Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-10-19 School Committee MinutesREADING PUBLIC SCHOOLS Reading, Massachusetts SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING REGULAR SESSION MINUTES OCTOBER 19 1992 CALL TO ORDER Chairman Matthew Cummings called the regular meeting of the Reading School Committee to order at 7:10 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 Representative Michael Shannon, and a reporter from the Chronicle. MINUTES Barbara Philbrick moved to approve the minutes from the September 14, and October 5, 1992 meetings. George Shannon seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous with George Shannon abstaining from September 14 and Susan Cavicchi abstaining from October 5, 1992 minutes. BILLS AND PAYROLLS The warrant for Bills was as follows: October 19, 1992 Bills $78,163.09 The warrant for Payrolls was as follows: October 16, 1992 Teachers $415,913.99 CITIZEN'S INPUT There was no citizen's input. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT Dr. Munnelly stated the renovation in the Conference Meeting Room is almost completed, and will now seat a fairly large audience. The Superintendent advised that art work by three of Reading students will be exhibited at the joint conference of Massachusetts Association of School Committees and Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, November 4 -7 in Hyannis. The youngsters are: Katie Radville Birch Meadow Elementary David Peterson Coolidge Middle School __ Monica Guidi Reading Memorial High School REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 2 OCTOBER 19 1992 Dr. Munnelly noted that the End -of- The -Year Report has been submitted to the State and thanked the Town Accountant Richard Foley for his great help. The Superintendent added the Office of the Town Clerk, due to over crowded precincts, is looking into the Field House as a central voting place. VTSTTnRq READING MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE Dr. Munnelly asked School Committee Student Representative and Student Advisory Committee Member Michael Shannon to introduce the other members of the 1992 -93 Student Advisory Committee. Members present were President of the Student Council and Regional Representative Sean Murphy, Greg Pothier, Alison Bastiani, Jennifer Massa and P. J. O'Leary. Alison Bastiani informed the School Committee that the Student Advisory Committee will have a haunted house at the high school on Saturday, October 31st from 1 -4. Jennifer Massa asked the children to bring their pumpkins with them as the Senior Class will supply decorations. Sean Murphy spoke in regard to the work of Athletes for a Healthy Lifestyle. He noted the athletes have taken a very important stand not to drink or use drugs. Sean also advised that this group, along with the Athletic Department and the Reading Drug and Alcohol Advisory Council, sponsored a chemical awareness night during which David Nugent, RMHS graduate and former Boston College Captain spoke with athletes and parents. Sean stated the Student Council officers along with their advisor, RMHS teacher Donna Pappalardo, meet regularly every Monday to discuss what their topic will be for discussion on Wednesdays with the other members. Other information Sean provided was that they are collecting cans for monies for Student Council; Pride Stride is a newsletter that states what the Student Council does; and that as a fund raiser they are selling Greater Boston books for $29. P. J. O'Leary spoke in regard to the Student Council Theme - "Roles, Rights, Reason, Responsibility: Striking a Balance." He noted that there will be new themes each year and that the 8 period days are for special activities to bring everyone together for discussions of the theme. Michael Shannon stated there would be a debate between State Representative Candidates Rob Krekorian and Tom Stohlman on REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 3 OCTOBER 19 1992 October 27th. Michael advised, to raise awareness, on October 29th the high school will have its own referenda for a mock election including: 1. An opinion vote for time and money for a teen center 2. Smoking anywhere in the high school 3. School clean -up 4. School Community /Environmental Day Reading Memorial High School Principal Rena Mirkin announced that AIDS Awareness Week began today and that trained people will be coming into speak. Michael Shannon updated the School Committee with future events such as: Spirit Week, Dress Up Days, Pickle Barrel Fund Raiser, and the Pep Rally which climaxes with the Thanks- giving Day Football game. Ms. Mirkin stated that the column for "High Happenings" has been revitalized in the Chronicle and that Business teacher Maggie Starrett is advising a student - orientated school newspaper - Orbit. JOSHUA D. EATON SCHOOL FACULTY ON GLOBAL CURRICULUM Dr. Munnelly turned this portion of the meeting over to Eaton Elementary School Principal Donald Farnham who informed the School Committee about plans for participating in a Global Studies Network. He shared Eaton has been designated a curriculum development school by the Nationwide Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD). Principal Farnham advised the School Committee that Eaton is one out of 15 schools selected from more than 100 applicants. Mr. Farnham introduced the faculty planning group that includes Reading Specialist Elia Marnik, Library /Media Specialist Barbara McLean, Art Specialist Bill Nicklasson, Music Specialist Alan Mosier, and not present tonight due to illness, Grade Four Teacher Michael DeLong. On an overhead Mr. Farnham explained the globally interrelated and culturally diverse world of the 21st century that requires an education for all students that will enable them to see themselves as -- HUMAN BEINGS whose home is PLANET EARTH who are citizens of A MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY living in an increasingly INTERRELATED WORLD and who LEARN, CARE, THINK, CHOOSE, and ACT to celebrate life on the Planet and to meet the global challenges confronting Humankind. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 4 OCTOBER 19, 1992 Mr. Farnham stated the key global challenges at the outset of the 21st century are in the areas of -- assuring human rights, improving and maintaining the quality of the environment, improving and maintaining health and well- being, and reducing violence and conflict. Bill Nicklasson gave a brief overview of Eaton's history of the program over the 1980's. He stated it began with one town's interest in Global Studies Grant, "New England Voyagers" with the Peabody Museum. This was followed by grants and workshops that have led to cultural exchanges with students in China, exhibits from Russia and third world nations, and now in the 90's to the ASCD experience. Barbara McLean showed off Eaton's traveling mascots, who travel with their own passport with students. Ms. McLean shared that Mascot Teddy Eaton will be leaving on a mystery trip with Superintendent Munnelly sometime this week. Elia Marnik explained that the ASCD held a workshop in Alexandria, VA this summer. She stated all 15 schools with their own teams interacted with each other. There were urban, suburban, rural global awareness teams represented that worked on a framework based on outcomes for their own schools. Alan Mosier shared that students are looking forward to their own future. He stated that students have sent questions to Peace Corps Volunteers in the Solomon Islands and are looking forward to receiving answers. Principal Farnham stated Eaton youngsters are involved with a National Geographic research project and will do a presentation in December that will demonstrate comparisons with another community's pet population. Mr. Farnham thanked the Rotary International for sponsoring Eaton's Global efforts. Mr. Farnham announced that the Eaton Global Studies Team are looking for sponsors to put together a packet for visitors about Reading. OTHER Dr. Munnelly advised the School Committee that there had been a fire at the high school on Friday night. He noted there was no structural damage, but since the area was torched it is being investigated as arson. The Superintendent thanked the volunteers that came in on Sunday and repainted the hallway. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 5 OCTOBER 19, 1992 OLD BUSINESS REVIEW OF PER PUPIL STATE AID DISTRIBUTION PLAN Dr. Munnelly told School Committee that he has submitted the grant request proposal to the Commissioner of Education and has begun merging the funds into our accounting operations. School Committee members reconsidered the vote for $58,000 for a portable. George Shannon moved $58,000 to purchase and equip the portable for Birch Meadow. Barbara Philbrick seconded the motion. Discussion included that this would not solve the overcrowding at Birch Meadow and that adding a will require funding additional teachers. It was noted that we need to start now in the budget process to include funding 2 portables and 2 teachers. Birch Meadow's PTA President Chuck Wayne presented a petition supporting a portable signed by more than 360 parents from all across town. FinCom member Nate White stated action should be taken now for the overcrowding to be alleviated by September, 1993. Roberta D'Antona moved to amend the original motion to allocate for the portable in concert with the recommendations of the School Building Committee to be reported in December. Timothy Twomey seconded the motion. A School Committee member stated he could not support the amendment knowing that the Administration would direct and expend the funds properly. The motion for an amendment failed with a 2 -4 vote. The vote for the original motion was unanimous. Dr. Munnelly stated the bid for the portable will go out in approximately six weeks. School Committee took a two minute break. OLD BUSINESS TOWN WARRANT STRATEGY PLANNING The Superintendent advised that there are four school - related warrant articles in the November Town Meeting. He asked that the School Committee review its articles and decide which individual members may lead the Town Meeting presentations. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 6 OCTOBER 19, 1992 Dr. Munnelly identified the articles: • Roof sections at Reading Memorial High School • Gas heat conversion at Coolidge, Birch Meadow, and Reading Memorial High School • Chair lifts at Coolidge • Future space needs Chair Cummings asked if it would be more beneficial to break out elements of the 4.5 million dollar space needs plan. r Dr. Munnelly replied stages need to be planned, sections worked out individually under one plan. In December the report will be given, and in January decisions on filing the appropriate warrants for Spring Town Meeting be made. ENROLLMENT PLANNING The Superintendent shared the revised school enrollments for October 1, 1992 and a projection of Middle School enrollments for the next few years. As Dr. Munnelly discussed middle school figures from the present through 1997 -98 he pointed out that we will be unable to firm up numbers until we have figures from Austin Prep - numbers are still speculative. He noted the possibility of needing additional teachers at the high school in 1996 and that we need to center on official numbers to give to the School Building Committee. NEW BUSINESS POLICY OF EVALUATION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT School Committee member Barbara Philbrick suggested that the committee take home the new information Dr. Munnelly presented this evening and come back with their input at a future meeting. REVIEW OF THE CAPITAL BUDGET 1992 -93 Dr. Munnelly advised that putting requests for capital improvements on the Capital Building Outlay Plan demon- strates that the requests have been thought about over a period of time. He noted that the Capital Committee now has a sub -com- mittee, chaired by Jim Keigley, and the Finance Committee hopefully will bring new attention to the Capital Plan and perhaps the community will set money aside for Capital Expenditures on a regular basis. A School Committee member pointed out that most items in 1992 and 1993 were postponed, and that less than 10% were funded. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 7 OCTOBER 19 1992 Chairman Cummings stated the Administration needs guide lines on how to put a budget together and to set up a goal this year for a Capital Plan. He added he would like to see what is annually appropriated as a Capital Plan in more detail to predicate a budget on those items. The School Committee needs to work in concert with the Capital Planning Committee and Finance Committee to determinewhat items need to be bonded. Mr. Cummings advised that members from these committees will join him for a tour of the schools on November 10th. He suggested that the list be redone and that each item be identified for School Committee budget purposes. Another School Committee member suggested waiting until after the School Building Committee comes back with its suggestions. OTHER Dr. Munnelly announced that he and School Committee members will be on a cable call in show to answer community questions on Wednesday evening. ADJOURNMENT At 10:23 p.m. George Shannon moved to adjourn to executive session for matters of discussion of strategy for collective bargaining. Barbara Philbrick seconded the motion The vote was unanimous. Susan Cavicchi Matthew Cummings Roberta D'Antona Barbara Philbrick George Shannon Timothy Twomey