Minutes
Quincy, Massachusetts – December 12, 2018
Regular Meeting of the Quincy School Committee
Regular Meeting
A regular meeting of the Quincy School Committee was held on Wednesday,
December 12, 2018 at Central Middle School at 6:00 p.m. Superintendent
DeCristofaro called the roll and present were School Committee Chair Mayor
Thomas Koch, Mr. Anthony Andronico, Mr. Paul Bregoli, Mr. Douglas Gutro,
Mrs. Kathryn Hubley, and Mrs. Emily Lebo, Vice Chair.
Vice Chair Presiding
Also present were: Dr. Richard DeCristofaro, Secretary; Ms. Laura Owens, Clerk; Deputy Superintendent Kevin Mulvey; Ms. Julie Campbell, Ms. Susan Shea Connor, Mr. Richard DeCristofaro, Jr., Mr. Peter Dionne, Mr. Michael Draicchio, Ms. Julie Flynn, Dr. John Franceschini, Ms. Julie Graham, Dr. Beth Hallett, Mr. David Lindsay, Ms. Margaret MacNeil, Ms. Stacy Maydak, Ms. Helen McLaughlin, Ms. Robin Moreira, Ms. Marybeth Mulcahey, Mr. James Mullaney, Ms. Maura Papile, Ms. Ann Pegg, Ms. Erin Perkins, Ms. Marisa Qualter, Ms. Kimberly Quinn, Ms. Elise Regan, Mr. John Rogan, Ms. Madeline Roy, Mr. Keith Segalla, Mr. Lawrence Taglieri, Ms. Bridget Vaughan, Dr. Adam Wolf; and Quincy Education Association President Allison Cox.
School Committee Member Mr. James DeAmicis was absent.
There was a moment of silence for Quincy High School senior Luc Theberge, who passed away on November 23, 2018.
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Regular Meeting Minutes Approved 11.14.2018
Mr. Gutro made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Hubley to approve the
Regular Meeting minutes for November 14, 2018 as presented. On a voice vote, ayes 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 by introducing the Inspire Quincy video featuring the Lincoln Hancock Turkey Trot, the elementary school Splash Program, Drug Story Theater at Point Webster & Central Middle Schools, and ‘Tis the Season, featuring the Quincy Symphony Orchestra.
Dr. DeCristofaro recognized retiring School~Community Partner Kevin Meskell from Quincy Mutual Group, a partner for over 20 years.
Senior Director of Curriculum Madeline Roy introduced Sterling Middle School English Language Arts teacher Elise Regan and Quincy High School Student Athena Perry for their involvement in the Girl Rising initiative.
Mr. Gutro made a motion to take the agenda out of order and move to New Business, Item A: Recognition of American Education Week Poster & Essay Contest winners. Mrs. Hubley seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
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New Business
American Education
Week Poster & Essay
Contest Winners
The American Education Week Poster & Essay Contest winners were recognized by School Committee. This year’s theme was “Who, from your family, inspires you to learn?”
Grades K-2 Posters: Ms. McLaughlin’s Grade 2 class from Parker Elementary School (1st place); Ms. Qualter’s Grade 1 class from Atherton Hough Elementary School (2nd place); Ms. Flynn’s Grade 1 class from Parker Elementary School (3rd place)
Grades 3-5 Essays: Audrey Tallent, Grade 5, Merrymount Elementary School (1st place); Molly Bramlett, Grade 4, Bernazzani Elementary School (2nd place); Anh Tran-Nguyen, Grade 5, Sterling Middle School (3rd place)
Grades 6-8 Essays: Asani Smith, Grade 8, Atlantic Middle School (1st place); Christiana Nguyen, Grade 8 and Xuan-Mai Ippolito, Grade 6, both from Central Middle School (tied for 2nd place); Melanie Chretien, Grade 8, Atlantic Middle School (3rd place)
Grades 9-10 Essays: Jeffrey Burke, Grade 10, Quincy High School (1st place); Zoe Rakarich, Grade 9, North Quincy High School (2nd place); Jilin Zheng, Grade 9, North Quincy High School and Cassie Gordon, Grade 9, Quincy High School (tied for 3rd place).
Grades 11-12 students will be participating in the Lions Club Speech Contest.
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Superintendent’s Report
(Continued)
After a brief recess, Dr. DeCristofaro resumed the Superintendent’s Report at 7:00 pm. Dr. DeCristofaro thanked the Curriculum Team for coordinating the American Education Week Poster & Essay Contest.
