October School Committee Report

The school committee met at the end of October and voted on a number of issues while deferring action on several others:

• The committee approved a meeting curfew to not exceed 10:30 pm.
• A facilities report was given by Interim Facilities Manager, Tony Feola.
• Completion of new sidewalks and asphalt work at Riverside Middle School is 90% complete. 
• After the recent flooding of Martin Middle School's boiler room, it was reported that 3 boilers are back on line and all set. One boiler is awaiting a part before completion.
• Hand rails at Silver Spring school have been put out to bid.
• 104 communication radios have been purchased and have been dispersed to various schools. They are programmed and ready to operate.
• The high school has received 12 new security cameras including additional parking lot cameras.
• The district door project has phase one completed. Doors behind Martin Middle School behind the gym, auditorium, chorus areas, etc., are done. Exit doors behind the House areas are done. Francis School and others are being worked on.
• Dozens of window shades are planned for replacement. Many are at the high school and other schools. "These are fire retardant shades which also block extreme sunlight with interfering with the use of technology in some classrooms (computers, smartboards, etc.) said Feola. The shades can cost up to $250. depending on size. The district has $12,000 budgeted for this project.
• Technology: Kelly Ahrens gave a report which said work order requests from all schools are essentially done. "In the first two months of school we have received 555 work orders for technology needs. We have basically closed all of the requests. We have a 48 hour turnaround on most service requests, if not sooner," said Ahrens the tech coordinator for the City. Ahrens also stated that the district has received an additional $174,000 from the state to install more wireless capability. "We previously received $500,000 and now have every room in the district with wireless capability. This additional state funding will allow us to extend wireless technology to all gyms and auditoriums," added Ahrens.
• The system is reverting back to a special needs software program the district had before trying a new program which didn't work efficiently. "Our old program is welcomed back by teachers and parents and deals with IEP's in a better fashion. The new program wasn't very intuitive and lacked for data," said Ahrens.
• Responding to a question from committee member Jessica Beauchaine, Ahrens said that some 25 refurbished computers that were donated to the district are up and running. "These have 3 year warranties now and are in the MMS and EPHS libraries where they work great. The entire high school library is getting new computers." 
• Exit interviews may come to EP schools. "There is no policy on exit interviews when our teachers leave," said Jessica Beauchaine. "We should officially find out why so many of our people are leaving. We should develop a policy," Beauchaine as the committee agreed. 
• The district announced the resignation of a speech & language pathologist for the end of October.
• With basically no discussion, the committee approved the new budget which has been discussed at prior budget hearings.
• $1500 will be allocated to the Whiteknact School playground project, keeping in line with several similar projects throughout the city schools.
• Bids will go out for work on unit ventilation equipment and engineering design services for the high school labs. It should cost about $42,000. Some of this is for heater units in classrooms.
• Bids had been received for replacement of a new softball field backstop behind the high school. A low bid of $8,900 was received but committee member Tony Ferreira balked at voting for it because the bid was now some 10 months old. "This is not a way to do business. We didn't have a hurricane, it's no emergency. I find it offensive that we got this quote 10 months ago," said Ferreira. But Joel Monteiro pointed out that the bid "has no expiration date" and should be honored by the contractor. Athletic Director Bob Duarte said the bid "will come in the same or lower." "This fence is over 40 years old and has been added to and repaired a lot. The poles are cracking and in rough shape. We are installing a bigger fence and removing the other completely. The larger backstop will prevent many balls from interfering with the nearby tennis courts," explained Duarte.
• Substitute teacher pay raise tabled. Citing a shortage of substitute teachers causing classes to be doubled up sometimes and other teachers losing prep time to cover classes, the district considered raising sub pay from the current $80 per day. Providence and Pawtucket pay subs $100 per day. After much discussion on the merits of such action, the committee voted to delay action, if any, until teacher contract negotiations begin shortly. "I want more data to see if this would be projected to solve our problem in actuality," said member Nate Cahoon.
• Increase in Coaches Pay tabled. The committee also deferred any action on getting coaches and advisor stipends back to where they were before the state budget commission slashed them, some in half. "We've had a recent turnover in good coaches who have gone to other places. The budget commission cut city council benefits and coaching stipends. The council benefits were restored but not the coaches," said Monteiro who has been at odds with some of the city council recently.
• EPHS Hockey to drop from division 2 to division 3 and combine with Tolman High. The Tolman High hockey team in Pawtucket is down to only 3 players. "We were contacted by Tolman to see if we would let their three players join our team," said AD Bob Duarte. "We ourselves are down to just 10-12 players down from the 19 we had. Our program is down 8 graduating seniors, dropping our skill level," said Duarte. Coach Kevin Croke who has been credited with revising the Townie hockey team leading them to two RI state championships as EP moved up a division. "We've done well with some good kids but it's tough to compete with the big hockey schools, especially when we don't have a hockey rink," said Croke. The Townies have scrambled to find ice time to practice and keep a competitive team on the ice.
• The committee approved the athletic department's new concussion policy for athletes. "Once an athlete is thought to have a concussion, they are not cleared to play again to after a series of physician and trainer examinations. It's a pretty extensive process and is in line with state and national guidelines," said Duarte.
• The High School athlete's Code of Conduct policy was put on hold as committee members wanted to see it strengthened in some areas. "It was developed 5-6 years ago and is actually tougher than what the state interscholastic league requires," said AD Duarte. "If an athlete gets in trouble, this is the bible in which we give discipline," added Duarte. "One thing that bugs me is that you can fail two subjects and still play," said member Nate Cahoon. "One has to pass 5 of 7 subjects to remain eligible for sports," said Duarte. "I feel if you fail two classes you shouldn't play," responded Cahoon. Jessica Beauchaine, Joel Monteiro and others agreed that the policy needs further review. Members also commented on how daily attendance and tardiness may be a factor. The policy was deferred to a subsequent meeting. 
• The committee approved a request from Timothy Conley to help institute a Unified Basketball Program in the middle schools. The program pairs special needs with mainstreamed students to participate in team sports. "I will do all in my power to see that the program doesn't harm the budget," said Conley, a former school board member and current city council member from Ward 4. "We have the program at the high school," said Duarte. "I support it greatly. Our only cost is for bus transportation." Jessica Beauchaine, a major fundraiser for middle school sports, also pledged support from the Project 106 group. "We'll support it," said Beauchaine. 
• •New Superintendent of Schools Coming: The committee has set up a public interview for the two finalists for the top education job. The meeting is set for their November 10th meeting at City Hall. The committee normally meets at 7 pm. Superintendent Kim Mercer is scheduled to leave the job on December 30th.