Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Under the governor's budget plan, the restaurant tax would go from 8 percent to 10 percent next year.
When it comes to Gov. Chafee's proposal to increase the restaurant tax from 8 percent to 10 percent, restaurant owners in Rhode Island have strong feelings. “This is a second restaurant tax,” said Matt Wronski, owner of Tio Mateo’s and Greenwich Bay Gourmet in East Greenwich. “First they added a percentage point that was going to be temporary,” he said, referring to the increase from 7 percent to 8 percent in 2003, when Gov. Carcieri was governor. That 1 percent, which is still collected, goes back to cities and towns. Chafee's 2 percent increase would go to funding education on the local level. “Once they get their fingers in your pocket, they don’t let go,” said Wronski. “I’m from Detroit. I’ve seen this movie and it doesn’t turn out …
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
The state finished the end of Fiscal Year 2011 with a reported $85 million.
Rhode Island Auditor General Dennis Hoyle announced this week that the state ended Fiscal Year 2011 with an $85 million surplus. The number was reported as part of Hoyle's annual audit, known as the State’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR). The $85 million includes General Fund revenues and other sources. The General Fund consisted primarily of taxes (42 percent) and federal grants (41 percent). Within the General Fund, $64.2 million of fund balance was available for appropriation in Fiscal Year 2012. "It was anticipated that 2011 would close with a surplus," said Greg Pare, Director of Senate Communications. Of the $64.2 million available for appropriation in 2012, about $57.2 million has been applied to balancing FY 2012, he…
Thursday, June 30, 2011
The Johnston school board also approved a number of contracts and recalls for teachers who had been given layoff notices.
The honors continued for the Division II champion Johnston High School varsity baseball team on June 29, as the local school committee recognized the squad for their achievement. “I’d like to congratulate the boys, they all did very well. I’m very impressed with their sportsmanship awards as well,” said member Lorraine Iafrate. The committee members individually issued citations to the players who reside within their respective districts. After starting the season with 11 straight wins, the Panthers lost to Woonsocket, 5-4, on April 6, then secured the top seed in the playoffs with a 5-1 record down the stretch. The Villa Novans met Johnston in the semifinals, with the Panthers winning the best-of-three series two games to one. Johnston …
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Nicholas A. Ferri Middle School
10 Memorial Ave, Johnston, RI
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Wednesday, May 11, 2011
The Johnston School Committee honors the high school hockey team and gets a meal program deficit wiped out.
At its May 10 meeting, the Johnston School Committee recognized Lisa Filippelli, a Thornton Elementary School teacher, as Johnston teacher of the year. Filippelli was also a strong contender in the search for Rhode Island's teacher of the year. “Lisa did the town of Johnston proud, as she was a finalist in the Rhode Island Teacher of the Year search," said Supt. Dr. Bernard DiLullo. "We are proud of her and privileged to have her with us.” Filippelli — who also serves as chairwoman of the Board of Trustees for Marian J. Mohr Library — rose from her seat to resounding applause in acknowledgement of all her hard work for the district, Thornton elementary and most importantly, her students. Food Program Deficit Wiped Out Jessica Patriola, the…
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Nicholas A. Ferri Middle School
10 Memorial Ave, Johnston, RI
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Tuesday, April 12, 2011
High School Principal Gerald Foley is scheduled to discuss the NEASC report at tonight's school committee meeting.
Principal Gerald Foley of Johnston High School is scheduled to announce that the high school has earned a renewal of its accreditation by the New England Association of School and Colleges at tonight's school committee meeting, set to start at 7 p.m. at Ferri Middle School. (The attached .pdf document is the agenda for tonight's meeting.) During an interview before the meeting, Supt. Dr. Bernard DiLullo confirmed that Foley would be announcing the NEASC decision and "going through the specifics" of the agency's report. An evaluation group from NEASC visited the high school last October to review its progress. In 2000, NEASC placed the local high school on probation for failing to meet the agency's standards. Tonight's expected announcement…
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Nicholas A. Ferri Middle School
10 Memorial Ave, Johnston, RI
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Wednesday, March 23, 2011
The total funding request represents about a 1 percent increase over the current spending plan.
After three budget workshops in as many weeks, the Johnston School Committee completed its final budget workshop on March 23, voting in favor of a final budget proposal requiring $433,030.67 over current funding levels. With the increase, the fiscal 2012 school budget would total $48.84 million, an increase of about 1 percent. The vote was 4-0, with Member Joseph Rotella (Dist. 4) absent. Members said they felt the request was as low as they could have made it. “[The district] can’t be level funded for a fourth year in a row. This is not asking a lot,” said Robert LaFazia (Dist. 1), who noted that the committee could have requested $1.5 million, or a 4.5 percent increase, under the state's tax cap. The increase was reduced from the …
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
The money will pay for a new Student Information System to more effectively manage data and records.
The Johnston School Committee unanimously approved a payment of $91,000 to update the district's student information system at its Feb. 15 meeting, held at Nicholas A. Ferri Middle School. Aspen Development Corporation, the new vendor, is expected to improve the computerized data system and help the district meet guidelines under the federal Race to the Top grant program. Rhode Island recently received $75 million under the funding system. Supt. Bernard DiLullo indicated that current system for information management is not user-friendly. “SchoolMax, our current software, is difficult — it requires our staff to remember certain screen numbers in order to bring up information and has frequent down time,” DiLullo said. Although the initial …
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Nicholas A. Ferri Middle School
10 Memorial Ave, Johnston, RI
/articles/school-committee-oks-91000-for-new-data-system
1811509
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English first
2:25 pm on Friday, March 23, 2012
Wow, the last 14-16 comments got off the subject of meal tax increase. On most issues that are "discussed' on the Woonsocket Patch the subject reverts to the educational system. (Somehow that last sentence doesn't sound grammatical correct.) more ›