Would you like to receive our daily news? Folks are seeing these issues as mutually exclusive; in other words, you cant possibly support fiscal sustainability and support schools. Jeanne Silversmith also expressed that she is excited about this idea. Why or why not? Kristen Stringfellow - Superintendent. South Kingstown High School Cafeteria. I am not into politics, I am an educator that understands education. The work done to initiate the design for the new high school was research-based and future oriented. The mission was to transform the space to improve educational delivery, foster greater connections among all members of the school community and also strengthen the relationship of our school within the broader community. However, we know that having certain spaces optimizes teaching and learning. I hope to use my experience in working with others to not only make space for all opinions coming from members of our community but to also be professional and timely in my responses. administration, teachers, staff and families. The Curtis Corner fields are great and should be used by the high school students. As an educator, Ive always believed that what happens inside any building is whats most important. I am willing to listen fully, whether I agree or disagree, fully investigate all issues and make final decisions based on what is best for the students of our district. These are serious times that require serious people to lead us. A: I am an involved parent in the district and have three children in three different SK schools. The five other challengers are Alexander Menzies, Alicia Vignali Henry, Ethan Farrell, Joshua LaPlante and Matthew Ulrickson. I am invested in equity across the district for all of our students. A: I have a record of being both frugal and pro-child, experience leading under-budget school building projects and school reorganizations (school closing, redistricting, collapsing bus tiers, reorganizing middle schools) that protected programs by increasing efficiency and did not divide, but, rather, brought people together. Chance of rain 50%. that is degrading to another person. Personally, I have significant concerns that what was once a community envisioned series of improvements to a reduced number of facilities (all remaining) is now a very focused high school build project with very limited plans for the Pre-K through 4 spaces. My votes have always put the children of the district first, while being respectful to the taxpayers whose tax dollars fund the District. SKHS Soccer at School Committee Meeting; The SKP Lottery is open; South Kingstown Redistricting Information ; Ms. Duff Wolstencroft Teacher of the Year! I will continue to be an equity advocate and will encourage Administration and Leadership to continue to reach out to heal and strengthen relationships by working together with the Peace Dale Partnership and TASK (Towards an Anti-Racist South Kingstown). A few clouds early, otherwise mostly sunny. The School Committee brought Scarlett Lewiss Choose Love movement to the district in 2017. Jacy Northup claimed she was running for School Committee so she could learn about these issues. What that means to me is that we give all children the tools they need to succeed regardless of their background or personal circumstance; that we move beyond diversity to a true uplifting of all cultures in our schools and curriculum; and that by creating a new culture in the schools we can improve community and family engagement across the board. Build bridges instead of walls. - Sonya Sotomayor. We'd love to hear eyewitness Chance of rain 60%. Wakefield, RI 02879 . The View From Swamptown: For generations, Mount Farm had a rich and lavish history, New leader, same mission for Plum Beach Garden Club, South County Chamber Singers welcome new director, NK Council approves $129.8 million budget, South County Art Association celebrates special milestone with 50th Earthworks exhibit, Jonnycake Center for Hope set to announce $5 million plan to help local families, Adult prom raises $12,000 for South Kingstown athletes, History of Narragansett Pier Railway offers glimpse into past, Common Sense Health: Fish oil is the superhero of supplements, Fast Ferry expected to begin service to Block Island in 2024, Community forum on towns future leads to focus on resources, Girls Lacrosse: Mariners rolling in perfect start, Baseball: NK back on track after rough patch, NK's Ciarniello honored as RIIL Student Athlete of the Year, Narragansett Town Council grants casino liquor license for URI event over objections, Narragansett suspends bars license after reports of underage drinking. You have permission to edit this article. Slight chance of a shower late. Creating a new High School campus is also expected to decrease the number of students we have who make the choice to attend our neighboring high schools, resulting in a substantial savings to our District. The elementary schools are doing great, Broad Rock is the newest building in the district, but by the time you get to the middle and high school level we need an upgrade. Attendees - voting members. Emily Cummiskey said there is access to the property on South Road the parking could be explored but at this point we are looking at the bigger picture to see if this is even an option that should be explored. Raissa Mosher stated that there are a lot of new people involved but she hopes the time and work that was put into the Ed Spec meetings would be looked at and taken into account. Attendees - voting members. Be Truthful. His contract, approved unanimously by all school committee members present for the special meeting, will pay $800 per day. A: I believe the issues we face require a passion for education in addition to a skill set that equips our SC to address the complex issues stated above. . For the state Senate, Democrat Alana DiMario received the party endorsement in the race to replace outgoing State Sen. James Sheehan in District 36, which covers North Kingstown and Narragansett. Our schools need responsible districting of neighborhood school buildings balanced around budget and transportation. