Minutes
Quincy, Massachusetts - June 16, 2010
Regular Meeting of the Quincy School Committee
Regular
A regular meeting of the Quincy School Committee was held on Wednesday,
June 16, 2010 in the City Council Chambers, City Hall. Present were: Mr. Dave
McCarthy, Mrs. Emily Lebo, Ms. Barbara Isola, Mrs. Elaine Dwyer, Mrs.
Anne Mahoney, and Mayor Thomas P. Koch, Chairman.
Chairman
Presiding
- - -
The Superintendent called the roll and Mrs. Bragg was absent. Also present
were: Dr. Richard DeCristofaro, Secretary; Mrs. Tefta Burrelli, Clerk; Messrs.
Mullaney, Draicchio, and Keith Segalla; Ms. Roberts, Tenaglia, Todd, and Hughes.
Paul Phillips, QEA President and Ms. Tracey Christello, Citywide.
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Reg. Session Mins. 5/26/2010
On a motion by Mr. McCarthy, seconded by Mrs. Mahoney, the regular
session minutes for May 26, 2010 were approved. On a roll call vote, the
motion passed 6-0. Mrs. Bragg was absent.
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Ex.Session Mins. 5/26/2010
On a motion by Ms. Isola, seconded by Mrs. Lebo, the Executive Session
for May 26, 2010 were approved. On a roll call vote, the motion passed
5-0. Mrs. Bragg was absent and Mrs. Dwyer ABSTAINED.
- - -
Staff Recognition Phillip Connolly Retirement
At this time, the Committee recognized Mr. Philip J. Connolly, Principal of
the Clifford H. Marshall Elementary School. Mr. Connolly began as a teacher
in 1973 at Parker School. He was a teacher at Snug Harbor and in 1988 he
became principal at Webster School. Mr. Connolly then went on to become
principal of the new Clifford H. Marshall Elementary School. Mr. Connolly
was accompanied by a large group of teachers and principals at the meeting.
Appointment Nick Ahearn
The Superintendent introduced Mr. Nicholas Ahearn whom the Superintendent
has appointed as the Acting Principal of the Clifford Marshall Elementary
School.
Supts. Report
The Elementary All-City Band and the Middle School Jazz Band played last
evening at North Quincy High School. Sixty to seventy students participated
and played beautifully. This is a great program that will continue to grow.
Quincy received a memo from the Mass Department of Elementary and Secondary
Education that our Special Education Determination Level is Level 1.
Congratulations to Ms. Todd and her staff for the gains made over the past
academic year meeting the criteria for Level 1.
The Committee received a copy of Safety First. The newsletter by Mike
Draicchio, Director of Safety and Security. This is a great communication
piece.
The Mayor thanked everyone for the preparation work at the Veterans Stadium
for the two high school graduations. He thanked Mr. Murphy and the Maintenance
and Park Dept. staffs. It turned out to be two beautiful evenings and everyone
was very pleased.
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Open Forum
Lori Hagborg presented the Committee with a letter written by Curtis DeBisschop,
a fifth grader at Squantum School, and signed by 60 or so students to persuade
the Committee not to cut the band program. She also presented a petition signed
by parents that stated
“learning to play a musical instrument is an important and
valuable experience in a young child’s education. Though
not all children may wish this experience, the opportunity must
remain available for those who do. We implore the Quincy
School Committee to find a way to keep an instrumental music
program available to our elementary schools students. We are
willing to work together with you to find a way.”
There were 139 people who signed this petition.
Ms. Liz Angell, a reading teacher at the Atlantic Middle School, gave
statistics on 2009 MCAS scores --42% of Central students did not receive
a competent grade in science and technology, 56% of Atlantic students did
not receive a competent grade in science and technology, 64% of Sterling
students did not reach competency, 65% of Broad Meadows did not receive
competency, and 72% of Point Webster students didn’t achieve competency
in Science and Technology. Also in the English, Language Arts MCAS
16% of Atlantic students were not competent, 17% of Central students were
not competent, 22% of Broad Meadows students were not competent, 36%
of Sterling student were not competent and 41% of Point Webster students
are not competent in reading comprehension.
With these results, Ms. Angell said we need more teachers for technology
and reading, not cuts. Reading is the only licensure that requires a Masters
degree to be certified . It is an acquired skill, not innate. It is not in the
best interest of students to cut reading and technology teachers.
Scott Allesandro responded to the City Council comments raised Monday
night. The percentage of money given to the school department is far
below the state average. He is concerned about the per pupil spending.
Education, he said, should not bear the brunt of the cuts.
