School committee approves Chartwells extensions, music bid and records policy; budget workshop postponed

The North Providence School Committee approved multiple contract renewals and administrative measures during a May meeting and was told its budget workshop has been postponed pending new town scheduling.

Superintendent Joseph Gojo asked the committee to approve a one-year extension of the district’s food-service contract with Chartwells, saying the extension is the last year of the current contract and that the state plans to rebid food-service contracts over the summer. The committee voted to approve the extension with a voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the meeting transcript.

The committee also approved renewals of Chartwells’ catering agreements (arrangements under which meals for nearby private and charter schools generate profits returned to North Providence Public Schools) and a new Chartwells contract to supply food and snacks for the district’s after‑school Kid’s Club program. The superintendent said each contract used state Department of Education template language and had been reviewed by the district’s legal counsel.

On a separate procurement, the school committee approved awarding a closed bid for musical instruments and choral risers that the district said are funded by a state arts grant and intended to support a new performing-arts pathway at North Providence High School.

The committee also adopted an updated Access to Public Records (APRA) policy. Attorney Scunggio told the committee the policy had not been substantively revised since about 2015 and that the district removed procedural protocol text from the policy and moved it into a separate, detailed superintendent’s protocol that aligns with guidance from the Rhode Island Attorney General’s office. The committee voted to adopt the shorter policy and the accompanying protocol.

Committee members approved the monthly bills list and several use-of-property requests; both motions carried by voice votes with no recorded roll-call tallies in the transcript.

Superintendent Gojo provided an update under pending business: the district’s budget workshop, which had been scheduled for the next day, was postponed because of a scheduling conflict. He said the town council had canceled several meetings and that an anticipated June 26 budget approval date had also been canceled; the superintendent said no new dates had been posted and that he would notify committee members when a new workshop date is set.

All items on the consent/approval portion of the agenda were handled with motions and seconders and passed by the committee during the meeting. The transcript does not record individual vote tallies or names of the members who moved and seconded every motion.