Mar. 5, 2024 - Budget Workshop

MIDDLETOWN SCHOOL COMMITTEE

MIDDLETOWN, RHODE ISLAND

March 5, 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

Lori Miller, Interim Business Manager

Lisa Birkett, Director of Student Services

David Annese, Director of Technology

Poe George, Director of Facilities, Transportation, and Safety

The Middletown School Committee Meeting was called to order at 4:30 p.m. by Chair Theresa Spengler. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Administrative staff members present were Donna Sweet and Kaitlin Gibbins. Town Councilman Peter Connerton was also in attendance.

David Annese, Director of Technology presented an overview of his department, its accomplishments, and budget.

Link to presentation: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aFnxjGIYCScKy_ccL96Z0RYo_zjuVznM/view?usp=drive_link

The website is being redesigned to provide a more user-friendly, streamlined interface, with a concise navigation menu. Assistant Superintendent Fonseca has been working with Mr. Annese to provide content and input on functionality, as well as historical context. All school webpages will be simplified and uniform.

Mr. Huet asked that a link be placed on the homepage to the School Committee webpage so the public could easily access meeting dates and times.

Chair Spengler inquired about the lifespan of the average whiteboard and if there was a replacement plan in place for them.

Mr. Annese replied that the lifespan was five to six years, and the replacement plan was part of the upcoming CIP.

Vice Chair Holden asked if the IT budget that was received by the Business Department was more than what was presented today and if generous cuts had to be made as a result.

Mr. Annese stated that IT entered what they felt was necessary to run a district of this size into their budget workbooks.

Assistant Superintendent Michelle Fonseca presented current data supporting the need for critical staff.

Link to presentation: https://drive.google.com/file/d/18mRcQ7pZzAj8D2JNlTwSEME2QyeimlVa/view?usp=drive_link

Middletown students are making great growth with 70% making typical or strong growth. Students in need of targeted support and improvement are students with disabilities, the economically disadvantaged, and ELL students. Must provide equitable support to them.

Massachusetts has been ranked #1 for student success and achievement, with a focus on reading proficiency by grade 3.

Vice Chair Holden asked if Massachusetts had universal Pre-K to which Mrs. Fonseca replied yes.

Chair Spengler stated that districts like Middletown could never be equitable to schools in Massachusetts because Rhode Island does not have education as a right for all.  They have very different resources and are very well supported which is why they are number one.

Mrs. Fonseca agreed but said there are pieces that we can continue to do better, and we can learn from their work.  Providing equity for all students does not mean providing them exactly what Massachusetts is providing their students, it means that every student in Middletown should get the same support as the student that sits on the side of them.  Getting the resources and support students need will close the gaps.

New Science curriculum for FY26 will cost $250k - $300k.  The new Math and ELA curriculum was paid for with ESSR funds. All professional development has been paid for outside of the budget with grant monies, ESSR, Title II funds, etc.  The teachers have been very dedicated to learning and have done training after school and at night. Seven of our teachers at Roger Willims University receiving training as certified MLL teachers.

Mrs. Heaney asked if the newly certified MLL teachers would be assigned to a specific MLL classroom or if they would be assisting MLL students in their classrooms.

Mrs. Fonseca said yes, they would remain in their current classrooms and support the MLL learners in their rooms. She said there were many other teachers who were obtaining an MLL endorsement.

Middletown will be looking for grants that fund a Math Coach for five years or more.

Vice Chair Holden asked if a Math Coach or Math Interventionist was required to have training or certification.

Mrs. Fonseca replied that RIDE will be asking districts to appoint Math coaches, and then RIDE will pull the coaches from throughout the state together and provide them with training.

Vice Chair Holden asked if the district were to post positions for Math intervention,  what would they look like.

Mrs. Fonseca stated they would probably post positions that were interviewing positions.  Positions where they would be asking teachers to focus in and work with students on Tier 2 instruction.

If Middletown receives the van Beuren grant it could provide an additional four MLL teachers at the high school.  The grant would be multi-year.

Mrs. Kraeger said they were forced to cut Tier 2 and Tier 3 staff last year due to budget constraints.  This year they were able to restore a social worker and structured literacy specialist.

Mrs. Fonseca stated in order to maximize student achievement and support students’ social, emotional, and behavioral needs:

Let the data drive where the positions are needed the most:

o   K – 12 ELL Certified Teachers – currently have 3.6

o   Reading Intervention

§  Focus on K – 3 Structured Literacy Specialists – currently have 6

o   K-12 Math Intervention – possible RIDE grant for coach

o   K – 12 School Social Worker/School Psychologist/School Counselors – currently have 3 School Social Workers, 2.4 School Psychologists, and 6 School Counselors

Essential staff needed at the high school:

o        CTE Coordinator (someone with a Business background/certification)

o        Senior Project Coordinator (someone with an English background)

Chair Spengler asked how long the Beyond the Bell program ran after school and if their focus was equally split between math and ELL.

