3-31-2021 School Committee Meetings

3-31-2021 School Committee Meetings
Posted on 03/29/2021

Quincy School Committee

Policy Subcommittee

**This meeting is a Committee of the Whole**

Mr. Paul Bregoli, Chair

Mrs. Kathryn Hubley & Mrs. Courtney Perdios, Subcommittee Members

 

Wednesday, March 31, 2021, 5:30 pm

Via Zoom

Per Governor Baker’s order suspending certain provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A sec. 20, the public will not be allowed to physically access this School Committee meeting.  Members of the Public can access the meeting live on QATV Channel 22 or at www.qatv.org.  The meeting will also be recorded for rebroadcast and posted on the QPS website on Thursday, April 1, 2021.

AGENDA

  1. Proposed 2021-2022 School Committee Meeting Calendar      Mr. Bregoli
  2. Proposed 2021-2022 School Year Calendar     Mr. Bregoli
  3. Proposed Revisions to Policy Book Section 2      Mr. Bregoli

All items voted out of Policy Subcommittee at this meeting will appear on the April 7, 2021 School Committee Agenda and be eligible for vote on May 5, 2021.

QUINCY SCHOOL COMMITTEE

POLICY SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING ~ Wednesday, March 31, 2021

A meeting of the Policy Subcommittee was held on Wednesday, March 31, 2021 at 5:30 pm via Zoom.  Present were Mr. Doug Gutro, Mrs. Kathryn Hubley, Mrs. Emily Lebo, Mrs. Courtney Perdios, Mr. Frank Santoro, and Mr. Paul Bregoli, Chair.  Also present were Superintendent Kevin Mulvey, Assistant Superintendent Erin Perkins, and Ms. Laura Owens, Clerk.

Mr. Bregoli reviewed the first item on the agenda, the proposed 2021-2022 School Committee Meeting Calendar.

Mrs. Perdios asked if meetings could be set over the summer to review plans for the return to school in September 2021. 

Mr. Bregoli said those would be Special Meetings and Mrs. Hubley agreed with this as a past practice.

Mr. Gutro requested that Ms. Owens poll School Committee members about their availability during the summer months. 

Ms. Owens clarified that the School Committee Policy defines regular meetings as occurring during the school year and meetings outside that time frame are Special Meetings.

Mrs. Hubley made a motion to approve the 2021-2022 School Committee Meeting Calendar as presented.  The motion was seconded by Mrs. Perdios and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.

The second item on the agenda was a review of the draft 2021-2022 QPS School Year Calendar.  Mr. Bregoli noted that the significant change is the proposal to move the early release day to Wednesdays.

Mrs. Lebo said that many families approve of this change and Mrs. Hubley agreed that students and staff have positive feelings as well.  Mrs. Lebo said the origin of the early release day being on Tuesday was for Catholic students to be able to attend CCD classes after school.

Mr. Gutro asked if the Quincy Education Association had any issues related to this change.  Superintendent Mulvey said he will review with Mr. Greene from the QEA but is not anticipating any need to impact bargain over this change.

Mrs. Hubley noted two changes:  June 1, 2021 should be added as an Grades PK-5 early release day and that June 20, 2021 should be shaded to indicate Juneteenth as an observed.

Mrs. Hubley made a motion to approve the 2021-2022 QPS School Year Calendar as amended.  The motion was seconded by Mrs. Perdios and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.

The last item on the agenda is the revision to School Committee Policy Book Section 2 to replace “he” or “him” with “he or she” or “him or her”.  Mr. Bregoli noted that Ms. Owens had provided an annotated copy of Section 2 with recommended changes.  Mrs. Hubley noted an additional location to be edited.

Mrs. Perdios asked about Additional Business, Section 2.4.5 to reflect the discussion at the previous School Committee meeting that this was to be used for emergency issues only.  Mrs. Hubley agreed and after discussion about the section and the subsequent revision to the Open Meeting Law since the section was last amended, it was agreed to table the issue until additional research on the topic can be shared with School Committee.  Mrs. Lebo agreed that the section needs to be revised to match the Open Meeting Law.

