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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-09-12 School Committee MinutesREADING PUBLIC SCHOOLS Reading, Massachusetts SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING REGULAR SESSION MINUTES SEPTEMBER 12 1994 CALL TO ORDER Chair Roberta D'Antona called the regular School Committee meeting to order at 7:40 p.m. in the Superintendent's Con- ference Room. All members were present. Also present were Superintendent Robert J. Munnelly, Assistant Superintendent Dennis Richards and a reporter from the Chronicle. ROUTINE MATTERS MINUTES Matthew Cummings moved to approve the regular session minutes Of August 8, 1994. Susan Cavicchi seconded the motion. Mr. Stohlman asked that the end of Paragraph 1 on Page 6 state, "Dr. Munnelly said he would provide this information." Mr. Cummings stated Paragraph 1 on Page 7 should include, "Our Education Reform Foundation amount will not be increased for FY94 or FY95, but will be recalculated and included for FY96 . " The vote was unanimous as amended. Susan Cavicchi moved to approve the regular session minutes of August 22, 1994. George Shannon seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. BILLS AND PAYROLLS The warrant for bills was as follows: August 29, 1994 - Bills - September 6, 1994 - Bills - September 12, 1994 - Bills - The warrant for payrolls was as follows: September 2, 1994 CITIZENS' INPUT Teachers There was no citizens' input. $155,086.64 $114,617.53 $ 65,266.21 $482,660.33 REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 2 SEPTEMBER 12, 1994 SCHOOL COMMITTEE CHAIR AND SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT Dr. Munnelly presented a preliminary report for the October 1, 1994 enrollment and class sizes. Projected Actual Elementary 1980 Elementary 1970 Middle Schools 841 Middle Schools 839 High School 990 High School 1005 Special Ed .4 39 Special Ed .4 31 3850 3845 (80 METCO Students Enrolled) PERSONNEL EARLY RETIREMENT INCENTIVE REPORT Assistant Superintendent Richards listed the official Early Retirement Incentive Program recipients as follows: Athletic Director /Physical Education teacher John White Coolidge Principal Al Lahood Parker Social Studies teacher Wilburt MacGregor Birch Meadow Grade 5 teacher Diana Kasarjian Topjian Parker English teacher Joan Anne Marshall Parker English teacher Virginia Collins He continued with the personnel report noting: Elizabeth Lucas, Mathematics & Science teacher at RMHS (M -1) Denise Carroll, Guidance at Parker Middle School Joyce Nemergut, Speech /Language teacher (15 hrs.) Grant $22 /hr. Anne Russell, Nurse at RMHS Amy Shine, Social Studies teacher at Parker Middle School (B -1) Christine Burditt, SPED Assistant at Coolidge Middle School (30 hrs.) Nancy Kerrigan, Office Assistant at Coolidge Middle School (30 hrs.) Ann Mottl, ESL at Eaton (7 hrs.) Martha Polley, SPED Assistant at RMHS (29.5 hrs.) Virginia Scott, Office Assistant at Coolidge Middle School (19 hrs.) Amy Swenbeck, Tutor at RMHS (34 hrs.) Nancy Taylor, SPED Assistant at Parker Middle School (30 hrs.) Deborah White, SPED Assistant at Parker Middle School (19 hrs.) PRESENTATION OF AWARD TO BARBARA MCLEAN BY STATE FARM INSURANCE BUREAU Dr. Munnelly proudly presented Barbara McLean, K -5 Library/ Media Specialist at Eaton Elementary School with the State Farm Good Neighbor Award for the month of September, 1994. He introduced the students who appear in the national publica- tions with Ms. McLean - Whitney McCloud, Grade 1 student and Danny Callahan, Grade 4 student. Not present was Lakeisha Taylor, Grade 3 student. The Superintendent saluted Principal REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 3 SEPTEMBER 12, 1994 Farnham and all of the Eaton Geography and Global Education teachers. Taking pictures for State Farm was Janet McFaddin and Richard Hayes who presented a check for $5, 000 in Ms. McLean' s name to the Eaton School. Mr. Hayes explained that State Farm recognizes one teacher per month and selects recipients from a large number of outstand- ing educators brought to their attention by national teachers' organizations. Chair D'Antona thanked State Farm representative and congratu- lated Barbara McLean for her innovative teaching techniques. PERSONNEL (revisited) The Superintendent announced that he has selected for the Special Education Director, William O'Connell of Stockholm, Maine. He stated Mr. O'Connell has a Master of Arts Degree in School Psychology from St. Lawrence University, Bachelor of Science Degree from Heidelberg College and other education at St. Lawrence University, University of Northern Colorado and Boston University. Mr. O'Connell will be reporting within 30 days. Dr. Munnelly asked School Committee to consider a salary for Mr. O'Connell of $60,000 per year. The Superintendent announced the selection of Jennifer