June 20, 2007 School Committee Minutes

Minutes

Quincy, Massachusetts - June 20, 2007
Regular Meeting of the Quincy School Committee

Regular Meeting

A regular meeting of the Quincy School Committee was held on Wednesday, June 20, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, City Hall. Present were Mrs. Anne Mahoney, Mr. Kevin Mulvey, Ms. Linda Stice, Mr. Jim Timmins, Mr. Dave McCarthy, Mayor Phelan and Ms. Elaine Dwyer, Vice, Chairman.

Vice Chairman Presiding

The Superintendent called the roll and all members were present. 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 Canavan, Ms. Powell, Lebo, Hughes, and Roberts.

Reg  & Exec. Mins. Approved 6/6/2007/Emer. & Exec. Mins. Approved 6/12/2007

On a motion by Mr. McCarthy, seconded by Mr. Timmins, the Committee approved the regular and executive session minutes for June 6, 2007. The ayes have it. On a motion by Ms. Stice, seconded by Mr. Mulvey, the Committee approved the emergency and executive session meeting minutes for the June 12, 2007. The ayes have it.

Supts. Report

Dr. DeCristofaro reported that 94-95% high school students were present for final exams, and 80% to low 90% of our students were present in school this week.

Staff Recognition

The Committee recognized the three retiring principals who were present-- Dennis Carini, Principal of the Amelio Della Chiesa Early Childhood Ctr. and Lincoln Hancock Community Schools, Mr. Kevin Mark, principal of Montclair and Mr. Louis Ioanilli, Principal of North Quincy High School.

Principal Appointments

Also present were the appointees--Ruth Witmer for Amelio Della Chiesa Early Childhood Ctr. and Lincoln Hancock Community Schools, Renee Lalumiere for the Montclair School, and Earl Metzler for North Quincy High School. The Committee thanked the retiring principals for their dedication and commitment and their years of hard work and congratulated the newly elected principals and wished them well in their new positions.

The Committee thanked the S.L.T. members for the gift of appreciation they received.

The Superintendent thanked the City Council for passing the FY08 School Budget and the Mayor for the 7% increase in the budget. This will allow us to increase our after school opportunities and to increase supplies, purchase new text book at every level, continue full day Kindergarten, literacy and at-risk students and to build a new high school.

There was a brief recess at 7:35 p.m. The meting resumed at 7:40 p.m.

Open Forum

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

Buildings & Grounds

Mr. Canavan reported that the Maintenance Department moved the Administrative offices from the old Quincy High School to the NAGE Building. They set up and broke down the graduation equipment at Adams Field. They are lining up projects for summer.

New QHS

Mike Ryan reported that Woodward Ave. will be closed off on June 25. A public hearing was held on June 14 with some School Committee members, Councilor Gutro and Kelly and the residents of the area. SMMA, Rishman and Rizo were also present. They shared information on traffic, point of contacts, community service information, and site safety. The neighbors requested that there be increased traffic patrols.

Mr. Ryan showed on a map the area where the fencing will go. The Maintenance Office will be moving to one of the houses and the architects, Project Manager will be housed in the other house. The field in back will be used by construction people. Mr. Ryan also showed a rendering of the new high school. It has been decided that the brick will be red and not yellow.

Mr. McCarthy arrives at 7:48 p.m.

We are on schedule with the budget and moving forward. We should have all the permits this week. The Mayor told the Committee that we received the project funding from the state all signed. He thanked Katherine Cravens and Treasurer Cahill.

Gift -Homeless Children

On a motion by Ms. Stice, seconded by Mr. Mulvey, the Committee accepted a gift of $163.55 donated by the Sunday School children of Faith Lutheran Church to benefit Quincy Public Schools “Project Access: Educational Services to Homeless Children.” The ayes have it.

Gift - QPS

On a motion by Mr. Timmins, seconded by Ms. Stice, the Committee accepted a donation of 80 fiction and on-fiction books for our elementary schools by Mr. Robert Kachinsky and his family and friends. The ayes have it.

Technology Update

Mr. Rich O’Brien showed the Committee the updates made to the Quincy Public Schools Web Page. Some of the new additions are: SPED now has a page, the School Committee calendar, Team meetings are listed, MCAS schedule, lunch schedules, early release days, Career and Ed Center (a resource for seniors looking at career planning), FASA forms, and school starting times. The webpage is quite comprehensive.

Other sites they will be added are: a parent section, QPAC located under the parent section, ways to contact staff, staff academy, and a number of forms that staff may use, Principals’ assistance area, forms for principals which are filled out every year, a template for SIP and there is an issue training package which we purchased. This will be used to train staff. It is web-based. Each school has its own site. Personnel advertising is handled by Mr. Walsh. This was requested last year.

There is a section for the new Quincy High School which show two presentations given to us by SMMA. Mr. Ryan will work with the Superintendent and Mr. Ryan to post updates, notes.

The Committee was very pleased with the web site. Mr. Timmins was very happy with the SPED page. He didn’t feel that the school websites were keeping pace. Some schools are more involved. Their teachers are proactive. Mr. O’Brien will work with the schools.

Staff Recognition

Ms. Stice thanked the three people that work in the Production Department -- Karl Schwendenman, Marie Cunniff and Cathy Cashman. Three dedicated staff who do quality work. Thanks also do Brian Smith for the work he did at the Teen Mothers’ Graduation. He and Dr. Mariano put together a wonderful slide show. Also, Ms. Stice visited the Early Childhood Center three intensive Sped class for three year olds. This was the happiest place. Ms. Stice took off the School Policy Subcommittee Dress Code and Elementary Report Cards.

The Mayor congratulated the Superintendent and his staff for one of the most product years.

Ms. Stice is working on a draft policy for bullying. It is not ready to present as yet, it requires more input.

Mrs. Dwyer asked the committee to look at what’s in their subcommittees and clean them up.

Resignations

The Committee noted the following resignations:

Teacher: Athenia Elie

Lunch Attendants: Helen Layden, Darlene Bergstrom

Adjournment

On a motion by Mr. Timmins, seconded by Mr. McCarthy, the Committee adjourned for the evening at 8:37 p.m. There was no executive session. On a roll call vote, the motion passed unanimously 7-0.