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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-02-23 School Committee Minutesa 9 READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE Reading, Massachusetts REGULAR FETING February 23, 1998 CALL TO ORDER Chair Twomey called the meeting to order at 7 :05 p.m. at the Killam School. Present were School Committee Members Cavicchi, D'Antona, Spadafora, Stohlman, Twomey and Williams. Also present was Superintendent Harutunian and Associate Superintendent Richards. BILLS & PAYROLL Bills and payroll are as follows: Bills 2/17/98 $109,459.69 Salaries 2/23/98 $85,239.91 Salaries 2/20/98 $i40,815.72 SCHOOL SIZE & ENROLLMENT COMMITTEE Paul Guerette thanked the members of the School Size and Enrollment Committee and gave a presentation on the School Size and Enrollment Committee's recommendations to the School Committee for solving the elementary school enrollment problem. Mr. Guerette described the three solutions recommended by the School Size and Enrollment Committee including the pros and cons of each solution. 1. New elementary school and addition /renovation to Barrows. 2. New elementary school only. 3. Convert Coolidge to K -5 or 3 -5 elementary school and build new middle school. Chair Twomey opened the discussion up to questions from the audience. Ms. McCully asked what the administrative costs will be to operate another school? Chair Twomey advised that the estimated administrative cost increase to the operating budget to run an additional school would be approximately $367,000. REGULAR MEETING -5- February 23, 1998 Chair Twomey stated that the School Committee has struggled with this issues for years and are trying to balance school size and class size at all elementary schools. Ms. Northfield asked how far out the enrollment projections go. Chair Twomey advised that the projections were done in 1997 and go out 10 years. Mr. Seth Reed questioned whether anyone had looked at what Reading would do with the extra space if the trend turns and enrollments go down. Chair Twomey stated that the School Committee has not discussed that issue yet because they have not deliberated on the issue. Gael Phillips Spence stated that the School Size and Enrollment Committee did discuss the possibility and looked at using space for a full day kindergarten at a fee and also the possibility of renting to a college extension program. Mr. Seth Reed asked whether the dollars are time value of money. Dr. Harutunian stated that on average, every year you wait to construct you add 7% on construction costs. Mr. Ortiz stated that we can barely maintain the buildings we have now, have you looked at big picture. What if the economic boom ends can we afford another building. Chair Twomey stated that this issue will be considered. Mr. Brown asked if special town meeting approves Coolidge renovation with the School Committee thinking change on elementary project. Chair Twomey advised that it is a possibility, the School Committee hopes to take a position before town meeting and may or may not endorse Coolidge. Mr. Ralph Sparney asked if RMHS can afford to wait until 2006. Dr. Harutunian advised that an architect has been hired to do a feasibility study on whether to renovate RMHS or construct a new REGULAR MEETING -7- February 23, 1998 SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT Dr. Harutunian distributed a report on Dividence Road site to the Committee. Dr. Harutunian advised that he and Chair Twomey had met with SBAB and distributed to the Committee a letter and preliminary documents to the SBAB. This will allow School Committee, if they agree to move forward with Coolidge project, to say at town meeting that this has been approved by the SBAB. CAPITAL PLAN Mr. Stohlman moved to rescind the previous vote reuardina the $300,000 requested by the School Committee as part of the FY99 capital improvement plan which addresses the long term elementary_ problem. Ms. D'Antona seconded the motion. The vote was 6 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Spadafora, Mr. Stohlman, Mr. Twomey and Ms. Williams. Mr. Stohlman moved to endorse the School Building Committee's request for $50,000 out of the FY98 budget for the purpose of hiring an architect to study the elementary enrollment problem. Mr. Spadafora seconded the motion. The vote was 6 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Spadafora, Mr. Stohlman, Mr. Twomey and Ms. Williams. Mr. Stohlman moved to request an additional $23,000 in the FY98 budget to cover the cost of custodial contract settlement (bringing the total request to up to $40,000). Mr. Spadafora seconded the motion. The vote was 6 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Spadafora, Mr. Stohlman, Mr. Twomey and Ms. WilliamG_ SUPERINTENDENT'S EVALUATION Chair Twomey and Ms. D'Antona presented an alternative evaluation method to the Committee for comment. After some discussion, it was agreed that the changes needed additional work. Chair Twomey and Ms. D'Antona suggested to the committee that an evaluation of the superintendent be done on the old evaluation forms while continuing to work on new form for future evaluations. It was agreed that Chair Twomey and Ms. D'Antona will work and make minor changes to the old evaluation form and bring to the Committee for review at the February 24th meeting. REGULAR MEETING . -8- February 23, 1998 Mr. Stohlman requested the following information from Dr. Harutunian: 1. Current summary sheet of town side budget. ?. Prioritized list of budget. 3. Current capital plan. 4. List of things that are interfering with education at Coolidge, physical deficiencies and base inequities. ADJOURN Mr. Spadafora made a motion to adjourn at 9:50 p.m. Ms. D'Antona seconded the motion. The vote was 6 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Spadafora, Mr. Stohlman, Mr. Twomey and Ms. Williams_ Respectfully submitted, 6 Harry K. Harutunian, Ph.D. Superintendent of Schools