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
Start Time: 7:03 PM
Location: Reading Memorial High School Library
Attendees (Roll Call): Shawn (present), Carla (present), Sarah (present), Tom (present)
Remote Attendees: Two members absent due to business travel, but quorum maintained.
Meeting Opening and Agenda Overview
3:19 – 5:05: Tom (Chair)
- Summary: Tom calls the meeting to order at 7:03 PM, notes remote attendees, and outlines the agenda: public comment, consent agenda, reports (students, finance, superintendent, liaisons), old business (FY26 school calendar vote), and new business (financial report, kindergarten enrollment, scholarship award, bus camera enforcement, cell phone policy discussion, policy vote notification).
- Key Outcome: Meeting proceeds as planned.
Public Comment
5:05 – 9:11: Chris Kowaleski
- Speaker: Chris Kowaleski (14 Browning Terrace, Reading)
- Summary: Raises concerns about special education support, noting a teacher left mid-year due to unmet requests for staffing and resources. Highlights high caseloads, lack of support for complex learners (e.g., non-verbal students requiring AAC training), and a “revolving door” of staff. Expresses disappointment at children being treated as “units” rather than individuals.
- Timestamp Highlights:
- 5:27 – 6:23: Describes the issue and teacher departure.
- 6:49 – 7:40: Details challenges in the soon-to-be-defunded SALE program at Wood End.
- 7:45 – 9:03: Critiques hiring practices and lack of long-term support.
- Response (Tom, 9:11 – 10:13): Acknowledges Chris’s concerns, defends district’s special education funding as robust compared to peers, but promises to listen and consider next steps.
- Key Outcome: No immediate action, but issue flagged for further review.
10:25 – 12:40: Geoffrey Coram
- Speaker: Geoffrey Coram (Ridge Road)
- Summary: Advocates for SOCA 4 EGI’s request to rename a school, noting their patience and repeated requests. Suggests adding their group email to a safe senders list to avoid exposing personal emails in packets.
- Response (Tom): Clarifies this is the first formal rename request (previous requests were policy reviews), explains email policy challenges with anonymous sources, and confirms ongoing dialogue with SOA for AGJ. Policy FF review is in progress.
- Key Outcome: No action taken; policy review continues.
Focus on Excellence
13:00 – 22:13: Unified Bocce Team (Tara Hurley, Students)
- Speakers: Dr. Milaschewski (intro), Tara Hurley (teacher), Arthur Pereira (student), Lila Robinson (student), unnamed student
- Summary: Dr. Milaschewski praises the Unified Sports program’s growth, crediting Tara Hurley. Tara details its expansion from high school (basketball, strength conditioning) to middle school (bocce, basketball). Students share enthusiasm:
- Arthur (17:26 – 19:20, 21:08 – 21:46): Suggests year-round sports (e.g., volleyball, tennis) due to short seasons.
- Lila (19:40 – 19:57): Loves the inclusivity and fun.
- Unnamed Student (20:17 – 20:28): Appreciates opportunities for students with disabilities.
- Key Outcome: Team celebrated; Arthur’s suggestions noted for future consideration.
Consent Agenda
24:41 – 25:06: Carla, Tom
- Summary: Carla moves to approve the consent agenda; Shawn seconds. Approved 4-0 via roll call (Sarah, John, Carla, Tom: Yes).
- Key Outcome: Consent agenda passed unanimously.
Student Reports
25:11 – 31:16: Unnamed Student
- Summary: Updates include a Spanish immersion trip to Costa Rica (amazing experience, tight-knit group formed), DECA competition, winter sports success, and new AP courses for 2025-26 (e.g., AP Econ, AP Psych, Intro to Cybersecurity). Upcoming events: Ramadan support, drama production, college fair, junior prom.
- Key Outcome: Students excused to study; no action required.