Page as Eaton's new principal. Ms. Page was recently a faculty member at Wheelock College and has had a long career at Leslie College. Her education include studies at Boston University, a Masters Degree in Elementary Education from Harvard Univer- sity and a B.A. from Swathmore College. The Superintendent publicly complimented Mr. Gary Nihan for the wonderful job he has done as Interim Principal and the attention he gave to all issues relating to the open -ing and to the building construction. Dr. Munnelly advised that he will now begin the process for replacing the Coolidge Middle School Principal. He added it will take 2 1/2 to 3 months before an appointment can be made. The Boston Globe called the Superintendent today and he de- scribed how the community came together to plan only mandated bussing. He gave major compliments to parents and school crossing guards, and the DPW who plow sidewalks in the winter. Mr. Cummings asked if we had the Early Retirement dollar num- bers that may impact the budget. The Superintendent antici- REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 4 SEPTEMBER 12, 1994 pates it will be quite some time before we receive the bill for our share of early retirment. OLD BUSINESS SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE REPORT Dr. Munnelly expects needed furniture for some of Birch Meadow's classrooms and the library will come this week. The cafeteria is still not ready to serve hot food and more work has to be done to the entrance area and the roof. The gymnasium is storing some boxes and therefore not reasonably in use. He also noted that the landscaping is being done to everyone's satisfaction. He added that he has refused the completion date of November 1 and stated he would be meeting with the School Building Committee tomorrow evening. The Superintendent was informed by Eaton's Interim Principal Nihan that construction is moving right along, the building outline can now be seen. Friday's storm blew down 2 walls that were partially completed and a piece of the coupala sec- tion went through a classroom window and into a window shade. Fortunately no one was hurt. FIVE YEAR SCHOOL STAFFING REPORT Dr. Munnelly presented a year -by -year estimate of staffing needs which the Town Manager and he have used to project operational costs. This information should be put in a book- let for future reference along with an update of the budget cuts since 1989 with an index code before each area to identify what the present status is. Dr. Munnelly stated Department Heads for Fine Arts and Tech- nology would take care of system wide needs as enrollment gets larger and other additional staff will then be needed. SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING CALENDAR Dr. Munnelly stated the three things that need to be discussed tonight before the September 28, 1994 All Boards Meeting include: . Special Needs .$106,000 from School Choice /Early Retirement decision .$65,000 maintenance needs Mr. Cummings reminded School Committee that the warrant closes on October 11th or 12th and if we need more money from free cash we will need a warrant article. Dr. Munnelly hoped to discuss the above items before the All Boards Meeting so the meeting on the 26th could be used to discuss the issues for the All Boards Meeting. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 5 SEPTEMBER 12, 1994 Mr. Cummings stated that the Superintendent's Evaluation should be on the Fall 1994 School Committee Calendar for December. Chair D'Antona opened discussion for reorganization of the School Committee and asked Dr. Munnelly to take the gavel for nominations. Susan Cavicchi moved to nominate Timothy Twomey as Chair. Roberta D'Antona seconded the motion. Dr. Munnelly closed by acclamation and announced Timothy Twomey as the Chair for 1994 -95. Chair Twomey opened discussion for a Vice Chair. Susan Cavicchi moved to nominate Roberta D'Antona as Vice Chair. George Shannon seconded the motion. The motion was closed by acclamation for Roberta D'Antona as the Vice Chair for 1994 -95. Ms. D'Antona thanked the School Committee members and the Ad- ministration for their support over the past year. On behalf of the committee, Mr. Cummings thanked Ms. D'Antona for her commitment to the Reading Public Schools and the School Committee. At this time the new Reading Memorial High School Committee Student Representative for the first semester, Heather McDonald was introduced. Ms. McDonald will be the coordinator of student views and the Student Advisory Committee. SPECIAL EDUCATION UPDATE Assistant Superintendent Richards announced that he has worked with Interim SPED Director Jean McGah with the help of Ann Arington in the SPED Department. He presented the results for unanticipated costs that include a half time speech teacher. He added he would like to take money from the grant and