SMITHFIELD – Any student in the past 11 years who took computer science courses at Smithfield High School has Michael Deslauriers to thank, and the Smithfield School Department has extended its own thanks and recognition to the math teacher in naming him the 2021 Smithfield Teacher of the Year.
During a presentation at Monday’s meeting, Supt. Judy Paolucci said Deslauriers began teaching in 2001, and soon after recognized a need for students to learn computer science, beginning classes in 2010.
After years of teaching all-male computer science classes, Deslauriers began exploring ways to bring girls into the computer science classroom and other courses.
Paolucci said Deslauriers brought in grants to create two new programs, computer science and information technology, focused on bridging the disparity of females in computer science and technology.
NORTH SMITHFIELD – The North Smithfield School Department last week submitted a request for a $607,590 increase in the local appropriation for the 2021-2022 budget, or 2.9 percent over the current fiscal year.
The increase would contribute to a total school budget of $29,390,597, or 2.7 percent over the current year. That number also includes a projected $160,228 increase in state aid.
School Committee Member William Connell told members of the Budget Committee last Thursday, April 8, the increase is largely due to an anticipated 5 percent hike in the school’s busing contract with DATTCO. The district is also currently negotiating a new contract with the North Smithfield Teachers Association, with a projected increase of 4.38 percent in salary and benefits costs included in the proposed budget.
SMITHFIELD – Two restrooms at Smithfield High School will be completely redone thanks to a COVID-19 grant created specifically for facility improvements, says Supt. Judy Paolucci.
Plans include touch-free faucets and a change in configuration to allow for social distancing. Paolucci said the restrooms are not currently ADA compliant, and will need their entire entrances to be reconfigured.
“The current bathrooms are very out-of-date, at the risk of embarrassment,” Paolucci said.
Paolucci said the bathrooms are in very poor shape and lack modern technology such as hands-free water and paper towels.
The Town Council unanimously approved the renovations at Tuesday’s meeting, with councilors joking about the outdated design currently in the bathrooms.
3/31/2021
Worst-case scenario budget proposes 2.44 percent tax increase
SMITHFIELD – The newly formed Smithfield Budget and Financial Review Board will hold its first public hearing on April 14 at 5:30 p.m., giving Smithfield residents a look at the 2021-2022 town budget.
As proposed, the fiscal year 2021-2022 budget will total $85,764,818, including enterprise items such as water, sewer and the ice rink that are self-funded. That figure also includes the schools’ budget of $40,579,679.
Town Manager Randy Rossi told The Valley Breeze & Observer he worked with all town departments to create a solid budget that straight-funded the School Department’s requested town appropriation, resulting in a possible 2.44 percent increase in the tax levy.