Happy New Year!  I hope that you and your family had a restful and relaxing holiday season.

Over the last several months, I have been meeting with groups of parents, students, teachers, and community members as part of my transition plan as Superintendent of Schools.  These groups have included 19 neighborhood coffees, school PTO meetings, school council meetings, staff meetings, community meetings, and meetings with Town and community leaders.  As of today, over 500 members of the school community have been asked questions and engaged in coversation about our school district.

In order to increase the number of community members who participate in this process and to provide greater access to give input, I am sending out this survey, which will take about 20 minutes to complete. The results of this survey will be combined with the data gathered in the other sessions to provide information to me and the Reading Public Schools as we continually improve our school district.  A complete Transition Plan report will be given to the community in February.

You can access the survey above or through the link below.  If you have already participated in one of the discussion groups or neighborhood coffees, feel free to complete the survey.  The deadline to complete the survey is January 15.
Click here to take survey
Thank you in advance for your feedback.

As the 2010 calendar year comes to a close, this is a good opportunity to reflect, as well as, celebrate. During the last several months all of us have had to endure several challenges, whether it is dealing with shrinking budgets, a weakened economy, helping struggling neighbors or friends and their families, working with struggling students or addressing setbacks in our personal lives. We have also had many opportunities this year to celebrate the successes and accomplishments in our schools. As we enter 2011,  those challenges and successes will continue to occur. However, I truly believe that in every situation or event, our school community will find a way to persevere through those challenges and celebrate our accomplishments as a community. What makes the Reading Public Schools such a special place is that our parents, teachers, administrators, and staff seem to always work together towards a common cause, which is to do what is in the best interest of our students and your children.

One of my favorite movies to watch this time of year is, It’s a Wonderful Life.  Although the plot at times may seem a little unrealistic in today’s society, the message is still as powerful as it was when the movie was made in 1946.  This message of giving helps us reflect on the tremendous positive impact that we can have on the lives our students and our children.  Sometimes, we may never see the positive results of that impact for several years.  However, when it happens, it is powerful, just like the ending of Its a Wonderful Life.  I see evidence everyday of our parents, teachers, administrators and staff working together to provide these experiences for our children and students.  It may not always look perfect the first time, but we continually find ways to improve what we are trying to do.

I want to thank each of you for your support and commitment to our school community. My holiday wish for you is peace of mind, prosperity through the year, health for you and your family, the opportunity over the holidays to surround yourself with those who matter most to you, the energy to chase your dreams, and the joy to fill your emotional “bucket”. I would like to extend my best wishes to you and your family for a happy and healthy holiday season. I hope that you will be able to find the time to relax with family and friends and enjoy this wonderful time of year!

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

Recently, several educators had the opportunity to attend and present at the Blue Ribbon Schools Blueprint for Excellence Conference.  This conference is one of the many opportunities that our educators have in our district to continue to grow as professionals.  This conference over the years not only gives us the opportunity to network with outstanding educators from across the country, but it allows us to share our best practices from Reading with other educators.  Being able to present at a national, state or regional conference has many advantages, the most notable being that our teachers and administrators are recognized for the hard work and effort that they put into the job that they do in the classroom.  It validates that the best practices that we use are good for our students.  The funding for this conference does not come from our operating budget, rather from a variety of other sources including PTO funds and Title 2A grant funding.  Some educators who attend use their own personal funds to pay all or a portion of the expenses.  The benefits of this conference to the district over the years have been tremendous and have led to several initiatives and practices which have continually improved the Reading Public Schools over the last several years. 

