Technology & AI Policy Discussion

Note: Transcripts are generated from video auto-captions. While highly accurate, they are non-official and do not meet State Archivist record-keeping requirements.

• 0:00
  Call to Order

  The meeting is called to order by the chair.
• 0:00
  Roll Call

  The clerk conducts the roll call of board members and student representatives.
• 0:02
  Recognition of Departing Board Member Jennifer Kinney

  The board chair and members thank Jennifer Kinney for her year of service on the board as her term concludes, highlighting her thoughtfulness and significant time commitment, particularly on the Comprehensive Plan Committee.

  • 0:03 Ratliff
    Expresses enjoyment of having Kinney on the board, appreciating her perspective at finance committee meetings and respecting her decision to step down to be with her daughter in her senior year.
  • 0:04 Kinney
    Thanks the board, stating it has been a great opportunity and that she may consider returning in a few years.
  • 0:04 Ryan
    Thanks Kinney for her service and for being a thoughtful seatmate on the board.
  • 0:04 DeAngelis
    Highlights Kinney's huge time commitment as the school board representative on the 2040 Comprehensive Plan Committee, noting the meetings were often long and frequent.
  • 0:05 Schen
    Expresses gratitude for Kinney's role on the comprehensive plan committee and for being a voice for students and the board in those meetings.
• 0:05
  Report of the Student Representative (Eliot Wertheimer)

  Eliot Wertheimer reports on recent events across the district, including a Day of Welcome at Brown School, author visits at Kaler, the middle school's trip to Camp Kieve, and the conclusion of the fall athletic season.
• 0:08
  Student Presentation: Study Abroad Scholarship (Huck Charv)

  SPHS senior Huck Charv presents his initiative to create a scholarship fund for financially disadvantaged students to participate in study abroad programs. He has already raised $1,200 towards a goal of $3,500 and is donating the funds to the school to administer.
• 0:12
  Board Discussion on Student Scholarship

  Board members praise Huck Charv for his initiative, bravery, and generosity in creating the study abroad scholarship. They discuss the importance of such opportunities and suggest ways to structure the selection process.

  • 0:13 Rosemarie DeAngelis
    Commends Huck for his creative and commendable idea, noting how it addresses her concerns about equity for economically disadvantaged students who might not otherwise have such opportunities.
  • 0:15 Schen
    Shares that she also studied abroad in high school and is proud of Huck for thinking of others so they can have the same formative experience.
  • 0:15 Ratliff
    Echoes that being an exchange student was life-transforming and suggests that school language clubs could also fundraise to make trips more affordable for all students.
  • 0:16 Kabisa
    Asks how students will be selected for the scholarship, and Huck clarifies that he intends for the language teachers to manage the selection process.
  • 0:18 DeAngelis
    Shares that she could not study abroad due to her family's financial situation, making Huck's initiative particularly meaningful to her as a way to bridge that gap for current students.
  • 0:18 Holman
    Expresses pride in Huck's growth and reflectiveness, stating he is the type of student the district wants and is making a great impact by giving back to the community.
• 0:20
  Report of the Superintendent (Mr. Matheney)

  The superintendent begins his report, starting with recognitions for Veterans Day and upcoming appreciation days for school staff.
• 0:20
  Recognition of Veterans (Mr. Matheney)

  The superintendent reads the names of staff members who are military veterans and veterans of AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps to honor their service. He also thanks a high school class for writing cards to residents of the Maine Veterans' Home.
• 0:23
  Recognition of Education Support Professionals (Kat Cox)

  Kat Cox, Director of Instructional Support, speaks about the critical role of Ed Techs and other support professionals. She details their wide range of tasks, from delivering instruction to assisting with daily living activities, and thanks them for their dedication to the district's most at-risk students.
• 0:26
  Recognition of Substitute Educators (Johanna Prince)

  Assistant Superintendent Johanna Prince highlights the essential role of substitute educators, noting they covered over 22,000 hours last year. She thanks them for their flexibility and for bringing diverse expertise into the classroom.
• 0:29
  Referendum Results Update (Mr. Matheney)

  The superintendent thanks voters for passing two of the three school referendums for roof replacements and secure vestibules. He notes the district will pause and re-evaluate the athletic complex proposal that did not pass.
• 0:31
  Discussion on High School Graduation Venue

  The Superintendent initiates a discussion about the location for the high school graduation, citing recent weather issues forcing the ceremony indoors and the poor condition of the athletic field. The board considers moving the event to a larger, indoor venue to ensure it can happen as planned and accommodate more guests.

