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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-06-22 School Committee MinutesREADING SCHOOL COMMITTEE Reading, Massachusetts REGULAR SESSION June 22, 2000 CALL TO ORDER Chair Dahl called the regular session to order at 3:00 p.m. in the Superintendent's Conference Room. Present were School Committee Members Cavicchi, Dahl, D'Antona, Keigley, Twomey and Griset. Also present were Superintendent Harutunian and Associate Superintendent Richards. EXECUTIVE SESSION At 3:04 p.m. Mrs. Cavicchi moved to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of conducting strategy sessions in preparation for negotiation with Custodians and Maintenance Workers, and to discuss pending litigation and to discuss deployment of security personnel or devices. Mr. Dahl seconded the motion. The vote was 5 -0. Dahl, Griset Twomey, D'Antona, Cavicchi Respectfully submitted, v l� Harry K. Harutunian, Ph.D. Superintendent of Schools READING PUBLIC SCHOOLS Reading, Massachusetts REGULAR SESSION June 22, 2000 Chair Dahl called the regular session to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Superintendent's Conference Room. Present were School Committee Members Cavicchi, Dahl, D'Antona, Keigley, Twomey and Griset. Also present were Superintendent Harutunian and Associate Superintendent Richards. EXECUTIVE SESSION Mrs. Cavicchi moved to enter into executive session for the purpose of conducting strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with Custodians and Maintenance Workers, and to discuss pending litigation. To return to regular session in approximately 30 minutes. Mr. Twomey seconded the motion the vote was 6 -0. Mr. Dahl, Mrs. Cavicchi, Mrs. D'Antona Mr. Keigley, Mr. Twomey and Mr. Griset Chair Dahl called the regular session to back to order at 8:12 in the Superintendent's Conference Room. Present were Mrs. Cavicchi, Mr. Griset, Mr. Dahl and Mr.Twomey. Also present were Superintendent Harutunian, Associate Superintendent Richards and Town Finance Director, Elizabeth Klepeis. BILLS AND PAYROLL There were no Bills and Payrolls circulating. CITIZEN'S INPUT Chair Dahl asked if anyone would care to speak on issues not on the agenda. There was no citizen input. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT Dr. Harutunian stated that he spoke to Lynn Wright at the Department of Public Safety. He was told that the due date on the Bullying Grant had been extended. Our grant had been sent in for the original due date. She said our submittal was great. The School Committee wishes to be kept up to date on the number of requests for information. Dr. Harutunian stated that he had received a request for all the School Committee Minutes and all Executive Session Minutes for the years 1998, 1999 and 2000 from Mr. Gary Phillips. Dr. Harutunian explained that he is working with the District Attorney's Office on these requests. He asked everyone to review the list of requests submitted by Mrs. Linda Phillips. REGULAR SESSION 2 June 22, 2000 STUDENT ACTIVITY ACCOUNT Tonight is the third reading of the Student Activity Account Policy. Dr. Harutunian gave a history of the policy development. For the past two years he has worked in developing a plan for the student activities accounts. He has met with the Principals. He has reviewed policies and procedures with the Administrative Council. He asked if anyone had questions. Mr. Dahl asked about account limits. Dr. Harutunian stated there was a $40,000 at any one time. (i.e. $20,000 at Coolidge and $20,000 at Parker) The Principal will be the signor. The School Committee has set limits via this policy. The accounts are replenished with warrants from the Town Hall. Each Principal has to post a bond. There will be an audit done of each account. All donations to the School Department are accepted by the School Committee and must be expended for the purpose in which they were donated. There is no indication of wrong- doing. We are not required to have this policy. We are just doing it. We are just being proactive. It is a good idea not to mix and match funds. It is good that we will start at the beginning of the new school year. Mr. Twomey asked who would audit the accounts. Dr. Harutunian said that part still has to be worked out. There will be a voucher system like the Town has. There will be procedures. Mr. Levesque handles the high school account. He will continue to do so. Payment for the audit and the bond issues will come from the interest on the accounts. Mrs. Cavicchi moved to accept policy DBEE effective July 1, 2000. This is the third reading. Mrs. D'Antona seconded the motion. The vote was 5 — 0. Mrs. Cavicchi, Mrs. Griset, Mrs. D'Antona, Mr. Dahl and Mr. Twomev. RENTALS At 8:38, Mrs. D'Antona asked to be excused from this discussion. She then left the room. Dr. Harutunian stated there was a sub - committee in rental fees of facilities and policy changes. This requires two readings. We need to notify people for the fall. He referred to a memo from Dennis Richards that detailed the policies of fourteen towns. Dr. Harutunian asked the committee to approve and accept the June 20, 2000 rental fee memo with the June 22, 2000 addendum. The addendum adds the Coolidge multipurpose room, the Parker multipurpose room and the computer labs to the schedule. A change in an existing policy requires two readings and two votes. Mrs. Cavicchi moved to accept the rental fee memo as policy with the addendum. Mr. Twomey seconded the motion. The vote was 4 -0. Mr. Twomey, Mrs. Cavicchi, Mr. Griset and Mr. Dahl REGULAR SESSION 3 June 22, 2000 Mr. Twomey asked about the Science Labs. Dr. Harutunian responded no. The labs are just too dangerous without all the proper supervision and instruction. Mr. Twomey asked about the Computer Labs. Dr. Harutunian stated there are policies and procedures for the rental of the Computer Labs. A Technology person would have to be present. No outside software could be brought in. Everything is spelled out in the policy. The wood shop will never be rented out. Mr. Dahl asked about the custodial requirements. Dr. Harutunian stated the custodian requirements are all spelled out in the policy. Mr. Griset asked about the Field House Lobby. The Superintendent stated that the Field House Lobby was rented for registrations for many groups. Mr. Dahl stated that the new rates are more in line with the rate of other Towns. Mrs. Klepeis added that the collections will be done at the Treasurer's Office. NEW BUSINESS The discussion moved to the School Improvement Plans. The School Improvement Plan parallels the School Committee Goals. Mrs. D'Antona returned to the room at 9:08. Dr. Harutunian stated that each Council is different but that they are moving in the same direction. Mr. Twomey said we are striving for alignment. Mr. Griset moved to accept the School Improvement Plan as presented in the June 20, 2000 Memo. Mr. Twomey seconded the motion. The vote was 5 -0. Mrs. D'Antona, Mr. Twomey, Mrs. Cavicchi, Mr. Griset and Mr. Dahl ELEVATOR CONTRACT The contract for Elevator and Chair Lift Maintenance is up. The Superintendent recommended the low bidder. Mr. Twomey moved to award the Elevator and Chair Lift Maintenance contract to Embree Elevator. Mrs. D'Antona seconded the motion. The vote was 5 -0. Mrs. D'Antona, Mr. Twomey, Mrs. Cavicchi, Mr. Griset and Mr. Dahl ADJOURN Mr. Twomey moved to adiourn. Mr. Griset seconded the motion. The vote was 5 -0. Mrs. D'Antona, Mr. Twomey, Mrs. Cavicchi, Mr. Griset and Mr. Dahl \pectfully bmitted, Harry . Harutunian, Ph.D. Superintendent of Schools