Here are some examples of the presentations that the Reading educators offered at the conference:

• The Coolidge team of Craig Martin, Christian Huizenga, and Laura Warren gave three presentations that included topics such as classroom management and classroom relationships, school culture, and social, emotional, and academic support.
• RMHS teacher Amy Dyment presented on how to make a classroom instructional video using the SMART Board notebook software. 
• The Joshua Eaton team of Marie Kiley and Sarah Sansom shared the Fundations program and daily lesson ideas with participants.
• Killam teachers Melissa Hotchkiss and Jo-Ellen McGinnity discussed how they have transformed their special education program to include more direct services with students and how they have used student data to improve student achievement.
• RMHS teacher April Goran and Superintendent John Doherty presented on how to lead and transform a school district into the use of technology and 21st Century skills.
• Parker teacher Brian Cormier provided an interactive workshop aimed at helping teachers create and catalog daily lessons using the SMART Board notebook software.
• Parker teacher Jeffrey Zilch presented a workshop with teachers on of to design video podcast projects in the classroom.

In addition to the presentations, our staff attended workshops on a variety of topics including positive behavioral techniques, glogster (web 2.0 tool), Voice Thread (web 2.0 tool), photo story (web 2.0 tool), technology integration, how brain science informs the art of teaching, developing global partnerships with schools from other countries, and using cell phones in the classroom as a learning tool.  Several teachers and administrators attended institutes on Leadership Excellence and Inspiring Creativity.  Dr. David Walsh, one of the world’s leading authorities on children, teens, parenting, family life, and the impact of technology on children’s health and development, presented on how using new discoveries from brain science can help educators and parents prepare children and youth to be more successful in school and in life.

In addition, the Birch Meadow Elementary School was recognized as a Blue Ribbon Lighthouse Point of Light School for their efforts in using the Blue Ribbon School Improvement Process to improve their school.  Congratulations to the Birch Meadow School Community for this recognition.

But the experience does not end there.  The ideas, thoughts, innovations, and reflections that were developed and learned at the conference will now be shared with our schools.  It is here that the true learning begins where our educators that have seen and heard how these best practices work in other schools across the country work with our teachers to foster these ideas in our schools.  When these ideas and initiatives come to fruition in schools and classrooms in our district, that is when the excitement begins.  It is a formula that we have used in our district for several years and it has allowed us to continually look at what we do and how we can do it better.

Special thanks goes to the School PTOs for helping to support this professional development opportunity for our teachers.

Stepping Stones….

• DON’T MISS IMPROVOSAURUS!-Don’t miss IMPROVOSAURUS, the resident Improv troupe of the RMHS Drama Club this Friday night at 7PM at the Reading Memorial High School Fine and Performing Arts Center. This talented group of performers will have you laughing your heads off. Admission is the bargain of the season at only $3 per person. Come and Enjoy!
• Congratulations to Parker Middle School students under the direction of Art teachers Amy Ropple and Diane Davis for the work that they have done on their Artsonia website. Parker is now ranked #1 on Artsonia for middle schools in the state of Massachusetts, and is 3rd in the country.  The ranking is based on the amount of work posted and the use of the site by students and parents. Parker Middle School now has over 7,000 pieces of student art online. 
• Congratulations to the RMHS Community Service Club, under the direction of RMHS teacher Frank Buono who recently held a very successful concert/coffee house fundraiser which raised an astonishing $550 for Veterans Village.  Veterans Village is a non-profit organization, featured on 60 Minutes, which provides services to US Military veterans such as mental health counseling, drug rehabilitation, job training, and educational opportunities. 
• Congratulations to the RMHS Red Cross Club, under the direction of RMHS teacher Frank Buono, who ran a very successful blood drive in the Field House last Friday.
• A special thanks to the following school groups who donated a tree to the Reading Technology Education Foundation Festival of Trees:  Barrows PTO, Birch Meadow PTO, Class of 2011, Class of 2012, Class of 2013, Coolidge Peer Leaders, Joshua Eaton, Joshua Eaton Student Council, Killam Elementary School, Parker Peer Leaders, PSST, Reading School Committee, RMHS Administration, RMHS Art Club, RMHS BPO, RMHS PTO, and the Wood End Elementary School.  Because of their efforts and the efforts of the Reading Technology Education Foundation, over $12,000 was raised at the Festival of Trees.
• There will be a Reading School Committee meeting on Monday, December 13, beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Wood End Elementary School.  School Committee Office hours will be held from 6:00-7:00 p.m. at Wood End.  You can access the agenda here.

