By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Reading Recap -Reading Recap -
  • Depot Cam
  • Election 2023
    • News
    • Candidates
  • Town Gov’t
    • Community Planning & Development Commission (CPDC)
    • Elder & Human Services
    • Finance Committee (Fincom)
    • Killam School Building Committee
    • Reading Center for Active Living Committee (ReCalc)
    • Reading ARPA Advisory Committee (RAAC)
    • Select Board
    • Symonds Way Exploratory Committee (SWEC)
    • Town Meeting
  • Schools
    • 2022-2023 Calendar
    • School Committee
    • PTO’s
    • Alice M. Barrows Elementary School
    • Arthur W. Coolidge Middle School
    • Birch Meadow Elementary School
    • Reading Memorial High School
    • Rise Preschool
    • J. Warren Killam Elementary School
    • Joshua Eaton Elementary School
    • Walter S. Parker Middle School
    • Wood End Elementary School
  • Shop 01867
  • Events
    • Events Calendar
    • Submit Yours Here
  • More
    • Advertise (Free)New
    • Business of the Week by Empower
    • Cafè ConversationsHot
    • Contact
    • Depot Cam
    • Fundraisers
    • Letter to the Editor
    • News Archives
    • Police/Fire Scanner & Logs
    • Sports (Local)
    • Videos
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Weather
    • Limpy’s AdventuresLimpy’s AdventuresLimpy’s Adventures
Reading: 🏫 January 9th School Committee Agenda Preview
Sign In
Notification Show More
Latest News
Melissa Murphy of Van Norden Rd
☕ Candidate Café Conversations – Melissa Murphy – Van Norden Rd
Elections Videos
The entrance to the Lincoln Street parking lot for snow parking
🅿 Overnight Street Parking Ban Lifted
Notices Police & Fire
Carlo Bacci of Main Street
☕ Candidate Café Conversations – Carlo Bacci of Main Street
Elections Videos
Letter to the Editor Reading Recap
✍️ LTE: Dockser supports Herrick for Select Board
Letter to the Editor
Killam School Drone
🎒 March 20th Killam School Building Committee Recap
Killam School Committee
Reading Recap -Reading Recap -
  • Depot Cam
  • Election 2023
  • Events
  • Shop 01867
  • Letter to the Editor
  • Select Board
  • School Committee
Search
  • Depot Cam
  • Election 2023
    • News
    • Candidates
  • Town Gov’t
    • Community Planning & Development Commission (CPDC)
    • Elder & Human Services
    • Finance Committee (Fincom)
    • Killam School Building Committee
    • Reading Center for Active Living Committee (ReCalc)
    • Reading ARPA Advisory Committee (RAAC)
    • Select Board
    • Symonds Way Exploratory Committee (SWEC)
    • Town Meeting
  • Schools
    • 2022-2023 Calendar
    • School Committee
    • PTO’s
    • Alice M. Barrows Elementary School
    • Arthur W. Coolidge Middle School
    • Birch Meadow Elementary School
    • Reading Memorial High School
    • Rise Preschool
    • J. Warren Killam Elementary School
    • Joshua Eaton Elementary School
    • Walter S. Parker Middle School
    • Wood End Elementary School
  • Shop 01867
  • Events
    • Events Calendar
    • Submit Yours Here
  • More
    • Advertise (Free)New
    • Business of the Week by Empower
    • Cafè ConversationsHot
    • Contact
    • Depot Cam
    • Fundraisers
    • Letter to the Editor
    • News Archives
    • Police/Fire Scanner & Logs
    • Sports (Local)
    • Videos
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Weather
    • Limpy’s AdventuresLimpy’s AdventuresLimpy’s Adventures
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • News
  • Advertise
© 2022 Reading Recap. All Rights Reserved.
Reading Recap - > News > Town Gov't > School Committee > 🏫 January 9th School Committee Agenda Preview
School Committee

🏫 January 9th School Committee Agenda Preview

Marianne McLaughlin Downing
Last updated: 2023/01/09 at 3:37 PM
Marianne McLaughlin Downing  - Contributing Author Published January 9, 2023
5 Min Read
“Line” by Jonathan Nazzaro, RMHS Student enrolled in Ms. Kathleen M. Dailey’s AP Photography Class page 6 in the packet.
“Line” by Jonathan Nazzaro, RMHS Student enrolled in Ms. Kathleen M. Dailey’s AP Photography Class page 6 in the packet.
SHARE

The Reading School Committee (SC) is meeting on Monday January 9, 2023.  The meeting is being held at 7pm at the Reading Memorial High School (RMHS) library and will be broadcast by RCTV and also be accessible via zoom.  Links to watch are listed below, along with selected images from the packet and agenda.

