Minutes
Quincy, Massachusetts – February 10, 2016
Regular Meeting of the Quincy School Committee
Regular Meeting
A regular meeting of the Quincy School Committee was held on Wednesday,
February 10, 2016 at the Coddington Building. The Superintendent called the roll
and the School Committee members present were Mr. James DeAmicis,
Mrs. Kathryn Hubley, Ms. Barbara Isola, Mayor Thomas Koch, Mrs. Emily Lebo,
Mrs. Anne Mahoney, and Mr. Paul Bregoli, Vice Chair.
Vice-Chair Presiding
Also present were: Dr. Richard DeCristofaro, Secretary; Ms. Laura Owens, Clerk;
Mr. Michael Draicchio, Mr. Daniel Gilbert, Ms. Maureen MacNeil, Deputy
Superintendent Kevin Mulvey, Mrs. Maura Papile, Ms. Madeline Roy, Mr. Keith
Segalla, Mr. Robert Shaw, Mr. Laurence Taglieri, Ms. Judy Todd; Quincy
Education Association President Allison Cox.
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There was a moment of silence for all service members serving at home or
overseas.
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Regular Meeting Minutes Approved
1/27/16
Mayor Koch made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Hubley, to approve the Regular
Meeting minutes for January 27, 2016. On a voice vote, the ayes have it.
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Open Forum
As no one wished to speak at Open Forum, School Committee moved on to the
next item on the agenda.
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Superintendent's
Report
Dr. DeCristofaro opened the Superintendent’s Report with Inspire Quincy,
featuring Middle School Technology Engineering, Point Webster Students of the
Month, Middle School Wrestling Program, Parent Academy on the Redesigned
SAT, and CPR Training for Grade 8.
Dr. DeCristofaro then introduced the students who received the Scholastic Art
Award Regional Key Winners from North Quincy and Quincy High Schools. Anna
Laugelle (Gold Key for Digital Art), Quynh Vu (Gold Key and Honorable Mention
for Photography), Lily Chapman (Gold Key for Photography), and Austin Kimmel
(Silver Key, Drawing & Illustration).
Senior Director of Student Support Services Maura Papile reviewed the Parent
Academy event on the redesigned SAT that was recently held in collaboration with
the College Board Testing Service. Over 80 parents attended the event and the
presentation will be posted on the Quincy Public Schools website
www.quincypublicschools.com.
The Quincy School~Community Partnership Student Leadership event for Grade 5
students will be held on Thursday, February 11. 70 Student Council members
from all eleven elementary schools have been invited. High School Senior Class
officers from and South Shore YMCA will guide students in leadership activities.
A Matter of the Heart was held on Saturday, February 6 and over 80 Grade 8
students and parents were trained and received full CPR certification by Brewster
Ambulance. All Grade 8 students at our five middle schools had an introductory
CPR class during the week of February 1 also taught by Brewster Ambulance staff.
Sterling Middle School Community Meeting was held on Thursday, February 4,
hosted by City Councilors Brad Croall and Brian Palmucci. Community members
and parents saw schematic designs from Ai3 and an overview of the construction
process from Joslin-Lesser Associates.
City Council unanimously supported filing Statements of Interest for Accelerated
Repair Program projects for new boilers at Atherton Hough, Beechwood Knoll,
Merrymount, and Wollaston at the February 1 meeting.
Kindergarten Registration will be held on February 23 at all elementary school
locations. Pre-Kindergarten screenings will be held at Snug Harbor and the Della
Chiesa Early Childhood Center on February 23 and March 15.
QHS hosted the Regional Academic Decathalon competition featuring over 25
teams on Saturday, February 6. Both high schools were represented and the
Quincy High School team, coached by teacher Jane Lundquist, placed 4th overall.
Both high school Science fairs have been held and winners will be recognized at a
School Committee meeting this spring.
