SCHOOL COMMITTEE
BARRINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
BARRINGTON, RHODE ISLAND
Minutes of the All Day Kindergarten Subcommittee 5/7/13
A meeting of the Barrington School Committee All Day Kindergarten Subcommittee was held
on Tuesday, May 7, 2013 at the Barrington High School Conference Room. The meeting was
open at 6:00 p.m. Present were Mr. Fuller, Mr. Messore, Mrs. Dillon, Ms. Adams, Mr.
Alessandro, Mrs. Kelsey, Ms. Milliken, Ms. Morton, Ms. Nellis, Ms. Phillips, Ms. Stoner, Ms.
Salem and Ms. Weber. Absent from the meeting were Ms. Ma and Ms. Whitehead. Present
from the public were Mr. Geoffrey Grove and Mr. Joel Hellmann.
Approval of Minutes
The subcommittee reviewed the minutes from last week’s meeting. Mr. Alessandro asked for an
adjustment to the minutes to reflect his question regarding the budget. Ms. Stoner requested that
her statement be changed to reflect her reference to kindergarten teachers’ support to deliver the
Common Core State Standards (CCSS) curriculum.
Mr. Alessandro moved and Ms. Stoner seconded to approve the meeting minutes of
April 30, 2013 as amended. The motion passed 13-0 with Mr. Fuller, Mr. Messore,
Mrs. Dillon, Ms. Adams, Mr. Alessandro, Mrs. Kelsey, Ms. Milliken, Ms. Morton,
Ms. Nellis, Ms. Phillips, Ms. Stoner, Ms. Salem and Ms. Weber voting in the
affirmative for the motion.
Review
Mr. Messore recapped the subcommittee’s last meeting and review its charge. Following
discussion, the subcommittee called for a motion.
Mr. Fuller moved and Ms. Stoner seconded to a support a recommendation to the
School Committee for an all day kindergarten program in the Barrington Public
Schools district.
The purpose of the recommendation is to 1)support the CCSS, 2)support the social and
emotional development of the students, and 3)support the priority from the district’s Strategic
Plan. Mr. Messore stated that there are many initiatives and concerns to address including
CCSS, kindergarten data for enrollment, implementation time and technology needs. Mr.
Messore’s recommendation is to implement the all day kindergarten program but wait one more
year to do so. Mr. Messore stressed the importance of following the open meetings protocol.
Ms. Milliken asked if all day kindergarten is not implemented, if the process will be restarted
next year. Mr. Messore noted that funds cannot be reserved from one year to the next as
initiatives are ongoing. Mr. Alessandro asked if the same was true for technology. Mr. Messore
responded yes and provided an overview of technology initiatives. A lengthy discussion ensued
on the concerns facing implementation of an all day kindergarten program this coming year
versus beginning next year.
Ms. Nellis asked if the $1.1 million figure from the Committee on Appropriations (COA) was
still on the table or if the $900,000 was agreed upon. Mr. Messore reported that the number
given by the COA is $900,000, no other. Mr. Geoff Grove, COA member, noted that the
$900,000 is based on what they COA believes the schools need based on the information they
have received. Discussion ensued.
Mr. Alessandro called for a need to motion for partial implementation or postponing to next year.
Mr. Fuller expressed his support for postponing full implementation one year. Ms. Salem
questioned the benefits of waiting one year and the certainty of implementation. Mr. Messore
noted that the extra time would be to build support, pull the numbers together and further educate
the community. Mrs. Kelsey wonders if a timeline could be created to address parents’ concerns
on if principals are prepared. Mr. Messore responded that the timeline would begin in
September, and the School Committee would have the actual costs allowing for the COA to
respond. Mr. Grove noted that the school funding formula will increase next year. Ms. Adams
urged the committee to not push it back. Mr. Messore indicated that the recommendation is that
committee supports an all day kindergarten program, the School Committee will then determine
the timeline. If the School Committee moves implementation to next year, this committee will
be contacted and asked if they would like to be involved once again.
The motion passed 12-0 with Mr. Fuller, Mr. Messore, Mrs. Dillon, Ms. Adams,
Mrs. Kelsey, Ms. Milliken, Ms. Morton, Ms. Nellis, Ms. Phillips, Ms. Stoner, Ms.
Salem and Ms. Weber voting in the affirmative for the motion. Mr. Alessandro
abstained from the motion.
Meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m.