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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-03-09 School Committee MinutesREADING PUBLIC SCHOOLS Reading, Massachusetts SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING REGULAR SESSION MINUTES MARCH 9, 1992 CALL TO ORDER Chair Barbara Philbrick called the regular meeting of the Reading School Committee to order at 7:07 p.m. in the Superintendent's Conference Room. All members were present with the exception of George Shannon and Mary Williams, who were expected to arrive later. Also present were Superintendent Robert J. Munnelly, Assistant Superintendent Lynn M. Bak, Student Representative Carrie Bither and a reporter from the Chronicle. MINUTES Matthew Cummings moved to approve the minutes of February 24 and March 3, 1992. Timothy Twomey seconded the motion. Chair Phil - brick stated approval of the February 24, 1992 minutes would be addressed when all School Committee members were present. The vote for the March 3rd minutes was unanimous. BILLS AND PAYROLLS The warrant for Bills was as follows: March 2, 1992 Bills $55,035.99 The warrant for Payrolls was as follows: March 6, 1992 Teachers $410,552.35 CITIZEN INPUT Reading citizen Rob Spadafora briefed the School Committee about some of the obstacles and myths regarding AIDS. Some suggestions made by Mr. Spadafora included surveying the Freshman class and comparing it with a survey of students who have completed a Decisions class; a parent workshop; and a debate regarding the availability of condoms in the senior high school. The School Committee members thanked Mr. Spadafora for his inform- ation and continued concern of the AIDS problem. Assistant Superintendent Bak shared that AIDS Awareness Education Week is happening and workshops have been held for parents and staff. Ms. Bak advised that the survey aspect would be further investigated. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 2 MARCH 9, 1992 MINUTES The vote for the February 24, 1992 was 4 -0 -2. GIFTS Dr. Munnelly acknowledged and thanked citizens who have given gifts to the Reading schools: Mr. & Mrs. Kevin Gillespie and Danielle for the assorted nerf balls from Parker Brothers to the Killam Elementary School. The Booster Club for their gifts to schools that include funding a weight lifting coach, weight equipment, proposed monies for a baseball batting cage, uneven parallel bars, and setting up of a new weight room in the former metal shop, totaling $14,200. The Superintendent noted the unestimated future projects the Boosters are generating are for an addition to the existing foot- ball broadcasting booth and changing the former weight room into a trainers room. Mr. William Martin and Ms. Lily Cutter of UNISYS Corporation for the loose -leaf binders and binder boxes. Matthew Cummings moved to thank and accept the gifts as outlined on enclosure B -4. Timothy Twomey seconded the motion. The vote f was unanimous. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT Dr. Munnelly shared that Reading Memorial High School's Jazz Band, under the leadership of Mike Buckley, recently captured the bronze medal at the Northeast Regional Competition and that the Reading School Band marched in the Stoneham parade that honored Olympic Star Nancy Kerrigan on March 8th. The Superintendent stated that 80 Coolidge Middle School Band members attended and participated in an open rehearsal, under the direction of Conductor Eric Rombach of Boston University, with the assistance and support of Instrumental Music teacher Bob Seely and Music teacher Bob Mingolelli. Dr. Munnelly took great pride in sharing information from the Executive Secretary of NASSP that expressed appreciation to the Reading School District for the contributions made by the 1991 -92 President of NASSP's Board of Directors Jack Delaney, Parker Middle School Principal. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 3 MARCH 9, 1992 The Superintendent and School Committee gave congratulations to the following students from Reading Memorial High School for honors they recently achieved: .Benjamin Abbott won a scholarship given by the Massachusetts Teachers of Mathematics .The six finalists in the National Merit Scholarship competi- tion: Benjamin Abbott, Jon Griffith, Eryn MacDonald, Michael Manville, Jeremy Piper and Yee Fan Sun .The National History Day finalists who will proceed to the States at the Tsongas Center on April 4th are second place winners Bill Sumner, Phil Vaccaro, Brian Farrow, Gary Cormier, Mark Agami, Asher _Cutter, Joel Mellin, Josh Nolan, Justin Nordstrom; and first place winners Mike Shannon, Jeff Doucette, Sharyn Boornazian, Cyndi Zorabedian, Heather Wolsey, Jay Wilder, Kevin Cavicchi, Matt Fleming, and Yee -Li Sun .Special recognition for Andrea Ferrari and Sarah Maher for their assistance and guidance to four entries from Parker and Coolidge - all who qualified for the State contest .Michael Shannon placed fourth in the Regional Citizen Bee competition which qualifies him for the State Finals at JFK Library, April 11th, and Tom Lautzenheiser and Lauren Zenewicz for winning the Bronze Medal in the Science Olympiad. PERSONNEL On the recommendation of the Administration, Stanley Nissen moved to approve the continuance of the leaves -of- absence for the 1992 -93 school year for Killam Elementary School teacher Wendy Higgins and Health Supervisor JoAnn McMahon. Matthew Cummings seconded the motion. The vote was 5 -0 -1. OLD BUSINESS FY' 93 Dr. Munnelly opened discussion of the FY93 Budget Reductions in the event of new and additional money. School Committee members asked to hold off on prioritizing the list until the magnitude of monies is known and until a strawman set of town -wide items has been prepared by the Town Manager and Superintendent. