|
A meeting of the Quincy
School Committee was held on Wednesday, May 4 2022 at 6:30 p.m. in the City
Council Chambers in Historic City Hall.
Superintendent Kevin Mulvey called the roll and present were Mayor
Thomas P. Koch, School Committee Chair, Mr. Paul Bregoli, Mrs. Tina Cahill, Mr.
Doug Gutro, Mrs. Kathryn Hubley, Mrs. Emily Lebo, and Mr. Frank Santoro, Vice
Chair.
Also present were: Superintendent Kevin Mulvey, Assistant
Superintendent Erin Perkins, Ms. Lauren Canning, Ms. Allison Cox, Mr. Michael Draicchio, Ms. Julie
Graham, Mr. James Mullaney, Ms. Cara Pekarcik, Ms. Madeline Roy, Mr. Lawrence
Taglieri; Quincy Education Association President Ms. Gayle Carvalho; and Ms. Laura Owens, Clerk.
School Committee observed a
moment of silence for the people of the Ukraine and the men and women of our
armed forces at home and overseas.
Superintendent Mulvey
recognized former Quincy Public Schools employees who passed away
recently: Lloyd Hill, 35 years as an
educator, retired as Quincy High School Principal and Paul McSweeney, retired
after 18 years as a custodian.
Mr. Santoro
read the following statement into the record: Pursuant to the Open Meeting
Law, any person may make an audio or video recording of this public meeting
or may transmit the meeting through any medium. Attendees are therefore advised that such
recordings or transmissions are being made whether perceived or unperceived by
those present and are deemed acknowledged and permissible.
§
|
Regular Meeting
Vice-Chair Presiding
|
|
School Committee
recognized the 115 Class of 2022 National Honor Society members, presented by
advisors Cara Pekarcik (NQHS) and Lauren Canning (QHS). From North Quincy High School: Charles
Affleck, Gulisumauayi Aihemaiti, Carly Amendolare, Jenny (Yoon) Aung, David Bridges,
Caroline Cavicchi, Adelin
Chan, Katelyn Chan, Alven (Chonghao) Chen, Rou Chen, Michelle Chen, Nicholas Chen, Brian Choi, Grace Hickey, Tina Hoang, Emily Kuang,
Trista Lee, Sabrina Leung, Jaden Liang, Tanisha Liang, Ada Lin, Victor (Ting Shing) Liu, Annie Lu, Francesca Magnarelli,
Owen Masur, Ashley Morash, Andrea Ngo, Michael Schinazi, Teresa Sheedy, Kiera
Sleiman, Oliver Smith, Melody Tai, Jada Tu, Grace Xu, Rima Zahreddine, Hao Zheng,
Jilin Zheng, Joyce Zhong. Vivian Zhu. From Quincy High School: Leila
Akhouzine, John Alessandro, Noel Alvero, Maurice Ampane, Meira Baliton,
Kathleen Bowden, Conor Byrne, Jerry Caldwell, Kevin Chen, Ellen Chen, Jack
Collings, Dany Darwich, Amyah Davis, Aleksandra Dedo, Rebecca Deng, Natalya
Desmond, Maya Dijkstra, Aisling Donoghue, Zachary Donaghue, Joie Eng,
Margaret Fay, John Fehan, Rachen Feng, Nicholas Ferrara, Meaghan Foley, Iain
Gillespie, Emma Glavin, Cassandra Gordon, Matthew Gratch, Lindsey Hatfield,
Mia Heim, Emily Huang, Antenella Ibrahim, Updana Joshi, Natalia Kepczynski,
Kellen Kopp, Sai Kuchulakanti, Tony Le, Daniel Lung, Thu Luong, Lucy Lynch, Adriana
MacPherson, Madeline Mayo, Kayla McNelley, Jennifer Meng, Rebecca Morris,
Thomas Murphy, Nandan Nair, Lisa Ngo, Cindy Nguyen, Aria Oakes, Gabriel O’Brien,
Isabella Pagliarulo. Kaitlyn Paiva, Anee Patel, Vansh Patel, Vraj Patel,
Athena Perry, Dhanvi Puttur, Paige Raber, Jordan Reilly, Elise Roche, Coleman
Ross, Megan Ross, John Shen, Renea Smart, Jamie Tam, Lily Tang, Mackenzie
Thai, Ninh Thi, Marissa Tolini, Kayla Tran, Teyah Wilson, Matthew Wong,
Celine Zheng, Gina Zheng, Jia Ye Zou.
