Draft: March 19, 2008

Approved:April 2, 2008

School Committee meeting March 19, 2008

Under Report of the Secretary

Business Meeting

Mr. Coyne called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.

Members present: Robert O’Brien, John Coyne, Jaimey Caron, Susan Hopkins, Sarah Thompson, Lori Gramlich, Jules Szanton, Joshua Tingley, Rebecca Minnick, Joel Daley, Peter Eglinton

Members not present: Kate Snyder, Sarah Thompson

Report of the Chair – Mr. Coyne:

Asked that all cell phones and hand held devices be turned off during the broadcast.
Indicated that Councilor Skolnik would like to begin discussions with the School Committee regarding plans for West School.
Requested that subcommittees get meeting dates/agendas to Sue Ward for packets and web site.
Congratulated the CBHS and PATHS Robotics team who won first place in the New England robotics Tournament held in Palmer, MA on March 1^st.
Congratulated the Portland High School math team who won first place for large schools in the Pi-cone South Math League. The team will compete in the State Math meet to be held at the Cumberland County Civic Center on April 15^th and at the New England Math Meet on May 2^nd.

Report of the Superintendent – Interim Superintendent Whynot-Vickers:

Congratulated Will Nelligan, Junior at CBHS, who won the state speech championship will represent Maine in April at the American Legion’s National Oratorical competition in Indianapolis.
Announced the NEASC accreditation process, which will be taking place at Deering High School March 30^th to April 2^nd.

Report of the Secretary

Consideration and action to approve the meeting minutes of March 5, 2008 and March 12, 2008 meetings.

Mr. Caron moved, seconded Mr. Eglinton and voted unanimously to approve the minutes of March 5, 2008 and March 12, 2008 meetings.(Students voted with majority)

Report of Committees

1. Policy Committee/Legislative Affairs – Mr. O’Brien indicated that the next meeting would be held sometime in April.

Finance Committee – Mr. Eglinton – mentioned that a joint meeting with city finance committee was held recently. Indicated that central office is putting together requested information as a result of that meeting. Reviewed upcoming budget meeting dates.
Personnel Committee – Ms. Gramlich – Committee met prior to the evening’s meeting. Discussed superintendent’s search and prior search with former chair of that search committee.
Portland Education Partnership – Ms. Hopkins – shared information on the work of the Partnership and the Partnership Developers.
Building Committee - Mr. Caron – Committee met last Thursday to discuss the budget for the project as well as air conditioning in FLS classrooms, site layout, i.e. play areas, parking, etc., and established subcommittee assignments. LEED certification funds have been provided by Alfred Padula in the amount of $20,000.
Other Committees and/or member concerns – None.

Consent Items - Interim Superintendent Whynot-Vickers announced the donations and thanked the contributors.

Old Business

1. Consideration and action to remove an item from the table.

Mr. Eglinton moved, seconded Mr. O’Brien and voted unanimously to remove an item from the table. (Students voted with majority)

Consideration and action to accept the Sustainable Educational Quality Proposal.

Mr. Eglinton moved, seconded Mr. Caron to accept the Sustainable Educational Quality Proposal

Mr. Eglinton spoke to the motion.

Mr. O’Brien – asked about the word “inhibit” in last line wondering if it should be “encourage”. Ms. Hopkins – spoke about the words “inhibit” versus “encourage”.

Mr. Eglinton moved, seconded Mr. O’Brien to amend item 4-D to read” Private fundraising opportunities, including expanded grant-writing, Volunteer Portland, Portland Educational Partnership, and any policies that encourage donations.”

Vote on amendment: It was voted 1-6 to amend item 4-D to read” Private fundraising opportunities, including expanded grant-writing, Volunteer Portland, Portland Educational Partnership, and any policies that encourage donations.” (Students voted with majority) Motion fails.

Vote on main motion: It was voted unanimously to accept the Sustainable Educational Quality Proposal. (Students voted with majority)

New Business

1. First reading of FY09 School Committee budget

Mr. Eglinton – spoke briefly about the FY09 budget review process and reviewed information concerning increases and unmet needs. Acknowledged and thanked the interim superintendent, central office staff, and city personnel for their work on the budget.

