Draft:  June 20, 2007

                                                            Approved: Aug. 1, 2007                                       

                                                            School Committee meeting June 20, 2007

                                                            Under Report of the Secretary

 

7:00 p.m. Business Meeting

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

 

Members present:  John Coyne-Chair, Peter Eglinton, Robert O’Brien, Rebecca Minnick(8:20), Benjamin Meiklejohn, Ellen Alcorn, Susan Hopkins, Sarah Thompson

 

Members not present:  Lori Gramlich

 

Report of the Chair

Mr. Coyne:

Congratulated:

 

Superintendent  O’Connor indicated that a press release would be going out Thursday to inform the public.  Briefly spoke about the two recommendations from the Co-Curricular Council, whose membership consists of building principals and athletic directors from both high schools.   

 

Report of the Superintendent

1. Superintendent O’Connor : 

 

Ms. Thompson – mentioned Dr. David Silvernail’s report, which is available at www.usm.maine.edu/cepare  Also mentioned that budgets would need to be uniform across the state.

 

Superintendent O’Connor announced:

Susan Waterman                        Riverton/ESL                        20 years of service

 

Luisa Martinez                        King/Language Arts                        1.0

Peter Tierney-Fife                        Moore/Math                        1.0

Jessica Falk                        Reiche/1st Grade                        1.0

 

·        Introduced Laurie Davis who provided a yearly overview of NCLB.  She informed the Committee that monitors from federal DOE recently visited the Portland Public Schools and they were very impressed by our schools.  Ms. Davis indicated that a  balance is achieved  with authentic services for students and parents and have  PPS has also met the compliant requirements.  She provided an overview of the title monies and how they are utilized in the district under NCLB.

 

Report of the Secretary

  1. Consideration and action to approve the meeting minutes of the June 13, 2007 meeting.

 

Mr. Meiklejohn moved, seconded  Ms. Alcorn to approve the meeting minutes of the June 13, 2007 meeting.

 

Public Comment:

Bill Wilson   - spoke to the motion regarding information recorded in minutes.

 

Vote:  It was voted  unanimously to approve the meeting minutes of the June 13, 2007 meeting. (Students voted with majority)

 

Report of Committees

1.      Policy Committee – Mr. O’Brien- Policy Committee met prior to the evening meeting.  Looked at student rep policy and will be bringing a policy to the committee for a first reading. He also indicated that the energy policy and transportation policy would be coming to the Committee for first and second readings.  Mr. Meiklejohn asked about the transportation policy for a first and second read.

  1. Finance Committee – Mr. Meiklejohn – next meeting will be on Wed., June 27th , 6 pm in room 340.  The committee will be reviewing the FY07 budget to date.
  2. Legislative Affairs Committee – Ms. Gramlich – no report
  3. Riverton Building Committee – Mr. Coyne –  work is continuing towards completion of the project.
  4. Elementary Facilities Committee – Ms. Alcorn – next meeting will be Thursday, June 21st, 6:30 p.m., City Hall
  5. Casco Bay Relocation Task Force – Ms. Alcorn requested that this be removed from future agendas as the work of this task force has been completed and that the recommendations would be discussed at a School Committee meeting in August.
  6. Other Committees and/or member concerns

a)      Ms. Thompson  - requested that beginning  in August she would like to have the Portland Education Partnership added to Report of Committees

b)     Mr. Meiklejohn – requested a report on the student travel and excellence committee.

c)      Superintendent O’Connor mentioned that Maureen Quinn provided a copy of the last edition of the year of the DHS Ramblings

d)     Mr. Coyne – indicated that the Fresh Start task force, led by Dana Allen, met last Friday and identified 30 incoming freshmen.  Program will begin on Monday, June 25th  at Portland High School.

 

Consent Items

Superintendent O’Connor reviewed the donations and thanked the contributors.

 

Old Business  - None

 

New Business 

  1. Consideration and action to implement a district-line (June 2007-June 2008) for Portland High School and Deering High School to create enrollment equity.

 

Ms. Alcorn moved, seconded  Mr. O’Brien to implement a district-line (June 2007-June 2008) for Portland High School and Deering High School to create enrollment equity.

 

Superintendent O’Connor spoke to motion.   DHS enrollment was capped in 2006/07 and all students from that time forward went to PHS.  As a result, there were over 300 students who entered PHS and there was a complexity of student needs as a result of this, which was an unintended consequence.   In conversations at PHS this year one idea that was discussed was if an “imaginary” line that could be instituted for students moving into either the PHS or DHS district.  This would not be for 8th grade students who want to attend one high school or the other.

 

Ms. Alcorn – asked why CBHS was left out of this mix.   Superintendent O’Connor indicated that enrollment at CBHS is not at the same level as Portland or Deering.

