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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-11-08 School Committee Minutes1LD Reading School Committee CLERK MASS. Reading, Massachusetts Regular Session Wg,'Z005" 3 CALL TO ORDER Chair Spadafora called the meeting to order at 7:37 P.M in the Town Hall Conference Room. Present were School Committee Members Mrs. Gibbs, Mr. McFadden, and Ms. Webb. Also present were Superintendent Pat Schettini, Assistant Superintendent John Doherty, Director of Human Resources and Finance Mary DeLai and Student Representative Erica Lessard. School Committee Member Mr. Dahl joined the meeting at approximately 8:10 P.M. BILLS & PAYROLL Bills and Warrants were signed. CITIZENS' INPUT None GIFTS Superintendent Schettini informed the Committee he had been working with Mr. Ken Latham and the RMHS Class of 1955 and 1956, and thanked them for their donation of $2,000 to the School Department. The money will be used for a clock on "Main Street" of the new Reading Memorial High School. Mrs. Webb made a motion to accept the $2,000 donation from the Class of 1955 and 1956 Mrs. Gibbs seconded the motion. The vote was 4-0. Mrs. Gibbs, Ms. Webb. Mr. Spadafora and Mr. McFadden. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT Superintendent Schettini informed the Committee he met with the Director and Executive Board of Understanding Disabilities (UD) and was informed UD had some discrepancies in some of their funds this year. He continued by stating the matter is currently under investigation. He reminded the Committee that the School Department did not fund the UD program this year (2005-2006) and assured them that fees the School Department paid last year were spent entirely to support the program in our schools. Superintendent Schettini read a letter from the UD Executive Board, which outlined their situation, indicating members of the UD Executive Board were very saddened by what happened and want to ensure that safeguards are in place to prevent anything like this from happing ever again. Superintendent Schettini assured the Committee he would work with the UD Executive Board to make sure there are significant safeguards in place regarding any budgeting the School Department makes for the UD program in FY07._ A F discussion followed. Regular Session 2 November 8, 2005 Superintendent Schettini updated the School Committee on the newly formed Expanded Learning Time Grant Committee, telling them it consists of approximately 30 parents, staff, and community members who held their first two meetings this past week. He continued by saying this is a research and development grant that provides us with an opportunity we would not ordinarily have the means to pursue. SCHOOL COMMITTEE CALENDAR The School Committee will meet again at Town Hall on November 29th and December 5th LIAISON REPORT None PERSONNEL None OLD BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS Mr. Alec Porter, RMHS French teacher, outlined details of a proposed field trip to France during the April school vacation. A discussion took place regarding the safety of travel to France, at this time. The School Committee also discussed with Mr. Porter the importance of being able to make travel arrangements in a timely manner for both students and staff. The Committee indicated they would not support the trip until the State Department approved travel to France safe again. Mrs. Webb made a motion to approve the field trip to France as outlined in Mr. Schettini's memo dated November 3, 2005, contingent upon the State Department's withdrawal of their current travel warning and also contingent upon informinL parents Mrs Gibbs seconded the motion. The vote was 5-0. Ms. Webb Mrs. Gibbs Mr. McFadden Mr. Dahl and Mr. Spadafora Paul Morrissey, Boys Basketball Coach, submitted a proposal for an overnight field trip to participate in pre-season scrimmages in Barnstable and at Stonehill College. A brief discussion followed. Mrs. Gibbs made a motion to accent the proposal as outlined in Superintendent Schettini's memo dated November 3, 2005. Mr McFadden seconded the motion The vote was 5-0 MkI . Gibbs, Mr. McFadden, Mi. Dahl, Ms. Web bandMr.Snadafnra_ Regular Session 3 November 8, 2005 The School Committee moved to the Selectman's Meeting Room at approximately 8:10 where Chair Spadafora recalled the meeting to order for a detailed presentation by Jim Ryan, of the Northeast Center for Healthy Communities, on the results of the Spring 2005 Youth Risk Behavior survey to the Board of Selectmen, School Committee, and community members. Chair Spadafora thanked everyone for coming and introduced School Committee Members, Reading Public Schools Administrative Staff, Secondary School Administrators, and Director of Health and Wellness. Town Manager, Peter Hechenbleikner, introduced the Board of Selectmen, Chief of Police, James Cormier, Director of Health and Human Services, Ms. Jane Fiore, and Members of the Advisory Council Against the Misuse and Abuse of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs. Superintendent Schettini introduced Mr. Jim Ryan, Director of the Northeast Center for Healthy Communities who was invited to make a presentation of the results of the Spring 2005 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), and answer any questions. Mr. Ryan began by giving an overview of the High School data and an explanation regarding the reliability, confidentiality, and process by which the survey instrument is cleaned to obtain valid data. He continued by addressing responses to each of the survey questions and comparing data by grades. School Committee Members asked questions about what might be the best way to address current uses of tobacco and drugs and how to include questions on the survey about more recent drug misuse problems (e.g. oxycontin). They also asked about the high number of violence related behaviors. Mr. Ryan and Mr. Schettini explained that incidents could occur at school, where they were tracked, or in other places and it would be very difficult to know, from this chart, where an incident took place. The suggestion was made to include in future surveys a question that would clarify where violent behaviors took place and to break it down by male/ female. A brief discussion about bullying, suicidal thinking, and seatbelts followed. The possibility of comparing our results to other communities was also discussed but not encouraged because of the many differences and inconsistencies in surveys used, data and community programs. Mr. Schettini informed the Committee that Mr. Nihan has taken a look at other communities' research-based programs to see what is successful and he will continue to collect data to reach the ultimate goal of seeing a greater downward trend in all areas of concern. A discussion followed. Mr. Ryan continued with an explanation of the Middle School survey results, indicating the State does not collect State wide middle school data and, as a result, there is very little to compare our data with. He presented YRBS statistics on the use of tobacco, alcohol, drugs, inhalants, violence, bullying, suicide, and sexual behavior. A discussion regarding the difference between students who had aids awareness instruction and those who did not followed. Also discussed were weight control, physical activity, and participation in organized sports. Regular Session 4 November 8, 2005 Mr. Ryan answered questions about adult surveys, adult behavior and perception of what is happening with our youth, and different surveys that are available. Mr. Nihan commented that help, as far as parent programming, should be a community effort, coming from the community and school department, with the help of the school database. Mr. Ryan suggested that Reading take a look at the survey tools that are out there and then decide what we want to do with the data. A discussion followed regarding different survey questions, other survey tools, and data collection for specific topics; also, interpreting the data to lead to effective solutions, and delivering the skills for students to cope with these issues. Superintendent Schettini concluded by stating that all of these issues should be taken very seriously, there were no easy solutions, and these questions needed to be continually addressed by both the community and schools. Mr. Spadafora thanked Mr. Ryan, the Selectmen and all community members for attending the presentation. APPROVAL OF MINUTES None INFORMATION AND PROPOSALS None ADJOURN Mrs. Gibbs made a motion to adiourn at 9:22, seconded by Mrs Webb The vote was 5-0; Mr. Spadafora, Mrs. Gibbs, Ms Webb, Mr. Dahl, and Mr. McFadden Respect teed, Patrick A. S hettini, Jr. Superintendent of Schools