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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-07-24 School Committee Minutes CW TO NECLERK `, READING SCHOOL COMMIT ' DING, MASS, Reading, Massachusetts 10010CT -p A 4414'.. Regular Session .7uly CALL TO ORDER At 6:38 Chair Griset called the meeting to order in the Superintendent's Conference Room. Present were School Committee Members Cavicchi, Dahl, Griset and Twomey. Also present were Superintendent Harmunian and Town Manager Hechenbleikner and Associate Superintendent Richards. Mr. McFadden and Mr. Russo arrived during executive session. EXECUTIVE SESSION At 6:30 Ms. Cavicchi moved to enter in Executive Session for the purpose of conducting strateev sessions in preparation for negotiations with the Nurses and Educational Assistants and to approve executive session minutes to return to regular session at approximately 7.30 p.m. Mr. Twomey seconded the motion The vote was 4.0 Ms. Cavicchi.Mr. Dahl, Mr. Griset and Mr. Twomey. CALL BACK TO ORDER At 7:30 p.m. Chair Griset called the School Committee back to order and Chair Graham called the School Building Committee to order. All School Committee Members and the School Building Committee Members, Graham, Cochrane, Stmble, Porter,Perry, Radville, Carroll, Scarpitto and LaCroix were present. Also present were Selectmen Schubert, Principal Frank Orlando, Sid Bowen and Robert Peirce of Flansburgh Associates. Chair Griset advised that Flansburgh Associates and the School Building Committee would be updating the School Committee on the status of the design and renovation plans for Reading Memorial High School. CHAIR/SUPERINTENDENT REPORT Chair Griset reviewed with the Committee a letter received from Assistant District Attorney Loretta Lillios responding to letters from Ms. Phillips regarding five issues Ms. Phillips brought to the Assistant District Attorney including alleging violations of the Open Meeting Law by the School Committee, the form in which minutes of the School Building Committee must be maintained, the requirements for stating the purpose(s) for convening in executive session,whether the law requires the School Committee to"re- vote"the REAP Lease and the propriety of discussing the Superintendent's contract in executive session. Chair Griset stated that the Assistant District Attorney found no violations in any of the complaints by Ms. Phillips. Reeular Session 2 July 24 2002 Chair Graham stated that the School Building Committee was present this evening to update the Committee on the status of the Reading Memorial High School project. He introduced Sid Bowen and Robert Peirce of Flansburgh and stated that they would be giving a short presentation to the Committee on the high school. Mr. Bowen updated the Committee on the work that has been completed so far including the examination of the infrastructure. He stated that an important first step in the project is determining what the building can and cannot support and what systems must be replaced. Mr. Peirce then distributed a revised scheduled and discussed the progress of the schedule and the work plan. Mr. McFadden stated his concern that last evening the Board of Selectmen discussed a figure of$59 million for the high school project. He stated that if figures on the cost of the project are being put out to the public we must be sure that the figures are correct. Selectmen Schubert stated that the $59 million figure came from the capital plan. He stated that he agreed with Mr. McFadden and stated that one of his questions to the School Building Committee is when can we expect to get an actual figure for the project. Mr. Peirce stated that the schedule for developing options to present to the Committee is mid-September. Mr. Dahl questioned how the SBA will be determining a reimbursement rate for this project and when the Town will know what that rate is. Mr. Bowen stated that the SBA is in limbo right now and the reality is the Town will not know the reimbursement rate until the project is submitted. He stated that he did not expect the rates to change dramatically from last year and basing reimbursement on the 2002 rate would be reasonable. Mr. Dahl asked for clarification on the additional SBA reimbursement for including creative