Nov. 17, 2010 School Committee Meeting

Agenda

Regular Meeting of the Quincy School Committee
November 17, 2010

7:00 p.m.
Lloyd Hill Auditorium, Quincy High School

I. Approval of Minutes: Regular Session minutes for October 27, 2010 and Executive Session minutes for October 27, 2010.

II. Superintendent’s Report:

A. Veterans Day Assembly – Sterling Middle Schools
B. One World Week – Atlantic Middle School

III. Open Forum: (7:15 p.m.) 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. Murphy to report.
B. Update on the New Quincy High School: Mrs. Dwyer to report.
C. Update on Central: Mrs. Bragg and Mrs. Mahoney to report.

V. New Business:

A. American Education Week:

B. Out of State Travel:

  1. Atlantic Middle School to Mt. Monadnock, New Hampshire. See Attachment A

  2. Snug Harbor to Canobie Lake Park. See Attachment B.

  3. Broad Meadows to Camp Wing: See Attachment C.

C. Request to name the North Quincy High School Auditorium after Peter Chrisom.

VI. Additional Business:

VII. Communications:

VIII. Hearings:

IX. Reports of Special Committees:

A. Policy Subcommittee: Mrs. Bragg to report.

B. Budget Subcommittee: Mrs. Mahoney to report.

X. Executive Session:

XI. Adjournment:

Subcommittees of the School Committee

Subcommittee Date Referred Business Pending
Budget & Finance
Mahoney/Bragg/Lebo 10/7/2009 Half Time Teachers
  9/15/2010 Full Day Kindergarten
  9/15/2010 Opportunities & Challenges
  9/15/2010 Free & Reduced Lunch
  9/15/2010 Short & Long Term Goals
School Facilities Management    
Dwyer/Lebo/McCarthy 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
  2/8/2006 Conservation
  4/9/2008 Track
  3/3/2010, 9/29/2010 Coddington Hall
  9/29/2010 Old QHS Disposition
Health, Safety & Security    
McCarthy/Isola/Dwyer 3/17/2010 North Quincy Traffic Intersection
  3/26/2008 Increase School Breakfast Participation
School Policy    
Bragg/Isola/Dwyer 3/11/2009 MS Interim Letters
  3/11/2009 Naming of QPS schools/places/etc.
  12/16/2009 School Tardiness Policy
  6/10/2010 Waivers
  9/15/2010 Attendance Tardy Policy with High School principals
  9/15/2010 CPR/ADE Training
  9/15/2010 Students Use of Electronics
  9/15/2010 Open Enrollment Policy
  9/15/2010 Anti-Bullying Policy
  10/2010 Harassment Policy
Special Education    
Lebo/McCarthy/Mahoney 1/17/2007 Emergency Information Form
  1/17/2007 Substitute Teachers for SPED
  3/21/2007 Implementation of IEPs
  9/24/2008 INSPIRE Initiative
Rules, Post Audit & Oversight    
Isola/Mahoney/Bragg 10/29/2008 Faxon Field
     
AD HOC COMMITTEES:    
Channel 22    
Mahoney/McCarthy 10/17/2007 Encourage greater use of

 

Minutes

Quincy, Massachusetts - November 17, 2010
Regular Meeting of the Quincy School Committee

Regular Mtg.

A regular meeting of the Quincy School Committee was held on Wednesday, Regular Mtg. November 17, 2010 in the Lloyd Hill Auditorium, Quincy High School. Present were: Mr. Dave McCarthy, Mrs. Emily Lebo, Ms. Barbara Isola, Mrs. Jo-Ann Bragg, Mrs. Elaine Dwyer, Mayor Thomas P. Koch, and Anne Mahoney, 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; Messrs. Mullaney, Draicchio, Mulvey, Murphy and Keith Segalla; Ms. Roberts, Tenaglia, Todd, and Hughes. Ms. Allison Cox, QEA President and Ms. Tracey Christello, Citywide. Associate Members Donna Niosi (QHS) and Winifred Akoury (NQHS). The members observed a moment of silence for Mr. David Ezickson a long time Quincy teacher who passed away last week.

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Reg. Meeting Mins. Approved 10/27/2010

On a motion by Mayor Koch, seconded by Mrs. Dwyer, the Committee approved the regular session minutes for October 27, 2010. The ayes have it.

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Welcome by Mr. Santoro

Principal Frank Santoro welcomed everyone to the new Quincy High School. He thanked everyone who was involved in getting the new high school built. The meeting will be the first live production by Career and Technical Ed. students who were busy taping the meeting. The members were invited to the dedication of the new Munroe-MacLean Gymnasium. The audience listened to the combined high school choirs under the direction of Tim Carew.

