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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-10-01 School Committee Minutesi READING PUBLIC SCHOOLS Reading, Massacusetts SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING REGULAR SESSION MINUTES OCTOBER 1, 1991 CALL TO ORDER Vice Chair George Shannon called the regular meeting of the Reading School Committee to order at 7:05 p.m. in the Superinten- dent's Conference Room. All members were present with the exception of Barbara Philbrick and Mary Williams. Also present were Superintendent Robert J. Munnelly, Assistant Superintendent Lynn M. Bak and a reporter from the Chronicle. MINUTES There were no minutes. BILLS AND PAYROLLS The warrant for Bills was as follows: September 30, 1991 - Bills - The warrant for Payrolls was as follows: September 27, 1991 - Teachers CITIZEN INPUT There was no citizen input. GIFTS $53,516.26 $100,471.94 On the recommendation of the Administration Stanlev Nissen moved to accept and thank Matthew Samalis and the committee of Troop 705 for the donation of paint and the completion of painting windows at the Birch Meadow School. Timothy Twomey seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. PERSONNEL ACTION On the recommendation of the Administration Stanlev Nissen re- grettably moved that due to budget cuts Ruth Hood, as the least senior member of the Home Economics staff, be notified of her layoff effective January 24, 1992. Matthew Cummings seconded the motion. The vote was 3 in favor and 1 abstention. ... ...__...._ .. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 2 OCTOBER 1, 1991 On the recommendation of the Administration Stanley Nissen moved to appoint Ted Bryson as the interim boys head basketball coach for the 1991 -92 basketball season at the Sport Rate Category A4, and to appoint Joseph Castelli as head boys gymnastics coach at - °'s the Sport Rate Category Al. Timothy Twomey seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT Dr. Munnelly stated that the school budget was approved September 30, 1991 thus officially ending eleven months of FY92 Budget deliberations. The Superintendent shared information from the Continental Cablevision newsletter Connections regarding Reading student, 12 year old Matt Pothier who won a first -place award for his Continental Cablevision TV variety show, "Lights! Cameras! Kids." Commenting on the private bus situation for secondary stu- dents, Dr. Munnelly stated that parents are looking for more in- terest from others to support the need for a bus via a newsletter. Dr. Munnelly advised the School Committee that he had re- ceived a letter of resignation from Dave Bunten as the Director of the Extracurricular Jazz Band. The Superintendent stated that School Committee's first call -in cable show is scheduled for Tuesday, October 29th. Dr. Munnelly shared that as of October 1, 1991, 3640 students are enrolled in the Reading Public Schools grades K -12. He also shared information about class sizes at the elementary level. OLD BUSINESS GOALS DISCUSSION FOR SCHOOL COMMITTEE AND SUPERINTENDENT Dr. Munnelly presented his draft of goals for 1991 -92 and re- quested that School Committee advise him on their preferred pri- orities that they would like to see him devote his efforts to. Vice Chair Shannon requested members to compile a comprehensive list for further discussion at the next meeting. NEW BUSINESS ENROLLMENT INCREASES /FACILITIES PLANNING REPORT OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION Dr. Munnelly complimented Assistant Superintendent Bak and the four Elementary Principals who have been working on enrollment projections and planning since last spring. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 3 OCTOBER 1, 1991 Assistant Superintendent Bak shared projected enrollments for the next several years. Noting, that since building space additions and renovations were not approved last year by the voters, she and the elementary principals have developed two proposals for consideration to house the additional 130 elementary students projected to enroll in our schools between 1992 and 1995. The first proposal entertains developing a kindergarten center located in a specific location that allows individual schools to free up space in their buildings. The second proposal retains kinder- gartens in each elementary building requiring the addition of portable classrooms. his. Bak added that both plans being presented are not optimally the best education choices for our children, but given the circumstances of the times, are fiscally responsible. The Assistant Superintendent then turned the presentation over to the elementary principals who initiated specific discussion of the two options. Option A, 1992 -1996, outlined a Kindergarten Center located at the high school site, Grades 1 -5 would remain in elementary buildings, in the years 1992 -1996 three additional classroom teachers would be needed and in 1994 -1996 redistricting, reassignment or one portable would be needed. Option B outlined the maintainance of all classrooms K -5 in current elementary buildings. In 1993 -1996 three additional classroom teachers would be needed and during 1994 -1996 two portables would be required. Ms. Bak listed the givens for both options: Major space limitations in all elementary schools Enrollment increases from 1992 -96 of approximately 130 students . Require additional classroom space and teachers Growth is predominantly in the Birch Meadow area . Continued participation in the METCO program . Plans reflect budget limitations and therefore are not educationally optimal . Plans make no provisions for space limitations i.e. Specialists The School Committee thanked the Assistant Superintendent and the Principals for the time and energy dedicated to studying and pre- paring this report. Superintendent Munnelly added that both proposals were uncomfort- able noting that each option contains larger class sizes and com- bination classes. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 4 OCTOBER 1, 1991 SHORT RECESS OUT OF ORDER CAFETERIA POLICIES ANNUAL APPROVAL On the recommendation of the Administration Stanley Nissen moved to approve the federally - mandated guideline for the policy for determining eligibility for free meals and reduced price meals. Timothy Twomey seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. On the recommendation of the Administration Stanlev Nissen moved to adopt the policy "OFFER VERSUS SERVE" as described in the let- ter from the Director of Food Services Catherine Cook, enclosure B -3 -c. Timothy Twomey seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. INFORMATION AND PROPOSALS CURRICULUM PLANNING UPDATE Assistant Superintendent Bak shared the K -12 curriculum initia- tives taking place in the district including the projected time- lines for completion of identified student learning outcomes in each of the respective content areas grades K -12. She added that _.. all district teachers are contributing to the development of this curricula. Ms. Bak stated that the purpose of identification of specific learning outcomes for students at each grade level was to ensure a consistency and coordination of what our students are expected to learn. After the identification is completed, teachers will have a better understanding of what is expected of them as professionals and the parent community will be clearly informed of learning expectations. Once the outcomes have been completed, the intention is to develop evaluation criteria to measure the learning outcomes. Assistant Superintendent Bak shared that the primary purpose of the evaluation is: to ensure that all students are taught the same curricula in an identified grade level /course to ensure that all students are formally evaluated through common measures to provide a data base of information to assess student performance and measure what our students are learning and . to determine the appropriateness and rigor of K -12 content area curricula. Vice Chair Shannon thanked Ms. Bak for a thorough and comprehen- sive update. SPECIAL EDUCATION GRANT ON MAINSTREAMING Dr. Munnelly shared with the School Committee the proposal for the grant "Education For All Handicapped Children 94 -142" that was awarded to the Reading Public Schools through Dr. Alexanian's REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 5 OCTOBER 1, 1991 office. The Superintendent advised that the purpose of the grant monies is to contract a trainer /consultant to assist regular classroom teachers in developing strategies and procedures to integrate special needs students into regular classroom settings. The School Committee thanked the Administration and Pupil Personnel Director Dr. Alexanian for their efforts in securing this grant. OUT OF ORDER POLICY REVIEW AND DISCUSSION OF NEW POLICIES Dr. Munnelly advised the School Committee that Tim Twomey and Mary Williams have prepared a review of the School Committee Governance section of the policy book and have drafted a new policy for con- sideration. Timothy Twomey began discussion on the current Policy BA: School Committee Policy Development. Vice Chair Shannon thanked Mr. Twomey and Ms. Williams for their extensive proposal but suggested that they present a more sim- plified version of the policy and recommended that the date the policies are reviewed be added to each policy. Discussion continued. Stanley Nissen moved to modify for a draft copy Policy BDDB: Order of Business: Rules for Conducting Meetings of the Reading School Committee. Matthew Cummings seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Mr. Shannon noted that a second vote would be taken at the next School Committee meeting. ADJOURNMENT At 10:30 p.m. Stanley Nissen moved to adjourn. Matthew Cummings seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Respectfully Submitted Robert I Munnelly, Ed. D. Superintendent Of Schools Secretary To The School Committee