Draft:
May 5, 2005
Approved:
May 11, 2005
School Committee meeting May 4, 2005
Consideration and action to go into Executive Session to discuss negotiations with the PAA. (1 M.R.S.A. § 405(6)(D)).
Members present: Jonathan Radtke-Chairperson, Ellen Alcorn, Stephen Spring, Ben Meiklejohn, Otis Thompson, James DiMillo, Teri McRae, Jason Toothaker, Tae Chong
At 6:59 p.m. Mr. Meiklejohn moved, seconded Mr. Spring and voted unanimously to come out of Executive Session
Mr. Radtke called the meeting to order at 7:20 p.m.
Members present: Jonathan Radtke-Chairperson, Ellen Alcorn, Stephen Spring, Ben Meiklejohn, Otis Thompson, James DiMillo(left meeting at 10 p.m.), Teri McRae, Jason Toothaker, Tae Chong, Michael Imbergamo
Members not present: Sophia Njaa
Mr. Radkte:
Superintendent O’Connor:
Retirements: Effective
August 31, 2005
a. Marjorie Miller, Kindergarten/Longfellow, 23 years
b. Catherine Lane, Grade 1/Nathan Clifford, 23.5 years
c. Mary Ellen Bixby, English Teacher/Deering High School, 7 years
d. Mary Matheson, Grade 1-2/Longfellow, 15 years
e. John Aresta, PATHS, 28 years
f. Nancy Greenblatt, Speech/Language Therapist/Lyseth, 21 years
g. Barbara Hoppin Teacher/Principal, Peaks Island/Cliff Island 6 years
h. Hank Dresch Mgr. of Facilities & Property Services 6½ years
Resignations:
a. Kenneth Kunin, Principal/Reiche School from LOA 6 yrs, Eff. June 30, 2005
b. Ann Marie Wolfe, Teacher/King Middle School, 8 yrs, Eff. April 26, 2005
c. Robin Ivy Payton, Reiche/Gifted and Talented, .2 of 1.0, 13 years, Eff. August 31, 2005
· Mr. Meiklejohn – CATV executive session was cancelled last week. He also recognized and thanked the legislative delegation for the tremendous job they have done in Augusta advocating for schools. John Eder and Glenn Cummings met recently with members of the School Committee to discuss Portland Public School programs, resources, etc. They recognized the Multilingual Center for providing services statewide.
· Mr. Toothaker – is a member of TV3 advisory board and on behalf of TV3 requested an opportunity for dialogue with the School Committee at a future meeting.
· Mr. Chong – indicated his need to resign from the Portland Partnership Board due to a conflict with a graduate class.
· Mr. Spring – mentioned that he, Tae Chong, Superintendent O’Connor, and members of her staff met with Mr. Ortiz, President of SMCC, to discuss collaboration between SMCC and Portland Public Schools.
Mr. Chong moved, seconded Ms. Alcorn to approve the meeting minutes of the April 13, 2005 and April 27, 2005 meetings.
Vote on motion: It was voted unanimously to approve the meeting minutes of the April 13, 2005 and April 27, 2005 meetings. (Student representative voted with majority)
Consent Items
Superintendent O’Connor reviewed the consent items and thanked contributors
Old Business
Mr. Toothaker moved, seconded Mr. Chong to approve policy IHCD – Advanced College Placement
Mr. Spring reviewed the policy with the Committee.
Clarifying questions:
Ms. McRae – why a minimum enrollment for AP classes? How many AP classes have 15 or more students?
Mr. Spring – indicated that this might encourage students in various socio-economic to enroll. Almost all AP classes are 15 or more.
Board discussion/debate:
Ms. McRae – has reservations of 15 in AP courses. Should look at all classes.
Mr. Chong – supports this policy.
Mr. Imbergamo - supports policy. Would be good to make classes more multicultural.
Mr. Thompson and Mr. Radtke – support policy.
Vote on motion: It was voted unanimously to approve policy IHCD – Advanced College Placement (Student representative voted with majority)
Mr. Toothaker moved, seconded Mr. Chong to approve policy IHBEA – Programs for Students with Limited English Proficiency
Mr. Spring reviewed policy.
Vote on motion: It was voted unanimously to approve policy IHBEA – Programs for Students with Limited English Proficiency (Student representative voted with majority)
IHBEA – The Multilingual Program
Mr. Chong moved, seconded Ms. McRae to acknowledge the formation of a Deering High School Girls’ Ice Hockey program with the understanding that full funding is to be provided by the Ice Hockey Boosters.
