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SC Meeting July 1 2026 — Transcript

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0:01I'd like to call the special meeting of
0:03the Pawtucket School Committee to order
0:06at 6:02
0:08p.m.
0:10Clerk, call the roll.
0:12>> Juan Pablo Berrera.
0:14>> Here.
0:14>> Angelica Sosa.
0:16>> Here.
0:16>> James Chellel.
0:18Matthew Wildenhain.
0:19>> Here.
0:20>> Kimberly Grant.
0:21>> Here.
0:21>> Joanne Benoliel.
0:22>> Here.
0:23>> Omar
0:26>> Can you join me for the Pledge of
0:28Allegiance, please?
0:30I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
0:33United
0:46>> The world was looking at
0:48>> That's the room for that.
0:50>> I was like
0:51>> Some people are facing
0:52>> Yeah. I couldn't see this one.
0:55>> So, there are people facing that.
0:57>> Uh,
0:58that must be Bill.
1:04Okay, one of us is not here.
1:07>> Do you want me to complete it?
1:12>> Okay, for tonight's meeting, we have no
1:15public participation.
1:20Oh, thank you.
1:22Um, I have a motion to approve the
1:24meeting minutes of June 23rd, 2026.
1:27>> So moved.
1:29>> Motion's been made by Ms. Grant,
1:31seconded by
1:34Mr. Wildenhain. All in favor?
1:37Opposed?
1:39Abstained?
1:42Okay, thank you.
1:44Um, as I said, there is no public
1:47participation sign-ups tonight.
1:50So, we'll move on to our first agenda
1:52item,
1:53which is the discussion of the projected
1:55cost savings related to adjustments of
1:59schedules for student transportation.
2:05Oh, Mr. Buck.
2:07>> All right.
2:08Um good evening uh chairperson Manolo
2:10and members of the school committee and
2:11our community members who are here with
2:13us this evening.
2:15Uh I wanted to provide a just a few
2:16brief opening remarks before uh we began
2:19just to frame tonight's uh discussion.
2:22Um at a previous meeting uh you all the
2:24committee engaged in a very thoughtful
2:26discussion you know regarding the
2:28potential adjustment to elementary
2:30uh school start times and you know
2:32requested additional information before
2:34we considered any action. That was
2:36essentially the deliverable. And so I
2:37wanted to share that we appreciated uh
2:40that feedback that we received and we
2:42used the additional time uh to further
2:44refine our analysis and to prepare a
2:46more comprehensive uh presentation which
2:48was previously shared with you uh I
2:50believe last Friday if I'm not mistaken.
2:52And so as with many operational
2:54decisions that happen you know there's
2:55rarely a a perfect solution.
2:58Uh any adjustments to school schedules
3:00and start times as you all know impact
3:02our students impact our educators impact
3:04our families. Um and so our
3:06responsibility as an administration uh
3:08is really to carefully evaluate those
3:10scenarios and those impacts while
3:11ensuring that you know we are fiscal
3:13stewards of of being uh responsible for
3:16for our public resources. And so then
3:18the presentation that you're going to
3:19hear this evening uh really truly
3:21reflects more than just a single
3:22recommendation with you'll see that it
3:23summarizes uh uh nearly a year of
3:26transportation planning as I shared the
3:28previous meeting you heard uh a detailed
3:30excuse me a a spring meeting a detailed
3:32presentation from Dr. Corino.
3:34Uh you'll hear about independent
3:35analysis and operational improvements
3:37and you know stakeholder feedback that
3:38I've been brought to you at this point.
3:40Um we'll walk the committee through what
3:43has already been completed the options
3:44that were evaluated and the rationale
3:46between each of those options and the
3:48anticipated operational fiscal impact.
3:50So you'll hear all that uh this evening.
3:52And so without further ado, I'd like to
3:53call Dr. Andrade to the podium to begin
3:56his presentation.
3:58>> Thank you, Superintendent. Good evening,
4:00Madam Chair, members of the School
4:01Committee,
4:03uh
4:04Superintendent Buck, and members of the
4:06community.
4:07So, tonight I'd like to provide a brief
4:08overview of the transportation
4:10optimization work completed over the
4:12past year and explain recommendations
4:15before you this evening.
4:18This initiative has never been about
4:21reducing services. It has always been
4:23about using our transportation resources
4:26more efficiently while continuing to
4:28provide a safe, reliable transportation
4:31for our students.
4:32Throughout this process, student safety
4:34has remained our highest priority while
4:37also recognizing the responsibility to
4:39be good stewards in taxpayer dollars.
4:43Slide, please.
4:46I also want to emphasize that this
4:47recommendation did not happen overnight.
4:50This conversation actually began back in
4:52April of 2024
4:54when elementary bell schedule schedule
4:56adjustments were first discussed with
4:58the School Committee.
4:59Since then, transportation has remained
5:01a recurring topic over multiple
5:03meetings.
5:05Over the past 2 years, we've reviewed
5:07transportation contracts, independent
5:09routing studies, route yielding
5:11findings. We've worked with procurement
5:14and operational recommendations. This
5:16has been a transparent, collaborative
5:18process involving the School Committee,
5:20Rhode Island Department of Education,
5:22and our transportation consultants and
5:24district administration.
5:26Every recommendation before you tonight
5:27is the result of that continued work,
5:30not a single event or an isolated
5:32decision. Slide, please.
5:36Following the recommendations,
5:41slide, please.
5:43Oh, sorry. Load.
5:58>> Sure.
6:02>> It is a It's a very quick synopsis of
6:04that presentation.
6:05>> I'm going to ask
6:06>> No, time is of essence and so we we
6:08can't follow along with it anyway, but I
6:10did see the majority of slides
6:12obviously.
6:13>> Thank you.
7:12>> Perfect. Thank you.
7:13Following recommendation from Dr. Corina
7:17at the Rhode Island Department of
7:18Education, the district invested $22,000
7:22and we hired an independent
7:24transportation analysis, which was
7:26conducted through Transpar who oversees
7:28statewide transportation.
7:30So, we intentionally sought an outside
7:32perspective to evaluate our
7:33transportation system objectively. In
7:35addition, we worked with First Student,
7:37our own vendor, who also examined
7:39routing efficiency, ride times, fleet
7:42utilization, special education
7:43transportation, pure procurement
7:45opportunities, as well as bell
7:47scheduling modeling.
7:49Importantly, the administration did not
7:50immediately recommend changing school
7:52schedules. There were several other
7:53options that we put in place first.
7:56Instead, we first implemented those
7:57operational improvements that could be
7:59accomplished administratively before
8:01bringing any recommendation involving
8:03families to the school committee. Slide,
8:05please.
8:09The ongoing analysis
8:10has already produced measurable results.
8:13On the left there, you'll notice there
8:15are some operational improvements that
8:17included pre-K alignment, routing
8:19efficiencies identified with First
8:21Student, transportation procurement, and
8:23other operational changes. We've already
8:26reduced our transportation needs by the
8:27equivalent of approximately five buses,
8:30which is equivalent to $600,000.
8:33With transportation cost averaging
8:35around 120,000 per bus, those
8:38improvements represent approximately
8:40$600,000 annually.
8:42The remaining recommendation before you
8:44today has the potential to eliminate the
8:47approximate three additional buses,
8:49creating an additional $360,000
8:52annual savings for a total potential of
8:55almost a million dollars this year.
8:58Slide, please.
9:00Every option was evaluated.
9:02One question that we heard is whether
9:05there were other options, and the answer
9:07is yes. We evaluated reasonable
9:10operational alternatives. For example,
9:12some options such as increasing walk
9:14distances or implementing centralized
9:17depot stops or would have greater
9:20impacts on families, and they also
9:22raised safety concerns.
9:24Other opportunities, such as the
9:26procurement improvements, route
9:27optimization, and pre-K schedule
9:29alignment have already been implemented.
