Draft September 18, 2003

Approved: Oct. 1, 2003

School Committee Meeting September 17, 2003

Under Report of the Secretary

Business Meeting

Chairperson Thompson called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.

Members present: Otis Thompson-Chairperson, Teri McRae, Herb Adams, Jonathan Radtke, Ben Meiklejohn, Tae Chong, Kim Matthews, Walter Rumery

Members not Present: James DiMillo

Report of the Chair – No report

Report of the Superintendent - Superintendent O’Connor reported on the following:

1. Announced retirements and resignations:
1. Retirement - Myrt Collins, CO/Principal on Special Assignment, after 17 years with Portland Public Schools, effective September 30, 2003.
2. Resignations - Tracy Lizotte, Riverton/Art, effective September 26, 2003 and Windracer Weatherbee, West/Special Education, effective September 5, 2003.

2. Updated the Committee on the need for a .5 Ed Tech for kindergarten classrooms at Clifford and a Special Education teacher for the Center for Neurodevelopmental support. She indicated that it is anticipated that turnover savings would be used to accommodate these two positions – approximately $48,000 for Special Ed and $15,000 for Ed Tech. An alternative would be to fund these positions from contingency.

Mr. Thompson asked if there was room at Clifford to have a fourth kindergarten class. Superintendent O’Connor and Ms. Whynot-Vickers indicated that there was no space for a fourth classroom.

Barbara Dee briefly addressed the Committee regarding the need for the position for the Center for Neurodevelopmental Support.

3. Introduced Laurie Davis who provided the Committee with a brief overview of the No Child Left Behind program.

4. Briefly reviewed Informational Letter 23 from Commissioner Gendron regarding Chapter 127 and the Essential Programs and Services Model. Ms. O’Connor indicated that letters are being drafted to be sent to parents of 8^th grade and freshmen students regarding graduation by competency.

5. Congratulated Peaks Island School, Clifford Elementary and Lyseth Elementary on the MEA scores that were reported in the Press Herald on September 16, 2003.

6. Indicated that budget time is approaching and mentioned that some time at upcoming meetings would be used to update the Committee on “big ticket” budget items.

Report of Committees

1. East End Area School Building Committee – Mr. Rumery indicated that on September 15, 2003 the City Council passed by unanimous voted the proposed bond issue for the East End Area School. He also indicated that they unanimously voted on the Riverton project, which will also appear on the referendum in November.

Superintendent O’Connor shared with the Committee the favorable reaction and unanimous approval of the State Board of Education to the East End Area School.

2. Policy Committee – Ms. Matthews indicated that the field trip policy would be reviewed with the attorney at the October 8^th meeting.

3. Finance Committee – Mr. Radtke announced that the Budget Advisory Task Force would be meeting on September 18^th, 3:30 p.m. in Central Office. The Finance Committee will meet on September 24^th, 6 p.m. in Room 250 at PATHS.

4. Legislative Committee – Mr. Meiklejohn announced that the Committee met briefly prior to the evening’s School Committee meeting. They discussed the EPS model as well as planning to schedule a meeting with Representative Cummings to discuss the EPS model and what this will mean for Portland.

5. Veranda Street Subcommittee – Mr. Adams reported that this committee met recently. Committee members include Lee Urban, Ellen Sanborn, Jill Duson, Randy Stewart, Mary Jo O’Connor, and Herb Adams. The members had an honest exchange of thoughts and agreed to attempt to find mutual ground in terms of an eventual proposed lease that would appear in an RFP. Such things would include no exterior alternations to the building; public access to the public ground; public approval of any changes to the interior of the building, etc. Mr. Adams indicated that school representatives expressed very clearly and the city representatives appreciated the school committee’s concern regarding a) the price of rental of alternative space in the short term or long term; b) preferences were made very clear about the cost to go elsewhere rather than to stay were we are; c) the school department and the board are reluctant to move out or to advertise until there is a place to go. Mr. Adams indicated the agenda would be run so that there would not be an artificial timeline so that someone cannot rent the space out from under us. This Committee will meet again on October 2^nd, 3:30 p.m. at City Hall.