 

Mr. Meiklejohn –asked  if a new student moves into the city could they enroll at CBHS?  Superintendent O’Connor – yes

 

Mr. O’Brien –  wanted to confirm that this would not affect students already in the city.  Superintendent O’Connor –  indicated that is correct.

 

Mr. Eglinton – do not know what is going to happen 07/08, but asked what number might have gone to Deering vs. Portland and also asked about choice in schools.

 

Superintendent O’Connor–  school choice is  what the school system supports.  PHS has been working on marketing and spent time in preparation for 8th grade open houses showcasing PHS and also held an open house at expo.   

 

Mark MacLean, Guidance Counselor at PHS -  is unable to provide any specific number of the 300 who entered as to whether they were in the Deering district vs.  Portland.  He did indicate that 63% of these students had a complexity of needs.

 

Ms. Quinn – asked if this would be in place of capping at  Deering.  Superintendent O

Connor – yes

 

Mr. O’Brien – in looking at map it appears that students who require social services live in town.

 

Mark MacLean – indicated that there is a group home, teen center , and homeless shelter, but distribution is spread out all over the city.  

 

Superintendent O’Connor – principals at both high schools are in constant communication regarding students and any special requirements, etc. to see if a student would be better served at one school vs. another.

 

Ms. Thompson – one question that came up when talking with folks about this item was  how is this “line” going to be conveyed to realtors. 

 

Superintendent O’Connor – the message is that this will not impact schools of choice, but address the fluid transient nature which is the city and provide due diligence to our high schools. 

 

Mr. O’Brien– is there an influx of students at the end of August or is this throughout the year?

 

 

Public Comment:

Steve Scharf – opposed to drawing line.   Going back to old style of drawing lines – makes no sense.   Why do so many want to attend Deering vs. Portland?  No information as to why.

 

Ken Farber – would hope that Committee would table until there is an asst. superintendent for secondary ed.  Need someone who is focused on these types of issues, i.e. King Middle School vs. Lincoln, Deering vs. Portland.   Need to understand why there is a perception that one school is better than another.

 

Ken Kunin –PHS is a fabulous school and students attend top post secondary schools. This is really about where families/students live. 

 

Bill Wilson – how can a vote be taken on an imaginary line?  Spoke about dollars spent at Portland.

 

Debate:

Mr. O’Brien– are there any exceptions to this line?  Superintendent O’Connor – no.  If there was a  particular case principals would talk.

 

Ms. Thompson - offered a friendly amendment -  

 

Ms. Thompson moved, seconded  Mr. O’Brien to implement a district line June 2007 to Sept. 30, 2007 to new families moving into the district.

 

Ms. Thompson – has requested numbers of ELL students, free/reduced lunch and special needs.  Sept. 30, 2007 would be a sunset clause to review this data .  Spoke to teachers and community members about this idea.  People felt strongly against anything long term

Approximately 20% out of district students attend King Middle School.  Survey of 8th graders was done about why one high school is chosen over the other and this will be shared with the Committee.

 

Debate on amendment:

Mr. O’Brien – indicated that if the expectation is that the superintendent is to provide the requested information then the will need to provide the tools to do this. 

 

Ms. Quinn –asked what would happen after Sept. 30th  will DHS be capped or be a choice?

 

Ms. Thompson – on Sept. 30th would have superintendent or principals report on how population broke down to evaluate whether the line elevated PHS population.

 

Ms. Hopkins– feels periodic reports could be requested of  the superintendent.

 

Mr. Meiklejohn – asked how the motion read and if motion was amended and passed and if  Committee took no action by 9/30 where does that leave students on 10/1?  What latitude would take place for students who want to change schools who live in one district versus another?

 

Ken Kunin -  indicated that it would be best to pass this type of motion for the year.

 

Mr. Meiklejohn – leery of sunset clause being so soon.  Conceptually supports, but perhaps sunset to 12/31 so that a student would be at a school for a longer period of time.

 

Ms. Thompson – hope that sunset would not pass without a review of data. 

 

Mr. O’Brien – if implemented to 9/30 then when data is reviewed a vote would be taken to extend to June if necessary.

 

Mr. Coyne– opposes amendment. 

 

Vote on amendment:  It was voted  1-7   to implement a district line for new families moving into district 6/30/07 to 9/30/07 to promote enrollment equity (students voted with majority)

 

Back to main motion: 

 

Ms. Thompson – would like to make amendment, but feels year is too long to view data.  Even if quarterly updates are provided would prefer June to December for 6 months of data.

 

Ms. Thompson moved, seconded  Mr. Meiklejohn to change 9/30/2007 to 12/31/2007

 

Public comment:  Bill Wilson – spoke to motion.  

 

Debate:

Ms. Hopkins -  around winter holidays there is a lot of shifting of children and there will be a change in enrollments.

 

Mr. Eglinton– sees it as a way to address students who might have many complexities.  More concerned with insuring when families move to city would rather focus next year to get more students to go to PHS.  Not in favor of this amendment.