money proposed here to make a full time position ($18,000) . Another unanticipated cost includes a half time SPED teacher at Birch Meadow ($15,000). Mr. Richards had provided a detailed list earlier of needs for SPED Assistants ($83,000) . Also a nurse for an adolescent for $42,300 and a nurse for a preschooler including transportation for $22,000. Subtotal $180,300. Out of District Tuition unassigned is $44,000 making the total need $136,300. Discussion followed regarding the adolescent and preschooler nurses and if there are new services included in the $83,000 SPED Assistant positions. Mr. Richards advised that we have REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 6 SEPTEMBER 12, 1994 been able to utilize some of the Educational Assistants for new positions as well as others that have been in the system. Dr. Munnelly replied that the budget was prepared without the benefit of Dr. Alexanian and the nurse was not accounted for. He advised that a new line item will be in the budget this year for Special Education nurses. When asked what we could do about the core figures, Dr. Munnelly replied it's not unusual for school systems to run in the red for SPED costs. I.E.P.'s will be reviewed with specific provisions with the new Special Education Director. He stated we need to keep within the inclusion plan and ask where treatment would take place and be aware of the best way to utilize re- sources available between each school. Mr. Shannon was told by the Superintendent that his request for a line by line of expenditures for last year and what is budgeted for this year could be available by mid - morning tomorrow. Mr. Twomey was told that it is hard to define SPED students in categories and those moving into town, by Dr. Munnelly. He added that special education students get services from age 3 on. The Superintendent asked the School Committee members for their input on how we handle the shortfall in speaking with the FinCom. He added with help of the Town Accountant and the Town Treasurer they are projecting teacher salaries to see if this amount could be reduced. That data should be ready for discussion on the 26th. Dr. Munnelly stated he would like to speak with each member and then circulate a list to shape for comments on the 26th. Mr. Stohlman said on the 26th we would need to know how to proceed for the FY96 budget process and then be able to present this at the All Boards Meeting. Mr. Cummings asked for the accurate shortfall figure, $307,000 and to contact the Town Manager to see who is setting the agenda for the All Boards Meeting and asked for answers to questions he gave him earlier. NEW BUSINESS HOME SCHOOLING APPROVAL Assistant Superintendent Richards informed the committee that Erica Hildebrand, Grade 1 student has withdrawn her name from the home schooling recommendations. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 7 SEPTEMBER 12, 1994 George Shannon moved to approve home schooling for Peter Botzko, Grade 2 and Susan Botzko, Grade 4 for the 1994 -1996 school years. Matthew Cummings seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. LONG RANGE CAPITAL PLAN FOR FY 1995 -2005 When asked why the Eaton roof was not included in the Capital Improvement Project Requests, Dr. Munnelly replied it should have been and will identify it as S.D. 1 C in the Long Range Capital Plan for FY95 -05. He reviewed other Capital Improve- ment Project Requests for the School Committee Long Range Capital Budget that was revised and updated September 12, 1994. The Superintendent stated on S.D. 2 the Parker Renovation should be changed from FY96 to FY95 for $13,712,000 amount. School Committee members requested the Superintendent to include money for the refurbishment of RMHS in the Capital Plan. Chair Twomey suggested a team to put together the information for FinCom. Dr. Munnelly noted that by 1998 we may have to buy 2 portables for Coolidge and also think about staff. He also informed members that snow blowers be replaced every other year. it was suggested that S.D. 11, the completed RMHS Principal's Office Renovation could be removed. JOSHUA EATON SCHOOL CHANGE ORDER Matthew Cummings moved that the Administration direct and pursue the Architect for the cost of $925.00 Change Proposal #4 from Castagna Construction Corporation. Thomas Stohlman seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. INFORMATION AND PROPOSALS APPROVAL OF THREE YEAR SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM Dr. Munnelly stated he received notice through Dr. Alexanian that the Three Year Program Plan was approved. ADJOURN At 10:20 p.m. Matthew Cummings moved to adjourn. Thomas Stohlman seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Susan Cavicchi Matthew Cummings Roberta D'Antona George Shannon Thomas Stohlman Timothy Twomey Ilweit , Et D. oI schools Saftry To The School Committee