SCHOOL COMMITTEE BUSINESS MEETING/WORKSHOP WESTERN COVENTRY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 4588 Flat River Road. April 12, 2011

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1 SCHOOL COMMITTEE BUSINESS MEETING/WORKSHOP WESTERN COVENTRY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 4588 Flat River Road April 12, 2011 The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Patenaude at 6:15 p.m. Members present: Chairperson Katherine Patenaude, Vice-Chairperson Nancy Sprengelmeyer, Members Thomas Hetherman and Lianne Russell, Superintendent Michael Convery, Assistant Superintendent James Erinakes, Finance Director Robin Pelletier, Special Education Director Susan Lyons and Physical Plant Director Brian Steverman. Member Judith Liner arrived at 6:30 p.m. Recording Secretary: Donna A. McDonald Executive Session: Personnel, Litigation, Negotiations Motion No by Vice-Chairperson Sprengelmeyer, seconded by Member Russell, that the Committee recess into executive session at 6:16 p.m. to consider matter(s) relating specifically to personnel, litigation and negotiations; said action being taken in accord with Open Meetings Act, Sections (a)(1)&(2). Roll Call Vote: Chairperson Patenaude Member Sprengelmeyer Member Hetherman Member Liner Member Russell Motion No by Member Hetherman seconded by Vice-Chairperson Sprengelmeyer, to recess to the Open Meeting 6:58 p.m. Roll Call Vote: Chairperson Patenaude Member Sprengelmeyer Member Hetherman Member Liner Member Russell Business Agenda: The regular business meeting reconvened at 7:05 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a moment of silence for the pending school business. Western Coventry Principal Janice Sullivan notified the public of emergency exits and Member Russell read the Mission Statement. Motion No by Member Hetherman, seconded by Vice-Chairperson Sprengelmeyer, that the records of the executive session be kept closed pursuant to R.I.G.L. Sections and Motion unanimously approved. Chairperson Patenaude reported that in Executive Session the Committee discussed personnel, negotiations and litigation. Personnel: Certified Administrator Contract Renewals: Lonnie Morris, Assistant Principal at Coventry High School was notified on April 1,.2011, that his contract will be extended beyond the school year. Details of his contract will be determined prior to the close of the current school year. 1

2 Motion No by Vice-Chairperson Sprengelmeyer, seconded by Member Liner, to approve the Superintendent s recommendation to extend the contract for Lonnie Morris, Assistant Principal at Coventry High School, beyond the school year. Motion unanimously approved. Classified Administrator Contract Renewals: Motion No by Member Hetherman, seconded by Vice-Chairperson Sprengelmeyer, to approve the Superintendent s recommendation to extend the contract for Darleen Sponberg, Associate Director of Grants in Administration, through June, (this is a 260-day position) Motion unanimously approved. Certified Leaves of Absence: Motion No by Vice-Chairperson Sprengelmeyer seconded by Member Russell, to approve an unpaid leave of absence for Deborah DiBiase, Mathematics Curriculum Coordinator at Coventry High School, for the 2011/2012 school year. Motion unanimously approved. Ms. DiBiase was on leave this year and has one year left. She is at a charter school in Central Falls. Motion No by Member Russell, seconded by Member Liner, to approve the recommendation of the Superintendent for a.5 unpaid leave of absence for Michelle Coen, 1.0 Reading Teacher at Tiogue School, for the 2011/2012 school year. (parental) Motion unanimously approved. Certified Appointment: Motion No by Vice-Chairperson Sprengelmeyer, seconded by Member Hetherman, to affirm the recommendation of the Superintendent to appoint Kathleen DeLuca to a one-year-only position of Extended School Year (ESY Coordinator - Elementary/Special Education) for the district effective 4/12/11. Motion unanimously approved. Certified Recalls from Layoff: Motion No by Vice-Chairperson Sprengelmeyer seconded by Member Hetherman, to affirm the recommendation of the Superintendent to recall DeAnna Cotoia to the position of 1.0 regular Pre-K Teacher at Hopkins Hill School for the 2011/2012 school year. Vote: 4-1 Member Russell abstained. Motion No by Member Russell, seconded by Vice-Chairperson Sprengelmeyer, to affirm the recommendation of the Superintendent to recall Adam Knight to the position of 1.0 regular Foreign Language Teacher at Coventry High School for the 2011/2012 school year. Vote: 4-1 Member Russell abstained. Classified Appointment: Motion No by Vice-Chairperson Sprengelmeyer, seconded by Member Russell to affirm the recommendation of the Superintendent to appoint Casey Perry to the position of.5 FTE First-Shift Custodian (4 hours/day) at Tiogue School effective 4/12/11. Vote: 4-1 Member Russell abstained. Chairperson s Report/Executive Session Report: The RIASC annual meeting will be held on Saturday, 4/30/11. All five Committee members will attend. 2

