South Kingstown School Committee Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, June 25, 2019

 

South Kingstown High School Cafeteria

215 Columbia Street

Wakefield, RI  02879

 

Attendees - voting members

Sarah Markey - Vice Chair

Emily Cummiskey

Jacy Northup

Kate Macinanti

Michelle Brousseau

Alycia Collins

 

Voting members absent

Stephanie Canter - Chair

 

Attendees – other

Robert Hicks – Interim Superintendent

Pauline Lisi - Assistant Superintendent

 

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))

B.         Litigation (RIGL 42-26-5(a)(2))

 

Sarah Markey called the June 25, 2019 School Committee meeting to order at 6:03 PM.

 

MSV (1) move to enter executive session executive session for the purposes of Personnel (RIGL 42-46-5(a)(1)) and Litigation (RIGL 42-26-5(a)(2)).

 

2.         7:00 PM – Call to Order

 

A.         Call to Order

 

Sarah Markey called the June 25, 2019 School Committee meeting back to order at 7:00 PM.

 

B.         Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag

 

Ms. Markey led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

 

C.         School Committee Agreements

 

The Committee discussed what evidence would be of “Being Fully Present and Prepared.”

 

D.         Seal the minutes of the executive session

 

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

 

Motion made by:  Jacy Northup 

Motion seconded by:  Michelle Brousseau

Vote:  Unanimously Approved

 

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

 

Members Markey and Collins recused themselves from the meeting.

 

MSV (4) move to reject a settlement offer made in a teacher termination case.

 

Motion made by:  Jacy Northup 

Motion seconded by:  Michelle Brousseau

Vote:  Unanimously Approved

 

Members Markey and Collins rejoined the meeting.

 

Ms. Collins noted that it was Pauline Lisi’s last meeting; lauded her performance, and presented her with flowers.  All other committee members added thanks to Pauline. 

 

Ms. Lisi expressed thanks to all district staff, students, parents, and family members for their support and dedication to education over the past 11 years.

 

F. Chair - Agenda review

 

Ms. Markey noted that the agenda viewable on the whiteboard.

 

3.         Superintendent’s Report

 

A.         Meeting Calendar

 

Dr. Hicks reviewed the meeting calendar and noted that the next DLI Committee meeting to be on July 22, 2019; and the School Committee Retreat is scheduled for August 14, 2019. 

 

B.         Pathways Enrollment Report

 

Dr. Hicks reviewed the CTE Pathways enrollment.  He advised that work needs to be done as we are sending more students out, than bringing students in from other districts. 

 

C.         Draft for School Committee Retreat

 

Dr. Hicks reviewed his ideas for the School Committee summer retreat.  After discussion, the Committee expressed interest in focusing on efficiencies (including facilities) and best practice for students with language-based learning disabilities. 

 

D.         Accept the Superintendent's Report

 

MSV (5) move to accept and place on file the Superintendent’s report.

 

Motion made by:  Jacy Northup 

Motion seconded by:  Michelle Brousseau

Vote:  Unanimously Approved

 

4.         Consent Agenda

 

The prospective appointment confirmation candidates, Linda Savastano (Assistant Superintendent) and Jennifer Enck (West Kingston Principal) were introduced and spoke briefly.

 

A. Approval of Open Session Minutes - Meeting of 6/11/19

B. Personnel Actions

C. Expenditure over $10,000 - Sole Source Purchase - 6th Grade Foss Science Kits

D. Expenditure over $10,000 - Frontline Professional Growth PLM Component

E. Expenditure over $10,000 - Repair of fire alarm panel at BRMS

F. Bid Award - #2397 Foss Science Kits 7th & 8 Grade – 3 yr. Lease

G. RFP Award - #2395 School District Physician-Consultant

H. Approve Consent Agenda

 

MSV (6) move to approve the Consent Agenda.

 

Motion made by:  Jacy Northup 

Motion seconded by:  Michelle Brousseau

Vote:  Unanimously Approved

 

5.         Comments from the Community

 

A. Comments from the Community

 

Ms. Markey reviewed the protocol for community comments.

 

Student Eli Totten commended teacher Dawn Sauro, and recommended her for the Key Is Me Award.

 

On behalf of the families at Matunuck, West Kingston, Wakefield, and Peace Dale, Laura Roebuck commended Pauline Lisi and presented her with flowers.

