October Regular 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

  Chair Ratliff calls the meeting to order, and a roll call of the board members and student representatives is conducted.
• 0:03
  Update on Labor Negotiations (Chair Ratliff)

  The Board Chair provides an update on the status of contract negotiations with the ed tech and teacher unions. She states that the ed tech negotiations are in mediation and the teachers have filed for fact-finding, but the board remains committed to a fair resolution.
• 0:06
  Student Representative Report (Angela Kabisa)

  Student Representative Angela Kabisa reports on recent activities across the district, including fundraisers at Brown Elementary, community meetings at Kaler, field trips at Dyer, and the fall attendance challenge and homecoming week preparations at the high school.
• 0:10
  Superintendent's Report (Dr. Entwistle)

  Dr. Entwistle discusses a request for better accessibility regarding speaking pace and microphone use, announces the upcoming School Bus Safety and Bus Driver Appreciation Week, and reports current student enrollment at 2,747. He also notes the formation of a Calendar Committee to review potential new holidays.
• 0:15
  Athletics Update (Todd Livingston)

  Athletic Director Todd Livingston provides an update, starting with recognition for National Coaches Day. He presents the estimated tax impact for the natural grass and synthetic turf options in the upcoming athletic field referendum and discusses the department's participation in a national quality program assessment to audit its practices.
• 0:21
  Agenda Preview (Dr. Entwistle)

  The Superintendent briefly previews the items on the consent agenda, including meeting minutes, personnel appointments, and donations, as well as the new business item concerning the SPMS overnight field trip.
• 0:23
  Public Comment on Agenda Items

  The first public comment period begins, with numerous speakers addressing the board. The majority of speakers are teachers, staff, parents, and community members expressing strong support for the teachers' union in their contract negotiations and urging the board to reach a fair agreement.

  • 0:24 Priscilla Dramond
    Speaking on the athletic field referendum, she advocates for the natural grass option, citing concerns about the higher cost, environmental impact of plastics and PFAs, recycling difficulties, and heat dangers associated with synthetic turf.
  • 0:28 Mary Lineman
    She expresses support for the teachers seeking a new contract. She also urges a 'yes' vote for the athletic field improvements, regardless of the surface chosen, while noting her group will continue to educate the public on the hazards of synthetic turf.
  • 0:30 Sarah Gay
    As SPTA President, she states that teachers have been working without a new contract for 36 days and have filed for fact-finding. She outlines key unresolved issues, including reduction-in-force procedures, leave time guidelines, and retroactive pay.
  • 0:33 Stephanie Edwards
    A parent and former district employee, she argues that by not settling the teacher contract, the board is sending a message that it does not value its student-facing staff. She calls for leadership that matches words with actions.
  • 0:35 Sean Lloyd
    As the spouse of a teacher, he speaks about the financial uncertainty and safety concerns his family faces due to the lack of a contract. He criticizes a perceived lack of transparency from the board.
  • 0:38 Kate Porter
    A 6th-grade teacher, she describes the financial and professional stress the contract situation is causing educators. She shares examples of colleagues struggling to afford medical care or working multiple jobs and fears experienced teachers will leave the district.
  • 0:40 Daniel Feller
    A candidate for the school board, he briefly introduces himself and expresses his interest in listening to the community.
  • 0:41 Diane Baker
    An 8th-grade teacher, she contrasts the stalled teacher negotiations with the recently approved administrators' contract. She details the generous benefits in the administrator contract to highlight a perceived inequity in how the board is treating different employee groups.
  • 0:44 Jamie Watson
    A PE teacher, she uses an analogy of a recent Taylor Swift album to describe the resilience and exhaustion of teachers. She reiterates the union's core demands for a fair contract, safety, back pay, and seniority protections.
  • 0:47 Cidney Mayes
    A middle school librarian, she speaks of the anxiety and fear for her position caused by the lack of a contract. She also urges the Calendar Committee to make any new holidays full days off, not professional development days.
  • 0:50 Tasha Graff
    A high school English teacher, she expresses bafflement that a district so supportive of public schools is in this position. She invokes the concept of 'areas of moral clarity' to urge the board to act and settle the contract.
  • 0:53 Steph Baltos
    A kindergarten teacher, she connects the contract negotiations to the district's equity commitments, urging the board to interrupt injustice and take action for an equitable contract with urgency.
  • 0:55 Megan Sheehan
    A parent of two high school students, she praises the teachers as the heart and soul of the district. She expresses disappointment that educators are being forced into this situation and urges the board to finalize the contract in their favor.
  • 0:56 Mac Jones
    A special education teacher and SPSD alumnus, he speaks from the unique perspective of having been taught by many of the educators now fighting for a contract. He states that valued teachers lead to valued students.
  • 0:59 Sarah Drake
    As the SPTA's chief negotiator, she clarifies that the most experienced teachers (19+ years) did not receive a step increase. Combined with a 13% health insurance premium hike, many are now earning less than last year.
  • 1:00 Corinne Altham
    A school librarian and SPTA Vice President, she notes a significant number of payroll errors this year. She reminds the board and taxpayers that prolonging negotiations increases legal costs for the district.
  • 1:03 Connie DeSanto
    As President of SPESPA, she clarifies that ed techs and other support professionals at the top of their pay scale also did not receive a step increase. She urges the board to settle all outstanding contracts.
  • 1:04 Abby Anderson
    An SPTA Vice President, she reads a statement from former student representative Elliot Wertheimer. He expresses disappointment that the relationship between the board and teachers has not been mended and calls for educators to be treated with more respect.
• 1:08
  Consent Agenda Approval

