Jun. 26, 2025 - Regular Meeting

MIDDLETOWN SCHOOL COMMITTEE

Thursday, June 26 2025

Regular Meeting 5:30 PM

MINUTES

1.1 Call to Order: Chair Gregory Huet called the School Committee meeting to order at 5:30 pm at Michael S. Pinto Conference Room, 26 Oliphant Lane, Middletown, Rhode Island 02842.

1.2 Determination of Quorum: School Committee Members – Chair Gregory Huet, Theresa Spengler, Tami Holden and Clerk William Nash            Vice-Chair Wendy Heaney excused

Superintendent Willliam Niemeyer, Facilities Director Ed Collins, Director of Technology David Annese,  Assistant Superintendent & Director of Teaching and Learning Michelle Fonseca

1.3 Pledge of Allegiance: The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

**1.4 Moment of Silence: ** MPS  recently lost a young member of our school community.

1.5 Public Forum / Comment:   None

Students have spent the past month finishing up the school year with AP testing and finals. There were 2025 student council and government elections. The results can be found on The Wave Instagram page.

The most bittersweet part of every June is saying goodbye to the seniors. The Student Representative had the privilege to attend a few of the senior awards nights. She wanted to acknowledge that the Class of 2025 is one of the kindest classes she has gotten to know and is a credit to the Middletown school system.

MOTION: 1) Tami Holden 2) William Nash. That the School Committee approve the

Consent Agenda. unanimous vote.

4.2 ****Invoices

4.3 Minutes

5.15.25 Regular Meeting, 5.22.25 NEA Contract Negotiations,

6.3.25 Special Meeting, 6.4.25 Council 94 Contract Negotiations,

6.9.25 Groundbreaking Ceremony, 6.10.25 Policy Subcommittee,

4.4 Approval of homeschool instruction requests: 24-25-49, 24-25-50

4.5 Bristol County Rehabilitation Services Agreement

4.6 ES Complex Recommendations to Award RTA’s for Building Committee

Acoustical Ceilings and Low Voltage

**4.7 MS/HS Recommendations to Award RTA’s for Building Committee: Roofing, Interior Glass and Glazing, Trailers **

5.1 Consider and Vote on Reopening Early Retirement for teachers by June 30, 2025

Comment by Superintendent Niemeyer, the previous approval in the May 2025 School Committee meeting did not have an end date.

MOTION: 1) Tami Holden 2) William Nash. That the School Committee approve Reopening Early Retirement for teachers by June 30, 2025,   Unanimous vote.

5.2 Consider and Vote on Structured Literacy Coach K-5 Job description

MOTION: 1) Tami Holden 2) William Nash. That the School Committee approve the Structured Literacy Coach K-5 Job Description.    Unanimous vote.

5.3 Consider and Vote on the Superintendent's recommendation to continue the appointment of

Dr. P. Hakan Durudogan, district dentist of Middletown Public Schools

MOTION: 1) Tami Holden 2) William Nash. That the School Committee approve the recommendation to continue the appointment of Dr. P. Hakan Durudogan, district dentist of Middletown Public Schools.      Unanimous vote.

5.4 Consider and Vote on first and final review of Home Schooling Policy No. 6172.3

Comment by Superintendent Niemeyer, that we had public input on the policy.

MOTION: 1) Tami Holden 2) William Nash. That the School Committee approve the first and final review of Home Schooling Policy No. 6172.3      Unanimous vote.

5.5 Consider and Vote of Superintendent’s recommendation to approve first reading of policy for Credit Card Use Policy and Credit Card Use Protocol

Comment by Superintendent Niemeyer, there will be one credit card that will be locked in a safe for emergency use only.

MOTION: 1) Tami Holden 2) William Nash. That the School Committee approve the first reading of the Credit Card Use Policy and Credit Card Use Protocol  Unanimous vote.

