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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-01-06 School Committee MinutesREADING PUBLIC SCHOOLS Reading, Massachusetts SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING REGULAR SESSION MINUTES JANUARY 6 1992 CALL TO ORDER Chair Barbara Philbrick called the regular meeting of the Reading School Committee to order at 7:05 p.m. in the Superintendent's Conference Room. All members were present with the exception of Mary Williams who was expected to arrive later. Also present were Superintendent Robert J. Munnelly, Assistant Superintendent Lynn M. Bak and a reporter from the Chronicle. MINUTES Stanley Nissen moved to approve the minutes of the Open Hearing on November 25, 1991. Timothy Twomey seconded the motion The y vote was unanimous with Stanle Nissen abstaining. Stanley Nissen moved to approve the minutes of December 9 and December 16, 1991. Timothy Twomey seconded the motion The vote was unanimous with Timothy Twomey abstaining. BILLS AND PAYROLLS The warrant for Bills was as follows: December 23, 1991 Bills $44,392.25 December 30, 1991 Bills $37,962.38 January 6, 1992 Bills $ 2,213.77 The warrant for Payrolls was as follows: December 13, 1991 Teachers $494,074.42 December 20, 1991 Teachers $412,881.24 December 20, 1991 Biweekly $+105,886.22 January 3, 1992 Biweekly $ 91,139.72 GIFTS Dr. Munnelly thanked Reading State Representative Rob Krekorian for the donation of flags and flag holders to replace all our elementary school classroom flags. The Superintendent also thanked the following people for their thoughtful gifts to the Eaton School: Mr. Rodrigues for providing two sets of video tapes that appeared on Public Broadcasting channels; Mr. & Mrs. James Leahy for the donation of a movie screen and manual typewriter; an anonymous citizen who provided funds for the transportation costs of a field trip for each class in the school, and the Eaton P.T.O. for providing support to the school in a variety of ways. Dr. Munnelly noted with appreciation other gifts given to the Killam School, newsprint paper from Stephen Trites; rolls of gift wrap paper from Charles Hannaford; and funds from the Knights of Columbus that were used to purchase three adaptive chairs and new children's classroom books. Stanley Nissen moved to accept and publicly thank the donors for the gifts as identified on enclosure B -3 and the flags. Timothy Twomey seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. CITIZEN'S INPUT Reading citizen Kendra Cooper shared a memo from the Town of Whitman regarding a fair approach to evaluating the goals of the Superintendent. Ms. Cooper also questioned if the Stanford Achievement Tests could be given this spring to Birch Meadow fifth graders if financed through the school's PTO. Dr. Munnelly responded that he had received her request and would be providing her with a written response. PERSONNEL ACTION Stanley Nissen moved to grant Parker Middle School Physical Education teacher, Peter DiSalvatore a medical leave -of- absence from January 2, 1992 through the remainder of the 1991 -92 school year. Mary Williams seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. OLD BUSINESS BUDGET FY1993 DISCUSSION OF BUDGET CUTS The Superintendent shared memos received from Focus Department Head Sam Baker regarding the direction of the Focus program and from Athletic Director Jack White regarding the cost of Freshmen sports. Dr. Munnelly requested the Director of Reading's Pupil Personnel Services Dr. Alexanian to explain to the School Committee the newly revised procedural rights of a parent and child in the special education process. Dr. Alexanian explained that the program is driven by rules and regulations outside of the community and that the district has a responsibility to all students' education. Dr. Munnelly then presented the second proposal plan for reducing the staff and programs of the Reading Schools by one - million REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 3 JANUARY 6 1992 dollars in order to meet the FY93 budget goal of $13,745,000. The changes the Superintendent suggested for consideration after hearing from the School Committee, Principals, Teachers and Citizens are as follows: 1. Increase the lunch prices from $1.25 to $1.50. This income would permit us to cover the cost of health insurance for cafeteria workers. 2. From the cut list, reinstate the High School Guidance Counselor, keeping our staffing at the present level. 3. Change the Middle School cut from three to four teachers. This would eliminate all Home Economics and Technology Education, but would keep the foreign language program. 4. At Reading Memorial High School, cut .5 of one teacher in the FOCUS program. 5. The estimate of the savings by reducing Directors is $49,000. b. The Department Head Elimination becomes a Reduction of $100,000. The Administration proposes that High School Department Heads go from teaching two periods per day to three periods, but retain all other responsibilities and that the middle schools share department heads who would then teach four periods per day instead of the current three. 7. The Administration has calculated the potential savings of $41,000 by estimating the salary of the persons who would be impacted by the assistant principals doing more teaching. Dr. Munnelly advised that this cut scenario would have us reduce $1,050,000 at this stage of the budget planning process. On the recommendation of the Administration: Stanley Nissen moved to approve the elimination of Directors at a cost reduction of $49,000. Matthew Cummings seconded the motion The vote was 5 in favor and 1 opposed. Stanley Nissen moved to add $12,000 to bring the Guidance Department back to present levels changing the cost reduction to $88,000. Matthew Cummings seconded the motion The vote was unanimous. Stanley Nissen moved to approve the responsibilities of the Reading Memorial High School Assistant Principals at a cost REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 4 JANUARY 6. 