Mrs. Fonseca stated the program runs for 1 hour after school from the end of October through May on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Gaudet has just started their Saturday Academy and then we have our K – 12 a.m. summer intervention program followed by our enrichment camp in the afternoon. The focus will depend on what the school-based data looks like.  In the summer it is mixed.  Staffing is also a component.  All of this has been generously funded by the Town of Middletown.

Family outreach, homeless supports, the OASIS food pantry, career explorations, wrap around services with Newport County Mental Health and extended services with the Boys and Girls Club are all a part of Beyond the Bell.

Currently 500 students served by the after-school program and close to 300 in the summer. Town appropriations have funded Beyond the Bell summer and after-school programming through APRA dollars which runs out October 1, 2024. The projected budget for FY25 is $344,895.00.  The 365 Grant will fund $9,600.00 which leaves a deficit of $335,295.00.

Mrs. Heaney asked if there was anything additional funding available through the 365 funding from the state.

Mrs. Fonseca stated they had received funding this year for their Student Success Officer as well as supporting the MCOZ enrichment camp.

Mrs. Miller stated that the priority was seeking funding for this summer, approximately $170,000.00.

Mrs. Fonseca said she was looking at funding available for the homeless student population participating in Beyond the Bell.

·         Special Education Programming

Lisa Birkett Director of Student Services presented her current department and staffing needs for FY25.

Link to presentation: https://drive.google.com/file/d/15PvdwRzsIa5DfQid7x7zvLVst0fQcXuH/view?usp=drive_link

Student Services encompasses ages 3 – 22. There are a total of 442 special education students in the district, 41 are placed out of district, 19 are attending preschool and 17 are preschool students with speech only IEPs, and 19 are students in private or parochial schools.

There are 700 students ages 3 – 5 in Middletown.  The goal is to screen 80% of those students.  As of February 26th , the district has received 35 referrals resulting in 34 students eligible for special education services. Currently running 1.5 preschool programs.

Vice Chair Holden asked what the criteria was for parents to choose out of district services for a special education student.

Mrs. Birkett stated if the district does not have a program in place that the student needs, we must pay for that.  It used to be if a family sent a student with an IEP to a private school, we were not responsible for providing support services.  The regulations now state that if a student attends a private school such as All Saints in Middletown but live in Portsmouth, for example, we must figure out how we can service them with the dollars RIDE allots for out-of-district students with IEPs, and then Portsmouth needs to pick up the rest.  This takes up a lot of time scheduling tutors.

Mrs. Heaney asked what happens when a Middletown resident sends their child with an IEP out of district.

Mrs. Birkett stated she assigns the student a case manager who writes the IEP and then meets with the school to see if supports are in place at the school to cover the student’s IEP.  If so, then nothing more is needed.  If not, then Middletown works with the local district to service the student.

The Pathways to Success program services special education students who need assistance regulating emotional and behavioral issues. East Bay Works is a partnership with Bradley at MHS which is essentially an out of district placement.  The students in this program do not quite require a Bradley replacement but cannot be in the general education classroom full time.  This is an extremely successful program.

The 18-22 program is community-based which is housed at Gaudet focuses on life skills and is largely community-based.

Mrs. Kraeger stated there are other communities that look to this program which could be a revenue source for the district.

Mrs. Birkett said she believes in bringing students back to the district that we know can be successful with the current conditions in Middletown.

The Special Education Local Advisory Committee (SELAC) consist of 20 parents that participate in quarterly meetings in person or via Zoom where community member concerns can be heard, and the district can educate parents and guardians with regards to special education services. A listerv has been created and there is a page on the website for the committee. It is important for parents/guardians to be heard so students can get what they need and understand their children’s IEPs.

We are working on building capacity within Middletown. Three teachers are becoming Wilson Certified tutors.  Job coaches are currently being contracted out.  We are looking at how to train teachers which will also entail the purchase of a vehicle. Also looking at bringing Bradley to Gaudet for the 24-25 school year and adding an elementary level in the future.

·         Transportation & Facilities

Poe George, Director of Facilities, Transportation, and Safety presented the financial needs for Facilities and Transportation for FY25 as well as the Facilities Capital Improvement Plan for FY25.

