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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1983-12-05 School Committee Minutes229 READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES Call to Order DECEMBER 5, 1983 Chairman Coco called to order a regular meeting of the Reading School Committee on December 5, 1983, at 7:31 P. m., in the Central Office Conference Room. Present were all members except Mr. MacDonald, who was out of town on business, Superinten- dent Wells and Assistant Superintendents Munnelly and Winslow. There were approximately twelve visitors, including Mr. Leonard D'Orlando and Mrs. Maureen Zolubos, Principal and Assistant Principal, respectively, of Reading Memorial High School, Art Director Mrs. Susan Wheltle, Mrs. Janice Baron, Chairman of the Citizens Advisory Council's Subcommittee on Seat Belts for School Busses, Mr. Charles Dietrich of Bolt Beranek and Newman, Inc., and representatives of the Citizens Advisory Council, Finance Committee and Daily Times and Chronicle. Approval of Minutes of November 22, 1983 On a motion by Mr. Nissen, seconded by Mrs. Philbrick, the minutes of the meeting of November 22, 1983, were unanimously approved. Bills and Payroll" The following warrants for bills and payrolls were authorized: Bills December 2, 1983 - General Expense - Total - $2,665.69 December 9, 1983 - General Expense - Total - $49,959.44 Payroll December 9, 1983 - Weekly - Total - $26,066.81 Citizens' Input There was no citizens' input. School Bus Seat Belt Proposal Chairman Coco noted that the School Committee had voted in July to support the seat belt proposal presented by a Subcommittee of the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC), Providing there would be no cost to the Reading School Department. However, he added, that since that time it has developed that what the School Committee considered a proposal was a letter of intent of Mr. Michael Smith of the National Highway Safety Administration, U. S. Department of Transportation. The Chairman said he had called Mr. Smith and it was brought to his attention that the main thrust of that office in funding proposals such as these was to set up a curriculum, primarily to promote seat belt use in private cars. He added that Mr. Smith said his office had no monies for funding the purchase and /or installa- tion of seat belts, but that possibly a sum of $25,000 would be available for curriculum use. Also, as far as the National Safety Council is concerned, they don't feel seat belts would make school busses safer. Dr. Wells said that when Mrs. Baron had asked him by telephone if a letter had been sent to the proper officials he explained that he had not seen the proposal, nor did he have information as to whole to send a letter . Virs. Baron then told h;- the >,30 READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES DECEMBER 5, 1983 Four -page letter ,written by Bolt Beranek and Newman Inc (BBN) to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration was the proposal. The Superintendent continued to say that Mrs. Baron then told him there were no funds available for seat belts on school busses but that now the thrust was through the curriculum of the School System to attempt to have students learn and then influence their parents to use seat belts in their cars. He added that now he had been presented a new proposal and asked to sign a cover letter supporting it. The new proposal, Dr. Wells said, goes into ways to check on whether the curriculum is effective by monitoring private vehicle use in such ways as checking cars at the nearest interstate highway entrance and. exit ramps and questioning people in various places. He added that while it might be theoretically possible to check on the effectiveness of a curriculum that way, it would be very difficult to check private cars. Dr. Wells said that as the proposal would be due in Washington on January 1, 1984, and has been changed, his office would not have time to spend on it now with budget discussions coming up and, also, the School Department doesn't have money to spend on seat belts, expecially for a year's trial. He stated, therefore, that his recommendation would be that the School Committee not get involved with his proposal at this time. Mrs. Baron said that changes in the proposal resulted brom input from Washington, but even though the proposal is different the Subcommittee's main concern is with school bus safety and that they couldn't lose the idea of installing seat belts in school busses if the study is successful. She added that she hoped installing seat belts in school busses for one year would be successful and Congress could be made to provide funds for seat belts in school busses. In answer to School Committee members' questions Mrs. Baron said Washington would fund everything to do with a study and possibly Liberty Mutual Insurance Company may get involved in funding seat belts and that also there are some alternative funding sources the Seat Belt Subcommittee plans to try. Chairman Coco pointed out that Mr. Smith had told him the study and the use of seat belts had to be part and parcel, and this would require the $200,000 the Seat Belt Subcommittee had originally spoken of, rather than $25,000. Mr. Dietrich said a search was going on for funds. Mrs. Baron added that the Reading School Department would be expected to be the applicant for any federal funds sought. After a lengthy discussion among School Committee members, the Administration and the seat belt proponents