After a brief
recess, Superintendent Mulvey continued his report by updating that Quincy
Public Schools enrollment is 9,924 for Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12, an
increase of 15 students since the April 13 School Committee Meeting. Superintendent Mulvey thanked the school
secretaries and Central Registration, 1,000 new students have been registered
in Grades 1-12 during this school year and 800 students transitioned out of
the school system, more than double the volume over previous years.
For COVID-19
statistics, there were 144 student and 32 staff cases in the two weeks ending
May 3, an increase from the previous two weeks. 2,681 staff and students are participating
in pooled testing, 23.5% of the staff and students in the district with a 0.75%
positivity rate. Just under 2,200
staff and students are signed up to receive home testing kits.
Superintendent
Mulvey noted that this is Educator Appreciation Week, an opportunity to
acknowledge our teachers, guidance counselors, nurses, paraprofessionals, and
administrators for their extraordinary efforts on behalf of our students and
families. In the last few years, educators have been called on to be
creative, supportive, and adaptive and all of their daily efforts are deeply
appreciated.
The Class of
2022 will be celebrated at their graduation ceremonies at Veterans Memorial
Stadium: Monday, June 6 for North Quincy High School and Tuesday, June
7 for Quincy High School, both at 6:00 pm.
Mr. Santoro
asked about what will happen in case of weather issues. Superintendent Mulvey said the ceremonies
will be moved indoors to their respective school gymnasiums.
On Thursday May
28th, forty-five students from Quincy and North Quincy High School Psychology
classes met remotely with Nobel Laureate, Dr. Henry Abraham. Dr. Abraham is a
co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize of 1985, awarded to Physicians for
Social Responsibility and the International Physicians for the Prevention of
Nuclear War, two organizations which he helped form. Special thanks to Mayor Koch, City of
Quincy Chief Financial Officer Eric Mason, and Financial Coordinator Michael
Rowland and Dr. Ed Shapiro for their support and help organizing this event;
department chairs Danielle Fernandez and Kevin Bell and host teachers Bill
Doyle and Ben D’Amore.
Thanks to the
support of Stop & Shop, the QHS
Culinary Students will be providing lunch for the residents at
the Hancock House on School Street on Wednesday, May 11. The students will
prepare and serve three grab and go meal options for 150 seniors.
Mr. Santoro
asked about the QHS Presidents Café restaurant, Superintendent Mulvey said it
is open to the public several days a week, the hours are posted on the Quincy
High School page of the Quincy Public Schools website.
Superintendent
Mulvey concluded his report by reviewing upcoming QPS Family Engagement
events: the Quincy Multicultural Festival on May 5, 2022 at 6:00 pm at
Pageant Field; the QHS Fashion Show on May 11, 2022; the Special Education
Track & Field event on May 20 at Pageant Field; NQHS Drama Club
presentation of The Addams Family
Musical on May 21 & 22; and the Welcome to Kindergarten Parent
Academy on May 26 at 6:00 pm at Central Middle School. Elementary & middle school concert
dates are being finalized and a schedule will be shared at the next School
Committee meeting.
§
|
Superintendent’s
Report
|
|
Superintendent
Mulvey introduced the Quincy Public Schools Summer Programs, which will once
again be funded by Mayor Koch to provide opportunities for student enrichment
and skills support. Assistant
Superintendent Erin Perkins and Senior Curriculum Director Madeline Roy
presented an overview of the programs, beginning with thanking the Curriculum
Team staff who worked on the planning and execution of this array of programs
that will be offered free of charge.
The Quincy
Public Schools Summer programs will be focused on in-person instruction and
aligned to the pre-requisite content standards identified for success in the
next grade level. The programs will
incorporate supports for social-emotional learning and provide a range of
opportunities for all students in these 4-week programs held during the month
of July.
