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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-05-10 School Committee MinutesReading School Committee Reading, Massachusetts RECEIVED TOWN CLERK LEADING. MASS. 2004 JUL I b A 11: 2 3 Regular Session May 10, 2004 CALL TO ORDER Chair Dahl called the regular meeting to order at 7:38 p.m. in the Superintendent's Conference Room. Present were Mr. Dahl, Ms. Webb, Mr. McFadden and Mr. Spadafora. Also present were Superintendent Schettini, Associate Superintendent Richards and student representative Joseph Kwiatek. CHAIR PRESENTATION Chair Dahl stated that they were going to present Mr. Russo with a chair for his service on the Reading School Committee. Mr. Russo asked for a few minutes to speak. Mr. Russo gave an over view of his career as a School Committee member. Chair Dahl thanked Mr. Russo on behalf of the Town and the School Committee for his service. BELLS AND PAYROLLS Bills and payrolls were circulated for signature. PUBIC HEARING SCHOOL CHOICE Chair Dahl called the Public Hearing for School Choice to order at 7:50 p.m. Superintendent Schettini gave an overview of school choice. He stated he does not recommend school choice. He asked if there were any questions. There were none. Chair Dahl stated the Public Hearing was closed. Mr. Spadafora moved pursuant to the provision of GLc76 and 12 B, the School Committee of Reading, following public hearing, hereby withdraw from its obligation to enroll non-resident students in the Reading Public Schools during the 2004-2005 school year for the following reasons: Programmatic Reasons, Class Sizes and General District Enrollment. Ms. Webb seconded the motion. The vote was 4- 0. Mr. Dahl, Mr. Spadafora, Mr. McFadden and Ms Webb CITIZEN'S INPUT Mr. Thomas O'Donnell, a Killam third grade parent from Belmont Street, stated there was a fourth grade class size issue for the next school year. He wanted assurance that the class size issue stays on the table_ and is addressed appropriately. The same class -was - Regular Session -2- May 10, 2004 bussed to Coolidge for kindergarten. He wanted to know how the issue would be addressed. Chair Dahl stated the purpose of Citizen's Input was for the Committee to take information but not to address it on the spot. He told Mr. O'Donnell that Superintendent Schettini has met with parents and toured the school. He would have an answer in early June. There have been shifts in enrollment. Mr. McFadden suggested that the parents give Mr. Guerrette and Superintendent Schettini a chance to solve the class size situation. Chair Dahl stated that class size problems have always been at the top of the list of School Committee priorities. They will work to achieve an acceptable solution to the problem. Mr. Gary Phillips asked that the minutes of the March 27, 2003 School Committee be changed. Chair Dahl told him the matter would be taken under advisement. NEW SCHOOL NAMING SUB COMMITTEE CALL TO ORDER Ms. Webb called the New School Naming Sub Committee meeting to order at 8:12 p.m. Present were Ms. Webb, Mrs. Adams, Mr. Hines, Mrs. Perry and Mr. Spadafora. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Snadafora moved to approve the New School Naming Sub Committee minutes of March 11, 2004 with changes as noted Mrs Adams seconded the motion The vote was 4-0. Ms. Webb Mrs. Adams, Mrs Perry and Mr. Snadafora Mr. Snadafora moved to approve the New School Naming Sub Committee minutes of March 18, 2004 with changes as noted Mrs Adams seconded the motion The vote was 5-0. Ms. Webb Mrs. Adams Mr. Hines Mrs. Per and Mr. S adafora. Mr. Snadafora moved to approve the New School Naming Sub Committee minutes of March 31, 2004 with changes as noted Mrs Adams seconded the motion The vote was 5-0. Ms. Webb Mrs. Adams Mr. Hines Mrs. Per and Mr. S adafora. Ms. Webb gave an overview of the process explaining that the contemporary names were removed from the list. This would in no way diminish or take away from these people, as they are all pillars of character. The four contemporary names were Louis Adreani, Regular Session -3 May 10, 2004 Miriam Barclay, Russell Graham and Ernest Garfield Spence. The four final names that rose to the top are Wood End, Horace Greeley Wadlin, Hope and John Brooks. Mrs. Adam stated that the process surprised her when she applied the criteria to each name. They then assigned points to each name based upon the criteria. Mrs. Adams stated it was important for people to know that John Brooks was not a Reading native. Mr. Spadafora moved to accent the recommended names from the New School Naming Sub Committee as shelled out in the