HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-06-13 School Committee Minutes ED
READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE s i�jSLERK C,�t
Reading, Massachusetts ' U. MASS.
4W Community Meeting 1001 UQ_. 45
CALL TO ORDER
Vice Chair Dahl welcomed the public to the community meeting. The meeting was held
in the Reading Public Library Meeting room. Present were School Committee Members
Dahl, Griset, Russo and Keigley, Superintendent Harutunian and approximately 25
members of the public.
Mr. Jack Goldberg former special education educator asked about special education
funding from the state. He stated that special education has become the whipping boy for
the budget.
Dr. Harutunian stated that all the money received by Chapter 70 barely covers the cost of
the special education. Dr. Harutunian stated that 95% of the students in special education
belong in special education. He stated that the other 5% of the students are covered
under special education laws for Massachusetts. He stated that Massachusetts had laws
that went beyond federal law and that districts are responsible for maintaining the level of
services required by Massachusetts.
Sara Nastasi stated that the district is lucky to have such talented special education staff.
She stated that one reason Massachusetts has a higher percentage of special education
students is because parents move to Massachusetts for the services- available to their
children. Ms. Nastasi discussed the space issues in the Reading schools. She stated that
students are being taught in hallways and closets and that a long-term solution needs to
be found so that children are in appropriate learning areas. She suggested that the next
override be put on the ballot in a menu form.
Mr. Russo stated that he did not vote for the override or the new elementary school but
that teacher student ratios could be moved up by one or two students to free up needed
space.
Ms. Nastasi stated that increasing class size is only going to lead to more problems for
children. More children will fall behind in larger class sizes.
Mr. James Goldsmith asked what guarantees citizens have that if they agree to renovate
the high school the school department will not let maintenance go and the high school
end up in the same deplorable conditions.
Dr_ Hamtunian discussed the history of the maintenance department and how he has
handled maintenance since he arrived. He also advised that the state has a minimum
dollar amount that must be spent on maintenance in order to continue to receive
4 reimbursement,
4/ Community Meeting 2 June 14 2001
Mr. Carl McFadden thanked the Committee and the Superintendent for holding these
community meetings. He stated that he would like to see department heads presenting
their own budgets.
Dr. Harutunian advised that every teacher in the system submits a budget to their
principal. Ile stated that each building principal puts together a budget that does not
include heat, lights, salaries or benefits. He stated that out of a $24 million budget the
principals' budget represents only $800,000.
Mr. Griset stated that the community meetings have made it clear that the people want
more detailed budget presentations at town meeting and that the school committee will be
working towards that goal.
Ms. Gina Snyder stated that she supports the School Committee and she was not happy at
the way that the Committee had been heckled at other meetings. She suggested a
mediator be used to defuse the situation. She stated that class size is extremely
important. She stated that the classroom environment has changed significantly in the
last few years. She stated that the amount of learning has increased and mainstreaming
students has caused more disruption.
4 Mr. Russell Kaplan stated that the condition of the high school is deplorable and asked if
realistically his fourth grader would see a new high school but the time he was ready.
Dr. Harutunian stated that the School Building Committee is scheduled to bring a
proposal forward to Town Meeting in November requesting funds for a study. Ile stated
that one of the outcomes of the community meetings is that we realize that the
community wants more than one option presented for their review.
Mr. John Kachichian, a recent Reading High School graduate, stated that the building is
in horrible condition, but the staff is outstanding and still does theirjob extremely well.
Ms. Margaret Soli stated that her property taxes do not cover the cost of one per pupil
expense. She stated that she feels investing in the schools is investing in the value of
your home. She asked about the possibility of expanding the METCO program at the
tipper levels.
Dr. Harutunian stated that unfortunately there is no room at the lower level or upper level
for increasing the METCO program. He stated that we are adding 100 new students to
the high school next year and class sizes are expanding.
Ms. Diane Moran stated that she is a grief counselor and discussed the assistance she
believes she could give to the school department in handling tragedies.
CommunitV Meeting 3 June 13, 2001
Mr. Dick Stockes suggested that the School Committee should, as a show of good faith,
give money back to the town each year. He suggested that plans for the fifth elementary
school be stopped and a renovation to RMHS be started, including an addition for grades
K-2.
Mr. Russo stated that he had spoken to representatives from the Wellesley Public Schools
and the Lexington Public Schools and that Reading's class size is only one above those
two districts.
Mr. Dave Lautman stated that he works for Lexington and class sizes vary but most are
well below Reading's. He sated that the only reason Reading does so well is parent
participation and volunteers. He stated that filing the ten-taxpayer lawsuit after having
lost the bid protest was crossing the line.
Mr. Bruce Cerullo stated that we need to figure out how to bridge the gap between the
two groups.
Mr. Russo stated that he is trying to bridge the gap, we need to learn to be civil and yet
still be able to disagree. He stated that the Committee needed to answer all the questions
of the members of the ten-taxpayer lawsuit.
4 Mr. Stowes stated that the Committee should consider selling the bricks of the new
school for $1 to raise funds.
The meeting ended at 4:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
C /,,(
Harry . Harutunian, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
4