Quincy Public Schools

QUINCY SCHOOL COMMITTEE

SPECIAL EDUCATION SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING ~ Wednesday, March 30, 2022

A meeting of the Special Education Subcommittee was held on Wednesday, March 30, 2022 at 6:00 pm in the Coddington Building.  Present were Subcommittee Members Mr. Paul Bregoli, Mrs. Tina Cahill, and Mrs. Kathryn Hubley, Chair.  Also present were School Committee Chair Mayor Thomas Koch; School Committee Members Mr. Doug Gutro, Mrs. Emily Lebo, and Mr. Frank Santoro; Superintendent Kevin Mulvey, Assistant Superintendent Erin Perkins, Ms. Julie Graham, Ms. Sarah Anderson, Ms. Simone Buckley, Ms. Katie Carey, Ms. Jennifer Leary, Ms. Maura Papile, Mr. Keith Segalla; Quincy Parent Advisory Council to Special Education Co-Presidents Ginger McGill and Sarah Woods; and Ms. Laura Owens, Clerk.

Special Education Director Julie Graham, Special Education Coordinator Sarah Anderson, and Team Administrators Simone Buckley, Catherine Carey, and Jennifer Leary presented the Special Education Rights & Responsibilities presentation to ensure that parents will understand their children’s rights and the special education process.  The information in the presentation will hopefully enhance the collaboration between the family and school and allow for the parents and staff to participate in special education matters as knowledgeable partners. The Quincy Public Schools Special Education department operates under the state’s Special Education law for Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA). 

A student is eligible for Special Education if they have one or more disabilities, they are not making effective progress in school as a result of the disability(ies), and the student requires specialized instruction to make effective progress.  There are thirteen types of disabilities defined in state and federal regulations:  autism, developmental delay, sensory impairment (hearing, vision, and hearing and vision), neurological impairment, emotional impairment, communication impairment, physical impairment, health impairment, specific learning disability, and multiple disabilities.  Special Education is a specially designed instruction to meet the unique needs of an eligible student and/or related services necessary to access and make progress in the general curriculum.

The timeline is up to 45 working days following the consent to evaluate a student, including evaluating the student, a team meeting to determine eligibility, development of the IEP and determination of placement, and proposed IEP and placement to parent within 10 calendar days of team meeting.  Services would begin upon parent consent.

There are six Special Education principles: (1) Parent and Student Participation; (2) Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE); (3) Appropriate Evaluation; (4) Individualized Education Program (IEP); (5) Least Restrictive Environment (LRE); (6) Procedural Safeguards.  These principles support the student-centered nature of the process and the rights of parents and students above age 14 to participate in the planning of specific, measurable goals, decision-making activities, and to be assessed in non-discriminatory fashion with appropriate notifications for each stage of the process.

Mrs. Cahill asked how the process is initiated.  Ms. Graham said that a teacher may recognize that a student is not making progress or a parent may reach out to express concerns.  Ms. Graham said some students receive 504 plans that are accommodations[LO1][LO2] that don’t rise to the level of an IEP.

Mr. Bregoli asked what percentage of students receive Special Education services by elementary, middle, and high school level.  This information was shared in the Program Improvement Plan, there are 2064 students currently receiving Special Education services (988 in Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 5; 472 in Grades 6-8; 604 in Grades 9-12 and post-graduate LEAP program).

Mr. Bregoli asked if Quincy Public Schools has the capacity to diagnose for all of the identified disabilities.  Ms. Graham said that we can recommend providers for the evaluations that are beyond the scope of what the school can perform.

Mr. Bregoli asked about students who are English Learners, how can we differentiate between language development and Special Education issues for students.  Ms. Graham said the Family Liaisions assist with assessing students in their native languages, supported by outside agencies as needed.

Mr. Bregoli asked about IEP objectives not being met, Ms. Graham said that during each re-evaluation, the objectives are reviewed and refined, a student not making effective progress can have an amended IEP.  Parents have the right to request the team reconvene at any time.

Mr. Bregoli asked for the difference between the 504 plan and an IEP.  Ms. Graham said a 504 plan is for accommodations inside and sometimes outside of school, sometimes are health-related.  Mr. Bregoli asked about the SATs, Ms. Perkins said the accommodations have to be submitted and approved by the College Board

Mr. Gutro requested a breakdown of number of students within each disability.  Mr. Gutro asked about definitions for the disability categories, Ms. Leary said the definitions are on the DESE website.

Mrs. Lebo noted that dyslexia is still not a specific disability, even though the state requires screening for it for all students.

Mrs. Lebo asked if the goal statements are updated when the IEP is revised, Ms. Graham said the new goals are driven by classroom data from formative and summative assessments.

Mrs. Lebo asked about when a family refuses Special Education supports, Ms. Graham said the school and Special Education staff would continue to provide support within the classroom setting (universal accommodations) while providing data to support the placement recommendation.  Ms. Anderson said that since middle and high school have sections with co-teaching, students can be in inclusion classes without an IEP.

Mr. Bregoli said the initial meeting with the school staff and the parents is critical to the success, parents need to feel welcomed and not in an adversarial situation.  Mr. Bregoli asked about pull-out vs. push-in services.  Ms. Graham said that at elementary school, it is still largely a pullout model.  At middle and high school, most students are in the inclusion classes but there are also resource room classes as well.

