Minutes
Quincy, Massachusetts - November 7, 2007
Regular Meeting of the Quincy School Committee
Regular Meeting
A regular meeting of the Quincy School Committee was held on Wednesday,
November 7, at 7:00 p.m. in the Lincoln-Hancock Community School. Present
were Mrs. Anne Mahoney, Mr. Kevin Mulvey, Ms. Linda Stice, Mr. Jim
Timmins, Mr. Dave McCarthy, Mayor Phelan and Ms. Elaine Dwyer, Vice
Chairman.
Vice Chairman Presiding
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The Superintendent called the roll and all members were present. Also
present were: Drs. Richard DeCristofaro, Secretary, and Pattavina.
Messrs. O’Brien, Ryan, Walsh, McPhee, Canavan, Kevin and Keith Segalla,
Ms. Powell, Hughes, and Roberts.
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A moment of silence was observed for Gerry Gowan, a former teacher
and principal, and Madeline Nugent, Paraprofessional. Both passed away
this week.
Reg.Mins. Approved 10/17/2007
On a motion by Mr. Timmins seconded by Mrs. Mahoney, the Committee
approved the regular session minutes for October 17, 2007. The ayes have it.
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Welcome by Principal
Ms. Ruth Witmer and Assistant Principal, Dan Gilbert, welcomed the
School Committee to the Lincoln Hancock Community School. Ms.
Witmer spoke to the vocabulary and comprehension plan at the
school. Around Halloween, the first graders dressed up as vocabulary
words. Ms. Witmer had a slide show showing the students dressed in
their costumes. Parents helped students construct a costume that became
the definition of the word. They paraded around the school. This is one
of the initiatives teachers did to help increase their vocabulary and
comprehension in a unique way.
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Drug Presentation
Mrs. Powell introduced the Quincy Public Schools Drug presentation.
The schools are concerned about the potential impact of tobacco, alcohol
and drugs on students. Quincy supports healthy activities for young
people and provides positive adult role models. Our schools provide
drug abuse awareness, education, support, and referral. Quincy’s law
enforcement and mental health agencies are involved. Quincy is a
community that works together, collaborating and sharing resources to
provide intervention.
Partners in this drug prevention effort include Quincy Police, MBTA
Police, DA’s office, Bay State Community Services, So. Shore Mental
Health Center, Impact Quincy, Quincy’s court, the Department of Youth
Services, Department of Social Services and the YMCA. We are
encouraged by the most recent MASS Risk Behavior Survey which
indicates that less that 50% of students are currently using alcohol,
80% report not smoking, 74% are not using marijuana, and 92% have
never tried drugs. These are statistically significant decreases over
the past 10 years. We remain concerned about the abuse of prescription
drugs that can lead to other serious drug use.
William Keating, DA
District Attorney, William Keating, spoke to the long time coalition
between his office and the Quincy Public Schools. He gave a capsule-
look of some of the work they do. Some of the programs that come
out of the DA’s office are the Saturday Detention Program at Quincy
High School, the After Prom parties, and a website for parents. If
people have questions, they can check the website www.learn2cope.org.
Alcohol is the predominant issue. The play, Consent, is very popular with
the young people. He gave the members a DVD that is used in the
schools --In One Split Second. The DA’s philosophy is early
intervention and collaboration.
The Safety & Security round table meetings are very effective. The
various organizations sit together and talk about what has happened
from month to month. This gives everyone a chance to get together
and intervene. The Justice Dept. has recommended this model.
Jim Quigley, DA’s office
Jim Quigley, DA’s office, spoke to other programs -- the Boys
Mentoring Program at Broad Meadows, the Quincy High Mediation
Training Program, Open gym at Quincy High School with the
Community Police. This gets students to come to the gym and play
basketball with police officers. This is a very successful program.
There is an Early Bird Basketball Program at Snug Harbor, Quincy
Summer Time Basketball Camp in collaboration with the Quincy
YMCA. Programs on the horizon are--Choose to Refuse-a
heroin and Oxy Contin program, Youth Town Hall meeting for
high schools at Curry College and Impact Quincy for substance abuse.
Mr. Mulvey thought the play “Consent” was a fantastic idea. It deals
with two major problems--drugs and alcohol. He would like to
see that play at our two high schools and then have legal
representatives there to explain to students the consequences.
