Opening of School Year

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

• 0:03
  Call to Order and Roll Call

  Chair Ratliff calls the meeting to order. A roll call is conducted with all board members and student representatives present.
• 0:04
  Chair's Opening Remarks (Ratliff)

  Chair Ratliff provides standard opening remarks about public proceedings, Robert's Rules of Order, and expectations for decorum. She also discloses her neurodivergence and invites suggestions for accessibility.
• 0:06
  Action Item: Administrators' Contract (George Entwistle)

  Interim Superintendent Entwistle reads the action item to ratify the collective bargaining agreement with the South Portland Administrators Association for 2025-2028.
• 0:07
  Board Discussion on Contract

  The board briefly discusses the administrators' contract before the vote.

  • 0:07 Ms. Richardson
    I appreciate the work done by the former superintendent and former chair. I'm glad to have one contract done, with two more to go, and I appreciate the explanations provided.
• 0:08
  Report of the Chair (Ratliff)

  Chair Ratliff formally welcomes Interim Superintendent George Entwistle. She then announces that she will not be running for re-election due to her family relocating, but will serve out the remainder of her term.
• 0:10
  Report of Student Representatives (Angela Kabisa)

  Angela Kabisa reports on summer activities and preparations for the new school year, including updates on equity work at the middle school, new staff, and the high school open house.
• 0:13
  High School Updates (Angela Kabisa)

  As part of her report, Angela Kabisa details changes at the high school, including a stricter cell phone practice, longer lunch periods, and a welcome for the new assistant principal, Ms. Conyers.
• 0:14
  Board Discussion on Cell Phone Policy

  Board members question the new high school cell phone practice, leading to a discussion about the distinction between administrative practice and board policy.

  • 0:14 Mr. Dowling
    I wonder if we could get more information on the new cell phone policy at the high school, perhaps emailed to us. I know we get questions about that from the public.
  • 0:15 Ms. Ratliff
    Is that policy coming before the policy committee or is it separate? If so, can someone explain that to me?
  • 0:15 Johanna (Asst. Superintendent)
    The current practices are not at odds with the broader board-approved policy. This shift still fits under the policy's umbrella, but the board could consider shifting the policy if they wanted to.
  • 0:16 Ms. Ratliff
    I've been working with a group of parents on this issue. It might be something we put on our policy committee agenda to discuss and get input.
• 0:19
  Report of the Superintendent (George Entwistle)

  Interim Superintendent Entwistle shares his positive initial impressions of the district's staff and leadership. He then announces several staff resignations, including the Director of Food Service, and one retirement.
• 0:22
  Consent Agenda and New Business Preview (George Entwistle)

  The superintendent reads the items on the consent agenda, including approval of minutes, personnel elections, and donations. He also previews the new business items.
• 0:25
  Public Comment on Agenda Items

  The chair opens the floor for public comment on agenda items. No members of the public come forward to speak.
• 0:27
  Vote on Consent Agenda

  The board unanimously approves the consent agenda. Mr. Dowling thanks the donors for their generosity.
• 0:28
  Finance Committee Report (Ms. Holman)

  Ms. Holman reports that the FY25 budget deficit is currently presenting at about $1.6 million. She expresses confidence in the new finance director, Abigail Ketchen, and notes that an audit in mid-September will provide more clarity.
• 0:30
  Buildings & Grounds Committee Report (Mr. Dowling)

  Mr. Dowling reports that summer deep cleaning is going well and that projects like secure vestibules are on schedule. He also notes that soil samples from the middle school athletic field have been taken for analysis.
• 0:32
  Board Discussion on Finance Report

  Board member Rauscher asks a series of detailed questions about the budget deficit, which the new Director of Finance, Abigail Ketchen, addresses.

  • 0:33 Ms. Rauscher
    I'm trying to understand if the overspending was related to Title fund changes or district management. I'm also asking about money in reserve and how new positions are being paid for.
  • 0:36 Abigail Ketchen
    I understand the concern. We've overspent by about $1.9 million, but I urge caution as figures may change after the audit. We need to do more analysis to determine the 'why,' and I am meeting with the city and state to understand our options.
• 0:39
  New Business: Election of Vice Chair

  The board takes up the election of a new Vice Chair. Ms. DeAngelis is nominated by Mr. Dowling, and Ms. Holman nominates herself, leading to a contested election.

  • 0:40 Ms. Holman
    I am nominating myself as a candidate who does not wish to become chair next year. This allows the new board, with four new members, to choose its own leadership without being bound by precedent.
  • 0:41 Ms. DeAngelis
    I am committed to working with everyone on the upcoming budget and other challenges. I hope we can value our differences and work cooperatively to meet the needs of our diverse student population.
  • 0:44 Mr. Dowling
    I support Ms. DeAngelis because experience is very important right now. I have seen her lead many meetings, and she is incredibly organized, prepared, and well-versed in policy.
• 0:53
  Vice Chair Election Result

  After a paper ballot vote, Chair Ratliff announces that Ms. DeAngelis has been elected Vice Chair by a vote of 4 to 2.
• 0:54
  Board Discussion on Referendum Language

  The board discusses proposed changes to the municipal referendum question about the athletic field to ensure clarity for voters.

  • 0:55 Ms. DeAngelis
    I brought this language change forth because the original wording was misleading, using 'turf' for both options. The new language clearly distinguishes between 'natural grass' and 'synthetic turf field' to avoid confusion.
  • 0:57 Mr. Dowling
    I'd like to thank Vice Chair DeAngelis for this. The original language was very unclear, and this change ensures voters can make an informed choice, which is a good move for democracy.
• 1:03
  School Board Communications

  Board members share closing remarks and updates on community events.

  • 1:03 Ms. DeAngelis
    I attended the HiSET graduation, which was very impactful. I also want to share a piece of scratch art made by a 1984 SPHS graduate, Kevin Coughlin, who is now a professional artist, to show the lasting impact of our art programs.
  • 1:10 Ms. Richardson
    I'm thinking about Art in the Park, and I was blown away by the unbelievable talent of our student artists. Also, God bless all the teachers as they receive our wild, feral children back into the classroom for the new school year.
• 1:11
  New Business: Approve Board Meeting Calendar

  The board moves to approve the meeting calendar for the 2025-2026 school year. Mr. Dowling proposes an amendment to move the placeholder for budget workshops to earlier in the year.
• 1:13
  Adjournment

  The board votes unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 7:11 PM.