community uses in the project. Mr. Bowen stated that there is no extra money, and the only extra reimbursement you may see is five points for renovation and two points for a construction manager. He stated using the building for recreation would not be good enough to receive additional reimbursement for creative community use. He stated that perhaps if the Town decides to include a health center that would take the place of a local hospital, the SBA may consider such use but stated that the Town must realize that if the reimbursement were approved it may not cover the full cost of adding something such as the health center and the Town should only consider adding something after careful consideration that it is needed in the community. 4 Repular Session 3 July 24 2002 Mr.Twomey stated that we should proceed with caution in this area. He stated that if, after public input,we direct the architect to include something like a health center in the facility,we must realize that we will not know until the project is submitted whether the SBA will reimburse for the addition. If they do not reimburse, then the Town must realize that we must be willing to pick up the entire cost of such an addition. Mr. Graham stated that he had a conversation with the Town Manager about expanding the town hall group that addressed their facilities' renovation and expanding that to anyone who has something of interest to bring to the table regarding the renovation of RMHS. Ms. Cavicchi asked about funding for green buildings and asked if that is being considered in the RMHS plans. Mr. Bowen stated that Massachusetts Technology is the source of the funding and the funding is in the form of grants. He discussed the advantages and disadvantages of the green building funding. Dr. Harutunian discussed the solar panel system at Beverly High School. Mr. Russo stated that he is in the environmental business and would like to request that before any decision are made regarding the green building a cost analysis be presented to the Committee. Mr. McFadden asked if Flansburgh had a signed contract with the School Building Committee. Mr. Bowen stated that as of today there is no signed contract. He stated that he is working with the School Building Committee on revisions to the contract. Mr. McFadden stated that there have been allegations about the work done by Flansburgh in different communities and asked that Flansburgh submit a written response to those allegations. Mr. Bowen stated that it has been Flansburgh's practice not to get into a public debate on matters like this but if requested to by the Committee they would respond. Dr. Harutunian distributed the School Committee vote of May 10, 1999 regarding the high school project. Mr. Russo stated his concern that the project not be rushed and time be taken to review all aspects. Reeenlar Session 4 July 24 2002 Mr. Struble stated his concern about including technology in the project if the School Committee is not committed to budgeting for technology people to maintain the equipment. Mr. Twomey stated that technology would be as integral to the delivery of educational services to students as is lights and heat. He stated that the capability to be able to take advantage of technology must be included in the project. Mr. Graham asked Principal Orlando for his thoughts on the project to date. Mr. Orlando stated that Flansburgh is on task and company representatives are at the high school talking with staff and viewing the systems. Selectman Schubert stated that it is important to remember that there are many issues facing the community and all come with price tags. He stated that, as elected officials, we should advocate for the things we know the town needs. Mr. McFadden asked for clarification on the additional reimbursement for having a project manager. 