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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1982-12-06 School Committee Minutes63 READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES DECEMBER 6. 1982 Call to Order The Chairman called a regular meeting of the Reading School Committee to order December 6, 1982, at 7:35 p. m., in the Central Office Conference Room. All Committee members, Superintent wells, Assistant Superintendent Munnelly and Assistant Superintendent Winslow were present. There were also ten visitors, including Mr. Robert F. Lyons, Executive Director of the SEEM Collaborative, Mr. Charles T. Faneuff, Assistant Director, Dr. Alexander Alexanian, Director of Pupil Personnel Services, Mrs. Gail F. Wood, Chairman of the Board of Public Works, and representatives of the Finance Committee, Citizens Advisory Council and the Daily Times and Chronicle. Approval of Minutes of November 22, 1982 Mr. Nigro moved, seconded by Mrs. Philbrick, and it was voted unanimously to approve the minutes of November 22, 1982 with the following corrections: Page 5, 3rd paragraph, last sentence should read, "Mr. Landers left the meeting early for personal reasons;" and Page 6, 6th paragraph, the motion was seconded by Mr. Allen. Approval of Bills and Payrolls Warrants for bills and payrolls were authorized as follows: Bills December 3, 1982 - General Expense - Total - $10,972.84 December 10, 1982 - General Expense - Total - $51,304.54 December 17, 1982 - General Expense - Total - $37,068.49 Payrolls December 10, 1982 - Weekly - Total - $37,273.81 December 16, 1982 - Teachers - Total - $294,591.92 December 17, 1982 - Weekly - Total - $25,803.69 Citizens' Input There was no citizens' input. New Business Chairman Garroway announced that the newspaper story regarding a $95,000 budget deficit because of the fact that there are 53 pay weeks in FY83 does not apply to the School Department. Professionals in the School Department receive their salary, according to applicable contracts, in 26 payments. Non - professionals are paid weekly, but the School Department budgetted for this contingency. The Chairman stated, in reference to an anonymous letter of complaint sent to the School Committee and Superintendent, that all communications from the public are welcome but when one is unsigned it is difficult to respond and properly address the matter. He asked that people communicate either by signed letters, contacting a School Committee member or bringing a matter up under the "Citizens' Input" agenda item at a School Committee meeting. He added that unsigned letters will be dealt with by the Administration. h� READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES DECEMBER 6, 1982 In response to a request from the Town Clerk, the Chairman asked for a volunteer to serve on the Data Processing Advisory Board (DPAB) . Mr. Coco said he would serve if meetings are held in the evening. Mrs. Philbrick agreed to serve as an alternate. Mr. Winslow noted that the DPAB meets in the late afternoon, adding that he had been serving as the School Committee representative for the past year, with Assistant High School Principal Ernest Spence serving as an alternate. Chairman Garroway said he would contact the Town Clerk to ascertain whether the DPAB needed someone to serve during the day and asked that Mr. Winslow continue to serve if this is the case. SEEM Collaborative Dr. Wells introduced Mr. Robert F. Lyons, Executive Director of the Special Education - Education Mutual (SEEM) Collaborative, and Mr. Charles T. Faneuff, Assistant Director, who, with Pupil Personnel Director Dr. Alexander Alexanian, Spoke about the SEEM Program. The communities of Lynnfield, North Reading, Reading, Stoneham, Wilmington, Win- chester and Woburn participate in the Collaborative which is concerned with the education of special needs students who require a substanially separate (60% - Prototype 502.4) program. Mr. Lyons highlighted his written report, dealing with Reading's participation in SEEM, its governance, fiscal support, and services offered. He also gave a brief history of the Consortium. Originally it was established to deal with mentally retarded students but has been expanded to include classes for multi - handicapped, learning disabled, learning and behavioral, pre- school students and an alternate education program. The latter program is located at Northeastern University's Burlington Campus and currently serves 35 students. Other SEEM students are housed in 28 school buildings in the seven participating communities. SEEM arranges inter - community transportation for approximately 200 students who attend classes outside of their home community. The SEEM staff works closely with the Board of Directors, made up of the Superintendents of the seven communities, and the Pupil Personnel Services Directors of same, as well as with the School principals and assessment teams involved. Mr. Lyons said SEEM tries to look ahead to where future collaboration will be possible and continues to observe the day placements to which participating