9:32After exhausting those alternatives,
9:33adjusting the elementary bell schedule
9:35emerged as the recommendation from not
9:37only first student but also trans bar
9:40that provides the greatest remaining
9:42operational savings while creating the
9:43least disruption to students and
9:45families. This is why the administration
9:48is recommend recommending this option.
9:50Slide, please.
9:53So balancing our tiers, we've talked a
9:54lot about what these tiers mean. So on
9:57the left side there, I'm going to do
9:58this as quickly as possible, we
9:59currently have a three-tier model. What
10:02we heard over and over in the
10:03reoccurring theme is that the most
10:05efficient model is to have a two-tier.
10:08So if you look at the calendar to the
10:10right, the recommended bell schedule
10:12tiers, what we have done by removing
10:14those three schools in the mid tier,
10:16they're able to push them over to tier
10:18two, which now creates eight schools
10:21that operate at 8:00 and eight schools
10:24operating at 9:00. Our transportation
10:26world will use the word dead head times.
10:30And by removing that tier, you now can
10:33take those three buses that were
10:34supporting those schools and you can
10:36move them to be more efficient to
10:38support both tier one and tier two.
10:41That balance allows the buses to
10:43complete more efficient routes. It
10:45reduces idle time and it lowers the
10:47total number of buses required overall.
10:51Slide, please.
10:54So our recommendation is adjusting the
10:56start times as you see. Agnes Little,
10:58Potter Burns, and Curvin move from 8:30
11:01to 9:00.
11:02This recommendation is expected to
11:05save approximately $360,000.
11:08It'll eliminate approximately three
11:10buses. It has the least minimal impact
11:12to our community.
11:14It preserves educational programming,
11:16minimizes community disruption, and it
11:19positions the district for future
11:21transportation redesign with the opening
11:23of the new Pawtucket High School, which
11:25is a further conversation down the road.
11:27Slide, please.
11:30And lastly, we also carefully evaluated
11:33an alternative suggestion from Deputy
11:35Chairperson Grant, who asked the
11:37administration to explore
11:40uh
11:41balancing the tiers by changing five
11:42schools instead of three.
11:45Operationally, that approach would
11:48Oh, sure.
11:52>> bigly to share all the scenarios
11:56that saved the district money.
12:00I So, that's specifically what I asked
12:04you. So, I didn't ask you to add
12:07schools. I asked you to share all
12:12the scenarios that saved us money.
12:16>> Okay.
12:16>> Mhm. I just wanted to correct that.
12:19>> Thank you.
12:20Uh so, with that being said, I we can
12:22skip this slide and if I'm here to
12:24answer any questions, I would want to
12:26thank the School Committee for your
12:27engagement throughout this process.
12:30Transportation has been discussed over
12:31many months, if not years, and I
12:34appreciate the thoughtful questions and
12:35the feedback that we've received. The
12:38recommendation before you tonight
12:39reflects an evidence-based approach that
12:42balances fiscal responsibility
12:44with our commitment to our students,
12:46families, and staff.
12:53>> If I may add and and thank you very
12:55much, Dr. Andre.
12:56Great presentation. I just wanted to
12:58ensure that
13:01we knew that JMW was in the mix of this
13:04with the 10-minute time change from 7:50
13:06to 8:00 a.m., which was discussed at the
13:08previous meeting and is on the agenda.
13:09So, just wanted to name that as well.
13:12>> And now we're on
13:14questions.
13:16Um
13:16I didn't see on the screen any other
13:18options. Did nothing save us or any of
13:22the schools or scenarios save us money?
13:25>> Yes, if you can Well, we can go back to
13:28the slide. I think it was the
13:31fourth third slide, I apologize.
13:34So, some of those specific
13:36Well, well, can I clarify, Ms. Grant,
13:38when you're speaking regarding options
13:40versus scenario? There were no other
13:43scenarios that would yield additional
13:46savings other than moving those three
13:48schools at 8:30.
13:50The other options that we looked at
13:51internally, for example, was relocating
13:55the special education programs housed at
13:57PPA are now relocating to another
13:59elementary school. That one decision
14:01saved us $120,000, one bus.
14:05Another example is the JMW start times.
14:07Aligning them by 10 minutes to 8:00 also
14:10yielded us an additional bus route
14:13uh savings.
14:15We adjusted the pre-K start times at two
14:17of our elementary schools. Pre-K start
14:19times started at 7:00, excuse me, 8:40
14:22at both Winters and Fallon. By aligning
14:25those two times to 9:00, also yielded us
14:29another cost savings option.
14:32Uh and fourth one would be
14:35working with statewide transportation,
14:37who has picked up the St. Patrick's and
14:39LaSalle parentally placed
14:42bus. So, that yielded us an additional
14:44120,000 savings.
14:46Mr. Reality, I think I named them all.
14:48Uh but there are still other
14:50opportunities that we are exploring.
14:52However, at this time, until we have a
14:54clear understanding of the request for
14:56transportation from our families, and
14:59once First Student takes that
15:00information, they will conduct a route
15:02analysis, and then from there we'll
15:03we'll determine next steps.
15:05As regarding scenarios, scenarios, there
15:08are no other options that we could share
15:10that would be cost savings to the
15:12district other than removing those three
15:158:30 schools and changing those times,
15:17which goes back to the conversation that
15:20took place back in April of 2024.
15:23Uh and that's where we are today.
15:28>> If you were to
15:31elim-
15:32Oh, you can't hear me.
15:34Okay.
15:35So, as an example, if you were to
15:37eliminate two of those schools and
15:39replace them with, say, Curtis and Nat
15:42Greene,
15:43what would happen to your picture?
15:46>> Yes. So, if you can go to slide, I
15:49believe it was six.
15:54Okay, thank you. Keep going.
15:56Right there. This is the easiest
15:58infographic that I could share. On the
16:00left side current bell schedule times,
16:02we have a three-tier model. As we heard
16:04over and over again from both Dr.
16:06Corrino, from Transdev, from First
16:09Student, we have too many tiers. There's
16:11not enough of time for the buses to
16:14travel between schools with those three
16:16schools in 8:30. So, what that means in
16:18the end is that those three buses that
16:21are supporting those schools can only do
16:23those those schools.
16:25So, by moving and positioning those
16:27removing that middle tier and making
16:30sure that those three schools just
16:31squeeze into tier two, you now have
16:34balanced tiers. You have eight schools
16:36starting at tier one at 8:00 8:00 a.m.
16:39and the rest of the eight schools at
16:40tier two 9:00 a.m., which provides much
16:43more operational efficiency for the bus
16:45routing capacity. So, the answer to your
16:47question, you could move an eight to a
16:49nine, you can move a nine to an eight.
16:51The end goal is ultimately to make sure
16:53that both of those tiers are balanced.
17:00>> So, what would happen is if, say, Nat
17:02Greene starts at what time?
17:05>> Uh they're currently at 8:00. If you
17:07were to
17:07>> if you took Nat Greene and moved it to
17:09nine, then you'd have nine and seven,
17:13which wouldn't eliminate any of the bus
17:16and would reduce your cost savings.
17:18>> Correct.
17:22>> Same with Curtis.
17:26Yes, Mr. Shalal.
17:28>> Yes, I thank you so much for that
17:30detail, but that's it's almost there for
17:32me on on the incident.
17:34What if we took the schools that you're
17:37trying to change to eight,
17:39made them the nines, and made like the
17:41outskirts schools green, Curtis, and
17:46Fallon if that's even in the picture,
17:48the 9:00 is again, talk as though cuz I
17:51am I'm a very this is all foreign to me.
17:53This is French.
17:55But if you have schools on the outside
17:57of the city, doesn't it beg to differ
17:59that would save us more money we can
18:00eliminate more buses or did was that
18:03analysis run?
18:04>> It was no.
18:05>> It was run. First student did run those.
18:07We did not specify each one of those
18:09scenarios by changing the bell times.
