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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1989-02-13 School Committee MinutesREADING SCHOOL COMMITTEE - Reading, Massachusetts SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING REGULAR SESSION MINUTES FEBRUARY 13, 1989 CALL TO ORDER Chairman George Shannon called the regular meeting of the Reading School Committee to order at 7:40 p.m. in the Library of the Killam School. All members were present with the exception of Matt McGee, Student Representative. Also present were Superinten- dent Robert J. Munnelly, Assistant Superintendents Lynn M. Bak and Ronald A. Winslow, and a reporter from the Chronicle. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Barbara Philbrick moved to approve the minutes from the Januar 17, January 23, January 30 and February 6, 1989 meetings. Margaret Cowell seconded the motion. The vote was all in favor with Richard Coco and Carol Lyons abstaining from the January 30, 1989 minutes. BILLS AND PAYROLLS The warrants for Bills and Payrolls were as follows: BILLS: February 21, 1989 - General Expenses - $ 81,093.61 PAYROLLS February 17, 1989 - Teachers - $383,833.06 SUPERINTENDENTS REPORT Dr. Munnelly shared with the School Committee and the audience the names of the fifteen "Students of the Quarter" who are being recognized for their achievements and contributions at Reading Memorial High School. Thomas Hurford '90 Amy Harootian '90 Cory Jenks '89 Kimberly Sullivan '91 Randall Lloyd '89 Heather Foley '89 Matthew Connors '89 English Award Social Studies Award Mathematics Award Science Award Foreign Language Award Business Award Technology Education Award REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 2 Tanya Chapin '89 Todd Wettergreen 189 Karen Carcia 189 Jillian Peoples '89 Julie Palumbo 190 Andrew Larson '89 Alicia Dangelmaier 189 Scott Rostrum 190 ANNUAL REPORT FEBRUARY 13, 1989 Home Economics Award Visual Arts Award Athletic Award Music Award Physical Education Award Service Award Leadership Award Principal's Award Dr. Munnelly highlighted the Superintendent's Annual Report that was submitted to Town Hall which included: .The Reading Schools are thriving and flourishing due to two qualities, mutual respect and high expectations, exhibited by the people in the Reading community. .Leadership in Reading is shared not only with the Superin- tendent but with teachers, parents, administrators, and towns- people. The outcome is an educational excellence throughout the school system. .The recognition by the U.S. Department of Education of the Barrows School as one of the outstanding elementary schools nationwide. The faculty and parent community at Barrows, lead by Principal Papandreou, received a flag designating their achieve- ment of excellence from President Reagan at a ceremony in Washington in October. CONDOLENCE The Administration, George Shannon, and the School Committee ex- pressed their condolences to the staff at Austin Prep for the sudden death of Dr. Frank P. Gifune, Jr. BUDGET ISSUES Ron Winslow shared with the School Committee and the audience the additional budget adjustments for FY90 which included: .The elimination of a replacement food cube van ($9,200) in exchange for repairs to the existing 1980 vehicle ($2,000). Relating to other budget issues, the Administration shared with the committee its recommendations for the creation of a boy's swim team at RMHS. After discussion from members and from the audience, Richard Coco moved to approve approximately $5867 for the Reading Memorial High School Boys' Swim Team for FY90 and to have the team train at the Shawsheen Valley Tech pool. Barbara Philbrick seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 3 FEBRUARY 13, 1989 KILLAM CARNEGIE PLANNING TEAM Killam fifth grade teacher, Joe Buckley introduced members of the staff serving on the Carnegie Steering Committee to the School _.f Committee and to the audience. The representatives from this team briefed on their activities and shared the projects' progress to date. Topics and presentors included: Evolution of Planning Team Pam Chomsky- Higgins Parents' Information Meeting Jennifer Aborn Carnegie Schools Retreat Karen Macari Team Training Linda Carey Mary Ellen Ray Working Teams Jean Maloney- Stewart Questions/ Closure Joe Buckley Lynn M. Bak and Paul Guerrette, Killam School Principal and members of the Carnegie team, praised the work and efforts of this group and everyone involved. George Shannon commended the team on their enthusiasm and their commitment to the growth of the Killam School /Community. OLD BUSINESS ATHLETIC PROGRAM Dr. Munnelly noted the