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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-02-08 School Committee MinutesREADING PUBLIC SCHOOLS Reading, Massachusetts SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING REGULAR SESSION MINUTES FEBRUARY 8, 1993 CALL TO ORDER Chairman Matthew Cummings called the regular meeting of the Reading School Committee to order at 7:50 p.m. in the Central Office Conference Room. All members were present. Also present were Superintendent Robert J. Munnelly, Interim Assistant Superintendent Susan Wheltle, Student Representa- tive Peter Losinger and a reporter from the Chronicle. MINUTES Barbara Philbrick moved to accept the minutes of January 19 and January 25, 1993 Susan Cavicchi seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. BILLS AND PAYROLLS The warrant for Bills is as follows: February 1, 1993 - Bills - $41,198.05 February 8, 1993 - Bills - $96,252.33 The warrant for Payrolls is as follows: January 29, 1993 - Biweekly - $127,782.10 February 5, 1993 - Teachers - $415,068.34 CITIZEN INPUT There was no citizen input. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT Chairman Cummings took this opportunity to report that a New Audit Committee is being formed primarily to review the audit the Town does annually. The requirements are that a community member be appointed by the School Committee and a second member volunteer. Dr. Munnelly asked interested volunteers to call the superintendent's office. Mr. Cummings also reported that there would be an all boards meeting on February 9th to discuss each budget, prior to review of each budget. FinCom will then make its appro- priate recommendations to Town Meeting. Town Meeting will then take up the budget and predicated on their action a motion for an override could be considered. He advised that this is the last discussion before the closing of the warrant REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 2 FEBRUARY 8 1993 and the final opportunity for citizens to express their views regarding the budgets with the Selectmen, FinCom, and Town Manager. Dr. Munnelly congratulated student athletes Barbara Hickey and Shannon Rea for being selected to represent Reading Memorial High School at the 1993 celebration of National Girls and Women in Sports Day. The students were presented a certi- ficate of recognition. The Superintendent informed the School Committee that Killam School recently held a day long enrichment program, named International Peace and Cooperation Festival. He noted several of Killam parents displayed items from various countries, assembly performers, and presenters representing countries from Portugal, India, Germany, Greece, Israel, Bolivia, China, France, Sri Lanka, Colombia, Egypt, Korea and Ireland. Dr. Munnelly announced that Reading Memorial High School student, Kelley Buckley has been selected to attend The National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C. from February 23 to 28. Ms. Buckley is one of 350 outstanding high school students from across the nation at the conference spon- sored by the Congressional Youth Leadership Council. The Superintendent added the conference will culminate with scholars assuming roles of United States Representatives who will by debate, lobby, and vote on proposed handgun legisla- tion. OTHER no On the recommendation of the Administration, George Shannon moved to award the contract to refit the elevator near the auditorium at Reading Memorial High School to Stanley Eleva- tor Company, as the low bidder at $34,995. Barbara Philbrick seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. VTgTTnpq Chairman Cummings welcomed the visitors from the Reading Municipal Light Department (RMLD) . Mr. Cummings asked Reading Municipal Light Board Executive Director Len Rucker to intro- duce other members in the audience. They were Executive Chair Allan Aimes, Acting Secretary Bill Hughes, and members Dave Swyter and Bill Brown. Also present was Energy Service Division Analyst Ann Marie Brennick, who along with Mr. Rucker discussed and presented a report entitled "Plans for Motion Detectors and Potential for Relamping Schools." REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 3 FEBRUARY 8, 1993 Mr. Rucker explained the Conservation Awareness Project (CAP) and noted that heating, cooling, rewiring, insulation, or other activities unrelated to lighting are not included in this project. He noted that professional energy audit firms will be used and paid for by RMLD. Mr. Rucker added that the energy audit - results will rank recommendations by cost/ benefit, and the Town then has the option of implementing remaining changes at its own expense. Ms. Brennick went on to explain that the RMLD rates are very sensitive to wholesale power costs and that the NEPOOL requires that RMLD purchase enough electricity to meet their peak demand plus a reserve margin. Mr. Rucker explained the RMLD upfront and implementation estimated costs that include Reading, Wilmington, Lynnfield, and North Reading. He continued with the projects' schedule. To decrease electricity costs in schools, Mr. Rucker discussed the use of motion detectors to regulate lighting. Ms. Brennick described what a motion detector does: shuts off the lights whenever a room is unoccupied, . turns on lights when a person enters the room, . senses both heat and motion. Mr. Rucker stated they will survey the school buildings and provide the School Committee with their recommendations for light motion detectors and relamping which could reduce the schools' electric bill and conserve energy. Mr. Rucker ex- plained RMLD is municipally owned and thus limited, by statute, to the same 8% maximum return