 PM.

 

B. Reporting of vote(s) taken in executive session

 

Roland Benjamin reported a vote taken in executive session to approve an MOA with NEASK.  Motion by Raissa Mosher, second by Stephen (Scott) Mueller, and unanimously approved.

 

C. Seal the minutes of the executive session

 

MSV (3) move to seal the minutes of the executive session.

 

Motion made by:  Stephen (Scott) Mueller

Seconded by:  Michelle Brousseau

Vote: Unanimously Approved

 

D. Chair - Agenda review

 

3.         Superintendent's Report

           

A. Meeting Calendar

 

B. Spotlight: Columbia Teachers College Reading & Writing Project

 

Literacy Coordinator Marilyn DiMicco presented a video about Teachers College Reading and   Writing Project.

 

C. Financial Update & School Lunch Balances

 

D. Monthly Student and Employee Recognition

E. Gap Closing Training

F. 2017 Graduation Rate Published by RIDE

 

G. Thank you, Mr. Alfred!

 

H. Accept the Superintendent's Report

 

MSV (4) move to accept and place on file the Superintendent's Report.

 

Motion made by: Kate Macinanti

Seconded by: Michelle Brousseau

Vote: Unanimously Approved

 

4.         Consent Agenda

A. Approval of Open Session Minutes - Meetings of 11/14/17, 11/28/17, 12/5/17 and      12/11/17

B. Approval of Executive Session Minutes - Meetings of 11/14/17, 12/5/17 and 12/11/17 – Pulled from the consent agenda

C. Personnel Actions

D. Expenditure over $10,000.00 - Cameras SKHS – Pulled from the consent agenda

E. Home Schooling Request(s)

F. Approve Consent Agenda

 

MSV (5) move to accept the Consent Agenda as modified. 

 

Motion made by: Raissa Mosher

Seconded by: Michelle Brousseau

Vote: Unanimously Approved

 

5.         Comments from the Community

 

Emily Totten spoke about the facilities study.

 

Vanessa Paniccia spoke about the school lunch program and the need for outreach to families to let them know that they can change their status on FRL application mid-year.

 

Keith Vorhaben spoke about the budget and the equity policy.

 

6.         School Committee Business

           

MSV (6) move to address the approval of the 2018-2019 school calendar as the first item of School Committee Business.

 

 

Motion made by: Kate Macinanti

Seconded by: Michelle Brousseau

Vote: Unanimously Approved

 

The draft 2018-2019 school calendar and related issues were discussed.  Cathy Fogarty, NEA- SK President, shared the contractual calendar perspective and the teachers’ union process.

 

MSV (7) move to approve the 2018-2019 school calendar as presented.

 

Motion made by: Kate Macinanti

Seconded by: Michelle Brousseau

Vote: Unanimously Approved

 

 

A. Facilities Study

 

The School Committee discussed the Facilities Study.

 

B. Student Equity Policy - Second Reading/Adoption

 

MSV (8) move to adopt Equity Policy.

 

Motion made by:  Alycia Collins

Seconded by:  Raissa Mosher

Vote:

Roland Benjamin - Yes

Stephen (Scott) Mueller - Nay

Michelle Brousseau - Yes

Alycia Collins - Yes

Kate Macinanti - Yes

Raissa Mosher - Yes

 

C. Family Communication Survey

 

MSV (9) move to authorize the Superintendent to conduct the family communication survey.

 

Motion made by: Kate Macinanti

Seconded by: Alycia Collins

Vote: Unanimously Approved

 

D. Approval of 2018-2019 School Calendar-addressed earlier

 

E. Budget

 

The Superintendent and CFO reviewed the budget recommendations.  Discussion ensued.

 

F. Capital Presentation

 

Maryanne Crawford, CFO, reviewed the capital presentation.  Discussion ensued.

 

7.         Comments from Committee Members

Michelle Brousseau provided some legislative information.

 

Alycia Collins spoke about the importance of high quality pre-school.

 

Stephen (Scott) Mueller spoke about the gap closing task force.

 

Roland Benjamin spoke about the budget.

 

8.         Adjournment

 

MSV (10) move to adjourn at 10:28 PM.

 

Motion made by: Kate Macinanti

Seconded by: Michelle Brousseau

Vote: Unanimously Approved

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Kristen Stringfellow