Minutes
Quincy, Massachusetts - January 23, 2008
Regular Meeting of the Quincy School Committee
Regular Meeting
A regular meeting of the Quincy School Committee was held on Wednesday,
January 23, 2008 at the City Council Chambers, City Hall. Present were
Mrs. Anne Mahoney, Mr. Kevin Mulvey, Mrs. Jo-Ann Bragg, Mr. Jim
Timmins, Mrs. Elaine Dwyer, Mayor Tom Koch and Mr. Dave McCarthy,
Vice-Chairman.
Vice Chairman Presiding
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The Superintendent called the roll and all members were present. Also
present were: Dr. Richard DeCristofaro, Secretary, Mrs. Tefta Burrelli
Clerk. Dr. Pattavina, Messrs. O’Brien, Walsh, McPhee, Keith Segalla,
Ms. Todd, Hughes, and Roberts. Ms. Bonnie Marcel, Citywide, and
Mr. Paul Phillips, QEA President, were present.
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Organizational Mins. Approved 1/7/2008
On a motion by Mrs. Bragg, seconded by Mr. Timmins, the Committee approved
the Organizational Meeting minutes for January 7, 2008. The ayes have it.
Reg. Minutes approved 1/9/2008
On a motion by Mrs. Bragg, seconded by Mr. Timmins, the Committee approved
the regular session minutes for January 9, 2008. The ayes have it.
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Appointments Asst. Prin. @ Parker Dept.Head @ NQHS
The Superintendent announced that he is appointing Ms. Robin Strempel
Moreira to the Assistant Principal position at Parker School, and Mrs. Kelly
Stukenborg to the position of Department Head at North Quincy High School
The Superintendent thanked the people who participated in the interview
process. He congratulated both women on their appointments.
Supts. Report
The Superintendent and Keith Segalla met with 200 Harvard Pilgrim Health
Care staff to talk about our Partnership Pathways. We are looking forward
to having them join our 85 partners.
Team Hyper
Mr. Keith Segella shared with the Committee the 2008 Robotics schedule.
Team Hyper is a collaborative effort with both high school students, alumni,
volunteers, and parents. This project incorporates academics, science,
engineering and technology. This program lets students learn in a hands-on
environment. Team Hyper has received 15 outstanding awards. On March 12-16
the Team will go to Florida. At the end of March they will do a presentation
at Children’s Hospital.
Project Lead the Way
Frank Santoro introduced Gina Scanlon and Debbie Barrett members of Project
Lead the Way. This is an interdisciplinary study for students which promotes
Science, Technology, Education and Mathematics (STEM). The program is
nationally recognized for college credits. Nancy Leslie, Paul Tully and Alan
Barrett gave a quick background of the program. Project Lead the Way is a non-
profit education program that works with students to prepare them to be successful
in technology and engineering. Rigorous professional development is required
to teach the course. Students need to get a 70 or better to be eligible for a three
credit transfer from Rochester Technology.
There are three career teachers and two academic teachers. Students start off
in the ninth grade, introduced into Engineering in the 10 grade, five courses in
the 11 grade are available, and engineering design and development in the 12
grade.
The Committee is very excited about this program. Thanks went to the teachers
and Mr. Santoro, Keith Segella, Emily Lebo and Angela Avery. Programs like
these are being incorporated into the new high school.
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Open Forum
At the Open Forum. Mr. Phillips responded to a recent report on assessing
school systems, students and programs. The recent report, Restoring Value
to the High School Diploma: The Rhetoric and Practice of Higher Standards,
highlighted restoring value to the high school diploma. Businesses and
colleges are saying they thought that education reform was going to remove
their need to do remediation, but instead, it is increasing. Curriculum has been
focused to respond to a test. Scores have gone way up, but we are not getting
rid of the complaints. Working on projects, working together in groups is what
is meant by education reform. This report recommends the proponents of
standards need to consider the conceptions of rigor. Every school will eventually
fail AYP. Standards in technology, art, and music are not being valued by
the state.
Mr. Phillips said schools need to pay more attention to alternatives to
the conventional academics programs. Multiple pathways need to be
developed. He was happy to see programs like Lead the Way and
Robotics in the schools. He will send everyone a copy of the report.
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Bldg. Update
Mr. Mike Ryan updated the Committee on building projects. Maintenance
is trouble shooting heating problems on a daily basis. There are problems
with the roof at Sterling over the auditorium. They are evaluating
the PA systems throughout the schools and waiting for proposals for the
Lincoln Hancock Community School. Mr. Ryan has been meeting with
Mr. O’Brien and Mr. Keith Segella concerning computer labs in the
middle school. Mr. Mulvey asked if the Sterling roof was part of the
Honeywell project. Mr. Ryan said they evaluated the worst --Snug Harbor,
Bernazzani, Atherton Hough. Sterling’s roof is just an isolated problem.
Mrs. Bragg said that in the Sterling Improvement Plan the principal discussed
the roof leaks, ceiling, and walls in the teachers’ room on the third floor. She
asked if Mr. Ryan had evaluated all areas. Mr. Ryan said he was not aware
of the problems but will talk to Ms. Barrett.
Mrs. Mahoney asked if Instant Alert was up and running. The Superintendent
said that parents can be communicated with by way of the principals and
eventually with the Superintendent. Our Technology Department is working
with Honeywell representatives and staff members to develop a parental data base.
Mrs. Mahoney said she was inquiring because she never received a “no school”
call.
The Superintendent said that there was some confusion with who would
originate the calls. Mr. O’Brien has spoken to the principals. Every principal
has the capacity to call their parents.
Mrs. Mahoney suggested a systematic introduction to all parents telling them
to be aware that it’s up and running.
Mrs. Bragg asked the Superintendent to find out why the “no school” announcement
was not on TV after 11:00 a.m.
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New QHS
Mr. Alex Pitkin, Jim Anderson, Jim Driscoll, Eugene Caruso were present to
give a progress update on the new Quincy High School. Mr. Pitkin showed slides
of the first floor, second, third and fourth floors. He showed classrooms, a quick
tour of the floor plans. He discussed phasing. We are now in Phase 2 construction.
The steel is going up and we are about 50% underway. All foundations are in.
A new mechanical and boiler room that will allow the old building to operate.
By next February, the Science and Technology wing will be up and running. A
lot of the heavy shops are on the ground floor, electrical, plumbing. Next spring,
they will tear down the gym and the old Center for Technical Education building.
The site plan showed a 60’ space between the old and new high schools. A
typical classroom was shown. He showed the main entrance, the back entrance
side entrances where the tech programs can receive deliveries. The gymnasium
has a walking track and will meet MASS CHIPS.
Each classroom has a work counter top with lots of storage underneath. The
ninth grade academy will be on the third floor of the building.
They showed slides of the old school being taken down, fences, demolition of
the administrative wing, the smoke stack coming down, the new mechanical
room in the old school. This will serve to heat both buildings until another
mechanical room is built in the new high school
Slides of the new gas line and water lines installed under the street. A new
sewer line is being relocated from Woodward Ave. under the new high
school. Three sewer lines, which were put in the 1800s, have been replaced.
The old lines were in very poor condition and had to be replaced. This has
added a cost of $500,000.
Oil tank leaks
Mr. Anderson reported that two oil tanks located in front of the entrance to the
Superintendent’s office between the parking garage and the old wing were
discovered. The had #6 oil and fed the old boilers. They were discovered
around March 2007. An environmental consultant was hired. Borings were
done and they indicated that there were leaks. They had 60 days to submit
an action plan to the DEP. The immediate reaction plan was to empty the
tanks and get rid of the source of the leaks. That was done within the 60 day
time frame. In May they made the formal submission of the leaks and the
plan to correct the source and the closeout papers. The next step from May
to September was to find out the extent of the leaks. More borings
were done during the summer. It was thought that the leaks were close to the
tanks and it would cost around $500,000. They felt at that time, they could
deal with the leaks by excavating the soil when they were digging for the
building. As construction started and the building came down and additional
borings were made, they determined that the extent of the leaks was much
greater. The spill moved down midway to Woodward Ave. They met
with the Building Committee and informed them of their progress.
The Environmental consultation looked at doing and in-place treatment.
Mr. Anderson explained the steam extraction method which was done
through July and August to test the process didn’t work. Then it was
suggested trying Surfactant. The design was finalized and pricing
from contractors came in at $1.3 million. The cleanup of this area is tied
into the construction schedule. They are planning to do the clean up during
the months of February and March.
They will give a final recommendation to the Building Committee next
week. They will continue construction around the leak.
Mrs. Dwyer added that this was brought to the Building Committee’s attention
in March 2007. The Building Committee meets every other week and was
informed of the clean up options that were being explored. All the Building
Committee minutes were distributed to the Committee. Everyone was aware
there were oil tanks that had leaked--the DEP knew, the Building Committee
knew and the School Committee knew. They just learned of the cost last
Thursday.
Mrs. Dwyer read excerpts from an article in today’s Ledger where it quotes
Mayor Koch saying “What are we hiding that stuff for? Let’s get it public.”
Mrs. Dwyer took exception to the remark and said they had not hidden
anything and that the remark questions the integrity of the Building
Committee. The members never hid that. She told Mayor Koch she was
very upset by the remark.
Mr. Timmins said he had gone through all his records and could not find
any communication to all parties since September. He was under the
impression that the scope of this leak was under control and that it was
contained. He thinks this is a communications issue. He hasn’t
received any building committee minutes for some time. He was
confident the work was being done properly.
Mrs. Bragg said she was not aware until last week. She is not part of
the Building Committee, however, in the future, she would like to
know any time during a construction project of cost overruns of half
million dollars or more. All the members should be made aware of
that as well changes in any ed specifications.
Mr. Anderson reported that it wasn’t until two weeks ago that they
were aware the cost had risen to $1.5 million.
Mrs. Mahoney said that this was a large scale project and they ‘
may have many more surprises. These things need to be unveiled.
She questioned if there is seepage going up to the garage. Mr. Anderson
said they know where the contamination stops at Woodward Ave.
As it stands now, the budget is $3.6 million over. The sewer lines costs
$500,000, the oil tank spill remediation will cost $1.3 million, and $2 million
for demolition and abasement.
They will meet with the Building Committee tomorrow to look at potential
funding sources. Choices need to be made.
Preserve Tot Lot
Mrs. Bragg inquired about the Tot Lot named after Dr. Carol Lee Griffin
behind the old CTE building. She wants that and the plaque disassembled,
stored, and then put back together.
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Central Middle School
A meeting has been scheduled for March 12 with the School Building
Authority regarding Central Middle School.
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Sterling & Marshall SIPs approved
On a motion by Mrs. Bragg, seconded by Mr. Mulvey, the Committee
approved the School Improvement Plans for Marshall and Reay E.
Sterling. Ayes have it.
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Trip Approved NQHS to Spain
On a motion by Mrs. Dwyer, seconded by Mr. Timmins, the Committee
approved the trip request for North Quincy High School to go to Spain.
April 19-26, 2008. The ayes have it.
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Mr. Timmins resigns from SC
At this time, Jim Timmins tendered his resignation as a member of
the Quincy Schools Committee, effective 11:59 p.m., January 23, 2008.
He thanked his colleagues, both present and former, for their dedicated
public service and the assistance rendered to him in the performance
of his obligations. Mr. Timmins will be the City Solicitor for Quincy.
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Policy Subcommittee
Mrs. Bragg reported that the Policy Subcommittee met and reviewed the
dropout report information. They discussed ways to identify attendance
problems. They heard about programs that the schools are using to help
students in an effort to reduce dropouts. They discussed the GOALS
Program and need to expand it. Administration is looking at the demo-
graphics and will continue to update the Committee. All elementary
students receive the School Attendance Brochure.
The Subcommittee will begin to work on Sections 10, 11, and 12 of the
Policy Manual. The goal is to complete the manual this year.
Vending Machines Off Subcommittee
With regard to Vending Machines - It was decided that we wish to
make no changes as to the way vending machines are presently used
in the school system. No further action is required on this item and it
can be removed from Subcommittee.
The Committee recently approved language to add to all notices
at the elementary level that involves a fee of any kind regarding a Sliding
Scale for Students fees. The Superintendent will report back on the progress
at middle schools.
At the next Policy Subcommittee they will discuss Student Records
and Bullying.
Student Agenda Books Off Subcommittee
Student Agenda Books was resolved and can be removed from the
Subcommittee.
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The Committee noted the following appointments:
Lunch Attendant: Mary Carchedi
Sr. Clerk & Typist: Mary McDonald
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Adjournment
On a motion by Mr. Timmins, seconded by Mrs. Dwyer, the Committee
adjourned for the evening at 9:29 p.m. There was no executive session.
On a roll call vote, the motion to adjourn passed unanimously 7-0.