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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-03-12 School Committee MinutesReading Public Schools Reading, Massachusetts Regular Meeting of the School Committee Open Session Date: March 12, 2012 Time: 7:30 p.m. Place: Superintendent's Conference Room School Committee Members Present Karen Janowski Chris Caruso Chuck Robinson Lisa Gibbs Rob Spadafora Visitors: Sara Burd, Behavioral Health Coordinator John Arena, Board of Selectmen L Call to Order Staff Members Present John Doherty, Superintendent RECEIVED TOWN CLERK RE, ^,DING. M;,SS. 1011 APR -2 P 2: 31 Patty de Garavilla, Assistant Superintendent Mary DeLai, Director of Finance and Operations Alison Elmer, Director of Student Services Elizabeth Conway, Human Resources Administrator Ashley Testa, Student Representative Barbara Jones, Reading Chronicle Chairperson Robinson called the School Committee to order at 7:33p.m. He reviewed the agenda and welcomed guests. Chair Robinson congratulated and welcomed Mr. Spadafora to the School Committee. He also congratulated Mr. Caruso on his reelection. Chair Robinson publically thanked Mr. Michaud for his 6 years of service and hopes to have him attend an upcoming meeting to honor his service. IL Recommended Procedure A. Public Input U Reports I 1. Student Ms. Testa updated the School Committee on several items: • Girls Basketball is the Division 2 North Champion and will be playing for the Eastern MA title tomorrow at the Garden • Health & Wellness Fair was today • Senior Class Dodgeball tournament — 16 teams participating • Mr. RMHS is on March 23`d • To Kill a Mockingbird — Great Performance March 12, 2012 2. Liaison Mrs. Janowski reported on the Human Relations Advisory Committee Arts Contest Mr. Caruso reported that he and Mrs. Janowski held office hours. Mrs. Gibbs said that the play was spectacular from the scenery to the performances. It is hard to remember these are high school students. 3. Director of Student Services Ms. Elmer reported that there was good turnout for the first session of the Parent Workshop series. Ms. Elmer presented information on the iPad Pilot Program. She thanked Mrs. Janowski for the training she presented to staff on the use of the device. She also provided an overview and highlighted free applications. The pilot cohort includes the following schools, Barrows, Coolidge, Killam, RMHS and Wood End and involves program teachers, Speech & language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists and the Technology Integration Specialists. Ms. Elmer reviewed iPad pilot calendar for year one. As part of the program the district has opted to purchase several applications that vary in cost. The district will be looking for additional sources of funding for year two. Other considerations regarding the program would be the cost of purchasing individual licenses for each device, the expansion of the program to the remaining schools and specialist access to both devices and applications. 4. Superintendent Dr. Doherty also reported on the recent drama performance of "To Kill a Mockingbird ". This production featured the first time that several students participated in a production. He thanked Mrs. de Garavilla and Ms. Castro for arranging the METCO shuttle to allow students to participate. He also reported that the Girls Basketball team recently won the Division 2 Sportsmanship Award which will be presented Saturday at the State finals in Worcester. Dr. Doherty and 6 teachers will be presenting at the upcoming MassCue Leadership Conference on the Bring Your Own Device pilot in the district. 5. Human Resources Administrator Mrs. Conway updated the School Committee on the Reading Memorial High School Principal search. She went on to review the staffing changes for the last quarter. 6. Assistant Superintendent Mrs. deGaravilla thanked Mr. Zaya and Ms. McNamara for organizing another successful Health & Wellness Fair for the high school and 8h grade students. She went on to review the professional development activities that have occurred and are scheduled for the remainder of the year. She has worked closely with Ms. Elmer to ensure that the PD opportunities meet the needs of all teachers. March 12, 2012 B. Continued Business Behavioral Health Update Sara Burd updated the School Committee on the implementation of the recommendations from the Behavioral Health Task Force. She presented the action plan that has been developed from the data that was gathered from the community forums last fall. A concern of the Task Force was how to measure success. Ms. Burd provided an overview of an early warning indicator system the state will be piloting and in which Reading will be a participant. Ms. DeLai explained the need to have all data that is gathered to be accessible to the administrators from a central location. This data dashboard product will enable administrators to access data from several different areas easily. Second Reading and Approval of Policy