Draft: January 23, 2008

Approved: February 27, 2008

School Committee meeting January 23, 2008

Under Report of the Secretary

At 7:05 pm Mr. Coyne called the meeting to order.

Members present: Robert O’Brien, John Coyne, Jaimey Caron, Susan Hopkins, Sarah Thompson, Lori Gramlich, Kate Snyder , Rebecca Minnick, Jules Szanton, Christopher Pulsoni, Joshua Tingley

Members not present: Peter Eglinton

Report of the Chair

Mr. Coyne:

• Announced that Casco Bay High School would be sponsoring a blood drive on Thursday, Jan. 24^th. Also CBHS intensive will be hosting a Pirate’s hockey game Friday evening.
• Mentioned a meeting with Ainsley Wallace, YouTHINK, and the superintendent about possibly having the student school committee reps each have a mentor as well as some type of glossary with terminology that used in the district. He asked if any committee members would consider being a mentor to the student reps.

Report of the Superintendent

Interim Superintendent Whynot-Vickers:

• Indicated that the legislators are in session. On Thursday at convocation Commissioner announced that subsidy for disadvantaged students has been cut and it appears that the loss is $1,012,911. Portland, Bangor, Augusta and Lewiston have now drafted letter inviting the legislative delegations to lunch in Augusta on Jan. 31^st at noon to discuss education side of the impact of the subsidy reduction.
• Will need to report to State Board in March with concept design. Need to schedule a straw poll for March 3 at 6:30pm, to be held at the East End Community School. Information will be advertised and placed in newsletters in elementary schools. Maine Forest Service has approached PPS regarding the site and possibly establishing a learning experience in Baxter Woods.
• Budget time line is being revised. Budget will be presented to full board on March 5^th.
• Announced the resignation of Kerry Champeau DHS/Social Worker Effective January 28, 2008

Report of the Secretary

1. Consideration and action to approve the meeting minutes of January 9, 2008

Ms. Thompson moved, seconded Ms. Snyder and voted unanimously to approve the meeting minutes of January 9, 2008. (Students voted with the majority).

Report of Committees

1. Policy Committee/Legislative Affairs Comm. – Ms. Snyder – Policy Committee met prior to evening’s meeting. Discussed meeting schedule and big picture goals; newest information on state subsidy; pending policies. On Feb. 6^th the Policy Committee will discuss outstanding financial policies with the Finance Committee and Ellen Sanborn.
2. Finance Committee – Interim Superintendent Whynot-Vickers – looking at budget time line. At the Feb. 6^th Finance Committee meeting the Committee will have detailed budget projects and expenditures. Policy Committee would like to look at financial policies with the Finance Committee at their Feb.6^th meeting.
3. Personnel Committee – Ms. Gramlich –Committee will meet Wed., Feb. 13^th at 4:30, room 250., CBHS
4. Portland Education Partnership – No report.
5. Other Committees and/or member concerns – Ms. Gramlich asked the committee reports reflect current committees. Mr. Coyne- School Committee retreat will be held on Jan. 30th at the USM Abromson center from 4pm to 10pm

Consent Items - Interim Superintendent Whynot-Vickers announced a donation and thanked the contributors.

Old Business - None

New Business

1. Consideration and action to authorize a site plan for the Nathan Clifford Project for State Board of Education contingent upon cost approval by City Council

Mr. O’Brien moved, seconded Ms. Gramlich to authorize a site plan for the Nathan Clifford Project for State Board of Education contingent upon cost approval by City Council.

Ms. Hopkins – indicated that Martha Shiels requested that this be placed on the agenda.

Ms. Snyder – spoke to motion.

At 7:22 p.m. Committee took a 5 minute recess.

Session resumed at 7:26 p.m.

Ms. Snyder moved, seconded Ms. Gramlich and voted 6-2 to table motion to Feb. 6, 2008 meeting. (Students with majority)

2. Consideration and action to approve the formation of the Ocean Avenue Elementary School Site Neighborhood Boundary Ad Hoc Committee.