On December 8, 75 middle school students participated in a robotics competition at Revere High School. The Central and Point Webster Middle School teams were recognized and Central qualified to go on to the next round. Dr. DeCristofaro thanked the Robotics coaches at each middle school.
Quincy High School’s Metal Fabrication & Joining Technologies will be receiving a Massachusetts Capital Skills Grant for $114,000 to purchase new state of the art equipment for training students on the same software and equipment used currently in the industry, enhancing their opportunities for skilled job placement.
‘Tis the Season was held on December 4, attended by 750 guests, including 200 students from all Quincy Public Schools elementary schools sponsored by members of the Quincy School Community Partnership. Thanks to the Quincy Symphony Orchestra, the students of the John & Abigail Adams Orchestra, the Combined High School Choirs, and the QPS Instrumental Music teachers.
QPAC holiday events include the Gingerbread Decorating event on Friday, December 14 and the visit to the Enchanted Village on December 13.
On behalf of Quincy Public Schools, the Quincy Police Department applied for and received a grant for $20,000 to increase emergency communication through the installation of alarm buttons in multiple locations in all Quincy Public Schools buildings. Thanks to Quincy Police Department Chief Keenan and Mayor Koch for their support of safety & security initiatives in the Quincy Public Schools.
A schedule of the Holiday concerts scheduled at all elementary, middle, and high schools was shared, along with an updated calendar of Partnership events, and the SADD Summit newsletter.
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Old Business
Emergency Procedures
Chart Update (Vote)
Mr. Bregoli made a motion to approve the Emergency Procedures Chart Update for inclusion in Policy Book Section 5.2.2. Mrs. Hubley seconded the motion and on a roll call vote, the ayes have it 6-0. Mr. DeAmicis was absent.
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Old Business
Veterans Stadium
Transfer (Discussion)
Mr. Bregoli presented a resolution on transferring Veterans Stadium from Quincy Public Schools to the City of Quincy’s Park Department that was drafted by City Solicitor James Timmins.
Mr. Gutro noted that with the recent announcement of the Boston Cannons Lacrosse Team playing their games at Veterans Stadium, it is important to ensure that Quincy Public Schools Athletics and other events continue to be a scheduling priority.
Mayor Koch provided details that Boston Cannons have been authorized by the Park & Recreation Board to use Veterans Stadium for eight home games and associated practices, most of which will be in the summer months when there is no conflict with Quincy Public Schools Athletics. Mayor Koch noted that there are opportunities presented by the partnership, the Boston Cannons will be making an investment in improvements in the stadium facility. There are also partnership opportunities to benefit the high school and youth lacrosse teams. The final agreement has not yet been executed for this multi-year commitment.
Mayor Koch confirmed that once the stadium property is parkland, it will be protected under Chapter 97, which requires City Council, Legislature, and a signature from the governor to change the usage. There is a decades-long history of the Parks Department stewardship of this site and honoring of the precedence for Quincy Public Schools events.
Mr. Bregoli said that the Park & Recreation Board is vigilant in ensuring that Quincy Public Schools maintains priority in terms of scheduling.
Mrs. Hubley noted that the resolution does include the language requested about priority scheduling for Quincy Public Schools event.
Mr. Gutro reiterated that he has requested Park Department scheduling policy documentation; the resolution is a wish but not a guarantee.
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New Business
Gift: $6,000 for the
QPS Music Programs
Mr. Bregoli made a motion to approve the Gift of $6,000.00 from the Randy C. Wolfe Music Trust to benefit the Quincy Public Schools Music programs. Mrs. Hubley seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
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New Business
Gift: Handmade Items
From the Seaside
Stitchers
Mr. Bregoli made a motion to approve the Gift of 203 Handmade Hats, Mittens, & Scarves from the Seaside Stitchers. Mr. Andronico seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
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New Business
Mr. Gutro presented a resolution in the form of a motion:
WHEREAS the former St. Mary’s School Property on Crescent Street was acquired by the City of Quincy in 2018 for the purpose of constructing a future elementary school;
BE IT RESOLVED that the Quincy School Committee request the Superintendent to assess the footprint of the former St. Mary’s School Property to discern the viability of building a K-5 elementary school on the property based on Massachusetts School Building Authority design and construction guidelines and dimensional requirements; and report back to the committee no later than April 2019.
Mayor Koch seconded the motion for the purpose of discussion, noting that the Massachusetts School Building Authority has a very specific process for approval of building projects and determining building sizes. Replacing the Squantum Elementary School is the next priority for the City and yet to be approved while the South~West Middle School is under construction. The intention of purchasing the St. Mary’s property this year was that it was available and it would protect it for future use. The use of the property will be determined through a lengthy discussion to come, this is very premature and Mayor Koch will not support the resolution.
