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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-11-27 School Committee MinutesREADING PUBLIC SCHOOLS Reading, Massachusetts SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING REGULAR SESSION MINUTES NOVEMBER 27 1995 CALL TO ORDER Vice Chair Susan Cavicchi called back the November 20, 1995 meeting in the Superintendent's Conference Room. All members were present with the exception of Matthew Cummings. Also present were Superintendent Dr. Harry K. Harutunian and Associate Superintendent Dennis Richards. Mr. Stohlman moved to call back to order the November 20, 1995 meeting, Ms. D'Antona seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. MINUTES There were no minutes for approval. BILLS AND PAYROLLS There were no bills or payrolls to be signed. CITIZENS' INPUT There was no citizens' input. NEW BUSINESS PRESENTATION BY SCHOOL COMMITTEE ON SCHOOL SITE VISITS Mr. Twomey reported on his recent visit to the newly renovated Eaton Elementary School. Principal Page introduced him to the teachers. He stated there was a medical emergency with one of the students and was impressed at how well the classroom teacher, the teacher in the adjoining room and the principal took care of the situation. Mr. Spadafora had a work conflict on the day he was scheduled to do a site visit. Ms. D'Antona stated she went to Reading Memorial High School (RMHS) and went in and out of classrooms with Principal Mirkin. She said teachers did not have advance notice. She participated in the "Crucible ", a physics class, and a statistics class. She had lunch with the students and teachers. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 2 NOVEMBER 27 1995 Ms. D'Antona stated on another day she went to Birch Meadow Elementary School. She spoke with Principal Davidson and spent time with various teachers. She sat in on a Grade 4 classroom, a reading group and in the media center with a group of students doing research on Beethoven through Internet. She thanked the people at RMHS and Birch Meadow for two very exciting days. Mr. Stohlman informed the School Committee he taught classes at the Coolidge Middle School. He spend the day there. His favorite classes were science and math. In the media center work was being done on the Internet. Mr. Dinwoodie's class was solving a problem through words, drawings and solutions. He had pizza in the cafeteria. He reported the highlight of his day was when a student asked if he was a new teacher! Ms. Cavicchi reported she went to Barrows Elementary School. Principal Papandreou exuded the love that students, teachers and parents have for his school. She was received in several classes and stated the tone in the school is one of high expectations. The Superintendent repeated the sentiments of the principals and teachers stating they enjoyed the idea of School Committee members spending time in their schools. He suggested they do this again in May. HOME SCHOOLING Associate Superintendent Richards presented the request for home schooling that has met the conditions of School Committee Policy IGBJ /JEH Home Education of Students. _Mr. Stohlman moved to approve the requests for Home Schooling for 1995 -1997 for Grade 3 student Megan E. Garratt -Reed, Grade 5 student Gillian M. Garratt -Reed, Grade 10 student Aaron Gatta, and SP.ED. student, age 14, John Gatta. Ms. D'Antona seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. OLD BUSINESS BUDGET - FY1997 Superintendent Harutunian advised that all of the budgets from the principals and directors were turned in on time. The new software has put continuity to procedures. By keeping careful notes they will put together a budget manual for next year. He noted that several hours have been spent with Beth Klepeis, Richard Foley and Dennis Richards to put together a draft budget. He added that the School Committee will see the budget by the week of December 1 8th. There will not be budget meetings during the holidays. He plans to meet several times in January and have a budget hearing on January 20th if possible. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 3 NOVEMBER 27 1995 Associate Superintendent Richards stated the principals were happy to have the opportunity to discuss their budget with Mike Lombardo, Beth Klepeis, Richard Foley, JoAnn Testaverde, the Superintendent and himself. Ms. D'Antona stated it was an improvement that the special education people were included in building the budget for their services. Dr. Harutunian stated it will be a district wide budget for one more year. There have been problems with funding and not having a permanent director. In the next fiscal year budget there will be a block of money for each of the special education students in each building. Only the .4 students may need to be budgeted through the district. Mr. Twomey expressed concern over the School Committee's objective for equity across the school system. One of the things learned in the process was that a flat number of students in a school may not get an equitable number of staffing or supplies. NORTH SHORE EDUCATIONAL CONSORTIUM The Superintendent reported that Reading School Committee will become official members of the North Shore Educational Consortium on January 1, 1996. Mr. Twomey moved to appoint the Superintendent as its representative to the Board of Directors of the North Shore Education Consortium. Mr. Spadafora seconded the motion. Dr. Harutunian stated the Executive Director Kevin O'Grady will meet with the School Committee on Thursday, November 30th at 7:30 p.m. and Attorney Tom Neddle will talk about Special Education at 8:00 p.m. The Selectmen, Finance Committee, and the Executive Board of PAC have been invited to attend that meeting. The vote was unanimous. UPDATE OF THE RETREAT LIBRARY - OCTOBER .5, 1995 Dr. Harutunian shared drafts of the outcome