Draft: August 5, 2009

                                                            Approved: Aug.26,2009

                                                            Under Report of the Secretary: August 5, 2009

 

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

 

Members Present:  Justin Costa, Marnie, Peter Eglinton, Sarah Thompson, Kate Snyder, Jaimey Caron, Elizabeth Holton, Simon Thompson, Elizabeth Holton, Rebecca Minnick (arrived at approximately 7:20pm), Robert O’Brien (arrived at approximately 7:20pm) Simon Thompson

 

Members not present:  Marnie Morrione, Ness Smith-Savedoff, John Gjika

 

Report of the Chair

Mr. Eglinton:

  • Spoke about upcoming retreat to be held on 8/22, at Pineland Farms, New Gloucester.

 

Report of the Superintendent

  • Jill Blackwood announced Jayne Sawtelle is one of three finalists for Maine Teacher of the Year.  Finalist will be announced in September.  Congratulated Thom Fournier, Lincoln, who was a semi-finalist for Maine Teacher of the Year.

 

Superintendent Morse:

  • Recently met with Westbrook and South Portland superintendents to discuss a tri-city alliance to increase opportunities for collaboration.
  • Announced David Shapiro’s retirement as Assistant Principal, Deering High School after 21 years of service, effective August 31, 2009.
  • Provided a brief update on the laptop initiative.  Indicated that Kate Theriault, NCLB Coord., has worked tirelessly to find funding for the alternative laptop proposal.  Finances include wiring of high schools.  Approved for wiring PHS through a no interest loan that city is going to support through the CIP

           

            School system would purchase 2129 units with extended warranty, expanded    battery warranty, built-in tracking/gps device.  Will also purchase used 7/8           grade laptops to be used for grade 6 students as well as placing them in the        elementary schools. 

 

            Joe Makley, Technology Coordinator, spoke briefly regarding MLTI and an      alternative laptop proposal.  He provided a sample of a Dell netbook being        considered and noted that utilizing netbooks would provide the resource to high      school students for one to one instruction.    

 

 

 

Report of the Secretary –

  1. Consideration and action to approve the meeting minutes of July 8, 2009 

Mr. Costa moved, seconded  Ms. Snyder and voted  unanimously to approve the meeting minutes of July 8, 2009 (Student voted with majority)

 

Report of the Committees

  1. Policy/Legislative Affairs – Mr. Costa reported the next meeting is August 12, 6pm, Room 250, CBHS .  Briefly reviewed items on the evening’s agenda.
  2. Finance Committee – Ms. Snyder- Committee met prior to the evening’s meeting.  Reviewed update of deficiencies in auditor’s report.  Two upcoming meetings include August 11, 4pm at city hall, room 24, to discuss community center budgeting and a Joint Finance Committee meeting on September 24 at 4pm at city hall to meet with auditors.  School Committee workshop on August 12th to discuss fund balance.
  3.  Building Committee – Ms. Thompson – updated committee on construction work taking place at the site.
  4. Facilities Task Force – Mr. Caron – School Committee workshop on Sept. 9th, 7pm to discuss NESDEC report and draft resolutions.
  5. Personnel Committee – Ms. Thompson – mentioned the workshop with Michael Macekowich on August 26th , 6pm to review salary/market analysis.  Also mentioned upcoming meetings where staffing will be reviewed.
  6. Other Committee member concerns - None

 

Consent Items  - None

 

Old Business

1.  Consideration and action to approve the following policies

A.     BEDB – Agenda Preparation and Dissemination

 

Ms. Minnick moved, seconded  Ms. Holton to approve policy BEDB – Agenda Preparation and Dissemination.

 

Mr. Costa spoke to motion.

 

Public Comment:  Steven Scharf spoke to motion.

 

Mr. Costa moved, seconded  Mr. O’Brien to strike Items under New and Old Business should reference School Committee policy that is the basis for School Committee action.

 

Vote: It was voted  unanimously to strike Items under New and Old Business should reference School Committee policy that is the basis for School Committee action. (Student voted with majority)

 

Vote:  It was voted unanimously to approve policy BEDB agenda as amended

(Student voted with majority)

 

B.     FF – Naming New Facilities

 

Mr. Costa moved, seconded  Ms. Holton to approve policy FF – Naming New Facilities

 

Mr. Costa spoke to the motion.

 

Public Comment:  Steven Scharf spoke to motion.

 

Ms. Minnick moved, seconded  Ms. Thompson to refer policy FF – Naming Facilities back to the Policy Committee.