2. Consideration and action to authorize the hiring process to begin for the vacancies listed:

Position

FTE

Location

Annual Salary (pro-rated)

Funding Source

Rationale

Fresh Start Teacher	Summer	District	$4,000.00	Local	Fresh Start is an enrichment program for students identified as potentially having difficulty transitioning from Middle School to High School. Program components include literacy, math, life skills, recreation, celebration and program evaluation. This summer will be the second year running.
Fresh Start Teacher	Summer	District	$4,000.00	Local	Fresh Start is an enrichment program for students identified as potentially having difficulty transitioning from Middle School to High School. Program components include literacy, math, life skills, recreation, celebration and program evaluation. This summer will be the second year running.
Fresh Start Social Worker	Summer	District	$4,000.00	Local	Fresh Start is an enrichment program for students identified as potentially having difficulty transitioning from Middle School to High School. Program components include literacy, math, life skills, recreation, celebration and program evaluation. This summer will be the second year running.
Fresh Start Ed. Tech.	Summer	District	$2,550.00	Local	Fresh Start is an enrichment program for students identified as potentially having difficulty transitioning from Middle School to High School. Program components include literacy, math, life skills, recreation, celebration and program evaluation. This summer will be the second year running.

Ms. Minnick moved, seconded Mr. Caron to authorize the hiring process to begin for the vacancies listed.

Ms. Whynot-Vickers and Mr. Coyne spoke to the motion.

Public Comment: Steven Scharf spoke to the motion.

Debate: Ms. Hopkins, Mr. Caron and Mr. Szanton spoke in support of motion.

Vote: Mr. O’Brien moved, seconded Ms. Gramlich to table until after the budget process is completed.

Vote on amendment: It was voted 2-5 to table until after the budget process is completed. (Students voted with majority) Motion fails.

Vote on main motion: It was voted 6-1 to authorize the hiring process to begin for the vacancies listed. (Students voted with majority)

Personnel

Consideration and action to approve the Personnel items listed below:

Sabbaticals:

Barbara Adrian DHS/Science 2008-2009 School Year

Three goals of sabbatical: 1-Improve French speaking skills; 2-experience life as a volunteer teacher in an underserved part of the world; 3-Strengthen content knowledge in Science.

Jeffrey Borland DHS/Math-Computer Science 2008-2009 School Year

Work towards Masters degree in computer science, to learn more about programming language of Java. Will also like to gain real world computer experience with a possible internship or volunteer computer projects for local organizations, to get a better sense of the knowledge and skills that students need when they enter the “real world”.

Jacob McNally DHS/ Social Studies 2^nd Semester

Develop a comprehensive Social Studies writing curriculum that will carry students through the completion of a research/public policy paper in their junior year.

Meghan Prestes EECS/Grade 1-2 looping 2008-2009 School Year

Research and develop a plan for teaching and motivating our systems most difficult children

Ms. Hopkins moved, seconded Mr. Caron to approve the Personnel items listed

Ms. Hopkins supports motion.

Mr. Caron and Ms. Gramlich –would like the first sabbatical to be brought back to committee with a more appropriate description of how this would support work in the classroom.

Mr. Caron moved, seconded Ms. Gramlich to postpone the first sabbatical request to the March 26^th business meeting to be brought back to School Committee with more focused description of sabbatical and how it would support work in the classroom.

Mr. Eglinton - asked about the April 1^st deadline. Mr. Coyne indicated that a business meeting could be held on March 26^th with one item on the agenda.

Vote: It was voted 5-3 to postpone the first sabbatical request to the March 26^th business meeting to be brought back to School Committee with more focused description of sabbatical and how it would support work in the classroom. (Students abstained)

Vote: It was voted unanimously to approve the Personnel items listed and to postpone the first sabbatical request to the March 26^th business meeting to be brought back to School Committee with more focused description of sabbatical and how it would support work in the classroom. (Students abstained)

Committee Focus on Educational Issues

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

Kathleen Casasa –spoke to postponing of sabbatical to March 26^th

Steven Scharf – spoke to committee regarding fy09 budget

Adjournment

Ms. Minnick moved, seconded Mr. Caron and voted unanimously to adjourn the business meeting at 8:31 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Jeanne Whynot-Vickers

