10/24/09 - After years of housing part-time staff at hotels and inns, the Block Island School Committee agreed to take a lease on a house to accommodate five of the island school’s administrators.

Superintendent Robert Hicks proposed a three-bedroom home off High Street, within walking distance of the school, for the use of Special Education Director Bill Anderson, co-principals Leslie Improta and John Canole, Guidance Counselor Betty Gomes, and Hicks. Each of the five is at the school from two to two and a half days a week and would share the house on a rotating basis.

The rental would save the school close to $2,500 a year, and offer more flexibility to the administrators, who would be able to prepare meals and leave their belongings from week to week.

Hicks also noted another advantage. If someone had to stay overnight because of weather there would be no additional costs to the school, as there are now.

The current cost of inn accommodations is $13,200 a year, while the house lease will cost $10,850 for the remainder of the academic year.

Policy changes

Because there have been several inquiries about eligibility for early graduation, Hicks suggested revisions to the school graduation policy. He said while the “school encourages students to remain in school for the full sequence of years,” educators do realize that for a some students, “graduation at the end of 11th grade or during 12th grade … may be both possible and beneficial.”

Hicks noted that the policy urged students thinking about early graduation to consider the possibility of “concurrent enrollment.” Several Rhode Island colleges offered programs, Hicks said, in which high school juniors and seniors could take freshman college courses concurrently with high school courses, simultaneously earning high school and college credits.

Eligibility for early graduation begins with the student having earned “at least a 3.0 grade point average (GPA)” and 14 credits by the end of 10th grade. In addition, “students graduating early must demonstrate the level of proficiency required by the Board of Regents on state assessments given in the fall of 11th grade.”

Students applying for early graduation “must file a petition to the principal by May 1 of 10th grade.” Students must also “fulfill the graduation requirements of the Block Island School. No graduation requirements shall be waived.” These requirements include completing senior projects.

The committee approved the changes in policy and agreed to post them for public perusal for a required period of 30 days.

Travel reimbursements

In the interest of simplification, Hicks also recommended changes in the travel policy, acknowledging the need to “reimburse employees for travel in the most economical means possible that allows for the efficient and effective operation of the school.”

The policy also underscores the importance of supporting “travel off island to prevent professional isolation and develop communication and support structures for school employees.”

The policy outlines who would be eligible for travel reimbursements: part-time employees, who are not island residents, “in recognition of the difficulty in securing island housing and the cost of travel.” Part- and full-time employees, who are island residents, are also eligible if they “need to participate in approved work activity off the island.”

The policy states that travel will be “reimbursed at the most economical rate available,” which in most cases would be taking the traditional ferry. Use of the high-speed ferry and air travel would be monitored closely and subject to the approval of the superintendent and in some instances the School Committee.

Employees are encouraged to take the “short and healthy walk” between the ferry and the school. Taxi reimbursements may be available in extenuating circumstances. The policy was also approved and posted for 30 days.

Facility use

An issue that has occupied the attention of committee members over the years has been the question of what organizations are eligible for exemptions from usage fees.

Hicks provided language that said: “Since the school belongs to the town,” sustained by “local taxes, the School Committee accepts the responsibility for making its plant facilities available to responsible organizations … and individuals for appropriate civic, cultural … or recreational activities.” The policy also establishes standards for three categories of building users.

The first (Class I), which would be entitled to free use of school facilities, includes Block Island School affiliated groups, youth service groups and officially appointed groups sponsored by the town. The second group (Class II) to whom fees shall be charged include members of the island community’s “non-profit civic and recreation …associations: approved …philanthropic and cultural groups,” etc.

The final category of users (Class III) encompasses for-profit groups within the community, seeking to use the school facilities “for non-profit, charitable … or non-commercial … purposes.”

There would be no charge for Class I using the gym, cafeteria or other rooms. For Class II, there would be a $25 per hour charge for use of the gym or cafeteria (with kitchen); no charge for the cafeteria (without kitchen) or other rooms.

Groups in the Class III category would pay $40 per hour for use of the gym and cafeteria (with kitchen) and $25 per hour for the cafeteria (without kitchen) or other rooms.

In response, committee member Sean McGarry objected to the school shouldering the expenses for non-school related activities. He said, “I want to see town use come from the town budget and school use from the school budget.”

Committee member Annie Hall countered that the facility had been renovated and restored with the town in mind. “We built this facility with tax-payer dollars and these are the people who are using the building. I support that use. Also, it is imperative that we promote the health and wellness of our community,” she said.

In the end, the policy was approved and posted along with the others for 30 days.

NECAP results

Hicks reported that in the 2009 New England Common Assessments Program (NECAP) science testing, there were not enough students in grades eight and 11 to report scores on. Consequently, he learned that the state Department of Education (RIDE) had rolled together the percentages for the fourth, eighth and 11th graders, since those assessed grades came from one school. While it is a procedure that the state was still reviewing, Hicks said the island school would add the results of all three grades “to form a single accountability score.”

He noted that a recent report in the Providence Journal that island 11th graders had scored 45 percent proficiency was inaccurate.

Financial matters

The superintendent explained that the school had received its 2009 audit, “hot off the press,” and asked members to review it and formulate questions for the auditor who would be present at the next meeting.

Initially, chair Bill Padien questioned Hicks on the fund balance, which was said to be $130,806. Padien worried about the number of unanticipated expenditures incurred in 2009. “My guess is that those expenses were off-set by items that came in under-budget,” Hicks said. Still uneasy, Padien said he had “lots of questions” for the auditor.

Resignations and appointments

The committee accepted the resignations of Nancy Cole as fiscal clerk and Paul Cunningham as head coach for boys varsity basketball — both “with regret.” Requesting two appointments, Hicks first recommended Yordanka Martin as fiscal clerk, noting “she has fallen out of heaven to help us.” Padien reiterated that sentiment by addressing Martin directly, “Thank you very much for applying.”

Hicks also proposed the appointment of Sarah Sprague Turenne to a two and a half day position as food service helper. Both appointments were approved. The committee also approved the appointments of Laurie McTeague, Sarah Sprague, Matt Moran, and John Tarbox as varsity coaches.

Miscellany

For the future, Hicks announced he would be expanding community access to the school committee meeting agendas, by posting all relevant information on the school’s new website: blockislandschool.net.

In another matter, the committee approved several requests for home-schooling of students. One of these was for Fiona, Ruby and Rory Crawford, for a period between November 30 and December 16. Another was for Daniel, Samuel and Selena Spier from November 30 to the third week of January. A third request was for Ayla Johnson for a more traditional home-schooling period of an academic year.

The next meeting was set for November 16 at 7 p.m.