Draft: December 14, 2009

                                    Approved: Feb.3, 2010

                              Under Report of the Secretary: December 2, 2009

 

Mr. Eglinton called the meeting to order at 7pm.

 

Members present: Justin Costa, Marnie Morrione, Rebecca Minnick, Robert O’Brien,

Ness Smith-Savedoff, Simon Thompson, Sarah Thompson, Kate Snyder, Jaimey Caron,

Elizabeth Holton, Peter Eglinton ,John Gjika (arrived at 7:05pm) 

 

Public Hearing:

Mr. Eglinton spoke to the public hearing on the superintendent's proposed plan for addressing a state curtailment of $2.7million.

 

Ms. Snyder spoke briefly regarding the finance subcommittee meeting held on Nov. 24th. 

 

Public Comment:  Kathleen Casasa and Steven Scharf spoke to the Committee regarding the budget curtailment.

Report of the Chairperson: Mr. Eglinton:

 

•     Recognized outgoing school committee members, Rebecca Minnick, Robert  O’Brien and student representatives John Gjika, Simon Thompson and Ness Smith-Savedoff

 

Report of the Superintendent: Dr. Morse:

• Announced resignation effective January 4, 2010:  Nancy Sullivan, Data Literacy Spec/Clifford .2FTE of 1.0

 

• Spoke to the many initiatives that are currently in process.  

 

 

Report of the Secretary: None

 

Report of the Committees

1.    Policy Committee/Legislative Affairs  - Ms. Morrione briefly reviewed the

Annual Report of the Policy Subcommittee.  

 

2.    Finance Committee – Ms. Snyder – briefly reviewed the Annual Report of the Finance Subcommittee.

 

3.    Building Committee – Ms. Thompson – no report.

 

4.    Personnel Committee – Ms. Thompson – briefly reviewed the Annual Report of the Personnel Committee.

 

5.    Other Committees and/or member concerns:  Simon Thompson –thanked Portland High School community, PPS staff, and the School Committee for his experience as a representative to the School Committee.  Congratulated the incoming student representatives to the Committee.

 

 

Ms. Thompson – announced an initiative with Jaimey Caron researching other avenues of funding sports programs in the district.  Boston Public School system has founded a non-profit Boston Scholar Athlete Foundation. This group has been invited to Portland to discuss their program and ways that Portland may emulate their foundation.

Ness Smith-Savedoff – thanked the Committee for his experiences as a student representative.

 

Ms. Morrione – thanked Policy Subcommittee members for their work during this year.

 

Consent Items: Superintendent Morse reviewed donations and thanked the contributors

 

Old Business

1. Consideration and action to approve policy BDE Standing Committees, Special Committees, Joint Committees, and Involvement of City-Sponsored Committees.

 

Ms Holton moved, seconded Ms. Morrione to approve policy BDE Standing Committees, Special Committees, Joint Committees, and Involvement of City-Sponsored Committees

 

Ms. Morrione spoke to the motion.

 

Vote: It was voted 9-0 to approve policy BDE Standing Committees, Special Committees, Joint Committees, and Involvement of City-Sponsored Committees (Students voted with the majority)

 

New Business

1.    Consideration and action to approve an out of country field trip April 16-25, 2010 to Spain and France for 16 Portland High School students

 

Mr. O’Brien moved, seconded  Ms. Minnick to approve an out of country field trip April 16-25, 2010 to Spain and France for 16 Portland High School students.

 

Superintendent Morse and Sue Olafson spoke to the motion.

 

Vote: It was voted 9-0 to approve an out of country field trip April 16-25, 2010 to Spain and France for 16 Portland High School students (Students voted with the majority)

 

2.    Consideration and action  to accept the Finance Committee’s recommendations on the superintendent’s response to a $2.7 million curtailment.

 

Ms. Thompson moved, seconded  Ms. Minnick to accept the Finance Committee’s recommendations on the superintendent’s response to a $2.7 million curtailment.

 

Ms. Snyder spoke to the motion.

 

Mr. Mallory provided an overview of the potential savings for transporting special education students by replacement of taxis, full size school buses, etc with three school

vans.

 

Public Comment:  Steven Scharf spoke to motion.

 

Superintendent Morse mentioned that Mr. Gray, City Manager, and Ms. Sanborn,

Finance Director, have indicated that use of CIP funds are under the auspicious of the School Committee.

 

Amendment:

Ms. Snyder moved, seconded  Mr. Costa to split the motion.

 

Vote: It was voted 9-0 to split the motion (Students voted with majority)

 

Ms. Snyder moved, seconded Mr. Costa to accept the Finance Committee’s recommendation that the superintendent be authorized to proceed with the stated transportation savings identified in his response to the curtailment packet of which can be immediately realized.

 

Vote: It was voted 8-1 to accept the Finance Committee’s recommendation that the superintendent be authorized to proceed with the stated transportation savings identified in his response to the curtailment packet of which can be immediately realized. (Students voted with majority)

 

Ms. Snyder moved, seconded Mr. Costa to accept and approve the Finance Committee’s recommendation to direct the superintendent to revise the Summary of Savings at of K­12 cost centers and other education programs/departments in response to the FY2010 curtailment resolution, with qualitative back up information for School Committee consideration on December 16, 2009.

 

Vote: It was voted  9-0 to accept and approve the Finance Committee’s recommendation to direct the superintendent to revise the Summary of Savings of K-12 cost centers and other education programs/departments in response to the FY2010 curtailment resolution, with qualitative back-up information for School Committee consideration on December 16, 2009. (Students voted with majority)

 

Personnel

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

a.    Leave of Absence: Effective September 2, 2010

Clara Jean Howard ESL/Moore Personnel

 

Ms. Holton moved, seconded Ms. Minnick and voted 9-0 to approve the Personnel items listed. (Students abstained)

 

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

 

 

Cafeteria   .2813 Riverton    $2836.18*  Local       This elementary school is a  

Worker I                      $4772.25               satellite schools feeding 300+

                                                      Lunches a day.

                                                      The daily number of meals at                                                        this site calls                                                               for the full staffing at the                                                        budgeted level. This is not a                                                       site where I can reduce labor.

Building    1.0   Portland   $12,604.80*             This position working Mon-Fri.

Custodian II                        $30,222.40Annual        6am to 2:30pm , is responsible for

                                                      cleaning and maintaining designated areas                                                       of building including cafeterias after                                                             breakfast and lunch.  Custodian is available                                                  to meet daily needs and demands of staff                                                    and student in a large learning                                                          environment.

 

Building    .5    Moore       $6,302.40*              This position working Mon-Fri.

Custodian II                        $15,111.12Annual        12pm to 4pm is responsible for cleaning                                                    the cafeteria after lunch and has a                                                           classroom area to clean.  This position has                                                      been vacant since May 2009 due to a long                                                     term illness.

 

Building          1.0   District          $12,604.80*       This position working Mon-Fri.

Custodian II            (this position will be created by$30,222.40Annual           4pm to 12:30am is responsible for

                   moving someone into the                        cleaning and maintaining designated areas

                   FT BC II position above)                       of building, to provide a clean,safe learning

                                                      Environment

 

Public Comment: Steven Scharf spoke to the motion.

 

Ms. Holton moved, seconded Ms. Thompson and voted 8-1 to authorize the hiring

process to begin for the vacancies listed. (Students abstained)

 

Public Comment prior to 11pm on any items not on the evening’s agenda

Kathleen Casasa spoke to the Committee regarding out of country field trip policy and

teachers who have achieved National Board Certification.

 

Steven Scharf spoke about Jim Rier’s presentation two weeks ago regarding number of

students in the Portland Public School system – resident student vs. attending students.

 

Adjournment

Ms. Thompson moved, seconded Ms. Holton and voted 9-0 to adjourn the business

meeting at 9:37pm. (Students voted with majority)

 

Executive Session

Consideration and action to move into Executive Session to discuss the superintendent’s

evaluation, pursuant to 1 MRSA §405(6)(A).

 

At approximately 9:50pm Ms. Minnick moved, seconded Mr. O'Brien and voted

7-0 to move into Executive Session to discuss the superintendent’s evaluation, pursuant

to 1 MRSA §405(6)(A). (2 people were out of the room at the time of the vote)

 

At 10:39 p.m. Ms. Morrione moved, seconded Mr. O'Brien and voted 9-0 to come out of

Executive Session

 

Respectfully submitted,

Dr. James C. Morse, Sr.

Superintendent