18:11What was striking to them is they looked
18:13at the tiers at the highest level. And
18:16they noticed that these three 8:30
18:17schools, for First Student's perspective
18:20when they run this analysis through
18:22their routing application, what they ask
18:25us to do is say, "Okay, here are your
18:27current schools. Here's the enrollment
18:29ridership. This is the most efficient
18:31path forward."
18:33So, could we change the eight to the
18:35nine, the nine to an eight? Absolutely.
18:38Would that have a significant impact on
18:40the community, educators, parents, and
18:42staff? Perhaps. We believe it would.
18:46>> They have a significant impact in what
18:48way?
18:48>> Uh communicating this information at at
18:51a later time.
18:52>> Oh, I totally did you run a
18:54report where it showed savings?
18:56>> No, there's no savings.
18:58>> There is none cuz you ran it?
18:59>> Uh
19:00>> Or we don't know.
19:01>> No, we they they ran it for us. Both
19:03Transpar and First Student ran it. And
19:05and and it's it's base there was another
19:08graph that Dr. Corino had shared with
19:10us. And he showed us that there is
19:12multiple tiers of buses. And And when
19:15they first looked at it, we had six
19:17tiers, believe it or not. And when you
19:19add the pre-K as one, and when you add
19:21the statewide as another, those were all
19:24actually considered different tiers. So,
19:26I believe we had six or seven tiers that
19:28were reported to us. So, now we're down
19:31to three. Our goal is to get to two, and
19:34then perhaps when the high school opens
19:36up, we do bring it to a tier three
19:38model. However, there'll be a much more
19:40time within those tiers, but that's a
19:42conversation for a later date.
19:44>> Thank you.
19:45>> You're welcome.
19:46>> Even with the savings that we have right
19:49now,
19:50once the
19:53student roster is ready, and
19:57so, we see a lot of buses that are half
20:00full, a quarter full,
20:02a lot of wasted space. How are you going
20:05to deal with that?
20:07>> That was part of the routing analysis
20:09that First Student uh conducted. And
20:11what they were able to do was look at
20:13those what we talked about in the past,
20:14those nuances, our geographical, our
20:16special education programs, our
20:19uh curb-to-curb stops.
20:21That was the missing piece that Transpar
20:23did not have. They didn't have the
20:25contextual context of the complications
20:28I shouldn't say complications, the the
20:29complexities of Pawtucket, looking at
20:32the geography, etc.
20:34So, after First Student re-ran all those
20:36potential options, their biggest
20:38shout-out was, "Listen, we You guys
20:41would benefit from a much more optimized
20:43system by having balanced tiers. The
20:46easiest path to do that is to remove
20:48these three schools that are sitting
20:51there at 8:30. We don't know why they
20:53were there. I don't have that context. I
20:54don't have that institutional knowledge.
20:56So, that was That's what we're sharing
20:58with you."
20:59>> But, have you spoken to First Student
21:02about
21:04combining buses where we have
21:07a half a bus at this school, a half a
21:09bus at that school.
21:11>> Yes, and that was that yielded us
21:13>> to eliminate another bus.
21:15>> There was five, we believe there's
21:16potential to have six. But yes, that was
21:19part of that original conversation when
21:20they shared with us how they could
21:22maximize the routes. Yes.
21:25>> And how much is it per bus?
21:27>> 120. So we saved five, we're at 600,000.
21:30We anticipate an additional savings.
21:32We're going to keep in our pocket cuz I
21:33can't prove it. Uh that will hopefully
21:36have 620.
21:41>> You couldn't hear me?
21:42>> People can't hear.
21:44I'm going to get a text or I just got a
21:46text.
21:50>> Okay. Do they need anything repeated?
21:54So my question, my last question was
21:58what additional savings are we looking
22:00at if we combine underused buses and
22:05consolidate them to a single school
22:09or consolidate them to two two
22:13drop-offs?
22:14>> Our response was that process has
22:16already been reviewed and that is a
22:18product of the savings of the five buses
22:21that are noted at up to up that's the
22:23work that's been completed thus far.
22:26>> With potential of a sixth bus.
22:28>> I'm hoping for more.
22:30>> Okay. Any other questions?
22:36Ms. Gray?
22:37>> What are the anything with the after
22:39school
22:41programs? Can you share that cuz I know
22:43that's the biggest concern. The
22:45disruptions, the the what's going to be
22:49put into effect and you know, have you
22:53guys spoken to the schools individually?
22:57And what in their principals and what
23:01you're going to
23:04or they could work with you to put into
23:06effect.
23:07>> Superintendent Buck was very proactive
23:10on the onset to schedule a meeting with
23:12the principals and to have a a deeper
23:14conversation. It's always helpful
23:17to have a different perspective and
23:19provide them their feedback from their
23:21analysis from their point of view.
23:23Uh principals did share with us and and
23:25and Mr. Buck, jump in anytime, but he we
23:28also included the Cunningham and Slater
23:30administration seeing that they have
23:32that disparity.
23:34Um excuse me, that of the excuse me,
23:368:00 and 9:00, which is an hour
23:38difference.
23:39Which we thought was a little
23:40interesting and if they were able to
23:42make it work, where maybe they could
23:43provide some positive feedback to the
23:45administrators at both Jenks Little
23:47versus Golf and uh Porter.
23:50So that conversation, Mrs. Grant, was
23:52had. Uh principals did provide their
23:55feedback to us. Uh their primary concern
23:58was afternoon supervision and morning
24:00supervision.
24:02So we took a deep dive and we looked at
24:05is there an option to expand our current
24:07supervision both before and after school
24:09as well as reaching out to other
24:12partnerships to see if there's
24:13opportunities such as uh I'm just going
24:15to throw it out there, RIFs RIFC
24:18Taekwondo and maybe they can host a
24:19class at Jenks uh utilizing the futsal
24:22court, which that conversation took
24:23place last week. Um other you know, this
24:26is where I I think it's to your point,
24:28Deputy Chair, is making sure that the
24:30principals have input to work with their
24:33school community so that they can
24:34identify and have autonomy to build a
24:37program that best suits their needs with
24:40making sure that we identify a space for
24:42the older siblings.
24:45>> I mean
24:46>> I just have one more question.
24:49In regards to buses and students who
24:53need harnessing and certain assistance,
24:57Does that add to our cost?
25:03Because I hear from people how that
25:06aren't enough harnesses on the buses,
25:10um kids are unsafely on the bus, able to
25:13roam around when they should be
25:15harnessed. Um are these extra costs that
25:19we're being charged the reason why we
25:22don't have them? Because it seems like
25:26before the bus comes the first day, we
25:30should from each school know how many
25:34students plus maybe a couple of extras
25:37just in case
25:39um
25:40the school wasn't um
25:42aware of. So, do we get charged for
25:44these extra types of
25:47systems?
25:48>> So, when you speak to the harness, they
25:50know there's enough of harnesses that
25:52they are able to supply us. In the event
25:54that there isn't, then we could
25:56certainly procure those. We've done it
25:58in special education. There's actually a
26:00harness, which I don't necessarily
26:01appreciate the name, but it's called the
26:03Houdini harness, which is another
26:04elevation of a controlled harness that's
26:07a little bit much more difficult for a
26:09student to unbuckle.
26:11Uh Deputy Chair, the fact that you
26:13mentioned that there are some students
26:14that are we're not meeting their IEP
26:17needs as written in their IEP is very
26:19concerning to me, and if you could share
26:21those names with us, I will absolutely
26:24first hand reach out to the first
26:25student to address that. Uh that's a
26:27concern
26:27>> I think sometimes people don't realize
26:30in the beginning that these items are
26:33needed or not provided on the bus.
26:37So, I think maybe that's something you
26:39guys should check, maybe with each
26:41individual school,
26:44um to make sure that they have that.
26:46>> I can share with I don't disagree. I can
26:49share with you the The that takes place
26:51as the special education department
26:53works with the transportation team.
