| | CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE RHODE ISLAND JOURNAL of COUNCIL JOINT SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING MAY 31, 2007 | |
The City Council with the School Committee meets in the Council Chambers on Thursday, May 31, 2007 and Mayor Isadore S Ramos calls the meeting to order at 5:15 P.M.
| Present: | Mayor Isadore S. Ramos | | |
| | Robert E. Cusack | ) | Council Members |
| | Bruce DiTraglia | ) | |
| | Valerie A. Perry | ) | |
| | Bryan P. Silva | ) | |
| | | | |
| | Richard M. Brown | ) | City Manager |
| | William J. Conley, Jr. | ) | City Solicitor |
| | Virginia B. Nunes | ) | City Clerk |
| | | | |
| | Dr. Jacqueline Forbes | ) | Superintendent |
| | | | |
| | Chairperson Mildred Morris | ) | School Committee |
| | Vice Chairperson David A. Medeiros | ) | |
| | Eileen S. Lovett | ) | |
| | Robert Faria | ) | |
| | Steven E. Santos | ) | |
The invocation is read by Councilwoman Perry and the Salute to the Flag is led by Vice Chairman Medeiros.
Dr. Forbes reported on a Five Year Facilities Plan regarding Buildings and Grounds, Learning Environment, Technology Infrastructure and Security.
Dr. Forbes presented a Legislative Update, House Bill No 5242 By Rose, Malik, Melo, Sennigan, & Story – AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION – SCHOOL COMMITTEES AND SUPERINTNEDENTS (allow School Committees to seek relief from state directives that are unfunded and which exceed federal limits and guidelines by bringing an action in the RI Superior Court) Action: Passed by the House on 5/30/07 and the companion Senate Bill No. 427 by DaPonte, Moura is under consideration. Draft Final Report of the Foundation Aid Technical Advisory Group $10,671 average per pupil foundational support. Weighting students by need to achieve vertical pupil equity (poverty, special education, English language learners, Career and Technical education)
Students Need Weighting Ratios
| Special Education | 1.5 |
| Free Lunch | 1.5 |
| Reduced Lunch | 1.25 |
| English Language Learners | 1.20 |
| Career & Technical Education | 1.20 |
Dr. Forbes stated this doesn’t replace local taxpayers’ burden. The state is now about 39%. This would be about 44%. This would not impact 2007-2008; you would see it in 2009.
Dr. Forbes report House Bill No. 5231 Sub A By Melo, Rose, Story, Savage, & Dennigan AN ACT RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH, RETARDAION AND HOSPITALS—COMMUNITY RESIDENCES (exempt any facility operated by Bradley Hospital from being considered as a group home or community residence) Action: Met with House Finance Committee Chairman to discuss the Bradley Hospital Craft Program reimbursement to the School Department.
Dr. Forbes presented a letter from Congressman Patrick Kennedy to Commissioner Peter McWalters supporting the school funding formula and proper group home reimbursement.
Mayor Ramos was pleased to see the actions of you and your staff regarding a commitment to go ahead. The Representatives and Senators are trying to get Legislation passed. I appreciate the School Department and School Committee and the Parent Volunteers making calls, emails and going to the state house.
Councilman DiTraglia stated that 2005-2006 is blank, there is nothing budgeted for it, so now it keeps getting worse.
Dr. Forbes said yes and if you follow it out to the last column its $3 million. That’s just a projection. We tried to put as little as we can in 2006-2007 let’s spread it out. It’s the best estimate, we’re not experts and we need the assistance of the City to look at this and help us prioritize.
Mr. Faria stated a lot of parents stated that 2005-2006 was blank and most of these issues were lack of routine maintenance for a number of years. We can’t put money aside for capital gain when you have a deficit.
Mayor Ramos stated there are rumors out there that the City is taking over the school department it’s not true. We are just having discussions.
Mr. Brown stated the Superintendent, Chairwomen, Mayor, and I met to discuss City and School consolidation. We focused on a number of items: Financing, Human Resources, Building & Grounds, Purchasing & Information Technology. Gathering information on the work load and tracking expenditures and budget and the way we need to analyze that information. When we get that we will be able to report back.
Mr. Faria was hoping to see some recommendations and get into the dotted line of responsibilities. I felt we did these three months ago.
Mr. Brown stated two points one is the analysis of the work load the goal of each organization. The other issue is what should be on the table. Some things need to be left at the school. When I came here I said I would like to have a scenario where I freed up the school committee to focus on education issues only and let us worry about buildings, grounds and the cleanliness inside.
Mr. Faria stated my goal is to discuss policy, education and the process therein. I agree I don’t want the Superintendent to be responsible for that. I want her to concentrate on education.
Ms. Morris stated after we met with you two weeks ago, I thought that tonight you were going to bring some figures and information, Dr. Forbes did.
Mr. Brown stated he didn’t get what he needed from the schools to get adequate information and I would never have told you two weeks.
Mayor Ramos asked what information Mr. Brown needed.
Mr. Brown stated he met with Dr. Hilton, Dr. Forbes and Jim McDonald a while ago and we asked for specific information about organizational, staffing, workload and expenditures. We haven’t got it and Dr. Hilton told Mr. McDonald that we wouldn’t get it till after your facility study was completed.
Dr. Forbes thought she gave the information.
Mr. Brown stated no.
Dr. Forbes stated she would like to work with you, find out specifically what you would like and double check with my finance department and provide that at our earliest convenience. Also I would like to know the key areas and key topics.
Mayor Ramos stated he didn’t want anyone to think the City can take over the whole school department.
Ms. Lovett asked why are we here tonight. Now it goes back to the four people that gathered before. Do we give input?
