PERSONNEL COMMITTEE MEETING

 

SEPTEMBER 10, 2007

 

7:00 P.M. – SUPERINTENDENT’S OFFICE

– HUSSEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

 

MINUTES

 

 

 

 

Present:                                                Chairperson, Gregg Bernstein

 

Members Present:                                 Kim Silsby, Sue Dowling

 

Members Absent:                                 None

 

Other Board Members Present:            Dick Barnes, Sue Campbell

 

Others Administrators Present:  Dr. Cornelia Brown, Superintendent of Schools

                                                            Fred Kahl, Network Administrator

 

 

 

Item 1 – Consolidation of City and School Department IT Services:

 

Dr. Brown presented a joint recommendation from Mr. Jurdak and herself regarding the consolidation of the City’s Municipal and School Information Technology Departments.  The School Department has had several preliminary meetings to discuss the possible consolidation of services, which would result in one IT Department for the City.  It would reduce one administrative position and fold all of the IT services under one umbrella.  Preliminary estimates of the savings to the City are approximately $40,000-$60,000 per year.  The Personnel Committee discussed the recommendation and supported its concept.

 

Superintendent Brown said that the School Department will wait to see what happens with School Consolidation prior to moving ahead.  The Commissioner said that a response to the School Department’s Notice of Intent should be received on September 10th.

 

Item 2 – Increased Ed Tech Support for Gilbert Elementary School:

 

Dr. Brown presented a chart of Elementary class sizes and noted that class size in all four Elementary Schools in the primary grades is higher than the School Department’s guidelines.

She noted the ongoing challenge to balance the populations of four neighborhood schools as well as insure parity between buildings and grades.

 

 

 

 

 

The Elementary Principals met and recommended increased Ed Tech support for Gilbert.

 

Mrs. Silsby asked for a breakdown of Special Ed staffing by Building as well as by Program.

Dr. Brown indicated that she would have that information available Wednesday evening.

 

Item 3 – Recruitment for Director of Curriculum and Instruction:

 

Dr. Brown asked the Personnel Committee when they would like to begin a recruit for this position.  Committee Members agreed that, because of the uncertainty around School Consolidation, this recruit would be put on hold until later in the year.

 

Item 4 – Executive Session Citation 1 M.R.S.A. § (6)(D) - Negotiations with MEA Units and the Augusta Administrators Association and a New Contract for Superintendent of Schools, Cornelia Brown.

 

No action was taken during the Executive Session.

 

 

 

The Personnel Committee adjourned at 8:05 p.m.

 

 

 

 

The next meeting for the Personnel Committee will be:

 

7:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 3, 2007

 

Superintendent’s Conference Room at Hussey Elementary School.