Draft: Jan. 6, 2005                                                                        
Approved: January 19, 2005

                                                                
School Committee meeting Jan. 5, 2005
Under Report of the Secretary

 

Executive Session

Consideration and action to move into Executive Session to discuss student disciplinary matters (1 MRSA §405 6B)

 

Members present:  Jonathan Radtke-Chairperson, Jason Toothaker, Ellen Alcorn, Stephen Spring, Teri McRae, Ben Meiklejohn, Tae Chong, James DiMillo, Otis Thompson

 

At 6:45 p.m. Mr. DiMillo moved, seconded  Mr. Chong and voted  unanimously to move into Executive Session to discuss student disciplinary matters (1 MRSA §405 6B)

 

At 6:55 p.m. Mr. Thompson moved, seconded  Mr. Spring and voted  unanimously to come out of Executive Session

 

Business Meeting

Mr. Radtke called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.  He indicated that Superintendent O’Connor was not in attendance due to illness.

 

Members present:  Jonathan Radtke-Chairperson, Jason Toothaker, Ellen Alcorn, Stephen Spring, Teri McRae, Ben Meiklejohn, Tae Chong, James DiMillo, Otis Thompson, Sophia Njaa (arrived at 7:08 p.m.)

 

Members not present:  Michael Imbergamo

 

Report of the Chair  - No report

 

Report of the Superintendent

Mr. Allen, Assistant Superintendent – Secondary Education, reviewed the resignations and retirements.

1.  Resignations:

a.      Beth Hartman, School Nurse – Lincoln Middle School, 8 years with Portland Public Schools, effective December 31, 2004.

b.      Joel Cooke, West/Adult Education, 4 years, effective December 31, 2004

2.  Retirements

    1. Carol Raymond, School Health Coordinator, 23 years with Portland Public Schools, effective January 31, 2005.
    2. Charlene Vaughan, Teacher-Riverton School, 36 years with Portland Public Schools, effective June 30, 2005.

 

Report of Committees

  1. East End Area School Building Committee – Ms. Alcorn reported on the last meeting of the EEAS Building Committee on December 16, 2004.
  2. Policy Committee  - Mr. Spring indicated that there is a policy for a first reading on the evening’s agenda and that the Committee will be bringing forward two policies for a first reading at the January 19th meeting.
  3. Finance Committee – Ms. McRae indicated that the Finance Committee met on January 4th with the City Finance Committee as well as meeting prior to this evening’s meeting.  The Budget Advisory Task Force will meet on January 13th, 3:30 p.m. at Central Office.  There will be a joint Finance Committee meeting on January 18th, 5:30 p.m. at City Hall to discuss budget and funding.  Ms. McRae indicated that there is the possibility that Portland could be receiving approximately $500,000 in additional funding next year than this year.
  4. Legislative Affairs Committee – Mr. DiMillo indicated that the Committee would meet at 6 p.m. on January 12th .
  5. Other Committees and/or member concerns  - None

 

Mr. Radtke asked members to please let him know what topics/programs they would like to have as workshop discussions for this year.

 

Consent Items

Mr. Allen reviewed donations and thanked contributors.

 

Old Business  - None

 

New Business

  1. First reading of policies:
    1. IFA – Curriculum Policy

 

  1. First reading of policies to be deleted from the Policy Book:
    1. IFA – Curriculum Research/Resources
    2. IFD – Curriculum Adoption
    3. IG – Curriculum Design

 

Mr. Spring reviewed items 1 and 2 for a first reading.

 

  1. Consideration and action to approve the expenditure of $2,000 from the School Committee contingency fund to replenish the Student Travel and Excellence Fund.

 

Mr. Thompson moved, seconded  Mr. Chong to approve the expenditure of $2,000 from the School Committee contingency fund to replenish the Student Travel and Excellence Fund.

 

Mr. Radtke discussed the purpose of the Student Travel and Excellence fund, which was established by the School Committee so that groups without booster clubs could request financial assistance.

 

 

Committee discussion:

Ms. McRae – when the fund was established was the intention to have the original funding as seed money?

