Thursday, March 7, 2013
A bill that would allow school districts to charge for activities such as band or sports was not popular during its first hearing. It might be amended to apply to Middletown only.
Although a bill that would allow school districtsthe authority to charge students a fee to participate in activities like band or sports did not receive a lot of support, it might be amended to apply only to Middletown. The legislation (S 0112) was introduced by Sen. Louis DiPalma (Newport, Middletown, Tiverton, Little Compton) after the Middletown School Committee had talks with lawmakers about how to find ways to close budget shortfalls. Although not common, community specific legislation has been enacted in Rhode Island. For example, in 2009, the Senate passed a bill that allowed the Woonsocket School Department to enforce a uniform policy. DiPalma said the bill would not require districts to adopt a pay-to-participate system, but …
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
A bill will be heard on Wednesday that would allow school departments to charge parents a nominal fee for participation in extracurricular activities
The Senate Education Committee will hear a bill on Wednesday that would allow Rhode Island public school departments to charge a fee for extra curricular activities. The bill (S 0112), sponsored by Sen. Louis DiPalma (Newport, Middletown, Tiverton, Little Compton), is a response to Rhode Island communities that are struggling to provide adequate education funding. “It wouldn’t require schools to do it, but it would allow them to do it,” said DiPalma. The bill was drafted after conversations with the Middletown School Committee about how to close budget shortfalls. To add additional pressure, DiPalma said that Middletown Public Schools will be impacted by the sequester, through reduction of federal aid. “It’s unconscionable and …
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
After an initial review of the proposed budget, State Sen. Dipalma listed two concerns
Two weeks into the new year, Gov. Lincoln Chafee gave his State of the State address to the Rhode Island General Assembly and introduced his proposed $8.2-billion 2013-2014 budget. "I submit this budget to the General Assembly on Jan. 16th, on time and the earliest that a governor has done so in over two decades," said the governor. State Sen. Louis DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Middletown, Newport, Little Compton, Tiverton) who serves as the vice-chair of the Senate Finance Committee, said after an initial review, he had concerns that aid for developmental disability communities was not listed as a priority. Additionally, he expressed concern that an annual funding increase to nursing homes was suspended in the proposed budget. The priorities …
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Candidates running for democratic seats walked the campaign trail last weekend in Middletown.
Linda Finn, who is running for a House seat against incumbent Daniel Reilly hit the campaign trail along with fellow democrat incumbents State Senator Lou DiPalma and Congressman David Cicilline. The candidates went door to door around Easton's Point neighborhood in Middletown last weekend. DiPalma said he plans to take this weekend off from campaigning, in order to celebrate his oldest daughter's wedding. The bride, Middletown School Committee Member, Kellie DiPalma, is no stranger to the campaign trail herself. She walked the trail with her father in 2010 and she is back on the ballot this year. Finn said she plans to go back out this weekend, but has not narrowed down the neighborhood. She has constituents in Newport, Portsmouth as…
Friday, May 18, 2012
Danielle Mongeau of Middletown contacted Senator Louis DiPalma to request sponsorship of a food allergy bill. The legislation unanimously passed the Senate yesterday afternoon.
A Middletown teenager’s personal experiences with food allergies inspired legislation that may soon make Rhode Island restaurants safer for individuals with food allergies. The bill (2012-S 2127Aaa), which Sen. Louis P. DiPalma submitted at the request of Danielle Mongeau, a LaSalle Academy junior, is modeled after a Massachusetts law that went into effect last year. The bill unanimously passed the Senate late yesterday afternoon. “We have been facing this issue for a very long time and I want to do something to make it a little easier for everyone in Rhode Island who experiences food allergies,” said Mongeau in her initial correspondence DiPalma in December of last year. Mongeau is allergic to tree nuts, while her 14-year-old sister, …
Cheif Keif
12:51 pm on Friday, May 17, 2013
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