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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-02-07 School Committee MinutesREADING SCHOOL COMMITTEE Reading, Massachusetts Regular Session February 7, 2000 CALL TO ORDER Chair Dahl called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Present were School Committee members Cavicchi, Dahl, D'Antona and Keigley. Ms. Williams arrived during executive session. Also present were Superintendent Harutunian and Associate Superintendent Richards. EXECUTIVE SESSION Ms. Cavicchi made a motion to enter into executive session for the purpose of conducting strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with the Teachers' Association, Custodians and Maintenance Workers, Cafeteria Employees, Associate of Secretaries and Clerks and Educational Assistants to return to regular session at approximately 7.30 p.m. Ms. D'Antona seconded the motion. The vote was 4 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Ms. D'Antona and Mr. Keigley BILLS & PAYROLL Payroll 61 January 27, 2000 $646,521.61 Warrant 62 January 31, 2000 $277,725.98 Payroll 59 January 21, 2000 $159,351.17 Warrant 60 January 24, 2000 $29,492.46 CALL BACK TO ORDER At 7:48 p.m. Chair Dahl called the meeting back to order. INTRODUCTION OF STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE Dr. Harutunian, Chair Dahl and the Committee welcomed Sara Hardin student representative to the School Committee meeting. CITIZEN'S INPUT There was no citizens' input. Reiular Session -2- February 7, 2000 FOCUS GROUP Dr. Harutunian informed the Committee that a focus group from the Parker Principal Search was attending this evening's meeting to take input from the Committee on what qualities the Committee is looking for in a principal. The focus group included: John Fiore, Warren Snyder, Anne Saurman, Donna Selger and Rita Robertson. Ms. Cavicchi stated that Dr. Delaney always did what he believed was best for the children even if that created controversy. She stated that she would like to see an individual with strong convictions and willing to fight for the children. In addition she also stated that she would like to see someone that could maintain a strong relationship with staff as well as students. Ms. D'Antona agreed with Ms. Cavicchi and added that she would like to see someone with experience, integrity and a high amount of energy. Ms. D'Antona stated that Dr. Delaney brought integrity to everything from dealing with staff to dealing with the children. She stated that education is always moving forward and we need to have someone who is a visionary and someone who has a grasp on the direction that education is heading. Ms. Williams stated that she would like to see the new principal keep the traditions at Parker yet be able to look beyond and break out and do some new things. She would like to see someone that can watch trends and be prepared for changes. She also stated that a principal must be willing to look at the elementary curriculum that is preparing students for middle school and the high school curriculum that his students must be prepared for. Chair Dahl stated that you need someone that is a team leader and team player. He must be a leader in his school and a team player in the district. He stated that we have made great strides in lining up our schools and curriculum K -12 and we must continue moving forward with curriculum. Mr. Dahl stated that middle school is a transition age, students enter middle school as children and leave as young adults. Regular Session -3- February 7, 2000 Ms. D'Antona asked the group how they take comments they receive and apply them to the resumes. Mr. Fiore stated that the School Committee was the first group the focus group had met with and that they would be going back to discuss how to apply comments and come up with firm criteria. Dr. Harutunian stated that when reviewing applications that the list they have from the focus group brings what they are looking for in an individual back to center Mr. Keigley stated that we would not find anyone equal to Dr. Delaney but that we should be looking for someone who is self - motivated and with a great dedication to education. Chair Dahl asked that the group not lose site of the fact that a high- energy person is needed for this position. Dr. Harutunian advised that the group has been instructed to forward names to the Superintendent only of individuals that they would be comfortable with. Mr. Richards encouraged anyone interested in the Parker principal search to attend the public forum being held at Parker Middle School. Chair Dahl advised that Mr. Twomey could not be here tonight because of a work commitment but that he may like to add his comments at a later date BARROWS HIGHLIGHTS Dr. Harutunian showed a video highlight from the Barrows School titled Creating Peaceable Schools. Chair Dahl stated that this was very much in line with the School Committee's goal and this class was a great start to teach young students how to interact with each other. Ms. D'Antona stated that our goal is to have all children feel safe in school. COOLIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL TOUR Mr. Doherty and Mr. Hart gave a tour of the Coolidge Middle School and updated the Committee and the public on the building project. The Committee returned from the tour at 9:10 p.m. Regular Session -4- February 7, 2000 GIFTS Dr. Harutunian thanked Dr. Marinakis and Ms. Smith for their donation of a full size refrigerator to the RMHS health room. Dr. Harutunian thanked Systems Viewpoint Inc. for their donation of a Philips Readable /Writeable CD Player & Recorder to