Minutes
Teaching and Learning Subcommittee Meeting
Monday, May 14, 2012
A meeting of the Teaching and Learning Subcommittee was held on Monday, May 14, 2012 at
4:30 pm in the 2
nd Floor Conference Room at the NAGE Building. Present were Mr. Paul Bregoli,
Mrs. Kathryn Hubley, Ms. Barbara Isola, and Mrs. Emily Lebo, Chair. Also attending were
Superintendent DeCristofaro, Assistant Superintendent Colleen Roberts, Mr. Keith Segalla, Mrs.
Mary Fredrickson, Ms. Beth Hallett, Ms. Paula McGeady, Mrs. Maura Papile, Ms. Helena
Skinner, Ms. Judy Todd; Ms. Allison Cox, President, Quincy Education Association; and Ms.
Laura Owens, Clerk.
The meeting was called to order at 4:35 pm by Mrs. Lebo.
At the request of Mrs. Papile, the agenda was taken out of order and the first item was the
presentation of the Naviance system. Ms. Skinner, Guidance Department Head at North Quincy
High School and Ms. McGeady, Guidance Department Head at Quincy High School reviewed
how students use this system for college and career planning. Students begin using Naviance in
Grade 9 by creating a career interest profile. Students can use the system to choose courses for
subsequent school years and the information gets uploaded into Starbase. Naviance helps
organize the college application process and submission deadlines for students and school staff.
It has a module that allows a student to create a personality profile, using strengths and
interests to match them with potential careers and colleges that offer relevant majors and links
students to the Massachusetts Career Information System. Guidance counselors can upload
documents to share, document meetings, create surveys (i.e., graduation survey for tracking
post-graduate plans). Ms. McGeady noted that Naviance allows guidance counselors to submit
transcripts, evaluations, forms, and recommendations to colleges electronically.
Mr. Bregoli inquired about the number of students and parents using the system. All students
at both high schools use the system, parents participate most beginning at the end of junior
year. Mr. Bregoli suggested doing outreach and possibly collecting emails at registration. Ms.
Isola noted that from her own experience, parents don’t have to register for Naviance; some
parents access directly through their children’s accounts.
Ms. Lebo asked whether this could work for graduate follow-up. Ms. Skinner said theoretically,
yes, but it is very difficult to get after-graduation participation. There was only 30% response
when it was tried previously. There is another option through the National Clearinghouse, but
there is a cost associated with this. Mrs. Lebo suggested researching the costs and whether
there is a good match between post-secondary institutions that are members and the schools
QPS graduates attend.
Dr. DeCristofaro thanked both high school Guidance department heads for everything they do;
it is a tremendous job to manage so many students and the college admissions process. Ms.
Isola echoed Dr. DeCristofaro, saying the guidance staff and Naviance made a huge difference
with her family and the college admissions process.
The Subcommittee then returned to the order of the agenda and the Review of Alternative
Programs was given by Mrs. Papile and Ms. Todd. For the alternative programs QPS offers,
each student is required to meet state benchmarks and receive instruction in curriculum
aligned with state frameworks in the five academic subject areas. These programs sometimes
provide therapeutic interventions, group and individual counseling, childcare services, drug and
alcohol counseling, parenting programs, and connect students and families to outside services.
Program coordinators and teachers are committed to these populations and engaging students
so they can experience success. Students in these programs often need to experience a sense
of belonging and have higher social-emotional barriers to success.
Quincy Evening High School: To enter, a student must have 50 graduation credits, a 504 or IEP,
documentation through WIB, and meet low-income criteria. These are high-risk students; there
is detailed follow-up at 8, 10, and 12 months post-graduate. Graduation rates: 2009-10, 83%,
59 graduates; 2010-11, 98%, 44 graduates; currently 45 active students. Mrs. Lebo asked if
students are referred to this program for behavioral issues. Ms. Todd clarified that the High
School Placement Team recommends the students who come here for a variety of high-risk
issues.
The Quincy Teen Mothers Program is for students with a child under three years of age.
Graduation rates: 2008-09, 90%, 10 graduates; 2009-10: 90%, 7 graduates; 2010-11: 92%, 6
graduates. Ms. Isola asked if surrounding communities have similar programs. Mrs. Papile
replied that Quincy’s program is unique because of the on-site daycare component. Ms. Isola
also asked if students move here because of the program. Both Dr. DeCristofaro and Mrs.
Papile agreed that these are Quincy students. Dr. De Cristofaro stated that most of the
program’s expenses are covered by long-term grant funding, including the coordinator salary.
Mrs. Lebo asked if students access programs at Quincy High School and Mrs. Papile noted that
they attend Career and Technical Education programs, but academics are separate. Mr. Bregoli
inquired about the student age ranges and Mrs. Papile said the average student is between 16
and 18, rarely younger.
The GOALS program is for students with emotional disorders in the behavior realm who are not
ready for mainstream high school. There are currently 34 students in Grades 8-12, referred
through the Middle and High School Placement Teams. The goal for each student is to
transition to high school, but that is not always the case. Three students are graduating this
year, five students graduated in 2011, and three graduated in 2010.
The PASS program is for students with anxiety, depression, and school phobia; these students
have average or above-average academic ability. The program’s goal is to mainstream the
students to high school for part of the day. Graduation rate: 2010: two graduates; 2011: two
graduates; 2012: five graduates. There are currently 25 students in the program.
Mrs. Roberts gave a brief Common Core Update, noting that the Next Generation Science
Standards (NGSS) were just released last Friday, May 11. There was an informational meeting
today, which some QPS staff attended. The Standards are currently in the Open Comment
period.
Information on the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) waiver will be presented at Wednesday’s School
Committee meeting.
The next Teaching and Learning Subcommittee Meeting is Monday, June 11 at 4:30 pm.
Mrs. Lebo made a motion to adjourn the Teaching and Learning Subcommittee meeting at 5:30
pm. Ms. Isola seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.