HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-05-08 School Committee PacketOpen Session 7:00p.m.
Reading Memorial High School Library
Reading, MA
Reading Public Schools
School Committee Meeting Packet
May 8, 2023
Town of Reading
Meeting Posting with Agenda
This Agenda has been prepared in advance and represents a listing of topics that the chair reasonably anticipates will be discussed
at the meeting. However the agenda does not necessarily include all matters which may be taken up at this meeting.
Page | 1
2018-07-16 LAG Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
School Committee
Date: 2023-05-08 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: School - Memorial High Location: School Library
Address: 62 Oakland Road Agenda: Revised
Purpose: Open Session
Meeting Called By: Shawn Brandt, Chair
Notices and agendas are to be posted 48 hours in advance of the meetings excluding
Saturdays, Sundays and Legal Holidays. Please keep in mind the Town Clerk’s hours of
operation and make necessary arrangements to be sure your posting is made in an adequate
amount of time. A listing of topics that the chair reasonably anticipates will be discussed at
the meeting must be on the agenda.
All Meeting Postings must be submitted in typed format; handwritten notices will not be accepted.
Topics of Discussion:
7:00 p.m. A. Call to Order
7:05 p.m. B. Public Comment
Consent Agenda
1. Minutes (04-06-2023)
2. Reading Parents Supporting Theatre donation
3. Friends of Reading High School Baseball donation
4. Surplus Property
Reports
1. Student
2. Assistant Superintendent of Student Services
3. Assistant Superintendent of Learning & Teaching
4. Director of Finance and Operations
5. Superintendent
6. Liaison/Sub-Committee
7:30 p.m. E. New Business
1. Reading Education Foundation Grant Update
2. Special Education & Student Services Update
8:00 p.m. G. Executive Session
1. To conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with
nonunion personnel or to conduct collective bargaining sessions or
contract negotiations with nonunion personnel (Superintendent)
2. 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)
8:45 p.m. C. Personnel
1. Superintendent Successor Contract Update & Potential Vote (A)
Town of Reading
Meeting Posting with Agenda
This Agenda has been prepared in advance and represents a listing of topics that the chair reasonably anticipates will be discussed
at the meeting. However the agenda does not necessarily include all matters which may be taken up at this meeting.
Page | 2
9:15 p.m. D. Old Business
1. Review and Approve Updated SY23-24 Calendar (A)
9:30 p.m. E. New Business
1. School Choice – Review Available Seats and Potential Vote to
Opt Out (A)
2. Review and Vote to Submit Letter of Support in Favor of
Earmarks (A)
10:30 p.m. Adjourn
**Times are approximate
Join Zoom Meeting
https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/83657021146
Meeting ID: 836 5702 1146
One tap mobile
+16469313860,,83657021146# US
+13017158592,,83657021146# US (Washington DC)
Consent Agenda
Reading Public Schools
School Committee Meeting Packet
May 8, 2023
Town of Reading
Meeting Minutes
Page | 1
2016-09-22 LAG Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
School Committee
Date: 2023-04-06 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:
Shawn Brandt, Erin Gaffen, Carla Nazzaro, Sarah McLaughlin, Charles
Robinson, and Tom Wise.
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Superintendent Dr. Tom Milaschewski & Finance Director Susan Bottan
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Denise P. Santoro on behalf of the chairperson.
Topics of Discussion:
1. Call to Order – Mr. Brandt called the meeting to order at 7pm and reviewed the agenda for
the evening.
2. Public Comment- No Public Comment
Consent Agenda
Ms. Nazzaro motioned to approve the consent agenda, seconded by Mr. Robinson, vote
passed 6-0.
1. Minutes (03-16-2023)
2. Jae S. Lim Foundation Grant
3. MyCAP Development and Implementation Grant
4. Credit for Life Fair Grant
Reports
1. Student- No Report
2. Assistant Superintendent of Student Services – No report
3. Director of Finance and Operations- Update from Ms. Bottan
a. Update regarding the Safe Routes to School Grant.
Page | 2
4.Superintendent- Updates from Dr. Milaschewski
a.Arts Fest- Monday-Thursday
b.Elementary Assistant Principal search process update
c.April 26th- School Visits from school and community leaders.
5.Liaison/Sub-Committee
a.Mr. Robinson-Update from Recreation Committee
b.Ms. Gaffen- No reports
c.Mr. Wise- Update from Legal Counsel
d.Ms. Nazzaro-No report
e.Mr. Brandt-District Strategic Plan Assignments
Congratulations to Ms. Gaffen and Ms. Nazzaro on their re-election to school
committee.
Ms. Nazzaro motioned to move D2 out of order, seconded by Ms. Gaffen, vote passed 6-0.
D. Old Business
2. RMHS Innovation Pathways Update- Dr. Milaschewski shared information from DESE
a.Ms. Callanan presented Pathways Program information.
1. SY23-24 Kindergarten Enrollment-Update
a.Ms. Bottan shared enrollment numbers.
b.Dr. Milaschewski updated half day kindergarten status.
Ms. Nazzaro moved to enter into Executive sessions in preparation for negotiations
with nonunion personnel or to conduct collective bargaining sessions or contract
negotiations with nonunion personnel (Superintendent) and to discuss strategies with
respect to collective bargaining or litigation if an open meeting may have a
detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigation position of the public body and the
chair so declares (and this is for all bargaining units) we will be returning from
executive session in approximately one hour. Mr. Brandt so declared it would have a
detrimental effect on the bargaining position, seconded by Mr Wise, vote passed 6-0.
G. Executive Session
3.Review and approve executive session minutes.
Mr. Brandt called regular session back to order at 8:50 pm
E. New Business
1.Discuss and Approve Director of Finance Search Process (A)-
Dr. Milaschewski conveyed thanks and appreciation to Susan Bottan and gave
updates regarding search process.
Page | 3
Ms. Bottan expressed her gratitude as well.
Ms. Nazzaro moved to approve the Director of Finance search process, seconded by
Mr. Wise, vote passed 6-0.
2.Approve Last Day of School for SY22-23 (A)
Ms. Nazzaro moved to approve June 16th as the last day of school for the year 2023,
seconded by Ms. Gaffen, vote passed 6-0.
