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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-12-18 School Committee MinutesOWN FR Town of Reading e Meeting Minutes t i�j9"NCORQ�PP�w Board - Committee - Commission - Council: School Committee Date: 2017-12-18 Building: School - Memorial High Address: 82 Oakland Road Purpose: Open Session Attendees: Members - Present: 4i 12, t ALJ 1018 JAN 25 P Q- 16 J Time: 7:00 PM Location: Superintendent Conference Room Session: Open Session Version: Final Chuck Robinson (arrived at 7:20 p.m.), Nick Boivin, Linda Snow Dockser, Jeanne Borawski, and Elaine Webb Members - Not Present: Student Representatives Coumounduras & Cutone Others Present: Superintendent John Doherty, Director of Finance Gail Dowd, Assistant Superintendent Craig Martin, Director of Student Services Carolyn Wilson, RPD Chief Mark Segalla, Lt. Rich Abate, RCASA Director Erica McNamara, Vanessa Alvarado, Selectmen Barry Berman, John Arena, Dan Ensminger & Andy Friedmann, Members of Fincom, Al Sylvia - Reading Chronicle, Bob Holmes - Patch, Sherri Vanden Akker Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Linda Engelson on behalf of the Chair Topics of Discussion: I. Call to Order Vice Chair Webb called the School Committee to order at 7:00 p.m. and reviewed the agenda. II. Recommended Procedure A. Public Comment Chief Segalla wanted to clarify comments he made to the Board of Selectmen last Wednesday and read the following statement: "In my remarks on Wednesday, I was speaking generally about the experiences of law enforcement since the passage of the marijuana ballot measure last year. In my remarks, 1 said "we deal with marijuana with kids now in the high school on a daily basis. To clarify, 1 did not mean or intend to imply that the Reading Police Department responds to the Reading High School every day for drug issues. This is not the case. I meant, in my remarks, that we have seen a sharp increase in marijuana Page 1 1 use, possession, and illness as a result of marijuana use and marijuana edibles among high school age youth recently. Our department deals with teenagers and marijuana, on average, every day. There is, in my opinion, a feeling among youth we encounter, on calls for service, that marijuana is 'OK' now because of the law change, even though marijuana remains illegal for those under 21. The issue of drugs, including marijuana, opioids, and others, remains a leading cause of both crime and medical emergency in our communities, and it is something we encounter every day as police officers. I hope this offers clarification, and I regret any confusion. " Mrs. Webb thanked Chief Segalla for clarifying his statement. She went on to say that it is important to educate parents on this issue. Chief Segalla pointed out the excellent working relationship he has with the Superintendent. Dr. Doherty concurred saying that this relationship is focused on what is best for kids. Dr. Snow Dockser feels it is important that we find a way to continue to fund RCASA. B. New Business FYI Budget Pre -Overview Ms. Dowd began by saying this has been presented to the Budget Liaisons and attendees to Parent University intending to be a 10,000 foot view. She reviewed the fund categories; Operating Budget, Capital and Grants & Revolving Accounts. The operating budget funds consist of all salaries, materials, supplies and services needed to operate the school district, revenue sources including property taxes, state aid, excise tax, fees, sale of land and any funds remaining at the end of the fiscal year that are returned to the Town's General Fund. Capital funds are targeted at 5% of the operating budget, funds for capital improvement projects or purchases, the RMHS litigation is being funded for the next 10 years from this fund and capital funds cannot be used to support the operating budget. Grants & Revolving Accounts are made up of funds raised either by user fees, tuitions, ticket sales, or receiving grants and must be used for specific purposes like full day kindergarten. She next reviewed the cost centers we use and shared that they are much more detailed because of the DESE chart of accounts used for the end - of -year report. The cost centers consist of Administration, Regular Day, Special Education, District -wide Programs and School Building Facilities. The Administration cost center funds the central office administrators and administrative assistants, legal and auditing, employee recruiting and hiring, data and information management, district technology, annuity matching contributions and miscellaneous supplies and equipment. Regular Day is the largest cost center funding the operation of our 8 schools including all salaries, materials and supplies, professional