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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-09-11 School Committee Minutes�� OFq�O Town of Reading RECEIVED ?� Meeting Minutes TOWN CLERK READING, MA, COXo�P' 1,f,- Board - committee - commission - council: 2025 OCT 27 PM 3: 23 School Committee Date: 2025-09-11 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, Tom Wise, Sarah McLaughlin (remote) and Lara Durgavich Members - Not Present: Erin Gaffen Others Present: Superintendent Dr. Thomas Milaschewski Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Olivia Lejeune on behalf of the chairperson. Topics of Discussion: A. Call to Order— Mr. Brandt called the meeting to order at 7:02pm with roll call attendance anticipating one member joining remotely. Roll Call Attendance— Mr. Wise— here, Mrs. Durgavich —here, Mrs. Nazzaro —here, Mr. Brandt — here Mr. Brandt reviewed the agenda for the meeting. B. Public Comment — None Focus on Excellence— RPS Food Services Summer Success Food Services Director Catherine Franzetti shared that the department earned the USDA "Turnip the Beet" Silver Award. She also highlighted the summer food program, partnerships with the YMCA and surrounding camps, staff retention efforts, and the department's expansion into catering as another way to partner with other communities. Consent Agenda 1. Minutes(08-21-2025) 2. Request to Surplus Property— RMHS 3. Request to Surplus Property — District 4. Revised Coolidge Quebec Field Trip Request S. Reading Police Department Backpack and Supplies Donation 6. RMHS Football Field Trip Request Page 1 1 Accounts Payable Warrant Reports 1. 08-21-2025 2. 08-28-2025 3. 09-04-2025 Payroll Warrant Reports 1. 07-14-2025 2. 07-28-2025 3. 08-11-2025 Mrs. Nazzaro motioned to approve the consent agenda, seconded by Mr. Wise. Roll Call Vote —Mr. Wise —yes, Mrs. Durgavich—yes, Mrs. Nazzaro—yes, Mr. Brandt —yes The vote passed 4-0. Reports 1. Students —Student representatives shared updates on recent and upcoming events, including: a. Back -to -School Night b. Fall sports c. Auditions forthe fall musical d. Homecoming Week e. Senior and Freshman Guidance Nights f. Launch of a new Math Team g. Innovation Career Pathways field trip to Millipore5igma h. Walk It Like a Rock It 5K I. Upcoming PSATs in October Superintendent— Dr. Milaschewski provided a follow-up on the fieldhouse project in response to the August 21st public comment. He shared that the project is essentially complete and students are now accessing the space. The Facilities and Central Office teams feel that spending for the project aligned with both the project scope and the handling of past projects. Dr. Milaschewski agreed with feedback regarding what to do if a project comes in under budget and noted that the district is working with the Finance Committee to develop a policy to ensure consistency. He thanked the community for their feedback and ongoing conversations. Dr. Milaschewski also gave a special acknowledgment to Ms. Kadi Buckley, high school assistant principal, and Tiffany Williams, a Boston -resident parent, who are collaborating to host the first -ever METCO Pathways and lob Fair. This event will be open to Reading Boston residents as well as Boston resident students from all 32 METCO communities. 3. Liaison/Sub-Committee a. Mr. Wise — SEPAL requested that the Committee consider recognizing November as SEPAC Awareness Month and asked that this item be added Page 12 to the October agenda. Mr. Wise was also invited to testify at the House and Senate on the new Right to Read bill, with a focus on advocacy and strong outcomes. b. Mrs.Durgavich—No report c. Mrs. Nazzaro—Killam is undergoing its second round of design development, and an upcoming abutters meeting is scheduled. d. Mr. Brandt —No report E. New Business Mrs. Nazzaro motioned to take agenda item E3 out of order, seconded by Mr. Wise. Roll Call Vote — Mr. Wise —yes, Mrs. Durgavich—yes, Mrs. Nazzaro—yes, Mr. Brandt — yes The vote passed 4-0. 1. Community Preservation Act Presentation Members of the Ad Hoc CPA Study Committee presented on their charge to "study the merits of the CPA and the various methods for adoption and present its findings to the Select Board." They provided an overview of what the CPA is, the steps the committee is currently taking, and how the CPA could benefit the Reading community. Next steps include presenting an informational report at Town Meeting, followed by a report to the Select Board, with a potential Town Meeting vote next spring on whether to submit the CPA to the voters. A copy of the link can be found in the Packet. The committee provided feedback noting that the concept is good, but there is only so much money to go around. Members raised concerns about timing, especially with override