HomeMy WebLinkAbout1983-04-04 School Committee Minutes1.27
READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES
APRIL 4, 1983
Call to Order
Chairman Garroway called a regular meeting of the Reading School
Committee to order at 7:32 p. m., on April 4, 1983, in the Central
Office Conference Room. All members were present, as were Super-
intendent Wells and Assistant Superintendents Munnelly and Winslow.
There were five visitors, including High School Principal Leonard
D'Orlando, High School Guidance Department Head Helen Hart, and a
representative of the Daily Times and Chronicle.
Bills and Payrolls
Warrants for bills and payrolls were authorized as follows:
Bills
April 8, 1983 - General Expense - Total - $36,478.38
Payrolls
April 7, 1983 - Teachers - Total - $301,279.10
April 8, 1983 - Weekly - Total - $25,321.75
Minutes of March 28, 1983
On a motion by Mr. Nigro, seconded by Mr. Coco, the Committee voted
unanimously to approve the minutes of the meeting of March 28, 1983.
Citizens' Input
There was no citizens' input.
Policy Review
For this agenda item the Chairman turned the meeting over to Mr. Nigro,
as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Policies.
Mr. Nigro moved, seconded by Mrs. Philbrick, and it was voted unanimously,
for second vote, to adopt Policy IGJA - Driver Education.
Mr. Nigro moved, seconded by Mr. Allen, and it was voted unanimously for
first vote, to adopt Policy IGCA - Summer School, as revised.
Mr. Nigro moved, seconded by Mr. Allen, and it was unanimously voted,
for the first vote, to adopt Policy IKF — Graduation Requirements, as
revised.
Mr. Nigro moved, seconded by Mr. Coco, and it was voted unanimously, for
first vote, to adopt Policy IICA - Field Trips, as revised.
All other policies in the "I" Series were discussed and it was decided
that they were adequate as written.
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READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES APRIL 4, 1983
Bids - Roof of Birch Meadow School
Mr. Winslow distributed copies of a tabulation of the eleven bids for
reroofing the Birch Meadow School. He briefly described the new State
bidding procedure, noted that 22 firms had applied for bids, and said
that Architect Philip Winsor had analyzed the eleven bids received.
Mr. Winslow recommended the Committee accept the low bid, subject to
a review of the manufacturer's materials to be used. This is a membrane
type roof.
Mr. Allen moved, seconded by Mrs. Philbrick, and it was voted unanimously
to award the contract for reroofing Birch Meadow School to the low bidder,
Olympic Roofing and Construction, Inc., 1192 Hyde Park Avenue, Hyde Park,
at the bid price of $129,700, subject to a review of the manufacturer's
materials to be used. ($135,000 was budgetted for this project.)
Mr. Winslow noted that there will be other expense involved, such as
the consultant's fee and the roof inspection fee, but he expects these
will not bring the expenditures above the amount budgetted.
Staff Reappointments
Dr. Wells noted that under Massachusetts Law teachers not notified by
April 15th automatically have their contracts renewed, but that
Reading prefers to renew contracts by School Committee vote and written
notification.
Mr. Allen moved, seconded by Mr. Nigro, and it was unanimously voted,
on the recommendation of the Administration, to offer fourth year
tenure contracts to those teachers listed on document B -3 -b (1),i.e.,
Secondary - Ricky J. Auricchio, Janet N. Burne, Donna -Kay Sullivan,
Patrick Schettini; psychologist - Natalie Jansen; and Elementary -
Linda F. Carey, Lesley K. Hardy, Catherine M. Powell, Barbara A Kelley
and Barbara Sheehan.
Mr. Allen moved, seconded by Mr. Coco, and it was unanimously voted,
on the recommendation of the Administration, to appoint to second and
third year contracts those teachers listed on document B -3 -b (2), i. e.,
Contract #3 - Virginia A. Ball, Mary C. Abegg, Joan C. Clifford, Ellen
Convisser, Nancy E. Cook, Leslyn Cowan, Judith M. Donovan, Michele
Edelsberg, William E. Endslow, III, Ellen J. Howland, Barbara Lanney,
Margaret MacIsaac, Rena P. Mirkin, Debra F. Murray, Jeffrey Nelson,
Cheryl O'Halloran, Janice A. Pacunas, Donna M. Pappalardo, Conrad J.
Shultz, Dominique Singleton, March B. Correia, Beth A. R. Delforge,
Patricia L. Herrington, Francis Muccio and Louise F. Flippin: Contract #2-
Ruthann Budrewicz, Keith Jones, Elia Dangelmaier, Kathy Duffy, Eileen C.
Gagnon, Sally J. Mucica; and part -time music - Kristin Abbott (3) and
Laurie D. Talbot (2).
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READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES APRIL 4, 1983
Mr. Nissen moved, seconded by M" Allen, on the recommendation of the
Administration, to appoint to second year contracts the following
teachers: Secondary - Deborah A. Sweeney, Philip N. Vaccaro, and
Claudia T. Bowe; Elementary - Ellen J. Gelpke, Dawn Hoskin and Sandra
M. Martin. The vote was unanimous with one exception - Mr. Coco
abstained from voting on Mr. Vaccaro's appointment.
Mr. Allen moved, seconded by Mrs. Philbrick, and it was voted unanimously,
on the recommendation of the Administration, to reappoint the following
Directors: Mr. James Roth - Music (Contract #3), Mrs. Susan Wheltle -
Art (Contract #3), and Mr. R. Gilbert Congdon (3/5 time athletics and
2/5 time math teacher) for contract #2.
