Draft:  October 14, 2009

Approved:  October 21, 2009

Under Report of Secretary:  October 7, 2009

 

7:00pm – Business Meeting

Mr. Eglinton called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m.

 

Members Present:  Justin Costa, Robert O’Brien, John Gjika, Simon Thompson, Sarah Thompson, Kate Snyder, Jaimey Caron, Elizabeth Holton, Marnie Morrione, and Peter Eglinton

 

Report of the Chair

1.         Congratulations to Dr. Morse for receiving a Maine Children’s Alliance Award.

2.         Mr. Eglinton reported on workshops and annual reports.

3.         There will be Charter Commission meetings in October with a focus on Portland Public

Schools.

4.         Thanks were given to Central Office staff for supporting the School Committee.

5.         Preparations for new School Committee member orientation will begin.

6.         The Portland Fire Department dedicated $60,000 toward Portland Public Schools

building security from a Homeland Security Grant.

 

Report of Superintendent     

1.         Resignation – Effective October 9, 2009

            Steven Corman .3 Gifted and Talented

2.         Welcomed Tim Devaney, new Principal at Peaks Island Elementary School.

3.         Kevin Mallory, Director of Transportation, wrote book titled “John, A Journey Back.”

4.         On October 14, 2009, the State Board of Education will be meeting at Portland High

School.  Part of their visit will include presentations from staff and students at Portland High School.

Report of the Secretary

1.         Sarah Thompson Moved, Marnie Morrione Seconded and it was Voted unanimously,

with students in the majority, to approve the meeting minutes of August 26, September 2,

and 16, 2009, with students voting with the majority.

 

Report of Committees

1.      Policy Committee/Legislative Affairs – Ms. Morrione

·          Next meeting will be held October 28th at 6:00 p.m. in room 250.

  1. Finance Committee – Ms. Snyder

·          At the last meeting, the Committee discussed multi-year budgeting using the

Levittown document as a model.  Dr. Morse has already received inquiries from

other Maine schools and the state about the PPS model.

·          Bill Stockmeyer from DWM also presented at last week’s meeting on reserve

accounts.

·          There will be a meeting at City Hall October 8th to discuss work as a school

committee and finance committee.

·          Next meeting will be held September 30th at 5:30 p.m. at PATHS, room to be

determined.

  1. Building Committee –Ms. Thompson and Mr. Caron

·          Updates on the construction of the Ocean Avenue School were given.

·          Next meeting will be held September 10th at 5:30 p.m. in room 209 to discuss

ocean avenue school.

  1. Facilities Task Force – Mr. Caron

·          The adoption of the NESDEC proposal may conclude the work of the Facilities

Task Force. 

·          Mr. Caron thanked the work of the building committee.

  1. Personnel Committee – Ms. Thompson

·          Next meetings are:

-           October 14thPortland High and Deering High

-           October 21st – Casco Bay High School and PATHS

      6.   Curriculum Task Force – Mr. Costa

      ·          The first meeting of the Curriculum Task Force was held on September 22nd.  The

charge of the Task Force was developed at this meeting.

            ·          Next meetings are:

-           October 8th at 5:30 p.m. in room 321 at PATHS.  At this meeting, the

group will review Maine statutes and Portland Schools policies and will

listen to a presentation by Tom Lafavore, Portland Public Schools

Educational Planning Director.

                        -           October 13th to address analytical issued based on the presentation.

 

6.   Other Committees and/or member concerns

·          Mr. Costa attended the District Volunteer Orientation and met with social service

organizations.  Mr. Costa thanked those who do this work throughout the district.

·          Mr. Costa recognized Simon Thompson on being nominated for a “Step Up To

The Plate” award. 

·          Ms. Morrione is part of a group who will be working on ‘visioning’ in the district.

·          Ms. Morrione is also part of a marketing group led by Shoshana Hoose of TV 3. 

·          Ms. Thompson attended the Seeds of Independence meeting as well as a Boys to

Men event.

 

Old Business

1.  Consideration and action to adopt the May 11, 2009 NESDEC Facilities Task Force report.

 

Ms. Thompson Moved and Mr. Costa Seconded to adopt the May 11, 2009 NESDEC

Facilities Task Force report.

 

Mr. Caron spoke to the motion.

 

Vote:  It was Voted unanimously, with students in the majority, to adopt the May 11,

2009 NESDEC Facilities Task Force report.

 

2.         Consideration and Action to approve the Resolution authorizing a review of the

            Elementary School Capital Needs of the Portland Public Schools.

 

Ms. Holton Moved and Ms. Morrione Seconded to approve the Resolution authorizing a

review of the Elementary School Capital Needs of the Portland Public Schools.

