Draft: January 3, 2007
Approved: Jan. 17, 2007
School Committee meeting Jan. 3, 2007
Mr. Coyne called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Members present: John Coyne-Chairperson, Rebecca Minnick, Robert O'Brien , Anthony Toppi, Maureen Quinn, Benjamin Meiklejohn, Ellen Alcorn, Susan Hopkins, Sarah Thompson, Jason Toothaker, Lori Gramlich
Superintendent O'Connor:
1.
Consideration and action to approve the meeting minutes of
the December 13, 2006 meeting.
Mr. Gramlich moved, seconded Mr. Toothaker and voted unanimously to approve the meeting minutes of the December 13, 2006 meeting.(Students voted with majority)
2. Finance Committee - Mr. Meiklejohn indicated that the Committee met prior to the evening meeting. Superintendent will be submitting a budget in late January - early February. Next meeting will be January 24, 6 p.m. in Room 250. Also indicated that a joint meeting of the city and school finance committees will be held in the near future.
3. Legislative Affairs Committee - Ms. Gramlich indicated that a meeting would be scheduled in the near future.
4. Riverton Building Committee - Mr. Coyne – indicated that Doug Sherwood provided pictures of the work to date and things are progressing very well.
5. Elementary Facilities Committee - Ms. Alcorn indicated that the architects have been working on completion of assessments of all facilities. Dates for public forums will be announced in the near future.
6. Casco Bay High School Relocation Task Force - Mr. Coyne mentioned that Task Force met Tuesday evening to discuss relocation of CBHS. Discussed the possibility of addition of four classrooms at PATHS, but this would only provide space for one more year. Task Force reviewed financial information on various possible scenarios for relocation. Task Force members toured Baxter School. Next meeting will be January 8, 6:30 p.m., Room 250.
7. Other Committees and/or member concerns -None
Old Business
1.
Consideration and action to approve the following policies
:
Superintendent O'Connor provided a brief overview of the policy process.
Ms. Hopkins briefly reviewed the policies.
a. EEAEAA - Drug and Alcohol Testing of School Bus Drivers
b. GBEC – Drug-free Workplace
d. IHBAC – Child Find
e. IHBAI - Independent Educational Evaluations
f. IHBAK – Life-Sustaining Emergency Care
g. IHBAL – Grievance Procedure for Persons
with Disabilities
h. IHBG – Home Schooling
i. IMBB – Exemption from Required Instruction
j. JEA - Compulsory Attendance Ages
k. JFAA - Admission of Resident Students
l. JFAB - Admission of Non-Resident Students
m. JFABD - Admission of Homeless Students
n. JHB – Truancy
o. JKG – Physical Restraint
p. JLCC - Communicable/Infectious Diseases
q. JLDBG -
Reintegration of Students from Juvenile Correctional Facilities
Motion: Ms. Gramlich moved, seconded Mr. Toothaker to approve the policies as reviewed by Ms. Hopkins.
Ms. Gramlich moved, seconded Ms. Alcorn to refer policy GCFB back to the Policy Committee.
Vote on amendment: It was voted unanimously to refer policy GCFB back to the Policy Committee. (Students voted with majority)
Vote on main motion as amended: It was voted unanimously to approve the policies as reviewed by Ms. Hopkins and to refer policy GCFB back to the Policy Committee. (Students voted with majority)
Mr. Toothaker moved, seconded Mr. Meiklejohn to accept the resignation of Jason Toothaker from his position as District 3 School Committee representative effective January 3, 2007.
Mr. Toothaker spoke to the motion. Thanked Superintendent O'Connor, his committee members, and constituents in the city that he has served with and worked with over the last two years. Thanked Peter O'Donnell and Ben Meiklejohn for their support.
Mr. Meiklejohn, Ms. Alcorn, Ms. Hopkins, and Mr. Coyne recognized and thanked Mr. Toothaker for his service on the Committee.
Anthony Toppi - thanked Mr. Toothaker for the assistance he provided him as a new student rep on the Committee.
Maureen Quinn - mentioned that students support him, felt he was treated unfairly, and thanked him for his work.
Vote: It was voted 7-1-1 to accept the resignation of Jason Toothaker from his position as District 3 School Committee representative effective January 3, 2007. (Students voted with majority)
Ms. Thompson moved, seconded Ms. Gramlich to give permission to the School Committee chairperson to ask the City Council for a special election to fill the vacant School Committee seat for District 3.
Mr. Meiklejohn - asked what the cost of a special election might be.
Superintendent O’Connor - indicated that it would be approximately $10,000
Ms. Thompson – asked if the cost of a special election would be a city cost or school department cost.
Superintendent O’Connor – indicated that it would be a city cost
Ms. Gramlich – asked what the time frame would be
Mr. Coyne – indicated that the City Council would be meeting on January 17gh and if approved an election would be held120 after approval. Papers would be out for 56 days, which would be around May 17th.
Ms. Hopkins- struggles with a special election due to cost.
Ms. Alcorn – asked if the 3x3 process be slowed down until special election in May?
Superintendent O’Connor - indicated that we are unable to slow down process due to state guidelines. A waiver has already been requested of the State Board of Education.
Mr. O’Brien- asked if it would be up to the City Council to decide if special elect is held.
Mr. Coyne - yes
Public Comment:
Matt Tarasevich addressed the Committee about the need for a District 3 School Committee rep.
Discussion/Debate:
Mr. Toothaker - questioned his attendance record as referenced by Mr. Tarasevich.
Vote: It was voted 5-2-2 to give permission to the School Committee chairperson to ask the City Council for a special election to fill the vacant School Committee seat for District 3. (Students voted with majority)
Personnel - None
Public Comment Prior to 11:00 PM - None
Ms. Gramlich moved, seconded Mr. Toothaker and voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 7:44 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Jo O’Connor
Superintendent of Schools