Superintendent's memorandum dated May 6, 2004. Ms. Webb seconded the motion The vote was 4-0. Mr. Dahl, Mr. Spadafora, Mr. McFadden and Ms Webb ADJOURN Mr. Spadafora motioned to adjourn the New School Naming Sub Committee Ms Webb seconded the motion. The vote was 5-0. Ms. Webb Mrs. Adams Mr.Hines Mrs. Perry and Mr. Snadafora OLD BUSINESS BARROWS UPDATE Mr. Scott Dunlap from AD gave an overview of the Barrows Project. He stated that Suburban Middlesex Insulation (SMI) was the apparent low bidder for the general contractor for the Barrows Project. He recommended that the Committee move ahead with Suburban Middlesex Insulation. Mr. Spadafora moved that the School Committee hereby vote to award the Generl Contract for the Barrows Building Project to Suburban Middlesex Insulation Inc. fS I) in accordance with their bid documents submitted to the School Committee Mr. McFadden seconded the motion. The vote was 4-0. Mr. Dahl Mr. S adafora Mr. McFadden and Ms. Webb Mr. Spadafora stated that it was a long road to get to this point. Ms. Webb asked if there was any more information available concerning Suburban Middlesex Insulation. Mr. Dunlap stated all the information was consistent with their other findings. Regular Session -4- May 10, 2004 Mr. Spadafora moved that the School Committee authorize the Chairman of the School Committee, with the Superintendent of Schools, the Architect and Proiect Manager for the Barrows Project and Town Counsel to proceed with the preparation of a General Contract with Suburban Middlesex Insulation, Inc (SMn for the Barrows Building Proiect in the amount of $6,104,599 and it is hereby further moved that upon completion of the preparation of such a contract, the Chairman of the School Committee is authorized to execute such contract with Suburban Middlesex Insulation,Inc. (SMI) on behalf of the School Committee The vote was 4-0. Mr. Dahl, Mr. Spadafora, Mr. McFadden and Ms Webb Mr. Dunlap stated he sent out request for proposals for construction testing for the Barrows Project. UTS, a local firm, was the low bidder. After a review of the qualifications it was determined that UTS will be awarded the work. Mr. Dahl approved it. No formal motion is necessary. Mr. Spadafora moved to accent a change order up to $20,000 for the purposes of adding insulating padding to the gym walls for safetv reasons at the school at Sunset Rock Lane. Ms. Webb seconded the motion. The vote was 4-0. Mr. Dahl Mr. Spadafora, Mr. McFadden and Ms Webb Mr. Jordan from Ai3 gave an update on the new elementary school. He stated that construction on the new school is 72% completed. Mr. Dahl stated that the FinCom has requested a tour of the new school some evening around 5:30 p.m. AA will provide the tour guide. Mr. Dunlap gave an update of the RMHS Building Project. He stated they had a very successful ground breaking. POLICY MANUAL UPDATE Superintendent Schettini stated that the Committee has re-energized attempts to review the School Committee Policy Manual. Michael Gilbert from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees gave an overview of the process to review School Committee Policies. The process would include going through the policy book, policy by policy, changing, adding and deleting policies, section by section. There are twelve sections. We have completed four. We need to carry forward any changes in state statutes. There was discussion regarding policies governing the use of the internet in schools. Regular Session -5- May 10, 2004 Mr. Dahl suggested that they set aside chunks of time to go through one or two policies at each meeting. Superintendent Schettini thanked Mr. Gilbert for his time. Mr. Gilbert will be in touch to set up the first meeting. REPORT OF COMMITTEE CHAIR, LIASIONS & SUPERINTENDENT Superintendent Schettini stated he attended the high school awards night. It was wonderful to see so many parents and students as the event was well attended. Chair Dahl thanked all the Town Meeting members for their understanding and important motions to pass the FY05 School Budget. Mr. Richards gave an update on the Pipeline Grant. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Spadafora moved to accept the minutes of March 11, 2004 Mr. McFadden seconded the motion. The vote was 4-0. Mr. Dahl, Mr. Spadafora, Mr. McFadden and Ms. Webb Mr. Spadafora moved to accept the minutes of April 29, 2004 Mr. McFadden seconded the motion. The vote was 4-0. Mr. Dahl, Mr. Spadafora, Mr. McFadden and Ms. Webb ADJOURN Mr. Spadafora moved to adiourn Mr. McFadden seconded the motion The vote was 4-0. Mr. Dahl, Mr. Spadafora, Mr. McFadden and Ms Webb Superintendent of Schools