Approved: May 17, 2006
School
Committee meeting May 3, 2006
Under
Report of the Secretary
7:00 P.M.
Business Meeting
Ms. Alcorn called the meeting to order at 7:00
p.m.
Members present: Ellen Alcorn-Chair, John Coyne,
Jon Radtke, Otis Thompson, Susan Hopkins, Stephen Spring, Benjamin Meiklejohn,
Joshua Waxman, Sarah Muzzy
Members not present: Lori Gramlich, Jason
Toothaker
Ms. Alcorn:
Superintendent O’Connor:
GRADE 5
Presumpscot school
Kevaghn
Hinckley- placed first individually
Nathan
Finberg- placed second individually
Longfellow
Jonathan Tao- placed fourth individually
GRADE 6
Lyman Moore
Ellen Jewett-
placed fifth individually
King
Middle School
Austin Kessler- placed fifth individually
GRADE 7
Lincoln Middle School
Scott
Shambaough- placed first individually
GRADE 8
King Middle School
Donald
Bennett- placed fifth individually
Lincoln Middle School-
Ming He Wang- placed fifth individually
Retirements: effective 6/30/06
Maureen Lowell Kindergarten – Riverton 1.0 20 years
Andrea Winson Grade 5 – Lyseth 1.0 29 years
John Cross Social Studies Teacher – Deering 1.0 36 years
Resignations: effective 8/31/06
Marcia Miller Gifted
& Talented Teachers .1 of
.8 position
Lincoln & Longfellow
Anita Charles English Teacher 1.0
Deering
Consideration and action to approve the meeting minutes of the April 26, 2006 meeting.
Mr. Meiklejohn moved, seconded Mr. Coyne and voted unanimously to approve the meeting minutes of the April 26, 2006 meeting. (Students voted with majority)
Superintendent O’Connor indicated that the Professional Development Committee and the Calendar Task Force (members – Jon Radtke, Ken Farber, Peter Eglinton, Kathleen Casasa, and Superintendent O’Connor). Tom Lafavore, Director of Educational Planning, to reviewed the proposed calendar with the Committee. He indicated that three early release days have been eliminated from the 06/07 calendar for a total of 5 days, which provides 31 hours 10 minutes of increased instruction time.
Questions:
Mr. Spring – task force recommendation of adding 1 to 1.25 hours of professional development. Also asked if a late start could be introduced at the high schools next year?
Mr. Radtke – adding 1 to 1.25 hours is just a recommendation passed along to the superintendent from the task force. This would be adding time to the teacher contract. Supports a late start. Complex when weekly staff development is embedded. There is a necessity for early release/late start. School Committee would need to look at financially supporting staff development to bring staff together and hire substitutes.
Mr. Coyne – asked how proposed change in start times would impact transportation.
Superintendent O’Connor – indicated that the transportation department would be able to work with the suggested new start times. Indicated that Deering High School did have a late start time 2-3 years ago and it worked. A later start time is a matter of folks adapting to this each week.
Mr. Thompson – concerned about early release days. Difficult for parents to set up childcare with these spread out throughout the year. Finds it disappointing to look at this calendar as it does not look at the demands of education. Does not support the proposed calendar.
Ms. Muzzy – asked about 10 minutes at beginning of the day versus the end.
Mr. Lafavore - shared a sample schedule of proposed starting times, which are somewhat later than what schools currently have.
Mr. Waxman – asked about prep time at the secondary level versus the elementary level.
Ms. Carrigan, Longfellow Principal, indicated that elementary teachers have planning time attached to their lunch schedules.
Ms. Alcorn – moving to vertical teaming, but does not see where there is time built in for this. Asked if district requires elementary schools to have time for vertical teaming.
Superintendent O’Connor – indicated that vertical teaming is not part of the elementary level’s day. Vertical teaming will occur during staff meetings, cluster meetings at the middle and high schools. Also through creative approaches principals will make time for vertical teaming.
New Business
1. Consideration
and action to approve the expenditure of $350 from School Committee contingency
for the Casco Bay High School Math meet.
Mr. Radtke moved, seconded Mr. Coyne to approve the expenditure of $350 from School Committee contingency for the Casco Bay High School Math meet.
Ms. Alcorn indicated that a team from the School Committee would be Stephen Spring, John Coyne, Joshua Waxman and Sarah Muzzy.
Mr. Meiklejohn – requested a review of the Student Travel and Excellence fund.
Mr. Radtke – Student Travel and Excellence fund is for students rather than funding of School Committee peers to participate in a math meet. Fund only becomes active when a request is made.
