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Home My WebLink About1987-12-21 School Committee MinutesREADING PUBLIC SCHOOLS READING, MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES CALL TO ORDER DECEMBER 21, 1987 Mr. Nissen called the regular meeting of the Reading School Committee to order at 7:30 p.m. on December 21, 1987, in the Superintendent's Conference Room at 34 Gould Street. All members with the exception of Carol Lyons were present. Also present were the Superintendent Dr. Robert J. Munnelly; Assistant Superintendents Ronald A. Winslow and Lynn M. Bak; Principal, Reading Memorial High School, Dr. Mark Piechota; Asst. Principal, Reading Memorial High School, Mr. Patrick Schettini; Reading High Business Department Teachers, Mr. Richard Gillis (Dept. Head) , Ms. M. Starrett, Ms. C. O'Brien, Mr. W. Hopkins, Mr. D. Brett, Mr. K. Levesque, Mr. C. Testa (Bus. Dept. Advisor); Citizens; and Gary Demopoulos, a reporter from the Chronicle. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF DECEMBER 7, 1987 A motion was ,wade by Mrs. Barbara Philbrick to approve the minutes of December 7, 1987, seconded by Mr. Richard Coco. The vote was 4 to 1. Mr. Allen abstained as he was not in attendance for that meeting. BILLS AND PAYROLLS Warrants for bills and payrolls were approved as follows: Bills Dec. 7, 1987 - General Expense - $50,213.34 Dec. 14, 1987 - General Expense - $79,302.39 Dec. 21, 1987 - General Expense - $98,701.37 Dec. 28, 1987 - General Expense - $144,743.45 Pavrolls Dec. 3, 1987 - Teachers - $442,481.49. Dec. 4, 1987 - Weekly - $ 46,108.28 Dec. 11, 1987 - Weekly - $ 33,075.12 Dec. 17, 1987 - Teachers - $382,366.91 Dec. 18, 1987 - Weekly - $ 31,679.44 Dec. 23, 1987 - Teachers - $381,226.90 Dec. 25, 1987 - Weekly - $ 32,069.28 At this time, Mr. Shannon arrived and took over the chair. CITIZENS INPUT Representatives of a group of Reading teachers, who reside in Reading, attended the School Committee meeting and requested that better lines of communication be established with the School Committee, the Super- intendent's Office and their group. The group feels that the pro -sent administration has established a very open and positive communication READING SCHOOL COMM7 `TEE MINUTES 2 DECEMBER 21, 1987 with the Reading teachers. The group would like to continue that relationship in hopes that it will continue contributing to the success of the school system. The School Committee made note of the group's request. SUPERIN'TENDENT'S REPORT RECOGNITION OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS Dr. Munnelly read the names of the many students from Reading High School who were honcred as "Students of The Quarter ". Those honored were: Andrew Larso-, 89, for exemplary contributions to RMHS, the Service Awar- Eric Kevorki_n, 88, for character and initiative, the Leadershin Award James Brissenden, 89, for consistent effort and commitment to improvement, the Principal's Award Andrea Power_, 88, for insight and auality of work, the English Award Derilyn Kenney, 90, for hard work and effort, the Social Studies Awar` Denise Rose, -90, for marked improvement in class, the Mathematics Award Julie Cleary, 88, for conscientious effort and excellence, the Science Award Lauren Morse, 88, for distinguished academic achievement and service, the Foreign Language Award Cindy Crocan, 88, for c000_erative efforts and success in Business Education Michael McKenna, 88, for technical knowledge and ability in graphic art_, the Technolocv Education Award Lillian Jones, 90, for outstanding effort and skill in culinary ar-s, the Home Economics Award Kevin Genti -e, 89, for exceptional competence and versa- tility in Visual Arts Erin McCorr.ack, 88, for perseverence and dedication to the 1 ls o � f _-corts , the Athletic Award Geaf _ READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES 3 DECEMBER 21, 1987 Susan Geoffrion, 88, for outstanding contributions in Music David Marchant, 88, for graphic arts contribution to the Phvsical Education Department The RMHS nominees for the Chapter 188, Commonwealth Scholars Grant Program are Melinda Fagan, Joanne Quimby, Julie Cleary, Roger Hickey, and Mark Flaherty. Also, the nominee for the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program is Peter Harutunian. BARROWS SCHOOL Dr. Munnelly reported that Barrows Elementary School has submitted an application to the Elementary School Recognition Program of The United States Office of Education, seeking recognition as one of the country's outstanding elementary schools. Dr. Munnelly praised the efforts of the Barrows staff /community and commended the quality of their work. EARLY CHILDHOOD PROPOSAL SURVEY Interim Assistant Superintendent, Lynn Bak reported to the committee the results of a telephone survey she conducted with agencies who did not submit proposals for the Earlv Childhood Grant Program. The survey indicated that of the sixteen agencies contacted, only one identified a lack of time for submission, thus the School Committee recognized that every effort had been made to secure as many proposals as possible. ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT S,ARCH COMMITTEE Mr. Nissen reported the Search Committee has met twice and thirty - six resumes were distributed. By January 5 there will be an open meeting at which the candidates will be called in for interviews. Interviews will be held during the two weeks following. Subsequent to that, the Committee will take action at that point. SECRETARIAL ISSUE The roles and responsibilities of the confidential secretaries were discussed at length. Dr. Munnelly stated that the office personnel function as a team - each responsible for maintaining the flow of the workload. The confidential secretary position presently avail- able in Central Office would also be the individual assigned to the School Committee. Following dialogue, the Committee accepted Dr. Munnelly's report. OLD BUSINESS There was no old business. READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES 4 DECEMBER 21, 1987 NEW BUSINESS Mr. Patrick Schettiri, Assistant Principal of Reading High School, introduced Dick Gillis, Head of the Business Department at the High School. Dr. Piechota, Principal of the High School,and members of the Business Department accompanied Mr. Gillis. Mr. Testa, advisor to the Business Department, was also in attendance. Mr. Gillis talked at length about the Business Education courses offered; the Business Skills courses which are offered to prepare students for the job market; and the Career Education program which places many students in local jobs. Mr. Gillis cited the benefits of the Career Education program to the "at risk" student attending the high school. Mr. Levesque, also a member of the Business Department, spoke of the "school store ". Mr. Levesque guides the students in their operation. of the schoo'1 store. He indicated they learn the operational and technological methods of maintaining a retail operation. Following the presentation, the School Committee commended and thanked the Business Education Department for their fine contribution to the education of Reading students. THE SOPHOMORE CLASS SKI TRIP Mrs. Philbrick made a motion that the School Committee waive the police regarding Sunday school action for allowing the Sophomore class to plan a ski trip to New Hampshire on Sunday, January 17, 1988. Mr. Nissen seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. BUDGET 1989 "EDUCATIONAL NEEDS" Dr. Munnelly introduced the curriculum changes and additions that will be incorporated into his upcoming budgetary requests. He spoke in recards to the needs in the areas of staffing, professional develop- ment, program, Special Education, athletics, and space issues. Dr. Munnelly discussed each issue at length and informed the Committee that dollar amounts would be provided in the near future. ADOPTION OF CALENDAR FOR WINTER /SPRING 1988 A calendar schedule of meetings was established for Winter /Spriny- 1988. The School Committee will be meeting at Reading Memorial High School on January 11, 1988, and at•the Killam School on January 19, 1988. ACCOUNT BALANCES AND EXPENSE ACCOUNTS Mr. Winslow reviewed the financial status of funds as of November 30, 1987. READING SCHOOL CCMMITTEE MINUTES 5 DECEMBER 21, 1987 APPOINTMENTS Mr. Nissen made a motion to appoint Mary V. Salie as confidential secretary in the Superintendents Office, as of January 4, 1988. Mary Salie will be hired on a Step I salary schedule of $17,017 plus $1,874 as School Committee Secretary. Total $18,891. Mrs. Philbrick seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. EXTENDED SICK LEAVE A motion was made by Mrs. Philbrick to extend sick leave for Mary O'Brien up to 30 days. The motion was seconded by Mr. Allen. The vote was unanimous. LEAVES Bonnie Katz, Art Teacher at Reading Memorial High School, has requested a maternity leave commencing February 1, 1988, followed by a child rearing leave for the remainder of the school year. A motion was made by Mr. Nissen, seconded by Mr. Allen to grant Bonnie Katz child rearing leave for the remainder of the 1987 -1988 school year. The vote was unanimous_ RESIGNATION A motion was made by Mrs. Philbrick to accept the resignation of Mary Ellen Flaherty, Library /Media Specialist at Birch Meadow School, effective Friday, January 8, 1988. The motion was seconded by Mr. Allen. The vote was unanimous. There being no further business, Mr. Shannon moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:50 p.m. Mr. Coco seconded the motion. The vote was unanimnllq _