Ms. Minnick moved, seconded Ms. Thompson to approve the formation of the Ocean Avenue Elementary School Site Neighborhood Boundary Ad Hoc Committee.

Ms. Blackwood, Assistant Superintendent, and Interim Superintendent Whynot-Vickers spoke to motion.

Ms. Gramlich – spoke about redistricting and boundaries. Suggested parent reps from Presumpscot and Longfellow also be included.

Ms. Snyder–

• spoke about including EECS, Reiche and Presumpscot parents.
• Indicated that she did not see the number of students that the school will be built for. Needs clarity about number of students that will be attending new school.
• Asked if new school will be a language immersion school? If so, then 100 slots would need to be held for a lottery.
• Asked for further clarification of viability and sustainability for other elementary schools.
• Indicated that she is looking to make the work of the Committee better. Important for charges: multicultural program will need to be relocated as well as Adult program and 200 adult ed students. Suggested to amend charge to include the plan for these programs and financial implications of these programs. Also spoke about West School being closed and demolished and wants programs at West School to be reviewed.

Ms. Whynot-Vickers – range of students is between 400-450. Looking at FLS classrooms, which will be about 6 students per classroom. ESL classrooms will be low numbers in each room. As it draws closer to the opening in 2010 or 2011 things will need to be re-evaluated.

Ms. Gramlich – asked if 400-450 a firm number. Ms. Whynot-Vickers – number could be as much as 450, but could be as low as 421.

Public Comment: Orlando Delogue spoke to motion.

Debate:

Mr. Caron - supports motion. Requests a recommendation with rationale; hopes there is a public process involved with the recommendation. Current district model is not financially sustainable and committee needs to look at long-range opportunities.

Ms. Blackwood – there will be a very thorough presentation of the recommendation and information prior to the committee making a decision.

Ms. Whynot-Vickers – is not certain there is the capacity to hold a large public session other than during the Feb. meeting. Mr. Coyne – indicated that all of the Ad Hoc meetings will be open to the public.

Ms. Gramlich stepped in temporarily for the Chairperson.

Ms. Thompson– feels that by adding charges to this ad hoc committee that they would be hard pressed to get their work done in 5 weeks. Suggested that a second committee be formed to cover the multicultural, adult ed, and West school programs.

Ms. Whynot-Vickers – at this time these issues do not need to be submitted to the state by early March.

Vote: It was voted 7-1 to approve the formation of the Ocean Avenue Elementary School Site Neighborhood Boundary Ad Hoc Committee. (Students voted with majority)

Mr. Coyne returned as Chairperson.

3. Consideration and action to authorize the hiring process to begin for the vacancies listed:

Position	FTE	Location	Annual Salary (pro-rated)	Funding Source	Rationale
Cafeteria Worker I	.25	Longfellow	$2,353.65	Local	Over the years we have combined and reduced positions to a point where we need each position we have.

Interim Superintendent Whynot-Vickers spoke about the position.

Ms. Minnick moved, seconded Mr. O’Brien to authorize the hiring process to begin for the vacancies listed.

Vote: It was voted unanimously to authorize the hiring process to begin for the vacancies listed. (Students voted with majority)

Personnel - None

Committee Focus on Educational Issues - None

Public Comment prior to 11 p.m. on any items not on the evening’s agenda

Orland Delogue spoke to the vote tabled earlier regarding the possibly renovation of Clifford.

Robert O’Brien spoke to tabled motion. Motion was placed on the agenda by the request of a constituent and it was tabled in order that Mr. Eglinton, their District Rep, to speak at the next meeting.

Adjournment

Mr. Caron moved, seconded Ms. Minnick and voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 8:24pm (Students voted with majority)

Respectfully submitted,

Jeanne Whynot-Vickers

Interim Superintendent of Schools