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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-09-14 School Committee MinutesREADING PUBLIC SCHOOLS Reading, Massachusetts SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING REGULAR SESSION MINUTES SEPTEMBER 14, 1992 CALL TO ORDER Chairman Matthew Cummings called the regular meeting of the Reading School Committee to order at 7:03 p.m. in the Central Office Conference Room. All members were present with the exception of George Shannon and Student Representative Michael Shannon. Also present were Superintendent Robert J. Munnelly, Interim Assistant Superintendent Susan Wheltle and a reporter from the Chronicle. MINUTES Barbara Philbrick moved to accept the minutes from the August 31, 1992 meeting. Susan Cavicchi seconded the motion The vote was unanimous. BILLS AND PAYROLLS The warrant for Bills was as follows: September 8, 1992 - Bills - September 14, 1992 - Bills - The warrant for Payrolls was as follows: September 4, 1992 - Teachers - September 11, 1992 - Biweekly - CITIZEN'S INPUT There was no citizen's input. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT $45,419.20 $22,661.78 $408,642.51 $ 76,937.10 Dr. Munnelly complimented Reading's staff and parents for the smooth start of the 1992 -93 school year. The Superintendent stated that Joshua Eaton people recently spoke on "Global Education" at the Rotary Interna- tional meeting. Dr. Munnelly announced that Reading's three National Merit Scholars' names will be forthcoming. Dr. Munnelly related that Reading Memorial High School PTO is planning its First Annual Goods and Services Auction on Friday, September 18th at the Woburn Elks. He also noted that REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 2 SEPTEMBER 14, 1992 the purpose of the event is to raise money for the various interests of the PTO, such as, the Reading Scholarship Fund, workshops for teachers, and contributions to the textbook fund. Arnold Berger has offered to match the funds raised at the auction. PPPgnNNPT. RESIGNATIONS Barbara Philbrick moved to table the resignation of Athletic Director Jack White. Timothy Twomey seconded the motion. Discussion regarding this resignation began with a decision to continue discussion later in the meeting. Both Ms. Phibrick and Mr. Twomey withdrew their motion. On the recommendation of the Administration, Barbara Philbrick moved to accept with regret the resignation, for the purpose of retirement, Dorothy Morris effective November 3, 1992 from the office staff in the Administration Office; for the purpose of retirement, cafeteria employee Lois Hurley effective September 25, 1992; and elementary teacher Dawn Avery effective August 31, 1992. Timothy Twomey seconded the motion. School Committee requested a list of the new cafeteria employees that have been hired. The vote was unanimous. Dr. Munnelly presented Jack White's letter of resignation as a half time Director of Athletics. Ms. Philbrick spoke in regard to the cuts of the Art, Music and Physical Education Directors that began 2 -3 years ago and questioned if this situation now needs to be revisited. The Superintendent advised that athletic enrollments are high - noting 23 teams competing teams, many having extended season schedules. He also stated Reading's citizens have requested Mr. White's aid in other areas, such as: Pop Warner, youth track meets, and youth soccer. Dr. Munnelly related other demands on the Athletic Director, including attendance at Saturday football, evening track meets and his support during tournaments. He asked School Committee to review Mr. White's salary and recognize the job needs as the Athletic Director, stating that the position time needs are more than 50 %. The Athletic Director stated that the soccer program alone has over 70 contests. He shared that in May, 1990 the Reading Schools' budget was in a fiscal crisis, and his position was cut to half time. Mr. White noted that it is impossible to do a full time job part time. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 3 SEPTEMBER 14, 1992 The President of Reading Boosters, Jim Murphy, related that there are 500 athletes, 1000 parents involved in the athletic programs at Reading Memorial High School and that Mr. White also has 60 coaches to evaluate. Mr. Murphy said, "When the position was made into a half time position, you didn't tell Mr. White which half to cut out." Timothy Twomey moved to table further discussion of Jack White's resignation as Athletic Director until a proposal from the Administration has been prepared and presented to School Committee. Roberta D'Antona seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. APPOINTMENTS A School Committee member asked for information on and appointment, that of Cynthia Lewis, Special Education teacher at Killam Elementary School. Dr. Munnelly explained the rationale for the education program and cost effectiveness of the Early Childhood Special Education Program at Killam Elementary School. He noted that the program is supported from special education tuitions and added that projections of costs will be reviewed with Dr. Alexanian at the end of this month. The Superintendent advised a mediator will come to Reading to observe our arrangements for the educational /medical services we are offering. On the recommendation of the Administration, Barbara Philbrick moved to appoint the following candidates: Donna Farrell as a Parker Middle School half time special needs teacher at the rate of Masters Level, Step 1; Marsha Gibbons as a Parker Middle School computer education teacher at the rate of Masters Level, Ste 2; Cynthia Lewis as a Killam Early Childhood Special Education teacher at the 3 /5ths rate of Masters Level, Step 1; Guy LoConte as a Reading Memorial High School Guidance Counselor at the rate of Masters Level, Step 1; Peter DiSalvatore as a Birch Meadow physical education teacher at the rate of Bachelors Level, Step 7; and Susan Marry as Barrows and Eaton Schools replacement nurse for one year at the rate of Nurses Step 1. Susan Cavicchi seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. NEW BUSINESS REVIEW OF POLICY ON ATHLETIC FEES Dr. Munnelly advised that our present policy does not mention a "cap" on family expenditures for athletic fees. He suggested that a family cap of 4 not to exceed a total of $280 REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 4 SEPTEMBER 14, 1992 registration fees per year should be added back into the guidelines policy JJA. Timothy Twomey