Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-09-15 School Committee MinutesReading Public Schools Reading, Massachusetts R E G E iV E D Regular Meeting of the School Con'n'~r, , ' T 0NN RK 1 N~~, M A S S Open Session Date: September 15, 2009 Time: 7:30 p.m. (Open Session) Place: Superintendent's Conference Room School Committee Members Present Lisa Gibbs Karen Janowski Chuck Robinson Elaine Webb David Michaud Chris Caruso Patrick Student Representative O'Sullivan aaa OCR -a P I.5° Staff Members Present John Doherty, Assistant Superintendent Colleen Dolan, Director of Pupil Services Mary DeLai, Director of Finance & Operations Visitors: Eric Sprung, Birch Meadow Principal Richard Davidson, Wood End Principal I. Call to Order Steve Hagan, Reading Advocate Frank Orlando, Project Director, Emergency Preparedness Grant Lynn Dunn, Director of Nursing Kara Gleason, TAH Grant Coordinator Chairperson Robinson called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. He briefly went over the agenda. II. Recommended Procedure A. Public Input a) B. Reports I 1. Student Mr. O'Sullivan reported that the high school students are adjusting to the new high school schedule. The high school sports have started their seasons and other clubs and activities have started to meet. 2. Liaison 3. Superintendent's Report Dr. Doherty reported on the opening of school. He thanked the administrators, faculty and staff for ensuring a smooth opening once again this year. He also thanked the Reading Police Department for being very visible before and after September 15, 2009 school. He indicated that the district is working with public safety officials and - has developed a safety calendar for fire drills and other activities. He reviewed the current district enrollment and stated we are at or about the same number as last year. He also reported that the number of students participating in our athletic programs is up this year. Dr. Doherty informed the committee that the student MCAS scores have arrived and will be distributed in the near future. He also wanted to share and thank the planning committee of the First Annual Reading Street Faire for an extraordinary event. Dr. Doherty stated that the Youth Risk Behavior Survey presentation will take place at the September 21St meeting. 4. Sub-Committee 5. Director of Finance and Operations Ms. DeLai updated the committee on the Financial Assistance Program. She stated to date she has received 13 requests for assistance. She also clarified that the review was not based solely on the 1040 and other information could be submitted to be included in the review. She is aware that circumstances have changed for some people since they filed their tax returns. C. Continued Business Performance Contracting Update Ms. DeLai updated the School Committee on the performance contracting work that has taken place over the past few months. She also outlined the work that will begin in the upcoming months. She reviewed the financing of the project and stated through diligent work of the Bob LeLacheur and others at Town Hall we were able to secure the bond at a substantially lower interest rate saving the town $327,575 over the term of the bond. 2. Second reading and Approval of Reading School Committee Policies JJFB and JQ Mr. Caruso moved, seconded by Mr. Michaud. to accent the second reading of the revised Section JJFB of the Reading Public Schools Polia Manual entitled Polices Extracurricular Participation Fee and moved to approve the revised Section JJFB of the Reading Public Schools Policv Manual entitled Policv on Extracurricular Participation Fee. Mr. Caruso did the second reading of the policy. The motion carried 6-0. September 15, 2009 Mr. Caruso moved, seconded by Mrs. Gibbs, to accept the second reading of the revised Section JO of the Reading Public Schools Policy Manual entitled Policy on Student Fees, Fines, and Charges and moved to approve the revised Section JQ of the Reading Public Schools Policy Manual entitled Student Fees, Fines, and Charges. Mrs. Webb moved, seconded by Mrs. Gibbs, to dispense of the second reading of Policy JO. The motion carried 6-0. The motion carried 6-0. D. New Business Teaching American History Grant Dr. Doherty stated that we are currently finishing up with the current grant and look forward to starting to work with the new grant program; History Connected. He introduced Kara Gleason, who once again will be the Director and thanked her for her outstanding leadership on the previous endeavor. Ms. Gleason thanked the committee for having her and went onto review the new grant. The grant is for 3 years from the U.S. Department of Education and the intended audience will be middle and high school teachers and we have eight school districts in partnership for this grant. She is also excited by the continued partnerships with UMass - Lowell Graduate School of Education and Primary Source as well as the new partnerships with Boston College Department of History and the Tsongas Industrial History Center. Ms. Gleason went onto share that the Grant Kick-Off meeting was held earlier today. She went onto explain the project goals and objectives. The Year One focus of the grant will be Equality, Citizenship, and the Law, Year Two will be War and Society: The Civil War to Vietnam and Year Three: American Encounters: The Movement of People and Ideas. Professional Development activities include interactive lectures with historians, classroom connections with lead teachers, professors, and museum educators and field trips. There are also History Book Discussion Study groups. Ms. Gleason shared some titles that the group would be reading and discussing. Primary Source also offers a summer institute which was very well attended and Ms. Gleason expects the same turnout for next summer's institute. Teachers commit to participate on a yearly basis and Ms. Gleason expects to have a similar number of teachers participating in this program as she had for the previous grant. t The School Committee thanked Ms. Gleason for coming. September 15, 2009 2. Fall 2009 H1N1 and Seasonal Flu Planning Dr. Doherty reviewed the Reading Public Schools Pandemic Plan. He said things are changing rapidly and we are working closely with Larry Ramdin, Town Health Director and Lynn Dunn, Director of Nurses. He went onto state that the HIN1 virus should be treated as the seasonal flu pointing out that it is a virus strain that we have not been previously exposed to therefore we have not built up antibodies. It is viral and is spread by wet spray (sneezing, coughing, etc.). The goals of the pandemic plan are to educate the community about influenza season, limiting transmission in schools, keeping schools open, and providing continuity of education. The plan was developed in July, 2008 and updated in July, 2009 as part of the Emergency Preparedness grant. The committee was comprised of Frank Orlando, Lynn Dunn, Eric Sprung, Cindy Ventura, Noreen Scarpitto and Domenic Cacciapuoti, Jr. In developing the plan the committee met with Larry Ramdin and used information provided by state and local health agencies. Dr. Doherty discussed how the HIN1 flu is different from the seasonal flu. HIN1 is seen more often in people between the ages of 5 and 24 years of age. The vaccine will be available to the public in mid-October. The Reading Public Schools are developing a plan to provide inoculations. The plan would be to advise parents of elementary children to take their children to their pediatrician. The district will provide the opportunity for inoculation at the secondary level with parental permission. Dr. Doherty emphasized this was not mandatory.' The administration is also developing a strategy to isolate children who develop flu-like symptoms during the day and need to wait for a parent to pick them up. He also discussed the strategy in case schools needed to be closed. He did not feel that we would reach that point but wanted the public to be aware that plans are in place. The administration will make this type of decision with guidance from state and local health authorities. He addressed the issue of continuity of learning and said it was discussed at the administrators meeting earlier in the day. Dr. Doherty emphasized that parents must be diligent and keep their children home if they are sick and not allow them to return for 24 hours after the fever is gone and they are no longer taking fever reducing medications. He turned the presentation over to Frank Orlando and Lynn Dunn. Mr. Orlando echoed Mr. Doherty's sentiments. He emphasized the role of parents and to the need to make healthy decisions not just for their family but for all those they come in contact. Mr. Orlando and Mrs. Dunn answered questions from the School Committee. 3. MASC Nomination Mr. Caruso moved, seconded by Mrs. Webb, to support the candidacy of Dorothy Presser for President-Elect of the MASC. The motion carried 6-0. September 15, 2009 4. 21St Century Skills Partnership Mr. Caruso moved, seconded by Mr. Michaud, to endorse the Partnership for 21st Century Skills "National Action Agenda Principles" Mrs. Janowski did not agree with some of the language in the National Action Agenda Principles. She did not feel it went far enough. She inquired how we are defining 21st century skills now that we are almost 10 years into the 21 st century. Mr. O'Sullivan stated that high school students think the phrase " 21St century skills" is just a buzz word. He also recently met with Mrs. Freedman to discuss this very topic and has a better understanding of the skills being taught in our high school and feels the committee should absolutely support this document. Mrs. Webb added that 21St century skills are a major component of our district vision. The motion carried. 5-1. Mrs. Janowski voting against. III. Routine Matters • Bills and Payroll (A) • Approval of Minutes Mrs. Caruso, moved, seconded by Mrs. Webb, to approve the open session minutes of August 31, 2009. The motion carries 6-0. • Bids and Donations 5. Calendar IV. Information V. Adjournment Mr. Caruso moved, seconded by Mr. Michaud, to adiourn. The motion carried 6-0. VI. Future Business Meeting adjourned at 9:25 p.m. NOTE: The minutes reflect the order as stated in the posted meeting agenda not the order they occurred during the meeting. A 41F. Doherty, Ed.D. g Superintendent of Schools