Draft: September 8, 2005

Approved: Sept. 21, 2005

School Committee meeting September 7, 2005

Under Report of the Secretary

Business meeting

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

Members present: Jonathan Radtke-Chairperson, Ellen Alcorn, Stephen Spring, Teri McRae, Benjamin Meiklejohn, Tae Chong, James DiMillo, Otis Thompson, Sophia Njaa, Michael Imbergamo

Members not present: Jason Toothaker (excused – visiting family overseas)

Report of the Chair

Mr. Radtke reported that some members of the Committee spent one hour touring the new East End School prior to the evening meeting and thanked Doug Sherwood, Facilities Manager. Committee members who were unable to attend may contact Central Office to arrange a tour.

Report of the Superintendent

Superintendent O’Connor:

• Mentioned that Central Office administrators had visited schools in the last few days. In-service days were rigorous and the first two days of school have been energizing.

• Announced the following resignations:

Gary Groves PHS/Activities Director 1.00 5 yrs

Dona A. Durham District – Special Ed 1.00 12 yrs

• Introduced Harry Pringle who provided a brief overview of his research on the flyer distribution policy. He indicated that he does not feel that it is legally possible to draft a policy as requested by the School Committee. He indicated that the resolution directed both he and the superintendent to do the following - …..researching and composing a new flyer policy, if legally possible to do so, to be presented to the School Committee within 90 days which meets the following goals: 1) restricts flyering privileges to groups whose membership and hiring policies do not discriminate against members of any class protected by city and state laws; and 2) continues to allow equal and open access to all youth-oriented groups with open membership and hiring policies; and directs the School's attorney and superintendent make themselves available for a public meeting at which they will answer citizen questions about relevant laws.

Mr. Meiklejohn: asked about the possibility of requiring membership criteria to be listed on fliers going home.

Mr. Pringle indicated that everyone needs to be treated equally. This requirement would need to be applied to all groups and would require policing.

Mr. Spring: inquired about status of letters mentioned in the resolution from the School Committee. He asked members to notify the Policy Committee regarding limited public forum or letters.

Mr. Radtke: indicated that the resolution was that all School Committee members would write to various individuals/groups.

• Dana Allen, Assistant Superintendent-Secondary Education, updated the Committee on secondary school initiatives taking place in the district.

• Jeanne Whynot-Vickers, Assistant Superintendent-Elementary Education, reviewed for the Committee the work taking place at the elementary schools.

Reports of Committees

1. East End Area Building Committee – No report.
2. Policy Committee – Mr. Spring briefly addressed the two policies that will be reviewed for a first reading.
3. Finance Committee – Ms. McRae reported that the Committee met prior to the evening meeting. Next meeting will be Sept. 27^th, 4:30 p.m. at Central Office. The Budget Advisory Task Force will meet on Sept. 15^th, 3:30pm at Central Office. Also mentioned fuel costs – locked in a $1.77 in the spring. Will be discussing the cost of diesel fuel.

Mr. Meiklejohn reported on the Sept. 6^th joint City Council/School Committee Finance meeting. The group heard presentations on facilities and finances.

Mr. Radtke requested that minutes from the joint meetings be provided to the School Committee members.

4. Legislative Affairs Committee – No report.
5. ELOB High School – Mr. Chong reported that the school is up and running.
6. Other Committees/ and/or member concerns – Mr. Spring spoke briefly about the possibility of Hurricane Katrina victims being relocated to Portland. Superintendent O’Connor indicated that there is one student on Peaks Island and three at Longfellow school. She attended a meeting of the Emergency Management group earlier in the day and the group was informed that there might be as many as 900 families coming to Portland. Transportation and Food Services would be impacted should this happen.

Ms. McRae – mentioned the ELOB handbook with higher graduation requirements and the other high schools.

Report of the Secretary

1. Consideration and action to accept the meeting minutes of the August 17, 2005 meeting.

Mr. Chong moved, seconded Ms. Alcorn and voted unanimously to approve the meeting minutes as corrected of the August 17, 2005 meeting. (Students voted with majority)

Old Business

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

Mr. Chong moved, seconded Mr. Meiklejohn and voted unanimously to remove an item from the table. (Students voted with majority)

2. 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.

It was voted unanimously 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. (Students voted with majority)

3. Consideration and action to approve the expenditure of up to $3,500 of the School Committee’s contingency account to the Institute for Civic Leadership (ICL) for the purpose of initiating the strategic planning process for the Portland Public Schools.

Mr. Chong moved, seconded Ms. Alcorn to approve the expenditure of up to $3,500 of the School Committee’s contingency account to the Institute for Civic Leadership (ICL) for the purpose of initiating the strategic planning process for the Portland Public Schools.

Public Comment: Ken Farber, Kathleen Casasa, and Ted Arnold addressed the Committee regarding the strategic plan.

Superintendent O’Connor supports a strategic plan that will provide focus and clarity.

Discussion and Debate:

Ms. Alcorn – spoke to the strategic planning proposal. The first part of the work is to create an environment for collaborative work. Process requires a high level of expertise and ICL is very well qualified to do this. ICL’s work is crucial to assisting the School Committee to come to a place where the Committee can go forward.

Ms. McRae – supports concept, but would like to discuss further at the Sept. 14^th School Committee meeting. Asked if there were any other steps that would require funding. Offered two suggestions for possible facilitators.

Mr. Meiklejohn: appreciates Ms. Alcorn’s work. He is committed to a strategic plan, but feels there are still a few holes or disconnects. Prefers cost to come from conferences or staff development instead of contingency. Does not feel full buy-in by Committee. Suggested taking current goal development process and tie into strategic plan. Asked about $3,500 for first step and how would ICL determine themes?

