February 8, 2001

A regular meeting of the Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education was held at the Shepard Building, 255 Westminster Street, Providence, RI 02903 and convened at 5:10 PM.

Present: 

Chairman DiPrete, Mr. Canavan, Mr. Grove, Ms. Gaines, Mr. Mancieri, Ms. Duff, Senator Gallo, Mr. Germani, and Ms. Callahan.

Public Remarks: There were no public remarks.

Chairman Remarks:

Vice-Chairman Canavan updated members on the status of the Commissioner’s evaluation and announced that at the next regular meeting of the Board (March 6, 2001), the Regents would meet in Executive Session to discuss the results and vote on a contract.

Commissioner's Remarks: 

1. President Bush's Education Plan

   Commissioner McWalters reported that he will be attending a White House meeting with President Bush tomorrow (02/09/01) to talk about the Bush Education Plan.

2. Providence Compact

   Assistant Commissioner Sue Lusi reported on the Second Quarterly Report of the Providence Compact. She distributed some highlighted district data, gave the group a brief overview of the districts demographics, and talked about the differences in the PSI work in Providence versus Central Falls. The highlights of the reports are:  

   • Budgeting - Providence will be expected to spend the literacy funds as outlined (in compliance) with Article 31;
   • Working to develop an education plan for the various funded programs;
   • Infrastructure - Controller hired. Search is ongoing for a human resource director;
   • Communications - Work with leadership group ongoing - regular monthly meeting with administration group;
   • Working with the state accountability group is ongoing.

   The group discussed the possibility of having someone from the Department of Education oversee the negotiating process and to represent the Department's position, especially in the area of Special Needs and ESL teacher vacancies, which is an ongoing problem.

(Senator Gallo arrived at 5:45p.m.)

(Chairman Diprete requested that the order of the agenda be changed.  There were no objections)

Legislative Report:

Steve Nardelli distributed a list of proposed education legislation that has been introduced on behalf of the Board of Regents and the Department of Education. They include:

• Teacher Testing (Governor's Request): Repeal of Mett's amendment
• Career/Technical Task Force (Governor's Request): Comprehensive bill addressing recommendations of Governor's Task Force
• Minimum Salary for Administrators and First Year Teachers (Governor's Request): Establishes % standards/structure to set salary thresholds
• Student Identifier (Governor's Request): Strategic plan to design and implement universal student identifier system
• Pension Portability (Governor's Request): Unilaterally executes interstate compact
• Group Home Reimbursement: Establishes a mechanism for payment and reimbursement for educational costs of children placed in foster care, group homes, or other residential facilities by a Rhode Island state agency
• Post Retirement Employment: Clarification and expansion of 75 day rule
• National Background Check (BCI) for School Employees: Fingerprinting of applicant for certification

Approval of Minutes:

The Minutes of the Board of Regents Meeting of January 25, 2001 were approved as presented.

Presentation on Healthy Kids Publications: “Fit for High Achievement” and SALT Guidelines: “Creating Safe, Healthy and Safe Schools”

Virginia daMota, Marcia Campbel,l and Jackie Ascrizzi from the Department of Education presented the Healthy Schools! Healthy Kids! "Fit for High Achievement" and "Creating a Safe, Healthy, and Nurturing School" publications for the Regents' discussion. 

Ms. Campbell reviewed each of the documents and described the rationale behind them.

The group talked about the under-staffing of the Department of Education and how this issue is going to be addressed over the next year and the need to prioritize the Department's activities.

Report on Certificate of Initial Mastery:

Regent Callahan, along with Department staff Rick Richards and Rocco Rainone, spoke to the Board about the Skills Commission and its work on the Certification of Initial Mastery.  They explained that endorsement of the high school diploma means that the person holding the certificate has demonstrated a proficiency in English Language Arts and Mathematics, as outlined in Enclosure 5 of the Board of Regents 2/8/01 package.

They reported that currently 11 Districts are involved in the consortium and 500 students are participating. Ms. Callahan reported that Middletown has asked the Department to provide incentives to kids who want to obtain a CIM.  A scholarship to a state university was suggested. 

Committee Reports: 

Adjournment:

With unanimous consent, the meeting adjourned at 8:05p.m.