Minutes
Quincy School Committee
Quarterly Budget & Finance Subcommittee
May 10, 2017
A meeting of the Budget & Finance Subcommittee was held on Wednesday, May 10, 2017 at 5:00 pm
in the Coddington Building. Present were Mayor Thomas Koch, Mr. Paul Bregoli, Mrs. Kathryn
Hubley, Ms. Barbara Isola, and Mrs. Emily Lebo, Chair. Also attending were Superintendent
DeCristofaro, Deputy Superintendent Kevin Mulvey, Mrs. Rita Bailey, Mr. Michael Draicchio, Ms. Beth
Hallett, Mr. James Mullaney, Mrs. Maura Papile, Mrs. Erin Perkins, Ms. Madeline Roy, Mr. Keith
Segalla; Quincy Education Association President Allison Cox; and Ms. Laura Owens, Clerk.
Dr. DeCristofaro opened the meeting by thanking Mayor Koch for the bottom line appropriation for
Quincy Public Schools, reviewed that over the last four years, 18 new professional positions have
been added, Middle School Technical Education and Library have been reinstated; class sizes have
remained favorable; Special Education, English Learner Education, Literacy, Student Support, and
Health Services have all seen growth. From the city’s Capital Improvement Plan, Quincy Public
Schools has seen significant investments with $850,000 in Technology and $500,000 for
Transportation; QPS will also benefit from city upgrades for fiber optics and telephone systems still
to come.
Director of Business James Mullaney presented the $105,875,951 FY2018 budget. The Mayor’s
appropriation is a 2.91% increase over previous year’s budget. Circuit Breaker funding is expected to
grow by $400,000. This level-services budget allows Quincy Public Schools to meet all contractual
obligations for the 2017-2018 school year, including percentage raises and step and level increases.
$1,233,962 is available to address class size, academic programs, academic support, non-academic
support, academic expenses, and non-academic expenses.
For Academic Classroom Teachers, the proposal is to add 2 classroom teachers for class size (Grade 4
at Lincoln Hancock and Clifford Marshall). At the same time, retirements and leaves of absence will
remove 4 positions (1 elementary, 2 middle school, 1 high school). Senior Director of Curriculum
Madeline Roy, reviewed that while QPS currently has 3.5 Middle SchoolTech Engineering teachers,
the 0.5 position increase will ensure Tech Engineering for all middle school students in Grades 6-8
and Grade 5 at Point Webster and Sterling,
For Academic Program Teachers, the proposal is to add 2.0 ELL teachers (Beechwood Knoll and
Quincy High School) and 2.0 Middle School Library/Media specialist to complete restoration of
program, each middle school will have full library support. In addition, a 0.3 position for General
Music will assist with additional elementary class sections. A 1.0 position will be added for Special
Education at Quincy High School, and through re-allocation of staff, a new Pre-Kindergarten CARES
class at Della Chiesa ECC will be established.
For Academic Support, the proposal is to add to one nurse to assist with caseload at Clifford Marshall,
Lincoln Hancock, and Parker. For ELL, an additional ELL aide and increased funding for translators are
also proposed.
No changes to Non-Academic Support are proposed beyond Contractual Obligations. Subsidized
Services will be reviewed at the Tuesday, May 16 meeting.
For Academic Expenses, Special Education tuitions are expected to rise by $1,000,000, which will be
partly offset by an anticipated increase of $400,000 in Circuit Breaker funding. Also proposed is an
increase of Assessment funding of $35,000. Software line would increase by $130,000 for Baseline
Edge, Aspen, and Instant Alert.
For Non-Academic Expenses, decreases in electricity, fuel, telephone, gasoline, postage will offset
increases for Special Education transportation and student furniture.
Mrs. Lebo said she is thrilled to see the Middle School Library/Media Specialists complete restoration,
and the Special Education teacher for QHS addressing needs expressed through the Special Education
Subcommittee.
Ms. Isola said that looking at these budgets is a pleasure compared to years when the School
Committee faced budget cuts. Ms. Isola asked if the Assessment upgrade was implemented at Grade
8 what would the cost be; Ms. Roy said another $30,000.
Dr. DeCristofaro said Subsidized Services will be presented at the May 16 meeting and the full budget
will be reviewed at the May 17 School Committee meeting.
Ms. Isola made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 5:30 pm. Mrs. Hubley seconded the motion and
on a voice vote, the ayes have it.