Mrs. Perdios asked if a School Committee member submits an item for an agenda, is there a process to ensure it is placed on the next agenda to be responsive to parent concerns. 

Mrs. Lebo said that sometimes additional time is needed for research and so a referral to a Subcommittee can be the vehicle for this. 

Mr. Gutro said in his experience, there is no circumstance under which the Superintendent would not place an item on the agenda.  Mr. Bregoli, Mrs. Lebo, and Mrs. Hubley agreed that they had not ever had issues addressed when requested directly to the Superintendent.

Mr. Gutro suggested that the proposed edits to Section 2 be moved to the full School Committee while retaining Section 2.4.5 for further discussion.

Mrs. Perdios made a motion to approve School Committee Policy Book Section 2 as amended.  Mrs. Hubley seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.

These three Policy items will appear on the April 7, 2021 School Committee meeting agenda for discussion and will be eligible for a vote on May 5, 2021.

Mrs. Hubley made a motion to adjourn the Policy Subcommittee meeting at 6:00 pm.  Mrs. Perdios seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.

Quincy School Committee

Joint Special Education and Teaching & Learning Subcommittee

**This meeting is a Committee of the Whole**

Mrs. Kathryn Hubley, Special Education Chair

Mr. Doug Gutro & Mrs. Emily Lebo, Subcommittee Members

 

Mrs. Emily Lebo, Teaching & Learning Chair

Mr. Paul Bregoli & Mr. Frank Santoro, Subcommittee Members

 

Wednesday, March 31, 2021, 5:45 pm

via Zoom

Per Governor Baker’s order suspending certain provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A sec. 20, the public will not be allowed to physically access this School Committee meeting.  Members of the Public can access the meeting live on QATV Channel 22 or at www.qatv.org.  The meeting will also be recorded for rebroadcast and posted on the QPS website on Thursday, April 1, 2021.

AGENDA     

  1. Girl Scout Silver Award Project: Student Voices in QPS      Mrs. Lebo

    Presented by:  Elizabeth Brown, Lyna Dang, Devereaux Fuller, Zara Valencius                    

  2. Spotlight on Related Services:                           Ms. Graham, Ms. Leary

    Speech, Occupational & Physical Therapy, and Visual Impairment

  3. Internship in Education Initiative                           Ms. Roy, Mr. Segalla
  4. QPAC Update                                                                      Ms. Beck

QUINCY SCHOOL COMMITTEE

TEACHING & LEARNING SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING ~ March 31, 2021

A joint meeting of the Teaching & Learning and Special Educations Subcommittee was held on Wednesday, March 31, 2021 at 6:15 pm via Zoom.  Present were Mr. Paul Bregoli, Mr. Doug Gutro, Mrs. Kathryn Hubley (Special Education Chair), Mrs. Emily Lebo (Teaching & Learning Chair), Mrs. Courtney Perdios, and Mr. Frank Santoro.  Also attending were Superintendent Kevin Mulvey, Assistant Superintendent Erin Perkins, Ms. Sarah Anderson, Ms. Catherine Carey, Ms. Jessica Cooke, Ms. Donna Cunningham, Ms. Julie Graham, Ms. Jennifer Leary, Ms. Danielle Miller, Ms. Maura Papile, Ms. Kimberly Quinn, Ms. Madeline Roy, Mr. Keith Segalla, Mr. Edward Smith, Ms. Bridget Vaughan; Quincy Parent Advisory to Special Education President Cassandra Beck; and Ms. Laura Owens, Clerk.

Mrs. Lebo opened the meeting by recognizing four Grade 9 students who are working on their Girl Scout Silver Award project:  Elizabeth Brown, Lyna Dang, Devereaux Fuller, and Zara Valencius.  The Girl Scouts presented the results of a middle school student survey on student engagement and student voices during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The conclusion from the study was to recommend that schools and the School Committee seek further opportunity to involve student in the decision-making process.  School Committee and Superintendent Mulvey thanked the students for their presentation.