change in budget athletic figures should reflect an additional $6,000 for the swim team. SEEM Dr. Munnelly recommended that since our pre - school enrollments have risen dramatically and the population to be served is no longer a low - incidence group, that the Reading Schools withdraw its pre - school students from the SEEM Collaborative and also withdraw the one pre - school class from the SEEM rolls, effective at the close of this 1988 -89 school year. PERSONNEL BUDGET Dr. Munnelly will notify the Finance Committee of the correction of the $42,000 that was taken out twice in the adopted budget and ask that the budget be adjusted accordingly. BIRCH MEADOW FENCE Chairperson of the Safety Committee, Kendra Cooper, pointed out that the Birch Meadow playground is the only one in close proximity to the road. Dr. Munnelly shared Principal Davidson's recommendation that for safety purposes the play area be enclosed. Based upon this feedback, Dr. Munnelly recommended that $5,200 for a fence be taken from the proposed Birch Meadow budget. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 4 SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE FEBRUARY 13, 1989 After discussing the options with Committee members, On the recommendation of the Administration: Richard Coco made a motion to accept the move of the Superinten- dent's office to the Focus Area of Reading Memorial Hi h School. Barbara Philbrick seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous with George Shannon abstaining. RATIFICATION OF CAFETERIA WORKERS CONTRACT On the recommendation of the Administration: Margaret Cowell made a motion to accept the ratification of the cafeteria workers memorandum of agreement. Barbara Philbrick seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. NEGOTIATION COMMITTEES The school committee members serving on negotiation committees are as follows: Principals - George Shannon Carol Lyons Barbara Philbrick (Alternate) Secretaries - George Shannon Stan Nissen Teacher Aides - Barbara Philbrick Carol Lyons ACADEMIC CALENDAR On the recommendation of the Administration: Stan Nissen made a motion to retain the traditional calendar year for the next two academic years, 1989 -90 and 1990 -91 Margaret_ Cowell seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. NEW BUSINESS On behalf of the School Committee, George Shannon shared his appreciation to Margaret Cowell for a fire job on writing the School Committee's Annual Report to the Town. INFORMATION AND PROPOSALS PARKER EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY GRANT Dr. Munnelly shared with the School Committee and the audience that the Reading Public Schools have been approved for funding from the Educational Technology Capital Improvement Reimbursement Grant for the project "Computer Applications Lab"-totaling $16,250. Congratulations were noted for the Parker initiative. BUSINESS MANAGER'S FINANCIAL REPORT Ron Winslow shared the financial report as of January 31, 1989. Chapter I FY88 was closed out and the amount of $1,945.07 is • .. - ` - - - - - -- r n170n -- . -4- REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 5 FEBRUARY 13, 1989 The 4230 series reflects $16,000, the amount required to strip boiler #2 at Reading Memorial High School of asbestos, replace a section and reinsulate. This was not a budgeted item. Transformer Service, Inc. has been hired to replace the trans- formers at Reading Memorial High School. KARATE TOURNAMENT On the recommendation of the Administration: Barbara Philbrick moved to approve the Recreation Committee sponsor the International Karate Tournament and change the rental fee to reflect a local non-profit organization., reducing the cost from $1200 to $600. Richard Coco seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. PERSONNEL On the recommendation of the Administration: Stan Nissen made a motion to approve the appointment of Jill M. Mayberry to the 2osition of Speech Pathologist at the Eaton School _ at the rate of Ste2 1, M, effective March 10, 1989. The motion was seconded by Barbara Philbrick. The vote was unanimous. Stan Nissen made a motion to approve the appointment of Kenneth .y S. Pfabe to the position of the replacement substitute for the instrumental music program in the district at a two- fifths position, at the rate of Step 1, B Prorated, effective February 14, 1989. The motion was seconded by Barbara Philbrick The vote was unanimous. ADJOURNMENT At 10:00 p.m., Carol Lyons made a motion to adjourn to Executive Session for purposes of discussin.Q strategies of barqaininQ with union. personnel. The motion was seconded by Richard Coco. The vote was unanimous.