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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-08-30 School Committee MinutesReading Public Schools Reading, Massachusetts Regular Meeting of the School Committee Open Session 7D1Fu S'r? * 1 3'. 0 Date: August 30, 2010 Time: 7:00 p.m. (Open Session) Place: Superintendent's Conference Room School Committee Members Present Chuck Robinson Hal Croft Karen Janowski Chris Caruso Lisa Gibbs Staff Members Present John Doherty, Superintendent Patty de Garavilla, Assistant Superintendent Mary DeLai, Director of Finance and Operations Kim Oliveira, Director of Pupil Services Elizabeth Conway, Human Resources Administrator Matthew Conway Student Representative Jared Beaulieu Student Representative Visitors: Ellie Freedman, RMHS principal Craig Martin, CMS principal Doug Lyons, PMS principal Karen Callan, Barrows principal t Eric Sprung, Birch Meadow principal Richard Davidson, Wood End principal 1. Call to Order Matt Casey, Reading Patch Steve Hagan, Reading Advocate Christine Lyons, Reading Chronicle Chairperson Caruso called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. He turned the meeting over to Dr. Doherty to begin the introduction of new teachers. Superintendent Doherty stated that we had hired 26 new teachers and thanked the building principals and Elizabeth Conway for their hard work throughout the hiring season. Each principal introduced their new teachers to the Reading School Committee and the community. Chair Caruso called a brief recess at 7:28 p.m. The meeting was called back to order at 7:30 p.m. The Chair reviewed the agenda. He indicated that the second reading of Policy FF and the Superintendent's Evaluation would be postponed until the September 13th meeting. August 30, 2010 II. Recommended Procedure A. Public Input (I) B. Reports I 1. Student Student Representatives Conway and Beaulieu reported that the students would be reporting back to school Wednesday and that the fall sports season was underway.' 2. Liaison Mr. Caruso stated that he along with Mr. Croft, Mrs. Janowski and Mr. Robinson attended the opening staff meeting today. He also reminded members of the committee of the site visits scheduled Tuesday evening at Killam and Birch Meadow. Mrs. Janowski reported that she had attended the recent METCO pool parry. She said it was well attended and a great time. 3. Superintendent's Report Dr. Doherty reported on the Ed. Jobs Funding. He feels that the district will take a wait and see approach to use this funding because of the economical climate. He will work with the administrative team to determine the best use of these funds. This is a one time amount of money. Dr. Doherty also reported on the Race to the Top funding that the state will be receiving. Reading will receive approximately $36,000 over four years. The Superintendent updated the School Committee on Medicaid funding. He indicated that the state did receive funding but these funds may be allocated to the rainy day fund. He will assume that we will not see any of this funding. Dr. Doherty updated the School Committee on the elementary enrollment. He indicated that he has been able to use the guidelines established by the committee to place new students to Reading in school based on class size. There are still a few hot spots. Superintendent Doherty informed the School Committee on the status of statutory provisions of section 2141 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, (ESEA). They impose a number of obligations on districts with respect to Title I, Part A (Title IA) and Title II, Part A (Title IIA) funding and the Highly Qualified Teacher (HQT). Reading Public Schools has failed to reach 100% highly qualified teacher for the past three years. The district is at 99% which translates to 2 teachers that are not highly qualified. We are working with these teachers to achieve highly qualified status. Dr. Doherty updated the committee on two requests they had made at previous meetings. He informed them that after school transportation for the METCO students has been arranged. Working with the Council for the Aging, the students will be transported by the senior van. The driver and fuel charges will be paid for August 30, 2010 by the METCO grant. Dr. Doherty thanked Dawn Folopoulos for her cooperation. In addition, arrangements have been made to allow staff members attend home sporting events for free by showing their ID badge. 4. Director of Finance and Operations Ms. DeLai thanked Mr. Huggins, Mr. Cacciapuoti and the maintenance and custodial staffs for the tremendous job they have done preparing the schools for the opening of school. She reported on the Temple Street reconstruction and traffic patterns that will be in place starting this week. Ms. DeLai reported on the recently signed Ed Jobs Funding bill. Reading is in line to receive a total of $641,000. This funding is to be used on instructional staffing and the district has 27 months to use it. It is our intent at this point to gauge the economic conditions before deciding on how the money will be spent. 4. Director of Pupil Services C. Continued Business D. New Business MSBA Green Repair Ms. DeLai gave an overview of the MSBA Green Repair Program which allows for the repair or replacement of roofs, windows and /or boilers in public school facilities that are structurally, functionally and educationally sound except for the condition of their roof, windows and/or boiler. She indicated that the reimbursement rate ranges from 31 % to 80%. Mr. Robinson moved, seconded by Mrs. Gibbs, "Resolved: Having convened in an open meeting on August 30, 2010, the Reading School Committee of the 'T'own of Reading, in accordance with its charter, by-laws, and ordinances, has voted to authorize the Superintendent to submit to the Massachusetts School Building Authority the Statement of Interest dated September 16, 2010 for the J.W. Killam Elementary School located at 333 Charles Street, Reading, Massachusetts 01867 which describes and explains the following deficiencies and the priority category(s) for which the Reading Public School District may be invited to apply to the Massachusetts School Building, Authority in the future: Under MSBA Prioritv Categorv 95, to enhance the teaching and learning environment and improve the enerav efficiencv of the Kiillam Elementary School through replacement of the school roof which has exceeded it useful life resulting in increasin ley frequent leafs, water damage, and energy waste, and replacement of the original building windows that are exceptionally inefficient and allow for significant intrusion of outside air and the release of heated/conditioned air from the building August 3 0, 2010 Mrs. Gibbs asked if and how these projects would work in concert with the Noresco work. Ms. DeLai indicated that the Noresco work will be completed in January. She feels that the Noresco project may have a favorable influence on the application. Dr. Doherty indicated that the Board of Selectmen must also take a similar vote. The motion carried 5-0. Mr. Robinson moved, seconded by Mrs. Gibbs, "Resolved: Having convened in an open meetinLy on August 30, 2010, the Reading School Committee of the Town of Reading, in accordance with its charter, by-laws, and ordinances, has voted to authorize the Superintendent to submit to the Massachusetts School Building- Authority the Statement of Interest dated September 16, 2010 for the Birch Meadow Elementary School located at 27 Arthur B. Lord Drive, Reading, Massachusetts 01867 which describes and explains the following deficiencies and the priori category(s) for which the Reading Public School District may be invited to apply to the Massachusetts School Building Authority in the future: Under MSBA_ Priority Categorv 95, to enhance the teachinLr and learninL- environment and improve the energy efficiency of the Birch Meadow Elementary School through the replacement of the original Birch Meadow Elementary School building windows that are exceptionally inefficient and allow for significant intrusion of outside air and the release of heated/conditioned air from the building. Creation of Revolving Accounts Ms. DeLai indicated that these accounts will be used to collect the new user fees instituted this year. Mr. Robinson moved, seconded by Mrs. Gibbs, to approve the creation of the a special revenue fund as provided for under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 71, Section 47 for receipts and expenditures related to School Committee sponsored extracurricular progjams at Coolidge Middle School. The motion carried 5-0. r August 30, 2010 Mr. Robinson moved, seconded by Mrs. Janowski, to approve the creation of the a special revenue fund as provided for under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 71, Section 47 for receipts and expenditures related to School Committee sponsored extracurricular programs at Parker Middle School. The motion carried 5-0. Mr. Robinson moved, seconded by Mrs Gibbs to approve the creation of the a special revenue fund as provided for under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 71, Section 47 for receipts and expenditures related to School Committee sponsored extracurricular programs at Reading Memorial High School. The motion carried 5-0. III. Routine Matters ® Bills and Payroll (A) ® Approval of Minutes Mr. Robinson moved, seconded by Mrs. Gibbs, to approve the open session minutes dated July 19, 2010. The motion carried 5-0. Mr. Robinson moved, seconded by Mr. Croft to approve the open session minutes dated August 9, 2010. The motion carried 4-0-1. Mrs. Gibbs abstained. ® Bids and Donations Mr. Robinson moved, seconded by Mrs. Gibbs to accept the donation from the Pratt family in the amount of $2,000 for the purchase of a comButer, software, and accessories for the RAMS drama program as outlined in the Superintendent's memo dated August 26, 2010. The motion carried 5-0. the 2010-11 school year as outlined in the Superintendent's memo dated August 26, 2010. The motion carried 5-0. Mr. Robinson moved, seconded by Mrs. Gibbs to accept the donation of $1,328.98 from the Stop & Shop A+ Bonus Bucks program to the Wood End Elementary School for the purchase of a SMARTBoard as outlined in the Superintendent's memo dated August 26 2010. The motion carried 5-0. Dr. Doherty took time to thank Mr. Charles McDonald for his efforts in procuring a donation from Bank of America to be used to establish STEM based libraries in our elementary schools. He also was able to obtain a letter from the National Academies indicating that the Reading Public Schools are the first in the country to have this initiative. Mr. Robinson moved, seconded by Mrs. Gibbs to accept the donation of $3,000 from Bank of America to be used to create STEM-based libraries in our five elementary schools as outlined in the Superintendent's memo dated August 26, 2010. The motion carried 5-0. August 30, 2010 Mr. Robinson moved, seconded by Mrs. Janowski, to the accept the donation of $2,500 from the Reading Cooperative Bank Charitable Foundation, Inc. to be used for anti-bias curriculum and peer training at Reading Memorial High School. The motion carried 5-0. Calendar Chair Caruso reminded the committee that the next meeting will be September 13'h with office hours from 6-7 pm. IV. Executive Session Mr. Robinson moved, seconded by Mrs. Gibbs, moved to enter into Executive Session to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining and that the Chair declare that an open meeting away have detrimental effect on the collective bargaining position of the body and approval of minutes and not to return to open session. Mr. Croft read the following statement recusing him from executive session. "In accordance with the advice of Town Counsel and the State Ethics Commission, as member of the School Committee and as one whose salaries as Boys Indoor Track Coach, Boys Spring Track Coach and Fitness Center Monitor are negotiated by the Teachers' Union, I recuse myself from all discussions/negotiations involving the Teachers Union." The roll call vote was 4-0. Mrs. Janowski Mrs. Gibbs Mr. Robinson and Mr. Caruso. The open session meeting ended at 8:30 p.m. V. Information VI. Adjournment VI. Future Business Meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. NOTE: The minutes reflect the order as stated in the posted meeting agenda not the order they occurred during the meeting. tU F. Dohe Ed.D. erintendent of Schools