Draft: Oct. 16, 2003

Approved: Nov.5, 2003

School Committee Meeting October 15, 2003

Under Report of the Secretary

Business Meeting

Chairperson Thompson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

Members present: Otis Thompson-Chairperson, Teri McRae, Herb Adams, Jonathan Radtke, Ben Meiklejohn, Kim Matthews, Walter Rumery

Members not present: Tae Chong, James DiMillo

Report of the Chair – Announced that the School Committee will be meeting in Executive Session on October 22^nd to complete the superintendent’s evaluation.

Read a proclamation from Governor Baldacci recognizing October 24, 2003 as Bus Driver Appreciation Day.

Report of the Superintendent - Superintendent O’Connor:

• Introduced Ellen Alcorn who provided a brief update on Schools for Portland’s Future Study Circles process, which will begin Oct. 20^th . Groups will meet for four consecutive weeks at 5 different locations throughout the city culminating with an Action Forum on Nov. 20^th from 6:30-8:30pm at Portland High School Auditorium. There are approximately 200 participants.
• Announced the resignation of Larinda Meade, Co-Director/Portland Adult Education, 13 years in Portland effective October 31, 2003.
• Introduced Bob Spear of New England League of Middle Schools who presented the Spotlight Award to King Middle School. There are 11 schools in New England and 2 in Maine who have received this award recognizing King Middle School for powerful learning, exemplary practice, teaming, flexible schedules, etc.
• Introduced King Middle School students – Peter Bauer, Nasra Hassan, Christie Jennings, Audrey Seiz - who presented Talking Trash II, which is a follow up to their presentation to the Committee last year. Superintendent O’Connor indicated that she would talk with the student’s teachers about getting this information out to the schools.
• Mentioned a letter received from the Dept. of Education, which has seven schools on the monitor list. Principals will be meeting on Monday and will be challenging the data.
• Indicated that meetings have been held with the City regarding the general ledger functions. Consensus of the City is that it is cost prohibitive on their end and would be more problematic to merge general ledger services.

Report of Committees

1. East End Area School Building Committee – Mr. Rumery indicated that members had been attending PTO meetings and other group meetings encouraging citizens to vote on November 4^th.
2. Policy Committee – No report.
3. Finance Committee – Mr. Radtke indicated that the Budget Advisory Task Force would be meeting on Thursday, Oct. 16^th at 3:30 in Central Office.
4. Legislative Affairs Committee – No report.
5. Veranda Street Subcommittee – Mr. Adams handed out information to the Committee on the combined thinking of the Veranda Street Subcommittee. He indicated that there are three members from the City and three members from the school department on this Subcommittee. This has been a collaborative and productive process. Mr. Adams reviewed what the Subcommittee felt would be the best use of the building:

· A rare opportunity for high quality historic preservation on hilltop site office with 270 degree views of ocean, lighthouses and countryside. Excellent office/living space potential.

· Historical preservation; last remaining Marine hospital with original brick façade and elaborate iron porticos. Listed on the National Register Historical Places and would be subject to Portland’s preservation ordinance.

· Historic preservation tax credit qualified.

· Package available for twenty five – thirty year lease.

· 20,000 square feet of office living space on three floors.

· 1.6 acres with seventy existing paved parking spaces.

· An additional 7,000 square feet of maintenance and storage areas in two separate buildings.

· Public access to the area through an extension of existing trail system.

· Lease proceeds available to school department programs.

· The opportunity for the engagement of citizens through the CDC regarding an expedited process for public input on future use of the area.

· Property would return as an asset to Portland at some point in the future.

Report of the Secretary

Mr. Meiklejohn moved, seconded Mr. Rumery and voted unanimously to approve the meeting minutes of the October 1, 2003 meeting.

Consent Items – Superintendent O’Connor reviewed the donation and thanked the contributor.

New Business

1. Consideration and action to approve the certified costs for PATHS in the amount of $2,794,398.14. Note: This action certifies the amount of the actual applied technology education costs of PATHS in the prior fiscal year (FY03) to be used as the basis for calculating the Part I assessments to the sending schools.

Superintendent O’Connor mentioned that the bylaws of PATHS require that the School Committee approve the prior year’s actual applied technology education costs to be used in calculating the Part I assessments to sending schools.

