Draft: September 17, 2009

Approved: Oct. 7, 2009

Under Report of Secretary: August 26, 2009

Business Meeting

Mr. Eglinton called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.

Members present: Justin Costa, Rebecca Minnick, Elizabeth Holt, Kate Snyder, Sarah

Thompson, Robert O’Brien, Jaimey Caron, Marnie Morrione, Simon

Thompson, Ness Smith-Savedoff and Peter Eglinton

Members not present: John Gjika

Report of the Chair

Chairman Eglinton thanked those who attended the School Committee retreat over the summer. School Committee and Superintendent goals were developed at this meeting.

Report of Superintendent

1. Resignations – Effective August 21, 2009

Gwen Smith Principal/Peak & Cliff Islands 2 years with PPS

Valerie Green Computer Technology/PATHS 4 years with PPS

2. Update on high school bussing

3. Update on enrollment

4. Update on visioning process

5. Update on the August 24 meeting with parents on Peaks Island

Superintendent Morse asked for a resolution of support to use money budgeted for the ADS business software ($52,000) and a World Languages Coordinator ($50,000) to hire 3 Educational Technicians.

Dr. Morse spoke on the topic.

Cynthia Loring, Principal of Presumpscot Elementary, and Dawn Carrigan, Principal of Longfellow Elementary, spoke on the topic.

Public comment: Steven Scharf address the committee on the topic.

Mr. Costa moved, Ms. Minnick seconded, and it was voted 6-3 in favor of supporting the resolution to use money budgeted for the ADS business software ($52,000) and a World Languages Coordinator ($50,000) to hire 3 Educational Technicians.

Report of the Secretary

1. Consideration and action to approve the meeting minutes of August 5, 2009

Mr. Costa moved, Ms. Marrione seconded, and it was voted unanimously to approve the meeting minutes of August 5, 2009. (Students voted with the majority)

Report of Committees

1. Policy Committee/Legislative Affairs – Ms. Marrione reported:

- As a result of the retreat, the Policy Subcommittee will look at policy BDE

(Subcommittees, Task Forces, and Advisory Groups)

- There will be a workshop around Policy JRA (Student Education Records

and Information).

- The Policy Subcommittee will be looking to finish Policy FF (Naming of

Facilities). With the transition of the Policy Subcommittee to an Ad Hoc

committee, the next Policy Subcommittee meeting will be held on

September16^th at 6:00 in room 250.

2. Finance Committee – Ms. Snyder reported:
1. On Wednesday, August 12^th there was a workshop on fund balance. Ellen Sanborn attended this meeting.
2. No September meeting yet scheduled, but looking at September 7^th and September 14^th. Would like to have one of these be joint meeting with the City.
3. There will be a joint meeting on September 24^th at City Hall.
3. Building Committee – Mr. Caron reported:
1. Update from WBRC on progress on Ocean Avenue School.
4. Facilities Task Force – Ms. Thompson reported:
1. At the September 9^th School Committee Workshop, representatives from NESDEC will review the facilities report.
5. Personnel Committee – Ms. Thompson reported:
1. The Subcommittee met on August12^th and on August 25^th to review Ed. Tech. staffing.
6. Other Committees and/or member concerns
1. Ms. Thompson publicly thanked parents at Hall who took part in scraping and painting the outside of Hall Elementary.

Consent Items – None

Old Business

1. Consideration and action to approve policy BIA – New Board Member Orientation

Ms. Morrione moved and Mr. Costa seconded a motion to approve policy BIA – New Board Member Orientation.

Ms. Morrione spoke to this motion.

It was voted unanimously to approve policy BIA – New Board Member Orientation. (Students voted with the majority.)

New Business

1. First reading of Laptop proposal – alternative one-one program for grades 9-12.

Personnel

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

a. Leave of Absence: Effective January 22, 2010

Melissa McStay Social Worker/DHS Personal

b. Election – Effective September 1, 2009 Contract: Probationary 1

Benjamin Donaldson Science/CBHS $42,167

MA in Teaching Biology – Lewis & Clark College

Sarah Salisbury Math/DHS $48,580

MA in Teaching Secondary Math – Johns Hopkins University

Aaron Gritter .5 Learning Strategist/Moore $24,290*

BS in Biology – Grand Valley State University

Elizabeth Koharian .5 Consumer & Family Science/PHS $16,834.50*

BA in Geography & Anthropology – USM

Michele Cecere FLS/Hall $37,517

MS in Education – University of New Haven

Willard Beck .5 Math/PHS $32,787.50*

MS in Science – USM

Maureen Cott Gr. 1-2/Peaks $33,669

BA – Lesley University

Julia Brenner Kindergarten/Peaks $40,083

MS – Columbia Teachers College

c. Election – Effective September 1, 2009 Contract: Probationary 2

Peter Moxhay** .5 Science/PHS $41,365

PhD in Physics – University of Minnesota

**Please note that this election bring Peter to a full-time position for the SY 09-10, however this .5 position is for one year only covering for a sabbatical.

*pro-rated

Ms. Minnick moved, Ms. Thompson seconded, and it was voted unanimously to approve the Personnel items as listed.

Public hearing on High School Laptop proposal

Individuals speaking to the motion included Steven Scharf, Kenneth Kunin (Deering High School), and Mike Johnson (Portland High School).

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

At 8:00 pm, Mr. Caron motioned, Ms. Holton seconded and it was voted unanimously to move to a 5 minute recess.

At the conclusion of recess, the meeting came back to order to continue with the Committee Focus on Educational Issues.

Committee Focus on Educational Issues

1. Dropout Prevention Summit – Beth Arsenault and Sophie Payson-Rand

Adjournment

Mr. Caron moved, Ms. Thompson seconded, and it was voted unanimously to adjourn the business meeting at 10:10 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Dr. James C. Morse

Superintendent of Schools