HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-08-11 School Committee MinutesF
Town of Reading RECEIVED
Wei Meeting Minutes TOWN CLERK
READING, MA.
a.o Yy-
Board - Committee - Commission -Council: 2323 MAY -4 PH 5:01
School Committee
Date: 2022-08-11 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Reading Memorial High School Location: Library
Address: 62 Oakland Road, Reading, MA
Members Present: Shawn Brandt, Tom Wise, Erin Gaffen, Chuck Robinson, Sarah McLaughlin
Members Absent: Carla Nazzaro
Others Present: Superintendent Dr. Tom Milaschewski, Superintendent, Or Sarah Hardy, Assistant
Superintendent Learning and Teaching, Dr Jennifer Stys, Assistant Superintendent of Student Services, Susan
Bottan, Director of Finance and Operations.
Minutes Respectfully submitted: Susan E Brown on behalf of the chairperson
A. Call to order— Mr. Brandt opened the session at 7:00 pm and reviewed the consent agenda.
B. Public Comment— Public Comment— Karen Herrick, mentioned that residents are concerned about AC
usage in schools while they are closed, Dept of Local Services, will be a financial forum update Sept 21"%
concerned about the 2021 census being used in the data for Killam building.
Chris lames, town resident on Charles Street is concerned about traffic on Charles Street impacting the
street during the building of the new school, they ask that there is consideration for those neighbors who
will be impacted by the construction.
Consent Agenda—two additional items were added to the agenda, the two things added were a donation
to Parker, and a field trip for Parker P grade.
Motion made to move to approve as amended, seconded to Tom W, Passes 5-0
Reports
2. Dr. Stys— update on ESY Program, housed at RISE/RMHS/Birch Meadow, there were 170 students in
attendance, 60 staff members, much thanks to Allison Wright and Jackie Payton for running the
program.
Attendance has been an issue and RPS is trying to get ahead of the issue for the coming year, there will
be updated attendance policies, DESE will be providing yearlong workshops for sense of belonging,
there will be workshops throughout the year for staff. There will be more details in the future.
3. Dr. Hardy—Summer Education Academy, expanded to offer rising 1't -6th covering math and literacy,
this year was a pilot program, with a total of 63 students spread across the grades, the avg attendance
was 14 days out of the 19 -day program. Total of 7 teachers, there were a mix of students 37 with IEP's,
7 EL, 4 Boston Residents, 11 economically disadvantaged students. Feedback is being compiled from
attendees, care givers and staff, so far; it's been positive. This program was funded by a grant which
delayed the outreach to join the program, the grant funds are available later in Spring causing the
delay. Teachers worked to make it more enjoyable for the students.
The new literacy program for 3rd, 4th, and 51' grade all the books have arrived for the coming school
year, we are excited to beginning this program providing RPS with an excellent literacy program, we
are in the process of getting all the items delivered to the various classrooms.
4. Ms. Bottan — We are pleased to have restored the option to pay tuition/fees online with MS Bucks
through Heartland, an electronic pay program to pay fees, we recognize there have been real
challenges, our staff is working through the challenges with the parents and working with the district
manager from Heartland.
Second update is School Choice V1 round which is open until August 22, anyone looking to apply
please check out our website for the application. The lottery will close on August 22.
S. Dr. Milaschewski —The track timing update, the RMHS track unfortunately the vendor Cape & Islands
notified us that they are delayed with supplies, thus a delay in the opening of the track to Sept 22,
2022, we recognize this makes it difficult for Reading athletics, and other programs, our facilities
department has been instrumental in getting this done in a timely fashion and it's unfortunate it's
delayed 3 weeks.
Food service update - Danielle Collins, has transitioned into another district, we have been searching
for a replacement of for that position, thank you to Danielle Collins for her service to the district.
Working with Wakefield's superintendent Doug Lyons, and it was determined to sever the last year of
the joint agreement and post for a 1.0 FT position, Reading is hiring a FT Director, Sasha Palmer former
director of Brookline Public Schools. She will be a welcome addition to RPS.
HR Update— Dr. Milaschewski presented on behalf of Michelle Roach —we are in a positive position to
start the school year, we are having a challenge hiring para positions, food service and substitutes.
6. Mr. Robinson —the Track naming committee meeting is Aug 17, we are hoping to have public input on
Hal Cross's candidacy, that there will be a vote to present to the School Committee.
Mr. Wise— attended the audit committee July 28 reviewed FY 21, no special areas came out, the next
audit to come were requests for athletics and procedures around cash box at events, and police and
parking, also the accrediting agency's look highly on towns with 30 years or less of debt. It plays into
the rating of the school systems etc.
Ms. Mc Laughlin — Killam Building Committee met to elect a chairperson, Pat Tompkins was selected,
and Carla Nazzaro vice chair.
Mr. Brandt—Tom and he attended Aug 3, presentations from unions, who submitted requests were
able to present at the meeting, Shawn and Tom were to work offline to come up with a model how do
we come up with essential worker premium pay. Next meeting is Aug 31.
Select Board met Tuesday, not a heavy agenda, relevant to RPS, as we discuss debt position, borrowing
and the Killam Building. There are discussions on Senior Center etc.
Mr. Wise moved to take E3 out of order, seconded by Ms. McLaughlin, vote passed 5-0.
E. Capital Plan update—included in the packet are all the core capital items, some changes have been made
from the beginning of the year, those changes and additions are noted in the report. Which you can view
in its entirety in the SC Packet.
Joe Huggins presented on some of the changes to the capital plan surrounding replacing the roof on Parker
Middle School, due to pricing on roofing and glycol for the project. The roof pricing needs to be locked in
with roofing companies, prior to winter to lock in a good pricing. The Parker Roof will be 5001k.
Joe also presented on building security project, the school principals are asking for 30 more card readers,
costing 60K for the systems, that needs to go before the town to manager at that cost. The card readers
would be moved to FY 24.
Questions raised regarding why spending on RISE preschool playground when we are looking to move the
RISE to the new Killam Building. The plan for that spending is only in beginning stages. Because repairs
were made postponing the rebuild is now manageable.
D. Ms. Bottan reported on MSBA deliverables—there is an educational profile in the packet, showing how the
classrooms are being used now, and the vision for what is go be in the future. This is a non-binding
opportunity to present what RPS wants for the future with regard to this project. It also encompasses Mr.
McGibbon's projections for the town of Reading as well that was presented at a previous meeting.
Mr. Wise had some questions surrounding the report, on projecting classroom size with regards to needs
of the school, that will be covered in the feasibility phase, which will include the community forums etc.
Ms. McLaughlin had a question on removal of modular classrooms, will that be taken into consideration?
Ms. Bottan reiterated that in the feasibility phase will cover those details, this isjust the bigger picture part
of the project.
There needs to be a lot of discussion on the impact of the building of the new Killam building, with regard
to traffic, safety, redistricting, educating the community on the need of the district with regards to this
build. Need to think how to best present this to the community.
E. DESE District Review—Tom