3.Discuss and Vote on Granting Veteran Diploma (A)
Ms. Nazzaro moved to direct the district to grant a high school diploma to Mr. Richard
Carlson with congratulations and appreciation for his service, seconded by Mr. Wise,
vote passed 6-0.
4.Discuss and Vote to Approve 22-23 Student Activity Accounts (A)
Ms. Bottan-Provided updates.
Ms. Nazzaro moved to approve active 2022-2023 student activity accounts, seconded by
Mr. Robinson, vote passed 6-0.
5.Vote to Close Inactive 22-23 Student Activity Accounts (A)
Ms. Nazzaro move to close inactive 2022-2023 student activity accounts with the
exception of the class of 2021 and 2022 funds, seconded by Mr. Wise, vote passed 6-0.
6.Vote to Move Funds from Closed Inactive Accounts (A)
Ms. Nazzaro move to transfer funds from inactive 2022-2023 student activity accounts
to cover any active SSA shortfall and deposit balance of funds into the student
assistance account. Motion to amend to included only closed accounts, seconded the
amended version by Mr. Wise, vote passed 6-0.
7.Mr. Brandt explained contract extension for the superintendent, Dr. Milaschewski,
discussed under executive session.
Ms. Nazzaro moved to express the committee’s intent to enter into a successor
contract with the superintendent, seconded by Mr. Wise, vote passed 6-0.
Ms. Gaffen made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Robinson, vote passed 6-0.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvdxi_PnqRs
Meeting Adjourned 9:36 pm.
Reading Public Schools
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
RE:
Reading School Committee
Susan Bottan, Director of Finance and Operations
April 14, 2023
Vote to Accept donation by Reading Parents Supporting Student Theatre
Please vote to accept a donation of $510 from the Reading Parents Supporting Student Theatre to
support a stipend to be paid to Holly Beth Murphy for her respective contribution as Tech Director to
the Reading Drama Club during the Fall 2022 season.
Please find attached the donation letter from Mr. Josh Gold lust, Treasurer of the Reading Parents
Supporting Student Theatre.
Thank you.
TO: Reading School Committee
FROM: Olivia Lejeune, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent
DATE: May 3, 2023
RE: Vote to Accept donation by The Friends of Reading High School Baseball
Please vote to accept a donation of $5,898.26 from The Friends of Reading High School Baseball to pay
two varsity assistant coaches Mr. Adam Halley and Mr. Patrick Mahoney.
Please find attached the award letter from Mr. Dan Webb, President of Friends of Reading High School
Baseball.
Thank you.
Reading Public Schools
Instilling a joy of learning and inspiring the innovative leaders of tomorrow 82 Oakland Road
Reading, MA 01867
Phone: 781-944-5800
Fax: 781-942-9149
TO: Reading School Committee
FROM: Susan Bottan, Director of Finance and Operations
DATE: May 8, 2023
RE: Request to Surplus Property – File Cabinets
In compliance with the surplus disposition requirements of Massachusetts procurement law MGL
Chapter 30B, I ask that the School Committee declare 15 vertical file cabinets more than 20 years
old as surplus property due to the progress toward digitizing inactive employee and student
records required to retain by Massachusetts General Laws.
Once declared, the school department will take the required steps to offer these items to Town
departments, or resold, or recycled, or disposed of in accordance with the laws and regulations of
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Please feel free to contact me with questions about this
request.
Thank you.
Reading Public Schools
Instilling a joy of learning and inspiring the innovative leaders of tomorrow 82 Oakland Road
Reading, MA 01867
Phone: 781-944-5800
Fax: 781-942-9149
Personnel
Reading Public Schools
School Committee Meeting Packet
May 8, 2023
Administrative Offices
82 Oakland Road
Reading, MA 01867
781 944-5800
READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Shawn Brandt Chair
Carla Nazzaro Vice-Chair
Erin Gaffen
Sarah McLaughlin
Charles Robinson
Thomas Wise
Thomas Milaschewski, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
TO: Reading School Committee
FROM: Shawn Brandt, Reading School Committee Chair
DATE: May 4, 2023
TOPIC: Successor Contract for Superintendent
At our meeting on Monday, May 8th, we will have an agenda item to take a public vote to ratify a successor contract with
Dr. Milaschewski, should executive session negotiations allow us to reach a satisfactory outcome for both parties. Vice
Chair Nazzaro and I have been working with Dr. Milaschewski and School Committee counsel over the past few weeks,
guided by the preliminary discussions the Committee held in a prior meeting. I believe that we will have a strong
contract proposal, agreeable to Dr. Milaschewski, to share with the committee. If there are any remaining points of
discussion, or the Committee is not yet prepared to ratify the contract, we will postpone this agenda item as necessary.
Old Business
Reading Public Schools
School Committee Meeting Packet
May 8, 2023
TO: Reading School Committee
FROM: Sarah Hardy, Assistant Superintendent for Learning and Teaching
DATE: May 8, 2023
RE: Approve the SY 2023-2024 Calendar Revisions
The attached final version of the district-wide calendar for the 2023-2024 school year reflects the
updates made based on school committee feedback at the March 16, 2023 meeting. In addition, one
minor change from the previous version was made. The dates for the elementary and high school
September Back to School nights have been swapped. Additionally, the elementary May Open House
night has been moved to the Thursday of the same week. The rationale was to position the elementary
Back to School night and Open House night closer to Friday, which is the day teachers will have their
planning and preparation time.
