Minutes
Quincy, Massachusetts - September 10, 2014
Special Meeting of the Quincy School Committee
Special Meeting
A special meeting of the Quincy School Committee was held on Wednesday,
September 10, 2014 at Coddington Hall at 5:00 pm. Present were:
Mayor Thomas Koch, Chair, Mr. Paul Bregoli, Mr. Noel DiBona, Ms. Barbara Isola,
Mrs. Anne Mahoney, and Mrs. Kathryn Hubley, Vice Chair.
Vice-Chair
Presiding
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The Superintendent called the roll and all members were present. Also
present were: Dr. Richard DeCristofaro, Secretary; Ms. Laura Owens, Clerk;
Mrs. Maria Anastasi, Ms. Rita Bailey, Mr. Michael Draicchio, Mrs. Mary Fredrickson,
Ms. Beth Hallett, Mr. James Mullaney, Deputy Superintendent Kevin Mulvey,
Mrs. Maura Papile, Mrs. Erin Perkins, Ms. Madeline Roy, Mr. Keith Segalla,
Mr. Kevin Segalla; and Mrs. Debby Nabstedt, Quincy Parent Advisory Council
to Special Education President.
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Open Forum
As no one requested to speak at Open Forum, the School Committee went on with
the business at hand.
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New Business
There was no Approval of Minutes, Superintendent’s Report, or Old Business,
so the Vice Chair moved directly to New Business.
Dr. DeCristofaro and Mayor Koch welcomed the School Committee to the annual
Special Meeting focused on goal setting. Dr. DeCristofaro introduced the new
Health Services Coordinator Rita Bailey and Transportation Administrative
Assistant Maria Anastasi.
Review of Regular Meeting Agenda
The next item on the agenda was a Review of the Regular Meeting Agenda.
Mrs. Hubley referred two items to the Policy Subcommittee: VIII. Reports
of Subcommittees, which she is suggesting be procedurally aligned with
Roberts Rules and VI. Additional Business. Deputy Superintendent Mulvey
consulted with School Committee Attorney Ed Lennox who noted that in other
districts, this has been a problematic agenda item as it can be in conflict with
the Open Meeting Law. Since no notice is given to the public about specific items
that will be discussed, it is best used for only emergency items. Attorney
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Lennox suggested considering a checks and balance system. If a member
brings up item under this provision, the School Committee Chair or Vice-Chair
would first determine whether the item meets the qualification or should be
on the next Regular Meeting agenda. The School Committee members present
would then vote on whether an item meets the criteria; a majority of members
present would carry the motion, while on a tie vote, the motion does not carry.
Mrs. Mahoney said that the wording on this meeting’s Agenda does not specify
that these are the sections being discussed, so School Committee could be in
violation now. Ms. Isola disagreed, the general wording of the Agenda items
covers the two specific items and any other specific items on the Agenda format
that any School Committee member wishes to discuss. Under the Open Meeting
law, the detail of every item does not need to explicitly be stated.
Mr. McCarthy asked how future Agenda items will be communicated to the
Superintendent. There has to be some way for School Committee to surface a
subject for later discussion or follow up. Deputy Superintendent Mulvey said the
key is to not engage in a discussion once the item is suggested.
Ms. Isola said that the School Committee Policy handbook outlines how items
can be added to the Agenda. Mr. McCarthy said that suggested Agenda items
don't always make it to the next agenda and is concerned that the change will
make things more difficult.
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District Improvement
Dr. DeCristofaro then spoke about the District Improvement Plan that will be
presented at the October 22 School Committee Meeting. All of the plan
componentsare available to the public on the Quincy Public Schools website
on the QPS Info page; an Overview links to each of the District Improvement
Plan’s components and supporting documentation. The Superintendent’s
Annual Plan end of year review will also be part of the October School
Committee meeting presentation. Dr. DeCristofaro will meet with each
School Committee member to preview the presentation before presented
to the public and School Committee will go forward with the Superintendent
evaluation. The Teaching & Learning Subcommittee will work with the Curriculum
Team to develop the 2014-2015 System Goal.
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District Improvement Plan ~ School Committee
Connections
The School Committee and Superintendent and Leadership Team members
then split up into Subcommittee groups to discuss their goals and to review the
items on the Agenda for each Subcommittee.