the Joshua Eaton school. Dr. Harutunian thanked Mr. Michael Visprini for his donation of 100 shares of Shaws Industries stock valued at $1,675.44. Ms. Cavicchi moved to accept the gift of $1,675.44 to the RMHS Girls' Basketball Program. Mr. Keigley seconded the motion. The vote was 5 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Keigley and Ms. Williams. Dr. Harutunian advised that an anonymous donor had made a $1,000 donation to the Birch Meadow School Ms. Cavicchi moved to accept the gift of $1,000 to the Birch Meadow School. Ms. Williams seconded the motion. The vote was 5 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Keigley and Ms. Williams. Dr. Harutunian advised that an anonymous donor had made a $1,000 donation to the Joshua Eaton School Ms. Cavicchi moved to accept the gift of $1,000 to the Joshua Eaton School. Mr. Keigley seconded the motion. The vote was 5 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Ms. D'Antona, Mr., Keigley and Ms. Williams. Birch Meadow Heating System Dr. Harutunian distributed a list of individuals that he thanked for their help with the evacuation of the Birch Meadow School. He advised that the health department had tested the air at Birch Meadow again and there were no problems. He also advised that Siebe has agreed to pay for the lunches for all students and staff, work on both boilers, add a circulator pump and do some work at Parker for no charge. Regular Session -5- February 7, 2000 Dr. Harutunian and Chair Dahl thanked all the individuals that were involved with the Birch Meadow evacuation. Chair Dahl commended the Superintendent for a job well done. NEW SCHOOL Dr. Harutunian reviewed the new school site plan review timetable with the Committee. Dr. Harutunian advised that copies of the Dividence Road and Barrows Certificates were included in their packets. Dr. Harutunian distributed information from Town Counsel regarding municipal buildings and zoning and about the Town's title to the Dividence Road School site and the Barrows School site. Dr. Harutunian advised that he had asked town counsel to review the control of the fields at Birch Meadow, Coolidge and RMHS. Dr. Harutunian distributed a letter from the Town Manager asking that $25,000 be put aside for playground equipment at the new school. Dr. Harutunian advised that he and Chair Dahl had met with the CPDC and the Town Manager and advised that he was asking the Committee to direct him and two School Committee representatives to work with the Town Planning Team regarding the site plan and coordinating a forum for public input. Dr. Harutunian discussed the draft site plan showing access roads. Dr. Harutunian advised that there was some discussion about creating turnarounds so students would not be crossing a busy roadway to access the fields. He stated that there was interest on the Town's part about adding an access road to go both ways but that the during school hours we don't want traffic going through. He stated that this was a first draft only. He stated that they were looking at adding a science center, which would be used by the entire school district. He stated that it is his goal to bring to the School Committee by November a plan for redistricting and to hold public hearings so that the parents know well in advance what school their children will be attending. Ms. Cavicchi moved that the School Committee approve the process as outlined by the Superintendent for he and certain members of the School Committee to work with CPDC and town staff to move the proiect forward. Ms. D'Antona seconded the motion. The vote was 5 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Keigley and Ms. Williams. Regular Session -6- February 7, 2000 Chair Dahl encouraged all School Committee members to attend the meetings but asked that they contact the Superintendent's office if they were planning to attend so that the meeting could be posted as required. He also stated that the night of the vote representatives from CPDC, fire and police would be present. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT Dr. Harutunian advised the Committee that Kay Jack received the Massachusetts School Nurse Organization Award for Recognition of Excellence in School Nursing. Ms. D'Antona requested that the Superintendent write a congratulatory letter to Kay Jack. Dr. Harutunian advised that the RMHS Band was selected to represent Massachusetts in the 2000 National Independence Day Parade. WARRANT ARTICLES Ms. D'Antona moved to direct the Superintendent to an prepare article for the $515,000 increase to cover inflationary costs on the Barrows Project. Ms. Cavicchi seconded the motion. The vote was 5 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Keigley and Ms. Williams. Ms. D'Antona moved on the recommendation of the Superintendent to authorize payment to the architect Earl R. Flansburgh & Associates in accordance with the memorandum dated February 3, 2000 pending positive peer review. Ms. Cavicchi seconded the motion. The vote was 5 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Keigley and Ms. Williams. SCHOOL CALENDAR Ms. D'Antona moved to accept the 2000 -2001 School Year Calendar as presented in the memorandum dated February 2, 2000. Ms. Cavicchi seconded the motion. The vote was 5 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Keigley and Ms. Williams. ADJOURN At 10:00 p.m. Ms. D'Antona made a motion to adjourn. Ms. Cavicchi seconded the motion. The vote was 5 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Ms. D'Antona, Mr., Keigley and Ms. Williams. Respectfully submitted, \y `- Harry K. Harutunian, Ph.D. Superintendent of Schools