Minutes
Quincy, MASSACHUSETTS – June 15, 2022
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Regular Meeting of the Quincy School Committee
Regular Meeting
Vice-Chair Presiding
A meeting of the Quincy School Committee was held on Wednesday, June 15, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. in the School Committee Room at the Coddington Building. Superintendent Kevin Mulvey called the roll and present were Mayor Thomas P. Koch, School Committee Chair, Mr. Paul Bregoli, Mrs. Tina Cahill, Mrs. Kathryn Hubley, Mrs. Emily Lebo, and Mr. Frank Santoro, Vice Chair.
Also present were: Superintendent Kevin Mulvey, Assistant Superintendent Erin Perkins, Ms. Susan Shea Connor, Ms. Allison Cox, Mr. Michael Draicchio, Ms. Peg Farren, Ms. Danielle Fernandez, Ms. Marisa Forrester, Mr. Daniel Gilbert, Ms. Mera Kriz, Ms. Janet Loftus, Mr. Michael Marani, Mr. James Mullaney, Ms. Maura Papile, Mr. Scott Perfetuo, Ms. Madeline Roy, Mr. Keith Segalla, Mr. Lawrence Taglieri; and Ms. Laura Owens, Clerk.
School Committee member Mr. Douglas Gutro was absent.
School Committee observed a moment of silence for victims of violence all over the world and the men and women of our armed forces at home and overseas.
Superintendent Mulvey recognized Mr. Peter Niosi, father of three Quincy Public Schools educators, who passed away recently.
Mr. Santoro read the following statement into the record: Pursuant to the Open Meeting Law, any person may make an audio or video recording of this public meeting or may transmit the meeting through any medium. Attendees are therefore advised that such recordings or transmissions are being made whether perceived or unperceived by those present and are deemed acknowledged and permissible.
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Approval of Minutes
Mrs. Hubley made a motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting for May 18, 2022. Mr. Bregoli seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
Mrs. Lebo made a motion to approve the minutes of the Executive Session for May 18, 2022. Mrs. Hubley seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
Mr. Bregoli made a motion to approve the minutes of the FY2023 Budget Public Hearing for June 1, 2022. Mrs. Lebo seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
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Open Forum
As no one wished to speak at Open Forum, School Committee went on to the next item on the agenda.
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Superintendent’s
Report
School Committee recognized the North Quincy High School team who recently won WGBH’s 13th High School Quiz Show competition, besting high school teams from Hopkinton, Weston, Mansfield, and Andover. Congratulations to students John Thomas Malvesti, Dominique Dang, Kaitlyn Vu, Peter Romeo, Sophie Nerine, and Nicholas Enbar-Salo for their outstanding efforts preparing for the competitions. Thanks also to advisers Peg Farren, Danielle Fernandez, and Mera Kriz for working with the team.
Mayor Koch noted that WGBH presented the trophy and medals to the students earlier this month and the students rode on a float in the Flag Day Parade.
School Committee recognized Quincy Public Schools students who participated in the Massachusetts Music Educators Association 68th Annual All-State Music Festival. Quincy High School students Melissa Tolini, Christina Nguyen, and Rebecca Morris were all selected to perform in the All-State Chorus.
School Committee recognized retiring Coordinator of Health Services Rita Bailey, 17 years with Quincy Public Schools, the last eight years as a member of the Superintendent’s Leadership Team. Rita was previously the school nurse and wellness team leader at the Snug Harbor Community School and prior to joining the Quincy Public Schools, was a nurse at Brigham & Women’s Hospital and Quincy Medical Center. Superintendent Mulvey thanked Ms. Bailey particularly for her work over the last two years managing the COVID-19 response.
Mayor Koch thanked Ms. Bailey, her expertise and professionalism was a valuable resource for School Committee.
Brian Smith, a 37 year veteran of Quincy Public Schools, first hired as a teacher’s aide, then moved into audio visual and cable television production roles. Brian has worked with countless principals and administrators, documenting many important school events and sharing them with the community.
Superintendent Mulvey thanked Brian for his professional efforts on behalf of School Committee and the school community.
Mrs. Lebo thanked Mr. Smith for his support of the Robotics team for many years.
