Approved: Jan.4,2006
School Committee meeting December 7, 2005
Ms. Alcorn called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.
Members Present: Ellen Alcorn-Chairperson, John Coyne, Jason Toothaker, Lori Gramlich, Stephen Spring, Benjamin Meiklejohn, Jonathan Radtke, Susan Hopkins, Otis Thompson, Joshua Waxman, Sarah Muzzy.
Report of the Chair
· Announced a meeting on Dec. 19th, 3:30 p.m., Room 209 at City Hall to discuss next steps pertaining to the Clifford School project.
Superintendent O’Connor:
The CATV Committee will meet the week of December 12th to discuss ongoing negotiations with Time Warner Cable.
Mentioned that he had a brief discussion with Commissioner Gendron at a function he recently attended and that she had expressed her appreciation of Portland’s public support of SAT’s.
Superintendent O’Connor reviewed the contribution and thanked the contributor.
Mr. Toothaker moved, seconded Mr. Spring and voted unanimously to approve the meeting minutes of the November 9, 2005 and November 30, 2005 meetings. (Students voted with majority)
1.
Consideration and action to approve KLMA – Equitable
Recruitment Access
Mr. Radtke moved, seconded Mr. Toothaker to approve KLMA – Equitable Recruitment Access
Mr. Spring spoke to the motion.
Clarifying questions:
Mr. Radtke – does 7 times per academic year mean that each branch of the military, each college/university would have access 7 times? Mr. Spring indicated yes.
Estelle L’Heureux, Jack Bussell, Dory Waxman, Bill Slavic, Steven Scharf addressed the School Committee regarding this item.
Mr. Waxman, Student Representative, supports limiting, but suggested looking into amending to separate military from colleges/universities. Feels setting a specific number shows lack of trust in building administration and mentioned that recruiters visited Portland High School 19 times during 2004-05. He also asked what the designated area would be. Mr. Spring indicated that school staff would determine the designated area.
Mr. Thompson moved, seconded Mr. Radtke to amend the motion with the deletion of bulleted item No one organization may visit a high school more than 7 times per academic year. The Principal may adjust the number of visits based on special circumstances.
Mr. Thompson spoke to the amendment.
Ms. Muzzy, Student Representative, indicated that principals should be determining the number of visits by recruiters.
Mr. Radtke – spoke to issue of setting a specific limit on number of visits
Mr. Meiklejohn, Mr. Spring, Mr. Toothaker, Ms. Alcorn – do not support amendment.
Vote on amendment: It was voted 3-6 to amend the motion with the deletion of bulleted item No one organization may visit a high school more than 7 times per academic year. The Principal may adjust the number of visits based on special circumstances. (Students voted with minority) Motion fails.
Vote on main motion: It was voted 6-3 to approve KLMA – Equitable Recruitment Access. (Students voted with majority)
Mr. Radtke moved, seconded Mr. Toothaker to approve the contract with the Portland Rotary to finance the PATHS house project in an amount up to $40,000.
Nelson Small, Carpentry Instructor, students – Zac Creamer, South Portland and Mike Darling, Greely, and Paul Gore, Rotary President, spoke to the Committee regarding the collaboration of the Rotary with the carpentry program and the house project.
Vote on motion: It was voted unanimously to approve the contract with the Portland Rotary to finance the PATHS house project in an amount up to $40,000. (Students voted with majority)
Personnel
1. Consideration and action to approve personnel items listed below:
Leave of Absence:
Maureen Fox ESL Teacher Deering .5 Effective 1/3/06 – 6/16/06
To further education
Pam Brewer K-2 Special Ed Reiche 1.0 Effective 10/27/05 – 8/31/06
Childrearing
Mr. Meiklejohn moved, seconded Mr. Toothaker and voted unanimously to approve personnel items as listed. (Students voted with majority)
Mr. Spring introduced an initiative to form a Class of 2023 Task Force, which would look at raising college consciousness of kindergartners starting school in 2006 would graduate from an institution of higher learning in 2023. He indicated that a motion would be on the next meeting agenda to form this task force. Mr. Toothaker shared bumper stickers to accompany the proposed initiative. Mr. Meiklejohn and Ms. Hopkins spoke to the proposed initiative.
Mr. Thompson – has concerns regarding the proposed initiative.
Mr. Waxman – good concept, but questions realism of goal.
Martha Shiels read a letter from the Clifford PTO.
Jane Wellehan addressed the Committee regarding their actions at the November 30, 2005 meeting.
Estelle L’Heureux spoke regarding the proposed initiative of all children going to college.
Ms. Alcorn asked for a motion to adjourn the business meeting.
Mr. Meiklejohn questions parliamentary procedure to adjourn the business meeting versus moving directly into Executive Session.
It was moved, seconded to go into Executive Session.
Mr. Scharf spoke to the Committee regarding setting superintendent’s salary by law in public session not executive session.
It was moved, seconded and voted 5-4 to go into Executive Session to discuss the superintendent’s salary pursuant to 1 MRSA § 405(6)(A).
Mr. Radtke moved, seconded Mr. Thompson to reconsider the previous motion.
At 9:05 Ms. Alcorn called a five-minute recess.
Ms. Alcorn called the meeting was called back to order at 9:10 p.m. She indicated that Roberts Rules indicate a simple majority to go into Executive Session.
Mr. Spring – policy BDEF indicates 3/5 vote to go into Executive Session. Sees no reason not to set salary in public, need to move forward.
Mr. Meiklejohn – spoke to context of executive sessions. Executive Sessions are necessary only if public damage to reputation or right to privacy would be violated.
Mr. Radkte – still in negotiations since a contract has not been finalized. Any actions by the Board are taken in public session.
Mr. Thompson – legal, ethical and procedural items need to be considered.
Mr. Waxman – violating right to privacy of superintendent and is completely out of line.
Mr. Radtke asked about designating the assistant superintendent as secretary pro tem in the superintendent’s absence.
It was moved, seconded and voted unanimously to appoint the assistant superintendent as secretary pro tem for the remainder of the meeting. (Students voted with majority)
Mr. Thompson moved, seconded Ms. Gramlich and voted 7-2 to adjourn the business meeting at 9:30 p.m. (Students voted with majority)
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Jo O’Connor
Superintendent of Schools