Executive Session

Members Present: Jonathan Radtke-Chairperson, Ben Meiklejohn, James DiMillo Teri McRae, Otis Thompson, Stephen Spring, Walter Rumery, Tae Chong

At 6:00 p.m. it was moved, seconded and voted unanimously to go into Executive Session to discuss negotiations with the Portland Education Association. (1 M.R.S.A.) § 405(6)(D)

At 6:20 p.m. it was moved, seconded and voted unanimously to come out of Executive Session.

Business Meeting

At 6:30 p.m. Mr. Radtke called the meeting to order.

Members Present: Jonathan Radtke-Chairperson, Ben Meiklejohn, James DiMillo Teri McRae, Otis Thompson, Stephen Spring, Walter Rumery, Tae Chong

Mr. Spring moved, seconded Mr. Chong and voted unanimously to suspend the rules to take an item off the table.

Committee members asked clarifying questions:

Mr. DiMillo – timeline for negotiations. Ms. Hart indicated that the negotiations team met 14 times March through June.

Public Comment: No members of the public addressed the School Committee

Board discussion and debate:

Mr. Radtke - reminded members that comments were to be confined to the motion.

Mr. Meiklejohn – supports contract and explained his vote to table at the last meeting.

Mr. Rumery – spoke regarding his vote to abstain at the last meeting.

Mr. Spring – supports contract.

Ms. McRae – concerned about possibility of having to cut positions; concerned about possibility of not being able to afford staffing in second year of contract; suggested possibility of looking at other ways to compensate teachers.

Mr. Thompson – negotiations team did a good job. Purpose of motion is to ratify contract.

Mr. Chong – supports contract. 2% increase is below cost of living.

Mr. Radtke - supports contract.

Vote on contract: It was moved, seconded and voted unanimously to approve a contract agreement between the Portland School Committee and the Portland Education Association effective September 1, 2004 to August 31, 2006.

Public Comment prior to 11 p.m.

Beth Conley – spoke to the Committee regarding the contract.

Mr. Spring moved, seconded Mr. Chong and voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 7:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Jo O’Connor

Superintendent of Schools