As we enter the holiday season, I would like to inform parents about School Committee policy GBEBC and the Massachusetts Conflict of Interest law (MGL chapter 268A) as it relates to the giving of gifts by parents or parent organizations to individual staff who are employed by the Reading Public Schools.  Recently, the State Ethics Commission has approved amendments to the section of the law on gift giving and acceptance.  These new regulations are currently in effect and it is recommended that teachers and parents follow them accordingly.  A copy of these regulations can be accessed here.

In summary, the new regulations on gift giving and acceptance are as follows:

• Teachers are allowed to accept a gift(s) with a combined value of up to a maximum of $150 per year from their current public school students and/or their parents as long as the gift is identified only as being from the class, and the identity of givers and the amounts given by each individual are not identified to the teacher receiving the gift.
• A teacher accepting a gift of less than $50 from a current student, according to the regulations, will need to complete a disclosure form and send that disclosure form to Laura Gemme, the Town Clerk, at Town Hall.  A copy of the disclosure form is can be accessed here.
• A teacher may accept a gift to the classroom that is to be used for the class and which will become the property of the school district.  The teacher should let the building principal know so that the gift can be properly accepted as a gift by the Reading School Committee.

 Here are some examples:

Example:  A teacher has a class with 23 students.  Parents of 20 of the students collect money and give the teacher a $150 gift certificate to a book store, indicating that it is a class gift.  One of the parents who did not contribute to the class gift gives the teacher a $25 certificate to a spa.  The teacher may accept the $150 class gift certificate and no disclosure is required; the teacher may not accept any other gift from the parents who contributed to the class gift.  The teacher may accept the $25 spa certificate, but must file a disclosure.

Example:  A teacher has a class with 23 students.  Parents of 13 of the students collect money and give the teacher a $130 gift certificate to a book store, indicating that it is a class gift.  Parents of the other 10 students collect money and give the teacher a $100 gift certificate to an office supply store, indicating that the gift is a gift to the classroom and that the teacher should use it to buy necessary classroom supplies.  The teacher can accept the first gift on his/her own behalf and the second on behalf of the classroom.  He/she must spend the $100 office supply gift certificate on classroom supplies and should keep receipts documenting those purchases.  Items purchased with money that is a gift to the classroom are the property of the school district.  The teacher may not knowingly accept any additional gift from parents who participated in the class gift.

An appropriate way to recognize and thank the efforts of a staff member is to follow the guidelines of Reading School Committee policy GBEBC which states that, “When families, students, or others wish to express personal appreciation to a teacher or other staff member, the Reading School Committee urges them to find modes of expression that do not involve personal gifts.”  This could include donating to a worthwhile charity, the PTO, the Reading Technology Education Foundation (RTEF) or the school itself in the name of the teacher.  We also encourage letters of appreciation which are highly treasured by staff.

In summary, the Reading Public Schools is not attempting to discourage gift giving or saying thank you to a special employee.  Rather, our purpose is to inform the community about the state law and School Committee policy and ask for your voluntary compliance with these requirements.

Parents with questions are encouraged to contact their building principal or go to the State Ethics Commission website.

Your cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated.  With the holidays quickly approaching, I wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season.

If you have attended a Reading Memorial High School athletic contest, drama production, marching band performance, and/or a middle school or elementary open house or PTO meeting, you have seen the participation and dedication that we receive from our parent support groups.  You may be a participant in one or more of these groups.  These groups include, but are certainly not limited to, our Parent Teacher Organizations (PTO), Parent Supporting Student Theater (PSST), Band Parents Organization, Friends of Reading Football, and the Reading Athletic Boosters.  Each year, our parent support groups contribute thousands of dollars and countless hours of their time for school, athletic, and extra-curricular programs and events.  For example, our PTO groups have generously donated thousands of dollars to support new technology in our district.  Without these groups, we would not have the level of programs and services that we currently have in our school district.  They are certainly a key partner in the success of our schools.

