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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-08-18 School Committee MinutesRegular Session -2- August 18, 1999 CITIZEN'S INPUT There was no citizen input. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT Dr. Harutunian stated RCTV had purchased new equipment for videotaping the School Committee meeting and that the quality of the picture and audio should improve dramatically. Dr. Harutunian thanked Mr. and Mrs. Oliver for their generous donation to the Birch Meadow School. Chair Dahl stated that at future meetings in addition to the Superintendent's Report there would also be liaison reports from members of the Committee. Dr. Harutunian advised that approximately 70 new teachers /administrators /aides have been hired. He stated that there is a shortage of teachers and that the shortage is not unique to Reading. He stated that he has spoken to other Superintendents and that they are also experiencing difficulty in obtaining teachers. He stated that the shortage may be due to the current economy. Dr. Harutunian advised the Committee that Richard J. Barrett is the new Director of Facilities and would be starting on Monday. Dr. Harutunian updated the Committee on emergency communication and procedures including the new radios, the 1- 888 -3 -HOT TIP number and the training the staff would receive from Lt. Silva. He also advised that all administrators would receive CPR training next week. Dr. Harutunian advised that Kevin Moran is the new Interim Director of Special Education. Dr. Harutunian advised the Committee that he had included in their packet a memo from the Town Manager stating his understanding of Article XI. Dr. Harutunian advised that he agreed with the memorandum. Dr. Harutunian advised that Reading had received a federal grant for $29, 127 to reduce class size. Dr. Harutunian advised that he had received a request for information from the Reading Advocate regarding e-mail messages between school committee members. Dr. Harutunian stated that he had requested that all School Committee members either keep copies of their e -mail or forward copies to the Superintendent's office for filing. Dr. Regular Session -3- August 18, 1999 Harutunian stated that some members have requested that their e -mail address be removed from calendars /newsletter so not to have to maintain records. Dr. Harutunian also stated that he had advised all administrators that e -mail messages are public records and must be kept as records. Mr. Twomey stated that this may have an impact on the office policy of School Committee member's if they receive e -mails at work that are considered public documents. Ms. Cavicchi stated her concern that parents should be made aware that an e -mail message is considered a public document and unless it falls under one of the state's exemptions the document could be made public. She stated that this takes away another avenue of communication between parents and School Committee members. Dr. Harutunian and Principal Doherty updated the Committee on the status of the Coolidge building project. Dr. Harutunian, Mr. Twomey, Mr. Dahl, Mr. Keigley and Ms. Cavicchi all thanked Mr. Doherty and Mr. Hart for their hard work on this project. Dr. Harutunian advised that he had received a second request from the Finance Committee regarding information relevant to REAP and that he would be sending that information out within a day or two. Dr. Harutunian advised that the repair cost for damage done by lightning at Birch Meadow was $3,500 and for Parker was $3,200. Dr. Harutunian advised that he had included in the packet a letter from Representative Jones regarding the FY00 Budget. Dr. Harutunian advised that the Reading Cable TV Advisory Committee was downsizing its number of committee members. Dr. Harutunian advised that a memorandum would be going to all staff asking that in the development of curriculum that they review all material for violence content. Mr. Twomey stated that Warrant Article #4 did not have the total written on the warrant. Dr. Harutunian advised that the number would be filled in and the warrant given back to the Committee at the next meeting for signature. Dr. Harutunian asked that the Committee review the tentative calendar included in their packet. He stated that the calendar would be discussed at the September 1St meeting. Dr. Harutunian advised that Richard Foley attended the Administrative Council meeting today and distributed disks to the administrators for the FY01 Budget. Regular Session -4- August 18, 1999 Mr. Foley stated that the town eliminated one column from the FY01 budget. It was decided to eliminate what would have been the Revised FY99 Budget column. Mr. Twomey stated this concern that the number from that column helped him in building the budget. He asked Mr. Foley how much work it would be to return the column in December if he decided he needed that number to help build the budget. After discussion it was decided to bring the matter back up for discussion when Dr. Harutunian distributes the budget forms. PERSONNEL Dr. Harutunian advised that it was the consensus of the Interim Director of Special Education, Principal Orlando and the student's parents that the student return from a private placement to RMHS and that a special education teacher be hired. Dr. Harutunian advised that this would be less expense and is probably better educationally for the student. Mr. Twomey moved to transfer from the special education tuition out of town account into the teacher salary account up to $41,000 to cover the salary expense of a Special Education teacher. Ms Cavicchi seconded the motion. The vote was 4 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl Mr. Keigley and Mr. Twomey. Dr. Harutunian advised that Reading was paying $10,000 for service fee for a full time therapist. He stated that he would like to save the $10,000 fee by bringing in a full time therapist. Ms Cavicchi moved to support the Superintendent's recommendation as outlined in his memorandum of August 16 1999 and moved that appropriate money be transferred from the Special Education physical therapy account to the Special Education personnel account Mr. Keigley seconded the motion The vote was 4 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Mr. Keigley and Mr. Twomey. OLD BUSINESS FY99 Budget Dr. Harutunian