Draft: January 29, 2004

Approved: Feb. 4, 2004

School Committee meeting January 28, 2004

Under Report of the Secretary

Executive Session

1. Consideration and action to go into Executive Session to discuss negotiations.

Members present: Jonathan Radtke – Chairperson, Walter Rumery, Stephen Spring, Teri McRae, Kim Matthews, Tae Chong, James DiMillo, Otis Thompson, Ben Meiklejohn (arrived at 7 p.m.)

At 6:04 p.m. Mr. Thompson moved, seconded Mr. Rumery and voted unanimously to go into Executive Session to discuss negotiations.

At 7:01 p.m. Ms. McRae moved, seconded Mr. Chong and voted unanimously to come out of Executive Session.

2. Consideration and action to go into Executive Session to discuss a personnel matter.

At 7:02 p.m. Mr. Rumery moved, seconded Ms. Matthews and voted unanimously to go into Executive Session to discuss a personnel matter.

At 7:16 p.m. Ms. Matthews moved, seconded Mr. DiMillo and voted unanimously to come out of Executive Session.

Business Meeting

Mr. Radtke called the meeting to order at 7:21 p.m.

Members Present: Jonathan Radtke – Chairperson, Walter Rumery, Stephen Spring, Teri McRae, Kim Matthews, Ben Meiklejohn, Tae Chong, James DiMillo (left at approximately 8 p.m.), Otis Thompson

Report of the Chair

Mr. Radkte mentioned the Community Forum on Wed., Feb. 25^th beginning at 6 p.m. in Room 250 where citizens will have the opportunity to talk with School Committee members and staff regarding any educational issues.

Superintendent’s Report

Superintendent O’Connor:

Mentioned that a Community Forum was held at Adams School on January 27^th to look at designs of the new school and shared program designs and options for the East End Area School. Each house of the school will function as K-5 with 100-150 students. She also indicated that collaboration with USM for some programs is being considered.
Introduced Sally Loughlin who reviewed the Terra Nova Reading data with the School Committee.

Report of Committees

East End Area School Building Committee – Mr. Rumery indicated that asbestos removal should be completed next week. An RFP will be going out for demolition of the building. The Building Committee has voted to support the green school LEED direction. Architects will begin technical drawings. Everything is progressing on time.
Policy Committee – Mr. Meiklejohn indicated that the next meeting would be Tuesday, Feb. 3^rd, 4:30 p.m. at Central Office.
Finance Committee – Ms. Matthews indicated that the next meeting would be Tuesday, Feb. 10^th, 3:30 p.m. at Central Office. Public meetings on the budget will be held on March 4^th and March 8^th.
Legislative Affairs Committee – Mr. Thompson indicated that the Committee is talking with the Portland Legislative Delegation to arrange a meeting with the School Committee prior to an upcoming meeting or during a workshop session.
Facilities Task Force – No report.

Report of the Secretary

Consideration and action to accept the meeting minutes of the January 21, 2004 meeting.

Ms. Matthews moved, seconded Mr. Chong and voted unanimously to approve the meeting minutes of the January 21, 2004 meeting.

Consent Items - None

Old Business – None

New Business

Pursuant to MSRS 20-A, Chapter 503 §13201, consideration and action to eliminate 7.5 positions in the Migrant Teacher Impact area due to a change in local conditions (loss of funding).

Committee members discussed this item:

Mr. Thompson –asked why there was such a large drop in numbers being served. Mr. Allen indicated that when asked, migrants to Portland indicate they are not seeking employment, which is a stipulation of the guidelines. Mr. Thompson indicated that he feels that this is a disservice to students and staff due to state regulations.
Mr. Meiklejohn – recognized the professionalism of staff in placing the affected individuals in other positions.
Mr. Radtke – indicated that it is most unfortunate that 1,000 students will be receiving less than what they did due to an error on the state’s part of first approving and then disapproving students.

Kathleen Casasa addressed the Committee regarding this issue.

Ms. Matthews moved, seconded Ms. McRae and voted unanimously to eliminate 7.5 positions in the Migrant Teacher Impact area due to a change in local conditions (loss of funding).

Consideration and action to accept the recommendations of the 3x3 Veranda Street Subcommittee.

Mr. Radtke - indicated that this motion would be to accept the 3x3 Veranda Street Subcommittee’s recommendations/terms to be considered before turning over property to the city. Motion would not bind the Committee to do anything with the property. Turning property over to the city would require a separate vote.

Ms. Matthews moved, seconded Ms. McRae to accept the recommendations of the 3x3 Veranda Street Subcommittee.

Committee discussion:

Mr. Meiklejohn – indicated that he is unclear about the intention of voting on the RFP goals.

