QUINCY SCHOOL COMMITTEE
FACILITIES, TRANSPORTATION & SECURITY SUBCOMMITTEE
MEETING ~ Wednesday, May 25, 2022
A meeting of
the Facilities, Transportation & Security Subcommittee was held on Wednesday,
May 25, 2022 at 6:45 pm in the Coddington Building. Present were Subcommitee Members Mrs. Kathryn
Hubley, Mr. Frank Santoro, and Mr. Doug Gutro, Subcommittee Chair. Also present were Mayor Thomas P. Koch, School
Committee Chair; School Committee Members Mr. Paul Bregoli, Mrs. Tina Cahill,
and Mrs. Emily Lebo; Superintendent Kevin Mulvey, Assistant Superintendent Erin
Perkins, Mr. Michael Draicchio; and Ms. Laura Owens, Clerk.
Superintendent
Mulvey presented the multi-layered approach to safety and security in the
Quincy Public Schools, noting the timeliness of the presentation in light of
the tragic events in Texas yesterday.
Through the generosity of Mayor Koch and the Quincy City Council,
significant investment has been made over the years in school security. Close partnerships with Quincy Police
Department are key to the safe operation of our schools, along with reminders
to staff to observe security protocols, and be observant of surroundings,
identifying areas of concern.
Superintendent
Mulvey reviewed that all buildings have access control devices for staff to
enter through identified entrances during school hours. All school doors are locked and video
intercoms are installed at main entrances for visitor screening prior to being
allowed into the building. Visitor
protocols are reviewed with staff and regular reminders shared. All classroom and office doors have locking
capabilities and all buildings have interior and exterior cameras.
All staff,
substitutes, vendors, contractors, and volunteers who may have direct or
unmonitored contact with students or staff are required to go through the CORI
and SAFIS fingerprint screening process prior to being present within our
schools. All staff and long-term
substitutes have been issued photo identification badges. Substitutes, contractors, and visitors are
issued temporary identification with red lanyards.
Communication
at the high schools has recently been enhanced with the acquisition of Motorola
radios; every school has multiple panic buttons installed in strategic locations
for quick access to the Quincy Police Department. Through grant funding secured by the Quincy
Police Department, InForce 911 app/software will be available in Fall 2022 for
use during emergencies.
Emergency
procedures are reinforced several times per school year at each school
building, through evacuation and lockdown drills. Emergency procedures are posted throughout
school buildings and are part of the professional development for all staff
annually. The Quincy Police Department
supports the schools through the assignment of DARE officers, School Resource
Officers, and the Community Police Officers.
The Community Police Officers were a supportive and reassuring presence
at all of our school buildings today.
Mr. Gutro
thanked Superintendent Mulvey for the letter that was sent out to the QPS
Community last night; expressed gratitude for the Security and Quincy Police
Department staff support for our schools and extracurricular events.
Mr. Santoro
said every principal is concerned with safety and security, the high schools in
particular have a number of doors and opportunities to create a security
breach. Mr. Santoro said that staff or
vendors who “peg” doors open should be disciplined, thanked Mr. Draicchio for
his efforts. Superintendent Mulvey said
that progressive discipline would be employed for staff found to be in
violation of security protocals.
Mr. Gutro
asked if there are cameras on the exits, Mr. Draicchio confirmed that there are
cameras on most exits.
Mr. Bregoli asked
about adding alarms to doors that are not currently alarmed. Superintendent Mulvey agreed that, without
identifying the locations, there are doors where alarms are needed and he will
be working with Mayor Koch and the Public Buildings Department to evaluate what
is needed.
Mr. Bregoli
asked and received confirmation that the School Resource Officers are armed.
Mayor Koch
reiterated that the collaboration between the Quincy Public Schools and the
Quincy Police Department is so important.
Mayor Koch would like to fund an outside consultant to assess the
security of school buildings, beginning with the high schools, but looking at
all buildings for areas of improvement.
Mrs. Lebo
asked if the front office checks to be sure that visitors are expected or have
appointments.
Mrs. Lebo
asked about the School Resource Officer hiring process, Superintendent Mulvey
said that since they are Quincy Police Department employees, there is a bidding
process dictated by their contract.
Quincy Public Schools has the opportunity to interview the School
Resource Officers before the assignments are finalized. Mrs. Lebo asked and received confirmation
that Superintendent Mulvey participates in the SRO evaluation process.
Mrs. Lebo
asked about the Security staff, 2 female officers at QHS and 1 at NQHS. Mrs.
