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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1982-01-25 School Committee MinutesSCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES Call to Order JANUARY 25, 1982 0 1'y The regular meeting of the Reading School Committee was called to order in the Superintendent's Conference Room at 7:34 p.m. by Chairman Landers. All members were present except Mrs. Philbrick, who arrived at 7:45 p. Tn. Also present were Superintendent Wells and Assistant Superintendents Munnelly and Winslow. There were six visitors, among them representatives of the Citizens Advisory Coun- cil and the Daily Chronicle. Approval of Minutes of January 18, 1982 On a motion by Mr. Nigro, seconded by Mr. Coco, the minutes of the meeting of January 18, 1982 were unanimously accepted. Approval of Bills and 'Payrolls Warrants for bills and payrolls were authorized as follows: Bills January 29, 1982 General Expense - Total - $48,865.08 Payrolls January 28, 1982 - Teachers - Total - $280,193.84 January 29, 1982 Weekly - Total - $23,682.22 Citizen Input There was no citizen input. Old Business Mr. Nigro brought up the matter of a motion voted on January 4, 1982 that directed the Administration to contact two or three food service companies to request sub - mission of proposals to operate the Reading School Department food services program. Said motion was immediately amended to include two stipulations to the request for proposals, i.e., that philosophically the program would be maintained on a break - even basis and that present cafeteria employees would be retained. At the January 18, 1982 meeting Mr. Allen amended the minutes of January 4, 1982 by adding a third stipulation, to wit, that current prices not be increased. After a brief discussion Mr. Coco moved, seconded by Mr. Allen, to amend the motion of January 4, 1982, asking the Administration to look into food service management contracting, to include that food services be self- sustaining and as many current employees as possible be maintained, as efficiency would allow. The motion carried on a 5 -0 vote with Mr. Garroway abstaining. Budget Review - Salaries Chairman Landers noted that there were a few budget areas still to be reviewed. He added that, although there would be some salary discussion in executive session later in the evening the Administration was prepared to discuss certain aspects of the salary budget at this time. Dr. Wells said that the budget discussion would concern FY83 and a surplus for FY8L2- . SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES He continued, stating that a $300,000, $200,000 of which in expense. January 1982 conservative estimate of the FY82 surplus would be is in the salary portion of the budget and $100,000 Dr. Munnelly explained that there were three factors which contributed to the surplus in the salary account - (1) certain positions which existed last year were not filled this year, (2) staff turnover and (3) closing of the Highland School. Also, he added, the Voluntary Employment Termination Incentive Plan had contributed to the overage. He noted that although the surplus was large such situations could easily arise in a $10 million budget. Dr. Munnelly said that there probably had been 30 people in and out of the system during FY82 and replacements were employed at reduced salaries. Dr. Munnelly said that the Administration was recommending that the teaching staff be reduced by four for FY83 one at Barrows School, one at Pearl Street, and two at R.M. H.S., one of whom would be from the FOCUS Program. It is not expected that this program will be serving the same number and kind of students in future years. He noted that a sum of $12,700 has been added to the Special Education Teacher Aides account. This is because ofe student who has come from a private placement will need a full -time aide and another child with an un- usual and severe medical problem needs a full -time medically alert person. A child with a similar problem is expected to enter school next year. Financial aid is being sought from several sources but it is not yet known what will be available. Regarding the ILA's Dr. Munnelly said that a number of them have been funded by Public Laws 94 -142 and 89 -313 funds, but Federal funds have been cut by $6 -7,000 - to about $9,500. The funding of other positions is also in doubt. Dr. Munnelly said that English as a Second Language (ESL) tutors have been pro- vided for financially for 10 -15 students by the Foreign Refugee Program. This Program costs about $175 per week and involves students at the High School, both Junior Hlghs and two elementary schools. When it is determined how much the Government will contribute to this Program it will be reduced, if necessary. Dr. Wells added that the budget item Curriculum Workshop can be removed from the budget, with the understanding that block grant funds would be used for this pur- pose. Dr. Wells also said that the budget could be reduced by making summer school self supporting but he hoped that the remedial, or maintenance courses, for children who need reenforcement during the summer, could remain in the budget and that there be no financial criteria for parents whose students needed these courses. He also reminded the School Committee that he strongly recommends transferring the $1,200 budgetted for field workers from the athletic account to the part =time cus- todial services account because there would be more control and a better pay scale could be maintained. There was a brief discussion about the pay scale of substitute teachers and the problem of obtaining enough qualified people, particularly at the secondary level; to avoid cancelling classes. Dr. Wells said