Mr. Radtke moved, seconded Mrs. McRae and voted unanimously to approve the certified costs for PATHS in the amount of $2,794,398.14.

Members briefly discussed the PATHS budget process.

• Mr. Rumery indicated that he has trouble voting for something that cannot be looked at or possibly cut in the budget process.
• Ms. Matthews would like to be looking at the PATHS budget at the same time the Committee is looking at the budget for the district.
• Ms. McRae indicated that she is on the PATHS budget subcommittee and would discuss these concerns at the next subcommittee meeting.

2. Consideration and action to endorse the MMA tax proposal

Mr. Thompson reviewed the three options that will be on the November 4^th ballot.

Superintendent O’Connor indicated that full funding at 55% is with Special Education included and spoke to the three choices that voters will have on November 4^th . She urged caution regarding the figures. She indicated that the City has endorsed 1A.

Mr. Stewart briefly updated the Committee on a meeting of the Association of School Business Officials (ASBO) that he attended where items 1A and 1B were explained in detail. He shared with the Committee spreadsheets with estimates of what Portland might receive under 1A. He stressed that these were only estimates. The MMA proposal shows Portland receiving an additional $10 million in subsidy for a total of $20 million. Mr. Stewart indicated that he was unable to come up with the figures indicated on the spreadsheets no matter how he worked the numbers. 1A would be 55% next year. 1B is essentially the same as 1C with the same formula that is being used currently. In 2004-05 would receive $7.1 million on subsidy, which would be short by approximately $3.7 million. In FY06 Essential Programs and Services model would start with a mill rate cap.

Mr. Adams asked if the Homestead Exemption or Circuit Breaker programs were discussed and Mr. Stewart indicated that they were not.

Mr. Radtke moved, seconded Ms. Matthews and voted 4-2-1 abstention to endorse the MMA tax proposal.

Committee members spent some time discussing the various choices that voters will have on the ballot on November 4^th.

• Mr. Rumery- mentioned the surplus of a few years ago but education did not receive any extra money. 1A would force legislature to fund education.
• Ms. McRae - asked if MMA proposal guaranteed 55% to each community. Mr. Steward indicated no that is not a guarantee.
• Ms. Matthews - Maine is not the #1 tax state. 1A may force legislature to look at tax reform.
• Mr. Radtke – In favor of 1A even if Portland does not receive more money. 18 years ago legislature intended to fund 55% of education and they have never done that. Important that 100% of Special Ed cost be picked up by state. Only when everyone benefits will there be major reforms. Will require legislature and governor to act now not in 10 years.
• Mr. Thompson - Concerned about MMA proposal. 100% support of Special Ed may cause school systems to make wrong decisions for students. Would consider support of 1A because it forces action of legislature even though there is no guarantee of what will happen. Legislature has not addressed need/equal treatment of children in Portland. Governor’s proposal is confusing and takes a lot of time to implement. Concerned that Governor’s proposal is part of the EPS process. $10 million discrepancy between EPS model of funding and school budget.
• Mr. Adams – City Council endorsed MMA proposal last year. For those who want to send a strong message – 1A will force something to happen, will send message, be careful what you wish for. Mr. Adams handed out copies of newsletters from Impact and Choices. Both newsletters urge caution. If 1A passes legislature will need $246 million in funding for 2004 and $480 million by July, 2005 to send to towns. Legislature has funded 43.6% this year and cut $1.2 billion from the state budget. Even if a state sales tax is placed on many services and many departments eliminated that still will no reach the $246 million. 1A does not guarantee that property taxes will go down. If public votes for 1A taxes probably will have to go up to reach amount of monies needed to reach 55% funding. 1B would increase Homestead back to $7,000, double Circuit Breaker program, provide direct property tax relief to individuals. He indicated that he felt it was wise that the Committee did not endorse 1A last year and adding School Committee name to list will not guarantee passage of 1A.

3. First reading of the following policies:

Ms. Matthews reviewed the following policies for a first reading:

JRA– Student Education Records and Information

Mr. Meiklejohn asked how parents could specify that information not be given to military recruiters. Ms. Matthews indicated that such a request needs to be in writing. Mr. Adams mentioned that the School Committee could draft a form to opt out of providing information to military and form would be translated into major languages. Mr. Rumery suggested the possibility of working with other governmental organizations to make certain information is not made available.

