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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-07-01 School Committee MinutesREADING PUBLIC SCHOOLS Reading, Massachusetts SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES REGULAR SESSION MINUTES CALL TO ORDER JULY 1, 1991 Chair Barbara Philbrick called the regular session of School Com- mittee to order in the Superintendent's Conference Room at 7:40 p.m. All members were present with the exception of Stan Nissen. Also present were Superintendent Robert J. Munnelly, Assistant Superintendent Lynn M. Bak, Finance Committee members Willard Burditt and Nathan White, and a reporter from the Chronicle. MINUTES George Shannon moved to accept the minutes from the June 3, 1991 meeting. Matthew Cummings advised that under School Highlights Eileen Litterio should be identified as a Grade 2 teacher. Mary Williams noted that she had arrived late. Noting these corrections, Timothy Twomey seconded the motion. The motion passed on a 4 -0 -1 vote. BILLS AND PAYROLLS The warrant for Bills was as follows: June 30, 1991 - General Expenses - $152,185.99 June 30, 1991 - General Expenses - $ 23,089.06 June 30, 1991 - General Expenses - $132,446.71 The warrant for Payrolls was as follows: June 21, 1991 - By- weekly - $142,233.53 July 5, 1991 - By- weekly - $ 84,407.30 CITIZEN INPUT Finance Committee member Nathan White questioned the status of monies raised to offset the cost of the trip Reading teachers and finalists recently took to participate in the National History Day competition held in Washington, D.C.. Dr. Munnelly advised that $500.00 had been deposited and additional monies were anticipated. A Reading band parent raised questions regarding the funding of the instrumental band position. Chair Philbrick requested that discussion on this issue be held until we reach the budget portion of the agenda. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 2 SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT JULY 1, 1991 Dr. Munnelly stated that the new principal of Reading Memorial High School, Rena Mirkin officially has come on board. The Super - intendent shared that Ms. Mirkin had already spoken with the faculty, attended the freshman orientation sessions, interviewed candidates for vacancies, and has had meetings with Assistant Principals Schettini and Quinn. Dr. Munnelly congratulated Coolidge Middle School Language Arts teacher Nancy Powell upon her election to the Executive Board of the New England Reading Association. OLD BUSINESS BUDGET FY92 STATE BUDGET UPDATE AND FEDERAL SOCIAL SECURITY RULING The Superintendent stated that the _IRS rescinded a previously announced pension regulation that would have cost Massachusetts municipalities and their employees $200 million annually in Social Security taxes. Dr. Munnelly shared a letter addressed to Chair Philbrick from the Chairman of the Reading Finance Committee Willard Burditt advising that the House and Senate had just passed a budget that will have a negative impact on the revenue projections that have been used for the FY92 Town of Reading budget. The preliminary figures the Town received today from the office of Representative Krekorian are approximately $297,000 less in additional assistance and $236,000 less in lottery receipts. Discussion continued and a decision to discuss the 1991 -92 teacher appointments would be at the July 15th School Committee meeting when a better feel for revenue figures would be realized. REVISION OF PRIORITIES Dr. Munnelly discussed his recommendations for changes on the priority cut list based on the potential for a cut being short -term or long -term. Dr. Munnelly recommended that the School Committee move the Middle School Special Education teacher from #12 to #24 on our list. If this is accepted then each present item from #12 to #24 would move up one place. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 3 JULY 1, 1991 Other suggestions the Superintendent made concerned the Fine Arts Director remaining at a new #23. Short term actions to be con- sidered would include #16, Department Head Differentials, remaining money from the unplanned loss of services in the arts to be used to provide services in the priority order as they appear on our prior- ity list and the addition of a middle school instrumental program in a slot between #9 and #10 on the present list. Ms. Philbrick, invited the audience to ask their questions regarding the instrumental music position. Although she advised their questioning would be mute considering earlier information that larger cuts are necessary. A band parent advised that $6,000 had been collected and appealed to the Reading citizens for donations to fund the in- strumental music position. Chair Philbrick added that there was no need to vote tonight and that we could hopefully move on to July 15th when we have further finiancial information. NEW BUSINESS KINDERGARTEN PROGRESS REPORT Assistant Superintendent Bak reviewed the options that are available for the projected large enrollments for Grade One at Killam School. 'N Ms. Bak advised that crowded conditions exist with two classes of 26 and two classes of 25 students. After meeting with the elementary Principals, some of the options recommended are: 1. To open the option for all grade one parents to transfer their child to Birch Meadow or to Barrows, adding that a need for eight to ten parents to transfer their children will enable numbers to be reasonably lowered. 2. To transfer eight to ten first graders who currently live in the Putnam Road, Main Street, Francis Drive, Charles Street area to Birch Meadow or Barrows. 3. To transfer the eight new grade one students, coming from private schools, who are entering Killam for the first time, to Birch Meadow or Barrows. Ms. Bak stated that the preferred option is the first one and also noted that a recommendation should be made to parents soon. The Assistant Superintendent added that School Committee will need to examine enrollment projections over the next five years to con- sider the possibility of redistricting our elementary students for the next five years. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 4 JULY 1, 1991 George Shannon moved to alert Killam parents of grade one class sizes and to give them the opportunity to transfer their child to Barrows or Birch Meadow. Timothy Twomey seconded the motion. Discussion continued noting that if parents do not come forward we would have to live with large class sizes at Killam for one year. Ms. Bak also noted that by the end of August a truer picture of class sizes would be realized and decisions would have to be made. The vote was unanimous. AWARD OF BIDS On the recommendation of the Administration, Timothy Twomey moved on the per trip, per,day basis of the Special Needs Transportation Bid as described on enclosure B3b. Mary Williams seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous: INFORMATION AND PROPOSALS KINDERGARTEN PROGRESS REPORT Assistant Superintendent Bak shared the with the Committee the final draft of the proposed Kindergarten Progress Report. Kindergarten teachers have piloted the new form which meets the intention of the developmental approach used at that level. Parental input has been favorably given to the new format. Is is the plan to fully implement the new forms this coming school year. George Shannon moved, on the recommendation of the Administration, to approve for adoption this form of a kindergarten progress re- Dort. Mary Williams seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. SUMMER HOURS Dr. Munnelly presented a schedule for the Superintendent's business office and the secondary school secretaries for the adoption of summer business hours. The School Committee gave a concensus of approval. SCHOOL COMMITTEE POLICY BOOK REVIEW PROCESS Dr. Munnelly set a timeline of August 26th to begin having the policy book reviewed. PERSONNEL Based on earlier discussions, Assistant Superintendent Bak advised that the appointments of department heads, replacement teachers, and the reappointment of a portion of laid -off teachers be discussed at the July 15th School Committee meeting. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 5 ADJOURNMENT JULY 1, 1991 At 10 :05 p.m. George Shannon moved to adjourn to Executive Session for the purpose of discussion of bargaining and negotiating with non -union and union personnel. Matthew Cummings seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Respectfully s. Robert J. Munnelly, Eo. Superintendent Of Scho(0 Secretary To The School Comer w