The next item on the agenda was a presentation of Special Education Related Services (Speech & Language, Physical and Occupational Therapy), introduced by Special Education Director Julie Graham.  In the last year, the providers adapted to provide virtual services to support student learning remotely and in school and their families.  Special Education Team Administrator Jennifer Leary reviewed the use of technology to access classroom materials.  Assessments have also been adapted to be administered remotely.  Co-treatment sessions with multiple therapists has assisted with encouraging generalization and students are able to integrate skills from multiple disciplines into a single functional activity.

Mr. Bregoli asked about therapist caseloads, Ms. Graham said that through the support of the Mayor and School Committee, the Special Education department has been able to increase positions to service the increasing number of students needing these supports.

Mr. Santoro asked about positive developments from the adaptions required by COVID-19.  Ms. Miller said that especially for physical therapy, the virtual sessions involved family members and this is something that will be important to carry forward.

Mrs. Hubley thanked the presenters and asked about students with hearing impairments, were there impacts from remote learning or mask wearing.  Ms. Graham said that the use of technology has aided in improving students with hearing impairment’s ability to access curriculum.  Through the Special Education department budget, addition FM systems and microphones have been purchased to assist in classrooms as needed.

Mrs. Perdios thanked the therapists for all of their efforts in adapting during the pandemic.

Mr. Gutro asked about the parents’ ability to adapt to the use of technology.  Occupational Therapist Jessica Cook said that with the careful outreach by Quincy Public Schools staff, it was difficult at first, but parents realized it was worth the effort.  Ms. Cooke said she is proud to be a Quincy Public Schools employee.

The next item on the agenda was the Internship in Education Initiative, presented by Executive Director Keith Segalla and Senior Curriculum Director Madeline Roy.  Through $90,000 in grant funding from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education, 36 high school seniors from both high schools were placed in paid internships at the elementary and middle schools.  One of the goals of the initiative is to encourage consideration of careers in education.  Students chose from internships as teacher assistants, student mentors, tutors, cafeteria and gymnasium monitors, and specialized opportunities such as assisting in the broadcasting studio at South~West Middle School.  The students also completed employment applications with supporting tax documentation and learned about professional dress and conduct during the orientation session.  Students also completed 5 hours of online professional development, a written assignment reflecting on their experience, and a thank you letter and survey at the conclusion of the program.

Mrs. Perdios thanked Mr. Segalla and Ms. Roy for their work in providing this opportunity for students.  Mrs. Perdios asked how the school sites were chosen, Mr. Segalla said there was a student survey, many wanted to return to the schools they attended at younger students.  Mrs. Perdios asked about transportation, most students drove themselves and others were transported in the CVTE vans.

Mrs. Lebo said the program is wonderful and agreed with Mr. Bregoli that this should be documented on the student transcripts.

Mr. Gutro asked for details about the grant, Mr. Segalla said this was special funding from the federal COVID-19 disbursement.  The grant will be extended through the summer and hopefully for subsequent years.

Mrs. Hubley asked if there was any conflict with the staff unions and Mr. Segalla said the school staffs welcomed the assistance.  Mrs. Hubley asked about CORI and fingerprinting, students over the age of 18 completed this while students under 18 are not required to do so.

The last item on the agenda was an update from Quincy Parent Advisory Council to Special Education President Cassandra Beck.  At recent meetings, the parents attending had presentations from Bay State Community Services on resources they provide and understanding individual education plans (IEPs).  At upcoming meetings, there will be elections for the QPAC Executive Board and wrap up for the school year.  Ms. Beck said that the staff, students, and families of Quincy Public Schools have learned so much and there were many positive gains in extending and maintaining connections between the school and home.  Quincy Public Schools has done an amazing job and Ms. Beck is grateful to everyone involved.

Mrs. Perdios thanked Ms. Beck for her work in creating the understanding the IEP process meeting presentation, very valuable information for our families across the city navigating a complicated process.

Mrs. Hubley made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:35 pm.  Mrs. Lebo seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.