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Johnston School Committee

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

5 Things To Know Today: May 10

Stories at Mohr; school board meets; PCM hosts outdoor fun; blood drive in Warwick; and today in history: An electric test.

Bring The Little Ones: Marian J. Mohr Library hosts story time for infants to 3-year-olds today at 10:30 a.m. Enough time for a story, song and craft before — hopefully — a nap. School Board Meeting: The Johnston School Committee is scheduled to meet tonight at 7 p.m. at Ferri Middle School. Word is that there will be some special acknowledgements — watch JohnstonPatch for coverage, before and after the session. Get Outside — Weather Permitting: Providence Children's Museum gives the kiddos a chance to explore its Children's Garden today. Admission $8.50; free to members of Neighborhood Health Plan. For children 4 to 11. Be Great — Donate: Webster Bank in Warwick (aw, come on, it's not that far of a cruise, especially to do a good deed) …

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

News Brief: School Committee OKs $433,050 Budget Hike

The spending plan now goes to the mayor and town council for approval.

The Johnston School Committee on March 22 voted 4-0 to approve a $48.84 million budget for fiscal 2012 that would require a $433,050 increase over the current spending plan. Committee members held a third and final workshop on the budget to take a final opportunity to identify possible savings. After reducing the expected increase to $383,000, some $86,000 less than where the committee left off on March 16, members reinstated $50,000 to the oil line item. Member Joseph Rotella (Dist. 4), absent from the March 22 session, had suggested cutting the oil budget at the previous workshop. From here, the budget will be presented to Mayor Joseph M. Polisena and the Johnston Town Council for approval.   Watch for Michael Earnheart's complete re-cap…

In this Article:

Johnston School Department

School Board Meets Tonight For Third Budget Review; Vote Expected

The Johnston School Committee has already held two budget workshops on the $49 million spending plan for fiscal 2012.

Tonight at 6 p.m. at Nicholas A. Ferri Middle School, the Johnston School Committee is scheduled to hold a third — and possibly last — budget workshop on the $48.87 million proposed fiscal 2012 school spending plan. Over the past two weeks, the school board has reviewed the budget proposed by Supt. Dr. Bernard DiLullo and suggested reductions in everything from heating oil to paper towels in an attempt to require no tax increase — the fourth straight year that the department would be level-funded. During their meeting on March 16, committee members identified about $60,000 in potential savings which, if approved by a vote of the board tonight, would reduce the expected hike in school costs to $409,000 from the original $1.4 million …

In this Article:

Nicholas A. Ferri Middle School

Monday, March 21, 2011

5 Things To Know Today: March 21

Latest school budget proposal available today; no school, St. Rocco; Einstein; Feinstein; and today in history: Who shot JR? (Who's JR?)

Latest School Budget: At 10 a.m. today, we'll be uploading the latest school budget proposal to "Your Government Handbook." For some context to the document, you can read about the school committee's March 16 workshop and watch a video from the meeting, all without leaving the cozy confines of JohnstonPatch. The school board is scheduled to meet March 22 for a third workshop at 6 p.m., with a vote set for 7 p.m. Like A Plastic Cup... No Glass: 5 Patch points to anyone who gets that reference. What I meant to say was: "No class," but not that way. St. Rocco School won't be in session today because of a professional day for Catholic school teachers. The day off won't stop our reporting of their three girls' basketball teams who played for …

In this Article:

St. Rocco School

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Week In Review: After-School Accident, New Fire Chief, Cuts To School Budget Plan, JNP's Title Run

A look at the top stories from JohnstonPatch for the week ending March 19.

After-School Accident: Traffic is normally heavy after school, but on March 14, a two-car accident caused a back-up on Cherry Hill Road and Atwood Avenue. Police later charged one of the drivers for failing to yield to a vehicle traveling the opposite direction. Council Grants Noise Waiver: The town council voted to allow National Grid to exceed the town's noise limits while the utility completes an upgrade to power lines along Interstate 295. Mayor Names New Fire Chief: Retired Pawtucket Fire Chief Timothy McLaughlin got Mayor Joseph M. Polisena's nod to take the helm of the local fire department on March 16. Following the mayor's announcement at the senior center, McLaughlin addressed a 2009 no-confidence vote by Pawtucket firefighters. …

Friday, March 18, 2011

Video: Johnston School Board Discusses Budget Plan

Members of the school board held a second budget workshop on March 16.

