1983-09-27 School Committee Minutes

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204 READING SCHOOL CQMM�TTEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 27, 1983 Willard Electric, of Reading, the low bidder, vor $5,175. ($1,325 under the amount budgetted.) Citizens Advisory Council Report on the Gifted and Talented Acting Chairman Philbrick introduced the Chairman of the Citizens Advisory Council (CAC) Subcommittee on the Gifted and Talented, Mrs. Elaine McDonald. The School Committee had previously received a copy of the report. Mrs. McDonald introduced Subcommittee members Sharon Borggaard, Diane Chapin, Joan McKinnon, Judy Shannon, Donald Shepheard and Stephen Tucker. Mrs. McDonald stated that in 1982 the CAC had voted as one of its goals to study the education of gifted and talented students. The Subcommittee began by visiting Reading Schools, then schools in several communities in the area. In May the CAC sponsored a lecture on the gifted and talented child - which, she said, drew an audience of about ninety. She noted that a support group had been formed - "Con- cerned Citizens for the Gifted and Talented." Mrs. McDonald then spoke about the conclusions and recommendations of the Report. She said the CAC felt that the School Committee policy was good but cannot be met without a formal identification process and without individual curriculum initiated at the elementary level. She noted that the Report recommended formation of a steering committee to plan an appropriate system -wide program to meet the specific needs of Reading's academically gifted students; that there should be extensive in- service training for teachers, including methods of identifying the gifted, as well as preparation for teaching these students; and that implementation funds should be included in the FY85 budget. Concluding, Mrs. McDonald said that there will always be academically gifted children who will function well in Reading or other school systems, but there will also always be the unrecognized gifted child, adding that she hoped the School Committee would bear this in mind when considering the report. There was a brief discussion among School Committee members and CAC members and CAC members concerning possible budgetary implications, timetables, etc. Dr. Wells said that the Administration had read the Report and received it favorably. He cautioned, however, that all research material available to him termed it dangerous to identify as academically talented only those who score high on tests. There are others, he added, who are talented in other areas, such as mechanical or artistic ability, who may not score high on academic tests. He said he hoped enrichment programs would not be limited only to those who score high on intelligence tests. Dr. Wells expressed the hope that the School Committee would agree to having an advisory committee, similar to the Middle School Advisory Committee, and which would include one or two of the more mature High School students. He added that he would like to appoint the committee by the next meeting, with a time schedule which would allow for input in the budget discussions and that the committee would report to the School Committee by February or March. He noted that in- service training could not be done until July or August 1984. He agreed that there should be a program for the gifted and talented but added that a lot is already being done in this area and that there are many options, such as skipping grades, tutoring, mentoring, therefore any new program should not be one- dimentional. Mr. Nissen moved, seconded by Mr. Allen, and it was unanimously voted that the Administration be directed to establish an advisory committee for the study of the