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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-01-07 School Committee MinutesREADING PUBLIC SCHOOLS Reading, Massachusetts SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES REGULAR SESSION MINUTES CALL TO ORDER JANUARY 7, 1991 Chairman Stan Nissen called the regular session of the School Committee to order in the Reading Memorial High School Lecture Hall at 7:20 p.m. All members were present with the exception of Mary Williams. Also present were Superintendent Robert J. Munnelly, Assistant Superintendent Lynn M. Bak, Business Manager R. Warren Hopkins, members of the Reading Board of Selectmen, members of the Finance Committee, many citizens from the community and a reporter from the Daily Times Chronicle. Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner was not present at the commencement of the meeting, but arrived shortly after. The town officials were present at the invitation of the Reading School Committee to join in a roundtable discussion. Problems the School Committee is facing in an effort to provide quality education, to the children of Reading despite budget cuts and a possibility that a recently voted Level Service budget not be supported and a Drastic Cut budget becomes necessary were addressed. MINUTES OF DECEMBER 17, 1990 MEETING Minutes of the December 17, 1990 were approved on a motion by Barbara Philbrick. George Shannon seconded the motion. The vote was 4 - 0 - 1. Carol Lvons abstained as she was not present at the meetinq on December 17th. BILLS AND PAYROLLS The warrant for bills was as follows: December 24, 1990 - General Expenses - $106,014.90 January 14, 1991 - General Expenses - $125,519.72 The warrant for payrolls was as follows: January 10, 1991 - Teachers - $439,431.58 CITIZEN'S INPUT There was no Citizens Input. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES -2- JANUARY 7, 1991 ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION OF BUDGET COMPLICATIONS Russell Graham, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, spoke in support of Reading's excellent school system and noted that the essential problem is that there is not enough money available to service the Town of Reading properly. In the discussion that followed, town government was urged to support a trash fee, or an override to gain aid for educational purposes. The final date for the Board of Selectmen to request a referendum vote on the March ballot is February 1st. The only budget recommendation the School Committee is making at this time to the Town Manager is the Level Service budget which is $2 million below last year. Many members of the community joined in the discussion, addressed the educational needs and agreed that the school department is facing unacceptable cuts. Approval was expressed of the School Committee's decision to come together in discussion with the Selectmen and Finance Committee. OLD BUSINESS BUDGET 1992 DELIBERATIONS At the regular session that followed the roundtable discussion, Chairman Nissen informed the members of the School Committee that the function of the Committee is to determine what will be presen- ted at the Public Hearing on January 14th. At present, the official budget is the Level Service Budget at $15,145,709. There are cuts that have been voted on and recommendations of the administration that have not been voted on, but are reflected in the current Drastic Cut budget. The Drastic Cut budget, $14,408,814 would reflect a 3.2% bottom line cut. The amount that would have to be cut from the Level Service budget is $736,895. Mr. Nissen advised the School Committee that choices representa- tive of the kinds of cuts that must be made, if the Committee is forced to make additional cuts, were listed on charts for the School Committee's information. Discussion followed. George Shannon moved to retain in the Drastic Cut budget the positions on the retained list as presented by Dr. Munnelly. Barbara Philbrick seconded the motion. The positions to be retained are two elementary library media specialists, three high school teachers (guidance, science, and mathematics) and two middle school teachers (computer education and library /media) in the amount of $239,900. Lengthy discussion followed. The vote was 3 in favor and 2 opposed. The motion carried. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES -3- JANUARY 7,1991 Chairman Nissen reminded the School Committee that in the event circumstances require the Committee to request another referendum, the Committee would be required at that time to indicate what additional cuts would have to be made. Mr. Nissen stated that adjustments to the Level Service budget based on the Public Hearing may be made before the budget is presented to the Town Manager on January 22nd. George Shannon moved to adopt items as identified in cuts from the Level Service budget of $471,146 as part of the Drastic Cut budget. The list includes eight teachers, one middle school special education teacher, a half -time physical education director, a half -time central office administrator, one custodial supervisor, seven teacher aides, custodial overtime, the substitute account, department heads differential, and other non - personnel expenses. The motion was seconded by James Nall There was no discussion. The vote was unanimous. Consideration was given to additional cuts that may have to be made in the future. Carol Lyons moved to present a list of potential cuts with the package to be presented to the citizens at the Public Hearing. Included on the list of additional cuts are one middle school reading teacher, one middle school computer education teacher, two elementary physical education teachers, one half -time high school reading teacher, one half -time high school technical education teacher, one business education teacher. Other possibilities include all or part of the athletics program, raising lunch prices, one -half of a Central Office position, and the Director of Fine Arts. Barbara Philbrick seconded the motion. Four voted in favor and there was one abstention. The motion carried. On a motion by George Shannon and seconded by Barbara Philbrick, the meeting was adjourned at 10:05 p.m. Resat Subndtwd Robert 1. Munnek Ed. D. Superintendent Of Schools Secretary To The Scholl Committee