HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-01-05 School Committee MinutesREADING SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Reading, Massachusetts
Regular Session January 5, 1999
CALL TO ORDER
Chair D'Antona called the meeting to order at 7:33 p.m. in the Superintendent's
Conference Room. Present were School Committee members Cavicchi, Dahl,
D'Antona, Stohlinan, Twomey and Williams. Also present were Superintendent
Harutunian, Associate Superintendent Richards, Finance Committee Member Jim
Keigley and Town Accountant Richard Foley.
BILLS & PAYROLL
Bills and payroll are as follows:
January 04, 1999 Bills $10,517.53
CITIZEN INPUT
There was no citizen input.
HIGHLIGHTS
Dr. Harutunian advised the Committee that the artwork in the conference room was
done by the Barrows 4`h and 5`h grade students. Dr. Harutunian thanked Principal
Callan and Carol Davis for their work. The Eaton video will be shown on January 11th
Dr. Harutunian advised the Committee that he was distributing a memorandum this
evening that showed all of the individuals that were sent a copy of the budget.
Chair D'Antona asked that the Budget Parents that were present introduce themselves to
the audience.
ADMINISTRATION BUDGET
Dr. Harutunian advised the Committee that there was approximately $200,000 more in
personnel than would normally be there. He stated the following two reasons for the
increase.
1. Over $100,000 increase in maintenance because of Peat Marwick Budget
Council directive.
2. Over $110,000 increase in staff because of a large sixth grade class going into
the Coolidge Middle School. An additional team of teachers is needed to handle
the increase in students.
Regular Session -2- January 5, 1999
Dr. Harutunian explained to the audience the budget process and how the budget book
is set up. He also stated that this budget is the Superintendent's recommended budget
not the School Committee budget.
Dr. Harutunian advised that, unless the Committee disagreed, he would make the
following changes:
1. Page 4 bullet number one after the phrase in accordance with add historical
practices and educational resources...
2. Page 4 second paragraph first sentence to read: Taken as a whole, the effect of
these guidelines is to provide essential levels of service to all...
The Committee agreed with the above changes.
Mr. Stohlman stated that on page 51 Administration line the FY99 budget included the
Director of Technology's salary and that the FY00 budget did not include the Director's
salary and that made it difficult to compare from one year to the next. He requested that
the Director's salary cost be shown as removed from FY00 so that people looking at the
budget would be comparing apples to apples.
The Committee requested that the "Overtime" line be changed to read Clerical
Overtime with a footnote. The footnote to read: For School Committee minutes and
miscellaneous administrative directed overtime.
Dr. Harutunian advised that the maintenance of office equipment line had increased.
He stated that the large copier costs $20,000 per year and the remainder of the line item
is for maintenance of the two other copiers, computers and fax machines.
Mr. Twomey questioned what was included in the computer contract line if the
maintenance of computers was covered in the maintenance of office equipment line.
Dr. Harutunian advised that he was planning to change that line to read Computer. He
stated that the items in that line included miscellaneous computer expenses such as
cables, software, etc.
Dr. Harutunian advised that the advertising line had increased because of the number of
times a position has to be advertised has increased significantly. He stated that with the
low unemployment rate it is difficult to get teachers and aides.
Mr. Dahl questioned whether the advertising line included all staff and other notices
that needed to be advertised.
Regular Session -3- January 5, 1999
Dr. Harutunian advised that the advertising line included advertising for all staff, public
notices, bids etc.
Ms. Cavicchi stated that the professional services line was not clear. She stated that the
FY98 dollar figure was for strategic planning and the FY00 dollar figure is for the
policy manual update. She stated that she did not want anyone to think that the policy
manual was updated in FY98 and would be updated again in FY00.
Dr. Harutunian advised that the Professional Development line had remained fairly
stable over the years because of the hard work of administrators in obtaining state grants
to supplement the professional development account.
Dr. Harutunian advised that the increase in the Telephone line was due to wiring
changes, new lines at Parker and Killam, additional instructional specialists, rate
increases and the increased use of fax machines.
Mr. Twomey and Mr. Dahl both questioned the type of rate that the School Department
was being charged. Dr. Harutunian advised that the telephone bill is a combined bill
with the all of the towns' telephones but he would check into the matter.
Ms. Williams stated her concern that the Advertising and Medical Services line may be
underfunded because of the new teachers that need to be hired and her concern about
the number of times a position needed to be advertised.
Dr. Harutunian stated that he felt comfortable with the dollar amounts in both line
items.
Dr. Harutunian advised that Beth Klepeis and Sid Bowen would be at the School
Committee meeting on Thursday.
ADJOURN
At 8:30 p.m. Ms. Cavicchi made a motion to adjourn and enter into executive session
for the purpose of conducting, g trateav sessions in preparation for negotiations with he
Teachers' Association, Custodians and Maintenance Workers, Cafeteria Employees,
Association of Secretaries and Clerks, Educational Assistants, Nurses and Tutors and to
discuss the possible sale or lease of real estate and to discuss pending litigation not to
return to open session. Mr. Twomey seconded the motion. The vote was 6 -0 Ms.
Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Stohlman, Mr. Twomey and Ms. Williams.
S ctf . Harutunian, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools