Draft: Dec. 16, 2004
Approved: Jan. 15, 2005

School Committee meeting Dec. 15, 2004
Under Report of the Secretary

Business Meeting

Mr. Radtke called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.

Members Present: Jonathan Radtke-Chairperson, Jason Toothaker, Ellen Alcorn, Stephen Spring, Teri McRae, Benjamin Meiklejohn, James DiMillo, Otis Thompson

Members not present: Tae Chong

Student Reps present: Michael Imbergamo, Sophia Njaa

Report of the Chair

Mr. Radtke mentioned that Stephen Spring would be joining the Finance Committee will expanding this group to four members.

Superintendent’s Report

Superintendent O’Connor:

· Introduced Jayne Sawtelle and the Hall School Steel Drum Band who performed a few selections for the School Committee.

· Announced retirements:

-Mary Dolan, Music teacher-Moore Middle School, 16 years with Portland Public Schools, effective December 1, 2004

-David LaGraffe, Hall School, 24 years with Portland Public Schools, effective June 30, 2005

• Introduced Tom Lafavore, Director of Educational Planning, who provided an overview of Terra Nova data. Superintendent O’Connor indicated that Terra Nova is just one piece of the local assessment system and that the Math Task Force will be looking at the data and will report to the School Committee in the spring.

Committee members requested a comparison of scores from last year’s scores to current year’s scores.

Reports of Committees

1. East End Area School Building Committee – Superintendent O’Connor indicated that the next meeting of this group would be Thursday, Dec. 16^th, 5:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall. At this meeting a discussion will take place regarding taking $1 million from the sale of Veranda Street and using it for the EEAS. Tae Chong and Ellen Alcorn, new members to this Committee, will be approved by the City Council at their next meeting.

Committee discussed issue of who controls the funds from the sale and who controls the decision regarding the $1 million. Superintendent O’Connor

indicated that the request for fund allocation would need to go through two City Council meetings for approval. She will obtain clarification from the City regarding funding approved by voters for EEAS and for Veranda Street.

2. Policy Committee – Mr. Spring indicated that the Committee met at 6 p.m. prior to the evening’s School Committee meeting. The Policy Committee will be bringing forward a policy for a first reading at a January meeting. He also suggested that Committee members review section B of the policy book, which contains policies pertinent to the School Committee.

3. Finance Committee – Ms. McRae indicated that the Committee met on December 8^th and will be meeting in a joint Finance Committee meeting with the City on January 4^th. Budget forums were held, but no one attended so the Committee will look at the schedule regarding these forums. Next Finance Committee meeting will be Jan. 5^th at 6 p.m.

4. Legislative Affairs Committee – Mr. DiMillo, no report at this time.

5. Other Committees and/or member concerns: Ms. McRae informed the Committee that she had attended a Collective Bargaining Workshop sponsored by Drummond Woodsum and offered to lead a workshop on this issue.

Report of the Secretary

Consideration and action to accept the meeting minutes of the December 1, 2004 and December 6, 2004 and December 8, 2004 meetings.

Mr. Toothaker moved, seconded Ms. McRae and voted unanimously to approve the meeting minutes of the December 1, 2004, December 6, 2004 and December 8, 2004 meetings.

Student Representatives: 2 votes with the majority

Consent Items

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

Old Business - None

New Business

1. Consideration and action to approve the superintendent’s salary for the 2005-2006 school year in the amount of $108,698.

Mr. Meiklejohn moved, seconded Mr. Thompson to approve the superintendent’s salary for the 2005-2006 school year in the amount of $108,698.

Clarifying questions:

• Changes to benefits?
• The salary is offset by the insurance bringing the actual increase in salary to what amount?

Mr. Radtke indicated that the School Committee would pay 90% of health insurance benefit and the superintendent would pay 10% making the actual salary increase of 2%.

Vote on Motion: It was voted unanimously to approve the superintendent’s salary for the 2005-2006 school year in the amount of $108,698.

Student Representatives: 2 votes with the majority

Personnel - None

Committee Focus on Educational Issues

1. Discussion of Central Office move

Superintendent O’Connor briefly reviewed the history of locating a space for the Central Office move. Initially Baxter School was being considered for this relocation, however, after having the architect review the space the cost estimates were higher than anticipated. The Budget Advisory Task Force (BATF) asked if Central Office might be relocated to the third floor space at PATHS. Central Office is 10,000 s.f. and the space that is currently occupied by Adult Ed is 10,000 s.f. Adult Ed would relocate to Baxter School, Central Office would move to PATHS. Maintenance to PATHS with some addition to the building (approx. 4,000 s.f.) to accommodate to maintenance and shop requirements plus provide some needed storage space. Benefits of relocating to PATHS are that all staff will be on one floor and there would be less construction needed at the facility.

Ms. McRae indicated that $50,000 has been allocated to add additional parking at Baxter if needed. Adult Ed is scheduled to move over April break and Central Office is estimated to move by Sept. 1, 2005.

Mr. Stewart indicated that the Maintenance Dept. would be relocating before the summer months. The purchase/sale agreement indicates that the move needs to be completed by Aug. 31, 2005.

Committee member questions:

• Has a usage study been done for use of space by Adult Ed at Baxter? Superintendent O’Connor had asked Adult Ed directors to provide this information on classroom usage and found that their classrooms are used from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on a daily basis. The gymnasium will become a lounge for students as well as a space for some physical fitness programs.
• What is modular for at Baxter? Superintendent O’Connor indicated that currently Multilingual uses 6 classrooms and Adult Ed needs an additional 7 classrooms.

The modular would also serve the need for additional classroom space as well as overflow office space for Adult Ed or Central Office.

• Would there be a bid process for the work to be done at PATHS? Mr. Stewart indicated that under the emergency provision quotes can be obtained versus going out to bid.

Superintendent O’Connor indicated that this will be a permanent residence for Central Office.

• What happens now? Mr. Radtke indicated that the School Committee will need to ask the City Council for a $900,000 to be appropriated to the school department.
• Mr. Thompson indicated that there may be the need for different action by the School Committee depending on what the City Council decides to do.

Public Comment Prior to 11:00 PM

Bill McFarland addressed the Committee regarding the relocation of Central Office to PATHS.

Steven Scharf addressed the Committee regarding the relocation of Central Office to PATHS.

Adjournment

Mr. Meiklejohn moved, seconded Mr. Toothaker and voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 8:30 p.m.

Student Representatives: 2 votes with the majority

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Jo O’Connor

Superintendent of Schools