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Home My WebLink About1989-12-18 School Committee MinutesREADING PUBLIC SCHOOLS Reading, Massachusetts REGULAR SESSION MINUTES DECEMBER 18, 1989 CALL TO ORDER Chairman Stan Nissen called the regular meeting of the Reading School Committee to order at 7:07 p.m. in the Superintendent's Conference Room. All members were present with the exception of Carol Lyons. Also present were Superintendent Dr. Robert J. Munnelly, Assistant Superintendent Lynn M. Bak, Business Manager Warren Hopkins, Members from the Finance Committee, and a reporter from the Chronicle. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Margaret Cowell moved to approve the minutes from the December 4, 1989 meetina. Barbara Philbrick seconded the motion. The vote was all in favor. BILLS AND PAYROLLS The warrants for Bills and Payrolls were as follows: BILLS: December 26, 1989 - General Expenses - $183,690.71 PAYROLLS: December 22, 1989 - Teachers - $395,191.85 December 22, 1989 - Weekly - $ 55,476.00 CITIZEN'S INPUT Reading Citizen Kendra Cooper questioned if the Administration planned to address the Air Quality -issue at Birch Meadow and Killam Elementary Schools and the Coolidge Middle School. Dr. Munnelly answered that he was preparing a plan for overcoming the excess carbon dioxide in all schools. It would be ready shortly. Robbie Spadafora, President of the 1989 -90 Senior Class, spoke as a student representative to offer support of the Administration's management of the budget so the Reading Public Schools can continue its extra curricula programs and sports activities. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 2 SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT STUDENT'S OF THE QUARTER DECEMBER 18, 1989 Dr. Munnelly shared the names of the fifteen students who deserve recognition for their achievements and contributions for this quarter at Reading Memorial High School. The students selected by faculty for recognition in the second quarter are: Andrea Ferrari 192 Kimberly Coakley 190 Jane Gillette '93 Kimberly Carroll '92 Margaret Sumner 190 Michelle Locke '90 Brittany Downing 190 Keith Curtis '90 Mark Boutin 192 Brian Dempster 190 Ana Nogueira 191 Jennifer Toth '90 Rachel Tsutsumi 190 Matthew Miceli 190 Thomas Fuller 190 Colleen O'Brien 192 English Award Social Studies Award Mathematics Award Science Award Foreign Language Awa Business Award Technology Education Art Award Home Economic Award Athletics Award Physical Education Music Award Service Award Service Award Leadership Award Principal's Award MUSIC ADVISORY PANEL PROGRESS REPORT rd Award Award Dr. Munnelly introduced Adrienne Caselle and Jean Thomases who presented a progress report from the Music Advisory Panel. The details they furnished regarding the implementation of the music curriculum, as it currently exists, were from John Giacobbe, the Director of Music. The areas that were covered were as follows: .Highlights of the present program .Standards for Music Education in Massachusetts Areas of Concern :Action Plan Barbara Philbrick, School Committee liaison representative thanked the citizen volunteers, staff; Mark Piechota and Charlie Papan- dreou, and music director and teachers for their input and support. Discussion continued regarding the action plan of the Advisory Committee to meet basic standards of Music Education. The Commit- tee plans to return in a couple of months with recommendations. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 3 DECEMBER 18, 1989 GIFTED AND TALENTED PROGRAM NAME CHANGE Assistant Superintendent Lynn Bak shared with the Committee the interest on the part of many to change the name of the current Gifted and Talented Program. Having selected input from many of the parents and children presently active in the Gifted /Talented Program the recommended name change is to "Discovery ". Ms. Bak further explained that the selection of "Discovery" implies the gaining of knowledge, exploration, and investigation which is clearly the goal of the program. It also identifies the process of learning rather than focusing on the recognition of the learner. George Shannon made a motion to approve the change of the present program name (Gifted /Talented) to the title of "Discovery ". Margaret Cowell seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING SCHEDULE WINTER /SPRING 1990 Dr. Munnelly presented the Draft Copy (C -3) of the 1990 Winter /Spring School Committee meeting schedule. Discussion followed regarding the need for two meeting dates in the month of April. A time frame for the Saturday, January 20th meeting was set from 9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. OLD BUSINESS ° "' REQUEST FOR HOME SCHOOL PROGRAM APPROVAL Dr. Munnelly shared the letter he sent to the family of a home schooled child. The Gatta family, had been asked to respond to school requests by December 14th. No correspondence has been received to date. Superintendent Munnelly recommended that the Home School Program for John Gatta not be approved. On the recommendation of the Superintendent, Barbara Philbrick moved that the Home Education Plan for John Gatta not be approved. George Shannon seconded the motion. Discussion continued with the vote being unanimous. NEW BUSINESS INCREASE IN MILK PRICE Dr. Munnelly reported that if the school lunch program is to be self- supporting the selling price for a carton of milk must be increased from 25 cents to 30 cents. George Shannon moved to approve on the recommendation of the Superintendent to increase the cost of a carton of milk to 30 cents effective January 3, 1990. Barbara Philbrick seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 4 DECEMBER 18, 1989 BUDGET FY91 Dr. Munnelly opened discussion on the FY91 Budget. Several students expressed their concerns regarding the importance of maintaining teachers