Draft:  March 7, 2007

Approved: March 21,2007                                       

School Committee meeting March 7, 2007

Under Report of the Secretary

 

Business Meeting

Mr. Coyne called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.

 

Members Present: John Coyne-Chairperson, Rebecca Minnick, Robert O’Brien, Anthony Toppi, Maureen Quinn, Benjamin Meiklejohn, Ellen Alcorn, Susan Hopkins, Sarah Thompson

 

Members not present:  Lori Gramlich

 

Report of the Chair

Mr. Coyne:

·        Announced that at the August 2006 School Committee Retreat the committee decided that there should be a newsletter that goes out to the community.  Have received positive feedback.   There is a web site for feedback on the newsletter.

·        Recognized the PHS Boys’ Basketball team for the State Runner's up position.

·        This weekend there will be a fundraiser Rock Around the World sponsored by the Multilingual Center to fund their summer school program that will be held at the Mariner's Church Banquet Center.

·        The Geodesic Dome project has received a $10,000 grant from Toyota.

·        Recognized Henry Guoid who has joined TV3.

 

Report of the Superintendent

Superintendent O’Connor:

·                    Announced:    Resignations:  Effective 6/30/07

               Deborah Fuller          Assistant Principal/Riverton       Personal

               Sarah Richards          Spanish/Moore                         Personal

               Lisa Downey             Speech/Moore   .1 of 1.0         Personal

 

            Retirement:  Effective 6/30/07

             Deirdre Steiner                    Principal/Hall                17 years of service

 

Ms. Alcorn recognized Ms. Steiner for her wonderful work in the district.

 

·                    Introduced Carlos Gomez, Melissa McStay, and Lisa Thomas-Prince who updated the Committee on the De Colores dual language immersion program at Clifford Elementary School.  Jose Roman, junior at Deering High School, addressed the Committee briefly regarding the De Colores program.

 

Mr. Meiklejohn - thanked the De Colores group for their work and vision. Suggested reconsidering the foreign language credit at the secondary level.

 

            Ms. Alcorn - suggested long term planning be considered for this program.

 

Ms. Whynot-Vickers - addressed the issue of looking at hiring bilingual teachers in the future.

 

Ms. Hopkins - likes that younger children are involved.  Important to teach this to the younger students.

 

Superintendent O'Connor - indicated that many letters have been received supporting this program.

 

·                    Indicated that Michael Johnson, Portland High School Principal, has been rescheduled to present at a future business meeting on the Strategic Plan at the building level.

 

Report of the Secretary

1.      Consideration and action to approve the meeting minutes of the February 7, 2007 and February 28, 2007 meetings.

 

Ms. Alcorn moved, seconded  Mr. Meiklejohn and voted  unanimously to approve the meeting minutes of the February 7, 2007 and February 28, 2007 meetings.(Students voted with majority)

 

Report of Committees

1.      Policy Committee – Robert O’Brien - met with guidance counselors last week.  Currently in the feedback process.   Held a brief meeting this evening to discuss a policy to be brought forward at the next meeting.   Posting updates on the Yahoo group listserve.   Looking for a third party to facilitate the public meeting.

2.      Finance Committee – Benjamin Meiklejohn - met prior to the evening meeting. Began looking at the budget and looking at ways to bring about efficiencies, i.e. non-mandated staff, transportation for secondary students.   Two-hour workshop March 13th 6-8pm and March 14, 7pm budget work (will be televised) and then on March 28th.  EPS allocations are not yet available.

3.      Legislative Affairs Committee – Mr. Coyne - joint legislative committees met over the weekend and a recommendation will be sent to the Governor.

4.      Riverton Building Committee – No report.

5.      Elementary Facilities Committee – Ms. Alcorn - public meetings are being held to talk about what the architects have found on the state of the facilities.   3x3 Committee will meet on March 15th, 6:30 at City Hall

6.      Other Committees and/or member concerns - Mr. Coyne -  participated on Fresh Start Committee chaired by Dana Allen, which focused on at risk students.  Committee is looking at a 4-day week during the summer school session and students would receive two credits towards their high school career.   Marketing Committee met today and discussed the web site.

7.      Ms. Thompson - mentioned the updated web page

 

Consent Items

Superintendent O’Connor announced donations and thanked the contributors.

 

Old Business - None

 

New Business

1.      Consideration and action to approve an out-of-country trip to Costa Rica February 16-22, 2008 for 20-30 Lincoln Middle School Students.

 

Ms. Alcorn moved, seconded  Ms. Thompson ___ to approve an out-of-country trip to Costa Rica February 16-22, 2008 for 20-30 Lincoln Middle School Students.

 

Kathy Quinn, Lincoln Middle School, addressed the Committee regarding this trip.

Ms. Hopkins - asked if the district would incur any costs.   Ms. Quinn indicated students would do fundraising.

 

Mr. Meiklejohn - insurance has been purchased?   Ms. Quinn - available through the company.

 

Ms. Thompson - what grade levels? Ms. Quinn – 8th grade

 

Mr. Coyne - how many chaperones?  Ms. Quinn - either 1:6 or 1:3 depending on the number of students.

 

Discussion/Debate: None

 

Vote: It was voted  unanimously to approve an out-of-country trip to Costa Rica February 16-22, 2008 for 20-30 Lincoln Middle School Students. (Students with majority)

 

Personnel

1.      Consideration and action to approve the Personnel items as listed:

a.  Consideration and action to renew the contracts of Principals for the 2007-2008 school year who have been employed two years or less, pursuant to M.R.S.A . Title 20-A, Chapter 504, Section §13301, Employment of Principals.

 

Shelia Jepson

 

b.   Leave of Absence:  Effective 2/26/07 through end of school year

                   Robin Stevens       Grade 4/East End                                   Personal

 

Addendum: 

    1. Consideration and action to renew the contracts of Principals for the 2007-2008 school year who have been employed more than two years, pursuant to M.R.S.A . Title 20-A, Chapter 504, Section §13301, Employment of Principals.

 

Kenneth Kunin

                        Dana Allen

 

Ms. Thompson moved, seconded  Ms. Alcorn and voted  unanimously to approve the Personnel items as listed. (Students voted with majority)

 

Committee Focus on Educational Issues 

1.  Tom Lafavore did a brief overview for the Committee of the calendar development process. Mr. Coyne indicated that there would be a workshop session and a public meeting to discuss the calendar before approval by the Committee.

 

Ms. Alcorn - is there still a desire by the Professional Development Committee (PDC) to use this calendar for another year?  Mr. Lafavore indicated that the consensus of the PDC to use the calendar for one more year.

 

Superintendent O'Connor - indicated that parents would be surveyed at parent conferences regarding the calendar with early release Wednesdays, etc.

 

Ms. Alcorn - asked about the fourth Wednesday of the month for district work. 

Superintendent O'Connor - indicated that Weds. have been used for building based work.

 

Public Comment Prior to 11:00 PM

Steven Scharf - addressed the Committee regarding the FY08 budget.

 

Bill Wilson - spoke to the Committee regarding CBHS.

 

Bill Savadove - spoke to the Committee regarding the FY08 budget.

 

Adjournment

Mr. Meiklejohn moved, seconded  Ms. Thompson and voted  unanimously to adjourn the business meeting at 8:07pm (Students voted with majority)

 

The Committee moved into a workshop session to discuss Frequently Asked Questions around Casco Bay High School.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Mary Jo O’Connor

Superintendent of Schools