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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-07-10 School Committee MinutesREADING PUBLIC SCHOOLS Reading, Massachusetts SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING REGULAR SESSION MINUTES JULY 10 1995 CALL TO ORDER Chair Cummings called the regular session to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Superintendent's Conference Room. All members were present with the exception of Susan Cavicchi, who was expected to arrive later. Also present were Interim Superintendent Dennis Richards, the new Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Harry K. Harutunian and Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner. Chair Cummings adjourned the regular session to go into the executive session for negotiation discussions. The School Committee came back to open session at 7:45 p.m. CUSTODIAN CONTRACT Mr. Stohlman moved to accept the FY93 -96 contract with the Reading; Custodian Union. Mr. Twomey seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Mr. Cummings, Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Spadafora, Mr. Stohlman, Mr. Twomey and Mr. Hechenbleikner Mr. Stohlman, Ms. Cavicchi and Attorney Drachman were recognized for their arduous work with the custodians' contract. MINUTES Mr. Stohlman moved to approve the minutes of June 7, 1995. Mr. Twomey seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. (5 -0) Mr. Twomey moved to approve the minutes of June 14, 1995, Mr. Stohlman seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. (5 -0) Mr. Twomey moved to approve the minutes of June 20, 1995. Mr. Stohlman seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. (5 -0) _M_ r. Stohlman moved to release the executive session minutes of January 3; June 6, June 13 and November 28, 1994. Mr. Twomey seconded the motion. It was noted that since the custodian contract has been ratified more minutes will be released. The vote was unanimous. A5-0 REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 2 JULY 10, 1995 CITIZENS' INPUT There was no citizen input. REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE CHAIR AND INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT Chair Cummings stated he received a call from Police Lt. Bob Silva who is on the Siting Committee. Lt. Silva advised that one of the properties being looked at and controlled by the School Committee is the four acres across from the high school. If more develops lie will be in touch with the school committee. Interim Superintendent Richards informed the school committee that they will meet the three candidates for the Pupil Personnel Service Director. The public interviews will start at 7:30 p.m. on July 12. The candidates are: Gail S. Cahill - Assistant Administrator, Special Education Department, Lowell, Massachusetts Dr. Glenn Williams - Special Education Administrator, Athol - Royalston Regional School District Joseph S. Matta - Assistant Director of Special Education, Waltham, Massachusetts PERSONNEL Interim Superintendent Richards presented the personnel report that included the following certified personnel and non - certified: Lois Harkless, Art teacher at Parker Middle School - retirement effective June 30, 1995 Alice Lovely, Home Economics teacher at Parker /Coolidge - retirement effective June 30, 1995 Lauren Flaherty, Grade 2 teacher at Barrows - One year CRL - effective June 30, 1995 Anne Russell, Nurse at RMHS - resignation effective June 16, 1995 Amy Swenbeck, SPED Tutor at RMHS - resignation effective June 16, 1995 Kirsten Scherer, SPED Assistant at Coolidge - resignation effective June 16, 1995 OLD BUSINESS BOSTON GAS LINE INSTALLATION Mr. Richards introduced Boston Gas personnel Bob Cavicchi, Joseph MacMunn and Christine Keigher. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES_ 3 JULY 10, 1995 Christine Keigher reported that they met with Mr. Richards and Mr. Lombardo to try to give the school committee true operating costs. They offered installation of gas mains and services to the RMHS, Coolidge and Birch Meadow Schools at no cost to the School District. In exchange for this, we will require a commitment from Reading Public Schools to convert all boilers in the referenced buildings to natural gas by the end of year 2001. Mr. MacMunn explained the charts that were actuals from Mr. Lombardo. Once volumes are increased (years 2 -7) Boston Gas would then transfer over to a transportation rate or the school committee could choose to stay with Boston Gas. He outlined the benefits noting that students would not be sent home because of a breakdown in a school's boiler and the underground storage tanks. Ms. Keigher stated Boston Gas uses