Draft: February 6, 2010

Approved: February 24, 2010

Under the Report of the Secretary: February 3, 2010

Mr. Eglinton called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.

Members Present: Edward Bryan, Jaimey Caron, Justin Costa, Liz Holton, Marnie Morrione, Kate Snyder, Sarah Thompson, Jenna Vendil, Mohamed Abdirahman, Noah Lupica and Bijou Umuhoza.

Report of the Chair

Mr. Eglinton:

1. Recognized National Board of Certification of Excellence Award Recipients.

2. Reminded everyone of the tough budget times ahead and asked that

everyone work together and refrain from comparing program to program and school to school.

Report of the Superintendent

Dr. Morse:

1. Introduced the Marketing Committee who did a presentation.

2. Provided an update on Lyman Moore Middle School incidents.

a. Ms. Thompson asked process question. In powerschool putting home address and home phone number. For reverse 911 calls, asks to have parents indicated on the information forms their preference of home, work, or cell and then put this as the primary phone number.

b. Ms. Umuhoza noted that when calling a lockdown, students should not be able to use their cell phones.

c. Mr. Bryan noted that there are three schools with community centers, need to be sure that these are in the loop.

3. Will provide a brief report on the visioning process when it comes up under New Business.

4. Announced the retirement of Suzanne McClusky.

Report of the Secretary

1. Consideration and action to approve the minutes of the December 2,

December 4, and December 16, 2009, School Committee Meetings.

Ms. Thompson motioned, Mr. Costa seconded, and it was unanimously Voted to accept the minutes of the December 2, December 4, and December 16, 2009 with students voting with the majority.

Report of the Committees

1. Curriculum and Educational Planning Committee – Ms. Thompson

a. First meeting the group discussed topics for discussion and goals for the upcoming year.

b. Second meeting the group discussed policies identified from the Curriculum Task Force with Drummond, Woodsum and MacMahon.

i. Also discussed Baxter School for the Deaf and their desire to bring their students to Portland Public Schools from K-12. Further discussion with Ms. Connolly from the State will be held in a future workshop – date yet to be determined.

c. Upcoming meetings:

i. February 24^th, 5:45 pm in Room 321 – NECAP results

ii. March 10^th, 5:45pm in Room 321 – 2010-2011 School Calendar

iii. March 24^th, 5:45 pm in Room 321 – review Portland School Administrators list of important educational topics. Teachers/staff will get a chance to review/add to the list. Four topic items will be chosen for the Committee to consider.

2. Facilities and Transportation Committee – Mr. Caron

a. Group has not yet met, but is putting together calendar of meetings for the year.

3. Finance Committee – Ms. Snyder

a. Has developed a calendar for the next three months. Calendar is subject to change so it is always a draft.

b. Food Service and Transportation cost center managers presented to the Finance Committee.

c. There are three joint City/School Finance Subcommittee meetings coming up.

d. The next Finance Subcommittee Meeting is a joint meeting with City on Tuesday, February 9, 2010, at City Hall in Council Chambers at 6:30 pm.

4. Other Committee and/or Member Concerns

a. Policy Subcommittee – Mr. Costa

i. Met on January 19^th to review upcoming policy work with other subcommittees. No official action was taken.

b. Personnel Subcommittee – Ms. Thompson

i. There will be a meeting on Thursday, February 4^th at 7:00 pm in Room 321 to discuss the Student Support Services Review. The financial aspect of this report will be discussed at the Finance Subcommittee Meeting on Thursday, February 10^th. Another opportunity for the public to hear and ask questions about this report from the American Educational Consultants at the Full School Committee Meeting on February 24.

· Questions and comments can be submitted via email to Ms. Thompson through the Portland Public Schools Website. Questions and comments will be submitted to the consultants prior to the 24^th in preparation for this meeting. This list will also be posted on the website once compiled.

ii. On February 22, 2010, at 7:00 pm in Room 321 will be discussion on the proposed organizational chart. This will be voted out of subcommittee to be presented to the full School Committee.

c. Marnie Morrione reported that many people, including some School Committee members, took part in a telethon on January 21^st to raise funds for Haiti. Over $64,000 was raised at this fundraiser.

d. Appointments Committee – Ms. Holton

i. Currently working to get documentation from the City on their Appointments Committee and will work with Dr. Morse on scheduling.

