South Kingstown School Committee Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, March 26, 2019

 

 

South Kingstown High School Cafeteria

215 Columbia Street

Wakefield, RI  02879

 

Attendees - voting members

Stephanie Canter - Chair

Sarah Markey - Vice Chair

Michelle Brousseau

Alycia Collins

Emily Cummiskey

Kate Macinanti

Jacy Northup

 

Attendees – other

Kristen Stringfellow - Superintendent

Pauline Lisi - Assistant Superintendent

Maryanne Crawford – CFO

Aubrey Lombardo – Legal Counsel

 

1.         5:00 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 / Action: Coaching investigation (RIGL 42-46-5(a)(1) and (4))

B. Discussion / Action: Employee non-renewal/resignation (RIGL 42-46-5(a)(1))

C. Discussion / Action: SKSC v Hoddersen RIDE Administrative hearing (RIGL 42-46-5(a)(2))

D. Discussion / Action: legal advice related to executive session minutes

E. Discussion / Action: NEASK Early retirement incentive proposal (RIGL 42-46-5(a)(2))

F. Discussion / Action: Administrator Early retirement incentive proposal (RIGL 42-46-5(a)(1))

G. Discussion / Action: Collective Bargaining NEASK MOA (RIGL 42-46-5(a)(2))

 

Stephanie Canter called the March 26, 2019 School Committee meeting to order at 5:06 PM. 

 

MSV (1) move to enter executive session at 5:06 PM.  The affected parties had been notified in advance in writing and opted not to have discussion held in open session.

 

Motion made by:  Kate Macinanti

Motion seconded by:  Jacy Northup

Vote:  

Stephanie Canter - Yes

Sarah Markey - Yes

Michelle Brousseau - Not Present at the Time of the Vote

Alycia Collins-Yes

Emily Cummiskey-Yes

Kate Macinanti-Yes

Jacy Northup-Yes

 

 

2.         7:00 PM - Call to Order

 

A. Call to Order

 

Stephanie Canter called the March 26, 2019 School Committee meeting back to order at ­­­7:00 PM.

 

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

No votes reported.

C. Seal the minutes of the executive session

 

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

 

Motion made by:  Jacy Northup  

Motion seconded by:    Michelle Brousseau

Vote:  Unanimously Approved

 

3.         Open Session

 

Attorney Aubrey Lombardo explained why agenda items were listed in executive and open session.

 

A. Discussion / Action: Coaching investigation

 

MSV (5) move to approve MOA with NEA-SK and the Coach.  

 

Motion made by:    Jacy Northup

Motion seconded by: Michelle Brousseau    

Vote:   

Stephanie Canter - Yes

Sarah Markey – Abstained

Michelle Brousseau - Yes

Alycia Collins-Yes

Emily Cummiskey-Yes

Kate Macinanti-Yes

Jacy Northup-Yes

 

B. Discussion / Action: Employee non-renewal/resignation

 

MSV (6) move to approve the MOA with NEA-SK and a non-tenured teacher, and accept her resignation.

 

Motion made by:    Jacy Northup

Motion seconded by: Michelle Brousseau    

Vote:   

Stephanie Canter - Yes

Sarah Markey – Abstained

Michelle Brousseau - Yes

Alycia Collins-Yes

Emily Cummiskey-Yes

Kate Macinanti-Yes

Jacy Northup-Yes

 

C. Discussion / Action: SKSC v Hoddersen RIDE Administrative hearing

 

MSV (7) move to table Item C.

 

Motion made by:    Jacy Northup

Motion seconded by: Michelle Brousseau    

Vote:   

Stephanie Canter - Yes

Sarah Markey – Abstained

Michelle Brousseau - Yes

Alycia Collins-Yes

Emily Cummiskey-Yes

Kate Macinanti-Yes

Jacy Northup-Yes

 

D. Discussion / Action: executive session minutes

 

MSV (8) move to distribute the executive session minutes by email to School Committee members at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting.