Mrs. Lebo will not support the resolution, no vote has been taken to decide to build an elementary school on the site. For example, there are other possible educational uses for the site that could address Special Education program needs. School Committee will review enrollment and school space issues through the Opportunities & Challenges presentation in February or March.
Mrs. Hubley agreed with the points presented by Mayor Koch and Mrs. Lebo, will not support the resolution.
Mr. Gutro said he was under the impression that this was needed to ease pressure on Lincoln Hancock and Montclair Elementary Schools, is disappointed that calculating estimated square footage and viability of the site cannot be completed as he is looking for a sense of the utility of the land sooner rather than later.
Mayor Koch made a point of clarification, he personally would like to see an elementary school built there, but is one of seven School Committee votes. The bond secured to purchase the land specifies educational purposes; the City will be moving to remove the buildings in the near future. The MSBA understands the difference between urban and suburban sites and without examining the needs of the school system, making a determination on the site usage at this time is premature. In the meantime, the School Committee and City Council will once again vote on submitting a Statement of Interest for Squantum Elementary School this winter.
On a roll call vote, the motion was defeated 1-5. Mr. Gutro voted YES; Mayor Koch, Mr. Andronico, Mr. Bregoli, Mrs. Hubley, and Mrs. Lebo voted NO. Mr. DeAmicis was absent.
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School Committee Policy
9.11.1 Homework to
Policy Subcommittee
(Referral)
Mrs. Hubley made a motion to refer School Committee Policy 9.11.1 Homework to the Policy Subcommittee. The motion was seconded by Mr. Bregoli and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
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School Committee Policy
11.8 Public Solicitation
in Schools to Policy
Subcommittee (Referral)
Mrs. Lebo made a motion to refer School Committee Policy 11.8 Public Solicitations in Schools to the Policy Subcommittee. The motion was seconded by Mr. Bregoli and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
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Post-Graduate Follow-Up
Survey to Teaching &
Learning Subcommittee
(Referral)
Mrs. Lebo made a motion to refer Post-Gradute Follow-Up Survey to the Teaching & Learning Subcommittee. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Hubley and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
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2019-20 School Year
Calendar to Policy
Subcommittee (Referral)
Mr. Bregoli made a motion to refer the 2019-20 School Year Calendar to the Policy Subcommittee. The motion was seconded by Mr. Andronico and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
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2019-20 School
Committee Meeting
Calendar to Policy
Subcommittee (Referral)
Mr. Bregoli made a motion to refer the 2019-20 School Committee Meeting Calendar to the Policy Subcommittee. The motion was seconded by Mr. Andronico and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
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New Business
Out of the Country
Travel
Mayor Koch made a motion to approve the Out of the Country Travel of North Quincy High School to Bilbao, Spain on February 15-24, 2019. Mrs. Hubley seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
Mayor Koch made a motion to approve the Out of the Country Travel of Quincy High School to Borgo di San Lorenzo, Italy on April 10-19, 2019. Mrs. Hubley seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
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Additional Business
Mrs. Hubley requested to add review of the Foreign Language program to the Teaching & Learning Subcommittee.
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Communications
Upcoming School Committee Meetings will be held on January 9, 2019; January 23, 2019; and February 6, 2019 at the Coddington Building at 6:30 pm. Quarterly Budget & Finance, Policy, and Teaching & Learning Subcommittee meetings will be held on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 beginning at 6:00 pm at the Coddington Building.
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Reports of
Subcommittees
Mrs. Lebo noted that School Committee and Subcommittee meeting minutes are posted online at www.quincypublicschools.com/schoolcomm/2018-2019.
As Mr. DeAmicis was absent, the review of the November 28, 2018 Facilities, Transportation, and Security Subcommittee was postponed to the January 9, 2019 School Committee Meeting.
Mr. Andronico reviewed the Special Education Subcommittee meeting held on November 28, 2018. The Special Education Program Improvement Plans was presented and approved as presented.
Mr. Bregoli reviewed the Policy Subcommittee meeting held on November 28, 2018. The draft resolution on moving Veterans Memorial Stadium ownership from School Committee to the City of Quincy was presented by City Solicitor James Timmins and discussed earlier in this meeting under Old Business.
As there were no corrections, the minutes of the November 28, 2018 Special Education and Policy Subcommittee meetings were approved as presented.
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Executive Session
There was no Executive Session.
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Adjournment
Mayor Koch made a motion to adjourn for the evening at 7:30 p.m. The motion was seconded by Mr. Bregoli and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.