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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-09-27 School Committee MinutesREADING SCHOOL COMMITTEE Reading, Massachusetts Regular Session September 27, 1999 CALL TO ORDER At 6:36 p.m. Chair Dahl called the meeting to order in the Superintendent's Conference Room. Present were School Committee members Cavicchi, Dahl, Keigley, Twomey and student representative Kachichian. Also present were Superintendent Harutunian, Associate Superintendent Richards and Town Counsel Ted Cohen. EXECUTIVE SESSION At 6:36 p.m. Ms. Cavicchi made a motion to enter into executive session for the purpose of conducting strategy t�gy 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 and to discuss the deployment of security personnel or devices 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. Keigley and Mr. Twomey. CALL BACK TO ORDER At 7:35 p.m. Chair Dahl called the meeting back to order. Student Representative John Kachichian was present. Chair Dahl congratulated Mr. Kachichian on his recent award to eagle scout. Superintendent Harutunian and Chair Dahl gave their condolences to the Biller family on their loss. CITIZEN'S INPUT There was no citizen input. FY01 BUDGET INPUT Dr. Harutunian reviewed the tentative, proposed budget list for FY01. Principal Orlando introduced School Council Co -chair Alison Silva. He stated that he would like to see funding continue in curriculum development. Mr. Orlando advised that next year the freshmen class would be 75 -80 students larger than the outgoing senior class. He stated that last year the Committee passed new graduation ReLyular Session -2- September 27, 1999 requirements. Mr. Orlando stated that the staffing would have to be increased in order to keep up with the increased enrollment and new graduation requirements. Mr. Orlando also stated that the high school is old and additional maintenance and maintenance personnel are needed. Mr. Orlando also stated that he feels additional secretarial help is needed at the high school. Mr. Twomey stated that foreign language has been moved down into the middle school but questioned if the foreign language at the high school is adequate in light of possible requirement by state to pass a foreign language MCAS. Mr. Orlando stated that Mr. Di Sanzo is proactive in this department in offering different levels of foreign language. He also stated that it is not clear when the state will require students to pass the MCAS test for foreign language. Mr. Twomey questioned if the guidance department was sufficiently staffed. Mr. Orlando advised that the state average is 250 students per counselor and that the high school is just about at that level and that next year he would be asking for an additional counselor. Mr. Doherty spoke for the middle schools. He stated that the middle school priorities are the per pupil increase, curriculum initiatives and .5 foreign language. He stated that he would like to see an additional custodian assigned to the Coolidge Middle School because of the building addition. Ms. Cavicchi asked if custodial staff increased at Parker after the renovation and addition. Dr. Delaney advised that Parker has 2 night and 1 day custodian which is one more than Coolidge has. Mr. Davidson discussed his priorities of curriculum initiatives, per pupil expenditure increase, science initiatives and the language arts program. He also stated that he would like to have additional custodial help. He stated that Birch Meadow received no increase in custodial staff after the renovation/addition. He also requested a full time nurse and technology aide. He also stated the need for an additional school psychologist because of increased testing requests, behavioral issues and the need to revisit social curriculum and character development. Mr. Richardson said the core areas are crowded. Gael Phillips Spence stated that she agreed with everything that Principal Davidson had said. She added that she had done a survey at Birch Meadow she stated that students requested bigger playground and lunchroom. She stated that the children are feeling crowded and realize the need for additional space. Regular Session -3- September 27, 1999 Mr. Guerrette stated that there are similar problems as described by Principal Davidson at all of the elementary schools. Mr. Guerrette stated that if portables are added to Killam he does not know how he can run the cafeteria and gymnasium. He asked that the Committee continue to support curriculum initiatives, professional development in all areas and reasonable class sizes. He also stated that he supports adding a nurse, technology assistants and also increased educational assistants. He stated that educational assistants are a very important asset to the schools. Mr. Guerrette also stated that Killam went from 3 custodians to 2.5 custodians and he would like to see that increased. He stated his support for additional school psychologist and sited issues such as harassment and other social issues as a reason for adding the psychologist. Ms. Linda