Draft: September 26, 2007

Approved: Oct.17, 2007

School Committee meeting September 26, 2007

Under Report of the Secretary

Business Meeting

At 7:09p.m. Mr. Coyne called the meeting to order.

Members present: Robert O’Brien (arrived at 7:30) John Coyne, Benjamin Meiklejohn, Ellen Alcorn, Susan Hopkins, Sarah Thompson, Peter Eglinton, Rebecca Minnick, Anthony Toppi, Bennett Gross, Maureen Quinn

Members not present: Lori Gramlich

Report of the Chair

Mr. Coyne:

Mentioned that on Tuesday, 10/2, 6:30pm in Room 321, Bob Kautz, DOE liaison, will meet with the city council and school committee to provide an overview of the alternative plan and consolidation.
On Nov. 7th, at 5:00pm Ron Barker, MSMA, will do a workshop on superintendent’s search process.
Received appeal to Blethen Newspaper decision today from the attorneys.

Report of the Superintendent

Ms. Whynot-Vickers:

· Mentioned that week has been busy. Have been meeting with Bob Kautz to talk about the chart of accounts. Have been talking with principals about opening of schools.

· Indicated that AYP results should be out soon.

Report of the Secretary – No report

Report of Committees

1. Policy Committee – Mr. O’Brien – no report

Finance Committee – Mr. Meiklejohn – met Tuesday evening, Sept. 25^th. Discussed: EPS research – it has been determined that title 1 funding is legal. Received report on July/Aug. budget showing approximately 16.2% expenditures with a couple of areas of over expenditure, i.e. transportation and temporary salaries due to summer employment. Will be looking at impact of professional development based on teachers’ contract. Also reviewed recovery plan. Ms. Whynot-Vickers mentioned that as part of the recovery plan each position that opens up is reviewed. $500,000 has been identified by not filling positions. Looking at areas where services may be provided in a different way. Also looking at some mergers outside the district. Alternative Plan must be established/reported by Dec. 1^st.
Legislative Affairs Committee – Ms. Gramlich – no report.
Riverton Building Committee – Mr. Coyne – building open – An Open House was held on Sept. 20^th and on Oct. 11, 5:30 will be the official opening
Elementary Facilities Committee – Ms. Alcorn – the 3x3 committee’s work has not been completed. There may be a meeting to discuss anchor schools. Architect has spent $200,000 and was to hold 6 public meetings, but have held 18 public meetings. Architect’s work has ceased until clearer direction is given.
Portland Education Partnership – Ms. Thompson – No report
Other Committees and/or member concerns - None

Consent Items - None

Old Business - None

New Business

1. Consideration and action to authorize the hiring process to begin for the vacancies listed:

Ms.. Whynot-Vickers spoke to the vacancies.

Position

FTE

Location

Annual Salary

Funding Source

Rationale

Numeracy Coach/Coordinator

PATHS

$21,352

Grant

Staff development for instructors in how to imbed numeracy instruction within career & technical classes

Ed Tech/

Safe & Smart

3 positions

Lincoln & Reiche

$6,362.64

Grant

After school programs at Lincoln & Reiche

Addendum:

Position	FTE	Location	Annual Salary	Funding Source	Rationale
Ed Tech III*	.5	King	$ 10,602.90	Local	help to support special needs students in a self contained setting.
Building Custodian 2*	1.00	Presumpscot	$ 24,868.08	Local	clean and maintain building
Spare Bus Assistant*	As needed	Transportation	Approx. $6,549.00	Local	Assist on buses

*All listed positions are currently in the FY 08 budget

Ms. Minnick moved, seconded Ms. Thompson and voted unanimously to authorize the hiring process to begin for the vacancies listed. (Students voted with majority)

Personnel

Consideration and action to approve the Personnel items as listed:

Ms. Whynot-Vickers reviewed Personnel items.

a. Re-Election: Effective 9/14/06 Contract: 1^st Continuing Contract

Nate Ghiglieri .4 Social Studies/PHS Lane 1/Step 5 $15,366.40

b. Increase a Grant funded Adult Ed position to broaden the target population under the PAE's Even Start Family Literacy Grant

Rene Serio .1 FTE from .5 FTE to .6 FTE. Annual Salary $6,433.90

Ms. Alcorn moved, seconded Ms. Hopkins and voted unanimously to approve the Personnel items as listed. (Students voted with majority)

Consideration and action to approve the following acting appointments effective October 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008.

