Draft:  November 6, 2003

                                                                                                Approved: Nov. 19, 2003

                                                            School Committee Meeting November 5, 2003

                                                            Under Report of the Secretary

 

Executive Session

Members Present: Otis Thompson-Chairperson, Tae Chong, Walter Rumery, Jonathan Radtke, Ben Meiklejohn, James DiMillo, Kim Matthews, Teri McRae

 

Members not Present:  Herb Adams

 

At 6 p.m. Mr. Rumery moved, seconded  Mr. Radtke and voted unanimously to go into Executive Session to discuss upcoming negotiations with PAA, PEA, Educational Technicians, and BASE.

 

At 6:49 p.m. Mr. Radtke moved, seconded  Mr. Meiklejohn and voted  unanimously to come out of Executive Session.

 

Business Meeting

At 7 p.m. Chairperson Thompson called the meeting to order.

 

Members Present:  Otis Thompson-Chairperson, Walter Rumery, Teri McRae, Kim Matthews, Jonathan Radtke, Ben Meiklejohn, Tae Chong, James DiMillo, Herb Adams (arrived at 8:15 p.m.)

 

Report of the Chair –  Mr. Thompson indicated that the School Committee would hold a caucus at 6p.m. on Wed., Nov. 19th prior to the 7 p.m. business meeting. 

 

Report of the Superintendent – Superintendent O’Connor acknowledged the successful bond referendums and thanked the citizens for their vote for a school for the 21st Century.

 

  1. Update on district libraries – Library Media Specialists provided an overview of the array of library media programs in the Portland Public Schools as well as the variety of things that Library Media Specialists do within the schools, classrooms, etc.
  2. Update on Computer Technology – Donna Green provided a brief overview of the Computer Technology Services department and the CTS web site located on the Portland Public Schools home page.
  3. Update on TV 3 – Shoshana Hoose briefly updated the Committee on the work of TV3, i.e. communication, educational resources, connecting to learning in the classrooms.  She also updated the Committee on the status of negotiations between the City and Time Warner Cable, which has been a 4-year process for a new cable franchise.  TV3 is requesting approximately $300,000 in equipment as part of this negotiation process.

 

Report of Committees

  1. East End Area School Building Committee – Mr. Rumery thanked the voters for supporting the city and school’s commitment to education.
  2. Policy Committee – Ms. Matthews reported that the next Policy Committee meeting would be on Nov. 12th, 3:30 p.m., at Central Office.
  3. Finance Committee/Budget Advisory Task Force- Mr. Radtke indicated that the BATF would be meeting on Thursday, 11/6, 3:30 p.m. at Central Office.  This would be the last meeting of this group for the year and recommendations would be brought forward to the School Committee at a later date.
  4. Legislative Committee – No report.
  5. Veranda Street Subcommittee – No report.
  6. MSMA Delegate Assembly/Conference – Ms. McRae updated the Committee on the MSMA Delegate Assembly/Conference held in October.

 

Mr. Thompson indicated that a workshop session would need to be held to discuss the next steps on the plan for the schools.

 

Report of the Secretary

Ms. McRae moved, seconded Ms. Matthews and voted unanimously to approve the meeting minutes of the October 15, 2003 and October 22 2003 meetings.

 

Old Business

1.  Consideration and action to approve the following policy

Ms. Matthews reviewed the following policies for consideration and action:

 

 

Ms. Matthews indicated that at a previous meeting Mr. Adams has asked if on the opt out form a parent could select to opt out of having information released to, for instance, the military and have information released to a college.   Ms. Matthews indicated that opting out of one and not another is possible.

 

Ms. Matthews moved, seconded Ms. McRae to approve policy JRA – Student Education Records and Information

 

 Mr. Meiklejohn indicated that he had received information regarding military recruiters and the NCLB act and he wondered if full rights have been afforded to students regarding consenting release of information.  He indicated that he felt that further investigation was required prior to approving the policy.

 

Mr. Radtke moved, seconded Ms. Matthews and voted unanimously to table policy JRA – Student Education Records and Information to a later date.

 

Mr. Rumery -  inquired about the cost of having this policy in place.  This is an unfunded mandate.

 

Mr. Stewart - indicated that there would be an additional 30-40 man days/year and estimated the cost to be approximately $10,000.

 

Superintendent O’Connor -  indicated that there is a lot in place already regarding pesticide and herbicide usage/management. The school department uses very little pesticide or herbicide and what is used is applied during non-school hours.   This policy would add extra expense to an already tight budget.

 

Mr. Meiklejohn – indicated that there would be additional costs, however, the constituency is concerned about exposure of children. Feels full disclosure is important.  He thanked Maggy Drummond and John Eder for their help with is policy.

 

Ms. Matthews – indicated that she felt the policy is necessary.

 

Ms. McRae – asked if the 30/40 man-hours would be to do administrative work, etc.

 

Mr. Stewart – indicated that the additional hours would be for to do the administrative work required if this policy is approved.  There would be a pest management officer at each school.  Notification, record keeping, and pest management officer would be additions as a result of this policy.

