School Committee Approves Hiring Assistant Superintendent

Michele Humbyrd, principal of Curtis Corner Middle School in South Kingstown, received a special North Kingstown welcome Oct. 25 as the North Kingstown School Committee approved her appointment to the post of NK assistant school superintendent.

Lynda Avanzato announced that not only would Humbyrd receive a salary more than two percent lower than her predecessor, Superintendent Phil Auger, but she also had volunteered not to enroll in the school health insurance plan, saving the system thousands of dollars.

William Mudge congratulated Humbyrd, but said he wished the committee had discussed the qualifications required to oversee the technology department, which was added to the assistant superintendent's job description, before making a decision. He also wanted to clarify how much notice Humbyrd has to give before she moves on to another job.

Joe Thompson said he welcomed Humbyrd and was sure she would do a good job, but he was voting against her because he preferred promoting from within the school system.

After approving that hire on a 5-1 vote, with Melvoid Benson absent, the committee turned its attention to whether , no longer used for regular classes, will more likely end up as a white elephant or a cash cow. North Kingstown School Superintendent Phil Auger asked for six weeks to prepare an answer to that question.

Auger met with Davisville residents at the school Oct. 20. He also consulted Brenda Potter, a Title 1 Program Officer with the Child Opportunity Zone and Family Learning Partnership, who spoke before the school committee. COZ, a program for preschoolers, and FLP, which offers academic support for families, are federally funded school department programs that provide services at Davisville Elementary School.

Auger said that similar federally funded education programs could operate from the school, including some now provided for NK students by contractors outside the district. Funds from those programs might help offset maintenance costs while the school system evaluates enrollment trends and whether it will need to reopen the building for classroom use.

Auger said he'd also like to investigate finding tenants who share the school district's educational mission. Adult education and art classes ranked among possible activities that would bring new revenues. He pledged to keep the school's neighbors informed and involved as his suggested five-year plan develops over the next few weeks.

In other actions, several committee members asked for detailed financial information and budget clarifications before they begin to discuss a budget for next year.

The committee approved changes in the school emergency policy to accommodate the needs of diabetic students.

Committee members also approved several changes in how its meetings are conducted. The commitee will no longer publish meeting schedules and agendas as ads in The Standard Times, saving $700 to $1,000, according to the superintendent's office.

School committee members will receive agendas and meeting packets electronically unless they request delivery of hard copies. This prompted Mudge to ask, "Is a school committee candidate required to have a computer and Internet access to run for public office?"

The committee approved a resolution on pensions asking the state General Assembly to "enact reforms to the teacher and municipal employees systems that mitigate the cost to school districts and cities and towns."

And the committee received the first read of a proposed policy regulating special education students who request the assistance of "service animals," specifically dogs and miniature horses, in class. Committee Chair Kimberly Page said the issue has not yet come up, but federal regulations require the school system to have a policy in case it does.

One rule: Students or their parents would have to clean up after the critters.