Minutes
Quincy, Massachusetts - January 7, 2009
Regular Meeting of the Quincy School Committee
Regular Meeting
A regular meeting of the Quincy School Committee was held on Wednesday,
January 7, 2009 in the Broad Meadows Middle School. Present were Mr. Ron
Mariano, Mrs. Jo-Ann Bragg, Mrs. Anne Mahoney, Mrs. Elaine Dwyer, Mr.
Nicholas Puleo, Mr. Dave McCarthy, and Mayor Tom Koch, Chairman.
Chairman
Presiding
- - -
The Superintendent called the roll and all members were present. Also present were:
Dr. Richard DeCristofaro, Secretary, Mrs. Tefta Burrelli, Clerk. Messrs. O’Brien,
Mullaney, Mulvey, Draicchio, Keith Segalla, Ms. Roberts and Ms. Powell, and Dr.
Sylvia Pattavina. Ms. Tracey Christello, Citywide, and Mr. Paul Phillips, QEA. The
Committee observed a moment of silence for Robert Lainge, a retired North Quincy
High School teacher who passed away.
- - -
Reg. Mins.Approved 12/10/2008
On a motion by Mrs. Bragg, seconded by Mr. McCarthy, the Committee approved
the regular session minutes for December 10, 2008. The ayes have it.
- - -
Welcome by Principal
Principal, Larry Taglieri, welcomed everyone to Broad Meadows. He complimented
his staff who all work together for the benefit of the students. Author and Pulitzer
Prize winner, Michael Winerip, was speaking at the school tomorrow. The
eighth grade chorus, under the direction of Susan Doran and Paul Haight on piano,
performed for the members.
- - -
Athletic Program
Mr. Jim Rendle gave an update on the Athletic program. The high schools have
joined a new league -- the Patriot League. Doing this has saved time in school
and travel. Students now get home at a reasonable hour. The league, however, is
extremely competitive. The wrestling program is doing very well. Both high school
coaches work together. He thanked the Transportation Department for doing a
tremendous job getting students to and from games. Mrs. Bragg asked that the
North Quincy High School Girls Volley ball team come before the committee.
- - -
Quincy Ed. Fund
The Quincy Education Fund Committee met and approved dispersing $13,112.14
They went directly to the principals to ask what they needed. They divided the
money by enrollment. To date, over $31,000 has come to the schools. They are
working with the Mayor’s office and Chuck Phelan to add a new design on the
property tax bills and expand it to the excise tax bills.
QHS Late Start
The Committee received a copy of a letter from Principal Frank Santoro to
the Superintendent requesting to end school for students at 12:30 p.m. on
Friday, February 13 and a delayed start of one hour for students (8:45 a.m.)
on Monday, February 23. This will allow staff members to conduct tasks
that are necessary for them to move into new locations. Those staff members
who are not relocating will be partnered up to assist those who are. Students
will also need additional time to get acquainted with their new classroom sites.
This is still in draft form and the Superintendent will get back to the Committee.
Parents will be notified.
- - -
Open Forum
Mr. Karl Roos expressed his concern with the additional budget cuts half way
through the year. He would like to see the committee work with the City
Council about the cuts. He has looked at the City Budget and was concerned
with an unclassified amount of $125,000. Zero amount has been spent to
date in that line. He suggested cutting that and returning the money to the
school budget and perhaps share with the Police and Fire Departments. He
passed out copies of the page in question.
- - -
Bldg. Update
Kevin Murphy reported that the sink at North Quincy has been installed in
the photo lab. It was a much bigger job than anticipated. Electricians have
repaired the security system at Point Webster. The new walk in freezer has
been installed. They are still working with Honeywell and making great progress.
- - -
QHS Bldg. Committee Report by Mrs. Dwyer
The Quincy High School Building Committee met on December 19th. Mrs. Dwyer
is waiting for minutes from the November 19 meeting. The Committee will
receive a letter from Wheatstone stated that two wells are still producing a
small amount of oil. These wells will be drained once a week after school hours.
The caps will be removed and drained overnight. They will be recapped in the
morning. Equipment, furniture, etc. are being delivered. An expediter is
needed--someone who will open up boxes, sign off on it. We are hiring
someone from Gilbane. This is a huge task that will go on for six weeks.
The money will come out of our contingency money. The cost for the expediter
is $30,000 for eight weeks. We are changing the parking on Russell Park from
Woodward Ave. to Southern Artery and on Coddington Street on the high school
side. On February 23 the old CTE will be abated. Gilbane will need the staff
parking area. Signs will be posted on Russell Park. The only parking Monday
through Friday 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. will be for QPS staff. There will be a public
announcement. It will take effect on February 23. Staff will have a sticker for
their car. There will be no parking for students.