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. He also stated that there is a RIDE requirement for who needs to be on the building committee and also a town charter that has some vague language about appointing the majority of the building committee. Alycia Collins asked if there is enough space at the Curtis Corner site for an addition. He thanked members of the current school committee for bringing him back on board and expressed a willingness to help in any way he could to move the district forward. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. (MSV 1) Move to direct the Building Committee to proceed with an investigation into Stage II Application to show feasibility of expansion to CCMS for grades 9-12 along with closure of the current high school facility as recommended by Superintendent Savastano. Vote: Unanimously Approved . The synthesis of my education, professional knowledge and personal experience makes this a very natural next step. She continued by stating that a number of members on the school committee gave the appearance of impropriety and have an obvious disdain for Stringfellow. The biggest issue facing our community today is the divide that exists within it. Brimer said that the Republicans were feeling optimistic and confident about their chances and that McKay and her had accomplished many of the set goals they had from the previous election, in particular addressing the towns historic buildings and holding their line on taxes. I was the top vote getter of the 2018 election, I am the existing Town Council president. It is being re-run here to correct that mistake. I know how important it is to have a School Committee that works collaboratively with the community and the administration to find solutions that bring people together and not drive them apart. SOUTH KINGSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL (Precinct 3205) WEST KINGSTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Precinct 3208) NEW LIFE ASSEMBLY (Precinct 3209) . Were a small town, we see people having breakfast with the superintendent-to-be, and yet theres a claim that I have never discussed Bob Hicks position, Bergner pressed. Two of my children are in the DLI (Dual Language Immersion Program). Notably, I currently have three children in the district. Together, we can do great things in our In my view, they are matters of significant importance and in some cases urgency. Don't Threaten. I think its time for us to build some bridges and all come together as a community and work for our schools.. One, Curtis Corner is a good location and will result in a tighter facility, better suited to todays learning environments and has the support of the Department of Education. If Rhode Island Fast Ferry successfully launches its summer service next year, will it impact how often you travel to Block Island? Kate Macinanti. These workshops are ongoing and strengthen the relationship between the school and community and also lay the foundation for implicit bias training. A leadership change caused the building committee to be headed by a Town Council member which took education out of the forefront. Call to Order . Low 48F. I support a multi-year, strategic school facility plan that includes our long-term. Resident Stacey Bodziony, an organizer for Friends of Wakefield Elementary School, thanked the committee for the extra time and effort theyd put in over the past few weeks, and said the group would look to change its focus going forward. High 58F. He explained that previously the district was spending millions of dollars each summer to fix code compliance issues, yet none of the money was actually impacting the students. Since announcing my candidacy I have also been hosting my own community conversations that are open to the public. Will the addition of Fast Ferry service departing from Quonset impact how often you travel to Block Island? This language led to the appointment of 14 members, 8 appointed by the Town Council. The Independent regrets the errors. The sum of their experiences - as well as my own - gives me first-hand knowledge and insights into how to serve our entire school community. Wakefield, RI 02879 . Motion made by: Jacy Northup. Tuesday, March 26, 2019 . Over on the South Kingstown School Committee, Democrats Stephanie Canter, the chair of the SKSC, and Michelle Brousseau are seeking reelection as well as incumbent independent Jacy Northup. We need a strong leadership table that will actively engage our community to build a school system vision for our future. Former South Kingstown Superintendent Bob Hicks was appointed by the school committee to serve at interim superintendent while Kristen Stringfellow is out on administrative leave. The superintendents report on our school ratings highlighted this, noting that it is exactly what is holding us back. I'm eager to continue my collaborative work with fellow committee members, the or anything. Unfortunately, there was also a lot of misinformation being spoken by the four candidates opposing the school facilities plan, in what appeared to be an attempt to mislead the voting public. Two, the Columbia Street building, due to its age and size, would cost more to maintain and poses a greater risk of costly surprises during construction. Copyright 2023 Rhode Island Free Press Co. A: Yes, I am in full support of relocating our High School to the Curtis Corner site. In the Senate, Sen. Jack Reed will face Republican Allen Waters, a Providence native who joined the race in December after previously attempting a primary run as a Democrat against Sen. Ed Markey in Massachusetts. 