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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987-09-14 School Committee Minutes267 READING PUBLIC SCHOOLS Reading, Massachusetts SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES SEPTEMBER 14, 1987 CALL TO ORDER Chairman George Shannon called the regular meeting of the Reading School Committee to order at 7:30 p.m. on September 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 was out of town. Also present were the Superintendent - Elect, Robert J. Munnelly, Assistant Superintendent, Ronald A. Winslow, Claire Flynn, Director of Chapter I, parents, and a reporter from the Chronicle. Mr.Shannon announced that the School Committee would be going immediately into Executive Session to discuss Contract Negotiations, but would be returning to Open Session in approximately one -half hour. At 7 :35 p.m., a motion was made by Barbara Philbrick, seconded by Carol Lyons, to go into Executive Session. The vote was unanimous. At 8:40 p.m., the School Committee on a proper roll call vote, returned to Open Session. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF AUGUST 31, 1987 A motion was made by Mr. Coco, seconded by Ms. Lyons, to approve the Minutes of the Meeting of August 31, 1987. The vote was unanimous. Bills and Payrolls Warrants for bills and payrolls were approved as follows: Bills September 14, 1987 September 21, 1987 September 28, 1987 Payrolls September 10, 1987 - September 11, 1987 - September 18, 1987 - September 25, 1987 - - General Expense - $24,191.86 - General Expense - $25,273.29 - General Expense - $50,789.79 Teachers - $361,054.73 Weekly - 25,916.99 Weekly - 30,526.21 Weekly - 32,837.86 READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES 2 SEPTEMBER 14, 1987 Mr. Shannon, the Chairman, then stated he would like to make a brief announcement. He stated that the School Committee and Superintendent -Elect had reached an agreement in principle, with only minor details still to be worked out. Mr. Shannon stated that he hoped that prior to the next regular School Committee he will be able to announce that a formal contract had been signed. Dr. Munnelly stated that the School Committee and he had a long conversation and were coming to agreement and that in approximately two weeks, it was hoped that a contract that is favorable to him would be signed. Dr. Munnelly thanked all the people who had supported him and stated that he hoped he could go forward from this point, working out the details of his contract with the School Committee. He stated he was looking forward to becoming the Superintendent of Schools and to being Superintendent for a long time in the future. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT Dr. Munnelly stated he wanted to take a few moments to fill the School Committee in on some events that had taken place recently. He noted that the opening of school this past week had gone very smoothly. Dr. Munnelly then spoke about the increase in enrollments at the first grade level, which he stated was not a complete surprise. He noted there would be more discussion on this later in the Agenda. Dr. Munnelly noted that the high school band would be participating in a townwide celebration of the bicentennial of the Constitution on September 20th, and each school would also be having activities in connection with the bicentennial. He stated the administration would alert the School Committee to what programs would be going on. Dr. Munnelly then informed the School Committee of the participation of Virginia Cramer and Paul Guerrette in the Fall Kindergarten Conference and also his participation in a program at Harvard Principalship Center in January. Dr. Munnelly noted that a request for the band to play at the opening of a Mini -Mall on Gould St., Reading, on September 27th, had been made by Mr. John Rivers which would need the approval of the School Committee, along with the Sept. 20th date, as both were on Sunday. SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS Dr. Munnelly then introduced Claire Flynn, Director of the Chapter I Program for the 1987 -88 school year. Claire Flynn circulated a Chapter I Fact Sheet to each School Committee member and then briefly reviewed the program with the School Committee. 269 READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES 3 SEPTEMBER 14, 1987 Claire stated that Chapter I served 153 students from the Killam, Birch Meadow, Coolidge and Reading Memorial High School. She noted that students were instructed in Mathematics and Language Arts. Claire stated it was the policy of the program to pre -and post -test the students which indicated progress was made by the students in both of these areas, substantially in lot of the areas and adequately in some of the areas. Claire stated the budget for the 1987 -88 year will be $55,280. She noted that the schools participating in the program this year would be Eaton, Killam, Coolidge, and Reading Memorial High School. SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT COUNCILS Dr. Munnelly gave the School Committee a quick update on the School Improvement Councils. He noted that all the Principals had set dates to meet with their councils, the money for the councils had arrived and resided with the Town Treasurer, and as soon as some decisions could be made, the councils would be getting services and equipment to the students. Dr. Munnelly stated there was still one appointment of a non - parent which had to be made by the School Committee for the Killam School Council. Mr. Shannon ' then announced this vacancy to the audience and asked that any volunteer contact either he or Dr. Munnelly if they were interested. METCO LETTERS Dr. Munnelly stated that at the last meeting of the