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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1985-05-06 School Cimmittee Minutes 53 READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES MAY 6, 1985 Call to Order Chairman Allen called a regular meeting of the Reading School Committee to order on May 6, 1985, at 7:31 p.m. , in the Conference Room of the Central Office. Mr. Shannon was unable to be present as he was out of the State. All other members were present, as were Superintendent Wells and Assistant Superintendents Munnelly and Winslow. There were approximately 14 visitors, including Principal Donald Farnham and kindergarten teachers Susan Colucci and Ruth Stanieich, of the Joshua Eaton School, High School Principal Leonard D'Orlando, Guidance Department Head Rena Mirkin, members of the Student Advisory Committee, and representatives of the Finance Committee and the Daily Chronicle. Approval of Minutes of April 23, 1985 On a motion by Mrs. Philbrick, seconded by Mr. Coco, the minutes of the School Committee meeting of April 23, 1985, were unanimously approved. Bills and Payrolls Warrants for bills and payrolls were approved as follows: Bills May 3, 1985 - General Expense - $29,874.39 May 10, 1985 - General Expense - $28,520.32 Payrolls May 2, 1985 - Teachers - $331.618.39 May 3, 1985 - Weekly - $26,522.96 May 10, 1985 - Weekly - $27,012.68 Citizens' Input Mr. Zerfas said he felt the security lights at the Barrows School were on too late. Mr. Winslow said he will check into it. School Highlights This segment of the agenda dealt with the kindergarten screening procedure and was presented by Mr. Farnham, Ms. Colucci and Mrs. Stanieich, of the Joshua Eaton School. Mr. Farnham said that while they spoke primarily for Eaton School, the screen- ing, which is conducted in conjunction with Pupil Personnel Services and under the guidelines of Chapter 766, is pretty much standardized throughout Reading's elementary schools. He added that while the first part of the procedure takes place in spring, the School Principals start gathering names of prospective kindergarten students the previous fall. The kindergarten teachers explained how children are observed and tested individually for vision, hearing, speech and language development, fine and gross motor skills, maturity, etc. The various parts of the screening are 54 READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES MAY 6, 1985 conducted by the school nurses, speech and language therapists, school psychologist, teacher aides and kindergarten teachers. Prospective kindergart- ners are observed in small groups and given the opportunity to visit classrooms they will be placed in when they start school. All test results are reviewed by the screening team to determine the children's levels of ability and insure that individual needs will be met. If screening results show further testing should be done parents are notified immediately. Mr. Farnham explained that because children often change and mature during the summer months, further screening is done in the fall after they have had time to become comfortable in their surroundings. After several questions from the School Committee, Chairman Allen thanked Mr. Farnham and his staff members for their presentation. Student Advisory Committee Mr. D'Orlando introduced Mrs. Mirkin and Student Advisory Committee (SAC) members Patricia Callaghan, Susan Nordberg, Lisa Rotondo, Richard Byron, William DeCoste, and Kenneth Lento. Mrs. Mirkin noted that five of the six students were seniors so this would be their last visit to the School Committee as members of SAC. Miss Callaghan said the group had met that day to discuss what they would talk about when they met with the School Committee and one thing they wanted to note was the great improvement in the Guidance Department , due in a large part to Mrs. Mirkin's leadership. Among ideas broached by SAC members were the possibility of eliminating final examinations for Seniors who have an "A-" or better grade in a course; advancing to later than eighth grade the time when students must decide whether to enter vocational school; and placing more emphasis on how valuable a vocational school education can be to some students. There was a lively exchange between SAC and School Committee members on the above topics. Chairman Allen then announced that he recently had the pleasure of attending a banquet, sponsored by the Wakefield Elks Club, honoring outstanding teenagers in the area. Among those honored were Reading Memorial High School students Patricia Callaghan, Karen Collari, Timothy O'Connor, Christina Harris, and Susan Nordberg. Mrs. Mirkin explained that these students were voted by their peers in the Senior Class to be the outstanding students of the year during elections held five different months during the year. On behalf of the Committee Chairman Allen thanked the students for an interesting discussion and wished them luck in future endeavors. Lease Renewal Mr. Winslow said that the lease for the Central Office, 34 Gould Street, expires May 17th and that the owners are willing to continue the lease under the existing terms for another year, with a six-month option. 55 READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES MAY 6, 1985 Mr. Nissen moved, seconded by Mr. Coco, and it was voted unanimously to renew the Central Office lease with Solo-Pak for one year, from May 17, 1985 to May 17, 1986, with the option to extend it for six months. Designer Selection Policy Dr. Wells explained that new State legislation - Chapter 579, Acts of 1980 - makes it necessary for municipalities to adopt a written designer selection policy for use in selecting designers for certain public building projects. Mr. Winslow added that under the new law it is necessary that a "request for proposal" be developed and publicly advertised for projects over $25,000. The proposed policy - DJCA - Designer Selection Policy - as presented on Document B-3-b was discussed briefly. The main concerns of the Committee were an ambiguity in the wording referring to the selection of a committee to carry out the policy and the selection and make-up of said committee. Dr. Wells pointed out that some of their concerns would be incorporated in the administrative guidelines to be developed for the Policy. Mr. Nissen moved, seconded by Mrs. Philbrick, and it was voted unanimously to adopt for first vote Policy DJCA - Designer Selection Policy, as shown on Document B-3-b, with the following revision: Page 1, second paragraph - "Ad Hoc Committee" will be changed to "Advisory Committee," to be followed by, in parentheses, "hereinafter referred to as the Committee." Financial Statements Noted for the record were the following financial statements: Salary and Expense Accounts as of April 26, 1985, Account Balances as of April 26, 1985, and Cafeteria Statement for March 1985. Mr. Winslow said that the minus figure in the building maintenance account was the result of two unexpected expenditures - replacing a storage tank at the Eaton School and repairs to the fire alarm system at the Birch Meadow School. He added that the overdraft in the School Committee expense account was caused by the cost of negotiations. Referring to the Cafeteria Statement, Mr. Winslow said that most of the adjusted profit of nearly $20,000 would be spent on a new walk-in freezer for the High School. Progress Report - Rivers Development Corporation Mr. Winslow reported that he has been in contact with Jack Rivers of the Rivers Development Corporation and had been told that he will receive a list of the equipment they own and the rates charged, so that $2,000 worth of services can be worked out in exchange for the School Committee giving them permission to grade some land near the High School in conjunction with houses the Corporation is building on adjacent property. Leaves Mr. Nissen moved, seconded by Mr. Coco, and it was voted unanimously, on the recommendation of the Administration, to grant a leave of absence without pay to Mrs. Jean Silva, High School librarian, for the first three months of the 1985-86 school year. 56 READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES MAY 6, .1 985 Mr. Nissen moved, seconded by Mrs. Philbrick, and it was voted unanimously, on the recommendation of the Administration, to grant to Mr. Earl Opland, custodian at Birch Meadow School, an extention of sick leave up to thirty days. MASC Annual Meeting Chairman Allen announced that the deadline for making reservations for the annual meeting of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees is May 23. Executive Session - Adjournment At 9:01 p.m. Mrs. Philbrick moved, seconded by Mr. Coco, that the School Committee enter into executive session to discuss matters pertaining to bargain- ing and negotiations. The motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote. The Committee returned to open session at 9:51. The Chairman announced that he will leave May 9th for Arlington, Virginia, to attend a National Association of School Boards seminar. At 9:51 Mr. Nissen moved, seconded by Mr. Coco, and it was voted unanimously to adjourn. Rohc'r't S. Y'''clls, Secretary