Feb. 6, 2008 School Committee Meeting

Agenda

Regular Meeting of the Quincy School Committee February 6, 2008

City Council Chambers
7:00 p.m.

I. Approval of Minutes: Regular Meeting minutes for January 23, 2008.

II. Superintendent’s Report:

A. Joint Convention, February 11, 2008
B. Principal Retirements
C. School Newsletters

III. Open Forum: An opportunity for community input regarding the Quincy Public Schools. After giving his or her name and address, each speaker may make a presentation of no more than four minutes to the School Committee.

IV. Old Business

A. Update on building projects, renovations, and construction: Mr. Ryan to report.
B. Update on the New Quincy High School: Mrs. Dwyer to report.
C. Update on Central:

V. New Business:

A. Casa Start Grant: Mrs. Powell to report.
B. Grant Administration Information 2007-2008: Mr. Mulaney to report
C. Out of State Travel: Approval for Robotic/Team Hyper students to go to Florida. See Attachment A.
D. Out-of-State Travel: Approval for Sterling Middle School to go to New York City. See Attachment B.
E. Out-of-State Travel: Approval for Quincy High School ROTC students to travel to Pease Air National Guard Base, New Hampshire. See Attachment C.

VI. Additional Business:

VII. Communications:

VIII. Hearings: - none

IX. Reports of Special Committees:

A. Policy Subcommittee: Mrs. Bragg to report
B. Budget Subcommittee: Mr. Mulvey to report.

X. Executive Session:

XI. Adjournment:

Subcommittees of the School Committee

Subcommittee Date Referred Business Pending
Budget & Finance
Mulvey/Bragg/McCarthy 11/19/2003 Vending Machines in Schools
  1/7/2004 Marshall Remedial Action Plan
  5/27/2004 (Subcommittee) Transportation Fees
  4/11/2007 HS Health Curriculum
Building Needs    
Dwyer/Mahoney/Mulvey Major Building Projects  
  3/4/98 QHS/Central/Sterling Building Plans
  10/20/2004 ADA Report
  9/7/2005 Alternative Plans for Central Middle School
  1/25/2006 Fire Extinguishers
  1/25/2006 Outdoor Lighting
  2/8/2006 Conservation
Health, Safety & Security    
TBA/McCarthy/Mahoney 10/18/2006 NQHS Traffic & Drop off
  4/11/2007 HS Health Curriculum
School Policy    
Bragg/Dwyer/TBA 1/10/2001 Policy Manual
  10/18/2006 Sliding Scale for Student Fees
  3/21/2007 Student Records/Transfers, etc.
  5/2/2007 Bullying
  11/28/2007 Progress Reports
Special Education    
Mahoney/McCarthy/Mulvey 1/17/2007 Emergency Information Form
  1/17/2007 Substitute Teachers for SPED
  3/21/2007 Implementation of IEPs
Rules, Post Audit & Oversight    
McCarthy/Dwyer/Bragg    
     
AD HOC COMMITTEES:    
Channel 22    
Mahoney/McCarthy 10/17/2007 Encourage greater use of

 

Minutes

Quincy, Massachusetts - February 6, 2008
Regular Meeting of the Quincy School Committee

Regular Meeting

A regular meeting of the Quincy School Committee was held on Wednesday, February 6, 2008 at the City Council Chambers, City Hall. Present were Mrs. Anne Mahoney, Mr. Kevin Mulvey, Mrs. Jo-Ann Bragg, Mrs. Elaine Dwyer, Mayor Tom Koch and Mr. Dave McCarthy, Vice Chairman.

Vice Chairman Presiding

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The Superintendent called the roll and all members were present. Also present were: Dr. Richard DeCristofaro, Secretary, Mrs. Tefta Burrelli Clerk. Dr. Pattavina, Messrs. O’Brien, Walsh, McPhee, Mullaney, Keith Segalla, Ms. Powell, Todd, Hughes, and Roberts. Ms. Roseann Russell, represented Citywide, and Mr. Paul Phillips, QEA President, were present. The Committee observed a moment of silence for Principal Ann Pegg’s mother who just passed away.

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Regular Mtg. Mins. Approved 1/23/2008

On a motion by Mr. Mulvey, seconded by Mrs. Bragg, the Committee approved the Regular Session minutes for January 23, 2008. The ayes have it.

