| School
Committee Meeting Minutes |
EAST PROVIDENCE
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
East Providence City Hal
145 Taunton Avenue
East Providence, Rhode Island
February 15, 2006
Open Session
Mr. Gouveia, Chairman, called the meeting to order at
6:30PM. School Committee members present: Robert Faria,
Eileen Lovett, David Medeiros, and Antone Gouveia. Also
present: Manuel Vinhateiro, Superintendent; and Andrew A.
Thomas, Esq., Assistant Legal Counsel. A motion was made by
Mr. Faria to move to Executive Session in accordance with RI
General Laws, Section 42-46-5(a)(1) Personnel and (a)(2)
Collective Bargaining and Litigation, seconded by Mrs.
Lovett. Vote 4-0.
A motion was made by Mr. Medeiros to return to public
session at 7:30 PM, seconded by Mrs. Lovett. Vote 5-0.
A motion was made by Mrs. Morris to seal the minutes of the
Executive Session, seconded by Mrs. Lovett. Vote 5-0.
Pledge of Allegiance. The School Committee proceeded to the
Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag led by City Manager William
J. Fazioli.
Moment of Silence. The School Committee observed a moment of
silence.
Record of Previous Meetings. A motion was made by Mrs.
Morris to approve the minutes of the meetings (November 18,
2005, December 21, 2005 and January 10, 2006) seconded by
Mr. Medeiros. Vote 5-0.
Chair’s Report.
1) Audit Report. Originally the matter of the Audit Report
had been scheduled to be a Joint Meeting with the East
Providence City Council. The City Council however, was not
present, and in its place City Manager William J. Fazioli
presented information concerning the Audit Report of B&E
Consulting, LLC, that had been prepared for the City on the
state of the School Department’s budget. Mr. Fazioli
indicated that the Audit Report has concluded that the
School Department’s budget is under funded by more than
$1,000,000. Mr. Fazioli said that this represents less than
two percent of the budget, that it is not a gaping hole, and
that he believed that the City Council and the School
Committee could work cooperatively together to close the
gap. Mr. Gouveia stated the original budget presented by the
School Committee to the City Council presented a needs
budget, that he welcomed the audit, which reaffirmed the
School Department’s needs. Mr. Gouveia stated that the
School Committee was totally committed to working with the
City on bridging the gap in the budget. Mr. Faria questioned
Mr. Fazioli about the City’s use of surplus funds derived
from Tristham Burgess. Mr. Fazioli indicated that the City
had plans to sell additional surplus properties. Mr.
Medeiros questioned Mr. Fazioli about whether the City would
see additional funds from lottery monies. Mr. Fazioli stated
additional funds from lottery monies had not yet come to
fruition. Mr. Fazioli indicated that the Audit Report of B&E
consulting would be made available for release at the next
City Council meeting. The School Committee thanked Mr.
Fazioli for his presentation, and for his service to the
City of East Providence as the City Manager.
2) Superintendent Search. Mr. Gouveia reported that the New
England School Development Council (NESDEC) had been engaged
to assist the School Committee in its search for a
Superintendent, and that the School Committee had met with
NESDEC’s facilitator, Dr. Bruce Willard. Mr. Gouveia
reported that the following persons would be on the
screening committee for the Superintendent’s search:
Patricia Barlow; Joseph Botelho; Roberta Brady; Maureen
Buckett; John F. Butler; Anthony DeCastro; Stephen Furtado;
Antone Gouveia; Roscoe Higgins; Estelle Machon; Clifton
Moore, Mildred Morris; Eileen Palenchar; Patricia Streit;
Alfred Tente, and Superintendent Vinhaterio.
Hearings. None.
Reading of Communications. Mr. Faria reported on a letter
that he had received from the Kent Heights PTA thanking the
patrol traffic officers.
Report of Superintendent and Staff.
1) Awarding of Bids. Dr. Hilton recommended the awarding of
bids for spring athletic supplies set forth in his report as
follows: Grogan Marciano $3,392.56; Beacon Sports $1,440.66;
Sport Supply Group $183.53; Greg Larson Sports $440.62;
Anthem Sports $814.26 and Riddel $348.00. Motion made by
Mrs. Morris, seconded by Mr. Medeiros to accept Dr. Hilton’s
recommendation for the awarding of bids for spring athletic
supplies. Vote 5-0
2) Personnel Recommendations. Mrs. Rodericks presented the
Superintendent’s recommendations for the following
appointments: Jennifer Carlson, School Nurse-Teacher to full
time, effective immediately to the end of the 2005/06 school
year; Lisa Goulden, Secretary, Kent Heights; Carol Miranda
1/5th English Teacher, SHS; Robert J. Rodericks, Coach,
Girls’s Softball, RMS; and Victor Caldaron, Coach,
Wrestling, RMS. Motion made by Mrs. Morris, seconded by Mrs.