Recently, I have been able to see first hand three of our parent support groups in action.  With each group, I was thoroughly impressed with the organization, the leadership, and the support that these groups provide for our students.  For example, in late October, the Band Parents Organization played a critical role in coordinating the New England Marching Band Competition that was held at Reading Memorial High School.  The competition ran smoothly and efficiently.  They also help support the band at other marching band competitions, parades, football games, and other endeavors.  Recently, I was able to see another parent support group, the Friends of Reading Football, working diligently behind the scenes of a home football game to make sure that everything was set up and organized so that the game ran smoothly, both on and off the field.  Their fundraising efforts have provided the additional resources necessary for the football team to maintain additional coaches, film support, and additional supplies that the school department budget cannot afford.

The final group that I was able to see in action was the Parents Supporting Student Theater.  For two weeks, this group worked with the school drama staff collaboratively to run a very organized and outstanding production of The Scarlet Pimpernel.   They organized ticket sales, ad book, flowers, and refreshments, ushered the public to their seats prior to the show, provided support behind the scenes during the show, planned the student gatherings before/after the show and helped break down the entire set on the last night of the show.

It is because of the dedication and effort of all of our parent groups that helps the Reading Public Schools provide great experiences for our students.  On behalf of all of our students and staff, thank you for your continued support.

Stepping Stones….

• The third and final Community Forum will be held on Monday, November 29, beginning at 6:30 p.m., in the Superintendent’s Office.  There will be a presentation on the anti-bullying plan at 6:30 p.m., followed by a discussion of the FY12 budget process.  Your input is valued and critical to the success of both of these items.
• Bullying Plan Comments Due by the End of this Week-The comment period for the Draft Anti-Bullying Plan will be ending this week.  To access the draft plan, click here.  If you would like to give any feedback on the plan, use the form located here.
• Congratulations to the Reading Memorial High School girls swim team, under the direction of Coach Lois Margeson, who won the Massachusetts Division 2 State Championship last week.
• Congratulations to the Reading Memorial High School Football Team, under the direction of Coach and RMHS teacher John Fiore, who finished the season a perfect 11-0 and captured the Middlesex League Championship.  They will play in the Division 2 State Semi-Finals this Tuesday against Dracut.  The game will be played at Reading Memorial High School.
• Last Monday evening at the Reading School Committee, RMHS students Emily Crampe and Katchen Lachmayr accompanied by mentor Dr. Alex Ballantyne, presented on their journey to Iceland during the summer of 2010.  You can view their presentation here.  During this school year, both students will be doing an independent Senior Project to extend their learning on the geography and environment of Iceland.

Have a great week!

As the first quarter of the school year winds down and the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, we have a short window of time to catch our breath and reflect on our school year.  We certainly have a lot to be thankful for in the Reading Public Schools.  We have a community that is very supportive of education, committed parents, hard working teachers, staff, and administrators, and most importantly, great students.  Like every community, we have our share of challenges, but we know that if we work together as a team, we can overcome many of those challenges.

To that end,  I came across this inspirational poem by an unknown author who helped remind me to appreciate all that I have, including the challenges and difficulties that life at times presents.  There are days when everything does not go as planned.  I read this poem and it helped me turn a “not so great day” into a better one.  This poem focused my thoughts on the positive and reminded me to give thanks for what I do have.  For the most part, it all comes down to our attitude, how we see, how we react, and what we do.

I wanted to share this poem with you and to thank you for your support of our school district.  Reading is a very special place because of the commitment that is exhibited every day from parents, teachers, administrators, staff, and students. 

On behalf of the Reading School Committee and the Reading Public School Administration, I want to wish you and your family a happy and healthy Thanksgiving holiday.

                                                                                                                             
  Be Thankful 
 By Author Unknown

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don’t know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes. They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you’re tired and weary,
because it means you’ve made a difference.

It’s easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who
are also thankful for the setbacks.
Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings.

Recently, Reading Memorial High School Athletic Director Phil Vaccaro and a group of RMHS students submitted a video as part of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) video contest on anti-bullying.  Students were challenged in this competition to respond to the role of athletics in preventing bullying.  We are pleased to announce that the video won first place in the contest.  You can view the video below:

Reading will receive the award for this submission at the annual Sportsmanship Summit to be held at Gilette Stadium on November 19th.  Congratulations to the students and Phil Vaccaro for a successful submission and communicating a powerful message about anti-bullying.

On Saturday, November 6th, the Reading School Committee had the opportunity to listen to several community members who presented their nominations for the naming of different parts of our schools.  As part of the new school committee policy on the Naming of Facilities or Places Within Or On School Property, nominations are accepted annually in the fall and each nominating group has 10 minutes to present at a School Committee meeting.  This meeting gave the community the opportunity to present why educators and community members were nominated.  Over 30 community members attended the meeting.  The following  people were nominated:

John Hollingsworth Field

William Endslow Performing Arts Center

Veteran’s Memorial and Hal Croft Athletic Stadium

Hal Croft Track

Thomas Darrin Wrestling Room

Charlotte Harlan Library or Playground at Barrows Elementary School

Cutcliffe Field

Patrick A. Schettini, Jr. Library Media Center

Patrick A. Schettini, Jr. Performing Arts Center

Kevin McCarthy Memorial

Phil Vaccaro Field

Each of the nominating groups did an outstanding job articulating why the nominee was worthy of such an honor.  It was evident from each of the presentations that a significant amount of thought went into each submission.  Community members talked about the positive effect nominees had on the community or on Reading students.  One person called the nominees, “legends”, who have made a significant impact on the students of the Reading Public Schools.  A common thread that existed among the educators who were nominated were that they taught life lessons about sportsmanship, respect, appreciation for differences, and work ethic.  It was evident from the stories that were told that the nominees had a positive impact on the lives of children.

The committee also received nominations for people that were not educators.  One community member asked the committee if they would consider recognizing a memorial to remember the lives that were lost on September 11, 2001.  Kevin McCarthy, one of the nominees, was a graduate of Reading Memorial High School who lost his life on September 11th in the World Trade Center in New York.  The citizen suggested creating an outside garden area with a plaque and seating that would appropriately honor those victims of the attacks.

Overall, it was a very positive experience and it speaks volumes to the quality of educators and students that we have in our community.  We are very fortunate in Reading to have both past and current educators who make such an impact with our students.

The next step for the School Committee is for them to vote which nominations will move forward to a subcommittee who will research each nomination and make a recommendation to the School Committee.  The subcommittee will consist of a member of the School Committee, a building principal, one member of the Board of Selectmen, one local business leader, one student representative, and one member of the historical commission.  If you would like to be on the subcommittee, contact the Superintendent’s Office at 781-944-5800.

Stepping Stones…..

1.   First Community Forum will be held this Tuesday-The first community forum will be held this Tuesday, November 9, at 6:30 p.m., at the Walter S. Parker Middle School.  At this forum, the new anti-bullying plan will be discussed, as well as, the FY12 budget process.  This forum will give the community an opportunity to give input on the Antibullying Plan and the FY12 budget process.  If you cannot attend this forum, we will have two additional forums; November 16 at Killam, and November 29 at the Superintendent’s Office. 

2.  Bullying Reporting Form is now online-As part of our anti-bullying plan, we now have an online reporting form to report any incidences related to bullying.  The form is found here or accessed on the district Edline website at http://www.edline.net/pages/ReadingPublicSchools.  This form can be submitted anonymously.  Once it is submitted, it will be sent to a secure email address where it will be forwarded to the appropriate building principal or administrator.  It should be noted that according to the new anti-bullying law, reports made anonymously will be investigated, but no disciplinary action will be taken against an alleged aggressor solely on the basis of an anonymous report.

