Special Meeting

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 and Roll Call

  The meeting is called to order, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and a roll call of board members.
• 0:02
  Robotics Team Recognition (Timothy Matheney)

  Superintendent Matheney introduces the SPHS Robotics Team 58, the Riot Crew, to recognize their successful season and trip to the world championships in Houston.
• 0:03
  Robot Demonstration (Team 58)

  Students from the robotics team demonstrate their robot's capabilities, including picking up and placing game pieces and shooting balls. They explain that their robot's versatility in handling multiple game pieces placed them in the top 3% of teams worldwide.
• 0:06
  Team Season Overview (Sam Stocks)

  Senior team member Sam Stocks describes the team's year-long process, from the game reveal in January to brainstorming, prototyping, and competing. He recounts their success at regional competitions, the New England Championships, and their performance at the world championships in Houston.
• 0:09
  Board Comments on Robotics Team

  Board members congratulate the robotics team on their success and for representing South Portland so well.

  • 0:09 DeAngelis
    Ms. DeAngelis recalls visiting the team's practice and expresses how exciting it is to see them present to the board. She congratulates them and encourages efforts to recruit more young women to the team.
  • 0:10 Schen
    Dr. Schen notes she was moved by the teamwork, strategy, and even politics involved in the competitions. She expresses that she didn't realize robotics prepared students for life in such a full way.
  • 0:10 Ratliff
    Ms. Ratliff mentions her husband is a robotics judge and has spoken very highly of the team's professionalism and problem-solving skills. She thanks them for representing the city so well.
• 0:11
  Certificate Presentation to Robotics Team

  Superintendent Matheney presents certificates to the team's mentors, coaches, and student members, congratulating them on an amazing season.
• 0:20
  Report of the Chair

  The chair announces the next regular board meeting on June 9th and the school budget referendum on June 10th. She also notes that interviews for a vacant school board seat will be held on May 13th.
• 0:21
  Report of the Student Representative (Eliot Wertheimer)

  Superintendent Matheney reads the report from student representative Eliot Wertheimer, who was absent. The report highlights Teacher Appreciation Week, community-building events at various schools, and sustainability initiatives like new garden beds at Brown Elementary.
• 0:25
  Student Representative's Farewell (Eliot Wertheimer)

  In his final report, Eliot Wertheimer thanks the school board members and Superintendent Matheney for their advice and support over the past year. He expresses gratitude for the opportunity and the lessons learned during his service.
• 0:26
  Report of the Superintendent (Timothy Matheney)

  Superintendent Matheney recognizes the district's food service employees for their hard work, noting School Lunch Hero Day. He also provides an enrollment update, stating the current number is 2,834 students, with an expected decrease next year due to a large graduating class.
• 0:29
  Introduction to Audit Report (Timothy Matheney)

  The superintendent introduces the FY24 audit report, noting that a response document has been released and a new business office page is being created on the district website. He also provides an update on the ongoing search for a permanent finance director and mentions measures taken like a budget freeze to prevent overspending in the current fiscal year.
• 0:32
  Audit Report Presentation (Johanna Prince)

  Assistant Superintendent Johanna Prince provides an overview of the audit process and explains the key findings. She details three areas for improvement from the management letter: cash procedures at the high school, payroll procedures, and journal entry controls, along with the district's corrective actions.
• 0:37
  Audit Findings: Material Weaknesses (Johanna Prince)

  Dr. Prince explains the material weaknesses found in the audit. These include issues with the reconciliation of grants, errors in employee benefit withholdings (health, dental, retirement), and an accounting error in the year-end payroll accrual.
• 0:44
  Audit Findings: Compliance and Federal Grants (Johanna Prince)

  Dr. Prince discusses the compliance finding related to overspending the budget in FY24 and findings related to federal grants. These include issues with allowable costs in Title I and time-and-effort documentation for ESSER-funded employees.
• 0:48
  Board Discussion on Audit Report

  Board members ask clarifying questions to Superintendent Matheney, Assistant Superintendent Prince, and Tim Gill of the auditing firm RKO regarding the audit findings and the district's response.

