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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-10-01 School Committee MinutesREADING PUBLIC SCHOOLS READING, MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES REGULAR SESSION MINUTES OCTOBER 1, 1990 Due to lack of School Committee quorum, Chairman Nissen opened the meeting to Citizen's Input. ROUTINE MATTERS CITIZEN'S INPUT Reading citizens Susan Fiorello and Mary DiDomenico expressed their concerns regarding the bussing issue. School Committee advised them that the bussing priorities were set last Fall and that the bus issue would be discussed again later this year. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Stan Nissen called the regular session of School Commit- tee to order in the Superintendent's Conference Room at 7:25 p.m. All members were present with the exception of George Shannon and James Nally who arrived later. Mary Williams was present but had to leave on personal business at SCHOOL COMMITTEE GOALS point on the agenda and returned shortly thereafter. Also present were Superintendent Robert J. Munnelly, Assistant Superintendent Lynn M. Bak, Business Manager Warren Hopkins and a reporter from the Chronicle. MINUTES There were no minutes for approval. BILLS AND PAYROLLS The warrant for Bills was as follows: October 9, 1990 - General Expenses - $39,762.82 The warrant for Payrolls was as follows: October 4, 1990 - Teachers - $435,870.40 HIGHLIGHTS Dr. Munnelly introduced band parent Ray Cryan and his daughter, Kim a member of the Reading Memorial High School Band, who shared a video of the performance of the Reading Memorial High School Marching Band at a band competition during the 1989 -90 season. Kim, who is a high school senior, shared that the band placed REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 2 OCTOBER 1, 1990 second in a competition this past week -end and received the bronze medal. Ms. Cryan invited the School Committee and the public to attend the next band competition to be held at the Reading High School field on October 28th. School Committee members thanked the Cryans for sharing this edu- cational as well as entertaining band performance video. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT Dr. Munnelly shared that Coolidge Middle School Language Arts teacher Nancy Powell is serving as president of the Massachusetts Reading Association this school year. The Superintendent added that several of Reading's teachers were noted in the GREATER BOSTON READING COUNCIL NEWSLETTER as speakers at the October 3rd Fall Conference. Dr. Munnelly also shared that Parker Middle School Science teacher Dave Williams has been chosen by the Massachusetts Association of Science Teachers 1990 as the Science Educator of the Year for the Middlesex County. Dr. Munnelly informed the School Committee that Joshua Eaton Ele- mentary School, library /media specialist Barbara McLean and grade five teacher Jean Weatherbee were highlighted in a publication, GLOBAL EDUCATION SCHOOL -BASED STRATEGIES, for their contributions in a chapter entitled, "Getting Started With Global Education." The Superintendent added that Phyllis Nissen, a reporter for the DAILY TIMES CHRONICLE, has won a first place award of excellence in MASC's Eighth Annual Gold Star Award contest for her series "Are your kids on drugs ?" Dr. Munnelly and the School Committee complimented all of the men- tioned Reading staff and community members for their outstanding efforts. OTHER Dr. Munnelly advised that he would be moderating a panel, New Assessment Techniques, at the Massachusetts Association of School Committees to be held on Thursday, November 8th in Hyannis, MA. The Superintendent informed the School Committee that the Town Administrator Peter Hechenbleikner, the members of the Board of Selectmen and FinCom would like to meet with the School Building Committee on October 3rd, to discuss financial issues. SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S READING MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL Dr. Munnelly advised the School Committee that the 1990 -91 Student Advisory Council would meet with them at a later date. High School students were attending a College Fair that was being held this evening. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 3 OCTOBER 1, 1990 OLD BUSINESS SCHOOL COMMITTEE GOALS " "` Based on the School Committee Session of September 24, 1990 members discussed three of the four goals to be considered for the 1990 -91 school year. George Shannon moved that Goals 1 and 3, as described on enclosure B2a, be adopted by the Reading School Department. Carol Lyons seconded the motion. Discussion continued. The vote was unanimous. Discussion regarding the changes made for Goal 4 to read as follows: 4. The Reading School Committee will examine educational pro- grams and services and determine priorities for funding of these services and alternative methods of providing these programs outside the budget. Carol Lyons moved that Goal 4 be adopted as read. James Nally seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. NEW BUSINESS FY92 FINANCIAL CONDITIONS OF TOWN AND IMPACT ON SCHOOLS (OUT OF ORDER) Dr. Munnelly shared the report prepared by FinCom Chairman Bill Burditt which projects a deficit for FY92. Discussion continued with School Committee members stating that in order to reduce the deficit the Selectmen need to convince the Town of an override, or a trash fee. Barbara Philbrick moved to send a letter to the Board of Selectmen to initiate a trash fee to the full amount of the FY92 trash costs. Carol Lyons seconded the motion. There was further discussion. The vote was unanimous. SCHOOL COMMITTEE POLICIES ON DISTRIBUTION OF LITERATURE AND FUND RAISING SOLICITATION Dr. Munnelly reviewed the policies on Distribution of Literature in the Schools and Solicitation of Funds. The Superintendent added that the Administrative Council would be reviewing policies at their meeting tomorrow, October 2nd. School Committee discussed that there should not be repeated fund raisers and that there was sufficient direction within the guide lines as the policies now stand. Dr. Munnelly stated that the policies KI, KIA and KIB would be dated as reviewed on October 1, 1990. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 4 OCTOBER 1, 1990 INFORMATION AND PROPOSALS POTENTIAL IMPACT OF CLT PETITION ON SCHOOLS Dr. Munnelly shared Town Administrator Peter Hechenbleikner's memo regarding the Impact of CLT Petition and the Massachusetts Depart- ment of Revenue Deputy Commissioner Edward J. Collins, Jr.'s cor- respondence and analysis presenting the potential effects of the CLT petition on FY91 local aid and local spending. School Committee discussed the devastating effects on the school department if the CLT petition is approved. Dr. Munnelly stated that it would mean a 10 percent cut in the second half of the school year, when legal and contractual obligations would make it impossible to make the necessary reductions and if the effects were pushed into the following year the deficit would grow even further. Discussion continued with the Committee agreeing that there was a need to communicate accurate information to the citizens of the Town. PLANNING FOR FY92 BUDGET PRESENTATIONS Chairman Nissen shared a draft of the FY92 Budget Calendar with School Committee members and discussion for its presentation for FY92 followed. Members suggested that the Administration should work toward pre- senting several budgets to the town - - -a FY90 Maintenance of Qual- ity budget, the current FY91 budget and projected FY92 budgets based on anticipated loss and /or addition of monies. These addi- tional monies would be generated through a successful override vote or the incorporation of a trash fee. Dr. Munnelly added that he would like to see the impact of all scenarios on the same page. PERSONNEL APPOINTMENTS On the recommendation of the Administration: Carol Lyons moved that Carol Galvin be awarded a fourth contract of tenure as a Science teacher. Barbara Philbrick seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. ADJOURNMENT George Shannon made a motion to adjourn at 9:55 p.m. Carol Lyons seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous.