The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2001-02-12 School Committee Minutes N READING SCHOOL COMMITTE�fiRECEIVED AWN CLERK Reading,Massachusetts READING. MAS$• Regular Session IbAdo1 CALL TO ORDER Chair Cavicchi called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present were School Committee Members Cavicchi, D'Antona, Griset and Twomey. Also present were Superintendent Harutunian and Associate Superintendent Richards. Mr. Dahl and Mr. Keigley arrived during executive session. EXECUTIVE SESSION Mr. Griset made a motion to enter into executive session for the purpose of conducting strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with the Teachers' Association, Secretaries and Clerks,Nurses, Custodial Maintenance Workers, Cafeteria Employees, Educational Assistants and Administrators,to discuss the deployment of security personnel or devices and approval of executive session minutes, to return to reeular session at approximately 8:30 p.m. Mr. Twomey seconded the motion. The vote was 4-0 Ms. Cavicchi, Ms.D'Antona, Mr. Griset and Mr. Twomey. CALL BACK TO ORDER At 8:45 p.m. Chair Cavicchi called the meeting back to order. All School Committee Members were present; Student Representative Daniel Suchy was also present. BILLS & PAYROLL Bills and payroll are as follows: Payroll 61 $688,351.92 January 25, 2001 Payroll 63 $190,037.69 February 2, 2001 Payroll 65 $692,145.49 February 8, 2001 Warrant 62 $469,375.12 January 29, 2001 Warrant 64 $225,656.72 February 5, 2001 Warrant 66 $110,203.90 February 12,2001 CITIZENS' INPUT There was no citizen input. 4 Regular Session 2 February 12,2001 Chair Cavicchi stated that the School Committee would like to clarify two issues that have appeared in editorials in the newspaper. She stated that Mr. Griset would discuss the Superintendent's raise of last year and Mr. Dahl would discuss the budget. Mr. Griset stated that members of the Committee had been questioned about the Superintendent's raise. He stated that the raise worked out to 1.0.5%on base and there are reasons for that increase. He stated that the goal of the Committee was to bring the Superintendent's base pay more in keeping with the average salary of the superintendents in the Middlesex League. He stated that in previous years the Committee had brought the teachers up to the average, actually slightly above average, of the teachers' salaries for the Middlesex League. Mr. Griset stated that from his personal perspective Reading could not find anyone who works harder than the Superintendent He stated that the Superintendent goes to extraordinary lengths to support the district. Mr. Dahl concurred with Mr. Griset and stated that Dr. Harmunian does what he does without the benefit of a business manager. Mr. Dahl distributed information he had compiled titled School Spending Growth Analysis Reading Schools Department FY93-01. This information analyzed school budgets from FY93-FY01, special education spending, school spending (net of special education), increased enrollment, cost of living and programs that require funding. He reviewed Reading per pupil spending versus state per pupil spending for FY99 and Reading per pupil spending versus the per pupil spending of Burlington, Woburn, Lexington, Winchester, Lynnfield, Melrose, Wakefield, Stoneham and North Reading. Superintendent's Report Dr. Harmunian thanked the staff and students at the Joshua Eaton School for the artwork in the School Committee room. Dr. Harmunian distributed an updated public records request list. Dr. Harutunian discussed the proposed pilot drop out high school program. Mr. Griset asked what the drop out rate is in Reading. Dr. Harutunian advised that the drop out rate is approximately 1.7%. Ms. D'Antona asked if the administration was expecting an increase in the drop out rate due to the MCAS tests. Reeular Session 3 February 12,2001 Dr. Harutuuian stated that Reading has a small number of students who are not proficient and he did not know if we would see an increase in the drop out rate because of the WAS tests. Dr. Harmunian advised that he would be setting up a meeting at the request of the Town Manager to discuss closing schools on presidential Election Day. He also stated that the Town Manager has requested that Russ Graham submit a timetable for the high school renovation. HOME SCHOOLING Mr. Twomey moved to approve the home school request outlined in the memorandum of February 8,2001. Ms. D'Antona seconded the motion. The vote Zs 6-0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl,Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Griset,Mr. Keielev and Mr. Twomey. POLICY ON PREGNANT STUDENTS Mr. Dahl moved to accept the first reading of the revised policy on pregnant students. Ms. D'Antona seconded the motion. The vote was 6-0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. 