Draft: October 15, 2008

Approved:Oct. 22, 2008

School Committee meeting October 15,2008

Under Report of the Secretary

Business Meeting

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

Members present: Kate Snyder, Sarah Thompson, Robert O’Brien, Peter Eglinton, John Coyne, Susan Hopkins, Jaimey Caron, Jules Szanton, Joshua Tingley, Rebecca Minnick,

Lori Gramlich, Joel Daley

Report of the Chair

Mr. Coyne:

• Write-in candidates for Districts 4 & 5 - District 4 people Mary Frances O’Brien and Justin Costa; District 5 -Marnie Morrione and Christopher Breen
• Had the opportunity to attend the TURN conference with Adam Urbanski sponsored by the PEA

Report of the Superintendent

Interim Superintendent Whynot-Vickers:

• Acknowledged School Bus Driver Appreciation week Oct. 20-24, 2008. Kevin Mallory introduced Anne-Marie Phanor and David Cole, bus drivers. Mr. Coyne read a proclamation.
• Introduced Derek Pierce, Principal, Casco Bay High School, who spoke on the New England Association of Schools and Colleges accreditation process.

Report of the Secretary

Consideration and action to approve the meeting minutes of the September 17, 2008

Ms. Thompson moved, seconded Ms. Snyder and voted unanimously to approve the meeting minutes of the September 17, 2008 meeting.(Students voted with majority)

Report of Committees

1. Policy Committee/Legislative Affairs – Ms. Snyder – met prior to evening’s meeting. Committee discussed Latin Based grading system.

2. Finance Committee - Mr. Eglinton – Oct. 20^th, 5:30pm. Room 209, joint finance committees will meet to review results of FY08. Oct. 22, 5:30pm the finance committee will meet to review results of FY08 budget and status to date of FY09 budget. Oct. 27^th at City Hall the city council and school committee will meet to discuss the sustainability plan. Ms Whynot-Vickers spoke briefly about memo from Commissioner Gendron regarding $508M shortfall over next two years.
3. Personnel Committee – Ms. Thompson – updated committee on status of superintendent’s search. Oct. 21 the interview panel orientation will be held in room250 CBHS. Nov. 12 Executive Session for school committee to review applications.
4. Building Committee – Mr. Caron – Committee met on Oct. 2^nd. Next meeting is Nov. 6^th , City Hall Council chambers. Oct. 28^th plan goes before Planning Board.
5. Facilities Task Force – Mr. Caron – next meeting scheduled for Oct. 27^th will be moved to Nov. 3^rd , 6pm at Reiche School.
6. Other Committees and/or member concerns

· Ms. Thompson – attended the TURN conference. Mentioned letters received by committee members, but without contact information committee members are unable to respond.

· Ms. Gramlich – asked that beginning with new School Committee in December that attention be given to Leg. Affairs.

Consent Items – Ms. Whynot-Vickers acknowledged donation and thanked the contributors.

Old Business

1. Consideration and action to approve policy CBA – Superintendent’s job description

Ms. Gramlich moved, seconded Mr. Eglinton to approve policy CBA – Superintendent’s job description

Ms. Thompson spoke to agenda item.

Vote: It was voted unanimously to approve policy CBA – Superintendent’s job description. (Students voted with majority)

New Business

1. First reading of proposed names for the new elementary school.

2. First read of Superintendent’s Search Budget

3. First reading of policies:
1. JEA – Compulsory Attendance
2. JEAA – Student Attendance/Student Absences and /Tardiness

4. Consideration and action to appoint Julia Finn as a member of the Comprehensive Maintenance and Facilities Task Force effective Oct. 16, 2008.

Ms. Gramlich moved, seconded Ms. Thompson to appoint Julia Finn as a member of the Comprehensive Maintenance and Facilities Task Force effective Oct.16, 2008.

Vote: It was voted unanimously to appoint Julia Finn as a member of the Comprehensive Maintenance and Facilities Task Force effective Oct.16, 2008. (Students with majority)

5. Consideration and action to appoint Armand Dorazio, BASE union member/bus driver to the Superintendent’s Search Committee interview panel effective Oct. 6, 2008

Ms. Minnick moved, seconded Ms. Thompson to appoint Armand Dorazio, BASE union member/bus driver to the Superintendent’s Search Committee interview panel effective Oct. 6, 2008

Vote: It was voted unanimously to appoint Armand Dorazio, BASE union member/bus driver to the Superintendent’s Search Committee interview panel effective Oct. 6, 2008 (students voted with majority)

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

Position	FTE	Location	Annual Salary (pro-rated)	Funding Source	Rationale
*ELL Instructional Technology Specialist (one year only)	.4	Multilingual	$8,978.40	Grant – Title III	To help accelerate the literacy, numeracy and academic learning gaps of English Language Learners. This position will provide instructional and tech support needed for new programs that have been purchased (Read 180, ISucceed and System 44).
*YOUTHTHINK Coord	.25	Partnership	$8,486.40	Grant	Coord needed to for a youth-driven organization that creates positive change in Portland by empowering young people to speak and to act on issues that affect their lives.
Cafeteria Worker I	.25	Lyseth	$7,634.25	Local	Over the years we have combined and reduced positions to a point where we need each position we have.
Head Custodian	1.0	Reiche	23,517.86	Local	clean and maintain building
Custodian	.5	Deering	8,673.60	Local	clean and maintain building
Custodian	1.0	Moore	17,347.20	Local	clean and maintain building
Custodian	1.0	Longfellow/Riverton	17,347.20	Local	clean and maintain building

Ms. Minnick moved, seconded Ms. Snyder to authorize the hiring process to begin for the vacancies listed.

Ms. Caron moved, seconded Ms. Gramlich to separate positions.

Vote: It was voted 5-4 to separate positions (Students with majority)

Mr. Caron moved, seconded Ms. Gramlich to move forward with six remaining items

Vote: It was voted unanimously to move forward with six remaining items (Students abstained)

Ms. Minnick moved, seconded Mr. O’Brien to authorize the hiring process to begin for the vacancy for YouTHINK Coord.

Mr. Caron moved, seconded Ms. Gramlich to table the hiring process for the vacancy of YouTHINK Coord.

Vote: It was voted 5-4 to table the hiring process for the vacancy of YouTHINK Coord.

All positions in FY09 budget

*Grant funded new position

Personnel – None

Committee Focus on Educational Issues - None

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

None

Adjournment

Ms. Minnick moved, seconded Mr. O’Brien and voted unanimously to adjourn the business meeting at 8:20pm

8:00pm Workshop

1. Facilities Task Force

Respectfully submitted,

Jeanne Whynot-Vickers

Interim Superintendent of Schools