Ms. McRae – asked if there would be an option of keeping the maintenance and storage facilities and just selling the main building. Superintendent O’Connor indicated that the RFP language needs to include all buildings on the property. Ms. McRae indicated that the Facilities Task Force is looking at Central Office relocation and may find space in existing buildings for Central Office staff. She supports work of the 3x3 Committee.

Mr. Rumery – asked what position this would put the School Committee in if the Committee voted to accept the RFP goals. Indicated that he would like to hear from the Facilities Task Force and is uncomfortable possibly having to look for space going into the budget process. Does not want to incur more expense for Central Office – would agree to $75,000.

Ms. Matthews – feels the Committee needs to move this process forward and will not turn the building over to the city until a location is found for Central Office to relocate to.

Mr. Thompson – asked if RFP goals are adopted would the RFP process begin. Not willing to accept if the city is going to go forward with the RFP process. Concerned that by accepting the goals that would indicate that Veranda Street has no more educational value. Supports Central Office being relocated, but is concerned about the pressure being put on the School Committee to move process forward before knowing where Central Office is relocating to and the cost of relocation. He does not want to incur more expense for Central Office and would agree to a bit more than current amount of $70,000.

Mr. Meiklejohn moved, seconded Ms. McRae to amend the RFP goals by eliminating wording in bullet #4 for sale or and bullet #9 Sale or.

Committee continued discussions on this item:

Ms. Matthews – supports sale or lease.

Mr. Thompson – need to determine if building has value to school department. Feels approval of goals would indicate to the city that the school department sees no further value in building.

Mr. Rumery – would like to signify that on January 28, 2004 the Committee accepted goals, but does not want the process started until educational value of building is determined.

Mr. Radtke – indicated that the 3x3 Subcommittee was established by a previous School Committee which had directed the subcommittee to work towards a lease. He indicated that he would prefer to see a lease versus sale.

Vote on the amendment: Voted 4-4 to amend the RFP goals by eliminating wording in bullet #4 for sale or and bullet #9 Sale or. Motion fails.

Committee returned to the original motion.

Mr. Rumery – would like a date in the motion to insure that School Committee has the ability to bring this up again to amend.

Mr. Radtke – indicated that any item is subject to being rescinded or amended at any time.

Mr. Meiklejohn – indicated that he does not feel the criteria represents the scope of what the School Committee had indicated.

Vote on original motion: Voted 5-3 to accept the recommendations of the 3x3 Veranda Street Subcommittee.

Consideration and action to close the RFP process on Baxter School.

Superintendent O’Connor indicated that one RFP was submitted which was from the Portland Conservatory of Music. Ms. Matthews, Finance Committee Chairperson, indicated that the RFP proposal from the Portland Conservatory of Music was to pay only one-half of the utilities and would require a 4-year commitment. The Finance Committee felt that the proposal did not meet the needs of the School Committee. The Finance Committee is recommending that the RFP process be closed.

It was moved, seconded and voted unanimously to close the RFP process on Baxter School.

Personnel

Consideration and action to approve the Personnel items listed below:

Change in Degree: Eff: 01/01/2004

Lois Sturtevant Moore/Music Masters Step 22 +$4,170

M.Ed./Lesley University, Cambridge, MA

Margaret Richard King/Art Masters Step 14 +$3,164

M.Ed./Lesley University, Cambridge, MA

Unpaid LOA:

Katrina Arvedson Riverton/ESL 1.0 Extended Childrearing

Eff: 09/01/04-08/31/05

Heidi Donnelly Presumpscot/Math .40 of 1.0 Extended Childrearing

Eff: 01/05/04-08/31/04

Nancy Goldberg-Courtney PHS/English 1.0 Childrearing

Eff: 01/05/04-08/31/04

Ken Kunin Reiche/Principal 1.0 Personal

Eff: 09/01/04-06/30/05

Marilyn Melton Riverton/Grade 3 .5 of 1.0 Extended Childrearing Leave

Eff: 09/01/04-08/31/05

Laura Pellerin Longfellow/Grade 3 .2 of 1.0 Extended Childrearing

Effective: 02/14/04-08/31/04

Interim Principal

Marcia Gendron Interim Principal, Reiche School One year only

2004-2005 school year

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

Committee Focus on Educational Issues - None

Public Comment Prior to 11:00 PM

Kevin Mallory, Director of Transportation, addressed the School Committee regarding a request to name the transportation facility after Robert “Bob” Stewart, a bus driver with Portland Public Schools since 1985, who passed away unexpectedly in January. Mr. Radtke indicated that this request would be given to the Policy Committee for consideration.

Robert Lavin addressed the Committee regarding his impression of the Committees’ obsession with data, the state of education, and asked how many teachers are good teachers.

Kathleen Casasa addressed the Committee indicating that Portland teachers are highly qualified and competent.

Adjournment

Mr. Spring moved, seconded Mr. Chong and voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 9 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Jo O’Connor, Superintendent of Schools