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 4 MARCH 9, 1992 Dr. Munnelly advised the Committee that he would like to revisit with staff regarding the Athletic Director's position; capital improvements; as well as services described on enclosure D -1, and come back at the March 23rd meeting with this information ready for prioritization. NEW BUSINESS ELEMENTARY CLASS ORGANIZATION FOR 1992 -1993 The Superintendent stated that Assistant Superintendent Bak and the Elementary Principals have been spending considerable time on the effects of a level- funded budget on the elementary school class assignment problems. He added that they are recommending a modified version of the Option C elementary enrollment for the 1992 -93 school year. Ms. Bak shared that due to space limitations at Birch Meadow Elementary School only one kindergarten class can be housed there if the Special Education class at the school is relocated to Killam. The Assistant Superintendent advised that the remaining number of Birch Meadow's kindergarten -age students will be re- assigned to other schools where slots will be available. This will be done on an equitable basis where, for example, children in a particular neighborhood are assigned to a school elsewhere in Read- ing. The children would return to Birch Meadow for grades 1 -5 schooling. Ms. Bak stated that this is a familiar process to our parents adding that it has been in practice for the last two decades. The Assistant Superintendent advised that the plan would remain in place until the 1994 -95 school year, when the Administration pro- jects a need to add a portable and an additional teacher to Birch Meadow to accomodate the enrollments. Ms. Bak stated the plan would then continue from 1995 -1999 without additional resources. Future consideration will also be given to again explore redistrict- ing as an option. KILLAM PRE - SCHOOL PROPOSAL (R.I.S.E.) Dr. Munnelly introduced Killam Principal Paul Guerrette, Pupil Personnel Director Alex Alexanian, Special Needs Pre - School teacher Vickie Griffin, and parent Robin Hamilton. Principal Guerrette thanked the School Committee for giving the Killam Preschool Program the opportunity to respond to their con- cerns regarding the development of a proposed integrated preschool. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 5 MARCH 9, 1992 Ms. Griffin added that tuition income would support resources for parents, books, lending materials, costs dealing with consultation needed for students in the program, training for staff members dealing with education issues, consultation to build peer involve- ment in the classroom and the purchase of any community based services such as transportation and admissions. Ms. Griffin, along with administrators of the program, recommended the monthly tuition should be $90. Georqe Shannon moved to approve the Pre - School Proqram at a $90 oer month tuition charae. Timothv Twomev seconded the motion. Discussion continued regarding the lottery system for student enrollment; considerations of a one year pilot base, age, gender; and enrollment from various areas of the school district. The vote was unanimous. Vickie Griffin invited the School Committee members to visit the program in progress once underway. NEW BUSINESS PLANS FOR EVALUATING THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS FOR 1991 -92 An evaluation of the Superintendent's goals must be completed by the current committee. Dr. Munnelly offered to again send out a copy of his goals. Chair Philbrick requested that members bring in their completed evaluation forms to the next School Committee meeting. She also stated that the Committee will be discussing in late spring the evaluation process and recommended changes. OTHER Mary Williams suggested information on the selection process for the R.I.S.E. program be presented to the School Committee members before it is distributed to the public. INFORMATION AND PROPOSALS STANDARDIZED TESTING UPDATE Assistant Superintendent Bak shared that as a result of monies raised by PTO's and the contribution of Arnold Berger, we are in the process of ordering standardized tests for grades 2, 5, and 7 for administration beginning the week of April 6th and completion the last week of April. Ms. Bak advised that the testing company has informed us that we will receive the test results within five weeks following the scoring order, bringing us near the week of June 8th and that results will be distributed to parents shortly thereafter. ADJOURNMENT At 8:30 p.m. Stan Nissen moved to adjourn to Executive Session for the purpose of an update on negotiations. Timothy Twomey seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. READING PUBLIC SCHOOLS Reading, Massachusetts SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES REGULAR SESSION MINUTES CALL TO ORDER MARCH 9, 1992 Chair Barbara Philbrick called the regular meeting of School Com- mittee back to order in the Superintendent's Conference Room at 11:30 p.m. All members were present. Also present were Superin- tendent Robert J. Munnelly and Assistant Superintendent Lynn M. Bak. CALENDAR Stanley Nissen moved to rescind School Committee vote on previous action for the 1992 -93 school calendar. Timothy Twomey seconded the motion. The vote was 4 -2. Stanlev Nissen moved to approve the Traditional Calendar for 1992 -93 with January 19, 1993 scheduled for the teacher -in- service day. Mary Williams seconded the motion. Discussion regarding snow day adjustments will be made during the school year as needed. The vote was 4 -2. ADJOURNMENT At 11:35 p.m. Stanley Nissen moved to adjourn. Mary Williams seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Respectlu�l Subindtied Robert I Munnelly, Ed. D. Superintendent Of Schools Secretary To The School Committee