SCHOOL COMMITTEE NEWSLETTER

May 2007

Greetings to all!!

Budget is still the word that keeps us all on our toes. The Finance Committee has had numerous meetings with the City Finance Committee since the School Committee approved the FY08 budget. A joint Finance Committee meeting will take place May 3, 2007 at City Hall in Room 209. Superintendent O’Connor and I have met with or have had conversations with several City Councilors to talk about the drivers of this budget and they seem to have a better understanding of our needs at this point. On May 07, 2007 the City Council will have a first reading of the budget. Between the first reading and the final vote there will be a workshop on May 14, 2007 with the two Finance Committees. The City Council will take a final vote on the FY08 budget at their May 21, 2007 meeting.

In an email to my colleagues on the school committee I expressed a desire to have the School Committee review this year’s budget process to see how things might be done differently next year. Budget Season to me sounds like Baseball Season or Gardening Season. Both of these “seasons” have start and end dates. The budget is something that we work with throughout the year. I have suggested to the Superintendent that each of the cost center managers do a presentation to the school committee in late December or early January to explain how they are operating within the current budget as well as what needs within their cost centers they might foresee going into the upcoming budget process. The purpose of having the School Committee hear from cost center managers before beginning the next year’s budget process will provide us with a better understanding of possible upcoming budgetary needs when the committee receives the superintendent’s budget in March. This will also enhance the communications that we have with our counterparts on the City Council as well as providing the community with a clearer understanding of what the State of the State is.

On May 2^nd Robert O’Brien, Policy Committee Chairman, organized a well-crafted public forum on Weighted Grades. Robert and his committee members have put a great amount of time and effort into formulating a recommendation which will be brought to the full committee in May as a first read and then a second read and vote. Robert has brought in high school guidance counselors, admissions professionals, and numerous community stakeholders. Keep your eyes open to the PPS website for the dates so you can be a part of this process.

The Legislative Affairs Committee, chaired by Lori Gramlich, has been working on a resolution that will voice the Portland Public Schools support of consolidating services with other Districts (where possible) as well as the City of Portland.

Other positive things that are taking place in the District include Andrea Romer, Riverton School, who has been named one of eight regional finalists in the Maine Teacher of the Year program. The sophomore class at Casco Bay High School had a wonderful opening at the Salt Gallery in Portland. City Hall is hosting an amazing representation of Portland students art. Our students are doing great things.

Feedback is greatly appreciated and can be forwarded to SCNewsletter@portlandschools.org

Thank you!!