Superintendent Mulvey introduced the Quincy Public Schools Administrative Reorganization for the 2022-2023 school year. Kim Ngo Connolly, Director of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion will be joining Quincy Public Schools from Boston Public Schools, where she was most recently the Director of Recruitment, Cultivation & Diversity Programs; Lawrence Taglieri, Director of Academic Programs; Keith Ford, Principal of Quincy High School; Daniel Gilbert, Principal of North Quincy High School; Michael Marani, Principal of Broad Meadows Middle School; Courtney Mitchell, Principal of South~West Middle School; Marisa Forrester, Principal of Beechwood Knoll Elementary School; Janet Loftus, Principal of Lincoln Hancock Community School; Susan Shea Connor, Acting Principal of Merrymount Elementary School; Scott Perfetuo, Acting Principal of Snug Harbor Community School.
Mayor Koch thanked the principals and congratulated Mr. Taglieri on his promotion. In their new roles, they will provide leadership for the students and the staff in the face of many challenges, confident that QPS has the best people in these important positions.
Superintendent Mulvey continued his report by updating that as of today, there are 9,229 students enrolled in Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12. (The decrease from the previous meeting is due to the graduation of over 700 seniors.) Enrollment for next year is projected to be at a similar level to this year and may cross the 10,000 student threshold.
For COVID-19 statistics, there were 94 student and 23 staff cases for the two weeks June 1 through 14. (A decrease over the previous two weeks.) There were approximately 3,700 staff and student COVID-19 positive cases this school year. In addition to providing support and guidance for the positive cases, the school nurses, principals, and SLT members also interacted with just over 6,300 close contacts, for a total of 10,000 COVID-19 related interactions. 2,275 staff and students are participating in pooled testing, with a 0.40% positivity rate. Just under 2,300 staff and students are signed up to receive home testing kits, the final distribution was last week.
DESE recently notified school districts that state-funding pooled testing and home testing kit distribution will not be supported beyond June 30. There was an opportunity to order home test kits for distribution to symptomatic students and staff for our summer program, so we have an ample supply on hand.
Recent Quincy Public Schools events include the high school graduations held on June 6 and 7, celebrating the over 700 members of the Class of 2022. For High School Athletics, the North Quincy High School Boys Volleyball team are playing for the Division 2 State Championship tonight. Congratulations to the whole team on this amazing accomplishment and to first year coach Megan Johnston.
Superintendent Mulvey concluded his report by reviewing recent grants received by Quincy Public Schools: Quincy’s Early College High School Pathway grant for 2022-23 from State Street will be increased by $28,000 to a total of $528,000. In addition, a $100,000 grant from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education has been awarded to the ECHS program. The Massachusetts Capital Skills Grant Program has awarded $134,000 to each of the CVTE Healthcare Technology Programs at North Quincy High School and Quincy High School. Over the course of this school year, we have revived our partnership with Holly Hill Farms in Cohasset. All Grade 2 students went on a field trip to the farm this spring, enhancing STEM opportunities for over 700 students thanks to the support of the Quincy School~Community Partnership. Holly Hill recently secured a STEM grant for $25,000 from the Batelle Institute to provide hands-on lessons in the garden beds at Lincoln Hancock, Clifford Marshall, and Parker during the 2022-2023 school year.
Mayor Koch thanked Chair of the Massachusetts Board of Education Katherine Craven for her support of Quincy Public Schools Early College High School grant funding.
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Old Business
Naming the NQHS
Band Room
Mayor Koch reviewed that the Facilities, Security & Transportation Subcommittee unanimously recommended naming the North Quincy High School Band Room in memory of former Band Director Richard Kenneally. This item is eligible for vote at the September 14, 2022 School Committee meeting.
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New Business
QPS School Year in
Review
Superintendent Mulvey introduced the review of the Quincy Public Schools 2021-2022 school year, this is the end of a challenging year, but having students back to school in person allowed for expanding curriculum and social-emotional opportunities for our students. Ms. Perkins and Ms. Roy shared a slide show of students from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 working and socializing together. School events include community service, group projects, field days, robotics, family events, concerts, extended day activities, science fairs, plays, athletic events, proms, and graduation.
Mr. Santoro thanked the presenters, the special events are so memorable to the students and lifelong memories are created by our dedicated staff.