Interim Superintendent of Schools

RESOLUTION SUPPORTING A Plan for Sustainable Educational Quality in Portland

WHEREAS, Portland has had a long history of providing high quality education to students and wants to ensure that such quality is maintained in the long term; and

WHEREAS, rising costs coupled with reductions in General Purpose Aid for Education from the State strains the resources of Portland taxpayers being asked to support the continued quality of education in Portland Public Schools; and

WHEREAS, new state laws requiring cost reductions, as well as a pending budget deficit within the Portland Public Schools, requires the Portland Public Schools to develop new efficiencies in order to continue delivering high quality education with fewer financial resources; and

WHEREAS, on December 2, 2005, the Joint Finance Committee of the Portland City Council and the Portland Public Schools approved a resolution supporting consolidation of maintenance services, consolidation of certain finance services, and recommended adoption of a resolution by the Council and School Committee stating as follows:

The City of Portland and the Portland School Department should unify operations where possible to create a strong, capable and unified organization that has the ability to deliver high quality services, encourage innovation, empower employees and increase efficiency in order to best serve the people of Portland; and

WHEREAS, at a July 19, 2007 Joint Finance Committee, the Finance Committee of the Portland City Council voted unanimously to adopt a “Plan for Sustainable Educational Quality in Portland,” a substantial portion of which was subsequently approved by the Finance Committee of the Portland School Committee in August 2007; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to this Plan, the Portland Public Schools and the City of Portland are to work together to find efficiencies and consolidation opportunities in order to lower the long-term costs of operating our schools so that educational quality can be sustained into the future;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that in order to ensure sustainable educational quality in Portland, the Portland School Committee hereby approves the following Plan for Sustainable Educational Quality in Portland:

Ø Mission: Develop a financial and structural plan to address the fiscal constraints facing the Portland Public Schools while ensuring the long-term quality of education in our schools. Such plan shall also meet the goals established by the Joint Finance Committee on December 2, 2005.

Ø Areas of Focus: City and Schools shall work together, to be overseen by the Joint Finance Committee, to accomplish the mission by evaluating and implementing the following tasks:

1. FY2009 School Budget Review. Evaluate and report back on the following:

a. FY07 budget deficit payback

b. Anticipated changes in EPS funding

c. State mandated Alternative Plan cost reductions

d. Grant revenue

e. Ensuring ongoing fiscal responsibility

2. Financial Recovery Plan. Develop plan to address the FY2007 budget deficit.

3. Consolidation of Facilities and Services. Evaluate and report back on opportunities to consolidate facilities and services between and among the Schools and City, including specific plans related to:

a. Building Maintenance

i. Evaluation of wage scales

ii. Evaluation of staffing

iii. Bargain labor contract language

iv. Development of a reasonable phase-in plan

v. Budget Development

b. Financial Management

i. Evaluation of wage scales

ii. Evaluation of staffing

iii. Policies and procedures

iv. Budget development and administration

v. Structure for reporting to legislative bodies, press, etc.

c. Facilities. Consider opportunities to streamline school facilities in order to reduce ongoing costs and improve services.

d. Technology services. Evaluate and implement opportunities to consolidate technology services, including Web site development and maintenance services.

4. Other opportunities for savings. Evaluate other cost centers with the Schools that can be streamlined or modified in order to reduce costs, enhance alternative revenue streams, and/or improve services within existing resources, including:

a. Transportation services

b. In-district/out-of-district placement of students

c. School choice policy

d. Private fundraising opportunities, including expanded grant-writing, Volunteer Portland, Portland Educational Partnership, and any policies that inhibit private donations.

Ø Time Frame: By June 30, 2008 a report shall be provided to the Joint Finance Committee with implementation recommendations and plans regarding the Areas of Focus noted above.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Superintendent of the Portland Public Schools shall work directly with the City Manager for the purpose of carrying out the terms of the Plan for Sustainable Educational Quality.

At the March 19, 2008 School Committee meeting it was voted unanimously to accept the Sustainable Educational Quality Proposal.