Minutes
Quincy School Committee
Policy Subcommittee Meeting
Monday, November 25, 2013
A meeting of the Policy Subcommittee was held on Monday, November 25, 2013 at 5:00 pm in the 2
nd
Floor Conference Room at the NAGE Building. Present were Mrs. Kathryn Hubley, Ms. Barbara Isola,
Mrs. Emily Lebo, Mrs. Anne Mahoney, Mr. Dave McCarthy, and Mr. Paul Bregoli, Chair. Also
attending were Superintendent DeCristofaro, Deputy Superintendent Kevin Mulvey, Mr. Robert
Cavallo, Mrs. Mary Fredrickson, Ms. Ellen Garofalo, Ms. Kerry Ginty, Mrs. Ellen Hunter, Mrs. Meg
McMillen, Mrs. Maura Papile, Ms. Madeline Roy, Mr. Keith Segalla, Mr. Lawrence Taglieri, and
Ms. Laura Owens, Clerk.
Mr. Bregoli called the meeting to order at 5:00 pm.
Community Service Coordinator Meg McMillen reviewed the completion rate, 95% of Quincy High
School seniors have completed last year's requirement, while 79% of North Quincy High School
seniors have completed their hours or are progressing. Dr. DeCristofaro noted that as we have
discussed, there will be issues that preclude students from completing this requirement. The
principals have the discretion to issue waivers as needed. Mr. Bregoli objected to waivers; Ms. Isola
said this is for a student who faces multiple challenges, not that a student wants to avoid the
requirement. Ms. Isola said that the principals and guidance counselors are in the best position to
determine who might be recipient of this waiver. Dr. DeCristofaro said that waivers should be
formalized in the policy. Mr. Bregoli asked if service inside the school was an option to help some of
these students fulfill the requirement. Mr. Taglieri said that there are opportunities, especially for
assisting with Athletics events. Mr. Taglieri feels that after New Year’s, there will be many
opportunities for students to contribute to the school community.
Ms. Ginty said that looking at the statistics for both Grade 11 and 12, we are far ahead of where we
were last year. Mrs. Lebo asked how many students are doing service within their school community
vs. outside the school. Ms. McMillen said 85 to 90% of the students are performing service outside
their school. Mr. Bregoli asked about assistance from the Deans and Class Advisors. Ms. McMillen
said that at Quincy High School, the Deans have been handling direct student contact and parent
information. At North Quincy High School, the Deans, Guidance Counselors, and Class Advisors are all
involved in communicating with students and parents.
Mr. McCarthy asked if too much time is spent on pursuing students. Mrs. McMillen feels the program
has great value and with School Committee willing to stand behind the requirement, it will be
successful. Communication has been emphasized this year, a consistent and persistent message to
students and parents. Dr. DeCristofaro reminded the School Committee that this is a pilot and it is
their decision whether to keep the graduation walkthrough penalty. Ms. Isola said that it is a pilot
and once it becomes part of the high school culture, there will be less effort required to ensure
students complete the requirement. Ms. Isola said that the Community Service Coordinators are
doing the groundbreaking work and that this pilot can be adapted over time as needed to create a
better policy. Mrs. Hubley asked if parents have been notified that not walking at graduation is a
consequence of not completing the Community Service requirement and it has been stated since the
beginning of the year. Mr. Taglieri said communication began this school year with opening
assemblies, Instant Alert messages to parents, emails through Naviance; completion status is
reported on interim and term reports. Mr. Taglieri thinks that ultimately, we are taking about a very
small number of students who will not be able to complete the Community Service
requirement. Mrs. Mahoney asked if the interim and term reports note that Community Service is a
graduation requirement; they will for the next term.
Mrs. Mahoney complimented the opportunities that the Community Service Coordinators have
generated and that the School Committee has to be committed to working the pilot process. Ms.
Ginty said that over 100 students participated in the recent Hero Walk, North Quincy High School
Senior Stay Out Craft Fair, Milton 5K, Best Buddies Walk, Quincy Youth Soccer, Quincy Animal Shelter,
Special Olympics, Wollaston and Beechwood Knoll Fall Festivals, Montclair Holiday Shopping Expo;
other students will help out with Middle School intramural sports such as basketball and swimming.
Mrs. Lebo said that many students have done more hours than needed, and students at other grades
are participating without getting credit. Both Community Service Coordinators agree that many
students do far more than the requirement. Mr. Bregoli requested a subsequent report at the
February School Committee meeting; there will be a Policy Subcommittee meeting in late January.
