Draft: June 17, 2004

Approved: June 23, 2004
School Committee meeting June 16, 2004
Under Report of the Secretary

Business Meeting

Mr. Radtke called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.

Members Present: Jonathan Radtke-Chairperson, Walter Rumery, Kim Matthews, Ben Meiklejohn, Tae Chong, James DiMillo (left at 8 p.m.), Teri McRae

Members not present: Otis Thompson, Stephen Spring

Report of the Chair

Mr. Radtke:

• Congratulated the Portland High School softball team and Deering High School baseball team on winning the Class A State Championships
• Reviewed the work of the School Committee over the past few months
• Announced the resignation of Kim Matthews effective June 30, 2004 and thanked her for her work, insight, and persistence. He indicated that there would not be a special election to fill the vacant seat that this would be voted on at the general election in November.

Ms. Matthews briefly addressed the Committee.

Superintendent’s Report

Superintendent O’Connor:

• Announced resignations and retirements:

Retirements: Effective August 31, 2004

Margaret Lewis Longfellow/Data/Literacy Specialist 7 years

Resignations: Effective August 31, 2004

Lawrence Kovacs Longfellow/Teacher 1 year

• Introduced Jane Eberle, Peter Ventre and Jim Harnden from the Greater Portland Dollars for Scholars program who spoke briefly on the program, which offers scholarships to students going on to college.

Report of Committees

1. East End Area School Building Committee – Mr. Rumery indicated that the demolition contractor will be completing the foundation work and then an RFP will be sent out.
2. Policy Committee – Mr. Meiklejohn indicated that three policies were on the evening’s agenda for a first reading.
3. Finance Committee – No report
4. Legislative Affairs Committee – Mr. DiMillo reported that the Committee met with the Portland Legislative Delegation prior to the School Committee meeting to discuss tax reform.
5. Other Committees and/or member concerns – Ms. McRae requested that the Policy Committee review the dress code.

Report of the Secretary

Mr. Chong moved, seconded Mr. DiMillo and voted unanimously to approve the meeting minutes of the June 2, 2004 and June 9, 2004 meetings.

Consent Items

Superintendent O’Connor reviewed the donation and thanked the contributor.

Old Business - None

New Business

1. Consideration and action to approve a contract agreement between B.A.S.E. (Benefit Association of School Employees) and the Portland School Committee effective July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2007. (This action is contingent on ratification by B.A.S.E.)

Mr. Chong moved, seconded Mr. Meiklejohn to approve a contract agreement between B.A.S.E. (Benefit Association of School Employees) and the Portland School Committee effective July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2007. (This action is contingent on ratification by B.A.S.E.)

Joline Hart reviewed with the Committee the B.A.S.E agreement, which was ratified by the group on June 13, 2004.

Public Comment: Al Higgins, President of B.A.S.E., spoke to the Committee regarding the agreement indicating that the members understand the financial difficulties facing the city. However, this group has seen several positions eliminated in an effort to keep budget cuts as far from the students as possible.

Mr. Rumery – appreciates all that B.A.S.E. has done during these difficult times.

Ms. McRae – asked if consideration might be given during the next contract negotiations to possibly moving some of the part time B.A.S.E. employees to 30 hours/week positions.

Vote on motion: It was voted unanimously to approve a contract agreement between B.A.S.E. (Benefit Association of School Employees) and the Portland School Committee effective July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2007. (This action is contingent on ratification by B.A.S.E.)

2. Consideration and action to waive for the 2003-04school year for one year only the secondary tuition fee to be paid to Portland Public Schools by Governor Baxter School For the Deaf as outlined in #5 of the Memorandum of Understanding for Governor Baxter School for the Deaf students attending Portland High School.

Mr. Chong moved, seconded Ms. McRae to waive for the 2003-04 school year for one year only the secondary tuition fee to be paid to Portland Public Schools by Governor Baxter School For the Deaf as outlined in #5 of the Memorandum of Understanding for Governor Baxter School for the Deaf students attending Portland High School.

Superintendent O’Connor reviewed the rationale for this request.

Committee members asked:

• How GBSD receives funding
• If GBSD was a private school

Larry Taub, Superintendent for GBSD, indicated that the school is a state funded facility and all funds are handled by the legislature. The school had to find an appropriate educational setting for the high school students at GBSD and, at the time, the cost to do this was not included in a budget. The MOU includes in-kind services provided by GBSD to the Portland Public School system in the amount of $60,000. In trying to manage the GBSD budget he is requesting a one-year waiver of the tuition amount to be paid to Portland Public Schools.