26:56We look at every single IEP. We're
26:58looking at what those related services
27:00are and accommodations as they relate to
27:02transportation. That information is
27:04gosh, we probably already put a due date
27:06on that expectation. The special
27:08education department will submit those
27:10that request in our Google form and then
27:13we then share that information
27:14proactively with first students so they
27:16can be prepared well in advance.
27:18I do agree though, it's good feedback to
27:20make sure which we typically do is we
27:22ask we debrief with the principals the
27:24first couple days of school and we ask
27:27them if there's any questions or
27:28concerns that that were brought to their
27:29attention and they would certainly bring
27:31that to our attention as well.
27:35Good question.
27:42>> Dr. Andre, I just want to thank you for
27:44this great presentation. I think this
27:46was um
27:48very interesting to know uh how we can
27:51save money to our school department.
27:53That's great.
27:55Um
27:56I'm talking not only as a school
27:58committee member but also as a parent.
28:01I am a parent myself um and I know how
28:04important is the time for parents
28:06especially in the morning time when they
28:08have to go rushing to their work.
28:10I heard from many families that changing
28:13just half hour it could disrupt their
28:16life the daily work day.
28:18Um
28:19so how do you get to the conclusion
28:22to have these three schools Little
28:25Agnes, uh Corby McCave and Porter Burns
28:30as the possible change time for these
28:35school? What was
28:36the methodology that you used to get to
28:38that conclusion? So it was because of
28:41this geographically thing? It was
28:43because of the
28:44uh big size of the road? Uh so I want to
28:48know how did you get to that conclusion
28:49to recommend change time on those three?
28:52Um so, if you can respond me that, that
28:55would be great.
28:56>> Sure.
28:57>> So, thank you, Mr. Pereira, for that
28:58thoughtful question. If I can just
29:00revert your attention to the
29:02presentation. On the right, the table
29:04there says tier one and tier two.
29:07Each one of those schools represents the
29:10eight schools in the morning at 9:00
29:128:00 and eight schools at 9:00.
29:15Each one of them have an equal number of
29:17buses that support the first tier
29:20and then the same after they drop them
29:22off, they immediately go and pick up the
29:24next tier.
29:25That's That's the only catch here. That
29:28was the only methodology that was shared
29:30with us.
29:31Now, this gets a little complicated
29:32because, like I pointed out earlier, we
29:34had seven different start times. That
29:37included St. Patrick's, La Salle, that
29:39included
29:41St. Ray's, believe it or not, St.
29:42Cecilia's, St. Teresa's. It also
29:44included J. M. Wright, included PPA,
29:46included the pre-K start times.
29:49So, when they looked at all those
29:50evolutions and we we we've aligned them
29:53to the right times, we have no control
29:55over La Salle and St. Patrick's, but
29:57Statewide picked up that bus for us. We
29:59do have control over J. M. Wright. It
30:00was only a 10-minute change, so that was
30:02an easy fix. Well, we think it was it if
30:04you approve.
30:05The last three standing schools are
30:08those three 8:30 schools. By removing
30:11that mid tier on the graphic on the left
30:14and consolidating it to tier two. And
30:16the only reason why we picked 9:00 is
30:18because you had five schools that were
30:21at the 9:00 school right now.
30:23So, if you bring those three over, now
30:24you have eight at nine and you have
30:26eight at eight. That's the methodology.
30:29>> Understood. And during this
30:31[clears throat]
30:32analysis
30:33uh it's been for many years. It's not
30:36only for last year.
30:37Did you have the opportunity to uh
30:40consult with um
30:43parents, teachers, alliance, you know,
30:45ask them what will be their opinion
30:48about these changes. So, did you have in
30:50consideration parents
30:51>> Back in April of 2024, there was a
30:54feedback survey that was shared uh,
30:57former assistant superintendent Ms.
30:59Ramsey, uh, director of registration and
31:02transit Tim Lynn Cristino had shared
31:05those results with the school committee
31:07at that time.
31:08And the feedback was approximately 50%
31:1050%. Many educators, uh, were not in
31:14approval of it, right? And if I were a
31:16teacher and I'm used to working at 8:30
31:18for the last 10 years and I have a
31:20change, that's going to be difficult.
31:22Um, 50% of that was my feedback. Uh, 50%
31:27of the parents also shared similar uh,
31:30concerns as well. Um, when we asked a
31:32follow-up question, the rest of the
31:34parents says, "It is what it is.
31:36We will make adaptations and changes."
31:39>> Okay.
31:40>> Thank you.
31:40>> You're welcome.
31:43>> Ms. Rosa?
31:44>> Um, I have a couple of questions. So,
31:46for the
31:48schools going into 9:00, what is or will
31:52we have a breakfast time to open?
31:55>> Yes, right now we have 20 minutes. It
31:57starts at 8:40. For those two schools,
31:59Agnes Little and Potter Burns, uh,
32:02considering the complications with the
32:04adjacent middle schools, we're
32:05anticipating on moving that to 8:00.
32:09>> What about Kerwin?
32:10>> Kerwin, we did not.
32:12Because there was no consideration
32:14regarding the siblings because most
32:16siblings were dropping off at Goff,
32:19right? Are they going to be they're
32:21starting at 8:00.
32:23But we could. We can certainly enter
32:25>> That kind of led me into my next
32:27question. So, did you guys consider the
32:29schools cuz you had mentioned something
32:31about Slater and Cuttingham?
32:33>> Mhm.
32:33>> That they were operating at two two
32:35times or I think of
32:37what is it? Golf and Potter Burns. So,
32:39are they on the same tiers, or are they
32:42on two separate tiers? Cuz wouldn't we
32:44keep if Golf and Potter Burns are
32:46together across the street, wouldn't we
32:47keep them on the same time?
32:50>> We could do that. If we put it at the
32:52same time, then the other option would
32:53be there, I guess, consideration, which
32:55I was told to was informed about
32:57traffic.
32:58Um, the number of cars and vehicles and
33:00buses coming in at that same time at
33:029:00.
33:04In the end, it doesn't matter which
33:06schools are where or what time as long
33:08as you have a balance of those schools
33:10in each respective tier.
33:13>> Well, you got me with the siblings, cuz
33:15I think of like Eric and Alani. Like, if
33:17they were to go, one's at Potter, one's
33:19at Golf, now I'm waiting a full hour to
33:23go to work.
33:24>> Yes, that
33:25>> 45 minutes.
33:27>> Yes, so, uh, when I was principal at
33:29Potter Burns, uh, back in 2017, that was
33:32exactly the scenario. Uh, parents would
33:34drop off their middle schoolers at 8:00,
33:37and they would have to wait and drop off
33:38their kids off at 9:00 at elementary.
33:40And there was
33:41quite a few families that were impacted
33:42>> Feedback then?
33:44>> Um, similar.
33:45It was similar.
33:47And
33:48>> That's insane.
33:50>> It
33:51>> I'm sorry. I'm trying to wrap around it
33:53like as a school committee member, but
33:54also as a parent.
33:56>> Sure.
33:56>> So, it's like it's really hard to like
34:00Do we have a time on this? Like, do we
34:01have like I know we have to submit this
34:03obviously to families, but is there like
34:05do we have a deadline that we want to
34:07like meet? Cuz I just feel like
34:10are we too late in the game to send out
34:12a like a survey like Mr. Pereira was
34:14saying? Like, I just feel like we need a
34:15little bit more input. Like, I really do
34:17appreciate all of you guys working
34:20behind the scenes, but like as a working
34:22parent, like I
34:25I don't even see how I can get to
34:27Warwick.