5.6 Consider and Vote on Sublease Agreement for Green Development, LLC

Comment by Facilities Director Ed Collins, the lease agreement is in regards to the net meter and contract that Middletown School Department has, that the School Department receives credits.  It is not a savings, it is a cost avoidance.  It is good for about $140,000 per year.

MOTION: 1) Tami Holden 2) William Nash. That the School Committee approve the Sublease Agreement for Green Development, LLC       Unanimous vote.

5.7 Consider and Vote on Town of Middletown Request to Modify Change Order Approval Authority for the School Construction Project

Comment by Superintendent Niemeyer, that anything over $25,000 needs to go through an approval process.   Gives the authority to have the Superintendent or Town Administrator sign off on an amount up to $100,000.   William Nash followed up that it is a standard number and threshold for projects like this.  Approvals are made through various committees, Town Council, School Building Committee and School Committee.

MOTION: 1) Tami Holden 2) William Nash. That the School Committee approve the Town of Middletown Request to Modify Change Order Approval Authority for the School Construction Project       Unanimous vote.

5.8 Consider and Vote to ratify RIDE Statewide School Food Services Program Agreement Renewal

Theresa Spengler wanted clarification that the agreement is with Chartwells.   Superintendent Niemeyer said that it is the same arrangement but with a minimal increase of 15 cents per lunch to keep up with inflation.

MOTION: 1) Tami Holden 2) William Nash. That the School Committee ratify RIDE Statewide School Food Services Program Agreement Renewal.      Unanimous vote.

5.9 Consider and Vote to MPS Title I Parent and Family Engagement Policy as required by RIDE for Forest Ave Elementary, Gaudet Learning Academy and Gaudet Middle School

Superintendent Niemeyer clarified that there is a district wide policy that was approved at the May 2025 School Committee meeting but with feedback from RIDE, they requested individual school policies for the three Middletown Title 1 schools.

MOTION: 1) Tami Holden 2) William Nash. That the School Committee approve the MPS Title I Parent and Family Engagement Policy as required by RIDE.     Unanimous vote.

5.10 Consider and Vote on Phase 1 MHS Rhode Island Energy Efficiency Program Phase 2 Lighting Replacement at Elementary School Complex

Facilities Director Ed Collins commented that RIDE suggested that MPS engage with RI Energy to find incentives to continue updating all the LED lighting and motion detectors and dimmers in every classroom to put into the Elementary Complex for Phase 1. In theory should save about $150/month. Phase 2 will be replacing things that have already been replaced with no incentives.  After conversations with the Superintendent and Town Administrator it was decided that the entire building should be updated with a cost of about $2,000/month for the next 60 months using reserved bond money.

MOTION: 1) Tami Holden 2) William Nash. That the School Committee approve Phase 1 MHS Rhode Island Energy Efficiency Program and  Phase 2 Lighting Replacement at Elementary School Complex.    Unanimous vote.

5.11 Consider and Vote of Superintendent’s recommendation to approve first reading of policy for Energy Management and Conservation

Superintendent Niemeyer commented that this is required for the new project as a blanket policy that is typical across the state and complies with RIDE to conserve energy.

MOTION: 1) Tami Holden 2) William Nash. That the School Committee approve first reading of policy for Energy Management and Conservation.    Unanimous vote.

5.12 Consider and Vote on Natural Gas quote

Facilities Director Ed Collins commented that the current gas contract is up. Looking at Base Rate and "nine ex".  It is in the best interest to sign up for a year and lock in the base rate and when the gas rate comes down.

MOTION: 1) Tami Holden 2) William Nash. That the School Committee approve Natural Gas quote.    Unanimous vote.

**5.13 Consider and Vote to adopt The Middletown Town Council approved FY26 Revenue and Expense budgets of $46,279,270. **

Middletown Finance Director Marc Tanguay has informed the  School Department that the School Committee must vote to adopt the approved amount within 30 days.

MOTION: 1) Tami Holden 2) William Nash. That the School Committee approve FY26 Revenue and Expense budgets of $46,279,270    Unanimous vote.

