Apr. 25, 2024 - Regular Meeting

MIDDLETOWN SCHOOL COMMITTEE

MIDDLETOWN, RHODE ISLAND

April 25, 2024

Members Present:       Theresa Spengler, Chair

Tami Holden, Vice-Chair

William O’Connell

Greg Huet

Wendy Heaney

Also Present:              Rosemarie Kraeger,  Superintendent of Schools

Michelle Fonseca, Assistant Superintendent of Schools

Lisa Birkett, Director of Student Services

David Annese, Director of Technology

Poe George, Director of Facilities, Transportation, and Safety

Landon Resendes, Student Representative

The Middletown School Committee Meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m. by Chair Theresa Spengler.

Administrative staff members present were Donna Sweet, Erica Bulk, and Stephen Ponte. Student Representative Landon Resendes was also present.

** MOTION**:  1) Tami Holden, 2) Greg Huet.

Receive legal advice regarding employment contracts.

Unanimous vote.

MOTION

Chair Spengler announced that NO VOTE was taken in Executive Session.

** MOTION**:  1) Tami Holden, 2) Greg Huet.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Chair Spengler introduced the new Superintendent of Schools, William Niemeyer. She explained the selection and hiring process for this role and thanked the Screening Committee for their hard work and dedication.

Mrs. Kraeger congratulated Mr. Niemeyer and the School Committee.

No public comment

·            Month of the Military Child

Captain Henry Roenke, USN, Commanding Officer, Newport Naval Station was presented with a copy of House Resolution 2024-H8151 by the General Assembly of Rhode Island proclaiming April of 2024 to be the “Month of the Military Child.”

Captain Roenke acknowledged the support of Middletown Public Schools and thanked Superintendent Kraeger for her dedication and hard work throughout her career on behalf of military families.  He presented Mrs. Kraeger with a certificate of commendation and a flag that was flown over the Naval base in her honor.

·            State Championship Co-Op Wrestling Team

Jason Rushton, coach of the Co-Op Wrestling Team spoke about their success including their 11-0 season, nine student athletes receiving All Division honors, and senior Logan Gaes who finished 28-2.

·            Student of the Week

Students of the Week were acknowledged by their building principals and received a book from the School Committee.

A brief recess was taken at 5:08 p.m.

The meeting reconvened at 5:11 p.m.

·               ****School Showcase - Forest Avenue Elementary

Teachers and students from Forest Avenue Elementary presented the many ways they reinforce community building as a school and how it encourages ownership by making students feel that they belong and matter to one another and are engaged including:

o        ****Reciting the Bear Pledge daily and at assemblies

o        Monthly award ceremonies celebrating children who do  the “right thing”

o        Passing out Bear Paws on a daily basis to students doing the “right thing”

o        **PTG social events – sweetheart dance, fall festival, Bear breakfast at Applebees, etc. **

o        ****STEAM Fair

o        ****Family Book Talks held by the Title I Reading Specialist

o        ****Literacy Game Night

o        ****Reading with therapy dog Willoughby

o        ****Fun Fridays – everyone wears blue and white

o        ****Theme Days  - Twin and Triplet Day, Fan Day, etc.

o        ****Talent Show

o        ****Military Family Breakfast

o        ****Pumpkin Caper

·               ****Student Representative Report

Student Representative Landon Resendes gave a report of recent activities and happenings at Middletown High School including:

o           Assembly honoring the military children of MHS on April 24th

o           A visit by Governor McKee and the First Lady in celebration of Earth Day and the Litter Free Rhode Island Initiative on April 24th

o           ****Annual College Fair on April 26th

o           ****Summer Job Fair on April 29th

o           ****SAT and PSAT tests

o           Senior Capstone presentations – breakfast supplied by the Fraternal Order of the Police

o           Assembly featuring Chris and Kathy Sullivan of Sullivan’s Message, a non-profit that educates students about the dangers of drinking

Assistant Superintendent Michelle Fonseca presented the district’s Strategic Plan which was updated in July,2023, in accordance with RIDE’s new guidelines. It is a living document. RIDE will identify targets for improvement and Middletown will have until July 1st of every year to update and revise it.  A sub-committee will be created to do this work.

The Strategic Plan will serve as a road map and driver to success by setting priorities with measurable goals, initiatives, and action steps emphasizing the three E’s; equity, excellence, and engagement.

Middletown’s Mission and Vision have not changed.  They are being used to guide and craft a Theory of Action to reach our Priority Goals.  Those four goals are:

Ensuring success in ELA

Ensuring success in mathematics

Ensuring success in science

Ensuring a culture of engagement and collaboration

The use of data for continuous monitoring and alignment is critical.

RIDE has identified the following Targets for Improvement:

o                 Low performing groups require TSI (targeted support & improvement).  Low performing groups have been identified as students with disabilities, economically disadvantaged students, and English language learners.

