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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-02-26 School Committee MinutesI~ 04 -5 Town of Reading Joint Meeting { C" Reading School Committee and Board of Selectmen Joint Session February 26, 2004 CALL TO ORDER At 7:30 p.m. at the Town Hall Conference Room Mr, Dahl called the School Committee to order, Mr. Hines called the Board of Selectmen order. Present were School Committee Members, Carpenter, Dahl, Russo, Spadafora and Webb, Board of Selectmen Anthony, Shubert, Hines and Wood. Mr. McFadden and Mr. Cummings were ill. Also present were Superintendent Schettini, Associate Superintendent Richards, Town Manager Hechenbleikner and School Committee student representative Joseph Kwiatek. Scott Dunlap, Project Manager from AD gave an update of the three building projects. On February 17, 2004 the design documents for the high schools project were completed and approved. The documents will be available on February 24, 2004. On March 23, 2004 filed sub will be received with the general contractor bids due on April 6, 2004. At the end of May, construction fences will be going up and construction trailers will arrive. Mr. Hines expressed that sports groups around town had concerns with practice spaces. He would like to delay the taking over of the varsity practice field as long as possible. Mr. Schettini stated that he has had a meeting with Mr. McIntire, Mr. Fuedo, Mr. Hoffses and Mr. Dunlap to review the scheduling and use of all fields. Mr. Carpenter stated that the band would need a field the third week in August for band camp. Mr. Hines stated we should be creative with the use of fields. The upper field at Parker could be used for youth soccer and T ball. Mr. Dunlap from AB state that the varsity football field would be ready for immediate use due to the artificial turf surface. The first add alternate deals with turf on the practice field. Mr. Schubert suggested that there is a need for a formal community plan. A schedule of field availability needs to be posted on all Town web sites, newsletters and newspapers. There was discussion concerning potential parking issues. Mr. Hechenbleikner stated there were two dozen parking spaces at tennis court field. Mr. Dunlap stated that beginning in June the Contractor would be making obvious progress. There would be excavation and the footings for the shell of the new academic wing would be underway. The renovation inside the building would commence in the fall. There will be five other phases. Mr. Hines asked if the artificial turf surface would be ready for the spring and summer of 2005. Mr. Dunlap stated that it would be ready by the spring of 2005 if not sooner. Mr. Spadafora asked if there would be access to the fields. Mr. Dahl stated that that had been figured out. Superintendent Schettini stated that he will invite all abutters to an upcoming meeting. Mr. Dunlap stated the elementary school is about 57-58% completed. The target was 60% completion by the end of February. They have made significant progress in the past six weeks. Furniture for the new school will not be purchased until the Barrows school is completed. This eliminates the cost of storing the Barrows furniture for the year that the Barrows students occupy the new school. Joint Session -2- Februarv 26.2004 Mr. Hechenbleikner asked about the field schedule at the new school. Mr. Dunlap stated that the planting would begin when the season allows and when it is appropriate to plant. The field at the new school will not be an artificial surface. It is suggested that there is one season of growth before the surface is used. Currently, there is no irrigation. Mrs. Wood asked if the planting would be in May or September. Mr. Dunlap stated it would be approximately May 15. Mr. Dahl stated that they are trying to set up a tour of the new school. He is waiting on an opinion from Town Counsel concerning Open Meeting Law. Mr. Dunlap stated that the bid documents for the Barrows project are complete. The Barrows project will be bid after the Reading Memorial High School Project. The bid documents will be available to contractors March 26, 2004. The filed sub bids are due on April 16, 2004. The general contractor bids are due April 30, 2004. There was discussion concerning field composition. The field at the new elementary school will be a level performance field, not a high performance field. Mr. Russo asked what the cost of irrigation would be. Mr. Dunlap stated approximately $25,000. Mr. Spadafora suggested that field discussion should be included as a future agenda item There was discussion regarding the sidewalks on Franklin Street. There will be a question on the election ballot on March 2, 2004. Question two is a capital exclusion of $483,000 for sidewalks on Franklin Street. There will be sidewalks on both sides of the street. There has been no objection against the sidewalks so far. A capital exclusion versus a debt exclusion equates to one time $60.00cost per household. - Mr. Hines stated that the sidewalks are not for aesthetics purposes, it is an issue of safety. He asked people to support Question two. He stated that the questions are on the back of the ballot. The discussion shifted to the FY05 Budget. Mr. Dahl stated that there had been no joint discussion of the FY05 Budget up until this point. Ms. Webb stated that the FY05 Budget was approved by the School Committee and then forwarded to the FinCom. Mr. Hechenbleikner stated that the Town Manager is responsible for balancing the FY05 Budget. He stated that the budget submitted is an extraordinary budget for the town. There is $562,000 increase in revenue due to new growth this year. $100,000 of free cash was placed in a stabilization fund. The interest from the high school project helped increase revenue. They increased the snow removal budget for FY05 to make it more realistic. Mr. Dahl asked where we were with salt and sand for FY04. Mr. Hechenbleikner told him we have exceeded the FY04 budget. The Federal Government is giving us some assistance for the December storm. We will use some of that assistance for street sweeping. Superintendent Schettini gave an overview of the FY05 Budget process. The budget was built on a list of priorities given to him by the School Committee. All sections of the budget have been reviewed. There were several School Committee meetings in January where the budget was reviewed and discussed in great detail. The cost to bus Barrows' students to the new school is included in the FY05 budget. Mr. Dahl stated that the nursing position is a requirement. We need to have medical coverage. Joint Session -3- February 26, 2004 There was lengthy discussion concerning the position of the Director Human Resources and Finance during which the School Committee members and Superintendent answered all of the questions raised by the Selectmen. Mr. Spadafora left at 9:55 p.m. There was discussion concern the maintenance of Town and School Buildings. There was discussion concerning a resource officer at the schools. Mr. Hechenbleikner stated there were grants available to help with the cost. We could have an officer available at the high school and/or middle schools full time or part time. The School Department would be directly involved in the interview process. Mr. Carpenter stated that this person would be a good role model for students. Ms. Webb asked about the job description, evaluation, training and background. Mr. Hechenbleikner stated there is no formal training. Mr. Schettini stated that other towns have resource officers, it is not a new concept. We could obtain job descriptions from other towns. We have to decide what Reading wants in a resource officer. There would be a sub committee to handle the process. ADJOURN Mr. Dahl moved for the School Committee to adiourn. Ms. Webb seconded the motion. The vote was 4-0. Mr. Dahl, Mr. Russo, Ms. Webb, Mr. Carpenter Mrs. Anthony moved for the Board of Selectman to adiourn. Mrs. Wood seconded the motion. The vote was 4-0. Mr. Shubert, Mr. Hines, Mrs. Wood, Mrs. Anthony