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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1982-02-01 School Committee MinutesSCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES Call to Order (• r^ r FEBRUARY 1, 1982 The regular meeting of the Reading School Committee was called to order by Chairman Landers at 7:x+0 p.m., February 1, 1982, in the Superintendent's Conference Room. All members were present, as were Superintendent Wells and Assistant Superintendents Munnelly and Winslow. There were approximately 22 visitors present, including Dr. John Delaney, Principal of Parker Junior High School, and representatives of the Finance Committee, Citizens Advisory Council and the Daily Chronicle. Approval of the Minutes of January 25, 1982 Mrs. Philbrick moved, seconded by Mr. Coco, and it was unanimously voted to accept the minutes of the meeting of January 25, 1982 as amended. Approval of Bills and Payroll Warrants for bills and payroll were authorized as follows: Bills February 5, 1982 - General Expense - Total - $55,286.28 Payroll February 5, 1982 — Weekly - Total - $22,235.40 Citizen Input There was no citizen input. School Closing - Grade Reorganization Mr. Garroway moved, seconded by Mr. Allen, and the Committee unanimously voted that in light of an anticipated future decline in the student enrollment and in light of a desire to maintain a quality education in the Reading System that the Administration be directed to reorgainize the grades to reflect a K -5, 6 -8, 9 -12 grade system and that the Administration plan to close the Pearl Street School no earlier than the Fall of 198+ but concurrent with the implementation of a reorganization plan. During the discussion of the above motion Mr. Allen spoke of the concerns he heard expressed at the public meeting held January 27, 1982 which he felt should be ad- dressed, i.e., redistricting, bus routes, social problems of combining grade six with grades seven and eight, curriculum development, citizen involvement, the High School not being fully utilized, potential overcrowding of the Junior High Schools. He added that the curriculum development is the responsibility of the Administration and that there should be feedback from them to the School Commmittee. Dr. Wells said he shared these concerns and that the Administration can promise more than is being asked of them. He assured the Committee that the Administration wants citizen involvement and thanked the Citizens Advisory Council (CAC) for their support at the public meeting. He added that in late February or early March the Administration will be ready to come in with a plan. Also, he will get input from people whose children will be affected before doing anything. q SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES bruary 1, 1982 Mr. Coco said the major concerns he heard at the public meeting were those relating to what would happen to sixth grade youngsters thrust into an enviroment with seventh and eighth graders. He added that in proposing the middle school concept perhaps the School Committee had not given enough weight to what the middle school concept would mean when translated into curriculum. He said it was his understanding that Dr. Wells suggested the Administration would be able to start planning quickly for a middle school curriculum, therefore, what he would like the School Committee to do this evening was approve the middle school concept in a preliminary fashion and in six months or so have the Administration present a broad -grush outline of what the middle school would look like in Reading. Mr. Coco said this would allow the School Committee to give the Administration the green light to do what they have to do and report back in May or June. He then made a motion to amend the motion to this effect but it failed to gain a second. Mrs. Philbrick commented that at the Public meeting she heard from both sides of the table that the present system is a good one and the School Committee and Administration can feel pleased with it. She added that she feels grades six, seven and eight are compatible, that this would be a sensible arrangement and that it would be an oppor- tuntiy to make the System even better. She said she does not think a two -year school is the best answer, and that a three -year school offers many advantages, such as students and teachers being able to get to know one another better, giving more time for adjustment difficulties to be handled and the chance to create anew curriculum which will be interesting, challenging and exciting. The Chairman, addressing the visitors, said he hoped that they would become involved by volunteering and actively participating, as it was central to the motion that the School Committee desires to have the reorganization process as participatory as pos- sible. Dr. Wells reminded the Committee that this review was not only to look at the pro- gress on his goals but for the School Committee to express its feelings about other parts of the Superintendent's job. He then read the first of two goals presented to and accepted by the School Committee October 13, 1981. Goal #/1 Rationale: Factors that include a conservative economic climate along with a continuing pattern of enrollment decline have all but made necessary the need for a major re- organization of our grade structure. Goal: To act in a leadership role in gathering data and marshalling the numerous resources essential to bring about the necessary changes in grade reorganization in an orderly and thoughtful process. Steps I will take to achieve this goal: 1. Continue to update and refine census data. 2. Keep School Committee and public aware of educational facility needs as well as of surplus educational facilities. 3. Keep the public informed of possible grade reorganization patterns and the pros and cons of them (1) an economic factor and (2) and educational factor. 4, Form a committee of Reading educators to initiate preparation for eventual grade reorganization. SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES FEBRUARY 1, 1982 Evaluation: 1. The quality of the data that is collected and the affectiveness of it. 2. The quality of my presentations to the School Committee and the public at large. 3. The overall impact that my role plays in the eventual adaptation of new policies or new programs caused by declining enrollments and difficult economic times. Dr. Wells then commented that, in a sense a major step was taken a few minutes ago (referring to vote on reorganization) but it is far from a completed step. "Now we must come to grips with the philosophy and developing of a curriculum - two sep- arate things." He added that he hoped for more citizen input regarding the philosophy. Regarding the closing of a school, Dr. Wells said he hoped to do it in as sensible and humane way as possible. He added that he thought what Mrs. Philbrick said was significant and agreed that if we had no economic contraints and decided to make a change that he believed the School Committee and the Reading educational community would prefer what was voted tonight. He concluded, "I believe we have a lenient frame and plenty of opportunity for checks and balances." Goal #2 Rationale: Effective public education requires strong School Committees and strong superintendents who willingly assume leadership roles. To an important degree, edu- cational success is dependent upon a good working relationship between the School Committee and the chief administrative officer it employs. Basic to this relationship is a clear understanding that the Committee and Superin- tendent constitute a team. Neither can operate effectively without a thorough knowledge of and support for the other's role. Goal: To work to bring the above rationale into much better focus within the Reading School System. Steps I will take to achieve this goal: 1. Request the School Committee to articulate its role. 2. Increase the information available from many sources relative to the re- spective roles of School Committee members and the Superintendent of Schools. 