Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-06-15 School Committee MinutesREADING PUBLIC SCHOOLS Reading, Massachusetts SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING REGULAR SESSION MINUTES JUNE 15, 1992 CALL TO ORDER Chair Barbara Philbrick called the regular meeting of the Reading School Committee to order at 7:08 p.m. in the Superintendent's Conference Room. All members were present with the exception of the Student Representative Michael Shannon. Also present were Superintendent Robert J. Munnelly, Assistant Superintendent Lynn M. Bak and a reporter from the Chronicle. MINUTES George Shannon moved to accept the June 1, 1992 minutes. Matthew Cummings seconded the motion. It was suggested and noted that the intent was for the Open Hearing minutes be merged with the Regular Session minutes as one packet. The vote was unanimous. BILLS AND PAYROLLS The warrant for Bills was as follows: June 8, 1992 - Bills - $134,324.93 June 15, 1992 - Bills - $ 62,292.15 The warrant for Payrolls was as follows: June 12, 1992 - Teachers - $411,953.14 CITIZEN'S INPUT There was no citizen input. PERSONNEL ACTION REAPPOINTMENTS On the recommendation of the Administration George Shannon moved to appoint the Elementary Assistant Principals, Reading Memorial High School Department Heads, Extra Curricular Differential Positions, Middle School Math Advisors, Audio Visual Coordinators, and Musical Advisors, the Elementary Curriculum Chairs and the District Library Coordinator for the 1992 -93 school year as outlined on enclosure C- 1. Susan Cavicchi seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES JUNE 15, 1992 On the recommendation of the Administration George Shannon moved to appoint the Athletic Coaches as listed on Athletic Director Jack White's memo, enclosure C -1. Timothy Twomey seconded the motion. Discussion followed regarding the step raises for coaches and the empty slots on the Assistant Coach positions for the girls and boys soccer teams. The vote was unanimous. NON - RENEWAL Assistant Superintendent Bak explained that because of restructuring the Middle School Department Heads will be reduced from eight to four, two department heads at each school serving both schools. George Shannon moved on the recommendation of the Administration that the Department Heads as identified on enclosure C -2 not be renewed due to budgetary restrictions. Matthew Cummings seconded the motion. Discussion followed. Ms. Bak advised that the department head positions would be posted tomorrow and shared that this cut saved $12,000 in the budget. The vote was unanimous. RESIGNATIONS Matthew Cummings moved to accept the resignation for the purpose of retirement of Barbara Feener, a member of the Cafeteria staff at Parker Middle School. Timothy Twomey seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. LEAVES OF ABSENCE Assistant Superintendent explained that Martha Moore a Reading Memorial High School Science teacher has requested a part -time leave of absence for the school year 1992 -1993. Ms. Bak added that Ms. Moore will teach 2 honors classes and 2 lab classes. A School Committee member questioned if a part -time secondary science teacher would be hired. Ms. Bak replied yes and consideration was being given to a science teacher who was laid off. On the recommendation of the Administration Matthew Cummings moved to grant a part -time leave of absence to Reading Memorial High School Science teacher Martha Moore for the 1992 -1993 school year. George Shannon seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 3 JUNE 15, 1992 Superintendent Munnelly advised School Committee members and the community of Assistant Superintendent Bak's resignation. He stated Ms. Bak has been hired by the Maine School Management Association as Associate Executive Director. The Superintendent also noted Ms. Bak will use her vacation time this summer and plans to leave near September 30, 1992. Dr. Munnelly advised that the position of Assistant Superintendent will be discussed at the next School Committee meeting. APPOINTMENT George Shannon on the recommendation of the Administration moved to appoint Susan Viegas to the position of Resource Room teacher at the Barrows Elementary School at the rate of Bachelors +30 Level, Step 5 for the 1992 -1993 school-vear. Susan Cavicchi seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. INFORMATION AND PROPOSALS (out of order) MIDDLE SCHOOL REDISTRICTING REPORT Dr. Munnelly informed School Committee that 6 families have volunteered to transfer their youngsters from Coolidge Middle School to Parker Middle School; 9 students will attend Austin Prep; 1 student will be returning to Italy; 1 student will be moving to New Hampshire and another will be moving in to the system. The Superintendent related that the enrollment figures have changed from 171 at Coolidge to 154 and from 123 at Parker to 129. George Shannon on the recommendation of the Administration moved to rescind the previous vote to move one time only 14 students from Coolidge Middle School to Parker Middle School. Timothy Twomey seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Principal Lahood thanked the volunteer parents who helped send out letters to the 1992 -1993 Grade 6 parents. Dr. Munnelly shared that tomorrow, June 16th will be move up day for all of the middle school students. MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPALS' REPORT ON GROUPING Assistant Superintendent Bak informed the School Committee that Parker Middle School has been involved with heterogeneous grouping for three years and Coolidge Middle School for one year. Ms. Bak stated that completed survey forms from parents, teacher assessments and specialist recommendations are included in the School Committee packets. Ms. Bak noted that students react in a positive manner in the heterogeneous groupings and that teachers want to continue the initiative. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 4 JUNE 15, 1992 Parker's Principal Delaney reported the packet data provided statistical results and made concerns apparent to teachers. Dr. Delaney stated that though this is more work for the teachers they feel it is a better system meeting the needs of youngsters on either end of the spectrum. He noted that special education students, who attend class with a support group, have risen to the task. Coolidge' s Principal Lahood stated that Level 3 in Math and Reading have been eliminated and that more youngsters are being challenged and are willing to take risks. Mr. Lahood noted that math students are coming in early for help, and that more students are competing against themselves. Both Principals agreed that appropriate curriculum supplies, manpower, continued professional development, and smaller class sizes would serve to strengthen the success of better structured classes. School Committee members thanked both principals for coming and suggested they come back in the Spring with an update. NEW BUSINESS (out of order) NEW ENGLAND ASSOCIATION FOR SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES (NEASC) ACCREDITATION PROGRESS REPORT: THE PHILOSOPHY Dr. Munnelly requested Reading Memorial High School Principal Rena Mirkin respond to the Philosophy and the Mission statement created by the Philosophy Committee for the NEASC evaluation. Ms. Mirkin stated the Reading Memorial High School faculty has approved the Statement of Philosophy and Goals that the Philosophy Committee have created. Ms. Mirkin, a member of the committee, introduced the faculty committee members that were present; Chair Mike Harney, Ron Howland, and Harold Bond. Mr. Harney pointed out a change in the Statement of Philosophy on Enclosure E -2 at the second bullet it will now read, "that meets the needs of all students, through comprehensive educational programs which promote individual fulfillment as well as encompass the complex interdependency of the world and community ". Mr. Harney advised that Reading Memorial High School teacher and committee member Janet Burne helped to put together the format as presented. He stated that they had looked at evaluations from the State, the Statement from 10 years ago, and other school system evaluations. They did student, parent /community and town surveys. Mr. Harney also shared, that at Ms. Mirkin's suggestion a copy from the statement of Philosophy and Goals of the NEASC evaluation has been framed and placed in each classroom. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 5 JUNE 15, 1992 Chair Philbrick stated the statement makes clear what expectations are and thanked the Philosophy Committee for their presentation. COMPUTER EDUCATION EVALUATION Assistant Superintendent Bak informed the School Committee that the Computer Evaluation Committee has been evaluating the Computer Curriculum since last spring. Ms. Bak advised that K -12 teachers have been trained to integrate computers into the classroom. One middle school computer teacher had been cut this past year and Laura Peterson the middle school computer teacher has been working between both schools, however Ms. Bak reported that replacement of the cut middle school computer teacher will be made this coming year. Ms. Bak then turned the presentation over to Elementary Computer Curriculum Committee Chair Joe Buckley, Reading Memorial High School Business & Technology Education Department Chair Dick Gillis, and Consulting Teacher of Computer Education for Reading Middle Schools Laura Peterson. Dick Gillis began presentation with the assistance of an overhead on the Statement of Philosophy and the Development of Goals saying, "The ultimate purpose of the computer education program is to help students understand computers and become computer users in order to assist them throughout their education and in their future." Mr. Gillis outlined the goals of Reading's Computer Education Program as developed by a committee of administrators and teachers for grades Kindergarten through Grade 12 as follows: .Understand and properly operate computer hardware and software. .Integrate the use of the computer in a variety of subject areas. .Develop the ability to produce a creative project using appropriate application software. .Acquire the necessary computer skills to support future educational or occupational endeavors. .Provide an awareness of the diverse uses and effects of computer technology as it impacts our society. .Become aware of the ethical concerns related to computer technology. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 6 JUNE 15, 1992 ELEMENTARY Joe Buckley continued by explaining the program organization, instruction and materials at the elementary school level. Mr. Buckley stated there are a total of 80 computers available for instruction at the elementary level. Classroom teachers provide computer instruction at the elementary level, use the software programs that are graphic and picture oriented. Mr. Buckley added primary students begin to use computers in their every day schoolwork; i.e, solving simple logic problems, writing stories, creating poems, or playing a spelling game. At the fourth and fifth grade levels, Mr. Buckley informed the School Committee that word processing and the use of more advanced software programs including geometry, crossword puzzles, time lines, and graphing programs are introduced. He added that the LOGO program, also introduced at fourth and fifth grade level, is a simple programming language which enables students to design and create graphics and text. MIDDLE SCHOOLS Laura Peterson then provided Commendations at the Middle School as follows: .Coolidge Middle School there is a networked computer lab which consists of 24 Apple IIes, one Mac File Server and one Apple IIgs which serves as an administrative station. Tele- communications capabilities exist in this lab as well as in the library /media center. .Parker Middle School there are two adjoining labs separated by a temporary partition. There are 15 Apple IIes in one lab and 9 Apple IIes in the other. Telecommunication capabili- ties exist in the library /media center. .All grade six students spend an identified time in the computer lab under the direction of the computer teacher developing keyboarding skills as well as formal instruction in the word processing segment of AppleWorks. The language arts teachers also bring students into the computer lab where some of what they create are compositions, research reports, favorite author reports, and letters. .All grade seven students spend an identified time in the computer lab under the direction of the computer teacher. During this time, the students become proficient in the use of AppleWorks word processing and are introduced to data base management. .During 1988 -1989 and 1990 -1991 school years students in grade eight had the opportunity to pursue their study of computers REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 7 JUNE 15, 1992 by selecting a computer elective, either five periods per week or two periods per week. HIGH SCHOOL Richard Gillis reported that the high school level computer courses are taught in three centrally located computer classrooms of the library /media center. He stated that two Business Education teachers and three Mathematics teachers share the instruction responsibilities for the five levels of Computer Education courses offered to all students at Reading Memorial High School. Mr. Gillis stated students and teachers from other departments within the high school also use the two computer classrooms for various course assignments and-projects. He noted that depart- mentalized testing for the programming and applications courses has been developed through a joint effort by Mathematics and Business Department teachers to help determine the effectiveness of their instruction and to plan changes in course content. In Computer Applications, Mr. Gillis added, students upon completion of the course, should be able to develop and use a spreadsheet for computations, create a data base and manipulate its contents; and create, revise, store, and print out word processing documents. C'nwrr.RNS Mr. Gillis claimed that concerns, due to the lack of financial support, were basically the same as they were in 1988. He outlined the Computer Committee's concerns as follows: . The absence of a comprehensive K -12 computer education curriculum. . The need for greater integration of the computer into all areas of the curricula. Mr. Gillis stated major areas being impacted by the financial con- straints include teacher training and staff development and the upgrading of hardware, purchasing of software programs, the main- tenance of current equipment and the purchasing of state of the art equipment. RECOMMENDATIONS Mr. Gillis identified the recommendations for the computer education curriculum. Provide the financial support necessary to support a comprehensive K -12 computer education curriculum. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 8 JUNE 15, 1992 Identify a plan that would enable the integration of computers in the curricula. FUTURE DIRECTION Ms. Peterson shared the Computer Committee's future directions: To use the computer as a natural part of the learning environment. To better prepare Reading students to function in a world of technology. Ms. Peterson stressed the importance of state of the art techno- logies and CD ROM, telecommunications at all levels. School Committee commented on the success from where we were to where we are and recognized the good integration especially at the elementary and middle school levels. Questions were raised regarding how long we could go without replacing the Apple IIe computers. The Superintendent replied not very long, that there could be more integration of other subjects if we had more computers. A School Committee member questioned the reasoning for the High School Computer Requirement. Mr. Gillis explained a student may not have retained the skill from earlier preparation through their high school experience. The School Committee members thanked the