34:29That's 3 days out of the week. And then
34:31like also affording like child care cuz
34:33that's exactly what we're going to tell
34:34families, right? You go go get child
34:36care before that. Is there something
34:38that cuz I know you had mentioned
34:39something at Jenks, but like Jenks is
34:41totally out of my league and out of
34:44highway issue kind of way. Like if
34:48the
34:49the place that you had mentioned going
34:50to Jenks and then me dropping off my
34:52kids there and like would they get bus
34:54to school? Is that a whole different
34:56thing? Like do you have to sign like a
34:57bus route? Like I just feel like we
34:59definitely need a little bit more input
35:01from the families. Like I I do really,
35:03really appreciate all the hard work that
35:05has gone behind this and all the
35:07conversations that you guys have had,
35:09but I just feel like there's a little
35:10bit more
35:12of a conversation that needs to be had
35:14with either the principals, APs,
35:17and like just more community like the
35:19PTOs. I know the PTO in Curvin McCabe is
35:21really, really strong.
35:22Um
35:24I'd really like to see Sorry, that's the
35:26only school that's really like on my
35:27mind, but it obviously it's one of the
35:28schools that we're trying to change from
35:308:30 to to 9:00, but I just feel like
35:34>> An absolute great perspective from the
35:36parent view as well as
35:38the the community school committee
35:40member.
35:41Uh the quick response to that is that we
35:43are looking at before and after school
35:44supervision and extending those hours to
35:47provide those opportunities. So if I'm
35:48dropping off my child at 8:00 to Jenks,
35:51that there would be a supporting program
35:53at Little for those siblings that get
35:55dropped off.
35:57So the same thing would hold true at
35:59Golf. If you were to drop your child off
36:01at 8:00 at Golf, there would be a
36:03program across the street at Potter
36:05Burns that would support your child
36:07during that time for siblings.
36:09>> Yeah, I'm trying to think of this
36:10There's not really like a neighbor
36:11school except for like Winters for us.
36:14>> I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you.
36:15>> No, like Winters is like the only
36:16closest school to I think like Curvin as
36:19far Like I know like Golf and like
36:21Potter Burns, but that's still kind of
36:22like
36:22>> Yep.
36:23>> Newport Ave traffic.
36:24>> Yep, 8:30 we would extend it to 8:00.
36:27Okay. For for curbing.
36:28I say 8:30 now cuz that's what it is,
36:30but it is
36:30>> what it is. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yep.
36:32>> Yep. So, yes, after school and before
36:35and after school care would support
36:37your concern.
36:38I I think we'd have to be very
36:39intentional about which students we
36:41would target. I mean, I have as a parent
36:43myself, I would certainly want to take
36:45advantage of that program. Um but do we
36:47prioritize siblings who have situations
36:50similar to the one you just shared this
36:51evening? I think that would be um
36:54my recommendation.
36:57You're welcome.
36:59>> So, I think one of the
37:02one of the other questions that um came
37:05up during some of our conversations
37:09was the fact that
37:11um
37:12if a school gets out at
37:153:00
37:17and the school next to it
37:20Slater and Cunningham, let's say the
37:21school next to it gets out at 3:30.
37:25Okay, so the Slater kids, not all of
37:28them, even if we offer programs, are
37:31going to take advantage of it.
37:33So, how do we control
37:36the
37:39chaos?
37:40>> Supervision.
37:42Mhm.
37:43Yes, I
37:45one of the attachments of the agenda, I
37:46believe it was the last one, there's a
37:48document that talks about PSD student
37:50supervision and sibling transition
37:52planning. That would be an intentional
37:54meeting that we as administrators would
37:56have with the administrative at each
37:58respective school to really make sure
38:00that part of that supervision plan,
38:02whether it be the compensation of adults
38:04to stay after to make sure that they
38:07enforce um those concerns that were
38:09raised by other members um of our
38:12community. Um
38:13it is absolutely true that Agnes and uh
38:17Jinks being on the same campus, there
38:19could be kids are going to be kids,
38:22right? And if they choose not to
38:23participate in an after school program
38:25and they wander by Mr. Beaupre's
38:27classroom and stop banging on the
38:29window,
38:30that's we need to address that, right?
38:32Administration needs to address that.
38:33Supervision needs to be in place to to
38:36avoid that from happening. Same thing
38:38would hold true at Cunningham and
38:39Slater. Um interestingly, we looking at
38:43the past experience with Cunningham and
38:44Slater both being 8:00 and 9:00 schools,
38:48yes, no speaking with Principal Flowers
38:51who says, yes, that that there's a a
38:53beautiful playground that's there.
38:54There's a lot of families that will come
38:56in and utilize it, but it hasn't been uh
38:59significant disturbance or disruption to
39:02the day-to-day operations of that
39:04particular elementary school. We believe
39:06the same will hold true at both Potter
39:08Burns and Agnes Little.
39:10It's all about building those
39:11relationships.
39:13>> Superintendent.
39:14>> Just to that point, this is not uncommon
39:17for many uh districts across the state
39:19and throughout the nation to have
39:20essentially a middle school and a high
39:22school or elementary school and a middle
39:24school that do have staggered times and
39:26to Dr. Andres' point, the the key to
39:28that response
39:30uh as students do show up to the campus
39:32is is supervision because Ms. Pinola to
39:34your point, you know,
39:36we can offer all the programs in the
39:37world, but if the students aren't in
39:39them, there still be will you know, some
39:41stragglers.
39:42Um and so we have to make sure that we
39:44support. So this is something that does
39:46take place across Rhode Island right
39:47now.
39:50>> Ms. Grant.
39:51>> I just checked my notes and I was
39:55incorrect about the um the actual
39:57harnesses themselves. Um
40:00what it is is
40:02the seats in the bus, only certain seats
40:06in the bus can use harnesses.
40:09So we need to make sure
40:12that the correct buses are used
40:17for the first day of school cuz I'm
40:19hearing that in the past this has been
40:23an issue.
40:24>> I I will take that feedback back to our
40:26teams. Thank you.
40:27>> I apologize for getting that down.
40:29>> No, I appreciate the clarification.
40:31I I was going to follow up Deputy Chair
40:34Grant in regards to the additional cost
40:36to support students, especially with
40:37special needs.
40:39One case in scenario that did occur this
40:41previous year is
40:42one of our schools had more students who
40:45required a wheelchair and we needed to
40:48add an additional wheelchair bus to that
40:50route so that would they was a cost to
40:51that.
40:53Just wanted to
40:54give you another example.
40:57>> What happens to the buses during the
40:59day? Like just say schools go on class
41:02trips. Do we pay extra or how does that
41:06like are we really going to save
41:10this money?
41:11>> yes, we get charged based on the number
41:13of buses that are being utilized, which
41:15is why we're it's for quantitative 51
41:17buses. To answer your question
41:19specifically,
41:20if we utilize a bus for an
41:23extracurricular event, let's say a field
41:25trip, there is a cost factor to that
41:28that we uh
41:30purchase order the schools and then
41:31they're responsible for paying for that.
41:33Yes, so there is an additional cost
41:35that's not included in this piece this
41:37piece.
41:38>> And then the the actual school who does
41:40the activity pays for
41:42>> Correct, correct.
41:46>> Oh,
41:48um
41:50I don't see a list of all the schools,
41:52but have we Do you know which schools it
41:55is that you're already moving to ninth?
41:57Did I already miss them?
41:58>> Yes, Kerwin, Agnes, and Potter Burns.
42:09>> No, it was more of like have we thought
42:11of
42:12like you know how you want to push it to
42:13nine? Like, have we thought about
42:15pushing it to eight?
42:16>> Yes.
42:17>> Like, you
42:17>> unbalanced here.
42:19Now, you're not going to have any any
42:21>> Sorry, say that one more time.
42:21>> You wouldn't have a balanced here. So,
42:23if we took those three and we moved them
42:25to 8:00, then you'd have 11 buses at 11
42:28schools at 8:00. I apologize. So, you'd
42:30have an unbalanced So, basically, what
42:31they call I think it's in that graphic
42:33there, they call it I don't know if I
42:35agree with their terminology, but the
42:36middle graphic there where it says
42:38reduces dead hot dead head time and
42:41improves route efficiency. So, you're
42:43going to pay for an additional bus to do
42:45one route.
42:47And that's where the cost savings
42:49comes into play through that analysis.
