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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-12-09 School Committee MinutesOFP Town of Reading i -A p I Meeting Minutes sJ9; /.YCO4pp4P Board - Committee - Commission - Council: School Committee Date: 2013 -12 -09 Building: School - Memorial High Address: 62 Oakland Road Purpose: Open Session Attendees: Members - Present: Karen Janowski Chuck Robinson Lisa Gibbs Jeanne Borawski Chris Caruso Time: 7:00 PM Location: Superintendent Conference Room John Doherty, Superintendent Mary DeLai, Assistant Superintendent Conner Traugot, Student Representative Andrea Nastri, Student Representative Members - Not Present: Assistant Superintendent Craig Martin Director of Student Services Alison Elmer Hal Croft Others Present: Town Manager Bob LeLacheur Gary Brackett, Town Counsel Doug & Elaine Webb Linda Jenney Linda Spence Griset Joan Spence Richard Davidson Jennifer Robichaud Al Sylvia, Daily Times Chronicle Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: John F. Doherty, Ed.D. Superintendent Topics of Discussion: I. Call to Order Vice - Chair Caruso called the School Committee to order at 7:02 p.m. He reviewed the agenda, announced the meeting was not being recorded because RCTV was not available and welcomed guests. II. Recommended Procedure A. Public Input (I) Mr. Caruso asked for public input. Page I 1 There was none. Reports I) 1. Student Student Representatives Nastri and Traugot shared information on the following: • Mrs. Moore's Meteorology Club raised over $1,000 for typhoon victims in the Philippines • The annual Drama Club Dickens Marketplace will take place on Saturday • The Leo Club participated in the Festival of Trees held over the weekend • Parent /Teacher Conferences were held today • Winter sports have begun • National Honor Society participated in the annual Town Tree Lighting on the Common Executive Session The Chair declared that an executive session is necessary to protect the litigation position of the body. Mrs. Gibbs moved, seconded by Mr. Robinson, to go into Executive Session to discuss strategy with respect to litigation, to conduct strategy sessions in preparation for collective bargaining negotiations, approval of minutes and to return to open session at approximately 8:00 p.m. The roll call vote was 5- 0. Mrs. Gibbs, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Caruso, Mrs. Borawski and Mrs. Janowski. The meeting adjourned at 7:04 p.m. Open session was called back to order at 7:52 p.m. 2. Liaison Mrs. Janowski updated the Committee on the recent meeting of the Human Relations Advisory Committee. The group has a new student representative and METCO Director Jason Cross spoke at their meeting. She also shared that January 20 is the date for the MLK Breakfast and Celebration. Mr. Cross will be the speaker at the event. Mrs. Borawski spoke about the Festival of Trees held over the weekend. She found it to be a great community event and to assist in the decorating of a tree representing the School Committee and Central Office was extremely gratifying. Page 1 2 Mrs. Gibbs also spoke of the Festival of Trees and was happy to see many student and community groups involved including the Interact and Leo Clubs as well as student performers. 3. Superintendent He shared that the Elementary Working Group will be meeting with KBA and Ai -3 to discuss the five options on Thursday evening. After the meeting the architects will prepare feasibility reports on the five options. The hope is to be ready to present a direction at the April Town Meeting. Dr. Doherty updated the School Committee on the second meeting of the NEASC Steering Committee. There are a few more districts that are suspending the process. NEASC has agreed to form a special committee to investigate the concerns of school districts. The Steering Committee will advise this committee. Dr. Doherty pointed out that today was parent conference day and he thanked the teachers for the hard work and time they put in preparing for this opportunity for parents to meet with them. B. Continued Business Second Reading of Policy JICFB - Bulling Prevention Mrs. Gibbs moved, seconded by Mr. Robinson, to approve and accept the second reading of revised Policy JICFB — Bullying Prevention. Dr. Doherty provided the answers to the questions on this policy. In response to Mr. Robinson's inquiry regarding parents being included in the policy, the Superintendent explained that the parents are not included in the statute. Districts would have no authority over the actions of parents. He also addressed Mrs. Janowski's question regarding programs and functions off of school grounds. The Superintendent explained that the wording is from the law. He also explained that the forms have been revised to address bullying. Mrs. Gibbs began