 

Vote:  It was voted  unanimously to refer policy FF – Naming Facilities back to the Policy Committee (Student voted with majority)

 

New Business

  1. First reading of policy BIA – New Board member orientation
  2. Consideration and action that the “Vote to be adopted to authorize lease purchase of school buses”, be adopted as written in form presented to this meeting and that a copy of said Vote be included with the minutes of this meeting.

 

Ms. Holton moved, seconded  Mr. Caron that the “Vote to be adopted to authorize lease purchase of school buses”, be adopted as written in form presented to this meeting and that a copy of said Vote be included with the minutes of this meeting.

 

Public Comment:  Steven Scharf spoke to motion.

 

VOTE TO BE ADOPTED TO AUTHORIZE LEASE PURCHASE OF SCHOOL BUSES

Voted: That under and pursuant to the provisions of Title 20-A M.R.S.A. Sections

I001 and 1055, the Superintendent of Schools be and hereby is authorized to execute and

deliver a tax-exempt lease purchase agreement with Gorham Savings Leasing Group,

LLC, or its nominee, in the name and on behalf of the City of Portland, a municipal

school unit, acting by and through its School Committee (the "Issuer") for the purpose of

purchasing of five (5) new school buses, with an aggregate purchase price of not more

than Three Hundred Nineteen Thousand One Hundred Sixty-Two Dollars ($319,162)

in such form as the Superintendent may approve; and that the appropriate

officials of the Issuer be and hereby are authorized to execute and deliver on behalf of the

Issuer such other documents and certificates as may be required in connection with such

tax-exempt lease purchase agreement; and that no part of the proceeds of said tax-exempt

lease purchase agreement shall be used, directly or indirectly, to acquire any securities

and obligations, the acquisition of which would cause the tax-exempt lease purchase

agreement to be a "private activity bond" or an "arbitrage bond" within the meaning of

Sections 141 and 148, respectively, of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended

(the "Code"); and that the Superintendent be and hereby is authorized to covenant on

behalf of the Issuer to file any information report and pay any rebate due to the United

States in connection with the issuance of said tax-exempt lease purchase agreement, and

to take all other lawful actions necessary to insure the interest portion of the rental

payments under and pursuant to the tax-exempt lease purchase agreement will be

excluded from the gross income of the owners thereof for purposes of federal income

 

taxation and to refrain from taking any action which would cause such interest portion of

the rental payments to become includable in the gross income of the owners thereof.

 

Vote:  It was voted  unanimously  that the “Vote to be adopted to authorize lease purchase of school buses”, be adopted as written in form presented to this meeting and that a copy of said Vote be included with the minutes of this meeting”.(Student voted with majority)

 

Personnel

  1. Consideration and action to approve the Personnel Items as listed:

Election – Effective September 1, 2009

Contract: Probationary 1

Mark Ford                                           .5 ELL Instructional/Tech Specialist/Multi

                                                            .5 ELL/CBHS                          $44,732

            MA in Liberal Arts – St. John’s College

Erin Partridge                                       Grade 2/Clifford                       $42,167

            BA in Elementary Education – Saint Joseph’s College

Catherine Menyhart                              .5 French/CBHS                      $33,669*

            MS in Education – UMS

Kathleen Hiscock                                 .75 ESOL/Adult Ed                  $47,723*

            MS in Education – Westfield State College

Jill Gorneau                                          .5 Math/Adult Ed                      $33,669*

            BS in Civil Engineering – University of Nebraska

Abby Hutchins                                      Music/Moore                           $44,732

            BA in Music – USM

 

Steven Corman                                     .3 Gifted & Talented/District     $57,077*

            MS in Middle School Education – Lesley College                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Contract: Probationary 2

David Mann                                         Science/King                            $44,732

            MS in Secondary Education – The College of Saint Rose

 

Contract: Continuing Contract

Anthony Derrig                                     Grade 1/Reiche                        $49,863

            MS in Special Ed – University of Colorado

Catherine Paul                                      .5 ELL Reading/King                $42,648

            MS in Education – Salem State College

 

PAA Appointments – Effective 8/6/09

James Moses                                        Asst Principal/DHS                   $73,765*

            MS in Educational Leadership – USM

 

*pro-rated

Ms. Holton moved, seconded  Ms. Minnick and voted unanimously to approve the Personnel Items as listed. (Student abstained)

 

James Moses spoke briefly to the Committee. 

 

Superintendent Morse spoke briefly regarding enrollments for 2009-2010 and advised there are class sizes at some schools which are being monitored.

 

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

Steven Scharf spoke regarding taxes sent to Augusta, stimulus funding, and GPA. 

 

Kelly Hasson spoke regarding enrollments.

 

Ms. Holton moved, seconded  Ms. Minnick and voted  unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 9:01pm (Student voted with majority)

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Dr. James C. Morse, Sr.

Superintendent of Schools