215 Columbia Street. With that experience in mind, I believe that elected public officials have a responsibility to be respectful and transparent, seizing every opportunity to educate the community on the impact of each decision made. Ed Collins described the recent renovation to Eden Park Elementary School which entailed revamping one wing (18,000. Kristen Stringfellow - Superintendent. Signup today! No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism or anything. He thinks we need to build a new high school at Curtis Corner and if it is done right, this community will support it and pay for it. Respectfully submitted, Linda Savastano. School committee member Emily Cummiskey opened up the discussion at the table by acknowledging a divide within the community but asking everyone to work on moving forward together. Don't knowingly lie about anyone We need to ensure the building is properly renovated and that meets the expectations from RIDE that all students are safe, warm and dry. South Kingstown High School Cafeteria. There will, of course, be mistakes, and mistakes are allowed, but we need to own them and learn from them in order to move forward. Success! Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. Together, we can do great things in our . A: I firmly believe trust and respect are earned. Together, we can do great things in our school district! Emily Cummiskey. ** Precincts with more than one ballot scanner may display as 100% reported despite results only being received from one scanner. . Absent Voting Members. Jacy A. Northup, Independent. Dorald Beasley stated that a change to Stage II was long overdue. 4 to elect. The combination of my professional and personal experience makes me the ideal candidate to meet this moment. This is my third time traveling through our school system, since I attended myself and raised three children in town. school district! Our community is divided, and that divide is making it difficult to get anything accomplished. Deep cuts would have been made no matter what had happened. Don't knowingly lie about anyone The South Kingstown School Committee is committed to: Ensure a safe, caring, nurturing, and orderly learning environment Ensure our schools have positive cultures and are housed in high-quality facilities Ensure a clear focus on the district mission, goals, and priorities for student achievement in all deliberations and communications. Share with Us. So, relocating the high school to Curtis Corner makes the most sense to me, both educationally and economically. 32 talking about this. It is how we believe we should arrive there that is different. For the Democrats, perhaps the biggest surprise was the decision by the North Kingstown Democratic Town Committee to not award one of its four endorsements to Town Council President Greg Mancini, who with 6,543 votes in the 2018 election was the highest vote getter of any candidate. Letter: Realists needed on School Committee. An unusual Friday night meeting of the South Kingstown School Committee became contentious over what should have been an easy procedural issue, revealing deep divides within the community. I believe that all decisions need to be student centered. We have beautiful land with the bike path and fields and should be incorporating that into the plan for students to enjoy. I have served over the past several years as a volunteer soccer coach, CARES mentor, classroom volunteer, special education advocate and most recently as a member of the COVID Mutual Aid and Support Group. President Pro Tempure Jill Lawler and fellow incumbents Richard Lema, Patrick Murray and Jesse Pugh are all back on the ballot, where they are joined by challengers David Avedisian, Deborah Kopech, Ewa Dzweirzynski, Jason Colonies, Joseph Robenhymer, Laurie Kelly, Meghan Murray, Michael Millen Jr., Sara Benn, Steven Belaus, Steven Ferrandi, Susan Cicilline Buonanno and Winters B. Hames III. South Kingstown School Committee Meeting Minutes. Mancini said he would not. Collins asked if there is enough space at the Curtis Corner site for an addition. Independent candidateLenine P. Camacho also declared for the race. I was surprised by it and thats all Ive got to say, Mancini said. A: The next school committee will be charged with mending a deep divide in our town. Kaitlin Blachley thanked the committee for bringing up CCMS for the high school and wants to hear that families are moving to South Kingstown for the high school. The issue of the foot traffic on Main Street after school hours was repeatedly raised by the Wakefield Merchants Association in the past. She then stressed the importance of sustainable design for a 21st century school. A. Discussion/Action: School Facilities Plan. Thank you to everyone for coming last night to our forum addressing anti-racism in South Kingstown. They saw this renovation as an opportunity to show the community what their schools could look like before they vote on $133M of bonds in November 2020. I believe that the results of this election are going to be critical to being able to address these issues. Based on the recent TC/SC meetings, SK is in a time crunch to get this material in to be considered for the Phase 2 of the bond which is vitally important to potential funding. Karen Hans supports the idea. Jacy Northup. Council candidates Deborah Kelso, Jim Lathrop, Jess Rose, Deborah Bergner, Dorald Beasley and Abel Collins took part. I'm seeking re-election to the South Kingstown School Committee on November 3rd No Claim to Original Government Works. A: I do support the plans to relocate the high school. This and other challenges faced