Draft: April 1, 2009

Approved:April 15, 2009

Under Report of Secretary: April 1, 2009

Business Meeting

Mr. Eglinton called the meeting to order at 7:02pm

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

Report of the Chair

Mr. Eglinton:

• Introduced Presumpscot Title I planning team– Kate Theriault, NCLB Coordinator, provided an overview of the purpose of the team and spoke briefly about a tour of Boston schools sponsored by the Coalition of Excellence in Education. Margaret Wyman, Heidi Nichols, Brenda Gushee, Brandi Surce, Theresa Puckett, Cyndy Loring

• Mentioned that the new superintendent will start July 1^st and is appearing on Channel 6 207 program tonight.

• Indicated that tonight the Committee will be voting on the FY10 budget and May 12^th will be the referendum.

• Extended condolences to the Urban family on the recent passing of Nan Urban, former social worker, at DHS.

Report of Superintendent

Interim Superintendent Whynot-Vickers:

• Provided an update on the energy audit that is currently beginning in all of the city and school buildings.

Report of the Secretary

1. Consideration and action to approve the meeting minutes March 25, 2009

Ms. Thompson moved, seconded Mr. Costa and voted unanimously to approve the meeting minutes of March 25, 2009 (Students voted with majority)

Report of Committees

1. Policy Committee/Legislative Affairs – Ms. Morrione – Next meeting will be held April 7^th, 6pm, Room 321, PATHS

2. Finance Committee – Ms. Snyder – indicated that state subsidy allocation preliminary figures were $17.5 million in state subsidy. Joint Finance Committees met on March 31^st. Ms. Snyder reviewed the work of the subcommittee. Next meeting of subcommittee will be on Monday, April 13, 5:30pm, Room 321, PATHS. Next Joint Finance Committee meeting will be held on April 14, 5pm in Council Chambers. Referendum will be held on May 12^th.
3. Building Committee – Mr.Caron – tentative meeting date is April 9^th.
4. Facilities Task Force - Mr. Caron – task force met on March 30^th at King Middle School. Reviewed options provided by NESDEC regarding facilities. Next meeting April 13, 6pm at Lincoln Middle School.
5. Personnel Committee – Ms. Thompson – met prior to the evening’s meeting and continues to work on the superintendent’s evaluation process. Mentioned meetings that are scheduled with Dr. Morse in the

coming weeks. These are opportunities for the new superintendent to meet with the various groups as well as interested citizens and to answer any questions they might have. There will be a May 13^th workshop to review the evaluation instruments for staff except the superintendent. Next Personnel Committee meeting to be scheduled after April break.

6. Other Committees and/or member concerns –

· Ms. Thompson – asked if there could possibly be a note under photos of committee members to the affect that email correspondence is considered a public document and also requested a link to FOA statute.

· Ms. Minnick – mentioned that there are still a few areas on the web site that need updating.

Consent Items - None

Old Business

1. Consideration and action to approve the FY10 budget in the amount of $91,214,043

Ms. Snyder moved, seconded Ms. Thompson to approve the FY10 budget in the amount of $91,214,043

Ms. Snyder spoke to the motion.

Public comment: Cindy Taylor and Steven Scharf spoke to the budget.

Interim Superintendent Whynot-Vickers spoke briefly regarding stabilization funds.

Ms. Snyder moved, seconded Ms. Thompson to reallocate $100,000 built into the superintendent’s office of elementary and secondary education cost center into the school committee cost center 3000 line.

Ms. Snyder spoke to amendment.

Ms. Snyder moved, seconded Mr. Caron to decrease allocation from $100,000 to $50,000.

Ms. Snyder spoke to amendment.

Vote: It was voted 3-6 to decrease allocation from $100,000 to $50,000 to a budget of 91,164,043. (Students voted with majority) Motion fails

Return to original amendment.

Vote: It was voted unanimously to reallocate $100,000 built into the superintendent’s office of elementary and secondary education cost center into the school committee cost center 3000 line for a budget in the amount of $91,214,043 (Students voted with majority)

Returned to main motion.

Ms. Snyder moved, seconded Mr. Caron to allocate an additional $50,000 to educational planning cost center to hire an elementary foreign language coordinator.

Ms. Snyder spoke to amendment.

Vote: It was voted unanimously to allocate an additional $50,000 to educational planning cost center to hire an elementary foreign language coordinator yielding a budget in the amount of $91,264,043.

Returned to main motion.

Ms. Minnick moved seconded Ms. Holton to restore $100,000 to restore two ELL positions.

Ms. Minnick spoke to motion.

Vote: It was voted 6-3 to restore $100,000 to restore two ELL positions yielding a budget in the amount of $91,364,043. (Students voted with majority)

Returned to main motion as amended.

Vote on main motion as amended: It was voted unanimously to approve the FY10 budget in the amount of $91,364,043. (Students voted with majority)

New Business - None

Personnel - None

Committee Focus on Educational Issues - None

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

No public comment.

Adjournment

Ms. Snyder moved, seconded Ms. Morrione and voted unanimously to adjourn the business meeting at 9:28pm

(Students voted with majority)

8pm Workshop

1. Discussion of the 2009-2010 school calendar

Respectfully submitted,

Jeanne Whynot-Vickers

Interim Superintendent of Schools