Vice Chair Holden inquired if the data being used was data that exists within the district or is it new data we need to collect, or data from outside the district.  Mrs. Fonseca stated it was existing district and state data collected via testing and our classrooms.

Vice Chair Holden asked how the goals were determined.  Mrs. Fonseca said RIDE representatives helped the district to create the goals which are measurable outcomes.  Middletown’s previous Strategic Plan contained some goals that were not measurable.

Mr. Huet inquired as to when Strategic Plan revisions need to be submitted to RIDE.  Mrs. Fonseca replied that every goal needs to be updated with the three identified subgroups by July 1st.

MOTION

·         Approval of Vouchers and Invoices

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| 1203 | 3/1/24 | $397,045.05 | 2024 |
| 1204 | 3/5/24 | $6,436.05 | 2024 |
| 1205 | 3/21/24 | $1,425,621.19 | 2024 |
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·            Joint Meeting with Newport School Committee

Mrs. Kraeger stated there was nothing new to report.

·            RIDE Attendance Tool

Principal Donna Sweet highlighted the various aspects of the RIDE attendance tool which reports the total number of absences to date, total number the previous year, the number and percentage of chronically absent students, and the district’s state rank/percentile with regards to absenteeism. The data is pulled every afternoon.

Mrs. Heaney asked if the total number of absences included excused absences to which Mrs. Sweet replied yes.

Principal Sweet stated that she and the Assistant Principal, Jon Devolve carefully review the data and discern what might be causing a student to be absent.  This information is shared with the Student Success Officer, counselors, social workers, etc.

Sometimes a student will move and give no notice. This affects the absentee rate.

Once a student transfers out of school they are no longer included in the report.

HOMESCHOOLING REQUEST

1)Tami Holden. 2) Greg Huet. That the School Committee approve homeschooling request 23-24-38.

Unanimous vote.

EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT TEMPLATES

1)Tami Holden. 2) Greg Huet. That the School Committee approve the Certified Administrator Employment Contract Template, Non-Certified Administrator Employment Contract, and Clerical Employment Contract Template. Unanimous vote.

FY24 SPECIAL REVENUE ADJUSTMENTS

1)Tami Holden. 2) Greg Huet. That the School Committee approve the FY24   Special Revenue Adjustments. Unanimous vote.

FY24 GENERAL FUND ADJUSTMENTS

1)Tami Holden. 2) Greg Huet. That the School Committee approve the FY24 General Fund Adjustments. Unanimous vote.

SPECIAL EDUCATION JOB DESCRIPTIONS

1)Tami Holden. 2) Greg Huet. That the School Committee approve the Special Education job descriptions. Unanimous vote.

CAREER COORDINATOR JOB DESCRIPTION

1)Tami Holden. 2) Greg Huet. That the School Committee approve the Career Coordinator job description. Unanimous vote.

PRESCHOOL SCHOOL TUITION PROPOSAL

Chair Spengler asked if it was the same price whether a student attended three or four days a week to which Mrs. Birkett replied yes. Peer models are crucial to the preschool program, which is why tuition must be affordable for them.

Chair Spengler asked how many peer model spots were available to which Mrs. Birkett replied there were eight (8) available in the morning session and eight (8) in the afternoon session for a total of sixteen (16).

SURPLUS OF MATHEMATICS BOOKS

SURPLUS OF OFFICE FURNITURE

The Superintendent Recommends:  That the School Committee approve the surplus of five desks and two small tables. Unanimous vote.

SALE OF SUN LIFE STOCK

1)Tami Holden. 2) Greg Huet. That the School Committee approve the sale of Sun Life stock. Unanimous vote.

Chair Spengler asked where the $200k generated by the sale of the stock would go to which Mrs. Miller replied “…the general fund balance.”

EDC CONTRACT

REVISED 2024-2025 SCHOOL CALENDAR

1)Tami Holden. 2) Greg Huet. That the School Committee approve the 2024 – 2025 revised School Calendar to include three (3) additional tentative makeup days. Unanimous vote.

** RESIGNATIONS**1)Tami Holden. 2) Greg Huet.

·               Personnel

Report on recent personnel actions by the Superintendent

** APPOINTMENTS EFFECTIVE APRIL 15, 2024**David Beebe, Maintenance Tech – Grounds

Richard Ford, Maintenance Tech – MEP

Austin Alves, Custodial Foreperson, AQE

Steven Tetzloff, Custodial Foreperson, OLI

Scott Szafir, MS/HS Lead Night Custodian

APPOINTMENTS EFFECTIVE APRIL 26, 2024

APPOINTMENTS EFFECTIVE APRIL 29, 2024

·               Financial

Interim Business Manager Lori Miller provide a financial synopsis to date.

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORTS

1)Tami Holden. 2) Greg Huet. That the School Committee receive the Superintendent’s Personnel Report. Unanimous vote.

** MOTION**:  1) Tami Holden, 2) Greg Huet

Respectfully Submitted,

Theresa Spangler, Chair