Minutes
Quincy School Committee
Policy Subcommittee Meeting ~ Wednesday, July 29, 2020
A meeting of the Policy Subcommittees was held on Wednesday, July 29 at 6:00 pm in the Coddington Building. Present were Mayor Thomas Koch, Mr. Anthony Andronico, Mr. Doug Gutro, Mrs. Kathryn Hubley, Mrs. Emily Lebo, Mr. Frank Santoro, and Mr. Paul Bregoli, Chair. Also present were Interim Superintendent Kevin Mulvey and Ms. Laura Owens, Clerk.
Mr. Bregoli reviewed that the School Committee Policy 9.9.3 Technology Acceptable Use is currently in Policy Subcommittee for review. Mr. Andronico extended thanks to Mr. Brian Gutro, who sent in suggestions compiled during the Remote Learning this spring as a starting point for the Policy revision. Mr. Andronico is suggesting creating additional Policy subsections for 9.9.4 for Staff, 9.9.5 for Grades 9-12 Students, 9.9.6 for Grades K-5 Students, and 9.9.7 Chromebook Consent Form.
Mrs. Lebo asked that the risk of privacy violations during Remote Learning be addressed in this Policy. Mr. Andronico said that the Massachusetts Association of School Committees suggests a separate Policy to address Remote Learning expectations.
Mrs. Lebo noted that some school districts are offering insurance to protect families from damage or loss of the Chromebooks.
Mr. Bregoli asked about including the use of cell phones in classrooms, wants to empower staff to prohibit use during class. Mr. Mulvey said that cell phones can be used as a part of instruction, agrees with the parameters of cell phone use being defined by the classroom teacher.
Mr. Andronico said the purpose of the Policies under discussion address appropriate use of Quincy Public Schools technology and network.
Mr. Santoro said that both high school Handbooks have the use of cell phones defined; this is an issue of enforcement.
Mr. Gutro asked about Quincy Public Schools student email accounts, currently students do not have those.
Mr. Mulvey said that we are looking into Quincy Public Schools email accounts for all students and have received a cost estimate for expanding server capacity and adding the accounts.
Mr. Gutro asked about privacy protections for students. Mr. Mulvey said that Quincy Public Schools emails would be monitored for security and appropriateness.
Mr. Gutro asked about network infrastructure; Mr. Mulvey said that expansion of the network bandwidth is underway to fully support technology in our buildings. Mr. Andronico said the language in question is so that staff understand that bringing in external technology may affect the network.
Mr. Andronico made a motion to move School Committee Policies 9.9.3, 9.9.4, 9.9.5, 9.9.6, and 9.9.7 from Policy Subcommittee to School Committee for discussion. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Hubley and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
Mrs. Hubley made a motion to adjourn the Joint Teaching & Learning and Policy Subcommittees meeting at 6:30 pm. Mr. Andronico seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.