1997-06-09 School Committee Minutes - Joint School Building Committee

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READING PUBLIC SCHOOLS Reading, Massachusetts Joint School Committee Meeting With the School Building Committee JOINT SESSION MINUTES June 9, 1997 CALL TO ORDER Chair Susan Cavicchi called the session to order at 8:15 p.m. in the Superintendent's Conference Room. All members were present. Also present was Superintendent Dr. Harry K. Harutunian. Mr. Russ Graham called the School Building Committee to order at 8:16 p.m. Members present were Ms. Margaret Cowell, Ms. Robin D'Antona, Superintendent Harry K. Harutunian, Mr. Joe Lupi, and Mr. Roger Sanstad. Dr. Harutunian said there were several building projects that have been and will be going on at the Reading Public Schools. He said due to the fact that both committees will have a lot of responsibility regarding these projects, this meeting is to clarify the roles and responsibilities of each Committee. Chair Susan Cavicchi suggest a time frame be placed on the meeting. The group agreed to end the discussion by 9:45 p.m. Mr. Graham explained that the role of the School Building Committee is to advise Town Meeting. The Committee discussed the Instructional Motion passed at Town Meeting in November 1988. Mr. Richard Radville, School Building Committee, arrived at 8:30 p.m. The Committee discussed what has transpired between the two committees up to date. Dr. Harutunian said when he developed the capital plan the School Committee develops a plan, three members from the School Building Committee, two members from the School Committee and Finance people were involved. The concern is that the School Committee is the only body asking for money for the schools at Town Meeting. He said it is good for the School Committee to have the SBC there to advocate for money. Mr. Twomey said the role of the SBC is more than an advocacy group, it is a group with substantive authority. Mr. Graham said he felt it was the job of the SBC to develop viable school building projects and present them to town meeting for approval. He felt it was the SC's responsibility to administer the project once approved. Mr. Spadafora commented that he felt it was the SC's responsibility to advocate for the need and scope of school building projects based upon educational needs. The Committees discussed the future of Reading Memorial High School. Mr. Graham said the Reading Public Schools has a number of projects on the table to address. He referred to a disaster project in Andover where they attempted to do too much too fast. He discussed the high school options of whether to build or renovate and the political, educational, and financial implications related to that. He discussed enrollment for middle schools and the high school. He felt more time should be spent on that issue.