South Kingstown School Committee Work Session Minutes

Tuesday, October 23, 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

Emily Cummiskey

Kate Macinanti

Raissa Mosher

 

Attendees - Other

Kristen Stringfellow - Superintendent

Pauline Lisi - Assistant Superintendent

Maryanne Crawford – CFO

 

Robert Hendriks, Educational Legacy Planning

Tracey Donnelly and Dave DeQuattro – RGB

Joe Casale, Civil Engineer

 

 

1.         6:30 PM -The School Committee may seek to convene in executive session

in accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws for the purpose(s) of:

 

A. Collective Bargaining - discussion of MOA with NEASK (2) (RIGL 42-46-5(a)(2))

 

Roland Benjamin called the October 23, 2018 school committee work session to order at 6:32 PM.

Unanimous roll call vote to convene in executive session for the purpose of a collective bargaining.

 

 

2.         7:00 PM - Call to Order

 

A. Call to Order

 

Roland Benjamin called the October 23, 2018 school committee work session back to order at 7:07 PM.

 

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

 

Roland Benjamin reported two votes taken in executive session:

·       Vote to approve MOA #1 with NEASK. Motion by Mueller, second by Macinanti, vote was 6-0-1 (Collins abstained)

·       Vote to approve MOA #2 with NEASK. Motion by Brousseau, second by Macinanti, vote was 6-0-1 (Collins abstained)

 

C. Seal the minutes of the executive session

 

MSV (4) move to seal the minutes of the executive session.

 

Motion made by:  Stephen (Scott) Mueller

Motion seconded by: Michelle Brousseau

Vote:  Unanimously Approved

 

 

3.         Work Session

 

A. Elementary Ed Spec Draft Discussion

 

Robert Hendriks presented the Elementary Ed Spec draft (audience and SC had copies). 

Discussion ensued.

 

B. Presentation by RGB of School Safety Improvements

 

            Tracey Donnelly presented plans for each school.  Discussion ensued.

 

C. Presentation by RGB of PDES Parking Lot Re-design

 

Joe Casale gave the PDES parking lot presentation.  Discussion ensued.

 

D. RGB Review of Two HS & MS Designs (SKHS/BRMS)

           

Tracey Donnelly and David DeQuattro presented the MS and HS preliminary design.  Discussion ensued.

 

4.         Comments from the Community

 

A. Comments from the Community

 

Christopher Knowlton advocated for attention to classroom acoustics. He spoke in favor of the modern designs of the buildings. He stated that the SK elementary schools as planned are not considered large. He asked SC members to listen to each other and to try to understand the questions asked and answers given.

 

Laura Roebuck disagreed with the PDES parking plan and advocated for safety to be the highest priority.

 

Michelle Neri thanked the SC for taking seriously the PDES parking plan. She spoke of working in a school with lots of windows and although she supports the glass she warned about the heat of the school. She asked about bussing, building to capacity and the FAQ. She asked to hear a plan about what will be done with the CCMS and WES buildings.

 

Jess Geremia expressed concern with the FAQ. She is concerned that the WES Ed Specs were not done already. She disagreed with the facility planning and the preschool move. She stated that in November the administration and SC would be held accountable to listening to community voice.

 

Sarah Markey expressed concern with the FAQ. She stated that WES can and should stay open. She described the facilities documents as ridiculous and embarrassing and political. She spoke of alarmists. She stated that she heard that the FAQ was distributed to people ahead of time.

 

Margot Higham spoke about things changing in November. She urged the SC to get ready for that change now. She asked for a new demographic study now. She wanted to know how much transportation will cost. She wants to know how many more faculty will need to be hired. She spoke against hiring people for the PDES parking lot. She spoke about large schools of 400 students requiring more deans and more nurses.

Lily Schofield spoke about the HS drawings and noted that it should be less about aesthetics and more about the program with a focus less on the building and more on the people in halls and classrooms.

 

5.         Adjournment

 

A.         Adjourn work session

 

MSV (5) move to adjourn at 9:29 PM.

 

Motion made by:   Kate Macinanti

Motion seconded by:  Michelle Brousseau

Vote:  Unanimously Approved

 

 

                                                                                    Respectfully submitted,

 

 

                                                                                    Kristen Stringfellow