Mr. Brown stated I think if we all gather together we will accomplish absolutely nothing. I would like to know what areas of administrative type activities that the schools engage in right now that they would be comfortable in having us look at for a consolidated effort. When we get the policy of the school committee, not just one or two members, then we can go ahead with the hard work to get a report together to present to the City and to the Council on what the organization would look like and what the savings might be or in some cases there might be additional costs.
Ms. Morris stated she didn’t misunderstand you. Dr. Forbes did her work and you didn’t.
Mr. Brown stated no he never received the information he needed.
Councilman Cusack stated I would characterize all the power point paper as spending plans which is finding. This is a long term capitol improvement plan which is important to have. This is a letter from Congressman Kennedy, these talks about the bills that we encouraged the legislator to pass. It has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with consolidation. The analysis of the functions, workload, finance, with potential savings, nothing to do with the willingness to consider particular areas. To say Dr. Forbes brought the information Mr. Brown needs, it doesn’t. Are any of the areas Mr. Brown mentioned, finance, human resources, building and grounds, purchasing and IT? Is there anything that the school department would object to being on the table?
Dr. Forbes stated we haven’t talked about it.
Councilman Cusack asked if those four areas could be consolidated.
Dr. Forbes stated we haven’t talked about it
Mr. Faria stated we need to look at everything.
Mr. Brown stated he has used organizational studies for work such as this. I had done a study exactly like this in another jurisdiction. The work probably took a year, year and a half in order to come up with conclusions, which is why I would never have agreed to a turn around time. Because the originations were so lean to begin with there may be dollar savings or not. I didn’t want to go to and outside organization because the range of expenses probably starts at about $50,000.00 and up. I think we have enough talent in house to look at the numbers and determine if we need to go to that next step or not.
Councilman DiTraglia stated the five year plan looks excellent. The City needs to come up with a plan.
Mayor Ramos stated he wants everyone to understand it’s not we and them. This is a team effort.
Mr. Brown stated Eileen Lovett said earlier the School Committee has not really acted on this. What I would appreciate is as Dr. Forbes and I go forward to have some direction from the School Committee as to what areas that they want us to start exploring.
Councilman Silva stated he would like the entire City Council and the School Committee to be informed when you have a meeting. Not word for word, but what topics you’re talking about.
Mayor Ramos stated maybe we should do as Councilwoman Perry suggested have a workshop altogether.
Ms. Morris stated the School Committee is doing that June 12, 2007.
Mayor Ramos stated I meant altogether.
Mr. Brown thought it would be more effective if the School Committee meet on June 12, 2007 and we have our marching orders that we put together some information.
Councilman Cusack asked what the steps are.
Ms. Morris stated we’re going to meet June 12, 2007 discussing our side and the School Committee agrees to what they want to give up or what we think we should have, then we’ll bring it to the Council and Mr. Brown.
Mr. Faria stated we met on that last time and I thought we were looking at everything and going to chop off anything that wasn’t functional.
Mayor Ramos stated your School Committee Chairlady stated that you will meet to discuss what you’re willing to relinquish.
Councilman Cusak stated this is going to be very difficult. I would like a legal opinion are there certain areas that cannot be relinquished. Example: we’re not going to be teaching.
Councilwoman Perry stated this is nothing new these discussions have been going on for years until we give up the idea of we’re going to relinquish it or we’re going to give up or what everybody else is going to give up, we are not going anywhere. We are two governing bodies of the city elected officials trying to do what’s best for the entire city. It’s not us and them we’re doing this together. We can’t look at this as one side is relinquishing and the other is taking over. We want to do what is best for the city.
Mayor Ramos stated you’re absolutely correct, but we have to do it as what’s legal on the council side and legal on the school committee side.
Mr. Faria stated that the school committee did vote on the Platt and Watters property. I would like to have discussions to sell that property and reallocate the students of Watters and the faculty to another facility and all or most of those funds be directed to the deficit.
Mayor Ramos stated there is legislation that the State wants its money back.
Councilman Cusack stated from a philosophical stand point. That’s an asset we have a five year facility plan. Take asset money as asset money allocated to long term not into the deficit.
Mr. Faria stated he would love to see the school department have a capital budget. Also regarding negotiations where do we stand.
Mayor Ramos stated that’s between the school committee and the teachers union. There have been discussions.
Mr. Faria stated he wasn’t asking for details just if they are doing anything.
Ms. Morris stated she thought that was a personnel problem and it should be discussed with the Superintendent privately.
Councilman Cusack stated I think the idea that we can’t ask if there has been any discussion.
Mayor Ramos stated he is against anybody on this council discussing anything regarding negotiations if it’s at a stalemate.
Dr. Forbes stated were we are with NEA with our teachers, East Providence Teachers Association, we sent a letter letting them know that the proposals are at a stalemate at this point, but I am always hopeful that they will continue. At the June 12, 2007 meeting we are going to be reviewing proposals from the custodial maintenance union. That’s all I can comment on.
Councilman Cusack stated he is placing on the Docket for the coming City Council meeting two items. One is to proceed with the declaratory judgment action. The second is to urge the school committee to move immediately to replace the current Health Care Third Party Administrator with another firm for substantial cost savings.
Mr. Faria stated I’m going to present to the school committee our budget as we present I have some ideas for preparations for future negotiations start preparing for next year now.
On motion of Councilman Silva, seconded by Councilwoman Perry, it is voted to adjourn.
Mayor Ramos adjourns the meeting at 6:45 P.M.
On motion of Vice Chairperson David A. Medeiros, seconded by Steven E. Santos, it is voted to adjourn.
Chairperson Mildred Morris adjourns the meeting at 6:45 P.M.
Attest:
_________________________________
Virginia B. Nunes
City Clerk
Approved: June 19, 2007