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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-11-20 School Committee MinutesREADING PUBLIC SCHOOLS Reading, Massachusetts SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING REGULAR SESSION MINUTES NOVEMBER 20 1995 CALL TO ORDER Chair Matthew Cummings called the regular meeting to order at 7:00 p.m in the Conference Room. All members were present. Also present were Superintendent Dr. Harry K. Harutunian and Associate Superintendent Dennis Richards. ADJOURN At 7:05 p.m. Ms. Cavicchi moved to adjourn to executive session for the purpose of bargaining negotiations with union and non -union personnel Mr. Twomey seconded the motion The vote was unanimous. Ms. Cavicchi Mr. Cummings Ms D'Antona, Mr. Spadafora Mr. Stohlman Mr. Twomey RECONVENED At 7:55 p.m. Chair Cummings reconvened the regular session to order. OLD BUSINESS (out of order) CAFETERIA CONTRACT (out of order) Mr. Spadafora moved to support the Cafeteria Contract for 2 1/2% salary increase for themes July 1, 1995 to June 30, 1998. Mr. Twomey seconded the motion The vote was unanimous Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Cummings Ms. D'Antona Mr. Spadafora Mr. Stohlman Mr. Twomey Mr. Hechenbleikner ROUTINE MATTERS MINUTES There were no minutes for approval. BILLS AND PAYROLLS The warrants for bills were as follows: October 30, 1995 - Bills - $135,367.46 November 6, 1995 - Bills - $100,477.27 REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 2 NOVEMBER 20 1995 November 13, 1995 - Bills - $220,535.84 November 20, 1995 - Bills - $124,634.29 The warrants for Payrolls were as follows: October 27, 1995 - Teachers - $502,599.15 November 9, 1995 - Teachers - $490,439.59 October 20, 1995 - Biweekly - $125,836.23 November 3, 1995 - Biweekly - $149,673.25 November 17, 1995 - Biweekly - $139,634.74 LIAISON REPORTS Ms. D'Antona stated on November 9th she attended the Massachusetts Association of School Committees and Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents 31 st Annual Joint Con- ference. The theme of the event was "Success through Higher Expectations ". She attended three workshops; School Community Relations that was chaired by Jeff Beckwith, another that was chaired by Peter Finn, and the Chapter 766 chaired by the Director of Special Education Bob McArdle. At the end of the day she went to MASC Division I whose chair was Reading's Pupil Personnel Service Director JoAnn Testaverde. GIFTS Dr. Harutunian recognized and thanked two groups of people for giving gifts to the Barrows Elementary School. One was for several items the Toshiba Corporation donated and also gifts from the Durkin/Naughton and Haas families. CITIZENS INPUT There was no citizens' input reported this evening. REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE CHAIR AND SUPERINTENDENT The Superintendent acknowledged a letter of support for Assistant Principal Adreani from a parent who declared him a moderator in a recent unpleasant situation at Coolidge Middle School. The Superintendent congratulated Ken Brown, a former Killam student now attending Coolidge, for his review of Lois Lowry's book The Giver published in the Storyworks Magazine put out by Scholastic. Dr. Harutunian also mentioned that three of Killam's teachers, Brigid Ahern, Karen Macari and Katherine Maglio presented workshops to the Randolph Public Schools staff during their inservice training day devoted to Literacy. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES_ 3 NOVEMBER 20, 1995 He noted and approved Phil Vaccaro, Director of Athletics, request to recognize and honor the graduates, athletes, coaches, administrators, and friends that had a positive influence on Reading's athletic program by establishing an Athletic Hall of Fame. Dr. Harutunian added that the Headmasters Association recently elected Principal Rena Mirkin to its Association. They will have their Annual Meeting in January on the ETS campus in Princeton, NJ. Mr. Spadafora shared a fax he recently sent to the Superintendent regarding health issues, particularly substance abuse. He suggested being more proactive as a school system and as a community. A Youth Summit might include a forum of students from the middle schools and high school as well as representatives from the clergy, police, school department and elected officials to work together to find solutions. Dr. Harutunian stated such an event would be student run and organized. School Com- mittee, Selectmen and the Finance Committee would also be involved. He noted that the RMHS Principal and Assistant Principal Schettini support the concept. Mr. Stohlman supports a summit with a diverse group of students. Ms. D'Antona suggested they have clear goals and be inclusive. Dr. Harutunian added if they took a whole day with students it should cover all the issues. Mr. Cummings expressed concern in including the middle school students. PERSONNEL Mr. Cummings asked School Committee members to respond ASAP to the superintendent's evaluation form and to get this information back to him promptly. Mr. Richards stated there was an update included in the School Committee packet of the personnel changes that have recently taken place. Dr. Harutunian advised that the Pupil Personnel Service Director's position will have to be filled again with either a permanent or an interim replacement. He publicly thanked Dr. Testaverde and stated she will be greatly missed. A Reading citizen asked how someone for this position would be chosen. The Superintendent stated if it were an interim they would be chosen from the existing list without a search process and if they search for a permanent position it could take 2 or 3 months. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 4 NOVEMBER 20 1995 NEW BUSINESS UPDATE ON CAPITAL OUTLAY Dr. Harutunian presented the following changes be made by the School Committee regarding the FY97 Capital Outlay: The $216,000 for the roof replacement at RMHS be rolled over to FY98. This recommendation for a one year hold is until we have the feasibility study back on the high school in the Spring. Then we may be in a better position to determine whether we will seek SBAB reimbursement at 66% or pay for the roof replacement out of appropriations. In FY97, we are planning to change the high school and Coolidge boilers at a cost of $172,000. He recommended that amount remain, recognizing that we have a choice of either doing the high school or Birch Meadow boilers next year depending on whether the feasibility study says a major renovation of RMHS is appropriate. Therefore we will wait until Spring to determine if it would be Birch Meadow or RMHS that would have a new boiler in FY97. Under classroom