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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-06-12 School Committee Minutes iVED iv,ii CLERK READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE r`,DING. MASS. Reading, Massachusetts RQI4P"6P 12: 13 June 12,2001 CALL TO ORDER Chair Cavicchi called the regular meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Present were School Committee Members Twomey. Dahl. Russo, Cavicchi, and Kcigley. Also present were Superintendent Harutunian. Associate Superintendent Richards and Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner. Mr. Griset arrived during Executive Session. EXECUTIVE SESSION Mr. Russo moved to enter into executive session for the purpose of conducting strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with the Teacher's Association, Custodians and Maintenance Workers, Cafeteria Employees, Association of Secretaries and Clerks, Educational Assistants, Nurses, Superintendent, Principals, Assistant Principals, Assistant Superintendent and Directors to discuss pending litigation and to approve executive session minutes to return to regular session at approximately 7:30p.m. Mrs. Cavicchi seconded the motion. The vote was 5-0. Mr. Griset arrived at 7:05. CALL BACK TO ORDER Mrs. Cavicchi called the regular session back to order at 8:15 p.m. Committee Members Cavicchi. Dahl. Griset, Russo and Twomey were present. Also present were Superintendent Harutunian and Associate Superintendent Richards. BILLS & PAYROLLS Bills and payroll are as follows: Payroll 95 May 25,2001 $178.088.65 Payroll 89 May 03, 2001 $678,533.33 Payroll 91 May I1, 2001 $164,739.47 Payroll 93 May 17. 2001 $679,510.95 Warrant 90 May 07, 2001 $318,402.17 Warrant 92 May 14, 2001 $146.40329 Warrant 94 May 21, 2001 $178,54526 Warrant 96 May 29. 2001 $290.377.78 4 Regular Session 2 June 12, 2001 CITIZEN'S INPUT Mary Ellen O'Neill asked about a donation to the School Department. Dr. Harutunian stated the gift was an agenda item and would addressed at that time. GIFTS The Superintendent stated that Michelle Hopkins, on behalf of the Young Women's League of Reading. Inc donated a check for$550 to the B.E.A.K.E.R. (Bringing Educators and Kids Exploratory Resources) project. This money will be available to Anne Harney, Elementary Science Instructional Specialist, to purchase additional science equipment for the Town of Reading's Elementary Schools. The Superintendent asked the Committee to accept the donation. Mr. Griset moved to accept the donation from the Young Women's League. Mr. Twomev seconded the motion. The vote was 5-0. Mrs. Cavicchi, Mr. Griset, Mr. Dahl,Mr. Russo, Mr.Twomev. At this time Mrs. O'Neill asked what happens to butterflies, snails, goldfish etc. after the students are done with them. The Superintendent responded that they were not sure but that they would set up a meeting with all the parties involved and find out exactly what we do. The Superintendent stated that Mr. Keigley had to leave due to another commitment and that there would be no RCTV coverage this evening. He stated his disappointment. Mr. Twomey asked that the RCTV service be placed as an agenda item at a future meeting. They all agreed that the service has not been good. Mr. Dahl stated that at the community meetings many citizens complained that the audio at the school committee meetings is always too low. Mrs. Cavicchi directed the Superintendent to set up a meeting with him, Richard Cohen from RCTV and the Town Manager to discuss their concerns. The Superintendent went on say that Mr. George Lonergan donated pencils to the School Department. He thanked Mr. Lonergan for the pencils and stated that the pencils would be distributed to the schools. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT The Superintendent reported that there would be a $500,000 -$600.000 town-wide revenue shortfall. Mr. Griset said $500,000 - $600.000 would be the best case scenario. Mr. Russo asked what the revenue number was last year. Mr. Dahl stated that he did not know. Rezular Session 3 .lune 12, 2001 There was discussion of revenue formulas and what revenue formula favored whom. Mrs. Klepeis arrived at 8:30 p.m. She stated that new growth money in the Town this year is only $125.000 or an increase of only 21/1 %. This is new tax money. Currently there are three new houses being built on Zachary Lane. Mr. Russo asked when we would have the revenue projection information. Mr. Dahl told him that it could be ten days or a few months. NEW BUSINESS— KILLAM BOILER Dr. Harutunian stated that he