Draft: March 28, 2007

Approved:April 4, 2007

School Committee meeting March 28, 2007

Under Report of the Secretary

6:45 P.M. Executive Session

Consideration and action to move into Executive Session to discuss a student disciplinary issue pursuant to 1 MRSA § 405(6)B.

Members Present: Robert O’Brien, John Coyne, Lori Gramlich, Susan Hopkins, Benjamin Meiklejohn, Sarah Thompson

At 6:45 p.m. Mr. Coyne moved, seconded Mr. Meiklejohn and voted unanimously to move into Executive Session to discuss a student disciplinary issue pursuant to 1 MRSA § 405(6)B.

At 6:46 p.m. Mr. Coyne moved, seconded Mr. Meiklejohn and voted unanimously to come out of Executive Session.

Business Meeting

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

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

Report of the Chair

Mr. Coyne:

Indicated that the School Committee is working diligently on the budget. Appreciates city council partnering with the School Committee.

Report of the Superintendent

Superintendent O’Connor:

Introduced the CBHS School Committee rep - Bennett Gross
Announced that Longfellow School’s Team A- Odyssey of the Mind won first place and will now go to the World Finals May 23-25 at Michigan State University.

Report of the Secretary

Consideration and action to approve the meeting minutes of the March 21, 2007 meeting.

Mr. O’Brien moved, seconded Ms. Alcorn and voted unanimously to approve the meeting minutes of the March 21, 2007 meeting. (Students voted with majority)

Report of Committees

1. Policy Committee – Mr. O’Brien – Committee met briefly to review policy on medication to students. On April 4^th at 6 pm the Committee will meet with staff to discuss graduation requirements. At 5 p.m. on April 4^th they will meet with teachers to discuss weighted grades. Mr. O’Brien indicated that the weighted grades forum might possibly held in May. He indicated that he has also contacted NAACP on this issue.

Finance Committee – Mr. Meiklejohn – met with city’s finance committee prior to the meeting. Discussions with the city were productive. Did discuss consolidation of services between city and schools. Received EPS numbers from the state. EPS shows $12.3m to $13.18 m dollars, which is $1.5m to $2 m less than projected. This is due to increase in property values of 13%. Finance Committee will meet on Tuesday, April 3^rd.
Legislative Affairs Committee – Ms. Gramlich- Education Committee has crafted a school consolidation plan and presented to Appropriations Committee, which rejected the plan. Spoke with Councilor Suslovic who will provide language for a resolution on school consolidation.
Riverton Building Committee – Mr. Coyne – no report.
Elementary Facilities Committee – Ms. Alcorn – Met Thursday March 22^nd There are still questions to be answered and the Committee will meet again on April 26^th at City Hall.
Casco Bay Relocation Task Force – Ms. Alcorn- met on March 27^th. Meeting facilitated by Derek Pierce. Looked at several iterations of possible locations for CBHS of which the top three were Portland High School, King Middle School as 6-12, and Baxter Elementary School. Committee will meet Tuesdays until May and recommendation will be brought to School Committee at end of May.
Other Committees and/or member concerns

Mr. Toppi thanked students who participated in the weighted grades conversation held today.
Ms. Thompson – thanked community members for emails. Spoke about effort of staff to provide AED’s in all schools and provided various dates for upcoming events around AED’s in the schools.

Mr. Coyne requested that an agenda item be taken out of order.

Personnel

Consideration and action to approve the Personnel items as listed:

a. PAA Elections – Effective 7/1/07

Nancy Kopack Assistant Principal/Riverton $65,368*

Certificate of Advanced Studies – USM

Lenore Williams Principal/Lyseth $78,471*

MS in Educational Leadership – USM

b. Sabbaticals:

Susannah Green Lincoln/French 2007-08 School Year

Chris Kaufman Central Office/Psychologist 2007-08 School Year

Karen Luse Lincoln/Guidance 2007-08 School Year

Kelly McDaniel King/Library 2007-08 School Year

Spring Semester

Kirsten McWilliams DHS/English 2007-08 School Year

Shannon Moran Moore/French 2007-08 School Year

Meghan Prestes East End/Grade 1 2007-08 School Year

Nancy Sanchez Lincoln/Art – Grade7 2007-08 School Year

Sarah Shmitt PHS/English 2007-08 School Year

Fall Semester

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

Consent Items - None

Old Business

Public hearing on the School Committee’s FY08 budget.

School Committee comments:

Ms. Thompson – Finance Committee takes the budget work very seriously. Welcomes ideas from the public.

Ms. Quinn – spoke with students and staff at DHS this week about their #1 concern regarding the budget, which is CBHS. Students, teachers, parents stress the community of CBHS. DHS and PHS are larger and their community exists more through extra curricular activities and people do not wish to see a community cut in one school for the sake of another.

Ms. Alcorn – hopes that PPS remains a vibrant, lively system. Community needs to set a larger vision for how to continue to support the district as a whole.

Mr. Toppi –during this the budget process he has learned that there is a need to look for savings and efficiencies. Would like to find efficiencies that will not harm students.

Public Comment: 43 community members addressed the Committee on the FY08 budget.

Board comments:

Mr. Meiklejohn - proposed reductions are coming from a variety of sources and not just administration. Mentioned various reductions recommended by the finance committee and indicated that it appeared the public is only commenting on the administration’s proposal.

Ms. Minnick – thanked everyone for attending. Committee takes all comments under consideration.

Mr. Coyne – thanked audience members for speaking on behalf of the students and programs.

New Business - None

Committee Focus on Educational Issues

Public Comment Prior to 11:00 PM

None

Adjournment

Ms. Minnick moved, seconded Ms. Gramlich and voted unanimously to adjourn the business meeting at 9:40 p. m. (Students voted with the majority)

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Jo O’Connor

Superintendent of Schools