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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-11-02 School Committee MinutesREADING PUBLIC SCHOOLS Reading, Massachusetts SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING REGULAR SESSION MINUTES NOVEMBER 2, 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 with the exception of Student Representative Michael Shannon. Also present were Superintendent Robert J. Munneily, Interim Assistant Superintendent Susan Wheltle, and a reporter from the Chronicle. MINUTES Barbara Philbrick moved to accept the minutes from the Open Hearing on October 14, 1992. George Shannon seconded the motion. The vote was 5 in favor with 1 abstention. BILLS AND PAYROLLS The warrant for Bills was as follows: November 2, 1992 - Bills - The warrant for Payrolls was as follows: October 30, 1992 CITIZEN INPUT There was no citizen input. GIFTS Teachers $97,714.30 $423,039.77 Interim Assistant Superintendent Susan Wheltle reported to the School Committee that Robert Paltier of Woburn recently gave to Killam Elementary School an Apple IIe computer. George Shannon moved to accept and thank Robert Paltier for the gift of a computer to Killam Elementary School. Susan Cavicchi seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT TEACHER RECOGNITION Interim Assistant Superintendent Susan Wheltle congratulated Janet Burne, English Teacher at Reading Memorial High School and Thomas Hoffrage, Grade Five Teacher at Barrows School, who REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 2 NOVEMBER 2, 1992 were included in the 1992 second edition of Who's Who Among America's Teachers. Ms. Wheltle stated all of the 65,000 listed teachers from grades K -12 were selected by one or more former students who themselves were listed in either WHO' S WHO AMONG AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS or THE NATIONAL DEAN'S LIST. ELECTION WEEK AT RMHS Ms. Wheltle reported that the Reading High community held a mock election on Thursday, October 29th. She stated that this was a very realistic election, complete with voting booths and machinery, and brochures explaining the ballot questions. The Interim Assistant Superintendent stated that over 83% of the Reading High community voted and the results are as follows: President: Clinton /Gore ..................505 Perot /Stockdale ...............228 Bush /Quayle ...................176 Representative to the General Court: Krekorian .....................656 Stohlman ......................263 Candidate for Representative to Student Government Day Alana Nappi Alternate - Keri Foxon Ms. Wheltle added that out of the four proposals on the questionnaire the following two did not pass: Support of the Reading Recreation Committee in its attempt for a Teen Center in Reading, and . The a question asking if students would be willing to contribute $10.00 to show their support for the proposed teen center. Ms. Wheltle informed the School Committee that the following two proposals passed overwhelmingly: To change the school policy and create harsher penalties for students who are found to be smoking in school. . To establish a committee to look into the possibility of requiring all students, faculty, and staff at Reading to come together as one community and clean up and improve the appearance of the entire school in the Spring, 1992. VISTTnRS Dr. Munnelly noted that the volunteer program Understanding Handicaps was founded by Judy LeBlanc, who now acts as an advisor. The Superintendent recognized the members of the program who were present. President Nancy Radville introduced Volunteer Coordinator, Judy LeBlanc; the Vice President, Kay Durkin Naughton; and Curriculum Coordinator, Gretchen O'Halloran. Ms. Radville stated the program has over 150 volunteers and is self funded. She added some of the ways money is raised is through the various PTOs, fund raisers, the School Committee waiver of rental fees, a walk -a -thon, along with generous donators. Ms. LeBlanc advised that Understanding Handicaps is divided into five units: Blindness, Deafness, Physical Limitations, Mental Retardation and Invisible Disabilities, which includes diabetes, asthma, epilepsy and learning disabilities. The units are taught by volunteers from the community who receive special training through workshops, classroom observations, and planning sessions. Ms. LeBlanc noted that each unit is presented in two 1 -2 hour sessions for a total of 3 -4 hours for each disability or grouping of disabilities. Gretchen O'Halloran stated that the program is taught at the third and fourth grade levels because of the inquisitive and uninhibited nature of children at that age. She added that the volunteers who teach the program, the parents and siblings of the participants, the classroom teachers and other members of the school community and even members of the community outside the school have become more aware of and sensitive to the issues addressed by the program and it has had positive effects on human relationships inside and outside the classroom. Using two versions of audiotaped directions, Kay Durkin Naughton demonstrated an activity from the Learning Disabilities Unit. This activity showed School Committee members how frustrating it can be for a child with learning disabilities to ignore distractions and follow directions. Another demonstration, from the Blindness Unit was to blindfold School Committee members and ask them to identify items by touch and smell. Ms. LeBlanc thanked Dr. Munnelly, the four elementary principals, staff and parents for their support. School Committee members praised the purpose of the program - to help children accept and understand people with disabilities. OLD BUSINESS REPORT OF ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH COMMITTEE School Committee Member and Assistant Superintendent Search Committee representative Barbara Philbrick reported to the Superintendent the names of the following six candidates he will be interviewing next week: 1. Sheldon Berman, President, E.S.R., Cambridge 2. John Delaney, Principal, Parker Middle School, Reading 3. Mary Dunderdale, Curriculum Coordinator, Waldoboro, ME 4. Elizabeth Keroack, Language Arts Coordinator, Methuen 5. Deborah Loomis, Assistant Principal, Marblehead