Vote: It was voted unanimously to approve the expenditure of $350 from School Committee contingency for the Casco Bay High School Math meet. (Students voted with majority)
Personnel
Leave of Absence:
Denise Preisser PE – Lincoln 1.0 full-time LOA personal
effective 5/5/06 – 8/31/06
Pamela A. Brewer Reiche -Special Ed 1.0 0.5 LOA Childrearing effective 9-1-06
Robin Stevens Reiche -ESL Teacher 1.0 0.5 LOA Childrearing effective 9/1/06
Election: effective 9/1/06
Lisa Dillon Phych Examiner 1.0 *$59,380
M.S., School Psychology – USM
M.Ed., Special Education – Temple
* pending negotiations
Mr. Thompson provided some background information. The city and school committee finance committees met earlier in the week where a comparison of the EPS formula was presented and the impact of EPS being above the formula was discussed. There is confusion across the state regarding EPS funding. Districts under EPS last year are all substantially higher this year. There is a charter provision that if the city is to cut the budget it would take 6 votes. Some considerations discussed included a possible $500,000 reduction, 0% budget. At a public hearing on Monday, May 1st at city hall, state concerned with impact that EPS is having on district budgets. Mr. Thompson indicated that in order to meet legal requirements of EPS, the School Committee would need to vote on the following considerations to support the current budget levels so the city council can incorporate into their budget. It is a legal requirement under EPS requiring the School Committee to vote on articles to present to the council for their budget process. Not reopening the budget, but meeting EPS legal requirements.
Mr. Paulson spoke briefly to the Committee regarding the EPS funding formula and districts that are now over the funding formula.
Superintendent O’Connor acknowledged all the work that Mr. Paulson has done to make the information as understandable as possible for everyone.
Ms.
Alcorn - Mentioned that Councilor Duson
has requested a minority report because of the close vote to pass the FY07
budget. Several members of the
Committee indicated that they did not feel this is appropriate, but would be willing
to talk to any councilors who might wish to contact them regarding their budget
vote.
a. Vote on Additional Local Funds Article
Mr. Radtke moved, seconded Mr. Thompson
That in accordance with the school budget previously approved by the Portland School Committee for the 2006-07 fiscal year and under and pursuant to 20-A M.R.S.A. section 15690(3), the Additional Local Funds budget article in the amount of $7,683,141, which exceeds the State’s Essential Programs and Services allocation model by $2,139,129, be and hereby is approved in form presented to this meeting and that a copy of said article be filed with the minutes of this meeting.
Mr. Thompson – this vote is to recognize that the district is above recommended EPS
level per wording in LD1.
Mr. Meiklejohn – seems like awkward legislation requiring school committee to vote.
Understands legal requirements as agents of the state, however, will be voting against
this.
Mr. Spring – logistical process requiring need for School Committee to take vote.
Vote: It was voted 6-1 That in accordance with the school budget previously approved by the Portland School Committee for the 2006-07 fiscal year and under and pursuant to 20-A M.R.S.A. section 15690(3), the Additional Local Funds budget article in the amount of $7,683,141, which exceeds the State’s Essential Programs and Services allocation model by $2,139,129, be and hereby is acknowledged in form presented to this meeting and that a copy of said article be filed with the minutes of this meeting. (Students voted with majority)
b. Vote on Other Required Budget Articles
Mr. Radtke moved, seconded Mr. Coyne
That in accordance with the school budget previously approved by the Portland School Committee for the 2006-07 fiscal year and under and pursuant to 20-A M.R.S.A. section15690(1), (2) and (4), the State/Local EPS Funding Allocation, the Non-State-Funded School Construction and Renovation Debt Service and the Total School Budget Summary articles be and hereby are approved in form presented to this meeting and that a copy of said articles be filed with the minutes of this meeting.
Vote: It was voted 6-1 That in accordance with the school budget previously approved by the Portland School Committee for the 2006-07 fiscal year and under and pursuant to 20-A M.R.S.A. section15690(1), (2) and (4), the State/Local EPS Funding Allocation, the Non-State-Funded School Construction and Renovation Debt Service and the Total School Budget Summary articles be and hereby are approved in form presented to this meeting and that a copy of said articles be filed with the minutes of this meeting. (Students voted with majority)
Consideration and action to move into Executive Session to discuss negotiations with the Portland Education Association (PEA) pursuant to 1 MRSA §405(6)D.
At 8:39 p.m. Mr. Meiklejohn moved, seconded Ms. Hopkins and voted unanimously to move into Executive Session to discuss negotiations with the Portland Education Association (PEA) pursuant to 1 MRSA §405(6)D.
At 9:37 p.m. Mr. Radtke moved, seconded Mr. Coyne and voted unanimously to come out of Executive Session
At 9:38 p.m. Mr. Radtke moved, seconded Ms. Hopkins and voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Jo O’Connor
Superintendent of Schools