High School Debate Team competitions are underway with North Quincy High
School traveling to Washington, D.C. February 26-28 and Quincy High School
competing in Shrewsbury February 27. MIAA Winter Athletics tournaments will
begin in late February and the following teams have qualified: Q/NQ Girls Hockey,
QHS Boys and Girls Basketball, and individual swimmers, track & field, and
wrestlers have qualified for state finals. Both high school Boys Hockey teams are 3
points away from qualifying.
The high school course selection process will begin in mid-March. Information for
parents and students will be shared at the High School Course Selection
Information Nights on Monday, March 14 at North Quincy High School and
Tuesday, March 15 at Quincy High School.
Upcoming Events include Special Olympics on Friday, February 12 at Squantum
Elementary School at 9:30 am and Literacy Night at Lincoln Hancock, Thursday,
February 11 at 5:30 pm.
Dr. DeCristofaro noted that the FY2016 Grant Booklet has been shared with
School Committee members and that they can contact Director of Business James
Mullaney for additional information on grants.
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Old Business
2016-2017 School
Committee Calendar
Revised Concussion
Policy
Both the School Committee Meeting Calendar for 2016-2017 and the revised
Concussion Policy are sitting on the table for this meeting. Both will be voted on
at the March 2, 2016 School Committee Meeting.
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New Business
QPS 2015-2016
Initiatives Update:
Advanced Placement
Pathways
Senior Director of Curriculum Madeline Roy and North Quincy High School
Principal introduced the Advanced Placement Pathways for Grades 6 through 12.
For the 2015-2016 Advanced courses in English and Mathematics are being
offered to students in Grades 6 through 8 at all five middle schools. Both these
classes, and the APC courses at Central Middle School will provide a pathway to
the Advanced classes offered at both high schools.
The organizing principles of Advanced Courses are a differentiation of the
standards, the depth and complexity that require higher order knowledge and
skills. Pacing accelerates based on the learning style and needs of the students.
778 middle school students are currently taking Advanced classes with slightly
more students in Math than English Language Arts. Criteria included MCAS
Assessment scores, grades, consistent success on classroom assessments,
demonstrated high level of reasoning ability, the ability to work successfully
independently or in small groups.
Principal Maureen MacNeil said that these classes recognize the abilities of
students; teachers and guidance staff know student strengths and work habits,
open communication and collaboration with students and families, provide
support and celebrate successes. Beginning last spring, teachers and guidance
worked together to assess data to make recommendations for advanced course
placement, opportunity for students to take one or both Advanced courses.
Student placements are revisited as needed, some students have moved in and
others have moved out based on Term 1 performance. Only a few changes have
happened to date, which speaks to the work put into the recommendations.
Principal Dan Gilbert said that Mary Fredrickson played a very important role in
assisting with data. Mr. Gilbert said discussions centered around students’ grasp
of foundational skills, students should be challenged in a way that encourages
growth. Fluidity is important, students grow and change over the course of the
summer, additional students were moved into Advanced classes in September.
The collaboration between the teachers and families is key to the appropriate
placement. The six largest class sizes at Broad Meadows are these Advanced
sections and this is a very successful beginning, opportunities for refining the
evaluation process.
Principal Shaw said that additional opportunities for students as they move from
Grade 8 to 9, the transition will be managed for students in Advanced classes and
students who have demonstrated the ability to work at the faster pace and move
into Advanced classes in high school.
Ms. Kim DeLisle, from Point Webster; Mr. Ron Adams from Broad Meadows; Ms.
Patricia Dunne and Ms. Mary Ellen Phillips from Atlantic; and Mrs. Jennifer Shaw
from North Quincy High School shared their ELA Advanced course differentiation.
Ms. DeLisle said that she is using the same lessons, but faster pacing and
differentiated expectations for work. Has created three new units, including one
on the themes in Dr. Seuss. Students are enjoying the classes and the
opportunities for independent and group learning.
Mr. Ron Adams shared snapshots of the differentiation. The Advanced classes give
students an opportunity to deepen understanding through discovery and
discussion of contrasting and/or parallel current events. For writing, Advanced
students may incorporate related research and participate in two essay contests.