Reading Public Schools
Instilling a joy of learning and inspiring the innovative leaders of tomorrow 82 Oakland Road
Reading, MA 01867
Phone: 781-944-5800
Fax: 781-942-9149
Reading Public Schools | 2023-2024 CALENDAR
AUGUST ‘23
S M T W Th F S
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31
21-25 New Staff Induction
28-29 Staff In-Service
30 First day of School (1-12)
30-31 Pre-K & K Orientation
Teacher Days: 4 Student Days: 2
JANUARY ‘24
S M T W Th F S
H 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 H 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 31
01 New Year's Day: No School
02 School Resumes
12 MS & HS Early Dismissal
15 M.L. King Day: No School
Teacher Days: 21 Student Days: 21
SEPTEMBER ‘23
S M T W Th F S
V 2
3 H 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
1 No School
4 Labor Day: No School
5 First day of School PK and K
13 HS Back to School Night (Early Dismissal)
14 K-5 Back to School Night
20 PK Back to School Night (Early Dismissal)
21 MS Back to School Night (Early Dismissal)
29 MS & HS Early Dismissal
Teacher Days: 19 Student Days: 19
FEBRUARY ‘24
S M T W Th F S
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 H V V V V 24
25 26 27 28 29
9 MS & HS Early Dismissal
19 Presidents’ Day: No School
19-23 February Vacation: No School
Teacher Days: 16 Student Days: 16
OCTOBER ‘23
S M T W Th F S
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 H 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 31
9 Columbus Day: No School
27 MS & HS Early Dismissal
Teacher Days: 21 Student Days: 21
MARCH ‘24
S M T W Th F S
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
8 MS & HS Early Dismissal
18 Teacher In-Service: No School
Teacher Days: 21 Student Days: 20
NOVEMBER ‘23
S M T W Th F S
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 H 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 H V 25
26 27 28 29 30
7 Teacher In-Service: No School
10 Veterans Day (Observed): No School
17 HS Conferences
MS Teacher In-Service
No School for 6-12
22 Early Release*
23-24 Thanksgiving Recess: No School
Teacher Days: 19 Student Days: 17/18
APRIL ‘24
S M T W Th F S
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 H V V V V 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30
15 Patriots’ Day: No School
15-19 April Vacation: No School
Teacher Days: 17 Student Days: 17
DECEMBER ‘23
S M T W Th F S
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 H V V V V 30
31
7 PK-5 Conferences: Early Release
8 PK-5 Conferences: No School for PK-5
8 MS & HS Early Dismissal
22 Early Release* (Staff dismissed at 1PM)
25-29 Winter Recess: No School
Teacher Days: 16 Student Days: 15/16
MAY ‘24
S M T W Th F S
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 H 28 29 30 31
10 MS & HS Early Dismissal
16 PK-5 Open House
23 MS Open House (Early Dismissal)
27 Memorial Day: No School
31 High School Graduation
Teacher Days: 22 Student Days: 22
*Note: On 11/22/23, 12/22/23 and the last day of school, the below release
schedule will be observed:
District-Wide Early Release Schedule
School: Start: Early Release:
Elementary 8:25 AM 11:00 AM
Middle 7:50 AM 10:45 AM
High School 8:30 AM 11:15 AM
Total Student Days: 180
Total Teacher Days: 185
JUNE ‘24
S M T W Th F S
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 H 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30
13 Last Day of School*
(No Snow Days)
19 Juneteenth
21 Last Day of School *
(5 Snow Days)
Teacher Days Without Snow Days: 9
Student Days Without Snow Days: 9
School Closed District-Wide Early Release Teacher In-Service Days: No students Early Dismissal for HS/MS
BACK TO SCHOOL AND OPEN HOUSE NIGHTS .
Fall: Back to School Nights
Preschool - September 20, 2023
Kindergarten – 5th Grade – September 14, 2023
Middle School – September 21, 2023
High School – September 13, 2023
Spring: Open Houses
PK and Elementary – May 16, 2024
Middle School – May 23, 2024
PARENT/GUARDIAN – TEACHER CONFERENCES
Elementary: December 7 and 8, 2023
High School: November 17, 2023
ELEMENTARY EARLY DISMISSAL DAYS ..
Elementary will be dismissed at 12:45 every Friday. Exceptions are listed
below:
September 20, 2023 PK Back to School Night 12:45 PM
September 15, 2023 Full Day 2:45PM
November 22, 2023 District-Wide Early Release 11:00 AM
December 7, 2023 PK – 5 Conferences 12:45 PM
December 22, 2023 District-Wide Early Release 11:00 AM
June 13/21, 2024 Last Day of School 11:00 AM
SCHOOL START AND RELEASE TIMES .
School Start Time End Time Early
Dismissal
District-Wide
Early Release
Elementary 8:25 AM 2:45 PM 12:45 PM 11:00 AM
Middle 7:50 AM 2:30 PM 12:30 PM 10:45 AM
High 8:30 AM 3:04 PM 1:04 PM 11:15 AM
MIDDLE SCHOOL EARLY DISMISSAL DAYS ..
September 21, 2023 Back to School Night 12:30 PM
September 29, 2023 Professional Development 12:30 PM
October 27, 2023 Professional Development 12:30 PM
November 22, 2023 District-Wide Early Release 10:45 AM
December 8. 2023
December 22, 2023
Professional Development
District-Wide Early Release
12:30 PM
10:45 AM
January 12, 2024 Professional Development 12:30 PM
February 9, 2024 Professional Development 12:30 PM
March 8, 2024 Professional Development 12:30 PM
May 10, 2024 Professional Development 12:30 PM
May 23, 2024 MS Open House 12:30 PM
June 13/21 2024 Last Day of School 10:45 AM
STUDENT ABSENTEE LINES: .
HIGH SCHOOL EARLY DISMISSAL DAYS ..
September 14, 2023 Back to School Night 1:00 PM
September 29, 2023 Professional Development 1:00 PM
October 27, 2023 Professional Development 1:00 PM
November 22, 2023 District-Wide Early Release 11:15 AM
December 8. 2023
December 22, 2023
Professional Development
District-Wide Early Release
1:00 PM
11:15 AM
January 12, 2024 Professional Development 1:00 PM
February 9, 2024 Professional Development 1:00 PM
March 8, 2024 Professional Development 1:00 PM
May 10, 2024 Professional Development 1:00 PM
June 13/21 2024 Last Day of School 11:15 AM
SCHOOL CLOSURE DATES
September 1, 2023 January 1, 2024
September 4, 2023 January 15, 2024
October 9, 2023 February 19 – 23
November 7, 2023 March 18, 2024
November 10, 2023 April 15 – 19
November 17, 2023 (6-12 only) May 27, 2024
November 23 – 24 June 19, 2024
December 8, 2023 (PK-5 only)
December 25 - 29 EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR
July 8 – August 8, 2024
Reading Public Schools | 2023-2024 CALENDAR
Barrows ambabsences@reading.k12.ma.us 781-942-9166
Birch Meadow bmeabsences@reading.k12.ma.us 781-944-2335
Joshua Eaton jeeabsences@reading.k12.ma.us 781-942-9161
Killam JWKAbsences@reading.k12.ma.us 781-944--7831
Wood End weeabsences@reading.k12.ma.us 781-942-5420
Parker wspabsences@reading.k12.ma.us 781-944-1236
Coolidge awcabsences@reading.k12.ma.us 781-942-9158
RMHS RMHS Absences 781-670-2819
When sending an email or leaving a voice message, please leave
your child's name, teacher name (if elementary), reason for
absence/tardy and expected date/time of return.