the current rates of gas and gasoline prices. She added negotiations could be made every year to choose the people who would be the schools' gas broker and transporter. Discussion followed with school committee asking the Boston Gas marketing people to come back and confirm their figures and costs to Mr. Richards. Town Manager questioned since most of the Town buildings are on gas then is the cost based on customer or site? Ms. Keigher said they are presently based on contiguous site but could come in the future as a customer. Mr. Spadafora asked if this information was in the Capital Plan. Mr. Hechenbleikner explained that the Capital Plan shows every two years two burners are replaced. By the year 2000 they show 8 boilers /burners replaced with an additional 2 boilers/burners to be replaced by the year 2002. He stated because the underground tanks are older and need to be removed the costs need to be considered. Mr. Hechenbleikner spoke about a State Grant the Town has applied for that would allow 50% reimbursement if you remove a tank and convert to another fuel. Only one grant per year is allowed. Chair Cummings asked Boston Gas to confirm and offer an explanation of figures and to find out about extending the program out one year. Mr. Cavicchi stated we are running out of time for this year if we go past the month of August to lay the installation of the gas line. He added they would be looking for a reply within the next 30 days. The Boston Gas Company representatives left the meeting. Ms. Cavicchi arrived. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 4 JULY 10 1995 BUDGET MANAGEMENT POLICY Mr. Twomey moved to approve the budget problem policy that was revised and dated July 7 1995. Mr. Spadafora seconded the motion Mr. Stohlman suggested deleting the second sentence in the seventh bullet. Mr. Richards stated this is not necessarily a complete list of shortfalls. Chair Cummings added this is the broad policy as opposed to small categories. Mr. Twomey amended his motion to exclude P►•ohlem items to ir►ch►de such areas as• IFPs h►►f►omers cr staff renluce►nenLs, hr►dsrelary coding areas and wiforeseen & discrelionary h►►ildi►f mc►inter►ance. The vote was unanimous, 6 -0. Chair Cummings publicly thanked Ms. Cavicchi for the closure of the custodians' contract. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENCE POLICY Mr. Richards advised the school committee that this policy will need to be discussed at the next meeting. Attorney Cohen's assistant has not completed the research. NEW BUSINESS COOLIDGE COMPUTER LAB - AWARD OF BID Mr. Stohlman moved to approve C & J Consulting computer lab bid of $51,308 for the Coolidge Middle School. Ms. Cavicchi seconded the motion The vote was unanimous 5 -0. (Mr. Twomey was not present for this vote.) WALK -IN FREEZER AND REFRIGERATOR - AWARD OF BID Mr. Stohlman moved to approve Jacob Licht Inc for a new walk -in freezer at RMHS in the amount of $32,730. Mr. Twomey seconded the motion The vote was unanimous 6 -0 INFORMATION AND PROPOSALS CABLE TELEVISION CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS - SCHOOL NEEDS LIST (out of order) Chair Cummings reported that Silva Gerety from the Cable Committee has asked the school committee to rank order the items on the list of school needs she passed out at the last school committee meeting. Ms. D'Antona advised to continue to maintain a studio presence at RMHS. Other suggestions for priority order were to create a two way audio /video connection between U of Lowell and the Town's Institutional Loop and to all classrooms in all buildings; provide raw cable for new Parker; and to increase staff from 1.5 to 3.0 full time equivalents. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 5 JULY 10, 1995 FY 95 AND 96 BUDGET PROGRESS REPORT Interim Superintendent Richards advised the policy that was voted on tonight will be put into practice. He noted that the State was extremely late in giving us money for Chapter I and new guidclincs. Town Treasurer Beth Klepeis stated the FY95 books have to be kept open until July 17th, 15 days. She looked at examples of areas where budget allocations for FY96 are less than actual FY95 expenditures noting the following: SPECIAL EDUCATION ($123,700) 1. School transportation of special needs students $30,000 2. Nursing $27,000 3. Physical therapy of special needs students $36,000 4. Substitute teachers $10,000 5. Independent psychological examinations $12,000 6. Equipment $ 8,700 BUILDING MAINTENANCE ($ 30,000) 1. Water and Sewer Bills $ 5,000 2. Potential fuel & telephone needs $25,000 (need to do an analysis) ADMINISTRATION ($ 12,500) 1. Contracted Services (Labor Counsel, Advertising) $12,500 SALARIES ($40,000 + ? )) 1. Substitutes $40,000 2. Unallocated salaries $133,000 (reduced $43,000) ?? (Is this adequate for raises) TOTAL OF MAJOR AREAS OF POTENTIAL SHORTFALL $206,200 + ?? POSSIBLE OFFSETS TO POTENTIAL SHORTFALLS ($274,000) 1. Hold capital items (computers /technology) ($100,000) & Tech Coord. & Supplies ($88,000) $188,000 2. FY96 Bldg. Maint. budget for Maint. of Bldgs exceeds FY95 exp. $ 86,000 REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 6 JULY 10 1995 Ms. Klepcis added a line item for computer equipment in FY96 budget may need to be added. Interim Superintendent Richards went over the FY96 Budget Revisions Summary that will provide us in early fall an analysis we can build our budget on. Chair Cummings suggested to have a meeting with the Finance Committee the last week of August. Mr. Richards asked if we could move ahead on the 1.5 full time equivalency for (5) Art, (5) Music and (5) Physical Education for $45,000; the 2 full time equivalency for Special Education Staff (5) Speech, (5) Birch Meadow and (1) RMHS for $30,000; 1 full time equivalency for RMI IS Science, Foreign Language and English for $30,000. He outlined 3 chunks for Special Education: • Out of district • Transportation out of district • Educational Assistants Mr. Richards noted with the NEXT STEP Program there is a potential savings of $20,000. Mr. Stohlman emphasized the promise the school committee made to FinCom to not hire any new teachers until August. Mr. Spadafora suggested sending a memo to FinCom so they would be aware. Mr. Twomey stated if we are going to release the staff that Mr. Richards is recommending then we need to put $120,000 on hold. Mr. Stohlman suggested the $135,000 of Capital Items be put on hold. Ms. Klepeis stated she would very much like to work with the school committee on the cost of benefits. Mr. Richards stated if the school committee will give him the latitude to pick out items to put on hold, lie will make up a list for them to prioritize. He pointed out some of the items that could be placed on hold in the Capital and Maintenance Budgets - i.e. Fire Alarm, Ceiling Tile, Energy Computers, School Vehicle, and High School Study . Mr. Stohlman moved to approve the 1.5 full time equivalency for Art Music and Physical Education 2 full time equivalency for Special Education Staff( 5) Speech (5) Birch Meadow and (1) RMHS and 1 full time equivalency for RMHS Sciences Foreign Langua -ge and English and that we nut an additional $135,000 on hold in the Capital and Maintenance Budget Mr. Twomey seconded the motion. He suggested going to FinCom and asking for this money. The vote was unanimous, 6 -0. Mr. Richards advised the school committee that Chapter I has been cut by $10,000 and that it has two new, stricter guidelines for funding distributions. First, the poverty level must be greater than early guidelines. This is why Coolidge, Parker and Birch Meadow are no longer eligible. Second, once receiving schools are identified, the funding must be distributed by a formula based on free REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 7 JULY 10, 1995 and reduced lunch numbers. This is why Killam will received more of the money than Eaton, and Eaton more than Barrows. He stated we can do one of two things with their descriptions: 1. Request additional funding from the Town in the Fall to cover these services. Although, I should mention that Charlie and Paul felt that some positions "on hold" due to budget constraints are a higher priority for funding that Chapter I losses. They recommended that a funding request to the town be prioritized. 2. Meet with Richard Foley and the Principals to devise a reallocation of resources from some of the Chapter I "have" schools to some of the "have not" Chapter I schools. The major problem with this suggestion is that Chapter I guidelines do not allow Chapter I funds to supplant local funds. This redistribution could look like supplanting. This is why it would be wise to involve Richard Foley's advice on this option. In the end, after all was said, it looks like our three schools - Coolidge, Parker and Birch Meadow will lose services unless we can secure additional funding of $33,900 from the Town. Mr. Richards explained that when the program stops in Grade 4 & 5 it is considered a break in services. ADJOURN At 11:20 p.m. Mr. Spadafora moved to adjourn to executive session for the purpose of discussion of neaotiations with union and non -union staff. Ms. Cavicchi seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Susan Cavicchi Matthew Cummings Roberta D'Antona Robert Spadafora Thomas Stohlman Timothy Twomey Re,s�p ctfull mitted, K Harry K. Harutunian, Ph. D. Superintendent of Schools