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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-07-21 School Committee Minutes Ofq i Town of Reading x Meeting Minutes RECEIVED TOWN CLERK 1 ADING. MASS. Board - Committee - Commission - Council: 1U ^EP -8 P 12 58 School Committee Date: 2014-07-21 Time: 7:00 PM Building: School - Memorial High Location: Superintendent Conference Room Address: 82 Oakland Road Purpose: Open Session Session: General Session Attendees: Members - Present: Linda Snow Dockser John Doherty, Superintendent Jeanne Borawski Martha Sybert, Director of Finance Chris Caruso & Operations Elaine Webb Members - Not Present: Chuck Robinson Andrea Nastri, Student Representative Others Present: Al Sylvia, Reading Chronicle Nancy Docktor, resident Adam Bakr, RMHS principal Ann Johnson Landry, Finance Committee Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: John F. Doherty, Ed.D. Superintendent Topics of Discussion: I. Call to Order Char Caruso called the School Committee to order at 7:00 p.m. He reviewed the agenda, announced the meeting was being recorded and welcomed guests. A. Public Input(I) There was no public input. B. Reports ® Students Ms.Nastri reported that several teams and drama are holding summer parties. She has also spoken to several freshman who shared they were nervous about the upcoming school year. To assist in her transition she had an older sibling of a Page 1 1 friend take her around RMHS during the summer before her freshman year. She recommends that, if possible, incoming freshman should consider that. Dr. Doherty added that in mid-August incoming freshmen will have the opportunity to visit RMHS through the Upper Connections program. Sub-Committee Dr. Snow Dockser dropped by the Five Star Theatre camp taking place at RMHS. She was happy to see many RMHS alumni working in the program. Their production of Shrek is this Thursday and Friday. Superintendent Dr. Doherty reported on the following information: • State YRBS Report—The Superintendent will be meeting with Ms. McNamara and Mr. Zaya to review trends and how Reading compares to the state trends. • School Safety & Security Task Force Report—This report recommends what districts can do to protect schools. Reading has many of the recommendations in place. He will be meeting with town officials to review this report. • Return on Educational Investment 2014—This report evaluates district educational productivity. Reading ranks highly with low cost and higher achievement. • Education Week's blog regarding the above mentioned report. • MASS Executive Institute—This year's theme was Voice and Vision: Leadership Beyond Compliance. He reported on several sessions he attended including one called the Tenacity Challenge. The Challenge uses competition and collaboration to close the achievement gap increasing the ability for minority students to enroll in higher level classes. It is a yearlong project and 18 communities are now participating. The Superintendent will meet with Mr. Bakr and Mr. Cross to discuss this program. Dr. Doherty provided a NEASC update. He said NEASC has been making changes in the accreditation process and will unveil a new process next year. Dr. Doherty updated the Committee on the status of our Driver's Education program. We are waiting for final approval from the Registry of Motor Vehicles. The cost of the program will be $675 and will consist of 30 hours of classroom instruction, 12 hours of driving, 6 hours of observation and 2 hours of parent education. This program is competitively priced and will be taught by qualified instructors, some of which had previously taught Driver's Education for the Reading Public Schools. The last item in the Superintendent's report was an update on the elementary enrollment. He pointed out because of large kindergarten class sizes at Joshua Eaton he is adding paraeducator support during the morning session. Page 1 2 C. Continued Business FYI Budget Update Ms. Sybert updated the School Committee on the FYI budget status. 2014-15 School Calendar Superintendent Doherty is recommending two changes in the 2014-15 school calendar. The first is to use the 181St student day as a full day in-service for staff. The second change would be to move the in-service day from December 5th to November 21 St. This change will allow for an earlier parent teacher conference at the elementary level. Dr. Snow Dockser moved, seconded by Mrs. Webb, to approve the recommended changes to the 2014-15 school calendar. Dr. Snow Dockser thanked the Superintendent for identifying the religious holidays on the calendar. Mrs. Borawski asked about the possibility of updating the School Committee, in the spring, on professional development activities. The motion carried 4-0. Il. Recommended Procedure D. New Business Facility Rental Coordinator Dr. Doherty provided an overview of the proposed position. This will be a new