In the research project cycle, developing primary sources through email contact is
one example of differentiation.
Mrs. Phillips echoed the great experience of planning and implementing the
Advanced ELA classes. In Bloom’s Taxonomy Knowledge, Comprehension, and
Application are the basis and Analysis, Synthesis, and Evaluation are higher order.
Most Advanced students are accomplished at the lower order thinking skills,
allowing them to transition to the more complex material.
Ms. Dunne reviewed her lesson plans for Reading and Writing. In preparing
students for Grade 9 Advanced ELA classes, we are ensuring that students are
strong readers and writers with the ability to evaluate and synthesize. Students
are able to think critically and creatively, and curiosity is encouraged.
Mrs. Shaw teaches both Honors and Advanced English Grade 9 at North Quincy
High School. Both courses use the same core text, and the Advanced classes add
contrasting short stories and literary criticism. Writing assignments are different
and require different levels of guidance. Mrs. Shaw really enjoys the collaboration
with the middle school staff.
Mathematics teachers Mr. Daley, Mr. Santoro, and Mrs. Tomasini presented next
and all share the enthusiasm for the establishment of the Advanced classes at all
middle schools.
Mr. Daley said this differentiation assists all learners; for advanced learners,
teachers are encourages to utilize materials, activities, and assessments that
require higher order thinking, engage students in more abstract applications,
make connections to other disciplines, move students towards independence,
allow for creativity in problem-solving. Mr. Daley complimented the Grade 5
teachers in their recommendations of identifying students.
Mr. Santoro said that Advanced Math students in Grade 8 must take the MCAS test,
be prepared for Algebra 1 (Honors or Advanced) or for some, prepare for
Geomentry in Grade 9. The accelerated pace of Advanced classes means covering
a new topic per class session, exposing students to both Grade 8 and Grade 9
curriculums. Assessments are constructed with both MCAS and PARCC elements
and require mathematical reasoning and attention to precision. In terms of
accountability, students are expected to be self-learners. Students need the skills
of being about to show their work and explain their work. Big Ideas Math has
multiple online resources for teachers and students. Mr. Santoro said that during
the Vertical Team meetings, the high school teachers emphasized the skills of
preparation and organization and these are focuses for this year.
Mrs. Tomasini said that the interrelated texbooks are integral, all have the same
author (Larsen) for the standard, advanced, and APC classes. There are Level A &
B questions in both the standard and advanced textbooks and the APC textbook
has three levels, plus challenge practice. Mrs. Tomasini said that as these
Advanced classes move into the 2nd year, next year’s Grade 8 students will be even
more prepared for the challenges.
Mr. Shaw presented on High School Geometry and shared a typical problem on
ratios of triangles. Typical learners would be provided with the ratios and
complete practice problems before exploring the concepts underlying the ratios.
Advanced learners would not be given the ratios, but would complete problems
that lead them to identify the ratios and discover the underlying concept.
Ms. Roy reviewed the next steps for this pilot Advanced program for middle
school: student progress updates and report cards are reviewed by staff and
parents and placement adjustments made as needed. At the beginning of each
trimester, teachers review and revise expectations with students. Mr. Shaw
reviewed that additional Vertical Team meetings are planned for the spring and a
reflection of the initiative progress. Placement discussions for 2016-2017 and
sharing of student work for middle school students will take place between April
and June. Revision of the Pacing Guide and Differentiated Lessons will continue
and a final Assessment of the initiative in June.
Mrs. Lebo complimented Superintendent DeCristofaro, the Curriculum &
Assessment Management Team, and all the staff involved. The enthusiasm of the
teachers is wonderful to see, and especially glad to see how the differentiation
provides opportunities for students in all classes. Mrs. Lebo would like to see
Science Advanced classes next.
