HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-02-16 School Committee MinutesREADING PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Reading, Massachusetts
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
OPEN HEARING MINUTES FEBRUARY 16, 1994
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Roberta D'Antona called the Open Hearing Meeting to
order at 7:40 p.m. in the Reading Memorial High School
Library. All members were present. Also present were
Superintendent Robert J. Munnelly and a reporter from the
Chronicle.
INTRODUCTIO
Ms. D'Antona introduced P.T.O. President Tom Meharg and
welcomed the audience to the School Committee Open Hearing.
MISSION: FILL GAP
The projects the P.T.O. included in raising money and raising
spirits included:
$4100 in teaching supplies and equipment within
the last month
. $ 700 in Professional Development Fund
. last year copier $8,000 - $4,000 payment this year
. $153 for each Senior Team Trip
Awards for Honors Night
The financial resources came to the P.T.O. from:
. Dues $3,900
. Auction $7,500
. Spirit Dance $2,000
Also the high school P.T.O. has collaborated with the School
Department to acquire material from area corporations.
Gifts of computers to the high school were donated by the
Baumgartner family and Rena Mirkin.
SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS
Principal Mirkin introduced science teacher Leo Kenny, and
students Mark Maguire and Lauren Zenowitz.
With support from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
the Reading Vernal Pool has influenced vernal pool
identification around the State, and sponsored workshops in
thirty schools. EPA is supporting dissemination and spread of
OPEN HEARING MINUTES
2 FEBRUARY 16, 1994
vernal pool identification process to other schools in western
Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont and Pennsylvania.
Students Zennowitz and Maguire explained what a vernal pool
i.e. the organism found in a springtime pool. An interesting
discussion followed about the vernal pool certification
process.
Principal Mirkin, who also serves on the State Board of
Education's Common Core of Learning Task Force, explained the
rationale for the Common Core and laid out the task force's
process for developing a common core of learnings applicable
across the State.
In the discussion, the significance of Foreign Language
acquisition was a central topic. A second language and
artistic communication were explored in some depth by the
School Committee and the principal.
Issues of student drinking, student health programs and
student behavior was also discussed in the content of common
core of learning and the school's role in shaping appropriate
behavior.
Diversity, respect for self and others, and other ethical and
moral issues became a major discussion point about which the
audience and the School Committee exchanged perspectives.
ADJOURN
At 10:00 p.m. the meeting was adjourned.
Res edully mitten
v A
Roberta. Munnelly, Ed. D.
Superintendent Of Schools
Secretary To The School Committee