Thursday, April 12, 2012
Hermes is a social studies teacher at Rogers High School.
The Newport Public Schools is pleased to announce that its 2013 Newport District Teacher of the Year is Coleen Hermes. Hermes currently teaches social studies students at Rogers High School and is the School Department’s Social Studies Chair and has been with the district for thirteen years. She received her Bachelor of Arts in History at St. Anselm College in New Hampshire and her Teaching Certificate at Salve Regina University. Hermes has been involved in many activities within the Newport Public Schools, its community, and statewide. In 2010, she was the recipient of the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) National History Day Teacher of Merit Award for Rhode Island and selected as the PBS National History Day Teacher of Merit National …
41.46924
-71.32516
William S. Rogers High School
15 Wickham Rd, Newport, RI
/articles/coleen-hermes-named-2013-newport-teacher-of-the-year
227970
/locations/6787784
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Students who are truant are also more likely to have low test scores, school officials say.
Students who are truant are more likely to score lower on standardized tests than other students, Director of Curriculum and Instruction Caroline Frey told the Newport School Committee during its meeting Tuesday night. Frey said she analyzed NECAP scores of students in grades three, eight and 11 whom had been absent 18 times or more during the year before, since the test is administered at the beginning of the school year. Scores were then compared to students who were absent 17 days or less. “The results clearly showed students who absent more than 18 days are less proficient in reading and math on the NECAP,” Frey said. “Attendance clearly has an impact or scores.” Frey also said the gap is more significant in high school. Students were …
Thursday, April 5, 2012
The committee ratified the agreement 5-1 in a special meeting on Tuesday.
The Newport School Committee ratified a collective bargaining agreement during a special meeting on Tuesday at the Newport Area Career and Technical Center. The agreement passed five to one, with Thomas Phelan opposed. Robert Leary was not present at the meeting. According to Superintendent John Ambrogi, the agreement will result in $78,985 in total savings to the district. The agreement also includes two percent wage increases for the final two years of the contract, which averages out to a one percent increase over the four-year contract. “The union has agreed to the planned changes, saving the district 8.4 percent a year,” he said. Ambrogi said the biggest issue in terms of fiscal impact is the elimination of extended benefits for a …
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
The Newport School Committee approved adding two classrooms to the new elementary school.
The Newport School Committee unanimously approved adding two additional classrooms to the Claiborne D. Pell Elementary School during a special meeting at the Newport Area Career and Technical Center Tuesday afternoon. The classrooms passed 6-0. School committee member Robert Leary did not attend the meeting. Superintendent John Ambrogi said the two classes were needed for an “unexpected bump in enrollment” based on more recent demographic information received in February. The data revealed the estimated number of students in the new school rose from approximately 840 to “890 or 900.” “How do you know? You don’t know,” Ambrogi said, who stressed it was best to be prepared on the side of overestimating. “The worst thing you can do is open up…
41.46924
-71.32516
Newport Area Career and Technical Center
15 Wickham Rd, Newport, RI
/articles/two-additional-classrooms-approved-for-pell-school
1012647
/locations/6722758
Thursday, March 29, 2012
The council unanimously approved a resolution to conduct a study on the efficiencies served by combining city and school services.
The Newport City Council unanimously passed a resolution Wednesday night ordering a study be undertaken by the City Manager and the Superintendent of Schools to measure potential efficiencies, cost savings and service delivery optimization by combining school and city services. The study analyze savings by combining facilities, financial and information technology services. Results of that study will be submitted at the May 23 City Council meeting so that potential cost savings can be incorporated into the FY 2013 budget. The council adopted a resolution in 2005 that directed the city administration to work with the school department by implementing shared service agreements that would be “beneficial to the operational and financial health…
41.49188
-71.31164
City of Newport City Hall
43 Broadway, Newport, RI
/articles/newport-city-council-approves-study-for-shared-services-between-school-and-city-deparments
228045
/locations/6685110
Thursday, March 8, 2012
The Newport School Committee and Newport City Council met Wednesday to discuss the school department's 2013 budget.
The Newport School Committee and Newport City Council met during a special joint meeting Wednesday night at City Hall for an initial discussion of the school department’s Fiscal Year 2013 budget. The projected shortfall for FY 2013 is $1,302,679. The school committee is currently in contract negotiations with its two major bargaining units, Superintendent John Ambrogi said, but, due to variables within the budget forecast for 2013, giving a comprehensive budget forecast he said is “problematic.” The FY 2012 budget, $36,484,760, has expended $19,238,329 to date, with a $17,096,850 encumbrance. A major point the school committee presented to the council was the fact that it projects $1,302,679 less revenue for the upcoming year. Ambrogi …
41.49188
-71.31164
City of Newport City Hall
43 Broadway, Newport, RI
/articles/newport-school-committee-and-city-council-begin-budget-talks
228045
/locations/6541404
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
The Newport School Committee on Tuesday discussed whether the group was in violation of certain state and federal policies.
For the past year, the Newport School Committee has consulted its Nutrition Advisory Group regarding health and nutritional issues in Newport Public Schools. But during Tuesday night’s school committee meeting in the Newport Area Career and Technical Center, School Committee Chairman Patrick Kelley raised a concern about the group, noting that its existence could possibly conflict with state law. The School Committee already has a Health and Wellness Committee, whose duties are to oversee and provide recommendations on health, physical education and nutrition. Schools that qualify for reduced lunch are required to have a Health and Wellness Committee, Superintendent John Ambrogi said. The Nutrition Advisory Group was originally a …
41.46924
-71.32516
Newport Area Career and Technical Center
15 Wickham Rd, Newport, RI
/articles/nutrition-advisory-group-faces-identity-crisis
1012647
/locations/6164604
John H Hedley
12:19 am on Saturday, March 31, 2012
As to the answer 'why', you get all sorts of excuses (jobs, athletes, commutes) but none of them hold water. In the end there has to be a fundemental reason for the institutionalized inertia paralyzing this issue, and the only one I can find is race: Newport has diversity and the rest of the island doesn't and doesn't want that to change. more ›