Below is a summarized version of the School Committee meeting, organized by timestamps and speakers, focusing on key points raised during the discussion in Reading, Massachusetts. This summary condenses the discussion into major themes, speaker contributions, and decisions, avoiding excessive detail while retaining the essence of the conversation. Timestamps correspond to the video linked at the bottom.
Contents
- 🌟 Focus on Excellence: Food Services
- 📋 Consent Agenda
- 🧑🎓 Student Reports
- 🧾 Superintendent’s Report
- 🏛️ Liaison Reports
- 🏘️ Community Preservation Act (CPA) Presentation
- 💰 FY25 Q4 Financial Update
- 🍽️ Revolving Accounts & Food Services
- 📊 Audit Report
- 📘 RMHS Student Handbook Revisions
- 🌲 Mulberry Forest School Follow-Up
- 🧾 Key Takeaways
🏫 School Committee Meeting Summary
🗓️ Agenda Overview
🕒 2:08–3:27
Public comment · Focus on Excellence · Consent agenda · Student reports · Superintendent & liaison reports · FY25 Q4 financial update · Audit report · RMHS handbook revisions · Mulberry Forest School follow-up
🧑⚖️ School Committee Members Present
Shawn Brandt (Chair) · Carla Nazzaro (Vice Chair) · Tom Wise · Lara Durgavich · Sarah McLaughlin (joined via Zoom) · Erin Gaffen (absent)
🌟 Focus on Excellence: Food Services
🕒 3:41–18:04
- Honoree: Catherine Franzetti, Director of Food Services
- Recognition: USDA “Turnip the Beat” Silver Award – one of four districts in MA
- Highlights:
- Summer food program doubled in size since 2024 launch
- Partnerships with YMCA, science camps, and Reading Library tutoring program
- Staff retention improved dramatically; only one open position in fall 2025
- Federal reimbursement enabled equipment purchases (e.g., food processor for scratch-made hummus)
- Expansion into catering and community partnerships
- Students praised improved food quality and variety (e.g., garlic noodle bowls, toasted sandwiches)
📋 Consent Agenda
🕒 19:30–19:49
- Approved unanimously (4–0)
🧑🎓 Student Reports
🕒 19:55–23:29
- Events:
- RMHS Back-to-School Night
- Fall sports underway; volleyball victory over Melrose
- First home football game with $10K scholarship field goal contest
- Fall musical: Catch Me If You Can auditions complete
- New competitive math team launched
- Innovation Career Pathways:
- Field trips and internship fair scheduled throughout October
- Homecoming Week: Oct 15–19
- Counseling Events: Senior & freshman guidance nights, financial aid night, PSATs
🧾 Superintendent’s Report
🕒 23:40–26:25
- Fieldhouse Project: Completed; feedback on transparency acknowledged
- METCO Job & Pathways Fair:
- Led by AP Katie Buckley and parent Tiffany Williams
- Open to all 32 METCO districts
- Focus on internships, workforce development, post-secondary options
🏛️ Liaison Reports
🕒 26:25–29:07
- SEPAC: CPAC Awareness Month request for November
- Legislative: Tom Wise to testify on Right to Read bill
- Killam Building Committee: Second round of design development underway; abutters meeting planned
🏘️ Community Preservation Act (CPA) Presentation
🕒 29:18–58:08
- Presenters: CPA Study Committee
- Overview:
- CPA allows towns to levy a small surcharge for open space, recreation, historic preservation, and affordable housing
- Reading has not adopted CPA; 200+ MA towns have
- Potential Uses:
- School playgrounds, historic buildings (e.g., Parker, Joshua Eaton), affordable housing match funding
- Financials:
- Estimated surcharge: $50–$150/year per household
- State match ~20%
- Timeline:
- Possible ballot vote in Nov 2026
- Discussion:
- Committee members expressed support for concept but concern about timing relative to future override votes
- Suggestions included pairing CPA with override or delaying adoption
- Recreation and conservation identified as high-priority use cases
💰 FY25 Q4 Financial Update
🕒 58:08–1:13:57
- Presenter: Philip Littlehale
- Highlights:
- $60K returned to town (general fund + insurance reimbursement)
- $1.2M prepaid for special ed tuition
- $350K technology investment
- $225K transferred to special ed reserve fund
- Transfers Approved:
- Cost center reallocations totaling $487,787.53
- Special ed reserve fund transfer reapproved for clarity
- Grants:
- $368K carryover into FY26
- New grants: Project Summer Heat, Computer Science PD
- METCO funding concerns noted
🍽️ Revolving Accounts & Food Services
🕒 1:13:57–1:16:11
- Extended Day: $24K short of break-even; improvements underway
- School Lunch:
- $175K operating loss due to food cost increases and capital investments
- New barcode system for student lunch cards improves efficiency
- State concerned about high fund balance; plans to manage spending
- Catering services promoted for district events
📊 Audit Report
🕒 1:20:13–1:26:53
- Presenter: Philip Littlehale
- Outcome: Clean report, no findings or corrections
- Details:
- End-of-year report required by DESE
- Extensive manual data entry across 10 schools
- Total education spending: ~$89M
📘 RMHS Student Handbook Revisions
🕒 1:27:11–1:29:01
- Updates:
- Tie procedures for valedictorian/salutatorian clarified
- Grade update frequency corrected
- Dress code grammar fixed
- Outcome: Approved unanimously (5–0)
🌲 Mulberry Forest School Follow-Up
🕒 1:29:01–1:38:36
- Update:
- No response from school after outreach
- Concerns remain about misleading statements and lack of certificate of occupancy
- Possible operation at Camp Rice Moody without approval
- Discussion:
- Committee agreed to follow up with legal counsel and town officials
- Questions raised about legality of operations and website claims
🧾 Key Takeaways
- 🥗 Food Services received national recognition and continues to expand summer and catering programs.
- 🧑🎓 Students are engaged in a wide range of academic, athletic, and career pathway activities.
- 🏘️ CPA proposal offers long-term funding potential but faces timing concerns due to override planning.
- 💰 FY25 closed with strong financial management and strategic investments in tech and special education.
- 📘 RMHS handbook updated with community feedback.
- 🌲 Mulberry Forest School remains unresolved; committee pursuing clarity on operations and compliance.