Superintendent O’Connor introduced this item. She mentioned that the Committee had set a precedent by recently sanctioning Girls’ Ice Hockey at Portland High School and a Nordic Ski team a couple of years ago.
Clarifying questions:
Mr. Thompson – asked how long boosters would fund this sport.
Mr. Shibles – indicated that he was not aware of a specific period of time that boosters would fund a program. He indicated that lacrosse was sanctioned a few years ago and then after 3 years was fully funded by the Committee.
Mr. Radtke – Booster funding is indefinite at this time.
Ms. Alcorn – asked about the district’s cost to fund boys’ hockey.
Mr. Shibles – amounts are approximate: coaching expenses-$7,500, ice time-$8,000, equipment if a uniform year is several thousand, officials-$2,000, transportation-$1,700.
Mr. Spring – supports motion. If team wants full funding why do they come to the School Committee versus becoming part of the athletic budget? Also looking at Title IX. Is it possible to fund over a few years at a percentage per year?
Mr. Radtke – past practice has been to sanction with booster funding.
Superintendent O’Connor – Teams have been sanctioned previously with no phase in.
Public Comment:
Jennifer Potoff – addressed the Committee regarding Girls’ Ice Hockey.
Discussion/debate:
Mr. Thompson – asked Mr. Allen and athletic directors to bring a plan/guidelines to the Committee so that all decisions regarding sports will be consistent. Should pursue opportunities for students to participate in sports.
Mr. Spring – agrees with Mr. Thompson.
Vote on motion: It was voted unanimously to acknowledge the formation of a Deering High School Girls’ Ice Hockey program with the understanding that full funding is to be provided by the Ice Hockey Boosters. (Student representative voted with majority)
Superintendent O’Connor briefly reviewed the calendar process and asked Tom Lafavore and Kathleen Casasa to review changes made to the proposed calendar for 2005-06.
Ms. McRae – appears to have 13 ½ early release days –seems to be going up. Asked about two staff days footnoted. Asked if School Committee could restrict schools from changing the calendar once it is approved. Indicated that changes had been made at Moore Middle School after approval of 04/05 calendar.
Kathleen Casasa – schools may request an additional one-half floating day.
Mr. Thompson – asked about weekly staff development time being built into the calendar. This time allows for ongoing staff development work. Would like the calendar committee to set up a calendar with late start day beginning with the 2005-06 calendar.
Mr. Toothaker – spoke to the Columbus Day holiday. Would like to see a dual holiday Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day.
Mr. Spring – supports co-naming holiday. Professional development each week with a late start is very productive for staff.
Ms. McRae – has heard about late start for several years. Asked if calendar committee could put this idea into a calendar to reduce half-days.
Superintendent O’Connor – compelling research supports this type of professional development. Would need to have community input on this suggestion.
Kathleen Casasa – will need to look at contract language.
Ms. McRae moved, seconded Mr. Toothaker to authorize the Finance Committee to enter into negotiations with the City Council regarding the consolidation of non-instructional functions of the Portland Public Schools with those of the City of Portland and to report those recommendations to the Portland School Committee for further action.
Mr. Radtke – indicated an audit has been done to look at sharing services. Issue has been discussed for approximately 15 years. This motion charges the Finance Committee to review current information to determine what might be consolidated. Process may start over the summer. Could become part of strategic plan to reduce redundancies.
Ms. Alcorn – asked about previous audits.
Ms. McRae – hope there will be support/funding from city to assist with some consolidation.
Mr. Thompson – what will scope be?
Mr. Radtke – non-instructional operations. Indicated that the motion is just to have the Finance Committee report back to the School Committee.
Public Comment:
Kathleen Casasa and Kevin Mallory – addressed the Committee on this issue.
Board discussion/debate:
Mr. Thompson – does not support. City assumes functions are wasteful. School department tends to be more efficient. At one time city handled finances for school dept. and vendors were not paid in a timely manner. It would be worth having staff from the city and schools discuss what might be possible.
Ms. McRae – asked how long ago back office functions were shared. The request to review functions came from the City Finance Chairperson.
Mr. Stewart – approximately 13 years ago.
Mr. Imbergamo – asked if Council could meet with entire Committee versus just the two finance committees.
Mr. Radtke – supports motion. Indicated that School Committee can make the request that the Council meet with the entire Committee. This is always an option.
Mr. Meiklejohn – supports motion.
Ms. Alcorn – does not support motion.