  • 0:51 DeAngelis
    Ms. DeAngelis asks for clarification on the consequences of overspending and where the funds to cover the overage come from. She also asks if the hiring of a permanent finance director is expected to remedy many of the oversight issues.
  • 0:56 Ratliff
    Ms. Ratliff asks if some of the findings from the FY24 audit were repeat issues from the FY23 audit that were not fixed. She also asks about the sample size used for testing employee pay stubs.
  • 1:00 Rauscher
    Ms. Rauscher, speaking as a finance committee member, expresses that the committee takes fiscal management seriously but could not have caught these accounting errors. She states her confidence in the administration's new plan for monthly internal reconciliation and the need to hold the future finance director accountable.
• 1:04
  SPHS Progress Report (Sarah Glenn)

  South Portland High School Principal Sarah Glenn presents an update on progress in attendance, behavior, and academics. She reports a 3% drop in chronic absenteeism and shares motivating quotes from seniors who have improved their attendance.
• 1:09
  SPHS Behavior and Academic Update (Sarah Glenn)

  Principal Glenn reports a significant decrease in out-of-school suspensions, attributing it to the implementation of PBIS and a new flowchart for responding to behavior. She also shares data showing growth in average SAT scores and details a new pre- and post-assessment pilot in the math department to better track student learning.
• 1:15
  Consent Agenda and New Business Introduction (Timothy Matheney)

  The superintendent reads the items on the consent agenda, including meeting minutes, donations, and a long list of personnel elections for continuing contracts. He also gives special recognition to retiring SPHS Band Director Craig Uffington for his 30 years of service.
• 1:28
  Public Comment on Agenda Items

  The first public comment period opens, with numerous speakers addressing the board regarding the non-renewal of contracts for two teachers, which falls under the personnel items on the consent agenda. Speakers include parents, fellow teachers, and other district staff, all advocating for the board to reconsider the decision.

  • 1:30 Shane McRay
    A parent speaks about the exceptional support a pre-K teacher provided his family during a difficult time. He states that losing this teacher would remove a key source of stability and emotional support for his children and asks the board to reconsider her non-renewal.
  • 1:32 Nicholas Boggs
    A parent and Ed Tech at Dyer Elementary speaks on behalf of two educators whose contracts are not being renewed. He highlights the tremendous skillset and passion both individuals bring to their roles and warns that losing them would be a significant setback for the district.
  • 1:34 Kendra Beach
    A pre-K teacher speaks in support of her colleague, describing her as a dedicated, passionate, and highly qualified special educator who has been instrumental in supporting the entire pre-K program. She urges the board to seek more information before losing an incredible team member.
  • 1:38 Theresa Amos
    A pre-K staff member reads a statement from a kindergarten teacher, Emily Cushing, who was on the hiring committee for one of the non-renewed teachers. The statement praises the teacher's warmth, knowledge, and deep care for her students, calling her a "rare find" and an asset to the school.
  • 1:43 Adam Beach
    An ESOL Ed Tech and husband of a pre-K teacher describes the positive impact a non-renewed co-teacher had on his wife's job satisfaction and the classroom environment. He questions the decision to let go of such a dedicated and collaborative educator, suggesting it may be due to ego rather than performance.
  • 1:46 Laura Croley Mara
    A parent and occupational therapist expresses her shock at the non-renewal of a pre-K teacher whose skills she deeply respects. She emphasizes the massive need for experienced special education teachers and states that the district would be failing its children by letting this teacher go.
  • 1:48 Stephanie Edwards
    One of the non-renewed teachers addresses the board directly, stating she received no meaningful feedback or support to improve throughout the year, despite facing significant challenges. She asks for fairness, accountability, and a system that truly supports its educators.
  • 1:50 Melissa Wood Low
    A pre-K teacher with over a decade of experience in the district speaks about the critical need for a special education leader in the early childhood program. She describes the non-renewed teacher as the knowledgeable and expert leader the team had been missing for years.
  • 1:53 Carly Burke
    A pre-K teacher, while thanking the board for her own continuing contract, expresses that her colleague who is not being renewed should be standing alongside her. She describes the teacher as brave, courageous, and a critical part of a team that feels incomplete without her.
  • 1:55 Ellie Hills
    A former district employee, now a nurse, speaks about how working with one of the non-renewed special education teachers inspired her career path. She describes the teacher as someone who connects, uplifts, and gives students the confidence to thrive.
• 1:58
  Board Reports

  Board members provide updates from the Finance, Buildings & Grounds, and Policy committees. The Finance Committee reports the district is carefully managing spending to end the year in the black, while the Policy Committee report leads to a motion to table the concussion policy for further review.
• 2:09
  New Business and Votes

  The board votes on several items, including approving the consent agenda, tabling one policy, and approving a new superintendent job description and several other administrative job descriptions.
• 2:10
  Public Comment - Open Discussion

  The final public comment period opens for topics not on the agenda.

  • 2:12 Rosemary Angelos
    A citizen thanks the previous speakers for sharing their voices regarding the non-renewed educators. She speaks about the power of implicit bias and the importance of encouraging outspokenness and providing a supportive, mentoring environment for all employees to succeed.
• 2:13
  Board Communications and Adjournment

  Board members share final communications, including excitement for an upcoming Special Olympics event and praise for the outgoing student representative. The board also discusses requests for future DEI training and a workshop on the budget process before voting to adjourn.