2012-05-07 School Committee Minutes

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May 7, 2012 Reports I 1. Student Mr. Doodlesack reported on several items: • Spring sports are in full swing • Amadeus • Mr. Endslow's last show • AP exams for the next two weeks • Senior activities coming up 2. Liaison 3. Superintendent Superintendent Doherty updated the School Committee on the Wood End principal search. The Search Committee interviewed 10 candidates. The next stage will be for Superintendent Doherty, Ms. DeLai and Ms. Elmer to interview the pre- finalists. He also shared that dates have been chosen for the site visit and open mic opportunities. The RMHS Jazz Band will be playing in the Hatch Shell on Sunday afternoon. A group of visitors from Pakistan will be in town over the next two weeks and will visit Coolidge and the high school. This visit has been arranged by the Massachusetts Municipal Association. Dr. Doherty also shared that on June 6h there will be a community event hosted by the Reading Public Schools, RCASA and Town agencies as a wrap up to the previous community dialogue. It will be encouraged that students in grades 9 -11 attend with their parents. Discussion items will include the new Chemical Health Guidelines, substance abuse and the behavioral health of students. The Superintendent also reported on the outstanding production of Amadeus this past weekend. 4. Assistant Superintendent Mrs. deGaravilla was pleased to announce that the district in partnership with WPI have been awarded a grant to implement the Project Lead the Way Engineering curriculum in our middle and high schools starting in the 2012 -13 school year. Foundation Courses, Automation & Robotics and Design & Modeling, will be offered as electives at the middle schools. Introduction to Engineering Design and Principals of Engineering will be offered at the high school level. All courses will be offered as electives. High school students are working with their Guidance Counselors to schedule these offerings. No additional staffing will be needed and the money from the grant will be used to purchase materials. Over the summer two teachers will attend a two week training session.