ADDITIONAL MAJOR RELIGIOUS & CULTURAL HOLIDAYS
Sept 16-17* Rosh Hashanah** Jan 7 Orthodox Christmas
Sept 25* Yom Kippur** Feb 10 Lunar New Year
Nov 12 Diwali Begins Mar 11 Ramadan Begins
Dec 8-15* Hanukkah Mar 24 Palm Sunday
Dec 26-Jan 1 Kwanzaa March 29 Good Friday**
Mar 31 Easter & Orthodox Easter
April 9 Eid al-Fitr
April 22-30* Passover**
*Begins the night before at sundown
**Please follow religious observance accommodations linked above
New Business
Reading Public Schools
School Committee Meeting Packet
May 8, 2023
To: Reading School Committee
From: Olivia Lejeune, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent
Date: May 8, 2023
Re: School Committee Vote to Receive Reading Education Foundation Grant Donations
The Reading Education Foundation has awarded the following grants to Reading Public Schools:
Teacher’s Name School Program Recipients Amount Funded Grant Title
Kaitlyn Rubin Wood End Speech K-5 Wood End $ 2,899.78
Augmentative Alternative
Communications Project
Paula Falvey
All
Elementary Library
All Elementary
schools $ 10,000.00
Audio Book Collection Reaching all
Readers
Andrew Norton Parker Music 6-8 Parker music $ 4,600.00 Marimba
Jennifer DiMuzio Parker Music Grades 6-8 $ 2,100.00 Vocal Guest Artist Series
Danielle Healey
Parker/Cooli
dge Wellness Grades 6-8 $ 5,750.00 Roller Reading Rockets
Mary Anne
Cuscuna Coolidge All 6-8 Coolidge $ 5,057.92 Podcasting in the classroom
Anna Cuevas RMHS Hi story Grades 9-12 $ 2,750.00 Juneteenth speaker
Michael
McSweeney RMHS English Grades 9-12 $ 2,128.00 RMHS Podcasts
Susan Gilbert All schools A rt K-12 $ 7,192.00 Art of Education Curriculm suite
Total Grant Award 42,477.70$
Reading Education Foundation Final Grant Awards for 2023
Reading Public Schools
Instilling a joy of learning and inspiring the innovative leaders of tomorrow 82 Oakland Road
Reading, MA 01867
Phone: 781-944-5800
Fax: 781-942-9149
TO: Reading School Committee
FROM: Jennifer Stys, Assistant Superintendent of Student Services
DATE: May 8, 2023
RE: Student Services Update
Included in the packet is the Student Service Update Power Point for the May 8, 2023 School Committee
Meeting. The presentation is anchored in the District Strategic Plan for building a sense of
belonging. Additionally, there is information on the state’s Tiered Focused Monitoring Report (TFM) and
Special Education Program Reviews.
Reading Public Schools
Instilling a joy of learning and inspiring the innovative leaders of tomorrow 82 Oakland Road
Reading, MA 01867
Phone: 781-944-5800
Fax: 781-942-9149
Student Services Update
May 8, 2023
Least Restrictive
Environment Data CollectionInclusion Stude
n
t
s
IEP CapacityINSPIRETeamwork Instruction
Assessment BELIEVECOMMU
N
I
T
YALL MEA
N
S
ALL
State Re
g
ulati
o
ns
Strategic Objective 1:
Supportive and Safe Learning Environment
We believe healthy and successful learning communities are a
prerequisite to achieving equity in schools. Healthy and successful
learning communities exist when all members of the community, no
matter where they live, what they look like, what they believe, what
language they speak, who they love, or how they learn, feel seen,
valued, affirmed and connected.
Motivation: What the Research Says
●Assessment of one’s belonging is based upon reasonable inferences
about what is expected in a given setting
●Social, emotional, and cognitive processing are intertwined, so
attending to cues in the environment because it feels physically or
emotionally unsafe comes at a cost
●Students who are confident they belong are able to engage more fully
in learning
Structures for Belonging: A synthesis of research on belonging-supportive
learning environments - Student Experience Research Network (2021)
Motivation: What the Research Says
What We Know About Belonging from Scientific Research
Motivation: What the Research Says
Belonging-supportive learning environments…
●Respect each student’s identity along multiple dimensions
●Affirm each student’s capacity to succeed
●Recognize each student’s agency and contributions
Structures for Belonging: A synthesis of research on belonging-supportive
learning environments - Student Experience Research Network (2021)
Summary for Fall 2022
Grades 3-5
Summary for Fall 2022
Grades 6-12
Sense of belonging: Elementary (Grades 3-5)
●Overall sense of
belonging score: 79%
●Ranks in the 90th
percentile compared to
similar profile elementary
schools in the Panorama
dataset
Sense of belonging:
Middle Schools
Parker
Coolidge
●Parker
○Overall sense of belonging
score: 57%
○Ranks in the 80th percentile
compared to similar profile
middle schools in the Panorama
dataset
●Coolidge
○Overall sense of belonging
score: 65%
○Ranks in the 99th percentile
compared to similar profile
middle schools in the Panorama
dataset
Sense of belonging: RMHS
●Overall sense of belonging
score: 48%
●Ranks in the 70th percentile
compared to similar profile
high schools in the Panorama
dataset
Clear relationship between sense of belonging and
attendance record in secondary schools
Mean absence rate vs. overall sense
of belonging (Elementary schools)
Mean absence rate vs. overall sense
of belonging (Middle/High schools)
Findings: What our Students Say - Grade 3-5 Open
Response Summary
Qualitative
Elementary
Focus
Groups
●Students thrive when they have strong relational connections with adults
and peers. Students stated that the longer they are in a school the more
they felt like they belong.