FY26 School Calendar
31:55 – 38:29: Dr. Milaschewski, Tom
- Summary: Dr. Milaschewski presents an updated FY26 calendar draft incorporating feedback: secondary PD days shifted to Fridays, October 14 PD day added to extend holiday, but December 22-23 not added to winter break (to avoid disruption). Tom suggests adding high school quarter dates post-approval.
- Motion (Tom, 38:08): Approve FY26 calendar; Carla seconds. Passed 4-0 (Sarah, John, Carla, Tom: Yes).
- Key Outcome: Calendar approved with minor adjustment planned.
Q2 Financial Report
39:00 – 54:33: Mr. Littlehale
- Summary: Mr. Littlehale reports a healthy financial status:
- Salaries projected, non-personnel lines assumed fully spent.
- General fund covers expenses; includes $350K IT refresh, $300K special ed fund placeholder.
- Kindergarten fund offset reduced from $485K to $400K.
- Grants (e.g., anatomy table, MYAP) added; FY22-23 grants fully expended.
- Revolving accounts stable; cafeteria may need ovens ($90K).
- Student activity accounts reflect trip/homecoming costs.
- Questions:
- Tom (47:46): Asks about “timeout rooms” grant (training-related, not room elimination).
- Geoff Coram (54:49): Notes extracurricular account merger; budget book update requested (approved for PDF fix).
- Key Outcome: Finances on track; minor budget tweak approved.
Kindergarten Enrollment
57:25 – 1:00:09: Update – Dr. Milaschewski
- Summary: Enrollment at 287 (below 340 projection), excluding school choice/METCO. Aggressive outreach used (census, property data). Hopes to avoid a fourth Barrow classroom due to space constraints.
- Key Outcome: Monitoring continues; no immediate staffing decision.
David B. Libby Scholarship
1:00:24 – 1:02:50: – Dr. Milaschewski, Tom, Carla
- Summary: Dr. Milaschewski proposes $8,000 for two seniors ($4,000 each). Tom moves to approve with amount added (Carla’s amendment); Carla confirms it’s for current seniors.
- Motion: Approved 4-0 (Sarah, John, Carla, Tom: Yes).
- Key Outcome: Scholarship distribution approved.
School Bus Camera Enforcement
1:02:57 – 1:08:10: Dr. Milaschewski, Shawn, Tom
- Summary: Dr. Milaschewski introduces Chapter 399 (bus cameras for fines), requiring town meeting approval. Costs unclear (shared with North Suburban?), but safety emphasized. Salem reported 3,371 violations. Shawn suggests cost-sharing with town police revenue. Tom notes deadline pressure but delays action.
- Key Outcome: Tabled for more cost data; likely November warrant.
Cell Phone Policy
1:08:17 – 1:20:55: Discussion – Dr. Milaschewski
- Summary: Dr. Milaschewski outlines state legislation and AG toolkit (Bell-to-Bell ban, off-and-away, limited use models). Suggests high school focus, community engagement. Committee agrees:
- John (1:12:21): Push for extensive community input, avoid middle-ground bias.
- Tom (1:15:46): Proposes survey, forum; notes safety, tech reliance concerns.
- Sarah (1:18:37): Highlights complexity, adaptive tech needs.
- Geoff (1:19:27): Urges middle school inclusion.
- Key Outcome: Full committee to lead with survey/forum; no subcommittee yet.
Policy Notification
1:21:02 – 1:23:26: Tom
- Summary: Notifies six policies for March 13 vote (IKF graduation, five personnel policies). Policy FF nearing final review.
- Key Outcome: Policies scheduled for next meeting.
Adjournment
1:23:31 – 1:23:38: Carla, Tom
- Summary: Carla moves to adjourn; Shawn seconds. Approved 4-0 (Sarah, Shawn, Carla, Tom: Yes).
- End Time: 8:23 PM
Overall Key Outcomes
- FY26 school calendar approved.
- Q2 finances solid; minor budget tweak approved.
- David B. Libby Scholarship ($8,000) approved.
- Bus camera enforcement tabled; cell phone policy to involve full committee with community input.
- Six policies set for March 13 vote.