Mr. Radtke: does not foresee additional funding by the Committee, but might be advantageous for an outside facilitator to work with the Committee. This is a rigorous process of spending time with 12 individuals listening to important themes. Advantageous to have an outside facilitator who is neutral.

Mr. Spring: concerned that this will not be entered into with consensus and forethought with an up/down vote. Asked if any other groups provided proposals to do this work.

Mr. Spring moved, seconded Mr. Meiklejohn and voted 3-6 to table until discussion can take place at the Sept. 14^th workshop. (Students voted with majority). Motion fails.

Mr. Thompson: spoke to strategic planning process and that the superintendent is an integral part of this process.

Vote on main motion: It was voted 5-3 to approve the expenditure of up to $3,500 of the School Committee’s contingency account to the Institute for Civic Leadership (ICL) for the purpose of initiating the strategic planning process for the Portland Public Schools. (Students voted with majority)

New Business

1. First reading of policies:

a. JFB – Educational Options

Mr. Spring reviewed as a first reading. He mentioned that he felt the diversity of the Study Circles process sees lost. Feels the process should represent a wider array of constituents. This policy is a lens and not definitive in any way. This is a starting place.

Ms. McRae: asked if JFB is necessary? If to be used as lens then maybe this should be a resolution not a policy.

Mr. DiMillo: concerned that information regarding Many Rivers program is not being provided to all parents. He would like more concrete, specific options in the policy. Would like to add that letters would go home to all parents outlining all program options available to students.

Superintendent O’Connor indicated that the Study Circles group was not charged to develop a policy, but to look at educational options in the district. For example, Policy JFB would address the Many Rivers program being in several schools.

Mr. Meiklejohn: would like more specificity. Two types of policies – policies that rule/regulate and policies that are used for starting points in goal setting. Asked if this is appropriate to be placed in the policy book.

Mr. Thompson: two specific types of policies – for guidance, rules, and regulations and to support work of initiatives in the district. Policy JFB would support district initiatives.

Ms. Alcorn – acknowledged the work of the School Choice Committee.

b. IKC – Class Rank

Mr. Spring reviewed for a first reading. Mr. Allen indicated that high school administrators had reviewed last year, but he will pass by them again this year for further comments/suggestions.

Mr. Meiklejohn: Asked what brought change in weighted grades.

Mr. Allen: mentioned that at the conclusion of the OCR review recommendations were made to change weighted grades.

Ms. McRae: Need to be consistent at all high schools.

2. Consideration and action to approve salaries for non-represented employees effective July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006.

Mr. Chong moved, seconded Ms. Alcorn to approve salaries for non-represented employees effective July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006.

Ms. Hart addressed the Committee regarding the motion and indicated that this had been discussed in the August 3^rd Executive Session.

Vote on motion: It was voted unanimously to approve salaries for non-represented employees effective July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006. (Students voted with majority)

Personnel

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

First Year Probationary Contract: Effective 09/01/2005

Patrick T. Driscoll PATHS/Electricity 1.00 B-6 $38,680.00

Work experience/16 years

Theresa Moran Spring Harbor/SPED 1.00 B-22 $52,430.00

BS/U of Illinois

Michael R Kennedy DHS/Special Education 1.00 B-2 $33,241.00

BS/USM

Kate Reynolds Riverton/Primary 0.50 B-1 $15,865.00

BA/St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY

Alise Trees Spring Harbor/SPED 1.00 B-7 $39,889.00

BS/UMF

Second Year Probationary Contract: Effective 09/01/2005

Abdullahi M. Ahmed PHS/Science 0.50 B-2 $16,620.50

BS/U Mining & Engineering, Peshawar, Pakistan

Change in Degree: Effective 9/1/2005

Leslie Holden PSH/Math 1.00 M-27 +$4,382

MS/UNE

Abdullahi Ahmed PHS/Science 0.50 M-2 +$1,511.00

MS/USM

Mr. Meiklejohn moved, seconded Mr. Chong and voted unanimously to approve Personnel items as listed. (Students voted with majority)

2. Consideration and action to approve one-year only/interim positions as listed:

Effective 09/07/2005

Carlos Gomez DHS/Asst. Principal 1.00 200 days $58,869.06

MS/Columbia University, NY

Effective 09/01/2005

Jessica Falk Reiche/Primary 1.00 M-2 $36,263.00

Med/Lesley University, Cambridge, MA

Caroline A Foster Moore/Social Studies 1.00 B-3 $34,752.00

BA/USM

Ellen F. Lowery PHS/Spanish 0.50 B-2 $16.620.50

BA/Columbia University, NY

Rebecca Norling Hall/ESL 1.00 B-1 $31,730.00

BA/USM

Larry Sterne DHS/English 1.00 B-2 $33,241.00

BA/U California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA

Mr. Thompson moved, seconded Mr. DiMillo and voted unanimously to approve one-year only/interim positions as listed.(Students voted with majority)

Committee Focus on Educational Issues

Mr. Spring suggested a forum to discuss the use of the word diverse.

Mr. Thompson suggested that an additional discussion regarding civility might be something to talk about during the strategic planning process.

Public Comment Prior to 11:00 PM

Jim Cyr – addressed the Committee regarding recent actions of two members.

Adjournment

Mr. Meiklejohn moved, seconded Mr. Spring and voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 8:55 p.m. (Students voted with majority)

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Jo O’Connor

Superintendent of Schools