1992 reduction of $15.000% to approve teaching assistant principals at Coolidge and Parker to become half -time assistant principals at a cost reduction of $26,000; a one -year moratorium on Teacher Tuition Reimbursement at a cost reduction of $30,000; and to reduce Professional Development Consultants by a total of $30,000 Matthew Cummings seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Stanley Nissen moved to approve the cutting of town support of the Athletic's budget by an additional one -third totaling $80,000 Matthew Cummings seconded the motion. The vote passed 4 -2. Stanley Nissen moved to approve the Cafeteria lunch increase from $1.25 to $1.50 generating $55,000 of revenue. Matthew Cummings seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. The motion to increase the student fee for extra - curricular activities an additional $15 failed. George Shannon moved to approve the redesign of the custodial and repair functions at a cost reduction of $32,000; the elimination of a custodial /cafeteria uniform allowance at a cost reduction of $5,000; the reduction of one library aide and one attendance aide at Reading Memorial High School totaling $16,000; to reduce elementary aides by 10% totaling $10,000; reduction of specialist teachers in the amount of $220,000; and the reduction of four elementary teachers for $120,000. Matthew Cummings seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Stanley Nissen moved to approve the reduction of two Technology Education teachers and two Home Economics teachers at the middle schools for a total of $160,000 Matthew Cummings seconded the motion The vote passed 5 -1. Discussion continued regarding the high school Focus program. George Shannon moved to increase by $60,000 the total amount of cuts to teaching personnel at the high school by eliminating the Focus program entirely. Matthew Cummings seconded the motion. The vote failed 1 -5. Timothy Twomey moved to restore the Focus program to its present level Mary Williams seconded the motion. The vote failed 2 -4. Stanley Nissen moved to approve the reduction of the followin high school positions: one English teacher, one math teacher, half-time Focus teacher, and a half -time Technology Education teacher totaling $92,000 Matthew Cummings seconded the motion. The vote passed 5 -1. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 5 JANUARY b. 1992 Discussion followed. School Committee members stated the bottom line is a moving target, in that all reductions are subject to change between now and July 1. Stanley Nissen moved to adopt the proposal of reductions as identified for the purpose of the public hearing as described on enclosure D -1 -a, amending the cut of the Department Heads in recognition of adding back $12,000 to Guidance. Matthew Cummings seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. PUTBACK PRIORITIES Dr. Munnelly began discussion of the suggested list of putbacks in the event that more money from the state, or an override becomes available. Principals Farnham and Guerrette discussed the Superintendent's suggested priority of Elementary teacher putbacks. School Committee members decided to submit their individual list of putback priorities to overlay with the Superintendent's for him to compare and bring back a master list to the January 21st meeting. CAPITAL BUDGET Dr. Munnelly explained that items 20 through 26 of the Capital Outlay Plan 1992 -97 as described on enclosure D -1 -c are ongoing maintenance items. George Shannon moved to adopt the Capital Outlay Plan 1992 -97 as described on enclosure D -1 -c for the Open Hearing purpose Matthew Cummings seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous BUDGET HEARING, JANUARY 13, 1992 Dr. Munnelly stated the Open Hearing on the 1992 -93 school budget will be held on January 13th at 7:30 p.m. in the Reading High School Lecture Hall. The Superintendent added that this meeting will be advertised in the local papers; that copies of the budget will be ready for the public before the session, and that revisions will be considered after the hearing. NEW BUSINESS PROPOSED CALENDARS FOR 1992 -1993, 1993 -1994 AND 1994 -1995 The Administration began discussion on the traditional school year calendars for 1992 through 1995. School Committee noted the late closing in June of 1993 and asked RTA President Peter Greene if he would speak with teachers REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 6 JANUARY b 1992 regarding opening school before Labor Day in September 1992. George Shannon moved to direct the Administration to enter into negotiation with the RTA regarding the date for the opening of schools in 1992. Matthew Cummings seconded the motion The vote was unanimous. INFORMATION AND PROPOSALS LEGISLATIVE STATUS OF SCHOOL REFORM Dr. Munnelly shared information from the MASS Insight Group entitled Local Aid and Local Services: What is the State's Role? The Superintendent requested a consensus of direction from the School Committee. School Committee considered sending a letter to Governor Weld, State Senator Buell and Reading State Representative Krekorian supporting the economics for fiscal support. CAFETERIA REPORT Dr. Munnelly shared the Cafeteria Statement for the month of November 1991 and year to date figures including school's participation. To enhance the Cafeteria Statement, School Committee members requested that future Cafeteria Statements include the Fund balance. SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING CALENDAR - SPRING 1992 Dr. Munnelly outlined the Spring School Committee meeting calendar. He went on to state that at the meeting of January 21 decisions would be made regarding putback priorities, and on January 27, the fourth school Open Hearing of the year would be held at Parker Middle School. SCHOOL COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT Chair Philbrick thanked School Committee member Matthew Cummings for writing the School Committee Annual Report that will go into the Reading Annual Report for 1991_ SUPERINTENDENT'S ANNUAL REPORT Chair Philbrick also thanked Dr. Munnelly for his annual report and advised School Committee members if they had comments to make regarding either report they should be made to the authors. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 7 JANUARY 6._1992 ADJOURNMENT At 11-10 p.m. George Shannon moved to adjourn. Matthew Cummings seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Respectfully Submitted Robert I Munnelly, Ed. D. Superintendent Of Schools Focr --+r ye' In The School Committee