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Home My WebLink About2012-06-04 School Committee Minutes4 Reading Public Schools Reading, Massachusetts Regular Meeting of the School Committee Open Session Date: June 4, 2012 Time: 6:30 p.m. Place: Schettini Library Media Center School Committee Members Present Karen Janowski Hal Croft Chuck Robinson Lisa Gibbs Chris Caruso Rob Spadafora Visitors: Ellie Freedman, RMHS Principal Karen Feeney, Eaton Principal Beth Beaulieu, Parker Assistant Principal Marie Pink, Coolidge Assistant Principal Eric Sprung, Birch Meadow Principal Vicki Griffin, Early Childhood Director Kristin Morello, Food Service Director I. Call to Order Staff Members Present John Doherty, Superintendent Patty de Garavilla, Assistant Superintendent Mary DeLai, Director of Finance & Operations Alison Elmer, Director of Student Services Elizabeth Conway, Human Resources Administrator Conner Traugot, Student Representative Barbara Jones, Reading Chronicle Chairperson Robinson called the School Committee to order at 6:41 p.m. He reviewed the agenda and welcomed guests. II. Recommended Procedure A. Public Input (I) Reports I 1. Student Mr. Traugot reported graduation, move up day, upcoming final exams and spring athletics. 2. Liaison Mrs. Gibbs reported on the Baccalaureate Service held recently. She found it to be an inspirational event that featured incredible speakers. June 4, 2012 3. Superintendent Superintendent Doherty updated the School Committee on the Assistant Principal search. Three finalists were interviewed today and there will be an open microphone session on Thursday evening. He also provided additional information on the upcoming RCASA community meeting. 4. Assistant Superintendent Mrs. de Garavilla updated the School Committee on the new health curriculum roll out. There will be several opportunities for the public to review the new curriculum and to ask questions. She feels the selected curriculum will nicely address the current gaps that have been identified in the current program. She also updated the School Committee on the summer reading programs for the high school and middle school students. 5. Director of Student Services Ms. Elmer shared information on the upcoming RCASA community meeting that will be held Wednesday evening. She and Sara Burd will be manning an information table on the Behavioral Health Programs and the recommendations from the Behavioral Health Task Force. B. Continued Business C. New Business Staff Recognition Mrs. Elizabeth Conway provided an overview of the staff recognitions for the evening. The district is pleased to recognize staff that have retired, teachers that have achieved Professional Teacher Status and staff that have completed 10 and 20 years of service. Mrs. Conway presented gifts to the honorees in attendance from Barrows, Wood End and Killam that included Mia Gaska, Wood End, Kate Gustafson and Lucille Kaloyanides from Killam. Mrs. Conway invited Vicki Griffin to present gifts to the honorees in attendance from the RISE Preschool that included Sally Ann Watt, Maureen Deligianidis and Joyce Camenker. Mr. Eric Sprung presented gifts to the honorees in attendance from the Birch Meadow School that included Jennifer Emmett. Mrs. Marie Pink presented gifts to the honorees in attendance from the Coolidge Middle School that included Charlie Smith, Mary Ann Cuscuna and Megan Nelson. Mrs. Beth Beaulieu presented gifts to the honorees in attendance from the Parker Middle School that included Dave Williams, Kathy Daly, Eric Goldstein, Meghan Lockwood and Tanya McDonald. June 4, 2012 Mrs. Ellie Freedman presented gifts to the honorees in attendance from Reading Memorial High School that included Bill Endslow, Emeline Festa, Stephanie Leccese, Steve Padovani, Sharon Burke, Jenn Cambra, Joanne Fitzpatrick, Karen Irmer and Tom Zaya. Mrs. Kristin Morello presented gifts to the honorees in attendance from the Food Service Department that included Maria Caruso, Charlene McManus, Jean Hailey and Marjorie Comeau - Valentine. Dr. Doherty spoke about Mr. Richard Davidson who is retiring as principal of the Wood End School and thanked him for his years of dedication and service to the Reading Public Schools. He then presented a gift to honor her service to Reading to Mrs. Elinor Freedman who will be retiring at the end of the month. He shared several of the initiatives that Mrs. Freedman initiated at RMHS and thanked her for her service to Reading Memorial High School. Dr. Doherty thanked Mrs. Conway for organizing the celebration this evening. Chair Robinson called a brief recess at 7:06 p.m. The meeting was called back to order at 7:11 p.m. RISE Preschool Presentation Victoria Griffin, Joyce Camenker, Maureen Deligiandis and Karen Stuart presented an overview of the RISE Preschool Program. Mrs. Griffin shared the history of the program which began at the Birch Meadow School in 1974 with 18 students. The program was originally a part of the SEEM Collaborative. Currently the RISE Preschool has an enrollment of 106 students and is an integrated program in which 51% of the students are regular education students and 49% are students with special needs. She went on to review the philosophy of the programs and reviewed preschool classroom goals which include to improve social- emotional skills, academic readiness, language skills, self -help skills and motor skills (fine and gross). Mrs. Griffin and Ms. Elmer then reviewed the RISE staff and the roles and services provided by the Speech/Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists and Physical Therapists. The specialists service the RISE students as well as children not currently enrolled that are referred by Early Intervention. Mr. Spadafora asked about the use of technology in the classrooms. Mrs. Camenker