Consent Items - No report

Report of the Secretary

Mr. Radtke moved, seconded Ms. McRae and voted unanimously to approve the meeting minutes of the September 3, 2003 meeting.

New Business

1. Consideration and action to appoint a School Committee representative and alternate to the Maine School Board’s Annual Delegate Assembly to be held on Thursday, October 23, 2003.

No motion was taken on this item. Ms. McRae volunteered to be the School Committee representative to the Maine School Board’s Annual Delegate Assembly to be held on Thursday, October 23^rd and Ms. Matthews volunteered as the alternate representative.

2. Policies for a first reading.

Ms. Matthews reviewed the following policies:

DJ – Purchasing

DJB – Purchasing Procedures

CBI – Evaluation of the Superintendent

GBEA – Staff Conflict of Interest

IJNDB – Student Acceptable Use and Internet Safety Policy

3. First reading of policy to be removed from the Policy Book

Ms. Matthews reviewed the following policy:

DJD – Cooperative Purchasing

Personnel

1. Consideration and action to approve the Personnel items listed below:

Change in Degree: Eff: 09/01/2003

Catherine Bowden King/Reading $ + 1,582

MS/USM

Alison Skoczenski Lyseth/Library Media $ + 2,877

MS/University of South Carolina

Elections: Eff. 09/01/2003

Suzanne Bouchard PHS/Special Education B-13 $44,872

BS/UMO

Susan Mullen PHS/Guidance Counselor M-3 $35,955

MS/USM

Sare’ Smith Riverton/Primary B-1 $30,202 One Year Only

BS/Husson

Debra Treadwell King/Gear-Up B-1 $30,202

BS/UMO

Mr. Radtke moved, seconded Ms. Matthews and voted unanimously to approve Personnel items as listed.

Committee Focus on Educational Issues

• Mr. Thompson requested an update of the K-8 Task Force report at the first business meeting in October.

• Mr. Adams read the following proposal regarding a Referendum Subcommittee.

Proposed by Herb Adams

Portland School Committee

District 2

Special

Referendum Subcommittee

(A subcommittee of the Portland School Committee

to further our efforts in the November, 2003 City Referendum)

A Referendum Committee is hereby established for the duration of the 2003 Portland City Election cycle. The Portland City ballot will include two school-related referendum questions:

1. $11,150,000 million for construction of a new East End School replacing Jack Elementary School

2. $3,000,000 million for renovation and reconstruction at Riverton Elementary School.

The purpose of the Referendum Committee shall be:

1. To advocate, educate, and inform the public about the needs of, and challenges facing, Portland schools and the options available in the proposed referendums.

2. To assist in voter registration, absentee balloting, and get-out-the-vote educational efforts regarding the school referendums.

3. To coordinate efforts with the City Council and public groups supporting the school referendums.

The Chair of the Portland School Committee shall appoint members of the Referendum Committee from the membership of the Portland School Committee who volunteer for this task.

Mr. Adams moved, seconded Mr. Radtke and voted unanimously to establish a Referendum Committee for the duration of the 2003 Portland City Election cycle.

Mr. Adams spoke to the motion. Indicated that the School Committee could advocate and educate the public regarding matters of the schools, i.e. East End Area School construction project and the Riverton school renovation project. The Referendum Committee would be for the duration of the election cycle only and could assist with such things as voter registration, absentee balloting, etc.

Mr. Thompson asked School Committee members to let him know if they would be interested in serving on this Referendum Committee.

• Ms. Matthews indicated that she would like further discussion regarding the fingerprinting brochure that was included in their packets. Superintendent O’Connor indicated that she does not support pulling students from classes for something like this. Several Committee members also indicated that they do not support pulling students from classes. There was concern expressed regarding videotaping. Committee members briefly discussed this program and suggested such things as 1) possibly placing a survey on the web site to see if there is a need for such a program and then coordinate with the police department or sheriff’s department to do the finger printing, 2) donating space in a building to allow this program to happen as long as there is no significant cost to the school department. This item will be discussed in more depth at the business meeting in October.

Public Comment- No members of the public addressed the Committee.

Mr. Rumery moved, seconded Ms. McRae and voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 8:16 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Jo O’Connor

Superintendent of Schools