Quincy Public Schools

QUINCY SCHOOL COMMITTEE

EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING

A meeting of the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Subcommittee was held on January 9, 2023 at 6:30 pm in the Coddington Building.  Present were Subcommittee members Mr. Doug Gutro, Mrs. Emily Lebo, and Mr. Frank Santoro, Subcommittee Chair.  Also present were School Committee Members Mr. Paul Bregoli and Mrs. Tina Cahill; Superintendent Kevin Mulvey, Assistant Superintendent Erin Perkins, Ms. Kim Connolly, Mr. James Mullaney, Ms. Maura Papile, Ms. Madeline Roy, Mr. Keith Segalla; and Ms. Laura Owens, Clerk.

Director of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging Kim Connolly presented the Performance Improvement Plan, beginning with a draft of a new vision statement, followed by a comparison of staff and student demographics.  DEI work is underway across the district in the areas of Student Support Services, Curriculum & Instruction, and Family Engagement.  School-based DEI teams, communications improvements with the Family Liaisons and translation line, and website upgrades are all areas of recent growth for the district.  Opportunities and challenges include creating pathways to increase staff diversity, in the face of decreased enrollment in education prep programs and competition for the limited number of currently licensed educators of color.

Goals for 2022-2023 include: (1) To identify and establish a minimum of three structures, tools, and partnerships to build a pipeline system for educators that will increase the district’s workforce diversity; (2) to identify and implement a minimum of two initiatives or programs that will support academic and enrichment needs of the district’s most underserved students; (3) identify or develop or collaborate on delivering professional development that will support creating a safe and supportive environment for all and to create and/or support DEI networks to advance DEI work in schools; (4) identify and contribute to refining internal systems, policies, or approaches which will improve our ability to attract, hire, and retain diverse candidates; expand our reach for networks of diverse candidates; contribute to or lead training or creation of tools that prepare and support staff.

In expanding opportunities for Family Engagement, Ms. Connolly has created DEI Newsletters and an Events Calendar and is collaborating with the Citywide Parent Council DEI Subcommitee.  Ms. Connolly is also researching grant opportunities, including the DESE Teacher Diversification Grant and the federal Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant Program.  Future areas for budget growth might include a candidate tracking system, increased funding for student programming and professional development.

Mr. Gutro asked about the demographics of the college programs where we are recruiting, many businesses are struggling with the lack of diversity of qualified candidates.  Ms. Connolly said that education prep programs are struggling to recruit and retain diverse students. More explicit opportunities for students to see the benefits of education as a career are needed, maybe introducing the concept of starting out as a paraprofessional and outlining a career path.

Mrs. Lebo asked about the Safe & Supportive Schools, Quincy Public Schools has been implementing many of the initiatives under this umbrella.  For example, the elementary and middle schools have re-implemented PBIS in the post-COVID era.  Interventions are happening at all school levels, in addition to professional development on LBGTQ+.

Mrs. Lebo asked about ALANA, this is an acronym for African-American, Latino, Asian, Native American affinity group.

Mrs. Lebo asked about the Student Handbook, Ms. Connolly has been working on revision of the Rights & Responsibilities Handbook and this will be shared with School Committee.

Mrs. Cahill thanked Ms. Connolly for her work, great value in having her focus on pulling the initiatives together and looking at the district as a whole.  Mrs. Cahill said that identifying the candidates and supporting their interest is key to successful recruiting. 

Mr. Santoro asked about student clubs, in the past there have been Future Educators clubs.

Mrs. Lebo made a motion to approve the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging Performance Improvement Plan.  Mr. Gutro seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.

Mrs. Lebo made a motion to adjourn at 7:00 pm, seconded by Mr. Gutro.  On a voice vote, the ayes have it.

Quincy School Committee

Policy Subcommittee

Monday, January 9, 2023 at 6:30 pm

Coddington Building, School Committee Room

Mr. Paul Bregoli, Chair

Mr. Doug Gutro & Mrs. Kathryn Hubley, Subcommittee Members

AGENDA

1.    QPS School Committee Meeting Calendar 2023-24              Mr. Bregoli

2.    QPS School Year Calendar 2023-2024                                    Mr. Bregoli

3.    Proposed Revisions to School Committee Policy                  Mr. Bregoli

Section 4.3: Grants, Proposals & Special Projects

4.    Proposed Revisions to School Committee Policy                  Mr. Bregoli

Section 11.7: Public Gifts to the Schools

QUINCY SCHOOL COMMITTEE

POLICY SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING

A meeting of the Policy Subcommittee was held on January 9, 2023 at 7:05 pm in the Coddington Building.  Present were Subcommittee members Mr. Doug Gutro and Mr. Paul Bregoli, Subcommittee Chair.  Also present were School Committee Members Mrs. Tina Cahill, Mrs. Emily Lebo, and Mr. Frank Santoro; Superintendent Kevin Mulvey, Assistant Superintendent Erin Perkins, Ms. Maura Papile, Ms. Madeline Roy, Mr. Keith Segalla, and Ms. Laura Owens, Clerk.

After reviewing the draft submitted, Mr. Gutro made a motion to move the QPS School Committee Meeting Calendar for 2023-2024 to the School Committee.  Mr. Bregoli seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.

The Policy Subcommittee then reviewed the draft of the QPS School Year Calendar for 2023-2024. Mrs. Lebo suggested that if the City has a half day before Christmas, the school district should also do so.  (In 2022, December 23 was a full day of school while City offices closed at noon.)

Mr. Santoro would like Lunar New Year to be an observed holiday; in 2024, it is Saturday, February 10, so then Friday, February 9 would be a no school day.

The draft 2023-2024 School Year Calendar will remain in Subcommittee. Ms. Owens will provide draft language around excused absences for cultural holidays not currently observed as no school days for the next meeting.

School Committee then reviewed proposed revisions to School Committee Policy Book Sections 4.3 Grants, Proposals, and Special Projects and 11.7 Public Gifts to Schools.  The revisions proposed are based on new state regulation to Grant and Gift approval and the Policy update language was provided by the Massachusetts Association of School Committees.

Mr. Mullaney is concerned about the timing of the IDEA and Title I and III grants as they fund salaries, we will need to figure out how to approve in June as part of the budget process.

Mrs. Lebo said that the purpose of this regulation change is for School Committee to insure that the intent of grants and gifts match the intentions of the School Committee.  In addition, School Committee needs to appoint a designate and an alternate to review and sign warrants.

Mr. Gutro made a motion to move the Policy Book Section 4.3 Grants, Proposals, and Special Projects to the School Committee.  Mr. Bregoli seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.

Mr. Gutro made a motion to move the Policy Book Section 11.7 Public Gifts to the Schools to the School Committee.  Mr. Bregoli seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.

The items moved to School Committee will appear on the agenda of the January 25, 2023 School Committee meeting under Old Business for discussion by the full School Committee.  They will be eligible for vote at the February 8, 2023 meeting.

Mr. Gutro made a motion to adjourn at 7:30 pm, seconded by Mr. Bregoli.  On a voice vote, the ayes have it.