BOARD APPROVALS
Providence School Department
797 Westminster Street
Providence, RI 02903
August 26, 2013
CONVENE MEETING
1. Call to Order –6:41 PM – Board President Keith Oliveira called the meeting to order
Board Members Present: Keith Oliveira, Nicholas Hemond, Nina Pande, Phanida
Phivilay, Barbara Wong, Julian Dash and Eva Hulse-Avila
Nina Pande joined the meeting at 6:45 PM
Absent Board Members: Natalia Rosa-Sosa and Magaly Sanchez
2. Superintendent’s Comments – Good evening and welcome to everyone. First off, I would like to
mention that the Convocation we held at the Dunkin Donut Center was very successful and I would like
to thank the staff and everyone who helped put it together. We had 706 people in attendance along
with Mr. Steve Smith from the Providence Teachers Union and Mr. Keith Oliveira, School Board
President who both spoke and welcomed everyone. Also, I would like to thank the Partners. This is a
great kick off to the year and I am very grateful to everyone for making it a success. Secondly,
Wednesday will be the first day of school for students and tomorrow the first day for teachers. Finally,
we sat down with the Board to discuss the Teacher Induction Program last week. I would like to thank
Nkoli Onye, who has helped facilitate the process along the way and TRAIN which stands for Teacher
Retention and Induction Network.
3. School Board Organizational Meeting – Election of Officers
President – Keith Oliveira
MSV – Pande, Hemond (5-0) MOTION APPROVED – 1 Abstention - Dash
Roll Call Vote: Phivilay Aye, Wong Aye, Hemond Aye, Hulse-Avila Aye, Pande Aye
Vice-President – Nicholas Hemond
MSV – Oliveira, Dash (6-0) MOTION APPROVED
Roll Call Vote: Phivilay Aye, Wong Aye, Oliveira Aye, Hulse-Avila Aye, Pande Aye, Dash Aye
Secretary – Nina Pande
MSV – Dash, Oliveira (6-0) MOTION APPROVED
Roll Call Vote: Phivilay Aye, Wong Aye, Hemond Aye, Oliveira Aye, Hulse-Avila Aye, Dash Aye
APPROVE AGENDA
4. Approve Agenda
The School Board may vote to approve any revision, adoption, and/or ordering of the Agenda. The
Superintendent may withdraw, note changes or amendments to agenda items at this time.
MSV – Phivilay, Wong (7-0) MOTION APPROVED
PUBLIC COMMENT
5. Right to be Heard – Public Comment began at 6:47 PM and ended at 6:53 PM
Alex Corsini – Good evening everyone. Thank you for the Convocation and I am here to discuss
the Breakfast in the Classroom Program at Roger Williams Middle School. I am here to let you
know that every member of the faculty does not want the program in the school and this I know
because the Principal sent me an email stating that. The Superintendent spoke about how we
could make students successful and I think for that we need a 24 hour school day. We have
multiple speakers during the day Feinstein being one of them and we also have issues of
cleanliness in the classrooms and money not going to the school. Tomorrow everyone will be
filing a grievance to remove the program from the school.
Steve Smith – Good evening everyone and I would like to congratulate everyone who got
appointed into office tonight. I have to say the Convocation was really good today. Well I can’t
say much in 3 minutes but I do know that we need to work through some of these issues;
breakfast in the classroom is one of them. Having a good look and getting things done are two
different things. We are not against students having breakfast but in the cafeteria. I know letting
go of control is tough but we all have to work together in order to accomplish something. I
would also like to welcome David Igliozzi who I see is back as the Board Counsel.
SCHOOL BOARD COMMENTS
6. School Board Comments
Keith Oliveira – I had the pleasure of speaking at the Convocation is morning as Board President
and I articulated the direction the Board is taking. We recognize that we are not moving the
needle on education unless everyone is on board. We spoke of the spirit in collaboration. I was
very pleased with the turnout and we as a District will do what is in the best interest of our kids.
I also attended the new Teacher Induction Program and I was very pleased with that as well.
Nina Pande – I too enjoyed the Convocation and the turnout. People were on a high and as we
were leaving, optimism turned into pessimism. We don’t want the attitude of pessimism. How
can we continuously remind the teacher that the work is hard and that is half the battle. I hope
they bring today’s message into the schools and the classrooms. We are the cheerleaders and
champions. We also need to remind everyone how important it is for the children to have
breakfast before the start of the
school day. For a child not to have breakfast is not a good thing. The meal will help them
concentrate during the day. I am a supporter of Breakfast in the Classrooms. We have to work
together to bring it in. The program must continue.
