Draft:  August 18, 2005
Approved:Sept. 7, 2005                                                                           

School Committee meeting August 17, 2005
Under Report of the Secretary

 

Business meeting

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

 

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

 

Members not present:   Sophia Njaa, Michael Imbergamo

 

Report of the Chair

Mr. Radtke:

 

Report of the Superintendent

Superintendent O’Connor:

  1. Resignations:            Effective 08/26,/2005

Randall T. Stewart    Director of Finance & Operations 1.0  12.5 Years 

  1. Resignations:            Effective 08/31/2005

Leonard H. Holmes            DHS/Assistant Principal            1.0 4 Years

Tara Piasecki                       LYS/Special Education            1.0  2 Years

            Betsy Parsons                        DHS/English                            1.0    22 Years            From LOA

            Tara Hildreth                        Riverton/Special Education            0.50  1 Year

Lois Sturtevant Blake   MMS/Music                                1.0            18 years

Robin Ivy Payton            District/Gifted                                 0.1 of  0.8                  

 

Report of Committees

1.      East End Area School Building Committee – Mr. Radtke indicated that a tour of the new school is being arranged for school committee members for Wed., Sept. 7th at 5 p.m.

  1. Policy Committee – Mr. Spring indicated that the Policy Committee met prior to the evening’s meeting.  Two policies will be brought forward for a first reading at the Sept. 7th meeting.  Opt-out option will be on contact information forms going home with secondary students this fall.
  2. Finance Committee – Ms. McRae indicated that a meeting was held with the City Finance Committee to begin discussions regarding consolidation.  The next meeting with the City will be on Tues., Sept. 6th, 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.  The next School Finance Committee meeting will be Sept. 7th, 5:30 at PATHS.  The Budget Advisory Task Force will begin meeting in the near future and will look at the budget process.
  3. Legislative Affairs Committee – No report
  4. Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound High School -  Derek Pierce updated the Committee on the various activities taking place in preparation for the opening of school.
  5. Other Committees and/or member concerns  - None

 

Consent Items  - None

 

Report of the Secretary

  1. Consideration and action to accept the meeting minutes of the August 3, 2005 meeting.

 

Mr. Chong moved, seconded  Mr. Meiklejohn and voted  unanimously to approve the meeting minutes of  the August 3, 2005 meeting.

 

Old Business  

  1. Consideration and action to remove an agenda item from the table.

 

Mr. Spring moved, seconded  Ms. Alcorn to remove an agenda item from the table.

 

  1. Consideration and action to authorize the superintendent to enter into an agreement with the State Department of Education and with Spring Harbor Hospital to have Portland Public Schools provide education instruction for up to twelve students at Spring Harbor between March 9, 2005 and June 30, 2005 and July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006.

 

Superintendent O’Connor, Barbara Dee, and Harry Pringle reviewed the MOU.

 

Clarifying questions:

Ms. McRae – asked about the 120-day clause and funding costs. 

Mr. Pringle indicated that is was included to protect the school department. 

Ms. Dee indicated that the students in this program are state agency clients and the state will pay costs.  Money is being sent by the state to PPS before the program begins. 

Mr. Stewart indicated that two checks have already been received from the state for this program.

 

Mr. Thompson – asked about students who might be expelled from Portland Public Schools.  Is there a possibility that they might become a student in the program at Spring Harbor? 

Ms. Dee addressed this question and indicated that she did not see a problem if this happened.

 

Vote:  It was voted  unanimously to authorize the superintendent to enter into an agreement with the State Department of Education and with Spring Harbor Hospital to have Portland Public Schools provide education instruction for up to twelve students at Spring Harbor between March 9, 2005 and June 30, 2005 and July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006.

 

New Business

  1. Consideration and action to authorize the superintendent to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding between the Peoples Regional Opportunity Program (PROP) and the Portland Public Schools, with the intent of establishing a Head Start/public Pre-K collaborative partnership for the program year of September 2005 through June 2006, for a total of 44 weeks.

 

Mr. Chong moved, seconded  Mr. Meiklejohn to authorize the superintendent to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding between the Peoples Regional Opportunity Program (PROP) and the Portland Public Schools, with the intent of establishing a Head Start/public Pre-K collaborative partnership for the program year of September 2005 through June 2006, for a total of 44 weeks.

 

Ms. Whynot-Vickers, Margie MacDonald, Judy Wright-Parker, and Grace Valenzuela addressed the committee regarding this program.

 

Clarifying questions:

Mr. Thompson – asked what the potential of the program might be.  

Ms. Wright-Parker indicated that there is a lot of support for a collaboration such as this.

 

Ms. McRae – asked with the DOE’s involvement is and have they committed to funding?  Why is the MOU with PPS and not Multilingual?  

Margie MacDonald - indicated that Multilingual is a part of PPS and therefore the MOU needs to be with PPS.  DOE involved with 4-year-old subsidy, students will be counted in total enrollment.  Application will be submitted shortly to the DOE.  

Mr. Pringle indicated that the risk is on PROP for funding. 

Ms. Whynot-Vickers – PROP will be paying the extra 1.5 hours/day for transportation.  PROP will be absorbing the total cost of the program.  If subsidy is received then PPS will be giving some of the funds to PROP.

 

Ms. Alcorn – asked if there are any other districts that have done something similar?

      Ms. Wright-Parker – this type of program has been done in the more rural areas of the state.

 

Public Comment:  Steven Scharf addressed the Committee regarding this program.

 

Board debate/discussion:

Mr. Spring – appreciates look at the whole child.

 

Ms. Alcorn – exciting collaboration

 

Ms. McRae – not current MOU.

 

Ms. McRae moved, seconded  Mr. DiMillo  and voted  unanimously to table the motion.

 

2.  Consideration and action to approve a contract agreement between the School Committee and the Benefit Association of School Employees (B.A.S.E.) effective July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2007.

 

Mr. Chong moved, seconded Mr. Thompson to approve a contract agreement between the School Committee and the Benefit Association of School Employees (B.A.S.E.) effective July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2007.

 

Joline Hart and Al Higgins, B.A.S.E president, addressed the Committee regarding negotiations process and ratification of the contract.

 

Mr. Meiklejohn – asked how long the contract had been made available to the public.

            Ms. Hart indicated that it was available as of Tuesday.

 

Mr. Meiklejohn moved  to table the item.  Motion failed for lack of a second.

 

Vote on motion:  It was voted  7-0-2 to approve a contract agreement between the School Committee and the Benefit Association of School Employees (B.A.S.E.) effective July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2007.

 

3.   Consideration and action to locally fund 1.2 ELOB teaching positions.

 

Mr. Chong moved, seconded  Mr. Thompson to locally fund 1.2 ELOB teaching positions.

 

Superintendent O’Connor spoke to the motion indicating that she wanted to inform the School Committee that these positions would need to be funded locally. Commissioner Gendron has indicated that she will provide $50,000.  Superintendent O’Connor is continuing to aggressively seek alternative/private funding as well as looking at vacancies within the district. She also mentioned that possibly turnover savings would be used to cover costs if the alternative funding sources do not come through.

 

Much discussion ensued regarding this item.

Clarifying questions:

Mr. Spring – asked what positions were in the original budget and also about total budget costs.

            Mr. Stewart indicated that salary in the local budget - $157,000.

 

Ms. Alcorn – what would happen if this did not pass.  Superintendent O’Connor indicated that the school could not run with four teachers.

 

Ms. McRae – asked what approximate numbers were for staff at Portland and Deering. Why penalize ELOB for 1 extra position?

            Ms. Hart indicated approximate 150 at each high school.

 

Public Comment:  Steven Scharf addressed the Committee on the ELOB positions.

 

Board Discussion:

Mr. Spring – spoke about doing schools differently.  Does not support ELOB positions.

 

Mr. Thompson – supports and spoke to the motion.

 

Mr. Chong – supports motion.

 

Mr. DiMillo – Committee is unable to add money to a budget approved by the city.  Asked if students could take foreign language at Deering or Portland.

 

Mr. Meiklejohn – supports and spoke to motion.

 

Ms. McRae – spoke to reallocation of positions.  Asked if a foreign language teacher from a school could be shared with ELOB.

 

Ms. Alcorn – supports motion.

 

Mr. Toothaker – does not support motion and would prefer reallocating of resources.

 

Mr. Radtke – supports motion.

 

Vote on motion:  It was voted  6-3 to locally fund 1.2 ELOB teaching positions.

 

            Personnel

  1. Consideration and action to approve the Personnel items listed below:

 

First Year Probationary Contract:            Effective 09/01/2005

Leslie Appelbaum            ELOB H.S./Teaching Strategist            B-13            0.5            $23,571         

   MA/U of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa

                       

Peter Blackstone            Hall/Many Rivers 3-4-5                      M-15            1.0            $52,732

   MS/USM, Gorham, ME

 

Donald Bouchard            Multilingual/Resource Specialist            MI-10            1.0            $48,350

  MA, MS/USM, Gorham, ME

 

Paul Brassard               West/Special Education                     B-1            1.0            $31,730

   BS/Boston University, Boston, MA

 

David Burke                 ELOB/Math                                        M-19            1.0            $55,905

    MEd./University of Vermont, Burlington, VT

 

Alexandria Carter            ELOB/Social Studies                           B-13            1.0            $47,142

   BA/Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY

 

Joseph A. Foley            Lincoln/Special Education                     B-1            1.0            $31,730

  BA/UMF, Farmington, ME

 

Tracey Friend-Moore            Deering/Guidance Counselor                     M-15            1.0            $52,732

   MS/USM, Gorham, ME

 

Valerie Green               PATHS/Computer                              MI-4            1.0            $40,796

   MS/Brown University,  Providence, RI

 

Alice Gruber                 District/Psych Examiner                        MI-16            0.5            $27,650.50

  MS/Boston College and UNE

 

Peter Hill                      King/Science                                       B-4            1.0            $36,263

   BA/Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME

 

Clara Jean Howard            MMS/ESL                                         M-16            1.0*            $53,790

  MS/USM, Gorham, ME      * 0.5 of 1.0 One Year Only

 

Jessica McLaughlin            PHS/Guidance Counselor                     M-2            0.5            $18.131.50

   MA/Salem State College, Salem, MA

 

Elizabeth Moran            King/ELL                                            M-4            1.0            $39,285

   MEd/Boston University, Boston, MA

 

Deborah Mullis            Lincoln/Learning Strategist                      B-5            1.0            $37,472

    BS/UMF, Farmington, ME

 

Kelley Niles                  Longfellow/Primary Multiage            M-10            1.0            $46,839

    MA/USM, Gorham, ME

 

Dana Pratt                    ELOB /Spanish                                   M-3            0.5            $18,887

   MA/Brown University, Providence, RI

 

Jillian Roland                Hall/Many Rivers 3-4-5                      B-1            0.5            $15,865

   BA/University of New Brunswick, Canada

 

Jennifer Shay                DHS/Spanish                                       M-11            1.0            $48,048

  MA/Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT

 

Sarah Szanton              Hall/Speech                                         M-4            0.5            $19,642.50

   MS/Boston University, Boston, MA

 

Francis Troyan            ELOB High School/French              M-5            0.5            $20,398

   MA/University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

 

Emily Tuttle                  King/Reading ELL                               B-9            0.5            $21,153.50

    BS/University of Missouri, Columbia, MO

 

Emily Zack                   King/French/Spanish                            B-3            1.0            $34,752

    BA/USM, Portland, ME

 

Second Year Probationary Contract:            Effective 09/01/2005

Lorraine Bobinsky            Reiche/Grade 2                                    M-25            1.0            $56,812

  MA/U Northern Colorado

 

Jayne Boulos                District/Psych Examiner                        M-5            0.5            $20,398

  MS/USM

 

Elaine Colella                King/Language Arts                            M-9            1.0            $45,631

   MA/University of New Mexico

 

Kathleen Costello            Deering/English                         B-2            1.0            $33,241

   BA/Rutgers University, Camden, NJ

 