Letter to Honorable Louis P. DiPalma and Honorable Marvin L. Abney regarding Rhode Island legislative leaders to revise the FY 2026 state budget by reallocating unneeded concentrated poverty aid to the underfunded High-Cost Special Education Categorical Fund from Superintendent William Niemeyer and Town Administrator Shawn Brown

****9.1 Superintendent - Personnel

RESIGNATION EFFECTIVE May 6, 2025

Sheri Arbrige, District/School Office Support Personnel, MHS

NEW HIRE EFFECTIVE May 19, 2025

Kelci Coleman, District/School Office Support Personnel, MHS

NEW HIRE EFFECTIVE May 27, 2025

Paige Richardson, Special Education Teacher Assistant, AQ

NEW HIRE EFFECTIVE June 16, 2025

Jordan Potter, District/School Office Support Personnel , GMS/GLA

RESIGNATION EFFECTIVE June 18, 2025

Sharon Horton, School Psychologist, FA / AQ

Carlee Williams, Kindergarten Teacher, AQ

Alexandria Salazar, Special Education Teacher Assistant, GLA

NEW HIRE EFFECTIVE July 1, 2025

Leslie Brow, Director of Student Services, MPS

NEW HIRE EFFECTIVE July 1, 2025

David Alves, Business Office Manager, MPS

RESIGNATION EFFECTIVE June 18, 2025

Gus Steppen, Girl's Volleyball Head Coach, MHS

NEW HIRE EFFECTIVE July 1, 2025

Joshua King, Athletic Trainer , MPS

APPOINTMENT EFFECTIVE July 1, 2025

Lorraine Buffman, Structured Literacy Coach K-5, MPS

APPOINTMENT EFFECTIVE July 7, 2025

Sarah Alexander, Beyond the Bell Special Education Teacher, MPS

Kerri Allder, Beyond the Bell Special Education Teacher Assistant, MPS

Neila Almeida, Beyond the Bell Teacher Assistant, MPS

Patricia Berkeley, Beyond the Bell Substitute Teacher Assistant, MPS

Robyn Borges, Beyond the Bell MLL Teacher, MPS

Laurie Bradley, Beyond the Bell Special Education Teacher Assistant, MPS

Whitney Bucci, Beyond the Bell Special Education Teacher Assistant, MPS

Kelly Butala, Beyond the Bell Teacher, MPS

Johanna Cadoret, Beyond the Bell Teacher, MPS

Kerri Carlin, Beyond the Bell Special Education Teacher Assistant, MPS

Nancy Champagne, Beyond the Bell Teacher Assistant, MPS

Kristen Coffey, Beyond the Bell School Social Worker, MPS

Elizabeth Coogan, Beyond the Bell Teacher Assistant, MPS

Jamie Comeau, Beyond the Bell Teacher, MPS

Andrea Culipher, Beyond the Bell Special Education Teacher Assistant, MPS

Peter Cunis, Beyond the Bell Special Education Teacher Assistant, MPS

Brett D’Arezzo, Beyond the Bell Special Education Teacher Assistant, MPS

Jessica Denneny, Beyond the Bell School Nurse Teacher, MPS

Crista DiSano, Beyond the Bell School Nurse Teacher, MPS

Tara Donaldson, Beyond the Bell Special Education Teacher, MPS

Ruth Donahue, Beyond the Bell Substitute Teacher Assistant and Substitute Teacher, MPS