Have a great week!

Over the last several weeks, the Reading Public Schools anti-bullying committee has developed a draft of the anti-bullying plan that will be submitted to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in late December as required by law.  This draft plan will be presented at the Reading School Committee meeting on Monday evening.  The plan is now available for public comment.  There are several ways that you can give input to the plan.  One way is to post your thoughts on this blog.  Another way is to complete the public comment form, which will be available next week.  A third way is to attend one of the community forums, which will be held on November 9 (Parker), November 16 (Killam), and November 29 (Superintendent’s Office).  All three community forums begin at 6:30 p.m.  We will also be discussing the FY12 budget at these forums.   Another way is that you can email your comments directly to Assistant Superintendent Patty de Garavilla at pdegaravilla@reading.k12.ma.us. Finally, Mrs. de Garavilla is convening a group of parents to give input on the plan.  If you are interested in being a part of that group, contact her directly.

During the month of November, we will be receiving feedback on the plan, making the necessary revisions, and presenting a final plan to the Reading School Committee and the Community in early December.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Patty de Garavilla at 781-944-5800 or at pdegaravilla@reading.k12.ma.us.

Stepping Stones….

Here are some other events going on in our schools:

1.  Reading School Committee Meeting on Monday, November 1st-The Reading School Committee will hold a regular session meeting on Monday, November 1, at 7:30 p.m. in the Reading Memorial High School Library Media Center.  You can access the agenda and packet here.  There will be monthly office hours in the Superintendent’s Office prior to the meeting from 6:00-7:00 p.m.  At the meeting, there will be a presentation of a draft of the anti-bullying plan, as well as, a presentation by RMHS teachers Janet Dee and Sharon Burke on the different ways that Reading Memorial High School is integrating technology.

2.  RMHS Drama Club Fall Show Opens November 13-Students from the RMHS Drama Club are busy rehearsing for their upcoming production of  The Scarlet Pimpernel.  The show, set in the early stages of the French Revolution, combines mystery, comedy, intrigue and engaging music.  I was able to get a sneak preview of the show and the acting, costumes, props, and music are amazing.  Show dates are November 13, 19, and 20 at 7:30 p.m. and November 14 and 21 at 3:00 p.m.  You can purchase tickets during box office hours:  Tuesday through Thursdays from 6:00-7:00 p.m., or by mailing RMHS Drama, P.O. Box 432, Reading, MA 01867.  More information can be found on the RMHS website:  www.rmhsdrama.com.  Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for seniors and students.  Please come and support the arts in Reading and be part of the excitement!

3.  METCO Elementary Update-We are pleased to announce that beginning this Wednesday, we have been able to arrange bus transportation so that the elementary METCO students will be able to spend Wednesday afternoons in Reading either participating in their school’s extended day program or going over to a friend’s house.  If you would like to host a METCO elementary student at your home on Wednesday afternoons from 12:45 p.m. to 2:45 p.m., please contact your child’s building principal or METCO Director Jesenia Castro at jcastro@reading.k12.ma.us.  

3.  Coolidge Middle School Receives a Surprise Thank You from Afghanistan-For the past five years, Coolidge Middle School has collected items and sent “care packages” from Coolidge to our troops who are stationed overseas. Coolidge Teacher, Amy Kasprzak, and her colleagues have coordinated the efforts; and Ms. Kasprzak’s brother, Major Robert Pawlak, currently overseas in Afghanistan, has helped by giving her addresses of people stationed in remote locations. The other day the Coolidge Community was surprised by a very long distance phone call from Captain Robert Williams, and in a follow-up email letter with photos, he expressed heartfelt and very enthusiastic thanks from all of his team in a very remote section of Afghanistan.

