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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-05-13 School Committee Minutes 70WNECLERK READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE READING, MASS. Reading,Massachusetts 1001 AUG -I p p I I REGULAR SESSION Mav 13 2002 CALL TO ORDER Chair Twomey called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. in the Superintendent's Conference Room. Present were School Committee Members Cavicchi,Twomey, Griset and Russo. Also present were Superintendent Harutunian,Associate Superintendent Richards and Town Manager Hechenbleikner. Mr. Dahl and Mr. McFadden arrived during executive session. At 7:05 p.m. Ms. Cavicchi moved to enter executive session for the purpose of conductine strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with the Teachers' Association. Secretaries & Clerks.Nurses. Custodial Maintenance Workers Cafeteria Employees,Educational Assistants and Administrators and to discuss pending litigation to return to regular session at approximately 730 P.M. Mr. Griset seconded the motion The vote was 4-0 Ms Cavicchi Mr. Griset, Mr.Russo and Mr. Twomey voted yes At 7:37 p.m. Chair Twomey called the meeting back to order. Rebecca Wetzler new AkW student representative was present. Dr. Hamtunian introduced Kathleen Lenox,5"grader at Eaton Elementary School, Acting Superintendent of Day. Kathleen Lenox discussed her day as Superintendent of Schools. Kathleen Lenox recommended to the School Committee that the last day of school be on June 17". Ms. Cavicchi moved, on the recommendation of Acting Superintendent Kathleen Lenox, that the School Committee accept lune 17 2002 as the last day of school The last day of school will be '/ day for students Mr. Dahl seconded the motion The vote was 6.0 Ms. Cavicchi Mr. Dahl Mr. Griset Mr. McFadden Mr. Russo and Mr.Twomey. Dr. Harmunian introduced Rebecca Wetzler as the new student representative to the School Committee. Chair Twomey and Dr. Harmunian presented former School Committee Member Jim Keigley with a chair and thanked him for his service to the School Committee on behalf 4 of the Committee and the administration. 4 REGULAR SESSION 2 May 13 2002 Chair Twomey introduced new School Committee Member Carl McFadden. Dr. Hamtunian thanked the staff and students at the Killam School for the art work decorating the Committee Room. CITIZENS' INPUT Mr. Brown stated that he felt the use of the Town Seal was inappropriate on the recent letter from the Technology Fundraising Committee. He distributed information about the proper use of the Town Seal. Chair Twomey stated that the Committee would look into the matter. GIFTS Dr. Hamtunian thanked Jen Naumann of Home Education for the generous gift of dictionary sets. Mr. Dahl moved to accept the gift of desk dictionary and reference library sets from Jen Naumann of Home Education Ms Cavicchi seconded the motion The vote was 6-0 Ms. Cavicchi.Mr.Dahl Mr. Griset, Mr. McFadden Mr. Russo and Mr. Twomey. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT Dr. Hamtunian and the Committee thanked the Reading Pride Group for their hard work on the high school campaign. Dr. Hamtunian advised that from June 3rd through June 7th all new curriculum materials would be on display in the Superintendent's Conference Room. Dr. Hamtunian stated that the School Committee would be signing warrants prior to the release of checks. He recommended to the Committee that they accept the recommendation of the Town Accountant and designate the Chairman, and in the Chairman's absence, the Vice Chairman to sign the payroll warrants. Mr. Dahl moved to authorize according to Massachusetts General Law Chapter 41 that the Chairman of the Reading School Committee be the designated signer of the payroll warrants for the School Committee and that in the Chairman's absence the Vice Chairman be the designated signer. Ms Cavicchi seconded the motion The vote was 6-0 Ms. Cavicchi. Mr. Dahl,Mr. Griset Mr. McFadden Mr. Russo and kw Mr. Twomey. 