Minutes
Quincy, MASSACHUSETTS – September 1, 2021
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Special Meeting of the Quincy School Committee
Regular Meeting
Chairman Presiding
A meeting of the Quincy School Committee was held on Wednesday, September 1, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. at the Coddington Building. Superintendent Kevin Mulvey called the roll and present were Mayor Thomas P. Koch, School Committee Chair, Mr. Paul Bregoli, Mr. Doug Gutro, Mrs. Emily Lebo, Mrs. Courtney Perdios, Mr. Frank Santoro, and Mrs. Kathryn Hubley, Vice Chair.
Also present were: Superintendent Kevin Mulvey, Assistant Superintendent Erin Perkins, Ms. Allison Cox, Mr. Michael Draicchio, Ms. Julie Graham, Mr. James Mullaney, Ms. Maura Papile, Ms. Madeline Roy; Ms. Laura Owens, School Committee Clerk.
Mayor Koch called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm. Superintendent Mulvey called the roll and all members were present except Mrs. Lebo, who arrived at 6:15 pm.
School Committee observed a moment of silence for the men and women in the armed forces serving at home and overseas.
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Mayor Koch welcomed School Committee and said that in addition to school staff and custodians preparing for the opening of school, the City’s Public Buildings and Natural Resources Departments are working on preparing the facilities inside and out. The Quincy Health Department is monitoring COVID-19 cases and providing guidance, collaborating with Superintendent Mulvey and Health Services Coordinator Rita Bailey.
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Review of School
Committee Goals
Mrs. Hubley reviewed the School Committee Goals, noting that these were developed in Fall 2019 at a workshop led by the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC). Ms. Owens annotated the goal document with status updates and several have been completed: updating the Quincy Public Schools website, reviewing the Financial Literacy curriculum, and developing a leadership profile for Superintendent.
Mrs. Perdios suggested adding a goal of moving Grade 5 students currently at Point Webster and South~West back to the elementary schools.
Mrs. Hubley suggested leaving the remaining goals in place until another workshop can be scheduled.
Mr. Gutro said the goal-setting workshop was very helpful and suggested waiting until the new School Committee assembles in January.
Mayor Koch agreed with this timeline.
Mrs. Perdios asked for clarification on the outreach goal, Ms. Owens said School Committee was looking for the Superintendent and Leadership Team to plan informal interactions with parents. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, progress towards this goal has not been realized.
Mr. Bregoli asked for an update on the goal of increasing diversity among the Quincy Public Schools staff. Superintendent Mulvey said partnering with MPDE and expanding recruitment network has led to an increase in diverse hiring for professional and non-professional staff. Superintendent Mulvey said that we have been fortunate in this summer’s applicant pool and subsequent hires.
Mr. Gutro thanked Superintendent Mulvey for the invitation to attend today’s New Educator Orientation and requested updated data on Quincy Public Schools staffing, including information on new hires.
Ms. Owens will contact MASC to schedule a School Committee Goal Setting workshop for a Saturday morning in January.
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Review of Items in
Subcommittee
For Athletics & Wellness, Mr. Santoro asked about #4 Health Curriculum and #8 Teen Dating Violence Prevention, these will be retained for an update during 2021-22 school year. Mr. Bregoli suggested removing #3 Potential MIAA Athletic League Change for NQHS, Mr. Gutro agreed. Mr. Bregoli asked for an update on #5 Helmets for Girls Lacrosse, Superintendent Mulvey will reach out to MIAA.
Mr. Gutro would like to add Bullying/Cyberbullying, and review data trends for incidents and resolutions, in school vs. cyber bullying.
Mrs. Lebo suggested combining #1 Substance Use Education & Prevention, #4 Health Curriculum, and #8 Teen Dating Violence Prevention into one item for update at a subsequent meeting
For Budget & Finance, Mrs. Lebo suggested that School Committee approve grants and Mr. Gutro agreed that more frequent grant updates would be useful. Mrs. Lebo clarified that prior. School Committee did not take any action on this.
Mrs. Lebo requested to see the Early College High School program budget and Superintendent Mulvey will follow up.
For Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, Mr. Santoro asked about #6 Student Climate Survey and #7 Teacher & Administrator Climate Surveys, but these are ongoing items. Mr. Santoro removed #14 Teen Dating Violence Prevention as this is also in Athletics & Wellness.
Mrs. Perdios asked if the EDI Subcommittee could meet more frequently to address the large number of items in Subcommittee. Ms. Owens will work on a draft Subcommittee meeting calendar for the fall.
For Facilities, Security & Transportation, Mr. Santoro removed #9 NQHS Mascot as this work has been completed.
Mrs. Lebo removed #3 School Improvement Plan Facilities Needs and #8 Indoor Air Quality/HVAC, Ventilation & Filtration.
Mr. Bregoli asked about #2 QPS Vehicle Storage Facility Relocation, Mayor Koch said this is still a long-term goal.
Mrs. Lebo asked about #1 Water Testing Results & Repairs, Superintendent Mulvey will check with Commissioner Hines for a status update.
Mr. Gutro asked for clarification on the NQHS mascot, Superintendent Mulvey said that NQHS students voted at the end of the school year to adopt the new mascot.
Mrs. Perdios asked about QHS security system replacement, Superintendent Mulvey said that the proposal has been received and the work will begin within a few weeks.
Mrs. Perdios asked to add review of older middle school buildings to bring them into alignment with the newer facilities at Central and South~West.
Mr. Bregoli asked about Capital Improvement Plan, the NQHS auditorium renovation still has not made any progress.
Mayor Koch noted that there have been significant improvements at Broad Meadows subsequent to the flooding in 2018.
Mrs. Perdios added the PWMS grounds to Facility Subcommittee, Mrs. Lebo amended to be there to be one item for review of facilities and grounds.
Mr. Gutro added the impact of residential development, data on school enrollment.
Mrs. Lebo asked to see the map of school district boundaries, Ms. Owens will follow up.
For the Policy Subcommitte, Mr. Bregoli removed #3 School Year Calendar Survey, #4 2021-2022 School Committee Meeting Calendar, and #5 2021-2022 School Year Calendar.
Mr. Bregoli asked about #1 Middle School Grading System, Ms. Owens said the high school principals have also requested a review of grading and suggested collapsing items #1Middle School Grading System & #7 Sections 9.11 Grading Systems; 9.11.2 Class Rankings; 9.11.3 Honor Rolls; 9.11.4 Promotion & Retention of Students; 9.11.5 Graduation Requirements.
Mrs. Lebo asked if the Policy on academic eligibility can be relaxed for one year, Superintendent Mulvey will research whether MIAA policy would be in conflict with this idea.
Ms. Owens said the Homework Policy should be reviewed because of the COVID-19 provisions that were added.
For Special Education, Mrs. Hubley will leave the items in Subcommittee and wait until first Subcommittee meeting with new Quincy Parent Advisory Council to Special Education board members.
For Teaching & Learning, Mrs. Lebo removed #4 Health & Sexual Education on High School and #7 Grade 5 Students at Point Webster and South~West Middle Schools, as they are in other subcommittees.
Mr. Santoro asked about #8 Advanced Program for Grade 5, Mrs. Perdios would like to amend to review the Reach program and potential further expansion to other grades.
Mrs. Perdios added Additional Foreign Language Offerings, specifically American Sign Language.
Mrs. Perdios added Early College High School.
Mr. Bregoli asked if mid-term exams being weighted at 20% of a term grade is still an issue. Mrs. Lebo disagreed that School Committee has the authority to give that level of direction to professional staff members. Mr. Santoro said there was previously a special schedule for 90-minute assessments which has been discarded. Mayor Koch suggested the item remain in subcommittee.
Mrs. Hubley added a review and discussion of QPS offering before school care.
Mr. Gutro added an update on Digital Literacy program.
Mrs. Lebo removed #3 Integration of Native American Representation Into Social Studies Curriculum.
Mr. Gutro removed #6 Parent Teacher Conferences and emphasized that continuing to offer remote conferences is important. Superintendent Mulvey confirmed that schools will continue offer remote parent conference options.
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Adjournment
Mrs. Lebo made a motion to adjourn the Special School Committee meeting at 7:00 pm, seconded by Mr. Bregoli. On a voice vote, the ayes have it.