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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-06-09 School Committee MinutesC C Reading Public Schools Reading, Massachusetts SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES June 9, 1997 CALL TO ORDER Chair Susan Cavicchi called the Executive Session to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Superintendent's office. All members were present with the exception of Ms. D'Antona and Mr. Spadafora. Also present was Superintendent Dr. Harry K. Harutunian. Nurse's Union Mr. Twomey reported difficulties in scheduling a meeting with the Nurse's Union in order to present the School Committee's countero 5er. He will continue to try and arrange a meeting as soon as possible. Mr. Spadafora and Ms. D'Antona joined the meeting. RTA Dr. Harutunian reported that the executive board of the Reading Teachers Association had rejected his recommendations for shifting the teachers' in- service day at the end of the school year to during the school year. They also rejected the elementary and middle school instructional specialist becoming part of the bargaining snit. Dr. Harutunian said that they felt all of these items were appropriately discussed as part of contract negotiations. Dr. Harutunian also reported that it appeared the executive board preferred the "positional bargaining" model to the "consensus bargaining" model of contract negotiations for the upcoming talks. Dr. Harutunian left the room Superintendent's Contract Ms. Cavicchi initiated discussion of the Superintendent's contract, some suggested changes: 2.5% Base salary increase on existing salary of $90,000. Three percent merit bonus. Cost of living increase on travel reimbursement and miscellaneous expenses. Allow a vacation buyback of one week each year. Mr. Stohlman noted that the average superintendent's salary in the nine comparison towns is $87,067.00. and that taking vacation is entirely under any employee's control and that he did not agree with the vacation buybacks. Ms. Cavicchi said it was difficult and sometimes impossible for a superintendent to take vacation and that he should not be penalized for the amount of time his work requires. Mr. Twomey said that if it was impossible for the Superintendent to take five weeks of vacation, then we should --crease his base salary and reduce the vacation days. Mr. Stohlman argued for a merit system that established clear goals and yearend review. Executive Session Minutes Page 2 June 9, 1997 Mr. Spadafora and Ms. Williams both argued for vacation buyback of one week. Ms. D'Antona said that she thought the Superintendent should be given the discretion of taking vacation or a buyback each year. Ms. Williams moved that the contract be changed to allow a maximum of one week vacation rollover and one week vacation buyback each year. The motion was seconded by Mr. Spadafora Ms Cavicchi -Yes Ms.. D'Antona -No, Mr. Spadafora -Yes Mr. Stohlman-No Mr. Twomey -No Ms Williams -Yes Motion failed 3 -3. Mr. Twomey moved that the FYI 998 contract be changed to eliminate the one week vacation rollover, and allow buyback of any unused vacation at the end of the year, said amount not to be placed in his base salary and that this change be applied retroactively to the FY1997 contract Ms D'Antona seconded the motion Ms. Williams moved that the motion be amended to read: That the FYI 998 contract be changed to eliminate one week vacation rollover, and allow up to two weeks unused vacation buyback at the end of the year, said amount not to be placed in his base salary and that this change be applied retroactively to the FYI 997 contract Mr. Spadafora seconded the motion. Ms. Cavicchi -Yes Ms D'Antona -No Mr. Spadafora -Yes Mr. Stohlman-Yes, Mr. Twomey -Yes Ms. Williams -Yes. Amendment passed 5 -1 Ms. D'Antona noted that she voted against the amendment because she felt there should be no limit on the buyback. The amended motion was then voted. Ms. Cavicchi -Yes, Ms. D'Antona -Yes Mr. Spadafora -Yes, Mr. Stohlman-No Mr. Twomey -Yes Ms Williams -Yes Motion passed 5 -1. Mr. Twomey moved that the Superintendent be given a pro -rated merit bonus of $5,000 for FY 1998 Ms D'Antona seconded the motion. Mr. Stohlman noted that he felt the proposed merit bonus was excessive when compared with other merit increases in the system. Ms. Cavicchi noted that the Superintendent's evaluation showed above average to excellent marks in most categories and that this proposed merit bonus was in line with what the Superintendent had accomplished over the year. The motion was then voted. Ms. Cavicchi -Yes Ms D'Antona -Yes Mr. Spadafora -Yes Mr. Stohlman No Mr. Twomey -Yes, Ms. Williams- Abstain Motion passed 4 -1 Ms. Williams noted that she did not feel qualified to vote on the Superintendent's accomplishments of the past year. Mr. Spadafora moved that the Superintendent's base salary for FY 1998 be increased 2.51/6 over his base salary for FYI 997. Mr. Stohlman noted that the total compensation package amounted to a potential in- pocket increase of at least $7,500 (8 %) and up to $9,200 (10 %). He said he felt this was excessive. Executive Session Minutes Page 3 June 9, 1997 The motion was then voted. Ms. Cavicchi -Yes, Ms. D'Antona -Yes, Mr. Spadafora -Yes Mr. Stohlman -No. Mr. Twomey -Yes, Ms. Williams -Yes. Motion passed 5 -1. ADJOURN Mr. Stohlman moved to adjourn at 8:05 p.m. Mr. Twomey seconded the motion The vote was unanimous 6 -0 Ms. Cavicchi, Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Spadafora, Mr. Stohlman. Mr. Twomey Ms. Williams RECONVENED Chair Susan Cavicchi reconvened at 10:30 p.m. Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Spadafora, Mr. Stohlman, Mr. Twomey and Ms. Williams were in attendance. Mr. Stohlman moved that travel and miscellaneous expenses in the Superintendent's contract be increased 2.5 %. Mr. SOW= seconded the motion. Ms. Cavicchi -Yes, Ms. D'Antona -Yes Mr. Spadafora -Yes Mr. Stohlman-Yes, Mr. Twomey -Yes, Ms. Williams -Yes. Motion passed 6 -0. Dr. Harutunian rejoined the meeting and was presented the total package. He requested that the committee consider placing the merit bonus in his base pay. No additional motion was made on this request. Dr. Harutunian thanked the committee for its commitment to him and expressed his pleasure in working with the committee over the course of the year. Dr. Harutunian noted that he needed some clarification in the amount of money available to him in the jministrative salary pool. Mr. Twomey explained the calculation. Dr. Harutunian said he would need an additional $4,000 to accomplish what he hoped to. Mr. Spadafora moved that the administrative salary adjustment I pool be increased by $4,000. Ms Williams seconded the motion. Mr. Twomey said that he would like to avoid having to justify every administrative salary to himself and felt that the formula previously voted gives Dr. Harutunian funds to raise all administrative employees who are earning below the nine comparison town average, up to a 2.5% salary increase, and give up to $30,000 in merit pay increases. The motion was then voted: Ms. Cavicchi -Yes Ms. D'Antona -No Mr. Spadafora -Yes Mr. Stohlman -No Mr. Twomey -No, Ms. Williams -Yes. Motion failed 3 -3. Ms. Williams moved that the administrative salary adjustment pool be increased by $2,000. Mr. Spadafora seconded the motion. A concern was expressed that the system could lose employees if Dr. Harutunian did not have a salary pool to draw from. . The motion was then voted: Ms. Cavicchi -Yes, Ms. D'Antona -No, Mr. Spadafora -Yes Mr. Stohlman -No r. Twomev -No. Ms. Williams -Yes. Motion failed 3 -3. Executive Session Minutes Page 4 June 9, 1997 ADJOURN At 11:15 p.m. Mr. Twomey moved to adjourn. Mr. Stohlman seconded the motion. Ms. Cavicchi -Yes, Ms. D'Antona -Yes, Mr. S12adafora -Yes, Mr. Stohlman-Yes, Mr. Twomey -Yes, Ms. Williams -Yes. Motion passed 6 -0. Respectfully submitted, Harry K. Harutunian, Ph.D. Superintendent of Schools