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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-01-12 School Committee Minutes Town of Reading 4 t Meeting Minutes y�J7�! Board - Committee - Commission - Council: School Committee Date: 2015-01-12 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 Chuck Robinson Carolyn Wilson, Director of Student Services Gary Nihan Craig Martin, Assistant Superintendent Chris Caruso Elaine Webb Members - Not Present: Andrea Nastri & Carl Gillies, Student Representatives Others Present: Chris Copeland, RTA President Debbie Butts, RISE Preschool Director Les Kiehn, RMHS Team Chair Kelly Bostwick, Elementary Team Chair Heather Leonard, Barrows Principal Joanne King, Wood End Principal Marie Pink, Coolidge Assistant Principal Patty Beckman, Birch Meadow Teacher Paula Perry, Fincom Reading Public Schools Budget Parents Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: John F. Doherty, Ed.D. Superintendent Topics of Discussion: I. Call to Order Chair Caruso called the School Committee to order at 7:05 p.m. Chair Caruso welcomed guests and reviewed the agenda. II. Recommended Procedure A. Public Input (I) Chair Caruso called for public input. Page I 1 Andrea Quirbach, Wood End parent, urged the School Committee to reconsider the reduction in paraeducator hours in the proposed FY16 budget. She feels their role is vital to the success of the students and the school. B. Reports Sub-Committee Dr. Snow Dockser reminded the community of the Martin Luther King celebration that will be held on January 19' . The event begins at 9:30 a.m. with a light breakfast and the program begins at 10:00 a.m. There will also be exhibit tables and displays along Main Street reflecting the theme "We Stand Together for Justice". She thanked all of the contributors that have made the purchase of 4 portraits painted by Rob Surette possible. The portraits of Martin Luther King, Harvey Milk, Leonard Zakim and Malala will be hung in the Schettini Library Media Center. Members of the Gay Straight Alliance and AWOD are researching quotes to be embedded in the portraits. Mr. Robinson reported on the recent Pop Warner banquet and wanted to thank RMHS Football Coach John Fiore for attending and speaking to the group. He spoke of the importance of teamwork. He thanked Coach Fiore for taking time to attend. C. Continued Business D. New Business FY16 Budget Presentation Dr. Doherty reviewed the makeup and functions of this cost center. He went on to review the strategic initiatives in this cost center which include the implementation of the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks for Mathematics and Literacy, support Level 3 improvements at Joshua Eaton and across the district, develop professional learning communities and the implementation of the Massachusetts System of Student Support (MTSS) to address the behavioral health of all students. Dr. Doherty reviewed the drivers to this cost center. As with all cost centers, contractual collective bargaining salary increases make up a major portion of the budget. There will also be increases in the METCO and full day kindergarten offsets and decreases in regular day bus transportation, substitute teachers, per pupil building budgets, Virtual High School stipends and regular education paraeducators. Mr. Robinson inquired about the late bus for METCO students. Dr. Doherty indicated that it runs on an as needed basis. Ms. Sybert reviewed regular day staffing and the cost center by object. She went on to review the impact of regular day bus transportation reductions. The current contract cost for a bus is $52,200. We are currently entering the last year of a five year contract with the bus company. She reviewed the ridership over the past three years and it has remained fairly constant for both mandated and pay to ride students. Page I 2 Mr. Caruso asked what the state mandate was. Ms. Sybert shared that we are required to bus any student grades K—6 that live 2 or more miles from their school. We currently have mandated riders on the Killam, Parker & Coolidge busses. Ms. Sybert is proposing an increase in bus fees to $450/rider with no cap to cover the cost of the bus. The Committee expressed concerns that we need to be sure that all students can get to school and we need to find a way to keep the bus transportation for the non-mandated riders. Ms. Sybert reviewed the proposed reduction in regular education paraeducator hours and FTEs. She reviewed the roles of the paraeducators which include before school, lunch and recess supervision, full and half day kindergarten and office support, teacher and small group student support and classroom coverage when a teacher is in a meeting. The possible impact of the reductions would include a reduction in teacher and office support, elimination of before school supervision and less classroom support. Dr. Doherty said these reductions do not include tutors and are not connected to the Extended Day Program which offers a before school option. Dr. Snow Dockser asked for specifics in numbers as far as positions and hours included in the $135,000. The Superintendent explained that he is currently discussing the reductions with the principals and what can be done to address the impact. He said that this is not a desirable reduction and a difficult decision to make. Mr. Robinson shared that it seems that every time