The Regular Day and Special Education budgets constitute the bulk of the FY24 School Budget, so this will be a full meeting.  In my preliminary review of these two budgets, it appears that RPS is proposing to add 14.9 FTEs between Regular Education and Special Education, with a significant chunk of these new adds being assistant principals at each of the elementary schools (5 FTE’s).  The cost of these new FTEs and other new non-personnel adds to the budget, per these tables, is a total of 2.094 million dollars in additional spending.   The tables on pages 38-41 of the packet (corresponding to budget book pages 25-28) list what the 14.9 FTE’s and other budget additions are.  The Special Education budget this year is decreasing for the first time in many years of my reviewing budgets, but it appears that the bulk of this is because of a reduction in out of district placements, which the budget book explains further on its pages 41 and 67.   For example, at budget book page 41, it explains how the money saved (approx. $857k per another budget book table) is being re-allocated within both the Special Education and Regular Day budgets:

“The projected decrease in placements, some of which were unanticipated, is due to several reasons including graduating from and aging out of placements, changing placements, terminated contracted placements, returning to the district, or moving out of the Reading community. The Tier 1 and Tier 2 services where funds have been redeployed in the FY24 Recommended Budget include K-8 Math Coaches, Secondary Transition Coordinator, K-12 BCBA, increase in hours and stipends for Team Chairs, Middle School Adjustment Counselor, Learning Center Teaching at Joshua Eaton, and the first of the two-year process to absorb the salaries of a Special Education Teacher, Counselors, and Team Chairs previously funded through Esser”

Page 67 of the budget book further explains in detail about the specific history of out of district enrollment and shows currently we have 52 kids OOD and expect a decrease of 9 more:

“From the academic year 2014 to 2023, total enrollment declined by (13%), the number of students on IEPs declined by (14%) and the number of out of district placements declined by (4%). The number of students on IEPs in the current academic year declined by (21) students, or (3%) over the last school year, and the number of students receiving services in out of district placements decreased by (2) students in the last year. Illustrated in the table above, the reader will note an increase in Out of District placements between FY21 and FY22, which was driven by a significant increase in social emotional and behavioral needs that intensified during Covid closure. However, during the prior year, between FY19 and FY20, the district experienced a decrease of (9) students enrolled in placements. A similar decrease in out of district enrollment will take place between FY23 and FY24. We expected a decrease of (9) students to withdraw from placements for several reasons which includes leaving the Reading Public School district, graduating from and aging out of placements, changing placements, or returning to the district. The district has budgeted for seven additional students pending evaluation of progress and student needs”

There is a lot to the FY24 budget, of course, but these special education out of district placement changes, along with an allowed 4% increase in the overall school budget, help to explain how the overall school budget is adding so many new positions and new initiatives. 

HOW TO WATCH THIS MEETING

The RCTV YouTube live stream link to watch the meeting is here. You can also watch via Xfinity channel 99 or Verizon channel 32.

You can join the meeting (or watch) via the Zoom link here:

Join Zoom Meeting

https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/83657021146

Meeting ID: 836 5702 1146

One tap mobile +16469313860,,83657021146# US

You Might Also Like

🎒 March 20th Killam School Building Committee Recap

🏫 March 16th School Committee Agenda Preview

🏫 March 2nd School Committee Agenda Preview

🏛 February 21st Select Board Agenda Preview

🏫 February 9th School Committee Agenda Preview

TAGGED: Budget, FY24, School Committee
Marianne McLaughlin Downing January 9, 2023
By Marianne McLaughlin Downing Contributing Author
Follow:
Long time Reading Resident. Member of the Finance and RAAC Committees.
Previous Article Haven Construction Reading MA 🚧 Haven Street Road Closures Week of 1/9
Next Article Page 22 from the Select Board meeting packet on the Housing Production Plan. 🏛 January 10th Select Board Agenda Preview
Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Stay Connected

Facebook Like
Twitter Follow
Instagram Follow
Youtube Subscribe

Latest News

Melissa Murphy of Van Norden Rd
☕ Candidate Café Conversations – Melissa Murphy – Van Norden Rd
Elections Videos March 22, 2023
The entrance to the Lincoln Street parking lot for snow parking
🅿 Overnight Street Parking Ban Lifted
Notices Police & Fire March 22, 2023
Carlo Bacci of Main Street
☕ Candidate Café Conversations – Carlo Bacci of Main Street
Elections Videos March 22, 2023
Letter to the Editor Reading Recap
✍️ LTE: Dockser supports Herrick for Select Board
Letter to the Editor March 22, 2023
//

Reading Recap aims to be your one stop destination for all the latest local news, meetings and events happening in the Town of Reading, Massachusetts.

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Reading Recap -Reading Recap -
Follow US

© 2023 Reading Recap.
Not affiliated with the Town of Reading.
Created by Reading residents for Reading residents.

Removed from reading list

Undo
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?