Board OKs Free Dental Care For Students

At its Sept. 13 meeting, the Johnston School Committee voted to bring in the Molar Express, a no-cost mobile dental clinic, to the district. The Molar Express program is sponsored and operated by West Bay Smiles.

“The Molar Express continues to be an extremely effective program at brining no-cost dental care to children 21 and under,” said Tara Pratt, a representative from West Bay Smiles.

Pratt explained the program has a high enrollment in communities such as Cranston, Warwick and Coventry — and actually makes children want to go to the dentist.

Committee members discussed hosting an open house on a date to be determined.

Also during the session:

• The school board moved to recall two grant-funded positions for the 2011-2012 school year, a psychologist/interventionist for the district and an elementary school technology aide.
• Six new faculty appointments were approved by the school committee, all new appointments replaced existing vacancies within the district. A new maintenance worker was appointed to fill a current opening in the district as well.
• Ten bus monitor positions were approved unopposed by the school board. All positions were available due to promotion of existing employees or retirements.
• Greta Lalli will be returning to coaching after being assigned to the position of head volleyball coach at Johnston Senior High School.
• The school committee approved service bids for Food Service Inspection by First Inspections of the Dotty Lebeau Group, Ltd.;  Generator service by the Lightship Group; and fuel oil by Martini Oil.
• The review of bids for the maintenance department have not yet been completed, so the school committee moved to table this line item until next meeting.

The next school committee meeting is scheduled for Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. in the library.