  The board thanks the public for their donations. A motion is made and seconded to approve the consent agenda.
• 1:10
  Finance Committee Report (Ms. Holman)

  Ms. Holman reports that 17.2% of the budget has been expended 25% of the way through the fiscal year. She notes that a more complete end-of-year projection, including the impact on the fund balance, will be available for the November meeting.
• 1:13
  Buildings & Grounds Committee Report (Mr. Dowling)

  Mr. Dowling reports on the hiring of a new custodial foreman, the status of the SPMS athletic field, improvements to the SPMS HVAC system, and plans to repair the non-functional EV chargers at the middle school.
• 1:19
  New Business: SPMS Field Trip Approval

  The board discusses and unanimously approves the annual overnight field trip for South Portland Middle School students to Camp Kieve.
• 1:20
  Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items

  The second public comment period opens. Speakers focus primarily on the poor and unusable condition of the athletic field at South Portland Middle School.

  • 1:21 Jamie Watson
    A PE teacher at SPMS, she expresses frustration that the field has been unusable for years, is covered in rocks, and is not being properly maintained. She highlights the negative impact on PE classes and athletic programs that must be bused to other locations.
  • 1:23 Matt Lunt
    A 6th-grade teacher and coach, he corroborates that the SPMS field is not close to being ready for play, with uneven surfaces and ruts. He notes that the lack of a usable home field has led to lost coaching opportunities and is a barrier for student participation in sports.
  • 1:26 Angela Kabisa
    The student representative asks clarifying questions about the negotiation process. She asks for definitions of 'back pay' and 'step' and inquires about how student reps can be kept informed on confidential matters.
  • 1:27 Christus Chin
    A resident and spouse of a teacher, he speaks about the financial strain his family is under without a new contract or a guarantee of back pay. He connects safe working conditions for teachers directly to safe learning conditions for students.
  • 1:29 Peter Wetzel
    A teacher and parent, he argues that the lack of a usable middle school field is detrimental to the high school athletic programs. He states it creates a bottleneck, reducing the number of experienced athletes moving up to the high school level.
  • 1:31 Tanya Ferrante
    A veteran teacher, she explains that as someone at the top of the pay scale, she is not receiving any salary increase under the expired contract. As a single mother paying for college, she expresses concern about her financial stability without a new contract.
• 1:33
  Board Communications

  Board members express their gratitude to the teachers and community members for attending and sharing their perspectives. They acknowledge the emotional testimony, affirm that the speakers have been heard, and state their desire to reach a fair agreement and move forward productively.
• 1:41
  Adjournment

  A motion to adjourn is made, seconded, and passed unanimously.