Draft: Oct. 21, 2004
Approved:Nov.3, 2004

School Committee meeting Oct. 20, 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, James DiMillo Teri McRae, Otis Thompson, Stephen Spring, Walter Rumery

Members not present: Tae Chong

Report of the Chair

Mr. Radtke:

• Mentioned that he and Ms. McRae attended the City Council meeting on Monday, Oct. 18^th at which the Council approved the purchase/sale agreement for the Veranda St. property with Martin’s Point in the amount of $3 million. Central Office staff will now begin to plan the moving process. The next step will be for the City Council to appropriate funds towards this process.
• Announced upcoming City tax cap forums – Oct. 25, 7 p.m. – Reiche, Oct. 26, 7:30 p.m. – Deering High School Café., Oct.28, 7 p.m.- Adams School
• Congratulated Chris Bearce, Assistant Principal at Longfellow, who recently received the Maine Association for Health, Education, Recreation, and Dance (MAHPERD) Outstanding Service Award for her work over the last twenty-five years in implementing the Jump Rope for Heart Program raising thousands of dollars and awareness in our community of the importance of heart health.

Report of the Superintendent

Superintendent O’Connor:

• Introduced Robert Ruesch, member of the Portland Partnership Board of Directors, who addressed the Committee on the Partnership Board’s vote opposing the tax cap.
• Introduced Rob Wood and Gail Sense, Co-Directors Portland Adult Education, who updated the Committee on programs being offered by Adult Ed.
• Introduced Kathleen Rossi, Principal-Lincoln Middle School, who provided an overview of the work being done at Lincoln around differentiation.

Reports of Committees

1. East End Area School Building Committee – Mr. Rumery announced that a groundbreaking ceremony would take place on Wed., 10/27 at 11 a.m. He thanked the Building Committee members and, in particular, Peter O’Donnell and Nick Mavadones, for their work. Mr. Rumery also indicated that a Naming Committee would be formed in the near future.
2. Policy Committee – Mr. Meiklejohn indicated that the Committee met prior to the evening’s meeting to continue the review of Chapter 127 and NCLB policies. He invited the public to attend Policy Committee meetings to discuss policy development.
3. Finance Committee – Ms. McRae indicated that the Budget Advisory Task Force met on Oct. 14^th and discussed the Expo and Central Office relocation. The next Budget Advisory Task Force meeting will be Dec. 2^nd, 3:30 p.m. at Central Office. The next Finance Committee meeting will be Nov. 10^th, 6 p.m., Room 250, PATHS. Ms. McRae has also requested a meeting with the City Finance Committee to discuss the Expo and Central Office. There will be an information meeting on the Essential Programs and Services model hosted by the Dept. of Education on Nov. 16^th, 6:30 p.m. in Room 250 at PATHS.
4. Legislative Affairs Committee – Mr. Thompson indicated that the Committee would begin meeting soon to discuss issues of funding and state mandates.
5. Other Committees and/or member concerns – Mr. Meiklejohn indicated that CATV Committee met last week to discuss an overview of Channels 2 & 4 and their relocation to the old Levinsky building; there will be a rate increase in November; Executive Session was held to discuss contract negotiations – it has been 1 ½ years without a contract with the cable company.

Mr. Meiklejohn is the School Committee delegate to the MSMA Delegate Assembly at the MSMA conference, which takes place Oct. 21 and 22. He mentioned three resolutions that the delegates will be considering and asked that Committee members let him know where they stand on the issues that the delegates will be considering: a) support of the MMA tax proposal; b) support of the Maine Lap Top initiative in high schools; c) support of Essential Programs and Services.

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

Mr. Rumery moved, seconded Mr. DiMillo and voted unanimously to take New Business item #2 out of order.

New Business

2. Consideration and action to approve an out-of-country field trip for nine Deering High School students June 13, 2005 to July 5, 2005.

Marilese Reppenhagen provided a brief overview to the Committee on the trip to Lubeck, Germany June 13, 2005-July 5, 2005.

It was moved, seconded and voted unanimously to approve an out-of-country field trip for nine Deering High School students June 13, 2005 to July 5, 2005.

Report of the Secretary

Mr. Rumery moved, seconded Mr. Spring and voted unanimously to approve the meeting minutes of the October 6, 2004 and October 13, 2004 meetings.

Consent Items - None

Old Business - None

New Business

1. Consideration and action to approve the certified costs for PATHS in the amount of $2,352,374. Note: This action certifies the amount of the actual applied technology education costs of PATHS in the prior fiscal year (FY04) to be used as the basis for calculating the Part I assessments to the sending schools.

Mr. Meiklejohn moved, seconded Ms. McRae to approve the certified costs for PATHS in the amount of $2,352,374.

Mr. Stewart provided a brief overview of the certified costs for PATHS in the prior fiscal year (FY04)

Committee members discussed motion:

· Asked if tax cap passed what type of reductions might happen at PATHS.

Mr. Stewart indicated that bills would still be sent to the sending schools; there have not been any proposed cuts made to PATHS programs if tax cap passes. Superintendent O’Connor indicated that the General Advisory Committee (GAC) would need to take any program reductions into consideration.

Mr. Thompson moved, seconded Mr. Rumery to table the motion until the November 3, 2004 meeting.

Committee members discussed the tabling motion:

· This is money that has already been spent

· Need a better way to look at this issue

· Against tabling – need to send out bills to schools and in order to that that this item needs approval.

Vote on tabling motion: It was voted 1-6 to table the motion until the November 3, 2004 meeting. Motion fails.

Vote on original motion: It was voted 6-1 to approve the certified costs for PATHS in the amount of $2,352,374.

Personnel - None

Committee Focus on Educational Issues - No items for discussion

Public Comment Prior to 11 p.m. – No members of the public addressed the Committee

Executive Session

At 8:04 p.m. Mr. Meiklejohn moved, seconded Mr. DiMillo and voted 6-1 to move into Executive Session to discuss negotiations with the Portland Education Association. (1 M.R.S.A.) § 405(6)(D)

At 8:33 p.m. Ms. McRae moved, seconded Mr. DiMillo and voted unanimously to come out of Executive Session.

It was moved, seconded and voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 8:33 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Jo O’Connor

Superintendent of Schools