EFDA — Collection of Payment for School Meals Mrs. Janowski began the second reading of the policy. Mrs. Gibbs moved, seconded by Mr. Spadafora, to waive the second reading og the policy. The motion carried 4 -0. Mrs. Janowski once again voiced her concerns of the wording in Section 4. Dr. Doherty explained that the wording should remain in the rare case litigation is the only option. Mrs. Janowski moved, seconded by Mrs. Gibbs, to accept the second reading of Policy Section E, Policy EFDA: Collection of Payment for School Meals of the Reading Public Schools Policy Manual and to approve Section E, Policy EFDA: Collection of Payment for School Meals of the Reading Public Schools Policy Manual. The motion carried 4 -0. FYI Budget Update Chair Robinson reminded the School Committee of the budget presentation to the Finance Committee next week. C. New Business First Reading of Policy — Section J: Drug and Alcohol Use by Students with the addition of JICH -J — Revised Chemical Health Guidelines for Athletic and Extra - Curricular Activities Dr. Doherty reviewed the proposed addition of the regulation to the policy. He has worked with the high school administration and athletic director to strengthen the current MIAA Guidelines being used for the Chemical Health policy. It was important to address the concerns that were voice in the community dialogues this past fall. It is important that our regulation has a higher level of expectations from our students. To that end the regulation includes summers, extra- curricular activities and safeguards to prevent circumvention of the policy and guideline. The proposed regulation includes a counseling piece as well as allowing the student to continue to practice with the team during the suspension period. Mrs. Janowski began the first reading. March 12, 2012 Mrs. Janowski moved, seconded by Mrs. Gibbs, to accept the first readine of Section J: Drug and Alcohol Use by Students with the addition of JICH -R — Revised Chemical Health Guidelines for Athletic and Extra - Curricular Activities. Mrs. Gibbs felt the proposed regulation had been developed in the best interest of kids. Mr. Robinson inquired if the regulation could be expanded to include middle school students. Dr. Doherty said that the middle schools do not have as many clubs and activities and there are no middle school athletics. The School Committee asked the Superintendent to invite the high school principal and athletic director, Erica McNamara and Julianne DeAngelis of RCASA, School Resource Officer Santasky and Police Chief Cormier to the next meeting. Mr. John Arena addressed the School Committee and congratulated the bold steps taken to address this matter. The motion carried 4 -0. III. Routine Matters • Bills and Payroll (A) • Approval of Minutes Approval of the February 27, 2012 minutes was deferred to the next meeting. • Bids and Donations Accept Donation Mrs. Janowski moved, seconded by Mrs. Gibbs, to accept the donation in the amount of $375 from the Birch Meadow PTO to be used to support the WAS after - school tutoring program as outlined in the Superintendent's memorandum dated March 8, 2012. The motion carried 4 -0. Mrs. Janowski moved, seconded by Mr. Spadafora, to accept the donation in the amount of $375 from the Friends of Reading Wrestling to be used to support the coaching assistant positions as outlined in the Superintendent's memorandum dated March 12, 2012. The motion carried 4 -0. Award of Contracts Mrs. Janowski moved, seconded by Mrs. Gibbs, to authorize the Superintendent to enter into contract with Roger A. Tremblay of Salem, MA for the Window Replacement Services in the Joshua Eaton Cafetorium as outlined in the Director of Finance and Operations memorandum dated March 9, 2012. The motion carried 4 -0. Mrs. Janowski moved, seconded by Mrs. Gibbs, to authorize the Superintendent to enter into contract with Roger A. Tremblay of Salem, MA for the Door Replacement Services at the Senior Center as outlined in the Director of Finance and Operations memorandum dated March 9, 2012. The motion carried 4 -0. March 12, 2012 Mrs. Janowski moved, seconded by Mr. Spadafora, to authorize the Superintendent to enter into contract with Glass & Mirror, Inc. of Somerville, MA for Glass Replacement & Glazing Services as outlined in the Director of Finance and Operations memorandum dated March 9, 2012. The motion carried 4 -0. Mrs. Janowski moved, seconded by Mr. Spadafora, to authorize the Superintendent to enter into contract with R & S Contracting of Melrose, MA for Carpentry Services as outlined in the Director of Finance and Operations memorandum dated March 9, 2012. The motion carried 4 -0. Calendar IV. Information V. Future Business VI. Adiournment Mrs. Gibbs moved, seconded by Mrs. Janowski, adjourn. The motion carried 4 -0. Meeting adjourned at 9:40 p.m. NOTE: The minutes reflect the order as stated in the posted meeting agenda not the order they occurred during the meeting. Jo t+n F. Do Ed.D. Su mendent o Schools