said that RISE has one Smartboard and it is in her classroom. She finds that it is an extremely helpful tool with applications for both regular and special education students. He then asked about enrollment age of the children. Mrs. Griffin stated that children are eligible to enter the program at age 3. Mr. Spadafora also was interested in the number of high school students that helped out in the classrooms. Mrs. Camenker indicated that students from the Child Development and Field Seminar classes at the high school volunteer in the RISE classrooms. Chair Robinson thanked the RISE Preschool staff for presenting this evening. June 4, 2012 A World of Difference Presentation Mrs. Freedman introduced tonight's presenters that included parent volunteer Linda Snow- Dockser, RMHS teachers Mary Allard and Michele Chiappini, and RMHS students Scott Freeman, Lee Jacobs, Kelsey McGinness, Shannon Sciarappa, Olivia Mirabella and Kelsie Pace. Chair Robinson thanked them for presenting tonight. The A World of Difference Program is in the second year with 35 students participating. Inspiration for the formation of this program came from a presentation by Michael Fowlin that focused on a positive culture. Mrs. Freedman investigated several programs and opted to use the curriculum from the Anti - Defamation League as the model at RMHS. Goals of AWOD include developing student leaders, promoting critical thinking, communication and conflict management skills, social and emotional learning, fostering greater inter -group dialogue, understanding and respect, addressing school climate issues during the entire academic year and provide peer trainers with opportunities to facilitate positive social change throughout their community and beyond. Mrs. Allard went on to describe the application process. Students apply for acceptance to AWOD each year. The program is open to juniors and seniors. Each year the curriculum allows for 30 students to be trained. The goal is to have a diverse group of students from all disciplines at RMHS. The training program includes 18 hours of training, weekly meetings with the program advisors, six hours of on -site technical assistance, on -going student -led activities designed to examine bias- and diversity - related issues and identify best practices in promoting a safe, inclusive and respectful community and an interactive parent presentation. Kelsey McGinness shared her experience and activities working with middle school students. She said the middle school students are very receptive to this program. Kelsie Pace shared information on the Diversity Iceberg explaining that the portion of the iceberg "above the water" does not provide all the information a person would need to get to know someone. The deeper you dig the more information you discover and may find that you have more in common that you thought. Shannon Sciarappa went on to describe the Pyramid of Hate and how important it is to chip away at the bottom layer — Acts of Bias — to help the pyramid tumble, preventing hate from escalating. The program is focused on changing the cultural norms. Mrs. Allard went on to share the AWOD Mission and Challenges of communication, collaboration, cohesion and culture. Mrs. Freedman shared the ways the group gets the message out which include peer trainings, school news, Facebook, PTO and staff meetings, blogs and School Committee meetings. The group also produced a public service announcement on bullying, bias and diversity. Linda Snow - Dockser shared the role that media plays in getting the message out. Guest speaker Edgar Krasa, Holocaust survivor shared his personal story with students at RMHS. Another speaker is scheduled for the fall. Ms. Snow - Dockser, through School Notes, also is able to share activities of the AWOD group. Scott Freeman shared information on the PSA the group produced. The School Committee asked the students why they became involved. The responses were that they wanted to make a difference in their world. Some had been victims of bullying or had seen incidents of bullying and wanted to learn ways to put a stop to it. June 4, 2012 The Chair thanked the group for presenting this evening. Reorganization Chair Robinson turned the gavel over to Superintendent Doherty. Dr. Doherty then reviewed the procedure and policy and asked for nominations for Chair. Mr. Caruso nominated Mrs. Janowski for Chair. Mr. Spadafora seconded the nomination. On a roll call vote the nomination passed 6 -0. Mr. Robinson, Mr. Croft, Mr. Spadafora, Mrs. Janowski, Mrs. Gibbs and Mr. Caruso. Superintendent Doherty handed the gavel to new Chair Karen Janowski. Chair Janowski asked for nominations for Vice Chair Mr. Caruso nominated Mr. Croft for Vice- Chair. Mr. Spadafora seconded the nomination. On a roll call vote the nomination passed 6 -0. Mr. Robinson, Mr. Croft, Mr. Spadafora, Mrs. Janowski, Mrs. Gibbs and Mr. Caruso. Mr. Caruso thanked Mr. Robinson for his two years of leadership. III. Routine Matters • Bills and Payroll (A) • Approval of Minutes Mr. Caruso moved, seconded by Mr. Robinson, to approve the open session minutes dated May 21, 2012. The motion carried 6 -0. • Bids and Donations Calendar IV. Information V. Future Business VI. Adiournment Mr. Caruso moved, seconded by Mr. Spadafora, to enter into Executive Session to discuss a safety /security issue, non -union contracts and bargaining and approval of minutes and not to return to open session. On a roll call vote the carried 6 -0. Mr. Robinson, Mr. Croft, Mr. Spadafora, Mrs. Janowski, Mrs. Gibbs and Mr. Caruso. Meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m. NOTE: The minutes reflect the order as stated in the posted meeting agenda not the order they occurred during the meeting. June 4, 2012 J F. Doherty, Ed.D. perintendent of Schools