HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-01-06 School Committee Minutes Town of Reading
3 Meeting Minutes
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Board - committee - commission - council:
School Committee
Date: 2020-01-06 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: School - Memorial High Location: School Library
Address: 62 Oakland Road Session: Open Session
Purpose: Open Session Version: Final
Attendees: Members - Present:
Chuck Robinson, Linda Snow Dockser, Jeanne Borawski, Tom Wise, Pat
Calley and John Parks
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Superintendent John Doherty, Chief Financial Officer Gail Dowd, Assistant
Superintendent Christine Kelley, Director of Student Services Jennifer Stys,
Network Administrator Julian Carr, Director of Athletics Tom Zaya, Director
of Nurses Mary Giuliana, Wood End principal Joanne King, Killam principal
Sarah Leveque, Barrows principal Beth Leavitt, RMHS principal Kate
Boynton, Coolidge principal Sarah Marchant, Joshua Eaton principal
LisaMarie Ippolito, Birch Meadow principal Julia Hendrix, Fine & Performing
Arts Department Head Anna Wentlent
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Linda Engelson on behalf of the Chair
Topics of Discussion:
1. Call to Order
Chair Robinson called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. and reviewed the agenda.
A. Public Input
Mr. Robinson called for public comment.
There was none.
B. Consent Aeenda
Mr. Robinson asked if the committee wanted any items removed from the consent
agenda.
Approval of Minutes(December 19, 2019)
Dr. Dockser asked that the December 10 minutes be removed. She was concerned the
minutes did not reflect the content of the discussion accurately.
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Mrs Borawski moved,seconded by Mr.Parks to approve the consent agenda. The
motion failed 0-6.
C. New Business
FY2021 Budget
Dr. Doherty thanked the administrators and directors for being here tonight. He thanked
Chief Financial Officer Gail Dowd and her team for their hard work putting this budget
together. He went onto review the budget presentation calendar.
Dr. Doherty reviewed how our priorities of decreasing the equity gap between high needs
students and the general population of students,refining and supporting data systems,
monitoring student social emotional growth and refining systems of support,evaluate and
refine standards based instructional systems, improving physical and psychological
security of schools, developing a multi-year capital plan to upgrade and improve school
facilities and the design a community portrait of a graduate connect to the FY21 budget.
General fund expenditures, financial drivers and items not included in the FY21 budget
were reviewed.
Dr. Doherty reviewed the Administration Cost Center saying it is the smallest of the
budget. He reviewed the major changes. Drivers include salary and the addition of a
HR/Payroll Assistant position.
Mrs. Dowd reviewed the breakdown of the cost center.
Committee members asked clarifying questions regarding curriculum purchases,offsets
and accommodated costs.
Mrs. Dowd presented the District-Wide Cost Center which includes Athletics, Health
Services,Extra-Curricular and Technology.
Mrs. Dowd reviewed the breakdown of the cost center.
The committee asked questions regarding the reduction of the drama productions,band
uniforms and technology.
Mr. Huggins provided background information on the School Building Facilities and
CORE Facilities. He reviewed the department mission and organizational chart. He
reviewed the preventative maintenance program and the facilities technology used to
track work flow. He reviewed gas,water and electricity usage. The School Facilities
cost center was reviewed.
Mr. Huggins provided a brief overview of the FY21 CORE Facilities budget and the
FY20&FY21 capital projects.
Mr. Huggins updated the committee on Turf II which is in the punch list phase. The
items are mostly Owner generated. This project came in under budget. Mr. Robinson
asked about maintenance of the field. We have a contract for the maintenance of the
Stadium turf,and we will add the maintenance of Turf II to the current vendor. We have
the funding in the budget.
Mrs. Dowd updated on the FY20 Capital Plan regarding the modular classrooms. We
hope to go out to bid in the next couple of weeks.
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Mrs.Nazzaro asked what the Owner generated change orders included. Mr. Huggins said
additional paving, netting and graphics were included.
Mr. Coram asked if the Capital budget has the same split as the regular budget between
town and schools.
Mrs. Dowd said that we work closely with the Town side meeting to discuss needs,
looking at the town holistically and working collaboratively.
Mr. Huggins said the Capital is a 10-year plan, so these numbers are being constantly
updated to reflect current costs.
D. Reports
Director of Student Services
Dr. Stys reported that the TFM review began today and the next SEPAC meeting will be
on January 14th.
II. Routine Matters
a. Bills and Payroll (A)
Warrant§2026 12.26.19 $108,030.81
Warrant S2027 1.02.20 $104,639.13
b. Calendar
III. Information/Correspondence
IV. Future Business
V. Adioumment
Adiourn
Mrs.Borawski moved seconded by Mr.Parks,to adjourn. The motion carried 6-0.
The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
NOTE: The minutes reflect the order as stated in the posted meeting agenda not the order
they occurred during the meeting.
Link to meeting video: lam //.ww.youtube.com/watch9v—]HTXY]BgmYA
Jty F. Doherty, Ed.D.
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