Lovett to accept the Superintendent’s recommendation for
appointments. Vote 5-0.
Mrs. Rodericks presented the Superintendent’s
recommendations for approval of the following resignations:
Judith Williams, Reading Teacher, SHS, effective
immediately; Paul Amaral, Head Coach, Boy’s Tennis, SHS,
effectively immediately; and David Axelson, Head Coach,
Girls Soccer, SHS, effective immediately. Motion made by
Mrs. Morris, seconded by Mrs. Lovett to accept the
Superintendent’s recommendations for resignations. Vote 5-0.
Mrs. Rodericks presented the Superintendent’s
recommendations for the following Job Shares: Joanne Hall
(currently Gr. 2 Kent Heights) and Rachel DeCosta (vacating
Grade 2 Waddington), Grade 2 Kent Heights 2006/07 school
year; Megan King (currently Gr. 5 M.J. Francis) and Michelle
MacDonald (vacating Grade 3, M.J. Francis), Grade 5, M. J.
Francis 2006/07 school year; and Linda Harnois (currently
English Teacher, SHS) and Lori Kiley-Garcia (English
Teacher, SHS, currently on Parental Leave), English SHS
2006-2007 School year.. Motion made by Mrs. Morris, seconded
by Mrs. Lovett to accept the Superintendent’s
recommendations for Job Shares. Vote 5-0.
Mrs. Rodericks presented the Superintendent’s
recommendations for the following Family and Medical Leaves:
Erin Alves, Educational Specialist, Hennessey, effective
February 13, 2006; Amy Smith Special Ed., Resource Teacher,
SHS, effective February 25, 2006; Jyl Sullivan, Grade 5
Teacher, Waddington, effective March 10, 2006; Cristina
Carlotti, French Teacher, SHS, effective April 7, 2006;
Jennifer Clark, Grade 3 Teacher, Kent Heights, effective
April 24, 2006; and Ann Ackerman, Grade 5 Teacher, Silver
Spring, effective April 24, 2006. Motion made by Mrs.
Morris, seconded by Mrs. Lovett to accept the
Superintendent’s recommendations for Family and Medical
Leaves.
Vote 5-0.
Mrs. Rodericks presented the Superintendent’s
recommendations for the following Parental Leaves: Ann
Ackerman, Grade 5 Teacher, Silver Spring, 2006/07 school
year; and Julie Martin, Speech Pathologist, to end of
2005/06 school year. Motion made by Mrs. Morris, seconded by
Mrs. Lovett to accept the Superintendent’s recommendations
for Parental Leaves. Vote 5-0.
Mrs. Rodericks presented the Superintendent’s recommendation
for the following Extended Personal Leave: Sharon Waterman,
Diagnostic Prescriptive Consultant, Special Services,
2006/07 school year (Year 2). Motion made by Mrs. Morris,
seconded by Mrs. Lovett to accept the Superintendent’s
recommendation for Extended Personal Leave. Vote 5-0.
The Superintendent presented his recommendations for Lay
Offs Due to Declining Enrollment. The School Committee had
been provided with the names of the persons affected in its
package. Motion by Mrs. Morris, seconded by Mr. Medeiros to
accept the Superintendent’s recommendations for Lay Offs Due
to Declining Enrollment. Roll Call Vote: Mr. Faria, aye;
Mrs. Lovett, aye; Mr. Medeiros, aye; Mrs. Morris, aye; and
Mr. Gouveia, aye.
The Superintendent presented his recommendations for Lay
Offs Due to Senior Teacher Returning from Leave. The School
Committee had been provided with the names of the persons
affected in its package. Motion by Mrs. Lovett, seconded by
Mrs. Morris to accept the Superintendent’s recommendations
for Lay Offs Due to Senior Teacher Returning from Leave.
Roll Call Vote: Mr. Faria, aye; Mrs. Lovett, aye; Mr.
Medeiros, aye; Mrs. Morris, aye; and Mr. Gouveia, aye.
3) Field Trip Requests. The Superintendent recommended
approval of the Band and Flag Corp Field Trip to New York
City, March 10-11. Motion by Mrs. Morris, seconded by Mr.
Medeiros to approve the Superintendent’s recommendation for
the Field Trip of the EPHS Band and Flag Corp. Vote 5-0.