of the meeting with the Town and School Librarians. He outlined major successful collaborative projects of the past and other past /present collaborations that work well. The Superintendent stated they were looking into the future and announced that the public library has been automated since 1984 through the North of Boston Library Exchange (NOBLE). He noted some of the automation of the school library media centers could provide: *access for all residents to an online shared catalog of school and public library materials *sharing of library resources among the school and public libraries through electronic interlibrary loan *access to other online research tools, such as fulltext magazine databases REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 4 NOVEMBER 27 1995 *access to the Internet for all students on the catalog terminals in their school library media centers *cooperative purchasing and collection development that could help to eliminate any unnecessary duplication of resources and expand purchasing power *centralized, electronic ordering and cataloging, when cost effective, could make better use of financial and human resources TECHNOLOGY - NOVEMBER 1, 1995 Dr. Harutunian outlined the School /Town Technology Task Force October 24, 1995 Meeting Summary. He stated they have had 2 meetings and anticipates a draft of the Technology Task Force information will be completed tomorrow and delivered to the members of the two different committees. The Superintendent reported that Ms. Klepeis suggested a Steering Committee be established. He added they are looking for more expertise for the year 2000. Mr. Richards stated they would use the consultant's expertise on how we plan to implement technology within the schools and town. Dr. Harutunian advised two types of computers are in use throughout the town. One is instruc- tional and the other is administrative. UPDATE OF HIGH SCHOOL - READING 2000 The Superintendent stated the Request For Proposal for Designer Services for a feasibility study for the renovation of the Reading Memorial High School (RMHS) and Hawkes Field House and athletic fields and pool becomes a blue print for proposals. In response to Mr. Stohlman's concern, Dr. Harutunian stated the approved work to be done at Coolidge is back where School Committee originally wanted it a year ago and that RMHS is right where it is supposed to be. Mr. Twomey asked whose charge it is to report to Town Meeting. The Superintendent stated the School Building Committee makes their recommendations to him and he recommends to the School Committee who have the final say. Mr. Spadafora requested that a calendar be forwarded to the Police Department. The Superin- tendent stated we need to have an open discussion on the architect's report at a School Commit- tee meeting then all groups will come to meet here. Mr. Spadafora stated the Police Department need clear information regarding dates. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 5 NOVEMBER 27 1995 Mr. Twomey wanted it clear to people involved with the process that the School Committee is the Awarding Authority. PRESENTATION OF FY1996 EXPENDITURES AND REVENUES Dr. Harutunian presented the updated School Budget Analysis for FY1996. The budget reflects the $214,000 transfer of money within the budget into Special Education. He added that the Committee will be receiving at the December 11 meeting an update on our revenues and projected expenditures for the FY1996 year. The Superintendent noted that two units contracts need to be finalized. He shared a draft for every line that will show the following: Budget or Budget Revenues or Expenditures Available YTD% Balance 7/1 Revisions Reimbursements Balance Mr. Stolilman noted concern that the review form would not show School Committee when they Should be alarmed at possible shortages in the budget. Dr. Harutunian agreed with the assessment of the new form and said more columns will be added so that any financial questions can easily be answered in the future. Dr. Harutunian replied the last 3 columns show the percentage already used consistent to time of year. Under Special Education there will be a minus figure amount. He added that Richard Foley and Beth Klepeis will be here on December 1 1 to explain the format. The Superintendent noted the biggest area to watch is Special Education public and private tuitions. Mr. Spadafora questioned the Administration's Professional Services amount of $6,578 for FY96. Dr. Harutunian stated it was for the Search for the Superintendent. The Superintendent advised that salaries need to be projected to June 30, 1996. One exception is the Special Education tuitions. He noted that we still have a 20% hold for School Committee to advise him if they want him to take money that has gone over the budgeted amount from that 20 %. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 6 NOVEMBER 27 1995 OTHER Dr. Harutunian stated he met with Barrow's Grade 2 parents to see what can be done for this year's class on into next. He added he may be coming back to School Committee with more educational assistants recommendation. The Superintendent informed the audience that RN HS band was not invited to the 1997 Rose Bowl. He added that Londonderry, NH's band was chosen. He is planning to invite Dave Bunten to the December I I th meeting. Superintendent Harutunian stated on January 3rd they will meet to discuss library maintenance, on January l Oth budget discussions and on January 20th the Superintendent and Town Manager will present their budget to the Budget Council. ADJOURN At 9:30 p.m. Mr. Twomey moved to adjourn. Ms. D'Antona seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Ms. Cavicchi, Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Spadafora Mr. Stohlman Mr. Twomey Respectfully submitted Harry Harutunian, Ph.D. Superintendent of Schools