e. Athletic Facilities Task Force – Ms. Holton

i. Working with John Coyne to develop a schedule of meetings.

f. Ms. Thompson reported on the upcoming WinterRush on February 13^th from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm at Deering Oaks. For more information, go to winterrush.com.

g. Ms. Thompson reported on the Rock Around The World event on March 12^th.

h. Ms. Thompson thanked the Partnership Developers for arranging readings to the students across the district on Read Across America Day on March 11^th.

i. Mr. Eglinton noted the upcoming workshop on March 3^rd will focus on School Committee priorities as well as Subcommittee tasks. Mr. Eglinton asks that the Subcommittee chairs prepare a list of priority items that will be coming up for discussion at the various subcommittee meetings.

Old Business – None

New Business

1. Consideration and Action to approve a trip to Quebec City, Canada, April 9-11, 2010, for ten Portland High School students and chaperones.

Ms. Holton moved and Mr. Costa seconded to approve a trip to Quebec City, Canada, April 9-11, 2010, for ten Portland High School students and chaperones.

Mr. Thibault, Portland High School teacher, spoke to the motion.

It was unanimously Voted to approve a trip to Quebec City, Canada, April 9-11, 2010, for ten Portland High School students and chaperones. Students voted with the majority.

2. Consideration and Action to approve a trip to the Dominican Republic with the Seeds of Independence program for five Portland High School students and two chaperones March 20-27, 2010.

Ms. Vendil moved and Ms. Morrione seconded to approve a trip to the Dominican Republic with the Seeds of Independence program for five Portland High School students and two chaperones March 20-27, 2010.

Ms. Payson, Portland High School teacher, spoke to the motion.

It was unanimously Voted to approve a trip to the Dominican Republic with the Seeds of Independence program for five Portland High School students and two chaperones March 20-27, 2010. Students voted with the majority.

3. First read of the Common High School Schedule proposal.

Dr. Morse spoke to the topic.

Mr. Eglinton noted that this topic will be at the end of the Business Meeting on

March 24^th under Committee Focus on Educational Issues and is a good time to

ask questions on the Common High School Schedule.

Mr. Eglinton also explained that the purpose of the first read is for informative

purposes in the form of a summary before it goes for a vote.

4. Consideration and Action to execute appropriate documentation to add the

Co-Curricular Directors to the PAA bargaining unit, subject to the

negotiation of the wages, hours, and working conditions for these

positions.

Mr. Costa moved and Ms. Thompson seconded to add the Co-Curricular Directors to the PAA bargaining unit, subject to the negotiation of the wages, hours, and working conditions for these positions.

Dr. Morse spoke to the motion.

Public comment: Stephen Scharf addressed the committee on this topic.

Ms. Thompson moved, Ms. Snyder Seconded, and it was unanimously Voted to postpone this agenda item until April 2, 2010.

5. Consideration and Action to accept a change to and re-offer the approved

November 18^th retirement incentive effective March 1, 2010, for Non-Represented,

BASE, and Ed Techs and June 30, 2010, for all employees, which includes Non-

Represented, BASE, Ed Techs, PAA and PEA.

Ms. Holton Moved and Ms. Morrione Seconded to accept a change to and re-offer the approved November 18^th retirement incentive effective March 1, 2010, for Non-Represented, BASE, and Ed Techs and June 30, 2010, for all employees, which includes Non-Represented, BASE, Ed Techs, PAA and PEA.

Public comment: Stephen Sharf and Gary Vines addressed the committee on this

topic.

Ms. Thompson motioned and Ms. Snyder seconded that amendments to the Retirement Incentive Program be made to reflect 1) the document be dated and 2) that under letter B) Procedures, subheading (a) where it states, “This will be paid in 4 annual installments,” that specific dates and years be stated.

With unanimous consent, the School Committee approved adding the specific dates, FY2011, FY2012, FY2013 and FY2014 to the amendment.

Mr. Costa spoke to the amendment.

Joline Hart spoke to this amendment.

With unanimous consent, The School Committee approved adding the application packet as an attachment to this bulletin.

It was unanimously Voted that an amendment be made to state, “This will be paid in four annual installments in FY 2011, FY 2012, FY 2013, and FY 2014,” as well as adding a date to the document. Students voted with the majority.