McCarthy asked the DA’s office to sit down with the School
Committee to talk about the best suggestions for use at the high
school level to increase awareness in our programs and to
make sure we do things effectively.
The District Attorney said they are seeing more assault and batteries
involving young females.
Mr. Timmins was very pleased with the presentation and for the
public to see how they try to intervene. He would like to see them
at meetings more often so parents can see how they can take steps to
help their children stay out of trouble.
Mrs. Mahoney also thinks it’s important that parents know what’s
out there and how to communicate between the schools and the
DA’s office. Often times, they don’t know where to turn to.
Mr. Keating said that the schools are an active partner but they can’t
cure all social ills. When something’s not going right at home,
that affects learning too. The appropriate way is through the schools,
and Quincy does that very well.
Mrs. Mahoney asked if families did want to come forward, how
do they do that. Jim Quigley answered that with all programs they
send a letter of indication to every school. The schools get back to
them whether they have the time to take students away from their
classrooms. If a family has questions; the website is a link with
answers.
DARE Program
Officer Don Sautter
Officer Don Sautter, DARE Program, described aspects that are
unique to Quincy and shared some thoughts as to its impact. This
program began in Quincy in l989. He teaches in the elementary
schools at the fifth grade level. Officer Grazioso teaches in the 7th.
grade. They teach 1,700 students per year. The basic topic is to
help students recognize and resist the subtle pressures that
influence them to get involved and experiment with gateway drugs--
tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, prescription drugs. The main topics in
these lessons talk about decision making, steps to walk them through
to help kids slow down, and think through things before they make
decisions. They focus on the harmful effects of drugs and teach kids
there’s no reason to get involved in the first place.
Ken McPhee
Ken McPhee shared school based and community efforts to intervene
where drug use could be a potential problem. He discussed his round table
meetings. The DA’s office, both police departments, school resource
officers, DSS, DYS, some security staff, deans, principals participate.
They brainstorm to come up with more effective ways to service kids that
are in need. This is done on a monthly basis.
John Francechini, Director of Health and Physical Education, spoke to
the drug education programs in grades 5-9. It provides the foundation of
concepts and skills for lifelong fitness. The focus is to educate students in
their physical, educational, and mental health environmental. The vision
is for young students to grow into competent adults.
Jane Kisieluis
Jane Kisieluis spoke to the many initiatives of the school nurses. Although
nurses are not involved in daily instruction, school nurses provide health
education in a variety of ways. Nurses get to know students and track
health visits, repeated health incidents at each high school, offer tobacco
sussion program. Project Connect is implemented by a counselor over
an eight-week period in both high schools. The school nurses put out a
quarterly news letter. They hold health fairs at both high schools. This is
only a sample of programs done by the school nurse.
Mr. Mulvey asked regarding substance abuse at home, upon information
from the student, what protocols are there for us to intervene. Mrs. Powell
said that information is shared with the guidance department. They would
assess what we should do. Very often a child may be called in to offer
support.
Mrs. Mahoney thanked everyone for the great presentation. She told
parents that if they recognize something going on, there are avenues
to help. We need to reinforce information to parents.
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SC Recognition
The School Committee recognized Ms. Jo-Ann Bragg in the audience.
Superintendent DeCristofaro congratulated Ms. Bragg, Mrs. Dwyer
and Mr. McCarthy. He also thanked Mayor Phelan for all his work
for the students of Quincy.
Supts. Report
Eleventh Annual Community Service Learning on November 15.
The Quincy Educator was distributed last week. The Educational
Leadership Team meeting was held and information will be forthcoming.
That was very beneficial for 70 administrators. At least 40 of those
administrators are brand new.
The Committee received a copy of the Nurse’s Newsletter, a letter
sent home to parents with a medical alert, a security checklist from
Mr. McPhee, the names of the Quincy High School students auditioning
for the Eastern District Music Festival, and 21st Century activities
for before and after school. Thirty-five staff members, elementary
principals, assistant principals and Quincy High administrators have
received training sessions. A notification sheet and instruction
sheet on updating their information was sent to parents. The first
real Instant Alert message by elementary principals was made
announcing report card interviews.
The framework for choosing the Assistant Superintendent
was developed and is in the Policy Manual. Mr. Walsh has
the candidates’ names for the members.
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Open Forum
At the Open Forum, Mr. Bill Zamzow, QPAC addressed the Committee.
He thanked them for the newly painted handicap spot. QPAC is working
with the School Committee to assist in the hiring of Special Ed staff at
all levels, with the Policy Subcommittee on the DIP. QPAC is
taking the supportive assessment developing in special ed programs.
The upcoming MDOE program quality assurance review, the many
ongoing challenges in transportation, budgeting, and providing
emergency information on Special Education. The QPAC meetings
are open for the public, parents, interested parties. Information is
published in the Quincy Sun and Ledger and posted in both Quincy
website under Parents Special Ed Information link as well as QPAC’s
new website. Any and all inquires should be address to [email protected].
The next meeting is on Tuesday November 27.
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New QHS
There was no update on the new Quincy High School.
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Central & Sterling
There was no update on Central and Sterling.
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Gift - Auto Dept.
On a motion by Mr. Mulvey, seconded by Ms. Stice, the Committee
approved a gift of a 1996 Ford Explorer from Laurie Harris to the
Automotive Department at Quincy High School. The ayes have it.
Gift - QHS Social Studies
On a motion by Mr. McCarthy, seconded by Mr. Timmins, the
Committee approved a gift of World War 2 books from Marie
McCarthy, in memory of her husband, Frank, to the Quincy High
School Social Studies Department. The ayes have it.
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QHS to France, Germany, Austria & Switzerland
On a motion by Ms. Stice, seconded by Mr. Mulvey, the Committee
approved a trip for Quincy High School students to go to France,
Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The ayes have it. This request
was tabled from the last meeting awaiting a copy of letter to parents.
The letter came after it was requested by the Committee. Ms. Stice
sent out a friendly reminder that School Committee policy is that
parents be told when part of the fees they are paying goes to cover
the cost of chaperones.
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Atlantic to NYC
On a motion by Mr. Mulvey, seconded by Mr. McCarthy, the Committee
approved a trip for Atlantic Middle School to go to New York City. The
ayes have it.
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Mr. McCarthy said his father would have been pleased that the
World War II books ended up at Quincy High School. He was part
of that generation. The 65 books are very detailed and intriguing. The
family is very pleased that they ended up at Quincy High School.
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Bldg. Subcommittee
The Building Needs Subcommittee met earlier this evening to discuss
Fire Safety that was brought up at their last meeting and in the media.
Mr. Canavan reported that all fire extinguishers have been inspected and
certified. Emergency lights have all been repaired or replaced. All interior glass
has been replaced. All exit doors are in working order. The two electrical
hazards have been repaired. All signage requests have been met. The
gas meter at North Quincy High School has been relocated, all housekeeping
matters are being addressed by Kevin Segella. The emergency generator
at Broad Meadows is in working order. The paint in the Central stairwell
was been tested and does not contain any lead. Mr. Canavan meets
periodically with Bill Griffin from the Fire Alarm division to review the
status of smoke detectors. All areas where there was a faulty detector,
there is a working detector. All the quarterly reports done by the fire
department will be copied to the Superintendent and all members of the
School Committee.
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Supts. Evaluation
An ad hoc subcommittee met to discuss the format of the Superintendent’s
evaluation. They received two drafts that the members will take
back and go over the elements in the Superintendent’s report. It’s quite
lengthy, so they want to it down to a reasonable amount of items.
They will meet again in about a week and come to the table with
final comments.
Mr. Timmins announced that the Special Ed Subcommittee will meet on
Tuesday, November 27 at 7:30 p.m. in the Early Childhood Center.
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Retirements
The Committee noted the following retirements:
Dept. Chair: Gerald Finch
Teachers: Ralph Koelsch, Douglas McFarlane, Sara Shapiro
Resignations
The Committee noted the following resignations:
Teachers: Sara Cady, Judi Flaherty, Caroline Hughes
Occ. Therapist: Keri Johnson
Lunch Attendant: Vasiliqi Daci
Paraprofessional: Carly Sell
Appointments
The Committee noted the following appointments:
Teacher: Stephanie Enzmann
Lunch Attendants: Pamela Jones, Thanh Lluong, Dolly Martinez
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Adjournment
On a motion by Ms. Stice, seconded by Mr. Mulvey, the Committee
adjourned for the evening at 9:00 p.m. The ayes have it. There was
no executive session. These minutes were transcribed from a disk
by Mrs. Tefta Burrelli, Clerk, who could not attend the meeting.