●Students feel greater belonging when they are not alone in their
experiences. Students felt less connected if they don’t celebrate the same
holidays and don’t have people to play with at recess.
●Diversity enriches the learning environment for all students. Students
stated that they felt judged for looking different or having different food
from their peers.
●Purpose: understand students’ stories
behind the data
●Harvard Doctoral Candidate and RPS
Leadership Fellow Joseph Longbottom
trained guidance counselors using
resources from the Stanford Design
School to facilitate interviews
●We interviewed 4 focus groups,
17 students in total
●These groups were subsets of the
school population that school leaders
helped to identify
Empathy Interview Process
Source: Stanford Design School
Findings: What our Students Say - Grade 6-12 Open
Response Summary
Qualitative
Middle &
High School
Focus
Groups
●Students thrive when they have strong relational connections
with adults and peers. Students craved additional relational
opportunities.
●Students felt greater belonging when they have agency over
their learning environment.
●Diversity enriches the learning environment for all students.
Students would love to have more opportunities to go deeper
with Black History Month, language, and other academic
offerings that celebrate diversity.
Crisis data from last year and this year
INCIDENTS:
Suicidal Thoughts / Self Harm
Harassment / Bullying on the basis of race, color or national origin
Hospitalization - Anxiety / Depression, Eating Disorder
Report of Abuse
Drug / Alcohol Distribution / Cigarette Smoking possession
Assault on any person. No weapon
Weapon Found (toy / replica)
Chronic Absences - School refusal
Physical Threat - student, staff, any other person
Sexual Assault
Student left property
CSTAG Investigation
Shelter in place
Student pulled false fire alarm
145 Repƒ
ƕ
Ʊ
Ƣ
d
C
ƕ
i
ư
ƌ
s
InƆiơƈnƗ
ư
●Fostering positive relationships
○Family partnerships
○Student to Student connections
○Student to Staff connections
○Staff to Staff connections
●Increasing Access to Opportunities
○Removing barriers
○Considering funding
●Providing Professional Learning
○Auditing curriculum and materials
○Exploring inclusive practices
●Examining Policies and Practices
○Discipline policies and dashboards
○Attendance
○Wellness Policy
Next Steps
Positive
Student
Experiences
Fostering
Positive
Relationships
Providing
Professional
Learning
Examining
Policies &
Practices
Increasing
Access to
Opportunities
Key Quotes From Research Individual students can experience the same
environment differently—and come to different,
well-informed conclusions about whether they
belong in that environment—both because we
each have unique prior experiences and
because groups are situated differently in society
due to historical power dynamics.
Building learning environments that
support belonging, and therefore
learning and well-being, for every
student entails both challenging
exclusion and promoting inclusion.
System-level policies and practices
are necessary to facilitate almost all
of the belonging-supportive
structures discussed so far. They
can also send signals in and of
themselves about who is respected
in a space.
Both K-12 and postsecondary
systems can learn about their
students’ experiences with policies
and practices—and identify ways
to improve those experiences—by
listening to their students and
families and explicitly positioning
them as experts.
Structures for Belonging: A synthesis of research on belonging-supportive
learning environments - Student Experience Research Network (2021)
District Strategic Plan
Strategic Objective 1: Supportive and Safe Learning Environment
We believe healthy and successful learning communities are a prerequisite to achieving
equity in schools. Healthy and successful learning communities exist when all members
of the community, no matter where they live, what they look like, what they believe,
what language they speak, who they love, or how they learn feel seen, valued, affirmed
and connected.
●Build a shared understanding about sense of belonging and identify common
indicators to measure progress
●Review and implement practices, systems, and staffing models that foster inclusive
environments
●Create, refine and align safety centered processes and protocols
Build a shared understanding about sense of belonging
and identify common indicators to measure progress
●Two district-wide teams participate in sense of belonging professional learning
networks around instructional practice, social/emotional supports, and policy
●The district will have an additional team next year to help select SEL curriculum
and best practices
Review and implement practices, systems, and staffing models
that foster inclusive environments.
●Defined roles and responsibilities of behavioral health staff, in particular roles new
to the district
●Created continuum of tiered social-emotional and academic supports/interventions
●Supported Project Wayfinder at the High School in the budget
●Developed a District Handbook
●Updated Health and Wellness Policy
●Updated attendance protocols and dashboards
●Updated and refined field trip protocols
Review and implement practices, systems, and staffing models that
foster inclusive environments.
●Developed, managed and promoted community partnerships
○Hosted Community meetings
○Partnered on events and inclusive activities
○Translated documents
○Developed Resources for homeless families
○Hosted a Community Resource Fair for families
■Transportation
●Continued to foster staff ability to identify and address inequities
○Supported METCO Adjustment Counselors
○Expanded Supports on transportation for Boston Resident Students
○Developed a METCO Coalition
○Hosted Student Services Meetings
○Partnered with DCF
Create, refine and align safety centered process and protocols
●Created district-wide threat assessment protocols
○CSTAG training
○Entry protocol to building
○Building Safety Plans
●Refined & aligned district-wide protocols
○Attendance
■Data teams
■Flow chart of resources
■Dashboard
■Reengagement
○Developed Crisis response
○Increased mandated reporting Trainings
○Created Discipline dashboards and process trainings
Setting The Stage: Tiered Focused Monitoring (TFM)
Scope of Tiered Focused Monitoring
District/charter schools are reviewed every six years through Tiered Focused Monitoring - 3
years focused on Special Education (SE) and 3 years focused on Civil Rights (CR). This
review process emphasizes elements most tied to student outcomes. There is also a TFM
for homeless, military and foster families.
Universal Standards address:
●Licensure and professional development
●Parent/student/community engagement
●Facilities and classroom observations
●Oversight
●Time and learning
●Equal access
Tiered Focused Monitoring 6-year cycle
Components of the Review
●Review of Self-Assessment Documentation
○10 Special Education Criteria 27 documents
○17 Civil Rights Criteria with 29 documents
●Additional Documentation
○14 additional documents were uploaded at the request of DESE
●Onsite review including visits to 5 schools
●Multiple Meetings with administration regarding process and documents required
●Interviews with staff
○4 Principals
○1 Preschool Coordinator
○1 Special Education Director
○1 Assistant Superintendent
○2 SEPAC Co-chairs
Tiered Focused Monitoring (TFM) Findings Released
Feedback from Joan Brinkerhoff, Ph.D., Monitoring
Specialist, DESE
I wanted to take time to recognize the hard work you have committed to and
accomplished over the course of the last couple of years. I would also like to
connect some districts that may benefit from your direction and accomplishments
if that is amenable to you.You should be proud of the work you do to create
opportunities and reduce the equity gaps for students.