42:52>> If you're to move them to the 9:00. It
42:54is in this scenario. Yes. Yes, so now
42:57you have because we already have that
42:59eight number of schools at 8:00 already.
43:02Five at nine.
43:05>> Any more questions?
43:07Mr. Wildenhain, you've been quiet.
43:13>> All right.
43:14I I
43:15I I think it was pretty much clarified
43:17at the last meeting and I understood
43:20what they were looking to achieve. So,
43:22I'm good. Thank you.
43:24>> Okay, so let's move on to discussion
43:28action, which would be approval of the
43:31superintendent recommendation to change
43:34the opening and closing times of
43:37Curvin Richards Elementary School,
43:41Agnes Little School,
43:43Potter Burns Elementary School,
43:47and Jacquelyn M. Walsh.
43:51And for purposes, Curtis wouldn't be
43:54changed, nor would Nathaniel Greene.
43:58That was just an option that was thrown
44:00in there if
44:02we changed those routes, what would
44:04happen, how would it impact the other
44:06routes?
44:09So, we're not moving those. So, it's
44:11only the four.
44:13Coleman McCabe,
44:15Agnes Little, Potter Burns,
44:18and Jacqueline Walsh.
44:22So,
44:23do we have a motion?
44:26Motion by Mr. Pereira.
44:29Seconded by Mr. Wildenhain.
44:32Is there any discussion?
44:34Mr. Wildenhain.
44:36>> And the only clarification was we were
44:38looking to move Jacqueline Walsh from
44:418
44:42>> From 7:50 to 8:00
44:44uh 8:00.
44:44>> 8:00 uh 7:50 to 9:00 7:50 to 8:00 7:50
44:47to 9:00.
44:48Yes.
44:51>> To 8:00.
44:53>> Just 10 minutes. Okay, thank you.
44:58>> For Mr. Wildenhain's purposes, just to
45:00provide extra clarity on why that was
45:03and you you may remember this from our
45:04last discussion.
45:06Uh when JMW was inside of uh Jenks, they
45:09wanted a different start time and so
45:10they were operating under that so their
45:12students weren't coming into the
45:13building the same time as the masses at
45:15JMW and so obviously now that they're in
45:17a separate location, uh it does make
45:20sense for that.
45:21>> Suggest.
45:22>> Thank you.
45:23>> Okay. Is there any other discussion, Mr.
45:26Shalel?
45:26>> Um
45:28I so we are just recommending
45:30the change
45:32It it says same closing time. Uh we just
45:34recommending the start time
45:36for the three schools.
45:38Uh four.
45:39>> Four.
45:39>> Four four schools. All right. Um
45:42what
45:45>> Thank you.
45:47>> Yes.
45:50>> Yes. Yes.
45:53It's a
45:55un- understood. Understood. Um
45:58All right, then I have just a few
45:59things. One,
46:00uh whoever uh came up with this um
46:03report uh Mr. Andreid, I think it was
46:06you
46:07that gave us the transportation
46:08optimization initiative.
46:11Um I thank you for it. It was very
46:13thorough. Um
46:15it repeated itself. Now, this is not a
46:17criticism. It repeated a lot of
46:19information in the same way in different
46:21scenarios.
46:22Um I was not
46:25I was not supportive of this plan. I I
46:27I'm still on the fence on this plan.
46:30But Mr. Wildenhain said something to
46:32last meeting about we gave you the right
46:35to run the district.
46:37Um I'm seriously on the fence because of
46:39some of what my colleagues have brought
46:40up.
46:41We have a report from 2024 from a team
46:44that's not here, the leadership team
46:46that's not here.
46:47Um I am going to support this.
46:51But and unfortunately we can't force
46:53this, but I definitely um
46:56it whether I get reelected or I will
46:58implore the new school committee
47:01this needs to have
47:03oversight. I know Mr. Andreid puts in
47:05that the school committee was there.
47:07There's a difference between coming to a
47:09podium and speaking to all seven of us
47:12and the questions that I've had, but I
47:14am really
47:16okay with uh what I heard from Tom and
47:18what I've heard from you Mr. Andreid
47:20about this, but
47:21I'm I'm somebody that I want to see how
47:23the sausage is made and I didn't get to
47:26see how is it that a bus doesn't save us
47:29money if we change the schools from the
47:31outskirt schools compared to the
47:33internal. I know the answer and you
47:35wrote a very thorough report on why, but
47:38I would have probably had follow-up
47:39questions. So, a school committee should
47:41probably have quarterly updates to find
47:43out one, how would a sibling sibling
47:45issue being handled? How is that brother
47:48and sister issue being resolved? Are we
47:51doing a good job? We can't just wait
47:53until next June to say, "Hey, it
47:54failed." We need to get on top of it,
47:57maybe in October, early November at the
47:59latest, to find out how it is if this is
48:01to pass.
48:03Uh I know the school committee has
48:04plenty of subcommittees and we can't say
48:06this for the new committee, but maybe
48:08the new committee uh comes up with a
48:10subcommittee of transportation because
48:12this is a major ask
48:15for a city. Uh cuz and thank you for my
48:18colleague, Ms. Rosa,
48:20as a mother as a mother that I mean the
48:23the thing that you just said about I'm
48:24going to have to drive around I'm going
48:25to have to find a way between 8:00 and
48:279:00.
48:28I am hoping I'm putting the faith in you
48:30that you have an after-school Oh, not
48:32after. Well, after and before-school
48:35program for this scenario.
48:38Um we definitely need to have school
48:42committee members
48:43inside this type of decision-making.
48:47I know there is this quasi weird thing
48:50school committee shouldn't be involved
48:51in day-to-day and I I'm trying my
48:53hardest to stay I'm I'm line with that.
48:56But when it
48:57affects the people that vote us in, what
49:00are the faces of the path? These are the
49:02parents of the students that this is
49:03going to affect.
49:05I am taking your word because of this
49:07report that all scenarios were looked
49:09at. The Nathaniel Green one, the Curtis
49:11one was looked at.
49:13I just would have liked to have been
49:14there to or somebody from here to
49:16understand the actual program or how we
49:18got there. So, I am going to support
49:21this at this time, but I am going to
49:25ask next year, next school year, that we
49:28as a school committee have uh tremendous
49:30oversight on how this goes if this
49:32should pass this committee.
49:34>> Rosa.
49:35I want to echo that a little bit cuz I
49:37do appreciate everything that Mr.
49:40Shalhoub has said, but I also want to
49:41include the teachers and then the
49:44families on the PTO. Like I said, I've
49:45heard that all of our schools have
49:48really great PTOs.
49:49Mhm.
49:50Um so, I would definitely would like
49:52that and I would definitely like to have
49:54the input of the teachers as well, too,
49:56on if it's going well, if they feel like
49:58it's not going well.
50:00Definitely a check-in, but also I would
50:01like everybody to have some grace as
50:04well, too, with the educators because
50:06now we're asking them to also change
50:08their routine and we don't know what
50:10their routines are with their families
50:12as well, too, and now we're asking them
50:14to either stay come in earlier and stay
50:17later and let's not forget that their
50:19pay still stays the same. So, as far as
50:23like I have a village and I'm grateful
50:25for my village, but not everybody has
50:27that village, but not everybody also can
50:29afford child care cuz it's really
50:31expensive. So, I'm with Mr. Shalala on
50:34the fact that yes, as a school committee
50:37member to make these decisions, but we
50:39also really weren't included really,
50:42really in-depthly in this. So, yes, I'm
50:45going to support it, but like Jim said,
50:46like I'm really, really putting my trust
50:49in all of you and all in the district,
50:51not only as a mom, but as a school
50:52committee member, um, and that would
50:54just be like my little piece of like
50:57yes, we're doing this, but please make
50:59sure that we're taking we're taking care
51:00of our teachers as well, too. Um,
51:03because their lives are about to change
51:05on this. Even though it might feel like
51:0630 minutes, 30 minutes is is a lot
51:09because it's either sometimes even folks
51:11have to pay 30 minutes for child care
51:13and that's already like $175 just for 30
51:16minutes. So,
51:19yes,
51:20like Jim said, yes, but it's we we
51:23definitely have to do a little bit
51:25better on the communication piece and
51:28involving school committee with really
51:31in-depth like weekly updates on this cuz
51:33I definitely want to see the outcome of
51:36hopefully the money that we save on this
51:38as well, too.