Captain Williams writes, “On behalf of the Nagahan Village Stability Team I would like to express our deepest appreciation for your care package that we received on 26 Oct 2010. Your thoughts and well wishes have added a few more smiles to our daily routine, and possible a few more cavities as well! As deployed soldiers we always have our loved ones and family back home with us. We carry photos, email when we can, and make the occasional phone calls in order to feel just a little closer to those things we cherish and miss while we are deployed. These are things we plan for, and we accept as part of our duty. Unexpected, uncontrolled, unsolicited acts of kindness from those friends we have yet to meet however are not planned for, and the impact is enormous. Your actions are truly reflective of a compassionate and caring School Staff and Student body.”

In total, Coolidge shipped out twelve boxes, with a total weight of 568 lbs, to our troops in Afghanistan. Each box ranged from 40 – 50 lbs and had a little bit of everything in it. Major Robert Pawlak provided twelve addresses for remote locations along the Pakistan border and in the Helmand province.  This is another example of how these types of efforts are alive and thriving in our schools.   

5.  A special thank you to the Verrier family for hosting a neighborhood coffee last Friday morning. 

Have a safe Halloween!

Even though it is only October, the fiscal year 2012 (July 1, 2011-June 30, 2012) budget process has been progressing along since last month with the September meeting of the Financial Forum (a meeting of the Finance Committee, Board of Selectmen, School Committee, and Library Board of Trustees).  During the early months of the process, there are numerous conversations with Town officials, school department administrators, and local boards to begin to identify the needs of the school district and town government, the revenue projections for the overall budget, and the projected expenses for next year.  In addition, we are currently having discussions as a community on ideas to generate additional revenue and to consolidate costs and reduce expenses.

There are still several months to go in this process and it is much too early to identify what the budget picture will look like for next year.  One key piece of data that will not be determined until late January will be how much state aid the Town of Reading will receive.  State aid makes up about 18-20% of the revenue coming into the general fund for the Town of Reading.

There are also several other unknowns in the FY12 budget.  We will be going out to bid for a new natural gas contract, a new substitute teacher contract, a new bus transportation contract, and new copier lease contract.  In addition, we will begin negotiations over the next few months with all five of our collective bargaining units.  Each of these unknowns may have an impact on the FY12 budget.

Over the last several weeks during my meetings with school groups, community groups, and neighborhood coffees, we have discussed the priorities for this school district and what must be maintained at all cost.  These meetings have been extremely productive and are continuing over the next few months.  I will be using this data as I draft the FY12 budget.  In addition, as I mentioned in last week’s post, there will be opportunities beginning in November at our community forums to give your thoughts on budget priorities, revenue generation, and cost savings ideas. 

Another way that you can be involved is to become a budget parent.  we are still looking for a few budget parents to be a part of the process.  Any parent who has children attending the Reading Public Schools may be a budget parent.  The role of the budget parents is as follows:

• Participate in meetings with the Superintendent of Schools and Director of Finance and Operations in November and December to learn about the school department budget and the budget process
• Work with the Superintendent and the Director of Finance and Operations to review, critique and give input on the budget and the budget process
• Understand how the budget process works and advocate for the entire school department budget
• Act as a liaison between the school department and their child’s school by reporting back to other parents both formally (PTO and School Council meetings) and informally
• Participate in November Community budget forums
• Attend School Committee meetings and other pertinent meetings during the budget deliberations in January, February, and March.

We are looking for two budget parents for each elementary school, three for each middle school, seven from the high school, and one from the Special Education PAC group.  The purpose of having multiple budget parents for each school is so that everyone does not have to attend every meeting.  The meetings will begin in November and will last until March.  If you are interested in participating in being a budget parent, please contact your child’s building principal.

As we learned last year during the FY11 budget process, there are always many unknowns, particularly in these current economic conditions.  Our goal is always to develop a budget that uses our resources as effectively as possible with the final goal of doing what is in the best interest of our children.  What we need from you is to become involved early in the process and to stay involved and educated about our budget.  If there are ways that we can communicate the process to you more effectively, please let us know.

Stay tuned, this year’s ride has just begun!