 

Mr. Rumery – indicated that taxes keep rising due to unfunded mandates such as this from the state.

 

Ms. Matthews moved, seconded Mr. Meiklejohn and voted 4-4 to approve policy ECB – School Pest Management Policy.  Motion fails.

 

Mr. Thompson indicated that this policy could be considered at a future date.

 

Ms. Matthews recommended no action on this policy until a decision is made regarding policy JRA – Student Education Records and Information.

 

Mr. Rumery moved, seconded Ms. McRae and voted unanimously to have indicated on all policies whether the policy is a funded or unfunded mandate.

 

New Business

  1. Consideration and action to authorize the superintendent to proceed with the RFP process for the leasing of part or all of Baxter School.

Superintendent O’Connor reviewed the RFP and indicated that a minor adjustment had been made to the language to indicate that the lease would be for part or all of the building.

 

Mr. Radtke moved, seconded Mr. Rumery and voted unanimously to authorize the superintendent to proceed with the RFP process for the leasing of part or all of Baxter School.

 

Ms. Matthews –asked what might happen if a decision was made by the school department to use the building in the next 2-3 months. 

 

Mr. Stewart – indicated that a provision could be made regarding the RFP if this did happen.

 

Mr. Meiklejohn – asked what the time frame would be if tenants needed to vacate the premises.  Indicated that it is important to have a tenant in the building.

 

Ms. McRae – indicated that the BATF may bring space recommendations to the Committee and she asked about dates on the RFP. 

 

Mr. Stewart – indicated that a time frame would be addressed in the lease.  He also indicated that the RFP would probably be a 30-day process.

 

Mr. Rumery – indicated he would like to see the process moved along as quickly as possible.

 

Mr. Radkte – indicated that he would like to know the options, who may be interested, space they might be interested in, etc.

 

Mr. DiMillo – would like to see an RFP on Veranda St. and where Central Office will be going.

 

Ms. Matthews – asked what the foreseeable future on Veranda St. might be.

 

Superintendent O’Connor – indicated that an RFP for Veranda St. has not been done at this time and she would be sharing recommendations of the 3 x 3 Committee under Committee Focus on Education.

 

Committee Focus on Educational Issues

  1. Discussion of Veranda Street property – Mr. Adams indicated that the 3x3

Committee had met several times.  He reviewed the differences in recommendations of the city versus notes of the 3x3 Committee in the October 15, 2003 minutes.  Mr. Adams indicated that it is the School Committee’s desire to have a 25-30 year lease and at the end of that lease the property would be returned to the taxpayers of the city.  He indicated that the Mayor is in favor of a lease and that the School Committee feels that Central Office 1) needs a placed to go, 2) needs a place to go that does not cost more or have less parking.  Mr. Adams feels that the major points of both documents are clear and that there needs to be clarification of some differences, i.e. lease versus sale.  Central Office will be appraised on November 6, 2003.

 

The School Committee spent some time discussing this issue:

Mr. Meiklejohn – asked what role the City Council would play in leasing of the property.

 

Mr. Adams – indicated that the law allows the School Committee to lease property up to 4 years with an RFP and that a 4 year lease could be renewed by the School Committee.  Before the city can lease property the School Committee would have to vote property back to the city.  He reiterated that 1) Central Office would need a place to go, 2) Central Office would need a place to relocate that would not cost more or have less parking.  Mr. Adams indicated that if the school and city agreements are identical then the School Committee could look at the options.

 

Ms. McRae – asked if there was an agreement to lease not sell.

 

Mr. Adams – indicated that the wishes of the School Committee were presented to the 3x3 Committee regarding a lease versus sale. 

 

Mr. Thompson – indicated that the Committee discussed at a workshop session the possibility of leasing versus selling and that the Mayor recommended a 25-30 year lease and then property would go back to the city.  He also indicated that with a lease income would be from the lease and the tenant would pay property taxes, etc.  If the property were turned over to the city then it would no longer be school department property.

 

Ms. Matthews –asked if it was possible for the appraiser to provide a fair market value of property if it was leased.

 

Mr. Stewart – indicated that the appraiser would give a value of the building.

 

Mr. Adams – indicated that once a value is set then this would allow the development of a long-term deal.

 

  1. Discussion of K-8 Model- Mr. Radtke indicated that after completion of the Study Circles process and information coming out of that process then a further discussion regarding the K-8 model would take place.

 

Public Comment prior to 11 p.m.

Joanna Cinnett addressed the Committee regarding books read by middle age children.  She indicated that she felt that there should be some type of Literacy Volunteers assistance for people who may have trouble with math.   Ms. Cinnett indicated she is attending the Study Circle process and has provided a synopsis of the study circles to the facilitator for the superintendent to read.

 

Cindy Rotollo thanked the School Committee, Central Office team, etc for all of the work that was done on behalf of the East End Area School.  Ms. Rotollo also thanked Mr. Adams for his tireless commitment and consistent advocacy for children in Portland.

 

Mr. Adams moved, seconded Ms. Matthews and voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 8:47 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

 

Mary Jo O’Connor, Superintendent of Schools