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>,30 <br />READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES DECEMBER 5, 1983 <br />Four -page letter ,written by Bolt Beranek and Newman Inc (BBN) to the National <br />Highway Traffic Safety Administration was the proposal. The Superintendent <br />continued to say that Mrs. Baron then told him there were no funds available for <br />seat belts on school busses but that now the thrust was through the curriculum of <br />the School System to attempt to have students learn and then influence their parents <br />to use seat belts in their cars. He added that now he had been presented a new <br />proposal and asked to sign a cover letter supporting it. <br />The new proposal, Dr. Wells said, goes into ways to check on whether the curriculum <br />is effective by monitoring private vehicle use in such ways as checking cars at the <br />nearest interstate highway entrance and. exit ramps and questioning people in various <br />places. He added that while it might be theoretically possible to check on the <br />effectiveness of a curriculum that way, it would be very difficult to check private <br />cars. Dr. Wells said that as the proposal would be due in Washington on January 1, <br />1984, and has been changed, his office would not have time to spend on it now with <br />budget discussions coming up and, also, the School Department doesn't have money <br />to spend on seat belts, expecially for a year's trial. He stated, therefore, that <br />his recommendation would be that the School Committee not get involved with his <br />proposal at this time. <br />Mrs. Baron said that changes in the proposal resulted brom input from Washington, <br />but even though the proposal is different the Subcommittee's main concern is with <br />school bus safety and that they couldn't lose the idea of installing seat belts in <br />school busses if the study is successful. She added that she hoped installing <br />seat belts in school busses for one year would be successful and Congress could be <br />made to provide funds for seat belts in school busses. <br />In answer to School Committee members' questions Mrs. Baron said Washington would <br />fund everything to do with a study and possibly Liberty Mutual Insurance Company <br />may get involved in funding seat belts and that also there are some alternative <br />funding sources the Seat Belt Subcommittee plans to try. <br />Chairman Coco pointed out that Mr. Smith had told him the study and the use of <br />seat belts had to be part and parcel, and this would require the $200,000 the <br />Seat Belt Subcommittee had originally spoken of, rather than $25,000. <br />Mr. Dietrich said a search was going on for funds. Mrs. Baron added that the <br />Reading School Department would be expected to be the applicant for any federal <br />funds sought. <br />After a lengthy discussion among School Committee members, the Administration and <br />the seat belt proponents the School Committee agreed with Dr. Wells's recommendation <br />not to get involved with this proposal at this time. <br />Cafeteria Agreement Ratification <br />Chairman Coco announced that the School Committee Subcommittee on Negotiations <br />had reached an agreement with the Cafeteria Employees and the latter had voted <br />to ratify it. He said the main points of the two -year agreement were a 6% increase <br />this year (FY84) and a 51z increase next year, with the day after Thanksgiving as <br />a paid holiday. <br />Mrs. Philbrick moved, seconded by Mr. Allen, and it was voted unanimously to <br />ratify the contract with the Reading Cafeteria Employees, AFSC14E, Local 1703. <br />Cultural Collaboration - Museum Project <br />