HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-02-10 School Committee Minutes RECEIVED
Town of Reading TC4NR CLERK
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Meeting MinutesLG
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
School Committee
Date: 2021-02-10 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: School - Memorial High Location: School Library
Address: 62 Oakland Road Session: Open Session
Purpose: Open Session Version: Draft
Attendees: Members - Present:
Chuck Robinson, Carla Nazzaro, Shawn Brandt, Erin Gallen Tom Wise, and
John Parks
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Chief Financial Officer Gail Dowd and Human Resources Director Kerry
Meissinger, Tracy Novac MASC Field Director
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Samantha LaPierre on behalf of the Chair
Topics of Discussion:
L Call to Order
Chair Robinson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
A. Consent Agenda
B. New Business
Superintendent of Schools Candidate Interview—Dr.Matthew Janeer
Chair Robinson thanked RCTV for making tonight's in person meeting possible.
MASC Field Director Tracy Novac introduced candidate Dr.Matthew Janger.
Dr.Janger began with opening remarks. Dr.Janger stated he was excited to be here,and
appreciates the opportunity to speak with the committee. He thanked to committee for
their time and effort throughout the entire interview process.Dr. Janger stated he has
been the Arlington High School Principal for eight years,and has built a strong team with
great colleagues.He is very interested in the Reading Superintendent position;he
believes Reading is a great community.
Mr. Wise thank Dr. Janger for attending this evening,and for the coordination of
everything throughout the interview process.
The School Committee asked the following questions of Dc Janger.
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"What appeals to you specifically about coming to work for Reading Public Schools?
What are some areas where you see a need for change or that you would like to build
upon?Further,how do ydu see your particular skill sets working effectively for us and
why do your skills match our needs?"
"What actions have you taken as a leader to ensure that ALL students make effective
progress in your district?What were the outcomes?And,as you plan to close the
achievement gap and help all students reach the highest possible goals in Reading,how
will you think about the social and emotional well-being of students?"
"Please give me a couple examples of how you have fostered growth and developed
leadership capacity in your staff/"
"How would you hold educators at all levels accountable for delivering effecting
instruction. Please share some examples of what steps/actions you would take to foster a
strong partnership between special education and general education educators."
"9n the event a school committee member crosses over into the area of operations or
curriculum choices of the schools,how would you maintain the boundaries and secure
that that work,and those decisions are made by the appropriate members of the
leadership team and our educators?"
"What culture would you create and what guidance would you give about teaching equity
and social justice?In a town where the need for this work is sometimes a point of
disagreement,in your role at Superintendent how would you lead this work?
"At the time you begin your tenure at Reading Public School district,the country and
community will have likely have emerged,or will have begun to emerging from the
COVID-19 crisis,talk about how you will reengage staff,students and community to a
sense of normalcy moving forward.How will you build the trust and previous confidence
of Reading Public Schools?"
"Describe your budget experience in both good financial times and difficult financial
times.Also,describe how an ideal budget process works.Additionally,full day
kindergarten is a fee-based program here in Reading,with 90%+participation.Explain
how you would convert this to a tuition free program for all,with the understanding that
you would need to compensate for V Million+shortfall."
"Please discuss your process for goal setting,implementation and monitoring."
"Talk about your views on school safety,and the various drills that have been established
by state and national leaders. Do you think there is sufficient evidence to support these
drills across all levels?"
"Can you please tell us about any experience you may have in school construction or
renovation?If you would like to relate it to our situation with Killam Elementary."
The following scenario question was presented-"The parents of an eighth grader objects
to the teaching technique of their student's math teacher,whose weekend"problem of the
week"be solved by Monday.However,if no students can solve the problem and explain
the method to the class,the teacher refuses to give the answer or a method for finding it.
Parents who have been trying to help their children solve the problems note that some
kids spend hours of weekend time wrestling with the challenge-often failing. Requests
by parents to give the answer and method to the students does not receive a response.
Page 1 2
Things come to a head at the PTO meeting when a parent with a math background points
out that some problems pose a challenge for college math majors.Failing to give answer
builds esteem problems for students,especially girls who are stereotyped unfairly as not
ready for math.The teacher,however,is adamant.The teacher responds that"it's my
classroom,and I do what I want."The principal,who hired the teacher,explains that it's
important for kids to recognize the role of unanswered questions in their lives.A parent
escalates to the school committee member and demands that this practice stop. Some of
their kids are being turned off to math and feel humiliated by the teacher. The board
member calls the superintendent and demands that something be done.Walk through the
process that you would use to resolve this situation."
Dr. Yanger answered each of the questions and also made closing remarks.He stated he
enjoyed the process,and enjoyed meeting everyone involved. He was impressed by the
effort from all parties. He expressed how he can we how passionate and dedicated the
staff at Reading Public schools is,with whom he would be honored to work with.Dr.
Janger thanked the committee for their time.
Chair Robinson thanked Dr. Janger for applying for the opportunity.The interview ended
at 8:29 p.m.
The committee took a three-minute recess.
The committee reconvened; Mr.Robinson welcomed candidate Dr. Stephen Zadravec at
8:37 p.m.
