Superintendent Update

Thank you to the many families who participated in our November survey. With over 350 responses, we gained some very valuable insights, both as a district and at individual schools. Below are the percentages of those who strongly agree or agree in the following domains of the survey across all schools in the district:

1. Safety & Communication

1. Safe at School- 85%

2. Satisfied with Communication

1. From District- 82.7%

2. From Schools- 86.8%

3. From Teachers- 64.7%

2. Resources

1. Satisfied with Access to Resources

1. Academic- 83.9%

2. Social & Emotional- 72.3%

3. Technological- 83%

3. Confidence

1. Challenges Will Be Addressed- 77.9%

2. Successes Will Continue- 87.3%

For those who would like to see the full breakdown of all of the responses please click here.

While the numbers and percentages provide us with valuable data points to demonstrate where we can grow, as well as where we deserve to celebrate successes, I also want to recognize and say thank you to those who were able and took the extra time to give us written feedback. While it does not show up in the numbers, having concrete examples and hearing directly from families about specific experiences and/or the rationale behind a response was enlightening and very helpful.

Moving forward we will reissue this survey at the end of the 3rd quarter to once again receive feedback on how we are doing this school year, how we can improve our operations, and ensure that we continue to respond to our families’ experiences throughout the school year.

As I mentioned in the opening of this update, it is hard for me to believe that it is already time to begin planning for next school year. While the budget process deservedly gets most of the public’s attention, another essential part of planning is creating draft calendars for consideration. At South Kingstown Public Schools, we are committed to creating a calendar that best supports student learning, family needs, and our district's educational goals. Your input is crucial in this process, and we invite you to participate in our calendar planning survey.

While family feedback is crucial, developing a school calendar involves carefully balancing multiple complex factors:

1. State Guidance: The Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) provides specific guidelines that we must incorporate into our calendar planning, ensuring alignment with state educational standards and requirements.

2. Legal Considerations: Rhode Island General Laws (RIGLs) mandate certain parameters for school scheduling, instructional days, and student contact hours that we must strictly follow.

3. Collective Bargaining Agreements: Our district's negotiations with employee unions establish specific parameters around work days, professional development time, and other scheduling considerations for our dedicated staff.

4. Holiday Observations: We must account for both State and Federal holidays, which can vary from year to year and impact our overall academic calendar.

Our goal is to create a SY 25-26 calendar that will maximize instructional time, support student and staff well-being, provide flexibility for family needs, and meet all state regulatory requirements.

We deeply appreciate you taking the time to complete this survey. While we understand that we cannot fulfill every individual preference, your thoughtful feedback is an essential part of our decision-making process. Your insights will be instrumental in developing a school calendar that strives to meet the diverse needs of our entire school community.

Survey Link: SKSD Calendar Outreach SY 25-26 (Families)

Survey Open: December 3rd through January 3rd, 2025

In the link below you will find Rhode Island Commissioner of Education, Angelica Infante-Green’s latest community outreach regarding the statewide “Attendance Matters RI” campaign.

Commissioner’s Letter to Families

Also, as you can see in the table below, while each school in the district has a different attendance rate, each has seen a decrease in their monthly attendance rate since September. While some of the change is certainly due to situations outside of our locus of control- illness, emergencies, etc.- other factors remain under our control. With such a plethora of evidence linking students’ achievement to attendance, we echo the Commissioner’s call and thank you for your help ensuring that South Kingstown students are not absent unnecessarily in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

• Thursday, Dec 5th: School Building Committee- 6 PM, Town Council Chambers*

• Tuesday, Dec 10th: School Committee- 7 PM, SKHS Cafeteria*

• Monday, Dec 16th: BRMS Holiday Pops Concert 6 PM

• Wednesday, Dec 18th: SKHS Winter Holiday Concert 6 PM

• Thursday, Dec 19th: School Building Committee- 6 PM, Town Council Chambers*

• Dec 23rd through Jan 1: District Closed- Holiday and New Year’s recess

*Please verify meeting details on the RI Secretary of State website as dates approach

In the coming days, I hope you and your entire family have a wonderful closing of 2024 and a magnificent start to 2025. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns related to your child’s success and well-being.

Sincerely,

Michael J. Podraza

Superintendent

South Kingstown Public Schools

South Kingstown School District is a proud Professional Learning Community built upon collaborative leadership and 21st-century deep learning competencies while developing a culture of equity, openness, and sharing of ideas.