Draft: November 3, 2005

Approved: Nov. 9, 2005

School Committee meeting November 2, 2005

Under Report of the Secretary

Business meeting

Mr. Radtke called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

Members present: Jonathan Radtke-Chairperson, Ellen Alcorn, Teri McRae, Jason Toothaker, Benjamin Meiklejohn, Otis Thompson, Tae Chong, Stephen Spring (arrived at 7:05 p.m.) James DiMillo, Michael Imbergamo, Sophia Njaa

Report of the Chair

Mr. Radtke indicated that notification had been received from the Dept. of Education indicating that no action will be taken regarding the flyer issue.

Report of the Superintendent

Superintendent O’Connor announced:

• Resignation:

Effective 11/17/05: Nancy Smith-Jewell Psychologist 6 yrs

• Presumpscot Math Team placed third in a recent Math Meet.

Report of Committees

1. Policy Committee – Ms. Alcorn indicated that several policies were on the agenda for consideration by the Committee.
2. Finance Committee – No report.
3. Legislative Affairs – Mr. DiMillo indicating that a resolution would be on the next meeting agenda regarding the SAT for grade 11 students.
4. Riverton Building Committee – No report.
5. Other Committees and/or member concerns:

Elementary Facilities Task Force – Mr. Toothaker indicated that the EFTF had met prior to the evening’s meeting. The next meeting will be on Nov. 16^th, 4 p.m. in Room 250, PATHS.

Ms. McRae – inquired about the need for a possible modular at Presumpscot. She would also like to have the Math Coordinator do a workshop for the School Committee in the near future.

Superintendent O’Connor indicated that there would be no need for an additional modular.

Consent Items

Superintendent O’Connor reviewed donation and thanked the contributor.

Report of the Secretary

1. Consideration and action to approve the meeting minutes of the Oct. 19, 2005 and Oct. 26, 2005 meeting.

Mr. Chong moved, seconded Mr. DiMillo and voted unanimously to approve the meeting minutes of the Oct. 19, 2005 and Oct. 26, 2005 meetings. (Students voted with majority)

Old Business

1. Consideration and action to approve the following policies

1. ILD – Student Surveys and Marketing Information.

Mr. Chong moved, seconded Ms. Alcorn and voted unanimously to approve ILD – Student Surveys and Marketing Information. (Students voted with majority)

2. IKAB – Student Progress Reports to Parents

Mr. Toothaker moved, seconded Mr. Chong and voted unanimously to approve IKAB – Student Progress Reports to Parents. (Students voted with majority)

3. JICI - Weapons, Violence and School Safety

Mr. Chong moved, seconded Ms. Alcorn and voted unanimously to approve JICI - Weapons, Violence and School Safety. (Students voted with majority)

Addendum

1. Consideration and action to approve policy IKC – Class Rankings

Mr. Chong moved, seconded Mr. Spring to approve policy IKC – Class Rankings

Mr. Spring spoke to the motion and recommended tabling until May 2006.

Ms. Alcorn moved, seconded Mr. Chong and voted unanimously to table the item.

(Students voted with majority)

2. Consideration and action to accept the Finance Committee’s budget process proposal.

Mr. Toothaker moved, seconded Mr. DiMillo to accept the Finance Committee’s budget process proposal.

Public Comment:

Steven Scharf spoke to the Committee regarding this proposal.

Board Discussion/Debate:

Mr. Thompson – does not support proposal

Ms. Alcorn – does not support motion. EPS funding formula already available which indicates that PPS is somewhat below what is recommended.

Mr. Meiklejohn – supports proposal.

Mr. Spring – supports proposal.

Mr. Radtke – supports proposal. Not a guideline, not a cap. It is a piece of information, which provides clarity.

Vote on motion: It was voted 7-2 to accept the Finance Committee’s budget process proposal. (Michael Imbergamo - in favor; Sophia Njaa –opposed)

New Business

1. First reading of policy:

a. KLMA – Equitable Recruitment Access

Mr. Spring briefly reviewed. Indicated that recruiters visit schools many times during the year.

Committee questions:

• Why is 7 used for total number of visits and why is a number required?
• Why limit number of times any recruiters have access to students?
• Why is policy necessary?
• Is there any year-to-year information about number of recruiters at Deering and Portland?

Superintendent O’Connor:

• Career Day is held at high schools each year.
• Military Opt-out information: Deering – 638 juniors/seniors, 330 opted out (52%)

Portland High – 1,111 total students, 721 opted out (65%)

2. Consideration and action to approve a Resolution regarding Question 1 on the November 8, 2005 ballot.

Mr. Toothaker moved, seconded Mr. Chong to approve a Resolution regarding Question 1 on the November 8, 2005 ballot.

Public Comment:

Steven Scharf addressed the Committee regarding this resolution. Even though he is in favor of this he feels it is inappropriate for the Committee to be making this resolution.

Ken Kunin addressed the Committee regarding the resolution.

RESOLUTION

Whereas, the United States of America was founded upon the principle that, “all men are created equal”, AND,

Whereas, the legislature of the State of Maine passed and the Governor of the state signed into law and act prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, AND

Whereas, the City of Portland has a long standing Civil Rights ordinance, prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientations, AND

Whereas, the Portland Public Schools believes in and acts upon its belief in the equality of all,

THEREFORE be it resolved that the Portland School Committee opposes repealing the recently enacted state civil rights law as fundamentally opposed to our beliefs in the equality of all before the law.

Vote on motion: It was voted 8-0-1 to approve a Resolution regarding Question 1 on the November 8, 2005 ballot. (Students voted with majority)

Personnel - None

Committee Focus on Educational Issues

Ms. McRae – inquired if the Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound High School lottery process would be coming before the School Committee. Also requested an exit interview with the student representatives before they leave the Committee.

Public Comment Prior to 11:00 PM

Steven Scharf spoke to the Committee regarding the Central Office move and requested a report in the near future.

Adjournment

Mr. Chong moved, seconded Mr. Meiklejohn and voted unanimously to adjourn the business meeting at 7:55 p.m.

8:00 p.m. Executive Session

Consideration and action to go into Executive Session to discuss the superintendent’s 2005-06 goals and contract 1 MRSA § 405(6)(A).

At 8 p.m. it was moved, seconded and voted unanimously to go into Executive Session to discuss the superintendent’s 2005-06 goals and contract 1 MRSA § 405 (6)(A).

At 9:23 p.m. Mr. Meiklejohn moved, seconded Mr. Chong and voted unanimously to come out of Executive Session.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Jo O’Connor

Superintendent of Schools