Draft: June 27, 2007
Approved:
Aug. 1, 2007
School
Committee meeting June 27, 2007
Under
Report of the Secretary
Mr. Coyne called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.
Members present: John Coyne-Chair, Peter Eglinton, Robert O’Brien, Rebecca Minnick, Benjamin Meiklejohn, Ellen Alcorn, Susan Hopkins, Sarah Thompson
Members not present: Lori Gramlich (on vacation), Anthony Toppi
Mr. O’Brien briefly reviewed for a first reading
Ms. Thompson moved, seconded Ms. Hopkins to approve the adoption of an activity fee at the middle school and high school levels for all clubs/sports.
Mr. Allen spoke to the motion.
Clarifying questions:
Ms. Thompson :
- $153,000 athletic reduction and not clubs. Time frame for fundraising? Is it restricted by sport? Mr. Allen – regulations are established by Maine Principals’ Association
- asked who was on the co-curricular committee. Mr. Allen - high school and middle school principals, high school and middle school athletic directors, and representatives from the city.
- pay to play vs. activity fee. Mr. Allen – co-curricular comm.. looked at all activities, which encompasses athletic and non-athletic activities.
- what system will be in place to collect fees? Mr. Allen – spoke with superintendent and the collection might probably go back to the school.
- If a student is cut would they get a refund? Mr. Allen - feels legal counsel might need to draw up some type of document to address this issue.
- Is fee collected up front or collected after team, etc is selected? If activity pays fee in Sept., but family relocates is the family due a refund? Mr. Allen - these areas need to be looked into further.
- will there be an elimination of any teams? Mr. Allen – it is the hope that this will not be necessary.
- Would CBHS students who access sports at Deering or Portland also pay an activity fee? Mr. Allen – yes, they would be subject to an activity fee.
- $80,000 for ice hockey how was that arrived at? Mr. Allen – most significant expense is ice time. The co-curricular committee has asked city for a reduced ice time fee, but that is not something that is available. Rich Drummond and Gary Groves spoke to the ice hockey figure of $80,000 – this amount for ice hockey teams consists of transportation costs, stipends, equipment costs, and ice time. If successful programs that go to finals there is additional ice time.
- will a notification fee for activities, etc. will be worked out? Mr. Allen – yes.
- how can public access break down of athletic budgets? Superintendent O’Connor– this information could be broken down by school.
- asked about gate fees as well as concessions at Fitzpatrick. Mr. Allen – Portland Public Schools is under contract with the city and Portland High School football boosters regarding concessions at Fitzpatrick.
- what is timeline for implementation for football? Mr. Allen – will happen soon.
Mr. Meiklejohn –
- $150,000 budget reduction is to be in athletic budget. Has city council been notified of tonight’s action and are they prepared to approve change in expenditures? Mr. Coyne-no
- mentioned changing middle school sports from interscholastic to intramural. Was the concept of moving these sports program to an intramural concept discussed? Mr. Allen – co-curricular comm. looked at this.
Ms. Hopkins –
- memorandum of athletic budget cuts showing % of participation – activity fee is for all co-curricular activities. Are there current numbers available? Mr. Allen - 3,937 students participate middle school and high school. Athletic directors present seasonally co-curricular spreadsheet showing how many students participate in any activity. The number of participants - 6,163 from all 3 seasons. 36% of students participate in more than one activity. Mr. Allen indicated that fees would be $100 for high school; $ 75 for middle school; for reduced lunch students fee is $23 at high school ; with free lunch there is no assessment, but co-curricular committee feels that a reasonable fee should be charged. If hardship situation and can’t afford it - there will be a way to have that student participate. Co-curricular comm. did not discuss any type of a cap if more than one student in a family participates in sports/activity. He did find out 2,931 families in the middle school/high school categories of which 719 have more than one child in the family (about 25%). Mr. Kunin – also spoke to participation rates.
Ms. Alcorn –
- the free/reduced numbers in high school is lower than numbers that qualify. Has this been discussed? Mr. Kunin – it would be wonderful if more high school students who qualify would sign up. A by- product might be if the high school students want to play sports/co-curricular activity this might have them sign up for free/reduced in order to play.
