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Home My WebLink About1995-06-26 School Committee MinutesREADING PUBLIC SCHOOLS Reading, Massachusetts SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES REGULAR SESSION JUNE 26, 1995 CALL TO ORDER Chair Matthew Cummings called the regular school committee meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. in the Central Office Meeting Room. All members were present with the exception of Roberta D'Antona and Timothy Twomey who was expected to arrive later. Also present were Interim Superintendent Dennis Richards and a reporter from the Chronicle. ROUTINE MATTERS MINUTES Ms Cavicchi moved to approve the minutes of May 22 1995. Mr. Stohlman seconded the motion. Mr. Stohlman made adjustments to pages 3, 4, and 6. The adjustments were noted. The vote was 4 -0 in favor of the minutes. Mr. Stohlman moved to approve the minutes of May 31 1995. Ms. Cavicchi seconded the motion. Tile vote was 4 -0 in favor of the minutes. Mr. Stohlman moved to approve the minutes of June 1 1995. Ms. Cavicchi seconded the motion. The vote was 4 -0 in favor of the minutes. BILLS The warrants for bills were as follows: June 30, 1995 - Bills - $74,927.31 June 30, 1995 - Bills - $ 6,365.00 PAYROLLS The warrants for payrolls were as follows: June 16, 1995 - Teachers - $1,563,144.55 June 30, 1995 - Biweekly - $ 47,885.30 REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 2 JUNE 26 1995 Interim Superintendent Richards asked Silva Gerety the School Committee's liaison to report on the work of the Cable Advisory Committee (CAC). Ms. Gerety along with Mike Longo, a member on the CAC, stated the contract with Continental Cable expires at the end of December 1995. She presented the list of high priority school needs and specific equipment that was not included on the handout. The Cable Committee's list includ- ed the following; Install a remote operated and controlled fixed camera on the wall or ceiling of the School Committee meeting room. .Increase staff from 1.5 to 3.0 full time equivalents. .Update and simplify editing capabilities. .Provide raw cable for new Parker .Provide cable access to the field house (residential drop). .Create a two -way audio /video connection between U of Lowell and the Town's Institu- tional Loop (via ZION HILL, Woburn). .Install residential signal reception in all classrooms of all buildings. .Continue to maintain a studio presence at RMHS. .Continue programming of school sports /activities /events. .In addition to a fully equipped and operational studio, maintain a fully equipped and operational mobile production van with the capability for live broadcast. Ms. Gerety added that she spoke with Senior Project Manager, Scott Goodrich of Corporate Connectivity Resources, Inc. He will share additional information with the Cable Committee this week. Interim Superintendent Richards stated the list reflects the discussion going on in the schools. He added that thestaff center at the high school needs a cable drop. Mr. Richards is interested in seeing how we can access the Institutional Loop to connect data to the Central Office and down town. Mr. Longo suggested that the people doing the actual negotiating with Continental Cable should find out the priorities. Chair Cummings said they would find out this information and put it on an agenda in July. Mr. Richards stated he would talk with the Administrative Council. Chair Cummings expressed sympathy to the family and friends of Killam student Joshua DaSilva. He stated donations for an art display case at Killam are being made in his honor to parent Laura Wilson, 27 Dana Road. CITIZENS' INPUT Lorraine Horn stated that there are several items in special education that may exceed the 1995 -96 budget and wanted to know if anyone has explored with families any of the therapy that children receive that could be done through their insurance provider. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 3 JUNE 2G 1995 Mr. Richards answered this has been explored. REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE CHAIR AND INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT Interim Superintendent regretfully reported that Jeff Cryan withdrew his name as the Coolidge Middle School Principal. Coolidge Middle School Screening Committee Chair Karen Burke stated we could not get a better field than the original finalists. Mr. Richards agreed with Ms. Burke and publicly announced his selection of Coolidge's Interim Assistant Principal John Doherty as Coolidge Principal. He added that the process for selecting a Pupil Personnel Director is ongoing and when it is completed he will bring candidates to school committee for interviews. PERSONNEL Mr. Richards presented the 1995 -96 coaching appointments to the School Committee, that the Athletic Director Phil Vaccaro and RMHS Principal Rena Mirkin recommended and that he has approved. OLD BUSINESS NEXT STEP Interim Superintendent Richards identified a total of $50,000 from the tuition and transportation accounts that were budgeted for this Next Step program. With the current projected impact on our budget set at $25,200 and the projected potential cost without this program set at over $74,000, Mr. Richards recommended that the School Committee approve the Next Step program for the 1995 -96 school year. Interim Superintendent responded to a question regarding equity for elementary/SPED assistants. Resources are divided among each school in an equitable manner so each child is treated to the best of our ability. The consensus of the committee was to approve the Next Step program. ELEMENTARY CLASS SIZES The Interim Superintendent listed the advantages and disadvantages of the 7 options that were developed by principals to relieve the Grade 2 class size at Barrows. 