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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987-11-17 School Committee Minutesi READING PUBLIC SCHOOLS Reading, Massachusetts SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES NOVEMBER 17, 1987 CALL TO ORDER Chairman George Shannon called the regular meeting of the Reading School Committee to order at 7:30 p.m. on November 17, 1987, in the Superintend- ent's Conference Room at 34 Gould Street. All members with the exception of Mrs. Barbara Philbrick and Mr. Clifford Allen, who were away on busi- ness, were present. Also present were the Superintendent, Robert J. Munnelly, Assistant Superintendents Ronald A. Winslow and Lynn M. Bak, Donald Farnham, Principal of Joshua Eaton School, Barbara McLean, Library/ Media Specialist, Jean Weatherbee, 5th grade teacher, William Nicklasson, Art Specialist, also from Joshua Eaton School, parents, and a reporter from the Chronicle. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 2, 1987 A motion was made by Mr. Nissen, seconded by Ms. Lyons, to approve the minutes of the meeting of November 2, 1987. The vote was 3 in favor, with one abstention, from Mr. Coco who was not present at the November 2 meeting. BILLS AND PAYROLLS Warrants for bills and payrolls were approved as follows: Bills November 23, 1987 - General Expense - $55,292.52 Payrolls November 5, 1987 - Teachers - $405,723.40 November 19, 1987 - Teachers - 383,739.24 November 20, 1987 - Weekly - 31,500.37 CITIZENS INPUT No citizens offered comments to the School Committee. SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS Staff from the Joshua Eaton Elementary School introduced the School Com- mittee to the school's program of global education. Principal Don Farnham, Classroom Teacher Jean Weatherbee, Art Specialist William Nicklasson, and Library /Media Specialist Barbara McLean described the variety of student activities, parent enrichment programs and staff in- service which make up the schools' commitment to providing an international perspective. Student art, recently exchanged with an elementary school in Guangdong Province in China, was on display as were other student learning projects. The Chairman complimented the staff for their leadership and initiative. READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES -2- NOVEMBER 17, 1987 SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT Dr. Munnelly noted that he had been to a Peer Leadership Training Program j earlier this evening at which a number of students from Reading Memorial High School are being trained to go into the Middle School to discuss drugs and alcohol abuse. A group of over 20 students and 2 teachers were committing themselves to extensive training, under the leadership of Jane Fiore, to this worthwhile project. Dr. Munnelly was pleased to report that at Town Meeting last Monday two teachers, Mrs. Barbara Kelley and Mr. Jack McHugh, received a standing ovation as the two were given "Exemplary Teacher" awards. Thursday, November 12, was a no- school snow day. The Superintendent cancelled school at 5:00 a.m, but there was some confusion as WHDH did not mention the closing of Reading Schools. Stations will be checked so as not.to have any confusion in the future. There was a minor smoky burner backfire at Killam School. No damage or complications were reported. The fire department was in the buildingat the time, doing a safey inspection,and helped to exhaust the smoke from the boiler room. The School Committee's Annual Xmas party will be held on December 9 at the Reading Memorial High School Library. Invitations will be sent to all staff. OLD BUSINESS LETTER OF UNDERSTANDING The Letter of Understanding with Middlesex about Open Meeting Law procedures was revi recommended that the School Committee sign to be no major change from the first draft made by Mr. Coco that the School Committee seconded it, the vote was unanimous. PREPARATION FOR TOWN MEETING District Attorney's Office :wed. Town Counsel Cohen has the agreement. There seems to this one. A motion was sign the agreement, Ms. Lyons Mr. Coco spoke of the High School land issue at Town why it wasn't brought back to the School Committee. that Town Meeting turned down the proposal and then sideration. Discussion followed with the consensus Committee should be well informed and prepared for a issues. POLICY OF SELECTION OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS Meeting and questioned Mr. Coco acknowledged voted down a recon- being that the School 11 future Town Meeting A motion was made by Mr. Nissen, seconded by Ms. Lyons, to accept the policy draft of selection of Superintendent of Schools, as presented on B-2. The first vote was taken. V ote was unanimous. READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES -3- NOVEMBER 17, 1987 APPOINTMENT OF SCREENING COMMITTEE FOR ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT Chairman Shannon announced