 

Motion made by:    Jacy Northup

Motion seconded by: Kate Macinanti

Vote:   Unanimously approved

 

 

E. Discussion / Action: NEASK Early retirement incentive proposal

F. Discussion / Action: Administrator Early retirement incentive proposal

 

MSV (9) move to send correspondence to retirees explaining reasons for not approving the retirement proposal.

 

Motion made by:    Jacy Northup

Motion seconded by: Michelle Brousseau

Vote:   Unanimously approved

 

G. Discussion / Action: Collective Bargaining NEASK MOA

 

MSV (10) move to approve an MOA with NEA-SK regarding teacher overages.

 

Motion made by:    Jacy Northup

Motion seconded by: Michelle Brousseau    

Vote:   

Stephanie Canter - Yes

Sarah Markey – Abstained

Michelle Brousseau - Yes

Alycia Collins-Yes

Emily Cummiskey-Yes

Kate Macinanti-Yes

Jacy Northup-Yes

 

Aubrey Lombardo left the meeting at 7:06 PM.

 

4.         Comments from the Community

 

A. Comments from the Community

 

1.       Eileen Daly expressed concern about moving grade 8 students to the high school.

 

2.       Diane Paolino expressed concern about moving grade 8 students to the high school and keeping grade 5 students in elementary for September.

 

3.       Raissa Mosher expressed concern about budget cuts and asked the School Committee to consider re-opening discussions about closing a school.

 

4.       Wendy Bucci talked about the decision to keep a school open and losing student programs, and asked the School Committee to consider re-opening discussions about closing a school.

 

5.       Kelly Harrington encouraged the School Committee to keep language programs.

 

6.       Emily Totten asked the School Committee to reconsider the way that the district handles layoffs.

 

7.       Laura Roebuck asked the School Committee to come up with a long term plan and she expressed confusion regarding the advertisement of agenda items both in executive and open session.

 

8.       Cadence Hanson expressed concern about moving grade 8 to the high school and expressed support about DLI.

 

9.       Chris Hubbard expressed concern for students with the budget cuts.

 

10.   Roland Benjamin asked for a long term plan.

 

11.   Sara Schofield expressed support for grade 8 students at SKHS.

 

12.   Moira Young expressed concern about moving grade 8 to the high school, advocated for larger gymnasium spaces at the elementary schools, and advocated to re-open the discussion of closing a school.

 

13.   David Mosher expressed concern about moving grade 8 to the high school and expressed support for Coach Sauro and his staff.

 

14.   Katie Holland advocated for eliminating literacy coaches and giving reading teachers a stipend.

 

5.         Work Session

 

A. Budget Work Session

 

Discussion on the budget ensued.  Dr. Stringfellow presented a PowerPoint with the recommended additional budget reduction plan:

—  Elementary Spanish Teacher $111,864

—  HS Family Community Engagement Teacher $63,267

—  CCMS Summer School Program $20,000

—  0.5 Custodian $25,150

—  $25K Delta Dental

—  1.0 ESL Teacher $102,080

—  WKES Clerk $58,156

 

MSV (11) move to remove the HS FCE Teacher and CCMS Summer School, and reduce the 0.5 Literacy Coordinator and $12K in athletics.  

 

Motion made by:    Sarah Markey

Motion seconded by: Alycia Collins    

Vote:   

Stephanie Canter - Yes

Sarah Markey – Yes

Michelle Brousseau - Nay

Alycia Collins-Yes

Emily Cummiskey-Yes

Kate Macinanti-Yes

Jacy Northup-Yes

 

MSV (12) move to amend the prior vote that instead of $12K in athletics, it will be $8,700 and will not come from athletics; Maryanne Crawford will determine the source.

 

Motion made by:    Jacy Northup

Motion seconded by: Emily Cummiskey    

Vote:   

Stephanie Canter - Yes

Sarah Markey – Yes

Michelle Brousseau - Nay

Alycia Collins-Yes

Emily Cummiskey-Yes

Kate Macinanti-Yes

Jacy Northup-Yes

 

6.         Adjournment

 

A. Adjourn work session

 

MSV (13) move to adjourn at 9:10 PM.

 

Motion made by:   Jacy Northup

Motion seconded by:   Kate Macinanti

Vote:  Unanimously Approved

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Kristen Stringfellow