School Committee he had discussed the increased transportation costs for the METCO Procram. The committee had asked he and Mr. Shannon to draft a letter to Reading's Legislators asking for assistance with these increases in the form of a supplemental budget. ITEMS FOR WARRANT Dr. Munnelly stated this had to do with some routine actions that the School Committee had to take so that these items could be placed on the business agenda of the Town Meeting when it was held later in the - -all. He noted that the first item was that School Department ha-_ received a settlement of insurance claims which exceeded $10,C)0 in regard to damage done last year by a leak at Reading Memorial High School. Dr. Munnelly stated in order to spend that money, it had to be newly appropriated by our Town Meeting and m _ist be on the Town Warrant. He noted the School Department sp- cifically would like to replace musical equipment that was lost in that incident. Dr. Munnelly stated the second item was the disposal of surplus junk equipmen=, such as an old IBM data processing machine, old 270 READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES 4 SEPTEMBER 14, 1987 televisions, etc. He noted this equipment had to be disposed of according to the By -Laws, and required a motion by the School Committee and Town Meeting to begin the process. A motion was mace by Mr. Coco, seconded by Mr. Allen, that the School Committee direct the administration to add to the Town Warrant the Items listed in Enclosure B -3 -a, dated 9/11/85. The vote was unanimoLs. POLICY ON PROCESS FOR DECLASSIFYING CONFIDENTIAL EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES Dr.Munnelly stated this was a draft policy for declassifying Executive Minutes and a starting point for the School Committee to get a resolution to this issue. He then reviewed the draft, as written on enclosure B -3 -b, with the committee and stated he felt the process could be included in the routine part of the agenda. A motion was made by Carol Lyons, seconded by Barbara Philbrick, to approve on a first vote, the Policy on Process for Declassifying Confidential Executive Session Minutes, BDDA. There was a brief discussion among the School Committee members regarding a proposed amendment by Mr. Coco to change the period of time in the policy for reviewing these minutes, after which it was agreed that Mr. Coco would withdraw the amendment. Mr. Allen made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Philbrick, to include an amendment in the policy changing the first sentence of the second paragraph to read "School Committee's Chairman or designee" instead of "School Committee's Vice - Chairman ". Mr. Allen felt this would allow more flexibility in assigning this duty. After a short discussion on this amendment, a vote was taken and the amendment was unanimously approved. A vote was then taken on the original motion, with approved amendment, and it was unanimously voted. POLICY ON STUDENT MEMBER OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE & SCHOOL COMMITTEE EXECUTIVE SESSION PROCEDURES Dr. Munnelly reviewed this draft policy with the School Committee and stated that according to State Law, a student from the Student Advisory Committee at R.M.H.S., namely, the Chairperson, would become an Ex- Officio member of the School Committee. A motion was made by Barbara Philbrick, seconded by Cliff Allen, to approve on a first vote the Policy on Student Member of the School Committee & School Committee Executive Session Procedures, BCA, dated 9/11/87. 271 READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES S SEPTEMBER 14, 1987 In answer to a question by Mrs. Philbrick on Executive Sessions, Dr. Munnelly reviewed the seven reasons for holding Executive Sessions from the Open Meeting Law with the committee. Mrs. Philbrick stated she did feel a student should be at Executive Sessions unless it was, for example, to discuss a Federal Grant or Sale of Property. Mr. Allen stated he would like to make a motion, seconded by Barbara Philbrick, to amend the policy because he was also concerned about a student attending Executive Sessions and would ask that, in the third to last line in the first paragraph, after the word "Committee" there be added a comma instead of a period, and the words "except those items regarding Executive Session ". He stated he would also ask that the second and third paragraph be deleted entirely, the words "School Committee Executive Session Procedures" be deleted from the title. A vote was taken on the amendment, and it was unanimously approved. A vote was taken on the original motion, as amended, and it was unanimously approved. Longfellow Road Property Dr. Munnelly reviewed the request of Pattie Keenan, 73 Longfellow Road to purchase a strip of Town -owned land abutting the back lot line of her property, and located at the back of the parking lot of R.M.H.S. Dr. Munnelly stated that the Town Manager had informed him that the property owners had a non - conforming lot of land and when the property owner wanted to do any type of construction, they must get extraordinary permission. The Town Manager stated if the School Committee voted to release this parcel of land to the Board of Selectmen, it would allow the Board to place the request on the November Town Meeting Warrant. Dr. Munnelly stated that he could not see that the School Department would have any future use for the land. Carol Lyons stated she could not agree with releasing this land., as she felt it would set a precedent, and there might be some long -term future need for the land. Cliff Allen stated this land was at the bottom of a hill, and he did not see that there would ever be any use for the land. Mr. Winslow stated.it was a very steep bank, and was totally unusable for anything. Mr. Coco suggested that this land created a natural barrier for the neighboring homes and also felt it might set a precedent, and could not support the release of the land. Mr. Shannon stated his only concern was the possible occurrence of a washout and the ensuring erosion and the School Department's possible liability in that regard. After a brief discussion on these points, a Mr. Aaron Boornazian suggested along with the School Committee being READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES 6 held harmless in case of erosion, perhaps Town that there will be no excavation on brief discussion on these points. 