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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987-04-14 School Committee MinutesREADING PUBLIC SCHOOLS Reading, Massachusetts SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING INUTES Call to Order 149 APRIL 14, 1987 Chairman Cliff Allen called the regular meeting of the Reading School Committee to order at 7:30 p.m. on April 14, 1987 in the Superintendent's Conference Room at 34 Gould Street. All members of the School Committee were present, with the exception of Mr. Nissen who had a previous commitment. Also present were the Superintendent, Robert S. Wells, Assistant Superintendents, Robert J. M unnelly, and Ronald A. Winslow,' parents, and a reporter from the Chronicle. Approval of Minutes of April 6, 1987 A motion was made by Mrs. Philbrick. seconded by Mr. Shannon, to approve the Minutes of the Meeting of April 6, 1987. The vote was unanimous. Bills and Pavrolls Warrants for bills and payrolls were approved as follows: Bills April 20, 1987 - General Expense - $73,766.72 April 27, 1987 - General Expense - $75,792.41 Pavrolls April 16, 1987 - Teachers - $366,725.53 April 17, 1987 - Weekly - $ 30,583.37 Citizens' Input There was no citizens' input. Final FY88 Budcet Review Dr. Wells stated that the School Committee had approved the expenditure portion of the budcet, but not the anticipated income portion of it. He stated he would like the cc:- ..-zittee to vote on this item tonight. Dr. Wells stated he understood that the entire Operational Budget would be presented by Town Manager. He noted that in years past, the Chairman would present a budget with our costs and indicate for example, an amount less Metco income, athletic contests income, etc. Dr. Wells stated that the department was anticipating income of $100,000 from Metco this 150 READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES APRIL 14, 1987 year and $37,077, from State Department of Education, Chapter 188, $7,897.00 from PL81 -874, $22,800 from Athletics, and $12,863,445 from Tax Levy. He also noted there will be an anticipated carryover from Professional Development Funds of $85,000. Dr. Wells stated he was recommending that the School Committee carryover $85,000 for FY88 which would assure us that we will be able to live within our Budget for FY87, and we will have enough funds in FY88 so that the Town will have to raise $85,000 less than otherwise from the tax levy. Dr. Wells stated another alternate was to approve applying funds as shown in Column B which meant that at the end of the year the department would have a large unexpended balance as shown on Enclosure B -2 -a. Mr. Shannon stated that in the spirit of the Town Meeting held last evening at which they had voted to support money for completing the remodelling of the open classrooms at the high school, he would be very much in support of this application of funds. He noted although we are not turning the money back to the Town, we are using money that can be rolled over, due to th`e' uniqueness of the funds, reducing our budget from what would be needed for the next year. Mr. Shannon made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Philbrick, to recommend that the $12,863,445, as indicated in Column A of Enclosure B -2 -a, to be raised from the tax levy and the sum of $85,000 of the Professional Development Funds be held in abeyance for FY88. The vote was unanimous. Principal's Vacancy Progress Report Dr. Wells stated that approximately 200 citizens had appeared at the meeting held last week in the Birch Meadow Cafetorium in regard to the Principal's vacancy at the Birch Meadow School. He reviewed the Enclosure B -3 -a with the School Committee, which was a review of the meeting listing comments and recommendations made by both he and the citizens in attendance at the meeting. He noted the recommendations covered three areas: program needs for the school, philosophic orientation desired in the candidate, and professional expertise. Dr. Wells then read some of the comments and recommendations from the audience in regard to what they expected from a new Principal. Dr. Weds stated that an advertisement had been put in the Bcston Sunday Globe, that Gr. =duate Schc0is In the area and State Departments had been contacted, and that inhouse postings had also been accomplished. Dr. Munnelly stated that Mav 4th had been set as the last day for filing applications. He noted that this will permit the setting up of a Screening Committee. Dr. Munnelly noted that in three weeks the Screening Committee should have a fair 151 READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES APRIL 14, 1987 amount of candidates and folders made up for each in order to have finalists selected for possible appointment in mid -June. Dr. Wells stated the School Committee had to nominate three people for the Screening Committee, one of which had already been appointed from the School Committee, Mr. Shannon. He stated two had to be selected who were parents from the affected school district. Dr. Wells stated this had not been accomplished at the last meeting, because of the possibility of a transfer, but this was no longer an issue. Mr. Allen then stated he was recommending the appointment of Mrs. Kendra Cooper, who had volunteered to be on both Screening Committees, the one for the Superintendent and also for the Principal of the Birch Meadow School. He noted, and had stated at a previous meeting, that he felt she could be more effective as a member of the Principal's Screening Committee. Mr. Allen stated he was also nominating Mr. Joe Nolan who had been active in many school. activities and was also from the school district. Mrs. Philbrick made a motion, seconded by Carol Lyons, to accept the nomination of Mrs. Kendra Cooper and Mr. Joe Nolan as members of the Screening Committee representing the school district for the vacancy of Principal at the Birch Meadow School. Mr. Allen noted that there was also a letter from another citizen which was dated April 13th requesting nomination to the Screening Committee, and he would hold it and if for some reason another appointee was needed, they would be given due consideration. Mr. Shannon noted that both of the candidates nominated by Mr. Allen had been involved in many activities at the Birch Meadow. He stated he also felt the meeting held last week on