Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987-04-28 School Committee Minutes157 READING PUBLIC SCHOOLS Reading, Massachusetts SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES APRIL 28, 1987 Call to Order Chairman Cliff Allen called the regular meeting of the Reading School Committee to order at 7:30 p.m. on April 28, 1987 in the Superintendent's Conference Room at 34 Gould Street. All members of the School Committee were present, except Mr. George Shannon, who arrived late. Also present were the Superintendent, Robert S. Wells, Assistant Superintendents, Robert J. Munnelly, and Ronald A. Winslow, Assistant Principal at R.M.H.S., Robert Quinn, students from R.M.H.S., Richard McNeil and Ted Lichoulas, parents, and a reporter from the Chronicle. Approval of Minutes of April 14, 1987 A motion was made by Mrs. Philbrick, seconded by Mr. Coco to approve the Minutes of the Meeting of April 14, 1987. The vote was unanimous, with Mr. Stanley Nissen abstaining because of his absence from the meeting. Bills and Payrolls Warrants for bills and payrolls were approved as follows: Bills May 4, 1987 - General Expense May 11, 1987 - General Expense Pa rolls April 30, 1987 - Teachers - May 1, 1987 - Weekly - May 8, 1987 - Weekly - Citizens' Input There was no citizens' input. School Highlights - $32,880.51 - $52,852.01 $373,269.93 $ 27,133.06 $ 30,522.74 Dr. Munnelly stated that the subject for this evening would be T h e Peer Tutoring Project at the High School which has proven very successful. He introduced Bob Quinn, Asst. Principal at the Hi(3 e School, and students Richard McNeil and Ted Lichoulas who we r Present to give a brief overview of the program. 162 28 1987 READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES APRIL `---- were approximately 50 applications received and that they had elected Eileen Woods as their Chairman. He stated there was second meeting on the 21st of April, and although he hadn't talked to anyone about the meeting, he understood things were going Well. Principal's Search Progress Re ort Dr. Wells stated that he and Dr. Munne1ly were having the first meeting of the Screening Committee on the evening of April 29th, would which would be an organizational meeting at which they probably discuss schedule, naming a Chairperson and a Recording Secretary. He noted that there were approximately 35 apPlicants so far, with a closing date of May 4th. Mr. Coco stated he would like to comment on the tentative Schedule their which the Superintendent's Screening Committee had in minutes of their last meeting, which he felt was not sufteSent time to make a honest appraisal of approximately 50 candida Dr. Wells stated that if he remembered correctly, it was agreed that the consultant would give only a portion of the appli antswao it s the screening committee. Mrs. Philbrick stated she thought approximately 25 to 30 which would have a preliminary screening . Cliff Allen stated it was agreed it would be cut to approxlmately one -half which would mean about 25. Mrs. Philbrick stated she felt that since the School Committee had do some asked the consultant to have the screening committee and preliminary interviewing that should be communicated to tndule as if they were already aware of that, she also felt the sche presented was unrealistic. Mr. Shannon stated he felt it was an optimistic viewpoint of a date when applicants would be presented to the School Covisnittee, but obviously it is 'only tentative. He stated his only co and was when the School Committee would receive the narnedidn't applications of the six finalists. Cliff Allen stated henat the remember that there was ever a hard and fast decision t screening committee would interview candidates. Mr. Nissen stated that we hired the consultant and set up a screening committee to deal with these issues, and it Was his ob and opinion that the committee should let them do the j 1iminary interfere with their schedule or their decision to do pre and interviewing. Ms. Lyons stated she shared Mr. Coco's cones ernMrs. did not feel comfortable with the schedule as presented, on May Philbrick stated that the School Committee had a meeting She did 11th, and perhaps it could be clarified then. She stated a_ not want to get to June 1 to find that there has not b en preliminary interviews held. 163 READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES APRIL 28, 1987 There was lengthy discussion on the schedule of the screening committee, and if they would interview applicants before recommending the 6 finalists to the School Committee. Mr. Coco made a motion, seconded by Ms. Lyons, that the School Committee instruct the Chairman to draft a letter to the Superintendent's Screening Committee to state that the review process should be thorough, that the School Committee has set no time limit on their deliberation and they should take whatever time they needed to fulfill their obligations, and the School Committee is seeking a strong screening process which will give them 6 of the best candidates for final review in the ultimate selection. Mr. Allen stated he wasn't sure that the document that was mailed to the committee on the meeting of the Screening Committee on April 14th was specifically intended to delineate all the detailed aspects. He stated he was concerned that the applications were not closed yet, and as there was no evidence that the process was falling down, there was need to attempt to fix it. He stated he felt this was a tentative schedule and felt uncomfortable in sending this sort of instruction or letter to the Screening Committee. Mrs. Philbrick stated she thought that Chairman Allen should call Eileen Woods, the Chairperson for the Screening Committee, and get further clarification from her on what the scheduling included before the next School Committee of May 11th. Cliff Allen stated he also felt there were shorter avenues than writing a letter to get this information. Mr. Nissen suggested scheduling an additional School Committee meeting on May 18th at which the committee could request Mrs. Woods to attend to discuss the status of the review process for the applications and any other questions the School Committee members had and then go from there. Mr. Shannon stated he felt that the letter would be construed as a reprimand, and he felt the School Committee should wait to get an updated report and then decide if there was a need to go in another direction. Mr. Allen stated he would like to contact Mr. Marquis and Mrs. Woods before sending a letter. A vote was taken on the motion, and it was defeated on a 1 -5 vote, with only Mr. Coco voting in the affirmative. 