that, although he did not expect it would really help the problem, the Administration planned to recommend a $2.00 per day increase - to $28 in FY83 and another $2.00 - to $30 for 'FY84. He felt it would make the rate competive with other school districts. SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES JANUARY 25, 1982 Dr. Munnelly said that while at times it is difficult to obtain substitue teachers at the elementary and junior high levels it is not a severe problem. He added that at the High School there is a major problem but that he did not htink higher pay rates would increase the pool of available substitutes, as every school system is having similar problems. He continued, saying that while department heads filled in whenever possible sometimes students must be assigned to a study hall if a sub- stitute is not available. Discussed also were the possibilities of paying differen- tials to substitutes at secondary level and the establishment of a substitute pool. At this point the budget discussion was suspended so that the Committee could talk with Mr. Philip G. Christiansen regarding his proposal for refurbishing the High School football field and converting the track. Contract Award - High School Football Field and Track Dr. Wells stated that four engineering firms had been asked to submit proposals for the refurbishing of the R. M. H. S. varsity football field and converting of the cinder track to an allweather, resilient- surface track, but only two proposals had been received, one of which Bayside Engineering Associated, Inc.- had not included the cost as was called for in the "Request for Proposal." A price was later sub- mitted, several days beyond the deadline for submission. Dr. Wells recommended awarding the contract to Philip G. Christiansen. Mr. Christain- sen was present and discussed his proposal with the Committee, answering questions from members. Mr. Allen moved, seconded by Mr. Nigro, to award the contract for carrying out engineering services for refurbishing fo the Reading Memorial High School Varsity Football Field and for conversion of the existing cinder track to an all- weather, resilient - surface track with associated field events facilities, including lane lines, appropriate crowd control fencing, drainage and maintenance systems, as outlined on document B -3 -a. The motion carried unanimously. Budget Review - Expenses Mr. Winslow distributed two sheets of figures - one listing recommendations for projects to be funded from anticipated Fy82 unexpended balances and the other listing potential reducations of priority #2 and #3 items in the FY83 preliminary budget. He noted that some items in the budget which were labeled priority #2 or #3 have been changed to #1 and therefore do not appear on the list. Dr. Wells said that the Administration was recommending that items totaling $55,2+9 (as listed) be deducted from the FY83 budget and that $293,415 worth of projects and items be funded from the FY82 unexpended balances. Several items on the list were discussed, but the major portion of the discussion centered on an item of $54,000 to refurbish the practice football field at R.M.H.S., recommended as an item to be paid for from the FY82 surplus. Brought out were the unsafe condition of the field, that it was more than a practice field (used for physical education and by the Recreation Department), that outdoor recreation fa- cilities were in short supply, that the Dpartment of Public Works was budgetting funds to refurbish the adjacent field, and that there was a possibility of using the David Castine field, if it is not too wet, while the football field and practice field were being refurbished_ Before concluding the budget review it was noted that the Board of Selectmen has SCHOOL COM1,4ITTEE MINUTES JANUARY 25, 1982 voted to increase the mileage allowance for Town employees from 16¢ to 19¢ per mile. The School Committee decided not to take a position on this matter until after its meeting with the Finance Committee. Cafeteria Statements The following cafeteria financial statements were noted for the record: November 1981; December, 1981; and a comparison of September through December FY82 versus FY81. Mr. Winslow called attention to the fact that participation is slowly increasing from 24% in November to 28% in December - and that in December 1980 it was at 55%, but following the price increase in January 1981 it dropped to 36%. He also noted the drastic decrease in commodities received - from $26,507.25 in FY81 to $14,913.50 in FY82 - and in reimbursements - from $65,383.39 to $27,491.60 - for the same period. Appointments Mrs. Philbrick moved, seconded by Mr. Garroway, and it was voted unanimously to ap- point Mr. Leonard Cawley, 366 Essex St., Salem, as a history teacher at Reading Memorial High School, at step B -4 salary - $13,738, effective at the beginning of the second semester. Mr. Coco moved, seconded by Mr. Nigro, and it was unanimously voted to appoint Mr. Ralph C. Marden, III, 13 Bunker Avenue, as a custodian at R.M.H.S., on Step I, at a salary of $13,058.91, effective January 26, 1982. Executive Session Mr. Garroway moved, and it was seconded by Mrs. Philbrick, to enter into executive session to discuss :natters pertaining to bargaining and negotiations. The motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote. The time was 9:45 p. m. Return to Open Session - Adjournment At 10;38 p. m. the Committee returned to open session for a brief discussion of the format ofr the public meeting on grade reorgainization scheduled for Wednesday January 27, 1982, at R. M. H. S. At 11:02 p. m. Mr. Nigro moved, seconded by Mr. Coco, and it was unanimously voted to adjourn. Respectfully submitted, Robert S. wells, Secretary