Draft:  May 30, 2007

Approved: June 13, 2007                                          

School Committee meeting May 30, 2007

Under Report of the Secretary

 

Business Meeting

At  7:00 p.m. Mr. Coyne called the meeting to order.

 

Members present: John Coyne-Chairperson, Lori Gramlich, Bennett Gross, Anthony Toppi, Maureen Quinn, Benjamin Meiklejohn, Ellen Alcorn, Susan Hopkins, Sarah Thompson

 

Members not present:  Rebecca Minnick, Robert O’Brien

 

Report of the Chair

Mr. Coyne – mentioned that students from Lyman Moore will do a presentation on Project Citizen at the June 13,2007 meeting.

 

Report of the Superintendent

Superintendent O’Connor

1.      Congratulated:

·        Crystal Cron, Portland High School, who received national recognition for academic excellence and leadership potential and has been selected by the National Latino Lawyers Association of America to serve as a student delegate at the distinguished Latino Lawyers Assembly.  Crystal received a scholarship to attend a month long national leadership conference at Georgetown University.

·        Maureen Quinn who has been elected as president of Deering High School’s National Honor Society

·        Anthony Toppi who has been elected as president of the PHS senior class of 2008.

 

     2.  Announced retirements and resignations

        a) Retirements:  Effective June 30, 2007

        Kirk Jurgelevich     King/Physical Education/Health              13 years

        Jeffrey Smith          PHS/English                                              8 years

        b)Resignations:  Effective August 31, 2007

        Nathan Ghiglieri                Math/Moore                            

        Erik Kramer                     Casco Bay/Math                     

  1. Introduced Ken Kunin who spoke briefly regarding the Deering High School Auditorium Renovation Fundraising campaign, which will take place over the next year.

 

Report of the Secretary

  1. Consideration and action to approve the meeting minutes of the May 23, 2007 meeting.

 

Mr. Meiklejohn moved, seconded  Ms. Thompson and voted unanimously to approve the meeting minutes of the May 23, 2007 meeting. (Students voted with majority)

 

Report of Committees

1.      Policy Committee – No report

  1. Finance Committee – Mr. Meiklejohn –
  2. Legislative Affairs Committee – Ms. Gramlich – Legislature is winding down, consolidation plan will need to be approved.   GPA in 2009 will be greatly reduced. 
  3. Riverton Building Committee – Mr. Coyne – replacing windows at Riverton.
  4. Elementary Facilities Committee – Ms. Alcorn – next meeting will be mid to end of June.
  5. Casco Bay Relocation Task Force – Ms. Alcorn –Task Force met Tuesday evening and voted on the two options. Ms. Alcorn suggested a workshop in the near future with the school committee and high school administration. 

 

Mr. Meiklejohn – asked about possibility of delaying decision on options for CBHS until Elem. Facilities work is completed.  Ms. Alcorn indicated that at this time a broader conversation is needed regarding multilingual, adult ed, CBHS, etc. 

 

Mr. Coyne indicated that the workshop would be held on June 13th.

 

  1. Other Committees and/or member concerns – None.

 

Consent Items

Superintendent O’Connor reviewed donations and thanked contributors.

 

Old Business - None

 

(Committee took an agenda item out of order)

 

Personnel 

ADDENDUM

1.      Consideration and action to approve the Personnel items as listed.

Leave of Absence:     Effective for 2007-2008 School Year

Sheri Oliva                               ESL/Deering                             Personal                       1.0

Colleen Hallee                          Lyseth/Reading             Childrearing                  1.0

 

PAA Nominations:  Effective July 1, 2007

Kelly Hasson                 Prinicpal/Hall Elementary      $71,074* + $1,000

Lee Crocker                  Principal/Moore Middle         $74,642*

Stephen Rogers              Asst Princpal/Portland High   $84,059*

Kimberly Wike              Asst Princpal/Portland High   $70,641*

*pending negotiations

 

Lee Crocker and Kelly Hasson addressed the Committee.

