1993-03-15 School Committee Minutes

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READING PUBLIC SCHOOLS Reading, Massachusetts SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING OPEN HEARING MINUTES MARCH 15, 1993 CALL TO ORDER Chairman Matthew Cummings called the Open Hearing to order at 7:20 p.m. in the Barrows Elementary School. All members of the School Committee were present. Also present were Super- intendent Robert J. Munnelly, Interim Assistant Superintendent Susan Y. Wheltle, and about sixty members of the Reading community. INTRODUCTIONS Chair Cummings introduced Barrows Principal Charles Papandreou, who in turn introduced PTO President Lynda Robbins, Vice President Donna Walsh, and Secretary Dorothy Casolaro and Joseph Martyniak. Other Barrows PTO members present were Sandy Strathmeyer, editor of the newsletter, Joy Nemergut, head of the Enrichment Committee, Joan Gregorowicz and Bonnie Sebor, head of the refreshment committee. Mrs. Robbins noted that the enrichment focus for this year had been bringing authors and illustrators into the schools and that a recent new initiative was the playground committee. HIGHLIGHTS Principal Papandreou then described the Highlight, LOOKING TOWARDS LITERACY, a writing process used in all the grades. He introduced 16 fifth graders, students of teachers Tom Hoffrage and Larry Conn. The grade 5 students shared samples of their writing products which were generated from varied curriculum areas. The students presentations included fiction, non - fiction, poetry, essay and letter writing. PUBLIC COMMENT AND QUESTIONS Community questions centered around plans for systemwide testing, merit pay for teachers, the upcoming override referendum in the town election, parental involvement, class size, and the school calendar. ADJOURNMENT Chairman Cummings thanked all of the members in the audience for attending and adjourned the open hearing at 9:10 p.m.