cuts need to be made the paraeducators take the hit. The School Committee must look at a means to retain these positions. Ms. Sybert reviewed the proposed reductions in the substitute cost center. She said she and HR Administrator Micheala Saunders will be analyzing fill rates to determine what impact the rate increase has had and reviewing the current practices with regard to the use of substitutes for professional development. Superintendent Doherty spoke about the impact a reduction in full day kindergarten enrollment would have if we are unable to secure the modular classrooms. Should the district have to use a lottery for full day kindergarten there is the possibility of 80 families not being assigned to full day kindergarten which would result in a$336,000 decrease in tuition revenues. Along with that reduction there would be a reduction of 2.0 FTE kindergarten teachers and 2.0 FTE paraeducators. Mr. Martin presented information on the proposed addition of K— 8 Literacy & Math Coaches. The positions will be funded as a result in the restructured professional development cost center. These positions have been created to support teachers in our transition to the new math and literacy state frameworks, provide in house job embedded professional development and support in instructional strategies and curriculum and work with the Professional Learning Communities to provide consistency across grades between schools and levels. Page I3 Mrs. Borawski asked how it would be determined which level will be targeted. Mr. Martin responded that the first couple of years the focus will be on the elementary level. The School Committee agreed that these positions are needed to provide support for our teachers in the classroom and hope they are sustainable. RTA president Chris Copeland asked for clarification on the tuition reimbursement line and if there was any change. Dr. Doherty shared that all tuition reimbursement across the district are shown in that line and that all contractual obligations are built in and there is no reduction in the teacher tuition reimbursement. Special Education Cost Center Dr. Doherty reviewed the makeup and functions of this cost center. He also reviewed the budget drivers which include salary increases, an increase in out-of- district tuitions due to known and anticipated placements and an increase in special education transportation costs. Circuit breaker reimbursement is decreased and the restructuring of how we use EMARC services also affect this cost center. The will be a proposed increase in the offsets from the Special education tuition account and the RISE revolving account as well. Dr. Doherty pointed out that there are no unanticipated Sped out of district placements included in this budget. Mrs. Wilson reviewed the special education programs and enrollment of the programs we have in district. She went on to describe the roles of the Program Director for Student Support Program and Therapeutic Support Program and the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) that are being added as a result of the restructuring of the behavioral health staff and special education consulting. The program Director for TSP/SSP will ensure consistent social and behavioral supports are in place for these populations, coordinate the SSP/TSP programs at Killam, Coolidge and RMHS, create consistency at all levels, coordinate meetings with all staff to discuss student needs, adjust behavior plans and remain connected with outside providers, identify Tier 3 support through MTSS and assist in the development of parent outreach and support programming. This position is being created by the restructuring of existing positions. The second position (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) is also being created by restructuring the Special Education Consulting line. We currently contract out for these services from SEEM and feel it is more cost effective to have an in house Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). This BCBA will assist in districtwide program development for students with behavioral needs, including students in the DLC, SSP and TSP programs, will complete functional behavioral assessments, will allow for more consistent access to behavioral supports needed to develop behavioral intervention plans and collection and analysis of data, oversee home programming and will build our interventions available through MTSS. Ms. Sybert reviewed the spending trends, staffing and expenses for this cost center. Mr. Robinson asked about the EMARC reduction and how it will affect the post graduate population. Mrs. Wilson said that we are looking at job coaching and Page 1 4 internships in district. We will continue to use EMARC services but are looking to eliminate duplication of services. III. Routine Matters a. Bills and Payroll (A) There were no warrants. b. Minutes (A) Mr. Robinson moved, seconded by Mr. Nihan, to approve the revised open session minutes dated December 22,2014. The motion carried 6-0. c. Bids and Donations ( A ) d. Calendar IV. Information V. Future Business VI. Adjournment Mr. Robinson moved, seconded by Mrs. Borawski, to adjourn. The motion carried 6-0. The meeting adjourned at 9:40 p.m. NOTE: The minutes reflect the order as stated in the posted meeting agenda not the order they occurred during the meeting. 0 11, AlAdatig gn F. Doherty, d.D. Page 15