4 REGULAR SESSION 3 May 13 2002 Dr. Hamtunian discussed the issue of seat belts on school buses. He stated that under the current law only the operator of the bus is required to have a seat belt. Dr. Harutunian discussed changes that have been put in place for long distance field trips since the incidents of September 11`h including the CORI check required of all bus drivers and the requirement that drivers produce copies of their driving records and certification of proper rest in the last 48 hours. He discussed security used by the schools at hotels. He stated that prior to bidding the next bus contract he would put this item on the agenda for discussion by the Committee. Mr. Russo stated that he had requested that the Committee discuss this item. He stated that he realized the bus contract had just been awarded; however, he feels strongly that this issue should be addressed by the Committee prior to the next contract. FY02 & FY03 BUDGET Dr. Harntunian discussed the budget situation for FY02 including the 30% hold and his request for$30,000 for repairs to the Joshua Eaton roof. He stated that he felt confident that no transfer from the Town would be needed to end the year. Dr. Hamtunian discussed the Governor's Budget and the House Budget for FY03. He discussed the circuit breaker law and the funding for SBA. He discussed how he planned to cover potential decreases in the budget and the motion made by Carol Grimm at Town Meeting regarding an override to cover the delta between the Town Meeting approved budget, which included anticipated state aid based on the Governor's budget, and actual state aid received. Ms. Brazinski, Mr. Curtis, Ms. Squeglia and Ms. McDonough stated their support for the Committee approaching the Board of Selectmen for an override over and above the delta to bring back services to the schools. Ms. Cavicchi outlined the past history of the town regarding overrides Chair Twomey stated that the Committee must decide on three issues this evening. First, does any Committee Member want to make a motion to change the FY03 budget otherwise the budget will stand as voted? Second, does the Committee wants to direct the Superintendent to adopt the proposal that the Superintendent has to hold monies back for the purposes outlined by the Superintendent? Third, does the Committee want to vote this evening to request that the Selectmen put an operating override on the ballot for the budget delta or any other amount? \r REGULAR SESSION 4 May 13 2002 Mr. McFadden recommend that the Assistant Director of Facilities position be eliminated. He also recommended that the savings from the salary of the Assistant Director be put towards teachers. Dr. Hamtunian discussed the fact that if the Assistant Director position was eliminated he would be unable to continue to maintain the town buildings and the agreement with the town for shared services would have to be cancelled. Mr. Dahl discussed his concern about eliminating the position after assuring the community that the School Committee is committed to maintaining the buildings. Mr. Griset moved to instruct the Superintendent to hold back funds $250,000 from enrollment grant and $250,000 from the 30% hold until we know the total funding to be received from the state. Ms. Cavicchi seconded the motion The vote was 6-0 Ms. Cavicchi,Mr. Dahl Mr. Griset- Mr. McFadden Mr. Russo and Mr. Twomey. The Committee discussed voting to request that the Selectmen put an override on the ballot for either the delta between the approved budget and state aid or a greater amount. Mr. Russo moved that the Chair approach the Selectmen with the potential of includine an override or debt exclusion this fall Mr. McFadden seconded the motion. The vote was 1-5 Mr. Russo voted yes Ms Cavicchi Mr.Dahl Mr. Grist Mr. McFadden and Mr. Twomey voted no The motion did not carry. Chair Twomey slated that he would like the Committee to speak more forcefully regarding the override. Mr.McFadden moved to request that the Board of Selectmen seek an o ep rating override and/or debt exclusion under MGL 59C 21 and any other pertinent provision of the MGL for the purpose of eliminating any shortfall in the Town's operating budget as voted at the April 2002 town meeting. Ms Cavicchi seconded the motion. The vote was 6-0 Ms. Cavicchi Mr. Dahl Mr. Griset Mr.McFadden Mr. Russo and Mr. Twomey At 9:55 Chair Twomey advised that the Committee would take a short break. At 10:00 p.m. Chair Twomey called the meeting back to order. REGULAR SESSION 5 May 13 2002 SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT Dr. Harutunian updated the Committee on the