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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-03-13 School Committee MinutesReading School Committee Reading, Massachusetts Regular Session March 13, 2000 CALL TO ORDER Chair Dahl called meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. in Superintendent's Conference Room. Present were School Committee Members Cavicchi, Dahl, Griset, Keigley and Twomey. Also present was Superintendent Harutunian. At 7:05 p.m. Ms. Cavicchi moved to enter into executive session for the purpose of conducting strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with the custodial union and to discus the possible sale or lease of real estate and to approve executive session minutes. To return to regular session at approximately 8:00 p.m. 5 -0 Cavicchi, Dahl, Griset, Keigley and Twomey. Chair Dahl called the meting back to order at 8:04 p.m. Chair Dahl introduced William Griset and congratulated to Mr. Griset and Mr. Twomey on their election HIGHLIGHTS Dr. Harutunian stated that the artwork was from the Barrows School. He thanked the staff and students at Barrows. CITIZEN'S INPUT Mr. Gary Phillips stated that as a newcomer to town with two elementary grade school children he was interested to know if the minutes of school committee meetings are available to the public for both executive and regular session. Chair Dahl advised that minutes are available at superintendent's office for viewing Dr. Harutunian advised we do legally have 10 days to make information available but if a member of the community wants minutes we make them available as quickly as possible. Executive session minutes are not released until the issue is resolved, negotiations over, etc. Some things will fall under state's exemptions and will not be released. Regular Session 2 March 13, 2000 SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT Ms. Cavicchi stated that she was happy to report a new recreation director has been hired. She stated that Wayne Currie comes from Bradford College and was the director of athletics. She stated that he is very enthusiastic and she thinks parents will be pleased. Chair Dahl advised that Finance Committee met last week and discussed the capital plan and the Finance Committee is reviewing the plan to see if anything needs to be changed. Mr. Keigley advised that there are only three uses for sale of real estate: for capital, unfunded pension and debt. Dr. Harutunian advised that the baseball team would be taking a trip to Cooperstown, New York to play against Lexington High School. Dr. Harutunian distributed new language for Coolidge Middle School plaque and requested that the School Committee let him know if they wanted any changes. Dr. Harutunian updated the Committee on the Coolidge Middle School Project. Dr. Harutunian advised that SPED Public Hearing will be held March 15`h at 10:00 at state house. Mr. Twomey asked if Richard Foley had put together yet the information since regarding the increase Reading has received under education reform relative to sped costs. He stated that he was looking for information from 1993 to present. Dr. Harutunian advised that Carol Grimm did put the information together and the increase was only slightly more or less each year than sped costs. Mr. Twomey advised that this theme needs to get across to the state. The state needs to understand that sped costs in many communities have taken all education reform increases leaving communities to fund education reform alone. Ms. Cavicchi advised that the McKenzie report is available on line. Dr. Harutunian updated the Committee on Youth Risk Survey. He stated that he hopes to finalize this issue within a month. Chair Dahl asked Dr. Harutunian to pass along his concern that issues are out there in middle school and we can't ignore them we need to get data. Dr. Harutunian reviewed the School Committee calendar Regular Session 3 March 13, 2000 Dr. Harutunian reviewed the quarterly personnel report Mr. Twomey asked that transfers be shown as transfers not resignations and hires. Dr. Harutunian updated the Committee on the new school. He stated that he spoke to George Perry Chairman of the Town Forest Commission. Mr. Perry was very concerned about access to town forest after school department puts in the road. Dr. Harutunian stated that he informed Mr. Perry that the schools will work closely with the Commission to provide them with access. Dr. Harutunian stated that in the packet tonight there is a letter from the Reading fire chief stressing the importance of two egresses at Dividence. Dr. Harutunian advised that after Flansburgh did the borings it was decided to move the school setting back because of the cost for the foundation and there is now enough room for a regulation soccer field and little league or softball field. He stated that for $150,000 the general contractor can level, grade, top soil and seed the fields and the Town Manager has agreed to use town employees to finish the work. Dr. Harutunian advised that tonight's meeting is being taped. Chair Dahl advised that he had spoken to the neighbors and they are very interested in the fields because are no fields currently in the neighborhood. Dr Harutunian advised that he had pulled the November 1998 drawings and they had two fields Dr Harutunian advised that he had spoken to Sid Bowen and Dave Johnson and will arrange a meeting to give community members input. Mr. Twomey stated that the CPDC was interested in at least savings space for fields even if they could not be completed right away. Ms. D'Antona asked if there was any concern about loss of green space by adding fields. Dr Harutunian advised that he had received a call from conservation member indicating that the original plan was nice balance of nature and school needs. This wetland area will still be retained we abut 9 acres of town forest so it is connecting property with significant amount of forest Ms Cavicchi asked where playground area will be located. Dr Harutunian advised to the north of the cafeteria area. Regular Session 4 March 13, 2000 Mr. Keigley asked how many parking spaces are planned. Dr. Harutunian advised that 60 -70 spaces are planned and there will be some limited parking opposite of the fire lane. Ms. Mandell asked if the road is going through or looping around. Dr. Harutunian advised that it will be a non - connecting road but there will be access for emergency vehicles. Ms. Cooper asked how much savings there would be if post and beam wasn't used. Dr. Harutunian stated that the architect says post and beam is less expensive and probably the most cost efficient. Ms. Cooper requested that the School Committee look at Andover and their problems with the post and beam construction. Mr. Keigley stated that he had taken a tour of the plant in Maine and is convinced that they are ahead of any other technology. Mr. Phillips stated that during the bid process his initial