Draft:  May 9, 2007

Approved:May 16, 2007                                           

School Committee meeting May 9, 2007

Under Report of the Secretary

 

 

6:30pm to 8pm – Committee met in a budget workshop.

 

8:00pm Business Meeting

 

Mr. Coyne called meeting to order at 8:05 p.m.

 

Members Present: John Coyne-Chairperson, Robert O’Brien, Anthony Toppi(arrived at 8:45pm), Maureen Quinn, Benjamin Meiklejohn, Ellen Alcorn, Sarah Thompson, Lori Gramlich, Susan Hopkins, Bennett Gross

 

Members not present:  Rebecca Minnick

 

1.  Consideration and action to approve FY08 budget reductions.

 

Mr. Meiklejohn  -Finance Committee met on Tuesday, May 8, 2007. Mr. Meiklejohn provided an overview of the budget workshop held prior to the evening’s business meeting.   Discussed transportation reductions, cost center reductions across the board, possible athletic reductions.   Tonight’s workshop focused on the transportation budget. 

 

On Thursday, May 10th the City Council will hold a workshop on the budget at 6pm.   May 14th City Council will hold a budget workshop and will vote on a budget at their May 21st meeting. 

 

Ms. Gramlich moved, seconded  Mr. Meiklejohn to reduce budget by $221,562 (transportation exceptions) and bus replacement (capital improvement) of $297,000 for total of $519,062.

 

Clarifying questions:

Ms. Hopkins -  does this include crossing guards?  Ms. Gramlich -   yes, need to add 11 crossing guards for total of $34,650

 

Ms. Thompson – crossing guards paid by city?   Ms. Gramlich – yes.

 

Public Comment:

Kevin Mallory – addressed Committee on transportation exceptions.

Bridget Surber and Steven Scharf - addressed Committee on budget.

 

 

 

Board debate:

Ms. Thompson – addressed transportation exceptions.  Concerned about children’s safety.  Wants to know what city council is looking at for a number.

 

Ms. Alcorn – there are some safety issues in the exceptions.   Will plan fall apart if some  exceptions are added back in?  School Committee has not been able to discuss with city colleagues what the issues are around impact of budget reductions.   More comfortable having Mr. Mallory look at safety issues and possibly have Committee revisit at next business meeting.

 

Ms. O’Connor – The plan would fall apart if exceptions are only for elementary students and excludes middle school and high school students.   Would consider looking at a cluster pick up approach.

 

Ms. Hopkins – prior to evening’s business meeting Committee members heard from building administrators on how schools are just getting by.   Also has safety concerns regarding transportation exceptions.

 

Mr. Meiklejohn – outlined impacts of transportation exceptions. 

 

Mr. Coyne – asked about lottery for EECS.  Transportation exceptions would affect 1,000 students, which is 1/7 of student population.  Concerned about safety and keeping cuts as far away from students as possible. 

 

Vote on motion:  It was voted  2-5 to reduce budget by $221,562 (transportation exceptions) and bus replacement(capital improvement) of $297,000 for total of $519,062.

(Students 1-yea, 1 nay) Motion fails.

 

Mr. Meiklejohn moved, seconded  Ms. Hopkins to reduce the budget by $100,000 to be taken from middle school athletics and switching to and intramural model.

 

Public Comment:

Steven Scharf – addressed the committee on this item

 

Board Debate:

Mr. Meiklejohn – given the debate around interscholastic vs. intramural models, he feels this has positive impact on students. 

 

Ms. Hopkins –this would reduce overtime and transportation expenses. More students would be involved in intramural model.

 

Ms. Gramlich – spoke about city council not providing a specific number and that there has not been any debate with city.

 

Ms. Alcorn– supports motion.  This cut does not harm schools and programs in the same way – allows more students to play sports.

Mr. Coyne – has talked with middle school coaches and principals.  This is not something that is being embraced; cut will cripple some middle school programs.  6th grade basketball was in a pilot intramural program – not challenging for students.  Current program has been very effective.  Does not support

 

Vote: It was voted  3-4 to reduce the budget by $100,000 to be taken from middle school athletics and switching to and intramural model.  (Students – 1yea, 1nay) Motion fails.

 

Mr. Meiklejohn moved, seconded  Ms. Alcorn to reduce the budget by $200,000 across all cost center’s discretionary budgets.

 

Superintendent O’Connor– this portion of the budget  covers supplies, text books, etc.

 

Ms. Gramlich– at the workshop held prior to the evening meeting principals spoke about implications of such a cut.

 

Ken Kunin – spoke about Average Daily Enrollment allotment monies (currently based on 1991 dollars), which are used to invest in staff development, technology, furniture replacement, etc.  Every step backwards is a step in the wrong direction.  Principals have already taken 5% on 1991 dollars.   Hurts ability to provide quality education for all students.   Principals looked at 1.5% reduction in total cost center.  At Deering High School that would be $106,000

 

Clarifying questions:  None

 

Public comment: 

Mark Ford and George Aponte Clark  - addressed Committee regarding motion and defending budget.

 

Steven Scharf – addressed Committee on several budget items

 

Debate:

Ms. Quinn – spoke about lack of supplies and appropriate textbooks.

 

Vote:  It was voted  0-7 to reduce the budget by $200,000 across all cost center’s discretionary budgets.  (Students voted with majority)

 

Mr. Meiklejohn -  provided the superintendent with a draft motion to go on the next business meeting agenda to inform PEA and other bargaining units about the Committee’s interest in negotiation work conditions related to school calendar, etc.

 

Ms. Alcorn – handwriting is on the wall that there will be a need to cut some monies out of the budget.   Have not had one collegial discussion with the city council.  Need to have some agreements with city council on how to move forward – looking at facilities, etc. to create a more sustainable future for PPS.   

 

Ms. Thompson –mentioned the joint meeting on May 10th , 6pm and that on May 14th the city council will host a budget workshop. 

 

Mr. Toppi -  pleased that the Committee has kept budget and that Committee is supporting PPS.

 

Mr. Coyne – glad to support budget Thursday evening at meeting with city council.  Feels city council will provide a number to the school committee that probably will not please many folks.   Budget process has not been easy and there have been trials and tribulations.

 

Public comment prior to 11pm:

Grace Valenzuela, Louise Rocha-McCarthy, Margie MacDonald, Gail Senese, Catherine Siegel, and Mary Gross-addressed the Committee regarding the closure of Baxter School.

 

Dan Waxman – spoke regarding Casco Bay High School

 

Ms. Gramlich moved, seconded  Mr. O’Brien and voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 9:32 p.m. (Students voted with majority)

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Mary Jo O’Connor

Superintendent of Schools