4) Prospective Grants/Consultants. Dr. Forbes recommended
approval of requests for granting stipends to the persons
set forth on the list supplied to the School Committee in
its package. Dr. Forbes indicated that the source of funding
would be Title II. Motion made by Mr. Medeiros, seconded by
Mrs. Lovett to approve the requests for stipends. Vote: 5-0.
Report of Sub-Committees.
1) Family Involvement Committee. Mrs. Lovett reported on the
January Grant Writing Workshop, and announced that there is
a second Grant Writing Workshop in March. Mrs. Lovett also
reported on the One City One Goal Workshop, and the events
planned for Townie Pride Earth Day in April. Mr. Streit gave
an update on the Golf Tournament.
2) Cafeteria Committee. Mrs. Morris presented an update on
cafeteria issues.
Unfinished Business. 2005-06 Budget. Superintendent
Vinhateiro recommended approval of a revised budget based
upon the recommendations of B & E Consulting in its Audit
Report. The revised budget set forth in a document entitled
“East Providence School Department 2005-2006 Budget,
Adjusted with Audit Recommendations 1/30/06” had been
distributed to the School Committee in its materials for the
meeting. Motion by Mr. Medeiros, seconded by Mrs. Morris to
approve the revised budget. Roll Call Vote: Mr. Faria, aye;
Mrs. Lovett, aye; Mr. Medeiros, aye; Mrs. Morris, aye; and
Mr. Gouveia, aye.
New Business.
1) Resolutions. The Superintendent recommended approval of
the following resolution:
WHEREAS, the City of East Providence’s fiscal year begins on
November 1st; and
WHEREAS, the fiscal year of most communities in the State of
Rhode Island begins on July 1st; and
WHEREAS, under current law, the cut off date for sending
notice of teacher lay offs is March 1st; and
WHEREAS said March 1st notice date is eight months into the
fiscal year for most communities, but is only four months
into the fiscal year for the City of East Providence; and
WHEREAS given the time frame involved, it is difficult, if
not impossible, to adequately know by March 1st what will be
the status of the East Providence School Committee’s budget
for the ensuing school;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT: the East Providence School
Committee is requesting that the General Assembly amend the
layoff notice provisions from March 1st to June 1st as
applied to teachers employed by the East Providence School
Committee.
Motion made by Mrs. Morris, seconded by Mr. Medeiros to
approve the resolution. Roll Call Vote: Mr. Faria, aye; Mrs.
Lovett, aye; Mr. Medeiros, aye; Mrs. Morris, aye; and Mr.
Gouveia, aye.
2) Universal Breakfast Program. Mary Ann Matthews presented
information regarding the Universal Breakfast Program, and
the reasons for supporting this program.
Diane Selley recommended piloting the program throughout the
grades and not just in elementary schools. Maggie Rogers of
Pawtucket spoke on behalf of the program and indicated that
state funds were available, in addition to federal funds.
Francis Daugherty asked questions as to whether teachers
ever provide students with snacks. Superintendent Vinhaterio
indicated that in his experience, teachers sometimes make
food available to children who have left their lunch at
home. Dr. Hilton indicated that if the Universal Breakfast
Program was adopted to the end of the year in the two
targeted elementary schools, that the cost/loss would be
approximately $580. The School Committee discussed various
issues regarding the Universal Breakfast Program such as the
feasibility of implementing the program at the high school
where there are four lunch seatings, staffing issues, and
bus schedules. Motion made by Mrs. Lovett, seconded by Mrs.
Morris to implement a pilot Universal Breakfast Program to
the end of the year in two elementary schools. Roll Call
Vote: Mr. Faria, aye; Mrs. Lovett, aye; Mr. Medeiros, aye;
Mrs. Morris, aye; and Mr. Gouveia, aye.
Payment of Bills.
Local Operating Bill List:
Warrant #000628 1/27/06 $1,390,642.45
Motion by Mrs. Morris, seconded by Mr. Medeiros to approve
payment. Vote 5-0
Warrant # 000629 1/30/06 $ 11,532.50
Motion by Mrs. Morris, seconded by Mrs. Lovett to approve
payment. Vote 5-0.
Federal Bill List:
Warrant #000626 1/19/06 $ 301,065.86
Motion by Mrs. Morris, seconded by Mr. Medeiros to approve
payment. Vote 5-0
Question and Answer Period. Mary Ann Matthews indicated that
the School Committee needed to activate its Affirmative
Action Committee, and that she was bringing this subject to
the School Committee’s attention so that it could look into
matters and take action.
Adjourn. A motion was made by Mrs. Morris, seconded by Mr.
Medeiros to adjourn at 9:20 PM. Vote 5-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Andrew A. Thomas, Assistant Legal Counsel
David Medeiros, Clerk of the Committee
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