Minutes
Quincy School Committee
Policy Subcommittee Meeting
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
A meeting of the Policy Subcommittee was held on Wednesday, April 15, 2015 at 5:30 pm at the Coddington Building. Present were Mr. Noel DiBona, Mrs. Kathryn Hubley, Ms. Barbara Isola, and Mr. Paul Bregoli, Chair. Also attending were Superintendent DeCristofaro, Deputy Superintendent Kevin Mulvey, Mr. Michael Draicchio, Mrs. Maura Papile, Ms. Judy Todd; and Ms. Laura Owens, Clerk.
Mr. Bregoli called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm.
Mr. Draicchio presented the revised Bomb Threat Checklist, developed in collaboration with the Quincy Public Schools Safety & Security Team. Based on the Department of Homeland Security checklist used at the university and federal and state government level, this protocol is being adopted throughout Norfolk County. This new checklist would replace three pages in Policy Section 5.2.2.
Ms. Isola made a motion to adopt the revised Bomb Threat Checklist as presented, seconded by Mrs. Hubley. On a voice vote, the ayes have it.
Ms. Todd presented on the new Physical Restraint Regulations which will take effect on January 1, 2016. Written procedures will need to be created for documentation and reporting requirements. 16 hours of restraint training is recommended for certification, up from the 8 hours currently required.
Mr. Bregoli asked if there was a certified restraint team at every school; Ms. Todd said there are four-person teams at each school. Special Education Team Administrator Richard Kelly is currently certified for CPI training, we are looking at expanding training going forward. Mr. Mulvey said that since the law recommends 16 hours of training, we should follow this. Ms. Todd said that while the regulations require that one person per school have this level of training, it makes sense to have two staff members per building trained, especially for larger buildings. Ms. Todd said that QPS does not have a large number of restraints, none in the middle or high school for many years.
Mr. Mulvey is recommending that School Committee adopt the new Physical Restraint regulations as a whole.
Ms. Isola made a motion to adopt the Physical Restraint Regulations 603 CMR 46.00 as presented to replace the present Policy Section 10.9.3. Mrs. Hubley seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
Dr. DeCristofaro said that the Community Service Coordinators will present at the May 6 School Committee meeting, both high schools are around 97-98% completed for seniors.
The last item on the agenda was to consider naming the Atlantic Middle School Fields for Joseph W. Koch. The Park & Recreation Board and City Council both recommended this action. Mr. Koch was a Parks and Department of Public Works employee for thirty-seven years, a North Quincy High School graduate, and both the City Council and Park & Recreation Board voted to recommend that the School Committee consider this memorial. Prior to the Atlantic Junior High School opening in 1959, the land had been named for Mr. Dennis O’Neil
Ms. Isola made a motion to name the Athletic Fields beside the Atlantic Middle School in memory of Joseph W. Koch and the adjacent natural resource protection area on the easterly side of the building be named for Mr. Dennis O’Neil. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Hubley.
On the motion, Mrs. Hubley asked about clarifying that signage will be placed for Mr. O'Neil. No signage currently exists, but Mr. Bregoli will bring that up before the Park & Recreation Board.
On a voice vote, the ayes have it.
Mrs. Hubley made a motion to adjourn the Policy Subcommittee meeting at 5:45 pm. Ms. Isola seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.