1988-02-29 School Committee Minutes

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EM READING PUBLIC SCHOOLS Reading, Massachusetts SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES FEBRUAnY.29, 1988 At 7:35 p.m. the Special Meeting of four school. committees, Reading, North Reading, Wakefield and Lynnfield commenced via the interactive television. Reading and North Reading School Committees met at Reading Memorial High School in the Inter- active T.V. Studio and Lynnfield and Wakefield School Committees met at Wakefield High School. Present from Reading were Superintendent Robert J. Munnelly; Assistant Superintendent Ronald A. Winslow; A.V. Director from Reading High, Joseph Cain; Ronald Howland, an English teacher at Reading High; and also one of the teachers teschincT a poetry class. via the interactive t.v.; and reporters from the Chronicle. Dr. Sally Dias, Superintendent of Schools for the Town of Lynnfield, gave a brief introductory statement on why she thought this program would be beneficial for the students. She reflected on the idea of "a program which brings us together." She emphasized the point that through this interactive program, courses presently being dropped from school curriculums due to lack of enrollment, could be salvaged and taught to all four school districts via this t.v. program, thereby giving students more and better opportunities to learn creatively. Ron Howland and Joanne Cosentino of Wakefield, both English teachers and presently teaching a course via the interactive t.v., gave the two audiences ideas on how the interactive t.v.. concept works as a whole. A tape clip of one of -Ms. Cosentino's t.v. classes was shown. The discussion was then turned over to the two audiences for their questions or comments directed to the two teachers highlighting on what they felt were the programs strengths or weaknesses. Directors Don introduced fro Field Services development of audiences his the state, as menting with t Peirson and Maureen McDevitt were then m the University of Lowell's Center for and Studies and the role they play in the this program. Mr. Peirson shared with the research and experiences with other schools around well as around the country, who are also experi- his idea. Ms. McDevitt was any in -depth questions from the audience on hand to answer concerning costs, maintenance of the equipment, the sizes of the interactive t.v. classes and the types of courses which could be offered with this program. The meeting concluded with Superintendent Frank O'Donohue of North Reading commending the basis of this program as a whole, and Superintendent Stephen Maio of Wakefield thanking everyone for their support, especially the University of Lowell.