1982-11-01 School Committee Minutes

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52 READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES NOVEMBER 1.1982 would be given the latitude to use his discretion after hearing the arguments pro and con as voiced at the meeting. Bids - Stand -Alone word Processor Mr. Winslow reviewed the four bids for a stand -alone word processor to be purchased for the Business Education Department from a grant, and recommended the bid of American Computer Group, Inc. (ACG), Boston, at $8,010, $1090 under budget. He noted that although the bid from Digital Equipment Corp. was $1,315 less, Digital would not provide the one year of service or the on -site training called for in the specifications. He added that it will still be Digital equipment because ACG is a vendor of Digital equipment. Mr. Allen moved, seconded by Mrs. Philbrick, to award the bid for the Stand -alone Word Processor to American Computer Group, inc., at $8,010. The motion carried 5 -1, with Mr. Coco casting the negative vote. Special Needs Appeals Process Dr. Alexander Alexanian, Director of Pupil Personnel Services, addressed the Committee on the need for changes in the Special Education Appeals Process, requesting that;'. they support this need and enlist the support of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees. As an introduction to Dr. Alexanian's presentation, Dr. Wells said that he, as well as Dr. Alexanian, has been concerned for some time about the legal costs of the appeals procedure. Town Counsel costs attributed to representing the School Department in appeals procedures last year were estimated at $9,000. Also, many hours of school personnel time were involved with teachers sometimes subjected to intensive legal cross - examining. Dr. Wells said that the new Commissioner of Education has requested that some of the funds appropriated to review Chapter 766 be used to investigate the Appeals Procedure. Reviewing the background, Dr. Alexanian said the Appeals Procedure has evolved from a rather informal process to one in which more and more lawyers are involved and been transformed into a court -like setting, with subpoenas, briefs, Etc. This forced the School Department to call upon the services of the Town Counsel more and more. Dr. Alexanian emphasized that healthy alternatives must be sought. He is now serving on a statewide team which is part of a $500,000 study by the State. Part of his role is to develop some suitable alternatives which it is hoped will serve the school systems and will be best for the children. He said one of the changes being sought was a strengthening of the mediator role. Dr. Wells noted that even though Reading was highly commended by the State for its Special Program, only 50% of appeals cases were won. During a question and answer period Dr. Alexanian said the cost of private day placements ranged from $8,000 to $13,000 per child annually, in addition to about $2,000 per child for transportation. He also said that the educational plans most commonly involved in appeals cases were those recommending substantially separate placements (SEEM classes). He added that Reading usually had only two -three appeals per year.