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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-02-03 School Committee MinutesReading School Committee Reading, Massachusetts Regular Session February 3, 2003 CALL TO ORDER Vice Chair Dahl called the meeting to order at 7:38 p.m. in the Superintendent's Conference Room. Present were School Committee Members Cavicchi, Dahl, McFadden, Russo and Twomey. Also present was Superintendent Harutunian, Town Accountant Richard Foley, Finance Committee Members Epstein, Martin and McDonald. BILLS & PAYROLL Bills and payroll circulated for signature. CITIZENS INPUT There was no citizen input. Vice Chair Dahl stated that Mr. Griset was unable to attend this evening's meeting due to a prior commitment. Vice Chair Dahl stated that he wanted to acknowledge and recognize the tragedy of the Columbia Shuttle this past weekend. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT Dr. Harutunian advised that he would be asking the Committee to approve the FY04 maintenance budget and ask the Committee to continue to work on the proposed reductions. Dr. Harutunian reviewed with the Committee an e -mail he received from MASS regarding 20 items Superintendents want to discuss with the Governor regarding budget reductions. Dr. Harutunian distributed a letter from Representative Brad Jones regarding the FY03 reduction and the estimated FY04 reduction. Mr. Foley reviewed the figures with the Committee. Mr. Foley stated that our original 10% reduction figure did not include lottery aid. He stated if we use the 20% cut we are down $2 million for FY04. Dr. Harutunian distributed an article regarding the possible elimination of additional assistance. He stated that if additional assistance is eliminated the school department would have to reduce another $1.2 million. Regular Session 2 February 3, 2003 Dr. Harutunian distributed a memorandum to the Finance Committee outlining the School Committee's request for a transfer from cash reserves to cover FY03 shortfalls. Ms. Martin stated that the item would be on the agenda Finance Committee agenda for either February 5th or February 12th. She stated that alternative plans are circulating among the Finance Committee members for discussion. Dr. Harutunian distributed an article regarding prototypes for new school construction. Dr. Harutunian distributed a memorandum regarding the broken pipes at the high school. He stated that it was not pipes that broke but valves due to age. Dr. Harutunian distributed a memorandum regarding heating repairs at the Woburn Street Fire Station. Ms. Martin asked if the $4,200 for the heating repairs was above and beyond the FY03 shortfall. Dr. Harutunian advised that it was included in the original memorandum on maintenance issues distributed last week. Dr. Harutunian advised that he would like the Committee to take METCO out of order to accommodate the guests this evening. METCO Vice Chair Dahl stated that Mr. Russo asked that this item be put on the agenda. Mr. Russo stated that he supports the METCO program but not the way the METCO program is administered. He stated that he could not support bringing more METCO students to Reading while METCO continues to be a discriminatory program. He discussed the Supreme Court's ruling against Boston Latin's race -based program. Mr. Russo distributed articles regarding the METCO program and the Boston Latin case. METCO Director Jean McGuire discussed the METCO program and the need to eliminate racial imbalance. She stated that METCO operates within the racial imbalance law. She discussed a lack of affordable housing in suburbs. She stated that the type of program Mr. Russo may be looking for is more like a school choice program. Mr. McFadden asked Ms. McGuire what Reading's contract for METCO students calls for. Regular Session 3 February 3, 2003 Ms. McGuire stated that Reading has a contract for 100 students but currently had fewer students because of enrollment issues in the Reading schools. She stated that she is not aware of any lack of commitment to the METCO program on the part of the Reading Public Schools. Dr. Harutunian outlined the difficulty in accepting younger students into the METCO program because of the enrollment issues at the elementary schools. Mr. McFadden asked how students qualify for the METCO program. Ms. McGuire stated that the student must live in the city of Boston. She explained the percentage of Latino, Asian and African American students admitted into the program. Mr. Twomey stated that the METCO program is quite different from the Boston Latin program. He stated that METCO students do not displace Reading students. He stated that the METCO program is a great addition to the Reading Public Schools and introduces our students to a broader community. Mr. Twomey stated that he supports the METCO program. Mr. Dahl stated that he agrees with Mr. Twomey that the program is beneficial to all involved. He stated that the decline in METCO enrollment is not because of a failure of the program but because of enrollment issues. Mr. Dahl stated that the state has failed the METCO program by not fully funding the program. Ms. McGuire stated that during the campaign Governor Romney stated that he would support the METCO program. Ms. Cavicchi agreed that METCO is beneficial to all the students. She stated her support for the METCO program and the need for more money to support the METCO program and provide late buses for METCO students. Dr. Harutunian stated that as Ms. McGuire knows, he supports the METCO program. Mr. Cummings read a statement in support of the METCO program and asked the School Committee to reaffirm their commitment to the program. Mr. Russo stated that he is advocating for the METCO program. He stated that he does not want to eliminate the program, but he wants to expand the program just in a non- discriminatory manner. Regular Session 4 February 3, 2003 Ms. Webb thanked Mr. Cummings for his statement. She asked if the new school and the renovation and addition to Barrows are completed if more METCO students could come into the district. Ms. Cavicchi advised that more students could participate in the program. She stated a reluctance to bring in high school students because of the difficulty a student might have acclimating to the district and the curriculum. Ms. McGuire stated that METCO has reviewed that issue and high school students have not had a problem acclimating because of the support systems in place for the students. Mr. Dahl stated that perhaps the Committee should revisit bringing students in at the high school level now that the state frameworks call for consistent learning throughout the state. Ms. Vivian Grant discussed her sons' success with the METCO program. She stated that she has one son in the Reading Public Schools and one son in the Arlington Public Schools, Mr. Russo moved that the Reading School Department increase the number of METCO students from 32 to 38 this fall in the elementary school as long as not based on ethnic or racial factors. There was no second to the motion. Mr. McFadden suggested a friendly amendment to the motion to remove the language on ethnic and racial factors. There was no agreement on the amendment. Mr. Russo discussed the book The Disuniting of America. He thanked all present for the discussion. Mr. Dahl thanked Mr. Russo for bringing this subject forward. He thanked the members of the audience for coming out this evening to voice their support for the METCO program. At 9:10 p.m. the Committee took a short recess. At 9:15 Vice Chair Dahl called the meeting back to order. Regular Session 5 February 3, 2003 FY04 BUDGET The Committee discussed the FY04 budget. Mr. Twomey moved to approve a School Committee budget of $29,371,539, which represents an increase of $2,075,732 or 7.6% over the FY03 budget. Ms. Cavicchi seconded the motion. The vote was 5 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Mr. McFadden, Mr. Russo and Mr. Twomey. FY03 BUDGET Ms. Epstein asked if the shortfall in the substitute teacher account appears in the Superintendent's shortfall memorandum of January 23rd Dr. Harutunian advised that it did not because he believed he could make up the shortfall within the budget. The Committee discussed their request to the Finance Committee for a transfer from the cash reserves to cover a portion of the FY03 shortfall. Mr. Cummings stated his concern that use of cash reserves for FY03 would leave no cash reserves for FY04. EXECUTIVE SESSION At 9:55 p.m. 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 not to return to regular session. Mr. McFadden seconded the motion. The vote was 5 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Mr. McFadden, Mr. Russo and Mr. Twomey. Respectfully submitted, I Harry K. Harutunian, Ph.D. Superintendent of Schools