Minutes
Quincy School Committee
Facilities & Security Subcommittee Meeting
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
A meeting of the Facilities & Security Subcommittee was held on Wednesday, January 18, 2017 at
5:30 pm in the Coddington Building. Present were Mr. Paul Bregoli, Ms. Barbara Isola, Mrs. Emily
Lebo, and Mrs. Kathryn Hubley, Chair. Also attending were Superintendent DeCristofaro, Deputy
Superintendent Kevin Mulvey, Commissioner of Public Buildings Paul Hines, Mrs. Maura Papile, Mr.
Kevin Segalla; and Ms. Laura Owens, Clerk.
Commissioner Hines presented an update on the repair and replacement of fixtures (sinks and
bubblers) that were identified during the water testing for lead and copper conducted this past fall.
Currently, the state standard is testing of two fixtures in two buildings each year, a minimum
standard of lead and copper testing. In response to concerns about safety of drinking water, Mayor
Koch put into place full testing of each fixture in every school building. From the Department of
Public Buildings, Gary Cunniff and Don Martin worked with Kevin Segalla and Custodial staff members
to develop a protocol and gather water samples to be sent out for testing. Suzanne Condon, recently
retired Associate Commissioner of Environmental Health at the Department of Public Health assisted
with interpreting the data received from the tests and publicizing the results to staff and families.
Quincy Public Schools has publicized all phases of the testing, shared results with staff and families,
and the plan for remediation on the Quincy Public Schools website.
As test results were received, results were posted online and letters were emailed to families and
staff. Affected fixtures were addressed the same day results were received; bubblers were shut off
and sinks labeled for hand washing. Two samples were taken from each fixture, over 1200 samples
total. Of all samples, 126 fixtures were identified as being above the action level of 15 ppb for lead,
most being only slightly elevated. In November and early December, an assessment was made of the
work needing to be done and confirmation received that the building water supplies were clear.
In anticipation of action levels being reset by the EPA to 10 ppb, the decision was made to remediate
fixtures where water samples tested between 5 and 15 ppb. Building water systems are being
drained and individual fixture valves installed to make future plumbing repairs easier to do. City
Council has appropriated $275,000 to remediate water issues at all 20 school buildings. Analysis of
individual component costs and RFPs will follow for each building, estimated cost is $250,000. In
addition, the Montclair Elementary School nurse’s bathroom will be renovated at an estimated cost
of $25,000.
At Bernazzani, the water system has been drained, valves installed, and all sinks and some bubblers
retrofitted. At Lincoln Hancock, the water system has been drained and valves installed, sinks and
2 Facilities & Security Subcommittee Meeting 1-18-2017
bubbler remediation is underway. Public Buildings has set a goal is for all repairs to be completed by
September 1, with classroom bubblers and sinks as first priority, plus nurses offices and food
preparation areas.
Mr. Bregoli asked at what age are students most affected by exposure to lead. Mr. Hines said that
pre-school and elementary age students are more at risk, but the levels records at any school were
far below the level of risk. Mr. Bregoli asked about bottled water, Mr. Hines said it can have 15 ppb
and be sold as purified water.
Ms. Isola thanked Mr. Hines for the presentation and the thought that went into the planning. Ms.
Isola also thanked Mr. Hines for the appropriation for the Montclair nurses bathroom.
Mrs. Hubley said the presentation at Bernazzani parent meeting was very comprehensive, Ms.
Condon’s presentation was very helpful.
Mr. Hines said Mr. Cunniff is in the process of designing the Montclair bathroom, which much be
accessible, this work will be bid out.
Dr. DeCristofaro thanked Mr. Hines, Mr. Kevin Segalla, and Ms. Condon. Updates will be shared at a
spring Facilities Subcommittee meeting.
Dr. DeCristofaro shared a preview of the Challenges & Opportunities IV presentation, which will be
shared with full School Committee at February 8 meeting. This is preliminary information and there
will be discussion with principals and staff about the potential for program location changes.
Dr. DeCristofaro reviewed the detail for elementary, middle, and high school enrollment, trends,
placement of Special Education citywide programs, and open enrollment. He reviewed each
building’s status (red, yellow, and green), and the potential for additional students or programs or
potentially revised district boundaries. For example, Clifford Marshall will need an additional Grade 4
classroom next year. Dr. DeCristofaro noted that we are looking for a new location for the GOALS
program. Dr. DeCristofaro plans to share considerations for long-term planning, some for September
and others for future years.
Mrs. Lebo made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:15 pm. Mrs. Hubley seconded the motion and
on a voice vote, the ayes have it.