on either energy con- servation or energy production and that new legislation that would favor energy conservation is needed. A brief discussion continued and School Committee members thanked the people from RMLD for a very informative presenta- tion. NEW BUSINESS SUPERINTENDENT'S GOALS 1993 Dr. Munnelly asked School Committee members to review the goals he presented for January - December, 1993 and to come in at the next meeting with any changes they foresee as necessary to reach a mutual agreement. Dr. Munnelly went on to explain his goals as follows: The first goal, as presented, is to further the concepts about "inclusion" which were laid out in a Special Education Task Force Report, by carrying out in 1993 a reexamination of REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 4 FEBRUARY 8, 1993 mainstreaming readiness by each school faculty which leads in turn to a commitment to teach more inclusively in 1994. By virtue of this readiness assessment, timelines and financial commitments necessary to accomplish inclusion at each school will be prepared. Rationale and Significance: The issue of inclusion is another "cutting edge" matter by which the whole staff of the Reading Public Schools can plan its own change strategy for making the important changes needed for the 21st century. The second goal as presented is to support a systemwide commitment by the professional staff to evaluate the impact of instruction - - emerging from the recent completion of Learn - inq Outcomes at all levels of the system. The Superintendent will employ a variety of leadership activi- ties to encourage the professional staff. He will support teachers development and implementation of new assessments (portfolios, performance testing, presentations) which can be shared with parents and the general public. Rationale and Significance: Parents and the public want regular assessments of how well our schools are doing, and how well their children are doing. Objective unbiased rating by external agencies doesn't exist, and yet parents and other citizens want uncomplicated, reliable data. Dr. Munnelly advised School Committee of his Action Steps and his Outcomes to carry out both of these goals. A School Committee member questioned what other issues were considered by the Superintendent for inclusion as goals. Dr. Munnelly replied a simplification of procedures, how instruction should be carried out, and the breaking in of new staff. POLICY ON PROHIBITING SEXUAL HARASSMENT Discussion began on the draft policy prohibiting sexual harassment by any employee and /or student of the Reading Public Schools and the complaint procedures to accompany the policy. School Committee asked how students would be educated on the administrative procedures for reporting alleged harassment. Dr. Munnelly advised there would be workshops, through the middle school orientation program, through the student handbooks and existence of the policy. He added that a version of the policy would also be included in elementary handbooks for parents. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 5 FEBRUARY 8, 1993 A member stressed that confidentiality of information for all parties is most important. Chairman Cummings requested the Superintendent to make appropriate language changes and asked School Committee mem- bers provide the Superintendent with changes they thought pertinent before revisiting this policy. OLD BUSINESS GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS POLICY Barbara Philbrick moved on a first vote to accept Policy IKF the Graduation Requirements Policy, enclosure D -1 with the inclusion of page 2. Timothy Twomey seconded the motion. Discussion that followed included changing the word regulations in the first paragraph on page 2 to requirements, and Dr. Munnelly identified the course Exploring the Social Studies as being similar to an introductory social studies course. The vote was unanimous. SCHOOL CHOICE FOR READING Dr. Munnelly shared the Questions & Answers enclosure re- garding School Choice from the Executive Office of Education and noted that Reading Schools stand to gain an estimated $3,900 per student with a maximum load of 40 students at the high school level without adding staff or administration. School Committee followed with additional comments: Students and parents having a sense of other students from their own community Reading's appeal as a school system if tions take place questions and ownership with further reduc- Dr. Munnelly stated he would get the data on students who have left Reading Public Schools for private schools. The consensus of the School Committee is to evaluate and explore the School Choice options. INFORMATION AND PROPOSALS SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S ANNUAL REPORT Chairman Cummings thanked Susan Cavicchi and Roberta D'Antona for putting together the 1992 Annual Report of the Reading School Committee. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 6 FEBRUARY,8, 1993 SUPERINTENDENT'S ANNUAL REPORT Dr. Munnelly, in his annual report, thanked teachers, support staff, parents, and appointed and elected officials who even in these troubled economic times have recognized the importance of keeping up the quality of our schools, and then back up that understanding by devoting time, effort and funds to make "every child a winner. ADJOURNMENT At 10.25 p.m. George Shannon moved to go to Executive Session for the purpose of collective bargaining for union personnel and to further discuss the grievance of Frank Tyburc. Barbara Philbrick seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Susan Cavicchi Matthew Cummings Roberta D'Antona Barbara Philbrick George Shannon Timothy Twomey