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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-06-18 School Committee MinutesREADING PUBLIC SCHOOLS Reading, Massachusetts SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING - 4 REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 18 JUNE 1990 CALL TO ORDER Chairman Stan Nissen called the regular session of the School Committee to order in the Superintendent's Conference Room at 7 :00 p.m. All members were present with the exception of Mary Williams, who arrived shortly after the meeting convened. Also present were Superintendent Robert J. Munnelly, Assistant Superintendent Lynn M. Bak, Business Manager R. Warren Hopkins, members of the community, and a reporter from the Chronicle. APPROVAL OF MINUTES No minutes for approval were presented. BILLS AND PAYROLLS The warrant for'Bills was as follows: June 25,1990 General Expense $48,063.41 The warrant for Payroll was as follows: June 8, 1990 Biweekly $110,866.47 June 22, 1990 Biweekly 155,977.06 June 14, 1990 Teachers $408,251.39 June 22, 1990 Teachers $1,390,660.00 CITIZEN'S INPUT There was no Citizen's Input. SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS On May 17, 1990, Birch Meadow School celebrated Young Author's Day. Principal Richard Davidson was present at the School Committee meeting to outline the project and to introduce teachers and a parent who shared with the Committee their impressions of a project that involved young students in grades K -2. Teachers Sally Mucica and Irene Bourne provided background information and the educational value of this successful undertaking during which youngsters wrote stories that were shared with, and critiqued by their classmates. Maureen Perkins described her impressions as a parent. Mrs. Perkins was pleased by the student input, constructive and complimentary comments among classmates, the excitement of the children and the learning experience that took place. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES -2 18 JUNE 1990 Final publication of the writings and stories were attractively bound in individual booklet form and presented to the School Committee for their review. The School Committee was pleased with the results of the young authors' project, and thanked the group from Birch Meadow for their presentation. VISITORS: BUS STUDY COMMITTEE Bill George, Susan Hennessey, and Allison DaSilva represented the recently formed Reading School Bussing Committee. This group of citizens has worked diligently during the past few weeks assembling data derived from a survey presented to elementary school parents. The results of the survey were shared with the School Committee. Among the avenues explored by the bussing committee was privatizing, enabling the committee to contract with a bussing company. Legally, this proved to be not feasible due to the liability involved. Chairman Stan Nissen suggested that "due to time constraints a more complete discussion of bussing be placed on the June 25, 1990 agenda. e The members of the bussing committee were in agreeement. OLD BUSINESS ADOPTION OF POLICY ON LEAD SCREENING School Committee Policy JEB, a policy on School Entrance Requirements, was presented to the Committee for a second vote. Revisions to this policy have incorporated recent Department of Public Health regulations concerning the presentation of documented evidence of lead poison screening prior to entrance into preschool or kindergarten. A motion made by Barbara Philbrick to accept Policy JEB, as outlined, was seconded by Carol Lyons. A vote by the School Committee in support of the policy revision was unanimous. NEW BUSINESS GIFTS TO SCHOOLS Dr. Munnelly recommended to the School Committee that recent gifts to schools be accepted. Massachusetts Medical Equipment Company has offered test tubes and laboratory supplies to Reading Memorial High School. Mr. James Lynch has offered to black -top an area on the Birch Meadow playground where a basketball goal and standard are to be installed. _Barbara Philbrick moved to accept the gifts to the schools as recommended. Carol Lyons seconded the motion. The vote of the School Committee was unanimous and appreciation to the donors was expressed. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES -3- 18 JUNE 1990 EVALUATION OF HOME ECONOMICS AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION CURRICULUMS Assistant Superintendent Bak introduced members of the Technical Education staff who presented the evaluation that was conducted K -12. Peter Wood, Chair of the Technology Education Department at Reading Memorial High School provided the School Committee with an overview of the Philosophy, Goals, Student Performance Results and Commendations. Bob Dinwoodie, the Technical Education Instructor at Coolidge Middle School described the Technology Education Programs at the elementary, middle, and high schools; Bob Ward, the Technical Education Instructor at Parker Middle School provided information regarding the instruc- tional strategies and materials used by Reading teachers and the evaluation methods used to complete this study and Mike Harney, member of the Technical Education Department at Reading Memorial High School, shared with the Committee concerns, recommendations and future direction. Discussion followed the presentation. The School Committee thanked the members of the Technical Education Department for the quality of the evaluation that was completed. Peter Wood, also Department Chair for Home Economics at Reading Memorial High School, proceeded to provide the School Committee with a synopsis of the K -12 evaluation. Peter addressed the