hard deadlines

In a well-attended meeting at the Middle School Library tonight, the Portsmouth School Committee rescinded the termination of PHS Math teacher Kim Cunningham. Chair Dick Carpender, in a move that could have have raised eyebrows had there been a different outcome, announced there would be no no public comment.

"I don't want anyone to think the decision was made lightly. It was made based on what we had before us at that time. We understaand that that changed, that she has certification," said Carpender. "We got a lot of input supporting Ms. Cunningham. I think we responded to that."

Vice-Chair Sylvia Wedge moved to rescind, and the motion passed unanimously, 6-0 (Marilyn King absent). There was applause from the students, parents, and supporters in the room, and Ms. Cunningham asked if she could speak.

"I just want to say how grateful and thankful that I can stay and keep doing the job i love," said Cunningham. "And i will never let you down, ever."

After that brief warm and fuzzy moment, 30 people left, and we were back to the May financials. Which, as Finance Director Chris Tague said, did not represent a substantial change from prior months. There are still revenue shortfalls and some of the offsets might balance them out.

PCC, Inc. President Larry Fitzmorris asked, "What's your best guess of where you're going to end up in June?"

"Break even," said Tague. (Which means that mythical fund-surplus life preserver the Council asked the schools to throw over last night is looking more like half-inflated pair of swimmies.)

The question about school aid from the state has only one answer at this point: We may know more by the end of the week as the General Assembly finishes up their budget. But right now, the numbers are all in flux. Will the budget be passed as is? Lusi asked rhetorically, "When you have [US] Secretary [of Education] Duncan talking about Rhode Island fairly frequently, warning that we will be significantly less competitive for Race To The Top fund if funding is cut to charters." And more pressing, the district has a good number of teachers out on layoff that they are not comfortable bringing back until the state finances are clearer. To that end, the meeting was continued until next Tuesday night, when additional non-renewals may be reconsidered.

There was the regular contingent from Prudence, keeping the item on the agenda and looking for progress. Lusi admitted that while she is calling RIDE just about every day, she's not yet heard definitive answers on the one-room home schoolhouse. Busy time of year for the legal department, plus a new commissioner. Lusi suggested that it might make the most sense to try to have a meeting with RIDE and the PI group in order to get the state to commit to an answer. Allen Bearse said, "We have no sense of how hard you're working to help us here." Carpender tried to reassure him. "If Dr. Lusi gets the go ahead, I think this committee will be right there," said Carpender.