🏫 School Committee 1-29-26 AI Recap

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.

🏫 School Committee Meeting Summary
🗓️ January 29, 2026
🕒 ~2hr15min
🧑‍⚖️ School Committee Members Present
Shawn Brandt (Chair) · Carla Nazzaro (Vice Chair) · Tom Wise · Erin Gaffen · Lara Durgavich · Sarah McLaughlin

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📅 Agenda Overview

Timestamp	Topic
10:58	Meeting Called to Order & Agenda Overview
12:24	Public Comment
12:41	Consent Agenda Vote
12:53	Student Report
14:57	Liaison Reports (incl. Carla announcement)
23:41	New Business – Pleasant Street Center Presentation
43:33	David B. Libby Scholarship Approval
44:19	RISE Director Search Process
47:15	Facility Naming Advisory Committee Formation
57:55	FY27 Budget – Final Discussion & Vote
1:02:10	Fee Approvals (Extended Day; Athletics/Drama/Band)
1:07:23	Superintendent Search Updates, Salary Range Vote, Screening Committee Approval
2:16:10	Motion to Adjourn

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🧑‍🎓 Student Report

🕒 12:53–14:31
Thea Cuna (RMHS Junior) reported:

• Report cards for Semester 1 published soon
• Early Release Feb 2 (10:05 AM dismissal)
• Drama Winter Show Feb 6–8 and Feb 12
• Choir Guys’ Night Out – Feb 12
• February Break – Feb 16–20
• Career Day (Jan 29): 40+ professionals, four rotations per junior
• New Courses: Intro to Business, Financial Literacy, dual enrollment options
• International Travel: Japan trip and Swiss Exchange returning next year

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🏛️ Liaison Reports

🕒 14:57–23:35

⭐ Major Announcement: Carla Nazzaro Will Not Run for Re‑Election

Carla shared a thoughtful statement reflecting on:

• Serving through COVID
• Major district accomplishments including:
  • Universal full‑day K
  • Math pathways expansion
  • High‑quality curricula (ARC, math, etc.)
  • Strengthened METCO
  • Equity statement (“all means all”)
  • Special ed improvements
  • Hiring key staff (coaches, counselors, asst. principals)
  • Killam project progress
• Affirmed commitment to finishing her term and continuing to lead the Killam project if desired

Committee Response: Appreciation for six years of leadership and partnership; formal recognition to come in April.

Additional KSBC Updates (Carla)

• 90% design to be submitted Feb 10
• Furniture “sit test” Feb 11–12 at Killam
• Ongoing discussions on fencing, plantings, and future temporary school entrance
• Project remains on time and under budget

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🏢 New Business

🏛️ Pleasant Street Center – Future Use Presentation

🕒 23:41–43:28
Presenters: Assistant Town Manager Jayne Wellman & Director of Operations Katie Gabriello

Key Facts About the Building

• Built 1883, Reading’s first municipal building
• 4,300 sq ft across 3 floors
• Appraised at $965K; rental potential ~$72K/year
• Historic preservation restrictions
• Zoning challenges for multifamily redevelopment

Potential Paths

• Sell
• Lease (for‑profit or nonprofit)
• Gift to Housing Authority for small studio units
• Retain for Town Use (trending preference among boards)

Repurposing Ideas (examples from other towns)

• Inspire Café (Wakefield) – café employing adults with diverse abilities
• Breaking Grounds Café (Peabody) – vocational training and community space
• Performing Arts Center (Natick, Newburyport)
• Town museum + performance/event space

Committee Feedback

• Strong consensus: Do NOT sell
• Keep as a future town asset; space needs always emerge
• Consider community café tied to RISE/post‑grad program
• Operating cost sustainability must be carefully evaluated
• Creative public–private partnerships encouraged

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🎓 David B. Libby Scholarships

🕒 43:33–44:13

• Prior typo corrected; confirmed total: $88,000
• 22 scholarships at $4,000 each
• Approved unanimously (6–0)

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🧑‍🏫 RISE Director Search Process

🕒 44:19–47:00

• Alana (current director) honored for extending her service an additional year
• Posting planned for late February
• Screening committee to include staff and parents
• Finalist visits expected late March
• Hiring anticipated by early April
• Search process approved 6–0

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🏷️ Facility Naming – Advisory Committee Formation

🕒 47:15–57:47

Both naming requests advanced:

1️⃣ Mixon Fitness Center & Training Room

• Fitness Center → Robert & O. Elizabeth Mixon
• Training Room → Coach Robert Mixon
• In recognition of Claudia Mixon’s $550,000 gift

2️⃣ Ted “Ace” Bryson Announcing Booth

• To honor 50 years of service as teacher, coach, and “Voice of the Rockets”

Actions Taken

• Formed one combined advisory committee for both requests
• Chair empowered to finalize charge and timeline
• Committee membership selection deferred until superintendent search workload clearer
• Votes: Both motions approved 6–0

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💰 FY27 Budget – Final Vote

🕒 57:55–1:02:05

• No changes since public hearing
• Q\&A published; few questions due to level services nature
• Committee noted concerns with long‑term sustainability and school choice drawdown
• FY27 Budget Approved 6–0

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💵 Fee Approvals

🕒 1:02:10–1:07:23

Extended Day Fees

• +3% increase
• Approved 6–0
• Committee requested updated packet to include full supporting materials

Athletics, Drama & Band Fees

• +$10 increase per activity (not 10%)
• More data on program‑level costs forthcoming
• Future analysis to explore:
  • Unified family cap across athletics/arts
  • Sport‑specific cost comparisons
• Approved 6–0

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🔍 Superintendent Search Update

🕒 1:07:23–2:15:26

Community Forums

• Lightly attended (reflecting relative district confidence)
• Staff emphasized desire to continue current strategic direction
• Strong themes: collaboration, communication, respecting existing systems, K–12 instructional coherence

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📌 Job Posting & Materials

Committee favored:

• Streamlined job description
• Inclusion of full equity statement (“all means all”)
• Maintaining professional tone without excessive “brochure‑style” content

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💵 Superintendent Salary Range Voted

After robust debate:

Approved Range: $200,000 – $250,000

Vote: 5–1

Arguments considered:

• Competitiveness among peer districts
• Attracting candidates across experience levels
• Not undervaluing the role
• Flexibility for negotiation

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🧑‍⚖️ Screening Committee – Final Composition

Approved membership includes:

• 2 School Committee members (Tom Wise & Laura Durgavich)
• 3 central office/admin leaders
• 5 staff (balanced across levels and roles; includes METCO & SPED representation)
• 5 parents (K–12 levels represented; awaiting possible CPAC addition)
• Town Manager (Matt K. or designee)
• RPD representative (pending scheduling confirmation)

Vote: 6–0, with flexibility to add CPAC parent or substitute RPD representative if needed.

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🧾 Key Takeaways

• Pleasant Street Center trending toward town retention for innovative community use
• Carla announces she will not seek re‑election; major accomplishments highlighted
• RISE Director search launched
• Two facility naming requests move to advisory committee
• FY27 budget and all fee proposals approved
• Superintendent search progressing:
  • Posting next week
  • Salary approved
  • Screening committee finalized
• Acknowledgement of Reading’s positive momentum and high expectations for next superintendent

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