Mrs. Mahoney said this is a unique opportunity to utilize MCAS to help our
students, flipping the MCAS and its importance to benefit students. Agreed with
Mrs. Lebo, would like to be a student in these teachers’ classes. With the support
of the Superintendent and Leadership Team, these teachers are delivering
education to our students in a way they have never had before. Mrs. Mahoney said
that providing the Advanced pathway at all middle schools is a tremendous
opportunity to showcase all of our middle schools.
Ms. Isola said the teachers’ enthusiasm is phenomenal and confirms the terrific
teachers we have. The team approach of collaborating with colleagues and
parents is important and the concept of fluidity of placement is also critical.
Mr. Bregoli asked about the APC vs. Advanced. All five middle schools have
Advanced ELA and Mathematics; the APC program at Central provides
opportunities in all subject areas. Mr. Bregoli asked about differentiation of
instruction and placement for high school students. Mr. Shaw said the input of
Grade 8 students is critical, but there is the same fluidity opportunities in the high
school for students to move between CCP, Honors, and Advanced level courses.
Dr. DeCristofaro said the presentation made us all incredibly proud, these
teachers are great learners and leaders who took an idea and made sure that this
would be successful for our students. He is tremendously impressed by all of the
presenters and their commitment, out very best decisions come from those closest
to the students and families.
§
New Business
Gift: Rural Lodge of
Masons to Quincy High
School Science
Department
Mrs. Lebo made a motion to accept the gift of $3,000.00 to the Quincy High School
Science Department from the Rural Lodge of Masons. Mr. DeAmicis seconded the
motion, and on a voice vote, the ayes have it 7-0.
§
New Business
Overnight Travel
Mayor Koch made a motion to approve the Overnight travel of Central Middle
School Grade 7 to Camp Wing, Duxbury, Massachusetts, June 14-16, 2016. Mr.
DeAmicis seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
Out of State Travel
Mr. DeAmicis made a motion to approve the Out of State travel of Quincy High
School History Bowl Team to Washington DC, April 21-24, 2016. Mrs. Hubley
seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
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Communications
Upcoming meetings were announced: Regular Meetings on March 2 and March
16, 2016 both at 7:00 pm at the Coddington Building; Subcommittee Meetings for
Health, Transportation & Safety on Wednesday, February 24, 2016 at 5:00 pm,
Teaching & Learning on Monday, February 29, 2016 at 5:00 pm; and Facilities &
Security on Wednesday, March 9, 2016 at 5:00 pm.
Mrs. Lebo requested a meeting with Superintendent DeCristofaro to review the
Grant Booklet.
Dr. DeCristofaro recognized Marjorie Smollett O’Leary, Quincy High School Class
of 1934, who is celebrated her 100th birthday this week. Dr. DeCristofaro will be
attending her birthday party to present a certificate of recognition.
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Reports of
Subcommittees
Mr. Bregoli noted that all Subcommittee meeting minutes are posted online at
www.quincypublicschools.com.
Budget & Finance
Mrs. Lebo reviewed the Budget & Finance Subcommittee Meeting held on
February 1, 2016. This Quarterly Budget Review was for the six months ending
December 31, 2015. At this time, all budget lines for salaries and expenses are
within expected expenditure and all step and level increases are accounted for in
the appropriation.
Policy
Mr. Bregoli reviewed the Policy Subcommittee Meeting held on February 1, 2016.
The School Committee Meeting Calendar for 2016-2017 was reviewed and School
Committee voted to move the School Committee meeting start time to 6:30 pm. A
revision to the Concussion Policy was presented to clarify the process of a
student’s return to play with appropriate monitoring for the return of symptoms.
Subcommittee Meeting
Minutes Approved
As there were no corrections to the meeting minutes the February 1, 2016 Budget
& Finance Subcommittee and February 1, 2016 Policy Subcommittee Meeting
minutes, the minutes were approved as presented.
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Adjournment
Mayor Koch made a motion to adjourn for the evening at 8:50
p.m. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Mahoney and on a
voice vote, the ayes have it.