notified the Committee that the school department returned $21,609 into the general account. Mr. Twomey moved to authorize the Superintendent to balance the FY99 budget across program lines as outlined in the memorandum of August 16, 1999. Ms. Cavicchi seconded the motion The vote was 4 -0 Ms. Cavicchi Mr. Dahl, Mr. Keigley and Mr. Twomey. Regular Session -5- August 18, 1999 Mr. Twomey moved to approve six additional team leaders for a total of 11 team leaders Ms Cavicchi seconded the motion. The vote was 4 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Mr. Keigley and Mr. Twomey. Chinese Cultural Center Chair Dahl advised that the Committee would hear comments first from the administration, then School Committee members, then the representative from the Chinese Cultural Center and then the public would be given an opportunity to give input. Dr. Harutunian advised that Mr. Orlando was unable to attend this evening's meeting because of a prior commitment. Associate Superintendent Richards read to the Committee a memorandum from Mr. Orlando regarding the Chinese Cultural Center. Dr. Harutunian asked that the School Committee support the administration's recommendation that the Chinese Cultural Center move out of the space no later than October 31, 1999. He also stated that if the Chinese Cultural Center is unable to find space then accessible storage at RMHS would be made available to them until December 31, 1999. Mr. Keigley asked if any rent would be charged during that time. Dr. Harutunian advised that he discussed the issue with Town Counsel and Town Counsel advised against charging rent as it could be viewed as entering into a lease and Town Meeting had made recommendations regarding procedures for entering into leases. Ms. Cavicchi asked what type of service the Chinese Cultural Center has provided. Dr. Harutunian advised that he had met with the principals and the principals can't recall any programs over the last few years. Mr. Richards stated that he was concerned that the administration may be over looking some programs that the CCC may have run and he asked the CCC for documentation on any programs. He has not received any documentation. Dr. Harutunian stated that the most important fact regarding this issue is that the space is needed at the high school. Mr. Twomey stated that what prompted this is the need for space at RMHS and the objection of the CCC is that they believe they were not given sufficient notice that they would have to move. He stated that the administration has moved the date from August to October 31, 1999 and if CCC is unable to find new space by October 31St accessible storage will be provided for them at RMHS until December 31, 1999. Regular Session -6- August 18, 1999 Mr. Dahl asked Dr. Harutunian to describe the space occupied by the CCC. Dr. Harutunian advised that the space is in the front of the high school on the far right side. The area is approximately 625 square feet and provided excellent access for students with disabilities. Executive Director of the CCC, Mei Hung, stated that she received notice from Mr. Orlando on July 21, 1999 that the CCC would have to move by August 23rd. She stated that she did not provide the documentation Mr. Richards asked for because she recently took over as Executive Director and felt that the CCC was going to be forced to move and did not want to spend time going through the boxes of the former Executive Director looking for documentation. She also stated that she believed that the CCC has provided the programs necessary and noted that a $6,000 grant had to be returned because no teacher wanted to be involved in the program. She stated that it does not appear that Reading values diversity. Ms. Kendra Cooper stated that she objected to Mr. Orlando's statement in his memorandum that she and Mei Hung were late to the meeting Mr. Richards. She stated that the Chinese Cultural Connection board member was late because he was coming from Boston. She also stated that Mei Hung received numerous messages on the CCC answering machine from Mr. Orlando and because she is out at workshops during the day often does not check the machine until the evening. Mr. Richards stated that he asked at the meeting with the CCC the best way to contact Mei Hung and was told to leave a message on the machine at the CCC office. Mr. Brown stated that if space is needed at the high school all tenants should be evicted. Mr. Dahl stated that Town Meeting requires that all space be used wisely, negotiated by value and market rates be looked at during negotiations. He stated that the Reading School Committee does value what the CCC brings to Reading however that value must be balanced with the curriculum which is dictated by the state. Mr. Twomey stated that it seems that the administration is trying to reach a compromise with the CCC by extending the move date to October 31, 1999 and offering accessible storage until December 31, 1999. Mr. Twomey moved to support the administration's recommendation to extend the duration of the Chinese Cultural Center's use of the space at RMHS until October 31 1999 and if they are not relocated by October 31" then the administration will offer accessible storage space to the Chinese Cultural Center until December 31 1999 Regular Session -7- August 18, 1999 MINUTES Mr. Twomey moved to accept the minutes of June 21 1999. Ms. Cavicchi seconded the motion Chair Dahl requested an addition to 1age two as noted. The vote was 4 -0 to accept the minutes of June 21 1999 as modified Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Mr. Keigley and Mr. Twomey. Mr. Twomey moved to accept the minutes of June 30 1999 Ms. Cavicchi seconded the motion The vote was 4 -0 to accept the minutes of June 30, 1999 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl Mr. Keigley and Mr. Twomey. Mr. Twomey made a motion to accept the minutes of July 1, 1999 Ms. Cavicchi seconded the motion Mr. Twomey requested a correction on page two as noted. The vote was 4 -0 to accept the minutes of July 1 1999 as modified. Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl Mr. Keigley and Mr. Twomey. ADJOURN At 9.20 p.m. Mr. Twomey made a motion to adjourn. Ms. Cavicchi seconded the motion The vote was 4 -0 Ms. Cavicchi Mr. Dahl, Mr. Keigley and Mr. Twomey. Respectfully sub fitted, Harry K. Harutunian, Ph.D. Superintendent of Schools