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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987-04-06 School Committee MinutesREADING PUBLIC SCHOOLS Reading, Massachusetts SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES Call to Order 145 APRIL 6, 1987 Chairman Cliff Allen called the regular meeting of the Reading School Committee to order at 7:35 p.m. on April 6, 1987 in the Superintendent's Conference Room at 34 Gould Street. All members of the School Committee were present, with the exception of Carol Lyons. Also present were the Superintendent, Robert S. Wells, Assistant Superintendents, Robert J. Munnelly, and Ronald A. Winslow, who arrived late, parents, and a reporter from the Chronicle. Approval of Minutes of March 30, 1987 A motion was made by Mr. Shannon, seconded by Mr. Coco, to approve the Minutes of March 30, 1987. The vote was unanimous. Bills and Payrolls Warrants for bills and payrolls were approved as follows: Bills April 13, 1987 - General Expense - $55,397.72 Payrolls April 10, 1987 - Weekly - $30,320.56 Citizens' Input There was no citizens' input. Superintendent's Search Proaress Report Cliff Allen stated he was sure that everyone was clenerally aware of the meetings that have been held for the public, staff, and employees in regard to this search in the past two weeks. He stated there was gathered from these meetings information on suggested attributes the Superintendent should possess, which were coordinated by the Consultant, Management Leadership Systems, and presented at the last meeting to the School Committee. Mr. Allen stated at this particular juncture, he was able to offer some names to the committee for nominations for membership on the citizens screening committee for the Superintendent's vacancy. He 146 READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES APRIL 6, 1987 noted there would be a meeting the following evening at 7:30 p.m. at the Birch Meadow School for the parents and any interested people in regard to the search for Principal at that school. Cliff Allen offered the following names for nomination: Citizens of Reading - Karen I. Burke, William Griset, Jr., Thomas J. Flaherty and Roy E. Welsch; educators employed by the Reading Public Schools - Jeffrey Cryan, Elia Dangelmaier, Ellen J. Howlar.d, Al Lahood, Marc Alterio, and James Dumas; 2 Reading educators not employed by the School Department - Jim Anderson and Eileen Woods. M_r. Nissen made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Philbrick, to accept the nominations for membership on the Screening Committee for the Superintendent's vacancy as presented to the School Committee by Chairman Allen. The vote was unanimous. Mr. Allen acknowledged Mrs. Kendra Cooper's letter volunteering to serve on both Screening Committees for the Superintendent's vacanc•,, and the Principal's vacancy at the Birch Meadow School. He stated, although he appreciated her enthusiasm, he felt it would be too difficult to serve on both committees. Therefore, when a search committee was established for the vacancy at the Birch Meadow School, she would be one of the people whom Mr. Allen would nominate. Salary & Expense Accounts Dr. Wells reviewed the account balances with the School Committee and stated the only outstanding item was that at the end of March only 41% of the heating funds for the year had been expended. Mr. Nisser. had a question on the 2800 item, Psychological Expense. Dr. Wells stated this was the money used for getting IEP's and psychclogical testing for special needs youngsters, and it showed that the expense is already well over where this expense has been in the past years at this time. Mr. Allen asked if this was a reflection of the budget shortfall that was recently discussed with the FinCom. Dr. Wells stated it was part of that expense, but despite some of these overexpenditures, he felt the department was iE very healthy shape in meeting budget obligations. Accour.t Balances A parent, Mrs. Martha Stasiowski, had a question on the two special needs items, P.L. 89 -313, and P.L. 94 -142, on the account balances. Dr. Wells stated these were both to do with federal funds that the department gets specifically to do special needs projects. Dr. Munnelly stated these were the funds of federal and state support that came into the Special Project account. He stateC' the differences shown here were the result of these funds being separated into special accounts for payment purposes. Dr. Munnelly stated the money is received on a quarterly basis and sometimes, the funds show a negative balance because the money is 147 READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES APRIL 6, 1987 not up front. Mr. Coco asked if there were any recording requirements on these grants? Dr. Munnelly stated that the grants had to be evaluated and final financial reports had to be filed. Mr. Coco asked if the School Committee could be given this final report. Dr. Munnelly stated there was an extensive report prepared by Dr. Alexanian which he would be glad to give to the School Committee. Mr. Coco stated he felt the School Committee would be interested in seeing across - the -board what is spent and how in regard to special needs programs. MIAA Building.Fund Dr. Wells stated at the last meeting, the School Committee had voted that administration get as much information as possible on this building project. He stated he had received this Enclosure C -3 which had been a part of a newsletter received from the MIAA, and it indicated that the organization had been informed that their lease, which expired this summer, would not be renewed, as the building which was in Ashland was being reopened as an elementary school. He stated the MIAA had set up a committee to investigate renting new office space, purchasing a building, and possible sites for a new building. Dr. Wells stated the committee came back and reported they felt it would be in the best interests of the MIAA and the membership to construct their own building. He stated he was in error in regard to their possibly renting some portion of the new building. Dr. Wells stated in talking with his colleagues, he found that most of their School Committees had voted to take the third option of funding the building, returning tournament income. Cliff Allen stated in light of this new information, perhaps the committee should reconsider their motion of the last meeting opposing the construction of the new building. A moti.on was made by Mrs. Philbrick, seconded by Mr. Nissen, to instruct our delegate to the MIAA to vote for the third option for funding of the new building by withholding tournament income from member schools. The vote was unanimous. Dr. Wells stated he would like to discuss the Executive Minutes of March 9, 1987 with the School Committee. He stated while he was not there at the end of the March 9, 1987 meeting, he understood that although the School Committee went into Executive Session for very legitimate reasons, while in there, wandered into an area of discussion which should have properly been in Open Session. He stated he realized there was an explanation of this discussion when the committee returned to Open Session, but as Secretary to the School Committee, he was recommending that the Minutes that the committee had been given a copy of and were before them, could now be considered an addendum to the Open Session Minutes of March 9th. Mr. Shannon made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Philbrick, to accept the amended Minutes of March 9, 1987. The vote was unanimous. UM READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES APRIL 6, 1987 Dr. Wells stated he would call Romeo Marquis to inform him that the Screening Committee members had been selected and that he could go ahead and call the first meeting. He also stated in the Mass. Association of School Superintendents Newsletter, he found Reading's ad for a Superintendent, and the committee could now be sure that every Superintendent and Asst. Superintendent in the State was aware of the vacancy. Cliff Allen read the advertisement to the committee. Mrs. Philbrick asked if he, as Chairman, or another member of the committee were going to meet with the Screening Committee the first time to help them understand the process. Mr. Allen stated he would talk to Mr. Marquis about this possibility. Mr. Coco stated he would not be present at the April 14th meeting. The committee had a discussion on possibly cancelling this meeting. Mr. Nissen stated he recalled that the rationale for this meeting was that as there was a request for a transfer to the Birch Meadow Principal vacancy and if such a transfer was approved, it should be approved earlier, so that a search could begin at the other school. After a short discussion, it was agreed to hold the April 14th meeting. At 8:00 p.m., Mr. Nissen made a motion, seconded by Mrs Philbrick, that the School Committee go into Executive Session in order to discuss matters pertaining to bargaining and negotiations. The vote was unanimous. Mr. Allen announced that the committee would not be returning to Open Session.