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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-04-01 School Committee MinutesREADING PUBLIC SCHOOLS Reading, Massachusetts SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES REGULAR SESSION MINUTES CALL TO ORDER APRIL 1. 1991 Chairman Stan Nissen called the regular session of School Commit- tee to order in the Superintendent's Conference Room at 7:05 p.m. All members were present with the exception of Mary Williams, who was expected to arrive later and Student Representative Matt Pru- dente. Also present were Superintendent Robert J. Munnelly, Assistant Superintendent Lynn M. Bak, Business Manager Warren Hop- kins and a reporter from the Chronicle. MINUTES There were no minutes for approval. BILLS AND PAYROLLS The warrant for Bills was as follows: April 8, 1991 - General Expense The warrant for Payrolls was as follows: April 4, 1991 - Teachers - ACCEPTANCE OF GIFT $84,590.37 $422,117.34 Dr. Munnelly extended appreciation to Mr. David Wilson for his generous offer to replace the light bulbs in the auditorium at the Eaton Elementary School and for his efforts in gaining the donation of light bulbs from All Electric Supply Corporation. Timothy Twomey moved to accept and thank both Mr. Wilson and All Electric Supply Corporation for their donation of supplies and energy in replacing the light bulbs in the auditorium at Eaton Elementary School. Matthew Cummings seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 2 CITIZEN'S INPUT OPEN COMMENT APRIL 1, 1991 Mr. James Riley shared a letter he sent to the School Committee requesting them not to eliminate the proposed cut of a half -time middle school special needs teacher on the first level of cuts. Mr. Riley added that it is his opinion for the established main- stream program to continue on through middle school a second full - time special needs teacher will be required. Another Reading citizen, Kathleen Demita also spoke out in favor of the half -time middle school special needs teacher. PARENTS OF INSTRUMENTAL STUDENTS Dr. Munnelly shared a letter sent to School Committee members from Paula VonEuw in support of the Middle School Instrumental Music program. Another Reading citizen Judy Meagher also spoke in sup- port of keeping the program within the schools. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT Dr. Munnelly commented on an article that appeared this winter in Perspectives entitled Restructuring the Elementary School: A "Com- munity of Learners" in Reading that Killam Elementary School's Principal Paul Guerrette wrote to give some insight into the stages and success of the implementation and restructuring program under the Carnegie School Grant Program. The Superintendent com- plimented Principal Guerrette, Assistant Superintendent Bak and Representatives of the Killam School for the successes of their restructuring efforts and their willingness to share the experience with statewide collegues. Dr. Munnelly complimented Mr. Leslie York, who has been appointed advisor to the Reading Memorial High School Chapter of Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD), for his assistance in making SADD an active, year -round student organization working to help combat problems of substance abuse. The Superintendent regretfully informed the School Committee that the State Department's Northeast Centers in North Reading and Andover will soon be closing. OLD BUSINESS APPROVAL OF HOME INSTRUCTION Assistant Superintendent Lynn Bak informed the School Committee that the home schooling plan for Aaron Gatta for the remainder of this school year and for the 1991 -92 school year has been submitted to the Administration and it is acceptable under the conditions agreed upon by the Reading Public Schools and the Gatta family. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES On the recommendation of the Barbara Phibrick moved to ap Gatta for the remainder of 1991 -92 school year. Timoth was unanimous. POLICY OF CONDOM AVAILABILIT 3 APRIL 1, 1991 Administration: prove the Home Schooling plan for Aaron the 1990 -91 school year and for the V Twomey seconded the motion. The vote Y Dr. Munnelly shared the draft of the proposed Policy on Condom Availability at Reading Memorial High School and requested public input from the community, churches and students during the time frame it is necessary to make it policy. The Superintendent stated that copies of this draft will be available at Central Office, the public library and town hall. BUDGET FY92 Chairman Nissen reviewed the budget recommendations the Superinten- dent had discussed with principals. Mr. Nissen noted that the amount needed from Town Appropriations is $14,818,750 and that the FinCom's Recommended Amount is $14,586,828 a GAP of $231,922, with an expected $44,000 from the Fiscal Merge Savings there would be a $187,922 GAP between Level Service Budget and FinCom Recommendation. Dr. Munnelly shared several letters from the community written in support of the Instrumental Music Program. Discussion began with School Committee members encouraging parents to take a leadership role with the administration and schools to help restructure the program. Chairman Nissen noted that the Superintendent and the Assistant Superintendent have pledged their cooperation and encouraged that an initiative to reinstate this program must come from the parents. DATA PROCESSING Dr. Munnelly discussed the problems that have occured this year with data processing resulting in grades and report cards being delayed all year. The Superintendent explained that a full -time data processing clerk earning $22,000 and a part -time clerk earning $11,000 at an annual cost of $33,000 will be necessary, and the acquisition of new equipment and software costs would need to be bid items since both would exceed even the raised minimums of the new procurement law. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 4 APRIL 1, 1991 School Committee discussed cost estimates and on the recommendation of the Administration: Barbara Philbrick moved to add $33,000 to the Level Service Budget $22,000 for a full -time Data Processing clerk and $11,000 part -time clerk. Mary Williams seconded the motion. The motion carried 4 -0 -1, Timothy Twomey abstained. Dr. Munnelly began discussion regarding his recommendations for the FY92 priority budget cuts as of March 25, 1991. Mary Williams moved to insert the District Fine Arts Director between items 2 and 3 on the first ten administration cut recommen- dations. Matthew Cummings seconded the motion. Dr. Munnelly read the impact statement regarding the loss of a District Fine Arts Director, discussion continued. The motion failed 3 -2. On the recommendation of the Administration: Mary Williams moved to reduce the FY92 priority budget cuts as itemized on enclosure B -2 -c for a total of $222,782 to help close the gap. Barbara Philbrick seconded the motion. Discussion con- tinued. Timothy Twomey moved to ammend the motion on the floor by reversing positions 10 and 13 as itemized on enclosure B -2 -c. Barbara Phil - brick seconded the motion. Discussion continued. The motion failed 1 -4. Timothy Twomey moved to increase custodian overtime cuts to $20,000 and to add an instructional music position back into the budget by $13,500 the balance to be paid by private funding. Barbara Philbrick seconded the motion. Discussion continued. The vote failed 1 -4. Returning to the main motion on the floor for Town Meeting to accept the Superintendent's recommendations for FY92 cuts 1 -10, the vote was unanimous. School Committee members continued discussion on the Superinten- dent's recommendations #11 through #17. It was decided that #12, Middle School SPED Teacher (.5) be removed from the cut list and be maintained. On the recommendation of the Administration: Barbara Philbrick moved to add #16, Differential- Department Heads $16,000 to the cut list. Mary Williams seconded the motion. Discussion continued. The vote was 4 in favor with Matthew Cum- mings abstaining. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 5 APRIL 1, 1991 Matthew Cummings moved to add the District Fine Arts Director to the list. Mary Williams seconded the motion. Discussion con- tinued. The vote did not carry. Discussion continued on the Administration's Drastic Cut Budget recommendations: Barbara Philbrick moved to reduce one high school math teacher and one high school science teacher to a half -time position. Mary Williams seconded the motion. Discussion continued. The motion carried 4 -1. Timothy Twomey moved to reduce the low participation sports -Boys Simming, Golf, and Boys and Girls Gymnastics. Barbara Phibrick seconded the motion. Discussion continued. The vote did not carry. Barbara Philbrick moved to reduce two elementary library spe- cialists by $72,000 and one middle school library specialist b $36,000. Mary Williams seconded the motion. The vote carried 3 -2. Barbara Philbrick moved to increase athletic fees to $105.00 per sport. Mary Williams seconded the motion. The vote was unani- mous. Barbara. Philbrick moved to prioritize $14,000 for Athletic Fees and $16,000 Differential- Department Heads to the top of the re- =K vised Superintendent's recommendations 11, 13, 14, 17 as described on enclosure B -2 -c. Matthew Cummings seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. INFORMATION AND PROPOSALS Assistant Superintendent Bak shared the results from the State Department's 1991 Basic Skills Testing Program that was adminis- tered to grade three, six and nine. Students in Reading continue to score in the 92 percentile and above on this test. Ms. Bak stated it is important to note that Reading exempts less than 1% of its students from this test, therefore results included most of the special needs youngsters along will all of the regular education students. Ms. Bak added that scores have been consis- tently high over the course of the last four years. PRINCIPAL SCREENING COMMITTEE LIAISON REPORT Dr. Munnelly announced that the Screening Committee for the Prin- cipalship of Reading Memorial High School had met on March 27th and will meet again on April 9th. The Administration will keep the school committee up to date with the process. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 6 APRIL 1, 1991 PERSONNEL Assistant Superintendent Bak shared a letter from Barrows Elemen- tary Kindergarten teacher Caryn Pike Perley informing the Admini- stration and School Committee that she will be leaving her teaching position on May 10th due to her pregnancy. The Administration and School Committee members thanked and wished Ms. Perley well. OTHER Dr. Munnelly shared that the next School Committee meeting would be on April 10, 1991 prior to the regular meeting School Committee members and Selectmen will meet to interview interested candidates for the existing School Committee vacancy. Dr. Munnelly also shared that Wednesday, May lst, the Massachusetts Association of School Committees will host its seventh annual all- day lobbying event at the State House. He added that this "Day on the Hill" offers school committee members and school superintendents an opportunity to learn more about how the State House works, to focus on current education issues, and to bring their concerns, in person, to their legislators. The Administration advised that Mary Williams will represent the School Committee on the Track Record Celebration Committee, Timo- thy Twomey will be the School Committee's representative on the AIDS Task Force and that Matthew Cummings will be the School Com- mittee's Representative on the Drug and Alcohol Task Force. ADJOURNMENT At 11:55 p.m. Mary Williams moved to adjourn from Regular Session. Barbara Philbrick seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Respectfully Submitted Robert J. Munnelly, Ed. D. Superintendent Of Schools Secretary To The School Committee