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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-03-22 School Committee MinutesREADING SCHOOL COMMITTEE Reading, Massachusetts Regular Session March 22, 1999 CALL TO ORDER Vice Chair Twomey called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. in the Superintendent's Conference Room. Present were School Committee members Cavicchi, Dahl, Twomey and Williams. Also present was Superintendent Harutunian and Associate Superintendent Richards. EXECUTIVE SESSION At 7.05 p.m. Ms. Cavicchi made a motion to enter into executive session for the purpose of conducting strategy 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. To return to regular session at approximately 7:30 p.m. Mr. Twomey seconded the motion. The vote was 4 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Mr. Twomey and Ms. Williams voted yes. Chair D'Antona and Mr. Stohlman arrived during executive session CALL BACK TO ORDER Chair D'Antona called the meeting back to order at 7:37 p.m. BILLS & PAYROLL Bills and payroll are as follows: Payroll 71 3/5/9 $150,237.86 Payroll 73 3/11/99 $880,12.4.86 Payroll 75 3/19/99 $164,447.46 Warrant 72 3/8/99 $44,652.00 Warrant 74 3/15/99 $623,491.23 Warrant 76 3/22/99 $452,452.15 CITIZENS' INPUT Gail Phillips Spence requested that if the Committee was going to require students to wear uniforms that the Committee keep in mind that students that have attention disability have a difficult time with restrictive clothing and also to keep allergies in mind when selecting materials. Regular Session -2- March 22, 1999 Chair D'Antona thanked Ms. Spence for her comment and stated that the Committee had not discussed the issue of uniforms but when/if they did, public input would be welcome. Dr. Harutunian showed the Technology Department's highlight video. Dr. Harutunian showed the video of Barrows' Read Across America Commercial and local news broadcasts of activities at Barrows. SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE (out of order) Russ Graham, Chairman of the School Building Committee reviewed the events of the Special Election held in January and the options now available to the School Committee. He stated that the School Building Committee would be meeting again and they were anxious to receive information from the Reading Memorial High School Feasibility Study. Mr. Graham introduced two new members of the School Building Committee, Alex McRae and Dennis LaCroix. Mr. Stohlman stated that he asked in February that the SBAB put in writing their decision that the Barrows project was tied to the new school, and he has not yet received anything from the SBAB. He stated that he believed the special election vote split the projects because people did not feel that we could afford both projects. Dr. Harutunian advised that he had requested this information from SBAB but has not received anything from them yet. He was noted that SBAB's new deadline was March 1St and that could be contributing to the delay. A discussion was held regarding centralized kindergarten. Mr. Graham stated that the SBAB will not reimburse for a centralized kindergarten at RMHS unless an entire renovation is done which, at this time, would be cost prohibitive. Ms. Phillips- Spence noted that having a centralized kindergarten would, budget wise, be almost the equivalent of having a fifth elementary school. To run a kindergarten with 400 students you would need a principal and all related staff and bussing costs would increase significantly. Dr. Harutunian stated that the preliminary RMHS Feasibility Study indicates that by 2012 -2013 the enrollment at RMHS could exceed the maximum capacity of 1,600 students. If that occurred, any kindergarten classes would have to be moved out of the high school. Regular Session -3- March 22, 1999 Mr. Graham sated that if you moved all the kindergarten students to the high school, you would still not have solved the issue of no core classrooms in the elementary schools. Gail Philips Spence stated that the School Size and Enrollment Committee looked at central kindergarten, and with 20 sessions of kindergarten you would need a gym, media center, cafeteria, principal, nurse and secretary and you are basically taking about a fifth school with just kindergarten students and no reimbursement. GIFTS Dr. Harutunian thanked Mr. O'Hagan for this gift to the Killam School. Dr. Harutunian wished Maureen LeClair and Dave Bunten speedy recovery and stated that the thoughts and prayers of the entire Reading School Community are with them both. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT Dr. Harutunian updated the Committee on the following items: • Coolidge Middle School Olympiad Results • History Day Results • Diplomas for WW II Veterans • Summer Grants received by Coolidge Middle School • Coolidge Assistant Principal Search • Varsity Softball Event on Sunday March 28tH Chair D'Antona informed the Committee that on April 10`h the Reading Substance Abuse Council is presenting the I't Reading Annual Conference on Violence Prevention and urged all to attend. She stated that attendees at the conference will receive CEU's or PDP's. She also stated that the Board of Selectmen have been petitioned to designate all of Reading as a Bully Free Zone on April I Oth. Chair D'Antona stated that after over one year of negotiations, the Reading Teachers' Association and the School Committee reached an agreement and the agreement was ratified on March 5th by the School Committee. Mr. Twomey moved that the Reading School Committee approve the three year contract for FY99 FY00 and FY01 between the Reading School Committee and the Reading Teachers Association. Ms. Cavicchi seconded the motion. The vote was 6 -0 Ms Cavicchi Mr. Dahl Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Stohlman, Mr. Twomey and Ms. Williams. Dr. Harutunian distributed an updated list of School Committee negotiating teams. Regular Session -4- March 22, 1999 Dr. Harutunian responded to the budget questions given to Susan Cavicchi by members of the community: Dr. Harutunian advised that cost savings of going from 181 days to 180 would be very minimal because there is no heat cost in June. Dr. Harutunian advised that PTO's do have wish lists but that the School Department cannot build a budget on what might be donated. Dr. Harutunian asked that anyone wanting to make a donation with a matching corporate donation send the money to the School Department. The Central Office will form a fund and principals can request money from this fund. Dr. Harutunian stated that the Celebration of the Arts was a wonderful program and stated how impressed he was with the students being able to put their heart and emotion into the program after Mr. Bunten's sudden illness before the show. Mr. Dahl stated that the RMHS band, the Coolidge band, the Parker band all played together and it was wonderful. He thanked the drama department for "This Is A Test ", he stated that the art display was incredible and the chorus was excellent. Mr. Dahl stated that he was very impressed with the entire program. Dr. Harutunian thanked the students and staff for their participation in the ninth grade science fair. SCHOOL CALENDAR The School Committee discussed the proposed changes to the School Calendar. Mr. Dahl made a motion to accept the recommendation of the Superintendent to change the School Calendar as described in his memorandum and that the last day of school would be a half day for students and a full day for teachers. Ms. Cavicchi seconded the motion The vote was 6 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Stohlman, Mr. Twomey and Ms. Williams. FY99 BUDGET Dr. Harutunian stated his concern about the Town Manager moving the wide area network out to 2005 -2008. Mr. Dahl stated that the Finance Committee has agreed to review the entire capital plan in detail. Regular Session -5- March 22, 1999 Dr. Harutunian advised the Committee that he would be requesting the Committee to ask Town Meeting to authorize a transfer of $200,000 to cover SPED costs and overtime on town maintenance. Mr. Twomey made a motion to ask Town Meeting for $200,000 to balance the FY99 budget Mr. Stohlman seconded the motion. The vote was 6 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Ms. D'Antona Mr. Stohlman, Mr. Twomey and Ms. Williams. FY00 BUGET Dr. Harutunian advised that at the March 24th meeting the Committee would be asked to make the cuts necessary to meet the Finance Committee's recommended budget. Mr. Stohlman stated that this was his last meeting and asked that the Committee keep in mind the concerns about the high school staffing levels when discussing the FY00 Budget. MINUTES Mr. Twomey made a motion to gpprove the minutes of March 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. Twomey made a motion to approve the minutes of February 8, 1999 as amended. 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. Twomey made a motion to approve the minutes of JangM 25, 1999. Ms. Cavicchi seconded the motion. A summary of the Superintendent's Evaluation to be included as part of the minutes. The vote was 6 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Stohlman, Mr. Twomey and Ms. Williams. Mr. Twomey made a motion to approve the minutes of January 14, 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. Twomey made a motion to approve the minutes of January 11, 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. Regular Session -6- March 22, 1999 Chair D'Antona thanked Mr. Stohlman for his service to the School Committee. She stated that Mr. Stohlman was one of the authors of the Parents Rights Policy and has been active in the budget and she stated that it has been a pleasure to work with Mr. Stohlman over the years. Dr. Harutunian thanked Mr. Stohlman for his support and dedication over the years as a School Committee member. Mr. Dahl thanked Mr. Stohlman on behalf of the entire town of Reading for volunteering his many many hours to the community. Mr. Stohlman thanked the citizen's of Reading for their generosity and support over the past years. ADJOURN At 9:25 p.m. Ms. Cavicchi made a motion to enter into executive session for the purpose of conducting strategy 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 regular session. Mr. Dahl seconded the motion The vote was 6 -0 Ms _ Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Ms. D'•Antona Mr. Stohlman Mr. Twomev and Ms Williams voted yes. spectfully submitted, �Y . Haru ian Ph .D. Superintendent of Schools