development, substitutes, mandatory student transportation, instructional technology and testing and assessment software and materials. The Special Education cost center funds the salaries of the director and secretary, Page 1 2 special education teachers and paraeducators, therapeutic specialists, extended school year staff and expenses, legal services, home & hospital tutoring, consultative & evaluation services, adaptive equipment and technology, testing and assessment software, materials and services, instructional materials and supplies, transportation and out -of -district tuition. Mr. Robinson arrived at 7:20 p.m. The District Wide Program cost center funds athletics, extracurricular, health services and networking & technology infrastructure and maintenance. This includes related staff, equipment and supplies, athletic transportation, facility rentals, software and licensing and fees, memberships and royalties. School Building Facilities funds school custodians and the custodial manager, equipment and supplies and cleaning services. Items funded by grants, donations, user fees or other fees are not included in the budget. Some of these items are field trip expenses, additional technology hardware, food services, non -mandated student transportation, before and after school programs, enrichment programs, additional coaches and advisors, additional tutor support, research and development and a portion of extracurricular, athletics, preschool and full day kindergarten. Ms. Dowd reviewed the grants/reimbursements we currently receive including METCO, Circuit Breaker, Title 1, Title 2A, Title IV, IDEA Program Quality and Early Childhood Education. We have 2 years remaining in the School Transformation grant. Funding has changed and federal grants are becoming more difficult to get. We anticipate a reduction in the circuit breaker reimbursement. We use this funding for out -of -district tuitions. Dr. Doherty took over providing an overview of the FYI budget. He reviewed how we got to this point reminding everyone that revenues can only increase by 2.5% each year plus new growth, some expenses increase more than 2.5% annually, Chapter 70 funding is not sufficient and there was a failed override in October 2016. In order to maintain level service, the budget increases need to be around 3.5 — 4% per year. The Superintendent reviewed Chapter 70 funding which has remained at around increases of 1% over the past several years. He reviewed the per pupil funding. Mrs. Dowd reviewed the budget process saying she has been working with the Town Manager and Town Accountant. She reviewed revenue projections and accommodated costs. The driving factors in the accommodated costs include health insurance and out -of -district special education costs. Town and school operating budgets are impacted by limited revenue growth and a continued growth in accommodated costs and there is a continued reliance on free cash to support Town and school operating expenses. Dr. Doherty shared that there will be two budgets developed; a baseline balanced budget and a restore budget. He reviewed the district priorities which are the four focus areas; closing the achievement gap, literacy, mathematics instruction and social emotional learning, grade K-2 class sizes, maintaining the middle school model, ensuring that RMHS juniors and seniors have access to coursework for Page 1 3 graduation and the Joshua Eaton School Improvement Plan process. Budget drivers include the funding of salaries, special education tuitions and transportation expenses, a decrease in the State Circuit Breaker grant programs for special education, addressing $450,000 in onetime expenses, reductions and additional free cash allotment in FYI budget to preserve 7.0 FTE middle school teachers, increases in athletic rental fees and field maintenance and transportation, an increase in contractual cleaning and renewal of anti-virus protection and other software programs. The Superintendent reviewed the School Committee's guiding principles developed in October including addressing the structural deficit, sustainability, direct student contact positions are first priority, maintain previously funded programs, no gimmicks, all cuts to be viewed through the lens of promoting the intellectual, physical, social and emotional health of each child, there should be an intentional focus on low and inexpensive practices to make the environment and culture one that supports and encourages teaching and develop well balanced and prepared students for college, career and life. Dr. Doherty will be meeting with school councils and PTO groups and budget liaisons as well as communicating information through budget bulletins, community discussions and school committee meetings. The