Lynn Provencher            Reiche/Intermediate                             M-4            1.0            $39,285

   BA/UNH

 

Katherine Truesdale            Moore/Special Education                     M-6            1.0            $42,004

  MA/UVM, Burlington, VT

 

Change in Degree:            Effective 9/1/2005

Amy Wu                                  Reiche/Kindergarten                MS/USM             +$3,324

John Fabish                              Moore/Math                            MS/USM            +$2,568

 

Leave of Absence:            Effective 9/1/2005

Susan Steinkeler                     LMS/Foreign Language            From 0.25 to 0.50 of 1.00            Personal

 

Mr. Spring moved, seconded Mr. Toothaker and voted  unanimously to approve Personnel items as listed.

 

  1. Consideration and action to approve one-year only/interim positions as listed:
Effective 9/1/05

Barbara Ardito            Longfellow/Primary Multiage  B-11             1.0            $44,724

   BS/USM, Portland, ME

 

Stephen Atwood            DHS/English                            B-1                  1.0            $31,730

  BA/Tulane University, LA

 

Bianca Barbieri            West/Elementary                      B-1                  1.0            $31,730

   BS/Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY

 

Elizabeth Beal               PHS/Social Studies                 B-1                  1.0            $31,730

   BA/University of NH, Durham, NH

 

Abigail Carter               PATHS/Early Childhood            M-3                 0.5            $18,887

   MA/University of Maine, Portland, ME

 

Jo-ann Galli                  Lincoln/ESL                             B-13                1.0            $47,142

  BA/USM, Gorham, ME

 

Kristina Hewey            Reiche/Kindergarten                B-2                  1.0            $33,241

  BA/Wesleyan, CT

 

Theodore Hummell            Reiche/Special Ed                    M-1                 1.0            $34,752

   MS/USM, Portland, ME

 

Nicole Plourde            District/OT                               B-4                  1.0            $36,263

    BS/Quinnipiac University, Hamden, CT

 

Aaron Rog                   Moore/Computer                     M-11               1.0            $48,048

   MS/Lesley University, Cambridge, MA

 

Andrew Roy                  Lincoln/Spanish                        B-1                  1.0            $31,730

   BA/St. Michaels College, Colchester, VT

 

Karen Spino                 Presumpscot/Kindergarten      B-5                  0.5            $18,736

  BS/UMF

 

Susan Young                DHS/English                            MI-16              1.0            $55,301

   MA/University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN

   MTS/Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX

 

Katrina Zalenski            Moore/Spanish                        B-2                  1.0            $33,241

   BA/USM, Portland, ME

 

*Pending negotiations

 

Mr. Chong moved, seconded Mr. Meiklejohn and voted  unanimously to approve one-year only/interim positions as listed.

 

ADDENDUM

 

  1.   Consideration and action to approve the Personnel items as listed:

 

First Year Probationary Contract:            Effective 09/01/2005

 

Lisa M. Hatch                          King/Language Arts                            B-15                1.0                   $49,408

   BS/St. Joseph’s College, Standish, ME

 

Nancy M. Jones                Riverton/Learning Strategist                      M-19               1.0                   $55,905

   MS/UNH

 

Second Year Probationary Contract:            Effective 09/01/2005

 

Sarah Gavitt                             MMS/Math                                        B-2                  1.0                   $33,241

 

Mr. Toothaker moved, seconded  Mr. DiMillo and voted  unanimously to approve the Personnel items as listed.

 

  1. Consideration and action to approve one-year only/interim position as listed:

 

One Year Only Positions:  Effective 09/01/2005

 

Nathan Ghiglieri                        Moore/Math                                        B-1                  1.0                   $33,241

   BA/USM

 

Mr. Toothaker moved, seconded  Ms. Alcorn and voted  unanimously to approve one-year only/interim position as listed.

 

Committee Focus on Educational Issues

 

Public Comment Prior to 11:00 PM

No members of the public addressed the Committee.

 

Adjournment

Mr. Toothaker moved, seconded  Mr. DiMillo and voted  unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 9:05 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Mary Jo O’Connor, Superintendent of Schools