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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-12-14 School Committee MinutesREADING SCHOOL COMMITTEE Reading, Massachusetts ReLyular Session December 14, 1998 CALL TO ORDER Chair D'Antona called the meeting to order at 7:08 p.m at the auditorium at RMHS. Present were School Committee members Cavicchi, Dahl, D'Antona, Stohlman and Williams. Also present were Superintendent Harutunian and Associate Superintendent Richards. EXECUTIVE SESSION At 7:09 p.m. Ms. Cavicchi made a motion to enter in executive session for the purpose of conducting strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with the Teacher's Association Custodians and Maintenance Workers, Cafeteria Employees, Association of Secretaries and Clerks Educational Assistants Nurses and Tutors and to discuss pending litigation and the possible sale or lease of real estate and to discuss pending litigation. To return to regular session at approximately 7:30 p.m. -Mr. Dahl seconded Ms. Cavi and Ms. Williams. BACK TO ORDER Chair D'Antona called the meeting back to order at 7:35 p.m. BILLS & PAYROLL Bills and payroll are as follows: Payroll $672,928.04 Bills $71,461.16 Payroll $171,106.69 Bills $578,406.73 CITIZENS' INPUT Mr. Stohlman stated that his term as a School Committee member would be up in March and that he was not planning to run again. Mr. Stohlman encouraged anyone interested in running for School Committee to contact the Town Clerk for information on the deadline for filing petitions and the number of signatures required.. Ms. Cavicchi stated that she would be seeking re- election in March. MCAS PRESENTATION Chair D'Antona stated that Jeff Nellhaus from the Department of Education would be making a presentation today about the MCAS test and the MCAS results. Regular Session -2- December 14, 1998 Dr. Harutunian advised that Reading scored 22nd out of all the districts. He stated that he still has some concerns about the MCAS tests including the length of the test given to fourth graders and the word "failing" be used to describe results on the fourth grade test. Dr. Harutunian also advised that the administration will do an analysis of the curriculum to the test to ensure that the curriculum is covering the material on the MCAS tests. Mr. Nellhaus stated that the MCAS test sets standards. He stated that the DOE had to score more than 6 million open response questions and that is the reason it took so long for the results of the test to become public. He stated that there has been discussion about spreading the MCAS tests over more years, perhaps 4tn, 5 th 8cn, 9cn and l Otn and perhaps testing two subjects each year. Mr. Nellhaus then showed the Committee a sample Stn grade math question and informed them that part of the math test included estimation and proportions. He stated that the MCAS tests gives school districts a great amount of detailed information about how the students did on each question and that information allows school districts to see students weaknesses. Mr. Dahl questioned whether calculators were allowed to be used on the Stn and l Otn grade MCAS tests. Mr. Nellhaus advised that calculators were allowed on two sections of the math test but not the third section. Mr. Dahl questioned whether DOE was interested in feedback regarding a possible fatigue factor. He asked whether the tests were given in varied order to see if it affected the results of the test. Mr. Nellhaus stated that there was a three week window for the tests to be administered and that would only amount to one or two sessions a day. Ms. Cavicchi asked how the state would be helping the less wealthy districts to deal with the low scores.. Mr. Nellhaus stated that the state is not necessarily interested in a districts scores but is looking to measure progress and see test results go up. Chair D'Antona questioned how the 6 million open response questions were scored and what the standards for scoring were in order to assure fairness. Mr. Nellhaus advised that when the questions were developed a rubric was developed and the questions are scored on 0 -4 scale. After the test is administered, anchor papers are selected for 1, 2, 3 and 4 and the anchor papers are used to train scorers. There is continual monitoring. Regular Session -3- December 14, 1998 Mr. Dahl asked whether when the state was administering the 10`h grade test if they were testing students on information that they did not have to know until the 12`h grade. Mr. Nellhaus stated that the state was testing only on information that was expected to be learned through grade 10. The state was relying on the district to make sure that