Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1988-01-25 School Committee MinutesREADING PUBLIC SCHOOLS Reading, Massachusetts SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 25, 1988 CALL TO ORDER Chairman George Shannon called the regular meeting of the Reading School Committee to order at 7:30 p.m. on January 25, 1988, in the Superintendent's Conference Room at 34 Gould Street. All members with the exception of student Nancy Drane were present. Also present were Superintendent, Robert J. Munnelly; Assistant Super- intendents Lynn M. Bak and Ronald A. Winslow; Reading Director, Edward Sacco; Athletic Director, Jack White; community represen- tatives Kevin Flatley, Kenneth Holbrook, Herbert Medlock, Arnold Berger, and Paul Selvitelli; and a reporter from the Chronicle. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made by Mr. Nissen, seconded by Mrs. Philbrick, to approve the Minutes of the meeting of January 19, 1988. The vote was four in favor with Mr. Allen and Mr. Shannon abstaining as they were not in attendance at the last meeting. BILLS AND PAYROLLS Warrants for bills and payrolls were approved as follows: Bills February 1, 1988 - General Expense - $51,787.14 Payrolls January 28, 1988 - Teachers - $365,667.58 January 29, 1988 - Weekly - $ 46,020.26 CITIZENS INPUT There was no citizens input. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT Dr. Munnelly reported to the School Committee the receipt of a grant totaling $13,500 to the Reading Public Library and the Reading Public Schools from the Massachusetts Cultural Collabora- tive for a program entitled, "Literature Alive ", which extends our Art of the Book's effort of last year. The program will fund the presence of writers, storytellers and visual artists as artists - in- residence to promote good literature and broaden reading among Reading students. Dr. Munnelly recognized the efforts of Susan Wheltle, Art Director; the Reading Public Library Staff; Teachers; and the School Improvement Councils who are providing supplemental funding support to the State grant. READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES 2 JANUARY 25, 1988 OLD BUSINESS BUDGET FY 1989: FURTHER INFORMATION, READING TEACHER, R.M.H.S. Per the School Committee request of January 19, 1988, Dr. Edward Sacco, Reading Director, provided information in support of a Reading Specialist at Reading Memorial High School. Dr. Sacco focused on the following points: o the role of the high school Reading Specialist o the justification for need of the Specialist with reference to student reading scores and skill acquisition o the results of a Grade 9 1985 Cat Test and a 1986 graduate survey o recommendations as cited by the State Department of Edu- cation and the National Reading Association - Dr. Sacco closed his presentation by seeking School Committee support for the Reading Teacher at Reading Memorial High School for the purpose of providing a continual sequential program to prepare Reading students as growing adults for an age of infor- mation. Questions and discussion followed the presentation. FURTHER INFORMATION: SWIM TEAM Committee representative Mr. Flatley distributed a question and answer sheet to the School Committee members referencing the questions and concerns that were raised at the School Committee Meeting of January 19, 1988. Mr. Flatley concluded his remarks seeking the support of the Committee to fund the start -up costs totaling $12,500 of a swim team at Reading Memorial High School for the upcoming school year. Questions and answers followed, including the discussion of alter- natives and compromises due to our present budget constraints and the creation of the team. From the information, costs and needs standpoint, it was suggested that the initiation of a girls swim team would be the most feasible possibility for the 1988 -1989 school year. A motion was made by Mr. Nissen, seconded by Mrs. Philbrick to add $6,270 to the present budget proposal to initiate a girls swim team in the next school year. The vote was unanimous. Mr. Shannon noted that this proposal, although voted in agreement by the School Committee, is subject to final budget approval by the Finance Committee and the Town Meeting. FURTHER INFORMATION: STADIUM LIGHT PROPOSAL Recreation Department- representative Ms. Copeland, shared the Department's support for the lighting of the football field. Proposal supporters Mr. Medlock, Mr. Selvitelli and Mr. Berger READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES 3 JANUARY 25, 1988 provided the School Committee with responses to the questions that were raised at the Committee meeting of January 19, 1988. Committee member Ms. Lyons then read a letter of non - support