Science Scores Up, DiLullo Announces

At the Sept. 28 school committee meeting in the library, Supt. Dr. Bernard DiLullo announced some encouraging in the sciences.

 “There have been improvements across the board,” DiLullo said. “Grade four has risen to 60 percent proficient, grade eight to 27 percent proficient and grade 11 to 20 percent proficient.”

In the 2009-2010 school year, Johnston's scores were 59 percent proficient in grade 4; 21 percent in grade 8; and 12 percent in grade 11.

(Those numbers represent the combination of students scoring at Level 3, or "Proficient," and Level 4, or "Proficient with distinction" under the NECAP scoring guidelines. Copies of the district's science scorecards for the last two years are attached to this article.)

DiLullo lauded School as the “real superstar” within the district, testing at 79 percent proficiency in the sciences – markedly above the state average of 43 percent.

(Find the recent NECAP results for Rhode Island on the New England Common Assessment Program website.)

Town workers can use gyms free:

DiLullo also informed the board that town employees are allowed to use school gymnasiums at no charge.

"Normally, there is a fee incurred here for use,” DiLullo explained.

Other items:

Also during the session:

• The committee delayed action on awarding a bid for the new heating system at . During an interview at Town Hall on Sept. 26, Mayor Joseph Polisena said the early bids for the work were too high, and that he expects to make an announcement next week on choosing a contractor.
• Three non-certified employees were recalled to one-year positions: Michaela Solitro, special education teacher aide at the Early Childhood Center; Karen Silva, special education teacher aide at Johnston High School; and Laura Spino, teacher aide at the Brown Avenue School.
• The board awarded Likarr Corporation  with the district's contract for hand wash soap, trash bags, toilet paper and paper towels.
• Members approved Primo Uniforms's bid for supplying uniforms for the maintenance department.
• Eastern Security Corporation was chosen as the provider of alarm services to the district.

The next school committee meeting is scheduled for Oct. 18.

Correction: This article was corrected to reflect the fact that no vote was taken on the town employee use of school facilities issue.