School Committee Meeting February 26, 2018 Open Session 7:00 P.M. Superintendent’s Conference Room Town of Reading Meeting Posting with Agenda 2016-09-22 LAG Board - Committee - Commission - Council: School Committee Date: 2018-02-26 Time: 7:00 PM Building: School - Memorial High Location: Superintendent Conference Room Address: 82 Oakland Road Agenda: Purpose: Open Session Meeting Called By: Linda Engelson on behalf of the Chair Notices and agendas are to be posted 48 hours in advance of the meetings excluding Saturdays, Sundays and Legal Holidays. Please keep in mind the Town Clerk’s hours of operation and make necessary arrangements to be sure your posting is made in an adequate amount of time. A listing of topics that the chair reasonably anticipates will be discussed at the meeting must be on the agenda. All Meeting Postings must be submitted in typed format; handwritten notices will not be accepted. Topics of Discussion: 7:00 p.m. A Call to Order 7:05 p.m. B. Public Comment 7:05 – 7:10 p.m. C. Consent Agenda - Accept Donations to the Wood End School - Accept a Donation from the RMHS PTO - Accept a Donation from RMHS PSST - Approval of Minutes (February 5, 2018) 7:10 – 7:25 p.m. D. Reports 1. Students 2. Liaison/Sub-Committee 3. Superintendent 4. Assistant Superintendent 5. Director of Student Services 6. Director of Finance E. Old Business 7:25 – 8:00 p.m. 1. FY2019 Budget – Half Day Kindergarten 8:00 – 8:20 p.m. 2. Joshua Eaton School Improvement Plan Update 8:20 – 8:40 p.m. 3. Quarterly Personnel Update 8:40 – 9:00 p.m. 4. Quarterly FY2018 Budget Update F. New Business 9:00 – 9:15 p.m. 1. Assistant Superintendent Search Timeline and Process 9:15 – 9:30 p.m. 2. Override Ballot Question This Agenda has been prepared in advance and represents a listing of topics that the chair reasonably anticipates will be discussed at the meeting. However the agenda does not necessarily include all matters which may be taken up at this meeting. Page | 1 Town of Reading Meeting Posting with Agenda G. Information/Correspondence 1. Two Emails from Rebecca Liberman – Transfer of funds out of regular day cost center last June 2. Email from Meghan Shinn – Half-day K concerns 3. Email from Rebecca Liberman - Please hold a hearing on the proposal to save the middle school teachers in the FY19 budget H. Routine Matters 1. Bills & Payroll Warrants 2. Calendar I. Future Business 9:30 p.m. J. Adjourn 9:35 p.m. K. Executive Session This Agenda has been prepared in advance and represents a listing of topics that the chair reasonably anticipates will be discussed at the meeting. However the agenda does not necessarily include all matters which may be taken up at this meeting. Page | 2 John F. Doherty, Ed. D. Craig Martin, M.Ed. Superintendent of Schools Assistant Superintendent 82 Oakland Road Carolyn J. Wilson, M.Ed., JD Reading, MA 01867 Director of Student Services Phone: 781-944-5800 Fax: 781-942-9149 Gail Dowd, CPA Director of Finance Reading Public Schools Instilling a joy of learning and inspiring the innovative leaders of tomorrow TO: Reading School Committee FROM: John F. Doherty, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools DATE: February 22, 2017 TOPIC: Accept a Donation to the Wood End School At our meeting on Monday night, I will ask the School Committee to accept a donation in the form of a $200 gift certificate from the Reading Municipal Light Department. This gift certificate is being awarded to Wood End because they had a winning participant in the RMLD’s annual electric contest. The gift certificate for School Specialties will be used for general supplies. If you have any questions, please contact me. The Reading Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, age or disability. John F. Doherty, Ed. D. Craig Martin, M.Ed. Superintendent of Schools Assistant Superintendent 82 Oakland Road Carolyn J. Wilson, M.Ed., JD Reading, MA 01867 Director of Student Services Phone: 781-944-5800 Fax: 781-942-9149 Gail Dowd, CPA Director of Finance Reading Public Schools Instilling a joy of learning and inspiring the innovative leaders of tomorrow TO: Reading School Committee FROM: John F. Doherty, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools DATE: February 22, 2017 TOPIC: Accept a Donation to Reading Memorial High School At our meeting on Monday night, I will ask the School Committee to accept a donation in the amount of $1,200 from the RMHS PTO to be used to support the New Repertory Theater performance of “To Kill a Mockingbird” at Reading Memorial High School If you have any questions, please contact me. The Reading Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, age or disability. Town of Reading Meeting Minutes 2016-09-22 LAG Board - Committee - Commission - Council: School Committee Date: 2018-02-05 Time: 7:00 PM Building: School - Memorial High Location: Superintendent Conference Room Address: 82 Oakland Road Session: Open Session Purpose: Open Session Version: Draft Attendees: Members - Present: Chuck Robinson, Sherri Vanden Akker, Nick Boivin, Jeanne Borawski, Linda Snow Dockser, and Elaine Webb Members - Not Present: Student Representatives Cutone & Coumounduros Others Present: Superintendent John Doherty, Director of Finance Gail Dowd, Assistant Superintendent Craig Martin, Director of Student Services Carolyn Wilson, RPS Administrators Joanne King, LisaMarie Ippolito, Heather Leonard, RPS Budget Liaisons, Selectmen Barry Berman, Al Sylvia - Reading Chronicle, Bob Holmes - Patch Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Linda Engelson on behalf of the Chair Topics of Discussion: I. Call to Order Chair Robinson reviewed the agenda and called the meeting to order and reviewed the agenda. II. Recommended Procedure A. Public Comment Marianne Downing read a statement from Rebecca Liberman who asked the School Committee to do everything they could to preserve teaching positions. Selectman Barry Berman thanked the School Committee for attending the recent Board of Selectmen meeting at which the override number was discussed and voted. He said it is important to work collaboratively and be transparent as we continue to work through this process. B. Consent Agenda Mrs. Webb asked if the committee wanted anything to be removed from the consent agenda. There was none. Page | 1 Consent Agenda - Approval of RMHS French Exchange Field Trip - Accept a Donation to the RISE Preschool - Accept a Donation to the Parker Middle School - Accept Donations to the Wood End School - Accept a Donation from RMHS PSST - Approval of Minutes (January 11, 18 & 22, 2018) Mrs. Webb moved, seconded by Dr. Snow Dockser, to approve the consent agenda. The motion carried 6-0. C. Reports Liaison Dr. Snow Dockser reported that there will be a community conversation at the Reading Public Library on March 21st using the World Café model. Mrs. Webb reminded the committee that the FY2019 balanced budget will be presented at the Fincom meeting on Wednesday night. Director of Student Services Mrs. Wilson reported that 7 teachers are enrolled in an online course at the Landmark School, 6 from Eaton and 1 from the high school. She next reported that the next SEPAC meeting is February 12th in the Superintendent’s Conference Room and at the February 26th School Committee meeting she will be reporting on the DESE Mid-Cycle review and OCR updates. Superintendent Dr. Doherty updated the committee on the high school principal search indicating that the screening committee has met twice and the interviews will be held on Thursday. Following the initial interviews, a pool of prefinalists will be determined who will meet with the Superintendent. After those meetings finalists will be chosen and site visits and open microphone nights will be scheduled. This will more than likely occur after vacation. He next reported on the incoming kindergarten class. We currently have 317 incoming kindergarten students, 40 of which are enrolled in the half day program. Anyone that registers for full day kindergarten from this point will be placed on a waitlist. This year we will have two half day kindergarten sites; one at Joshua Eaton and the other at the Killam School. Half day students from Barrows will attend Joshua Eaton and the half day students from Wood End and Birch Meadow will attend Killam. D. Old Business Second Reading of Revised Policy JICFB – Bullying Prevention Page | 2 Mrs. Webb moved, seconded by Mr. Boivin, to accept and approve the second reading of revised Policy JICFB – Bullying Prevention Superintendent Doherty updated the committee on the changes made to the plan and policy ensuring the language was the same on both documents. The motion carried 6-0. Reconstruction/Override Budget Chair Robinson said he was comfortable with the number as a result of the January 30th Selectmen meeting and agreed with Mr. Berman in remaining transparent throughout the whole process. Superintendent Doherty thanked the Board of Selectmen on the process and thoughtful discussion during the recent meeting to determine the proposed override question and amount. The benefit and capital costs are factored into the total amount approved by the Selectmen. Once the dollar amount was determined by the Selectmen vote, the Superintendent went back to the District Leadership Team to develop a prioritized plan of items to include in the Reconstruction Plan. The Priority Plan is focused on restoring/retaining classroom teachers and classroom support, restoring technology support and increases technology replacement for classrooms, creates systems which allow for alignment of curriculum standards and teaching practices across the five elementary schools, will strengthen our core instruction (Tier 1) for all students, increased special education leadership for building support and program development, creates a sustainable model for curriculum renewal, restores athletics to current program levels and builds in expenses to all for greater sustainability in Years 2 and 3.