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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-11-23 School Committee MinutesV Reading School Committee Reading, Massachusetts E_ 1 1L "H CLERK D! ?'G, MPkSS. ZOO3 HAZY i { P 12: 3 Regular Session 'November 23, 2004 CALL TO ORDER Chair McFadden called the regular meeting of the Reading School Committee to order at 7:25 p.m. in the Reading Memorial High School Auditorium. Present were Mr. McFadden, Mr. Carpenter, Mr. Spadafora, Ms. Webb, Mrs. Gibbs and Student Representative, Bridgett McMillan. Also present were Superintendent Schettini, Associate Superintendent Richards and Director of Human Resources and Finance Mary DeLai. Mr. Dahl arrived later. SUPERINTENDENT'S AWARD Superintendent Schettini presented the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents' Award for Academic Excellence to Bethany Haley and Daniel Quinn, Reading Memorial High School seniors, who have distinguished themselves in pursuit of excellence during their high school years. He stated that the two students absolutely have gone above and beyond what was expected of them. BILLS AND PAYROLLS Bills and Payrolls were circulated for signatures. Chair McFadden introduced the Pop Warner Football Coaches, John Roble, Paul Jackson, and Steve Garey, whose team won the Eastern Massachusetts State Championship. He stated that the team was one win away from a trip to Florida. Mr. Jackson had the football team stand up. Christine DiFilippo acknowledged the Pop Warner cheerleaders. Chair McFadden called a one-minute recess at 7:40 p.m. Chair McFadden called the meeting back to order at 7:45 p.m. CITIZEN'S INPUT There was no citizen's input. GIFTS Mr. McFadden stated that the Reading Technology and Education Foundation was able to provide $14,000 in grants to support the following projects; a digital microscope and computer software the RMHS Biology Department, two computer projection systems for Birch Meadow, website production and maintenance software for RMHS, and a LCD data projector and scanner for the RMHS business department. _.The-School -Committee Regular Session -2- November 23. 2004 extends its deepest appreciation to the many volunteers who lead the RTEF and support their fundraisers. He asked the Superintendent to send the appropriate thank you. He asked people to support the Festival of Trees on December 4 and 5`' at Parker Middle School. REDISTRICTING Chair McFadden gave an overview of the redistricting process. He stated that the School Committee would be taking clarification questions from the audience. He stated that there would be a meeting coming up at each of the current elementary schools to present the administration's recommended plan and to collect input from parents. The schedule for these 7:00 p.m. meetings is: December 8 Barrows at Parker Middle School Auditorium December 14 Eaton December 15 Killam December 16 Birch Meadow He went to say that the plan is a work in progress and nothing is set in stone. There will be a Public Hearing on January 6, 2005. The School Committee will vote on January 27, 2005. He then introduced Superintendent Schettini. Superintendent Schettini thanked the School Committee for the opportunity to present a good problem to try to solve. Superintendent Schettini stated the easels had the current districts on them. The object of the presentation is to explain the process used. The Reading School Committee is trying to balance class size across town. The district changes are to be as long term as possible. Superintendent reviewed the redistricting process and presented the proper plan. Chair McFadden suggested that parents take a few minutes to look at the proposed maps. He stated that one map will be at each elementary school and the central office. Information will be on the www.readingdashboard.org org website. The plans will also be in the newspapers. Mr. McFadden stated they would be taking clarification questions. Mr. Ralph Spano, 45 Rustic Lane stated that it was 1.8 miles to Killam and 2.0 miles to Wood End. He asked what the criteria were for bussing. He was told that to qualify for mandated bussing you had to live over two miles from school, driveway to driveway, and that you had to be sixth grade or under. Helen Brady, 105 Prescott Street, needed clarification on,what, _school .her- .child--would go to. Mrs. Callan told her the Barrows School. Regular Session 3 November 23, 2004 Ken Tucci, Buckskin Drive, asked if the bussing costs would be the same. Superintendent Schettini told him we would not be saving money on bussing we still have students to be bussed. He did not think we would be spending any more. Gael Phillips Spence, 222 Grove Street asked about single houses, which were notched out. What was the rational? She was told that it depends upon the actual street address. Mark Dockser, 110 Beaver Road, asked about the Barrows bussing costs. He was told that those costs were totally separate from the regular bussing costs. Valerie Ross, Lawrence Road, asked if they took into account the number of students traveling to the Wood End School together. She was told that they did. Jeffrey Struble, Tower Road, stated there were major changes in the district spanning major roads. He asked about crossing guards. Mr. McFadden told him that the Selectmen controlled the crossing guards. Christine Rose, 15 Covey Hill Road, asked about the sidewalks on Franklin Street. Mr. McFadden told her Selectmen have control over the sidewalks as well. The School Committee is lobbying for sidewalks. Mr. Dahl stated that an override for the Franklin Street sidewalks had failed twice. The FinCom plans on reviewing the Capital Plan. The School Committee feels that sidewalks should be on the Capital Plan. Christine Kelley, 84 Woburn Street asked about little pockets of Joshua Eaton and Birch Meadow students and what the plan was to integrate them. She was told there would be plans to integrate students. Mr. Kelly went on to ask about a middle school redistricting. Mr. McFadden told him that if there was going to be a redistricting of the middle school but it could not be done until the elementary plan was final. Steve Moriarty, 116 Lowell Street, asked if any of the School Committee members walked any of these routes. He stated the sidewalks were "crappy". He was told that the Department of Public Works maintains the sidewalks in Reading. He asked if traffic studies were done. He was told that no traffic studies were done in the past three months. There was a question about parking at the Wood End School. Superintendent Schettini stated that he worked with the Fire Department, the Police Department, the Conservation Commission and the Department of Public Works to look into safety, traffic and parking issues. Regular Session 4 November 23, 2004 Mrs. Diorio, Scotland Road asked about the condominiums on West Street at the old Spence Farm. Mr. McFadden told her that most people who purchase condominiums do not have school aged children. Area realtors have told him the average would be .5 children per unit. Mrs. Diorio stated that after school people are racing down street. Mr. McFadden told her that the School Committee had no control over the speed of cars or the condition of sidewalks. Chris Derse, Covey Hill Road, asked what the optimistic guess was for sidewalks on Franklin Street. Mr. McFadden stated it could be anywhere from fifteen to eighteen months. Two years would probably be reasonable. Ms. Derse wanted to know how many students walk on Franklin Street on a direct route to school? No one knew. Ms. Derse thought that three possible redistricting plans would be presented. She wanted to know why this did not happen. Mr. McFadden told her that there would be one proposed plan presented. Lori Vinciguerra, 98 Pine Ridge Road, stated every district has concerns about sidewalks. She suggested a Town wide school safety plan for key sidewalks. Valerie Ross asked in the Superintendent would be at the input meetings. Mr. McFadden stated that the Superintendent and Associate Superintendent would be in attendance and he was encouraging as many School Committee Members as possible to attend. Jane Spano, Rustic Lane, asked how the new school is being staffed? Superintendent Schettini stated that Richard Davidson would be the Principal at Wood End. The Teacher's Contract would be used to institute any staffing transfers. Mrs. Spano asked about the special education students in programs at the various schools. She was told whatever the school, the program was physically located in is where the child would go to school. Linda Snow Dockser, 110 Beaver Road asked about overlapping at the middle schools. She was told that changes if any, would be decided later. The middle schools are larger and changes, if any, concerning the middle school boundary lines would be decided later. Steve Moriarty, Lowell Street, asked if we currently bus students. He was told that we do. Kevin Carnes, Wenda Road, asked if any consideration was given to grandfathering and statistical modeling? Mr. McFadden told him that no students in the second or third grades would be grandfathered. They may grandfather students in fifth grade but this decision can come later. _Sarah F_orbes"asked_if any_consideration was-given to class size?--Mr. McFadden stated that The Committee was always concerned with class size. Regular Session -5- November 23, 2004 Joe Piccolo, crossing guard at Main Street and Summer Avenue, stated the Town has a problem attracting crossing guards. He stated they were being organized into a union. Mr. McFadden asked if there were any more clarification question? There were none. ADJOURN Mrs. Gibbs made a motion to adiourn Mr. Dahl seconded the motion The vote was 6-0. Mr. McFadden Mr. Carpenter, Mr. Spadafora, Ms Webb, Mrs Gibbs and M_ Patrick A. Schettini, Jr. Superintendent of Schools j,