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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-10-04 School Committee MinutesREADING SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE _.. Reading, Massachusetts SS.. Jollit Meeting with the School Building Committee October 4 1999 114 _ CALL TO ORDER Chair Dahl called the School Committee meeting to order at 7:15 p.m. at Parker Middle School. Present were Superintendent Harutunian, Associate Superintendent Richards and School Committee members Cavicchi, Williams, Keigley and Dahl. Mrs. D'Antona arrived at 8:15 p.m. Chair Graham called the School Building Committee to order at 7:16 p.m. Present were School Building Committee members Graham, Struble, Sanstad, Perry, MacRae, Lupi, Radville. Dr. Harutunian introduced himself to the public and outlined the evening's agenda. He explained that Mr. Graham would give a history of Dividence Road and that the Dividence Road project was very important to the School Department. Dr. Harutunian introduced Mr. Graham, Chairman of the School Building Committee. Mr. Graham explained that the School Building Committee was a special committee to bring space and enrollment issues to the forefront. To date they have worked on space issues at Parker Middle School, Coolidge Middle School and Reading Memorial High School. They could not recommend a new high school to Town Meeting because the cost was just too high. There has been a tremendous increase in enrollment on the elementary level. Last spring the School Building Committee looked at all the options. The solution was to build a new school and add on to the Barrows School. The plan for the new school was turned down at the Town election and the renovation to the Barrows School passed. We needed both plans to pass. Mr. Graham went on to say that the School Building Assistance Bureau would not give 66 % reimbursement to renovate the Barrows School. A renovation at Barrows alone will not solve the enrollment problem. We need to build a new school and add onto the Barrows School. He wanted to make it clear that SBAB is willing to spend 66 % of the cost of the new school. Expectations and certain conditions must be met. We must get rid of the existing modular classrooms, and we must solve all of our enrollment issues. The School Building Committee looked at many options. There is not much land left around the existing buildings. SBAB wants playground areas, etc. A land purchase is not reimbursable by SBAB. The fact that we do not have to pay for this land is a plus. There was talk of a centralized kindergarten at the high school. There was talk about core facilities and separate rooms for art and music. Joint Meeting with the School Building Committee -2- October 4, 1999 Mr. Graham went on to say that he was surprised that there were not more people present. He was shocked that more people did not vote. Parents of elementary age children will be affected. Mr. Graham offered to answer any questions. A parent asked if there were any legal ramifications for the article to be brought back to Town Meeting? Mr. Graham explained that articles could be brought to Town Meeting as many times as someone wanted to bring them. There are no legal ramifications. Someone asked if the landfill money would be put aside for the school committee? Mr. Graham stated that the landfill was an issue the last time. We do not have a finalized Capital Plan for this year yet. The Town has gone forward with the Police Station and other projects. Mr. Graham explained that Proposition 2 '/2 has presented some extreme difficulties. The Town voted to have a lean Capital Plan in the early eighties. We will pay dearly for what was done then. Keeping up with capital projects is just as important as keeping up with operational items. Crime would not increase if we did not have a new Police Station. The Town Hall could still function without the recent renovations. We cannot make room at an elementary school where there is none. Our children will not get the quality of education that they receive now. People say that class size does not matter. It certainly does matter. A parent thanked Mr. Graham for all his hard work. He thought the plans were good and that not a lot of people knew, or that a lot of people were just confused. Mr. Graham stated that there is a perception that the schools spend too much money. Property taxes are high in Reading. Water and sewer prices are high. People with elementary age children probably paid a high price for their homes. New School or not, you are still going to have these costs. We still have to educate these children. The problem is not going to go away. It will cost us more to add onto Barrows than it will to build a new school from the ground up. A new school and a renovation to Barrows are the way to go. We need a more active campaign. If the new school is defeated the answer is modular classrooms. The things that parents do not like will probably cost more. A woman asked if parents have to choose between a new high school and the elementary school. The high school is not on the capital plan and cannot be do done without an override. In essence, one project does not have anything to do with the other. Gael Phillips- Spence stated that the Town does not have 50 million dollars sitting around in a bank account. We cannot pay back 50 million dollars. We could pay back a 15 _e million dollar loan. Mr. Graham added that the problems at the high school pale in Joint Meeting with the School Building Committee -3- October 4, 1999 comparison to problems on the elementary level. There is plenty of room presently at the high school. Two studies that have been conducted support this. A woman asked what streets would be the exit and entrance streets for the Dividence Road School. Mr. Graham told her that the access roads have not been determined yet. Safety would be the first consideration. Dr. Harutunian stated that the eleven acres of land is right in the middle of where the elementary enrollment problem is. The children could walk to school. The site prep is minimal. There is enough land for soccer fields and a half -acre for a science nature trail. Dr. Harutunian went on to say that the Joshua Eaton School and the Killam School are the only schools with space available for modular classrooms. A man asked if we are competing with other towns for this SBAB money. Are we guaranteed this money? Mr. Graham explained that SBAB has never reneged on money it has agreed to. We have to meet certain criteria. Mr. Dahl thanked Mr. Graham for his presentation. He stated that the more we hear the facts, the more we are able to understand them. The School Committee and the School Building Committee think that Dividence Road is the responsible thing to do. Currently there is enough space at the high school. When the current elementary age children reach high school age the expected enrollment at the high school will be 1600 students. We will then need every inch of space at the high school. Mr. Dahl stated that Reading is an attractive town because we are progressive. The value of real estate is maintained. We have to make sure people go out and vote. Mr. Dahl stated that the Birch Meadow area couldn't handle anymore traffic. A woman asked how the Superintendent was going to communicate this. There was discussion of making a 15 -20 minute video at RCTV and having the videos available at the school libraries. Dr. Harutunian said he was looking for volunteers. This decision could effect Reading for the next 30 years. Mr. Dahl asked everyone not to assume that Dividence Road will be an easy vote. What are our priorities? What do we really want? People need to understand why the high school principal is in favor of this plan. A man asked why the School Committee couldn't be more vocal; they have done an excellent job so far. There was discussion on this issue. The long and the short of it is that the School Committee cannot lobby. The School Committee cannot spend tax ��y dollars on mailings. Joint Meeting with the School Building Committee - 4 - October 4, 1999 Dr. Harutunian introduced Killam School Principal, Paul Guerrette. He stated that last year he wore a T -shirt that said, "Build it and they will come. If you don't build it they will come anyway." He spoke about the space issues and the need for four additional teachers and no classroom space. There are no more closets to utilize. "Art in a cart" is ineffective. He explained the many uses of all the rooms at Killam and that the cafetorium was used for lunch five days, music three days, physical education two days. The best long -term solution would be to build a new school at Dividence Road and to renovate the Barrows School. Dr. Harutunian introduced Frank Orlando, Reading Memorial High School Principal. Mr. Orlando stated that there was a 1 -2% drop out rate at the high school. There was 95% attendance at the high school. 90% of the students went on to college. SAT scores are up. We have 2 National Merit Scholars this year. We have 13 students who received commendation. We are doing something right. The high school works as a system not as a school. The high school is system fed. We have to take care of the elementary students. He is very passionate about the high school. We need the new elementary school. There were 242 seniors last year. This year there are 332 freshman students. During the past year several options have been explored. They all address the increase in population. We could conceivable try to serve 600 students at second lunch at the high school. We cannot physically do this. We would have to add a third lunch and possibly extend the school day. You cannot have students each lunch at 10:15 a.m. ` - Mr. Orlando went on to say that it was disappointing for students to attend the high school after attending Parker and Coolidge. 90% of the students go to college because of a great background. We have to address the Elementary School issues. We have to support Dividence Road. The elementary students will eventually attend the high school. .A man asked about the time frame of SBAB. Dr. Harutunian explained that the deadline for the application was March 1, 2000 and the blue prints had to be in by June 1, 2000. Mr. Dahl stated that Reading receives a favorable reimbursement compared to the surrounding towns. The formula could change in 2002. ADJOURN Mr. Radville moved to adiourn the School Building Committee meeting at 9:25. Mr. Struble seconded the motion. The vote was 7 -0. Mr. Graham, Mr. Sanstad, Mr. Struble, Ms. Perry, Mr. MacRae, Mr. Lupi, Mr. Radville. Mr. Dahl asked, for a 5- minute recess for the Reading School Committee. t` r" t Joint Meeting with the School Buildine Committee - 5 - October 4, 1999 At 9:30, Chair Dahl called the School Committee meeting back to order. There was . "discussion on dates for a Goal Setting Meeting within the next two weeks. The Committee wanted to tailor goals toward the strategic plan. They decided on October 28, 1999 at 7:30 p.m. 4" 11010 RIN Mr. Keizley moved to adiourn. Mrs. Cavicchi seconded the motion. The vote was 5 -0. Mr. Dahl, Mr. D'Antona, Mrs. Cavicchi, Mrs. Williams, Mr. Keigle_y. espectfully submitted, Harry K. Harutunian, Ph.D. Superintendent of Schools