and extracurricular programs. Stan Nissen invited the Reading citizens that were present to lobby with their friends and parents to override Proposition 2 1/2. He reminded everyone that the Selectmen have until February 2 to place Proposition 2 1/2 on the ballot. Chairman Nissen suggested that the major task for the School Committee, as we move toward a final set of budgets for a January public hearing, is to agree on "put backs" from Deep Cut #1. The "Put backs" should be thought of in three increments of $450,000 to $500,000. o The first 450K would represent the School Department's share of a Trash Fee. o The second 450 -550K would represent the School's share of a 1.5 million dollar override. o The third 500 -550K would represent the School's share of a 2.5 million dollar override. .Fees Chairman Nissen stated that the School Committee had to decide the amount of money we wish to raise, and the fees to be charged for each person /per sport. Georae Shannon moved that the School Committee support the override for the full amount of 2.5 million dollars and to notify the Board of Selectmen that the School Department's portion would be at)Droximately $1.9 million. Barbara Philbrick seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. George Shannon moved to increase the total dollars from athletic fees to $50,000 with assessments based on the cost of specific sports Barbara Philbrick seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Barbara Philbrick moved that we assess extracurricula activity fees and restore approximately $12,000 back into the budget for non - athletic extracurricula activities; details to be determined later. George Shannon seconded the motion. Discussion followed with Dr. Piechota stating that fees could eliminate a program and noted that many of the students already purchase their own equipment. The vote was unanimous. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 5 DECEMBER 18, 1989 .Athletics School Committee Student Representative Tom Fuller spoke in support of the Reading Swim Teams. Discussion followed. George Shannon moved to restore the Boys' and Girls' Swim Teams for the amount of approximately 12,143 as shown on Enclosure 2. Margaret Cowell seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Margaret Cowell moved to eliminate both the Boys' and Girls' Tennis teams and to restore Freshman sports. Barbara Philbrick seconded the motion. Discussion followed. The motion failed on a 2 -2 -1 vote. Mary Williams moved to eliminate both the Boys' and Girls' Tennis teams for the amount of approximately $9,000. Barbara Philbrick seconded the motion. The motion failed on a 2 -2 -1 vote. .Maintenance On the recommendation of the Administration Margaret Cowell moved to accept the modifications as outlined on the enclosure Deep Fix Budget Cut #1. Barbara Philbrick seconded the motion. The vote was passed on a 3 -1 -1 vote. Discussion continued that from the SEEM program if a tuition based program whe Reading High from Stoneham. the budget could see an extra $48,000 vote yet to be taken, is in favor of a n the occupational center is moved to With the anticipation of those revenues and on the recommendation of the Administration: George Shannon moved to restore an elementary teacher at the Barrows School, reinstate the boys and girls varsity swim teams, one guidance teacher at the high school and the sum of $19,000 to ao toward aide time at all schools. Margaret Cowell seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous.- . y George Shannon moved to approve the Deep Cut Budget as modified. Margaret Cowell seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES 6 DECEMBER 18, 1989 .Define Put Backs The cuts were divided into four categories: "Put Back I ", items reinstated if a trash fee is imposed by Selectmen; "Put Back II ", items reinstated if a $1.5 million dollar override is passed; "Put Back III ", items reinstated if a $2.5 million dollar override is passed; and the fourth catagory entitled "Not Included in Put Backs ". Barbara Philbrick moved to delete $40,000 from Data Processing and $20,000 from Professional Develo ment. Margaret Cowell seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. George Shannon moved to eliminate the Discovery Program, approximately $68,500 from Put Back Page 1. Margaret Cowell seconded the motion. The vote was 1 in favor 4 op ossed. Motion failed. Barbara Philbrick moved to remove the half -time secretary in Special Ed. George Shannon seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous with 4 in favor and 1 op ossed. Motion passed. George Shannon moved to remove the Confidential Secretary from Put Back I (Draft Recommendations) . Margaret Cowell seconded the motion. The vote was 4 in favor and 1 oppossed. Motion passed. Barbara Philbrick moved to add the Elementary Art and Music teachers, and the Reading High School Reading and English teachers back to Put Back I. Margaret Cowell seconded the motion. Discussion regarding the Middle School Reading teacher followed. Barbara Philbrick modified her motion to include one Middle School Reading Teacher. The vote was 4 in favor and 1 oppossed. Motion passed. George Shannon moved to eliminate the Clerk /Secretary, 2 Middle School Custodians, 1 High School Custodian from Put Back II and add custodial supplies, totaling approximately $100,000. Barbara Philbrick seconded the motion. The 3 -2 vote carried the motion. George Shannon moved to place the Administration Additional Hours Clerk totaling $6,000 to the Put Back III Budget Draft Recommenda- tion. Barbara Philbrick seconded the motion. The 4 -1 vote carried the motion. Put Back III: _George Shannon moved to add the Confidential Secretary and three busses to Put Back II and to institute a bus fee. Mary Williams seconded the motion. The vote was 4 in favor with one abstention. Motion passed.