August 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 (Angela Atkinson Duina)

  Superintendent Angela Atkinson Duina calls the meeting to order and conducts the roll call of board members and student representatives. All board members are present, while Student Representative Ms. Rios Blas is absent.
• 0:00
  Pledge of Allegiance (Rosemary DeAngelis)

  Chair Rosemary DeAngelis invites the board and public to stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. The assembly stands and recites the pledge together.
• 0:01
  Chair's Report (Rosemary DeAngelis)

  Chair Rosemary DeAngelis shares key dates for the upcoming school year, including teacher return days and the first days of school for various grades. She also announces that the district will provide quarterly written financial updates to the City Council to improve communication.
• 0:03
  Superintendent's Report Introduction (Angela Atkinson Duina)

  Superintendent Angela Atkinson Duina introduces the topics for the superintendent's report, including athletic fields, enrollment, elementary reconfiguration, and the cell phone policy. She welcomes members of the leadership team to assist with the presentations.
• 0:04
  Athletic Complex Update (Todd Livingston)

  Athletic Director Todd Livingston provides an update on the South Portland High School Athletic Complex, noting the project is on time and on budget. He outlines the design details, including track jump areas, permanent restrooms, and energy-efficient LED lighting that meets Dark Sky initiatives.
• 0:10
  Board Discussion on Athletic Complex

  The board discusses the athletic complex update, focusing on the construction timeline, the RFP process, and the maintenance of the natural grass field.

  • 0:10 Ms. Richardson
    Ms. Richardson expresses excitement about the project and asks about the construction timeline and whether a builder has been officially engaged through an RFP process.
  • 0:12 Ms. Holman
    Ms. Holman asks when the fields will be playable once construction is completed, noting the potential impact of weather on laying the track.
  • 0:13 Rosemary DeAngelis
    Chair DeAngelis asks how Activitas was selected as the general contractor and inquires about the maintenance plans for the natural grass field.
• 0:15
  Middle School Field Update (Mike Nalli)

  Director of Operations and Safety Mike Nalli reports that the South Portland Middle School Field is safe and ready for fall soccer and field hockey. He recommends keeping use internal to school activities and middle school sports for the fall, avoiding weekend travel tournaments.
• 0:16
  Board Discussion on Middle School Field

  The board discusses the steps taken to prepare the middle school field and the arrangements made for athletic practices while other fields are under construction.

  • 0:16 Ms. Richardson
    Ms. Richardson asks for a summary of the steps taken to get the field ready and seeks reassurance regarding the safety of the playing surface.
  • 0:18 Rosemary DeAngelis
    Chair DeAngelis asks about the alternative arrangements made for high school athletic practices and games while the stadium field is unavailable.
• 0:20
  Enrollment Update (Angela Atkinson Duina)

  Superintendent Angela Atkinson Duina presents the latest enrollment data, showing a slight increase of 20 students compared to last year, though the long-term trend points downward. She notes that high kindergarten enrollment at Small Elementary School will require adding a new classroom and utilizing a portable building.
• 0:24
  Board Discussion on Enrollment

  The board discusses the enrollment trends, class size guidelines, and the implications of using a portable building at Small Elementary School.

  • 0:24 Ms. Richardson
    Ms. Richardson asks for clarification on the kindergarten class size ratios and expresses interest in tracking how the administration addresses class size overages.
  • 0:26 Mr. Feller
    Mr. Feller asks about the discrepancy between declining elementary enrollment and increasing middle school enrollment, noting it could be statistical noise.
  • 0:28 Ms. Holman
    Ms. Holman seeks clarification on the kindergarten enrollment numbers and how many classrooms currently exceed the recommended guidelines.
• 0:29
  Personal Electronic Devices Policy (Angela Atkinson Duina)

  Superintendent Angela Atkinson Duina outlines the implementation plan for the new personal electronic devices policy, which enforces a bell-to-bell ban. She explains the age-appropriate routines for elementary, middle, and high school students, as well as the legally required exceptions.
• 0:39
  Board Discussion on Cell Phone Policy

  The board discusses the cell phone policy implementation, focusing on administrator alignment, potential limitations, and the impact on high school students.

  • 0:39 Mr. Feller
    Mr. Feller asks if building administrators are aligned on the recommendations and inquires about the perceived limitations of the locked-and-away approach.
  • 0:42 Ms. Richardson
    Ms. Richardson asks if the state allocation of approximately $5,800 is sufficient to cover the cost of purchasing lockboxes for the high school.
  • 0:42 Ms. Holman
    Ms. Holman clarifies how devices will be collected at the high school and thanks the student representatives and staff in advance for their efforts to implement the policy.
  • 0:44 Rosemary DeAngelis
    Chair DeAngelis emphasizes that the board's role is to enforce the state statute while allowing building administrators the flexibility to manage daily procedures.
• 0:45
  Homelessness Prevention Program and Resignations (Angela Atkinson Duina)

  Superintendent Angela Atkinson Duina announces that the district received a $40,000 MaineHousing Student Homelessness Prevention Program award. She also reads the list of recent staff resignations, including principals from Dyer and Skillin elementary schools.
• 0:47
  Board Discussion on Homelessness Grant

  The board discusses the details of the homelessness prevention grant, clarifying how the funds differ from other state allocations and how they will be distributed.

  • 0:47 Ms. Richardson
    Ms. Richardson asks if this grant is the same as the McKinney-Vento funding discussed during the winter budget process.
  • 0:48 Jo Prince
    Assistant Superintendent Johanna Prince clarifies that the grant is a competitive award providing direct aid to families for rent and utilities, managed by the district's McKinney-Vento liaison.
• 0:50
  Elementary Reconfiguration Update (Johanna Prince)

  Assistant Superintendent Johanna Prince presents findings from the elementary reconfiguration steering committee's recent workshops and community engagements. She highlights that diversity, socioeconomic balance, and school stability are top priorities for the community, and outlines the upcoming timeline for surveys and forums.
• 0:59
  Board Discussion on Reconfiguration

  The board discusses the reconfiguration timeline, the role of the consulting firm Sebago Technics, and the specific scenarios that will be presented to the public.

  • 0:59 Mr. Feller
    Mr. Feller asks about the engagement of Sebago Technics for GIS modeling and inquires about the specific actions the board will vote on in November.
  • 1:03 Ms. Richardson
    Ms. Richardson asks about the timeline for Sebago Technics to deliver data and emphasizes the importance of including financial modeling in the presented options.
  • 1:06 Ms. Holman
    Ms. Holman asks about community participation rates and inquires about the methods used to distribute the survey to families and early childhood providers.
• 1:12
  Public Comment

  Members of the public address the board on various topics, including safety concerns regarding portables, peer respect, athletic complex costs, and reconfiguration data.

  • 1:13 Maureen Richards
    Maureen Richards, a teacher at Small School, expresses concern about using a portable classroom due to safety and security inequities compared to the main building's secure vestibule.
  • 1:17 Bryce Rodriguez
    Bryce Rodriguez, an incoming eighth-grade student, reads an essay he wrote about the importance of peer respect, kindness, and inclusion in middle school.
  • 1:20 Miranda Rodriguez
    Miranda Rodriguez, a parent and special education ed tech, praises her son Bryce's courage and calls on parents, staff, and the board to actively support student mental health.
  • 1:23 Sarah Gay
    Sarah Gay, president of the South Portland Teachers Association, asks if the middle school field was cleared of construction debris before grass was planted and welcomes new administrators.
  • 1:24 Carl Parsons
    Carl Parsons, a resident running for school board, advocates for empathy-based policy, direct housing support, and creative solutions for elementary reconfiguration.
  • 1:27 Aidan Renahan
    Aidan Renahan, a steering committee member, asks Chair DeAngelis to clarify her comments on student outcomes and raises questions about cost control for the athletic complex.
  • 1:30 Margaret Williams
    Margaret Williams, a South Portland resident, requests that the school board present clear, evidence-based data at the upcoming community forums to explain their decisions.
• 1:31
  Board Response to Public Comment (Rosemary DeAngelis)

  Chair Rosemary DeAngelis responds to public comments, noting that Mike Nalli will address security concerns privately with Maureen Richards and investigate the middle school field debris. She thanks Bryce Rodriguez for his powerful message and addresses questions regarding reconfiguration and athletic complex funding limits.
• 1:36
  Finance Committee Report (Ms. Holman)

  Ms. Holman presents the finance committee report, noting a projected end-of-year fund balance between $71,151 and $168,508. She highlights the start of fiscal year 2027 and outlines the schedule for quarterly financial updates to the City Council.
• 1:41
  Policy Committee Report (Rosemary DeAngelis)

  Chair Rosemary DeAngelis reports that the August policy committee minutes will be approved at the September meeting. She introduces the first reading of Policy JIJC - R: Rules and Regulations for Personal Electronic Devices.
• 1:42
  Buildings and Grounds Committee Report (Daniel Feller)

  Mr. Feller reports that he personally walked the middle school field and sampled ten spots, finding no evidence of construction debris. He notes that the playing surface looks to be in excellent condition.
• 1:42
  Consent Agenda Vote (Rosemary DeAngelis)

  Chair Rosemary DeAngelis calls for a vote on the consent agenda, which includes meeting minutes, personnel elections, and a donation from the Portland Regional Chamber. The motion passes unanimously.
• 1:44
  Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Vote (Rosemary DeAngelis)

  Chair Rosemary DeAngelis calls for a vote to approve the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan as required by Policy EBCA: Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan. The motion passes unanimously.
• 1:45
  First Read of Policy JIJC-R Vote (Rosemary DeAngelis)

  Chair Rosemary DeAngelis calls for a vote to accept the first reading of Policy JIJC - R: Rules and Regulations for Personal Electronic Devices. The motion passes unanimously.
• 1:45
  Second Public Comment Period (Rosemary DeAngelis)

  Chair Rosemary DeAngelis opens the second public comment period. No members of the public come forward to speak, and the comment period is closed.
• 1:46
  Board Communication (Rosemary DeAngelis)

  Chair Rosemary DeAngelis shares her recent attendance at the Skillin playground meetup and the Construction Academy graduation. She notes that she won a picnic table at the graduation and donated it to South Portland High School.
• 1:48
  Adjournment (Rosemary DeAngelis)

  Chair Rosemary DeAngelis adjourns the meeting without objection. The meeting is officially concluded.