by the School Department will require collaboration with many different members of our community and the willingness to be open to views that may differ from our own. We have incredibly complex issues ahead in SK including addressing community concerns (including funding concerns and reduced opportunities for community engagement), safety and supports for students and teachers during COVID-19, making critical capital planning decisions, and addressing inequities in faculty retention, per student spending, and appropriate allocation of resources especially for those most in need in our communities. There was an error processing your request. Slight chance of a shower late. Search all of Tavern on Main - Wakefield's current and previously listed jobs and positions. We have not done the necessary due diligence to demonstrate the return on investment that the facility plan will provide. Welcome to the South Kingstown School Department! It is the committees fault. Today the district has approximately 312 certified staff (administrators, teachers, counselors, nurses, other) and 138 non-certified staff (clerks, custodians, maintenance and teacher assistants). A: No. Sarah Markey - Vice Chair. Students that start strong are less likely to need expensive services year after year. Over on the South Kingstown School Committee, Democrats Stephanie Canter, the chair of the SKSC, and Michelle Brousseau are seeking reelection as well as incumbent independent Jacy Northup. I am not convinced the current facility plan will fulfill these goals. Many of our students are not currently at maximum achievement because our vision is not cohesive. Keep it Clean. Personally, I believe in leading through example - my actions have and will continue to demonstrate my ability to address issues & conflict professionally, to remain focused on our mission, and to deliver outcomes responsibly & effectively in a way that supports the common good. CURTIS CORNER MIDDLE SCHOOL (Precinct 3203) SOUTH KINGSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL (Precinct 3204) WAKEFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Precinct 3205) . Michelle Brousseau. I have always had an independent voice, and I fully believe that politics have no place in education. We need to work together., Cummiskey credits much of the divide to the school facility process and said she extends a sincere apology to anybody who feels personally hurt by the facility decision change., There are many who feel having four elementary schools are best for our town and there are some who disagree, Cummiskey said. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, Kate Macinanti. A: There is not one simple answer. High 57F. All of that existed before the Coronavirus Pandemic. South Kingstown High School Cafeteria 215 Columbia Street Wakefield, RI 02879 Attendees - voting members Stephanie Canter - Chair Sarah Markey - Vice Chair Michelle Brousseau AlyciaCollins Emily Cummiskey Kate McMahon Macinanti JacyNorthup Attendees - other Kristen Stringfellow - Superintendent Pauline Lisi- Assistant Superintendent Rose, Marran, McEntee, Bergner and Alley are endorsed candidates. I hope this will change going forward. Wakefield, RI 02879 . person will not be tolerated. Site search Search Friends of South Kingstown Schools' Board of Directors released a statement soon after, stating that they unanimously voted Friday to remove Bodziony from her position. It should have an engineer/construction professional on the committee to answer questions. Also present was the School Committee legal representative, Mr. Andrew Henneous, Esq. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Waters, the sole member of his party currently in the race, was initially endorsed by the Rhode Island Republican Party but had that endorsement rescinded on June 25 after reports alleged he was involved in a domestic disturbance in March 2019. In my capacity as Legislative Liaison, I have testified several times before various committees of the General Assembly on behalf of the District. person will not be tolerated. I believe this experience would allow me to be an immediate asset to the School Committee as we face complex decisions in the years to come, and I am ready to serve. Click here to view the entire meeting or click any video icon below to jump to that section of the meeting. A: I support the plans to relocate the high school for two main reasons. We'd love to hear eyewitness I further believe they are earned by actions, not just poignant phrases, speeches and posts. The legal decision, for now, gives Donadio a victory over competitor Interstate Navigation as well as Block Island officials who attempted the ferry service because of concerns, they said, over public safety with more passengers arriving to the island and the availability of landing space in Old Harbor. South Kingstown School Committee Meeting Minutes. I was fortunate to be part of a visioning stakeholders group this spring that was led by educational planner, Frank Locker. His contract, approved unanimously by. School Committee Vice Chair Sarah Markey reminded Bergner to direct all comments toward her rather than Cummiskey, in the absence of School Committee Chair Stephanie Canter. More importantly, it is the right move for our learners. I have upcoming conversations about re-engaging people within the community and fiscal accountability. Bergner steered her comment back toward Markey, but called out school committee member Jacy Northup for comments she made last week that were basically a throwdown to the community to file ethics complaints against you for your behavior.. Roland Benjamin stated that the education piece was discussed during the Ed Spec meetings. Understand that the closure of an elementary school would not have solved the budget crisis.. He also noted he had been removed as an administrator from the committees Facebook page. School Committee. Winds SW at 15 to 25 mph.. Mostly clear skies early will give way to occasional showers later during the night. If thats not possible, then I would support renovations at Columbia Street. 