51:39So, thank you.
51:39>> Okay.
51:40Any of the middle school done here?
51:43>> Yes, I also I'd like to comment
51:45uh, Dr. Andre and uh, Mr. Buck about you
51:49know Superintendent Buck for the fact
51:51that there's ongoing things ongoing
51:55savings that I wasn't really aware of
51:58but I I appreciated the fact that these
52:00would changes that were instituted that
52:02saved us money already which I didn't
52:04know about. So, I appreciate that fact.
52:07So,
52:08and for that reason I'll I'll be in
52:10support of this, too.
52:13>> I just want to say um
52:16I'm disappointed that it takes so long
52:20for things to finally come to us.
52:24If you saw the timeline, this was
52:27something Yes, it was mentioned here. We
52:29reviewed it here. But then
52:33then it took the last day of school for
52:35it to come here before us.
52:37Um we couldn't decide. The teacher pool
52:41was the next day.
52:43Teachers didn't know if they should take
52:45a job or not because
52:48they or that should they stay at a
52:50school. And and I think
52:54it was made very difficult.
52:56The school committee is about financial
52:59responsibility and that is one of our
53:02top priorities. And unfortunately, there
53:05have been some things that were supposed
53:07to help cut money that kind of fell
53:09through for certain reasons. So,
53:14this is something in regards to money
53:16that is extremely important to pass. I
53:19think like Mr. Shalal and
53:22Ms. Rosa, I agree. I I think this is
53:26something
53:27that should have been brought to us
53:29earlier. Um there should have been a
53:33more updated survey out there. Do Do we
53:36know if those people who did take How
53:39many people took the survey? Or you
53:41know, um there are a lot of unanswered
53:44questions and what happens is
53:49because we're only allotted certain time
53:51to have our meeting, that a lot of these
53:54questions don't get and
53:57you know, and it's not just about the
53:59little kids. It's about that mother who
54:02that mom who teaches third grade at at
54:05Kerwin, whose son plays baseball
54:08at at 2:30.
54:10They could have made it before, but now
54:13they can't. Um like I said many times,
54:17it's about communication
54:20and
54:21I I'm looking forward to
54:24with this being start of the new fiscal
54:26year, that we see a big timeline in in
54:31the superintendent and assistant
54:33superintendent's offices
54:36to
54:37that state what we have going on.
54:41And what is the appropriate time to get
54:46these things? Because what happens is
54:48then it falls on us,
54:50you know, the continuance was a
54:52debacle last week. Be- because I know
54:55myself, I was thinking of the teachers
54:58and their pools and you know, them
55:00trying to and then it being the last day
55:03of school. We shouldn't be waiting.
55:07And what's going to happen is
55:10if it wasn't about fiscal
55:11responsibility,
55:13then I would have definitely voted no
55:15for this. Unfortunately,
55:17I do have to go with it, but going
55:20forward, everything isn't about
55:22financial responsibility
55:24and fiscal responsibility and we need to
55:27get better. We we need with the timing
55:31and um
55:33and you know, great, this presentation
55:36is great and but this is the information
55:40Mr. Shalal should have been able to say
55:42at our last meeting last week. I have
55:46all the information here.
55:48It shouldn't take two, three meetings
55:50for us to decide. It should be presented
55:53to us well. We should have all the
55:55information.
55:58You guys vet it.
56:00And then you're supposed to provide all
56:02the information so we can make
56:06the most practical decision. And I feel
56:10that a lot of times at these meetings
56:14there's conversation to have
56:15conversation to hopefully just kind of
56:18throw us off a little bit. And I think
56:22we really need to do better with our
56:24timelines
56:25um on everything, on a lot of things.
56:29So, I just wanted to share my
56:31disappointment.
56:33>> Thank you, Ms. Queren. Are there any
56:35other comments?
56:37Clerk, call the roll.
56:42>> Juan Pablo Barerra?
56:43>> Yes.
56:44>> Matthew Wiedenheft?
56:45>> Yes.
56:47>> Um James Shalal?
56:49>> Yes.
56:50>> Angelyse Rosa?
56:51>> Yes.
56:51>> Kimberly Grant?
56:52>> Yes.
56:53>> Joanne Vona?
56:54>> Yes.
56:57>> Thank you.
56:58Next on the agenda is the approval of
57:01the Rhode Island Health and Education
57:03Building Corporation 2026 Capital Grant
57:08Agreement.
57:10Dr. Andrade?
57:12>> Let's leave on a very positive note. So,
57:14before you this evening is a request to
57:15authorize the superintendent to execute
57:18the Rhode Island Health and Educational
57:20Building Corporation, otherwise known as
57:22RIBEC, uh 2026 Capital Grant Agreement.
57:26First, I'd like to express our sincere
57:28appreciation to uh RIBEC for selecting
57:31the Pawtucket School Department through
57:32the highly competitive grant process.
57:34The district is awarded $25,000 to
57:37support the transformation of the Slater
57:39Middle School library into a 21st
57:41century career and technical education
57:43exploration. I do want to call out uh
57:46CFO Stephanie uh DeMello who did bring
57:48this grant to my attention. Uh and so
57:51thank you for her for sharing this
57:54amazing grant opportunity.
57:55So Ryback
57:57Yes, thank you. And we've got more
57:59coming, I believe.
58:00So Ryback, you you you get me the grant,
58:02I'll I'll write it and we'll get it.
58:04Ryback has been an outstanding partner
58:06for the Pawtucket School Department for
58:07many years for you for those who are not
58:09familiar with them beyond this grant.
58:11Ryback has played a significant role in
58:13supporting the financing of public
58:14school construction projects throughout
58:16Rhode Island including assisting with
58:18the financing of the Pawtucket school
58:20construction bond initiatives that are
58:22helping transform our educational
58:23initiatives and our facilities. Their
58:26partnership has been instrumental in
58:28allowing districts like ours to invest
58:29in modern, safe, and innovative learning
58:32environments.
58:33This grant will help fund critical
58:35infrastructure improvements at Slater
58:37Middle School. On behalf of
58:38Superintendent Buck, our students,
58:39staff, and the entire Pawtucket School
58:41Department, I want to extend a heartfelt
58:43thanks to Ryback and its Board of
58:45Directors for their continued investment
58:46in public education as well as the
58:48future of Pawtucket students. I
58:51respectfully request the committee's
58:52approval to authorize the superintendent
58:54to execute the Ryback Capital Grant
58:55Agreement.
58:59>> Second.
59:00>> Motion's been made by with Mr.
59:02Wildenhain seconded by Ms. Grant and Ms.
59:05Rosa.
59:06Clerk calls the roll.
59:08Up.
59:09Discussion. I will be supporting it, but
59:12I just want to ask uh just a few
59:15questions. Um
59:16are we moving the library?
59:18Are we giving them another library?
59:21Oh, you did?
59:22Oh, okay. I'm cuz
59:25>> Yeah. Deputy Chairperson did. Uh so the
59:28evolution of libraries have changed
59:30taken a little bit of a change over the
59:32last decade or two.
59:34Classroom libraries are what the
59:35expectation is so that students have
59:37more access and opportunity to those
59:39spaces.
59:41This was a part of the redesign model
59:43that the Slater administrative faculty
59:45and community through the cab put
59:47together that they wanted to make a
59:49valued interest investment into that
59:52particular space.
59:53So, to answer your question
59:54specifically, is there going to be an
59:56alternate library that looks like the
59:58traditional library that we're
59:59accustomed to? The answer is no, not not
1:00:01currently at this time.