Tiered Focused Monitoring (TFM) Requirements and
the Link to Program Reviews
State Requirements
SE 56 - Special education programs and services are evaluated
Special education programs and services are regularly evaluated.
What is required:
Documents
Interviews
Federal Requirements
M.G.L. c. 69, section 1A
M.G.L. c. 69, section 1I
M.G.L. c. 71B, section 3
Goals of Program Reviews
●Develop and calibrate the strengths and weaknesses
of our programming from an outside perspective
●Ensure evidence based practices and action steps to
inform us of strategies, systems and staffing to
improve student outcomes
●Consistency within and across systems and
practices to impact student outcomes
●Create clear, measurable, transparent outcomes
●Provide clear reports on progress and next steps
Components of the Evaluations
●Observations
●File/Documentation review
●Interviews with staff and families
●Meetings with administration
●Drafting of Full Report
●Drafting of Executive Summary
Special Education Program Review Timeline
●2019-2020: Internal evaluation of the overall functioning of the special education
systems
●2020-2021: Internal evaluation of reading evaluations and instructional systems
●2021-2022: External evaluation of E.M.B.A.R.C., S.O.A.R., S.A.I.L., and
R.E.A.C.H.
●2022-2023: External evaluation of R.I.S.E. and Learning Center
●2023-2024: External evaluation of L.E.A.D.
*There will be a refresh cycle of programmatic reviews established and published
History of Recommendations
●Developing clear and consistent communications systems with families.
●Alignment of protocols and processes across schools.
●Training on Reading and the Brain for all Team Chairs, Psychologists, General Education
Reading Specialists, Speech and Language Pathologists and Special Education Teachers.
●Addition of a Special Education Literacy Coach.
●Addition of implementation of reading protocol for all assessments completed for students with
reading concerns.
●Additional training for special education staff in reading systems including Language Live, Wilson
and RAVE-O.
●Training for all RPS staff in Key Comprehension Routine, Key Vocabulary Routine, Project Read
Report Form, and a series of Landmark Outreach PD on dyslexia, writing and executive
functioning.
Focus Areas for Vertical Alignment
●Program Oversight
○Program Leads with Northshore Consortium (Sally Smith, M. Ed. and Patric Barbieri, M.
Ed.)
●Program Alignment
○Rigorous and evidenced based curriculum
○Clear and common mission and vision
○Points for teams to consider
○Data Collection
●Staffing
○Additional BCBA
○Inclusion Specialist
○Training
●Transition
○Transition Specialist
○Planning
○Assessment
FAPE and LRE Guidance
●The placement should be chosen individually for each student from a full continuum of placement
options based on the most appropriate placement to provide the services on the student’s IEP
●A placement in the general education environment is presumed. IDEA-97 presumes the first
placement option considered for all eligible students will be the general education classroom with
the use of supplemental aids and services.
●PL 1 Students may not be denied education in age-appropriate general education PL 2
classrooms solely because the students’ education requires modification to the general
curriculum.
●Teams must first consider if the eligible student may be served in the school and classroom the
student would attend if not disabled. Other options should be considered only when the nature
and severity of the disability would prevent satisfactory achievement within the general
education environment.
●An in-district placement should always be considered and recommended before an
out-of-district placement is considered.
Reading Public Schools: Student Placement by Student Groups
2020
Enrollment District Rate State Rate
Enrolled students
with IEPs
671
Partial Inclusion 111 16.5%13.7%
Out of District 49 7.3%6.4%
DESE IEP Improvement Project: Goal, Theory of Action
Project Goal: To Improve outcomes for all students with disabilities by providing guidance, technical assistance, and
tools on equitable processes to school and district professionals, families, and students so that all students with
disabilities have meaningful access to the curriculum frameworks and life of the school.
Theory of Action: If students with disabilities have meaningful access to the curriculum frameworks and the skills to
engage in all aspects of the life of the school, then we will begin to close the opportunity and achievement gaps between
students with disabilities and their age-appropriate non-disabled peers.
To do this, the education system must:
●Increase effective and efficient collaboration between general educators, special educators, related service
providers, parents, and students.
●Support teachers to know how to respond to the needs of students with disabilities and use that knowledge to
proactively work with students across the curriculum frameworks and the life of the school.
●Promote a high-functioning process for evaluation and ongoing assessment across environments.
●Develop student-centered IEPs driven by data and written to ensure that students will gain knowledge and skills to
prepare themselves effectively for postsecondary opportunities, career training options, economically viable
careers, and healthy productive lives.
●Support families of students with disabilities to understand how their student learns and interacts with the life of the
school, as well as what the individualized program and outcomes will be during the course of the school year.
●Promote student voice and engage students in their own IEP process.
DESE IEP Improvement Project: Principles and
Reading Timeline
Embedded in our goal are these principles:
Principle 1: All students are general education students first. Take a strengths-based approach.
Principle 2: General and special education should work together. Integrate systems.
Principle 3: Ensure a continuous cycle of improvement. Move beyond compliance.
Principle 4: Assessment is key. Make no decisions without the right data.
Principle 5: Family Engagement matters. Welcome parent and student voice.
Reading Implementation Planning:
Trainings during the 2023-2024 school year
Fall of 2024 full implementation
To: Reading School Committee
From: Susan Bottan, Director of Finance and Operations
Date: May 8, 2023
Re: School Choice Open Seating for the 2023-2024 School Year
Prior to June 1 of each year, School Committee is required by the Department of Elementary and Secondary
Education (DESE) to evaluate the district’s participation in the School Choice Program for the following school
year and, if there is no interest, vote to opt out of the program.
School Choice is a state-wide program designed to fill available seats in school districts and allow caregivers’
choice and access to desirable school districts. School Choice also supports the recruitment and retention of
a high performing instructional staff. With each School Choice student who enrolls in grades 1 to 12, the
district receives $5,000, and for each student who enrolls in kindergarten, the district receives $2,500. School
Choice funds are deposited into a revolving fund under the School Committee’s purview, which requires no
further appropriation for use. School Choice funds can be allocated to address a wide range of district needs.
