1994-01-10 School Committee Minutes

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OPEN HEARING MINUTES 2 JANUARY 10, 1994 which is being targeted for Parker Middle School this fiscal year, has been added in. He added the Technology Task Force will have us making a major investment and stated we could expect their report in April. Mr. Donovan outlined maintenance needs at the high school that include replacement of ceiling tiles, floor tiles, lockers, the zone heating system that has classroom temperatures ranging from the 40's to the 80's. Chair D'Antona thanked Mr. Donovan for his information and stated this year we are hearing that maintenance is a priority. The first question raised by a call -in listener expressed concern over the plan for Eaton's first grade classes to house 27 and 28 students. School Committee members affirmed their commitment to reasonable class sizes, noting that Educational Assistants and Tutors will be deployed to help with classes of larger sizes. One School Committee member advised he would support alterna- tive plans that would reduce class sizes in the primary classrooms by increasing numbers in the primary grades. Reading citizen Mrs. Anthony asked how much money has been established for Capital Improvements and if a ten year plan has been developed. Dr. Munnelly replied that a five year plan has been developed for projects to be funded by warrant articles for townwide capital budget and he is working on the ten year plan. They include roof replacement, school building renovations and additions (2/3 will be reimbursed by the state), over $100,000 has been requested for boiler replacements this year, gas conversion and oil tank removal, ceiling tile replacement, track renovation at Reading Memorial High School and the library space at Barrows. A five year capital projects plan to be funded from the operating budgets appropriated by Town Meeting has also been developed. Another caller expressed alarm over first grade classroom size at Eaton and asked School Committee to investigate this further. A member of the Reading Memorial High School Council, Rachel Baumgartner, pointed out that teachers ideally feel they need $250 for the needs of each high school student - presently $122 is the amount called for in the proposed budget. Dr. Munnelly stated even with the override and some monies from Education Reform, we are still playing catch -up.