3. Attempt an improved orientation program for inexperienced School Committee members, preferably initiated as Committee policy and fully supported by the Central Office Administration Team. 4. Find ways of giving School Committee members a better sense of the "history and traditions" of the many - faceted programs in operation. Evaluation: 1. An assessment of the quality of the working relationship between the School Committee and the Superintendent of Schools. SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES FEBRUARY 1, 1982 Concerning his second goal Dr. Wells said that he was less than pleased with the relationship between the Superintendent and the School Committee- but emphasized it was not a matter of personalities - and that the School Committee members should remember that they are only governing the School System when they are in an official School Committee meeting. He added that he felt a probable cause of the problem was the rapid turnover of members in the past few years. The Superintendent expressed the hope that after the budget is ready for presentation to the Town Meeting an informal meeting could be held to discuss goal setting and the roles of the School Committee and Superintendent, in an effort to develop a better relationship. He also said he planned to continue his efforts to give the School Committee the best possible sense of history and tradition to assist them in policy decisions. Commenting on goal #1 Mr. Allen said he felt Dr. Well's presentation at the public meeting on reorganization showed improvement. Regarding goal #2 he said he felt better able to make judgements now that he has had several months of experience on the Committee. Mrs. Philbrick agreed that Dr. Wells, and Chairman Landers, had made good presentations at the public meeting and added that the Superintendent had done a good job throughout the fall in keeping the School Committee abreast on the middle school issue and enrollment figures. In regards to goal #2 Mrs. Philbrick commented that there had been only the orienta- tion meeting and she felt more were needed. (Chairman Landers said later that the decision to put further orientation meetings on the "back burner" was his and not the Administration's) Mrs. Philbrick felt the programs which had been presented to the Committee were good and that she would like to see more - perhaps in written form - about several programs, e.g., Special Education, Athletics and some of the High School programs, such as the FOCUS Program. She added that several people had mentioned "The Chalkboard" publication to her recently and she hopes it can be re- institued as it was a good link with the public. Mr. Garroway said that the recent budget overview process was an example of the School Committee working with the Administration on a major problem and then talking about the process. He feels this process should be used in other areas, adding that it gives newer members more opportunity to communicate with the Administration. He noted that matters such as budget and negotiations sometimes hampered the School Committee in getting to such things as philopsophical discussions of curriculum, etc., but that they should keep trying for that type of ongoing interaction. Mr. Nigro commented on the Superintendent's increased patience and calmness but added that the Superintendent should be able to raise his voice and make a strong case. He also noted an improvement in the Superintendent's memoranda and his conscious effort to bring new things to the attention of the School Committee. He also commented favora- bly on this year's budget format. Mr. Nigro stated that there has been improvement in informing the public but there is a reed for continued vigilance. Mr. Coco recommended more presentations and an increase in the length of the Superin- tendent's memoranda. He commented that although the Administration and press tried to keep the public informed the message on grade reorganization did not come through to all parents. He, too, advocated budgetting funds to reinstitue "The Chalkboard." j Mr. Coco then asked how the Administration planned to relate to parents in effecting an understanding of the mddle school concept. rnn.(, SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES FEBRUARY 1, 1982 Dr. Wells responded that the first thing to be done is to develop a philosophy and hope for parental involvement, adding that, in regards to curriculum, the specifics will depend upon staffing patterns and how much can be accomplished in a school day. Speaking of goal ##2 the Chairman said that it is one in which both the School Committee and Superintendent share responsibility, adding that he felt they had a long way to go to understand each of their roles. Chairman Landers stated that after the meeting with the Finance Committee the School Committee should set a time on the agenda to improve on defining roles. He concluded that he will play whatever role he can in doing what is needed in the second half of the year in the hope that by the end of the year goal ##2 will be as successful as goal #11. Mr. Robert Griffin, a visitor, suggested looking into the possibility of televising School Committee meetings on cable TV as a way of keeping the public better informed. Dr. Munnelly added that the adult education program had been advertised on the local channel and the Administration is looking into other ways of using this medium. Annual Report to the Town The Chairman appointed Mrs. Philbrick to write the School Committee Report for the Annual Town Report. Title IV -C Dr. Munnelly announced that word had been received that the Title IV -C Proposal entitled, "Project Literature and the Basic Skills," has been approved by the Commonwealth Inservice Institue in the amount of $583.60, effective January 20, 1982, and it will be funded through the Schore Collaborative. The proposal was developed and submitted by teachers of the Joshua Eaton School. Mrs. Maureen Rich, a member of the CAC, inquired about grants for systems goine into a middle school organization. Dr. Munnelly replied that some systems had received grants and use them to pay for speakers and that the Administration would look into this possibility for Reading. Mrs. Philbrick commented that a copy of the report necessary at the completion of the grant - and other grants - would be a way of keeping the School Committee informed. Executive Session - Adjournment At 9:07 p.m. Mr. Garroway moved, seconded by Mrs. Philbrick, that the Committee enter into executive session to discuss bargaining and negotiating strategies. The motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote. The Committee remained in executive session until it adjourned at 10:16 p. m. Respectfully submitted, Roberts. dells v ._ — ;Cretary