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Retirements

The Superintendent announced that Mr. Don Houghton, Principal of the Squantum Elementary School, and Dr. Allan Osborne, Principal of the Snug Harbor Community School, will both retire at the end of this school year. They will appear at a School Committee meeting in June.

Supts. Report

The Annual Partnership Breakfast will be held on Thursday, April 3 in the Tirrell Room. Evening at the Pops is scheduled for Thursday, May 8. Along with the Quincy Symphony Orchestra, our Middle School Jazz Band will play. Proceeds go directly to the Music Department.

The Committee received the Quarterly Attendance by Term Report from Assistant Superintendent, Richard O’Brien.

Saturday morning programs include Literacy Matters, which services 125 students, Winter Institute, serves over 100 students, Marshall Academy on Saturdays has 45 students. There are 700 students involved in middle and high school athletics. Among those students, Rebecca Gorham, a senior at North Quincy High, reached 1,000 baskets, Doug Scott reached 1,000 points last week, Emily Malone, Girls Soccer, signed a four year scholarship with Mercer University.

The Committee also received monthly curriculum newsletters which are sent out on a regular basis by the schools.

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Open Forum

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

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Building Update

The Superintendent reported that the roof leaks in the Sterling auditorium were repaired, and Mr. Ryan found no leaks on the entire third floor of the building. Maintenance repaired an air compressor pump which seized at Atlantic Middle School. The public address system should be working within 10-14 days. The elevator at Parker School has been broken. Parts needed are coming from Canada and should be in this week.

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Joint Convention

The Superintendent announced the Joint Convention with the City Council and School Committee to choose the new school Committee member to replaced Jim Timmins, will be held Monday, February 11 at 5:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, City Hall.

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New Quincy High School

Mrs. Dwyer reported that the Quincy High School Building Committee met on January 29. They welcomed in two new members -- Jim Timmins and Jim Fatseas. Mr. Gary Cunniff will also be on the Building Committee. They discussed the cleanup of the contamination spill. Wheatstone explain Surfactant. The Committee gave Wheatstone the authority to start that process, which should take two weeks.

Regarding bid alternatives, the Committee voted to accept #1-#7 and they did not accept #8. They will continue to look for ways to find other means and come up with the difference in the money. Eugene Caruso stated that the City needs to release the trade subcontractors and award the bids to the selected companies. The City Purchasing Department will work on this. The Committee gave Gilbane permission to go back to the winning bidders and get started.

There is a meeting, Monday night at 6:30 p.m. for the City Council Education Committee where they will give a presentation to the City Council.

Bldg.Nds.Subcommittee name changed

Mrs. Dwyer thought there was some confusion with the name of the Building Needs Subcommittee and the Building Committees for Quincy High School and Central. She made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Bragg to change the name of the Building Needs Subcommittee to the School Facilities Management Subcommittee. The ayes have it.

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Central Middle School

There is a meeting scheduled with the MSBA to discuss Central Middle School on March 12.

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CASASTART Presentation

Mrs. Janet Powell, Deb Parrish, and Nancy Salerno gave a presentation on Casastart. Quincy received a grant which provides services to identified families with children between the ages of 8 and 13. This grant with the Governor Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act, offers a program committed to strengthening the home and school partnership. This creates a safe and supportive environment at home and at school. CASASTART counselors work with parents to identify the family strengths and areas of need. Two counselors, Deb Parrish and Nancy Salerno, are assigned to the Snug Harbor Elementary and Broad Meadows Middle School. They work with students and their families in collaboration with building administrators, teachers, and guidance staff.

Sixty-one children have been serviced and 35 families. Attendance rates and after school activity participation has risen dramatically through this program. Parents are encouraged and do attend multiple school events. Quincy was awarded a two-year grant for $300,000. Funding has been extended for four more years at $120,000 per year. This program has become a national model. There is a growing state commitment.

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Grant Booklet

The Committee received the 2007-2008 Grant Booklet. Mr. Mullaney introduced Janice Erler, Keith Segalla, Edie Hughes, Judy Todd, and Janet Powell who explained the different grants that they had written and received funding. The total for this year’s grants is $7,596,178. The School Committee thanked the writers of the grants. Mrs. Bragg asked Mr. Mullaney to prepare a 5-year spread sheet compiling the financial matters.

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Robotic Team to Florida

On a motion by Mr. Mulvery, seconded by Mrs. McCarthy, the Committee approved the out of state travel trip to Orlando, Florida for the Robotics Team from March 12 to March 16, 2008. The ayes have it.