this vacancy had been well run and very productive. A vote was taken on the motion, and it was aonrcved unanimously. Dr. Wells then stated that he was appointing five people to the Screening Committee, as called for in the policy. They were: Mary Lou Petkewich, Reading resident teaching in Burlington, Ronald Wood, Asst. Principal at the Birch Meadow School, Charles Papandreou, Principal of the Barrows School, Eileen Litterio, Grade 2 teacher at the Barrows School, and Barbara Leslie, Grade 3 teacher at the Birch Meadow School. He stated the committee would have a full month to screen candidates. Mr. Coco asked how many candidates the School Committee would be getting resumes for? Dr. i,e11s stated six, and this would include the recom��endation of the atminlstration. Mr. COCC aske if the Screening Committee meetings would be public? Dr. wells stated since they are appointed by the School Committee, they would have to follow the Open Meeting Law. Mr. Shannon asked if he understood correctly though that the first initial interviews could be done in Executive Session. Dr. Wells stated this was 152 READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES APRIL 14, 1987 correct and that this rule and the Open Meeting Law should be explained very carefully to the Screening Committee members. Dr. Wells stated it was his hope that an appointment could be made by mid -June. School Calendar Revision Dr. Wells stated that although the contract with the RTA stated that a minimum of 185 days could be built into the school calendar, we have used only two snow days. He stated assuming there will be no further inclement weather, there is an additional snow day left in the calendar, and the contract calls for this to be subtracted. On the basis of this, he stated he was recommending that the last day of school for students be changed to Friday, June 19th, and for teachers, Monday, June 22nd, as he felt it would be very unproductive- to have the students come back on Monday, June 22nd. A motion was made by Mr. Coco, seconded by Mrs. Philbrick, to ap_Drove the setting of the School Calendar changing the final day of school to Friday, June 19th, for Students, and Monday, June 22nd, for teachers. The vote was unanimous. Suoerintendent's Search - Prccress Rencrt. Dr. Wells stated Mr. Marquis was meeting that evening with the Screening Committee, and he would be appearing shortly. Legal Opinion - Exec. Session Minutes - M.A.S.C. Dr. Wells stated that at the last meeting Chairman Allen had indicated that he had received a telephone communication from the D. A.'s office in Essex County, regarding Executive Sessions. He stated that Enclosure C -2 was the result of a request by the committee that he get a legal opinion in regard to Executive Session minutes from the M.A.S.C. He stated he agreed with the M.A.S.C. in which they stated that the key to the opinion is found in the first full paragraph on page 2 of the enclosure which stated: "The determination by the School Committee whether to make the records of an Executive Session pu:lic or not may be discussed in executive session if and to the extent that the discussion involves a review of the matters which were properly discussed at an Executive Session in the first place." Dr. Wells stated he has also been in contact with Town Counsel wlnc was calling the legal assistant in the D...'s office to see if there was anything misco=.nunicated or misunderstccd, and he would cet back to him. Dr. Swells stated he would then, in turn, get back to the School Ccmmi ttee. 153 READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES APRIL 14, 1987 Resignations Dr. Munnelly stated he had received a resignation from Paula Gilda Vincenzi, Foreign Language teacher at Coolidge Middle School, to be effective at the end of the 1986 -87 School Year, due to her husband having accepted a job in Portland, Maine. A motion was made by Mrs. Philbrick, seconded by Mr. Shannon, to accept the resignation of Mrs. Paula Gilda Vincenzi, Foreign Language at Coolidge Middle School, effective end of SY86 -87. The vote was unanimous. Dr. Munnelly stated he had also received a resignation from Ann L. Adams, who has been teaching in the system for approximately 25 years, and most recently at the Killam School, for purposes of retirement to be effective the end of SY86 -87. Dr. Munnelly stated the administration would send a letter of thanks to Ms. Adams for her many years of service. A motion was made by Mr. Shannon, seconded by Mrs. Philbrick, to accept the resignation for purposes of retirement of Ann L. Adams, teacher at the Killam School to be effective at the end of SY86 -87. The vote was unanimous. Dr. Wells then reviewed with the School Committee the many honors that students had received over the previous week and weekend. Dr. Munnelly mentioned that for the second year, Kathy Kiernan from ,Coolidge Middle School had won the regional spelling bee held for students in this area, making her eligible to go to finals in Washington, D.C. He noted that it took over 38 rounds in order to win the competition. Dr. Munnelly also mentioned the production put on at the High School, "Fiddler on the Roof ". He stated he felt it was an excellent show and a tribute to the young people at the High School. He also stated he was proud of the strong contribution made by the staff. Dr. Munnelly noted that of the three nights' performances, two were sold out. Dr. Wells stated that there had also been a State History Contest held in honor of National History Day in which students from R.M.H.S. had competed and had come in first in all six catec_ories, making them eligible to go to the finals in Washington, D. C. along with their Principals. Dr. Wells stated he had talked with some of the Principals about funds for this trip and had indicated to them that the Central Office would do everything? vas: `li �. LO t be sure tha all part c1cant-s, c°-acerc: es, an `- Pri ,cipals were able to make the trip_ . Dr. Wells then stated that another of Readina's students had won a major prize in physics, and he would try to cet specific information to them at a later meet-inc. Dr. Munnellv stated that in the competiticn, Reading students had core in fourth among 27 other schools. Dr. Munnelly stated that between the honors won by sport teams, and all the academic accomplishments, it has been quite a year.