Committee discussion:

Mr. Rumery – supports GBSD and students, but upset with legislature that can’t seem to find money for this situation and will need to vote against motion. Requested that a letter be drafted to the state legislature regarding this situation and the legislature still owes Portland Public Schools a significant sum of money.

Ms. McRae – supports GBSD; can’t let state off hook for $29,000 owed to Portland Public Schools; maybe should forego ASL teacher and take money in future years; will be voting against motion.

Mr. Radtke – in favor of motion. Unique opportunity for GBSD students at Portland High School.

Mr. Chong – supports motion. Would like another language class, i.e. Somali, Khmer.

Vote on motion: It was voted 5-2 to waive for the 2003-04 school year for one year only the secondary tuition fee to be paid to Portland Public Schools by Governor Baxter School For the Deaf as outline in #5 of the Memorandum of Understanding for Governor Baxter School for the Deaf students attending Portland High School.

3. Consideration and action to authorize the superintendent to enter into a six year lease purchase agreement for $611,322 of reprographics equipment at an interest rate of 3.5% with the first of six annual payments of $114,548 due August 1, 2005.

Mr. Chong moved, seconded Mr. Meiklejohn to authorize the superintendent to enter into a six year lease purchase agreement for $611,322 of reprographics equipment at an interest rate of 3.5% with the first of six annual payments of $114,548 due August 1, 2005.

Superintendent O’Connor addressed the motion. Randy Stewart reviewed the proposal with the Committee.

Committee discussion:

Mr. Rumery – asked if technology/equipment for the new school is included in the agreement. Mr. Stewart indicated that new technology, etc. will be available and that specific equipment has not been identified at this time.

Ms. McRae – with the replacement of some older printers would folks be switching to network printers? Did the school system look outside the state when requesting bids for equipment? Mr. Stewart indicated that some printing would now be done on network printers and that bids were solicited outside the state. The lowest bidder was a local company.

Public Comment: Robert Lavin addressed the Committee indicating that he felt photocopiers were a waste and that the schools should strive for a paperless system.

Vote on motion: It was voted unanimously to authorize the superintendent to enter into a six year lease purchase agreement for $611,322 of reprographics equipment at an interest rate of 3.5% with the first of six annual payments of $114,548 due August 1, 2005.

4. First reading of policies:

Mr. Meiklejohn reviewed policies for a first reading:

1. IJNDC – School System Website/Web Pages
2. IHCDA – Post-Secondary Enrollment Options
3. IJJ – Instructional and Library-Media Materials Selection

Personnel

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

Unpaid LOA:

Eff. 6/1/04 – 8/31/04

Joel Cooke PAE West/Teacher/Counselor. 5 of .5 position Educational

Eff. 09/01/04-08/31/05

Heidi Donnelly Presumpscot/Prof. Dev. Math Spec. 1.0 of 1.0 Childrearing

Mr. Chong moved, seconded Ms. McRae and voted unanimously to approve Personnel items as listed.

Committee Focus on Educational Issues - None

Public Comment Prior to 11:00 PM

David Hilton – addressed the Committee on the issue of the Pledge of Allegiance.

Ted Musgrave – addressed the Committee on the issue of the Pledge of Allegiance.

Cindy Rotolo – addressed the Committee on honoring teachers, school committee, and students on the work that has been done this year as well as the PEA negotiating team.

Robert Lavin – addressed the Committee on Pledge of Allegiance issue and saying the pledge on the first day of school only. Also addressed study circles, drop out numbers, MEA scores, and mislabeling of migrants.

Adjournment

Mr. Chong moved, seconded Ms. McRae and voted 5-1 to adjourn the business meeting at 8:24 p.m.

Committee took a 5-minute recess and then moved into a workshop session at 8:30 p.m.

Workshop Session

1. Discussion of Veranda Street property.

Executive Session

Consideration and action to move into Executive Session to discuss a personnel matter.

At 9:22 p.m. Mr. Meiklejohn moved, seconded Ms. McRae and voted unanimously to move into Executive Session to discuss a personnel matter.

At 9:50 p.m. it was moved, seconded and voted unanimously to come out of Executive Session.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Jo O’Connor

Superintendent of Schools