philosophy and goals of the the program. The presentation proceeded with Alice Lovely, the Home Economics teacher at Parker Middle School, providing an overview of the home economics program at the elementary, middle and high school levels, the instructional strategies and materials, and the concerns and recommendations for the program as a result of the evaluation. Mrs. Lovely closed the presentation by highlighting the future direction recommendations. Discussion followed the presentation. School Committee members thanked Home Economics staff members for the evaluation and Assistant Superintendent Bak gave special recognition to Department Chair Peter Wood for spearheading both the Technical Education and Home Economics evaluations. CAFETERIA PROGRAM REVIEW A cafeteria program recommendation and financial analysis was prepared by School Business Manager Warren Hopkins and Supervisor of Cafeteria Services Cathy Cook. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES -4- 18 JUNE 1990 They noted that in order for the school lunch program to continue to operate without financial support from the school department, the cost of lunches must be increased. The recommendation that the price of a school lunch be increased to $1.25 for students and $2.50 for adults for the school year 1990 - 91 was put into motion by George Shannon and seconded by Barbara Philbrick. The motion carried. KILLAM CARNEGIE REPORT OF PROGRESS Principal Paul Guerrette and members of the Killam Advisory Team presented accomplishments of the Killam /Carnegie process, concerns, hopes and future expectations for the.Carnegie program to the School Committee. Linda Carey, a fourth grade teacher at Killam school, innumerated the benefits the teachers have derived through the program. She stressed the importance of teacher sharing, professional development, higher thinking skills, leadership and opportunities both educators, students and parents have been afforded in this venture. Killam teacher Wendy Small, a second grade teacher, outlined the many opportunities the students have in this program and the sense of sharing with parents. Ms. Small described the youngsters enthusiasm, and the responsiblity they have gained through student groups. Killam parents and advisory team members, Beth Ann Matathia and Karen Macari discussed parent involvement with the students in the program and the opportunities parents have been given to supplement and enhance the program. They cited their positive experiences as members of a community of learners. The School Committee was pleased and gave offers of support and willingness to discuss issues raised by the restructuring of Killam with the Killam staff and parents. BAND PARENTS BRIEFING ON PLANS FOR 1990 -91 Mr. Ken McKinnon and Mr. Ray Cryan represented the Band Parents and shared a proposed budget and outline of performance events for the Reading Memorial High School Marching Band for the 1990 -91 school year with the Committee. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES -5- 18 JUNE 1990 In support of the band program, parade receipts will be deposited into the revolving band account. The account will be a Town of Reading Revolving Account for which funds raised by band performances will be set aside for band use only. The Band Parents stand ready to support a band trip to the Washington D.C. area sometime next spring if the trip gains the support of the faculty and administration. EVALUATION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT Chairman Stan Nissen reported the results of the 1990 evaluation of Superintendent Munnelly to the public using information which Chairman Nissen compiled from the ratings submitted by each member of the School Committee. Chairman Nissen reported that the Superintendent's performance this year was superior in virtually every category. Dr. Munnelly's performance on budget development and aspects of the job was in the outstanding level. Superintendent Munnelly thanked the School Committee for the positive evaluation and for their support in what was a very difficult year for the school department. PERSONNEL APPOINTMENTS Barbara Philbrick moved on the recommendation of the administration, that the Department Heads, Advisors, Coordinators, and Assistant Principals as outlined on enclosure C -1 be appointed for the 1990 -91 school year. Carol Lyons seconded the motion. The vote carried five in favor, none opposed, and one abstention. REAPPOINTMENT OF COACHES Carol Lyons moved on the recommendation of the administration to appoint the coaches as listed on the enclosure C -2 -a (corrected). Barbara Philbrick seconded the motion. The motion carried. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES -6- 18 JUNE 1990 REAPPOINTMENT TO STAFF Carol Lyons moved on the recommendation of the administration to reappoint teachers at the schedule steps listed on enclosures C -3 Barbara Philbrick seconded the motion and the the motion carried. RESIGNATION Assistant Superintendent Bak announced the resignation of Janet Sullivan an elementary music teacher. Carol Lyons moved on the recommendation of the administration that Mrs. Sullivan's resignation be accepted. Barbara Philbrick seconded the motion. The motion carried. A motion that the meeting be adjourned was made by George Shannon and seconded by Carol Lyons. The motion carried and the meeting was adjourned at 11:30 p.m. George Shannon moved that the meeting be adjourned. Carol Lyons seconded the motion. The motion carried and the meeting was adjourned at 11:30 p.m. Respectfully Submitted Robert I Munnelly, Ed. D. Superintendent Of Schools Secretary To The School Committee