ECB – School Pest Management Policy

Mr. Rumery asked if school department would have staff that are licensed applicators.

Mr. Meiklejohn commended Policy Committee on developing this policy. He suggested coordination with Public Works in application of chemicals on city property that is around schools.

4. First reading of policy to be removed from policy book

Ms. Matthews reviewed IHBAB- Student Educational Records Policy for a first reading to be removed from policy book.

5. Discussion of a draft RFP for Baxter School

Mr. Radtke reviewed the draft RFP for the Baxter property and indicated that the Finance Committee recommended that the School Committee consider approval of the RFP.

Mr. Adams asked where in the document would it indicate who will make the decision as to when the building should be vacated. Mr. Stewart indicated that this would be in the lease. Mr. Adams also indicated that he would like the public to have an opportunity to speak to this item.

Personnel

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

Change in Degree: Eff: 09/01/2003

Kathleen Quinn Lincoln/Foreign Language + $3,164

MEd/ UNE

Ms. McRae moved, seconded Mr. Radtke and voted unanimously to approve Personnel items as listed.

At 9 p.m. Committee took a 5 minute recess.

At 9:07 Chairperson Thompson called the meeting to order.

Committee Focus on Educational Issues

1. Preliminary budget discussion

Mr. Rumery - indicated that he would like to know how many new mandates have been added between 1994 and 2003.

Mr. Thompson - mentioned the need to consider inflation rate over the last 10 years.

Mr. Radtke – to what extent has federal and state support declined over the last 10 years?

Mr. Meiklejohn – would like to see the increase in health costs over the last 10 years. Also asked if School Committee could consider placing dishwashers in schools to facilitate the use of plastic trays. Mr. Thompson indicated that might be able to utilize contingency funds for dishwashers.

Mr. Thompson – briefly discussed a book that he is currently reading regarding the transition of an organization from good to great. To do this an organization needs to develop leadership, have the right people in the organization, and need to pay attention to basics.

2. Discussion of starting points regarding K-8 model

Mr. Radkte briefly reviewed the process of looking at a K-8 model:

• need in-depth look at educational programming, is this educationally desirable
• how would this play out in Portland;
• costs analysis of K-8 model;
• will K-8 model be embraced in some schools or all schools;
• need to look at school choice – accessible to all students;
• look at how other districts have attempted to answer the question of school choice.

Committee members discussed the process of looking at a K-8 model:

• Mr. Rumery asked if a time table would be developed to look at the issues of a K-8 model. Mr. Radtke indicated that if the referendum passes this would be two years out and that a group could look at the issues and report to the School Committee sometime in May.
• Mr. Meiklejohn – excited about K-8 possibilities. Need to explore this supported by data and with a time line.
• Mr. Thompson – suggested small working groups to research questions to allow for a larger discussion. Asked if this would have implications with Study Circles. Mr. Radtke recommended considering the feedback from the Action Committee on November 20^th.

3. Distribution of material in schools

Ms. Matthews indicated that some constituents have raised issues about what goes home with students. Policy Committee has met with the school lawyer who indicates that the school department can say that nothing but school material goes home or everything goes home – cannot be selective. Reviewed survey done of surrounding school districts on how they handle requests for material to be sent home with students. It was suggested that there could be a disclaimer on everything that is sent home; materials could be placed on tables in the lobby of schools; allow information to be included with school newsletters.

Committee members discussed materials being sent home with students.

• Mr. Adams indicated that there needs to be something in writing to use in determining what could go home and suggested looking at Gorham’s policy with a few revisions for Portland schools. Also indicated that school newsletters would be a good way to get miscellaneous information home to parents.

• Mr. Radtke and Mr. Meikljohn indicated that they, too, liked Gorham’s policy on this issue.

• Mr. Radtke suggested sending home information on programs offered by state, city, or schools.

• Mr. Thompson - need to look at all or nothing. What is impact on community?

• Mr. Rumery – community bulletin boards in buildings. Who would make decision about what would be posted?

Public Comment - No members of the public addressed the Committee.

Mr. Rumery moved, seconded Mr. Meiklejohn and voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 9:56 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Jo O’Connor

Superintendent of Schools