4 Mr. Bowen stated that reimbursement is 2% and cost is approximately 3% to 4%. He stated that he believes that a community is well served by having a project manager. Chair Griset thanked the members of the School Building Committee, Sid Bowen and Robert Peirce for attending the evening this meeting. He stated that the joint session was helpful, and the timetable gives a sense of how the project will move forward. At 8:50 Mr. Radville moved that the School Building Committee adjourn. Mr. LaCroix seconded the motion. The vote was 9-0. At 8:50 p.m. Chair Griset advised that the School Committee would take a five-minute recess. CALL BACK TO ORDER Chair Griset called the meeting back to order at 8:55 p.m. CITIZENS' INPUT Mr. Brown asked that the Committee discuss, as an agenda item, serving beer and wine in the fieldhouse for the Veterans' Dance. Regular Session 5 July 24 2002 Chair Griset stated that,as he had discussed with Mr. Brown, serving beer and wine in the fieldhouse would be on a School Committee agenda in the near future, probably the first meeting after the school year begins. Mr. Ryan stated his concern about the quality of the audio of the Committee meetings on RCTV. He stated that members couldn't be heard on television. Chair Griset stated that RCTV continues to work towards a solution to that problem. Mr. Ryan stated that the Committee should look in to using the Hospital Trust Fund and Commissioner's Fund if it is decided to fund the expanded health care facility discussed this evening. Chair Griset thanked Mr. Ryan for the information. MINUTES Ms.Cavicchi moved to approve the minutes of May 13 2002 with changes as discussed. Mr. Dahl seconded the motion. The vote was 6-0 Ms.Cavicchi Mr. Dahl,Mr. Griset. Mr. McFadden, Mr. Russo and Mr.Twomey. Ms. Cavicchi moved to approve the minutes of May 20 2002 with changes as discussed. Mr.McFadden seconded the motion. The vote was 6-0 Ms. Cavicchi Mr.Dahl,Mr. Griset,Mr. McFadden,Mr. Russo and Mr. Twomey. Ms Cavicchi moved to approve the minutes of May 29 2002 with changes as discussed. Mr. Twomey seconded the motion The vote was 6-0 Ms Cavicchi Mr. Dahl, Mr. Griset. Mr. McFadden Mr. Russo and Mr.Twomey. Ms. Cavicchi moved to approve the minutes of June 6 2002 with changes as discussed. Mr.Twomey seconded the motion The vote was 6-0 Ms Cavicchi Mr. Dahl,Mr. Griset, Mr. McFadden Mr. Russo and Mr.Twomey. Ms. Cavicchi moved to approve the minutes of June 12 2002 with changes as discussed. Mr.McFadden seconded the motion. The vote was 6.0 Ms. Cavicchi Mr. Dahl- Mr. Griset, Mr. McFadden Mr. Russo and Mr. Twomey. Ms. Cavicchi moved to approve the minutes of June 17 2002 with changes as discussed. Mr. McFadden seconded the motion. The vote was 6-0 Ms. Cavicchi Mr. Dahl,Mr. Griset,Mr.McFadden Mr. Russo and Mr.Twomey. Regular Session 6 July 24 2002 Ms Cavicchi moved to approve the minutes of June 24 2002 with changes as discussed. Mr. McFadden seconded the motion. The vote was 6-0 Ms. Cavicchi Mr. Dahl,Mr. Griset. Mr.McFadden Mr. Russo and Mr.Twomey. Ms Cavicchi moved to approve the minutes of July 1 2002 with changes as discussed. Mr. McFadden seconded the motion. The vote was 5-0.1 Ms. Cavicchi Mr.Dahl, Mr. Griset,Mr.McFadden, Mr. Russo voted yes and Mr.Twomey abstained. Ms. Cavicchi moved to approve the minutes of January 30 2002 Mr. Twomey seconded the motion. Mr. Russo made an amendment to the motion to include the transcript as a part of the minutes to show what actually happened at the meeting_ Mr. McFadden seconded the amendment to the motion. The vote on the amendment to the motion was 1-4-1 Mr. Russo voted yes Ms Cavicchi Mr. Dahl Mr. Griset and Mr.Twomey voted no Mr. McFadden abstained the amendment to the motion did not carry. The vote on the motion was 4.1.1 Ms Cavicchi Mr. Dahl, Mr. Griset and Mr.Twomey voted yes Mr. Russo voted no and Mr. McFadden abstained. Mr. Griset stated that he did not see anywhere in the transcript that Mr. Russo was prohibited from continuing. Mr. Dahl stated that the nature of the minutes is to note the items discussed at a meeting and to record all votes. He stated that the minutes of January 30"accurately reflect what happened at the meeting. Ms. Cavicchi stated that there was no date on the transcript. Ms. Cavicchi moved to accept the minutes of February 5 2002 Mr. McFadden seconded the motion. The vote was 5-0-1 Ms Cavicchi Mr. Dahl Mr. Griset Mr. Russo and Mr. Twomey voted yes, Mr. McFadden abstained. ADJOURN At 9:30 p.m. Mr. Twomey moved to adjourn Mr. Dahl seconded the motion The vote was 6-0 Ms. Cavicchi,Mr. Dahl, Mr. Griset,Mr. McFadden Mr.Russo and Mr.Twomey. Respectfullybmitted, IV Harry K. Hamtunian, Ph.D. Superintendent of Schools