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Home My WebLink About2000-05-24 School Committee MinutesREADING SCHOOL COMMITTEE Reading, Massachusetts Regular Session May 24, 2000 CALL TO ORDER Chair Dahl called the meeting to order at 7:03 P.M. Present were School Committee Members Cavicchi, Dahl, Griset, Keigley and Twomey. Also present was Superintendent Harutunian and Associate Superintendent Richards. EXECUTIVE SESSION Ms. Cavicchi moved to enter into executive session for the purpose of conducting strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with Teachers' Association, Custodians & Maintenance Workers and Administrators. To return to regular session at approximately 7:30 p.m. Mr. Twomey seconded the motion. The vote was 5 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Mr. Griset, Mr. Keigley and Mr. Twomey. BILLS & PAYROLL Warrant 86 4/24/00 $326,116.40 Payroll 83 4/14/00 $818,607.12 Warrant 84 4/18/00 $50,361.46 Payroll 87 4/28/00 $148,381.80 At 7:35 p.m. Chair Dahl called the meeting back to order. He welcomed all the members of the audience. Mr. Keigley stated that he appreciated the thoughts and words of kindness and support he received from the community during his recovery from surgery. He stated that he is feeling well and is prepared to continue his duties as a School Committee member. Chair Dahl welcomed Mr. Keigley back on behalf of the board. Mr. Griset stated that the CMS State Champion Science Olympiad team went to Spokane, Washington. He stated that the students on the team conducted themselves very well and the community should be proud of these students. Mr. Griset stated that the team placed 9t' in the country this year. Mr. Griset thanked all teachers, staff and volunteers involved with the Olympiad Team. Regular Session 2 May 24, 2000 CITIZEN'S INPUT Mr. Brown asked if a statement would be made this evening from the Chair. Chair Dahl advised that he was planning to read the statement later in the agenda but that he would do so now. Chair Dahl read his statement regarding rumors of a town employee doing work on town time at another town employees private residence. Mr. Brown asked that this item be put on a future agenda. HEALTH RISK SURVEY Selectmen Matt Nestor was present. He stated that the Board had concerns with wording of the survey and they would like to see more parental input. He stated that a joint meeting has been scheduled with the Board of Selectmen the School Committee and the Substance Abuse Control Board for May 31 S` Dr. Harutunian discussed the process the administration had used for parental input. After discussion, it was the consensus of the Committee that the window of opportunity to administer the health risk survey and to give ample time for parents to review the survey prior to their child taking the exam had passed. The Committee agreed that the Health Risk Survey would be postponed until the early fall. Mr. Twomey stated that he would be unable to attend the meeting on the 31 s' and stated his opinion that the survey be given early in the fall. Chair Dahl thanked Mr. Nestor for attending. FY01 BUDGET The Committee discussed the FY01 budget. Chair Dahl opened the meeting up to questions or comments from audience members. Jennifer Hutchins spoke on behalf of a group of parents seeking to restore the four elementary teachers. She asked that the Committee support their request. Mary Cookson thanked the Committee for the opportunity to speak and stated that she believed smaller class size is vital to the education of our children. Regular Session 3 May 24, 2000 Jean Duran stated that she did not believe the four elementary teachers should be restored. She stated that classes have been small since kindergarten and the town does not have the money to restore these position. She stated that her child is starting 6ffi grade next year with no foreign language program because of budget cuts. Ms. Cavicchi stated her concern that the Committee had vote 5 -1 in favor of adding educational assistants rather than teachers and she was not prepared to change her vote. Mr. Keigley state his concern that adding teachers back would cut curriculum funds and he could not support cutting curriculum. Mr. Twomey stated that he had many calls and small class size has been a priority for the School Committee and since space was available he was in favor of adding back teachers. Ms. D'Antona stated she also believed smaller class size was very important and had been a priority of the Committee. Chair Dahl agreed and stated that he had received many calls concerning smaller class sizes. Mr. Twomey moved that the Committee amend the previous vote and substitute four