1. Wait to see if class size drops at Barrows in Grades 1 and 2. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 4 JUNE 26, 1995 2. Grade 2 Barrows students be allowed choice to enroll at Birch Meadow Grade 2 and remain through Grade 5. 3. Grade 2 Barrows students be allowed choice to enroll at Killam for (one year) Grade 2. 4. Leave as is and add support from reading teacher, Chapter I, educational assistant time. 5. Move seven (7) METCO first graders out to other schools and run classes of 27 -27 at Grade 1 at Barrows. 6. Run four (4) second grades at Killam. 7. Run a Grade one -two combination class at Barrows. Killam Principal Guerrette explained that when the budget was put together we saw the Kinder- garten class size as 313 now it is 347. An extra kindergarten class has been added to Barrows. Mr. Stohlman expressed concern for future years. When the existing kindergarten goes to first grade - he sees no relief. Mr. Richards stated we did not expect this number of students. With option #1 - there is some natural inflow and outflow and with option #2 to eliminate a situation that could linger at Barrows if students went to Birch Meadow. He added that option #2, a choice issue, could make sense for some parents looking for a long term commitment, Grade 2 - 5. Eaton school was suggested as another school. Eaton's Principal Page responded that 12 new children have enrolled in school since school closed. Grade 2 now has 91 students enrolled. She added that she would work with her colleagues to help in any way she could. Principal Guerrette stated we are over the Ensminger projection for kindergarten children. He advised that we revisit the projections again for all grades. Chair Cummings asked for comments from the audience Ellen Mountere stated there are 12 new families in her neighborhood and wanted to know if we had a policy on class size. Chair Cummings said if we had that policy we would then contractually need to respond to it. Mark Benison, a Barrows Grade 2 parent, said they would have to be here next year considering the numbers. An overcrowded grade at one school should not be cast. Suggested looking at re- districting or another half time teacher. Bill Carrick, a Barrows Grade 1 parent whose child is going to Grade 2, advised that his child went unnoticed for 8 weeks and did not complete an assignment along with four other students. He asked that we look into standards to teach, the student ratio, and space issues. Mr. Richards responded to a parent requesting the enrollment figures earlier by stating they are always changing and that the kindergarten screening does not take place until late Spring. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 5 JUNE 26, 1995 Mr. Twomey arrived. Another parent pointed out if a classroom has 27 students more than an aide is needed - will need teacher support. Barrows Principal Papandreou stated when the need is established that is where the educational assistant is placed. He advised to accommodate the RISE program more aides will be needed for other classes. Mr. Stohlman moved that the Administration first direct school staff to put into place some method to implement Option 2 and to include the Eaton Elementary School Secondly, that the Administration investigate future projections so one class doesn't have the full impact for five years. Thirdly, that School Committee make a commitment to try in November to consider additional support - particularly at Barrows Ms Cavicchi seconded the motion . The motion was unanimous. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENCE POLICY School Committee questioned the current wording and legality of the Medical Correspondence Policy Draft. Chair Cummings asked the Interim Superintendent to speak with Attorney Cohen. NEW BUSINESS COOLIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL WAIVER The Interim Superintendent discussed the Coolidge Middle School Waiver summary for 1996 -97. He stated the first year of redistricting is 1996 -97, the current grades seven and eight will have graduated and the current grade six will be in grade eight. He explained that the School Commit- tee approved the Redistricting Plan as follows- 1. Current Grade 5 students - option to go to Coolidge or Parker - siblings to Parker 2. Current Grade 6 students - option to go to Coolidge or Parker - siblings to Parker 3. Volunteer Program: one for one - transportation is parents responsibility There are seven families who live in the redistricted zone with a grade six child at Coolidge and grade four child at Killam. When they were given the option of Coolidge or Parker, each of the grade four parents selected Coolidge for their child to attend the 1996 -97 sixth grade class, increasing the class from 144 to 151 students. Mr. S adafora moved to accept the waiver that was presented to the School Committee dated June 26, 1995. Ms. Cavicchi seconded the motion. The vote was 4 in favor and Mr. Stohlman abstaining. CAFETERIA BID FOR BREAD AND ROLLS - AWARD OF BID Mr. Twomey moved to award the bid for bread and rolls 1 -5 as outlined on enclosure E -2 to Nissen Bakeries in the amount of $6,691.20 and 6 -8 as outlined on enclosure E -2 to LaRon Ta REGULAR SESSION MINUTES G JUNE 2G 1995 Bakery in the amount of $6,875.25. Ms Cavicchi seconded the motion The vote was unammOLIS. ADJOURN At 9:55 p.m. Mr. Twomey moved to adjourn to executive session for the purpose of discussions related to negotiations with union and non -union personnel Mr. Spadafora seconded the motion The vote was unanimous. Susan Cavicchi Matthew Cummim -,s Robert Spadafora Thomas Stohlman Timothy Twomey Res ectf y ubmitted, Harry 1. Harutunian, Ph. D. Superintendent of Schools