High School 6. David Moriarty, Director of Language Arts, Medford Along with thanking the committee that consisted of Principal Rena Mirkin, Mary Ann Higgins, Ann Nelson, Gretchen O'Halloran, Barbara Kelley, Steve Rhodes, and Eleanor Hardin, Ms. Philbrick also thanked their families who showed understanding of the time they had to commit to all of the meetings. Ms. Philbrick presented the interview questions that were asked of each candidate and commented that each candidate also had their own personal questions about Reading. Dr. Munnelly stated that he will choose the three finalists, and they will be interviewed 45 minutes each by School Committee members at the next School Committee meeting with a 10 minute break between each finalist. Chairman Cummings stated the interview questions would be similar to the Screening Committee's and requested members to get back to him with any other questions they would like added. Susan Wheltle announced, for the viewing audience, that she was not a candidate for the Assistant Superintendent position as she is presently involved at Harvard with her doctoral program. Chairman Cummings suggested that the meeting of November 16th begin at 6:45 p.m. for routine matters and then begin inter- REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 5 NOVEMBER 2, 1992 views at 7 p.m. He also noted that the Open Hearing Meeting at Reading Memorial High School on November 10th would be the time for the public to ask questions regarding the Assistant Superintendent position. POLICY REVISION: POLICY CBA EVALUATION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT The Superintendent commented on the memo he sent to members of the School Committee on the proposed new Superintendent Evaluation format. He contended that a superintendent needs feedback, not rating, from Committee members. He suggested that conferencing should be an integral part of the procedure before the evaluation is presented to the public. School Committee members offered that this would be effective for everyone, that it would be an opportunity to meet with the superintendent to work out goals, and at mid year to review and revisit the goals and to then add any goals that may be relevant to the upcoming school calendar year. George Shannon moved to adopt the revised Superintendent's Evaluation Policy CBA dated October 5, 1992. Barbara Philbrick seconded the motion. Discussion of a mathematical model process as opposed to the evaluation giving a broader flavor to the range of categories - no numbers, just checks with comments was recommended. The vote was unanimous. SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE Dr. Munnelly announced that Killam Elementary teacher, Marty Pressey recently resigned from the School Building Committee. He added that they are looking for another name, preferably from the Parker faculty to be submitted to Co -chair and Eaton Principal Donald Farnham. OTHER Chairman Matt Cummings advised that he met with the Selectmen and the FinCom last week and they approved both articles for the Town Warrant - the roof at Reading Memorial High School and the chair lifts at Coolidge Middle School. He noted he would be meeting with the Selectmen and the FinCom again on November 5th. Mr. Cummings informed members that the FinCom will make its recommendation to Town Meeting for $17,000 for the Parker architectural plans. He stated he was unable to convince the FinCom that the plans for Eaton and Birch Meadow needed to be updated. The consensus of the School Committee at this point is to continue to ask for $25,000 for the three schools. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 6 NOVEMBER 2, 1992 NEW BUSINESS INFORMATION AND PROPOSALS Dr. Munnelly discussed the outline of a 20 page working draft for education reform as presented by Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education (MBAE) in August and a 73 page draft of the Education Reform Act of 1992 of October 22, 1992 that was prepared by Senator Thomas F. Birmingham, Senate Chair, Committee on Education, Arts and Humanities and a labor lawyer. The Superintendent noted that the draft Education Reform Act radically limits school committee governance. Under this plan, school committees' duties would be restricted to the hiring and firing of the superintendent, review and approval of the budget, and the establishment of educational goals and policies. He commented that school committees would probably meet less frequently, and that there would consequently be less public debate over educational issues. The bill advocates site -based management, and appointed school councils, shifting the responsibility for teacher hiring and dismissal, as well as greater financial and educational control to the building level. Dr. Munnelly pointed out that the draft legislation calls for more state spending for education, and also establishes a foundation per -pupil expenditure of about $5,400. It would require communities to set a "minimum standard of effort" for meeting these costs through local taxes, and make provisions for changes in the proposition 2 1/2 legislation to accomplish this goal. According to Dr. Munnelly, 40% of Massachusetts communities, including Reading now fall below the $5,400 average. School Committee members commented that the plan emphasizes individual schools over coordinated school systems, and that in Reading we have tried to establish consistent sytemwide standards. Chair Cummings said that open hearings would be needed to explain this reform package to the public, and it was suggested that Senator Birmingham be invited to address the community. OTHER Dr. Munnelly recommended that the Compugraphic typesetting equipment and supplies in the Graphic Arts Lab be sold for an estimated value of $1500 - $5000 and to apply the money received to purchase MacIntosh computers. The consensus of direction to Dr. Munnelly from the School Committee members is to move forward. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 7 NOVEMBER 2, 1992 ADJOURNMENT At 9.30 p.m. George Shannon moved to adjourn. Barbara Philbrick seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Susan Cavicchi Matthew Cummings Roberta D'Antona Barbara Philbrick George Shannon Timothy Twomey 'i