QUINCY SCHOOL COMMITTEE
BUDGET & FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING ~ May 22,
2023
A meeting of
the Budget & Finance Subcommittee was held on Monday, May 22, 2023 at 6:00
pm at the Coddington Building. Present
were Mr. Paul Bregoli, Ms. Tina Cahill, Mr. Doug Gutro, Mrs. Kathryn Hubley, Mrs.
Emily Lebo, Mr. Frank Santoro, and Mayor Thomas P. Koch, Subcommittee Chair. Also attending were Superintendent Kevin
Mulvey, Assistant Superintendent Erin Perkins, Ms. Kim Connolly, Ms. Allison
Cox, Mr. Michael Draicchio, Ms. Julie Graham, Mr. James Mullaney, Ms. Maura
Papile, Ms. Madeline Roy, Mr. Keith Segalla; and Ms. Laura Owens, Clerk.
Mayor Koch
reviewed that the draft FY2024 Quincy Public Schools Budget was presented to
School Committee at the May 17 meeting and opened the meeting up for discussion.
Per School
Committee’s request, Mr. Mullaney also shared the ESSER expenditures for the
FY2022 and FY2023 school years. There is
still over $3 million available for FY2024 and the funds will be allocated for
after school programs, summer programs, highly-qualified substitute teachers,
tutors, COTA Assistant Therapists, and substitute nurses.
Mr. Santoro
asked for consideration for creating a special program for students entering
Grade 9 who are having issues difficulty transitioning to high school. In the past, there was a program called New
Start and the middle schools identified candidates for this self-contained
program. Mr. Santoro suggested that if
the program cannot be accommodated in the current appropriation for the FY2024
budget, perhaps there is grant funding that can be secured.
Mrs. Lebo
asked for and received confirmation that there are ESSER funds for FY2024, all
funds must be expended by September 30, 2024.
Mr. Gutro
asked about how many positions are funded under ESSER, Mr. Mullaney said two Security,
two Family Liaisons, and three Guidance positions. These positions will need to be absorbed in
the FY2025 QPS Budget. No new positions
were added this year funded out of ESSER funding.
Mr. Bregoli
asked if we are anticipating layoffs for FY2025. Mayor Koch said that we have
been careful to keep the ESSER expenditures focused on short-term commitments
and not added a large number of positions.
Mr. Bregoli
asked about Chromebooks purchases going forward, Superintendent Mulvey said the
servicing and replacement will be built into future budgets.
Mr. Bregoli noted
another long-term budget consideration is expanding the Protective Services
program at North Quincy High School.
Mrs. Cahill
asked if there may be a shift in expenditures between textbooks and technology,
Mr. Mullaney said that online textbooks and resources are already being
purchased from the textbook line, while the technology line is for software and
operating systems.
Mrs. Cahill
asked about the Pre-Kindergarten play area at Point Webster, Mayor Koch said
that grant funding is being sought to upgrade this area by the Department of
Natural Resources.
Mr. Gutro
asked about a potential increase in Chapter 70 funding, Mr. Mullaney clarified
that the funding goes into the General Fund and is part of the City’s
appropriation for education. DESE’s
recommendation is that districts budget based on historical data as the
additional appropriation is not guaranteed.
Mr. Bregoli
asked about the revenue from sports betting, Mayor Koch said it is unclear how
this will be shared with cities and towns, the state’s overall revenue is below
projections for the year currently.
Mr. Gutro
made a motion to move the FY2024 Quincy Public Schools Budget as presented to
the full School Committee for Public Hearing on May 31. Mr. Santoro seconded the motion and on a roll
call vote, the ayes have it, 7-0.
Mrs. Lebo
made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:20 pm. Mr. Bregoli seconded the motion and on a voice
vote, the ayes have it.