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New Business
FY2023 Quincy Public
Schools Budget (VOTE)
Superintendent Mulvey reviewed that the FY2023 Quincy Public Schools has been reviewed and discussed in Regular and Subcommittee meetings, a Public Hearing was held, and the City Council presentation completed.
Mayor Koch made a motion to approve the FY2023 Quincy Public School Budget as presented. Mrs. Hubley seconded the motion and on a roll call vote, the ayes have it, 6-0. Mr. Gutro was absent.
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New Business
FY2022 Quincy Public
Schools Budget
Transfer Requests
(VOTE)
Mr. Mullaney reviewed requested transfers within the FY2022 Quincy Public School Budget to address deficits of $197,000 in Special Education Tuitions, $20,000 in Teacher Professional Discretionary, $500,000 in Electricity, and $100,000 in Special Education Transportation. These deficits will be offset by transfers from other expense line items.
Mayor Koch made a motion to approve the FY2022 Quincy Public School Budget Transfer Requests as presented. Mrs. Lebo seconded the motion and on a roll call vote, the ayes have it, 6-0. Mr. Gutro was absent.
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New Business
Naming the Field
at Point Webster
Middle School
Mayor Koch made a motion to refer naming the new field at Point Webster Middle School for Private John Mariano to the Policy Subcommittee. Mr. Bregoli seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
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New Business
Limiting Food Delivery
To Schools
Mrs. Cahill made a motion to refer creating a Policy to Limit Food Deliver to Schools to the Policy Subcommittee. Mrs. Hubley seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
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New Business
Review of the Student
Rights & Responsibilities
Handbook
Mrs. Lebo made a motion to refer the revision of the Student Rights & Responsibilities Handbook to the Policy Subcommittee. Mr. Bregoli seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
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Additional Business
Mayor Koch requested a fall review of disciplinary standards in conjunction with the revision of the Student Rights & Responsibility Handbook.
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Communications
There were no Communications.
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Reports of
Subcommittees
Mr. Santoro noted that Subcommittee minutes are published on the School Committee page of the Quincy Public Schools website (quincypublicschools.com)
Mayor Koch waived reviewing the FY2023 Budget & Finance Subcommittee meetings that were held on May 25 and June 1, 2022 since the FY2023 Budget was approved earlier in the meeting.
Mrs. Cahill reviewed the May 25, 2022 Facilities, Security & Transportation Subcommittee where a review of Quincy Public Schools Safety & Security protocols was presented, a discussion of naming the North Quincy High School Band Room for former Band Director Richard Kenneally was held, and Superintendent Mulvey presented a review of the Massachusetts School Building Authority project for the replacement of the Squantum Elementary School.
Mrs. Lebo reviewed the June 1, 2022 Teaching & Learning Subcommittee meeting, where DOVE staff members presented on their collaboration with the middle and high schools. In addition, a wrapup of the REACH program was presented.
As there were no corrections, the minutes of the May 25, 2022 and June 1, 2022 Budget & Finance, the May 25, 2022 Facilities, Security & Transportation, and the June 1, 2022 Teaching & Learning Subcommittees were approved as presented.
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Executive Session
Mr. Santoro thanked the Superintendent and Leadership Team for their work during the 2021-2022 school year.
Mrs. Lebo made a motion to adjourn to Executive Session for the purpose of Contract Negotiations at 7:55 pm, seconded by Mr. Bregoli. On a roll call vote, the ayes have it, 6-0. Mr. Gutro was absent.
School Committee will return to Regular Session.
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Approval of the
Agreement with
Painters & Allied Trades
School Committee returned from Executive Session at 8:10 pm.
Mayor Koch made a motion to approve the agreement between the Quincy School Committee and the Painters & Allied Trades District Council No. 35, Local 1191, Unit A. Mrs. Lebo seconded the motion and on a roll call vote, the ayes have it, 6-0. Mr. Gutro was absent.
Mayor Koch made a motion to approve the agreement between the Quincy School Committee and the Painters & Allied Trades District Council No. 35, Local 1191, Unit B. Mrs. Lebo seconded the motion and on a roll call vote, the ayes have it, 6-0. Mr. Gutro was absent.
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Adjournment
Mayor Koch made a motion to adjourn at 8:15 pm, seconded by Mrs. Hubley. On a roll call vote, the ayes have it.
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