Approved: Sept. 17, 2003

School Committee Meeting September 3, 2003

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, Tae Chong, James DiMillo, Kim Matthews, Walter Rumery

Chairperson Thompson requested a moment of silence in remembrance of John Griffin, City Councilor, who passed away on September 1, 2003.

Report of the Chair- No report

Report of the Superintendent – Superintendent O’Connor reported on the following:

1. Successful opening day breakfast was held on Sept. 2^nd at the Expo. Teachers and principals had two in-service days, which were used to set the direction for the school year.
2. Announced the following resignations:

Heather Gilpin Dick King/Teacher Personal

Jane Armstrong King/Reading.5 Personal

Timothy Cronin King/Gear-UP New Position

Timothy Walker PHS/Guidance New Position

Robert Wheeler DHS/Instrumental Music New Position

3. Ms. O’Connor introduced Sally Loughlin, Director of Educational Planning, who provided an overview of disaggregate student data to the School Committee. This information will provide a context for data that will be reviewed in October.

1. East End Area School Building Committee – Mr. Rumery indicated that the upcoming referendum was discussed at the last meeting of the Building Committee.

Superintendent O’Connor indicated that on September 4^th she would be accompanying Stephen Blatt, Randy Stewart, and Hank Dresch to do a presentation of the concept design to a subcommittee of the State Board of Education and on September 12^th a presentation would be made to the State Board of Education.

2. Policy Committee – Ms. Matthews indicated that the next meeting of the Policy Committee would be Sept. 10^th, 3:30 p.m. at Central Office.
3. Finance Committee – Mr. Radtke indicated that a meeting of the Budget Advisory Task Force would be held on Sept. 18^th, 3:30 p.m. at Central Office.
4. Legislative Committee – Mr. Meiklejohn indicated that he had no report at this time. A meeting would be scheduled in the near future.

1. Consideration and action to approve policy IJOA – Field Trips and Excursions

1. Consideration and action to approve the concept design for the East End Area School.

• Type of heating source to be used whether oil, gas or diesel. Mr. Blatt indicated it would be a type of fossil fuel and there will be a controlled heat/air circulation environment.
• No air conditioning – what uses of architecture can assist with fresh air? Mr. Blatt indicates that there is a duct system in place and they are looking at cross ventilation as well as the positioning of the school on the site and windows to pick up the breezes.
• At this time the PUC energy efficiency program is no longer available.
• Superintendent O’Connor indicates that the mixing of grades at the new school is being done as part of preliminary plans of a best practices school in literacy and that conversations have taken place with the Portland Conservatory of Music.
• Square footage of classrooms. Mr. Blatt indicated that grades K-2 would be 940 s.f.; grades 3-5 800 s.f.
• Size of gymnasium – Mr. Blatt indicated that the gym is the same size as Riverton School and includes two changing rooms.

Public comments regarding the EEAS concept design:

Al Higgins addressed the Committee regarding the concept design, the air quality of the old Jack Elementary School and the need for air conditioning at the EEAS.

Steven Scharf addressed the Committee on the design. Indicated that air conditioning should be included and feels that it is inappropriate that the city has rushed this through in 45 days.

Mr. Rumery moved, seconded Mr. Radtke and voted unanimously to approve the concept design for the East End Area School.

Ms. McRae and Mr. DiMillo expressed concerns regarding school population.

Ms. McRae asked if there were any further reductions to the EEAS. Superintendent O’Connor indicated that there is a "wish list" of items that were not added back in and indicated that it is the school department’s job to work with the architect to envision what the new school will include.

Ms. McRae also asked what the school cost is versus the community cost. Mr. Stewart indicated that the cost on the school side is $9.1 million and $1.4 million on the community side. There is also $500,000 in reserve account, which would bring the total cost to $11.5 million.

Several Committee members mentioned the lack of air conditioning in the new building and that air quality is a big factor.

Mr. Meiklejohn asked about LEED (Leadership In Energy and Environmental Design). Cost to pursue LEED certification would be approximately $35,000. Mr. Blatt indicated that there are different grades of LEED certification and what the certification reflects is that a school compares favorably with other buildings that are certified. The funding for LEED certification that was removed from the budget was to be used for the individual who would be doing the work to confirm LEED certification.

Mr. Radtke indicated that there are a number of things about the new building that are exciting – alternative energy efficiencies, natural light, ability to open windows, position of the school on the site. He would like to have an HVAC system included.

Mr. Thompson supports the concept. Indicated that it is reassuring to hear all of the steps being taken and that fresh air and appropriate exchange of fresh air is important.

At 8:40 p.m. the Committee took a five-minute recess.

At 8:45 p.m. Chairperson Thompson called the meeting back into session.

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

Patricia Crowley-Rockwell CO/Tech Leader +1,726

CAS/University of Southern Maine

Renee Bourgoine-Serio West/Adult Ed + $ 3,475 prorated .75

MS/USM

Catherine Bowden King/Reading B-5 $35,667

BA/University of Orono

Nicholas Bresinsky PHS/English B-1 $30,202

BA/UMO

Pamela Kasabian West/Adult Ed B-3 $36,333 prorated .4667

BA/Northeastern University, MA

Lawrence Kovacs Longfellow/Grade 3/4 B-1 $30,202

BA/Beloit College, Beloit, Wisconsin

Olga LaPlante DHS/French M-3 $35,955

MA/Lipetsk State Pedagogical Institute, Russia

Jennifer Lindsay King/Learning Center B-1 $30,202

BA/University of Southern Maine

Jean Mecteaux Lincoln/Reading/Writing B-2 $31,640 Prorated .5

BS/UMO

Vincent Olsen PATHS/Automotive Tech B-3 $33,079

AS/NH Community Technical College

Claire Ross Moore/Language Arts B-1 $30,202

BA/UMO

Brian Britting PATHS/Assistant Director Paygrade 14-Step 1 $57,007

MS/University of Southern Maine

Nancy Burke Presumpscot/Kindergarten B-3 $33,079 .5 of 1.0

BS/USM One Year Only

Aurelie Kelly Cathedral/Math B-24 $49,906

BA/University of New Hampshire

Cynthia Soule Riverton/Special Education M-4 $37,393

MS/USM

Renee Bourgoine-Serio West/Adult Ed .50 LOA to .25

Julie Totaro Reiche M-5 $38,831

Kathleen Auclair Riverton/Special Education Personal

Mr. Rumery moved, seconded Ms. Matthews and voted unanimously to approve Personnel items as listed.

1. K-12 teaching and learning program options in the district.

Ms. Whynot-Vickers, Assistant Superintendent – Elementary Education and Mr. Allen, Assistant Superintendent-Secondary Education, provided an overview of the teaching and learning options in grades K-12.

Public Comment Prior to 11:00 PM – No members of the public addressed the Committee.

Mr. Thompson reminded the Committee of the presentation of the concept design for the East End Area School and straw poll vote that will take place on Friday, September 5, 2003 at 6:15 p.m. at Adams School.

Mr. Rumery moved, seconded Ms. Matthews and voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 9:20 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Jo O’Connor

Superintendent of Schools