  • 0:31 Mr. Matheney
    Proposes exploring the Cross Insurance Arena as an alternative venue for graduation to avoid weather issues and the limited seating in the gym. He suggests surveying families and students for their input.
  • 0:33 Schen
    Supports surveying parents and students, noting it is a pity when family members cannot attend due to space limitations in the gym.
  • 0:34 Kabisa
    Agrees that the gym is too small, leading to family members being excluded or the space becoming overcrowded and messy. She notes that students she has spoken to also support moving the venue.
  • 0:35 Kinney
    Recalls that South Portland held graduations at the Civic Center in the past, so moving it off-site is not without precedent. She supports surveying families.
  • 0:37 DeAngelis
    Recounts a negative experience at a graduation at the Cross Arena, finding it large and impersonal. She suggests exploring other venues that are larger than the gym but more intimate than the arena.
• 0:42
  Snow Day Policy Update (Mr. Matheney)

  The superintendent outlines the plan for inclement weather, stating the district will not use remote school days for the first five snow days. The first two are built into the calendar, and days three through five will be added to the end of the school year.
• 0:48
  Enrollment Report Update (Mr. Matheney)

  The superintendent reports that current enrollment is 2,821 students, a 4% decrease from the previous year, but notes the decline appears to be leveling off. He also states that regular data reports on attendance and other metrics will resume at the December meeting.
• 0:53
  Public Comment on Agenda Items

  Representatives from the South Portland Teachers Association address the board regarding the new snow day plan, expressing concerns about the change from remote learning days and offering to collaborate on a new plan.

  • 0:54 Karine Altham
    Speaking for the SPTA, she notes that teachers made plans based on the calendar provided in the spring and the recent practice of using remote days. She raises concerns about the lack of clarity and equity resulting from the sudden change to adding days at the end of the year.
  • 0:57 Abby Anderson
    Continuing for the SPTA, she urges the board to partner with educators to create a more effective and equitable snow day plan. She suggests that the previous remote day model was flawed but could be improved with collaboration, rather than being abandoned entirely.
• 0:59
  Consent Agenda Vote

  The board unanimously approves the consent agenda, which includes meeting minutes, the hiring of Kate Perry as the new Director of Finance, and the acceptance of several donations.
• 1:01
  Finance Committee Report (Ratliff)

  The committee reports that after one-third of the fiscal year, the budget is on track with 31.1% of funds spent. The committee welcomed new finance director Kate Perry to the meeting.
• 1:02
  Policy Committee Report (Schen)

  The committee presents several policies for a second read and vote, noting they are part of an ongoing effort to clean up and update the district's policy manual. The process is about halfway complete.
• 1:05
  New Business: Policy Votes

  The board holds separate, unanimous votes to approve three policies after their second read: Policy ECB (Pest Management), Policy ECB-E2 (Notice of Planned Pesticide Application), and Policy KF (Community Use Facilities).
• 1:06
  Ratification of Service Employees Association Contract

  Board members who served on the negotiating committee and the superintendent comment on the successful and collaborative process of reaching a new contract agreement with the Service Employees Association before the board's unanimous ratification vote.

  • 1:06 Rosemarie DeAngelis
    Thanks both negotiating teams for a professional, cooperative, and productive process that was free of tension. She notes the meetings were pleasant and she was pleased with the outcome.
  • 1:07 Susan Rauscher
    Agrees that it was an enjoyable and well-led process with good dialogue, resulting in a positive outcome.
  • 1:08 Mr. Matheney
    Highlights the strong advocacy of union president Jennifer Lessard, who represented her members' interests effectively while maintaining a collaborative environment. He states the result is a fair contract for both sides.
• 1:09
  New Business: Board Officer Nominations

  The board opens nominations for the positions of Board Chair and Vice Chair for the upcoming term. Molly Schen is nominated for Chair, and Tandy Ratliff is nominated for Vice Chair, with the vote to occur at the December inauguration.
• 1:11
  Public Comment - Open Discussion

  A citizen speaks during the open comment period.

  • 1:12 Tara Pier
    Thanks the school district for its continued focus on mental health, noting the robust resources provided to families in recent communications. She highlights the progress made in student-led initiatives and curriculum updates to support student well-being.
• 1:15
  Tribute to South Portland Educators (Rosemarie DeAngelis)

  Board member Rosemarie DeAngelis reads a lengthy and emotional tribute to past and present South Portland educators, sharing dozens of comments from a social media post where former students recalled teachers who made a significant impact on their lives.
• 1:21
  Adjournment

  The board unanimously votes to adjourn the meeting at 7:27 PM.