communities are committed. Mr. Faneuff explained the various program models, class distribution, and the process by which a student enters and leaves the SEEM Program, emphasizing the parental involvement in the placement process. Mr. Lyons added that several parents' meetings are held each year, as well as release -time inservice meetings for teachers. He noted that all collaborative goals did not take a great deal of money to achieve, adding that two Reading teachers had put together a book of activities parents can do with their children at home to assist with their learning problems. He also mentioned the development, largely spearheaded by Dr. Alexanian, of a booklet concerning the appeals process. READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES DECEMBER 6, 1982 Dr. Alexanian spoke briefly on the high responsiveness of the Collaborative, its ability to meet new challenges, its involvement with the faculties of participating communities, the support it gives teachers, and its successful efforts in promoting group parental involvement. He said there is an element of voluntary cooperation which describes SEEM. He also noted the ability of the participating school systems to monitor the progress of SEEM students. Dr. Alexanian concluded that SEEM has been for many youngsters a highly sensitive alternative to placement in expensive programs, often located far from their homes. During a question and answer session Mr. Lyons said that a list of outside place- ments from the seven communities has been received and SEEM is looking into the possibility of future collaborative programs for the hearing inpaired, emotionally disturbed, and language delayed. He also said there has been a slight decrease in the number of moderately retarded students, but a noticeable increase in the number of preschoolers in SEEM, and a lesser increase of learning and behavioral and learning disabled children. Overall, there has been a slight decrease in the SEEM student population. Regarding the preference of some parents for an outside placement, Dr. Alexanian said sometimes it was just because of a different label or a description which is couched in different language. In rare instances, he added, it may be a disagreement with the School System. The Chairman said the Reading School Committee was proud to be a participant in SEEM and thanked Mr. Lyons and Mr. Faneuff for their presentation. School Committee Policy Review Chairman Garroway stated that the School Committee members have been reviewing, individually, Policy Series A, B, C and D, and requested that members submit in writing any suggestions or concerns regarding them to Mr. Nigro, who has undertaken a study of all Policies. The Chairman then asked members to continue their review by studying Policy Series E and G, through GCC, for the next meeting. Mr. Nigro suggested that members could "feed" him their concerns and he would look into them and report back at the next meeting. The Chairman added that he would allot time at each meeting for a continuing review of the Policies. Superintendent's Evaluation Policy Introducing the subject of the Policy on Evaluation of the Superintendent, Mr. Nigro noted that while the Policy is fairly good it has not "worked" for several reasons, i.e., timing is wrong and there is no way to put together a majority of the School Committee's feelings. Also, the evaluation comes at a time when it is too late to take into consideration while looking at the Superintendent's salary. He suggested that (1) the policy should have a productive feedback, but not subject the Superintendent to public display; (2) that the School Committee should be able to come up with a document which reflects the entire Committee's rating of the Superintendent; (3) it should be done prior to salary deliverations and when new members would not be in a position where they are almost immediately called upon to evaluate the Superintendent; and (4) the evaluation should reflect the Superin- tendent's annual objectives. 66 67 READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES DECEMBER 6, 1982 Mr. Nigro observed that the only way the School Committee is going to achieve success is to change the time and evaluate the Superintendent over a calendar year, basically so it could include the objectives, and it could use the prior year's evaluation report, thereby allowing the Committee to come up with its own rating. Continuing, he said that if all members are asked to rate the Superintendent in five categories a subcommittee could bring back a composite and get feedback from him. Dr. Wells agreed that the timing for many years has been a problem and noted that he felt his evaluation should center around his EBO's, as he believes that is what the Policy intended. Following a discussion of the proposed Policy Mr. Nigro suggested that the draft policy (document C -3), with the proposed amendments, be adopted. Mr. Allen moved, seconded by Mrs. Philbrick, and it was voted unanimously, that document 3 -C "Evaluation of the Superintendent" (CBA), as amended, be