key FYI budget dates were reviewed. Mr. Arena called the Selectmen to order at 7:47 p.m. Chair Robinson asked the public to attend meetings or office hours or contact school committee members with any questions they may have. Interview and Vote to Appoint New School Committee Member Chair Robinson welcomed the candidate Sherri Vanden Akker. Mrs. Vanden Akker read the following statement: December 18, 2017 Good evening. It's an honor and a privilege to be here this evening, and I look forward to our discussion. Before we get underway, I wish to acknowledge Dr. Gary Nihan's many years of dedicated service to our public schools as an educator, administrator, and School Committee member. As a parent, I thank him for his work on behalf of our children and I extend my best wishes to him for health and healing. Thank you also to my Jewish colleagues who are here tonight instead of home with their families celebrating the seventh night of Hanukkah. And thank you to the Selectmen who came out tonight for yet another meeting in an already busy season of meetings related to the budget. I trust that you have read my application packet, but for viewers who might not have, I'd like to give a brief overview of my academic history and credentials, especially given that I am applying for a seat that was held by an educator. 1 have lived in Massachusetts all my life and I graduated from a public high school. I am a first -generation college student. I was truly blessed with the opportunity to attend Mount Holyoke College where I majored in English; I received a scholarship that allowed me to study in Canterbury, England in my junior year. Page 14 Upon graduation from Mount Holyoke, I served as a VISTA Volunteer—a Volunteer in Service to America, also known as the "domestic Peace Corps, " started by President Johnson. I worked in Holyoke, Massachusetts with the Sisters of Providence and did capacity -building work in the Sisters' shelters for homeless men and for homeless women and children, soup kitchen, and household goods distribution program. Upon the completion of my VISTA service, 1 earned a Master's degree and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. I have subsequently earned a graduate -level certificate in Instructional Technologyfrom the University of Massachusetts Boston. I have more than 25 years of classroom and administrative experience in education, beginning with my work as a Teaching Assistant at UMass. Since 19991 have taught writing, literature, and academic skills at the Springfield College, School of Professional and Continuing Studies (PCS), Boston campus and am a school -wide Writing Across the Curriculum coordinator. In this role, I train facultyfrom a range of disciplines to develop curriculum and adopt high - impact teaching approaches that help students master traditional literacy skills -- reading and writing --and emerging literacies and competencies, including information literacy, critical thinking, and creative problem -solving. In addition, I have been elected twice to Faculty Senate and appointed to committees to revise the college's General Education program and to amend Faculty Bylaws --large, complex, and difficult tasks. I am respected for my willingness to see multiple points of view on contentious issues, disagree robustly yet respectfully, "dig in " to the details, and develop creative approaches to break through impasses. I understand that education is complex, and that every challenge is multi faceted and multi -layered. I believe the skills I've gained through my experience will be assets as the School Committee examines the district's proposed budget and works with school administration, educators, and staff to set the district's priorities for teaching and learning. I believe in Springfield College's mission to educate "the whole person—in spirit, mind, and body. " That is, I recognize that we must teach our children the essential knowledge, skills, and competencies they need to succeed in the emerging digital world, to succeed in careers that might not even exist today. I also understand that we must inculcate attitudes and behaviors that will allow our youth to thrive in and to mend a society with unprecedented levels of stress, disparity, and polarization. ' I also deeply value another aspect of Springfield College's mission—to educate students 'for leadership in service to others. " Like all of you here tonight, I too believe deeply in community service. That's why I served as a VISTA Volunteer, co-chaired the Joshua Eaton Task, joined the Board of RCASA, developed an educational program for RCTV, ran for a seat on the Board of Library Trustees, and submitted my application for this opening on the School Committee. I view our community as an