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Home My WebLink About1982-06-22 School Committee Minutesrw SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES Call to Order JUNE 22, 1982 A regular meeting of the Reading School Committee was called to order by Chairman Landers at 7:34 p, m.., on June 22, 1982, in the Central Office Conference Room. Mr. Allen and Mrs. Philbrick were absent. Present were Superintendent Wells and Assistant Superintendents Munnelly and Winslow. There were approximately thirty visitors, among them Food Services Director Catherine Duerr, many members of the Cafeteria Staff, and representatives of the Citizens Advisory Council and the Daily Chronicle. Approval of Minutes of June 8, 1982 Mr. Nigro moved, seconded by Mr. Coco, and the Committee voted unanimously to approve the minutes of the meeting of June 8, 1982. Bills and Payrolls Warrants for payment of bills and payrolls were authorized as follows: Bills June 8, 1982 - General Expense - Total - $62,022,21 June 25, 1982 - General Expense - Total - $17,858.95 June 25, 1982 - Cafeteria Revolving Account - Total - $19,540.46 Payrolls June 11, 1982 - Weekly - Total - $22,095.78 June 17, 1982 - Teachers - Total - $280,361.90 June 18, 1982 - Weekly - Total $24,205.19 June 25, 1982 - Teachers - Total - $1,040,985.19 June 25, 1982 - Weekly - Total - $32,826.11 Citizens' Input There was no citizens' input. Bids Intrusion Alarm Mr. Winslow explained that although invitations to bid had been sent to three companies only one, Intrusion Detection Systems, Inc., had responded, When he called the other companies he was told they did not have time to bid on such a small contract. Mr. Winslow added that the School Department has done budiness with the bidder before and found it to be a reliable firm. Mr. Garroway moved, seconded by Mr. Nigro, and it was uanimously voted, on the recommendation of the Administration, to award the contract for an in- trusion alarm system at the Birch Meadow School to Intrusion Detection Systems Inc., at $3,040. ($360 below the amount budgetted). Lighting Panel - R. M. H. S. Mr. Winslow stated that he would like to defer his recommendations on the awarding of the bid for the lighting panel (dimming system) at Reading Memorial High School until the next meeting because of a rather large dis- crepancy in the bids. 93 SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES JUNE 22, 1982 Remodelling of Toilet Facilities - C.J.H.S. Mr. Coco moved, seconded by Mr. Nigro, and it was unanimously voted that, on the recommendation of the Administration, the contract for remodelling toilet facilities to accomodate the handicapped at Coolidge Junior High School be awarded to the low bidder, Andover Plumbing and Heating Company, Inc., for $9,400. ($635 over the budgetted amount). Mr. Winslow said that the School Department has_ done budiness with this firm before and found their work satis- factory. Food Service Management Proposals Mr. Winslow summarized the five proposals submitted by food service manage- ment firms.- ARA, Custom Management Corp., Educational Food Management Ser- vices, Service Systems, and Servomation - and mentioned briefly the fast food program proposed by Food Services Director Catherine Duerr. He noted that the proposals were originally due April 15th but had to be delayed until the labor contract with Cafeteria workers had been settled, thus post- poning the bid opening to May 28th. He explained the pre -bid conference during which Mrs. Duerr conducted a tour of the facilities for interested bidders, the materials which had been given to bidders, and gave a financial comparison of the proposals. All proposals except one priced the Type A lunch at 85(� (price now being charged) and the other proposal priced it at 90� , based on a planned participation of 28% to 48 %. Mrs. Duerr then enlarged upon the fast food service proposal she presented to the School Committee at a prior meeting. Her proposal is to institute a fast -food service in the High School, with a menu patterned after a well - known food chain which features hamburgers, french fries, etc.. This pro- posal would require a $15,000 capital outlay to remodel the kitchen (relo- cate some equipment, wiring, plumbing, etc.) and purchase two commercial grills and fryers. Mrs. Duerr felt this would be a good time to initiate the program because the school lunch program was operated at a profit this year. She noted that rather than having students go to McDonald's for lunch she could offer them the same type food in the cafeteria. Mr. Winslow and Mrs. Duerr then answered questions from School Committee members and visitors regarding the present program and those proposed. Several visitors spoke in praise of the present food program and, in par- ticular, how well it is operated under Mrs. Duerr's direction. Several members of the School Committee reaffirmed the fact that they were not dissatisfied with the Cafeteria Staff or Director and that they had received no complaints. The only reason for requesting proposals was a concern about the decline in participation. Mr. Garroway moved, seconded by Mr. Coco, that the Reading School Committee establish on a one year trial basis a fast food service at Reading Memorial High School, as proposed by Mrs. Duerr, beginning no later than the first day of school 1982. Mr. Coco then moved, seconded by Mr. Nigro, to amend the motion by adding "this action precludes for one year any further consideration of contracting coi tl-. � fnnrl core >i no rnm»o>-a> it The amendment and the main motion as amended carried by unanimous votes. SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES Resignation JUNE 22. 1982 Mr. Nigro moved. seconded by Mr. Garroway, and it was uanimously voted to accept the resignation of Mr. Charles G. Symonds, Jr., as Assistant Princi- pal at Reading Memorial High School, effective at the end of this fiscal year. The Committee will send a letter of appreciation for Mr. Symonds years of service. Other The Committee took note of several letters of thanks received from High School students who had been awarded scholarships. Dr. Wells remarked on the outstanding budget presentation made by Chairman Landers at Town Meeting. It was decided that the next School Committee meeting will be held on June 28th. If Town Meeting has adjourned the School Committee will meet at 7:30 p.m. in the Central Office Conference Room. If not, it will convene at 7:00 p.m. in the Pupil Personnel Services Office in the High School. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 9:38 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Robert S. Wells, Secretary 0