Mr. Keith Segalla then presented the Information Technology Program Improvement Plan. The
mission is to provide effective and efficient communication to key stakeholders: parents, community
members, and Quincy Public Schools staff. Communication resources include email, the QPS website,
Channel 22, Social Media platforms (Facebook and Twitter), Instant Alert, Aspen, Inspiring Quincy,
and School Tube. There are six teams within this program: IT Team, Elementary/Middle/High School
POS/Scheduling Teams, the Data Processing Team, and Secretaries Team.
The Data Processing Team goals are ongoing, data submissions to the state and federal government
and district reports (scheduling, interim, and report cards). The Elementary POS/Scheduling team is
focused on integrating all Elementary school teachers into online Attendance. For Middle and High
School POS/Scheduling teams, the goal is for all scheduling to be done online. Ms. Garofalo explained
that at the high schools, teachers will prepopulate course recommendations for each student. If
parents would like a different placement, they can request changes through Aspen, triggering a
guidance review. Ms. Garofalo explained that the no one would be excluded from a course while the
review is underway, the schedule is built to accommodate for fluctuations and move ins. Mr. Bregoli
asked about scheduling for students coming from private schools and suggested earlier contact with
parents who may be considering other private school options. Mrs. Mahoney asked whether data
from other districts using is accessible if students transfer, but it is not.
The IT Team has made progress on the fundamentals of Aspen training across all levels, including the
student portal now available for middle and high school students and families. Training to support
Aspen schedule building will be held in January; middle and high school Principals and Guidance Staff
will attend. The Curriculum and Learning module and teacher page implementations are next. The
Secretaries Team will have ongoing Aspen training to expand usage, especially focused on reporting.
Mr. Segalla also presented a progress report on technology purchased by QPS; at School Committee's
request, PTO purchases will be added. Mr. Segalla reported that there is a secured wireless network
in every building school building, as well as guest networks.
Mrs. Hubley requested a parent night to explain the options and features of the Aspen Student Porta;
to middle and high school parents. Mrs. Mahoney suggested a tutorial be posted on website.
Mr. McCarthy asked whether we need to plan for additional staffing in next year's budget to support
the many technology assets purchased in recent years. Mr. Segalla acknowledged that managing the
workload is a challenge this year and additional positions will be requested for the FY2015
budget. No staff members have been added for at least four years. DESE recommends 200
computers per technician, QPS has 3,000 computers and 4 technicians. Mrs. Lebo mentioned that a
complete equipment survey is needed to look at the equity issue across all schools.
Mrs. Mahoney asked whether Community Service can be logged in Aspen. Ms. Garofalo said it is a
non-reportable class on the Aspen Gradebook and Community Service opportunities can be
promoted through the student portal. Mrs. Lebo commended the Aspen rollout to the community.
Ms. Isola made a motion to accept the Information Technology Program Improvement Plan. Mrs.
Hubley seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
The last item on the agenda was a review of requested Facilities Dedication currently in the Policy
Subcommittee: naming the Quincy High School Custodians’ Office in honor of Thomas Orseno and
naming the green space that will be created on the former Quincy High School site in honor of Bruce
McDonald.
For the green space dedication, an email was sent to all members of the School Committee
suggesting that veterans be honored. Ms. Isola said that she understands the point of the email, but
still supports Mrs. Lebo's motion. Mrs. Lebo said this is to celebrate an educator’s 40-year
career. Mr. McCarthy recommends waiting until the green space is more developed and making a
decision at that time. Ms. Isola agrees that there may be multiple options for dedications once the
plan is more finalized; the motion should be more general and capture the intention to honor Mr.
McDonald when the green space is completed. Mrs. Lebo said that she would like to come out of the
meeting with the resolution that once the new space is incorporated into the Quincy High School
campus, a portion of it will be dedicated to the memory and work of Bruce McDonald.
Ms. Isola made a motion to move the dedication of a portion of the green space on the site of the
former Quincy High School to Bruce McDonald to School Committee. Mrs. Mahoney seconded the
motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
Ms. Isola made a motion to move the dedication of the Quincy High School Custodians’ Office to
Thomas (T.O.) Orseno to School Committee. Mrs. Mahoney seconded the motion and on a voice
vote, the ayes have it.
These dedications will be on agenda for the December 11, 2013 School Committee meeting and
voted on at the January 8, 2014 School Committee meeting.
Mr. Bregoli mentioned that press box at Veteran Memorial Stadium is being dedicated to Charles
Djerf at the Thanksgiving Day football game, but School Committee has not voted on this. Dr.
DeCristofaro said that Mayor's Office is working with the Djerf family, creating a sign for the press
box. School Committee agreed that they would address after the fact.
Ms. Isola made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:40 pm. Mrs. Mahoney seconded the motion
and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.