impression is we may be setting ourselves up for a let down. He stated that he had read the Globe article regarding Andover's project being over budget and Flansburgh was the architect. He stated his concern is we may be cutting ourselves short by not having initiated the bid process early. He asked why after school was approved it was not bid in January. He asked why the contract would go to Flansburgh when they had the problem in Andover. Mr. Phillips stated he made a few calls today to architects and they indicated there was a considerable degree of difficulty getting plans ready by June 1St deadline date. He stated that the Committee gave a small timeframe and narrowed the field He stated that Andover concluded by saying any other communities would do well to heed their advice regarding problems. Chair Dahl stated as a town we have been very effective in monitoring cost on building projects. He stated our history of projects is Parker was brought in under budget and we are close to budget at Coolidge. He stated that Flansburgh has built over a hundred schools and the history on all schools not just the Andover school should be looked at. Dr. Harutunian advised that we have used this method for all other school project. We put out the feasibility study bid and indicated the successful company may get the award. He stated this is common practice. He stated that he became aware of the Norwell court Regular Session 5 March 13, 2000 case and the lower court determined it must be bid. He stated that the attorney general does not yet agree but as soon as we were made aware of the court case we put together bid material. He stated that we have no contract with Flansburgh and we are paying an hourly rate until the process is finalized. Dr. Harutunian stated that at the conference he- recently attended, Flansburgh received a national award for their work on the BeeBee school in Malden. Mr. Twomey stated the School Building Committee looked into references from each of the three finalists for the architects and the project Mr. Phillips referred to was well known to them. He stated that the School Building Committee met with representatives from Andover and came back and were completely satisfied with the answers they received from Andover. Mr. Twomey stated that he has read that the state is looking at the public construction procurement process since a number of studies commissioned have shown that Massachusetts has one of the most expensive construction costs in the country and among other issues that they are examining is the delay costs due to a cumbersome and bureaucratic system. Mr. Phillips stated that the feasibility architect doing the design and the inclination is towards this one firm so again at this point in game plan he stated that he would like to say again that should we receive any other bids with a more conventional construction the School Committee should carefully examine those bids. Mr. Twomey stated that the architects don't bid on the design, they come in with a design and that is only a conceptual design. He stated the design is partly based on architect experience this is not what contractors will be bidding on. Mr. Phillips asked if the state requires us to submit final plans by June 151 Mr. Twomey stated that the requirement is they submit by June 15t but that submittal is not the set of drawings contractors bid on Dr. Harutunian stated the state does not require that level of detail by June 15t. Dr. Harutunian advised that he had contacted the SBA and were assured that they are plenty of examples of drawings being changed after June 15`. He stated that the SBA is more concerned about the size and educational plans. Chair Dahl closed the question and answer session and moved on in the agenda. Regular Session 6 March 13, 2000 BUDGET Dr. Harutunian stated that he is recommended March 201h the Committee go through the list of reductions, he suggested a public input meeting on March 23`d and the Committee to finalize reductions on March 271h and /or March 281H There was a consensus of the School Committee to use process as outlined. Dr. Harutunian distributed information from Richard Foley regarding per pupil. Mr. Twomey asked that Dr. Harutunian confirm whether transportation costs related to tuitioned out students is included and in the cost of nurses /aides that may travel with students are included. Dr. Harutunian advised that he will have Richard Foley attend the meeting on March 20th to discuss the issue. HOME SCHOOLING Ms. Cavicchi moved that on the recommendation of the administration that the Committee approve the home schooling requests as noted. Ms. D'Antona seconded the motion. The vote was 6 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Griset, Mr. Keiglev and Mr. Twomey. MINUTES Ms. Cavicchi made a motion to approve the minutes of December 9, 1999. Mr. Twomey seconded the motion. The vote was 5 -0 -1 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Keiglev and Mr. Twomey voted yes, Mr. Griset abstained. Ms. Cavicchi made a motion to approve the minutes of December 20, 1999 with corrections as noted. Mr. Twomey seconded the motion. The vote was 4 -0 -2 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Mr. Keigley and Mr. Twomey voted yes. Ms. D'Antona and Mr. Griset abstained. Re ular Session 7 March 13, 2000 Ms. Cavicchi made a motion to approve the minutes of January 3, 2000 with corrections as noted. Mr. Twomey seconded the motion. The vote was 4 -0 -2 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Ms. D'Antona and Mr. Twomey voted yes. Mr. Griset and Mr. Keigley abstained. Ms. Cavicchi made a motion to approve the minutes of January 5, 2000. Mr. Twomey seconded the motion. The vote was 5 -0 -1 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Keigley and Mr. Twomey voted yes, Mr. Griset abstained. Ms. Cavicchi made a motion to approve the minutes of January 7, 2000 with corrections as noted. Mr. Twomey seconded the motion. The vote was 4 -0 -2 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Ms. D'Antona and Mr. Twomey voted yes. Mr. Griset and Mr. Keigley abstained. Ms. Cavicchi made a motion to approve the minutes of January 10, 2000 with corrections as noted. Mr. Twomey seconded the motion. The vote was 4 -0 -2 Ms. Cavicchi, Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Keigley and Mr. Twomey voted yes. Mr. Dahl and Mr. Griset abstained. Ms. Cavicchi made a motion to approve the minutes of Januar02, 2000 with corrections as noted. Mr. Twomey seconded the motion. The vote was 5 -0 -1 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Keigley and Mr. Twomey voted yes. Mr. Griset abstained. ADJOURN At 9.45 p.m. Mr. Twomey made a motion to adiourn. Mr. Keigley seconded the motion. The vote was 6 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Griset, Mr. Keigley and Mr. Twomey voted yes. Respectfully submitted, Harry . Harutunian, Ph.D. Superintendent of Schools