Jill Blackwood to Acting Assistant Superintendent K-8
Nancy Kopack to Acting Principal, Riverton School

Ms. Whynot-Vickers spoke to this item.

Ms. Thompson - asked if Ms. Whynot-Vickers will be covering secondary principals. Will there be an assistant principal at Riverton? Ms. Whynot-Vickers- will be covering secondary principals and will be looking to have a teacher to assist in the role of assistant principal at Riverton.

Mr. Coyne– spoke to the appointment of Ms. Blackwood and Ms. Kopack.

Ms. Alcorn moved, seconded Ms. Hopkins and voted unanimously to approve the following acting appointments effective October 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008. (Students voted with majority)

a. Jill Blackwood to Acting Assistant Superintendent K-8 $85,327

b. Nancy Kopack to Acting Principal, Riverton School $72,397

Ms.Blackwood and Ms. Kopack spoke briefly to the Committee regarding their appointments.

Ms. Hopkins requested to add an item under New Business

Ms. Hopkins moved, seconded Ms. Thompson to renew the motion rejected at last week’s meeting regarding the 3x3 recommendation..

Vote: 5-1-2 (students voted with minority)

Ms. Thompson - spoke with Councilor Cohen who checked with the city clerk and confirmed that this is a legal parliamentary procedure.

At 7:35 p.m. Ms. Alcorn moved, seconded Ms. Hopkins and voted unanimously to recess for 5 minutes. (Students voted with majority)

At 7:45 p.m. Mr. Coyne called the Business Meeting back to order.

Consideration and action to accept the recommendation of the 3x3 Elementary Facilities Committee regarding the Clifford School project.

Ms. Alcorn moved, seconded Ms. Hopkins to accept the recommendation of the 3x3 Elementary Facilities Committee regarding the Clifford School project.

Public Comment: Mark Ford spoke to motion.

Debate:

Mr. O’Brien moved, seconded Mr. Eglinton – to table the item to accept the recommendation of the 3x3 Elementary Facilities Committee regarding the Clifford School project.

Vote: 3-5 to table the item to accept the recommendation of the 3x3 Elementary Facilities Committee regarding the Clifford School project. (Students voted with minority)

Debate:

Mr. Toppi – disagrees with this because public have not been notified. Feels motion is inadequate.

Ms. Quinn – doesn’t feel it is ethical to do this without proper public notice.

Ms. Minnick – does not feel she has adequate information and would like to see this tabled at this time.

Ms. Hopkins. –item has been on the agenda and she still wrestles with issue. Architects have been taken off project at this time. Time line is tight and $18M would be lost.

Ms. Thompson– supports work that has gone into the recommendation. Compromise would be acceptable. Lack comprehensive plan, but have faith one will be developed

Ms. Hopkins moved, seconded Ms. Thompson to amend 3x3 recommendation to read:

3x3 Recommendation: Support the recommendation of the architect for new construction, recommend to the School Committee that West School be closed and the spatial needs of those students be incorporated into the new building’s design and/or subsequent redistricting and furthermore that the School Committee assess both the impact on other schools of redistricting students accordingly and the feasibility of achieving additional school closures resulting from such redistricting. Excepting that if legislation passes, which materially changes the criteria for school construction, then the school committee shall immediately request an extension and reconsider the options of rebuilding or renovating a school

Ms. Alcorn - concept approval would be in March 2008. There are several months before then to change course.

Ms. Thompson – inquired about meetings with local delegation and would legislature be meeting in January.

Mr. O’Brien – Glenn Cummings indicates it would be at least 60 days, which would be at the end of Feb.

Mr. Toppi – an extension last week was suggested why wasn’t that approved then?

Mr. Eglinton – what is process that would be followed since city council recommendation is different. Architects need direction on how to proceed. If council does not accept the 3x3 recommendation that does not constitute a decision, but if school does have a decision the architects need a decision from a governing body to proceed.

