HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-01-28 School Committee Minutes : E �11i= IVED
TOWN CLERK
Town of Reading
0 Meeting Minutes
2'21 W -9 AMI 41
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
School Committee
Date: 2021-01-28 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Location:
Address: Session: Open Session
Purpose: Open Session Version: Draft
Attendees: Members - Present:
Chuck Robinson, John Parks, Tom Wise, Erin Gaffen, Carla Nazzaro and
Shawn Brandt
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Assistant Superintendent Chris Kelley, CFO Gail Dowd, Director of Student
Services Jen Stys, Human Resourses Director Kerry Messinger, Network
Administrator Scott Mullen, Chair of Search Committee Theresa Arent, MASC
Field Director Dorothy Presser
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Samantha La Pierre on behalf of the Chair
Topics of Discussion:
1. Call to Order
Chair Robinson opened the meeting and announced the School Committee was meeting in a
virtual setting,fully remote via Microsoft Teams,practicing social distancing and in
accordance with the Governor's suspension of certain open meeting laws. The meeting was
being recorded and broadcast live on RCTV. The Chair called attendance:
Mr. Robinson—here Dr. Doherty-not in
attendance.
Mr. Parks-here Mrs. Dowd—here
Mr.Wise—here Mrs. Kelley-here
Mrs.Nazzaro—here Dr. Stys—here
Mrs.Gaffen—here
Mr. Brandt—here
Mr.Robinson called open session order at 7:00 p.m. and reviewed the agenda.Mr.
Robinson stated that the sole purpose of tonight's meeting is to hear the candidate
recommendations from the Superintendent search committee.
A. Public Invu[
Mr.Robinson explained that for public comment,please use the live chat feature on the
Microsoft Teams link which will be posted on the Superintendent's Blog and sent out via
Connect Fd prior to the meeting.
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In lieu of the live chat,you may send an email in advance of the meeting to
schoolcommittmOreadine.kl2.ma.us This email will be included in the next packet.
B. Consent Aeende
None
C. Reports
Student
No Report
Director of Student Services
No Report
Assistant Superintendent
No Report
Human Resources Director
No Report
Chief Financial Officer
No Report
Superintendent
No Report
School Committee
No Report
D. New Business
Announce and Discuss the Final Candidates for Superintendent Search
Chair of Search Committee,Teresa Arant thanked the search committee for all of their
hard work. She stated they had a very diverse group,and a lot of great candidates to
choose from. She believes the search was a good process,and three finalists are a good
representation of what the School Committee and the community is looking for in their
next Superintendent.On behalf of the committee,she thanked the group for the
opportunity,and is looking forward to the process.
The Field Director from Massachusetts Association of School Committee, Dorothy
Presser presented the three candidates that were selected by the search committee to
move forward to the interview process.
The first candidate is Dr.Matthew Danger,he is currently the Principal at Arlington High
School,where he has been since 2013.He also has previous experience as a principal in
Bar Harbor,ME and Ann Arbor,MI. During his career he has spent time working on
projects related to school improvement,effective literacy instruction,team building,
problem solving,and studying school reform models and instructional interventions. Dr.
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Janger holds a Doctorate in Educational Foundations and Policy from the University of
Michigan,he also has an MBA from Yale University and his undergraduate degree is
from Williams College.
The second candidate is Dr.Tom Milaschewski,he is currently the Superintendent
Resident in Medford Public Schools which is concurrent with his graduate studies at
Harvard Graduate School of Education where he is expecting to complete his doctorate in
May of 2021. Dr. Milaschewski has led and facilitated a number of projects including the
reopening strategies for the district,working with community groups particularly on the
reopening strategies and collaboration,and on multiple principal and administrative
professional development.He is also currently an adjunct professor in educational
leadership at Salem State and Endicott College. Dr.Milaschewski has experience as a
principal,and as a High School math teacher and Middle School special education
teacher.He received his master's degree from Harvard in Educational Leadership,as well
as a master's degree in education from Boston University and undergraduate degree from
Colby College.
The third candidate is Dr. Stephen Zadravec,he is currently the Superintendent in
Portsmouth,NH,and prior to that he was the Assistant Superintendent. He also serves as
an adjunct professor at Southern New Hampshire University.Dr.Zadravec has
experience as a principal,Math and Social Studies teacher. His doctorate in Educational
Leadership is from Southern New Hampshire University,he has a CAGS certificate of
advanced graduate studies in educational leadership from Plymouth State,as well as a
master's degree from Plymouth State and his undergraduate degree is from Keene State.
Dorothy Presser stated all three resumes are available to the public.
Mr.Tom Wise provided and explained the schedule for the three candidate site visits,as
well as interview dates and times.
E. Old Business
None
F. Public Comment
None
1. Routine Matters
a. Calendar
2. Information/Correspondence
3. Future Business
4. Adjournment
Adioum
Mr.Wise moved,seconded by Mr. Brandt,to adjourn. The roll call vote carried 6-
0.
0. Mr.Parks,Mrs. Namaro.Mr.Wise,Mr.Brandt,Mrs.Gaffen and Mr. Robinson.
The meeting adjourned at 8:26 p.m.
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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:
School Committee 01-28-2021 -YouTube
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