Kaitlyn Duggan, Beyond the Bell Teacher, MPS

Amy Dunn, Beyond the Bell Teacher, MPS

Emilie Garvey, Beyond the Bell Special Education Teacher, MPS

Camille Guerin, Beyond the Bell Teacher, MPS

Tanaysia Hicks, Beyond the Bell Special Education Teacher Assistant, MPS

Jennifer Holubesko, Beyond the Bell MLL Teacher, MPS

Morgan Holubesko, Beyond the Bell Special Education Teacher, MPS

Kathryn Homer, Beyond the Bell Teacher, MPS

Samantha Judson, Beyond the Bell Teacher, MPS

Melissa Kleinknecht, Beyond the Bell Speech Pathologist, MPS

Mary Lanctot, Beyond the Bell Special Education Teacher Assistant, MPS

Susan Leys, Beyond the Bell Special Education Teacher, MPS

Jennifer Lynch, Beyond the Bell Special Education Teacher, MPS

Megan MacGillivray, Beyond the Bell Teacher, MPS

Ariel Maggiacomo, Beyond the Bell Teacher Assistant, MPS

Shannon Maher, Beyond the Bell Teacher Assistant, MPS

Jeanine Maher-Pari, Beyond the Bell Teacher Assistant, MPS

Maggie McCue, Beyond the Bell Teacher, MPS

Ceili McCarthy, Beyond the Bell Special Education Teacher, MPS

Sarah McCarty, Beyond the Bell Substitute Teacher, MPS

Christina McFadden, Beyond the Bell Special Education Teacher Assistant, MPS

Tara Mellow, Beyond the Bell MLL/ Reading Teacher, MPS

Jennifer Mulcahey, Beyond the Bell Special Education Teacher, MPS

Alicia O’Brien, Beyond the Bell Teacher, MPS

Jennifer Ouellette, Beyond the Bell Special Education Teacher Assistant, MPS

Kristen Pacheco, Beyond the Bell Teacher, MPS

Kim Pearce, Beyond the Bell Teacher, MPS

Francesca Pellegrino, Beyond the Bell Teacher, MPS

Sophia Perrotti, Beyond the Bell Teacher, MPS

Nina Phillips, Beyond the Bell School Nurse Teacher, MPS

Mary Plunkett, Beyond the Bell Special Education Teacher Assistant, MPS

Caroline Prezioso, Samantha Judson, Beyond the Bell Teacher, MPS

Alexandria Reeg, Beyond the Bell Special Education Teacher Assistant, MPS

Christa Robinson, Samantha Judson, Beyond the Bell Teacher, MPS

Carlie Rodrigues Baptista, Beyond the Bell Teacher, MPS

Katherine Scott, Beyond the Bell Special Education Teacher Assistant, MPS

Amy Smith, Beyond the Bell Special Education Teacher, MPS

Rachel Stalnaker, Beyond the Bell Teacher Assistant, MPS

Mary Sweeney, Beyond the Bell Substitute Teacher, MPS

Tara Sweeney, Beyond the Bell Teacher, MPS

Jessica Tucker, Beyond the Bell Substitute Teacher, MPS

Kelsey Vieira, Beyond the Bell Substitute Teacher, MPS

Kyla Vieira, Beyond the Bell MLL Teacher, MPS

Madyson Walker, Beyond the Bell Special Education Teacher Assistant, MPS

Keri Walsh, Beyond the Bell Teacher, MPS

Helen Westall, Beyond the Bell Teacher, MPS

Robin Westmoreland, Beyond the Bell Teacher Assistant, MPS

Abigail Williamson, Beyond the Bell Teacher, MPS

Mercedes Woodward, Beyond the Bell Teacher, MPS

Alexandra Wright, Beyond the Bell School Nurse Teacher, MPS

APPOINTMENT EFFECTIVE July 8, 2025

Jordan Cook, Beyond the Bell Math Teacher 9-12, MHS

Rebecca Duggan, Beyond the Bell MLL Teacher 9-12, MHS

Kevin Lendrum, Beyond the Bell Teacher 9-12, MHS

Andrew Leys, Beyond the Bell Teacher 9-12, MHS

Christopher Richards, Beyond the Bell Teacher 9-12, MHS

Jamie Toner, Beyond the Bell Social Worker 9-12, MHS

Rachelle Wagner, Beyond the Bell Teacher 9-12, MHS

Eric Wright, Substitute Beyond the Bell Teacher 9-12, MHS

APPOINTMENT EFFECTIVE August 14, 2025

Matthew Kestler, Football Varsity Head Coach, MHS

Matthew Foltz, Football Junior Varsity Assistant Coach

APPOINTMENT EFFECTIVE August 18, 2025

Melissa Kleinknecht, Varsity Cheerleading Coach, MHS

John-Paul Massaro, Boys Soccer Varsity Head Coach, MHS

Cory Newbury, Boys Soccer Junior Varsity Coach, MHS

