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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-11-01 School Committee MinutesVED TiIVN CLERK 01NG, M'r;SS. Reading School Committee Reading, Massachusetts 2005 JAN 12 P 12:29 Regular Session November 1, 2004 CALL TO ORDER Chair McFadden called the regular session to order at 7:35 in the Superintendent's Conference Room. Present were Mr. Dahl, Mr. McFadden, Mr. Spadafora, Ms. Webb and Mrs. Gibbs. Also present were Superintendent Schettini, Associate Superintendent Richards, Director of Human Resources and Finances, Mary DeLai and Student Representative Bridget McMillan. Mr. Carpenter arrived later. BILLS AND PAYROLLS Bills and Payrolls were circulated for signature. CITIZEN'S INPUT Mr. Bill Brown showed the School Committee a hammer that his father had used in the construction of the Pearl Street School, He told the Committee he would be presenting the hammer, which has been mounted on a plaque to Longwood Place. Mr. John Lippett, a citizen, expressed his dismay at the School Committee for the i' endorsing of a State Representative Candidate at a School Committee Meeting during Citizen's Input. He felt this endorsement was unprecedented and unwise. Chair McFadden thanked him for his opinion. He wished both candidates well. GIFTS There were no gifts. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT Superintendent Schettini acknowledged the artwork from the Killam School. He thanked Donna Dawson, the Art Teacher. Superintendent Schettini stated there was an incident at the Wood End School. Roofers were doing some warranty work on the roof. Some of the fumes from the adhesive wafted into the school. Air tests at the school are with in the normal range. This was an isolated incident. There will be a School Committee meeting on November 23, 2004. The focus of the _..-meeting.wilLbe.redistricting. The time, date-and place will be-posted.- - - Regular Session -2- November 1, 2004 Mr. McFadden thanked John Carpenter for his service to RCTV. OLD BUSINESS Mr. Dunlap from AD gave an overview of the Wood End School Building Project Budget. Mr. Spadafora asked when the assessment of the existing furniture and equipment at Wood End would take place. Mr. Dunlap told him all of the furnishings would be reviewed in February of 2005. They would determine then what would be replaced and what would be discarded. There was discussion regarding the proposed playground at the Wood End School. Mrs. Gibbs moved to authorize the Superintendent to enter into an agreement with Childscapes for the Purchase and Installation of Playground Equipment as outlined in the Superintendent's memorandum dated October 27, 2004. Mr. Spadafora seconded the motion. The vote was 6-0. Mr. Carpenter, Mr. Dahl, Mr. McFadden, Mr. Spadafora, Ms. Webb and Mrs. Gibbs Ms. Webb asked about the synthetic wood chips at the playground. She was told that Department of Public Works maintains the level of wood chips at all the playgrounds in ' Reading. The discussion shifted to the soccer field at the Wood End School. Superintendent Schettini stated the School Department recently went out to bid for an automatic underground sprinkler system for the soccer field. Mrs. Gibbs moved to authorize the Superintendent to enter into an agreement with G.T.A. Irrigation for the Automatic Underground Sprinkler System as outlined in the Superintendent's memorandum dated October 27, 2004. Mr. Spadafora seconded the motion. The vote was 5-0-1. Mr. Dahl, Mr. McFadden, Mr. Spadafora, Ms. Webb and Mrs. Gibbs voting for and Mr. Carpenter abstaining. Mr. Spadafora asked if the sprinkler system had a sensor to detect when it was raining. He was told that it did. Mr. Dunlap gave an overview of the Barrows Building Project Budget and the Reading Memorial High School Building Project Budget. Mr. Dunlap stated the exterior metal studs were up and soon there would be a layout for the interior walls. Mr. Dunlap stated the substantial completion of the outside of the new building would be July 2004. r4 Regular Session -3- November 1, 2004 - Mr. McFadden read a letter from Dr. Connolly, Superintendent of Schools in Stoneham thanking numerous counselors from Reading for their service after a recent accident in Stoneham. Mr. McFadden publicly thanked everyone involved. Reading Memorial High School Basketball Coach Paul Morrissey gave an overview of a proposed over night field trip to Cape Cod in December. Ms. Webb asked about smoke detectors in the house where the students would be staying. Coach Morrissey stated he would take care of that. Mr. Spadafora moved to approve the overnight field trip to Cape Cod in December as spelled out in the Superintendent's Memorandum dated November 1, 2004. Mr. Dahl seconded the motion. The vote was 6-0. Mr. Carpenter, Mr. Dahl, Mr. McFadden, Mr. Spadafora, Ms. Webb and Mrs. Gibbs There was discussion regarding the FY06 Budget priorities. Mr. Carpenter suggested that we maintain an aggressive preventative maintenance program. Mr. Dahl stated that we would continue to seek grants that support our instructional priorities. There was discussion about having community service be a graduation requirement. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Spadafora made a motion to approve the minutes of September 13, 2004 Mrs Gibbs seconded the motion. The vote was 6-0 Mr. Carpenter, Mr. Dahl, Mr. McFadden, Mr. Spadafora, Ms. Webb and Mrs Gibbs Mr. Spadafora made a motion to approve the minutes of September 18, 2004 Mrs Gibbs seconded the motion. The vote was 6-0 Mr. Carpenter, Mr. Dahl, Mr. McFadden, Mr. Spadafora, Ms. Webb and Mrs. Gibbs Mr. Spadafora made a motion to approve the minutes of October 12, 2004 Mr. Carpenter seconded the motion. The vote was 6-0 Mr. Carpenter, Mr. Dahl, Mr. McFadden, Mr. Spadafora, Ms. Webb and Mrs Gibbs Mr. Spadafora made a motion to approve the minutes of October 18, 2004 Mr. Carpenter seconded the motion. The vote was 6-0 Mr. Carpenter, Mr. Dahl, Mr. McFadden, Mr. Spadafora, Ms. Webb and Mrs. Gibbs Regular Session -4- November 1, 2004 ADJOURN Mr. Spadafora moved to adjourn to Executive Session not to return to regular session for the purpose of conducting strategies in preparation for negotiations with the Teachers' Association, Secretaries and Clerks, Custodial Maintenance Workers, Cafeteria Employees, Education Assistants, Nurses and Administrators, Superintendent, Associate Superintendent, High School Principal, Coolidge Principal, Parker Principal, Barrows, Principal, Birch Meadow Principal, Eaton Principal, Killam Principal, two high school assistant principals, Coolidge and Parker assistant principals, Directors of Special Education, Food Service, Athletics, Nurses, Facilities, Assistant Director of Facilities, Secretary to the Superintendent, Administrative Assistant to Finance, Administrative Assistant to Personnel, Administrative Assistant to Curriculum and Administrative assistant-Central Office. Mr. Dahl seconded the motion. The roll call vote was 6-0 Mr. Dahl, Mr. McFadden, Mr. Carpenter, Mr. Spadafora, Ms. Webb and Mrs. Gibbs.