June 6, 2007 School Committee Minutes

Minutes

Quincy, Massachusetts -June 6, 2007
Regular Meeting of the Quincy School Committee

Public Hearing FY08 Budget

A Budget hearing of the Quincy School Committee was held on Wednesday June 6, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. in the 2nd Floor Conference Room, New City Hall. Present were Mrs. Anne Mahoney, Mr. Kevin Mulvey, Mr. Dave McCarthy, Ms. Linda Stice, Mr. Jim Timmins and Ms. Elaine Dwyer, Vice Chairman

Consistent with the provisions of Chapter 71, Section 38N of the General Laws, the Quincy School Committee held a public hearing on its FY08 proposed Budget. All interested persons were given an opportunity to be heard. As no one present wished to be heard, the Committee closed that part of the meeting.

Regular Meeting

The regular meeting of the Quincy School Committee began at 8:30 p.m. June 6, 2007 in the 2nd. Floor Conference Room, City Hall. Present were Mrs. Anne Mahoney, Mr. Kevin Mulvey, Mr. Dave McCarthy, Ms. Linda Stice, Mr. Jim Timmins, and Ms. Elaine Dwyer, Vice Chairman.

Vice Chairman Presiding

The Superintendent called the roll and Mayor Phelan was absent. Also present were: Dr. Richard DeCristofaro, Secretary, and Mrs. Tefta Burrelli, Clerk; Drs. Mariano and Pattavina. Messrs. O’Brien, Ryan, Walsh, McPhee, Keith Segalla, and Mullaney; Ms. Lebo, Hughes, and Roberts. Paul Phillips, QEA President was present.

Reg. & Exec.Session. Mins. 5/2/2007

On a motion by Mr. Mulvey, seconded by Mr. McCarthy, the Committee approved the regular and executive session minutes for May 16, 2007. On a roll call vote, the motion passed 6-0. Mayor Phelan was absent.

Supts Report

Keith Segella reported on the summer reading lists and initiatives. Summer Scene 2007 is packed with quality programs. A guide has been distributed to all schools. Programs are by level. A registration form is in the guide.

Colleen Roberts gave out the Summer Reading Listing and Summer Reading Requirements for high school students. Each student has received the list. This is also posted on the website. Many elementary schools will open their libraries to students from 9-11 a.m. on Wednesdays during the month of July and August.

Interviews for principals at North Quincy High School, Lincoln Hancock Community School and the Montclair Elementary have been held. The Superintendent will share with the committee the appointments as soon as he has spoken to the candidates.

Open Forum

As no one wished to be heard at the Open Forum, the Committee went on with the business at hand.

Trips: Parker School to Canobie Lake 6/7/07

On a motion by Mr. McCarthy, seconded by Mr. Timmins, the Committee approved the trip for Parker school students to Canobie Lake on June 7. The ayes have it.

Merrymount to Canobie Lake 6/13

On a motion by Ms. Stice, seconded by Mr. Mulvey, the Committee approved the trip for Merrymount students to Canobie Lake on June 13. The ayes have it.

Quincy Evening High School

Ms. Emily Lebo reported that this is the fourth year of the Quincy Evening High School and it is doing very well. A total of 64 students have been served. Quincy has received a grant for $139,436. The total cost per student is $1,615. There will be three sessions: summer, fall and spring. This session, Character Education courses will be added. The students will take these courses for credits which should help with job interviews. The WIB (Workforce Investment Bureau) is very pleased with this program. A total of 150 students have graduated from the evening school in the past four years. The members were very pleased with this program.

FY08 Budget

Mr. McCarthy thanked Mr. Mullaney for doing a fine job with the budget. Back in the fall there were deficits, however, the Superintendent’s Team got a hand on the problems. The Superintendent met with the principals this morning and the leadership team. They focused on the budget.

Mr. Mullaney gave a historical review of the school system’s budgets. He presented an overview of the FY08 Budget. Seventy positions have been added since 2003. Class size is always maintained.

This year, the Mayor gave the school system a 7% increase. Academic positions added are as follows: 5.4 guidance/drop out prevention, 1.7 health, 5 security officers. Academic expenses have increased as follows: SPED $2,050,000, classroom supplies $233,280, textbooks $161,497, instructional equipment/technology $174,000.

Mr. Mullaney explained the budget building process and gave an analysis of additional funds. There is an anticipated circuit breaker amount of $2,800,000, and Quincy College rent for one month. The School Committee authorized the establishment of negotiated increases line, and he has put $2.5 million in there for increases. It is anticipated that 30 teachers will retire.

For FY08 also added are: 3 academic teachers, 1 ELL specialist, 2 SPED teachers, 1 New Start Program teacher, .6 guidance, l4 New Start paraprofessional, 5 Para professions for SPED, 2 SPED bus drivers. There is an increase in SPED Tuition of $1,750,000.

Mr. Timmins reported that the SPED Subcommittee met and there is a concern about the transportation. Mr. Mullaney answered that this problem came up this year. We were looking at a $5 million deficit in that line item. We looked at routes, acquired more buses. There is still a $125,000 deficit this year. We have increased the amount for outside vendors to $1,050,000. This should cover all outside routes. We purchased five new mini buses and 2 vans. That gives us flexibility.

Transfers Approved

On a motion by Mr. McCarthy, seconded by Mr. Mulvey, the Committee voted to approve the transfers of funds in the salaries, repairs, screening and medical, testing, library books, textbooks, educational software, instructional equipment, professional rehab services, telephone, pensions, travel insurance and plant equipment lines to the SPED Tuition and Transportation lines for a total of $460,325.00. The ayes have it.

Transfers Approved

On a motion by Mr. McCarthy, seconded by Mr. Mulvey transfers of $31,000 from the insurance line to the Legal line. The ayes have it.

FY08 Budget Approved

On a motion by Mr. McCarthy, seconded by Mr. Timmins, the Committee accepted the Quincy Public Schools FY08 Budget at a total of $78,604,979. The ayes have it.

Mr. Timmins recognized Mr. Tom Largey, who is in the hospital and Maureen Brillo. We remember them in our prayers.

Resignations

The Committee noted the following resignations:

Lunch Attendant Mary Moriarty

Appointments

The Committee noted the following appointments:

Café Helper Dun Sum Lau

Lunch Attendant Frances McDonough

On motion by Mr. Mulvey, seconded by Ms. Stice, the Committee voted Executive Session to go into Executive Session at 9:17 p.m. for the purpose of negotiations and litigation. They did not come back to Open Session. On a roll call vote, the motion to go into Executive Session passed 6-0. Mayor Phelan was absent.