the appointment of seven citizens and staff as members of the Screening Committee for the selection of Assistant Superintendent of Schools. They are Joshua Eaton School Principal Donald Farnham, Parker Middle School teacher David Williams, the town's Reading Director Ed Sacco, Marlene Cohen, Deborah Berndtson, Aram Boornazian, and Ann Saurman. Mr. Nissen has volunteered to be School Committee liaison to this committee and Chairman Shannon added his name to the Screening Committee roster. Dr. Munnelly will follow up by meeting with the Screening Committee shortly. The process should result in School Committee interviews with finalists in late January. SEEM BY -LAWS Last year, the School Committee and Superintendent participated in a review of the SEEM By -Laws. Nearby representatives from two communities suggested further changes -- one which was a re- insertion of a sentence inadvertently dropped from earlier drafts, and the other which is a state- ment of clarification about the Commissioner of Education's role. The School Committee agreed with the revisions. EVALUATION OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS Evaluation has been postponed until November 30. NEW BUSINESS The School Committee has received a request to permit a home - school arrangement by Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Gatta of Pleasant Street, Reading, for their 6 -year old son. After careful review by a principal, a special education teacher and Special Needs office, it is recommended that the home schooling request of Mr. and Mrs. Gatta be approved by the School Committee under the terms of its policy #IGBJ for one year. Mr. Coco made a motion to move this recommendation, Mr. Nissen seconded it. The vote was unanimous. SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT COUNCIL'S PROPOSALS The School Committee reviewed and discussed proposals from School Improvement Councils at 6 schools for spending state allotments. A question was raised about the legality of expending funds for teacher stipends. Proposals at two schools, Killam and Reading Memorial High School, contained specific items for teacher stipends to carry out council projects. On a motion by Mr. Nissen, seconded by Ms. Lyons, the committee endorsed all recommendation of expenditures except High School items 2H; 3A; 4A, and Killam item 4. The vote was unanimous. The Board requested that state guidelines for expenditures of School Improvement monies be provided at the November 30 meeting. The School Improvement Councils at the two schools will be asked to provide justification to the School Committee for their requests. READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES -4- NOVEMBER 17, 1987 INFORMATION AND PROPOSALS CHAPTER 1 BROCHURE A brochure, prepared by the Chapter I staff, for distribution to parents, was presented to the members of the School Committee for their information. HIGH SCHOOL BAND PERFORMANCES ON SUNDAY The Reading Memorial High School Band has been asked to perform Sundav, November 29, at the Reading Common for the Annual Lighting of the Christmas trees. On a motion by Ms. Lyons, seconded by Mr. Coco, the School Committee's policy on Sunday performances was waived and approval was granted for this performance. The vote was unanimous. OPEN MEETING LAW WORKSHOP The appearance of Attorney Fabbri at the November 30 School Committee meeting was confirmed. He will conduct a workshop for the School Com- mittee on Open Meeting and Public Records laws. LEAVES Maternity leave has been granted to Martha Chappell commencing on December 4, with a child- rearing leave to follow. Martha expects to return in September, 1988. Irene Martinoli will be taking eight weeks of maternity leave commencing on December 7, 1987. The School Committee acted to appoint Ms. Ann Marie Arington as Secretary for Pupil personnel Services office. She will be placed on Step 3 of the Salary Schedule and will start on December 7. APPOINTMENTS On a motion by Mr. Nissen, seconded by Ms. Lyons, the School Committee appointed Dr. Donald Green as School Physician filling the vacancy created by the retirement of Dr. Wakeling. A salary of $6,758.00 per year was voted and the appointment will be effective immediately. Mr. Richard A. Morrison was appointed as Special Education Resource Room Teacher at Coolidge Middle School, effective November 18, 1987, at a salary of $23,804 pro- rated. Mr. Theodore A. Zalewski was appointed to the FOCUS program at a salary of $28,343 pro- rated, effective November 30, 1987. i' READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES -5- NOVEMBER 17, 1987 EXECUTIVE SESSION The School Committee, on a motion by Mr. Nissen, seconded by Ms. Lyons, voted unanimously to go into executive session. The expressed reason in the motion was to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining strategy when an open discussion of the issue may have a detrimental effect on bargaining. l