Academic
Supports for Elementary school students identified as needing assistance for
essential literacy and math skills are provided in the Bridge to Reading
& Mathematics program; enrichment opportunities in the Quest for Learning
program which incorporates reading and mathematics skills, STEM academy, and
an introduction to civics. For middle
school students, Summer Boost and Hands-On Math are options for reinforcing
and mastering foundational skills. In
addition, STEM academy programs give students the opportunity to work
collaboratively and engage in hands-on learning. For Grade 8 students transitioning to high
school, the Bridge to High School program provides academic continuity and
transition skills. The Ladders to
Success program is another opportunity for Grade 8 students to develop
interpersonal skills, learn about health & wellness, financial literacy,
technology, employment skills, and entrepreneurship. For students in high school, summer
pathways include Credit Recovery and SAT Prep. The Summer YouthWorks program is a
collaboration with local public, private, and non-profit organizations within
Quincy to explore careers and gain workplace experience in paid
positions.
Students with
disabilities who are eligible to receive speech, occupational, and physical
therapy have these services continue over the summer and also are invited to
participate in special programs designed to limit regression during the
summer months. The Pre-Kindergarten
and Kindergarten Learning Center program is at the Della Chiesa Early
Childhood Center and Grades 1-12 is held at North Quincy High School. Clifford Marshall hosts the Transitional
Kindergarten and Language Development program for elementary students. Last year, 50 students received individual
or small group tutoring for Orton Gillingham and other reading skills and
these supports will be offered this year as well.
English Learners
are invited to participate in programming appropriate for their grade and
skill levels: Camp Can Do for elementary school students held at Clifford
Marshall, the middle school SWELL Academy at Point Webster, and high school
AccELerate, where the curriculum will integrate with students interests.
Social-emotional
and wellness summer opportunities will include DOVE Peer Leader trainings for
both high schools; BOKS and Yoga programs; Walker & QARI Wellness Groups
(held at Eastern Nazarene). Each of
the summer programs will have in-person and on-site field trips, summer
crafts, and guest speakers and presenters.
Suggested summer reading titles are available for elementary and
middle school, in collaboration with the Thomas Crane Public Library.
The Quincy
Public Schools School Nutrition department will provide free healthy lunches
during July and August at the Parker Elementary School, Lincoln Hancock
Community School, Ward II Community Center, the Snug Harbor Community School,
and the Montclair Elementary School.
Summer program
registration is underway, along with recruitment of professional staff
members, paraprofessionals, and administrators. Invitations have been mailed out to
identified students and registration links are open. Registration will close in early June to
ensure appropriate staffing.
Mr. Gutro
thanked the presenters and everyone involved in planning and staffing the
programs. Mr. Gutro asked about how
this program compares to last summer.
Ms. Perkins said that there will be competition from outside camp
programs that may not have been open last summer, but is expecting a robust
response.
Mr. Gutro asked
what percentage of the programs are designed to address learning loss. Ms. Perkins said that since so many of the
programs are for identified students who are invited and encouraged to attend
at the school level, the majority of the students who need to be there are
enrolled. Over 500 students have
already registered in the first few days.
Mr. Gutro asked
about the funding source, Superintendent Mulvey said that the total cost is
around $500,000, special funding provided by Mayor Koch from a variety of
sources. Mayor Koch said that funding
the Quincy Public Schools Summer programs eventually will need to become a
budget line item.
Mrs. Hubley
asked about the capacity for the High School SAT Prep. Ms. Roy said that the program will be
in-person for Grade 10 and 11 students and will be around 25-28 students.
Mrs. Hubley
asked about the high school summer reading lists, these will be available
around the end of May.
Mrs. Hubley
asked about meals for students at North Quincy High School and Clifford
Marshall, snacks are provided by the School Nutrition department at all
locations. Superintendent Mulvey will
follow up with Ms. Dufour to see if this can be expanded to offering lunch.
Mrs. Lebo said
these are incredible offerings, thanks to the staff who are willing to work
over the summer. Mrs. Lebo asked about
the Ladders to Success and YouthWorks, Ms. Roy there are income
qualifications for these programs.
Mrs. Cahill
thanked the presenters, asked for clarification on the registration process
and deadlines. Ms. Perkins said that
registration is online for all programs and the Family Liaisons are working
to assist families. Mrs. Cahill
suggested sending School Messenger alert when the deadline is
approaching.
Mr. Santoro
thanked Mayor Koch for providing the funding, Quincy has very impressive
offerings for our students and families.
§
|
New Business
QPS Summer Programs
|