Dockser agreed with Principal Guerrette and added that she was impressed with the support of the teachers by the School Committee. She asked that the support to teachers continue with increased materials and educational assistants. She stated that a nurse should be at each elementary school because you are dealing with young children and accidents can occur it is important to have a nurse in the building at all times. Mr. Twomey asked Mr. Guerrette if the Committee moved forward with renting classroom space at St. Athanasius would additional education assistants be required because of back and forth movement between St. Athanasius and the main building. Mr. Guerrette advised that movement would be kept to a minimum but that additional assistants would be required. At 8:35 p.m. Mr. Kachichian left the meeting. Ms. Callan stated her support for technology aid, full time nurses at each building and additional building maintenance support. She also stated that costs continue to increase for materials that the per pupil money covers and that in order to keep pace with last year's material purchases the per pupil money must also increase. Ms. Pittella stated that she would like to see curriculum initiatives, professional development, technology assistants, a full time nurse, additional psychologist and additional regular education assistants all be supported. She stated that regular education assistants are a valuable resource. Bob McCarthy stated his concern that if the fifth elementary school is not built that an equitable solution must be reached including maintaining adequate class size at all schools. Mary Piacentini thanked the principals for their support of an additional nurse. She stated that enrollment has increased and students' medical needs have also increased. Phil Vaccaro thanked the School Committee, the Administration, the coaches and the booster club for their support. He state that transportation costs are up 12 %, officiating up 4 %. He stated that girls' ice hockey was being funded this year without any funds Regular Session -4- September 27, 1999 from the town but hoped that the town would consider funding some portion after this season. Kevin Moran stated that he was looking at trying to bring students who were in out of district placements back to the school district by providing the services that the students need. Ms. Cavicchi asked if adding speech, language and occupational services would be cheaper to add in house. Mr. Moran stated that he believed money will be saved by adding the services and bringing students back into the district. John Marion stated that a WAN administrator is needed to provide a blue print for all seven schools once we get the wide area network in place. Rick Barrett stated that he did an analysis and believes that Reading should have 30 custodians for the square footage and currently there are 22 custodians. Mr. Barrett also stated that he believes a plumber is needed more than a carpenter. Chair Dahl opened the meeting up to questions from the public. Michelle Karrick stated her support for a full time nurse at each school. She questioned how students medical needs would be met at St. Athanasius if classrooms were rented there. FY01 CAPITAL PLAN Mr. Twomey made a motion to move the architect fee for Reading Memorial High School from 2003 to 2001 and funding of construction from 2004 to 2002 Ms Cavicchi seconded the motion. The vote was 4 -0 Ms Cavicchi Mr. Dahl Mr. Keigle_y and Mr. Twomey. Mr. Twomey made a motion to direct the Superintendent to forward the capital plan as amended and approved by the School Committee to the Town Manager. Ms Cavicchi seconded the motion. The vote was 4 -0 Ms. Cavicchi Mr. Dahl Mr. Kei lg_ey and Mr. Twomey. STUDENT ACTIVITY ACCOUNT Beth Klepeis explained the new student activity account law to the Committee. She informed the Committee that she would be coming back at another School Committee Regular Session -5- September 27, 1999 meeting and asking the Committee to set a limit on how much each school account could have and what student activities could be included. ADJOURN At 10:15 p.m. Ms. Cavicchi made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Twomey seconded the motion. The vote was 4 -0 Ms Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Mr. Keigley and Mr. Twomey. UNOFFICIAL RECORDING At 10:20 p.m. Mr. Keigley left the meeting. Mr. Twomey updated the remaining Committee members on the liaison report for the School Building Committee. Chair Dahl updated them on the liaison report for the Finance Committee. Ms. Cavicchi commented that the Board of Selectmen discussed Article 14 on the warrant and a negative comment was made that she did not feel was appropriate. Ms. Cavicchi updated the Committee on the liaison report for the Recreation Committee. Dr. Harutunian advised that the Director of Recreation should coordinate possible reimbursement by the state for the Eaton playground. At 10:30 the discussion ended. Respectfully submitted, Ha K. Harutunian, Ph.D. Superintendent of Schools