Debate:

Mr. Meiklejohn – supports amendment. Seems to get over a hurtle in making a decision. Need to continue work according to the time line. This will be put on to the legislative delegation regarding renovation of historic buildings. If legislative delegation gets criteria changed then work will have been ongoing to that point. Difference in this week and last week’s motion – last week’s motion did the opposite – wait to hear about extension vs. giving architects go ahead with design and not withhold direction to architects pending an extension.

Ms. Minnick – ask if public comment would be accepted. Mr. Coyne – indicated not on amendment.

Ms. Hopkins– vitally important to have elementary school serving that portion of the city.

Vote on amendment.: It was voted 7-1 (students with minority) to accept recommendation of the 3x3 Elementary Facilities Committee regarding the Clifford project to support the architect’s recommend on new construction (expecting) that if legislative passes which materially changes the criteria for school construction, then the school committee shall immediately request an extension and reconsider the options of rebuilding or renovating the school

Back to main motion

Debate:

Mr. Eglinton moved, seconded Mr. Meiklejohn to strike “to accept recommendation of 3x3 Elementary Facilities Committee regarding the Clifford School project” with the motion to read Consideration and action to support the recommendation of the architect for new construction

Clarifying Questions:

Ms. Thompson– no longer voting on 3x3 recommendation

Debate:

Mr. Meiklejohn - supports amendment. Supporting part of the 3x3 Elementary Facilities Committee recommendation, but not as a whole.

Vote on amend: It was voted 7-1 to strike “to accept recommendation of 3x3 Elementary Facilities Committee regarding the Clifford School project” with the motion to read Consideration and action to support the recommendation of the architect for new construction (Students 2yea, 1 nay)

Back to main motion

Debate:

Mr. Meiklejohn supports main motion. Concerned that architects have discontinued work at this time. This motion puts it upon the legislative delegation to work on changing the criteria at the state level. With an elementary school in the center of the city would allow for redistricting. Clifford might become a “hotel” school, which would be a facility that would be used will renovating or new construction takes place. Would be willing to look at renovation vs. new building.

Ms. Thompson– supports motion. Provides time for 3x3 to complete the comprehensive plan. Allows legislative delegation to work on changing the criteria.

Ms. Hopkins– supports because of the “hotel” concept. Architects may need to apply for an extension anyway. This motion tonight was made because the architects have been taken off task at this time.

Ms. Minnick– appreciates motion as a compromise. Doesn’t feel that a new, larger elementary facility is needed because of under enrollment in other facilities. Would have liked to see a K-8 renovation.

Mr. Eglinton– appreciates the amendment leaving room for renovation. Will be voting no on principle. Proponent for weighing options. Support insuring that city receives $18m and having process move forward.

Mr. O’Brien– worthy motion, but does not support in principle. Should have been placed on an agenda to give the public an opportunity to weigh in.

Ms. Hopkins– city council will be voting on this issue on Oct. 1^st.

Ms. Alcorn– one area of confusion last week was that the architect’s do need to continue their work. Difficult to do a comprehensive plan until a decision to renovate or build is made.

Mr. Coyne– supported motion last week and again this week. Time for the school committee to seize the ability to build a new school. PPS has aging structures. New EECS was built with some assistance from the state, but also with the help of the taxpayers. Debt service for state is coming down so there will be less monies available over time.

Public comment: Three community members addressed the committee on this item.

Vote on main motion: It was voted 5-3 to support the architect’s recommendation excepting that if legislation passes which materially changes the criteria for school construction, then the school committee shall immediately request an extension and reconsider the options of rebuilding or renovating a school. (Students with minority)

Committee Focus on Educational Issues - None

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

Ms. Casasa – spoke about contracts of BASE and Ed Techs/Language Facilitators and requested that they be settled soon.

Sue Russo – spoke about budget deficit and recovery plan. Requested list of out of district students with cost to education and amount of subsidy and how many are sped. Spoke to renovation vs. new construction; redistricting.

Ms. Thompson– asked for information on outstanding contract negotiations.

Mr. Coyne– negotiations are ongoing with dates in Oct.

Mr. Meiklejohn moved, seconded Mr. O’Brien and voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 8:49pm (Students voted with majority)

Respectfully submitted,

Jeanne Whynot-Vickers

Interim Superintendent of Schools