HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-04-10 School Committee MinutesREADING SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Reading, Massachusetts
Regular Session April 10, 2000
CALL TO ORDER
At 7:00 p.m. Chair Dahl called the meeting to order. Present were School Committee
members Cavicchi, Dahl, Griset and Twomey. Town Manager Hechenbleikner was also
present
EXECUTIVE SESSION
At 7:00 p.m. Ms. Cavicchi made a motion to enter in to executive session for the
purpose of conducting strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with the
Educational Assistants, Nurses, Cafeteria Employees and Secretaries and to discuss
the possible sale or lease of real estate. To return to regular session at 7:30 p.m.
Mr. Twomey seconded the motion. The vote was 4 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Mr.
Griset and Mr. Twomey.
CALL BACK TO ORDER
Chair Dahl called the meeting back to order at 7:58 p.m. at the RMHS Lecture Hall.
Student Representative Jill Macari was present.
Chair Dahl and Dr. Harutunian welcomed Jill Macari as the new student representatives.
EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION AWARDS
The School Committee presented Excellence in Education Awards to the following
groups:
Coolidge Middle School Science Olympiad, National History Day Finalists, Drama
Finalists, Science Fair Finalists, Band Award recipients and students who scored in the
top I% in the 1999 MCAS scores.
John Doherty, Samantha Genier, Margaret Griset and Tim Radville described the
Coolidge Middle School Science Olympiad accomplishment.
Mr. Finigan and Lisa Litterio described the National History Day students'
accomplishments.
Mr. Finigan and Lindsey George described the Drama Club's accomplishments.
Mr. Finigan and Ms. Moore described the accomplishments of the students who
participated in the Science Fair.
Regular Session -2- April 10, 2000
Mr. Finigan and Jeff Skinner discussed the accomplishments of the students in the band.
Mr. Finigan, Mr. Davidson, Ms. Stewart discussed the students who scored in the top I%
of the MCAS tests.
Dr. Harutunian advised that he received notification from the Department of Education
that the waiver for the missed day of school at Coolidge has been approved.
At 8:35 Chair Dahl advised that he would take a short recess. At 8:50 p.m. Chair Dahl
called the meeting back to order.
Chair Dahl advised that the Committee had entered in executive session at 7;00, had
recessed and will return to executive.
CITIZEN'S INPUT
None
BILLS & PAYROLL
Bills & Payroll are as follows:
PR79 March 31, 2000
$158,671.94
W80 April 3, 2000
$99,300.35
PR81 April 6, 2000
$656,393.64
W82 April 10, 2000
$76,893.93
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
Dr. Harutunian showed the Committee an updated map of the new elementary school.
He stated that last week he presented this map to the town's department heads. He stated
that we are continuing to work to check items off from the CPDC list.
Mr. Twomey stated that this still allows over 70 parking spaces for the new school.
Regular Session 3 April 10, 2000
Chair Dahl stated that there is a real interest for the fields and asked if we are sacrificing
anything by squeezing in baseball field?
Dr. Harutunian advised that there will still be 60' to 70' of green space from the ball field
to the driveway.
Chair Dahl stated that the design is looking good especially in light of comments from
CPDC and neighbors.
Mr. Twomey asked that the architect look between road and soccer field to see if there
could be a gentle slope to the field area.
Dr. Harutunian distributed an article from the Boston Globe regarding college
admissions.
OLD BUSINESS
Dr. Harutunian requested that Committee approved the bottom line of the budget.
If $350k transfer goes through our increase will
Mr. Twomey moved that the School Committee approve $25,783,354 as the School
Committee's revised recommended budget for FY01. Ms. Cavicchi seconded the
motion. The vote was 4 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Mr. Griset and Mr. Twomey.
Mr. Twomey moved that the School Committee approved $420,811 as the revised
Town Maintenance Budget for FY01. Mr. Griset seconded the motion. The vote
was 4 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Mr. Griset and Mr. Twomey.
Dr. Harutunian advised Jim Keigley is having surgery and wished him a speedy recovery.
Chair Dahl stated the thoughts of the entire Committee are with Mr. Keigley
Ms. Cavicchi moved to accept the minutes of January 18, 2000. Mr. Twomey
seconded the motion. The vote was 4 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Mr. Griset and Mr.
Twomey.
Ms. Cavicchi moved to accept the minutes of January 19, 2000. Mr. Twomey
seconded the motion. The vote was 4 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Mr. Griset and Mr.
Twomey.
Ms. Cavicchi moved to accept the minutes of February 1, 2000. Mr. Twomey
seconded the motion. The vote was 4 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Mr. Griset and Mr.
Twomey.
Regular Session 4 April 10, 2000
Ms Cavicchi moved to accept the minutes of February 7, 2000. Mr. Twomey
seconded the motion. The vote was 4 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Mr. Griset and Mr.
Twomey.
Ms Cavicchi moved to accept the minutes of February 8, 2000. Mr. Twomey
seconded the motion. The vote was 4 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Mr_. Griset and Mr.
Twomey.
ADJOURN
At 9.15 p.m. Ms. Cavicchi made a motion to adiourn from regular session and
reconvene into executive session. Mr. Twomey seconded the motion. The vote was
4 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Mr. Griset and Mr. Twomey.
Respectfully submitted,
Harry. Harutunian, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools