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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-08-27 School Committee MinutesReading Public Schools Reading, Massachusetts Regular Meeting of the School Committee Open Session Date: August 27, 2012 Time: 7:00 p.m. Place: Superintendent's Conference Room School Committee Members Present Karen Janowski Hal Croft Chuck Robinson Lisa Gibbs Chris Caruso Rob Spadafora Visitors: Arrived at 7:15 p.m. Barbara Jones, Reading Chronicle Nadine Wandzilak, Reading Patch Karen Callan, Barrows Principal Karen Feeney, Eaton Principal Joanne King, Wood End Principal Christina Gentile, RISE Bill Brown, Resident I. Call to Order Staff Members Present John Doherty, Superintendent Patty de Garavilla, Assistant Superintendent Mary DeLai, Assistant Superintendent Alison Elmer, Director of Student Services Conner Traugot, Student Representative Maham Ahmed, Student Representative Kevin Higginbottom, RMHS Principal Craig Martin, CMS Principal Doug Lyons, PMS Principal Beth Beaulieu, PMS Assistant Principal Eric Sprung, Birch Meadow Principal Tom Zaya, RMHS Assistant Principal Tom Ryan, Resident Chairperson Janowski called the School Committee to order at 7:00 p.m. She reviewed the agenda and welcomed guests. She welcomed the new teachers to the district. Mrs. Callan introduced the new teachers at the Barrows School. Mr. Sprung introduced the new teachers at the Birch Meadow School. Ms. Feeney introduced the new teachers at the Joshua Eaton School. Mrs. Gentile introduced the new teachers at the RISE Preschool. Mrs. Janowski wished the new teachers a great year. The elementary group left the meeting. Mr. Robinson arrived. Mr. Martin introduced the new teachers at the Coolidge Middle School. August 27, 2012 Mr. Lyons introduced the new teachers at the Parker Middle School. Mr. Higginbottom introduced the new teachers at Reading Memorial High School. Mrs. Janowski wished the new teachers a great year. The secondary teachers left. New Business (out of order) Ms. Kim Boote and Mr. Jake Barnett, teachers at the Parker Middle School presented on the PMS Eco- Club's trip to Costa Rica in the spring of 2012. Ms. Boote introduced three students that went on the trip. She also said that there are 25 families interested in this year's trip. Peter Ventola shared information on fundraising activities the group participated in to help support the trip. The group held a technology fundraiser where old technology was donated and the metal was extracted for cash. The group used the funds to purchase supplies for the school children in Costa Rica. Hunter Lambroff shared how the experience connected classroom work with the actual environment. He shared the science aspect of being in the jungle and being able to interact with animals. Kyra McDermott discussed the service project the in which the group participated. The group painted two classrooms. She found the experience very humbling. The Costa Rican students were very grateful for the efforts of the Parker students. Mr. Croft moved, seconded by Mr. Robinson, to approve the Parker Middle School Eco- Club's field trip to Costa Rica in February 2013. The motion carried 6 -0. II. Recommended Procedure A. Public Input (I) Reports I (out of order) 1. Student (out of order) Student Representative Ahmed reported on a service trip to Camp Sunshine in Maine over the summer. The trip was attended by juniors and seniors. Camp Sunshine serves children with life threatening illness. Student Representative Traugot reported on the freshman orientation. Mr. Croft moved, seconded by Mr. Caruso, to enter into executive session to discuss the deployment of security personnel or devices, or stratezies with respect thereto, the approval of minutes, the discipline or dismissal of an employee, and to review the value of real property, and to return to open session at approximately 8:15 p.m. The roll call vote was 6 -0. Mr. Caruso, Mrs. Janowski, Mrs. Gibbs, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Spadafora and Mr. Croft. Mrs. Janowski called open session back to order at 8:40 p.m. August 27, 2012 Donations (out of order) Mr. Tom Connery, President of Friends of Reading Football presented a donation to support the coaching assistants for the football team. Mr. Croft moved, seconded by Mr. Robinson, to accept the donation in the amount of $_7,363.47 from the Friends of Reading Football to be used to support the coaching assistant positions for the 2012 -13 school year. The motion carried 6 -0. B. Continued Business Continuation of Elementga Space Study Discussion Dr. Doherty reviewed the RPS Strategy for Improvement of Student Outcomes and the four strategic objectives. Creation of additional full day kindergarten classrooms, special education district programming, the maintenance of adequate class size, the growth of the RISE Preschool program and the desire for dedicated art and music classrooms have contributed to the need for additional space. Ms. DeLai reviewed the financial impact of free full day kindergarten. There would be an increase in the Chapter 70 funding for 320 free full day kindergarten students and the cost of implementing full day kindergarten for all would include the addition of teachers and paraeducators and 4 classrooms. Assuming RISE was not using their current spaces and additional 10 -12 classrooms would be needed for the program. Ms. DeLai reviewed the MSBA funding scenario. MSBA has not funded a PreK -K building in the past. The MSBA has worked with school districts to expand existing facilities for PreK -K. The District would need to file a statement of interest stating the problem. She then