Draft: Jan. 7, 2009

Approved: January 21, 2009

School Committee meeting Jan. 7, 2009

Under Report of the Secretary

Executive Session

Consideration and action to move into Executive Session to consult with legal counsel regarding a migrant lawsuit pursuant to 1 MRSA § 405(6)(E).

At 6:34pm Ms. Thompson moved, seconded Ms. Snyder and voted 6-0 to move into Executive Session to consult with legal counsel regarding a migrant lawsuit pursuant to 1 MRSA § 405(6)(E).

Members present: Kathleen Snyder, Sarah Thompson, Peter Eglinton, Justin Costa, Jaimey Caron, Marnie Morrione, Rebecca Minnick(arrived after vote was taken), Elizabeth Holton(arrived after vote was taken), Robert O’Brien(arrived after vote was taken)

At 7:10pm Ms. Snyder moved, seconded Ms. Thompson and voted 9-0 to come out of Executive Session

Business Meeting

Mr. Eglinton called the meeting to order at 7:12pm

Members present: Kathleen Snyder, Sarah Thompson, Peter Eglinton, Justin Costa, Rebecca Minnick, Elizabeth Holton, Robert O’Brien Jaimey Caron, Marnie Morrione, John Gjika, Ness Smith-Savedoff, Simon Thompson

Report of the Chair

Mr. Eglinton:

• Recognized and thanked committee members for their work thus far.
• Mentioned work taking place with high school staff and Bruce Wellman
• Planning recognition of outstanding teachers and administrators in the near future.
• Announced a public hearing on Wed., Jan. 14^th to provide the public an opportunity to discuss the recommended reductions in the FY09 budget.

Report of Superintendent

Interim Superintendent Whynot-Vickers:

· Spoke briefly regarding delayed start option

· Provided a brief overview of the PATHS budget development process

· Introduced Shoshana Hoose who reported on the work of the Communications Office

· Introduced Tom Lafavore who spoke briefly regarding the proposal to have the delivery of the Family Living Program’s Grade 4 and 5 curriculum assigned to classroom teachers, to the extent feasible, for the remainder of the fiscal year 2009 and leaving the Family Living Coordinator’s position unfilled.

Report of the Secretary

1. Consideration and action to approve the meeting minutes from the December 1, 2008, December 3, 2008, December 9, 2008 meetings and December 17, 2008 meetings.

Ms. Holton moved, seconded Ms. Thompson and voted unanimously to approve the meeting minutes from the December 1, 2008, December 3, 2008, December 9, 2008 meetings and December 17, 2008 meetings. (Students voted with majority)

Report of Committees

1. Policy Committee/Legislative Affairs – Ms. Morrione – met on Wed., Jan. 6^th. Justin Costa will serve as the Legislative Liaison. Mr. Costa spoke about legislative representatives and their respective committees.

2. Finance Committee – Ms. Snyder – next meeting will be Wed, Jan. 14^th, 5:30 in Room 250, CBHS.
3. Personnel Committee – Ms. Thompson – reported on the superintendent’s search – second round of interviews will be held on Jan. 15^th and 16^th with three candidates. Personnel Committee met prior to evening meeting and discussed the development of a new superintendent’s evaluation process.
4. Building Committee- Ms. Thompson – next meeting will be held on Jan. 8^th, 5:30pm in City Council Chambers.
5. Facilities Task Force – Mr. Caron – next meeting will be Monday, Jan. 12^th, 6pm at Nathan Clifford.
6. Other Committees and/or member concerns –

Ms. Thompson – announced the city’s WinteRush event beginning Feb. 6 and Feb. 7. Portland Schools booster and parent groups will be food vendors during this event. Parent groups will be meting Jan 12^th, 6pm at CBHS, Room 250 to work on details for this event.

Consent Items – Ms. Whynot-Vickers reviewed donations and thanked contributors. Eric Jorgenson, Maine Humanities Council, spoke briefly regarding their donation of 607 reading books to the Title I schools.

Old Business

Consideration and action to approve the following policies:

i. IJOC – School Volunteers

Ms. Costa moved, seconded Ms. Snyder to approve policy IJOC – School Volunteers

Ms. Morrione spoke to the motion.

Ms. Thompson moved, seconded Ms. Snyder to amend the policy to read “Portland School Committee”

Vote: It was voted 8-1 to amend the policy to read “Portland School Committee”. (Students voted with majority)

Vote on main motion as amended: It was voted unanimously to approve policy IJOC – School Volunteers as amended (Students voted with majority)

ii. JKAA Time out rooms and therapeutic restraint

Ms. Snyder moved, seconded Ms. Morrione to approve policy JKAA Time out rooms and therapeutic restraint

Ms. Morrione spoke to motion.

Vote: It was voted unanimously to approve policy JKAA Time out rooms and therapeutic restraint (Students voted with majority)

iii. BIC – Board member Freedom of Access Law Training

Ms. Thompson moved, seconded Ms. Minnick to approve policy BIC – Board member Freedom of Access Law Training

Ms. Morrione spoke to motion.

Vote: It was voted to approve policy BIC – Board member Freedom of Access Law Training. (Students voted with majority)

iv. KDB – Public’s Right to Know/Freedom of Access

Ms. Snyder moved, seconded Ms. Thompson to approve policy KDB – Public’s Right to Know/Freedom of Access

Ms. Morrione spoke to motion.

Ms. Thompson moved, seconded Ms. Morrione and voted unanimously to amend the policy to remove the word “preferably” and replace with “Requests for all public records shall be made in writing…” (Students voted with majority)

Main motion as amended.

Vote: It was voted unanimously to approve policy KDB – Public’s Right to Know/Freedom of Access as amended (Students voted with majority)

New Business

1. First reading – to approve the superintendent’s recommendation to have the delivery of the Family Living Program’s Grade 4 and 5 curriculum assigned to classroom teachers, to the extent feasible, for the remainder of the fiscal year 2009. This will result in a savings of between $38,000 - $40,000 and would leave the Family Living Coordinator’s position unfilled.
2. First reading of amended Comprehensive Facilities Use and Maintenance Task Force Resolution.
3. First reading of the appointment of a member to the Comprehensive Facilities Use and Maintenance Task Force
4. First reading of PATHS, Part II budget

Personnel - None

Committee Focus on Educational Issues - None

Public Comment Prior to 11:00 PM on any items not on the evening’s agenda

Amanda Rowe spoke regarding the Family Living program.

Adjournment

Ms. Snyder moved, seconded Ms. Minnick and voted unanimously to adjourn the business meeting at 8:37pm. (Students voted with majority)

The Committee moved into a workshop session to continue the work of the Organizational Workshop held on Dec. 10, 2008:

1. Robert’s Rules discussion
2. Meeting location and date

Respectfully submitted,

Jeanne Whynot-Vickers

Interim Superintendent of Schools