 

Ms. Gramlich moved, seconded  Ms. Thompson and voted  unanimously to accept the Personnel items as listed. (Students voted with majority)

 

Election of Probationary Teachers:  Effective 09/01/2007

Adult Education

Deborah E Breiting

Adult Education Teacher

 

 

 

Longfellow Elementary

Lara M Pratt

Special Education

 

 

 

Reiche Elementary

Michele P Sanchez

Special Education

 

Re-election of Probationary Teachers: Effective 09/01/07

Adult Education

Heather Christine Moore Wood

Adult Education

 

 

 

Casco Bay High School

Caroline C Davies

Special Education

 

Joanne C Dowd

Social Studies (9) Humanities

 

Alison M Perkins

ESL

 

Darrell S Shibles

Phys Ed/Health

 

 

 

Clifford Elementary

Monica J Hanson

Speech

 

 

 

Deering High School

Jessica Lynn Bean

Social Studies

 

Alan E Carp

Math

 

Suzanne L W Dodson

ESL

 

Mary Farsaci

Spanish

 

Meghan E Hardison

English

 

Deering High School

 

Kristin Johnson

 

Nurse

(continued)

Lisa G Madison

Speech

 

Shana Paradis

English

 

Rebecca Stern

Social Studies

 

 

 

East End Elementary

Melissa Caldwell

Grade 2

 

Julie J Coffin

Grade K

 

Carol B Hager

Grade 4

 

Julieann Heinrich

Speech

 

Charles Paul Marenghi

Grade 2

 

 

 

King Middle School

Timothy A Cronin

Science

 

 

 

Lincoln Middle School

Zachary Brown

Math

 

Franklin P Sames

Science Physical

 

David Santoro

Math

 

 

 

Longfellow Elementary

Gail J Greenblatt

Speech

 

 

 

Lyseth Elementary

Betsy A Pelikan

Grade 5

 

Trevor Slater

Special Education

 

 

 

Moore Middle School

Melissa Green

Math

 

Jennifer Grover

Social Studies (8)

 

Fiona Hopper

Language Arts

 

Peter J Tierney-Fife

Math

 

 

 

PATHS

Gerald M Gherardi

Voc-Recreation & Marine Repair

 

Richard G Portwine

Voc-Electrical/Alt Energy

 

Joseph P Robinson

Voc-General Trades Woodworking

 

 

 

Portland High School

William J Roak

Phys Ed/Health

 

 

 

Reiche Elementary

Laurie Andreades

Learning Strategist

 

Lisa Dillon

Psych Examiner

 

 

 

Riverton Elementary

Anne Grygiel

Occupational Therapist

 

 

 

West School

Erin L Conway

Special Education

West School-Spring Harbor

Theodore Robert Dalton

Special Education

 

Nicholas Potts

Special Education

 

 

1st Time Continuing Contract Teachers:  Effective 09/01/07

Casco Bay High School

Leslie Jill Appelbaum

Teaching Strategist

 

David P Burke

Math

 

Alexandra Carter

English

 

Michael P Hale

Post Secondary Options Coord/

 

 

Special Education

Casco Bay High School

Dana Pratt

Spanish

continued

Francis Troyan

French

 

 

 

Deering High School

Stephen Atwood

English

 

Michael R Kennedy

Special Education

 

Tracey Moore

Guidance

 

Susan Barton Young

English

 

 

 

District

Alice Gruba

Psych Examiner

 

Nicole M Plourde

Occupational Therapist

 

 

 

East End Elementary

Eileen Glaude

Learning Strategist

 

 

 

Hall Elementary

Peter Blackstone

Many Rivers

 

Rebecca Norling

ESL

 

Jillian Roland

Many Rivers

 

Sarah G Szanton

Speech

 

 

 

King Middle School

Lisa M Hatch

Language Arts

 

Peter H Hill

Science Physical

 

Elizabeth J Moran

ESL

 

Emily M Tuttle

ESL

 

Emily S Zack

French/Spanish

 

 

 

Lincoln Middle School

Celeste B Biron

Special Education

 

Joseph Anthony Foley

Special Education

 

Jo-Ann T Galli

Language Arts

 

Christine M Hey

Nurse

 

Christine A Libby

Special Education

 

Deborah A Mullis

Learning Strategist

 

 

 

Longfellow Elementary

Kelley G Niles

Grade 1-2

 

 

 

Lyseth Elementary

Bianca Barbieri

Special Education

 

 

 

Moore Middle School

Patricia Brinkman

Guidance

 

Matthew Fogg

Music

 

Clara Jean Howard-Clark

ESL

 

Julie Myers

Math

 

Anne K Ornatek

Spanish

 

 

 

Multilingual Center

Donald L Bouchard

ESL

 

 

 

PATHS

Joseph F Bolduc

Voc-Manufacturing Technology

 

Valerie B Green

Voc-Computer Technology

 

 

 

Presumpscot Elementary

Tracey Falla

Occupational Therapist

 

 

 

Reiche Elementary

Jessica Falk

Grade 1

 

