Draft: September 22, 2005

Approved:Oct. 5, 2005

School Committee meeting September 21, 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, Jason Toothaker, Benjamin Meiklejohn, Otis Thompson, Sophia Njaa, James DiMillo (arrived at 8:05 p.m.)

Members not present: Michael Imbergamo, Tae Chong

Report of the Chair

Mr. Radtke:

Indicated now that Nathan Clifford School is on the state list of approved projects he will appoint a Task Force at the first business meeting in October to review the Elementary Facilities Plan. Any members of the public interested in participating can contact the superintendent’s office.
Mentioned that there would be two addendums to the evening’s agenda.
Indicated that under the Report of Committees he has removed committee reports on East End Area School and Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound.

Report of the Superintendent

Superintendent O’Connor:

Mentioned that an article in the Sept. 20, 2005 Press Herald intimated incorrectly that there would be a class taught at the high schools on Islam. This is a reporter error. A presentation of Islam Art and Culture will be taking place after school as a professional development opportunity for anyone who might be interested.
Mentioned that a School Committee member had brought forward a request through the Chairperson regarding the number of math students at Portland High School, information on math sections, and a breakdown of all content areas by class size. For the math classes at Portland High she indicated that at the moment everyone is comfortable with these numbers and they are waiting to see what happens once everyone is settled in after the start of school. For the math sections – the average is 24 at Portland High with the largest section being 28. At Deering the average section is 24 with the largest being 46, which is an Honors Calculus course with an instructor who wants a larger class. The breakdown of all content areas by class size will take some time do pull together, but she hopes to have it to the Committee as soon as possible.
Announced the resignation of Patrick Driscoll, PATHS/Electricity, 1.0
Introduced Shoshana Hoose who talked briefly to the Committee regarding the TV3 Strategic Plan. Jonathan Mikkelson, Donna Williams, David Beane and Nat Ives also addressed the Committee regarding TV3.
Introduced Barbara Dee, Director, Student Support Services, who spoke briefly to the Committee regarding new IDEA regulations and the potential impact on the school department.

The Committee discussed the various impacts this new regulation would have on the school department.

Report of Committees

Policy Committee – Mr. Spring mentioned that the Committee would be considering a second reading on the school options policy. Indicated that the Policy Committee would be holding further discussions on the weight grades policy.
Finance Committee – Ms. McRae indicated that the Finance Committee had met prior to the evening’s meeting to discuss the budget process going forward, etc. She mentioned that the joint City/School Committee Finance group met on Sept. 20^th and discussed legal services and transportation. Indicated that the next joint meeting would be on Oct. 6^th at 5 p.m. at which time they will be discussing Human Resources and Payroll.
Riverton Building Committee – Superintendent O’Connor indicated that the Committee met recently and has begun working with the architect reviewing plans from three years ago.
Other Committees and/or member concerns – Mr. Spring mentioned that he had talked with some colleagues who attended a conference recently where Michael McCarthy had presented. They were very impressed with Michael’s presentation, the student’s work, and there was a lot of focus on Maine.

Mr. Meiklejohn – indicated that he would soon begin to convene the Block Scheduling Task Force.

Consent Items - None

Report of the Secretary

Consideration and action to accept the meeting minutes of the Sept. 7, 2005 meeting.

Mr. Thompson moved, seconded Mr. Meiklejohn and voted unanimously to approve the meeting minutes of the September 7, 2005 meeting. (Student rep voted with majority)

Old Business

Consideration and action to approve the following policies:

a. JFB – Educational Options

Mr. Spring moved, seconded Mr. Toothaker to approve JFB – Educational Options

Mr. Spring briefly reviewed the Educational Options policy.

Vote on motion: It was voted unanimously to approve JFB – Educational Options (Student rep voted with majority)

New Business

First reading – Consideration and action to accept the Naming Committee’s recommendation for the new school.

Mr. Radtke indicated that the Naming Committee brought forward their selection for the name of the new school – East End Community School. This will be on the next business meeting agenda for approval.

Discussion/Debate

Mr. Spring – likes the suggested name. Two individuals names also were suggested and he asked if it might be possible to consider naming the wings of the school after these individuals.

Mr. Radtke – indicated that it would be possible to consider naming the wings of the schools and that the Naming Committee felt strongly that the school is a community center and is a building that represents the community and people served by the school thus the name of East End Community School.

Superintendent O’Connor – mentioned that the Naming Committee had also recommended the possibility of naming the wings or other areas after the two individuals.

Personnel

Consideration and action to approve the Personnel items listed below:

Administrative Positions: Effective 09/15/05

Richard Paulson Director of Finance & Operations 1.0 $81,831

MA/Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN

One Year Only: Effective 09/01/2005

Elizabeth S. Mealh Longfellow/Grade 5 0.4 $12,692

BA/Trinity College, Hartford, CT

First Year Probationary Contract: Effective 09/06/05

Matthew Fogg MMS/Music 1.0 $37,472

BMusic/UNH

Change in Degree: Effective 9/1/2005

Michelle Tucci PHS/Latin 1.0 +$3,342

MS/UNE

Leave of Absence:

Susan Hirshon KMS/ESL 0.5 Personal

Mr. Meiklejohn moved, seconded Mr. Toothaker and voted unanimously to approve Personnel items as listed. (Student rep voted with majority)

Addendum items for consideration

Consideration and action to approve the Personnel items as listed:

Administrative Positions: Effective Date: TBD

Richard P. Drummond PHS/Activities Coordinator 1.00 $58,479.00

BS/University of Maine, Presque Isle

Change in Degree: Effective 9/1/2005

Kathryn Dunham DHS/Guidance 1.00 +$2,569

CAS/USM

Ms. Alcorn moved, seconded Mr. Thompson and voted unanimously to approve the Personnel items as listed. (Student rep voted with the majority)

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

One Year Only: Effective: 09/22/2005

Anne E. Ornatek Moore/Spanish 1.00 $33,241.00

BS/University of Illinois, Urbana, IL

Effective: 09/19/2005

Indriani Demers Riverton/ESL 1.00 $31,1730

BA/USM

Ms. Alcorn moved, seconded Mr. Toothaker and voted unanimously to approve one-year only/interim position as listed. (Student rep voted with the majority)

Committee Focus on Educational Issues

Public Comment Prior to 11:00 PM

No members of the public addressed the Committee

At 8:05 p.m. Mr. Thompson moved, seconded Ms. McRae and voted unanimously to move into Executive Session to discuss negotiations with the PAA. (1 M.R.S.A. § 405(6)(D).

At 8:20 p.m. Mr. Meiklejohn moved, seconded Mr. Toothaker and voted unanimously to come out of Executive Session.

Adjournment

At 8:20 p.m. it was voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Jo O’Connor

Superintendent of Schools