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Home My WebLink About1991-01-28 School Committee MinutesREADING PUBLIC SCHOOLS Reading, Massachusetts SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES REGULAR SESSION 14INUTES JANUARY 28, 1991 CALL TO ORDER Chairman Stan Nissen called the regular session of the School Committee to order in the Reading Memorial High School Lecture Hall at 7:05 p.m. All members were present with the exception of Carol Lyons, who was expected to arrive later and Mary Williams. Also present were Superintendent Robert J. Munnelly, Assistant Superintendent Lynn M. Bak, Business Manager R. Warren Hopkins, School Committee Student Representative Matt Prudente, several members from the community and a reporter from the Chronicle. MINUTES George Shannon moved to accept the regular session minutes from the January 7, January 14, 1991 and the January 14, 1991 Budget Hearing minutes. Barbara Philbrick seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. BILLS AND PAYROLLS The warrant for bills was as follows: January 22, 1991 - General Expenses - $ 72,199.46 January 28, 1991 - General Expenses - $ 22,718.52 February 4, 1991 - General Expenses - $140,566.59 The warrant for payrolls was as follows: January 24, 1991 - Teachers - $421,525.95 February 1, 1991 - Weekly - $107,922.39 CITIZENS INPUT There was no Citizens Input. GIFTS Dr. Munnelly announced the donation of gifts to the Reading Public Schools; noting that Alan Merando of Travcorps, Malden, MA has offered the donation of a Digital printer to Reading Memorial High School, and the Reading Knights of Columbus recently donated Polaroid film to the Preschool Special Needs Class at the Killam School. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 2 JANUARY 28, 1991 Barbara Philbrick moved to accept and publicly thank the donors of the gifts as described on enclosures B -1 -d. George Shannon seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT Dr. Munnelly shared that Reading Municipal Light Department (RMLD) recently had their annual Fourth Grade Poster Contest. The Superin- tendent added that on Tuesday, January 15th RMLD held an "Awards Presentation Night" at the Town Selectmen's Office where they pre- sented Birch Meadow fourth graders Katie Donaghey and Andrew Samalis with a $100 and a $50 U.S. Savings Bond respectively. Dr. Munnelly also thanked RMLD for the $200 they presented to Birch Meadow School for art supplies and thanked Eaton Elementary School Principal Donald Farnham and staff, Birch Meadow Elementary School Principal Richard Davidson, Grade 4 teacher Mrs. Knowlton and staff for their cooperation. Dr. Munnelly complimented Killam Elementary Grade 5 teacher Pam Chomsky- Higgins for her comments in the Winter 1991, Massachusetts Association of School Committees Journal article entitled "Inter- disciplinary Teaching ". Dr. Munnelly also expressed an appreciation of honor to Reading students who recently competed in the statewide Massachusetts Asso- ciation of Math Leagues Annual Olympiad Competition. The Superin- tendent noted that junior, Ben Abbott finished in the top 1 %, thus qualifying him for the Level II exam and sophomore, Mike Shannon finished in the top 5% and earned a certificate of merit. He added that other Reading students who finished in the top 10% were Seth Hoyt, Dan Blodgett, Anna Monroe and Nancy Lape. VISITORS: STUDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL TO THE READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE Dr. Munnelly introduced senior Matt Prudente who will represent Reading Memorial High School students on the School Committee for the remainder of the 1990 -91 school year. Matt Prudente, along with several members of the Student Advisory Committee began discussion of several issues. Student Advisory Member Jennifer Gregorio shared that the Debate Team's Negative representatives placed first at a debate held in Manchester on January 26, 1991. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 3 JANUARY 28, 1991 Ms. Gregorio informed the audience and School Committee that-Read- ing Memorial High School will be presenting the musical A Fu— nny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum on February 1 and 2 at 8 p.m. and again on February 3 at 3 p.m. in the high school auditorium. Reading Memorial High School Principal Dr. Piechota and several of the students from the Advisory Committee shared their views regard- ing the proposed anti - smoking rules and consequences coming out of several meetings between students and faculty. The female students felt the proposed rule for SMOKING IN LAVATORIES would discourage smoking in the girls' lays where the problem has continued. George Shannon modified Paragraph 3 of the proposed rule as follows: 3. If a faculty member enters a lav and sees smoke, she, he, or they will record the names of all students in the lav and give that list to the Assistant Principals. On the recommendation of the