Approved:Oct. 18, 2006
School Committee meeting Oct. 4, 2006
Ms. Alcorn called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.
Members Present: Ellen Alcorn, Jason Toothaker, John Coyne, Benjamin Meiklejohn, Susan Hopkins, Otis Thompson, Sarah Muzzy, Lori Gramlich, Joshua Waxman, Stephen Spring, Jonathan Radtke
Report of the Chair
Ms. Alcorn:
· Mentioned that she received a speeding ticket in a school zone today. Reminded everyone that police department is patrolling school zones.
· Introduced Stephanie Darling who spoke briefly about a Portland High School Sailing Club. Requested that this become a school-sanctioned sport and presented a proposal to the Committee for consideration.
Superintendent O'Connor:
Mr. Radtke requested that an agenda item be taken out of order.
2.
Consideration and action to reinstate policy IKC – Class
Ranking, which was originally adopted on November 28, 1984 and revised on
August 26, 1992 with the understanding that this policy will be referred back
to the Policy Committee for review, analysis, and community input.
Mr. Radtke moved, seconded Ms. Gramlich to reinstate policy IKC – Class Ranking, which was originally adopted on November 28, 1984 and revised on August 26, 1992 with the understanding that this policy will be referred back to the Policy Committee for review, analysis, and community input.
Ms. Alcorn spoke to the motion.
Mr. Meiklejohn - Asked about policies usually being for a first read and second read.
Mr. Thompson - Does not believe it requires a first and second read.
Mr. Spring - Asked who had requested this item to be put on agenda. What sort of research and information is available on class rank/weighted grades before he votes?
Public Comment: The following individuals addressed the Committee on this issue:
Victoria Mares-Hershey, Meredith Coff, Reverand Virigina-Marie Lenhorn, Bill Webber, Bill Wilson, Joshua Tingley, Rebecca Hershey, Rebecca Minnick, Maureen Quinn,
Rachel Talbot Ross, Lisa Sprague, Barbara Pisner, Sarah Thompson, Richard Bellafiore, Kate Haggert, Mary Hackett, Regina Phillips, Rick Romano, Anderson Nielson
Discussion/Debate:
Mr. Waxman - Supports motion and data based decisions. Thanked everyone for coming to the meeting. Supports a democratic process. Feels fairest thing would be to reinstate the policy until more information and data is available. Students do not feel included in the process. Must reinstate until further research and public input is completed
Mr. Thompson -Does not support motion. Important to point out that policy that was rescinded only addresses class rank and weighted grades. Spoke to notion that AP or honors classes are more difficult, students being awarded for advanced classes, and the need to change approach of working with all students. Need to look at how we provide recognition for student achievement.
Mr. Spring - Schools in Maine are moving away from this process. Being asked to reinstate a policy without evidence that it is a good policy, cannot support motion. Trusts fully that the policy committee will bring back something to accomplish a short term solution and by the end of the academic year with a long term policy for the school system
Mr. Coyne - Supports motion. Process used was awkward. There have been successes in Portland under this policy. There does need to be research and public input and the Policy Committee will work with due diligence to bring a new policy forward.
Mr. Meiklejohn -Does not support. Has difficulty with weighted grade and different standards for students. Spoke about the process and whether or not to reinstate the policy. Expectation is that pass or fail the policy committee is charged to come back to the committee with a proposal for the 9th, 10th, 11th graders.
Mr. Toothaker -Does not support. Believes Committee can develop a fair and equitable policy for all students.
Mr. Radtke - Supports motion. Need to equitably recognize excellence. Most colleges use an individual analysis of every transcript versus class rank from a high school. Regarding public process there is a balance that a public body has to engage in. On the previous agenda the policy was presented with a few changes in language, but a vote was taken to eliminate a policy.
Ms. Alcorn - Supports motion. Committee members have received much community feedback on this item and there seemed to be themes in this feedback.
Ms. Hopkins -Would like to consider possibly proposing a friendly amendment.
Ms. Muzzy -Continues to hear that everyone else is doing it. To base a decision on what other people are doing is not necessarily the best process to follow. Need ample time to make a decision for what is best for Portland.
Superintendent recommends policy going back to policy committee for review, analysis, and community input,
Vote: It was voted 4-5 to reinstate policy IKC – Class Ranking, which was originally adopted on November 28, 1984 and revised on August 26, 1992 with the understanding that this policy will be referred back to the Policy Committee for review, analysis, and community input.(Students voted with minority) Motion fails.
At 9:35 p.m. Ms. Alcorn called a 5-minute recess.
At 9:46 p.m. Ms. Alcorn called the meeting back to order.
2. Finance Committee – Mr. Thompson -met prior to meeting and reviewed information on areas to consider for consolidation that was discussed by the Committee two years ago . Next meeting will be at 6:30 on Wed., Oct. 11.