1:00:03>> The CTE
1:00:05programs that I'm used to seeing, we
1:00:08don't have them here in Pawtucket, but
1:00:10they're big. They take a lot of space.
1:00:12They're big. Is this library
1:00:15the the are you okay with the size that
1:00:17we're going to
1:00:17>> 100%.
1:00:19We actually had the the contracted
1:00:22CTE program come in. They did an
1:00:25analysis, measurements. They did a whole
1:00:28schematic and architectural design.
1:00:30Slater Middle School library is actually
1:00:32composes of three classrooms that are
1:00:34together with an open concept. So, it is
1:00:36more than enough space. So, it will
1:00:38actually could potentially support two
1:00:41additional
1:00:42classrooms that could work parallel
1:00:43together.
1:00:44>> I know I know it's a big area. I just I
1:00:46know CTE big. And then my last question,
1:00:51money grant money is grant money, right?
1:00:54I'm just assuming
1:00:5625,000 doesn't do it.
1:00:58>> Not even a little bit. Yeah, it's
1:00:59a huge help. Sorry.
1:01:01>> No, but I'm being serious. So, we're
1:01:02going to spend the 25,000 to do it, but
1:01:04then we're going to have to spend local
1:01:06to finish it.
1:01:07>> Great question. So, we're not we're
1:01:08actually braiding different sources.
1:01:11Specifically, the facilities opportunity
1:01:13initiative as well as CSI improvement
1:01:15money as well as title four money. I'm
1:01:18hopeful that we're going to
1:01:20that the the minimal amount will come
1:01:22from local
1:01:24to support this space.
1:01:25>> Okay. All right. I'm I'm supportive we
1:01:28and they I just want to make sure this
1:01:29game plan that
1:01:31starts and completes it cuz and
1:01:33completes it right that school that that
1:01:36school deserves our full attention. I
1:01:37thank you for finding this that you're
1:01:39saying that the CFO found this so
1:01:42that that's great and Mark thank you
1:01:43very much for following through with it.
1:01:45>> The work is underway Mr. Shalel. I do
1:01:47want to share with the committee and the
1:01:49community that that library is now
1:01:50empty. Our painters are planning on
1:01:52being there on Monday. Our the the floor
1:01:55will be installed the following week and
1:01:57then we have the Paxton and Prex Preston
1:02:00excuse me. We have two educators I
1:02:02believe that are attending a training
1:02:04down in Carolina I believe.
1:02:06And then the the company itself will be
1:02:09coming first hand to install all the
1:02:11FF&E.
1:02:14>> Perfect. Ms. Grant.
1:02:16>> Um how much is the project going to cost
1:02:18altogether?
1:02:19>> Oh.
1:02:20>> You're putting me on the spot Ms. Grant.
1:02:21Um I'm going to say we're we're we're in
1:02:23the ballpark of $85 to $100,000.
1:02:27It actually you know what? Let me take
1:02:28that back. I'm only focused on the
1:02:30capital improvement piece. The capital
1:02:32probably is $75,000.
1:02:35The program itself I think was Mr.
1:02:37Edwards 100 grand.
1:02:40Yeah, I don't know. Paxton and Preston
1:02:42was an additional cost. Self.
1:02:44>> So so what's the breakdown? What's it
1:02:46going to cost the district? It is
1:02:49>> It's not going to cost the district any
1:02:50money. We're only using grant funds.
1:02:52>> You're using all grant funds.
1:02:54>> 100% for that space.
1:02:57Not not a penny.
1:02:58>> Okay cuz I thought you I thought at the
1:03:01end you said we're hoping not to use
1:03:03local
1:03:03>> That is correct.
1:03:05I am hoping we're not going to have to
1:03:06do that but right now there is there is
1:03:08enough of money to support this work
1:03:10moving forward.
1:03:11>> So this is where I get a little
1:03:12concerned
1:03:14because we don't have money. We we We're
1:03:17not covering classrooms and and I know
1:03:20this $25,000
1:03:22is is great, but but I think we as a
1:03:26district need to do a little bit better.
1:03:28We can't in 6 7 8 9 10 months, you guys
1:03:34come back and say, "Well, it went over
1:03:36budget. We're going to need $100,000."
1:03:40You know, um I know you had mentioned to
1:03:43me the other day that that library has
1:03:47not been used for 3 years because of
1:03:51damage and things like that. So, I'm
1:03:55assuming walls are going to have to be
1:03:57opened and
1:03:59there's So, what's the
1:04:01damage in the area that that that
1:04:04library hadn't been used?
1:04:06>> I can't speak to the actual damage that
1:04:08was put in place. Uh it was just an
1:04:11unutilized space. I believe a
1:04:14speech and language pathologist used one
1:04:16of the spaces. It was used as a storage
1:04:18space.
1:04:19It was used as a testing space. Um the
1:04:22the equipment is
1:04:24probably from
1:04:26the onset of its opening back in the
1:04:271930s.
1:04:29Um it the carpet is the original carpet
1:04:31installed to date. Uh I There's going to
1:04:34be no cost to the district regarding
1:04:35that space.
1:04:37>> Oh, so you're saying right here and now
1:04:40there will be no cost to the district.
1:04:43>> That is correct. I will share the budget
1:04:44with you if you would like and with the
1:04:46committee members.
1:04:47>> I You had said when you spoke I
1:04:51and I'm just repeating what you said
1:04:54that I'm hoping there won't be anything
1:04:58taken from local. So,
1:05:00>> There is not.
1:05:01>> Okay. I just wanted to make sure. Okay,
1:05:04perfect. Thank you.
1:05:14Um clerk call the roll.
1:05:18>> Joanne Banuelos? No, she's last. Never
1:05:20mind.
1:05:23Juan Pablo Barrera?
1:05:24>> Yes.
1:05:24>> Angelica Rosa?
1:05:26>> Yes.
1:05:26>> James Chaloux?
1:05:27>> Yes.
1:05:27>> Matthew Wildenhain?
1:05:28>> Yes.
1:05:29>> Kimberly Brand?
1:05:30>> Yes.
1:05:30>> And Joanne Banuelos.
1:05:34>> Okay.
1:05:35>> Thank you.
1:05:35>> Um
1:05:37I am going to wait for Joanne.
1:05:39>> Just because you called us.
1:05:41>> It's about executive session. So, I'll
1:05:43wait for her.
1:06:02>> Thank you. Next on the agenda
1:06:05is
1:06:10Look at my agenda.
1:06:13Uh the school committee may go into
1:06:16executive session for discussion and
1:06:19direction pursuant to Rhode Island
1:06:21General Laws
1:06:2242-46-4
1:06:25regarding those items of business
1:06:28exempt from open meetings under the
1:06:30Rhode Island General Laws 42-46-5.
1:06:34Pursuant to Rhode Island General Law
1:06:3742-46-5
1:06:39A1
1:06:40a discussion related to the job
1:06:42performance and character of district
1:06:44employees.
1:07:19>> Clerk, call the roll.
1:07:26>> I can find the roll. Juan Pablo Barrera?
1:07:28>> Here.
1:07:29>> Angeles Rosa?
1:07:30>> Here.
1:07:31>> James Shalal?
1:07:32>> Here.
1:07:32>> Matthew Wildenhain?
1:07:33>> Here.
1:07:33>> Kimberly Grant? Joann Banuelo?
1:07:36>> Here.
1:07:38>> And clerk, report out any vote.
1:07:47>> Yes.
1:07:48Yeah, I was pulling it I was just
1:07:49pulling it up.
1:07:52There was a motion to a
1:07:54to seal the executive session minutes by
1:07:57James Shalal, seconded by Angeles Rosa.
1:08:01And there was a motion to adjourn the
1:08:02closed meeting by James Shalal, seconded
1:08:05by Matthew Wildenhain.
1:08:09>> And can I have a motion to adjourn?
1:08:14All in favor?

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