HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-12-05 School Committee MinutesReading School Committee
Reading, Massachusetts 2r 2:
77
Re ular Session
Call to Order December 5 2005
Chair Spadafora called the regular session to order at 7:35 p.m. in th
Meeting Room at Town Hall. Present were Mrs. Gibbs, Ms. e Selectman's
Webb, Mr. Carpenter, Mr.
Dahl, Mr. Spadafora and Mr. McFadden. Also present were Superintendent
Assistant Superintendent Doherty, Director of Human Resources andSchettini,
DeLai and Student Representative Erica Lessard. Finance Mary
Bills and Payrolls
Bills and Payrolls were circulated for signature.
Citizen's Input
There was none.
Gifts
Superintendent Schettini stated that he was very
Samantha's Harvest. He introduced Mr. Robert Adler and Mrr and M three people from
Mr. Adler stated he was on the Board of Samantha's rs' Robert Gibbs.
a check for $2,000 to Victoria Griffin, Director of the Harvest and he was ha
SE Pre-School. happy to present
Mrs. Griffin thanked Samantha's Harvest on behalf of the families an
Pre-School for their very generous gift. and staff at the RISE
Mrs. Gibbs stated that Mr. McFadden won the Samantha's Harvest Golf Tournament
years in a row. She thanked everyone for all of their support in
Harvest events. the many Samantha's
Superintendent Schettini stated that Mr. Nelson Burbank donated $20,00o of stadium lights. He thanked Mr. Burbank for all the support he gives for installation
our schools.
t.-ivt a expressed thanks from the Committee.
the SSu erintendenfs memo dated December 112005. Mrs. Gibbs seconded the ed in
motion. The vote was 6-0. Ms. Webb Mr. Car enter Mr. Dahl Mr. S adafora
Mr. McFadden and Mrs. Gibbs.
Mr. Carpenter stated that the gift was for lights only.
Superintendent Schettini stated he met with Science and Energy
D.C. He stated that it is critical that we spark the young minds in Reading o g ti them to
go into Math and Science. He stated that they got the attention of the people there.
Mr. Doherty stated he attended a Blue Ribbon School Conference last week. Coolid e
Middle School has attended the conference the past several years, the last few as g
presenters.
Mr. Doherty stated that twenty- three states with outstanding schools participated. They
get together and share best practices. They bring back from the conference good ideas
and use in their own culture. Administrators that attended the conference with Mr.
Doherty were Karen Callan, Patty de Garavilla, Joe Finigan and Craig Martin.as well as
several teachers from the district. He stated that Mr. Finigan won a Smart Board.
Ms. Webb stated she attended an International Education Conference with
Superintendent Schettini, Social Studies Chair Thomas Darrin, High School Social
Studies teacher Gary d'Entremont, Parker Social Studies teacher Jane Costa and Coolid e
Social Studies teacher Mary Ann Cuscuna. She stated we need to educate student f
or g
future not the past. the
Superintendent Schettini stated we are forced to move forward not backwards. The
student's future is different from what we faced upon graduation. We live.
a global
society now, the world is very small. We have to be mindful of that as we prepare them
for the future.
Mr. McFadden asked if Chinese was taught in California. Superintendent Schettini told
him the Federal Government had a $125,000 budget for Chinese. In San Francisco the
have a school with full immersion. Y
Ms. Webb stated she attended a Public Hearing on November 29, 2005 held by Senator
Antonelli and Senator Haddad. It was an informative Public Hearing and it was a good
example of how a Public Hearing should be run effectively. Each person was allowed
three minutes to speak.
Ms. Webb stated she was a representative on the Expanded Learning Team. She had
attended two meeting with another coming up. The Committee of thirty-two was divided
up into sub committees, thirteen teachers, thirteen parents and some community
Regular Session -3- December 5, 2005
members. They went on a site visit to the Timilty School in Roxbury. There is a lot of
work to be done. Mr. Doherty and Mrs. Begonis are working hard to guide and support
the group work.
Mr. Carpenter stated that he had a meeting with RCTV. They are working very hard to
get on track.
Mr. Carpenter stated that it was agreed that the Friday Morning walks through the
Reading Memorial High School Building Project would be suspended for a few months
until the weather improved. The committee discussed environmental/landscaping change
orders.
Mr. Carpenter moved to rescind permission for the Superintendent to sign Change
Orders on the Reading Memorial High School Project pertaining to landscaping
and Conservation Commission issues only, until April 30, 2006 Ms Webb seconded
the motion. The vote was 5-1. Ms. Webb, Mr. Carpenter, Mr. Dahl, Mr. Spadafora,
and Mrs. Gibbs voting for Mr. McFadden voting against
Calendar
Superintendent Schettini stated on Wednesday, December 7th there is a Financial Forum
Meeting.
Mr. Scott Dunlap of Ai-3 and Mr. Dave Capaldo of TDPC presented the building project
updates.
Barrows
Mr. Dunlap stated that at the Barrows School they were going through the punch list and
they were down to $84,100 worth of items. He has notified Suburban Middlesex
Insulation that their time to finish these items has expired. They have $222,000 at
Barrows in direct payment demands. He has been working with Town Council, Joan
Langsam to ensure that they have been following the proper procedures.
Mr. Dahl stated that the Barrows Technology Budget is still underspent.
Superintendent Schettini stated that he was directed, by the committee, not to spend the
Technology money until they do an inventory of all the Technology in all the schools and
then present that to the Committee.
Reading Memorial High School Building Project
Mr. Dunlap gave an overview of the
Regular Session -4- December 5, 2005
Mr. Dahl stated that it appears that the auditorium looks behind schedule. He asked if
there is enough variance on the critical path to allow them to catch up.
Mr. Dunlap stated that the asbestos removal took extra time. October was a very wet
month and the securing the construction in Area B. There is a possibility that it may not
be completed on time. The auditorium is eight weeks behind. The Contractor will leave
the old auditorium until the new one is finished.
Chair Spadafora stated that safety is at the top of our list.
There was discussion regarding the track. Mr. Dunlap stated that TLT has agreed to hire
Cape and Islands to do the track work. The current recommendation is to put down a
single layer surface with striping.
There was discussion concerning change orders.
Ms. Webb moved to accept Change Order #36 for $38,241.46 as detailed in the
Superintendent's memorandum dated December 1, 2005 Mr. Carpenter seconded
the motion. The vote was 6-0. Ms Webb, Mr. Carpenter, Mr. Dahl, Mr. Spadafora,
Mr. McFadden and Mrs. Gibbs.
Ms. Webb moved to accept Change Order #35 for $72,075.83 as detailed in the
Superintendent's memorandum dated December 1, 2005 Mrs Gibbs seconded the
motion. The vote was 6-0. Ms. Webb, Mr. Carpenter, Mr. Dahl, Mr. Spadafora,
Mr. McFadden and Mrs. Gibbs.
Mr. Dahl asked about the rework of the rainwater piping under existing building as
required for phasing wanted to know if it was in the original plan. Mr. Dunlap told him
no that there are no "as builts" available.
Mr. Capaldo explained that the Contractor is required to update the plans with the new
"as builts" so that this situation does not happen in the future.
Adjourn
Mrs. Gibbs moved to adjourn to Executive Session for the purpose of approving
minutes pending not to return to regular session. The roll call vote was Mr. Pete
Dahl, Mr. Robert Spadafora, Ms. Elaine Webb, Mr. Carl McFadden and Mrs Lisa
Gibbs
Respectfully' 6mia d, er -
Patrick A, Schettini, Jr.
Superintendent of Schools