APPOINTMENT EFFECTIVE August 25, 2025

Nicole Parente, GMS Cross Country Coach, MHS

AQE 302, FA 302, GLA 250, JHG 426, MHS 504, Transition 7, Special Ed Out of District 43, Choice In (CTE) 12, Choice Out (CTE/GED) 43

Business Office Update from Brian Hyde: “The Middletown School Business Office is committed to supporting Continuous Improvement, Transparent Communication, and Fiscal Responsibility leading to Student Achievement and Student Success. We are a Unified Team with the Purpose of Being a High-Performing School District.” “I hope that this meeting is one more step in that process.”

FY25

1. May GL Budget: $42,356,384.00

2. GF YTD Expenditures: $33,327,997.61

3. GF Balance $ 9,028,386.39

4. GF Encumbrance: $ 9,085,136.59

5. May GF Budget Balance: $ (56,750.20)

6. % Remaining -0.13%

Chair Gregory Huet thanked Brian Hyde for his impact on the school department.

9.2 Curriculum

Michelle Fonseca, Assistant Superintendent and Director of Teaching and Learning, some of the activities happening in our district over the summer. June 2025- New Sci Curriculum Launch Grades 6-8, June 23 K-8 Empowering Writers PD- 50 participants, June 23-27 MLL endorsement training cohort 4- 19 participants, July 7- Aug 1- Beyond the Bell Summer and Math Matters Summer Camp, August 2025- New SS Curriculum Launch 6-12, August 2025- Guidance Training on new Learning Plan Platform for 6-12, Aug 2025- Early Literacy Screener Training for K-2, Aug 2025- Reading Coach Trainings, Aug 2025- Content Lead Trainings/ Curriculum Design Launch

Student Services

Lisa Birkett, Director of Student Services: Lisa will be passing the position to new Director of Student Services to Leslie Brow who will be starting the first week of July.  DOSS is continuing to plan and schedule our extended school year services for the students.  The Early Childhood Coordinator is continuing to search for peer models for the preschool and pre-k classes for the 2025-26 school year. Case manager projections have been collected and DOSS is working through the detailed needs at specific levels/schools for the 2025-26 school year

Technology

David Annese, Director of Technology: Device collection has been completed for all grade levels, beginning with the seniors and followed by the rest of the district in the final weeks of the school year. This process is a vital part of maintaining our 1 to 1 device program, allowing IT to review inventory, apply necessary updates, and perform routine maintenance to ensure all devices are ready for student use in the Fall.   As IT moves into the summer months, they will be preparing for a wide range of projects focused on both hardware and software improvements. Along with the annual infrastructure upgrades and device replacements, they are working on several new software implementations designed to enhance teaching, learning, and administrative efficiency across the district.

Facilities

Ed Collins, Facilities Director:  Chelsea Burke started as Facilities Administrative Assistant.  Summer cleaning supplies have been delivered. Summer activities will not affect the ability to get what needs to be done in all the schools over the summer. Ed, Michelle Fonseca and some elementary staff attended a workshop put on by VS furniture to look at some new concepts of classroom design in the ES complex. We now have schools and all town buildings buying paper products, hand soap from the same vendor so the first step in getting some consistency in all town buildings.

Next Regular Meeting: Thursday, July 17, 2025

ADJOURN FROM MEETING

MOTION: 1) Tami Holden  2) William Nash To adjourn from the School Committee Meeting at 6:15 p.m. Unanimous vote.