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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-01-07 School Committee MinutesREADING SCHOOL COMMITTEE Reading, Massachusetts Regular Session January 7, 2003 CALL TO ORDER Vice Chair Dahl called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. in the Superintendent's Conference Room. Present were School Committee members Cavicchi, Dahl, McFadden, Russo and Twomey. EXECUTIVE SESSION Ms. Cavicchi moved to enter into executive session for the purpose of conducting strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with the Teachers' Association, Secretaries & Clerks, Nurses, Custodial Maintenance Workers, Cafeteria Employees, Educational Assistants, Administrators, including the Superintendent, Associate Superintendent, the high school principal, the Coolidge and Parker principals, the Barrows, Birch Meadow, Eaton and Killam principals, the two assistant high school principals, the Coolidge and Parker assistant principals, the Director of Special Education, Food Services, Athletics, Nurses and Facilities, the Assistant Director of Facilities, the Secretary to the Superintendent and the Administrative Assistants for Finance, Personnel, Curriculum and Central Office to return to regular session at 7:30 p.m. Mr. Twomey seconded the motion. The vote was 5 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Mr. McFadden, Mr. Russo and Mr. Twomey, CALL BACK TO ORDER At 7:40 p.m. Vice Chair Dahl called the meeting back to order. All School Committee members, Superintendent Harutunian, Associate Superintendent Richards and MASC representative Mike Gilbert were present. Mr. Twomey read into the record, pursuant to Chapter 268A, Section 23(13)(3) the attached disclosure. BILLS & PAYROLL The Committee signed bills and payroll CITIZENS INPUT There was no citizen input. Regular Session 2 January 7, 2003 POLICY REVIEW Dr. Harutunian thanked Mr. Richards for his work with Mr. Gilbert of MASC on the revisions to the policy manual. Mr. Richards introduced Mr. Gilbert and reviewed the work they had done on the policy manual to this point. Mr. Gilbert began the review of the policy revisions. Mr. Gilbert stated that the policies regarding harassment are being held until a latter date. After discussion, it was the consensus of the Committee to make changes to the following policies in Section A as presented: Policy AC — add the third paragraph of ACA to policy AC. Policy ACE — change the word handicap to disability in the title Mr. Twomey moved to adopt the policies contained in Section A of the policy manual as revised by MASC and included with Mr. Gilbert's memorandum of January 3, 2003 with the modification noted. Mr. Russo seconded the motion. The vote was 5 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Mr. McFadden, Mr. Russo and Mr. Twomey. After discussion, it was the consensus of the Committee to make changes to the following policies in Section B as presented: Policy BCA — add the word member after the word Committee in the 7 1 line from the bottom of the page Policy BDA - eliminate the words present and voting from paragraph one Policy BEDB — Add line that the School Committee will operate under Robert's Rules of Order Policy BEDH — add the words up to after the words shall be in paragraph 1 Mr. Russo moved to acct the policies in Section B with the chances by MASC and included with Mr. Gilbert's memorandum of January 3, 2003 with the modifications noted by the School Committee and with the exception of Policy BHC. Mr. McFadden seconded the motion. The vote was 5 -0 Ms. Cavicchi. Mr. Dahl. Mr. McFadden, Mr. Russo and Mr. Twomey. ADJOURN At 9.45 p.m. Ms Cavicchi moved to adjourn. Mr. McFadden seconded the motion. The vote was 5 -0 Ms Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Mr. McFadden, Mr. Russo and Mr. Twomey. Respectfully submitted, G Harry K. Harutunian, Ph.D. Superintendent of Schools Timothy R. Twomey 23 California Road Reading, MA 02138 6 January 2003 Ms. Cheryl Johnson Town Clerk Town of Readin- Mr. William Griset Chair Reading School Committee Mr. Russell Graham Chair Reading School Building Committee Re: Chapter 268A. Section 23(B)(3) Disclosure Dear Ms. Johnson, M; . Griset and Mr. Graham: As you know, I am a elected member of the Reading School Committee, and the Schooi Committee's appoiii Led member to the Reading School Building Committee. I am also a principal of and the chief administrative officer and general counsel to Shepley Bulfinch Riche rdson and Abbott Incorporated, a 180 person architectural firm located in Boston, Mal.sachusetts. As you are aware, on or about 30 May 2002 the Reading School Building Committee selected Flansburgh Associates as architect for the Schematic Design of the Reading Memorial High School project. Mr. Sid Bowen, a principal of Flansburgh Associates, is a principal for the high school project. Subsequent to Flansburgh Associates' selection as architect, and as a result of the efforts of an independent pet �onnel recruiter retained by my firm, my firm hired Mr. Bowen's spouse, an architect, as an employee on 2 September 2002. I was not involved in any manner in the recruitment or selection of Mr. Bowen's spouse. Ms. Cheryl Johnson, Mr. William Griset, Mr. Russell Graham 6 January 2002 Page 2 I have also recently become aware that in the last few months my firm has hired the son of an owner of Tappe Associates, Inc., a Boston architectural firm, as a model builder employee of my firm. Tappe Associates, Inc., was one of the firms who submitted a proposal for the Schematic Design of the Reading Memorial High School project. Apin, I was not involved in any manner in this individuals employment with my firm. It appears reasonal:ie to me that both Flansburgh Associates and Tappe Associates, Inc., may submit proposals to the Reading School Committee in connection with the anticipated completion of the High School project should Town Meeting and the voters approve of the debt xclusion override on 13 January and 25 February, 2003, respectively. I do not believe, ai ' it is my position, that my firm's retention of these two individuals in any way poses a conflict of interest in connection with my role as a member of either the Reading School Committee or the Reading School Building Committee, and, as a member thereof, c' es not prohibit my participation in the anticipated upcoming architect selection process. I have spoken with an attorney at the State Ethics Commission who concurs in this position. Sincerely, Timothy R. Twomt-y l