Minutes
Quincy, Massachusetts – December 9, 2015
Regular Meeting of the Quincy School Committee
Regular Meeting
A regular meeting of the Quincy School Committee was held on Wednesday,
December 9, 2015 at the Central Middle School. Present were Mr. Paul Bregoli,
Mr. Noel DiBona, Ms. Barbara Isola, Mayor Thomas Koch, Mrs. Anne Mahoney,
Mr. David McCarthy, and Mrs. Kathryn Hubley, Vice Chair.
Vice-Chair
Presiding
§
The Superintendent called the roll and all were present. Also present were:
Dr. Richard DeCristofaro, Secretary; Ms. Laura Owens, Clerk; Mr. Nicholas
Ahearn, Ms. Christine Barrett, Mr. Robert Cavallo, Mr. Michael Connor, Mrs.
Susan Shea Connor, Mr. Rick DeCristofaro, Mr. Michael Draicchio, Mrs. Mary
Fredrickson, Mr. Daniel Gilbert, Mr. James Hennessy, Ms. Margaret MacNeil,
Ms. Maureen MacNeil, Mr. Michael Marani, Mrs. Robin Moreira, Mr. James
Mullaney, Deputy Superintendent Kevin Mulvey, Mrs. Maura Papile, Mrs. Ann
Pegg, Mrs. Erin Perkins, Ms. Marisa Qualter, Ms. Madeline Roy, Mr. Keith
Segalla, Mr. Kevin Segalla, Mr. Robert Shaw, Mr. Lawrence Taglieri, Ms. Judy
Todd, Ms. Ruth Witmer; School Committee member-elect James DeAmicis;
and Quincy Education Association President Allison Cox.
§
There was a moment of silence for Eric Bigham, Grade 5 student at Wollaston
Elementary School and Gil DiLorenzo, former Music teacher at Broad
Meadows Middle School.
§
Regular Meeting Minutes Approved
11/18/15
Ms. Isola made a motion, seconded by Mr. Bregoli, to approve the Regular
Meeting minutes for November 18, 2015. On a voice vote, the ayes have it.
§
Open Forum
As no one wished to speak at Open Forum, School Committee went on to the next
item on the agenda.
§
Superintendent's
Report
Dr. DeCristofaro opened the Superintendent’s Report by introducing Central
Middle School Principal Rick DeCristofaro, who welcomed the Mayor, School
Committee, students and parents to Central Middle School.
Dr. DeCristofaro introduced the three Project 351 Ambassadors for 2016: Alyssa
Gonzales (Central Middle School with Mentor Aaron Skowyra), Juliana Tracey
(Broad Meadows Middle School with Mentors Ron Adams and Daniel Gilbert), and
Virginia To (Point Webster Middle School with Mentor Jacqueline Principi).
Dr. DeCristofaro announced the MCAS Accountability Data had been released by
the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. This year’s Level 1
schools are Merrymount, Montclair, and Parker Elementary Schools and Atlantic
and Point Webster Middle Schools.
New Business
American Education
Week Poster & Essay
Contest Winners
Dr. DeCristofaro asked to move to New Business and proceed to American
Education Week Poster and Essay Contest Winners.
Elementary Curriculum Director Erin Perkins introduced the Grades K through 5
winners:
-
Grades K through 1: Wollaston Elementary School, Mrs. Fallon’s
Kindergarten (1st place); Snug Harbor Community School, Mrs. Lynch & Ms.
Carr’s Grade 1 classes (2nd place); Atherton Hough Elementary School, Mrs.
Qualter’s Grade 1 class (3rd place)
-
Grades 2-3: Shauna Foran, Clifford Marshall Elementary School, Grade 3
(1st place); Gia Hua, Lincoln Hancock Community School, Grade 3 (2nd
place); and Casey Perdios, Clifford Marshall Elementary School, Grade 2
(3rd place)
-
Grades 4-5: John Thomas Malvesti, Merrymount Elementary School, Grade
5 (1st place); William Lam, Snug Harbor Community School (2nd place);
Niamh Roland, Clifford Marshall Elementary School (3rd place)
-
Grades 6-8: Jennifer Small, Central Middle School, Grade 8 (1st place);
Jackson Zhao, Atlantic Middle School, Grade 8 (2nd place); Ryleigh Smith,
Broad Meadows Middle School, Grade 7 and Margaret Fay, Broad Meadows
Middle School, Grade 6 (3rd place tie)
-
Grades 9-10: Klei Hamzallari, Quincy High School, Grade 10 (1st place);
Peter Anderson, North Quincy High School, Grade 10 (2nd place); Frances
Papandile, North Quincy High School, Grade 10 (3rd place)
Each first place winner read their essay or shared their poster with School
Committee.