Lebo suggested that additional staff be of color as we currently have
none. Superintendent Mulvey said this is
the case for all positions, working with Massachusetts Partnership for
Diversity in Education to expand advertisting of open positions.
Mrs. Cahill
is concerned about universal implementation of the policies and systems in
place. Mrs. Cahill agrees that alarming
the exterior doors is a good idea. Mrs.
Cahill said that parents are concerned about high school students ordering
delivery food, Superintendent Mulvey said that this will not be allowed,
communications being sent to families tonight.
Mrs. Cahill asked if a policy needs to be created so this is clear to
students and families.
Mr. Bregoli
asked if the policy would apply to staff having food delivered, Superintendent
Mulvey said that has been happening for years so would need to be discussed by
School Committee.
Mrs. Hubley
asked if the communication will explain the discipline that will be imposed for
the offense of having food delivered.
Superintendent Mulvey said that each case would be evaluated
individually, progressive discipline would be observed.
Mrs. Lebo
asked that school staff monitor deliveries so that drivers do not peg the
doors. Superintendent Mulvey said the
Custodial staff members usually monitor the deliveries. Principals are aware that the loading dock
doors are an area of concern, they are the most commonly open in the building.
Mrs. Lebo
asked about the Vaping detectors, Superintendent Mulvey said that the detectors
we received under the grant have not been helpful, do not work properly.
Mrs. Lebo
asked about a recent emergency due to vaping, Superintendent Mulvey said there
was a medical reaction and the student will also face discipline. Superintendent Mulvey said that this is an
area of concern throughout the state, regular agenda item for Urban
Superintendents meeting.
Mr. Bregoli
asked about the entryway at North Quincy High School, Mayor Koch will check
with Commissioner Hines on the status of the redesign.
Mr. Gutro
asked if there was a lockdown at any other schools besides North Quincy High
School this school year, there was none.
Following the event, there was a review meeting with the Quincy Police
Department and the North Quincy High School staff.
Mr. Gutro
asked about the radios assigned to at the high schools, the principals,
assistant principal, health office, deans, and guidance staff have been issued
these. Mr. Draicchio said these radios
are for communication within the building.
Mr. Gutro
asked about the fingerprinting, Superintendent Mulvey said the SAFIS vendor has
limited locations in Massachusetts.
Unfortunately, there is not a location in Quincy, the closest location
is in Stoughton.
Mr. Gutro
asked if safety and security equipment is evaluated periodically. Mr. Draicchio said work orders are submitted
by schools to address any needed repairs.
Mr. Gutro
asked if camera footage can be reviewed by QPS Security staff, Mr. Draicchio
confirmed that they can review and it can also be shared with the Quincy Police
Department as needed.
Mr.
Draicchio thanked Mayor Koch and School Committee, the resources and
relationships with the city’s first responders and county offices are important
partnerships.
Mayor Koch
shared a letter submitted by Ms. Jessica Kenneally, daughter of the late band
teacher Richard Kenneally, requesting consideration of naming the Band Room at
North Quincy High School in his memory.
Mr. Santoro
knew Mr. Kenneally for many years, he spread his love of music to hundreds of
students, so he supports the naming of the NQHS Band Room in his memory.
Mr.
Santoro made a motion to name the North Quincy High School Band Room in honor
of Mr. Richard Kenneally. Mrs. Hubley
seconded the motion and on a voice vote of the Subcommittee, the ayes have it.
This item will move back to the Regular Meeting Agenda for discussion on
June 15, 2022 and be eligible for vote on September 14, 2022.
Superintendent
Mulvey then presented an update on the Squantum Elementary School building
project with the Massachusetts School Building Authority. The project is currently in Module 2, forming
the Design team, which includes advertising for requests for proposals for an
Owner’s Project Manager, interviewing the candidates, and selecting and
negotiating with an OPM. The next step
would be for the OPM to assist with selecting a project designer. Superintendent Mulvey said that we are
focused on meeting benchmarks and maximizing reimbursement opportunities with
the state.
Mrs. Hubley
asked about capacity of the current building, Squantum currently enrolls around
340 students and the capacity of the new building will be 380 students.
Mayor Koch
noted that the Squantum project has been in the pipeline with the MSBA for
several years, the bureaucratic requirements have grown and so the timeline is
elongated. Mayor Koch thanked Treasurer
Goldberg and the MSBA staff for their support.
Mr.
Santoro made motion to adjourn the Facilities, Transportation & Security
Subcommittee meeting at 8:00 pm, seconded by Mrs. Cahill. On a voice vote, the ayes have it.