 

Mr. Radtke indicated that the fund was established with the notion that groups would raise money to put into it.

 

Mr. DiMillo – asked if there were any qualifications that require groups to fund raise before asking for funds.  Would like clarification of requirements before replenishing the fund.

 

Mr. Meiklejohn – supports the motion.  

 

Mr. Thompson – supports, but would like further discussion of this item.

 

Ms. Njaa – asked what student groups had requested funding assistance.

 

Mr. Meiklejohn - indicated that OM groups and students needing financial assistance for academic competitions, etc. have applied for assistance in the past.

 

Ms. McRae moved, seconded  Mr. DiMillo to table the motion.

 

Ms. McRae would like to table the motion to provide for further discussion of a plan going forward and the Partnership’s plans to assist in replenishing the fund.

 

Debate on tabling motion:

Mr. Thompson – would eliminate Student Travel and Excellence Fund. Prefers students approach the School Committee to request funding.

 

Vote on tabling motion  - It was voted 2-7 to table the motion.  Student representative voted with the majority.   Motion fails.

 

Original motion back on the table.

 

Mr. Toothaker – supports.

 

Mr. Spring – Does not support.

 

Mr. Chong – supports.  Feels Partnership should do development work to support Student Travel and Excellence Fund.

 

Mr. Radtke – supports.  Would like to revisit purpose of fund and look at how the School Committee reviews requests for funding.

 

Vote on original motion :  It was voted 7-2 to approve the expenditure of $2,000 from the School Committee contingency fund to replenish the Student Travel and Excellence Fund.  Student Representative – voted with majority

 

  1. Consideration and action to approve the superintendent’s plan to relocate Adult Education, Central Office, and Maintenance in an amount not to exceed $906,070 to go forward to the City Council for a supplemental appropriation in an amount not to exceed $906,070.

 

Mr. Chong moved, seconded  Mr. Meiklejohn to approve the superintendent’s plan to relocate Adult Education, Central Office, and Maintenance in an amount not to exceed $906,070 to go forward to the City Council for a supplemental appropriation in an amount not to exceed $906,070. 

 

Mr. Radtke – indicated that this is part of the process going forward to petition City Council for funds to relocate Central Office.

 

Public Comment

Steven Scharf – addressed the Committee regarding the relocation of Central Office.

 

Vote on motion :  It was voted unanimously  to approve the superintendent’s plan to relocate Adult Education, Central Office, and Maintenance in an amount not to exceed $906,070 to go forward to the City Council for a supplemental appropriation in an amount not to exceed $906,070.    Student Representative – voted with the majority.

 

Personnel  - None

 

Committee Focus on Educational Issues

  1. Discussion of School Committee goals – Mr. Radtke mentioned that goals established at the August 2004 retreat were included in the members’ packets – important to always keep these in front of the Committee.
  2. Mr. Radtke briefly reviewed an evaluation form that he would like to begin using with the Committee.  The form would be completed at the conclusion of each meeting and used to monitor member’s impressions of how the Committee performs.  Results of meeting evaluations would be made available to anyone who requested them.
  3. Mr. Meiklejohn addressed the Committee about the possibility of moving meetings from Wednesday to Tuesdays for this year only.  His request is made because of a class he needs to take at USM, which meets on Wednesday evenings.

 

This request will be placed on the January 19, 2005 meeting agenda.

 

 

 

                       

 

Public Comment Prior to 11:00 PM

Kathleen Casasa addressed the Committee regarding the first reading of policy IFA – Curriculum Policy and the first reading of curriculum policies to be removed from the Policy Book requesting that PEA members, etc. have an opportunity to review this particular policy and possibly assist in developing of a curriculum policy.

 

Steven Scharf – addressed the Committee regarding the Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound High School and MOU that is to be on the next School Committee agenda for January 19th.

 

Adjournment

Mr. Chong moved, seconded  Mr. Toothaker and voted  unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 7:55 p.m.   Student Representative – voted with the majority.

 

Respectfully submitted

 

 

 

Dana Allen

Assistant Superintendent, Secondary Education