2022-11-17 Subsequent Town Meeting Minutes

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SUBSEQUENT TOWN MEETING Reading Memorial High School Performing Arts Center November 17, 2022 The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, Alan E. Foulds, at 7:32 PM, there being a quorum present. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was said by all. Motion made by Mark Dockser, Select Board to dispense of the reading of the warrant and all motions in their entirety. Motion Carried ARTICLE 7: Motion made by the Select Board and School Committee that the Town appropriate the amount of Two Million Two Hundred Thousand ($2,200,000) Dollars from Certified Free Cash for the purpose of paying costs of a feasibility study to consider a repair, addition, and renovation, or replacement of the J. Warren Killam Elementary School, located at 333 Charles Street, assessors' parcel 41-19, including the payment of all costs incidental or related thereto, and for which feasibility study the Town may be eligible for a grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority ("MSBA"), said amount to be expended under the direction of the Killam School Building Committee, and further, the Town acknowledges that the MSBA's grant program is a non -entitlement, discretionary program based on need, as determined by the MSBA, and any costs the Town incurs in excess of any grant approved by and received from the MSBA shall be the sole responsibility of the Town. Presentation given by: • Thomas Milaschewski - See Attached • David Clark • Gregory Burns • Joseph Huggins • Shawn Brandt • Carla Nazzaro • Susan Bottan • Sarah Leveque • Sharon Angstrom Background: The Killam Elementary School opened in 1969 and has not undergone any significant renovations since opening. While the facility has been well-maintained, it is now 53 years old and has a number of deficiencies. The building is not fully ADA -compliant, including bathrooms and entry points to some classrooms and common areas. The water fountains have been unusable for years due to lead levels, requiring the district to provide drinking water through expensive and wasteful water bottles. Many of the windows and doors are original to the school, so they are not energy efficient and create challenges with maintaining comfort levels. There is a fire alarm system, but no fire suppression system. Sightlines to the main doors are poor, presenting a security concern. Due to the age of the foundation, there have been some issues with water infiltration. Programmatically, the building's configuration also presents many challenges. Some classrooms and common spaces are only accessible through other classrooms. The library / media center is an open space located at the "crossroads" of the building, which makes it difficult to maintain a quiet environment or use the space for special education or other services that may call for a degree of privacy. The needs of students and our understanding of how to provide appropriate interventions have changed over the many decades since Killam was built, and the building doesn't adequately support the space requirements for these needs. Tier 2 supports (such as small reading groups) are taking place in open settings, including hallways. Spaces originally intended for storage have been converted to offices and even learning spaces in some cases. The 1 I P a g e