position and will require no additional funding. This will allow for the control of facility rental to be moved back under the supervision of the Director of Facilities. Dr. Snow Dockser moved, seconded by Mrs. Borawski, to approve the creation of the Facility Rental Coordinator position as outlined in the Superintendent's memorandum. The motion carried 4-0. First Reading of Policy JEC—Disciplinary Due Process Dr. Doherty provided an overview of the revised policy. The law now requires districts to provide educational access for students that are suspended. This policy will be included in student handbooks at all levels. Dr. Snow Dockser began the first reading of Policy JEC. Mrs. Webb moved, seconded by Mrs. Borawski to waive the reading of the policy. The motion carried 4-0. Discussion continued regarding the policy and the Committee asked clarifying questions. Page 1 3 A question was asked regarding Saturday detention. Dr. Doherty said it was not being implemented at this time but allows for flexibility down the road. Mr. Bakr arrived at 7:55 p.m. The question was asked if we have always allowed suspended students access to school work. The answer was yes we have and will continue to do so. Dr. Snow Dockser moved, seconded by Mrs. Borawski, to accept the first reading of Policy JEC—Disciplinary Due Process. The motion carried 4-0. First Reading of Policy ADDA - Criminal Background Checks Dr. Doherty provided an overview of the revised policy. Reading Public Schools have been doing CORI checks on employees for many years. CORI checks provide information on infractions that occurred in Massachusetts only. This policy contains guidelines for the fingerprinting of employees. Fingerprinting ties into the FBI national database and is more comprehensive. Dr. Snow Dockser began the first reading of Policy ADDA. Mrs. Webb moved, seconded by Mrs. Borawski to waive the reading of the policy. The motion carried 4-0. Discussion continued regarding the policy and the Committee asked clarifying questions. Dr. Snow Dockser moved, seconded by Mrs. Borawski, to accept the first reading of revised policy ADDA—Background Checks. The motion carried 4-0. III. Routine Matters a. Bills and Payroll (A) The following warrants were circulated and signed. Warrant S 1454 6.3 0.14 $170,467.46 Warrant 51455 6.30.14 $94,316.16 Warrant 51426 6.30.14 $257,609.08 Warrant S1504 7.17.14 $114,405.18 Warrant P1501 7.3.14 $1,113,756.81 b. Minutes (A) Dr. Snow Dockser moved, seconded by Mrs. Borawski, to approve the open session minutes dated June 19,2014. The motion carried 4-0. Dr. Snow Dockser moved, seconded by Mrs. Borawski, to approve the open session minutes dated June 23,2014. The motion carried 4-0. Page 1 4 Dr. Snow Dockser moved, seconded by Mrs. Borawski, to approve the open session minutes dated June 30,2014. The motion carried 4-0. c. Bids and Donations (A ) Friend of Readin2 Track Dr. Snow Dockser moved, seconded by Mrs. Webb, to accept the donation in the amount of$1,000 from the Friends of Reading Track to be used to support a coaching assistant position. The motion carried 4-0. YWL Dr. Snow Dockser moved, seconded by Mrs. Borawski, to accept a donation in the amount of$400 from the Young Women's League of Reading to be used to support the students of the Parker Middle School. The motion carried 4-0. Parker Music Programs Dr. Snow Dockser moved, seconded by Mrs. Borawski, to accept several donations to be used to support the Parker Middle School instrumental music program. The motion carried 4-0. Reading Summer Field HockeX Dr. Snow Dockser moved, seconded by Mrs. Borawski, to accept the donation in the amount of$2,000 from Reading Summer Field Hockey to be used to support a coaching assistant position for the 2014 season. The motion carried 4-0. Girls Scouts Dr. Snow Dockser moved, seconded by Mrs. Borawski, to accept the donation of two field hockey cages from Girl Scout Troops 75403 & 71290. The motion carried 4-0. d. Calendar IV.Information Mr. Caruso updated the School Committee on the meeting of the Naming of Facilities Sub-Committee that was held earlier this evening. The sub-committee had a lot of discussion regarding the current policy and process and is deferring a decision. He will contact the three groups that have nominated individuals to ensure they are provided with the information regarding this decision. The sub- committee will meet again in mid-August. Dr. Snow Dockser shared that the Human Relations Advisory Committee will be meeting later in August to address a few matters. Mrs. Webb reviewed the upcoming School Committee meeting calendar. Page 1 5 V. Future Business VI.Adjournment Mrs. Webb moved, seconded by Mrs. Borawski, to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 8:21 p.m. NOTE: The minutes reflect the order as stated in the posted meeting agenda not the order they occurred during the meeting. J F. Dohe , Ed.D. Page 1 6