 

Ms. Thompson – in talking with community members they indicated that they would like to know reasons why numbers are different   

 

Ms. Hopkins – feels Mr. Kunin answered this

 

Vote on amendment: It was voted  2-5-1  to implement a district line for new families moving into the school district from 6/2007 to 12/31/2007 at PHS and DHS. (students voted with majority)

 

Ms. Quinn– this is not free choice.  Alternative would be to cap DHS.  If DHS is full does not see need to have this.

 

Mr. Meiklejohn– Ms. Thompson’s amendment did indicate that this would be for new students.

 

Friendly amendment to include:  

 

Mr. Meiklejohn moved seconded  Ms. Thompson to amend the main motion to implement a district line June 2007 to June 2008 for new enrolling students at PHS and DHS to create enrollment equity.

 

Vote on amendment:  It was voted  6-1-1 to implement a district line June 2007 to June 2008 for new enrolling students at PHS and DHS to create enrollment equity.

 (students voted with majority)

 

Main motion:  To implement a district line June 2007 to June 2008 for new enrolling students at PHS and DHS to create enrollment equity.

 

Mr. Coyne – boundary line will run from Falmouth; south on Auburn St. to Allen’s Corner; south on Allen Ave. to Morrill’s Corner; south on Forest Ave. to Walton St.; East on Walton St. to Ocean Ave; East on Austin St., to Baxter Blvd; South on Baxter Blvd to Dartmouth St.; southwest on Dartmouth St. to St. John St; south on St. John St. to the water.

 

Public Comment:

Ken Farber asked if the motion should be more specific to new students.

 

Ms. Hopkins - called the question.

 

Vote on main motion: It was voted    6-1-1 to implement a district line June 2007 to June 2008 for new enrolling students at PHS and DHS to create enrollment equity.  (Students with minority)

 

  1. Consideration and action to grant a 2% salary increase for non-represented employees effective July 1, 2007.

 

Ms. Thompson moved, seconded  Ms. Alcorn to grant a 2% salary increase for non-represented employees effective July 1, 2007.

 

Superintendent O’Connor – spoke to the motion.  This group consists of central office employees absent the superintendent.

 

Ms. Thompson – this will not increase budget as the increase is already built in.

 

Mr. Toppi – asked for a definition of  non-represented personnel.

 

Joline Hart – most non-rep personnel are not permitted to join bargaining units since they are confidential employees.

 

Debate:

Mr. Meiklejohn – referenced one group of non-rep employees – School Committee members who, in 20 yrs, have not received an increase.  Posed question to city council – why their salaries have increased and why they have not increased the School Committee’s stipends.

 

Vote:  It was voted   unanimously to grant a 2% salary increase for non-represented employees effective July 1, 2007. (students voted with majority)

 

Personnel

Personnel Item C is being removed as it was approved previously.

 

  1.  Consideration and action to approve the following Personnel items:

a.  Eliminate the following positions as a result of budget reductions:

·        10 FTE Educational Technicians

·        2 FTE School year secretaries

·        3 FTE Bus Drivers

·        1 FTE Assistant Superintendent

·        1 FTE Assistant Principal

·        1 custodian

 

            b.  Leave of Absence:            Effective for 2007-2008 School Year

Hope Keleher                        Reiche/Reading                        Childrearing                        1.0                  

Michelle Lear                        Lyseth/Special Ed                        Childrearing                        1.0

Sharon Bresler                        King/Special Ed                        Personal                        1.0

Susan Thombs                        DHS/English                        Childrearing                        1.0                  

 

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

 

Ms. Alcorn - Concerned by consolidation requiring reduction of administration by 50% by 2009.

 

Superintendent O’Connor – clarification will hopefully be obtained from the Commissioner at the superintendents’ conference this weekend.

 

Ms. Thompson –indicated that the Commissioner stated that administration costs must be less than 4% of  budget.

 

Mr. Eglinton – regarding people who have resigned since budget was passed – have there been any savings by replacing with lower salaried staff? 

 

Ms. Hart – indicated that in past years it has been approximately $300,000. 

 

Vote:  It was voted  unanimously to approve the personnel items as listed.  (students  voted with majority)

 

Committee Focus on Educational Issues - None  

 

Public Comment Prior to 11:00 PM

Bill Wilson –  asked if athletic fee would be for sports and clubs?   Spoke about CBHS out of district students attending at half student cost.  Need to address why people are moving from PHS.  A/B schedule has an exorbitant  number of study halls. 

 

Susan Hopkins – spoke to the issue that at times during public comment many factual errors and inaccurate data is put forth by individuals, which is unpersuasive and that the School Committee members are recipients of accurate data/information provided by staff.

 

Adjournment

 

Ms. Thompson moved, seconded  Mr. Meiklejohn and voted  unanimously to adjourn the business meeting at 8:49 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Mary Jo O’Connor

Superintendent of Schools