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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-08-10 School Committee MinutesO'qF f LQF-1vtU Town of Reading 3 F Meeting Minutes TOWN CLERKREAMNG. MA.e 2121 SEP -7 PH 3: 26 Board - Committee - Commission - Council: School Committee Date: 2023-08-10 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: Shawn Brandt, Carla Nazzaro, Erin Gaffen, Tom Wise and Sarah McLaughlin Members - Not Present: Charles Robinson Others Present: Superintendent Dr. Thomas Milaschewski and Director of Finance and Operations Dr. Derek Pinto Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Olivia Lejeune on behalf of the chairperson. Topics of Discussion: A. Call to Order —Mr. Wise called the meeting to order at 7:02pm reviewing the agenda B. Public Comment —Chris Haley of 71 Tennyson Road discussed the success of last year's 'dunk the readings' at the Fall Street Fair and is returning to ask for help from the community again this year. This years donations will go to Reading Rotary and 2020 RMHS graduate Autumn Hendrickson who has been working on a book and research for all the men and women who served during World War II. Consent Agenda 1. Minutes (06-22-2023) 2. Accept the FY24 Investigating History Implementation Grant Award 3. Accept the RM HS PTO Donation Ms. Gaffen motioned to approve the consent agenda, seconded by Mr. Brandt, vote passed 5-0. Reports 1. Assistant Superintendent of Student Services — No report 2. Assistant Superintendent of Learning & Teaching— No report 3. Director of Finance and Operations — Dr. Pinto commented on the great work the facilities team is doing to make sure schools are ready for the start of the new school Page I 1 year. The IT Department is ahead of their timeline and laptop distribution for the high school will start early on Wednesday -Friday of next week. We have begun notifying families about transportation for the school year and sharing bus assignments and routes. Finally, there are a lot of great updates in the Food Services department. Joshua Eaton is undergoing a full kitchen renovation and other schools throughout the district are having new equipment installed. 4. Superintendent — Dr. Milaschewski thanked Dr. Pinto for diving in right away as a new member of the leadership team. Extended School Year (ESY) wrapped up today and we thank the staff for giving up the vast majority of their summer to spend with our students. If anyone is interested in joining the RPS team we do have some openings available, mostly in Para positions. Finally, we have invited students in the district to join us in recording the back -to -school video. Anyone who is interested in doing a little dancing for the video, please come to the Performing Arts Center August 111^ at 9:00 am. 5. Liaison/Sub-Committee a. Ms. Nazzaro — Killam Building Committee now has the OPM on board. The committee approved members to be on the design search team. Yesterday, there was a kickoff meeting with the OPM at Killam. The committee hopes to have a designer on board by the end of November. b. Mr. Brandt—No Report c. Ms. Gaffen — No Report d. Ms. McLaughlin—No Report e. Mr. Wise —Report is covered in the agenda with four more policies to be reviewed. C. Personnel 1. Appointment of Superintendent to Collaborative Boards (A) Ms. Gaffen motioned to appoint Dr. Milaschewski, the Superintendent of Reading Public Schools, to the Board of Directors of the SEEM Collaborative and the North Shore Education Consortium according to MGL, Chapter 40, Section 4e, seconded by Ms. Nazzaro, vote passed 5-0. 2. Superintendent Review Timeline Discussion (A) A memo in the packet outlines some options for the review timeline. Historically, the committee has done one-year reviews. The second option would be a two-year review with a formative review May/lune 2024 and summative review in May/June 2025 review. Mr. Brandt noted it is a high-energy year and so he is inclined to stick to a one- year cycle as it will be an impactful year. Ms. McLaughlin agreed in favor of a one-year cycle given the points Mr. Brandt made. Ms. Gaffen noted a two-year cycle formative review in May/June would be an opportunity to give clear feedback. Ms. Nazzaro is inclined to vote for a two-year cycle as there are checkpoints that stay consistent allowing for consistent feedback to be given. Mr. Wise would default