Superintendent’s Message Spring 2024

 

The calendar and the excitement of our students tells us that spring is here, but the day to day weather does not always agree with those signs.  However, the activities and enthusiasm of our students and staff are high energy right now as everyone is focusing on exciting end of the year activities,spring sports, field trips, our spring musical “Wonka”, Month of the Military Child and more.  

The Budget for Fiscal 2025 has passed our School Committee and Town Council, with final approval scheduled for Monday, June 3 in the Annual Town Financial Meeting in the Lawn Gymnasium.  The full budget as developed and presented by our Administrative team was accepted.  Our biggest challenge was finding a way to include several positions added during COVID, paid for with ESSER funds. Those positions included a nurse at Lawn School, and Reading and Math Interventionists at both schools to help support students struggling academically.  We met that challenge with savings from  out of district tuition agreements, the part time Superintendent position, and lower electrical costs.  Please attend the Financial Town Meeting to insure that this budget, which supports the educational, social emotional and facility needs of our school community are met.

Spring also is the time of year for RICAS  (Rhode Island Comprehensive  Assessment System) and NGSA (Next Generation Science Assessment) testing.  Students in Grades 3-8 will participate in these assessments in April and May. At Lawn School, 7th and 8th graders are starting their Genius Hour projects. This is great practice for what they will encounter in high school in the Senior Project, a graduation requirement at our two high schools of record, North Kingstown High School and Narragansett High School. 

I am very excited to report that the Jamestown School Committee is getting close to making a decision on a permanent Superintendent of Schools for Jamestown.  An Interview Committee screened 14 applications, interviewed 5 outstanding candidates and recommended 2 finalists to the Committee for further consideration.  Stay tuned for an announcement in mid May!

The week of May 6-10 is Teacher Appreciation Week.  It has been an honor for me to be back here in Jamestown this year as your Interim Superintendent of Schools.  The full staff in Jamestown is indeed talented, dedicated and creative in their approach to learning for your children, and I have loved seeing it in action once again. While the special week honors teachers, it is also a time to acknowledge our Teacher Assistants, Secretaries, Custodians  and Administrative Staff.  Our district is in the process of identifying our Teacher of the Year and Support Professional of the Year for 2024 and we seek your input! Please complete a nomination of a favorite teacher, teacher assistant, custodian or secretary by April 26. 

Get ready for a great end of school year.  June 26 is our last day!

 

Katherine Sipala, Interim Superintendent of Schools