1999-02-08 School Committee Minutes

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Regular Session -2- February 8, 1999 HIGHLIGHTS Dr. Harutunian advised that the artwork displayed in the School Committee conference room this month was done by the students at the Coolidge Middle School SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT Dr. Harutunian advised the Committee that Phil Vaccaro was nominated for and the recipient of the Ted Damko award for Athletic Directors. Chair D'Antona asked that the Committee's congratulations be passed along to Mr. Vacarro. Dr. Harutunian advised the Committee that he, Chair D'Antona, Tim Twomey, Russ Graham and Sid Bowen had met with Jim Anderson of the SBAB to discuss whether it would be possible to move forward with the Barrows project before the Dividence Road project. Mr. Anderson advised that the Barrows project would not be reimbursable unless it was tied into the Dividence Road project because it does not solve the enrollment problem. Dr. Harutunian advised that the School Building Committee would be meeting on Wednesday evening to discuss the next step to take. Dr. Harutunian advised that he would schedule Russ Graham to be at the next School Committee meeting to discuss the outcome of the School Building Committee meeting. Chair D'Antona stated that the SBAB was emphatic that the project would not be reimbursable because it does not solve the enrollment problem. Mr. Stohlman stated that he could not find anything in the law that confirms the information received from Mr. Anderson regarding tying one project to another because of enrollment. Dr. Harutunian stated that the renovated Barrows would have less capacity than the current Barrows because of requirements of the SBAB for art, music and SPED space. Dr. Harutunian advised that as Mr. Stohlman had requested, he would contact Mr. Anderson and ask that the requirement that the Barrows' project be tied to a new school and not eligible as a category 3 project be sent to the Committee in writing. Dr. Harutunian advised the Committee that he, Robin D'Antona, Tim Twomey and Russ Graham and Gene Raymond had met with Jim Anderson regarding the high school feasibility study. He stated that the information received at that meeting indicated that Options B1, B2 and C would be 66% reimbursable by the state. He stated that the architect was asked to go back and do some further work including figures on Options B1, B2 and C. Dr. Harutunian advised that he had attended the Far Out Solar System event at the Barrows school and thanked the 5 `h grade students and teachers at the Barrows school.