to a one-year cycle and raise the bar on the categories reviewed. Mr. Brandt noted there are elements of Dr. Milaschewski s contract that are dependent on a one-year review. Page 1 2 Ms. Gaffen motioned to approve the two-year Superintendent review timeline with a formative review in May/June 2024 and the summative review in May/lune 2025, seconded by Mr. Brandt, vote passed 5-0. D. Old Business 1. Policy Updates— Review and Vote on Amended Policies (A) Mr. Wise included policies from back in June in the packet and added a memo with feedback from Dr. Coram. We have received feedback from Michelle Roach and Susan Bottan. Ms. Gaffen motioned to waive the reading of all policies in section Dl of the agenda, seconded by Ms. Nazzaro, vote passed 5-0. Mr. Wise reviewed the following policies and the committee discussed each one individually: Policy GCJ: Ms. Gaffen motioned to adopt policy GCl — Professional Teacher Status as amended, vote passed 5-0. Policy DGA: Ms. Gaffen motioned to adopt policy DGA—Authorized Signatures as amended, seconded by Mr. Brandt, vote passed 5-0. Policy DH: Ms. Gaffen motioned to adopt policy DH — Bonded Employees and Officers, seconded by Mr. Brant, vote passed 5-0. Polity DI: Ms. Gaffen motioned to adopt policy DI — Fiscal Accounting and Reporting as amended, seconded by Mr. Brant, vote passed 5-0. Policy DIE: Ms. Gaffen motioned to adopt policy DIE—Audits as amended, seconded by Mr. Brandt, vote passed 5-0. Policy DJ: Ms. Gaffen motioned to adopt policy DJ — Purchasing, seconded by Ms. Nazzaro, vote passed 5-0. Policy DJA: Ms. Gaffen motioned to adopt policy DJA— Purchasing Authority, seconded by Mr. Brandt, vote passed 5-0. Policy DK: Ms. Gaffen motioned to adopt policy DK — Payment Procedures, seconded by Ms. Nazzaro, vote passed 5-0. 2. Review and Vote to Revoke Policy DJG — Vendor Relations (A) Mr. Wise noted policy DJG is being revoked as it is unnecessary. It is a recommendation by MASC and the recommendation was seconded by our legal counsel and Director of Finance and Operations. Page 1 3 Ms. Gaffen motioned to revoke polity DJG —Vendor Relations, seconded by Ms. Nazzaro, vote passed 5-0. E. New Business 1. First Reading —DBDA— Special Education Reserve Fund Mr. Brandt motioned to waive the reading of policy DBDA — Special Education Reserve Fund, seconded by Ms. Nazzaro, vote passed 5-0. Mr. Wise gave some background on the policy which comes from the approval of the new Special Education reserve fund. The committee suggested adding language. Ms. Gaffen motioned to approve the first reading of policy DBDA—Special Education Reserve Fund, seconded by Mr. Brandt, vote passed 5-0. 2. Liaison and Subcommittee Discussion w/ Potential Appointments Mr. Wise discussed potential appointments with Mr. Robinson prior to the meeting as he could not be in attendance. Mr. Robinson did offer to sit on the Charter Review Committee and would like to stay on SWEC and Recreation. Mr. Brandt is happy to take something on but would not like to be on the Charter Review Committee. The committee discussed and it appears members are happy with their appointments and there is not a need to mix things up. 3. Charter Review Committee Discussion w/ Potential Appointment There is no appointment for the Charter Review Committee. 4. Polity Notification — Policies to be Reviewed for Amendment or Creation over the next few meetings: There will be four more policies for single review at the next meeting on August 241h Another item to note, the meeting on the 241h will start with an Executive Session with the Finance Committee. G. Executive Session 1. To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the public body (Reading Teachers Association, Paraprofessionals, and Secretaries) Ms. Gaffen motioned to adjourn to Executive Session and not to return to discuss strategy concerning collective bargaining with Reading Teachers Association, Reading Paraeducator Association and Reading Administrative Secretaries Association as the chair declares an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the school committee, seconded by Mr. Brandt: Roll Call Vote — Roll Call Vote to adjourn to Executive Session, Ms. Nazzaro—yes, Mr. Brandt — yes, Ms. McLaughlin — yes, Ms. Gaffen — yes, Mr. Wise—yes Page 14 Vote passed 5-0. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYh5t4CNMww Meeting Adjourned 10:53pm. Page 1 5