Ms. Isola thanked the students, teachers, parents, this is the most enjoyable
evening of the year.
After a brief recess, Dr. DeCristofaro resumed the Superintendent’s Report.
Superintendent’s
Report (resumed)
‘Tis the Season was held on Thursday, December 3, thanks to the support of
community business partners, including the Quincy Symphony Orchestra. Almost
800 staff, students, parents, retired teachers, and other community members
attended.
On Wednesday, December 2, Undersecretary of Agriculture Kevin Concannon
visited Quincy High School in recognition of Quincy receiving a Farm to School
Implementation Grant of $72,000. The grant will be used to support STEM
education and Health & Wellness initiatives and increase opportunities for locally
sourced foods. Thanks to the Mayor’s Office and Planning & Community
Development for their initiative in developing the grant proposal in collaboration
with Quincy Public Schools.
The Quincy Parent Advisory Council to Special Education held a gingerbread
decorating night on Friday, December 4. Over 35 families attended, thanks to
QPAC Board members Debby Nabstedt and Cassandra Beck. Students also
attended the Enchanted Village under a grant secured by QPAC.
Dr. DeCristofaro concluded his report by noting that the Atherton Hough,
Montclair, and Squantum Elementary School and Extended Education Program
Newsletters had been shared with School Committee.
§
Old Business
FY2016 Additional
Budget Appropriation
Dr. DeCristofaro reviewed the additional $250,000 appropriation given to
Quincy Public Schools by the Mayor this fall when the Full-Day Kindergarten
grant from the state was partly reinstated. School Principals were surveyed and
members of the Curriculum & Assessment and Principal teams saw
presentations and proposals for several vendors. 80 Eno Interactive
whiteboards and 76 short-throw projectors will be installed in 58 elementary
school classrooms; 16 middle school classrooms at Atlantic, Broad Meadows,
and Point Webster; and 10 classrooms at North Quincy High School. Central
Middle School will receive replacement pens for their already-installed Eno
Boards, Quincy High School will receive 4 replacement short-throw projectors;
and Sterling Middle School will receive portable projectors and whiteboards
reallocated from other schools.
Installation and introductory staff training will begin in January. Follow-up
training to support the new users and accelerate advanced users will continue
through the winter and spring. Looking at establishing technology champions in
each building. The hope is to reach the maximum potential for student
engagement. Dr. DeCristofaro thanked Madeline Roy, Keith Segalla, and Robert
Cavallo, and the Mayor for the allocation, which will make a huge impact on
hundreds of students.
§
New Business (resumed)
Narcan to Policy
Subcommittee
Mr. Bregoli made a motion to move training school nurses to administer Narcan
into the Policy Subcommittee. Ms. Isola seconded the motion and on a voice vote,
the ayes have it.
§
Out of State Travel
Ms Isola made a motion to approve the Out of State travel of Central Middle School
Grade 8 to New York City, New York, June 8-10, 2016. Mr. Bregoli seconded the
motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
Mayor Koch made a motion to approve the Out of State travel of North Quincy
High School AFJROTC to Fredricksburg, Virginia, April 8-12, 2016. Ms. Isola
seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
§
Overnight Travel
Mayor Koch made a motion to approve the Overnight Travel of Quincy High School
to Harvard Model Congress, Boston, Massachusetts, February 18-21, 2016. Ms.
Isola seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
§
Communications
Upcoming meetings were announced: Regular Meeting on January 13 and 27,
2016; February 10, 2016, all at 7:00 pm at the Coddington Building; Subcommittee
Meetings for Special Education on Wednesday, January 20, 2016; Teaching &
Learning and Budget & Finance on Monday, January 25, 2016.
Mayor Koch announced the Inauguration will be on Monday, January 4, 2016 at
10:00 am in the Great Hall at Old City Hall.
Joint Convention of the City Council and School Committee will be held on
Monday, January 11, 2016 at 6:30 pm for the purpose of appointing the School
Committee member to fill Noel DiBona’s term.
§
Reports of
Subcommittees
Mrs. Hubley noted that all Subcommittee meeting minutes are posted online at
www.quincypublicschools.com.
