Minutes
Quincy, Massachusetts – October 28, 2015
Regular Meeting of the Quincy School Committee
Regular Meeting
A regular meeting of the Quincy School Committee was held on Wednesday,
October 28, 2015 at the Coddington Building. Present were Mr. Paul Bregoli,
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 Mr. DiBona was absent. Also present
were: Dr. Richard DeCristofaro, Secretary; Ms. Laura Owens, Clerk; Mr.
Michael Draicchio, Mr. Matthew Edgerly, Dr. John Franceschini, Mrs. Mary
Fredrickson, Ms. Courtney Mitchell, Mrs. Robin Moreira, Mr. James Mullaney,
Deputy Superintendent Kevin Mulvey, Mrs. Maura Papile, Ms. Madeline Roy,
Mr. Keith Segalla, Ms. Judy Todd; City Solicitor James Timmins, Public
Buildings Director Walter MacDonald; former School Committee member
Emily Lebo; Citywide Parent Council Co-President Scott Alessandro; Quincy
Education Association President Allison Cox; and Student Representatives to
School Committee Sarah Clancy and Lucy Zheng (Quincy High School).
§
There was a moment of silence for members of the armed services serving
overseas.
§
Regular Meeting Minutes Approved
10/14/15
Ms. Isola made a motion, seconded by Mr. McCarthy, to approve the Regular
Meeting minutes for October 14, 2015. On a voice vote, the ayes have it.
§
Open Forum
Mrs. Courtney Perdios spoke on the issue of advanced curriculum opportunities
for elementary schools student.
Ms. Alexis Veith spoke about Special Education equity in the Quincy Public
Schools.
Mr. Scott Alessandro spoke on behalf of the Executive Board of the Citywide
Parent Council. Citywide’s mission is to be a resource for parents and students,
and he encouraged continued exploration of expansion of middle school foreign
language, analysis of delivery of services for Special Education students, and the
role of standardized testing in schools.
Mayor Koch made a motion to take the agenda out of order and moved to the
Sterling Middle School presentation (New Business V.B).
New Business
Sterling Middle School
Presentation
Dr. DeCristofaro reviewed the meeting with the MSBA Facilities Assessment
Subcommittee held earlier in the day. Today’s meeting was a review of the
educational plan and how it will be served in the new building. The efforts of the
Quincy Public Schools administration and the Sterling Middle School staff in
preparing the Preferred Schematic Design for review were well-received.
Feedback will be provided and changes integrated for the full MSBA Board
Meeting on November 18.
Mr. Scott Dunlap from Ai3 shared the MSBA presentation which focused on the
deficiencies of the current building and the recommendation that construction of a
new building is more economical than a renovation of the existing structure. The
preliminary Sterling Middle School site plan was shared and a concept of locating
a new building behind the existing building shared. The new school would be
removed from the Granite Street frontage and scaled back to blend in with
surrounding structures. Mr. Dunlap emphasized that this is a very preliminary
site plan, there is a tremendous amount of work to be done, including public
neighborhood meetings.
Mr. McCarthy thanked Mr. Dunlap for his presentation, it is great to see the project
moving quickly into the design phase. Mrs. Mahoney asked about the cost
estimates for building new versus renovation. Mr. Dunlap said the cost estimate
covers the cost of demolition and restoring the former building site to green space.
Mrs. Mahoney asked about the dropoff area on Granite Street; the preliminary site
plan calls for a dedicated lane. Mr. Dunlap said the MSBA suggested further
exploration around parking and dropoff. Mrs. Mahoney said the issue will be to
maintain the neighborhood feel while addressing the traffic needs.
Mrs. Mahoney asked when the detailed project budget will be available. Assuming
the MSBA Board approves the move into the Schematic Design phase on
November 18, the project budget will be developed over the next 4-6 months.
Mr. McCarthy said that discussions at Building Committee meetings have covered
parking, access, abutters, and drainage. Mr. McCarthy said that School Committee
members will receive questions from parents and members of the public, the
Sterling Building Committee will make sure all are addressed.
Mayor Koch thanked the presenters, a phenomenal team has been assembled for
this project. At this early stage in the process, Mayor Koch would like to see the
Parks Department and Public Works involved in the discussion.
Ms. Isola thanked the presenters and reminded the public that the Sterling
Building Committee meetings are open to the public and posted through the City
Clerk’s office.
§
Superintendent's
Report
Dr. DeCristofaro opened the Superintendent’s Report by reviewing upcoming
Quincy School Community Partnership events: the Mini-Grants Reception on
November 12 at 3:00 pm where 80 professional staff members will receive grants
to enhance classroom instruction. On October 19, the first annual Health
Symposium was held in partnership with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.
Representatives from school Wellness team developed Health & Wellness goals.
Open Houses will be held this week at both high schools for Grade 8 students and
their families. Quincy High School was on Tuesday, October 27 and North Quincy
High School will be Thursday, October 29.
Academic Facilitators are funded through the Quincy Public Schools Budget:
Health Educators, Library, Music, Art, Physical Education, and Speech and
Occupational Therapy. These facilitators create Professional Development
opportunities for their teams throughout the school year.
American Education Week is celebrated the week of November 16 and the annual
Essay & Poster contest is underway. Contest winners will be recognized at the
December 9 School Committee Meeting at Central Middle School at 6:00 pm.
Upcoming Parent Academies will be held on November 17 at Central and
December 1 at Atlantic featuring information on elementary standards-based
report cards and Aspen for parents.
The Massachusetts Music Educators Association awarded a Future Symphony Hall
Scholars Grant for $1,750 for special instrumental lessons to Quincy Public
Schools high school students.
183 North Quincy and Quincy High School seniors qualified for the John and
Abigail Adams Scholarships, awarded by the Department of Elementary and
Secondary Education. Recipients scored at least one Advanced in Mathematics,
ELA, or Science on the 2014 MCAS and Proficient or above on the other two
sections and overall were in the top 25% of the district. 83% of the recipients
have been Quincy Public Schools students since elementary school.
Adams Scholarship recipients are: Grace Anderson, Laqueen Arias, Grace Baker, Daisy
Ban, Mahmoud Berikaa, Liam Bourgeois, Aidan Brown, Kalima Bukenya, Ann-Estelle Burke,
Eliane Cabral, Wei Chung Cai, Kara Ann Carchedi, Sabrina Carlin, Otavio Carvalho, Marissa
Cawley, Wai Yin Chan, Parawat Changthong, Lily Chapman, Jayda Chase, Alan Chen, Hellen
Chen, Karen Chen, Amy Chieu, Raymond Ching, Katherine Choi, Wilson Chong Mei, Sarah
Clancy, Alison Coleman, Stephen Condon, Theresa Cronin, Ryan Dang, Michael DeAmicis,
Victoria Deery, Alexander DeJesus, Alexander DeMass, Ryan Der, Grace Dinh, Brendan
Doherty, Shaina Donovan, Julia Doyle, Cameron Ebrecht, Matthew Enos, Zachary Erickson,
