QUINCY SCHOOL COMMITTEE
POLICY SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING ~ Wednesday, March 31, 2021
A meeting of the Policy Subcommittee was held on Wednesday, March 31, 2021 at 5:30 pm via Zoom. Present were Mr. Doug Gutro, Mrs. Kathryn Hubley, Mrs. Emily Lebo, Mrs. Courtney Perdios, Mr. Frank Santoro, and Mr. Paul Bregoli, Chair. Also present were Superintendent Kevin Mulvey, Assistant Superintendent Erin Perkins, and Ms. Laura Owens, Clerk.
Mr. Bregoli reviewed the first item on the agenda, the proposed 2021-2022 School Committee Meeting Calendar.
Mrs. Perdios asked if meetings could be set over the summer to review plans for the return to school in September 2021.
Mr. Bregoli said those would be Special Meetings and Mrs. Hubley agreed with this as a past practice.
Mr. Gutro requested that Ms. Owens poll School Committee members about their availability during the summer months.
Ms. Owens clarified that the School Committee Policy defines regular meetings as occurring during the school year and meetings outside that time frame are Special Meetings.
Mrs. Hubley made a motion to approve the 2021-2022 School Committee Meeting Calendar as presented. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Perdios and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
The second item on the agenda was a review of the draft 2021-2022 QPS School Year Calendar. Mr. Bregoli noted that the significant change is the proposal to move the early release day to Wednesdays.
Mrs. Lebo said that many families approve of this change and Mrs. Hubley agreed that students and staff have positive feelings as well. Mrs. Lebo said the origin of the early release day being on Tuesday was for Catholic students to be able to attend CCD classes after school.
Mr. Gutro asked if the Quincy Education Association had any issues related to this change. Superintendent Mulvey said he will review with Mr. Greene from the QEA but is not anticipating any need to impact bargain over this change.
Mrs. Hubley noted two changes: June 1, 2021 should be added as an Grades PK-5 early release day and that June 20, 2021 should be shaded to indicate Juneteenth as an observed.
Mrs. Hubley made a motion to approve the 2021-2022 QPS School Year Calendar as amended. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Perdios and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
The last item on the agenda is the revision to School Committee Policy Book Section 2 to replace “he” or “him” with “he or she” or “him or her”. Mr. Bregoli noted that Ms. Owens had provided an annotated copy of Section 2 with recommended changes. Mrs. Hubley noted an additional location to be edited.
Mrs. Perdios asked about Additional Business, Section 2.4.5 to reflect the discussion at the previous School Committee meeting that this was to be used for emergency issues only. Mrs. Hubley agreed and after discussion about the section and the subsequent revision to the Open Meeting Law since the section was last amended, it was agreed to table the issue until additional research on the topic can be shared with School Committee. Mrs. Lebo agreed that the section needs to be revised to match the Open Meeting Law.
Mrs. Perdios asked if a School Committee member submits an item for an agenda, is there a process to ensure it is placed on the next agenda to be responsive to parent concerns.
Mrs. Lebo said that sometimes additional time is needed for research and so a referral to a Subcommittee can be the vehicle for this.
Mr. Gutro said in his experience, there is no circumstance under which the Superintendent would not place an item on the agenda. Mr. Bregoli, Mrs. Lebo, and Mrs. Hubley agreed that they had not ever had issues addressed when requested directly to the Superintendent.
Mr. Gutro suggested that the proposed edits to Section 2 be moved to the full School Committee while retaining Section 2.4.5 for further discussion.
Mrs. Perdios made a motion to approve School Committee Policy Book Section 2 as amended. Mrs. Hubley seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
These three Policy items will appear on the April 7, 2021 School Committee meeting agenda for discussion and will be eligible for a vote on May 5, 2021.
Mrs. Hubley made a motion to adjourn the Policy Subcommittee meeting at 6:00 pm. Mrs. Perdios seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.