shared information on the cost of a modular building to be used for PreK -K. The district could gain 2 additional classrooms and feels permanent modular construction is preferable to leasing. Discussion continued regarding the possible locations for placement of modular classrooms. Dr. Doherty provided information received from a recent kindergarten survey sent to families via Edline. Mr. Spadafora moved, seconded by Mrs. Gibbs, to direct the administration to begin the implementation process for full day kinderearten for all students. Dr. Doherty reminded the committee that this is an educational decision. It is in the best interest to kids. He is aware that there will be a financial impact on the school department budget. Mr. Caruso voiced his concerns over the implementation of full day kindergarten for all students citing the financial and space impact on the district. Dr. Doherty will provide information on the FY14 budget at the next meeting. This impact will be looked at closely during the FY14 budget season as well. Mr. Brown voiced concerns regarding funding. Mr. Ryan read a statement. August 27, 2012 Several Birch Meadow parents shared their thoughts on the full day kindergarten matter. They felt full day kindergarten is valuable and feel that children benefit with smaller class sizes. A parent inquired about other options for housing the proposed full day kindergarten and possibly expanded preschool programs. She did not feel modular is the answer. Dr. Doherty told the audience that the district is looking at other sites in town. Mrs. Janowski pointed out this is a community concern and any decisions should include community involvement. The motion carried 6 -0. Dr. Doherty thanked the school Committee for being very deliberate on making the decision on this matter. C. New Business FY13 -23 Capital Plan Director of Facilities Joe Huggins reviewed the proposed FYI — 23 Capital Plan. He pointed out the changes that are being recommended. Mr. Croft moved, seconded by Mrs. Gibbs, to accept the FY2013 -23 School and Town Facilities Capital Plan as presented. The motion carried 6 -0. Second Reading Procurement Polio Mrs. Janowski waived the policy reading. Mr. Croft moved, seconded by Mr. Robinson, to approve the second reading and accept Policy DGB — Town Government and Public School Purchasing Cards. The motion carried 6 -0. Second Reading of Policy EBC — Emergency Plans Mr. Croft moved, seconded by Mr. Robinson, to approve the second reading and accept Policy EBC — Emergency Plans. The motion carried 6 -0. Mr. Croft moved, seconded by Mr. Robinson, to approve the second reading and accept Policy JLC — Student Health Services and Requirements. The motion carried 6 -0. Dr. Doherty indicated that the district emergency plans were due to the state on September 4`h Approval of Field Trips Mr. Croft moved, seconded by Mr. Robinson, to approve the Parker Middle School 7th grade field trip to Nature's Classroom in October 2012. The motion carried 6 -0. August 27, 2012 Mr. Croft moved, seconded by Mr. Robinson, to approve the Parker Middle School 8th grade field trip to Quebec in April 2012. The motion carried 6 -0. Declaration of Surplus Property Mr. Croft moved, seconded by Mrs. Gibbs, to declare items listed and presented as surplus Property. The motion carried 6 -0. III. Routine Matters • Bills and Payroll (A) • Approval of Minutes Mr. Croft moved, seconded by Mr. Caruso to approve the open session minutes dated July 9, 2012. The motion carried 6 -0. Mr. Croft moved, seconded by Mr. Caruso, to approve the open session minutes dated July 23, 2012. • Bids and Donations Mr. Croft moved, seconded by Mr. Caruso, to accept the donation from the Young Women's League of Reading in the amount of $400 to be used to support the students of the Coolidge Middle School. The motion carried 6 -0. Mr. Croft moved, seconded by Mr. Spadafora, to accept the donation in the amount of $3,500 from the "Coolidge School Science Olympiad" support group to support the head coach position. The motion carried 6 -0. Mr. Croft moved, seconded by Mr. Spadafora, to accept donations totaling $500 from the Parker PTO to support the purchase of instruments for the Parker Middle School. The motion carried 6 -0. Mr. Croft moved, seconded by Mr. Caruso, to accept the donation from the Stoneham Savings -Salem Five Charitable Foundation in the amount of $2,000 to be used to support the students of the RISE Preschool. The motion carried 6 -0. Mr. Croft moved, seconded by Mr. Caruso, to accept the donation of $4,000 from the Reading Summer Field Hockey program to be used to compensate the coaching assistant positions for the 2012 -13 season. The motion carried 6 -0. Mr. Croft moved, seconded by Mr. Caruso, to accept the donation in the amount of $10,132.80 from the Reading Boosters Club for the purchase of the banners hanging in the Field House. The motion carried 6 -0. Mr. Croft moved, seconded by Mr. Caruso, to accept the donation in the amount of $350 from the Reading Cooperative Bank Charitable Foundation to be used to support the Excellence Luncheon at RMHS. The motion carried 6 -0. August 27, 2012 Award of Contract Mr. Croft moved, seconded by Mr. Robinson, to authorize the Superintendent to enter into contract with Combustion Services of Cambridge, MA for Boiler Maintenance and Repairs Services. The motion carried 6 -0. Calendar IV. Information V. Future Business VI. Adjournment Mr. Caruso moved, seconded by Mr. Robinson, to adiourn. The motion carried 6 -0. Meeting adjourned at 11:17 p.m._ NOTE: The minutes reflect the order as stated in the posted meeting agenda not the order they occurred during the meeting.