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 DeAngelis calls the meeting to order, and the superintendent takes the roll call.
• 0:02
  Upcoming Meetings

  The chair announces upcoming meetings, including a workshop on Elementary Reconfiguration on Oct. 26, a presentation on the SPHS Athletic Complex on Oct. 29, and the next regular meeting on Nov. 9.
• 0:03
  Student Representative Report (Sarah Lupien)

  Student Representative Sarah Lupien reports on recent activities across the district, including elementary testing, middle school sports, and high school events. She highlights the high school's 'Active Minds' club, which focuses on mental health awareness.
• 0:05
  Superintendent's Report (Dr. Atkinson Duina)

  The superintendent recognizes Custodian Appreciation Day and the upcoming Maine School Bus Driver Appreciation Week before introducing the main presentations for her report.
• 0:06
  Elementary Reconfiguration Update (Dr. Jo Prince)

  Assistant Superintendent Dr. Jo Prince presents an update on the elementary reconfiguration process, summarizing feedback from two recent community forums. She details survey results on potential 'community investments' and public preference for five different redistricting maps.
• 0:19
  Board Discussion on Reconfiguration

  Board members ask clarifying questions about the reconfiguration presentation data.

  • 0:19 Claire Holman
    Asks for clarification on the total number of survey respondents, which was under 100, and requests to see aggregated data from all surveys conducted, not just the most recent ones.
  • 0:20 Feller
    Inquires if the proposed 'community investments' like an early childhood campus and weighted funding formula would be part of the upcoming budget proposal, which is confirmed.
  • 0:21 Eleni Richardson
    Confirms that a previous, larger survey with over a thousand respondents also informs the process, ensuring the board considers all feedback, not just the most recent, smaller sample.
• 0:23
  Bullying Prevention and Response (Dr. Rebecca Stern)

  SPMS Principal Dr. Rebecca Stern presents the district's K-12 approach to bullying, covering legal definitions, a tiered system of prevention and support (PBIS), and the formal investigation process. She notes that while many incidents are investigated, very few meet the high legal bar to be officially substantiated as bullying.
• 0:39
  Board Discussion on Bullying

  Board members question the low number of substantiated bullying cases and ask for more context on the data.

  • 0:40 Feller
    Expresses disbelief that only one bullying incident was substantiated in the entire district last year and asks for context, questioning if the bar is too high or if there are resource constraints.
  • 0:42 Eleni Richardson
    Asks if the substantiation process is handled entirely within the building and wonders if an independent participant could add objectivity, though Dr. Stern clarifies that administrators consult with district leadership and legal counsel when needed.
• 0:49
  AI Advisory Committee Update (Andy Wallace)

  Director of Technology Andy Wallace provides an update on the AI Advisory Committee. He recaps the previous steering committee's cautious approach and outlines the new committee's goal to deliver comprehensive guidelines, sample lessons, and policy recommendations to the board by January 2027.
• 0:57
  Board Discussion on AI Update

  Board members and student representatives discuss the current state of AI use in the district.

  • 0:57 Eleni Richardson
    Asks for details on how staff understanding of AI is assessed before they are granted access to tools like Gemini, learning that a formal process is developed but not yet widely implemented.
  • 1:03 Sarah Lupien
    Notes that while teachers may use AI for planning, she has not been prompted to use it as a student this year and observes that many teachers have transitioned to paper assignments to avoid AI-related issues.
  • 1:04 Lizeth Rios Blas
    Shares an experience of being required to use Magic School for an essay last year but hasn't seen it since. She questions the use of AI chatbots for language learning when human interaction with native speakers is a more authentic alternative.
• 1:15
  Enrollment Update (Dr. Atkinson Duina)

  The superintendent provides a brief update on current student enrollment, which stands at 2,752 as of October 8th. She notes the count now includes students receiving services off-campus.
• 1:16
  Public Comment (First Session)

  The first public comment session features speakers addressing Ed Tech staffing, a city ordinance related to ICE, the reconfiguration process, AI policy, and public participation rules.

  • 1:17 Connie DeSanto
    Speaking as SPESPA president, she refutes claims that the union is blocking staffing, stating they warned of deep budget cuts and are now in mediation over the impacts of understaffing. She outlines concerns with using more expensive subcontractors instead of hiring district employees directly.
  • 1:22 Carl Parsons
    Asks the school board to pass a resolution clarifying their inclusion in a city ordinance regarding cooperation with ICE to remove ambiguity. He also suggests changing the term 'perpetrator' to 'offender' in bullying discussions and recommends against AI use for younger students.
  • 1:25 Alex
    A parent expresses concern that the reconfiguration decision is being rushed without sufficient data, citing how outcome projections swung by 30% with new data. She asks the board to require a full financial, transportation, and resource plan before making a decision.
  • 1:28 Patty Smith
    Recalls a bomb threat at the high school during the 2024 election and requests the board consider making the 2028 general election day a remote learning day to ensure student and voter safety, as the high school is adjacent to a major polling place.
  • 1:31 Chris Bur
    A teacher and parent speaks in support of teaching students to use AI safely and ethically within the classroom rather than banning it. He advocates for modeling digital literacy and providing scaffolds for students to have focused, reflective interactions with AI tools.
  • 1:32 Bill Newton
    Expresses frustration with the reconfiguration process, feeling it has become 'sound and fury signifying nothing.' He argues the focus has been on balancing socioeconomic numbers on a graph without a clear case for how any proposed map will actually improve individual student outcomes.
  • 1:35 Aiden Renehan
    Criticizes the new public participation policy for limiting public voice by removing the ability to yield time. He offers several suggestions to improve dialogue, such as a public FAQ page, office hours for board members, and allowing written testimony.
  • 1:38 Corinne Altham
    The librarian at Brown Elementary thanks volunteers and donors for supporting the library. She shares that the recent budget cuts have been very difficult and are causing staff to cry at work and at home.
• 1:41
  Committee Reports

  Chairs of the Policy, Buildings & Grounds, and Finance committees provide updates on their recent meetings and upcoming work.
• 1:53
  Consent Agenda

  The board votes to add an item to the consent agenda and then unanimously approves the full agenda, including minutes, personnel elections, and a donation.
• 1:55
  First Read to Rescind Policies

  The board unanimously approves the first reading to rescind nine outdated or redundant policies as part of the annual review process.
• 1:57
  Vote on Policy BEDH (Public Participation)

  The board discusses and approves the second read of Policy BEDH, which removes the ability for public commenters to yield time. The motion passes 4-2.
• 2:03
  Discussion and Withdrawal of AI Moratorium

  The board engages in a lengthy debate over a proposed moratorium on AI use by students. An amendment to limit the ban to K-8 and create an approval process for grades 9-12 passes, but the main motion is ultimately withdrawn to allow for more discussion and community engagement.
• 2:53
  Public Comment (Second Session)

  The second public comment session includes follow-up remarks on the AI debate, screen time concerns, and financial controls for parent-teacher organizations.

  • 2:53 Jennifer Marshall
    Asks about the process for updating the bullying policy and suggests the board needs more education on AI before making policy decisions, noting that students may have more answers than they are given credit for.
  • 2:56 Bill Newton
    Speaking as the Skillin PTA treasurer, he notes that Skillin students play soccer on pavement as their field space is an overgrown, unsafe learning garden. He also warns all school organizations to maintain strong financial controls, citing a recent embezzlement case in another local youth group.
  • 2:59 Aiden Renehan
    Raises the issue of screen time for young learners, noting he is unaware of any district policy on the matter. He argues that it is difficult for parents to set boundaries at home without knowing how much and for what purpose screens are used in the classroom.
  • 3:02 Carl Parsons
    Appreciates the AI discussion and emphasizes the central question of accountability when AI is wrong. He expresses disappointment that the amended moratorium did not pass and hopes it is brought back in November.
• 3:16
  Board Communications

  Board members share announcements and reflections, including support for candidates in the upcoming election, concerns about screen time, and the importance of the city's ordinance regarding ICE.
• 3:29
  Adjournment

  The meeting is adjourned.