Teaching & Learning
Ms. Isola reviewed the Teaching & Learning Subcommittee Meeting held on
December 7, 2015. E-Day Resources for students and families will be posted on
the Quincy Public Schools website to provide opportunities for student
enrichment beyond the bell. Mrs. Perkins presented on the opportunities for
advanced elementary school students in Quincy Public Schools and in cities and
towns in Massachusetts. North Quincy High School Principal Robert Shaw and
Senior Curriculum Director Madeline Roy presented on Advanced Placement
pathways from Grade 5 through 12 in Quincy Public Schools.
Policy
Mr. Bregoli reviewed the Policy Subcommittee Meeting held on December 7,
2015. Executive Director Keith Segalla presented the Technology & Training
Program Improvement Plan and the goals for 2015-2016. The plan was approved
by the Policy Subcommittee. The Subcommittee also reviewed and re-affirmed
the Concussion Policy with no changes.
Subcommittee Meeting
Minutes Approved
As there were no corrections to the meeting minutes for the December 7, 2015
Teaching & Learning Subcommittee Meeting minutes and the December 7, 2015
Policy Subcommittee Meeting minutes, all minutes were approved as presented.
§
Dr. DeCristofaro wished each member of School Committee Happy Holidays on
behalf of himself, Deputy Superintendent Mulvey, and the Superintendent’s
Leadership Team.
Dr. DeCristofaro noted that this is the last School Committee meeting for two
School Committee members. Mr. Noel DiBona (2014-2015), served as chair of the
Health, Safety, and Transportation Subcommittee, monitored many Health &
Wellness initiatives, looking forward to working with him as a member of the
Quincy City Council. Mr. DiBona thanked Dr. DeCristofaro, Mayor Koch, and
School Committee colleagues, learned much from the different perspectives each
member brings. Looking forward to continuing with Quincy Public Schools as a
parent, the whole experience has been unmatched. Thanked Dave McCarthy for
mentoring him.
Dr. Decristofaro spoke about Dave McCarthy, School Committee member from
2004 to 2015. Mr. McCarthy knows every inch of every school building and was
School Committee Chair for 2008-2009, two very difficult budget years. Mr.
McCarthy chaired the Budget Subcommittee, Health & Safety, and Facility &
Security and served on every Subcommittee. Mr. McCarthy served with 14
different School Committee members and 2 mayors. He was an advocate for class
sizes, music and band programs, athletics, building facilities, Full-Day
Kindergarten, investments in technology, curriculum, infrastructure and most of
all, student and staff safety.
Mr. McCarthy was presented with a chair commemorating his years of service.
Mr. McCarthy said that he is most proud of work to shore up building security
with the support of Mayor and City Council, Quincy is ahead of other cities and
towns. The Special Education department is near and dear to Mr. McCarthy and
he always wanted to be sure that the program was strong. Director Judy Todd
has done a great job, but Mr. McCarthy stayed on the Subcommittee throughout
his tenure, partly from understanding how tough it can be as a parent.
When Mr. McCarthy first joined the School Committee, he learned from some
committed veterans, served with two Mayors who both care about the city and
felt strongly about education. He enjoyed all colleagues, past and present, strong
work ethic. The Superintendent and Leadership Team have been an honor and
privilege to work with.
Mayor Koch extended his gratitude to Mr. DiBona, will look forward to further
conversations on City Council. Mr. McCarthy, grew to respect work ethic and
passion for the school system, dedication has made a difference. Expects to see
him in future service to the City of Quincy.
Mrs. Mahoney appreciated the time serving with Mr. DiBona. Mr. McCarthy has
been an enormous treasure for Quincy Public Schools with such dedication to
families, will be sorely missed.
Ms. Isola wished Mr. DiBona best in work on City Council. It has been an absolute
privilege to serve with Mr. McCarthy. As a parent, Mr. McCarthy always treated
her with respect. As a colleague, Mr. McCarthy set a strong example as she
learned to be a School Committee member. Mr. McCarthy is always prepared,
passionate, but advocates in a respectful way. In twelve years of service, he has
always brought a sense of humor to lighten the room when topics are
controversial and has a talent for leading the group to compromise. Ms. Isola is
confident that we will see him again and will miss sitting next to him.
Mr. Bregoli feels sad for the loss of both colleagues from School Committee,
congratulated Mr. DiBona on his election to City Council. Mr. McCarthy leaves a
legacy for his work on School Committee, especially his relationships with
colleagues. Mr. McCarthy made a significant mark on the community and the
School Committee.
Mrs. Hubley wished Mr. DiBona and Mr. McCarthy both well.
§
Adjournment
Mayor Koch made a motion to adjourn for the evening at 7:45 p.m. The motion
was seconded by Mr. McCarthy and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.