Draft: Nov. 4, 2004

Approved:Nov. 17, 2004

School Committee meeting Nov. 3, 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, Tae Chong

Report of the Chair

Mr. Radtke:

Announced that Portland High School would hold their election for student representative to the School Committee on Nov. 9^th
Introduced Michael Imbergamo, Deering High Schools’ student representative to the School Committee who then provided a brief overview of the student election process.

Report of the Superintendent

Superintendent O’Connor

Introduced John Wipfer, Institute for Civic Leadership Board Vice Chairman, who spoke to the Committee regarding ICL’s 2004 Annual Collaborative Leadership Award presented to the Center for Grieving Children and the Portland Public Schools in recognition of the multicultural peer support program that has been in existence for 7 years. Anne Lynch, Executive Director-Center for Grieving Children, and Jill Blackwood, Principal-Riverton School, also spoke on behalf of the peer support program. Superintendent O’Connor acknowledged Catherine Haas, PPS social worker, who recognized a need for this type of program among the students she was working with and was the inspiration for the development of the peer support program.
Introduced Dawn Carrigan, Principal-Longfellow School, who spoke about the work being done at Longfellow around differentiation.

Report of Committees

East End Area School – Mr. Rumery indicated that the groundbreaking for the new EEAS was held on Oct. 26^th.
Policy Committee – Mr. Meiklejohn indicated that the Committee would be reviewing three policies on the evening’s agenda.
Finance Committee – Ms. McRae announced that the next Finance Committee meeting would be on Nov. 10^th, 6 p.m. in Room 250, PATHS.
Legislative Affairs Committee – No report.
Other Committees and/or member concerns – Mr. Meiklejohn reported on his attendance at the MSMA Conference Oct. 21^st and 22^nd. He reviewed the various resolutions considered by the Delegate Assembly and indicated that he would be sharing some workshop information with the Committee.

Mr. Spring indicated that he had also attended the MSMA workshop on Friday, Oct. 22^nd where he attended workshops on student reps to the School Committee and students graduating college ready.

Report of the Secretary

Mr. Chong moved, seconded Mr. Spring and voted unanimously to approve the meeting minutes of the October 20, 2004 meeting.

Chairman Radtke requested Committee consent to take New Business items #1 and #4 out of order.

New Business

Consideration and action to approve the contract with the Portland Rotary to finance the PATHS house project in an amount up to $40,000.

Mr. Chong moved, seconded Ms. McRae to approve the contract with the Portland Rotary to finance the PATHS house project in an amount up to $40,000.

Nelson Smith, PATHS instructor, and Dick Hall, Portland Rotary, addressed the Committee on the PATHS housing project. Mr. Smith indicated that students from the carpentry, electrical, and plumbing programs are involved in the construction of the house.

Vote on motion: It was voted unanimously to approve the contract with the Portland Rotary to finance the PATHS house project in an amount up to $40,000.

Consideration and action to approve a contract agreement between the Portland School Committee and the Portland Education Association effective September 1, 2004 to August 31, 2006. The Portland Education Association ratified this agreement on October 26, 2004.

Mr. Chong moved, seconded Mr. Thompson to approve a contract agreement between the Portland School Committee and the Portland Education Association effective September 1, 2004 to August 31, 2006.

Superintendent O’Connor recognized the bargaining team members from the PEA and school department. She then briefly reviewed the proposed language changes of the contract with the Committee.

Public Comment:

Kathleen Casasa and Stephen Scharf addressed the Committee regarding the PEA contract.

Board Member Comment/Debate:

Mr. Rumery – abstaining from vote

Mr. Meiklejohn – need to remain competitive; does not support private negotiations would prefer public negotiations to provide for community input.

Mr. Chong – Supports contract. A public negotiations process would take much longer; over 90% of PEA members approved; teachers need to have a living wage, which allows the hiring of good teachers and retaining them; School Committee is fiscally responsible.

Ms. McRae moved, seconded Mr. DiMillo to table the motion until November 17, 2004.

Ms. McRae – requested further discussion in Executive Session

Mr. Thompson – against tabling

Mr. Radtke – against tabling; has been on Nov. 3 agenda and first public request for information received today.

Mr. DiMillo – table until contract is available.

Vote on motion to table: It was voted 4-3-1 (abstention) to table the motion until November 17, 2004.

Consent Items - Superintendent O’Connor reviewed donations and thanked contributors.

Old Business

Consideration and action to approve policy IKF – Graduation Requirements

Mr. Chong moved, seconded Mr. Spring to approve policy IKF – Graduation Requirements

Superintendent O’Connor reviewed policy IKF and indicated that a Graduation Task Force has been formed to review the requirements. She recommended passage of this policy to meet Chapter 127 compliance.

Mr. Spring indicated that he had met with Dana Allen, Brenda Roy, and Mike Johnson regarding graduation requirements.

Board Comments/Debate:

Ms. McRae – inquired about math requirement.

Mr. Rumery – requested that parents and students be notified about this policy. Superintendent O’Connor indicated that folks have been kept apprised of this change.

Mr. Spring moved, seconded Ms. McRae to add the following wording to the end of the policy - “This policy will expire on July 1, 2005.”

Mr. Thomspon – additional wording is unnecessary.

Mr. Meiklejohn – inquired about expiration of policy in July – would old policy become effective.

Superintendent O’Connor indicated that if that did happen the old policy would become effective until the annual review was completed.

Vote on amendment to motion: It was voted 2-6 to add the following wording to the end of the policy - “This policy will expire on July 1, 2005.” Motion fails.

Vote on original motion: It was voted 6-1-1 (abstention) to approve policy IKF – Graduation Requirements

First reading of a policies to be deleted from the Policy Book:

KDB – Public’s Right to Know
IHBAB - Student Educational Records Policy

Superintendent O’Connor reviewed for a first reading policies to be deleted from the Policy Book.

3. Consideration and action to approve the expenditure of up to $3,000 from the School Committee contingency fund to have the policy book reviewed and updated by MSMA.

Mr. Meiklejohn moved, seconded Mr. DiMillo to approve the expenditure of up to $3,000 from the School Committee contingency fund to have the policy book reviewed and updated by MSMA.

Superintendent O’Connor indicated that turnaround time on this project would be approximately 3 months.

Mr. Thompson: MSMA should do at no additional fee – pay approximately $11,000 in yearly dues.

Public Comment:

Stephen Scharf addressed the Committee on this item.

Some Committee members are in favor of a policy book review.

Mr. Thompson moved, seconded Mr. Chong not to expend the $3,000 from contingency and to ask the superintendent to communicate with MSMA to request this service be provided based on dues paid in the amount of $11,000.

Vote on amended motion: It was voted 5-3 not to expend the $3,000 from contingency and to ask the superintendent to communicate with MSMA to request this service be provided based on dues paid in the amount of $11,000.

Vote on original motion: It was voted 3-5 to approve the expenditure of up to $3,000 from the School Committee contingency fund to have the policy book reviewed and updated by MSMA. Motion fails.

Personnel - No items for consideration

Committee Focus on Educational Issues – No items for discussion

Public Comment Prior to 11 p.m.

Stephen Scharf – congratulated Ms. McRae on her election to Register of Probate. Discussed policy KDB-Public’s Right to Know suggesting that the policy book be placed on web site and personnel contracts on web and available to public two weeks prior to consideration by the Committee.

Mr. Meiklejohn moved, seconded Mr. Spring and voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 8:58 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Jo O’Connor

Superintendent of Schools