Riverton Elementary

Nancy M Jones

Learning Strategist

Riverton Elementary

Tesia J Mccarthy

Special Education

(continued)

Kate Reynolds Squire

Grade 2

 

Andrea H Stamey

Speech

 

 

 

West School

Paul E Brassard

Special Education

West School - Spring Harbor

Theresa Moran

Special Education

 

Ms. Alcorn moved, seconded  Ms. Thompson and voted  unanimously to approve the Personnel items as listed. (Students voted with majority)

 

  1. Consideration and action to eliminate 1.0 FTE position in the Adult Education Impact area due to a change in local conditions (loss of grant funding) and to terminate the contracts of Mary Bloom and Pamela Kasabian effective August 31, 2007 pursuant to 20-A, Chapter 503 § 13201.

 

Mr. Meiklejohn moved, seconded  Ms. Thompson and voted  unanimously to eliminate 1.0 FTE position in the Adult Education Impact area due to a change in local conditions (loss of grant funding) and to terminate the contracts of Mary Bloom and Pamela Kasabian effective August 31, 2007 pursuant to 20-A, Chapter 503 § 13201.(Students voted  with majority)

 

  1. Consideration and action to eliminate 1 position in the Gear Up Impact area due to a change in local conditions (program changes) and to terminate the contract of Linda Hollander effective August 31, 2007 pursuant to 20-A, Chapter 503 § 13201.

 

Ms. Alcorn moved, seconded  Ms. Thompson and voted  unanimously to eliminate 1 position in the Gear Up Impact area due to a change in local conditions (program changes) and to terminate the contract of Linda Hollander effective August 31, 2007 pursuant to 20-A, Chapter 503 § 13201.(Students voted with majority)

 

Superintendent O’Connor acknowledged Kathleen Casasa, Jeanne Whynot-Vickers, and Joline Hart for their thoughtful work in placing all teachers.  Ms. Whynot-Vickers briefly described the process used to look at retirements, etc. in order to place effective staff in other positions.

 

  1. Consideration and action to eliminate positions by separate motion in the  following impact areas pursuant to 20-A, Chapter 503 § 13201.  (NOTE: these eliminations will not require termination of teacher contracts.   They will be handled through attrition and transfers)

 

    1. Consideration and action to eliminate .5 Art position

 

Ms. Alcorn moved, seconded  Ms. Thompson and voted___ 4-2 to eliminate .5 Art position(Students voted with majority)

 

    1. Consideration and action to eliminate 6.5 core subject areas grades 6-8

 

Ms. Hopkins moved, seconded  Mr. Meiklejohn and voted  unanimously to eliminate 6.5 core subject areas grades 6-8(Students voted with majority)

 

    1. Consideration and action to eliminate 6.5 Elementary positions K-5

 

Ms. Hopkins moved, seconded  Mr. Meiklejohn and voted  unanimously to eliminate 6.5 Elementary positions K-5 (Students voted with majority)

 

    1. Consideration and action to eliminate 2.0 English positions 9-12

 

Ms. Hopkins moved, seconded  Ms. Alcorn and voted  unanimously to eliminate 2.0 English positions 9-12(Students voted opposed)

 

    1. Consideration and action to eliminate 1.0 Guidance position

 

Ms. Hopkins moved, seconded  Ms. Thompson and voted  unanimously to eliminate 1.0 Guidance position(Students voted with majority)

 

    1. Consideration and action to eliminate .5 Family and Consumer Science position

 

Ms. Hopkins moved, seconded  Ms. Thompson and voted  unanimously to eliminate .5 Family and Consumer Science position (Students voted with majority)

 

    1. Consideration and action to eliminate 1.5 Language positions

 

Ms. Hopkins moved, seconded  Ms. Alcorn and voted  5-1 to eliminate 1.5 Language positions(Students voted with minority)

 

 

    1. Consideration and action to eliminate 1.0 Physical Education position

 

Ms. Thompson moved, seconded  Ms. Hopkins and voted  unanimously to eliminate 1.0 Physical Education position(Students voted with majority)

           

    1. Consideration and action to eliminate 1.5 Social Studies positions 9-12

 

Ms. Alcorn moved, seconded  Ms. Thompson and voted  unanimously to eliminate 1.5 Social Studies positions 9-12 (Students voted with majority)

 

    1. Consideration and action to eliminate .5 Social Worker position

 

Mr. Meiklejohn moved, seconded  Ms. Thompson and voted  unanimously to eliminate .5 Social Worker position(Students voted with majority)

 

    1. Consideration and action to eliminate 3.0 Special Education positions

 