technology there is $150,000 for technology from grants in the 10 -year Capital Plan. He added that he has not been able to find any grants even coming close to $150,000 each year and would like to remove the $150,000 grant line. He recommended that $500,000 be placed in the Capital Outlay request as our number one priority for FY97. This would include $150,000 for computers at RMHS, $75,000 for computers at each elementary school and $50,000 for modems, fiber optics and satellite dishes for K -12. As a second priority he recommends placing $100,000 for a modular classroom in the FY97 Capital Outlay for the Barrows School. Mr. Spadafora asked that other committees be exposed via a video on how computers can be presented so they can acknowledge how computers actually help the schools. Mr. Stohlman asked about classroom furniture that was on another improvement plan and ques- tioned the program at Coolidge to prepare them for the year 2000 as it will not do any good in the year 2002. Mr. Twomey stated we need to describe what is a realistic view - what we need and what is a reality. We need to discuss the bulging middle school population and address Coolidge Middle School and have it updated along with Parker Middle School. Mr. Cummings said we need to do something through FY2006. Make the appropriate changes to present to the Capital Improvement Sub - Committee. REGULAR MINUTES 5 NOVEMBER 20, 1995 Chair Cummings advised it was the same message as last year - Coolidge before RMHS. In regards to the media center, Dr. Harutunian stated Principal Doherty has found new space by moving the SPED office and asked if the committee wanted to move forward with an amount more than one million dollars to get SBAB's 66% for renovations at Coolidge. Mr. Spadafora asked for minutes that led up to the decisions on the Coolidge project. Chair Cummings asked to have Mike Lombardo directed to get some cost estimates. Mr. Stohlman suggested equalizing the library/media center with $250,000 as a place holder. Mr. Stohlman moved to conditionally approve the Capital Improvement Plan Ms Cavicchi seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. NEW BUSINESS PRESENTATION ON POLICE STATION Dr. Harutunian stated he, Mr. Twomey, and Ms. Mirkin have met with members of the Reading Police Station Selection Committee. Chair Bob Silva came as a representative of that committee and stated their intent was to set up this meeting tonight. Minutes have been hand carried to the School Committee's liaison, Mr. Twomey, so he would know their progress. He noted originally they looked at remodeling the present site. Their architect advised that they could not stay in the present building. Considered purchasing the property next door, acknowledged the traffic pattern was not good, and they looked at other locations. They recognized that they needed a site that would allow a large enough building and parking area and added neighbors on Oakland Street did not express any objection. Mr. Stohlman reviewed their criteria: size, obtain site within 2 or 3 years, reasonably accessible, and no surprises i.e. former dump site. Mr. MacDonald added they did not want to take property already on the tax roll, fiscal responsi- bility, public lobby to do business with the police, lockers and rest room facilities, day room that doubles for training, coffee, etc., booking area - all of which is inadequate now. It was noted that the Senior Center, next door to the present Police Department, was purchased with State funds. Architect Max Ferro who worked with the Billerica and Burlington Police Departments stated they have had positive feedback - nothing negative. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 6 NOVEMBER 20, 1995 Mr. MacDonald informed the School Committee that the shift change is eight personnel and asked if the School Committee had a need for that land. Mr. Twomey asked that the benefits and detriments to the school system be articulated. He asked the School Committee what's in the best interest for the school system to having the police department on Oakland Street. Ms. D'Antona asked it this was the only affordable location. Chair Cummings expressed concern over the fact that we might need that property at a later date. Mr. MacDonald stated they have the designs now but need to put together a site and a financial plan. He asked School Committee if they could give the Reading Police Station Selection Com- mittee a time table. Chair Cummings stated he would have to get back to the Reading Police Station Selection Committee, however, they would have to recognize that we may not be able to have an answer for Spring Town Meeting. Mr. Silva stated he would keep all the members updated as well as Principal Mirkin and Dr. Harutunian. OLD BUSINESS UPDATE OF PARKER PROJECT Dr. Harutunian asked Richard Radville, spokesperson for the Parker Project, to entertain ques- tions from the committee. Mr. Radville explained the progress for Phase One and noted a recommendation was given to Principal Dr. Delaney for the contractor to put back 4 or 5 items, i.e. tile floor. The Superintendent stated there were no problems with the soil and have not encountered pro- blems with ledge or other obstruction. There was a delay waiting for structural steel, but TLT assures us that they will be on schedule. He noted that we expect the steel to arrive in January and then things will accelerate with masonry work going on during the winter months. Dr. Harutunian stated TLT has been extremely cooperative. Dr. Delaney, Mr. Radville, Clerk of the Works have been working well together. Mr. Stohlman requested Mr. Radville to have a presentation of a life time analysis the next time he reports to the School Committee. REGULAR SESSION 7 ' NOVEMBER 20, 1995 OTHER Dr. Harutunian asked members of the School Committee to review their calendars and to mark November 27th for the next School Committee meeting, December 16th as a retreat day at Endicott College, and the three board meeting for January 20th. ADJOURN Mr. Spadafora moved to table the balance of the agenda items to the next meeting. Ms Cavicchi seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Cummings Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Spadafora, Mr. Stohlman, Mr. Twomey Chair Cummings advised that he wants the Superintendent's Performance Evaluation forms back to him by January 9, 1996. At 10:45 p.m. Ms. Cavicchi moved to adjourn. Mr. Spadafora seconded the motion. Tile vote was unanimous. Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Cummings, Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Spadafora, Mr. Stohlman Mr. Two►ney Respectfully submitted Harry K. Harutunian, Ph.D. Superintendent of Schools