from Whittier Road residents Maria and John Silvaggi. Questions and discussion followed. Mr. Shannon then shared with the Committee, a petition from thirty -seven community members indicating non- support of the proposal. John Downing, a resident.of Whittier Road, also commented in opposition of the proposal in its present form and offered alter- natives. Mr. Coco made a motion to not approve the proposal to light the Reading Memorial High School football stadium; seconded by Ms. Lyons. Discussion followed. The vote was four in favor, Mr. Allen opposed, and Mr. Shannon abstaining. DELIBERATIONS AND ADOPTION OF BUDGET FOR HEARING PURPOSES Dr. Munnelly reviewed proposed Draft #3 of the FY89 Budget with School Committee members. Questions and discussion followed. Mr. Nissen moved that the School Committee adopt Draft #3 of the Budget as revised for purposes of presenting to the Town Manager. Revisions included the deletion of the Coolidge School gym floor of $15,000 and the addition of a girls' swim team totaling $6,270. The motion was seconded by Mr. Allen. Discussion followed re- garding Special Needs transportation; the concern of a "bare bones" budget; and the need for the School Committee to provide a sound defense in support of Budget Draft #3. The vote was unanimous. For the record, Mr. Nissen indicated the School Committee's support for maintaining the budget request for the Reading Teacher at Reading Memorial High School. CAPITAL OUTLAY Mr. Nissen moved that the School Committee submit to Town Hall the request for the funding of the following warrant articles: Roof Replacement of the Field House $242,000 Transformer Replacement $241,000 Asbestos $ 25,000 Central Office Relocation $125,000 he motion was seconded by Mr. Allen. The vote was unanimous. Dr. Munnelly noted that a corrected version of the budget summary sheet will be made available to the public in accordance to the established time requirements prior to the February 8, 1988, Public Hearing. READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES 4 JANUARY 25, 1 988 SCHEDULE OF UPCOMING MEETINGS Dr. Munnelly reviewed and received School Committee concurrence for the following meeting dates: February 1, 1988 - Regular Meeting at Birch Meadow School February 16, 1988 - Interviews for Assistant Superintendent February 29, 1988 - Four Town School Committee Meeting and appointment of Assistant Superintendent March 7, 1988 - Regular Meeting and review of Superin- tendent's contract Chairman Shannon asked that Committee members submit their indi- vidual Superintendent evaluations to him by February 1, 1988. INFORMATION AND PROPOSALS R.E.A.P. — Before School Day Care Proposal. Dr. Munnelly recom- mended that the School Committee approve a pilot at Eaton School for the purposes of field testing the proposal. . Discussion followed. Mr. Nissen moved that the Administration ask R.E.A.P. to conduct a needs assessment before submitting to the School Committee a request to pilot. Seconded by Mr.Coco. The vote was unanimous. TASK FORCE ON READING SPECIAL EDUCATION IN THE '90'S Dr. Munnelly shared with the School Committee, a copy of the draft letter soliciting volunteers to serve on a Special Education Task Force to reexamine program and services, and focus on a design for Special Education in Reading in the 1990's. The School Committee gave its consensus for the study and asked that the timetable of the Task Force be adjusted to begin in mid - February, 1988, and report to Dr. Munnelly in June, 1988 rather than October, 1988 as originally planned. RESIGNATION Mr. Nissen moved to accept the resignation of Kristin Abbott, flute teacher, effective February 19, 1988. Seconded by Mr. Coco. The vote was unanimous. Chairman Shannon, on behalf of the Committee, commended and recognized the service that Ms. Abbott has offered the Reading Public Schools. LEAVE Betty Graham, SEEM Teacher at Reading Memorial High School, will be taking a maternity leave commencing April 4, 1988. READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES 5 JANUARY 25, 1988 CUSTODIAL BARGAINING To ensure the presence of a quorum at scheduled meetings, Mr. Nissen asked Chairman Shannon to designate, with Dr. Munnelly's approval, Mr. Winslow as the administrative representative, to serve on the Custodial Collective Bargaining Committee along with Mr. Nissen and Ms. Lyons. The Chair acted accordingly. ADJOURNMENT TO EXECUTIVE SESSION At 10:30 p.m., there being no further business for the regular meeting, Mrs. Philbrick moved to enter into Executive Session, seconded by Mr. Coco. The vote was unanimous. The expressed reason in the motion was to discuss Cafeteria and Custodial Bargaining and Preparation for Teacher Negotiations.