11 Mr. Allen stated he would speak to the consultant and the Screening Committee chairman before the next meeting. There was a short discussion to set an additional meeting on May 18th, and all committee members agreed. Mr. Allen stated he would announce this again at the next meeting. 164 READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES APRIL 28, 1987 Horace Mann Protects Dr. Munnelly reviewed Enclosure C -3 with the School Committee which was a progress report on the Horace Mann Projects. He stated that although the administration was hoping for increased funds for these projects next year, the State had decided that next year, these projects would be level- funded. Dr. Munnelly stated that the committee could anticipate the receipt of $31,362 for the 1987 -88 year. He stated there was a new deadline of May 22nd set for next year's proposals, and the Principals were already working on preparing these in order to have them ready to submit before the deadline. He stated he hoped to have recommendations to the School Committee for action at a June meeting. Dr. Munnelly stated if this timetable could be maintained, the teachers would hear of the acceptance of their project before school closes in June. Carol Lyons stated due to some questions she had been asked by a citizen on these projects, she had a question on what accountability there was for the projects. Dr. Munnelly stated there was regular communication between the principals and teachers on the progress of the projects, and each teacher will submit a two -part final report. Mr. Nissen asked if there has been any information on the Professional Development Funds. Dr. Wells stated that he had heard that these funds were in trouble with the Legislature, because that way of getting funds has proven to be not as politically acceptable as perhaps some other methods. He noted that some administrators had felt left out of the action, as no principals or administrators were eligible for funding, therefore, they might not extend theses funds past Fiscal '88. Town Census - 1987 Dr. Wells stated this census was included in their packets mainly for informational purposes. Mr. Allen stated it indicated that according to the numbers, the opening of the Pearl Street School might be an issue in the near future. Lvnnfield Public School - Budget Information Dr. Wells stated that for two years in a row, Lynnfield has put this information into their budget message. He noted Town Meeting members were asking for something he could throw on an overhead, and Mr. Winslow had given him this information. Dr. Wells stated this showed where Reading was on per pupil costs in relation to other similar communities. Mr. Nissen then stated that on Thursday, the League of Women Voters were presenting their report on education in Reading at the 165 READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES APRIL 28, 1987 Library. It was suggested that perhaps those of the School Committee members who were not going to Town Meeting could attend and report back. Early Childhood Grant Proposal Dr. Munnelly stated that Enclosure C -6 was a report on the grants by which the State was encouraging pre - school education under Chapter 188. He stated Reading has formed an Early Childhood Advisory Committee and the Town was trying to have a needs documentation study funded by the State Department of Education. Dr. Munnelly stated that the plan of the committee was to be finished by June 1st to be eligible for the next round of grants, but the State had informed them that the deadline is now May 8th. Dr. Munnelly stated that the needs in this area were identified as a gap in day care (full or half -time) for children ages 2 and 3, the need for some locally -based in- service on educational programming and professional development, and also the need for ongoing parent education here in Reading. He stated with this group of needs in mind, he was suggesting developing a grant to address these needs by working with early childhood agencies to do public relations and consultation with potential family day care providers, and bring new ones into existance. This would take half -time services of a specialist, plus office support, with a budget of $16,000, and an early childhood education coordinator on a half time basis with health benefits, office support and workshop consultants, with a budget of $21,000 for a total proposal of $37,000. Dr. Munnelly explained that these services would only be provided as long as the State agrees to fund. these programs, and if the State withdraws funding, the Reading School Committee will be under no obligation to continue with these services. Mr. Nissen made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Philbrick, that the administration be authorized to submit a Grant for Early Childhood Education to the State, in the amount of $37,000, within the guidelines as described in Enclosure C-7. After a few questions by the School Committee members, a vote was taken on the motion and it was approved unanimously. Resignations Dr. Munnelly stated he has received a letter of resignation from Kathy Duffy, P. E. teacher at Coolidge, due to back problem, effective at the end of the 1986 -87 School Year. He stated she would be pursuing a degree in elementary education in 1987 -88. M-91 READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES APRIL 28, 1987 _A motion was made by Mr. Coco, seconded by Mr. Shannon, to accept the resignation of Kathy Duffy, P. E. teacher at Coolidge, effective at the end of the 1986 -87 School Year. The vote was unanimous. Dr. Munnelly stated that he has also received a letter from June S. Brown, a teacher in the system for some 18 years, who is presently a Grade 3 teacher at Birch Meadow, for purposes of retirement, effective June 30, 1987. A motion was made by Mr. Shannon, seconded by Mrs. Philbrick, to accept the resignation of June S. Brown for purposes of retirement effective June 30, 1987. The motion was approved unanimously. At 10:00 p.m., a motion was made by Mrs. Philbrick, seconded by Mr. Shannon, to go into Executive' Session for purposes of discussing bargaining and negotiations. Mr. Allen stated that the School Committee would not return to Open Session.