the School Committee agreed with Dr. Wells's recommendation not to get involved with this proposal at this time. Cafeteria Agreement Ratification Chairman Coco announced that the School Committee Subcommittee on Negotiations had reached an agreement with the Cafeteria Employees and the latter had voted to ratify it. He said the main points of the two -year agreement were a 6% increase this year (FY84) and a 51z increase next year, with the day after Thanksgiving as a paid holiday. Mrs. Philbrick moved, seconded by Mr. Allen, and it was voted unanimously to ratify the contract with the Reading Cafeteria Employees, AFSC14E, Local 1703. Cultural Collaboration - Museum Project READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES DECEIvI� Dr. Wells introduced Mrs. Susan Wheltle, Director of Art, -� Reading School System's collaboration with the Peabody Mu s E—__ cultural enrichment activities for Reading students. She told the School Committee that the project for which R e- -77-- $10,400 from the Massachusetts Endowment for Arts and Human --T -1_� -37 _W__ grades five and seven students and, to a lesser degree, _� o The students will visit the Peabody Museum and study life i=3_ t 2-a Z�=1 particularly as it relates to the sea. Also, Museum Staf f rri b e z— s -� Schools and the students' art work is correlated with these c zz Z t -z� She added that the Museum has an excellent collection of ar-t =7- c Z e Japan and the Pacific Islands. The Collaboration, she said 3 t Birch Meadow School and last year was expanded to the of he r Z error - Z-2 Mrs. Wheltle showed slides depicting last year's program - s ozn e o _71�7- at the Museum and others of related art work done by the that the $10,400 grant would pay for transport ation and s upp 1 z e s _ The Chairman thanked Mrs. Wheltle for a most interesting pre s z on Reading Memorial Hi Report School's Long -range ter Science 1-1 eLrn s �F Reading Memorial High School Principal Mr. Leonard D'Orlando an c3 _4s s z s t Principal gave report on the �a range computer science plans. They distrributedathree ag e 1iot f 0 °m2- usage at the High School which enumerated the computer courses being o� e the number of students enrolled in each, and went briefly int o propo,S ea C Dr. Wells noted that the School Committee had heard a report from the co'-12P�� Advisory and this proress repot sh0u-1d 3- n 1, Mr. D'Orlando said that part of the work of the High School Computer Science Committee is to adapt their plans to a student group coming up which will be computer literate. One of Mr. D'Orlando's suggestions, because of increased mot use, was that all students be instructed in key boarding. c oz'] -0 u brought It was out sc al interest learning about computerrs among theHighShoolteahers .Dr MunnellY saidthat at the next meeting there will be a report on the amount of in- service training the sta,� is receiving and how many staff members are taking or have taken college_3eve1 computer courses. Following a question and answer period about present use and future needs in the computer science area, Chairman Coco thanked Mr. D'Orlando and Mrs. Zolubos for their report. Financial Statements Noted for the record were the Accounts Balances and Expense and Salary Accounts Statement dated November 25, 1983. 232 READING SCHOOL 'C©NMITTEE MINUTES DECEMBER 5, 1983 Tentative Schedule for FY85 Budget Preparations Chairman Coco stated that Finance Committee budget guidelines had been received, as well as a schedule of budget hearings, adding that the School Committee is ! scheduled for February 7th and 9th. He said further discussion of this topic would take place in executive session. New Business The Chairman said that now that the Town Meeting has voted against using the Pearl Street School as a municipal comples, the School Committee agenda would, in the near future, include a discussion of possible relocation of the Central Office. Mr. Nigro asked if the Moderator had appointed a new Space Study Committee, and said dialogue should continue only if the Space Study Committee finds it efficacious to more the Central Office to the Pearl Street School. The Chairman said that to his knowledge a new Space Study had not yet been appointed, adding that he has asked Mr. Nissen to serve on the new Committee and that he has agreed to the request. Resignation Mrs. Philbrick moved, seconded by Mr. Allen, and it was voted unanimously to accept the resignation of Dr. Pamela Mason, Director of Reading since 1977, effective as of January 3, 1984. She has accepted the position of Program Director of Elementary Reading /Language Arts in the Boston Public Schools. Appointments Mr. Nissen moved, seconded by Mr. Nigro, and it was unanimously voted on the recommendation of the Administration, to appoint Mr. Daniel Barter as Head Coach, Girls' Gymnastics, at a salary of $1,6+3. Mr. Nigro moved, seconded by Mr. Allen, and it was unanimously voted, on the recommendation of the Administration, to appoint Mrs. Ellen D. Hayes, 13 Ridge Road, Reading, FOCUS teacher at Reading Memorial High School, at Step M -9, salary - $20,467.38 prorated - effective December 12, 1983. Executive Session - Ad.iournment At 9:50 P. m. Mr. Nigro moved, seconded by Mrs. Philbrick, to enter into executive session to discuss bargaining and negotiations matters. The motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote. After a brief recess the Committee convened in executive session until it adjourned at 11:10 p. m. Respectfully submitted, Robert S: wells, sec --;Q-"