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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-01-21 School Committee MinutesReading School Committee Reading, Massachusetts Regular Session January 21, 2003 CALL TO ORDER Chair Griset called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Superintendent's Conference Room. Present were School Committee Members Cavicchi, Dahl, Griset, McFadden, Russo and Twomey. Also present was Superintendent Harutunian. 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, and to discuss the deployment of security personnel or devices and for the approval of executive session minutes to return to regular session at approximately 7:30 p.m. Mr. Twomey seconded the motion. The vote was 6 -0. CALL BACK TO ORDER Chair Griset called the meeting to back order at 7:35 p.m. in the Superintendent's Conference Room. All School Committee Members were present. Also present were Superintendent Harutunian, Associate Superintendent Richards, Finance Committee Members McDonald, Martin and Epstein and Town Accountant Richard Foley. BILLS & PAYROLL The Committee signed bills and payroll for the CITIZENS' INPUT Mrs. Phillips raised a concern about the procedures the School Committee was using to make important business decisions. She stated that there was no discussion about the posting for the high school project which appeared in the central register last week. She asked if Town Counsel reviewed the posting, when the posting was written, who wrote the posting and why there was not an opportunity for public input. Dr. Harutunian advised that the Chairman authorized the posting to be written, the posting was written by his office, the posting was reviewed by Town Counsel and Member Tim Twomey who is both an architect and an attorney. He stated it is not standard practice to seek public input on an RFP. Regular Session 2 January 21, 2003 GIFTS Mr. Twomey moved to accept the donation of 125 new student desk/chairs from Endicott College valued at approximately $13,400. Ms. Cavicchi seconded the motion The vote was 6 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Mr. Griset, Mr. McFadden, Mr. Russo and Mr. Twomey. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT The Committee discussed the proposed date for the Financial Forum. It was agreed that the date did not work and Finance Committee Member Cathy Martin would try to schedule another date. Dr. Harutunian reviewed the budget reductions being discussed by the Governor. Dr. Harutunian reviewed the estimated budget shortfall for FY03 and his preliminary plans for closing the shortfall. He stated that he would bring back to the Committee a plan for closing the gap in the next few weeks. The Committee and members of the Finance Committee discussed the amount of free cash available and ways free cash has been used in the past. Dr. Harutunian advised that he met with all principals last week and informed them that no money can be expended without his permission. Dr. Harutunian reviewed the list of budget questions from the last School Committee meeting that members wanted him to review. He advised that he is continuing to work to answer the questions and would get back to the Committee over the next few meetings with answers. Dr. Harutunian advised that he would be making a presentation on all -day kindergarten and would be asking the Committee this evening for a vote authorizing him to move forward with an all day kindergarten pilot program and a vote establishing the tuition to be charged for all day kindergarten. Dr. Harutunian advised that the goal of the pilot program was to offer a minimum of 2 or a maximum of 4 all day kindergarten classes. He stated that class size would be approximately 24 per students per class. The Committee discussed tuition for the all -day kindergarten and what they believed the maximum tuition could be given the current market. Regular Session 3 January 21, 2003 Mr. McFadden disclosed that he was on the Board of the Reading YMCA. He discussed current tuition charges for the YMCA programs. Mr. McFadden asked if scholarships would be offered to parents who could not afford the program. Dr. Harutunian advised that the main reason for piloting this program was to generate revenue but if the Committee wants to offer scholarships he would look into the matter. Chair Griset stated his concern about a public school system charging $4,000 to a select group of parents to give their children the benefit of all day kindergarten. Dr. Harutunian stated that research has shown that in middle and upper socioeconomic communities there has been no long -term benefit to full -day kindergarten versus half -day kindergarten. He stated that research has shown that any delta between students is generally be closed by the end of the 1St grade. Mr. Dahl agreed with Chair Griset's comment but stated that he feels the program, unfortunately, needs to be viewed as an entrepreneurial program for the district. He discussed the program and his concern that other private programs offer pick -ups as late as 5:30 p.m. and the later pick -ups may cause working parents to go to other programs. Mr. Dahl asked if the full -day kindergarten classes would be the same as the half -day classes. Dr. Harutunian advised that they would be identical. Mr. Russo discussed his concern that numbers may be soft and stated