3. Legislative Affairs Committee – Ms. Gramlich - met last week and discussed TABOR resolution.
4. Riverton Building Committee – Mr. Coyne - building is on schedule.
5. Elementary Facilities Committee – Mr. Meiklejohn- next meeting is Oct. 10, 6 p.m. in Council Chambers
6. Other Committees and/or member concerns
· Mr. Radtke - mentioned that an all day negotiations session was held on Oct. 3rd with PEA and School Committee.
· Ms. Gramlich - would like to discuss the process that the Committee goes through in making various decisions. Would like status of ELL students being integrated in art/music in middle schools Requested an update on social coordinator position. Would like a job description for coord. position.
· Superintendent O'Connor addressed social worker coordinator position. Individual who served in that capacity received full salary, 1-day release, and a $4,000 stipend. When notice was received that the social worker coordinator was retiring the Dir. of Special Services was advised that the school system could not keep this position, but that instead this would be a stipend position.
Mr. Thompson moved, seconded Mr. Spring and voted unanimously to take New Business item #3 and Personnel item #1 out of order.(Students voted with majority)
New Business
3.
Consideration and action to approve a resolution in
opposition to the Taxpayers Bill Of Rights (TABOR).
Ms. Gramlich moved, seconded Mr. Meiklejohn to approve a resolution in opposition to the Taxpayers Bill Of Rights (TABOR).
Ms. Gramlich read the resolution and spoke to the motion.
WHEREAS, the mission of the Portland Public Schools is to assure that all students are learning for their future and,
WHEREAS, supportive help for our diverse student population is needed to meet unfunded state and federal mandates and,
WHEREAS, our commitment to our student’s learning goes beyond mandated classroom activities and,
WHEREAS, educational professionals have determined that student learning is complex and varied requiring a broad range of teaching styles to educate all of our students and,
WHEREAS, lowering barriers to education has been proven to increase learning a well equipped transportation system, a comprehensive student nutrition program and student support services are necessary to fulfill our mission and,
WHEREAS, we value our schools as community anchors and our facilities staff as their stewards and,
WHEREAS, TABOR’s bureaucratic approach disregards local needs and takes away local control and,
WHEREAS, TABOR will have the effect of overriding the vote of the people in 2003 to require the State to fund 55% of the cost of education, thus reducing State subsidy to local schools below projected need, putting greater pressure on the local property tax to
fund local education and,
WHEREAS, TABOR may be found unconstitutional according to a formal opinion provided to the Legislature by the Maine Attorney General on April 5, 2006 and,
WHEREAS, TABOR would endanger the learning of all of our students and would have a detrimental effect on the City of Portland and the State of Maine well beyond the classroom,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED this 4th day of October
2006:
That the Portland School Committee, while recognizing the State of Maine must enact meaningful tax reform, strongly opposes TABOR, Question One.
Lori K. Gramlich
Chair, Legislative Affairs Committee
Ms. Hopkins -Asked if a first read is required
Public Comment:
Steven Scharf spoke to motion. Indicated that Scarborough, Wales, Gray, Sebago and Robinson have voted in support of TABOR.
Discussion/Debate:
Mr. Waxman - Urges everyone to vote No on question 1.
Mr. Toothaker - Against TABOR. Abstaining on vote.
Mr. Radtke - Supports motion.
Mr. Thompson moved, seconded Mr. Toothaker and voted unanimously to move the question. (Students voted with majority)
Vote: It was voted 6-1-1 approve a resolution in opposition to the Taxpayers Bill Of Rights (TABOR) (Students voted with majority).
Mr. Radtke moved, seconded Mr. Toothaker and voted unanimously to suspend the rules (Students voted with majority)
Personnel
1. Consideration and action to approve the Personnel items
listed.
Change in Degree: Effective 9/1/06
Kathleen Costello English/DHS $3,022*
MS in Education/USM
Stephanie McLaughlin Language Arts/Moore $1,511*
MS in Education/USM
Election: Effective 9/29/06 Contract: Probationary 1 – One
Year Only
Erica Ray Language Arts/Moore $31,730*
MS in Education/USM
Vote: It was voted unanimously to approve the Personnel items listed. (Students voted with majority)
Bill Webber - impressed with the convictions that Committee took tonight. At last Wednesday's forum emails, addresses collected a notification about information becoming available be sent out or would anything be scanned and put on the web site?
Mr. Radtke moved, seconded Ms. Gramlich and voted 8-1 to adjourn the meeting at 10:13 p.m.
The remaining agenda items from this meeting will be placed on the October 18, 2006 business meeting agenda for consideration.
1.
Consideration and action to approve the meeting minutes of
the September 20, 2006 meeting.
Old Business
1.
Consideration and action to approve the following policies
a. EFE – Competitive Food Sales
b. JL – Local Wellness Policy
1. First reading of revised policy JICA – Student Dress Code(next meeting 10/18/06)
1. Strategic Plan
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Jo O'Connor
Superintendent of Schools