organism: the health of one part affects the health of all parts. I believe that strong and healthy schools contribute to a strong and healthy community, and vice versa. I believe that we rise together, or we fall together; that we thrive together or stagnate together. Like it or not, we are an interconnected whole. Page 1 5 I subscribe to the notion of an intergenerational compact, where as a community we take care of each other, we invest in each other, and we act intentionally, as our ancestors did, to leave a proud legacy to future generations. I will base every decision I make as a School Committee member on a simple but profound question: "What's best for the 4,500 children in our schools and, by extension, for the 20, 000 adults who are inherently connected to those children? " Because we will be facing complex issues in the coming months and years, at times we might disagree about how to best answer that question, but I hope that you will never have cause to doubt my intent. If I am appointed to fill this opening this evening, and if the voters choose to elect me in April, I am committed to using my role on the School Committee for the benefit of our whole community—our children, of course, but also our adults and our elders. I view our public schools like our public library, our police force, and our Senior Center– as a resource that benefits all of us, directly and indirectly. I will work to the best of my ability to expand our schools' role in promoting life- long learning and building community and to strengthen our proud public education legacy, for my children and for yours. Mrs. Webb moved, seconded by Mr. Boivin, to appoint Sherri Vanden Akker to the Reading School Committee to replace Gary Nihan. The roll call vote carried 9 – 0. Mrs. Webb, Mr. Boivin, Mr. Robinson, Dr. Snow Dockser and Mrs. Borawski for the School Committee 5-0. Mr. Arena, Mr. Friedmann, Mr. Ensminger and Mr. Berman 4 – 0 for the Selectmen. Mr. Ensminger moved, seconded by Mr. Berman, to adjourn. The motion carried 4-0. The Board of Selectmen adjourned at 8:21 p.m. There was a brief recess at 8:21 p.m. Chair Robinson called the School Committee back to order at 8:24 p.m. Accept the Proposed Amendment to the Northshore Education Consortium Articles of Agreement Dr. Doherty provided an overview of the change. Ipswich would like to become a member district and this requires all current School Committee's to approve this change to the Articles of Agreement. Mrs. Webb moved, seconded by Mrs. Borawski, to approve the addition of Ipswich as a member district to the Northshore Education Consortium. Dr. Snow Dockser said there is no downside to this and then asked which subcommittee Dr. Doherty was on. Dr. Doherty said he was on the Chair of the Personnel Subcommittee. The motion carried 5-0. Liaison to HRAC Page 16 It was decided to postpone this agenda item to the next meeting. C. Consent A eg nda Mrs. Webb asked if anyone would like to remove any item from the consent agenda. There were none. Consent Agenda - Accept a Donation from the Friends of Reading Hockey - Approval of RMHS Habitat for Humanity Field Trip Mrs. Webb moved, seconded by Mrs. Borawski, to approve the consent agenda. The motion carried 5-0. D. Reports Student Representative There were no student reports. Liaison's Report Mrs. Webb reported that the selectmen had begun their budget meetings. Dr. Snow Dockser reported on the recent SEPAC meeting, The Reading Embraces Diversity (RED) group is working on putting together a World Cafe type event. More details to come and she reported that there is an upcoming SEPAC meeting on January 4th Superintendent's Report Dr. Doherty reported that Mr. Huggins will be presenting the Facilities Core and Capital budgets tomorrow night. He then shared information on Killam. The Town Manager, Joe Huggins, Gail Dowd and he have been discussing the possibility of having a feasibility study done on the Killam School. There is no plan for a renovation project at this point. Killam does not qualify for MSBA funding at this point. Dr. Snow Dockser met with a group of boy scouts last week and water and water coolers at Killam was discussed. The scouts are happy with the handling of the water quality issues at Killam. E. Old Business III. Routine Matters a. Bills and Payroll (A) Warrant S1824 112.14.17 1 $337,162.14 Page 1 7 Warrant P1811 12.1.17 $1,526,442.91 Warrant P1812 12.15.17 $1,554,761.88 b. Calendar IV. Information/Correspondence V. Future Business VI. Adjournment Adjourn Mrs. Webb moved, seconded by Mrs. Borawski, to adiourn. The motion carried 5-0. The meeting adjourned at 8.40 p.m. NOTE: The minutes reflect the order as stated in the posted meeting agenda not the order they occurred during the meeting. Page 1 8