Minutes
Quincy School Committee Policy Subcommittee Meeting
A meeting of the Policy Subcommittee was held on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at 6:50 pm in the Coddington Building. Present were Subcommittee members Mrs. Tina Cahill, Mrs. Emily Lebo, and Mr. Doug Gutro, Policy Subcommittee Chair. Also present were Mayor Thomas P. Koch, School Committee Chair and School Committee Members Mr. Paul Bregoli, Mrs. Kathryn Hubley, and Mrs. Courtney Perdios; Superintendent Kevin Mulvey, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Erin Perkins, Ms. Kim Connolly, Mr. Michael Draicchio, Ms. Andrea Huwar, Mr. Michael Marani, Ms. Maura Papile, Mr. Lawrence Taglieri; and Ms. Laura Owens, Clerk.
Health Coordinator Andrea Huwar reviewed proposed changes to another Health-related School Committee Policy: 10.19 Concussion Policy. In proposing the edits, Ms. Huwar consulted the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) Policy Book for reference, as well as the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and Department of Elementary & Secondary Education, and collaborated with Director of Athletics & Wellness Kevin Mahoney, the High School Athletic Trainers, and Director of Academic Programs Larry Taglieri. The middle school health teachers have reinstated the annual Impact testing of all Grade 8 students so they have a baseline test before entering high school.
Ms. Huwar is recommending replacing the existing Policy and moving the revised version to be a protocol, documented in the Health Services Handbook, on the Quincy Public Schools website, and in the Student Rights & Responsibilities Handbook. Ms. Huwar reviewed the proposed new Policy language with School Committee noting that the details of the protocol assist school staff with working with students in middle and high school who are concussed while participating in Athletics (school-related or outside of school) or under other circumstances.
Mrs. Cahill asked how the school is notified when a student is concussed outside of school activities. Ms. Huwar said that parents are requested to notify the school (under Parent Responsibilities in the protocol). In these cases, students would need to be cleared by their own physician.
Mrs. Lebo requested to see the Concussion protocol; Ms. Owens will share with all members.
Mr. Bregoli asked about the re-entry accommodations for students returning to school, Ms. Huwar said those are developed by the student support team for individual students. Mr. Bregoli asked if this would trigger the development of a 504 Plan, Ms. Huwar said it is possible, but frequently an accommodation plan can outline the student needs. Ms. Huwar said the protocol outlines the stages of concussion recovery, incorporates the input of the student’s doctor, and parental input.
Mrs. Lebo asked for clarification, the physician’s input is the starting point of developing the accommodation plan. If a concussion happens at a school-based athletic event, the trainers have a shared document with the school nurses to share the incident so they can follow up with the family. Coaches are expected to report incidents to the Athletic Director and trainers so that follow up can occur.
Mr. Bregoli asked about the Impact testing being repeated every two years, students who are involved in Athletics would be retested prior to beginning Grade 11.
Mrs. Cahill made a motion to accept the proposed revision of School Committee Policy Book Section 10.19 Concussion Policy. Mrs. Lebo seconded the motion and on a roll call vote of the Policy Subcommittee, the ayes have it, 3-0.
For Section 2.3.3 Subcommittees of the School Committee, the current Policy and the MASC Policy were shared. Mr. Gutro reviewed that it in recent years, School Committee members have been attending all Subcommittee meetings and participating, but not voting. Mr. Gutro said that at the recent Goal-Setting Workshop meeting, MASC Field Representative Jim Hardy advised that Subcommittees must be posted as Committees of the Whole in order for all members to participate.
Mrs. Cahill suggested discussing the purpose of Subcommittees, some cities and towns have no Subcommittees and conduct all business at Regular meetings.
Mrs. Lebo said that if there were no Subcommittees, there would need to be more Regular meetings to cover all the topics.
Mrs. Cahill wants to retain the Subcommittee structure where the subset of members review the items in that Subcommittee and make recommendations to the full School Committee.
Mrs. Perdios said that if there is an opportunity to comment on items for on the Regular Meeting agenda for referral to Subcommittee, she would feel comfortable with current structure.
Mrs. Perdios suggested that some meetings could be Committees of the Whole, depending on the topic.
Mr. Bregoli agreed and suggested that the Subcommittee Chair have the discretion to decide if an item requires a meeting of the Whole.
Mr. Gutro noted that many Subcommittee meetings are not deliberative, usually the only votes are in Policy, Budget & Finance, or sometimes Facilities. Mr. Gutro noted that items moved from Subcommittee to the full School Committee can also be amended by the full School Committee.
Mayor Koch said the purpose of Subcommittees is to get the work done; some Subcommittees could be larger than three members. Mayor Koch said all members can reach out to Subcommittee chair to bring up thoughts on topics in Subcommittee.
Mrs. Lebo said that non-Subcommittee School Committee members can attend meetings but must sit in the audience.
Mrs. Perdios requested that a statement be read at the beginning of each meeting so that the public understands who are the subcommittee members.
Mrs. Perdios proposed establishing a minimum number of meetings for each Subcommittee as part of the Policy. Mrs. Lebo suggested the minimum number is one meeting per school year.
Mr. Bregoli reminded School Committee that there is an organizational meeting in September each year to review the items in Subcommittee and make additions and deletions.
Ms. Owens will draft a proposed revision of Policy Section 2.3.3 integrating the current policy language, today’s discussion, and MASC Policy for review at the next Policy Subcommittee meeting.
Mrs. Cahill made a motion to adjourn at 7:40 pm, seconded by Mrs. Lebo. On a voice vote, the ayes have it.