09/26/09 - The School Committee Monday presented the idea of uniforms for students at the Block Island School.

The discussion of a dress code came at the request of several parents and committee members, who also raised the possibility of instituting uniforms for the students.

Superintendent Robert Hicks, in response to a question about practices in other districts, quipped that many impose a regulation “that the bottom of the top must meet the top of the bottom.”

School committees, he said, “have leeway and authority.”

The Block Island School currently has a dress code in the student handbook with a general prohibition of clothing that is “disruptive, provocative, revealing, profane, vulgar, offensive or endangers the health or safety of others.” It prohibits wearing hats or coats indoors, and requires students to wear shoes. As in the other districts Hicks mentioned, it includes a clause regarding clothing that shows midriffs or underwear. Administrators have the final determination on acceptability.

School Committee member Rich Tretheway did not like the word uniform, though described what he thought students should wear, namely khaki pants and collared shirts.

Molly O’Neill, a parent who attended the meeting, said she was in favor of uniforms for the lower grades but not the high school. Chairman Bill Padien favored making the dress code now in the student handbook a policy with standards, for students and faculty. He, however, was not in favor of instituting uniforms.

Hicks will draft two surveys on the subject, one for parents and one for students.

Food Service go to Aramark

School lunches will be contracted out to the ARAMARK Company, which has been awarded the contract to provide food to schools in Rhode Island. Hicks made the recommendation, and the committee voted unanimously in favor.

Although ARAMARK initially considered Block Island too small to service, Hicks said the company did an about face, and even sent a manger to evaluate services the first day of school. They will, Hicks said, keep a lot of things in place.

Advantages will include a possible savings of $20,000, Hicks said, “if things work out.” However, the school needs a new dishwasher and before counting on a savings, Hicks said he wants to see “the real numbers.” The costs were projected by looking at last year’s numbers.

Hicks said ARAMARK hopes to install a new point of sale computer by the new year, which would allow parents to go online and add money to their childrens’ accounts. For now, the old system is still in place.

ARAMARK will not provide fruit for the classrooms, and the school did not receive another grant to purchase it as it has in recent years. Padien would like local business to chip in and provide it, as it was popular with the students.

Hicks will send a letter to recruit businesses to the program.

Facility use fees

The town Recreation Department has requested waivers for activities held in the school when classes are not in session. Hicks told the committee it should amend its policy to include standards under which fees could be waived, instead of visiting it on a case-by-case basis as it does now.

Tretheway proposed tabling badminton and volleyball as they are aimed at adults, not children. A discussion ensued over karate, which includes children and adults, and its teacher receives a fee.

Committee member Annie Hall argued in favor of a karate waiver, since students are year-round residents of all ages.

The committee voted to table consideration of volleyball and badminton, but granted waivers to all other activities.

Contracts

Teacher contracts are in their third year, and Padien said he wants “to get the ball rolling,” and form a committee for the next round of negotiations. The negotiations can be closed, with two teams meeting, or open. They worked better in the past, he thought, with smaller teams. Tretheway also prefers both sides be small.

A letter will be sent to the school teachers’ association.

The committee signed on to a resolution by the Rhode Island Association of School Committees opposing the creation of mandatory binding arbitration.

The committee also voted to support Hicks’ recommendation to award a 403(b) compliance contract to a company chosen by the Rhode Island Asssociation of School Business Officers, CPI Qualified Plan Consultants. Hicks explained that the Internal Revenue Service is looking more closely at the 403 retirement accounts than in the past, and though there is a $1,500 up front fee, signing on assures the accounts will be in compliance with tax law.

Student and faculty News

2009 NECAP scores have been released. These tests were administered to students in Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Vermont. Block Island received a public report on the fourth grade, but not on the 8th and 11th grades, as those two classes were too small to protect student confidentiality.

The fourth grade fared well, with 73 percent achieving proficiency, and 27 percent partially proficient. Although none scored in the distinction range, none scored “substantially below proficiency” either.

In comparison, only 40 percent of Rhode Island students scored at the proficient level, and another 40 percent at the partial level. Twenty percent were substantially below, and none were in the distinctive range.

Two juniors, Missy Conant and Megan Mitchell, have requested early graduation and were granted this distinction, provided they complete all the requirements.