The accompanying video shows members of the Johnston School Committee discussing changes to the proposed school budget for fiscal 2012 at a workshop held March 16 at Ferri Middle School. In the first segment, Committee Member Robert LaFazia asks about the anticipated $248,000 increase in out-of-district tuition, and schools Business Manager Melissa Devine explains how it was calculated. Later, School Committee Chairwoman Janice Mele talks about the budget process to date, and how state mandates affect hthe board's budget preparations.   Correction: Chairwoman Janice Mele's name was misspelled in the original version of this article.

In this Article:

Johnston School Department and Nicholas A. Ferri Middle School

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Out-Of-District Tuition Among Top Increases In School Budget Plan

Members of the Johnston School Committee scoured the budget plan for fiscal 2012 at a workshop on March 16.

After another round of identifying potential cuts in the proposed school budget for fiscal 2012, Johnston School Committee members remained $469,000 away from their goal of a fourth straight level-funded budget. On March 16, the committee held a second budget workshop at Ferri Middle School to review an updated proposal by school administrators for a $48.87 million budget, about $1.2 million more than the current fiscal year's spending plan. "We're really at the bone," Supt. Dr. Bernard DiLullo told the committee. "Any more major cuts and you're talking about (cutting) teaching positions. I think we've made all the cuts in programs we can without affecting service to the students." The $469,000 increase is essentially the amount that the …

In this Article:

Nicholas A. Ferri Middle School

Joe Butt

11:19 pm on Thursday, March 17, 2011

"Hey Janice"Why don't you give your seat to the mayor? He already has your vote.Did you check to see if was okay to talk to the Patch?????   more ›

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

News Brief: School Board OKs Plan To Seek Multi-District Bus Contract

The committee also approves Principal Gerry Foley's revised program for Johnston High School.

Johnston school officials will participate in a plan to seek a multi-district transportation contract, following a school committee vote on March 8. The school board approved, by a 4-0 vote, a plan brought by Supt. Dr. Bernard DiLullo to issue a Request for Proposals with other, as yet undetermined communities. Member Robert Lafazia was absent from the session. Currently, the school district pays about $3.5 million to Durham Student Services for transportation of 3,100 students in 32 buses. Also during the meeting, the board approved a plan that would allow Johnston High School students to earn credit for performing community service under a revised plan brought to the school committee by Principal Gerald K. Foley. According to Foley, …

In this Article:

Johnston School Department

Mike Smith

12:05 am on Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Hay Janice did you check with the mayor first ? Their is no way you did this on you own .   more ›

Multi-District Bus Proposal On School Board Agenda

The Johnston school board is scheduled to meet tonight at 7 p.m. at Ferri Middle School.

At tonight's meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. at Ferri Middle School, members of the Johnston School Committee are expected to consider a plan that would consolidate the town's bus contract with other communities in the area. Supt. Dr. Bernard DiLullo is expected ask the school board to issue a Request for Proposals with other communities for bus services. In an e-mail message Tuesday afternoon, DiLullo said the local school board would be following a state proposal "that communities come together to combine contracts to get the best rates possible on services such as transportation." At this point, the concept is in the planning stage, DiLullo added: "The RFP has not been written yet and the communities not officially identified." The …

In this Article:

Johnston School Department

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

5 Things To Know Today: Feb. 15

More Raymond Carver and storytime at the library; it's not too early to start thinking about February vacation; the school committee meets tonight; and today in history: rocket + ice = win

Baby Storytime: Continuing its weekly series, Mohr Library hosts storytime for babies and toddlers up to 3 years old today from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Stories, songs, rhymes, and a simple craft — much better than another hour of Elmo. Raymond Carver Series: Later today, at 3 p.m., the library looks at the noir fiction of author Raymond Carver. Learn more about this influential author in the Reading Room. Vacation On The Way: For the kids, at least, next week is one for taking a break. Watch JohnstonPatch for lists of activities and events to get them (and you) out of the house. Spoiler alert! The week includes gum drop architecture and "turn your friend into a snowman" activities at the library. Put them on the calendar now. School Commitee …

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