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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-09-18 School Committee MinutesREADING PUBLIC SCHOOLS Reading, Massachusetts SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING REGULAR SESSION MINUTES SEPTEMBER 18 1995 CALL, TO ORDER ('hair Matthew Cummings called the regular session to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Superintendent's ('onference Room. All members were present with the exception of Mr. Twomey who was expected to arrive later. Also present were Superintendent Harry K. Harutunian, Town Manager Peter i leclenbleikner, and Student Representative Tom Dulong. ADJOURN At 7:05_p.m__Ms. Cavicchi ii�oved to adjourn to executive session for the purpose of union and non -union discussion., Mr. Stohlman seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Ms___C_avicchi Mr._('umni. —s Ms D'Antona, Mr. Spadafora Mr. Stohlman, Mr. Hechenbleikner CALL TO ORDER ('hair Matthew Cummings reconvened the regular session to order at 7:50 p.m. in the Superintendent's Conference Room. All members were present. Also present were Superintendent Harry K. Harutunian and Assistant Superintendent Dennis Richards. MINUTES Ms,_ ('avicclii moved to al)pr-ove the August 21, 1995 minutes. Mr. Stohlman _seconded _the motion. The vote was unanimous. Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Cummings Ms D'Antona, Mr. Spadafora Mr. Stohlman Mr. St-ohlman ,moved to approve the August 24 1995 minutes. Mr. Spadafora seconded the motion. ___The vote was_unaiimous. Ms. Cavicchi Mr. Cummings Ms D'Antona Mr. Spadafora, Mr. Stohlman BILLS AND PAYROLLS The warrant for bills were as follows: September 18, 1995 - Bills - $379,043.47 The warrant for payrolls were as follows: September 1, 1995 - Teachers - $518,339.98 August 25, 1995 - Biweekly - $105,996.09 REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 2 SEPTEMBER 18 1995 LIAISON REPORT Ms. Cavicchi reported there would be a meeting of the 766 Parent Advisory Council on September 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the Reading Light Department. Senator Tisei, Representatives Jones and Casey will also be present. Ms. Cavicchi stated she is also the liaison for the recreation department and if people have questions or suggestions they should call the Recreation Department. CITIZENS' INPUT There was no citizens' input. REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE CHAIR AND SUPERINTENDENT Superintendent Harutunian advised he anticipates that the work would be completed at the Joshua Eaton Elementary School by October 1. lie reported on the accident that occurred at the Birch Meadow Elementary School. Dr. Harutunian stated there isn't any violation and the insurance company will be exchanging inlornlation. The Superintendent announced the new Clerk of Works is William DeBartilamo. He has been hired through the Consultant Account for 2 years at $50,000 per year. 'The Superintendent continued by stating the Parker Middle School ground breaking will be in 2 weeks on October 5 at 6:00 p.m. Please let him know of anyone that you think should be invited. He noted the Boosters have asked for a School Committee member- to be on the Board of Directors. Ile asked that they call his office if they are interested. Dr. Harutunian suggested to the School Committee members that they use the thank you notes he recently had printed and included in their packet to show their appreciation to the public and other committee members. PERSONNEL. Chair Cummings stated the contract for the Reading teachers was ratified by their leadership on September 18th. He publicly thanked Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Twomey for working with him to secure this contract. M_s__D'Antona moved to ratify the teachers' contract for the time Period of September 1, 1995 - August 31_,__1.99$_ Ms._Cavicchi seconded the motion. Mr. Cummings also thanked Mr. Twomey, REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 3 SEPTEMBER 18 1995 Principal Mirkin and Mr. Richards for their facilitation of the meetings. Assistant Superintendent Richards also thanked the negotiating team and the members of the RTA. Mr. Twomey thanked the consultant Nancy Peace who helped make it successful. The vote was 7 -0. Ms_ Cavicelli_Mr_ Cu_mmingS_ Ms. D'Antona,Mr__Spadafora, Mr. Stohlman, Mr. Twomey and Mr. Hechenbleikner_ Ms._ Cavicchi moved to ratify the Educational Assistants contract from July 1 1995 to June 30 1998. Mr. Twomey seconded the motion. Ms. Cavicchi explained that it was mostly a stream Fining of the language. The vote was 7 -0. Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Cummings, Ms_D'Antona M_r_ Spadafora, Mr. Stolilimin.-Mr. Twomey and Mr. Hechenbleikner Mr. i lechenbleikner congratulated the School Committee for their cooperative process. Mr. Cummings introduced the new student representative to the School Committee, Tom Dulong and invited his input at anytime. NEW BUSINESS PRESENTATION BY READING MEMORIAL HIGH SC11001, RELEVANT TO BAND PERFORMANCE Reading Memorial High School Music Director Dave Bunten stated the RMHS Marching Band has been invited to apply for possible performance in the Tournament of Roses Parade for January 1, 1997. Ile informed the committee that the appropriate application materials were sent by the required date of .lune 20, 1995 and on Friday, September 8th they received a phone call informing them that RMHS was one of two finalists in New England. He added that they need to submit an additional video of the band and they will have the information of their status by November 1. Ms. Cavicchi asked about fund raising and was told by Mr. Bunten that it would be a major under taking - about $1300 per student. The Superintendent outlined the following important information if the band is chosen to perform III the Tournament of Roses Parade: I . They will leave after Christmas and arrive back on January 2, 1996. There will be one day loss of' school. 