3 Public Agenda: Mrs. Sullivan, the principal of Western Coventry School talked about the successes of the school, such as: Western Coventry Elementary School has been recognized by the United States Department of Education as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. The Professional Development Coordinator has been a remarkable asset to the school. She provides staff with training and support in data analysis, RtI, PBIS, math, and literacy. The new Health and Wellness guidelines that have come forward from RIDE have made it possible for the school to maintain some of he celebrations by being creative with alternate healthy choices. All teachers have received training in the Walkthrough Process and are currently working on better ways to incorporate the higher level of Bloom s Taxonomy into daily practice. Differentiated Instruction is also an area of focus. The district invested in Teachscape, a software program that helps administrators to track this important data electronically. Western Coventry has received many grants this year. These include: Dr. Gordon s $1, Summer Reading Award; a $1, Senate Grant; a $ Service Learning stipend; Summer Technology E2T2 Awards totaling $39, for the classrooms of the participants; the Amgen Award of $5, that went to Western because of Kristen Deschene s selection as the Amgen Teacher of the Year ; and Feinstein Leadership School Stipends totaling over $7, Principal Sullivan thanked Senator Raptakis for his generosity in the past with his Senate Grants and the Volunteer Grant that has benefited all five elementary schools. All teachers, parents, and students participate in the student-led portfolio conferences. The students review their work and set goals based on areas that they feel need improvement. The popular Morning Academies work to ramp up students that need more time to meet the standard based on current data. As part of the school-to-career initiative, the store at Western Coventry is a student-operated school store. Students develop and use skills as they participate in real life situations. The PBIS program is practiced. Western Wise Owls are responsible, respectful, ready and safe. Western Coventry provides a mentorship program for its students. Members of the staff act as mentors (big brothers, sister, friends, and tutors) to certain select students for the purpose of improving self esteem and to improve positive feelings toward school. Western Coventry is in its twelfth year of participation in the Feinstein I Can Make a Difference program. This activity requires 100% participation on the part of the teachers. This program promotes the idea that any child can make a difference in the world through simple acts of kindness, caring and compassion. All Western Coventry students complete journals that record their good deeds. This year, Western Coventry is doing an exchange program with the Alpine Nursing Home entitled the Treasure Chest of Memories. Each year during Reading Week, Western Coventry holds a Young Authors Night. Teachers volunteer to facilitate a group of children as they read a book that they have authored and illustrated during the school year. Parents and relatives are all encouraged to bring a favorite piece to read as well. The annual Wise Owl Talent Show takes place each April at Coventry High School. Two thirds of the student population participates in this event which fosters the love of the cultural arts and enhances self-esteem. This year marks the 23rd show. This evening the kindergarten grade will act their selection. This year s Drama Production is Annie which the students will perform this evening. The community has raised money for Pennies for Patients, The Tomorrow Fund, Jump Rope for Heart and Daffodil Days. One major charity is focused on each year Annual PTA activities include: Family Harvest, Family Bingo, Santa Sale, Book Fair, and the Night of the Arts. Every child has artwork displayed in the school corridors. Additionally, the chorus and band perform. 3

4 The challenges Mrs. Sullivan sees are: Overcrowding due to re-districting at the third and fifth grade level. Copiers are overused and often require service. They have been rebuilt from scratch. Lack of bus monitors has caused issues when substitute drivers are unfamiliar with the routes. Safety patrol members are often used to help navigate the back roads of Western Coventry. Updated technology is always a challenge. PD Coordinators are stretched between two schools. After Ms. Sullivan spoke, students performed several acts from Annie. Students from different grades also participated in reading to Mrs. Sullivan. Parent Coordinator Michele Carignan spoke on the topic and Health and Wellness at Western Coventry. She had also presented her program at all seven faculty meetings in the district. Chairperson Patenaude thanked Mrs. Sullivan and the students for putting on an awesome presentation. Vice-Chairperson Sprengelmeyer commented that it is always exciting to come to Western; every event is amazing; no one can same anything negative about Western. Superintendent s Report: Superintendent Convery reported that this year we have a request for a student to spend junior year in France. There is no action needed On the April 6 th Professional Development Day, Assistant Superintendent Erinakes presented the RIDE model and the Coventry model of the evaluation system. He ran one session for middle and high school faculty at the middle school; and one session for all elementary faculty at the high school. Everything is now online. Handbooks, standards, etc. are all available to the staff. The presentation was taped for new teachers coming. The Aspen Training Sessions and the conversion process will go live on Monday, May 16 th. As part of the Strategic Plan Development, cchool improvement plans will be feeding in the evaluation system. The Coventry plans run out on June 30 th of this year. Through grant funds, Dr. George Ladd from Boston was hired to help with the development of the strategic plan which should be compelted by June 30 th. FY12 Budget Discussion/Update: At the budget hearing of the Town and School Department, the Town Council asked the Superintendent if we were level funded, what would be cut. Superintendent Convery said that was up to the School Committee. Vice-Chairperson Sprengelmeyer stated that when the high school was on double sessions in 1976, there were electives because graduation requirements were different back then. In 1970 the district had too hire additional staff because enrollment had increased. The crime rate went up in the community. Some teachers did extracurricular activities with the students - bowling, skiing. Chairperson Patenaude said that she worries about next years budget. The Committee does not want to do a Caruolo Act. What would the court tell the district to get ride of? There are certain B.E.P. requirements that need to be followed. The district is looking at a deficit, even though the budget has to 4

5 be balanced legally. If the contract is violated, she is concerned about kids and their ability to learn. She warned the Committee that they need to look very carefully at things that we do contractually that particularly aren't the best for kids. She wants to do it morally. Assistant Superintendent said that the district have balanced the budget every year despite being levelfunded year after year. At some point people have to realize that there is nothing left. Something has to give so hopefully we don't have to get to that point. Chairperson Patenaude suggested that all spending be frozen. SRP President Gibbons said that collectively the certified and classified staff have made concessions. Citizens Comments: There were no comments. Scheduling of Next Meeting: Chairperson Sprengelmeyer, supported by Member Liner, that the next meeting of the School Committee be scheduled for Tuesday, 4/26/11 at 7:00 p.m. Motion unanimously approved. A motion was made by Vice-Chairperson Sprengelmeyer, seconded by Member Hetherman, to reconvene executive session at 9:30 p.m. Motion unanimously approved. The open reconvened at 10:05 p.m. Chairperson Patenaude reported that the Committee discussed personnel, negotiations and litigation. Adjournment: Motion No by Member Liner, supported by Vice-Chairperson Sprengelmeyer that the meeting be adjourned at 10:07 p.m. Motion unanimously approved. /dam Approved by School Committee 7/26/11 5