discussions currently happening and the recent passage of two large debt exclusions. This proposal could overlap with the upcoming override, raising concerns about its impact on the town's overall finances. A strategy was suggested to tie the proposal into override discussions —for example, framing it as a reduced override (such as a 2%override and 1% CPA) rather than presenting it as an additional cost. This could help convey the message that the override can be scaled. There are also state laws governing how a CPA is adopted, meaning more thought and planning will be required before moving forward. It was noted that this would not require a special election. The discussion also touched on how building projects tend to cost more for towns than for the private sector, raising questions about the procurement process and whether it could be paired with additional town funding. Overall, while members expressed support for the concept, they felt the timing presented significant challenges. Because this is an additional tax, the concern is that if it is not timed carefully, both the CPA proposal and the override could fail. Page 1 3 Mr. Brandt noted that Ms. McLaughlin had Joined the meeting around 7:25 p.m. and was now present. 2. FY25 Q4 Financial Update Mr. Littlehale joined remotely to present the FY25 Q4 financial update. Highlights included returning $59,994 to the Town. Year-end expenses and transfers included $350,000 for the technology refresh, $1.2 million for special education tuition prepays, and a transfer of $225,000 to the special education reserve fund. Mrs. Nazzaro motioned to approve the budget transfer between cost centers for the FY25 end -of -year reconciliation as follows: - Administrative$15,372.28 - Regular 0ay$392,880.05 - Health Services $15,000.80 - Extra-Curricular$18,896.31 - Athletics$40,046.48 - School Facilities $5,591.61 Going to the following cost centers: - Special education $400,753.50 - Technology$87,034.03 For a total of $487,787.53, seconded by Mr. Wise. The committee discussed the need for a second vote to approve the special education reserve fund transfer for clarity in the motion. Mr. Wise motioned to approve $225,000 from the special education cost center to the special education reserve fund, seconded by Mrs. Nazzaro. Roll Call Vote— Mr. Wise— yes, Mrs. Durgavich—yes, Mrs. Nazzaro—yes, Ms. McLaughlin —yes, Mr. Brandt —yes The vote passed 5-0. The Committee returned to the motion on the table and, without further discussion, proceeded to a roll call vote. Roll Call Vote — Mr. Wise — yes, Mrs. Durgavich — yes, Mrs. Nazzaro — yes, Ms. McLaughlin —yes, Mr. Brandt —yes The vote passed 5-0. Mr. Littlehale concluded his report by sharing information about grants and carryover into FY26, and the Committee also discussed concerns regarding METCO funding. 3. FY24 Agreed -Upon Procedures over Compliance Applicable to MA School Districts' End of Year Financial Report Page 1 4 Mr. Littlehale noted that the year-end report is included in the packet and that the district received a clean report with no findings or corrections. He explained that this report is a requirement of DESE and is not an audit, but rather an agreed -upon procedure of compliance applicable to the end -of -year financial report. - D. Old Business 1. RMHS Student Handbook Revision- Review & Approve (A) Dr. Milaschewski noted that the RMHS Student Handbook has been brought back with revisions based on community feedback. Updates include clarified language for the tie procedure for valedictorian and salutatorian, addressing the discrepancy regarding how often grades are updated (three or four times), and grammatical adjustments to the dress code language. He noted that this feedback has been vetted by legal counsel. Mrs. Nazzaro motioned to approve the RMHS Student Handbook revisions as presented, seconded by Mrs. Durgavich. Roll Call Vote - Mr. Wise - yes, Mrs. Durgavich - yes, Mrs. Nazzaro - yes, Ms. McLaughlin -yes, Mr. Brandt -yes The vote passed 5-0 2. Forest Montessori School - Follow up Discussion Mr. Brandt provided an update on his most recent outreach to Forest Montessori School and publicly acknowledged the items Mrs. Nazzaro raised during the last meeting, noting his agreement with her and that her questions were relevant. The Committee discussed concerns about being misled and the possibility that the school may be operating at Camp Rice Moody without approval. Members expressed disappointment that the school has not responded to the outreach. Motion to adjourn, seconded by Mrs. Nazzaro. Roll Call Vote- Mr. Wise -yes, Mrs. Durgavich-yes, Mrs. Nazzaro - yes, Ms. McLaughlin - yes, Mr. Brandt - yes The vote passed 5-0. httos•//www.youtube.com/watch?-HHOY-FH4O5PY Meeting Adjourned from regular session at approximately 8:39 pm.