Jamestown Schools: A School-Community Partnership
"SCAN," issued by the Superintendent’s Office in conjunction with the School Committee, is designed to inform staff members and interested others of matters discussed and actions taken by the Jamestown School Committee at its most recent meeting. SCAN does not represent meeting minutes.
Correspondence:
Letters received:
From Douglas Roth, NK School Committee member, an open letter to the community.
From the Deborah Gist, RI Commissioner of Education, an email announcing informational meetings on preparations to compete for Race to the Top funding.
From two community members, a letter requesting school committee consideration of a reduction of the rental fee for a youth soccer organization’s use of the gym.
From RIASC (RI Association of School Committees), an email announcing a Nov. 21 quarterly chairs meeting.
Letters Sent:
To the Narragansett School Committee, a letter extending condolences on the occasion of the untimely death of a member of that committee.
To the Conanicut Art Association, a letter indicating that the school committee took no action in response to the association’s request for a reduced rental fee for the Melrose multi-purpose room.
Consent Agenda: The committee approved the minutes of October 1, 15 and November 3; and payment of bills.
Food Service Update: Superintendent Marcia Lukon shared the monthly meal count figures. After discussing the possibility of replacing monthly reports by a quarterly format, the committee decided that more frequent reporting allows the committee to monitor meal sales more closely. However, the committee agreed that a quarterly financial update would allow the committee to assess the ramifications of the meals sold statistics.
Tuition Contract Revision: The superintendent will meet with Ms. Kaiser to draft language.
Election of School Committee Officers and Liaisons: The committee voted 5-0 to appoint Ms. Kaiser as chair; Ms. Kallfelz as co-chair; and Mr. Whitehouse as clerk. Ms. Held will serve as the Jamestown representative on the North Kingstown School Committee; Mr. Whitehouse and Ms. Held will continue to serve on the policy sub-committee; Mr. Whitehouse will serve as liaison to the Melrose School Improvement Team and also liaison to the Facilities Committee; Ms. Kallfelz will continue as liaison to the Lawn School Improvement Team and also to SORICO (Southern RI Collaborative); Ms. Long will be the liaison to SELAC (Special Education Local Advisory Committee) as well as the Health and Wellness Committee; Ms. Kaiser will continue as legislative liaison.
School Committee Retreat Date: The school committee agreed to meet with the administrative team on January 8 at 4 p.m. for goal-setting; the committee will invite the town council and town administrator to join them following the goal session for a pre-budget discussion.
Superintendent’s Report:
• Superintendent Lukon updated the committee on the high rate of participation in the H1N1 vaccination clinics and she thanked the staff members involved in organizing the sessions. • The superintendent also shared that the school awaits a letter from Town Administrator Bruce Keiser authorizing the parking of school buses at the former town hall site. Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds Lew Kitts has received the approval of the police and fire chief. • Dr. Lukon reported on her meeting with Captain Joe Voboril, Commanding Officer at the Newport Naval Station, and Janet McCarthy, the station’s Navy School Liaison Officer. Ms. McCarthy will present to the school committee on Dec. 3, explaining her role and the resources available to schools with children of military personnel.
Principals’ Report: Principal Melucci recognized the many contributions of 25-year veteran teacher Diane Caswell, who died on November 12. • Ms. Melucci also reported on the H1N1 flu clinics, the Empty Bowls fundraiser, and the principals’ participation (along with two teachers) in the Dana Center’s Classroom Walkthrough Training for Continuous Improvement. In addition, she outlined upcoming events, including the Nov. 20 potluck supper, the first grade’s Nov. 23 Balance and Motion Night, the second grade’s Nov. 25 Thanksgiving show, and author Lucinda Landon’s Nov. 20 presentation to the fourth grade.
Committee Reports
Melrose School Improvement Team: Melrose SIT sub-committees reported on their work; and the group continued to discuss the upgrade of the website (now featuring twitter) and plans to host a community night on “Rigor, Relevance and Relationships.”
Lawn School Improvement Team: Lawn SIT discussed plans for a joint meeting with Melrose SIT to plan the “Rigor, Relevance and Relationships” community night.
SELAC: The group discussed the ASD network; and plans to invite a lawyer to the next meeting to discuss/clarify ESY guidelines issued by RIDE.
Facilities Committee: No report.
North Kingstown School Committee: Ms. Held reported that the grade 10 girls tennis team received a RI Interscholastic League award for sportsmanship; that NK business director Ned Draper secured a $25,000 grant to study the feasibility of wind energy; and that the school committee discussed facility user fees. The NK school committee met with the NK town council to discuss the budget format; the NK committee will employ zero-based budgeting and will prepare for several scenarios (5% cut in state funding, 10% cut, etc.).
SORICO: No report.
High School Review: Ms. Held reported that the group will complete its second visit to Narragansett High School in early December and will then begin to compile the data and prepare its report for the school committee. The superintendent recommended that the school committee invite public input when the review committee presents its report.
Teacher Evaluation Committee: Mr. Whitehouse reported that the group is incorporating the Commissioner’s standards in the draft evaluation tool and expects to have a draft for school committee discussion after one more meeting. The superintendent recommended that the group review the model the Commissioner will release in December.
Policy: Mr. Whitehouse reported that the policy sub-committee is reviewing Jamestown’s policy concerning credit for out-of-state teaching experience.
Wellness: No meeting.
The next workshop meeting of the Jamestown School Committee will be on December 3. The next business meeting will be on December 17. All meetings are held at 7 p.m. in the Lawn School library.