adopted for first vote. Progress Report - Memorandum of Agreement - Use, Maintenance and Scheduling of Fields and Playgrounds Mrs. Gail Wood, Chairman of the Board of Public Works (BPW), joined the Committee for discussion of this agenda item. Mr. Coco went over with the Committee the changes proposed at a November 18th meeting with representatives of the BPW and Recreation Committee (RC), as outlined in a memorandum sent to Committee members prior to tonight's meeting. Dr. Wells expressed some concern that over the next few years the School Committee will be asked, and subjected to parental pressure, to form additional athletic teams. With the September lst date in Section III, A of the Memorandum for submission of a master schedule there would not be time to request additional funds from Town Meeting for another field. He also questioned what department would budget for an additional facility. He added that he liked the concept of all fields being under the management of one board. Mr. Allen, as liaison to the RC, said it would be incumbent upon that Committee to convince the Finance Committee of Future needs. He added that a priority of the RC is to develop the area adjacent to the so- called Varsity Field, which would be a two -three years undertaking. Dr. Wells asked if the RC would protect the fields from over -use. Mr. Allen replied that he thought the RC would be slightly move liberal but would be concerned with the protection of the fields. Mr. Coco interjected that the document was not intended to be all- encompassing. Chairman Garroway noted that the School Committee must, if it agrees to have the BPW maintain its fields, be prepared to relinquish an amount no greater than $14,510 from its budget. (He referred to field maintenance costs as enumerated on a statement made up by Mr. Winslow.) Mr. Winslow said the amount in question should be reduced to $10,500 because $4,010 was for lawn care. It was noted that the BPW would not take over the maintenance of the varsity field and track because they are still under an agreement with the contractor and will be until next summer. 68 READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES DECEMBER 6. 1982 Mrs. Wood said that the BPW believes $20,000 will be needed to maintain the fields, adding that if the BPW could not do the work according to certain standards it did not want to do it. She also said that this amount would be for maintenance only and did not include any refurbishing. Dr. Wells suggested that the figures might be reworked by DPW Superintendent Roger Louanis. Mrs. Wood reiterated Dr. Wells' point about future increased demands for playing fields, adding that although the population is decreasing more girls are joining the "playing population." Mr. Coco moved, seconded by Mr. Nigro, and it was unanimously voted that the Reading School Committee conditionally approve entering into an agreement with the Board of Public Works and the Recreation Committee to provide a cooperative effort between these parties for the use, maintenance and scheduling of Town -owned athletic and recreational facilities, subject to School Committee concerns on budgetting and educational matters. Cafeteria Reports The Committee took note of Cafeteria Statements as of September 1982 and October 1982, Mr. Winslow noted that the loss in September was due to an extra weeks' pay for cafeteria employees and repairs to equipment. Leaves Mr. Coco moved, seconded by Mrs. Philbrick, and it was voted unanimously, upon the recommendation of the Administration, to grant to Mr. Walter Webb, a custodian who j has exhausted his sick leave, up to but not more than 30 days of additional sick leave. Mr. Nigro moved, seconded by Mrs. Philbrick, and it was voted unanimously, on the recommendation of the Administration, to grant to Miss Efrosine Yeannakopoulos, fourth grade teacher at the Barrows School, an unpaid leave of abscence from January 1,1983 through June 30, 1983, with the stipulation she must notify the Administration by April 1, 1983 if she intende to return to the System. Appointments Mr. Landers moved, seconded by Mr. Coco, and it was unanimously voted, on the recommendation of the Administration, to appoint Mr. Leon D. Martel, 2 Karen Circle, #11, Billerica, as an Industrial Arts teacher at Parker Junion High School (replacing Mr. O'Gorman) at Step 9 (19,309), pro- rated, effective immediately. Mr. Coco moved, seconded by Mr. Landers, and it was unanimously voted, on the recommendation of the Administration, to appoint Mrs. Lois M. Jacobs, 40 Catherine Avenue, Reading, to the position of Receptionist /Facilities Coordinator in the Central Office, at an hourly rate of $6.86, effective December 20, 1982. Executive Session - Adjournment At 10:35 p, m. Mr. Coco moved, seconded by Mr. Landers, that the Committee enter into } eXClal1VC seS51111 to llslalJJ matters pertaining to bargaining and nobntiationq, Thp motion carried by a Unanimous roll call vote. Following a brief recess, the Committee entered into executive session and remained until it adjourned at 11:06 p. m.