School Committee backs RCTV with letter to the Select Board
Image of the July 10, 2025 School Committee meeting from the RCTV Youtube page. Pictured (left to right): Board members Erin Gaffen, Shawn Brandt, Carla Nazzaro, Tom Wise, Sarah McLaughlin, and Lara Durgavich.
At its July 10, 2025, meeting, the Reading School Committee discussed and unanimously approved sending a letter to the Select Board in support of RCTV and the work the organization does to benefit Reading students. The School Committee letter is in response to ongoing Select Board negotiations regarding the RCTV grant agreement that began during the May 27 Select Board meeting and continued into the June 24 meeting.
School Committee Chair Shawn Brandt explained that he and Vice Chair Carla Nazzaro collaborated to draft the letter, aiming to highlight the importance of “E in PEG” - the educational component of the Public, Educational, and Government access programming - and the value of RCTV’s services to the community.
Mr. Brandt praised RCTV as a great partner for the schools, noting that any disruptions to its services would have a significant impact. Ms. Nazzaro added that the Committee “wanted to stay out of the fray,” but felt it was important to express appreciation for “what we have gotten from RCTV, the PEG services, and Anna Cuevas.”
Member Erin Gaffen voiced her support for the letter, sharing the positive impact RCTV had on her son, a recent Reading Memorial High School (RMHS) graduate.
The Committee voted 6-0 to approve the letter, with minor edits to include additional details: Anna Cuevas teaches 10 classes each year, serving up to 200 students - nearly 20% of the RMHS student body. The letter was sent to the Select Board on July 28.
The Select Board did not discuss receiving the School Committee’s letter at its August 5, 2025, meeting. Previously, at its June 24, 2025, meeting, the Select Board voted to extend the RCTV grant agreement by 3 months through the end of September. Select Board Vice Chair Melissa Murphy is serving as the Board’s liaison to work with Town Manager Matt Kraunelis on developing a new grant agreement with RCTV to maintain services.
With three more scheduled Select Board meetings before the current grant agreement expires, the RCTV grant agreement has not yet appeared on the agenda, and only minimal updates have been provided.