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American Ed. Week

Ms. Colleen Roberts presented the winners of the American Education Week Essay Contests. The first place winners read their essay and all winners received a Certificate and a gift card to Borders Bookstore. They all shook hands with the School Committee, the Superintendent, and Mayor Koch. During a recess, the children with their families and the School Committee members took photos.

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Open Forum

Ms. Tracey Christello, Citywide, expressed parents concerns with safety and security of students during an election day. They had a lengthy discussion about this and we sent it back to our PTOs to get response to the individual schools that are polling locations. Citywide is asking the Committee to weigh the needs of the students during an election day.

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Bldg. Update

The Maintenance Department has completed renovations at the back of Squantum school, completed work orders, installed white boards and bulletin boards at Atherton Hough, Broad Meadows, Merrymount, Quincy High School and North Quincy, repaired the shed at Central, partitioned walls at the bathroom at Merrymount, replaced ceiling tiles at GOALS, ECC, North Quincy and Broad Meadows. They fixed doors at Squantum, Parker, and Point Webster, Sterling Merrymount, Atherton Hough, and Wollaston. They did wiring for a new computer lab at Atlantic, working with Mike Draicchio installing new security cameras at several schools, the plumbers fixed a roof drain at Squantum which caused ceiling damage to the teachers lounge. Maintenance staff continues to work on daily work orders.

Mrs. Bragg forwarded to Mrs. Dwyer the maintenance requests from the School Improvement Plans. These issues were in last year’s Plans as well. She highlighted a few of the requests: at Wollaston – remove carpet in classrooms 1,2,3, & 8. Merrymount – repointing on Perkins side, windows need recaulking. Rug in kitchen should be removed.

Snug Harbor – Land needs to be leveled at Tot lot. Work with Park Department. Montclair: Major roofing problems. Ceiling leaks in rooms 19, 20 & 21. Flashing on Squantum side. Water comes through the walls. Has been going on for a couple of years.

Mr. McCarthy asked about a leak in the Sterling auditorium and in the teacher’s room on the third floor. The wall there is buckling because of leaks. He asked that at North Quincy High School the flag and banners be put up on the walls. Mr. Murphy said the banner should be put up by the custodian.

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New QHS Mrs. Dwyer reports

The Quincy High School Building Committee met on October 29. Their meetings are starting to wind down. Most of the meetings now involve the punch list items. Carpentry Department materials are on back order. They purchased bronze leaves and they have been cemented out on the granite walls near the rotunda doors. These are anti skating boarding devises. Mr. Timmins offered to speak with the Police Chief and the City Council with regard to an ordinance against skateboarding. Seven security cameras are needed to be added on the outside of the building.

With regard to the HVAC system, it is new and complicated. The custodians felt that nobody could handle this equipment. The Building Committee authorized a six-month contract with PJ Kennedy to get through this heating season. The money came out of the high school building project. This eventually will be a city-side position. The City will hire someone to work on all city buildings. The next meeting will be on December 3.

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Central Middle School

Superintendent DeCristofaro attending an MSBA meeting this morning and represented the Central Building Committee. They voted approval to have Lynnfield be the model school and that Central also will be a model school based on Lynnfield.

Mayor Koch said the site is being handled by the City Solicitor. He will be going to the City Council for their votes.

Mrs. Bragg asked the Mayor if he had made a decision with regard to taking the hotel situated on the property. The Mayor answered that he is looking at $3 million in roof repairs, $1 million for Coddington Hall. There are a lot of needs in the City. He didn’t think he could recommend at this time taking the hotel. Quincy has to stay within its budget.

Mrs. Mahoney inquired if any land surveys had been done to check for contamination? The Mayor replied that that will part of Tishman’s job.

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Policy Subcommittee Mrs. Bragg reports

The Policy Subcommittee met on October 28. After several meetings, they merged the new law with the previous Anti Bullying Policy. They felt that by sticking to the law, there would be less confusion. They are going to revamp the Harassment Policy and our Social Network/Internet Policy and cross reference all of these policies. On a motion by Mrs. Bragg, seconded by Mrs. Dwyer, the Committee moved approved of the Anti Bullying Policy 10.18. The ayes have it.

Mrs. Bragg made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Dwyer to move approval of the revised Naming School Facilities File 6.4 policy. The ayes have it.

