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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-06-14 School Committee MinutesLW ElVE0 [OWN CLERK RIEAJI G. MASS. READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE Reading, Massachusetts 1004 SEP 22 A 11. 9 Regular Session June 14, 2004 CALL TO ORDER Chair McFadden called the regular session to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Superintendent's Conference Room. Present were Mr. Carpenter, Mr. Dahl, Mrs. Gibbs, Mr. McFadden, and Ms. Webb. Mr. Spadafora arrived at 7:11. Also present were Superintendent Schettini and Associate Superintendent Richards. Mr. McFadden welcomed everyone. Chair McFadden stated they would review the grade four enrollment issue at Killam and at 7:30 there would be a labor council workshop. BILLS AND PAYROLLS Bills and Payrolls were circulated for signatures. GIFTS Mr. Schettini stated The Young Women's League of Reading, Inc. gave Reading Public Schools a check for $1925. This year the five elementary schools will purchase science books. Mr. Schettini thanked Lisa Pappey and Sharon Peterson from The Young Women's League. Mr. Dahl made a motion to accept the gift from The Young Women's League of Reading, Inc. Mrs. Gibbs seconded the motion The vote was 4-0 Mr. Carpenter, Mr. Dahl, Mrs. Gibbs and Mr. McFadden REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT Superintendent Schettini introduced Ms. Linda Darisse, Douglas Lyons and Patty de Garavilla. Linda Darisse will be the principal at Parker Middle School and Douglas Lyons will be the new assistant principal at Parker. Patty deGaravilla will the interim principal at the Joshua Eaton School. Mr. McFadden thanked all the new administrators. Superintendent Schettini stated there is a School Committee Meeting on June 15, 2004 at 6:00 p.m. in the Reading Memorial High School Lecture Hall. We will continue regular session at 7:30p.m. in the Superintendent's Conference Room. There are School Committee Meetings on July 12th, July 26th and August 23ra Regular Session -2- June 14, 2004 Associate Superintendent Richards gave an update on the middle school parent survey, which is on line at www.surveymonkey.com/readin . He went on to say that the Readingdashboard. com is up and running since June I&. Superintendent Schettini stated that June 17th is the last day of school. Chair McFadden stated that on Wednesday afternoon at 3:30 the Barrow's faculty would tour the new school. Superintendent Schettini stated that he and Mr. McFadden met with Killam parents. Superintendent Schettini gave a presentation overview. He presented a chart with the enrollment as of June 14, 2004. He pointed out six problem enrollment areas. He stated that he has to watch all six areas carefully especially the second grade at Joshua Eaton. He reviewed the remedies presented by parents and their impact. The first recommendation is to move the Special Education Resource Room (Room 24) to the Hi- D open area and hire an additional teacher. There is no privacy in that area and there would be confidentiality issues. It is not handicap accessible. There is also the cost of adding a teacher. The second recommendation would be to bus two half-day kindergarten sections (35 students) from Killam to Barrows (at the new school) and hire an additional .5 teacher. The cost of the bus would be $45,000, the cost of the .5 teacher $27,000 and classroom materials of $5,000 for a total of $77,000. The third remedy would place a cap on the Killam fourth grade enrollment. Number four would reduce Birch Meadow grade four by one teacher, add a grade four teacher to Killam and bus two sections of half-day kindergarten from Killam to Birch Meadow. Number five would allow students who move voluntarily from Killam grade four to Birch Meadow grade four to remain at Birch Meadow for their fifth grade year. Number six involves the reallocation of educational assistants to address high enrollment grades. Superintendent Schettini gave a presentation of the third grade Spring MCAS reading test results. Killam third grade has the highest percentage of proficiency in Reading. He stated that the third graders are indeed learning. Scores across the district are good. He went on to give the 2003 Fall Grade 3 Gates-MacGinitie Test Results which shared similar district wide results. Regular Session -3- June 14, 2004 Ms Webb asked for clarification on number three. She asked if a cap has been established. The Superintendent told her that no official School Committee cap had been established yet. They are looking for voluntary transfers in the district. Mr. McFadden commended Mr. Schettini and Mr. Guerrette for the excellent job they have done. Mr. Dahl made a motion to support the Superintendent's recommendation number five and six as spelled out in his School Committee presentation dated June 14, 2004. The vote was 6-0. Mr. Carpenter, Mr. Dahl, Mrs. Gibbs, Mr. McFadden, Ms. Webb and Mr. Spadafora Mr. Schettini stated he would address all of the enrollment issues and will work with the principals to reassign all of the existing educational assistants. NEW BUSINESS Naomi R. Stonberg gave a Labor Counsel Workshop. She gave an overview of Education Reform Legislation, Collective Bargaining Process, Open Meeting Law and Public Records. ADJOURN Mr. Spadafora made a motion to adiourn to executive session for the purpose of discussing contract negotiations for non-union employees, administrative assistants and administrators and pending litigation not to return to regular session. The roll call vote was 6-0. John Carpenter, Pete Dahl. Lisa Gibbs. Carl McFadden, Elaine Webb and Rob Spadafora Respectfully su Patrick A./t5chettini, Jr. Superintendent of Schools