- why do fewer students sign up? Mr. Kunin – they do not want to eat lunch.
- does this fee proposal impact the school department’s ability to participate in sports done right? Superintendent O’Connor – discussed with Duke Albanese and this would not have an impact.
Ms. Thompson –
- if there is only a 60% participation rate has co-curricular comm.. discussed how to come up with the additional $11,000. Mr. Allen – the committee did not discuss.
- budget reduction was in athletics not all activities. Has co-curricular committee looked at savings in just athletics? Mr. Allen – if committee looked at just athletics the revenue would be much less. Co-curricular committee does not want to cut any teams.
- co co-curricular activities cover drama, music, etc.? Mr. Allen – other co-curricular groups were represented by principals and at the high schools athletic directors represent all activities.
Ms. Alcorn –
- Intramural sports at the middle school level – does moving to an intramural arrangement impact fewer students and increase participation?
Mr. Allen – at the middle school level moving to intramural arrangement there are no other schools that have done this. In speaking with athletes they would seek competitive games through AAU and other community programs as opposed to participating in intramural programs. Booster groups at high schools would be more in favor of paying a fee than they would to see intramural sports.
- how many middle school students participate? Mr. Allen – middle school has a very high participation. Mr. Kunin – co-curricular committee discussed intramural/interscholastic sports. Mr. Allen – schedules at middle school level have already been set.
Ms. Quinn –
- has co-curricular committee taken into consideration that at Deering High School music is a class? Mr. Allen – there would be no fee if it is an academic program, but if a marching band were above/beyond academic class then a fee would be charged.
- if students who participate in a club, i.e. ping-pong, book club would they pay a fee? Mr. Allen – activities would be ones that receive a differential.
- How realistic is it to keep track of who is participating? Mr. Allen – could be realistic with accurate record keeping. At high school level the coaches are required to turn in rosters. There would need to be additional tracking.
Ms. Hopkins –
- Not certain this can be done legally. Mr. Allen – co-curricular committee did not factor in whether city council would need to weigh in or not. Mr. Paulson – when the city council gives an appropriation to the school dept. and approves budget – dollar figure then cannot add $153,000 to budget just because of revenues collected. City Council would need to weigh in on this again.
Mr. Meiklejohn moved, seconded Ms. Alcorn to suspend the rules and table this item
Mr. Meiklejohn - spoke to motion. Would normally allow public comment, however, not knowing if city finance committee would support of this the school committee needs to discuss with them to see if they would approve the increase in revenues.
Clarifying questions:
Ms. Thompson – this is last meeting until August. Why wasn’t legal team contacted and why wasn’t this discussed with the city council? Superintendent O’Connor – spoke to the question.
Ms. Alcorn – will there be a need to meet in July? Superintendent O’Connor - The Committee will need to meet in a retreat before the end of July due to legislation that was passed.
Ms. Thompson – could an emergency meeting be called for July 11th and have a discussion with legal counsel before then?
Ms. Minnick– would like to see more information on participation.
Mr. Coyne– asked Ms. Minnick to submit her questions to the superintendent.
Vote: It was voted unanimously to suspend the rules and table this item (1student yea , 1 student nay)
Mr. Meiklejohn moved, seconded Ms. Hopkins to move into public comment on educational issues.
Mr. Meiklejohn – spoke to motion.
No vote was taken
Public Comment:
15 members of the public addressed the committee on this issue.
Mr. Meiklejohn – spoke about civil etiquette and respectfully asked for the audience to keep a sense of neutrality.
Mr. Coyne – indicated that the school committee is not looking to cut ice hockey.
Ms. Thompson – Finance Committee and School Committee as a whole gave charge to co-curricular committee to reduce $153,000 to athletics. At no time did the School Committee suggest making a reduction in ice hockey.
Mr. Meiklejohn moved, seconded Ms. Alcorn and voted unanimously to adjourn the business meeting at 8:33 p.m. (Students voted with majority)
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Jo O’Connor
Superintendent of Schools