Computer Committee for a very informative report. INFORMATION AND PROPOSALS (out of order) INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC UPDATE Assistant Superintendent Bak reported that she had spoke with parent Debbie Wilson this afternoon regarding the instrumental music update. Ms. Bak stated the individual $125 fee has been paid by 230 students for a total of $24,042.50 collected and presently there are 38 verbal agreements that would bring the total to $29,192.30. The Assistant Superintendent advised the amount needed is $32,500. Ms. Bak shared that 101 students from Parker Middle School and 129 students from Coolidge Middle School will be participating in the fall. The Assistant Superintendent introduced the parents that were present who are involved with this initiative: Debbie Wilson, Linda Carter, Donna Harrison, and Judy Meagher. Ms. Wilson added that REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 9 JUNE 15, 1992 parents not were not present but should be recognized are Gretchen O'Halloran and Judy Clark. Chair Philbrick advised the School Committee would address the direction of the instrumental music program at its meeting on June 29th. Dr. Munnelly stated a revolving account would be set up at Town Hall for Instrumental Music. Chair Philbrick thanked the committee for their strong commitment and dedicated work. OLD BUSINESS FUNDRAISING POLICY School Committee suggested changing the wording on Enclosure D -1, Solicitation of Funds, KIA, at the end of line 5, Section #3 to read "must gain prior approval of the Superintendent." There was no vote taken at this time. WEAPONS IN THE SCHOOL Suggested word change from School Committee on Weapons in the School, Policy JGA would read: "It is the policy of the Reading School Committee that firearms, knives and other dangerous weapons are banned from school buildings, on school grounds, or school sponsored events in the interests of safety of all students, teachers, support staff, and general public." Second paragraph would remain the same as identified on enclosure D -3. There was no vote taken at this time. PASS VS ENROLL FOR COURSE CREDIT AT READING MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL On the recommendation of the Administration George Shannon moved that the language for all required courses be "Pass" vs "Enroll ". Timothv Twomev seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. NEW BUSINESS CAFETERIA BIDS On the recommendation of the Administration Matthew Cummings moved to award West Lynn Creamery the aggregate low bidder with the alternate deliver schedule for milk at $58,860 and straws at $575. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 10 JUNE 15, 1992 Roberta D'Antona seconded the motion. The vote was 5 -0. George Shannon was not present for this vote. Matthew Cummings moved on the recommendation of the Administration to award West Lynn Creamery the aggregate low bidder for ice cream at $13,438.25. Timothy Twomey seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Matthew Cummings moved on the recommendation of the Administration to award Nissen Bakeries the aggregate low bidder for bread and rolls, Items 1 -6 and for Items 7 and 8 to LaRonga Bakeries as described on Enclosure E -3. Roberta D'Antona seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. INFORMATION AND PROPOSALS ENROLLMENT UPDATES - KINDERGARTEN AND GRADE 1 - R.I.S.E. Assistant Superintendent Bak reported as of May 26th Birch Meadow has a projected enrollment of 101 Kindergartners; 48 will remain at Birch Meadow; 35 students will be assigned to Barrows; 18 students will be assigned to Eaton. The Assistant Superintendent added all available elementary classroom space is utilized. Ms. Bak informed School Committee that 11 youngsters have enrolled in the R.I.S.E. program paying $90 per month beginning in the Fall of 1992. She added that there are 2 pending enrollers and that it will not be necessary to have a lottery. SUMMER /FALL SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING CALENDAR Dr. Munnelly suggested the summer School Committee meetings begin at 7:30 p.m. School Committee members reviewed the calendar and suggested more Open Hearings at the schools and to change at least one meeting to a Tuesday or Wednesday in November and /or again in the Spring. Another suggestion by a School Committee member was to add another meeting to the June and July calendars and to switch topics around for the July meetings. Discussion continued regarding the Assistant Superintendent's vacancy. George Shannon moved to instruct the Administration to place a broad, generic ad in Education Week for the position of Assistant Superintendent. Matthew Cummings seconded the motion. Discussion continued. The vote was unanimous. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 11 JUNE 15, 1992 Dr. Munnelly directed a request to the television audience to volunteer to serve on a Selection Committee for specific perimeters for the Assistant Superintendent position. Chair Philbrick advised School Committee that a representative member is needed for the Recreation Committee. ADJOURNMENT At 11:35 p.m. George Shannon moved to adjourn from Regular Session to Executive Session for the purposes of discussing bargaining strategies. Matthew Cummings seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous.