Minutes
Quincy, Massachusetts – September 7, 2016
Regular Meeting of the Quincy School Committee
Regular Meeting
A regular meeting of the Quincy School Committee was held on Wednesday,
September 7, 2016 at the Coddington Building. The Superintendent called the roll
and present were Mr. James DeAmicis, Mrs. Kathryn Hubley, Ms. Barbara Isola,
Mayor Thomas Koch, Mrs. Emily Lebo, Mrs. Anne Mahoney, and
Mr. Paul Bregoli, Vice Chair.
Vice-Chair Presiding
Also present were: Dr. Richard DeCristofaro, Secretary; Ms. Laura Owens,
Clerk; Mr. Michael Draicchio, Mr. James Mullaney, Deputy Superintendent
Kevin Mulvey, Mrs. Maura Papile, Mrs. Erin Perkins, Ms. Madeline Roy, Mr.
Keith Segalla; Quincy Education Association President Allison Cox; Citywide
Parents Council Co-President Courtney Perdios; Quincy Parent Advisory
Council to Special Education Board Debby Nabstedt and Cassandra Beck.
§
There was a moment of silence for retired principal and teacher Joseph Long
(Point Webster), retired teachers Patricia Smith (Parker and Snug Harbor)
and Janice Scheurch (Quincy School).
§
Regular Meeting Minutes Approved
6.15.16
Ms. Isola made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Hubley, to approve the Regular
Meeting minutes for June 15, 2016. On a voice vote, the ayes have it.
Executive Session Minutes Approved
6.15.16
Mrs. Hubley made a motion, seconded by Ms. Isola, to approve the Executive
Session minutes for June 15, 2016. On a voice vote, the ayes have it.
§
Open Forum
Quincy Education Association President Allison Cox, representing the 800
professional educators of the Quincy Public Schools, spoke against Ballot Question
2, which would raise the cap on Commonwealth charter schools, allowing for
additional charter schools to be created. Currently, over $361,000 in state aid is
diverted for charter school tuitions for 29 Quincy student residents. Charter
schools are not subject to teacher licensing, educator evaluation, and not under
the control of local school committees. For neighboring cities and towns, millions
of dollars are lost annually to charter school tuitions, which are publicly funded,
but privately run. Ms. Cox urged the Quincy School Committee to support the
resolution being presented tonight, in concert with 91 other School Committees
across the Commonwealth.
Ms. Lily Huang, a graduate of North Quincy High School and community organizer
echoed Ms. Cox’s comments, working with Jobs for Justice and Save Our Public
Schools campaign in southeastern Massachusetts. In speaking with the public,
many residents view Quincy Public Schools favorably and are not aware of the
impact charter school costs to the public school system.
§
Superintendent's
Report
Dr. DeCristofaro opened the Superintendent’s Report with Inspire Quincy,
featuring highlights of the Quincy Public Schools summer programs and the
New Professional Staff Orientation.
Through the generosity of Quincy School~Community Partnership members,
distribution of backpacks and school supplies are scheduled on Thursday,
September 8 and Friday, September 9 at Clifford Marshall, Lincoln Hancock, and
Snug Harbor. There is a Partnership Back to School event on September 29 at
5:00 pm at the Common Market.
Aspen Publication #20 was shared with the School Committee.
Dr. DeCristofaro noted that over the summer, Quincy Public Schools was
notified that Full-Day Quality Kindergarten Grant which funds 14 Kindergarten
Paraprofessional positions was not funded, but that increased funds were made
available through Chapter 70 funds to the City of Quincy to offset this. Mayor
Koch will be requesting the additional appropriation of $250,000 from City
Council to the Quincy Public Schools on Monday, September 12.
BOKS II will be held during the 2016-2017 school year in the fall and winter,
funded by a generous donation from the Reebok Corporation in memory of
Emily Zarnoch. The 3rd Annual City of Presidents 5K Run/Walk will be held on
Sunday, September 25 at 10:00 am and .benefits QPS Health, Wellness, and
Substance Abuse Prevention programs
Newsweek magazine recently recognized North Quincy High School as one of
the top 500 high schools in the US, with the school coming in at #115.
Dr. DeCristofaro announced that Mayor Koch, in collaboration with Governor
Baker and Treasure Goldberg, has secured support for a Water Testing
Initiative. Under the supervision of the Department of Environmental
Protection and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst Extension School.
Samples will be taken from all water sources used for drinking and food
preparation and results will be shared when available in the fall.
The Sterling Building Committee met on Tuesday, September 6 and reviewed
the work done over the summer. The Massachusetts School Building Authority
approved the Project Scope and Budget on July 12. At their Monday, September
12 meeting, City Council will consider the Project Funding Agreement and
appropriation of the total project coat. The Design Development phase is
completed and pending feedback from the MSBA, the project will move into the
Construction document phase.
For the MSBA Accelerated Repair Program project update, Dr. DeCristofaro
shared that the Merrymount Elementary School roof is substantially complete;
thev parapet cap is still to be installed. Boiler projects for Atherton Hough,
Beechwood Knoll, Merrymount, and Wollaston are awaiting the OPM
assignment from the MSBA; Beechwood roof, windows, and doors will be re-bid
out in the fall. The boiler and window/door/roof ARP projects are scheduled
for summer of 2017 completion.
At Beechwood Knoll, two larger Kindergarten classrooms have been
reconfigured to create three smaller Kindergarten classrooms to accommodate
the 70+neighborhood students enrolled for this school year, plus an Academic
Program classroom space. Open Enrollment was limited to three siblings of
students already enrolled at Beechwood Knoll for Kindergarten. An Open
House was held on Tuesday, September 6 for the Kindergarten parents. Many
thanks to the Public Buildings staff, the Kindergarten teachers, custodians, and
Principal Diane O’Keeffe for their efforts. The October 1 Enrollment
presentation will be opportunity to renew discussion about enrollment trends.
Dr. DeCristofaro thanked Public Buildings, many projects large and small were
accomplished over the summer: electrical, plumbing, carpentry, floor sanding
and refinishing, painting, and re-grouting the Lincoln Hancock pool.
New Professional Staff Orientation was held on August 31 and September 1,
thanks to the Superintendent’s Leadership Team who welcomed 45 new Quincy
Public Schools staff members. The new staff members learned about a variety
of topics, including mentoring, Professional Development, and academic
programs. The forty-five teachers represent many fine colleges and
universities; many have already earned their Masters of Education.
The School Committee Special Meeting will be Wednesday, September 14 at
5:00 pm at the Coddington Building. All School Committee members will
review the goals and items in Subcommittee and schedule upcoming meetings.
Mrs. Mahoney asked that under the Facilities & Security Subcommittee we look
at the data and develop a broader picture of upcoming facility needs. Mrs. Lebo
asked for a copy the professional staff diversity and female representation
reports filed with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
§
Old Business
Revised 2016-2017
School Year Calendar
(Vote)
Deputy Superintendent Mulvey introduced that during the recently concluded
contract negotiations with the Quincy Education Association, an additional inbuilding planning day was added for High School staff. Tuesday, January 31, 2017
is the proposed day, which would be an additional early release day for high
school students.
Mrs. Hubley made a motion to approve the Revised 2016-2017 School Year
Calendar to add the early release day for high school students on January 31,
2017. Ms. Isola seconded the motion and on a roll call vote, the ayes have it 7-0.
§
Concussion Policy
Update (in Policy
Subcommittee)
Mr. Bregoli noted that the Concussion Policy is still in the Policy Subcommittee
and that further updates to the Policy will be discussed at the upcoming meeting
on September 26.
§
New Business
Summer Programs
Review
Senior Director of Middle School Curriculum, Programs & Initiatives Madeline Roy
presented on the Mathletes and SWELL Academy summer programs. Ms. Roy
reviewed that eleven summer programs were run for nine weeks, over 1,000
students served from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12. For the SWELL Acadey,
facilitators Meg McMillen and Michelle Velez collaborated with 33 Quincy Public
Schools teachers who worked with 90 students over five weeks. Funded by the
Gateway Cities grant program, social studies and science curriculum related to
Quincy’s history and seacoast. Other ELL summer programs include Camp Can-Do
at Parker and Clifford Marshall for students entering Grade 1 and at Snug Harbor
for students entering Grades 4 and 5.
For the second year, the Mathletes program was held at Point Webster. Grant
funding provided for teachers and a facilitator for this invitation-only program for
students entering Grades 7 and 8. Balancing strengthening academic skills and
enrichment made for an engaging program. Students were recognized for
attendance, performance, and collaboration and were provided with math tools
and work to share with their new Math teacher for this school year.
§
New Business
Summer Professional
Development
Senior Director of Middle School Curriculum, Programs & Initiatives Madeline Roy
and Executive Director of Information Technology Keith Segalla presented on the
Summer Professional Development opportunities available to Quincy Public
Schools professional staff members. Grant funding provided support for WIDA,
Common Core Math standards, curriculum mapping and unit development for
ELL, writing, science; close reading strategies with Dr. Nancy Boyles for
elementary and middle school staff.
Dr. DeCristofaro thanked Ms. Roy for her leadership in both the summer programs
and professional development.