Mrs. Bragg asked that someone notify the YMCA that this is coming and
why it’s coming.
Mr. McCarthy asked that as we take down the old CTE building, we keep an
eye out for oil contamination around the automotive bays.
- - -
Central Bldg. Committee Report
There is no new information on Central Middle School.
- - -
Professional Development Update
Ms. Colleen Roberts shared highlights of Quincy’s Professional Development
plan. The goal, directed by the Department of Education, supports the imple-
mentation of student based frameworks. Highly qualified professional develop-
ment is essential to student learning. These activities are planned to encourage
teams of teachers to work together. There are outside facilitators who come
to the school to speak with teachers. Also, Quincy staff members facilitate.
Classes are held on Tuesday afternoon. The staff needs 150 PDPs. They have
five years to acquire the PDPs. They can get all of them free of charge through
the school system. Teachers can get three credits.
Mrs. Bragg applauded QPAC for adding $458 of SPED materials to the teacher
resource libraries for our schools.
Paul Phillips thanked Mrs. Roberts. The QEA has been involved from the
beginning. The system provides professional development that is very good.
The state requires for content and pedagogy. Their problem is content. The ELL
training is very good. They are very happy with it.
- - -
Gifts: Bus to QHS
On a motion by Mr. Mariano, seconded by Mr. McCarthy, the Committee
accepted the donation of a 2004 Ford Econoline E350 Super Duty Extended
15-Passanger Bus with an estimated value of $11,125 from Daniel Quirk.
The ayes have it.
- - -
Boots to Students
On a motion by Mrs. Bragg, seconded by Mrs. Dwyer, the Committee
accepted a gift of 18 pairs of boots valued at $720 from Mary Gustafson.
The ayes have it.
- - -
$10,000 to QHS
On a motion by Mr. Mariano, seconded by Mrs. McCarthy, the Committee
accepted a gift of $10,000 towards the George G. Burke Fitness Center at
Quincy High School. The ayes have it. Mr. Mariano recognized Mr. Burke
for his dedication to our students.
- - -
QEA Offer to Subcommittee
On a motion by Mr. Mariano, seconded by Mrs. Bragg, the Committee moved
the Settlement Order from the Court to the Budget Subcommittee. The ayes
have it.
- - -
Homework Policy
Mrs. Mahoney asked the Superintendent to touch upon the Homework Policy.
She has received inquires from parents regarding homework over vacation week.
She wanted to make sure that staff knows what the policy is.
- - -
Request for Legal Opinion from MASC
Mrs. Dwyer made a motion, seconded by Mr. McCarthy to draft a letter to
for a legal opinion from the MASC on the issues of:
-
Reopening of the potential change to the school staff contracts without
the Committee’s knowledge, and
-
The legality of that change which gave each employee $300 increase
to their salary base which it appears to be compensation for joining the
GIC, and
-
Jurisdiction of the Faxon Field for the purposes of a track.
This is a free service to school committees.
Mr. Mariano asked to see the scope of the questions before sending the letter.
Mrs. Dwyer will send drafts to everyone. Mr. Mariano was not comfortable
voting for the letter without seeing it first.
On a roll call vote, the motion passed unanimously 7-0 to have Mrs. Dwyer draft
a letter for discussion and a vote at the next meeting.
- - -
GIC on next agenda
Mayor Koch made a formal request of the School Committee on the GIC
on the next agenda. This will just be a formal presentation.
- - -
Budget Subcommittee Mr. Mariano reports
Mr. Mariano requested that the Budget Subcommittee continue the recess on
the next School Committee meeting January 21 at 6:00 p.m. We will deal
with the letter we have in front of us about settlement of the teachers strike,
preliminary proposals that were discussed at the prior Subcommittee meeting.
Mr. Mariano asked that the Budget Subcommittee meet before every School
Committee meeting at 6:00 p.m. to allow more public participation to watch
and listen to our deliberations. They will approve minutes at next meting.
- - -
Mrs. Bragg announced a Policy Subcommittee tomorrow starting at 12:30 p.m.
for School Improvement Plans.
- - -
Warrant Policy Approved File: 4.11.1
Mrs. Bragg made a motion, seconded by Mr. Mariano to move approval of the
Superintendent’s recommendation of the signal warrant system. On a roll call
vote, the motion passed unanimously 7-0. As is School Committee policy, this
motion will remain on the table until a final vote at the next meeting. This will
streamline the warrant process.
- - -
Resignations
The Committee noted the following resignation:
Teacher: Laura Flood
- - -
Adjournment
On a motion by Mrs. Bragg, seconded by Mr., Mariano, the Committee adjourned
for the evening at 8:41 p.m. There was no executive session. On a roll call vote,
the motion passed unanimously 7-0.