215 Columbia Street. 11 . She asked, considering the acreage of the site, if they should think about putting an addition on Curtis Corner and making it the high school and eventually closing the high school instead. She also stated that we did look at doing a high school at Curtis Corner briefly but it was not fully vetted so she thinks doing a full study would make a lot of sense. Roland E. Benjamin, . Low 48F. The committee is moving forward with plans to close Curtis Corner Middle School in September 2020, which could save anywhere from $750,000 to $1.5 million a year, according to Cummiskey. The legal decision, for now, gives Donadio a victory over competitor Interstate Navigation as well as Block Island officials who attempted the ferry service because of concerns, they said, over public safety with more passengers arriving to the island and the availability of landing space in Old Harbor. If re-elected, I will work to bring back Community Conversations which we had until 2018. We have some amazing teachers and leaders in our district. Jacy A. Northup (DEM) Polling place: 797; Mail ballots: 111; Early Voting: 219; 1127: 7.8%: Joseph Sorrentino, III (DEM) Polling place: 795; Mail ballots: 94; Early Voting: 237; 1126: They are incumbents Jessica Rose, Council President Rory McEntee and Deborah Bergner, plus Michael Marran, Patricia Alley, Jacy Northup and Joseph Sorrentino III. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. She then turned the meeting back to the school committee for questions. Vote: Unanimously approved . Michelle Brousseau stated she is very interested to see what the students, teachers and community have to say but she does have concerns. No Republican declared for the race but five independents in addition to Northup are on the general election ballot: Jason Colvin, Karen Humes, Paula Bradley, Robert Hicks and Valerie Speredelozzi. This school committee has been in office for a year and this plan is floundering. On the Republican side, former State Rep. Doreen Costa is the partys candidate, while, as previously mentioned, Mannix is running as an independent. Roland Benjamin stated that the education piece was discussed during the Ed Spec meetings. I bring experience in facility and budget planning, facilitation, strategic planning, conflict resolution, diversity and inclusion and curriculum development. Q: Do you support plans to relocate the high school? of the school. I am completely committed to listening to community members while steering us in the direction that is best for our children, the community, and the future of education in South Kingstown. South Kingstowns schools desperately need updating and RIDE is offering a once in a generation opportunity to heavily subsidize these improvements. meeting of the South Kingstown School Building Committee was held on Wednesday May 22, 2019 at 9am at the South Kingstown School Department Administration Building, 307 Curtis Corner Road, Wakefield, Rhode Island. As I have progressed with my school committee campaign, it has become painfully obvious where our biggest problem is. Ballot breakout. Be Nice. As a member of the School Building Committee I have been through the process and have been honored to collaborate with the Department of Education, our Administrative team, faculty as well as folks from the Town and the community. SOUTH KINGSTOWN, RI The results are in for the South Kingstown Democratic Primary for Town Council, and according to the Rhode Island Board of Elections, Abel Collins leads the field with . The full School Committee was present at the April 26 meeting, including Stephanie Canter, Sarah Markey, Alycia Collins, Emily Cummiskey, Jacey Northup, Ms. Kate McMahon Macinanti and Ms. Michelle Brousseau. A: Voters should place their trust in me because I have a solid moral compass and my core value is Honesty. Stephanie Canter - Chair. Trust is a necessary component of that. We have to build a system that ensures all of our students have access to the necessary means for maximum achievement. I believe by taking advantage of this incredible opportunity for financial assistance from the State, we will be setting the course for a bright future for the students of South Kingstown. My history in the community demonstrates my commitment to honor and elevate the members within it. There isn't time for her to learn on the job. In addition, the three independent candidates displayed a lack of basic knowledge about critical issues, a red flag for the type of preparation and dedication they would bring as school committee members. A: I am unable to support any project or build without seeing the financials and what that ROI will include. Whatever path we take, we must deal with maintenance of all of our buildings. Several members thanked the school committee for deciding to bring in Hicks, but some still had concerns about members transparency and ethics. The following responses are being printed in the same order as their names will appear on the ballot on Election Day. Pamela L spoke in favor of keeping CCMS open and keeping the fields. A: We are at a pivotal time in South Kingstown's history, as a School Committee member I have had the. To learn more about this business and its most recent offers. A: Strong public schools are essential to a thriving community and I would be honored to be a part of the continued growth and development of public education in South Kingstown.
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