Mr. Keith Segalla then spoke about the middle school summer STEM collaboration
workshop where math, science, and technology engineering teachers worked to
develop interdisciplinary units and assessment tools. The QPS Technology
Planning & Training team offered several options the last week of August: Google
for Educators, Aspen Gradebook, and Teacher pages. 48 staff members
participated and thanks to teachers Diana Cavallo and Michael Gendron who
conducted these workshops.
Mrs. Lebo asked about the new Science standards; Ms. Roy said upper elementary
and middle school teachers have started to transition. During the summer
curriculum mapping process, new pacing and alignment guides were developed.
The science vertical teams are moving to a unit-based approach, local to global
extensions to social studies curriculum, many opportunities for interdisciplinary
work. Mrs. Lebo said this is an incredible jump start that this work was done this
summer. Ms. Roy said that the standards changes are affecting Grades K-8 and
that high school curriculum not affected at this time.
§
New Business
Resolution on Charter
School Referendum
Question
(Vote)
Mayor Koch presented a resolution against raising the Cap on Commonwealth
Charter Schools:
WHEREAS, free public schools are available to all students regardless of
income, ability, need, or English language proficiency are foundational to
our democracy; and
WHEREAS, all of our students deserve high-quality public schools that teach
the whole child, providing enrichment and addressing social and emotional
needs in addition to core academic subjects; and
WHEREAS, local accountability for our public schools is necessary to ensure
that schools are responsive to the needs of their communities; and
WHEREAS, Quincy is losing $361,497 to Commonwealth charter schools
and public school districts across the state are losing more than $400
million this year alone – a loss of funds that is undermining the ability of
districts to provide all students with the educational services to which they
are entitled; and
WHEREAS, Commonwealth charter schools are often approved over the
objections of a majority of community residents and their elected officials
and are not accountable to local elected officials once they are approved;
and
WHEREAS, Commonwealth charter schools often fail to serve the same
proportion of special needs students, low-income, and English language
learners as the districts from which they receive students; and
WHEREAS, the Commonwealth charter school system is creating separate
and unequal opportunities for success; and
WHEREAS, lifting the cap on charter schools would greatly worsen the
problems listed above and lead to a costly and divisive two-track school
system;
THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Quincy School Committee opposes
lifting the cap on Commonwealth charter schools.
Mrs. Hubley made a motion to approve the resolution against lifting the charter
school cap as presented. Mr. DeAmicis seconded the motion and on a roll call vote,
the ayes have it, 7-0.
Mrs. Mahoney made a friendly recommendation that the Quincy City Council
follow suit and pass a similar resolution.
§
New Business
Substance Use,
Treatment, Education,
and Prevention Policy
(Referral to
Subcommittee)
Mr. Bregoli made a motion to move the development of a Substance Use,
Treatment, Education, and Prevention Policy to the Policy Subcommittee. The
motion was seconded by Mrs. Hubley and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
§
New Business
Medication
Administration Policy
Update (Referral to
Subcommittee)
Mr. Bregoli made a motion to move the update of the Medication Administration
Policy to the Policy Subcommittee. The motion was seconded by Ms. Isola and on
a voice vote, the ayes have it.
§
New Business
Superintendent
Evaluation (Referral to
Subcommittee)
Ms. Isola made a motion to move the Superintendent’s Evaluation to the Teaching
& Learning Subcommittee. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Hubley and on a
voice vote, the ayes have it.
§
New Business
School Nurse
Appointment (Vote)
Mrs. Lebo made a motion to appoint Ms. Kellie Daley-Butts, R.N. as the School
Nurse for the Montclair Elementary School. The motion was seconded by Ms. Isola
and on a roll call vote, the ayes have it 7-0.
§
Communications
Mr. DeAmicis requested to review the date for the Health, Transportation, and
Safety Subcommittee scheduled for October 12 at 5:00 pm. Dr. DeCristofaro said
this can be discussed at next week’s Special School Committee meeting.
§
Executive Session
Mayor Koch made a motion for School Committee to go to Executive Session for
the purpose of contract negotiations at 7:30 pm. Mrs. Hubley seconded the
motion and on a roll call vote, the ayes have it, 7-0. Mr. Bregoli noted that School
Committee would be reconvening after Executive Session.
§
School Committee returned to regular session at 7:45 pm.
MOA with QPS
Food Services Workers
Unit, SEIU Local 888 (Vote)
Mrs. Lebo made a motion to approve the Memorandum of Agreement between
the Quincy School Committee and the Quincy Public Schools Food Services
Workers Unit, SEIU Local 888. Mr. DeAmicis seconded the motion and on a roll
call vote, the ayes have it, 7-0.
§
Adjournment
Mayor Koch made a motion to adjourn for the evening at 7:50 p.m. The motion
was seconded by Mrs. Hubley and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.