that profits can be illusive. He stated that he believed the Committee should charge the highest price they believed the market could bear. Ms. Cavicchi asked Dr. Harutunian to discuss the educational value of an all -day kindergarten program Dr. Harutunian reviewed the proposed curriculum for all -day kindergarten. Mr. Twomey stated that he believed the Committee should charge more than is being proposed in order to generate more income for the district. Finance Committee Chair Martin suggested that when the revenue is but in the budget the School Committee may want to show only 75% of the estimated profit in order to keep a cushion in the budget. Regular Session 4 January 21 2003 Dr. Harutunian advised that he expected to have a waiting list for the program. Ms. Martin asked who would be doing the bookkeeping for the program. Dr. Harutunian advised that he had not made a decision on that yet. Ms. Webb stated that she believed parents who are looking for all -day kindergarten would look for programs with less than 24 students in a class. Mr. Chiappini asked about the impact of the all -day program on core facilities at the elementary. Dr. Harutunian advised that the all -day kindergarten students would eat lunch in the classroom and he did not anticipate the all -day program using core facilities more than the half -day program. Ms. Bishop stated that the Committee should be caution and be sure they are comparing apples to apples. She stated that other all -day kindergarten programs have other benefits such as late pick up, a full day on Wednesday, swimming lessons, etc. Mr. Russland stated his concern that with the number of requests for information received by the Superintendent's Office that this program could open up another avenue for those requests including whether the all -day kindergarten was using public supplies or supplies purchased with tuition money. Dr. Harutunian stated that supplies would be purchased at the beginning of the year and would be distinguished. Ms. Casalaro discussed the benefit of an all -day program in town where students do not have to transition to a new environment and new curriculum if first grade. Ms. Mulroy asked if there would be scholarships and if so how many. Dr. Harutunian advised that it would be up to the Committee if they decided to do scholarships and how much the scholarships would be. A Barrows parent stated that the all -day program was an excellent idea but cautioned that the Committee would be competing for students against other good programs. Dr. Harutunian discussed the timetable for applications. Mr. McFadden asked if there would be an application fee, if so, how much and would it be refundable. Regular Session 5 January 21, 2003 Dr. Harutunian stated he would review the information and get back to the Committee. Mr. Dahl moved to instruct the Superintendent to develop a pilot program for all - day kindergarten. Mr. McFadden seconded the motion. The vote was 6 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Mr. Griset, Mr. McFadden, Mr. Russo and Mr. Twomey. Mr. Russo moved that the School Committee authorize the Superintendent to present to the Committee next week a better evaluation of the market price for this program knowing input from audience and other ideas expressed and examine the price of $4,000. Mr. McFadden seconded the motion. After discussion Mr. Russo withdrew the motion. Mr. Dahl moved to allow the Superintendent to establish a full -day kindergarten program with a tuition amount of $4,000. Mr. McFadden seconded the motion. The vote was 4 -2 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Mr. Griset and Mr. McFadden voted yes. Mr. Russo and Mr. Twomey voted no. Mr. Twomey and Mr. Russo both stated that they believed a higher tuition could be charged and more money made for the district. Mr. Mabius questioned the revenue and whether full teachers' salaries were being charged to the revenue account. Dr. Harutunian advised that he would review and get back to the Committee. Mr. Lee stated that he understood that Mr. Twomey and Mr. Russo both felt more money could be charged for the program but suggested that the $4,000 would be viable for the pilot program and the tuition can be raised after the first year. After discussion, it was the consensus of the Committee not to offer scholarships for the pilot program. At 9:40 p.m. Chair Griset advised that the Committee would take a short recess. At 9:45 p.m. Chair Griset called the meeting back to order. The Committee discussed the timetable for the submission of the FY04 budget. Mr. McFadden stated that in addition to focusing on the reduction list he wanted to focus on ways to increase revenue to the district. Mr. Twomey asked Dr. Harutunian to check on possibly charging for supplemental materials used in the schools. Regular Session 6 January 21, 2003 Mr. Russo asked if Dr. Harutunian is planning to respond to Mr. Ryan's questions raised at last week's School Committee meeting. Dr. Harutunian advised that he would be responding but right now he is working on the budget issues. ADJOURN At 10:15 p.m. Ms. Cavicchi moved to adjourn. Mr. McFadden seconded the motion. The vote was 6 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Mr. Griset, Mr. McFadden, Mr. Russo and Mr. Twomey. Respectfully submitted, J� Harry K. arutunian, Ph.D. Superintendent of Schools