Mr. Nissen moved, seconded by Mrs. Philbrick, and it was voted unanimously,
on the recommendation of the Administration, to reappoint as Assistant
High School Principals (Contract #2) Dr. Allan Alson and Mrs. Maureen
Zolubos.
Statement of Assurances
Dr. Wells explained that in order for the School System to continue to
receive Federal and State funds it was necessary for the School
Committee annually to approve the "Statement of Assurances," assuring
conformity to all applicable laws.
Mr. Allen moved, seconded by Mr. Nigro, and it was unanimously voted
that the Reading School Committee approves the FY84 Statement of
Assurances for all applicants for State and Federal funds adminstered by
the State Department of Education, and to authorize the Chairman and the
Superintendent of Schools to sign on behalf of the School Committee.
N. E. A. S. & C. Self Evaluation
Dr. Wells said that the visiting team of the New England Association of
Schools and Colleges will be evaluating Reading Memorial High School
starting April 24th, and the School Committee will be invited to attend
a banquet with them that evening. He added that all High Schools which
belong to the Association are evaluated every ten years and the team
will spend Monday through Wednesday at R.M.H.S. for this purpose. Prior
to this evaluation the faculty does a self - evaluation - the results of
which are made available to the visiting team. This team is made up of
administrators, teachers and specialists from various Massachusetts
member systems.
Mr. D'Orlando and Miss Hart then gave an overview of the self- evalua-
tion process - a summary of which had been distributed to School
Committee members prior to the meeting.
For the past year and a half eleven faculty committees have been
meeting on early release days and examining weaknesses and strengths
of the School. This process has been orchestrated by Miss Hart.
(The Principal is not allowed to head this effort, but only to serve as a
resource person.)
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READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES APRIL 4, 1983
The first part of the self - evaluation is developing a philosophy,
which must be approved by the Faculty and the School Committee. The
reports of the Committees, other than the one working on the
philosophy, are their perceptions of the area which they covered.
The self - evaluation process is based on a booklet furnished by the
N.E.A.S. & Co.
The first task of the faculty was to write a set of goals and
objectives. Then the work of the faculty committees was divided into
two parts - "Standards of Membership" and "Learning Areas." Each
learning area was evaluated in light of meeting the standards. Each
faculty member served on two committees - one on standards and one on
learning. The findings of each committee were reported to the entire
faculty, who voted on each report, before it was copied for the visiting
team.
Members of the visiting team, during their three days of observation,
will be involved in discussions with students, parents, and the Student
Council, as well as members of the Faculty and Administration.
Following the evaluation the team makes a list of findings and recomm-
endations, based on the self- evaluation and their observations, which
the faculty must resprnds to in two years and again in five years.
Mr. D'Orlando and Miss Hart answered a number of questions from the
School Committee. The Chairman then thanked them for sharing the
details of the procedure with the School Committee.
Department Head Replacement (English)
Dr. Wells informed the Committee that Mr. Wendell Hodgkins has resigned
effective at the end of the school year, as Head of the English Depart-
ment, but will continue as an English teacher at the High School.
He added that Mr. D'Orlando is initiating a selection process, to
involve members of the English Department and a three - member
screening committee. It is hoped that a recommendation will be made
to the School Committee in June.
Financial Statements
Noted for the record were the following financial statements:
Expense and Salary Accounts as of March 25, 1983 and Account Balances
as of March 31, 1983
Resignations
Mrs. Philbrick moved, seconded by Mr. Allen, and it was voted
unanimously to accept the following resignations:
i
Mr. Michael McGuire, High School physics teacher, effective June 30,19V
Mrs. Maureen McCabe, High School Spanish teacher, currently on child -
rearing leave, effective immediately.
READING SCHOOL CpMMI_TTEE MINUTES APRIL 4, 1983
Resignations (continued)
Mrs. Cheryl A. Billings, High School Music Teacher, at the close
of the current school year.
Leaves
Mr. Coco moved, seconded by Mr. Nissen, and it was voted unanimously
to grant the following unpaid leaves of absence:
Ms. Susan Colucci, Kindergarten teacher at Pearl Street School, a
personal leave for the 1983 -84 school year.
Mrs. Marian K. Carlyle, Killam School Kindergarten teacher, a second
year of personal leave for the 1983 -84 school year.
It was noted for the record that Mrs. Barbara Hendricks, first grade
teacher at Barrows School, will be on maternity leave from April 25
to the end of the eight weeks allowed; and that Mrs. Tina C. Peach,
second grade teacher at the Killam School will be on maternity leave
from May 2nd through the end of the current school year.
Executive Session
At 9:38 p.m. Mr. Nissen moved, seconded by Mr. Coco, to enter into
executive session to discuss matters pertaining to bargaining and
negotiations. The motion carried by unanimous roll call vote.
Return to Open Session - Adjournment
At 10:30 p. m. the Committee returned to open session.
Following a discussion of the FY83 budget, Mr. Coco moved, seconded
by Mr. Allen, and it was voted unanimously that the School Committee
will return to the Town the entire unexpended portion of the FY 83
budget at the close of the fiscal year.
The meeting adjourned at 10:40 p. m.
Respectf-ill,
la -
Robert S. R'ells, Secretary
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