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Atlantic to New Hampshire

On a motion by Mayor Koch, seconded by Ms. Isola, the Committee approved a request by Atlantic Middle School to go to Mt. Monadnock, New Hampshire on December 10, 2010. The ayes have it.

SH to Canobie Lake

On a motion by Mayor Koch, seconded by Mr. McCarthy, the Committee approved a request by Snug Harbor School to go to Canobie Lake Park on June 6, 2011. The ayes have it.

BM to Camp Wing

On a motion by MayorKoch, seconded by Ms. Isola, the Committee approved a request by Broad Meadows to go to CampWing from June 8 to June 10, 2010. The ayes have it.

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NQ Auditorium named after Peter J. Chrisom approved

Mrs. Bragg made a motion, seconded by Mayor Koch, to name the North Quincy High School Auditorium after Peter J. Chrisom. Mr. Chrisom was principal of North Quincy High School for 26 years. On a roll call vote, the motion passed unanimously 7-0.

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Additional Business

Holidays to Subcommittee

Under additional business, Ms. Isola put into the Policy Subcommittee the treatment of Jewish holidays and whether or not school should be in session or no testing on that day, etc. She moved it into Policy Subcommittee for discussion whether or not to create a policy and what that policy would be.

Mrs. Dwyer asked that any gas line work in the vacinity of a school not begin until after 3:00 p.m. She would like to see that kind of work limited to when the schools are not in session. Mayor Koch said he will look into it. However, there are regulations they have to abide with.

Polling Places

With regard to Citywide’s request about polling places in schools, Mrs. Dwyer said the Committee tried to get these changed three years ago. Mayor Koch stated that he also tried to change them. They didn’t get much further than Joe Shea. He put this into Policy Subcommittee and will send a letter to Mr. Shea to reconsider other voting places. The Mayor said that Mr. Shea wanted to cooperate before, but it is not easy to find other facilities.

Mr. McCarthy commended Reay E. Sterling Middle School who had a Veterans Day celebration. They did a tremendous job and it was a great day.

Mr. McCarthy asked Mr. Draicchio what happens when the Resource Officers aren’t available. Mr. Draicchio said they may be called away. He puts in calls each day to the Police Station. However, the majority of the time, they are there.

Wellness Policy Report

Ms. Isola's inquired about the Wellness Policy. She asked what policies are in place for each of the schools. After the first of the year, she would like a report.

The Superintendent complimented the North Quincy ROTC. He was there for a program review.

December 23 is a full day for all grades. The calendar had this marked down as an early release day. Tis the Season…. is scheduled for December 7.

Mrs. Mahoney thanked Courtney Smith who invited here to Broad Meadows to participation in “Operations Days Work” and meet Mr. Adams. This group raises money for third world countries.

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Policy Subcommittee Mrs. Bragg reports

The Policy Subcommittee met on October 28, November 3 and November 10. Mrs. Bragg made a motion, seconded by Ms. Isola, to approve the School Improvement Plans for: Quincy High School, North Quincy High School, all of the middle schools and Beechwood Knoll, Wollaston, Merrymount, Snug Harbor, Montclair. The ayes have it.

At the October 28 Policy Subcommittee meeting, Mrs. Morrissey forwarded the requested information on free and reduced lunches and the law and a three year comparison. The Anti Bullying Policy was finalized and the Superintendent’s team is meeting on the Harassment Policy. We are still working on the social networking policy. This is still in subcommittee. The Policy Subcommittee approved the revised Naming of School Facilities Policy File 6.4.

A plan will be submitted to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and a public comment period at the December 8 School Committee meeting. This will be on our website.

Moved to Policy Subcommittee

Mayor asked that they work with Superintendent on enrollment stats. He wants to look at the Open Enrollment Policy.

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Budget Subcommittee Mrs. Mahoney reports

The Budget Subcommittee met tonight at 6:00 p.m. to begin discussion on Full Day Kindergarten. This will be ongoing discussion to create options and timelines. Mrs. Mahoney asked the Mayor for any projections in the budget. Mayor Koch said they have some more work to do before July 1. In the spring, he will present the tax rate. The budget is going to be tight again.

Another Budget Subcommittee meeting will be scheduled before the Christmas holiday to discuss the options for full day Kindergarten.

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Mayor Koch wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.

Adjourn to Exec. Session

At 8:55 p.m. Mayor Koch made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Bragg to go into Executive Session to discuss the Superintendent’s contract and a collective bargaining issue with the QEA. On a roll call vote, the motion passed unanimously 7-0. The Committee did not return to Open Session.