Link to presentation: https://drive.google.com/file/d/184E6Qz9fEEvgRsO6O8HY3lgkOXT0u5Dx/view?usp=drive_link

The current buildings range from 56 – 69 years of age and are worth $160M. There have been many challenges including a lack of preventative management the last five years. He continues to research key revenue generation ideas and cost-saving initiatives.

Five-year plan in progress including decommissioning of Gaudet, Aquidneck, and Oliphant, and the establishment of a preventative mechanical/HVAC maintenance program.  We are working with architects to create a new Facilities CIP for FY24 – FY29.

Electricity and gas prices have stabilized.  Rubbish removal has increased by 8%, and the cost of HVAC and equipment repairs has increased to age.

District currently has 15 busses for regular transportation and 6 busses and 3 vans for specialized transportation.  The cost to transport Special Education and displaced students was more than budgeted for in FY24.

The FY25 CIP (Capital Improvement Plan) includes:

o        a rubber matting system for the playgrounds at Forest and Aquidneck for $19,000 vs $6000 a year in mulch

o        concrete work to repair sidewalks and curbs which are safety hazards

o        the transfer of beds between dump trucks

o        floor replacements at Forest Avenue

o        replacement of gym/cafeteria ceiling and fans at Aquidneck

o        replacement of a tractor in poor disrepair

·         **FY25 Proposed Budget Draft ** was presented by Superintendent Rosemarie Kraeger and Interim Business Manager Lori Miller.

Salaries alone are $981k. This budget is dynamic, and adjustments will be made as needed.

Benefits have decreased. Purchased services are $980k. The total budget is $1.7M.

The budget needs to be decreased to meet the 4% increase.  There is some breakage with retirement, and if early retirement is opened again, there may be more.

Vice Chair Holden asked if support positions were in the budget.

Mr. O’Connell asked if the district was up to staff with what the state requires.

Mrs. Kraeger stated Tier One teachers were in place, but not all of the Tier Two teachers were in place.  However, the 2024 – 2025 budget will include the Homeless Coordinator,  a 1.2 MLL Teacher, a K-12 Structured Literacy Teacher, a .5 PreK teacher, and an additional Social Worker, which were hired in 2023 -2024.

** Chair Spengler** said all the classrooms have a certified teacher which is the core instruction.

No public comment.

ECM HAZMAT CONTRACT

1) Tami Holden, 2) Greg Huet . That the School Committee approve the Hazmat Consultant Contract with ECM. Unanimous vote.

SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE MEMBERS

1) Tami Holden, 2) Greg Huet . That the School Committee approve School Building Committee members Peter Connerton, Town Council member, Don Morin, community member, Christopher Logan, Town Council member as alternate, Shawn Brown, Town Administrator and Town Finance Director as alternate, and Marc Thayer, community member. Unanimous vote.

SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE CHARGE

The Superintendent Recommends: That the School Committee approve the following School Building Committee charge based on Town Ordinance 2024 – 4:

The School Building Committee (SBC) shall serve in an advisory capacity to the School Committee and Town Council.

The SBC will have the following duties and responsibilities:

·         Serve in an advisory capacity during the construction phase of the school construction projects.

·         Report to the School Committee and Town Council as necessary on all pertinent issues, and where applicable, to the Owner's Representative/Project Manager.

·         Serve in an advisory capacity during the construction phase of the school construction projects.

·         Attend public meetings of the School Committee and Town Council as necessary to present School Building Committee updates and reports.

·         Post all meetings, agendas, and minutes on the Rhode Island Secretary of State website. Minutes of the meetings will be prepared by the School Department's designee and shall be approved by the SBC.

·         Provide input and oversight relative to the effect of the master planning and delivery of construction projects on the community.

·         Examine scope, designs, construction plans, and budget for reasonableness and compliance;

·         Recommend a master plan and construction projects to the School Committee and the Town Council for approval and submission to RIDE;

·         Any other purpose that shall from time to time be adopted by the School Committee and/or the Town Council.

The SBC shall not have authority to enter contracts or to participate in the day-to-day fiscal management of school construction projects.

1) Tami Holden, 2) Greg Huet. Unanimous vote.

PROFILE FOR CANDIDATES FOR SUPERINTENDENT

1) Tami Holden, 2) Greg Huet. That the School Committee approve the Profile for Candidates for Superintendent. Unanimous vote.

INVOICES

1) Tami Holden, 2) Greg Huet. That the School Committee approve the most recent invoices in the amounts of $400.00 and $4003.65. Unanimous vote.

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

Respectfully Submitted,

Theresa Spangler, Chair