Vote on motion: It was voted 5-4 to authorize the Finance Committee to enter into negotiations with the City Council regarding the consolidation of non-instructional functions of the Portland Public Schools with those of the City of Portland and to report those recommendations to the Portland School Committee for further action. (Student representative voted with minority)
Ms. McRae moved, seconded Mr. DiMillo to direct the superintendent to revise the FY06 budget to reflect a 1.6% tax rate increase and provide a list of budget revisions to accomplish this.
Ms. McRae – addressed this item. City Council had first reading of budget on May 2nd and directed School Committee to come in at 1.5% tax rate increase. Finance Committee is working with the superintendent and staff on this request.
Clarifying questions:
Mr. Meiklejohn-School Finance Committee met Monday, May 2nd and offered no recommendation.
Mr. Thompson – asked Mr. Stewart if the City Council had added any positions back into their budget.
Mr. Stewart – indicated that he did not attend that meeting, however, he did know that the City’s Finance Committee did vote 3-0 to ask the School Committee to reduce their budget by $250,000. City has indicated that the school dept. will be unable to use surplus to cover oil costs.
Ms. McRae –mentioned that the City Finance Committee has suggested that they would allow the School Committee to use surplus in FY05 budget to pay for oil. Purpose of Monday night’s School Committee Finance Comm. meeting was to look at ways to get to 1.6%.
Public Comment:
Kevin Mallory and Kathleen Casasa – addressed the Committee on this issue.
Board discussion/debate:
Mr. Thompson – strong exception to motion. School Committee voted on a 2.1% budget, which was sent to the city. Feels that budget is fair.
Mr. Chong , Mr. Meiklejohn, Mr. Spring, Ms. Alcorn – do not support motion.
Mr. Imbergamo – spoke to the motion. City looking at numbers and School Committee looking at textbooks, programs, students, etc.
Mr. Chong – what is City Council doing to keep families in city and make city inviting to new families?
Mr. Meiklejohn – addressed cost of unfunded mandates to the school dept.
Ms. McRae – addressed Committee’s unwillingness to respond to City Council. Asked Committee members to attend Monday, May 9th City Council workshop on budget.
Mr. Radtke – supports motion.
Roll call vote: Ms. McRae – yes Mr. Spring – no Mr. Chong – no Ms. Alcorn – no
Mr. Thompson – no Mr. Radtke – yes Mr. Toothaker – yes Mr. Meiklejohn – no
Mr. DiMillo – yes Mr. Imbergamo – no
4 yes 5 no (Student representative voted with majority) Motion fails.
Mr. Thompson moved, seconded Mr. Chong that the work of the Finance Committee on the FY06 budget stop and any further work be done by the full board.
Board discussion/debate:
Mr. Thompson – spoke to the motion. Budget process is a negotiation process and trying to preserve that process by proposed motion.
Ms. McRae – indicated that the Finance Committee is charged with working on the budget with the superintendent.
Mr. Spring – read policy regarding responsibilities of standing committees.
Mr. Radtke – does not support motion. Finance Committee should continue its work with the superintendent and staff on budget.
Vote on budget: It was voted 4-5 that the work of the Finance Committee on the FY06 budget stop and any further work be done by the full board. (Student voted with minority) Motion fails.
Personnel
Mr. Toothaker moved, seconded Mr. Chong to approve the Personnel items as listed.
Unpaid LOA:
Effective 03/08/2005-08/31/2005
Kathleen Urey Language Arts/King 1.0 Extended Childrearing
Effective 3/25/05-08/31/05
Kirsten McWilliams English/DHS 1.0 Extended Childrearing
Effective 04/04/2005-05/02/2005
Catherine Anderson Language Arts/King 1.0 Childrearing
Effective 09/01/2005-8/31/2006
Nancy Hess Grade 1/Hall .5 of 1.0 Extended Childrearing
Deborah Jones Grade 5/Reiche 1.0 Extended Childrearing
Mary Khula-Parr Foreign Language/Lincoln 1.0 Extended Childrearing
Susan Steinkeler Foreign Language/Lincoln .25 of 1.0 Personal
Anita Charles English/Deering 1.0 Personal
Eliza Griscom Technology Education/King 1.0 Personal
Vote on motion: It was voted unanimously to approve Personnel items as listed. (Student representative voted with majority)
Committee Focus on Educational Issues
Melissa Maher and Peggy Marston addressed the Committee regarding the 05/05 school calendar.
Mr. Toothaker moved, seconded Ms. Alcorn and voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 10:10p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Jo O’Connor
Superintendent of Schools