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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-01-14 School Committee MinutesREADING SCHOOL COMMITTEE Reading, Massachusetts Regular Session January 14, 1999 CALL TO ORDER Vice Chair Twomey called the meeting to order at 7:34 p.m. in the Superintendent's Conference Room. Present were School Committee members Cavicchi, Dahl, Stohlman, Twomey and Williams. Also present were Superintendent Harutunian, Associate Superintendent Richards, Town Accountant Richard Foley and FinCom Member Keigley. BILLS & PAYROLL There were no bills and payroll for this meeting CITIZENS' INPUT There was not citizen input. Vice Chair Twomey asked the budget parents present to introduce themselves to the audience. FY00 Budget Dr. Harutunian advised that he had spoken to the Maintenance Department regarding front ending rental fees and that if the Committee agreed, they would change the policy and begin to charge up front for the rental of facilities. After discussion by the Committee, it was decided that the subject of front ending of rental fees would be discussed again at the January 25th School Committee meeting. Dr. Harutunian distributed a chart regarding curriculum iniatives. Mr. Stohlman and Mr. Twomey requested that the chart include money that was budgeted for curriculum initiatives in FY98 and FY99. They stated that it was not necessary to include actual expenditures for FY98 but they would like to see actual expenditures included in the FY01 budget. Dr. Harutunian distributed back up information regarding gas and oil costs. He also distributed information from Siebe Co. regarding expected savings over the next five years. Dr. Harutunain advised that the nurses salary line increase was due to the contract being settled. Dr. Harutunian advised that $300 should be added to the longevity line on page 64 FY99. Regular Session -2- January 14, 1999 Dr. Harutunian advised that the increase in the clerical cost was due to a change of staff and a higher level transfer. Dr. Harutunain advised that he was recommending that the Athletic Director be made a full time position for a one year pilot program and that the director be responsible for short and long term plan for equalization of sports /non -sports programs. Mr. Stohlman stated his concern that a full time position was not necessary and that the short and long term equilization should be a school committee policy. Mr. Dahl stated his support for the concept but questioned how many towns have full time Athletic Directors. Dr. Harutunain advised that he did not have an actual figure for full time Athletic Directors but believed that 2/3 of the towns that we compare to have full time directors. Ms. Williams also stated her support for the concept but also questioned whether adding 3/10 of a position would give sufficient time to the extracurricular activities and whether additional secretarial support would be required. She stated concern that next year there would be a request for additional secretarial support and an added extra curricula director. Dr. Harutunian advised that he felt secretarial support would not be an issue and that he believed the added 3/10 would be sufficient for the Director to handle both sports and non - sports. Vice Chair Twomey stated that he believed that if there was a problem and the Director was not giving equality to sports and non/sports that the Committee would hear from parents regarding the inequality. Dr. Harutunian advised that the bus contract was going out to bid and that all bus transportation including band and drama would be included. Mr. Goodwin stated that he was pleased with the plan and felt that this would free up the band directors' time for more important things. Ms. Mandolese also stated that she was pleased with the plan and felt it would benefit the drama students. Ms. Williams questioned whether groups would be able to use the Athletic Department's tax exempt number. Dr. Harutunain advised that they would be able to use the number. Regular Session -3- January 14, 1999 Dr. Harutunain advised that there was $30,000 in the health budget for contracting out services. He stated that this figure was being eliminated this year because it was decided that services would not be contracted. Dr. Harutunain and Mr. Richards advised that Mary Piacentini, Interim Director of Nursing, has done a wonderful job and thanked her for her hard work. Ms.Williams asked whether there was any record keeping on health status of children, was there a way for a data base to be created so that coordinators of extracurricula activities would have access to childrens' helath records in case of an emergency. Dr. Harutunaian advised that at this time this did not exist but with the future plans for networks through the schools that is one of the projects he would like to see accomplished so that nurses would have access to a students record even if they were not physically in the school with the child. Dr. Harutunain advised that the increase in Athletic transportation was due to the fact that the bussing contract was up and an inrcrease had been built in because of the uncertainty of the cost of the new contract. Dr. Harutunian advised that the crowd monitor line had increased due to an increase in police detail costs and the fact that Reading would be hosting the Thanksgiving Day game this year. Dr. Harutunian advised that the extracurriula budget is all new and that this would give the School Committee the ability to track extracurricula activities. Dr. Harutunian distributed information from the Director of Athletics regarding sports /non sports activities at all schools. Ms.Willaims stated that the Science Olympiad did not appear on the list and Ms. Cavicchi stated that the Odyssey of the Mind did not appear on the list. Dr. Harutunian advised that he hoped to see the orientation program that coaches go through expanded to include club advisors and that the sexual harrassment prevention training that captains go through should be expanded to include club presidents. Dr. Harutunian advised that he had a meeting today with parents that were interested in forming a girls' hockey team at Reading High School and that Title IX would require him to fund the girls' hockey team at the same percent as the boys' hockey team. The Committee discussed whether all athletic programs would be funded by the Schools or only partial funding would be provided. Regular Session -4- January 14, 1999 Dr. Harutunian advised that he believed a public hearing should be held before any changes are made. he also distributed a memorandum showing the amount of money that is contributed to sports progams by various groups and organizations. He also distributed information about the number of students involved in sports and non sports activities at the high school. Mr. Stohlman stated that he would prefer to see the number students involved broken down differently. He stated that if each student were counted only once for sports or non sports that he believed it would show that more students participate in non sports activities than sports activities. MAINTENANCE TOWN BUILDINGS Dr. Harutunian presented the maintenance budget for town buildings. Ms. Williams stated that the overtime amount is almost equal to a full time position. Dr. Harutunian advised that the town manger had been able to use DPW workers to supplement maintenance when necessary. Vice Chair Twomey asked whether school maintenance personnel could go to the town buildings to assist with the work. Dr. Harutuninan advised that the maintenance departments had two different contracts and rates of pay. Ms. Williams requested that a foot note be added to show that a .5 FTE was included in the Maintenance Contract line. Ms. Williams gave information regarding the sale of Reading Millenium sweatshirts. ADJOURN At 9.25 p.m. Mr. Stohlman made amotion to adjourn. Ms. Cavicchi seconded the motion. The vote was 5 -0 Ms Cavicchi Mr. Dahl, Mr. Stohlman, Mr. Twomey and Ms. Williams. Respectfully submitted, Harry K. Harutunian, Ph.D. Superintendent of Schools