1998-03-06 School Committee Minutes

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Finance. School Building &School Committee Mcct-ing Page 2 think there were double sessions at the high school at that time. Mr. Twomey said that question comes up often. He said the development plans for the Parker and Coolidge are within Department of Education ` requirements. The SBAB said if a larger school was proposed for Parker it would have been approved by them. They do not consider Coolidge an overly ambitious project. Mr. White said he conducted a survey two years ago of surrounding towns and Reading is the low man on the totem pole in terms of the tax base per child in school. Mr. Graham said the other towns have a higher tax base and it has been the Reading residents decision to live in a pristine community that has not expanded commercially. Dr. Harutunian said the 1996 figures show that Reading is over $700 less per pupil. The community has learned how to make the dollar go farther. He said that Mr. Graham said it well that it is a non - commercial community. The Superintendent asked that the Finance Committee endorse the Coolidge project. Mr. White explained that he is not against the project, he is merely presenting the facts. Ms. Grimm said the for the past five years since she has been on the committee, there has been money there for.Coolidge. The number has changed wildly due to educational reform and the enrollment figures. She said the committee hoped for 3,000,000 and it is a scaled -down project for 9,000,000. Mr. Keigley said that a society is only as good as its education system. He said the committee new when they did Parker they would have to do Coolidge. Technology takes more space and we are upgrading the education in Reading. Coolidge needs to be done now and two other schools need to be addresseded within the next five years plus the high schools should be on the timetable. Mr. Keigley said he was proud of the school system and the Town of Reading. Mr. R. McDonal d moved to a rove the Cool id e Middle School buildin renovation and addition proiect. Mr. Francis seconded the motion Mr. Twomey said the School Committee voted 6 -0 in favor of this project. Mr. G. MacDonald explained the articles he has read and the parents and committees he has spoken to and the timeline of the SBAB passage regarding this project and he is opposed of it because he does not believe it is a comprehensive total plan. Dr. Harutunian explained the capital plan which addresses all of the schools. It is the intent of the Administration that if this project is approved at Town Meeting in the fall the elementary schools and the high schools will be addressed. The Superintendent said there are only two committees north of Boston that have a balanced capital plan, Bedford and Reading. Within the capital plan this project can be supported. We have looked at every option and it this project doesn't proceed, delays would occur on the elementary and high school level. Mr. Stohlman said the reason he endorsed this plan was because he was seriously concerned about the ability of the capital plan to stay together. He did not think the capital plan would be an option next year. He said the police station is ready now and the Coolidge Middle School is also. Mr. Graham said the SBC discussed the elementary, middle and high school and due to money they voted not to go ahead with the high school at this time. He said all the grades have been looked at by the SBC and they are bringing to the table now what they feel must be done. Ir. Francis said the conditions at Coolidge compared to Parker are ridiculous. Sixteen million is pretty `° cheap these days. You have to do these projects when interest rates a low and the economy is good.