moved to revise our policy JJA to include a paragraph in the guidelines that revises the family cap of $280 registration fees per year. Roberta D'Antona seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Barbara Philbrick apologized for giving citizens the wrong information regarding the reduction of fees amount. PROPOSAL FOR SEASON PASSES The Superintendent presented a suggestion from Jack White for season passes so more students and citizens might attend home games. Mr. White advised that senior citizens (65 or over) are given passes to attend any Middlesex League game. Discussion continued with a decision for School Committee to reevaluate the receipts at the end of the year. Barbara Philbrick moved to accept the season pass idea and to allow Jack White and his staff to work out the logistics. Susan Cavicchi seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. OLD BUSINESS DEVELOPING A PLAN FOR EXPENDING STATE GRANT MONIES (continued) Dr. Munnelly presented the recommendations for the use of the 1992 -93 Education State Aid that School Committee voted on at the August 31, 1992 meeting. The Superintendent noted that Reading is eligible to receive $363,900 as part of the $100 per student allotment and outlined the expenditures that have been approved so far. Teaching Staff $116,000 Reduction of Fee Burden 32,000 Elementary & Secondary Teacher Aides 48,000 Addition of Custodial 44,000 Textbooks 27,000 Committed $267,000 School Committee began discussion of the uncommitted amount of $96,000. One member requested consideration of reducing bus fees for the high school by $31.55. Dr. Munnelly stated that he had met with principals this afternoon on the question of elementary class size. He asked principals to review the May 26, 1992 version of the current REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 5 SEPTEMBER 14, 1992 Option C for the appropriateness of a portable. The Superintendent said that principals would analyze actual September enrollment figures and present a plan for alleviating overcrowding on October 5th. Dr. Munnelly asked if the School Committee would like to discuss the $20,000 for Professional Development and the $18,000 for Administrative Computers. School Committee members agreed that they needed to see all of the possible districtwide needs before spending the balance of monies from the state and requested he bring his recommenda- tions to the next School Committee meeting. REPORT OF THE SUB - COMMITTEE FOR ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT Ms. Philbrick reported that the sub - committee for the Assistant Superintendent position will meet again on Tuesday, September 15th at 7 p.m. in the Conference Room at the high school. She related that the sub - committee is in the process of reviewing the forty -six completed applications and are developing a timetable. NEW BUSINESS REPORT OF SUB - COMMITTEE STUDYING PROCESS FOR EVALUATION Ms. D'Antona stated that the sub - committee studying the process of evaluation of the Superintendent is coming to closure on the timeline. It was noted that the Instrument of Evaluation should identify: 1. Specific goals of the Superintendent agreed upon with School Committee 2. Specifics of an Executive Officer School Committee advised that they would have more information at the October 5th meeting. INFORMATION AND PROPOSALS GOALS DISCUSSION School Committee identified some of the major goals they will direct their attention to over the course of the year. • Space needs • Building maintenance at the high school • Renovation of the middle schools, Birch Meadow and Eaton REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 6 SEPTEMBER 14, 1992 Development of a plan for space management for the next 7 or 8 years Development of a maintenance priory list Chair Cummings suggested a Capital Planning Sub - committee, noting that an independent group might move more effectively. He added that School Committee can no longer wait for a capital plan vs a bonding issue. Mr. Cummings spoke of the need for more cooperation, meetings at the neighborhood schools, and dissemination of information about school economic issues broadly in the community. Dr. Munnelly requested that School Committee continue to include issues related to school reform in its goals. SCHOOL COMMITTEE AGENDA CALENDAR Dr. Munnelly shared a draft of the calendar he had prepared for the 1992 -93 School Committee Agenda. The Superintendent advised that Interim Assistant Superinten- dent Susan Wheltle will be discussing the Learning Outcomes at the next meeting. He added Graduation Requirements would be discussed in October; public interviews for the new Assistant Superintendent would be in November; the Health Curriculum Evaluation is scheduled for January; along with the Business Education Evaluation in May and Foreign Language Evaluation in June. Other issues to be discussed are school choice and reform. School Committee requested that Dr. Alexanian finalize his report on special education this fall. SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING CALENDAR Dr. Munnelly stated that the next School Committee meeting would be Monday, October 5th. He outlined a tentative calendar for neighborhood open hearings as follows: Tuesday, October 13,1992 - Reading Memorial High School Tuesday, November 10, 1992 - Birch Meadow Elementary Tuesday, December 1, 1992 - Eaton Elementary Tuesday, January 5, 1993 - Coolidge Middle School School Committee suggested some calendar changes - to continue with the proposed dates of October 13 and November 10, but to switch locations. Another change suggested was to move the December 1 date to Wednesday, December 2 and the January 5 date to Monday, January 4, 1993. To schedule a time within the September - January schedule for a call -in television program was also requested. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES OTHER Dr. Munnelly noted that include the Open Hearin Committee Welcomes You To ADJOURN 7 SEPTEMBER 14, 1992 revisions will need to be made to Hearing Outreach Program to the "School Its Meetings" pamphlet. At 10 p.m. Barbara Philbrick moved to executive session for the purpose of collective bargaining and advised they would not be returning to regular session. Susan Cavicchi seconded the motion. Mr. Twomey was not present for this vote. The vote was 4 -0. Susan Cavicchi Matthew Cummings Roberta D'Antona Barbara Philbrick R y bmitted Robert I Mu I e ly, Ed. D. Superintendent Of Schools Secretary To The School Comm tr