Quinlan Evans, Robert Fitzgerald, Megan Fox, Sarah Franklin, Jonathan Frois, Langwen
Guan, Corrinne Hartford, Tiffany He Lam, Quan Ho, Anehela Hoti, Gary Hu, Carmen Huang,
Emily Huang, Zixuan Huang, Suzanna Hui, Elizabeth Huynh, Christopher Iacobucci, Junbong
Jang, Andrew Jayne, Nicholas Kazangian, Emily Kelly, Nicholas Kelly, Manal Khan, Trevor
Kirby, Genderson Lai Ng, Ryan Langers, Janice Lau, Anna Laugelle, Hanson Le, Samantha Le,
Tien Phu Le, Justin Lee, Jia Yin Li, Jenni Liang, Jia Liu, Jia Jia Liang, Kelly Liang, Kevin Liang,
Trina Liang, Christpher Llaga, Lauren Lo, Stephanie Lopez, Xinying Lu, Jennifer Luo, Nguyen
Ly, Megi Maci, Jonathan Maung, Matthew McDonald, Thomas McLaughlin, Garrett
McMorrow, Michael McNelly, Jamie Meade, Nelson Mei, Scott Mele, Edward Merrigan,
Catherine Mitchell, Jenna Morris, Benjamin Morse, Conor Mortimer, Stiv Mucollari, Michael
Nazzaro, Julie Nguyen, Michael Nguyen, Christine Norton, Kelly Ann O'Connor, Emma
O'Donnell, Ariana Paulo, David Pham, Luu Pham, Matthew Pham, Tiffany Pham, Thoma
Qafko, Aditya Raj, Samantha Reardon, Benjamin Regan, Maeve Riordan, Brian Rooney, Peter
Saccoach, Katherine Sautter, Fernanda Segura, Lincy Shen, Jenny Shi, Annie Shtino, Robert
Smith, Aidan Smyth, Asajean Soriano, Michael Soricelli, Scarlett Stanhope, Katherine
Stevenson, Vicki Szeto, Sammy Szeto, Anxhelo Taho, Miller Tan, Raymond Tan, Tiffany Tang,
Wilson Tang, Bernardo Teixeira, Shannon Tierney, Regina Tham, Nassim Touil, Sylvene
Tran, Vivian Tran-Vo, Han Ngoc Truong, Jason Truong, Michael Truong, Michael T Truong,
Selina Tsang, Leona Tu, Ryan Tucker, Douglas Van Gorder, Jackson Vo, Kyle Vo, Marty Vo,
Emily Wade, Alicia Walker, Jia Wang, Ye Yang Wang, Cameron White, Kathy Wong, Yunting
Wong, Jack Wu, Kevin Wu, Yi Jie Wu, Huiyi Wu Liang, Lanny Xie, Peishan Xie, Jia Xu,
Stephanie Zeng, Yuming Zeng, Joyce Zhang, Lucy Zhang, Yu Ying Zhang, Wei Zheng, Yu Juan
Zheng, Yu Yang Zheng, Jessie Zhu, Joseph Zingg, Ken Zou, Vivian Zou, Xhulio Zyba
Dr. DeCristofaro concluded his report by noting that the School~Community
Partnership Newsletter had been shared with School Committee.
Mayor Koch left the meeting at 7:50 pm.
§
New Business
(resumed)
Curriculum &
Assessment Plan
2015-2016
Senior Director of Curriculum Madeline Roy and Director of Data & Assessment
Mary Fredrickson presented the Curriculum & Assessment Plan for 2015-2016.
Ms. Roy reviewed the history of the transition to the Common Core State
Standards, beginning in 2010. Funding for Common Core-aligned text and
resources was part of the FY2013-FY2016 budgets, totaling $1.2 million.
Mrs. Fredrickson presented on the 2015 MCAS results for Quincy Public Schools.
Over the last 10 years, Quincy Public Schools has narrowed the gap between high
needs and non-high needs students at Grade 10. In 2015, 100% of non-high needs
students were proficient or above on ELA, while 83% of high needs students were
proficient or above. In Math, 89% of non-high needs students were proficient or
above, and 66% of high needs students. For Science, 86% of non-high needs
students were proficient or above and 63% of high needs students.
In reflecting on the District Goals for the last two years, for ELA, all tested grades
sustained gains or increased except Grade 6. High Needs and Students with
Disabilities had similar results, and ELL students showed gains at all grade levels.
For Mathematics, all tested grades sustained gains or increased. High Needs and
Students with Disabilities had increases or sustained growth in all Grades except
Grade 6, and ELL students at all grade levels showed growth in 2014 and declines
in 2015. For Science, all students, high needs, and ELL students showed growth in
Grades 5 and 8 and a slight decline in Grade 10. Students with disabilities showed
growth in all grades. Since over 50% of districts took the PARCC Assessment,
state level performance data is not a comparison to all other districts, but a
representative sample of the cities and towns that gave the MCAS Assessment.
At the district level, goals for 2015-2016 will focus on the Anchor Standard for
Reading and Total Average Percent Correct for Mathematics, and an improvement
level of 1%, while continuing to emphasize increasing achievement of High Needs
students. The Curriculum & Assessment Team is providing guidance for
principals by defining proficiency – what students need to do to function at a high
level of achievement. Proficiency statements were developed through analysis of
district assessment results, the guiding principles of the MA Curriculum
Framework, actual language from the Content and Practice Standards, and the
PARCC model curriculum frameworks. These proficiency statements will help
educators plan curriculum, units of instruction, and daily lessons to help learners
improve their performance.
In preparing for Next-Generation Assessments, curriculum materials are
continued to be aligned, instructional practices shifted towards digital learning,
higher-order thinking tasks, and technology-enhanced items. Potential shifts in
assessment are being addressed through practice opportunities, pilot diagnostics,
and sample practice PARCC items.
Dr. DeCristofaro reviewed resources that provide background on the state’s
pending decision about what assessment will be used in Spring 2016. The PARCC
consortium originally consisted of 20 states, but many have withdrawn and are
creating their own next-generation assessment. There are disagreements about
performance levels and concern about the amount of time spent on testing. On
November 17, 2015, the Massachusetts Board of Education will make a decision
on what the state’s assessment format will be for Spring 2016. The Commissioner
of Education has publicly stated that he is considering a third option, an “MCAS
2.0.” and will email superintendents directly in early November. Public comment
is scheduled to conclude on November 16.
Mr. McCarthy thanked the presenters, saying that the late date of the decision will
put Massachusetts at a disadvantage. He asked what the School Committee can do
to assist the Curriculum & Assessment and Principal Teams in the meantime until
the decision is made. Dr. DeCristofaro said that at next week’s MASC meeting,
resolutions will be discussed, including considering 2016 as a pilot Assessment
year where results are not shared and districts are held harmless. He also
suggested that the Quincy School Committee could draft its own resolution.
Mrs. Mahoney asked what feedback has come out from other communities. Dr.
DeCristofaro said the message from most superintendents is that the state needs
to slow down, whatever is decided should be a pilot. The Massachusetts
Association of School Superintendents has also released a position paper
supporting the slower implementation of the next-generation assessment.
Mrs. Mahoney said School Committee voted to stay with MCAS to retain access to
the data and the information it provides for schools. The test is in the background
of all instruction, although it doesn’t show proof of intelligence, it is required. We
lost time last winter due to the snow days and that surely affected the results. We
have an item in the Teaching & Learning Subcommittee about snow-home work,
that is one of the items we can control, while we collaborate with other
communities to ensure that our voices are heard.
Dr. DeCristofaro agreed that it was a critical decision to stay with the MCAS
Assessment. Mr. Bregoli asked if the states who withdrew from the PARCC
consortium saw any change in their federal funding. Dr. DeCristofaro said as long
they develop their own standardized testing system, there shouldn’t be an effect.
Mr. Bregoli asked Mrs. Fredrickson about reviewing student cohorts as they move
through the grades. Mrs. Fredrickson said cohorts don’t remain constant, a
percentage of students leave and new students arrive every year. The focus on
grade levels from year to year allows teachers to assess their effectiveness in
reaching students from year to year.
