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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-11-22 School Committee MinutesREADING SCHOOL COMMITTEE Reading, Massachusetts Regular Session November 22, 1999 Chair Dahl called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m in the Superintendent's Conference Room. Present were School Committee members Cavicchi, Dahl, D'Antona, Keigley, Twomey and Williams. Also present were Superintendent Harutunian and Associate Superintendent Richards. At 7:05 p.m. Ms. Cavicchi made a motion to enter into executive session for the purpose of preparations for negotiations with non -union personnel (principals, assistant principals, directors, assistant directors, instructional specialists, administrative assistants and the superintendent's secretary). To return to regular session at approximately 8:00 p.m. At 8:12 p.m. Chair Dahl called the regular session back to order. Chair Dahl and Dr. Harutunian introduced and welcomed Karawan Kouki as the new student representative to the School Committee. Chair Dahl congratulated the RMHS drama on their recent production, Guys and Dolls. Dr. Harutunian advised the Committee that the artwork on the School Committee walls was done by the students at the Killam elementary school. Dr. Harutunian then showed a video from Killam regarding the pilot specialty teaching program. Dr. Harutunian advised that next year's 6th grade teachers would be giving feedback to the the administration regarding whether the 6th grade students coming from the pilot program seem better prepared for middle school. Mr. Dahl asked how the pilot program is working for students with special needs. Dr. Harutunian advised that it is similar to the 6th grade and the students are tracked. LIAISON REPORTS Ms. Williams updated the Committee on the work of the Millenium Committee. She advised that the celebration will begin at approximately 5:00 a.m. on December 31 St she stated that there will be activities for children and during the day and music and dancing later in the evening and breakfast at dawn. There will be venues set up at different locations throughout town. She stated that buttons and Millenium torches are on sale at Dragon Corner, Dynamic Sports and Reading Trophy. Dr. Harutunian advised that a notice would be sent home with all students regarding button sales. Regular Session -2- November 22, 1999 BILLS & PAYROLL Bills and payroll are as follows: Payroll 35 $164,936.91 10/29/99 Payroll 39 $175,807.87 11/12/99 Warrant 36 $490,701.18 11/01/99 Warrant 40 $101,049.90 11/15/99 CITIZEN'S INPUT There was no citizen's input. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT Payroll 37 $653,372.00 11/04/99 Payroll 41 $655,283.84 11/18/99 Warrant 38 $125,040.53 11/08/99 Warrant 42 $356,476.28 11/22/99 Dr. Harutunian advised that a memorandum from Principal Orlando was in the packet stating the reasons why RMHS no longer has a capacity for 2,000 students. Dr. Harutunian advised that a Curriculum Newsletter was included in the packet. Ms. D'Antona stated that she was pleased to see the curriculum update newsletter and felt that it was important that this information is forwarded to parents. Dr. Harutunian advised that an article, Solution in a Box, was included in the packet regarding concrete modular classrooms. He stated that there was no cost difference between concrete modulars and traditional modulars. He stated that the SBAB will not reimburse for any modular classrooms. Dr. Harutunian advised that he wanted direction from the Committee regarding the Health Advisory Survey. He stated that because of grant money the schools are required to do some type of survey assessment. Ms. Williams stated that she attended the last meeting regarding the survey and parents were concerned about questions for the sixth grade students regarding sexual activity and the fact that they did not feel that they were given adequate information about the survey before it was given. Mr. Dahl asked who this survey was prepared by. Dr. Harutunian advised that the survey is done by the DOE and DPH. Regular Session -3- November 22, 1999 Mr. Twomey stated that last year the Committee told parents they would look at other options for surveys. He asked whether this had been done. He also stated that parents had concerns about how students were removed from the class if parents decided that they should not participate in the survey. After discussion, it was decided that the administration will handle but will keep the Committee informed with frequent communication regarding the survey. Dr. Harutunian distributed information regarding the Y2K compliance within the school district and also distributed information from Chief Don Wood regarding a check list to be completed for each building. Dr. Harutunian advised that both electricians and the Assistant Director will be in the buildings on January 1St to check water, electricity and heat. Dr. Harutunian distributed to the Committee information on his five year budget projection for the selectmen's meeting on November 23 d. He stated that in order to meet increasing enrollment, inflationary factors and state mandates that he felt that 8% was an appropriate number. He stated that these are approximations and are working numbers only. Dr. Harutunian distributed new enrollment projections. He advised that the last K -12 enrollment projection was done by NESDEC in April of last year. He stated that those projections did not include the kindergarten change that took place. Dr. Harutunian stated that Flansburgh & Associates did a K -5 projection in October for presentation to Town Meeting that included the change. Dr. Harutunian advised that he had taken the Flansburgh projections and took the last K -12 projections done in April, and lifted out the K -5 from NESDEC and put in Flansburgh numbers. Chair Dahl asked how the numbers differ from the other projections. Dr. Harutunian advised that they are almost the same. Dr. Harutunian distributed an article from the Reading Chronicle regarding Enriched Learning. He advised that Joseph Runzulli attended the Friday inservice day to discuss gifted and talented concepts K -8. Dr. Harutunian thanked all the instructional specialists and Dennis Richards for their work on the gifted and talented program. Dr. Harutunian advised that he will send out the information from the inservice day to the Committee. Regular Session -4- November 22, 1999 CALENDAR Dr. Harutunian reviewed the School Committee calendar with the Committee. ELEMENTARY CLASS SIZE After discussion, it was the consensus of the Committee that the space at Coolidge Middle School shown on the map distributed be used for kindergarten space. FOREIGN LANGUAGE Mr. Twomey moved to approve the Superintendent's recommendation of adding one additional foreign language exploratory session in sixth grade and allow a committee to be formed to discuss developing the long term plan for implementation of foreign language at the middle school and elementary school levels. The vote was 6 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Keigley, Mr. Twomey and Ms. Williams. MINUTES Ms. D'Antona moved to approve the minutes of October 4, 1999 with changes as noted. Ms. Cavicchi seconded the motion. The vote was 5 -0 -1. Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Keigley and Ms. Williams voted yes, Mr. Twomey abstained. Ms. D'Antona moved to approve the minutes of October 13, 1999 with changes as noted. Mr. Twomey seconded the motion. The vote was 5 -0 -1 Mr. Dahl, Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Keigley and Mr. Twomey voted yes Ms. Cavicchi abstained. Mr. Twomey moved to approve the minutes of October 25, 1999. Ms. Cavicchi seconded the motion. The vote was 5 -0 -1. Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Mr. Keigley, Mr. Twomey and Ms. Williams voted yes Ms. D'Antona abstained. ADJOURN At 10.30 p.m. Mr. Twomey made a motion to adiourn. Ms. Williams seconded the motion. The vote was 6 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Keigley, Mr. Twomey and Ms. Williams. R ectfully su ed, arry K. Harutunian, Ph.D. Superintendent of Schools