the second reading. Mr. Robinson moved, seconded by Mrs. Janowski, to suspend further reading of the policy. The motion carried 5 -0. The vote on the original motion carried 5 -0. C. New Business Naming of Facilities Presentation Superintendent Doherty reviewed the three nominations. Page 1 3 The Mr. Caruso explained the process. The first presentation was for the nomination of the Fred C. Wales Engineering Lab. Elaine and Doug Webb shared the reasons for this nomination. Fred Wales was a visionary educator who taught in Reading for 42 years. Mr. Wales felt that students should learn beyond books and paper. His style of teaching brought students on a journey of problem solving and discovery, much like today's educators. He was a great advocate for encouraging young women to pursue the STEM fields. Mr. & Mrs. Webb feel that the naming in honor of Mr. Wales is truly fitting. Richard Davidson and Jennifer Robichaud presented their nomination for the Sally Mucica Library Media Center at the Wood End School. Mrs. Mucica was an educator in Reading for 39 years before retiring last spring. She received the Berger Award and was a finalist for MA Teacher of the Year in the 90s. In retirement she, continues to learn, pursuing a reading certification to be able to teach and tutor young learners. She is also mentoring student teachers that are pursuing degrees in education. Mrs. Robichaud said that Mrs. Mucica was an outstanding educator and made a great impact on her child. With her continued interest in reading and learning the Library Media Center at Wood End is the perfect location to be named for Sally Mucica. Linda Jenney, Linda Spence Griset and Joan Spence presented their nomination for Ernie's Way at Reading Memorial High School. Mr. Spence was a fixture in the Reading Public Schools for 35 years starting as a science teacher at the Parker Jr. High before moving to becoming the first principal of the Birch Meadow School and finally an assistant principal at Reading Memorial High School. Mr. Spence was a lifelong learner and ushered the computer age into RMHS. Mr. Spence attended many graduation ceremonies after he retired and never forgot a name of former students. Ernie's Way at RMHS is a fitting tribute to this man that gave so much to the Reading Public Schools. The Vice -Chair thanked the group for providing this information. Approval of RMHS Field Trips Mrs. Gibbs moved, seconded by Mr. Robinson, to approve the RMHS Model UN field trips to Harvard and Boston University in January/February 2014. The motion carried 5 -0. Discussion of Calendar for the 2014 -15 School Year At the retreat a Committee member asked the Superintendent to prepare two calendars for the next school year representing the traditional calendar and a calendar with no religious holidays. The Superintendent has prepared the calendars that are in the packet but cautioned the School Committee that 4 of our 5 bargaining units include Good Friday as a holiday in the current contract. Page 1 4 Mr. Caruso felt it was best to defer discussion until the next meeting because RCTV was unable to be at tonight's meeting. Dr. Doherty would like to bring a draft policy for No- Activity Days to the Committee for a first reading and discussion on December 161h III. Routine Matters a. Bills and Payroll (A) The following warrants were circulated and signed. Warrant S1423 11.27.13 $72,056.08 Warrant S1424 12.05.13 $384,767.69 Warrant P1411 11.22.13 $1,375,196.53 Warrant P1412 12.6.13 $1,395,990.96 b. Approval of Minutes Mrs. Gibbs moved, seconded by Mr. Robinson, to approve the open session minutes as revised dated November 25, 2013. The motion carried 5 -0. c. Bids and Donations Accept Donations Donation to the J.W. Killam School Mrs. Gibbs moved, seconded by Mrs. Janowski, to accept a donation to the Killam School from New England BioLabs in the amount of $2,100. The motion carried 5 -0. Calendar Superintendent Doherty shared that the FYI budget discussion will begin at the January 13th meeting. Mrs. Gibbs asked if questions could be answered by cost center rather than all at the end of the budget presentation. The Superintendent explained that questions were not submitted in a timely manner to allow Ms. DeLai and him to prepare the answers. IV. Information V. Future Business VI. Adjournment Move to go into Executive Session to conduct strategy sessions in preparation for collective bargaining negotiations, approval of minutes and not to return to open session. The roll call vote was 5 -0. Mrs. Gibbs, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Caruso, Mrs. Borawski and Mrs. Janowski. Page 1 5 The meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m. NOTE: The minutes reflect the order as stated in the posted meeting agenda not the order they occurred during the meeting. Page 1 6