272 SEPTEMBER 14, 1987 they should instruct the the land. There was a A motion was made by Cliff Allen, seconded by Barbara Philbrick, to authorize the administration to notify the Town Manager of the School Committee's release of surplus land abutting Lot No. 54 on Plat. 113, and as described in Enclosure B -3 -b, and further ask that due consideration be given to the concerns raised in the discussion regarding future construction negatively impacting the slope which could cause problems with parking lot. A vote was taken on the motion and it was approved 3 -2, with Mr. Coco and Ms. Lyons voting in the negative. BIDS - ENERGY CONSERVATION GRANT Dr. Munnelly stated these bids were part of a $100,000 Energy Conservation Grant awarded to the School Department by the State.' Mr. Winslow received only one bid in the amount of $62,440 from Goldberg Energy Management, Inc., Beverly, MA. Mr. Winslow noted -- that the grant allowed $53,180.00 for this work. The State Energy' Office informed him that the payback period for the hot water heater at Eaton exceeded the guidelines and was unacceptable therefore, the Energy Office disapproved $13,500.00 of the bid. He noted that he had spoken to the bidder, who had agreed to adjust his bid to $48,904.00. Mr. Winslow stated he had also spoken to Ted Cohen who advised that as long as no other bidder is affected it would be appropriate to amend the bid amount. A motion was made by Carol Lyons, seconded by Richard Coco, to``' award the bid in regard to the Energy Conservation Grant to Goldberg Energy Management, Inc., 7 Rantoul St., Beverly, MA, in the amount of $48,940.00, as outlined on Enclosure B -3 -e. The vote was unanimous. SCHOOL COMMITTEE CALENDAR AND AGENDA PLANNING Dr. Munnelly reviewed the proposed Fall meeting and agenda planning calendars with the School Committee. PUPIL ENROLLMENT REPORT Dr. Munnelly reviewed the report with the School Committee and stated the expected drop in the secondary schools could be seen, but the long- awaited increase in the elementary school population had arrived. He then reviewed a report on elementary class sizes. ACCOUNT BALANCES Mr. Winslow reviewed the Account Balances with the School Committee. 273 READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES 7 SEPTEMBER 14, 1987 EXPENSE REPORT - AUGUST Mr. Winslow reviewed the report with the School Committee and noted that the Year -To -Date percentages were considerably ahead of what they were last year. He stated most of the Purchase Orders were completed and most of the supplies for the year had arrived. FY87 EXPENSE REPORT Mr. Winslow stated this report showed that the School Department had returned $23,612.73 to the Town. Dr. Munnelly stated this report reflected the School Department's total expenditures based on the appropriations made by the Town Meeting, and this report was the basis of an Annual State Report of expenditures. BAND PERFORMANCES Dr. Munnelly stated that under Policy IGDD, Pupil Participation in Activities Scheduled for Sundays, the School Committee must approve any performance the pupils wished to attend on a Sunday. He stated the band had been asked to perform at a Bicentennial Celebration on the Common on Sunday, Sept. 20th and also for the opening of the River Crossing Mall on Gould Street, on Sunday, Sept. 27th. There was a long discussion on the issue of the band performing at a private function, and it was agreed to split the dates into two separate motions. A motion was made by Mr. Allen, seconded by Barbara Philbrick, to authorize the R.M.H.S. Band Members to participate in a performance on Sunday, September 20th, at the Common for the Town's Bicentennial Celebration. The vote was unanimous. A motion was made by Mr. Allen, seconded by Barbara Philbrick, to authorize the R.M.H.S. Band Members to participate in a performance for the opening of the Rived Crossing Mall on Sunday, September 27th, on a strictly voluntary basis. The vote was aoDroved 3 -2, with Mr. Coco and Ms. Lyons voting in the negative. APPOINTMENTS Dr. Munnelly recommended candidates for two Department Head vacancies at R.M.H.S., one in the Focus Program and one in Guidance. Dr. Munnelly recommended Sam Baker as Focus Program Department Head, and for the vacancy as Guidance Department Head, Jane Darveau. A motion was made by Mr. Allen, seconded by Ms. Lyons, to approve the appointment of Sam Baker as Department Head of Focus, and Jane 274 READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES 8 SEPTEMBER 14, 1987 Darveau, as Department Head of Guidance, effective immediately, for the 1987 -88 School Year. The vote was unanimous. Dr. Munnelly then stated that he was recommending the appointment of Catherine Powell, as Coordinator, under the Early Childhood Grant. A motion was made by Mr. Coco, seconded by Mr. Allen, to appoint Catherine Powell as Coordinator of the Early Childhood Education Program at the rate of $14,444 pro -rated annually, effective immediately. The vote was unanimous. At 10:50 p.m., on a motion by Mr. Allen, seconded by Mrs. Philbrick, it was unanimously voted to adjourn the meeting.