Julian Dash – Thanks Mr. Corsini for coming out and bringing that concern. As a parent of a 2nd
grader I agree with Breakfast in the Classrooms but a cereal bar and milk is like giving them
candy.
Phanida Phivilay – Nutrition is the key in Health & Wellness. I am willing to work with your
school so we could connect with Sodexo. We just had a Health & Wellness Committee Meeting
today. We had a presentation on a Walking School Bus and why kids are absent from school. We
are looking into grants from the Department of Safety Administration. I will share the slides with
the Board. We also approved a Health & Wellness Policy today and I would like to thank Donna
O’Connor for helping us put it together. I will be bringing it to the Policy Committee and we are
hoping we can publish it.
CONSENT AGENDA
Recommendation: The Superintendent recommends School Board approval of Consent agenda items.
7. Minutes 8-13-13
8. Personnel Actions
9. Home School Candidates
At this time a Motion was made to amend the minutes. A change needed to be made to item #34. The
vote should read 5-0 with 3 Abstentions
MSV – Hemond, Pande (7-0) MOTION APPROVED
Another vote was taken to approve Consent Agenda after the change was made to the minutes
MSV – Phivilay, Avila (7-0) MOTION APPROVED
REPORT ON PERSONNEL
10. Carl G. Lauro Elementary School – Assistant Principal – Nancy Tobin – Effective: 8/19/13; Salary:
$89,346.00
11. Harry Kizirian Elementary School – Assistant Principal – Violet Saneywongse LeMar – Effective:
8/20/13; Salary: $89,346.00
12. Asa Messer Elementary School – Assistant Principal – Lori Barkett-Farhat – Effective: 8/20/13; Salary:
$89,346.00
13. Martin Luther King Elementary School – Acting Principal – Kristen Lussier – Effective: 8/26/13; Salary:
$100,878.00
14. Veazie Street Elementary School – Assistant Principal – Courtney Monterecy – Effective: 8/21/13;
Salary: $89,346.00
15. Coordinator of Student Services at Birch Vocational – Linda Noble – Effective: 8/27/13; Salary:
$94,112.00
16. Special Education Supervisor – Erica Dickson – Effective: 8/6/13; Salary: $98,001.00
17. Dr. Jorge Alvarez High School – Assistant Principal – Elizabeth Melendez – Effective: 8/27/13; Salary:
$95,891.00
18. Dr. Jorge Alvarez High School – Assistant Principal – Judith D’Antuono – Effective: 8/27/13; Salary:
$95,891.00
All of the Appointments were taken in block form
MSV – Phivilay, Wong (7-0) MOTION APPROVED
REPORT ON CONTRACTS
19. Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island Contract
20. CTE/Perkins bid award/PCTA Culinary Program
21. Full Service Community Schools Summer Program
All contracts were taken in block form
MSV – Pande, Hemond (6-0) MOTION APPROVED - 1 Abstention - Dash
PRESENTATIONS
22. Report on High School Summer Programming by Denise Carpenter
RETIREMENTS & RESIGNATIONS
23. Retirements & Resignations
7:56 PM - A Motion was made to Enter into Executive Session
MSV – Phivilay, Wong (7-0) MOTION APPROVED
EXECUTIVE SESSION
24. Executive Session Pursuant to RIGL 42-46-5(a)(2)Collective Bargaining
REPORT ON EXECUTIVE SESSION VOTES
25. No Votes were taken
9:10 PM - A Motion was made to come out of Executive Session
MSV – Hemond, Pande – (Unanimous Decision)
Roll Call Vote: Phivilay Aye, Wong Aye, Pande Aye, Hemond Aye, Oliveira Aye, Dash Aye, Hulse-Avila
Aye
A Motion was made to seal the minutes
MSV – Hemond, Phivilay - (Unanimous Decision)
Roll Call Vote: Phivilay Aye, Wong Aye, Pande Aye, Hemond Aye, Oliveira Aye, Dash Aye, Hulse-Avila
Aye
A Motion was made to adjourn the meeting
MSV – Phivilay, Wong - (Unanimous Decision)
Roll Call Vote: Phivilay Aye, Wong Aye, Pande Aye, Hemond Aye, Oliveira Aye, Dash Aye, Hulse-Avila
Aye
ADJOURN
26. Adjourn Meeting – The meeting ended at 9:11 PM