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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-10-04 School Committee Minutesd") Reading School Committee Reading, Massachusetts Regular Session October 4, 2004 CALL TO ORDER Chair McFadden called the meeting to order at 7:35 P.M. Present were School Committee Members Carpenter, Dahl, Gibbs, Spadafora, and Webb. Also present were Superintendent Schettini, Associate Superintendent Richards, and Director of Human Resources and Finance, DeLai. Superintendent Schettini thanked the RISE students for their artwork. BILLS & PAYROLL Bills and Payrolls were circulated for the School Committee Members to si gn. CITIZENS' INPUT , None c GIFTS , , None _ SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT co Grp Superintendent Schettini reported that he received a call from Superintendent Connelly of Stoneham on Friday night, October 1, 2004, requesting help from our staff, after an automobile accident injured many Stoneham elementary students. Eighteen members of Reading Public Schools staff volunteered their services and went to Stoneham on Saturday and Monday morning. Superintendent Schettini stated that he is very proud of the fantastic response from our staff members who generously donated their time. He commented on the quality of their work and ability to work as a team. He stated he felt that Reading was fortunate to have such a close knit community of individuals who work together through good and bad times. As a result of the accident Superintendent Schettini asked Reading Police Department Safety Officer Tom Murphy and Reading Fire Department Lieutenant Paul Jackson to do an evaluation of our schools for safety in dropping off and picking up students. Superintendent Schettini stated that we are currently working on Redistricting and are a couple of weeks behind because we had not received all the data necessary. The elementary schools are now working with parents to collect data. U Superintendent Schettini informed the Committee that budget parents meetings would. be starting-___ on Oct 25`h when he; along with Mary DeLai, Beth Klepis and Richard Foley, will be conducting a workshop with them at that time. October 1 st enrollment information was distributed. Superintendent Schettini informed the School Committee that Reading Public Schools had been selected to receive the Carol M. White Physical Education Program Grant in the amount of approximately $500,000, to be awarded over the next three years and introduced Mr. Gary Nihan to speak about the award. Mr. Nihan thanked the Superintendent and School Committee for the opportunity to apply for grant and the time to collect data and write the grant. He explained that we would receive a specified amount of money in year 1, 2, and 3 and our progress would be monitored annually. Mr. Nihan went on to say that this grant affords us the opportunity to have the best wellness program in the state and indicated that we received very positive feedback from the grant reviewers. Mr. Nihan stated that he is looking to create a very comprehensive approach to wellness and would appreciate feedback from the athletics department and police department. He also has plans to make connections and coordinate the wellness program between the schools by working with our guidance counselors, nurses, staff, and parents, and programs through Endicott and Framingham State College. He also plans to acquire equipment for a fitness center for the high school but indicated the Grant is really about program and a commitment to the district that will be a benefit to all students, not just specific groups. Chair McFadden praised and applauded Mr. Nihan for all the work he did on this grant and thanked him on behalf of the school committee. A discussion by the School Committee followed regarding plans for the program, areas of concern, and recommendations for expectations of accomplishment. Associate Superintendent, Dennis Richards gave a presentation of the 2004 MCAS results. A discussion followed regarding the use of these results, alignment with the Frameworks, and relationship to curriculum and classroom information. Associate Superintendent Richards invited the public to view the Reading Public Schools website readingdashboard.org for background information on MCAS scores. School Committee members also compared the results from year to year and discussed the changes and possible reasons for those changes. Assistant Superintendent Richards indicated that our goal was to have all students perform at a proficient level. Superintendent Schettini stated that the School Department is constantly looking at the scores to determine ways to make them better. SCHOOL COMMITTEE CALENDAR Nov. 291" - Instruction and Curriculum Initiative Presentation LIAISON REPORT None