HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-01-06 School Committee Minutes - Draft,crx
Town of Reading
:i
RECEIVED
Q,
TOWN CLERK
Meeting Minutes
MA.
2022 JAN 31 PM 1:58
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
School Committee
Date: 2022-01-06 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:
Erin Gaffen, Tom Wise, Carla Nazzaro, Chuck
Robinson, Shawn Brandt and
Sarah McLaughlin
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Superintendent Tom Milaschewski, Director of Finance Susan Bottan,
Smirtha Srinivasan, Director of METCO Kurtis Martin, Facilities Director Joe
Huggins
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Samantha LaPlerre on behalf of the Chair
Topics of Discussion:
A. Call to Order
Chair Wise called open session to order at 7:00p.m. and reviewed the agenda.
B. Routine Matters
L Public Input
Mr. Wise called for public comment.
2. Consent Agenda
3. Reports
Smritha Srinivasan stated that the gymnastics team won their first meet and midterms have
been cancelled.
Dr. Milaschewski stated that there would be a snow day tomorrow. The vaccine clinic at
Coolidge Middle School will still take place tomorrow from 1:00-5:00pm. Pooled testing will
also take place at Coolidge and sign up is not needed. 350 tests were handed out on Sunday to
staff before the return to school after winter break — Dr. Milaschewski thanked the town for
their help with distributing the tests which helped keep the school safe during this week. He
thanked Mary Giuliana for allof her work with pooled testing. Dr. Milaschewski discussed
Page 1 1
the dual enrollment partnership with Endicott College, which will be available for up to 50
seniors.
Mrs. Susan Bottan expressed her gratitude and thanks to the facilities team who replaced
1200 filters during the break and distributed test kits, hand sanitiur and n95 masks to keep
staff and students safe.
Mr, Kurtis Martin stated the feedback from the Boston community, Reading community and
METCO headquarters has been great since the approval of the expansion. They held a
community building event with Boston Families before winter break, and the next step is to
bring Reading and Boston communities together for social events.
Mrs. N=aro — No Report
Mrs. Gaffen stated there would be a virtual SEPAC meeting Tuesday 7pm.
Mr. Wise—No Report
Mr. Robinson - No Report
Ms. McLaughlin — No Report
Mr. Brandt—No Report
C. New Business
1. FY23 Budget— Administration Cost Center
Mrs. Bottan discussed the FY23 recommended budget overview and the timeline for budget
discussions.
Dr. Milaschewski discussed the three main district priorities that the FY23 budget will
address.
1. Improve academic outcomes and growth for all students within safe, equitable, and rigorous
leaming environments.
2. Support students social and emotional needs through multi -tiered instruction and services.
3. Enhance adult practices and streamline operational systems to increase efficiencies and
effectiveness in support students.
Mrs. Bottan discussed a high-level overview of the administration cost center which includes
salaries and expenses for central office and district administration. Personnel will have an
increase of $14,298 to support COLA and contractual agreements and to sustain a 1.0 FTE HR
assistant which was added in FY22. Non -personnel will increase by $10,495 in order to
increase labor counsel, telecommunications, dues, equipment, hiring and recmitment.
2. FY23 Budget — Districtwide Cost Center
Mrs. Bottan explained there would be a 2.1% increase, for a total of $2,167,444 to support
salaries and expenses for four district wide services: athletics, extra -curricular, health services and
technology. She discusses athletics which includes 8 sports, and 1124 participants. The budget
increase will support personnel cost increase by COLA and transportation which has increased by
$26,000 due to new three-year contract issued in FY22. Extra -curricular is made up of 11
activities and 228 participants.
Page 1 2
This increase will also support health services and Technology personnel cost increase by COLA,
and the addition of a 1.0 FTE Nurse added to increase direct services to students and allow for
release time for increase oversight by Director.
3. FY23 Budget — School Facilities Cost Center
Mrs. Bottan stated there would be an increase of $42,641 to School Facilities to support the
salaries and expenses to clean and maintain the eight school buildings.
Director of Facilities Joe Huggins answered questions from the committee.
Geoffrey Coram, Ridge Rd.
Asked if there was still a need for outside contractors for cleaning at RMHS and Coolidge, if
there are less events being held during the pandemic.
4. FY23 BudgetCapital Plan Review
Mrs. Bottan reviewed the capital project to be completed in 2022, which include remain security
enhancements, the Parker Middle School roof and Turf 1 project.
Other capital project that are being reviewed are the Killam Elementary School, Parker Turf field
and the RMHS fieldhouse/ bleachers.
Adioumment
Mr. Brandt moved, seconded by Mr. Robinson to adjourn. The vote carried 6-0. Mr.
Brandt, Mrs. Gaffen, Ms. McLaughlin, Mrs. Nazzaro, Mr. Robinson, and Mr. Wise.
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 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 01-06-2022 - YouTube
Thomas Milaschewski, Ed.D.
Page 13