1991-10-07 School Committee Minutes

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READING PUBLIC SCHOOLS Reading, Massachusetts SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES OPEN HEARING OCTOBER 7, 1991 The meeting opened at 7:05 p.m. in the Killam library with a Highlights presented by Principal Paul Guerrette and members of the Killam staff. George Shannon acting as Chair, Stanley Nissen, Mary Williams, Timothy Twomey, and Matthew Cummings were seated at the front of the audience. Channel 3 videoed the ses- sion for future playback. About 35 citizens were in attendance. HIGHLIGHT Fifth grade teachers Karen Rickershauser and Susan Wood as part of an effort to compact the broad expanse of American History, which is the Core Curriculum of the fifth grade Social Studies program, decided on an approach through three major themes: Conflict, Expansion, Innovation. The teachers shared their interdisciplinary unit which had interviews with senior citizens about living in a time of war and use of 1940 newspapers. DIALOGUE AND DISCUSSION At 7:30 p.m. the open hearing part of the meeting commenced with a question on the pros and cons of a kindergarten center posed by parent George Foley. Citizen Mike Riordan asked if the high school fees could be recast as a "donation" so parents could deduct the money from their income taxes. Jeff Everson asked a question about Reduction in Force and Seniority of the Staff. He followed up with an observation that it would make sense to keep the strong staff members and reduce the weak ones rather than to reduce on seniority alone. The Killam Carnegie team offered ideas to the School Com- mittee about some of the pluses and minuses of the program. In addition to Paul Guerrette's comment, other commentators were Parents Goodemote, Ottariano, Salenikas, Wong and Teachers Small and Hondorf. Parent Linda Martin, at the close of the session, asked about the size of the first grade classes, now and in the future. ADJOURNMENT Chairperson George Shannon adjourned the session at 9:00 p.m.