HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-10-16 School Committee PacketOpen Session 7:00 p.m.
Reading Memorial High School Library
Reading, MA
Reading Public Schools
School Committee Meeting Packet
October 16, 2025
Town of Reading
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2018-07-16 LAG Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
School Committee
Date: 2025-10-16 Time: 7:30 PM
Building: Virtual Location: Zoom
Address: Agenda:
Purpose: Open Session
Meeting Called By: Shawn Brandt, Chair
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Topics of Discussion:
7:30 p.m. A. Call to Order
7:30 p.m. B. Public Comment
7:35 p.m. E. New Business
1.Discussion and vote to accept donation for the RMHS Fitness
Center
7:45 p.m. Adjourn
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New Business
Reading Public Schools
School Committee Meeting Packet
October 16, 2025
TO: Reading School Committee
FROM: Olivia Lejeune, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent
DATE: October 14, 2025
RE: Vote to Accept RMHS Fitness Center Donation
Please vote to accept a donation of $200,000 from community member and RMHS alum Claudia
Miksen-Fanaras. Ms. Miksen-Fanaras has committed to funding the renovations of the RMHS Fitness
Center and Training Room. This donation represents the first installment of that commitment, with
additional contributions expected. Attached is a letter from Ms. Miksen-Fanaras regarding the
donation and overall project support.
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
Dear Superintendent Milaschewski:
It is indeed an honor and a pleasure to submit this Formal Letter of Intent and Interest to
you and the Reading Memorial High School Faculty and Student Body.
When I first reached out to your Athletic Director Thomas Zaya in May of this year, my goal
was to chat with him to get an idea of how I could donate something of significance that
would benefit the entire RMHS Community. Tom provided lengthy and in-depth details of
the extensive renovation that was taking place in the Hawkes Field House. I asked Tom
what was most needed next and what was not budgeted beyond the approved Field House
project.
We then met, walked the school and athletic halls and quickly came to the conclusion that
the old, tired and outdated fitness room needed a new face. It needed to be brought into
the 21st century with top-of-the-line and state-of-the-art fitness equipment and all the
necessary supporting improvements. Having met you the same day Tom, I think we can all
agree... this WAS the project.
In just 5 months, with a summer school break in between, we: Tom Zaya, Nick Sweatt of
Matrix, myself and you worked as a complete team and developed a comprehensive,
strategic and financial plan for a new Fitness Room and also added the Athletic Training
Room to the program.
My goal and commitment is to financially support the plan we collectively developed,
discussed and agreed to in principle last Thursday, September 18, 2025. Of course I
understand this is subject to your need to obtaining School Committee approval.
When appropriate, which should be soon, we should discuss how the two rooms shall be
named. I have some thoughts. I also believe, in this case, that honors and dedications do
not need to be in perpetuity, but rather time out and sunset so as to encourage others to
step up. contribute and make a difference.
Confirming our discussions earlier today, we can chat more how the payment(s)/donation
is facilitated. We will get that worked out and agreed to meet everyone's mutual
satisfaction.
I believe we have a pretty good thumbnail sketch of the project timeline from room closure
and breakdown to facility key turnover in late January/early February 2026. The fine-tune
should not be too difficult.
I am thrilled to be part of this endeavor and look forward to getting it over the finish line as
well as working with you in the years to come.
Sincerely,
Claudia Miksen-Fanaras