status of the Mola appeal. Ms. Verner asked if the School Committee would continue to pay to defend the lawsuit. Chair Twomey stated that there is some money budgeted for legal fees and if the legal fees exceed the budget the Committee would have to request a transfer from the Finance Committee. Dr. Hamtunian noted that we have not used any instructional money for attorney fees. Ms. Squeglia asked what the next step is and how the community can be kept informed on this matter. Dr. Haratunian advised that there is an agenda item to discuss strategies in executive session. He stated that he would try to put this item on the agenda regularly so the community is aware of the process. Mr. Tucci asked what it is the Mola's actually want. Dr. Harutunian stated that the administrative law judge asked the School Department to make a $430 modification to the plans. Dr. Harutunian stated that up to $50,000 had been authorized to make landscape changes to the property to satisfy the Mola's concerns. He stated that he is not clear what the Mola's want. Ms. Brazinski asked if the Mola's are paying for the lawsuit themselves. Chair Twomey stated that the Mola's have their own attorney and because they are abutters to the property they have a legal right to file the lawsuit. Mr. Russo stated that he had nothing to do with the Mola's case and that he recently donated to the RMHS Technology Fund. Dr. Harutunian updated the Committee on the work being done at the Barrows School TRANSFER OF LAND The Committee discussed the Town transferring school land to the School Department to ensure that the School Department would qualify for SBA reimbursement. Dr. Harutunian advised that Town Counsel John Gannon is working with the Town ` Engineer to compile an exact list of the land to be transferred. 4 REGULAR SESSION 6 May 13 2002 Mr. Russo stated that he wanted to see a list of the property before he voted. Chair Twomey restated the concern of the School Building Committee that the transfer be completed so that the high school project would be reimbursable under SBA guidelines. Ms. Cavicchi moved to accept the draft School Committee motion and warrant article as written and that once engineering studies are done to incorporate more specific information into the subiect matter. Mr. McFadden seconded the motion The vote was 5.1 Ms. Cavicchi Mr. Dahl Mr. Griset Mr. McFadden and Mr. Twomey voted yes and Mr. Russo voted no SUBSTITUE TEACHER SERVICES CONTRACT Ms. Cavicchi moved on the recommendation of the Administration to award the Substitute Teacher Services contract to the low bidder, OPIS. Mr. Griset seconded the motion. The vote was 6-0 Ms. Cavicchi Mr. Dahl Mr. Griset Mr.McFadden Mr.Russo and Mr.Twomey 4 HOME SCHOOLING Ms. Cavicchi moved on the recommendation of the Administration to approve the five home schooling requests as outlined in the memorandum of May 8 2002 Mr. Griset seconded the motion. The vote was 6-0 Ms. Cavicchi Mr. Dahl Mr. Griset Mr. McFadden,Mr. Russo and Mr. Twomey. JOSHUA EATON ROOF Mr. Griset moved to direct the Superintendent to use money that becomes available from any account to repair the Joshua Eaton roof for an estimated cost of$30,000 as outlined to the memorandum of May 9 2002 Ms Cavicchi seconded the motion The vote was 6-0 Ms Cavicchi Mr. Dahl Mr. Griset Mr. McFadden Mr.Russo and Mr. Twomey. MINUTES Ms. Cavicchi moved to approve the minutes of March 11 2002 with changes as noted. Mr. Griset 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 4 REGULAR SESSION 7 Mav 13 2002 Ms. Cavicchi moved to approve the minutes of March 21 2002 Mr. Griset seconded the motion. The vote was 5-0-1 Ms. Cavicchi Mr. Dahl Mr. Grist Mr. Russo and Mr. Twomey voted yes Mr. McFadden abstained EXECUTIVE SESSION At 10:45 p.m. Ms Cavicchi moved to enter executive session for the purpose of conducting strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with the Teachers' Association. Secretaries & Clerks. Nurses, Custodial Maintenance Workers Cafeteria Employees Educational Assistants and Administrators and to discuss pending litilnition not to return to regular session. Mr. Griset seconded the motion. The vote was 6-0 Ms. Cavicchi Mr.Dahl Mr. Griset Mr. McFadden Mr. Russo and Mr.Twomey voted yes Respectfully submitted, Harry K. Hamtunian, Ph.D. Superintendent of School 4