a student learns the appropriate curriculum for the 11 th and 12`h grades. Ms. Cavicchi asked what the appeal process for grading is. Mr. Nellhaus stated that the Superintendent would have to forward an appeal to the Department of Education and send detailed information proving that a student's performance is well above the score they received on the MCAS test. Ms. Williams questioned whether additional information other than the curriculum frameworks is required in order for a child to reach the advanced grade. Mr. Nellhaus stated that the test is only on information in the curriculum frameworks. Mr. Dahl questioned whether passing standards have been set for 10`h grade yet. Mr. Nellhaus advised that they were not yet set. Dr. Harutunian asked what changes would take place this year on the 4`h, 8`h and 10`h grade MCAS tests. Mr. Nellhaus advised that the long composition would be given at the end of April rather than mid -May and the short compositions would be eliminated. Grade 4 would field test the social studies this year and grades 8 and 10 the social studies test would be administered. After social studies there is a possibility that foreign language will be next. Dr. Harutunian questioned what groups need to be proficient in foreign language. Mr. Nellhaus advised that the Board of Education is still discussing the foreign language issue but eventually want to see the foreign language test brought to the 4`h grade. He stated that it would be difficult to estimate how long before the test is brought down to the 4`h grade level. Ms. Williams and Mr. Dahl both questioned whether the state would give financial aid for school districts to bring foreign language to the elementary levels. Ms. Williams also stated that if foreign language is brought down to the elementary levels the school day will have to be extended in order to accommodate the increase in learning. Regular Session -4- December 14, 1998 Mr. Nellhaus stated that the Board of Education is still discussing the issue and that he agreed with Ms. Williams that the school day may have to be extended and that was also being discussed. Dr. Harutunian requested that Mr. Nellhaus bring back to the Board of Education that there is difficulty in obtaining foreign language teachers. Mr. Dahl stated that the amount of time it takes to receive the results of the MCAS tests puts districts at a disadvantage. He stated that districts cannot make necessary modifications to the curriculum if they don't have the information before the school year begins. Mr. Nellhaus stated that the Board of Education was aware of the problem and has discussed the possibility of providing raw data to districts earlier in order to give the districts an opportunity to align the curriculum. Susan Marucet asked how the MCAS test compares with western European countries like Germany. Mr. Nellhaus advised that they haven't compared the two. He stated that will be implementing third International Math and Science for 8th graders and those can then be compared to the MCAS tests. Allison DaSilva stated that she was hearing conflicting information. It was stated that 17 hours was too long for the test but you are talking about adding Social Studies to the test. Mr. Nellhaus stated that the solution will probably be to spread the MCAS tests over more grade levels. Lisa Pittella stated that she had heard discussion about adding a grade 2 reading test and asked whether this would replace the 3`d grade IOWA tests. Mr. Nellhaus advised that the FY00 budget includes funds for the 2nd grade test and if the test was to be given to 2nd graders this year the legislature would have to approve funding. He did state that this test would be in addition to the IOWA test no in place of Katie Hunt stated that she feared that the students in 2003 that would be required to pass the MCAS were handicapped because the necessary curriculum has not been in place during all of their school years. Mr. Nellhaus stated that he agreed but that the Board would look at setting standards to pass the test accordingly. Regular Session -5- December 14, 1998 Mr. Dahl asked how the MCAS tests compared to the New York regent tests. Mr. Nellhaus stated that he was not that familiar with the regent tests but they were more like a final exam at the end of the course where the MCAS tests are cumulative. Charlie Smith stated that he was concerned about the Special Education kids who work hard and not being able to pass the MCAS tests would be a large barrier for them. Mr. Nellhaus stated that the Board is not looking at more than one standard. He stated that the Board will have to look long and hard at the passing level. At 8:40 p.m. Chair D'Antona advised that the Committee would take a short break. At 8:46 Chair D'Antona called the meeting back to order. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT Dr. Harutunian advised the Committee of the following that six Reading students were selected as National Merit students. Dr. Harutunian advised that a history club has been formed at RMHS. Dr. Harutunian advised that a memorandum regarding strategic planning feedback from students was included in the Committee's packets. Dr. Harutunian thanked Mr. Richards for his work in combining the School Committee's goals with Strategic Planning goals. Dr. Harutunian advised that a list of budget parents was included in the Committee packets. Dr. Harutunian asked the Committee for consensus on moving the INS Network Hub to RMHS. The Committee agreed. Dr. Harutunian advised that update memorandums regarding the Coolidge project and the RMHS feasibility study were included in their packet. Mr. Stohlman stated his displeasure that the length of time it is taking to receive the completed the RMHS feasibility study. Mr. Dahl also stated that he was disappointed that the study was not complete and hoped that RMHS was not becoming a second priority. Reiular Session -6- December 14, 1998 Dr. Harutunian advised that he had spoken with the architect and expressed his displeasure at the amount of time it was taking to complete the report. He stated that he would contact the architect again. PERSONNEL REPORT Dr. Harutunian advised the Committee that the personnel report was included in their packets. Mr. Richards advised the Committee that Carol Angelo, Administrative Assistant Curriculum would be retiring at the end of January and that she was an outstanding worker and would be greatly missed. Dr. Harutunian agreed with Mr. Richards and thanked Ms. Angelo for her dedication to the Reading Public Schools. ASBESTOS ABATEMENT Ms. Cavicchi moved to approve the expenditure of $74,000 to ESI for asbestos abatement at the Coolidge Middle School on the recommendation of the Superintendent. Mr. Dahl seconded the motion. The vote was 5 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Stohlman and Ms. Williams. SUPERINTENDENT'S EVALUATION Chair D'Antona stated that the evaluation form had been distributed to the Committee and she requested that completed forms be returned to her. She stated that she would put together a report once she had all the completed forms. CABLE ACCESS BOARD Mr. Dahl moved to accept the recommendation of the Superintendent to appoint John Marion to the position on the Board of Reading Access Television. Ms. Cavicchi seconded the motion. The vote was 5 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Stohlnan and Ms. Williams. MINUTES Ms. Cavicchi moved to accept the minutes of October 24, 1998. Mr. Stohlman requested that a paragraph be added stating that Mr. Stohlman agreed to come up with acceptable wording to o emphasis gifted and talented under the learning y-oal. Ms. Williams seconded the motion. The vote was 5 -0 Ms. Cavicchi Mr. Dahl Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Stohlman and Ms. Williams. Ms. Cavicchi moved to accept the minutes of October 22, 1998. Ms. Williams seconded the motion. The vote was 5 -0 Ms. Cavicchi Mr. Dahl Ms. D'Antona Mr. Stohlman and Ms. Williams. Regular Session -7- December 14, 1998 Ms. Cavicchi made a motion to accept the minutes of October 13, 1998. Ms. Williams stated that she was not listed as being _present and she was in fact present. Mr. Dahl requested that it be noted that Mr. Bond "emphatically and theatrically' supported the arts. Ms. Williams seconded the motion. Ms. Cavicchi made a motion to accept the minutes of September 28, 1998 as presented. Ms. Williams seconded the motion. The vote was 5 -0 Ms. Cavicchi Mr. Dahl Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Stohlman and Ms. Williams. Chair D'Antona stated that at Monday night's town meeting after discussion and debate town meeting voted in favor of the elementary building project. Chair D'Antona stated that she was grateful to town meeting for debating this serious issue and coming to a good decision she stated that again the wisdom is with town meeting. Dr. Harutunian also thanked town meeting for the support and he also thanked Russ Graham, Chairman of the School Building Committee, for his dedication and hard work on this project. ADJOURN At 9:30 p.m. Mr. Dahl made a motion to adjourn Ms. Cavicchi seconded the motion. The vote was 5 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Stohlman and Ms. Williams. Respectfully sub fitted, Harry K. Harutunian, Ph.D. Superintendent of Schools