OLD BUSINESS Mr. Scott Dunlap, of AI3, provided a review and update on the High School building project indicating that it looks like they are on schedule for getting the field ready by December 1 st. A discussion took place regarding the material for the turf_.on_the new practice -field.He-also - - '-indicated the area around the gym is slightly ahead of schedule. A discussion followed regarding the impact of a future slowdown on the project. Mr. Dunlap responded that we should take a look at all the milestones of the construction in March, when the exterior of the building is scheduled to be enclosed. A discussion took place regarding when the contractor will take possession of building C, the furniture, technology, and budget for the new building, and the memorial pieces. Mr. Dunlap indicated that Design Partnership would work with the School Department to finalize these elements. Mr. Sam Bird, from Flansburg Associates, reported on the Wood End HVAC issues indicating that many items have been resolved, the fresh air flow to classrooms has been adjusted, balancing has been done, noise issues corrected, and the duct units are now operational. Mr. Bird continued by stating the heating system is up and running. A discussion followed regarding sun in classrooms. Mr. Bird stated that a punch list of items for final review is in the process of being completed and indicated that we now have a certificate of substantial completion. A discussion ensued regarding punch list items. School Committee members discussed drainage onto the walkways and holding a retainer until completion of the project. Mr. James Jordan, of AI3, reviewed & updated the School Committee on the Barrows project and distributed a handout with a schedule of tasks and anticipated start/finish dates. He indicated there is now an onsite person to oversee the project, and indicated the project is currently a little ahead of schedule. Mr. Spadafora requested, if possible, to have information, as outlined in the handout, prior to the School Committee meetings. A discussion of the project, status dates, etc. followed. Superintendent Schettini informed the School Committee about a letter from the Department of Revenue regarding transfer of FY04 funds the School Committee made to the three school building projects. He stated that the most expeditious way to address this issue is to request Town Meeting to transfer the funds. Ms. Webb made a motion, seconded by Mr. Spadafora, to request that the Board of Selectmen call for a Special Town Meeting to be held at the same time as the Subsequent Town Meeting for the purpose of transferring funds from Free Cash to School Construction in the followin sums: • Wood End $100,000 • Barrows $200.000 • Reading Memorial High School $350,000 The vote was 6-0. Mr. McFadden commented on the Red Oak, located on corner of Sunset Rock Lane, as an area of safety concern and a discussion followed. Mr. Spadafora made a motion, seconded by Mr. Dahl, to appeal to the Board of Selectmen the Tree Warden's response to the School Department in his memo dated September 28, 2004 to remove the Red Oak Tree at the corner of Sunset Rock Lane and Franklin Street. The vote was 5-1 Mr. McFadden Mr. S adafora Mr. Dahl Ms. Gibbs and Ms. Webb in the affirmative and Mr. Carpenter in the negative 'The School Committee discussed the improvement of the high school baseball field. NEW BUSINESS Public Input on FY06 Mr. John Russo, President of the Band Parent Organization, requested the School Department take a closer look at their support of the band and fine arts program and consider an increase in funding in next year's budget (FY06), stating that it takes roughly $60,000/year to run the band. Currently the School Department funds about $5,000. Mr. Russo stated the Band Parents Organization would like help with transportation and the insurance of trucks. Mr. McFadden requested Mr. Russo provide a list of prioritized requests to Phil Vaccaro and Superintendent Schettini. Dick Matthews, Parker parent & PTO Co-Chair, expressed concerns about technology from a district perspective. He stated that the Parker PTO raised about $12,000 last year for Parker technology and continued by saying the current technology staff is not enough. Mr. Matthews suggested that there be more staff added as opposed to more hardware, indicating that a person can affect more change in the long term. The School Committee reviewed Mr. Matthews' remarks and suggested that these things be considered in the Capitol Plan. Mr. Mac Donald, of the Finance Committee, indicated the FinCom would be looking at the Capitol Plan for three years ahead and plans to integrate the needs of the School Department and the Town. ADJOURN rn Respectfifla,, Subiitted rr m Patrick A. Schettini, Jr. Superintendent of Schools