Administration: George Shannon moved to accept the proposed rule SMOKING IN LAVA- TORIES as modified and described on enclosure B -3 -b. Barbara Philbrick seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Matt Prudente advised that a current listing of Reading citizens serving with the armed forces in the Gulf is in the Cafeteria and a group called Amnesty International has a fund raiser to send goods to Reading's troops or to the "Tie a Yellow Ribbon" campaign. Related to another issue, several students complained about the roof leaks in the locker areas at Reading Memorial High School. OLD BUSINESS BUDGET FY 92 Dr. Munnell.y shared enclosure B-2 -a regarding the Town of Reading's FY 92 Budget and status of the gap as of January 28, 1991 of $573,637 between the Level Service Tax Levy ($15,237,970 and money available ($14,664,333). Discussion continued with the Superintendent outlining a "laundry list" of potential reductions for the Level Service Budget that may be pursued as follows: 1. Reduce Athletic Budget $3,500 Boosters are ready to support portion of cost of uniforms in this budget 2. Raise Athletic Fees -$10 per student per $8,000 per sport -- $90 ($10 x 800) 3. Central Office Supplies $2,500 Lower by 20% - New Bid REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 4 JANUARY 28, 1991 4. Reduce Physical Exams $1,000 $3000 to $2000 5. Substitute account reduction $25,000 $50 to 45 /day 6. Lunch Fee increase $.10 per lunch $7,000 7. Cleaning contract RMHS -0- (savings in Town Manager's Budget) 8. Central Office Administration Salary $2,000 9. Principal's Travel (under negotiation) 10. Merging Custodial Forces -0- (savings in Town Manager's Budget) 11. Teacher Early Retirement Incentive $50,000 to $70,000 ? 12. Merging School and Town's Financial $25,000 Operations UPWARDS ADJUSTMENTS 1. SEEM Expense +$4,000 2. Occupational Therapy- Services +$14,000 After discussion of each of the reductions and adjustments: Barbara Philbrick moved to-ad-just the FY92 Level Service and Dras- tic Cut Budgets by the $18,000 in the mandated special education costs. Carol Lyons seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Barbara Philbrick moved to include #3 and #8 on enclosure B -2 -a reducing the Level Service and Drastic Cut Budgets by $4500 James Nally seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. George Shannon moved to endorse the Selectmen to place on the Warrant an override of 5573,00 to fill the shortfall in the Level Service Budget. Barbara Philbrick seconded the motion. Discussion followed. The motion failed on a two in favor and 3 opposed vote. Committee members stated that they need to identify where cuts will come from in the event that the drastic cuts need to be made. Mem- bers noted that this discussion will take place at the next School Committee meeting on February 11, 1991. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 5 JANUARY 28, 1991 SCHOOL SPACE PLANNING School Committee requested that Central Office and the Administra- tion give them an education policy and guidance on how they need to pursue school space planning. Suggestions the School Committee members offered were: 1. Impact spread equally among the Town 2. The proposal be usable for a minimum of 3 to 5 years 3. Minimum possible education disruption 4. Cost 5. Citizen input NEW BUSINESS REQUEST FOR WAIVER OF RENTAL FEE BY UNDERSTANDING HANDICAPS Dr. Munnelly recommended that the School Committee waive the rental fee for the Understanding Handicaps fundraiser. Carol Lyons moved to waive the rental fee for the Understanding Handicaps /Reading scheduled fundraiser, a Rosenshontz Family Concert, for Friday, March 8, 1991 at the Hawkes Field House George Shannon seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. REQUEST TO OPEN NEGOTIATIONS Dr. Munnelly shared a memo from Thomas L'Italien, Staff Representative of the AFSCME Council 93, requesting negotiations begin with the Reading School. Custodial. Employees Local 1703. George Shannon volunteered to represent the School Committee for Custodial Bargaining. Carol Lyons volunteered to represent the School Committee for Custodial Bargaining until Mary Williams returns. James Nally volunteered to serve as the School Committee representative for Teacher negotiations. Dr. Munnelly suggested that the first session with custodian nego- tiations should begin on February 26th. pPucnMMPT APPOINTMENT On the recommendation of the Administration: George Shannon moved to appoint Erica Everett as Reading Memorial High School's Long Term Biology Substitute at the rate of $100 per day effective January 28, 1991 to the end of the school year. Barbara Philbrick seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 6 JANUARY 28, 1991 ADJOURNMENT At 9:45 p.m. Barbara Philbrick moved to adjourn. James Nally seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Respectfully Submitted Robert I Munnelly, Ed. D. Superintendent Of Schools Secretary To The School Committoj:=