Mr. Bregoli asked about Occupational and Physical Therapy, how many staff members and what is their caseload.  Ms. Graham said that through the support the School Committee, the staff members have been increasing.  Ms. Leary said there are 9 Occupational Therapists, 1.5 Physical Therapists and 3 Physical Therapy Assistants, and 14 Speech-Language Pathologists and 6 Speech Assistants.  Ms. Graham said we also have a teacher for visual impairment, one for hearing impairment, and a mobility coordinator.

Mrs. Hubley reiterated that it is important that parents are comfortable with the IEP before students and that students over age 13 have the opportunity to be involved in planning their IEP goals.

Quincy Parent Advisory Council to Special Education Board Members Ginger McGill and Sarah Wood presented an update on their community outreach activities.  Collaboration is underway with the Recreation Department and Director Michelle Hanly for vacation week and summer programming (including the Happy Acres camp).  In addition, the board is looking for enrichment opportunities and after-school programming.  QPAC is working on developing a parent survey, there is an increased level of participation in monthly QPAC meetings.  QPAC is planning a Resource Fair, including supports for life skills such as dental visits and haircuts.  Thanks to QHS Culinary and Ms. Niosi for support for Gingerbread decorating event.  In thinking about equity and inclusion, QPAC is planning to have age-appropriate events (for example, two Gingerbread nights, one for PK-Grade 5 and one for Grades 6-12).

Mrs. Cahill asked how the activities are funded, Ms. Wood said that donations supported the candy for the Gingerbread night. 

Mr. Santoro asked how QPAC supports parents who might be concerned about the IEP process, Ms. McGill said they can refer families to Ms. Graham or Ms. Perkins.

Mrs. Lebo complimented the planning of the age-appropriate activities, asked for them to summarize what they are hearing from parents in case there is an area of need that can be addressed by School Committee. 

Mrs. Lebo asked about advocacy, Ms. McGill said they urge parents to utilize the levels of school and district staff before seeking outside assistance.

The last item on the agenda was a review of the Items in Subcommittee. High School inclusion was referred due to the difference in models between the two high schools, this has been resolved so can be removed.  For Significant Disproportionality, Ms. Graham said that Quincy Public Schools is in monitored status, this can be removed as it is updated as part of the PIP.  The DeCristofaro Special Education Learning Center project will be retained.

Mrs. Cahill made a motion to adjourn the Special Education Subcommittee meeting at 7:00 pm.  Mr. Bregoli seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.

Quincy School Committee

Policy Subcommittee

Wednesday, March 30, 2022 at 6:30 pm

Coddington Building, School Committee Room

Mrs. Paul Bregoli, Chair

Mr. Doug Gutro & Mrs. Kathryn Hubley, Subcommittee Members

**This meeting is posted as a Committee of the Whole to allow for participation by School Committee members who are not Subcommittee members.  The meeting quorum is determined by the attendance of Subcommittee members.**

AGENDA

1.    QPS School Year Calendar 2022-2023                                    Mr. Bregoli

QUINCY SCHOOL COMMITTEE

POLICY SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING ~ Wednesday, March 30, 2022

A meeting of the Policy Subcommittee was held on Wednesday, March 30, 2022 at 7:00 pm in the Coddington Building.  Present were Subcommittee members Mr. Doug Gutro, Mrs. Kathryn Hubley, and Mr. Paul Bregoli, Subcommittee Chair.  Also present were School Committee Chair Mayor Thomas P. Koch; School Committee Members Mrs. Tina Cahill, Mrs. Emily Lebo, Mr. Frank Santoro; Superintendent Kevin Mulvey, Assistant Superintendent Erin Perkins, Ms. Madeline Roy, and Ms. Laura Owens, Clerk.

School Committee Clerk Ms. Owens shared a revised format for the Quincy Public Schools 2022-2023 School Year calendar with School Committee.  The revised format incorporates dates for major religious and cultural holidays so that staff will be aware and avoid planning long-term assignments, assessments, or events on those days.  Ms. Owens also shared research on observed holidays in other Massachusetts school districts.

Mrs. Hubley would like to retain the originally proposed calendar without adding any additional days.

Mr. Santoro said that calendar should reflect the holidays of the population, would like the Lunar New Year to be added,

Mrs. Lebo supports Mr. Santoro, but would like more information.  Mrs. Lebo also made a suggested language change to the calendar statement.

Mrs. Cahill supports adding the statement and list of holidays at the bottom of the calendar as inclusive.

Mayor Koch agrees with the spirit of Mr. Santoro’s suggestion, but is concerned about snow days and the school year extending too far into June.  For the 2022-2023 school year, Lunar New Year is a Sunday so that allows School Committee time to request additional information.

Mrs. Cahill asked for clarification on how absences would be classified.  Mr. Santoro said these would be considered excused absences.

After discussion about conducting a survey, School Committee agreed that more time was needed to develop and conduct the survey.

Mrs. Hubley made a motion to move both the old and new formats of the QPS 2022-2023 School Year Calendar to the full School Committee for discussion.  The motion was seconded by Mr. Bregoli and on a roll call vote, the ayes have it, 2-0.  Mr. Gutro abstained.

Mrs. Hubley made a motion to adjourn the Policy Subcommittee meeting at 7:30 pm.  The motion was seconded by Mr. Gutro and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.