HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-02-08 School Committee MinutesREADING SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Reading, Massachusetts
Regular Session February 8, 1999
CALL TO ORDER
Chair D'Antona called the meeting to order at 7:45 p.m. in the Superintendent's
Conference Room. Present were School Committee members Cavicchi, Dahl,
D'Antona, Stohlman and Williams. Also present were Superintendent Harutunian and
Associate Superintendent Richards.
MOMENT OF SILENCE
Chair D'Antona requested a moment of silence for former School Committee Member
Clifford Allen.
BILLS & PAYROLL
Bills and payroll are as follows:
Payroll 61 January 28, 1999 $574,424.78
Warrant 62 February 01, 1999 $217,022.09
CITIZEN'S INPUT
There was no citizen input.
SUPERINTENDENT'S AWARD
Dr. Harutunian president the Massachusetts Association of Superintendents' Awards to
Sarah Matathia and Jonathon Sanborn. Dr. Harutunian described the process used for
selecting the recipients of this award and a brief biography of each of the recipients.
EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION AWARDS
Chair D'Antona presented Excellence in Education Awards to Sarah Matathia and
Jonathon Sanborn.
Chair D'Antona presented Excellence in Education Awards to the six Reading
Memorial High School 1999 National Merit Program Commended Students. The
recipients of the awards were Bridget Fay, Christina Lim, Yusaku Nakano, Jared
Ranere, Michael Shagoury and Yee -Ping Sun. Chair D'Antona thanked the students
and their parents.
At 8:00 Chair D'Antona advised that the Committee would take a short break.
At 8:03 Chair D'Antona called the meeting back to order.
Regular Session -2- February 8, 1999
HIGHLIGHTS
Dr. Harutunian advised that the artwork displayed in the School Committee conference
room this month was done by the students at the Coolidge Middle School
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
Dr. Harutunian advised the Committee that Phil Vaccaro was nominated for and the
recipient of the Ted Damko award for Athletic Directors.
Chair D'Antona asked that the Committee's congratulations be passed along to Mr.
Vacarro.
Dr. Harutunian advised the Committee that he, Chair D'Antona, Tim Twomey, Russ
Graham and Sid Bowen had met with Jim Anderson of the SBAB to discuss whether it
would be possible to move forward with the Barrows project before the Dividence Road
project. Mr. Anderson advised that the Barrows project would not be reimbursable
unless it was tied into the Dividence Road project because it does not solve the
enrollment problem. Dr. Harutunian advised that the School Building Committee
would be meeting on Wednesday evening to discuss the next step to take. Dr.
Harutunian advised that he would schedule Russ Graham to be at the next School
Committee meeting to discuss the outcome of the School Building Committee meeting.
Chair D'Antona stated that the SBAB was emphatic that the project would not be
reimbursable because it does not solve the enrollment problem.
Mr. Stohlman stated that he could not find anything in the law that confirms the
information received from Mr. Anderson regarding tying one project to another because
of enrollment.
Dr. Harutunian stated that the renovated Barrows would have less capacity than the
current Barrows because of requirements of the SBAB for art, music and SPED space.
Dr. Harutunian advised that as Mr. Stohlman had requested, he would contact Mr.
Anderson and ask that the requirement that the Barrows' project be tied to a new school
and not eligible as a category 3 project be sent to the Committee in writing.
Dr. Harutunian advised the Committee that he, Robin D'Antona, Tim Twomey and
Russ Graham and Gene Raymond had met with Jim Anderson regarding the high school
feasibility study. He stated that the information received at that meeting indicated that
Options B1, B2 and C would be 66% reimbursable by the state. He stated that the
architect was asked to go back and do some further work including figures on Options
B1, B2 and C.
Dr. Harutunian advised that he had attended the Far Out Solar System event at the
Barrows school and thanked the 5 `h grade students and teachers at the Barrows school.
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Regular Session -3- February 8, 1999
Dr. Harutunian advised that Committee that he had approved a trip to Cooperstown,
New York for the RMHS baseball team.
Dr. Harutunian updated the Committee on Chapter 70 funds. He stated that he had
spoken to a representative at the DOE and that the foundation budget formula will be
changed for FY01 and that the foundation level should be higher which should make
Reading eligible for an increase in FY01.
Dr. Harutunian advised that he would be trying to schedule a meeting with members of
the School Committee, Board of Selectmen, FinCom and our legislators to petition them
to introduce legislation to attach to another bill to get additional Chapter 70 money for
Reading.
Mr. Twomey arrived at 8:25 p.m.
Mr. Stohlman made a motion to instruct the Superintendent to petition the state senator
and state representatives for additional Chapter 70 monies over the proposed House One
Budget Ms. Cavicchi seconded the motion. The vote was 6 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl,
Ms. D'Antona Mr. Stohlman, Mr. Twomey and Ms. Williams.
Mr. McRae asked whether the formula for foundation budget was based on enrollment.
Dr. Harutunian advised that enrollment is one factor but there are 27 -28 factors that are
used to determine the foundation budget.
Dr. Harutunian advised that he is recommending that the first day of school for the
Coolidge Middle School be for sixth grade students only due to the construction at
Coolidge and the sixth grade students not having an opportunity to visit the school over
the summer.
Mr. Stohlman made a motion to accept the recommendation of Principal Doherty in his
memorandum of February 5 1999 for changes in the 1999 -2000 School Year Calendar.
Mr. Twomey seconded the motion. The vote was 6 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Ms.
D'Antona Mr. Stohlman Mr. Twomey and Ms. Williams.
Dr. Harutunian advised that the graduation date for RMHS is June 6`''.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Stohlman made a motion to accept the minutes of January 13, 1999. Ms. Cavicchi
seconded the motion. Mr. Dahl requested and it was agreed that a change be made on
page 2 of the minutes. The vote was 5 -0 -1 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Mr. Stohlman, Mr.
Twomey and Ms. Williams voted yes, Ms. D'Antona abstained.
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Reeular Session -4- February 8, 1999
Mr. Stohlman made a motion to accept the minutes of January 11, 1999 Ms. Cavicchi
seconded the motion. Mr. Stohlman tabled the motion. The vote was 5 -0 -1 to table the
motion Ms Cavicchi Mr. Dahl Mr. Stohlman, Mr. Twomey and Ms. Williams voted
yes Ms. D'Antona abstained.
Mr. Stohlman made a motion to accept the minutes of January 7, 1999 Ms. Cavicchi
seconded the motion The vote was 6 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Ms. D'Antona, Mr.
Stohlman Mr. Twomey and Ms. Williams.
Mr. Stohlman made a motion to accept the minutes of January 5, 1999 Ms. Cavicchi
seconded the motion. The vote was 6 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Ms. D'Antona, Mr.
Stohlman Mr. Twomey and Ms. Williams.
Mr. Stohlman made a motion to accept the minutes of December 17, 1999 Ms. Cavicchi
seconded the motion. The vote was 6 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Ms. D'Antona, Mr.
Stohlman Mr. Twomey and Ms. Williams.
ADJOURN
At 8.40 12.m. Ms Cavicchi made a motion to adjourn and enter into executive session
for the purpose of conducting strategy trategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with the
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 reyular 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.
Respectfully submitted,
Harry K. Harutunian, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools