Dec. 3, 2012 Health/Safety Sub Meeting

Agenda

Quincy School Committee
Health, Transportation, and Safety Subcommittee
Policy Subcommittee
Monday, December 3, 2012, 4:30 pm
2nd Floor Conference Room, NAGE Building

  1. Welcome - Mrs. Kathy Hubley

  2. Review of Draft Wellness Policy - Mrs. Jane Kisielius, Mrs. Joanne Morrissey

  3. Adjournment

Minutes

Health, Transportation and Safety Subcommittee Meeting

Monday, December 3, 2012

A joint meeting of the Health, Transportation, & Safety and Policy Subcommittees was held on Monday, December 3, 2012 at 4:30 pm in the 2nd Floor Conference Room of the NAGE Building. Present were Ms. Barbara Isola, Mrs. Emily Lebo, Mrs. Anne Mahoney, Mr. Paul Bregoli, Policy Subcommittee Chair, and Mrs. Kathryn Hubley, Health, Transportation, & Safety Subcommittee Chair. Also attending were Superintendent Richard DeCristofaro, Mrs. Jane Kisielius, Mrs. Joanne Morrissey, Mrs. Maura Papile, and Assistant Superintendent Colleen Roberts.

Mrs. Hubley called the meeting to order at 4:55 pm. A quorum from both Subcommittees was present.

A draft of the revised Quincy Public Schools’ Wellness Policy was presented and it was noted that the policy is focused on the hours that school is in session, not before or after school. Mrs. Lebo asked what the Principals are looking for in a Wellness Policy; Dr. DeCristofaro said they are looking for a clearly defined policy that they can point to when questioned within their school community. Mrs. Kisielius noted that food allergies are also a concern across the school system. Mrs. Mahoney noted that consistency across all schools is important, as is communication about the revised policy to families.

Mr. Bregoli asked for clarification about sports team boosters selling pizza at the high schools. Mrs. Morrissey said this will not be allowed under the state’s competitive food regulations. Students would also not be allowed to purchase items at bake sales during the school day.

A discussion ensued about adjusting the draft Wellness Policy to allow for a certain number of exemptions per year for school-wide events. Ms. Isola feels that this is an opportunity to emphasize moderation with students and to give the principals some discretion. Mrs. Lebo agreed with this, noting the events should be for the whole school and not used for individual classrooms. Mr. Bregoli cited the Merrymount cultural fair as an example of a school-wide event featuring food that would be one of the school’s yearly exemptions. Mrs. Morrissey agreed that Ms. Isola’s point about moderation is positive role modeling for students.

Mrs. Kisielius noted that the Wellness Policy needs to be finalized soon. Dr. DeCristofaro will work with the Wellness Advisory Team to finalize the specific guideline wording, seek the Principals’ input and then present a revised Wellness Policy. At individual schools, the Principal, Site Wellness Team, School Council, and Parent-Teacher Organization will work together to decide on the school-wide events that will utilize the exemptions. Subcommittee members agreed that high school sports boosters will not be granted exemptions. The high school sports boosters may sell food items before and after school, but not during the school day, unless the food items adhere to the state’s competitive food nutritional guidelines.

Mrs. Lebo made a motion for the Superintendent and Wellness Advisory Team to work with the Principals to create a Wellness Policy that allows for no more than three exempted school-wide events per school year during the school day. Mrs. Hubley seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.

Mrs. Lebo made a motion to move the Wellness Policy revision from the Health, Transportation, and Safety Subcommittee to the Policy Subcommittee. Mrs. Hubley seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.

Mrs. Lebo made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 5:40 pm. Mrs. Hubley seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.