Ms. Alcorn moved, seconded Ms. Hopkins and voted  unanimously to eliminate 3.0 Special Education positions (Students voted with majority)

 

    1. Consideration and action to eliminate 2.0 Librarian positions

 

 Mr. Meiklejohn moved, seconded  Ms. Hopkins and voted  5-1 to eliminate 2.0 Librarian positions(Students – 2 with majority , 1 with minority)

 

 New Business

1.  Consideration and action to approve FY08 budget articles:

a.  Vote on Additional Local Funds Article

 

Ms. Hopkins moved, seconded  Ms. Alcorn and voted  5-1 (Students voted with majority)

That in accordance with the school budget previously approved by the Portland School Committee for the 2006-07 fiscal year and under and pursuant to 20-A M.R.S.A. section 15690(3), the Additional Local Funds budget article in the amount of $9,405,472, which exceeds the State’s Essential Programs and Services allocation model by $5,256,902, be and hereby is approved in form presented to this meeting and that a copy of said article be filed with the minutes of this meeting. )

 

b.  Vote on Other Required Budget Articles

 

Ms. Hopkins moved, seconded  Ms. Alcorn and voted  5-1 (Students voted with majority)

That in accordance with the school budget previously approved by the Portland School Committee for the 2007-08 fiscal year and under and pursuant to 20-A M.R.S.A. section 15690(1), (2) and (4), the State/Local EPS Funding Allocation, the Non-State-Funded School Construction and Renovation Debt Service and the Total School Budget Summary articles be and hereby are approved in form presented to this meeting and that a copy of said articles be filed with the minutes of this meeting. 

 

Addendums proposed by Finance Committee:

 

Mr. Meiklejohn moved, seconded Ms. Thompson to retain the Partnership Developers to be realized through $24,420 savings in sabbatical expenses and $100,000 reduction in cost center subsidies.

 

Superintendent O’Connor  - Each school is assigned a sum of money based on ADE – site based schools budgeted by cost center managers.   After the budget passed principals were unanimous in their decision of taking a total of a 5% cost center reduction equaling $100,000 of ADE.  Sabbaticals – two have withdrawn for personal reasons and two are now Fulbright scholars, a savings of $74,420, which would add to funds that could be used to restore partnership developer positions.

 

Public comment:

Kathleen Casasa spoke to the motion.

 

Debate:

Ms. Gramlich – feels deciding at 11th hour to use “found” money is not a transparent process.

 

Ms. Thompson– supports partnership developers.  Requested a process to discuss this item before a formal vote is taken. 

 

Ms. Hopkins – cuts to partnership were a last resort.

 

Mr. Meiklejohn – supports motion. This is a continuation of the budget process.  Principals are willing to take a further reduction in their cost centers knowing the impact that partnership developers have in the schools.  Personnel decisions were implicit when passing the budget and specific positions were not addressed at that time.

 

Mr. Coyne – feels it would have been better presented if principals had come forward during budget process.  Benefit of partnership developers outweighs process at this point.  Would like a better understanding of what partnership developers bring into the schools.

 

Ms. Hart – indicated a decision regarding the partnership developer positions must be made prior to June 30th. 

 

Superintendent O’Connor – support staff reductions will be brought to the School Committee at a later date.

 

Vote:  It was voted 5-1 to retain the Partnership Developers to be realized through $24,420savings in sabbatical expenses and $100,000 reduction in cost center subsidies.

 (Students - 1 yea - 2 with minority)

Mr. Meiklejohn moved, seconded Ms. Alcorn to keep the Multilingual Center and Adult Ed at Baxter School, realized through a $50,000 savings in sabbatical expenses.

 

Ms. Gramlich – asked about work being done by multilingual staff, which goes above and beyond educational services.  Asked why city wasn’t helping with cost of this dept.

 

Mr. Coyne – spoke about the possibility of future consolidation of services with the city and multilingual services being offered.

 

Ms. Alcorn – this is a one year solution while facilities are influx.  Need to look at reducing facilities in the city and emphasized that this is just a one year solution.

 

Vote:  It was voted  unanimously to keep the Multilingual Center and Adult Ed at Baxter School, realized through a $50,000 savings in sabbatical expenses. (Students voted with majority)

 

Committee Focus on Educational Issues - None  

 

Public Comment Prior to 11:00 PM  - None

 

Adjournment

Ms. Thompson moved, seconded  Ms. Gramlich and voted  unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 8:21 p.m. (Students voted with majority)

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Mary Jo O’Connor

Superintendent of Schools