2004-02-26 School Committee Minutes

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I~ 04 -5 Town of Reading Joint Meeting { C" Reading School Committee and Board of Selectmen Joint Session February 26, 2004 CALL TO ORDER At 7:30 p.m. at the Town Hall Conference Room Mr, Dahl called the School Committee to order, Mr. Hines called the Board of Selectmen order. Present were School Committee Members, Carpenter, Dahl, Russo, Spadafora and Webb, Board of Selectmen Anthony, Shubert, Hines and Wood. Mr. McFadden and Mr. Cummings were ill. Also present were Superintendent Schettini, Associate Superintendent Richards, Town Manager Hechenbleikner and School Committee student representative Joseph Kwiatek. Scott Dunlap, Project Manager from AD gave an update of the three building projects. On February 17, 2004 the design documents for the high schools project were completed and approved. The documents will be available on February 24, 2004. On March 23, 2004 filed sub will be received with the general contractor bids due on April 6, 2004. At the end of May, construction fences will be going up and construction trailers will arrive. Mr. Hines expressed that sports groups around town had concerns with practice spaces. He would like to delay the taking over of the varsity practice field as long as possible. Mr. Schettini stated that he has had a meeting with Mr. McIntire, Mr. Fuedo, Mr. Hoffses and Mr. Dunlap to review the scheduling and use of all fields. Mr. Carpenter stated that the band would need a field the third week in August for band camp. Mr. Hines stated we should be creative with the use of fields. The upper field at Parker could be used for youth soccer and T ball. Mr. Dunlap from AB state that the varsity football field would be ready for immediate use due to the artificial turf surface. The first add alternate deals with turf on the practice field. Mr. Schubert suggested that there is a need for a formal community plan. A schedule of field availability needs to be posted on all Town web sites, newsletters and newspapers. There was discussion concerning potential parking issues. Mr. Hechenbleikner stated there were two dozen parking spaces at tennis court field. Mr. Dunlap stated that beginning in June the Contractor would be making obvious progress. There would be excavation and the footings for the shell of the new academic wing would be underway. The renovation inside the building would commence in the fall. There will be five other phases. Mr. Hines asked if the artificial turf surface would be ready for the spring and summer of 2005. Mr. Dunlap stated that it would be ready by the spring of 2005 if not sooner. Mr. Spadafora asked if there would be access to the fields. Mr. Dahl stated that that had been figured out. Superintendent Schettini stated that he will invite all abutters to an upcoming meeting. Mr. Dunlap stated the elementary school is about 57-58% completed. The target was 60% completion by the end of February. They have made significant progress in the past six weeks. Furniture for the new school will not be purchased until the Barrows school is completed. This eliminates the cost of storing the Barrows furniture for the year that the Barrows students occupy the new school.