HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-02-24 School Committee Minutes..
READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Reading, Massachusetts
REGULAR SESSION February 24, 1998
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Twomey called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. at the
Birch Meadow school. Present were Committee members Cavicchi,
D'Antona, Williams, Stohlman and Twomey. Also present were
Superintendent Harutunian and Associate Superintendent Richards.
SCHOOL SIZE & ENROLLMENT PRESENTATION
Richard Davidson thanked the members of the School Size and
Enrollment Committee and gave a presentation on the School Size
and Enrollment Committee's recommendation to the School Committee
for solving the elementary school enrollment problem.
Mr. Davidson 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. Nora Stojes asked whether the site for building a new school
would definitely be Dividence Road. She stated her concern that
traffic would be a major issue and also safety for the children.
She also stated that both Dividence and Emerson were considered
private ways.
Chair Twomey advised that it was not a done deal at this point.
No constraints were put on the School Size and Enrollment
committee and the School Committee was taking input from the
public at the 4 meetings scheduled at each of the elementary
schools and would begin deliberating on a solution at the School
Committee meeting of March 4th.
REGULAR SESSION -3- February 24, 1998
Kevin Moran asked whether solution 2 goes far enough. Asked
whether anticipate redistricting from now till solution in 2001
to help with demographics.
Mr. Davidson stated that solution 2 meets basic enrollment crunc:.
but doesn't meet core facility needs.
Chair Twomey stated that other titan busing kindergarten students,
there has been no discussion regarding redistricting.
Mr. McQueen asked how the SBAB arrive at the 66% reimbursement
figure.
Chair Twomey advised that there are 3 categories of SBAB
reimbursement:
1. To resolve racial imbalance.
2. Enrollment issues.
3. Programmatic issues.
The SBAB in addition to putting projects into categories look at
the demographic of the community and economic factors and come up
with formula for reimbursement.
Diane Depazo asked if it is possible the School Committee will
not choose one of the solutions and will put off for another year
a solution to the elementary problem.
Chair Twomey advised that anything is possible but that the
School Committee is committed to finding a solution as soon as
possible. The SBAB deadline is June lst, if the*School Committee
decided on a solution today, there is no way that drawings would
be ready to go to SBAB approval by June 1, 1998. The plan is to
go to fall town meeting with solution and have drawings ready to
go to SBAB by June 1, 1999.
Dr. Harutunian advised that there are numerous solutions to
consider. He stated that he met with SBAB representatives Friday
and they advised him that there is no chance of SBAB
reimbursement for any addition at all at Birch Meadow the lot is
too small.
REGULAR SESSION -5- February 24, 1998
Chair Twomey stated the over ride is a political issue. There
are many different opinions on how to have a successful over
ride.
Dr. Harutunian stated that the School Committee is having a
feasibility study done on the high school by an architect. It is
difficult to motivate town for an over ride when we are not yet
sure what the architect will recommend. Hope that once we
receive study will be able to move forward sooner with Reading
Memorial High School.
Liz Richissen stated that RMHS is deplorable and that the School
Committee should look at all the buildings and come up with a K-
12 solution.
Ms. McCondle asked about the chicken farm as an educational
complex, if the area goes residential where will those children
go.
Dr. Harutunian advised that the asking price on the land is $5
million and the town is negotiating. The area is 200 yards from
the corner of Barrows and redistricting would be bad.
Mr. Stohlman stated that it is close to Barrows and very close to
Woburn and would require significant busing. It would be better
to build on the high school fields and move fields to the chicken
farm area.
Mr. Mandell stated that the enrollment report used 20 as class
size but the School Committee uses 25 as class size.
Chair Twomey stated that the School Size and Enrollment Committee
used 20 for K -2 and 22 for 3 -5. The School Committee has never
adopted a fixed number. Historically tried to keep class sizes
high teens or low 20s in the early grades and low -mid 20s in the
higher grades.
r
REGULAR SESSION -7- February 24, 1998
Mr. Stohlman made a motion to make the following changes to the
School Committee's evaluation sheet. On page 6, item number 2
under Planning and Organization strike the words "school
employees" and replace with "those employees who report directly
to the superintendent ". Page 7 under Evaluation Criteria, strike
items number 2 and 3 in their entirety. Ms. Williams seconded
the motion. The vote was 5 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Ms. D'Antona, Mr.
Stohlman, Mr. Twomev and Ms. Williams.
The completed evaluation forms should be given to Chair Twomey by
Friday, March 13th.
Mr. Stohlman questioned whether a School Committee member should
attend tomorrow's Finance Committee meeting.
Dr. Harutunian stated that he had been assured that no further
discussion would take place on school committee items but he
would confirm that again with the Chair of the Finance Committee.
r.11 *fili,;j, i
Mr. Stohlman made a motion to adjourn at 9:30 p.m. Ms. Williams
seconded the motion. The vote was 5 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Ms.
D'Antona, Mr. Stohlman, Mr. Twomey and Ms. Williams.
Respectfully submitted,
Harry K. Harutunian Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools