Minutes
Quincy School Committee
Policy Subcommittee Meeting
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
A meeting of the Policy Subcommittee was held on Wednesday, January 14, 2015 at 6:30 pm at the
Coddington Building. Present were Mr. Noel DiBona, Mrs. Kathryn Hubley, Ms. Barbara Isola, Mr.
David McCarthy, and Mr. Paul Bregoli, Chair. Also attending were Superintendent DeCristofaro, Mr.
Michael Draicchio, Mrs. Maura Papile, Ms. Madeline Roy, Mr. Keith Segalla,; Ms. Allison Cox,
President of the Quincy Education Association; and Ms. Laura Owens, Clerk.
Mr. Bregoli called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm.
The first item on the agenda was the draft of the School Committee Meeting calendar for the 2015-
2016 school year.
Ms. Isola made a motion to approve the School Committee calendar for 2015-2016 as presented.
Mrs. Hubley seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
The next item on the agenda was the draft School Year Calendar for 2015-2016. Mr. Bregoli
introduced the idea of an earlier (pre-Labor Day) start, with school beginning September 1.
Mrs. Hubley said that in the past, this idea was not popular with parents.
Mr. Bregoli said he spoke with Ms. Cox and on behalf of the QEA membership, she was not in favor of
changing the start date.
Mr. McCarthy said that the last time this was brought up, one of the issues was that families may
have already booked their vacations, depending on Quincy Public Schools tradition of starting after
Labor Day. Mr. McCarthy said some families book vacations a year in advance.
Ms. Isola said if this is something we are considering for future years, we should introduce it at least a
year in advance, in order to give parents the opportunity to plan for the earlier start date.
Mr. DiBona said that a number of cities and towns are already beginning school earlier in order to
finish the school year earlier, even allowing for snow days and he would like to discuss this for future
school years.
Ms. Isola made a motion to approve the draft School Year Calendar for 2015-2016, with the first day
of school being Wednesday, September 9, 2015. Mrs. Hubley seconded the motion and on a voice
vote, the ayes have it.
Ms. Isola made a motion to adjourn the Policy Subcommittee meeting at 6:45 pm. Mrs. Hubley
seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.