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Home My WebLink About1989-11-06 School Committee MinutesREADING PUBLIC SCHOOLS Reading, Massachusetts Regular Session Minutes November 6, 1989 CALL TO ORDER Chairman Stan Nissen called the regular meeting of the Reading School Committee to order at 7:15 p.m., in the Superintendent's Conference Room at 62 Oakland Road. All members of the School Committee were present; except George Shannon and Margaret Cowell, who arrived at later times. Also present were Superintendent Robert J. Munnelly; Assistant Superintendents Lynn M. Bak and Ronald A. Winslow; a reporter from the Chronicle and members of the community. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Carol Lyons moved to approve the minutes from the October 23, 1989 meeting, Barbara Philbrick seconded the motion The vote was unanimous. BILLS AND PAYROLLS B ILLS November 13, 1989 - General Expenses - #138,122.45 PAYROLLS November 2, 1989 - Teachers - $406,347.06 November 3, 1989 - Weekly - $ 53,471.15 November 9, 1989 - Weekly - $ 53,954.71 CITIZEN'S INPUT There was no Citizen's Input. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT ANNUAL MA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL COMMITTEES AND MA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS MEETING Dr. Munnelly shared with the School Committee that at the Annual Conference of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees and Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents he and George Shannon will be participating as presenters on a panel discussing School Based Management and the Killam Carnegie Project. The meeting will be held at Hyannis on November 9, 1989. He also shared the thank -you note that was sent to Killam's Principal Paul Guerrette by Francis Roberts, a writer /school superintendent who is preparing an article on "Good Schools" for Parent's Magazine. READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES 2 NOVEMBER 6, 1989 BUSINESS MANAGER INTERVIEWS Dr. Munnelly introduced the finalists for the Business Manager's position for the Reading Schools. Each of the following candi- dates were interviewed for twenty -five minutes by the School Com- mittee: John M. Lawler, a Marketing Representative and a former Manchester Public School Business Manager; Francine J. Pietkiewicz Bouchard, a Budget Coordinator for the Boston Public School System; and R. Warren Hopkins, a Business Education Teacher at Reading Memorial High School and a former Assistant to the Super- intendent for Business in the Swampscott Public School System. A fourth finalist withdrew as a candidate for this position. The candidates thanked the interview committee and the School Committee for their consideration. The School Committee commended the in -house screening committee for their choice of qualified candidates. Dr. Munnelly stated that he will take the ideas of the School Committee and the screening committee into consideration and have a recommendation at our next School Committee meeting. OLD BUSINESS APPROVAL OF HOMEBOUND INSTRUCTION PROGRAM Dr. Munnelly informed the School Committee that he did not have a recommendation on a home instruction program requested by a .4 Reading family. He added that he should have a recommendation at the next School Committee meeting, after he has re- examined Massachusetts' laws and has reviewed the parent's education plan. The School Committee discussed instituting a deadline date for approval of a student's home instruction. NEW BUSINESS SCHOOL COMMITTEE ARTICLE ON EASEMENT THROUGH THE HIGH SCHOOL PARKING LOT DRIVEWAY Dr. Munnelly explained that in June the School Committee voted to cooperate with Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner and Town Counsel Ted Cohen on arranging a legal easement (rather than a license) for a homeowner's access to his house over high school driveways. A warrant before Town Meeting will include a presentation of Article #12 regarding this issue by a School Committee Member and then Mr. Cohen and Mr. Hechenbleikner will take over the microphone for further explaination. READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES 3 NOVEMBER 6, 1989 PREPARATION FOR TOWN MEETING ARTICLE ON ADDITIONS AND RENOVATIONS TO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS Chairman Nissen reviewed with the School Committee the meeting with the Finance Committee at which the Elementary Building Projects were considered. The Finance Committee has put off final vote until later this week. FinCom has several questions regarding state reimbursement and financing. Margaret Cowell added that she had attended open house with the FinCom earlier this evening at the Birch Meadow School and that there would be an open house at the Joshua Eaton School later this week. Margaret Cowell requested that she be recorded in favor of the motion made last week for the presentation of the full cost esti- mate of the renovations of the Birch Meadow and Eaton Schools to Town Meeting. George Shannon moved for reconsideration of the original vote. Barbara Philbrick seconded the motion. The vote for reconsidera- tion was unanimous. The School Committee proceeded to vote without further discussion on the original motion: to submit to Town Meeting the cost estimate for both schools, Birch Meadow and Eaton Elementary, for the full scale project $5,478,700, which includes a three percent escalation factor. The vote was five in favor and one opposed. HIGH SCHOOL SMOKING RULES Dr. Munnelly shared the proposed language of the smoking rules to be incorporated in the high school handbook. George Shannon moved to approve the new smoking rule language for the high school handbook as identified in enclosure B3c. Margaret Cowell seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. OLD BUSINESS GIFTED AND TALENTED PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION: 1990 AND BEYOND Assistant Superintendent Lynn M. Bak briefed the School Committee and audience on the goals and objectives of the Gifted and Talented program. She then turned the meeting over to the gifted and talented program coordinators, Karen Rickershauser and Susan Wood. Susan addressed goals 1 -4 which included current practices as follows: . Type I general exploratory experiences (Limited) . Type II training . Type II 1/2 (Guided Type III) . Type III investigations READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES 4 NOVEMBER 6, 1989 . Creative problem solving . Future problem solving . Science -by -mail v . Artifact box exchange . Encourage /support curriculum compacting . Student interest inventories . Parent survey re: child To further address goals 1 -4 Sue explained that they plan to: . EXPAND TYPE I EXPERIENCES BASED ON, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, CURRICULUM AND STUDENTS' INTERESTS . RECRUIT MENTORS AND ADVISORS BASED ON STUDENTS' NEEDS Karen shared the current practices for Goals 5 -8: Provide articles for parents and teachers on current research and practice in gifted education . Informal inservice for teachers . Periodic updates for teachers and principals Newsletters for parents (Approximately five per year) Encouragement and support for curriculum compacting Student interest inventories Parent survey re: child To further address goals 5 -8 Karen explained that they plan to: INCREASE THE DEGREE OF PARENT /COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT . INCREASE COLLABORATION BETWEEN PROGRAM AND CLASSROOM Assistant Superintendent Lynn M. Bak complem nted the teacher/ coordinators for the quality of their presentation of goals and goal implementation styles. In addition she publicly thanked the Elementary Principals for their support of the program. The School Committee thanked Sue and Karen for their energy and commitment, and extended best wishes for a successful year. INFORMATION DISCUSSION OF BUSINESS MANAGER CANDIDATES School Committee members individually discussed their reactions to the candidates for Dr. Munnelly's consideration as he decides on a recommendation for the Business Manager position. Dr. Munnelly added that he will also discuss salary for the position at the November 15, 1989 School Committee meeting. READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES 5 NOVEMBER 6, 1989 NEXT MEETING AGENDA On the agenda for the November 15th meeting will be a home schooling recommendation, the appointment of the Business Manager and the budget process. ADJOURNMENT At 10:30 p.m., George Shannon made a motion to adjourn The motion was seconded by Margaret Cowell The vote was unanimous Respectfully Submitted Roberti. Munnelly, Ed. D. Superintendent Of Schools Secretary To The School Committee 4