2. This year's seniors and next year's freshmen would be included. 3. We would make sure every_ one is funded. 4. The band would represent the Reading community. Principal Mirkin and Dave Bunten said they would be looking into a Steering Committee and if selected they would be ready to present fund raising events by January 1, 1996. As a side note, Ms. Mirkin added that Reading will be hosting a band competition on October 15th at 1 :00 p.m. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 4 SEPTEMBER 18 1995 C'ORRESPONDENC'E FROM TOWN MANAGER RELEVANT TO POLICE STATION Superintendent }larutunian shared a correspondence lie received from Town Manager Ilechen- bleikner relevant to the site across from the high school on Oakland Street for a police station. Chair Cummings asked for a volunteer from the School Committee to sit in with the group that is considering all sites and advise them if the location across from the high school is in fact a surplus. Mr. Twomey volunteered and asked if the school department first declares it as surplus property and then turn over to the Town. Mr. I fechenbleikner stated Town Meeting would do the transfer when it was determined the land was surplus and then School Committee would formalize later. He also suggested that there be neighborhood meetings so the neighbors would understand the functions of the police department. The Superintendent suggested a meeting with Principal Mirkin and Mr. Twomey. DISCUSSION ABOUT SCHOOL COMMITTEE AGENDA AND SCHOOL IIIGHIAGHTS Dr. I larutunian asked that the first school committee meeting every month focus on business and the second meeting focus on education. Mr. 'Twomey asked if that could be reversed and Mr. Stohlman asked if business, when needed, could be placed at the end of educational meetings. The Superintendent stated he would like to give principals some input on the school highlight meetings. Mr. Spadafora proposed to have a call -in time during those meetings. Mr. Twomey asked that the PTO's get the information out to their community for more participation. Mr. Cummings request- ed demonstrations from the children so everyone is aware of what the students are doing. A tentative list of meeting dates for the schools was suggested. OLD BUSINESS BUDGET FY 1996 The Superintendent stated the School Committee has spent a great deal of time discussing a technology coordinator. The Superintendent would recommend a K -5 technology position but lie REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 5 SEPTEMBER 18,199 keeps coining back to the shortfall of $277,000; therefore, he is not recommending the K -5 position at this time. Dr. Harutunian stated he would like to get both the Town technology task force and the school technology task force together. He asked that the School Committee move the $214,548 out of the outlined accounts on the enclosure to help offset the anticipated deficit in the Special Education account and to hold the amount at $277,528. Mr. Stohlman recommended the previously tabled motion be allowed to die. Ms_ Cavicchi moved on the revised budget that was received at the last School Committee meet= ing,_ showii�_ line item_ adjustment totaling $214,548 with a total budget of $18,21.3 000. Mr, Stohlman seconded the motion._ For the public's information Mr. Stohlman outlined the decrease in the Administration as $77,000, Regular Day as $75,000, Athletics as $12,500 and Custodial Maintenance as $49,329 and the increase to Special Needs as $490,000 and Support Services as $2,600. Discussion continued noting that in the Spring of 1996 the School Committee will approach Town Meeting asking for funds to offset the cost of Special Education for the amount that may be needed. A commitment was requested by Mr. Spadafora and Mr. Stohlman that the FY97 budget fund the technology coordinator. The vote was unanimous. Concerns will be addressed at the October 2nd School Committee meeting INFORMATION AND PROPOSALS Dr. Harutunian announced Killam teachers Karen Rickershauser and Pamela Chomsky- l- liggins recently had articles printed in the 1995 Whole Language Teachers Association Newsletter. Ms. Rickershauser's article was entitled Making Histoty "Our story" Through Literature: The Role of Fiction and Non-Fiction in a Fifth Grade Classroom, and the other written by Ms. Chomsky- Higgins entitled Reader's Workshop: Setting the Stage For Successful Readers and Writers in the Fifth Grade. I le announced the Technology Committees (Town and School) will be merged together. The Superintendent praised Deirdre Hanley, Reading Public Librarian, who has a 15 point plan she will be bringing to the Joint Library /Media Committee. ADJOURN At _9) 30 p.m. Mr. S_oadalora moved to adjourn to executive session for the continuation of_unioll and discussirn�.He_i�oted then would not be returning to regular session. __Ms_ Cavicchi seco-nded_tlie motion_ The vote was unanimous. M_s._Cavicchi, Mr. Cinimiros Ms. D'Antona Mr. Spadafora Mr. Stohlman, Mr. Twomey e ectful sub fitted Y Ha to Ian, Super- endent of Schools