1997-06-23 School Committee Minutes

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Regular Session Page 2 June 23 1997 • Thirty new houses in Birch Meadow district, what about discussions with the planning commission? • Birch Meadow parents are not pulling together. • The district needs to be thought of as a whole. • The greater good of the school is what is being looked at, begin with the busing this year. • Not fair to give children negative feedback. • Have safety issues been addressed? • Parents want their children to attend Birch Meadow. • Decisions about this issue were poor, School Committee should establish guidelines. • What about space at St. Agnes? • One neighborhood continually experiencing redistricting. • No plan is in place? • The problem is not going away. A new school is needed. • Children's education should come first in decision process not cost. • Public school versus private school. Expectations should be the same. • Logistics problem with several children in schools. • Parents represent 20% of town. • Disappointed that portables are acceptable to parents. • All people in community should be taken into consideration and not at the 11th hour. • Busing should be a last resort. • A good job has been done in letting parents know what is happening. • Children should be bused the next three years. • When will the children be coming back? • When will parents find out about 5 I grade students. • House bought near Birch Meadow, concerned children being bussed. • Would like to meet the new Barrows' Principal. • Keep the parents informed about future decisions. • Want to keep children together in same school. • Classrooms are large at the middle schools. • Portables are adequate. Dr. Harutunian addressed comments and questions he heard. He discussed the portables, classroom size, and the enrollment figures in Reading and how they rose since he began in August of 1995. He explained the overcrowding issues at each elementary school. He stressed that he wanted the to be a positive experience for first -time Kindergarten parents. The Superintendent explained the task force that will be implemented this fall to address the issues. He said space of other locations was looked at. The safety issue is being closely looked at and discussions are being held with the Reading Police Department. He said removal of a fifth grade is not a solution to this problem. Mr. Davidson explained the letter he sent and the process he used to determine which students get bussed. He acknowledged the fine group of parents he has dealt with who have advocated for their children and he hoped the parents continue to do this. He said he continues to support his original plan to bus 56 children to the Barrows Elementary School. Dr. Harutunian said he will arrange to have Kindergarten parents meet Karen Callan, the new Barrow Principal, sometime in August.