After meeting in Subcommittee groups, the School Committee reconvened at
5:40 to share their discussions.
When the group discussion resumed, each Subcommittee had the opportunity to
propose additions and changes to their goals and to set meeting dates. For the
Budget and Finance Subcommittee, their goal and purpose will remain as
presented.
For the Facilities and Security Subcommittee, Mr. McCarthy noted that he is very
confident working with Mr. Segalla and Mr. Draicchio and everyone in their
departments. Mr. Segalla works with the City departments on purchasing
common supplies, there may be an opportunity to extend this to equipment. The
items in Facilities and Security were reviewed and Mr. McCarthy removed
Coddington Hall, the Heating Audit, Atlantic Middle School, and moved Solar
Projects to Health, Transportation, and Safety.
For the Health, Transportation and Safety, the items on the School Committee
Agenda will be retained. Mr. DiBona added Solar Arrays, Learn to Swim (in
partnership with YMCA), Farm to School, Before School Physical Education
programs, and Food Services Technology. Mr. DiBona mentioned crosswalk
repainting, this project is underway, student safety is always a major
consideration. Updates for the Alliance for a Healthier Generation will continue
this year. Mr. McCarthy mentioned that when he was chair of this
Subcommittee, he would meet with Mr. Segalla and DPW staff to review snow
removal procedures prior to the winter.
For the Policy Subcommittee, Mr. Bregoli met with Mr. Mulvey and Mr. Keith
Segalla and reviewed the items currently in Subcommittee. Mr. Bregoli moved
the CPR Certification issue to the Health, Transportation, and Safety
Subcommittee. Health Services Coordinator Rita Bailey said that training Grade
8 students as a component of Health class will be investigated, along with
options to fund the costs associated with certifying all students. Mr. Bregoli
asked Mrs. Mahoney and Dr. DeCristofaro to discuss further the
Advertising/Sponsorship item. For the Residency item, Mr. Bregoli requested
the School Attendance Officers to present on their evolving responsibilities. Mr.
Bregoli would also like to discuss making registration a central function and reregistering during transition years. The revised Student Discipline Policy will be
voted on at the September 17 School Committee Meeting and the National
Background Check will be discussed at September 16 Policy Subcommittee
Meeting.
Mrs. Mahoney presented that the Special Education PIP goals, were successfully
implemented during last school year and the MCAS-related Math goal will be
continued this year. QPAC will continue their goals of increasing participation,
partnering with the Milton PAC and the YMCA. QPAC is creating a parent to
parent guide and would like to meet each summer prior to the opening of school
to collaborate on goals. At the first Subcommittee meeting on October 29, the
new Program Improvement Plan will be presented and parents would also like
an update on the Carroll School’s change in admission policy.
Ms. Isola reported that the Teaching and Learning Subcommittee met and agreed
to retain the first and third goals. Goal 2 will be expanded to include specific
programs, including Gifted & Talented, Foreign Language, and Math Specialists
for Middle Schools. The goal will be finalized with Ms. Roy shortly in order to set
agenda for Winter Teaching and Learning Subcommittee Meetings. Ms. Isola
removed the Elementary and Middle School Library item from the items in
Subcommittee.
Mrs. Hubley removed the Channel 22 and Music Programs Ad Hoc
Subcommittees.
Mr. McCarthy made a motion to form an AdHoc Subcommittee to review issues
related to Grade 5 students at Point Webster and Sterling. These issues will
include enrollment and building capacity at elementary and middle school
levels. The motion was seconded by Ms. Isola and on a voice vote, the ayes have
it. Mr. McCarthy will chair this Ad Hoc Subcommittee and all School Committee
members are members of this Subcommittee.
Ms. Isola made a motion to form an AdHoc Subcommittee to review School
Distict Maps. The motion was seconded by Mr. McCarthy and on a voice vote, the
ayes have it. Ms. Isola will chair this Ad Hoc Subcommittee and all School
Committee members are members of this Subcommittee.
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A calendar of proposed meeting dates for the October and November review of
Program Improvement and School Improvement Plans was shared as a reference.
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There was no Additional Business, Communications, Reports of Subcommittees,
or Executive Session.
Adjournment
On a motion by Mayor Koch, seconded by Mr. DiBona, the Special School
Committee Meeting was adjourned at 6:10 pm. The ayes have it.