Draft: Oct. 7, 2004
Approved: Oct.20, 2004

School Committee meeting Oct. 6, 2004

Under Report of the Secretary

Business Meeting

Mr. Radtke called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

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

Report of the Chair

Mr. Radtke:

• Read a proclamation declaring the week of Oct. 17-23, 2004 as National School Bus Safety Week
• Announced a revised meeting date for the Commissioner’s regional meeting on the EPS Funding Model from Oct. 19, 2004 to Nov. 16, 2004 in Room 250 at PATHS
• Announced that Councilor Jim Cohen would be holding a public informational meeting regarding the Palesky Tax Cap on Thurs., Oct. 7^th in Room 250 at PATHS

Superintendent’s Report

Superintendent O’Connor:

• Introduced Donna Downing and Keri Horn who addressed the Committee regarding an educational proposal for 10^th graders through the Portland Identification and Early Referral Program (PIER) and the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI).
• Introduced Richard Veilleux who spoke briefly regarding the Health School Food Project. Mr. Veilleux then introduced Grace Noonan-Kaye and Amanda Rowe who spoke about the project.
• Mentioned that Oct. 6^th was Walk to School day, which is part of the Healthy Portland program.
• Introduced Shoshana Hoose who provided an update to the Committee on the work and projects taking place at TV3.
• Asked Mr. Allen to give a brief overview of the expulsion/withdrawal process.

Mr. Radtke requested unanimous consent to take an agenda item out of order.

New Business

1. Consideration and action to approve a tax cap resolution.

Mr. Chong moved, seconded Mr. Spring to approve a tax cap resolution.

Committee members had no clarifying questions.

Public Comment:

Gary Vines, Cindy Rotolo, William Gorham, Bob Lavine, Jason Toothaker and MaryDee Stinson addressed the Committee regarding the tax cap.

Committee members then discussed the tax cap providing their various views on the issue.

Mr. Radtke clarified that no school funds have been used for any campaigning efforts nor have there been any organized school department events on this issue.

Vote on motion: It was voted 6-2 to approve the tax cap resolution.

At 8:40 p.m. Committee took a 10-minute recess.

At 8:50 p.m. the meeting was called back into session.

Report of Committees

1. East End Area School Building Committee – Mr. Rumery updated the Committee on the status of the project being over budget by $1.4 million when bids were opened. The Committee is working to decide what to cut and yet save the integrity of the school. He indicated that the Committee is trying to keep the size of the school for future increases in population – cafeteria will be somewhat smaller, seating in gym will be reorganized, classrooms have not been touched.
2. Policy Committee – Mr. Meiklejohn indicated that the Committee would be reviewing four policies for a second reading.
3. Finance Committee – Ms. McRae indicated the next meeting would be Oct. 13^th, 6 p.m. in Room 250.
4. Legislative Affairs Committee – No report
5. Other Committees and/or member concerns – Mr. Spring mentioned that he co-taught a class at PHS recently presenting information to students on being student reps on the School Committee. Oct. 8^th is the deadline to submit their paperwork to run for a student rep position.

Report of the Secretary

Mr. Meiklejohn moved, seconded Mr. DiMillo and voted unanimously to approve the meeting minutes of the September 22, 2004 meeting.

Consent Items

Superintendent O’Connor reviewed the donations and thanked the contributors.

Old Business

1. Consideration and action to approve the following policies

Mr. Meiklejohn reviewed the following policies for a second reading:

A. IAA – Portland School Committee’s Commitment to the Learning Results

Mr. Meiklejohn moved, seconded Mr. Rumery to approve policy IAA – Portland School Committee’s Commitment to the Learning Results

Vote on motion: It was voted unanimously to approve policy IAA – Portland School Committee’s Commitment to the Learning Results

B. IKE – Promotion and Retention of Students

Mr. Meiklejohn moved, seconded Ms. McRae to approve policy IKE – Promotion and Retention of Students

Vote on motion: It was voted unanimously to approve policy IKE – Promotion and Retention of Students

C. IKF – Graduation Requirements (Beginning 2006-2007)

Mr. Meiklejohn moved, seconded Mr. DiMillo to approve policy IKF – Graduation Requirements (Beginning 2006-2007)

Mr. Spring spoke to the motion indicating that he would like to see algebra/geometry and a second language added to the language of this policy.

Mr. Spring moved, seconded Ms. McRae and voted 7-1 to table the motion.

D. IMBB – Accommodation of Sincere Beliefs in Required Instruction

Mr. Meiklejohn moved, seconded Mr. DiMillo to approve policy IMBB – Accommodation of Sincere Beliefs in Required Instruction

Superintendent O’Connor indicated that there is no specific data on the number of students requesting to opt out of a course as this very rarely happens. Mr. Spring requested that data now be kept on the number of parents/students who object to the content of a course.

Vote on motion: It was voted unanimously to approve policy IMBB – Accommodation of Sincere Beliefs in Required Instruction

Personnel – None

Committee Focus on Educational Issues - None

Public Comment Prior to 11:00 PM - None

Executive Session

Consideration and action to move into Executive Session to discuss negotiations with the Portland Education Association. (1 M.R.S.A.) § 405(6)(D)

At 9:26 p.m. Mr. Meiklejohn moved, seconded Ms. McRae and voted unanimously to move into Executive Session to discuss negotiations with the Portland Education Association. (1 M.R.S.A.) § 405(6)(D)

At 10:20 p.m. it was moved, seconded, and voted to come out of Executive Session.

Adjournment

It was moved, seconded and voted to adjourn the meeting at 10:20 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Jo O’Connor

Superintendent of Schools