 

Raissa Mosher commended Pauline Lisi and objected to the process in the appointment of Linda Savastano. 

 

Coleen Smith commended departing educators and leaders.

 

Karen Humes commended Pauline Lisi and Lisa Wilson.

 

Dorald Beasley commented that middle school intramurals should have been cut, CTE programs should include 3-D printing, and objected to not having closed a school in 15 years.

 

Laura Roebuck requested that the district website be updated.

 

6.         School Committee Business

 

A.         Appointments to Superintendent Search Advisory Committee

 

Committee members shared their recommendations for appointment to the Superintendent Search Advisory Committee. 

 

MSV (7) move to appoint the following individuals to the Superintendent Search Advisory Committee:  Michelle Little, John O’Malley, Stacy Walmsley, Dr. Robert Widdell, Jr., Corey Lennon, Carol Leahy, James Fowler, Jr., Teasha Coppock, Pam Santos, Brad Hevenor, Montaner Fresilli, Ellie Beck, Jennifer Kruger, and Onna Mechanic-Holland. 

 

Motion made by:  Jacy Northup 

Motion seconded by:  Michelle Brousseau

Vote:  Unanimously Approved

 

B. Action on RIDE MOA for Technical Assistance and Guidance on Necessity of School

     Construction Application

 

Dr. Hicks explained the reason for the action on RIDE Memorandum of Agreement.

 

MSV (8) move to approve the RIDE MOA for Technical Assistance and Guidance on Necessity of School Construction Application.

 

Motion made by:  Jacy Northup 

Motion seconded by:  Michelle Brousseau

Vote:  Unanimously Approved

 

C. Owner's Project Manager Approval

 

Dr. Hicks advised that the building interview committee’s recommendation of local company, Bentley Construction as OPM for the first part of the summer work with security upgrades and parking lots. 

 

MSV (9) move to appoint Bentley Construction as OPM for the summer security and construction projects.

 

Motion made by:  Michelle Brousseau

Motion seconded by:  Kate Macinanti

Vote:  Unanimously Approved

 

D.         Resolution(s)

 

Ms. Brousseau advised that there were no Resolutions to present.  She further advised that Legislation had already passed regarding Dyslexia.

 

E. Sub-committee Reports

 

Dr. Hicks advised that the Building Committee is in the process of selecting an OPM to oversee the finalization of the stage II and all of the projects, if they should be funded. 

 

Dr. Hicks advised that DLI had its first meeting under the plan provided earlier and the second is scheduled for July 22.

 

Ms. Cummiskey shared Ms. Canter’s updated from the Marketing subcommittee:  Marketing presented a plan that included the drafting of a letter to all families to send before the start of the school year.  A draft of the letter to families will come to the Committee at the August Meeting. 

 

MSV (10) move to approve sending the Marketing subcommittee letter to teachers and staff as written before the opening of school with the attached second page. 

 

Motion made by:  Emily Cummiskey

Motion seconded by:  Alycia Collins

Vote:  Unanimously Approved

 

Ms. Markey provided an update from the Sustainability subcommittee:  The subcommittee is drafting a plan to include student engagement, environmental literacy, and consumptions and waste.

 

Ms. Lisi reported that Wellness subcommittee had met its goals for the year.

 

 

 

7.         Comments from Committee Members

 

A.         Comments from Committee Members

 

Ms. Brousseau explained why she may be unable to attend the retreat due to being closed out of the Doodle Poll. 

 

Ms. Macinanti advised that the high school has a 3-D printer in its CTE program.

 

Ms. Northup stated that Flag Football is a recreation department program and will not end with the cut of Middle School intramurals.

 

Ms. Collins stated that the Assistant Superintendent search process was not as described in community comments and was transparent and conducted appropriately.

 

Ms. Cummiskey stated that the cut of middle school intramural sports was done in collaboration with town recreation to minimize impact on students.

 

Ms. Markey stated that the Chair, Ms. Canter, is apologetic about missing the meeting.  Ms. Markey expressed that she is excited about the list of appointed candidates to the Search Advisory Committee, and that she will miss Pauline.

 

8.         Adjournment

 

A.         Adjourn meeting

 

MSV (11) move to adjourn at 8:35 PM. 

 

Motion made by:  Jacy Northup 

Motion seconded by:  Michelle Brousseau

Vote:  Unanimously Approved

 

 

                                                                                                            Respectfully submitted,

                                                                                                            Robert Hicks