1999-09-04 School Committee Minutes - School Building Committee

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READING SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE Reading, Massachusetts Joint Meeting with the School Building Committee October 4, 1999 CALL TO ORDER Chair Dahl called the School Committee meeting to order at 7:15 p.m. at Parker Middle School. Present were Superintendent Harutunian, Associate Superintendent Richards and School Committee members Cavicchi, Williams, Keigley and Dahl. Mrs. D'Antona arrived at 8:15 p.m. Chair Graham called the School Building Committee to order at 7:16 p.m. Present were School Building Committee members Graham, Struble, Sanstad, Perry, MacRae, Lupi, Radville. Dr. Harutunian introduced himself to the public and outlined the evening's agenda. He explained that Mr. Graham would give a history of Dividence Road and that the Dividence Road project was very important to the School Department. Dr. Harutunian introduced Mr. Graham, Chairman of the School Building Committee. Mr. Graham explained that the School Building Committee was a special committee to bring space and enrollment issues to the forefront. To date they have worked on space issues at Parker Middle School, Coolidge Middle School and Reading Memorial High School. They could not recommend a new high school to Town Meeting because the cost was just too high. There has been a tremendous increase in enrollment on the elementary level. Last spring the School Building Committee looked at all the options. The solution was to build a new school and add on to the Barrows School. The plan for the new school was turned down at the Town election and the renovation to the Barrows School passed. We needed both plans to pass. Mr. Graham went on to say that the School Building Assistance Bureau would not give 66 % reimbursement to renovate the Barrows School. A renovation at Barrows alone will not solve the enrollment problem. We need to build a new school and add onto the Barrows School. He wanted to make it clear that SBAB is willing to spend 66 % of the cost of the new school. Expectations and certain conditions must be met. We must get rid of the existing modular classrooms, and we must solve all of our enrollment issues. The School Building Committee looked at many options. There is not much land left around the existing buildings. SBAB wants playground areas, etc. A land purchase is not reimbursable by SBAB. The fact that we do not have to pay for this land is a plus. There was talk of a centralized kindergarten at the high school. There was talk about core facilities and separate rooms for art and music.