The District Leadership Team identified available seating for the 2023-2024 school year by school, grade,
and classroom using a two-tiered approach beginning with a review of known enrollment for
2023-2024, anticipated in Town move-ins, and an evaluation class sizes by grade level across all elementary
schools. We then limited the number of open seating available for access through School Choice to no
more than 4 students per grade per school using the following criteria per classroom:
•Kindergarten and Grade 1 classrooms – limited class size to 19 students
•Grades 2 and 3 – limited class size to 20 students
•Grades 4 and 5 – limited class size to 22 students
Using this approach, the district identified a total of 75 available seats across all schools and grade
levels, which would generate a maximum of $362,500 in School Choice tuition if all seats are filled. Please
find on the page to follow a summary of the number identified seats by grade and the potential
maximum funding associated with each level:
Reading Public Schools
Instilling a joy of learning and inspiring the innovative leaders of tomorrow 82 Oakland Road
Reading, MA 01867
Phone: 781-944-5800
Fax: 781-942-9149
Reading Public Schools
Potential School Choice Available Seats
2023-2024 School Year
Grade Available Seats Maximum Funding
Kindergarten 5
Grade 1 5
Grade 2 7
Grade 3 11
Grade 4 9
Grade 5 6
Grades K-5 Total 43 $202,500
Grade 6 5
Grade 7 5
Grade 8 2
Grades 6-8 Total 12 $60,000
Grade 9 5
Grade 10 5
Grade 11 5
Grade 12 5
Grades 9-12 Total 20 $100,000
Grand Total 75 $362,500
READING PUBLIC SCHOOLS
SCHOOL CHOICE GUIDELINES
2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR
Deadline for Application to be Submitted: Friday, June 2, 2023, at 3:00 pm
Submit Application to: Office of the Superintendent of Schools Reading Public Schools 82 Oakland Street Reading, MA 01867 Or email application to SchoolChoiceApplication@reading.k12.ma.us
2023-2024 Available Seats by School and Grade:
•Reading Public Schools has determined the following openings by grade and school for the2023-2024 school year based on projected enrollment figures and class sizes. The ReadingPublic Schools will not provide transportation to School Choice students. Caregivers areresponsible for transporting the student to and from school. Students who are chosen forFull Day Kindergarten available seats are required to pay the annual tuition fee of $2,650 inten (10) equal installments:
Elementary Schools: Barrows Elementary School, 16 Edgemont Avenue, Reading, MA 01867: Kindergarten – 1 seat in Full Day Kindergarten Program. Tuition Fee $2,650 Grade 1 – 2 seats Grade 3 – 2 seats Grade 4 – 2 seats Grade 5 – 2 seats Birch Meadow Elementary School, 27 Arthur B. Lord Drive, Reading, MA 01867: Kindergarten – 1 seat in Full Day Kindergarten Program, Tuition Fee $2,650 Grade 2 – 4 seats Grade 3 – 4 seats Grade 4 – 4 seats Grade 5 – 4 seats Joshua Eaton Elementary School, 365 Summer Avenue, Reading, MA 01867: Kindergarten – 2 seats in Full Day Kindergarten Program, Tuition Fee $2,650
Reading Public Schools
Instilling a joy of learning and inspiring the innovative leaders of tomorrow 82 Oakland Road
Reading, MA 01867
Phone: 781-944-5800
Fax: 781-942-9149
Killam Elementary School, 333 Charles Street, Reading, MA 01867: Kindergarten -1 seat in Full Day Kindergarten Program, Tuition Fee $2,650 Grade 2 – 3 seats Grade 3 – 1 seat Grade 4 – 3 seats Wood End Elementary School, 85 Sunset Rock Lane, Reading, MA 01867: Grade 1 – 3 seats Grade 3 – 4 seats
Middle Schools: Coolidge Middle School, 89 Birch Meadow Drive, Reading, MA 01867: Grade 6 – 5 seats Parker Middle School, 45 Temple Street, Reading, MA 01867: Grade 7 – 5 seats Grade 8 – 2 seats
High School: Reading Memorial High School, 62 Oakland Road, Reading, MA 01867: Grade 9 – 5 seats Grade 10 - 5 seats Grade 11 – 5 seats Grade 12 – 5 seats
Application Process:
•An application is required for each student applying for admission and must be received inthe Office of the Superintendent, reading Public Schools, by the deadline of Friday, June 2,
2023, at 3:00 pm All applications will be stamped with the date and time received.
•A completed and signed application is required for each student applying for admission bythe deadline date and time established.
•School Choice students for the 2023-2024 school year will be chosen by lottery on
Monday, June 5 at 9:30 am in the Superintendent’s office located at 82 Oakland Road inReading, MA and parents will be notified via email immediately following the lottery if theirstudent has been selected.
•Parents/caregivers of selected students must confirm acceptance by 12:00 noon on
Tuesday, June 6, 2023.
•Students who enroll through School Choice will be able to continue their education inReading Public Schools through graduation, barring disciplinary issues.
Guidelines for Admitting Students:
•All students who reside in Massachusetts, outside of the Town of Reading and who areentering the grade(s) specified above for the 2023-2024 school year are eligible to apply forspecific seats.
•Students who are chosen for Full Day Kindergarten available seats are required to pay theannual tuition fee of $2,650 in ten (10) equal installments.
•The Reading Public Schools does not give preference for admission based on race, color,religious creed, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, ancestry,athletic performance, physical handicap, special need, academic performance, or proficiencyin the English language.
•The Reading Public Schools will not provide transportation to School Choice students.Caregivers are responsible for transporting the student to and from school.
•Students who enroll through School Choice will be able to continue their education inReading Public Schools through graduation, barring significant disciplinary issues. SchoolChoice students do not reapply for admissions each subsequent year.
•The application deadline is Friday, June 2, 2023, at 3:00 pm to participate in the lottery.
•Once seats have been filled, applications not selected during the lottery process will beplaced on a wait list in the order they were drawn.
•School Choice students selected will be required to follow the Reading Public Schoolsregistration process as defined and outlined on the RPS Registration Website.
Questions about School Choice and the application process may be directed to Olivia Lejeune, via email at Olivia.Lejeune@reading.k12.ma.us. More information about School Choice may be found at: Advisory Memorandum on Financial Administration of the School Choice Program General Law - Part I, Title XII, Chapter 76, Section 12B
SCHOOL CHOICE APPLICATION
2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR
Deadline for Application to be Submitted: Friday, June 2, 2023, at 3:00 pm
Submit Application to: Office of the Superintendent of Schools Reading Public Schools 82 Oakland Street Reading, MA 01867 Or email application to SchoolChoiceApplication@reading.k12.ma.us
Name of Student Applicant: ______________________________________________________________________________ Gender: ____________________ Date of Birth: ____________________________________________ Current Grade: _______________________ Entering Grade: ____________________ (month/day/year) Student Address: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Current School Attending: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Current School Address: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Current School Attending (Circle Y for Yes; N for No): Private School: Y or N Public School: Y or N Parent/Caregiver Name: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Parent/Caregiver Street/City/Zip Code: ________________________________________________________________________________________________
Parent/Caregiver Email: ________________________________________________(Lottery notification will be sent to this email address) Home Telephone: _________________________________________________________Mobile Phone: _______________________________________________ Parent/Caregiver Signature: _______________________________________________________________ Date: _______________________________________
SCHOOL REQUESTED: __________________________________________________________________ GRADE REQUESTED: _____________________
LOTTERY ADMINISTRATIVE USE ONLY
Name of Student Applicant: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Lottery Results:
School : ____________________________________________________________ Grade: ____________________________ # Selected ____________________
Superintendent’s Approval: _____________________________________________________________ Date:_______________________________________
Reading Public Schools does not discriminate based on race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, gender identity,
age, sexual orientation, ancestry, athletic performance, physical handicap, special need, academic performance, or
proficiency in the English language.
Reading Public Schools
Instilling a joy of learning and inspiring the innovative leaders of tomorrow 82 Oakland Road
Reading, MA 01867
Phone: 781-944-5800
Fax: 781-942-9149
Administrative Offices
82 Oakland Road
Reading, MA 01867
781 944-5800
READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Shawn Brandt Chair
Carla Nazzaro Vice-Chair
Erin Gaffen
Sarah McLaughlin
Charles Robinson
Thomas Wise
Thomas Milaschewski, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
TO: Reading School Committee
FROM: Shawn Brandt, Reading School Committee Chair
DATE: May 4, 2023
TOPIC: Letter in Support of RPS Earmark Requests
At our meeting on Monday, May 8th, I will ask the Committee to review and provide feedback on a letter in support of
the earmark requests submitted on behalf of RPS. A draft letter follows this memo, and we will have printed copies of
this version for signatures should the committee approve it as is. We will also take a formal vote to submit the letter on
behalf of the committee.
Administrative Offices
82 Oakland Road
Reading, MA 01867
781 944-5800
READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Shawn Brandt Chair
Carla Nazzaro Vice-Chair
Erin Gaffen
Sarah McLaughlin
Charles Robinson
Thomas Wise
Thomas Milaschewski, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
TO: Senator Jason Lewis, Representative Brad Jones, Representative Rich Haggerty
FROM: Reading School Committee
DATE: May 10, 2023
TOPIC: Letter in Support of RPS Earmark Requests
Senator Lewis, Representative Jones and Representative Haggerty,
We, the members of the Reading School Committee, write to you to express our support for several earmarks
that have been submitted on behalf of Reading Public Schools. Our district has long benefited from the
outstanding partnership with our delegation on Beacon Hill, and we are grateful for your continued support.
The earmarks submitted on behalf of the district include:
• RMHS Arts Department - $50,000 – RMHS has an outstanding reputation for its exceptional performing arts
program, and this funding would allow for the purchase of equipment that will support the extension of this
excellence to digital music production, an exciting learning experience and career opportunity that is of interest
to many RMHS students.
• Keys to Literacy - $40,000 – Literacy is, of course, the foundation for all learning. Our district has made extensive
investments in early literacy in recent years and is actively focused on reassessing literacy instruction at the
secondary level. This funding would provide for training for middle school teachers on a research-based
approach to teaching reading and writing that will support consistent access to high-quality literacy instruction
for all students in Reading.
• RMHS Science Department - $50,000 – this funding will enable the purchase of materials and equipment that
will offer exciting new ways to engage students with practical, real-world applications of Environmental
Engineering and Physics. Many of our faculty have extensive real-world experience, and the equipment funded
by this request will help them bring those experiences to life for our students.
• RMHS Math Department - $50,000 – Computer Science is one area of instruction where Reading has lagged
many other leading districts, with relatively few courses on offer. As we work to remedy that and provide more
opportunities for students in this critical area, there are a variety of equipment needs that must be funded. The
requested funding would support investments including computer lab equipment, components for students
learning to build computers, equipment and software to support robotics programming, etc.
We understand that a portion of the Arts request has been included in the House budget, and are extremely
grateful for that. If there is any opportunity to reconsider the other requests as the Senate process and
reconciliation continue, we encourage you to take a second look at the Keys to Literacy opportunity in
particular. This is a very high impact investment in our schools and in our students that will upskill our
teachers and dramatically improve the quality of the student experience. We look forward to the progression
of budget discussions and are thankful for any advocacy you can provide in continued support of the Reading
Public Schools.
Respectfully,
___________________________________ ___________________________________
Shawn Brandt, Chairperson Carla Nazzaro, Vice Chairperson
___________________________________ ___________________________________
Erin Gaffen, Member Sarah McLaughlin, Member
___________________________________ ___________________________________
Charles Robinson, Member Thomas Wise, Member
Calendar
Reading Public Schools
School Committee Meeting Packet
May 8, 2023
Reading School Committee – Remaining SY22-23 Meetings
Note: All Regular SC Meetings will be held at the RMHS Library at 7 PM unless otherwise noted
May
May 8th – Regular SC Meeting (Monday night)
May 25th – Regular SC Meeting (METCO Headquarters – Boston)
June
June 2nd – RMHS Graduation
June 8th – Regular SC Meeting
June 22nd – Regular SC Meeting