1998-02-24 School Committee Minutes

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.. READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE Reading, Massachusetts REGULAR SESSION February 24, 1998 CALL TO ORDER Chair Twomey called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. at the Birch Meadow school. Present were Committee members Cavicchi, D'Antona, Williams, Stohlman and Twomey. Also present were Superintendent Harutunian and Associate Superintendent Richards. SCHOOL SIZE & ENROLLMENT PRESENTATION Richard Davidson thanked the members of the School Size and Enrollment Committee and gave a presentation on the School Size and Enrollment Committee's recommendation to the School Committee for solving the elementary school enrollment problem. Mr. Davidson described the three solutions recommended by the School Size and Enrollment Committee including the pros and cons of each solution. 1. New elementary school and addition /renovation to Barrows. 2. New elementary school only. 3. Convert Coolidge to K -5 or 3 -5 elementary school and build new middle school. Chair Twomey opened the discussion up to questions from the audience. Ms. Nora Stojes asked whether the site for building a new school would definitely be Dividence Road. She stated her concern that traffic would be a major issue and also safety for the children. She also stated that both Dividence and Emerson were considered private ways. Chair Twomey advised that it was not a done deal at this point. No constraints were put on the School Size and Enrollment committee and the School Committee was taking input from the public at the 4 meetings scheduled at each of the elementary schools and would begin deliberating on a solution at the School Committee meeting of March 4th.