4 Dahl,Ms. D'Antona,Mr. Griset,Mr. Keiglev and Mr. Twomev. The Committee directed Dr. Harmunian to check with Town Counsel regarding the first sentence of the policy and to confirm that the policy does not commit the Committee to do more than is required by law. SUPERINTENDENT'S EVALUTION Chair Cavicchi read into the record her letter of February 9a' which is attached to and a part of the minutes. Mr. Twomey thanked Chair Cavicchi for her work in preparing the summary for the Committee. He stated that after reviewing the summary he noted that the Committee members were consistent with their views on the performance of the Superintendent He thanked Dr. Harutunian for another outstanding year of dedicated and effective service to the School Committee,the town and to the students. Re¢ular Session 4 February 12, 2001 Mr. Griset stated that the format used to summarize the Superintendent's evaluation was helpful to him as a new member. Mr. Griset commended Dr. Har atunian for the job that he has done as Superintendent. He stated that he was impressed with how hard the Superintendent works and how effective he is in his position. Mr. Keigley stated that he did not think the evaluation tool was,adequate. He stated that he had never met anyone as dedicated to the goal of bringing an educational system to the highest standard as Dr. Harmunian is. He stated that Dr. Hatutunian was dedicated to this goal even with the limited resources available. Mr. Dahl stated thanked Dr. Harutunian for the outstanding work that he has done again this year. He stated that the school system is outstanding and that all staff are delivering with less resources. He stated that Dr. Harutunian always has the best interest of the children of Reading in mind. Ms. D'Antona stated that when the Superintendent was first hired the goal was for him to reconstruct the budget process which he has successfully done. She stated that he is able to reach out to people and get them to come together. She stated that the superintendent is an educational leader who has made great strides in the curriculum across the district. She stated that it has been a pleasure and learning experience to work with Superintendent Har iumian. Dr. Harutuman thanked the School Committee for their comments. He thanked Associate Superintendent Dennis Richards, the central office staff, the principals, Beth Klepeis, Richard Foley, the administrators and teachers for their dedication and hard word. He stated that it was a pleasure to serve the students of the Reading Public Schools. FY02 BUDGET Dr. Harmunian suggested that the Committee review the proposed reductions, and outlined the three items he believed could be reduced, unanticipated special education tuition and transportation reduced by $237,498, seek tuition students raising revenue by $60,000 and increasing the RISE tuition raising revenue by$15,000. Dr. Harutunian stated that the Committee could send an informal message to the Finance Committee that the School Committee has begun the process of prioritizing reductions but any reductions greater than the $312,498 will begin to have an impact on existing programs. Dr. Hannunian discussed revising the prioritization of the proposed reductions. He advised that he would provide the Committee with an update list of prioritized reductions. Mr. Dahl asked that a summary page be done for the proposed reductions. Regular Session 5 February 12, 2001 Mr.Twomey moved to group proposed reduction items 1, 6 and 7 together and pass that information along to the Finance Committee. Mr. Keiglev seconded the motion. The vote was 6-0 Ms. Cavicchi,Mr. Dahl,Ms. D'Antona,Mr. Griset, Mr. Keiglev and Mr. Twomev. MINUTES Mr. Twomey moved to accept the minutes of January 16,2001. Ms.D'Antona seconded the motion. The vote was 5-0-1 Ms. Cavicchi,Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Griset, Mr. Keiglev and Mr. Twomey. Mr. Dahl abstained. Mr. Twomey moved to accept the minutes of January 22,2001. Ms. D'Antona seconded the motion. The vote was 6-0 Ms. Cavicchi,Mr. Dahl, Ms. D'Antona,Mr. Griset, Mr. Keiglev and Mr.Twomey. Mr. Twomey moved to accept the minutes of January 29,2001. Ms. D'Antona seconded the motion. The vote was 6-0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl,Ms. D'Antona,Mr. Griset,Mr. Keiglev and Mr. Twomey. 4 ADJOURN At 10:15 p.m. Mr. Griset moved to adjourn from regular session and return to executive session for the reasons previously cited,not to return to regular session. Mr. Twomey seconded the motion. The vote was 6-0 Ms. Cavicchi,Mr. Dahl,Ms. D'Antona, Mr. Griset,MrD'Antona,Mr. Griset,Mr. Ketplev and Mr. Twomey. Mr. Twomev. Respectfully submitted, Harry K. Harutunian, Ph.D. Superintendent of Schools