Dr.Zadravec made an opening statement.Dr.Zadravec thanked the committee for having
him.Dr.Zadravec stated he has been the Superintendent in Portsmouth for the past six
years,and has been in the district for 16 years.He is excited and honored to be a finalist.
He is looking to continue to grow in education,and is interested in pursuing the next
chapter in his career.
Mr.Wise thanked Dr.Zadravec for his time throughout the process.
The School Committee asked the following questions of Dr.Zadravec.
"What appeals to you specifically about coming to work for Reading Public Schools?
What are some areas where you see a need for change or that you would like to build
upon?Further,how do you see your particular skill sets working effectively for us and
why do your skills match our needs?"
"Decision making is a two-edged sword. Some situations call for decisiveness right at the
start,while others involve consensus building.Tell us about a situation where you were
decisive and how it worked out for you. Tell us about a time when you were not decisive
enough and what you learned from it."
"What actions have you taken as a leader to ensure that all students make effective
progress in your district?What were the outcomes?And,as you plan to close the
achievement gap and help all students reach the highest possible goals in Reading,how
will you think about the social and emotional well-being of students?"
"Please give me a couple of examples of how you have fostered growth and developed
leadership capacity in your staff"
"How would you hold educators at all levels accountable for delivering effecting
instruction,and ca you please share some examples of what steps/actions you would take
Page 1 3
to foster a strong partnership between special education and general education
educators."
"in the event a school committee member crosses over into the area of operations or
curriculum choices of the schools,how would you maintain the boundaries and secure
that that work,and those decisions are made by the appropriate members of the
leadership team and our educators?"
"What culture would you create and what guidance would you give about teaching equity
and social justice?In a town where the need for this work is sometimes a point of
disagreement,in your role at Superintendent how would you lead this work?"
"At the time you begin your tenure at Reading Public School district,the country and
community will have likely have emerged,or will have begun to emerging from the
COVID-19 crisis,talk about how you will reengage staff,students and the community to
a sense of normalcy moving forward.How will you build the trust and previous
confidence of Reading Public Schools?"
"Describe your budget experience in both good financial times and difficult financial
times.Also,what is your vision of how an ideal budget process works.Additionally,full
day kindergarten is a fee-based program in Reading,with 90%participation.Explain how
you would convert this to a tuition free program for all,with an understanding that you
would need to compensate for$1 Million+shortfall."
"Please discuss your process for goal setting,implementation and monitoring."
"Please talk about your views on school safety,and the various drills that have been
established by state and national leaders. Do you think that there is sufficient evidence to
support these drills across all levels?"
"Can you please tell us about any experience you may have in school construction or
renovation?"
The following scenario question was presented-"The parents of an eighth grader objects
to the teaching technique of their student's math teacher,whose weekend"problem of the
week"be solved by Monday.However,if no students can solve the problem and explain
the method to the class,the teacher refuses to give the answer or a method for finding it.
Parents who have been trying to help their children solve the problems note that some
kids spend hours of weekend time wrestling with the challenge-often failing.Requests
by parents to give the answer and method to the students does not receive a response.
Things come to a head at the PTO meeting when a parent with a math background points
out that some problems pose a challenge for college math majors.Failing to give answer
builds esteem problems for students,especially girls who are stereotyped unfairly as not
ready for math.The teacher,however,is adamant. The teacher responds that"it's my
classroom,and I do what I want."The principal,who hired the teacher,explains that it's
important for kids to recognize the role of unanswered questions in their lives.A parent
escalates to the school committee member and demands that this practice stop. Some of
their kids are being turned off to math and feel humiliated by the teacher.The board
member calls the superintendent and demands that something be done.Walk through the
process that you would use to resolve this situation."
"In making the transition from New Hampshire to Massachusetts,What do you view as
the major difference that you will need to get up to speed on,in terns of being a
superintendent in Massachusetts versus New Hampshire?"
Page 14
"In follow up to one of your earlier answer,you said something about doing surveys and
getting feedback from the community about reopening models.We had the experience of
doing a survey,that had three options-and the answers came back almost a third,a third,
a third-which in turn means 2/3 of the community feels whichever option you chose,is
not what they were looking for.When you run into a situation like that,how do you
approach making people feel like they were heard,making sure they feel their concerns
were taken into account,and understand why you ultimately landed on something that
wasn't what they were locking for."
Dr.Zadmvec answered each of the questions and made closing remarks. He stated he
really appreciated being a finalist,and thanked the committee for their time.He
expressed he would feel tremendously lucky if he were to move forward. He appreciated
the process,and the ability to get to know people.He thinks there is a great amount of
potential in Reading,and the community will be well off regardless of the decision.
Mr.Robinson thanked Dr.Zadravec for applying.
Mr. Robinson briefly discussed how the decision process would work the following
night.
C. Reports
if. Routine Matters
111. Information/Correstiondence
IV. Future Business
V. Adicumment
Adioum
Mrs.Wise moved,seconded by Mn.Gaffen,to adjourn. The motion carried 6-0.
The meeting adjourned at 10:01 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: School Committee 02-10-2021 -YouTube
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