Ms. Isola thanked Mrs. Fredrickson and Ms. Roy, noting that as we look at the
individual School Improvement Plans, we also look at each of the subgroups
within that school. Ms. Isola heard the Commissioner of Education on the radio
yesterday and it is not clear what MCAS 2.0 might look like. While we don’t know
what assessment our students will have to take, we know that our teachers are
teaching the curriculum and students are learning, regardless of how they will be
assessed. No issues with the concept of assessment, but not knowing what the
assessment will be is a bit scary, especially in terms of administration and
technology preparedness.
In terms of making a statement through MASC, we would need to convene a
Subcommittee to prepare and vote prior to the convention beginning on
November 4.
Ms. Isola made a motion to move developing a resolution for the MASC Conference
into Teaching & Learning Subcommittee meeting. Mr. Bregoli seconded the
motion, and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
Ms. Isola announced that a Teaching & Learning Subcommittee meeting will be
held on Monday, November 2 at 5:00 pm.
§
MASC Conference
Resolutions
Mrs. Hubley reviewed the MASC resolutions that will be voted on at next week’s
convention.
Mr. McCarthy made a motion to support Resolution 1 to petition the legislature to
establish a special commission to study the appropriate starting time for students
in middle and high school. Mr. Bregoli seconded the motion and on a voice vote,
the ayes have it.
Mr. McCarthy made a motion to support Resolution 2 which advocates for social
and economic justice for students and their families. Ms. Isola seconded the
motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
Mr. Bregoli made a motion to support Resolution 3 which recommends that
assessment data be ascribed to a student’s school and district as of October 1 data
to follow the Chapter 70 funding formula. Mr. McCarthy seconded the motion and
on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
Mr. McCarthy made a motion to support Resolution 4 which would provide a more
sustainable and equitable placement program for homeless students. Mr. Bregoli
seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
There was no motion for Resolution 5 in support of a Tax Reform Ballot Question.
Mr. Bregoli made a motion to support Resolution 6 requesting that a School
Committee member be appointed to the Board of Elementary and Secondary
Education. Ms. Isola seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
Mr. Bregoli made a motion to support Resolution 7 which requests that the
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education end the mandate that
districts implement TS Gold or any externally developed kindergarten assessment.
Mr. McCarthy seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
§
Communications
Upcoming meetings were announced: Regular Meetings on November 18, 2015
and December 9, 2015; Subcommittee Meetings for Teaching & Learning on
Monday, November 9; Thursday, November 12; and Monday, November 16;
Budget & Finance on November 9; and Facilities & Security on November 16.
Mrs. Hubley announced the Quincy High School Haunted Hallways event from
5:00 pm to 7:30 sponsored by QHS Student Council.
§
Reports of
Subcommittees
Mrs. Hubley noted that all Subcommittee meeting minutes are posted online at
www.quincypublicschools.com.
Mrs. Mahoney reviewed the Special Education Subcommittee Meeting held on
October 21, 2015. Special Education Director Judy Todd presented the Special
Education Program Improvement Plan, reflecting on last year’s goals and
presenting 2015-2016 goals for the Special Education team and the program
teams. A Rights and Responsibility presentation was also shared by Special
Education Team Administrators, an annual requirement. QPAC presented their
goals, which are focused on increasing parent involvement and positive
interactions by creating community-wide and program-based events.
§
Ms. Isola reviewed the Teaching & Learning Subcommittee Meeting held on
October 27, 2015. High School Principals Robert Shaw and Lawrence Taglieri
presented the High School Improvement Plans, Executive Director Keith Segalla
presented the Career & Technical Education Program Improvement Plan, and ELL
Director Elizabeth Hallett presented the English Language Learner Program
Improvement Plan.
As there were no corrections to the meeting minutes for the October 21, 2015
Special Education Subcommittee and the October 27, 2015 Teaching & Learning
Subcommittee Meeting minutes, the minutes were approved as presented.
§
Adjournment
Mr, McCarthy made a motion to adjourn for the evening at 9:15 p.m. The motion
was seconded by Mr. Bregoli and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.