Ann Marie Burke has two children at Beechwood Knoll. She has been
hearing about the possible elimination of one of the 2nd grade classes at
Beechwood. She can’t image adding another 8 students to the 18 already
there. There will be 25 students with different learning styles, language
barriers and IEPs.
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Bldg. Update Mr. Murphy Reports
Mr. Kevin Murphy thanked the Maintenance staff, Park Dept., security staff
and custodial staff for all the hard work put into Veterans Stadium to bring
about the success of the high school graduations. It was a collaborative effort.
The Maintenance staff assisted in several other graduations going on at other
schools. They have been busy delivering chairs, music equipment, setting up
and breaking down the equipment for the Special Olympics at Pageant Field.
Maintenance has been busy with repairs--plumbing and electrical repairs at North
Quincy High, painters touched up Sterling’s auditorium for their graduation,
currently painting the exterior doors at Atherton Hough, installed two new benches
at the Marshall Elementary School donated by the PTO.
The carpenters built a retaining wall surrounding the exterior at Bernazzani,
new tile floor in room 319 at North Quincy High. With the new high school
opening, it promises to be a very busy summer.
Mr. McCarthy asked for a list of security checks . Mr. Draicchio is still working
on it. Mr. McCarthy asked for a copy of the list.
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New QHS Mrs. Dwyer Reports
The New Quincy High School Building Committee will be meeting the end
of June. Mrs. Dwyer said she received two calls about activity at Faxon Field
Mayor Koch answered that moving fill around the field is high school related,
the stakes are related to the track. The engineers are staking it out.
Mrs. Dwyer asked if a company has been hired for the track. Mayor Koch said
an engineer was hired to design it, but it has to be rebid because time has lapsed.
The stakes are for the appeal. We are still in environmental court. The Mayor
said there is funding set aside for the track sitting in an account.
Mrs. Mahoney said those funds were site specific to Pageant Field. Why hasn’t
he gotten approval to appoint that money to Faxon Field? The Mayor said he is
exhausting the appeals process. He won’t go to the City Council until the appeals
process is finished some time in the early fall.
Mrs. Mahoney asked about litigation costs and the price tag for the cost of the
track. Mayor Koch said that $1 million was set aside for the track and it will
go out to bid some time in this fall.
Mr. McCarthy inquired about the contract changeorder list. Mrs. Dwyer said
it is the Gilbane contingency account. Mr. McCarthy will call Mr. Cunniff and
review these changeorders.
- - -
Central Bldg. Comm. Mrs. Mahoney reports
The Central Building Committee met in April. Mrs. Mahoney asked about
St. Anne’s as a potential site for the new Central. She was told by the chair
that it was a closed decision. The Mayor said they are checking to see if we
are able to obtain that property. They have spoken to the pastor who said it
was not for sale. Mrs. Mahoney thought they needed to talk to the Archdiocese.
Mayor Koch said the parish first and then the Archdiocese.
Old QHS
Mrs. Mahoney asked the Mayor what his plan was for the old Quincy High
School. The Mayor is having an architect collect data. The front of the building
may have to be saved. However, the entire building is in need of repair –bringing
it up to code, a complete roof, new elevators, ADA, etc. It is very costly. He
should have a report next week or two and will share it with the Committee.
- - -
DIP
Mrs. Colleen Roberts gave an overview of the District Improvement Plan.
She spoke to the six standards and how they work. Goals are set and the
teams strive to meet those goals. Mrs. Mahoney said she was concerned
about the challenge because there are less people in the school system
who handle these plans.
- - -
Senate Bill
Mrs. Isola said there is a bill in the Senate to extend the recovery money to
keep teachers in the classroom. Specifically, this bill is to prevent layoffs
of teachers in local districts.
Chapter 70
Ms. Isola presented a listing of 29 districts in Massachusetts with school
populations over 5,000 that are receiving 30% or more of their foundational
budget from state aid. The average state aid for these communities is 59.9%
the student enrollment for these 29 communities represents 35% of the statewide
enrollment and these 29 communities get 53% of the statewide Chapter 70
money.
Ms. Isola’s Resolve
Ms. Isola prepared the following resolve:
“WHEREAS there are inequities inherent in the formula used to
calculate the percentage a district receives as their foundational
budget under MGL Ch. 70 which result in an inequitable allocation of
funds to various communities, and
WHEREAS there are inaccuracies in the manner in which the net
school spending calculation, which dictates the amount of money
a district must spend on education, is determined.
NOW, THEREFORE the Quincy School Committee seeks the assistance
of the members of the Massachusetts Legislature:
-
To address inequities in the allocation of state funding for
education to various districts by revising the formula used to
calculate the percentage a district receives as their foundational
budget under MGL Ch. 70, and
-
to revise the net school spending formula to account for all
expenditures related to educational spending made by a district
not currently included in the net school spending calculations,
so that the amount of money a district spends on education can
be accurately credited towards a district’s obligation to meet its
Net school spending mandate.”
Ms. Isola made a motion, seconded by Mr. McCarthy, to send this motion to
our Mass Legislature. Ms. Isola wants to start a conversation with the legislatures to find out why we get 17% and other communities get 60%. On a roll
call vote, the motion passed 6-0. Mrs. Bragg was absent. Mayor Koch said
he will forward that to the Senate President.
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Security
Mr. Mike Draicchio reported that all the cameras in all the schools have gone
to a DVR system. There will be four security guards at both high schools.
There are 24 cameras at North Quincy High, and all doors have alarms.
The Hunt St. lobby entrance can be viewed at the main lobby desk. Mr.
McCarthy recognized Mr. Chris Barrett who has resigned. A majority of
the issues we addressed have been put in place at North Quincy High School.
Mrs. Mahoney asked the Mayor about the intersection at North Quincy and
Walgreens. What is the traffic plans for improvement? The Mayor said he
has been working with Walgreens on Hancock Street and East and West Squantum
Streets intersections to complete it. It is at 25% design and approaching 100%
design for Mass highway purposes. It is on the state list. It is his hope it will
be under construction in 2011. They are widening Hancock Street and East
and West Squantum Streets and land will be taken.
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Budget Transfers Approved
On a motion by Mrs. Dwyer, seconded by Mrs. Lebo, the Committee voted
to accept the year end transfers as presented by Mr. Mullaney.
| Transfer to: |
Transfer From |
| Special Ed. Transp. |
$ 190,000 |
Computer Ed Repairs |
$ 6,853.98 |
| Special Ed. Tuitions |
397,519.24 |
Audio Visual Repair |
$ 5,000.00 |
|
|
Staff Development |
$ 29,250.60 |
|
|
Print & Advertising |
$ 5,401.50 |
|
|
Gasoline |
$114,000.00 |
|
|
Testing |
$ 12,148.14 |
|
|
Library Books |
$ 19,136.80 |
|
|
Audio Visual Supplies |
$ 6,951.00 |
|
|
Library Supplies |
$ 7,194.00 |
|
|
Software |
$ 20,222.43 |
|
|
Professional Discretionary |
$ 35,221.09 |
|
|
Data Process supplies |
$ 5,636.70 |
|
|
Dues |
$ 20,405.00 |
|
|
Insurance |
$ 51,398.00 |
|
|
Employees Benefits |
$248,700.00 |
| Total |
$587,519.24 |
|
$587,519.24 |
On a roll call vote, the motion passed 6-1. Mrs. Bragg was absent.
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Overnight NQ ROTC Trip Approved 9/22-9/26/2010
On a motion by Mrs. Dwyer, seconded by Ms. Isola, the Committee approved
a trip request for North Quincy ROTC students to go to Camp Edwards,
Bourne, MA from September 22, 2010 to September 26, 2010. The ayes
have it.
Mr. Kevin Coughlin lost his mother this past week. Mrs. Evelyn Coughlin was
a family member of the Quincy Public Schools. She worked in the Food Services
Department for 17 years.
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Gifts Parker & Marshall Libraries
On a motion by Mr. McCarthy, seconded by Mrs. Dwyer, the Committee
accepted checks for $167.09 to the Parker Elementary School Library and
$167.09 to the Clifford H. Marshall School Library from the Boston Financial
Data Services. The ayes have it.
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Retirement QEA President
Mayor Koch thanked Mr. Paul Phillips, QEA President, for his 14 years of
service as QEA President. He appreciated his work on the GIC.
New QEA President
He wished
Ms. Allison Cox, the new QEA President, best wishes.
- - -
Retirements
The Committee noted the following retirements:
Principal: Philip Connolly
Teacher: Mary Ann Lencki
Media Specialist: Margaret O’Neill
QEA President: Paul Phillips
Paraprofessional: Claire McGillicuddy
Resignations
The Committee noted the following resignations:
Security: Joseph Barrett
Café Helper: Constance Boudreau
- - -
Executive Session
On a motion by Mr. McCarthy, seconded by Mrs. Mahoney, the Committee
voted to go into Executive Session at 8:35 P.M. for the purpose of negotiations.
They did not return to open session. On a roll call vote, the motion passed
5-0. MRS. DWYER ABSTAINED and MRS. BRAGG was ABSENT.