had received grave reports regarding the condition of the Kiltam Boiler. He had two companies come in and confirm that one boiler is completely shot and that the other one is not in much better shape. Boiler number one needs to be replaced at an approximate cost of$85,000. He has met with Mrs. Klepeis and Mr. Foley. the Town Accountant. He is requesting permission to go out to bid for a replacement boiler. Mr. Twomey made a motion to have the Superintendent go out to bid immediately for a boiler at the Killam School. Mr. Dahl seconded the motion. The vote was 5-0. Mr. Dahl, Mr. Griset, Mrs. Cavicchi, Mr. Russo, Mr. Twomey. Mr. Dahl asked the Superintendent if there would be any money to turn back to the Town at the end of the fiscal year. The Superintendent responded that it was still too soon to tell. He was still waiting on outstanding invoices from Keyspan. He also needed $32,000 to put into other systems. Mr. Twomev asked if the Killam boiler was the original. Superintendent Harutunian said yes, a 1965 vintage. The high school and Killam are category four projects at SBA. The Superintendent is to write a letter to SBA to include them in the Capital Plan. Mr. Russo asked about using boiler number two at the Killam School as a primary boiler. The Superintendent told him that boiler number two might work for 48 hours at a time if that. Mrs. Phillips asked about the previously mentioned $32,000. Dr. Harutunian stated it included having bricks repointed at Killam, windows at Coolidge, circulation fans at schools and miscellaneous HVAC work. The Committee and the Superintendent thanked Mrs. Klepeis for coming. The Superintendent announced the summer hours for the schools and the Central Office. He asked Owen MacDonald to print them in the Chronicle. Regular Session 4 June 12, 2001 There was discussion on per-pupil expenditures. Mrs. Cavicchi stated that the high school could have major changes with more money. The Superintendent stated that we are three years behind with social studies curriculum due to lack of funds. Mrs. Mary Ellen O'Neill stated her son could not answer the social studies questions on the MCAS. Sarah Hardin, Student Representative, stated that students have not noticed yet that courses and electives that once were available are not available now. NEW BUSINESS—SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLANS The discussion moved to the School Improvement Plans. The School Councils are made up of parents. teachers and members of the community. The Council is a guide to the Principal. Each school has to devise a School Improvement Plan. There was discussion about the School Improvement Plan Matrix. There was discussion about the fact that there is no organized umbrella for technology. It was stated that the school department web site is hard to maintain with no Technology Director. Mrs. O'Neill stated that the web site was embarrassing while the Town side is impressive. The Superintendent pointed out that the Town side has two full time computer people. He went on to say that when the Technology Director left all the air went out of the web site. It was suggested that the Superintendent set up a meeting to evaluate district wide what needs to be done. They need to investigate the avenue of volunteers. Mr. Griset and Mr. Dahl offered to help him. The Superintendent stated that there was really nothing new on the School Improvement Plans. Most of the items are on going. Mr. Griset moved to accept the 2001 School Improvement Plans for seven schools. Mr. Dahl seconded the motion. The vote was 5-0. Mrs. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Mr. Griset, Mr. Russo, Mr. Twomev. Mr Twomey stated that he appreciated the coordination and summarization of the matrix. There is a wide variation of material. He suggested that the Superintendent send out a complete package to each Principal in May of 2002 so that each Principal may see what the others are doing. MINUTES Mr. Griset moved to accept School Committee Minutes of May 21, 2001. Mr. Russo seconded the motion. The vote was 4-1-0. Mr. Dahl, Mr. Griset, Mr. Russo, Mr. Twomev. Mrs. Cavicchi abstained. There were two small typographic changes that were noted. Regular Session 5 June 12, 2001 Mr. Twomey made a motion to adjourn and Eo back to Executive Session for the reasons previously stated. Mr. Dahl seconded the motion. The vote was .5-0. The time was 10:05 p.m. Mrs. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Mr. Griset, Mr. Russo, Mr. Twomey. Respectfully submitted, H� arr}� K. Harurtunia Superintendent of Schools