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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-03-23 School Committee MinutesREADING PUBLIC SCHOOLS Reading, Massachusetts SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING REGULAR SESSION MINUTES CALL TO ORDER MARCH 23, 1992 Chair Barbara Philbrick called the regular meeting of the Reading School Committee to order at 7:20 p.m. in the Superintendent's Conference Room. All members were present. Also present were Superintendent Robert J. Munnelly and Assistant Superintendent Lynn M. Bak. Ms. Philbrick stated to the television audience that "Meet The Candidates" would be televised after the School Committee meeting. The Chair advised that this meeting would end Stanley Nissen's nine years of service as a member on the School Commit- tee. She presented Mr. Nissen with a plaque to commemorate his terms as a School Committee member, noting that he had also served as School Committee Chairman for two years, served on the Middle School Planning Committee and the Committee for the Selection of the Reading Memorial High School Principal. Dr. Munnelly presented several other gifts and a cake as an expression of appreciation to Mr. Nissen for his years of service. Mr. Nissen thanked the Administration and the Committee for this recognition and stated he would continue his civic commitment by volunteering for other community committees. MINUTES George Shannon moved to approve the minutes of March 9, 1992. Matthew Cummings seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. BILLS AND PAYROLLS The warrant for Bills was as follows: March 9, 1992 Bills $64,320.64 March 16, 1992 Bills $33,771.03 March 23, 1992 Bills $88,462.31 REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 2 The warrant for Payrolls was as follows: March 20, 1992 Teachers $412,201.20 {" March 13, 1992 BiWeekly $107,664.70 CITIZEN INPUT There was no citizen input. C:TFT.q MARCH 23, 1992 Dr. Munnelly acknowledged and thanked the Eaton Elementary School Community for the computer monitors and teaching material gifts donated by parents and the Coolidge Middle School Parent Advisory Council for the generous gifts in support of school activities and Mr. Arnold Berger for a donation for educational materials. Stanley Nissen moved to —thank and accept the gifts as outlined on enclosure B -4. Timothy Twomey seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT The Superintendent congratulated Eaton's Grade 5 teacher Ilene Grinker and her students who tied for a second place prize in the elementary division of the statewide geography contest, conducted by the Massachusetts Geographic Alliance to celebrate Geography Awareness Week 1991. Dr. Munnelly identified Ms. Grinker's entry that was entitled "Galapagos Islands" as visually appealing as well as informative. The Superintendent shared that Ms. Grinker would use the small financial award to purchase geographic material for her classroom. The Superintendent added he would advise and list for the next School Committee meeting the Reading Memorial High School students who recently won a science award and scientific equipment valued at $6,000 from the University of Lowell. School Committee member George Shannon stated that the Save The Band Committee has requested he again advise the audience and citizens that the middle school music program will be eliminated next year. He shared that the group is looking for grants and money to keep the band program going. DRRCnMMPT. On the recommendation of the Administration, Stanley Nissen moved to approve the resignation of Parker Middle School Physical Educa- tion teacher Peter DiSalvatore effective as of March 2, 1992. George Shannon seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 3 MARCH 23, 1992 On the recommendation of the Administration, Timothy Twomey moved to approve a one year leave -of- absence for the 1992 -1993 school year for Killam Elementary School teacher Karen Holzman. Matthew Cumminas seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. On the recommendation of the Administration, Timothy Twomey moved to approve a two year leave -of- absence for the 1992 -1993 and 1993- 1994 school years for Reading Memorial High School Focus Coordina- tor and teacher Samuel Baker. Matthew Cummings seconded the motion. The vote carried with 5 in favor and 1 opposed. OLD BUSINESS FY'93 BUDGET Dr. Munnelly advised the School Committee that he had prepared the listing of Budget Cuts Since September 1989 and the alphabetical list of Budget Reductions FY '93 for the purpose of information to the public at Town Meeting. In presenting the School Committee members with his priority putback list Dr. Munnelly explained his rationale for all of the putbacks. Chair Philbrick stated the need to go to Town Meeting with a prioritzed list. To begin the prioritization, Timothy Twomey moved to place the Custodial Supervisor and the Uniform Allowance as the last two items on the putback list. Matthew Cummings seconded the motion. Discussion followed. The vote carried with 5 in favor and 1 opposed. Stanley Nissen moved to adopt the putback priority list as modi- fied. Timothy Twomey seconded the motion. Discussion continued with a decision to prioritize the entire list. The vote failed with 2 in favor and 4 opposed. _George Shannon moved to approve the putback placement for number 1, Middle School Technology Education Teacher and number 2, Middle School Reading Teacher. Mary Williams seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. George Shannon moved to approve the putback placement for numbers 3, 4, and 5. Mary Williams seconded the motion. School Committee requested that the motion be separated. George Shannon moved to approve the putback placement for number 3, as .5 High School FOCUS Teacher. Mary Williams seconded the motion. The vote carried with 4 in favor and 2 opposed. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 4 MARCH 23, 1992 George Shannon moved to approve the putback placement for number 4, as .5 High School Reading Teacher. Mary Williams seconded the motion. The vote failed with 3 in favor and 3 opposed. George Shannon moved to approve the putback placement for number 5, Reorganization of Department Heads. Mary Williams seconded the motion. The vote failed with 2 in favor and 4 opposed. Stanley Nissen moved to approve putback placement for number 4, Reorganization of Department Heads. Matthew Cummings seconded the motion. The vote failed with 1 in favor and 5 opposed. Discussion continued regarding placement of Tuition Reimbursement which is currentiv under negotiation. Mary Williams moved to approve putback placement of Tuition Re- imbursement at the top of the list as number 0. Matthew Cummings seconded the motion. The vote carried 5 in favor and 1 opposed. Matthew Cummings moved to approve putback placement of Middle School Home Economics Teacher to the number 4 position. Mary Williams seconded the motion. The vote carried 4 in favor and 2 opposed. George Shannon moved to approve putback placement of .5 High School Reading Teacher to the number 5 position. Mary Williams seconded the motion. The vote carried 4 in favor and 1 opposed. Matthew Cummings moved to place the balance of putbacks in the sequence identified on enclosure D -1 -a. Mary Williams seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. OTHER THE REQUIREMENTS AT READING MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL Items not on the agenda were raised by School Committee members related to the Fine Arts and Computer Proficiency requirements at Reading Memorial High School. Concern was made that the current junior class students were not able to meet the Fine Arts requirement for graduation. Dr. Munnelly advised the School Com- mittee that a large majority of our juniors will have completed the Fine Arts requirement by the end of this year. He stated that only a few as seniors will need to meet the requirement by a course in 1992 -93. The Superintendent indicated that of the high school's top junior students, seven of twenty have completed the full arts requirement and seven have completed half of the requirement leaving six students needing to fulfill the complete requirement. Dr. Munnelly noted that there are eighteen courses a youngster can take to meet the graduation requirement. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 5 MARCH 23, 1992 A School Committee member also raised a question and concern about the required Computer Literacy Course. The Superintendent advised that the School Committee adopted that policy without the funding for two computer teachers. Chair Philbrick stated that more information from staff, parents and students regarding both the Fine Arts and Computer Proficiency Policies will be addressed at a future School Committee meeting. Assistant Superintendent Bak shared that she has been meeting with the high school staff and administration in preparation of a comprehensive review of the graduation requirements for the School Committee meeting scheduled in early May. Discussion continued. George Shannon moved to suspend the Fine Arts requirement for the class of 1993 and the Computer Literacy requirement for the class of 1993 and 1994. Matthew Cummings seconded the motion. The vote failed with 2 in favor and 4 opposed. Stanley Nissen moved that the administration be able to waive the Fine Arts and the Computer Literacy requirements on a case by case situation at their own discretion for the class of 1993. George Shannon seconded the motion. Discussion continued regarding the criteria - left to the discretion of the high school administra- tion with a suggestion that the Superintendent and the Assistant Superintendent oversee this instruction. The vote carried with 5 in favor and 1 opposed. NEW BUSINESS EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES REVIEW Dr. Munnelly advised that he and Vice Chair George Shannon have been reviewing the executive session minutes from June 20, 1990 through December 16, 1991. The Superintendent noted that this review is part of the public records /open meeting understanding and that a policy covering this procedure was adopted several years ago. On the recommendation of the Administration, George Shannon moved that those items on Enclosure E -1 identified as RR be released to oven minute records. Stanley Nissen seconded the motion. Discus- sion of the remaining Executive Minutes identified as Privacy or In Progress will be continued in Executive Session. The vote was unanimous. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 6 MARCH 23, 1992 EVALUATION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT Chair Philbrick shared School Committee member's comments regard- ing the Evaluation of the Superintendent of Schools as demonstrated on enclosure E -2. Ms. Philbrick stated remarks ranged from Satis- factory to Superior. The Chair advised that School Committee members will be developing a new evaluation of the Superintendent format and should have it ready by this summer. Dr. Munnelly expressed appreciation of the School Committee members feedback and would also like to discuss the revision of the evalu- ation with them. Ms. Philbrick asked members of the School Committee to note their ideas for a new evaluation format and pass them on to her. OTHER Chair Philbrick stated the deadline for additional articles to be on the warrant is March 31st. Discussion followed regarding the need for bussing and instrumental music monies. Dr. Munnelly advised that he needs to speak with the Town's Finance Department. Stanley Nissen moved that the Administration place on the Town Warrant articles for bussing and instrumental music monies. Matthew Cummings seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Matthew Cummings moved to instruct the Selectmen to reject any action necessary in respect to the summer teacher deferral. Timothy Twomey seconded the motion. The vote carried with 5 in favor and 1 abstention. INFORMATION AND PROPOSALS EXEMPLARY TEACHER PROGRAM Assistant Superintendent Bak noted that the Exemplary Teacher Selection Committee is exploring different options for recognizing teachers in Reading for the current school year. Ms. Bak stated committee members are attempting to broaden the recognition which is still being supported by a generous contribution from Arnold Berger. .,t REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 7 MARCH 23, 1992 OTHER Chair Philbrick reminded the audience to stay tuned to listen to Meet The Candidates and to please vote on Tuesday, March 24th. ADJOURNMENT At 10:15 p.m. Stanley Nissen moved to adjourn to Executive Session for the purpose of discussion of collective bargaining issues. Georae Shannon seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous.