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Home My WebLink About1998-03-06 School Committee Minutesi Reading Public Schools Minutes of the Finance Committee, School Building Committee and School Committee__: :, t :,S. Finance, School Building & School Committees Meeting �` arch 6, 1998; , The meeting was called to order by Finance Committee Chairman Mr. James Keigley at 7:06 p.m. Also present from the Finance Committee were Ms. Carol Grimm, Mr. Paul K* ukor, Ms. Catherine Martin, Mr. Richard McDonald and Mr. Nathan White. The School Building Committee members present were Chairman Richard Graham, Mr. Richard Radville. Mr. Roger Sanstead and Mr. Jeff Stroeble. The School Committee members present were Chairman Timothy Twomey, Ms. Susan Cavicchi and Mr. Tom Stohlman. Also present was Dr. Harutunian, Superintendent of Schools and Principal Doherty of the Coolidge Middle School. Chairman James Keigley said the reason for this meeting is the discussion of the Arthur W. Coolidge Middle School Building Project. Mr. Graham said the School Building Committee made a presentation this past week to the Board of Selectman and the School Committee and they are here this evening to ask support and answer any questions from the Finance Committee. Ms. Grimm asked who will oversee the Coolidge project. Mr. Radville said he will be involved with this project but not to the extent of the Parker project. He said the committee does not know yet who will oversee it. Mr. Graham said Principal Delaney was their strongest manager on the Parker project. Mr. R. McDonald said the 9 million cost estimate seemed excessive, how good are the estimates? Mr. Graham said they spoke to an architect regarding the sprinkler system and the windows and he felt it was a reasonable estimate. Dr. Harutunian said the SBAB said it was well within the 66% limit. At 7:13 p.m. Mr. Gerry MacDonald, Finance Committee arrived. Chairman James Keigley reiterated to Mr. G. MacDonald what has transpired so far in the meeting. Ms. Martin questioned the conversion of the gymnasium to the library media center and whether the were satisfied it was a good plan. Mr. Doherty said the gymnasium is a perfect size for the library media center and the architect thought it was best. The architect is looking into the new gymnasium. He said the architect said cost -wise it is not a major expense to convert the gymnasium to the library media center. At 7:17 p.m. Ms. Margaret Cowles, School Building Committee and Mr. James Francis, Finance Committee arrived. sMr. White asked everyone to keep in mind that the actual cost of the project is not 9,000,000 but X16,920,000. He also said that in 1974 the schools were at peak capacity. The enrollment that year was 6,300 and next year it is expected to be 4,183, what did the schools do then for space? Ms. Grimm said there were twice as many elementary schools, only two grades at the middle schools and double sessions at the high school. Mr. Sanstead said there is a big difference in the schools now. Mr. White did not Finance. School Building &School Committee Mcct-ing Page 2 think there were double sessions at the high school at that time. Mr. Twomey said that question comes up often. He said the development plans for the Parker and Coolidge are within Department of Education ` requirements. The SBAB said if a larger school was proposed for Parker it would have been approved by them. They do not consider Coolidge an overly ambitious project. Mr. White said he conducted a survey two years ago of surrounding towns and Reading is the low man on the totem pole in terms of the tax base per child in school. Mr. Graham said the other towns have a higher tax base and it has been the Reading residents decision to live in a pristine community that has not expanded commercially. Dr. Harutunian said the 1996 figures show that Reading is over $700 less per pupil. The community has learned how to make the dollar go farther. He said that Mr. Graham said it well that it is a non - commercial community. The Superintendent asked that the Finance Committee endorse the Coolidge project. Mr. White explained that he is not against the project, he is merely presenting the facts. Ms. Grimm said the for the past five years since she has been on the committee, there has been money there for.Coolidge. The number has changed wildly due to educational reform and the enrollment figures. She said the committee hoped for 3,000,000 and it is a scaled -down project for 9,000,000. Mr. Keigley said that a society is only as good as its education system. He said the committee new when they did Parker they would have to do Coolidge. Technology takes more space and we are upgrading the education in Reading. Coolidge needs to be done now and two other schools need to be addresseded within the next five years plus the high schools should be on the timetable. Mr. Keigley said he was proud of the school system and the Town of Reading. Mr. R. McDonal d moved to a rove the Cool id e Middle School buildin renovation and addition proiect. Mr. Francis seconded the motion Mr. Twomey said the School Committee voted 6 -0 in favor of this project. Mr. G. MacDonald explained the articles he has read and the parents and committees he has spoken to and the timeline of the SBAB passage regarding this project and he is opposed of it because he does not believe it is a comprehensive total plan. Dr. Harutunian explained the capital plan which addresses all of the schools. It is the intent of the Administration that if this project is approved at Town Meeting in the fall the elementary schools and the high schools will be addressed. The Superintendent said there are only two committees north of Boston that have a balanced capital plan, Bedford and Reading. Within the capital plan this project can be supported. We have looked at every option and it this project doesn't proceed, delays would occur on the elementary and high school level. Mr. Stohlman said the reason he endorsed this plan was because he was seriously concerned about the ability of the capital plan to stay together. He did not think the capital plan would be an option next year. He said the police station is ready now and the Coolidge Middle School is also. Mr. Graham said the SBC discussed the elementary, middle and high school and due to money they voted not to go ahead with the high school at this time. He said all the grades have been looked at by the SBC and they are bringing to the table now what they feel must be done. Ir. Francis said the conditions at Coolidge compared to Parker are ridiculous. Sixteen million is pretty `° cheap these days. You have to do these projects when interest rates a low and the economy is good. Finance. School Building & School Committee Meeting Page 3 March 06 1998 Ms. Grimm said 1.8 million has been spend on the high school, she asked if the science labs accreditation issue has been addressed. Dr. Harutunian said yes. The vote was 7 -1 -0. Mr. G. MacDonald was opposed. Feasibility Study - Elementary Schools Mr. Twomey said the school committee voted this past Wednesday evening to request $50,000 from Town Meeting to hire and architect for the elementary schools. He said the committee discussed 1990 birth rates, physical changes in schools to accommodate ed. reform, population and financial issues. He felt a 66% reimbursement would be given by SBAB. The School Committee discussed the issue with Finance and School Building Committee briefly. Ms. Grimm moved to approve $50,000 for a district -wide elementary school feasibility study. Ms Martin seconded the motion. The vote was 7 -0 -1. Mr. G. MacDonald abstained. Mr. Graham thanked the Finance Committee for their favorable vote this evening. He said the School Building Committee will attempt to get something out this weekend to Town Meeting members for the Monday night meeting. Adiourn Mr. Francis motioned to adjourn at 8.05 p.m. Ms Martin seconded the motion The vote was 8-0-0. Chairman Mr. James Keiglev, Mr. James Francis Ms Carol Grimm Mr. Paul Kukor, Mr. Nathan White Ms. Catherine Martin and Mr. Gerry MacDonald Mr. Richard McDonald wd:sm03O698 Respectfully submitted, Harry K. Harutunian, Ph.D. Superintendent of Schools