Back to the main motion as amended.

With unanimous consent, the School Committee approved removing the notation “Portland School Committee 2009” and all dates but the current date.

It was unanimously Voted to accept a change to and re-offer the approved November 18^th retirement incentive effective March 1, 2010, for Non-Represented, BASE, and Ed Techs and June 30, 2010, for all employees, which includes Non-Represented, BASE, Ed Techs, PAA and PEA as amended. Students voted with the majority.

6. Consideration and Action to accept the American Educational Consultant’s review

and refer to the Personnel Committee.

Ms. Thompson Moved and Mr. Costa Seconded to accept the American Educational Consultant’s review and refer to the Personnel Committee.

Dr. Morse spoke to the motion.

It was unanimously Voted to accept the American Educational Consultant’s review and refer to the Personnel Committee. Students voted with the majority.

7. Consideration and Action to accept the Portland Public Schools Vision as

developed by the Future Search Committee.

Ms. Thompson Moved and Ms. Holton Seconded to accept the Portland Public Schools Vision as developed by the Future Search Committee.

Dr. Morse spoke to the motion.

With mutual consent, the School Committee authorized a change to the vote adding the Mission as well as the Vision.

It was unanimously Voted to accept the Portland Public Schools Mission and Vision as developed by the Future Search Committee. Students voted with the majority.

8. Consideration and Action to adopt the Resolution Seeking fair, Equitable, and

Transparent Funding of Education in Maine and to authorize the chair to approve

non-substantive changes to the text, if necessary to address the comments of other

signatories.

Ms. Snyder Moved and Ms. Vendil Seconded to adopt the Resolution Seeking fair, Equitable, and Transparent Funding of Education in Maine and to authorize the chair to approve non-substantive changes to the text, if necessary to address the comments of other signatories.

Chair Eglinton spoke to the motion.

Ms. Thompson asked that it be relayed to various communities through memorandum or through the press how they can be involved.

Dr. Morse suggested eliminating the ‘at least 20 percent’

Public comment: Stephen Sharf, Veranda Street, spoke to this motion.

It was unanimously Voted to adopt the Resolution Seeking fair, Equitable, and Transparent Funding of Education in Maine and to authorize the chair to approve non-substantive changes to the text, if necessary to address the comments of other signatories. Students voted with the majority.

9. Consideration and Action to authorize the hiring process to begin for the

vacancies listed:

Position	FTE	Location	Annual Salary (pro-rated*)	Funding Source	Rationale
Building Custodian II (2 Positions)	.10	Presumpscot and Hall	($2,100.80*) $6,302.40	Local	This position, working Monday – Friday 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM, is critical in assisting day custodian in cleaning the cafeteria within a 15 minute time frame, for gym class. This includes breaking down 12 cafeteria tables, sweeping and spot mopping of floor and removal of trash barrels.
Building Custodian II (2 Positions)	1	PHS and PATHS	($8,403.20*) $25,209.60		These positions, working Monday – Friday 4 PM – 12:30 AM, are responsible for cleaning and maintaining designated areas of the building to provide a safe, clean, learning environment.
Ed Tech III	1	Riverton	($7,649.32*) $22,947.96	Local	The Functional Life Skills program at Riverton is a district-wide program for students with the most intensive and complex disabilities, including medically fragile students and students with multiple disabilities. This program is considered a day treatment level program and requires appropriate staffing levels to meet program requirements and the necessity of high levels of supervision throughout the day. The position is funded in the current budget, is open due to staff resignation.
Ed Tech III	1.0	EECS	($7,649.32*) $22,947.96	Local	Special Ed Ed Tech needed to work with students to fulfill the terms of their IEPS either by supporting them in class or by delivering specialized instruction

Ms. Thompson Moved and Mr. Costa Seconded to authorize the hiring process to begin for the vacancies listed.

It was unanimously Voted to authorize the hiring process to begin for the vacancies listed. Students voted with the majority.

Committee Focus on Educational Issues

1. High School Common Schedule Update

Adjournment

Sarah Thompson Moved, Kate Snyder Seconded and it was unanimously Voted to adjourn the Business Meeting at 11:30 pm.

Respectfully Submitted,

Dr. James C. Morse, Sr.,

Superintendent