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READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES MAY 11, 1987 <br />alternative methods of getting information, to familiarize them <br />with computers, and foster high levels of thinking. He noted that <br />students in the course were now very comfortable using computers, <br />and it would be a skill they would use allthrough their lives. <br />Mr. Welford then explained how the children had answered questions <br />listed in the packets using the computers, and had been asked to <br />do research with printed material only. Mr. Welford then had the <br />students demonstrate the computers for the School Committee. He <br />stated the use of the computers would help students with literacy <br />skills; reading, spelling, etc. Mr. Welford stated also that the <br />program has been successful in great part because of the advocacy <br />of the administrators at the Coolidge and also teachers who had to <br />be flexible and creative in order to integrate the program with <br />their curriculum. Mr. Welford stated he had 15 to 18 students in <br />each class in grades 6, 7, 8, and courses were taught once a week <br />for 13 weeks for grade 6, twice a week for 13 weeks in grade 7, <br />and in grade 8 it is an elective program. He noted that 8th grade <br />students can choose to take it twice a week for 1/2 year, focusing <br />on programming, word processing, and database management on a more <br />sophisticated level, or they can take a 5- period computer elective <br />which is one class period a day 5 days a week for 1/2 the year. <br />Mr. Allen thanked the teachers and students for their interesting <br />presentation. He then stated that Mr. Lahood, the Principal, <br />could not be present due to the fact that he was at a Screening <br />Committee meeting for selecting a new Principal at Birch Meadow <br />School. <br />Policy on Student Attendance <br />Dr. Wells reviewed this policy with the School Committee with <br />changes in the wording that had been voted at the last meeting. <br />He stated this would be the committee's second vote, and if <br />passed, would become part of their policy books. <br />Ms. Lyons made a motion, seconded by Mr. Shannon, to approve <br />Policy JEA, Student Attendance, on a second vote. <br />Mr. Nissen stated he had spoken to some citizens who voiced <br />concerns about this policy, and he thought it would be helpful to <br />allay these concerns by making the policy available to the public <br />after approval by the committee. He noted some people had the <br />impression that the policy had no flexibility on unscheduled <br />vacations and would restrict the principalsor teachers from giving <br />advance work when requested even in a timely manner. <br />Mr. Allen stated the policy did not prohibit a teacher from <br />providing advance school work if needed, and it was requested in a <br />timely manner. Mr. Shannon stated he didn't feel that the policy <br />