elementary classroom teachers for the 7.5 educational assistants and direct the superintendent to come back to the School Committee with in the next several weeks with recommendations for how to address the delta which is approximately $70,000 to $80,000. Ms. D'Antona seconded the motion. The vote was 4 -2 Mr. Dahl, Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Griset and Mr. Twomey voted yes. Ms. Cavicchi and Mr. Keigley voted no. Mr. Dahl asked the Superintendent keep the reductions centered around the elementary level. At 10:10 Chair Dahl advised that the Committee would take a short recess. Mr. Keigley left the meeting. PUBLIC HEARING ON SCHOOL CHOICE Dr. Harutunian stated that given enrollment, school size and space issues he will recommend that the Committee not enter into school choice. Chair Dahl opened the meeting up to comments regarding school choice. No comments made on the issue and chair Dahl closed the public hearing. Regular Session 4 May 24, 2000 Ms. Cavicchi moved, pursuant to the provisions of G.L. c. 76 & 12B, the School Committee of Reading, following public hearing, hereby withdraw from its obligation to enroll non - resident students in Reading Public Schools during the school year beginning July 1, 2000 for the following reasons: Programmatic, Reasons Class Sizes and General District Enrollment. Mr. Twomey seconded the motion. The vote was 5 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Griset and Mr. Twomey. BID PROTEST Dr. Harutunian advised that a decision had been received regarding the bid protest filed by Dr. and Mrs. Mandell and Mr. and Mrs. Phillips. The decision stated that there was no wrong doing on the part of the Reading School District. He stated that the cost to the town to prepare for this bid protest was over $5,000. Dr. Harutunian advised the Committee that the number of requests for information had increased and that he may be coming to the Committee to ask for additional secretarial staff to handle these requests. Associate Superintendent Richards advised that he had received a letter from Frances Gould informing him that the estimate he had sent to Ms. Cooper regarding her request for information was a reasonable estimate and the complaint case was closed. Mr. Twomey asked that a monthly report to the Committee be generated for requests for information with cost estimates. Mr. Phillips stated that he was a backer of the bid protest and he protested because Dr. Harutunian informed him that there was no feasibility study done. Mrs. Phillips stated that over 14 days ago she requested the feasibility study from the superintendent's office and paid $14.00 for something that was not the feasibility study. NAMING OF NEW SCHOOL Dr. Harutunian discussed the process for naming the new school. Mr. Twomey moved to accept the process for naming the new school as presented by the Superintendent. Ms. D'Antona seconded the motion. The vote was 5 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Griset and Mr. Twomey. Regular Session 5 May 24, 2000 RENTAL & USER FEES Dr. Harutunian advised that he was working with the subcommittees on rental fees and user fees and he would like to bring this information to the Committee at a future meeting. After discussion, it was the consensus of the Committee that a meeting would be held on June 22 n to discuss fees. NEW SCHOOL Dr. Harutunian advised that he and the architect would be meeting with the public on June 13th to discuss the new school and renovations to Barrows. He stated that all abutters would be mailed a notice. Dr. Harutunian advised that a letter from the Conservation Commission was included in the packet. Dr. Harutunian reviewed the update site map for Dividence Road. PER PUPIL EXPENDITURES Dr. Harutunian reviewed the latest per pupil figures with the Committee. FY00 BUDGET Dr. Harutunian reviewed the FY00 budget with the Committee. WAIVER RMHS Dr. Harutunian advised that the Commissioner of Education had approved the waiver for RMHS students not to have to make up the day lost due to the fire. DIRECTOR OF SPED Dr. Harutunian announced that Steve Gannon is the new Director of Special Education. He informed the Committee that he would be scheduling a time that Steve could come in and meet the Committee. Chair Dahl advised that the Committee would suspend approval of the minutes. ADJOURN At 11:15 p.m. Mr. Griset made a motion to adiourn from regular session and re- enter executive session not to return to regular session. Mr. Twomey seconded the motion The vote was 5 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Griset and Mr. Twomey. Respectfully submitted, ti Harry . Harutunian, Ph.D. Superintendent of Schools