Sterling to NY

On a motion by Mrs. Mahoney, seconded by Mr. Mulvey, the Committee approved the out of state travel request to New York City for Sterling Middle School from June 3 to June 4, 2008. The ayes have it.

QHS ROTC to NH

On a motion by Mrs. Bragg, seconded by Mr. Mulvey, the Committee approved the trip request for the Quincy High School ROTC students to travel to Pease Air National Guard Base in New Hampshire on March 6, 2008. The ayes have it. Mrs. Bragg asked the Superintendent to find out how the ROTC students are chosen for this. What is the process.

QHS to France/Spain

On a motion by Mrs. Bragg, seconded by Mr. Mulvey, the Committee approved the out of country trip request for Quincy High School students to go to France and Spain from February 16, 2008 to February 24, 2008. The ayes have it.

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Voting booths to Policy Subcommittee

Under Additional Business, Mrs. Dwyer made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Bragg, to put into the Policy Subcommittee moving voting locations out of the schools between now and next fall. The ayes have it. Mayor Koch said he was concerned with the safety of people in the school buildings. It will not be easy to find different locations for voting. He wants to look at a scheduling issue. It is his feeling that perhaps voting day is not a school day.

Mrs. Dwyer asked that Contract Negotiations for other unions be on the next agenda under executive session. She wants to discuss how to move forward. Mayor Koch answered just this past Monday he appointed department heads. He was sure he would have some direction by the next meeting.

Joint Convention

Mayor Koch announced the Joint Convention of the City Council and School Committee to choose a School Committee person to replace Jim Timmins next Monday, February 11 at 5:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers.

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Policy Subcommittee Mrs. Bragg reported that the Policy Subcommittee met last Thursday, January 31, to discuss Student Records and Residency issues. They reviewed what school records must be sent to a new school. If Quincy Public Schools staff do not receive the information, they will follow up to locate the records. The subcommittee asked if the medical records are shared with coaches before a student can participate in a sport. Mrs. Powell will check on this. The student handbook has been updated to include any changes in the law. The newest law allows the non-custodial parent access to their child’s records unless the custodial parent can prove via a court order such as a restraining or abuse order not to release records.

They reviewed the registration process and student support services that are offered to new families. The school system monitors student residences and has procedures to verify residency which may include visitation of the home by the student attendance officers. They discussed the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistant Act which states the rights of homeless children. The subcommittee suggested those forms be notarized including a statement that Quincy City Hall provides free notary service if needed.

Also on the agenda were the Harassment Policy and a soon to be created new Anti-Bullying Policy. Everyone felt the Harassment Policy needed to be updated since it was created in 1995. The Superintendent has set up an Anti-Bullying Task Force. They have gathered models from other communities. There have been two meetings with all principals to receive their input on what needs to be in the policy. The Task Force hopes to have a draft within the next month.

Student Records and Residency did address the previous School Committee questions.

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Budget Subcommittee

Mr. Mulvey reported that the Budget Subcommittee met on February 5 to review the Quarterly Budget report. Some issues of concerns were: The expected breakage was less than anticipated. However, savings from the longevity will help to balance this out. The cost of overtime for Maintenance and Custodial was high due to custodians having to be in their buildings when Honeywell was working there and moving offices and classrooms due to the building of the new Quincy High School. Utilities cost increases in heating oil. Schools have been transferred to natural gas. The budget is in good shape right now. There will be a separate subcommittee meeting on issues of acquiring new buses.

Quarterly Budget Approved

On a motion by Mr. Mulvey, seconded by Mrs. Bragg, the Committee approved the Quarterly Budget Report. The ayes have it.

Vending Machines off Subcommittee

The Subcommittee removed vending machines from the Budget Subcommittee.

Retirements

The Committee noted the following retirements:

Principals: Donald Houghton,  Dr. Allan Osborne

Resignations

The Committee noted the following resignations:

Teacher: Shawn Flaherty

Electrical Instructor: Stephe Salvatore

Utility Food Worker: Elizabeth Couzinis

Appointments

The Committee noted the following appointments:

Teachers: Douglas Bumpus,  Noel Hess, Ryan Herlihy

Electrical Instructor: Matthew Hughes

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Adjournment

On a motion by Mr. Mulvey, seconded by Mrs. Dwyer, the Committee voted to adjourn for the evening at 8:50 p.m. There was no executive Session. On a roll call vote, the motion passed unanimously 6-0.