Draft:  September 3, 2008

                                                Approved:Sept.17,2008                                            

                                                            School Committee meeting September 3,2008

                                                            Under Report of the Secretary

 

Mr. Coyne called the meeting to order at 7:04pm

 

Members Present:  Lori Gramlich, Rebecca Minnick, Kate Snyder, Sarah Thompson, Robert O’Brien, Peter Eglinton, John Coyne, Jules Szanton

 

Members not present: Joshua Tingley, Joel Daley, Susan Hopkins, Jaimey Caron

 

Report of the Chair

Mr. Coyne:  attended back to school BBQ at Riverton School on Sept. 2nd

 

Report of the Superintendent

Interim Superintendent Whynot-Vickers:

 

Report of the Secretary  - None

 

Report of Committees

1.      Policy Committee/Legislative Affairs- No report

  1. Finance Committee – No report.
  2. Personnel Committee – Ms. Thompson - next meeting will be Sept. 8, 5:30pm in room 340, Central Office Conf. Room
  3. Portland Education Partnership – No report
  4. Building Committee – meeting Sept. 4th, 5:30pm at city hall in council chambers and Signage Committee on Sept. 22,  6:30 in room 321, PATHS.
  5. Other Committees and/or member concerns –

·        Ms. Thompson requested workshop on how the committee does business.

·        Mr. Eglinton – asked about recent article on serving free breakfast to all students. 

·        Ms. Gramlich – DHS enforcing policy on cell phones, ipods, etc. during school day.  Requested that  Policy Comm. look establishing a school committee policy on this. 

·        Ms Snyder asked for free/reduced numbers, enrollment numbers and MEA/SAT results.

 

Consent Items - None

 

Old Business

  1. Consideration and action to approve the names of selection/interview panel for Superintendent’s Search Committee

 

Ms. Minnick moved, seconded  Ms. Thompson to approve the names of selection/interview panel for Superintendent’s Search Committee

 

It was voted unanimously to approve the names of selection/interview panel for Superintendent’s Search Committee (Student voted with majority)

 

  1. Consideration and action to approve the charge of Superintendent’s Search Committee

 

Ms. Thompson moved, seconded  Ms. Minnick to approve the charge of Superintendent’s Search Committee.

 

It was voted  unanimously to approve the charge of Superintendent’s Search Committee.

 (Student voted with majority)

 

  1. Consideration and action to approve the MSMA Superintendent Search Service Contract

 

Ms. Thompson moved, seconded  Mr. Eglinton to approve the MSMA Superintendent Search Service Contract.

 

Amendment:  Mr. O’Brien moved, seconded  Mr. Eglinton that the school committee will not exceed an expenditure of $3,500 without a vote of this body.

 

Mr.O’Brien withdrew his amendment

 

Ms. Gramlich moved, seconded  Mr. O’Brien  and voted  unanimously to table motion to next business meeting. (Student voted with majority) 

 

(Committee took an agenda item out of order)

 

5.  Consideration and action to approve changing November 4, 2008 to a non-student day due to four schools being utilized as polling places.

 

Ms. Gramlich moved, seconded  Ms. Thompson to approve changing November 4, 2008 to a non-student day due to four schools being utilized as polling places.

 

Ms.Minnick moved to approve changing November 4 to a non-student day pending city submission of a plan to provide child care for children of those four schools requesting it.  Motion fails due to lack of a second.

 

It was voted 4-3 to approve changing November 4, 2008 to a non-student day due to four schools being utilized as polling places. (Student voted with minority)

 

  1. Consideration and action to approve the MOU between Portland Public Schools and the Portland Public Library July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2010.

 

Ms. Minnick moved, seconded  Ms. Gramlich to approve the MOU between Portland Public Schools and the Portland Public Library July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2010.

 

It was voted unanimously to approve the MOU between Portland Public Schools and the Portland Public Library July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2010 (Student voted with majority)

 

 

 

Personnel

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

Leave of Absence:  Effective 9/1/08 for the 2008-2009 school year

Heather Wood             Adult Education Instructor                    Childrearing

 

Election:  Effective 9/1/08 – one year only

Ralph Desarno              PE/Moore                                            $37,517

BA in Communication/USM, as well as a Teaching Certificate in PE/St. Joseph’s

 

Ms. Minnick moved, seconded  Ms. Snyder and voted unanimously  to approve the Personnel items listed (Student abstained)

 

Committee Focus on Educational Issues - None  

 

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

Kathleen Casasa, Steven Scharf, Kathy Buxton, Linda Cohen addressed committee.

Interim Superintendent Whynot-Vickers spoke regarding the article in the paper this past weekend.

 

Adjournment

Ms. Minnick moved, seconded Mr. O’Brien and voted unanimously to adjourn the business meeting at 9:02pm.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Jeanne Whynot-Vickers

Interim Superintendent of Schools