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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-01-04 School Committee Minutes Reading School Committee Reading,Massachusetts Regular Session January 4 2001 CALL TO ORDER At 7:00 p.m. Chair Cavicchi called the meeting to order in the Superintendent's Conference Room. Present were School Committee Members Cavicchi, D'Antona, Griset and Keigley. Also present were Superintendent Harumnian and Associate Superintendent Richards. Mr. Twomey and Mr. Dahl arrived during executive session. EXECUTIVE SESSION Mr. Griset moved to enter into executive session for the purpose of conductine strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with the Teachers Association, Association of Secretaries and Clerks,Nurses,Custodians, Educational Assistants and Cafeteria Workers,also to discuss the Possible sale or lease of real estate to discuss pending litigation and to approve executive session minutes. Mr. Keielev seconded the motion. The vote was 4-0. Ms. Cavicchi.Ms. D'Antona.Mr. Griset and Mr. Keielev. CALL BACK TO ORDER At 7:35 p.m. Chair Cavicchi called the meeting back to order. Finance Committee Members McDonald, Robinson and Lelacheur and Town Accountant Richard Foley were present. BILLS & PAYROLL Bills and payroll are as follows: Payroll 51 $851,355.41 12/22/00 Warrant 52 $82,66.383 12/26/00 Warrant 54 $45,029.19 1/02/01 Payroll 47 $175,293.02 12/08/00 Warrant 48 $297,837.58 12/11/00 Payroll 49 $786,382.03 12/14/00 Warrant 50 $126,384.69 12/18/00 HIGHLIGHTS Dr. Harmunian advised that the artwork displayed in the conference room was done by the students at the Barrows School. Regular Session 2 January 4 2001 CW CITIZENS INPUT There was no citizen input. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT Dr. Harutunian discussed with the Committee the KPMG year-end audit proposal included in the packet. The proposal is for the end of the yew audit required by the Department of Education. Mr. Twomey moved to authorize the Superintendent to enter into theagreement with KPGM as outlined in the Superintendent's memorandum of January 3 2001 Mr. Dahl seconded the motion. The vote was 6-0 Ms. Cavicchi,Mr. Dahl Ms D'Antona,Mr. Griset, Mr. Keiglev and Mr. Twomey. FY02 REGULAR DAY AND ADMINISTRATION BUDGET Dr. Harutunian briefly described the budget process. FY02 Administration Budget Dr. Harutunian advised that the questions regarding enrollment projections would be CW answered next week. He has contracted with NESDEC for new enrollment projections and he expects them to be available by the middle of next week. Dr. Harutunian distributed information regardinj how many students leave Reading for private schools going from the 8'h grade to the 9' grade. He stated that the increase in the number of students leaving this year was, according to Guidance, due to the proposed budget cuts and the condition of RMHS. Dr. Harutunian advised that professional development is increasing because of the change in recertification requirements for teachers. The district is responsible for signing off on the individual plans of teachers and for providing workshops. Another reason is the new language arts curriculum and the implementation of differentiated learning. Mr. Foley stated that the reason for the increase in FY02 for administrative and clerical salaries is that cost of living increases had not been settled and therefore FY01 was under funded. Mr. Twomey asked for a list of actuals on this issue. C Regular Session 3 January 4 2001 Dr. Hannunian stated that several people had commented that the revamping of the policy manual be delayed another yew. Dr. Harutunian stated that he understood the request to delay the policy manual but wanted to remind the Committee that the policy book is out of date and should be updated. FY02 Regular Dav Dr. Harutunian advised that a question had been raised as to whether Understanding Disabilities could be funded through a grant. He stated that he would pass the information along to Understanding Disabilities. Dr. Harutunian advised that the reason the number of full time equivalent teachers had not changed from FY00 to FY01 even though the Committee hired four new elementary teachers is that the sixth grade foreign language was eliminated and the instructional specialists were put back in the classroom. Dr. Harutunian advised that the pink pages of the budget show only those individuals that are paid for with Reading tax dollars. He stated that the revolving account transfer appears on page 41. Mr. Twomey asked the reason that grants that were funded in FY01 were not funded in FY02. Dr. Harutunian advised that some grants are three-year grants and others may be one or two-year grants. Mr. Foley stated that we would receive preliminary notification of grants in June and the final notification of grants in August. Dr. Harutunian advised that the $118,000 on page 13 is the revenue offset for METCO. The majority of the remainder of the METCO funds appears in transportation. Mr. Foley advised that the increase in clerical salaries in regular day was because contracts had not been settled and he would provide Mr. Twomey with a list of actuals. Dr. Hannunian advised that there was no drop in longevity because individuals are still moving up the ladder with steps. Dr. Harmunian advised that the travel reimbursement line had been left out of this year's budget by mistake and the FY02 figure was being added in. Regular Session 4 January 4 2001 Dr. Harutunian described the difference between the budget lines for new instructional equipment and maintenance and repair of equipment. Dr. Harutunian distributed a list of computer expenses. Dr. Harutunian discussed the curriculum initiative money. Dr. Harutunian discussed his recommendation to go from 90 elementary classroom teachers this year to 86 next year. He discussed the increase in.the Coolidge Middle School enrollment. Mr. Twomey confirmed that the Superintendent's Recommended budget is essentially a standstill budget with no advancement in educational programs for the Reading Public Schools. Dr. Harutunian confirmed that it is in fact a standstill budget. Mr. Twomey stated his concern that the percentage of the budget that goes toward the regular day program continues to decrease while the percentage of the budget that goes toward special education and maintenance continues to increase. He stated his concern that the Committee has established guidelines for class size and that he believed it is very important to remain within those guidelines. Mr. Griset stated that no one in the room likes the idea of increasing class size. He stated that he has spoken to some of the principals and he is convinced of the importance of adding back instructional specialists for curriculum leadership. Mr. Dahl stated his concern that special education is held constant and regular day is not. He stated that the Committee must be cognizant of equal funding for all students. Jake McAleer discussed the heating problems at RMHS. Finance Committee Member Lelachuer discussed the possibility of obtaining pot hole money from the state. Ms. Phillips questioned why special education funding is going up while special education enrollment is going down. Dr. Harutunian advised that the figure she was looking at was only for substantially separate special education students not out of district students. AW Regular Session 5 January 4 2001 At 9:05 p.m. the Committee took a short recess. At 9:08 p.m. Chair Cavicchi called the meeting back to order. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Keielev moved to accent the minutes of November 30 2000 Mr. Dahl seconded the motion. The vote was 5-0 Ms. Cavicchi,Mr. Dahl Mr. Griset Mr. Kei ley and Mr.Twomey. Mr. Keielev moved to accept the minutes of December 11 2000 Mr. Griset seconded the motion. The vote was 5-0 Ms. Cavicchi Mr. Dahl Mr. Griset Mr. Keielev and Mr. Twomey. Mr.Keielev moved to accept the minutes of December 12 2000 Mr Dahl seconded The motion. The vote was 6-0 Ms. Cavicchi Mr. Dahl Ms. D'Antona Mr. Griset Mr. Keielev and Mr. Twomey, EXECUTIVE SESSION At 9:15 p.m. Mr. Twomey moved to return to executive session for the reasons Previously stated, not to return to regular session Mr. Keielev seconded the motion. The vote was 6-0 Ms. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Ms. D'Antona Mr. Griset Mr. Keielev and Mr. Twomey. Respectfully sub ' ed, Harry K. Harmanian, Ph.D. Superintendent of Schools