 

Mr. Caron spoke to the motion.

 

Ms. Snyder Moved and Ms. Morrione Seconded an amendment to the resolution to read: 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Superintendent of Portland Public Schools

shall deliver a Report of Findings and Recommendations to the Portland School

Committee by July 1, 2010;

 

Vote:  It was Voted 2-6, with students in the majority, to amend the resolution to read: 

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Superintendent of Portland Public Schools

shall deliver a Report of Findings and Recommendations to the Portland School

Committee by July 1, 2010.  Motion fails

 

Returned to the main motion.

 

Vote:  It was Voted unanimously, with students in the majority, to approve the Resolution

authorizing a review of the Elementary School Capital Needs of the Portland Public

Schools.

 

3.         Consideration and action to approve the Resolution authorizing a Review of the

Emergency Preparedness Capital Needs of the Portland Public Schools.

 

Mr. Caron Moved and Mr. Costa Seconded to approve the Resolution authorizing a

Review of the Emergency Preparedness Capital Needs of the Portland Public Schools.

 

Mr. Caron spoke to the motion.

 

Ms. Thompson Moved and Ms. Holton Seconded to amend the resolution to read:

 

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that in order to maintain high standards of

safety and security within the Portland Public Schools, the Superintendent shall undertake

a study of the emergency preparedness of all school buildings and related services with

the goal of identifying capital projects that improve the district’s ability to respond

efficiently, effectively and equitably to emergency situation across the district.

 

Vote:  It was Voted unanimously, with students in the majority, to amend the resolution

to read:

 

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that in order to maintain high standards of

safety and security within the Portland Public Schools, the Superintendent shall undertake

a study of the emergency preparedness of all school buildings and related services with

the goal of identifying capital projects that improve the district’s ability to respond

efficiently, effectively and equitably to emergency situation across the district.

 

Returned to the main motion.

 

Vote:  It was Voted unanimously, with students in the majority, to approve the Resolution

authorizing a Review of the Emergency Preparedness Capital Needs of the Portland

Public Schools as amended.

 

4.         Consideration and Action to approve the Curriculum Task Force Charge.

 

            Mr. Costa Moved and Ms. Thompson Seconded to approve the Curriculum Task Force

Charge.

 

Mr. Costa spoke to the motion.

 

Ms. Morrione motioned and Ms. Thompson Seconded to change the title from the

“Curriculum Task Force” to the “Curriculum and Educational Planning Task Force.”

 

Vote:  It was Voted unanimously, with students in the majority, to change the title from

the “Curriculum Task Force” to the “Curriculum and Educational Planning Task Force.”

 

Returned to the main motion.

 

Vote:  It was Voted 7-1, with students in the majority, to approve the Curriculum Task

Force Charge as amended.

 

New Business

 

1.         First reading of Policy FF – Naming of Facilities.

2.         Consideration and action to appoint Sarah Thompson as the Delegate and Marnie

Morrione as the Alternate Delegate representing Portland Public Schools at the 36th

Annual MSMA  Fall Conference Delegate Assembly on Thursday, October 22, 2009.

 

Ms. Snyder Moved and Ms. Morrione Seconded to appoint Sarah Thompson as the

Delegate and Marnie Morrione as the Alternate Delegate representing Portland Public

Schools at the 36th Annual MSMA  Fall Conference Delegate Assembly on Thursday,

October 22, 2009.

 

Mr. Eglinton spoke to the motion.

 

Vote:  It was Voted unanimously, with students in the majority, to appoint Sarah

Thompson as the Delegate and Marnie Morrione as the Alternate Delegate representing

Portland Public Schools at the 36th Annual MSMA  Fall Conference Delegate Assembly

on Thursday, October 22, 2009.

 

Personnel  

 

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

 


PEA Election – Effective September 14, 2009                                 Contract: Probationary 1

Janice Williams                         .5 Reading & Math/Riverton                               $ 26,677.94*

            BS in Education – Keene State College

 

PEA Election – Effective September 29, 2009                                 Contract: Probationary 1

Janice Boyko                            Speech/Lyseth                                                   $ 45,403.80*

MS in Speech Pathology – Northeastern

 

*Pro-rated amount listed for remainder of school year.

 

Ms. Snyder Moved, Ms. Holton Seconded, and it was Voted unanimously to approve the Personnel items listed.

 

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

 

Public Comment:  Catelyn Blodget addressed the Committee regarding student bussing.

 

Adjournment

 

Ms. Morrione Moved, Ms. Thompson Seconded, and it was Voted unanimously, with students in the majority, to adjourn the business meeting at 9:32 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Dr. James C. Morse, Sr.

Superintendent of Schools