Minutes
Quincy School Committee
Joint Special Education and Teaching & Learning Subcommittees Meeting
A joint meeting of the Special Education and Teaching & Learning Subcommittees was held on February 15, 2023 at 6:00 pm in the Coddington Building. Present were Subcommittee members Mr. Paul Bregoli, Mrs. Tina Cahill, Mr. Frank Santoro, Mrs. Kathryn Hubley, Special Education Subcommittee Chair, and Mrs. Emily Lebo, Teaching & Learning Subcommittee Chair. Also present were School Committee Member Mr. Doug Gutro; Superintendent Kevin Mulvey, Assistant Superintendent Erin Perkins, Ms. Sarah Anderson, Ms. Simone Buckley, Ms. Catherine Carey, Ms. Kim Connolly, Ms. Donna Cunningham, Mr. Michael Draicchio, Ms. Susanna Friel, Ms. Julie Graham, Ms. Michaela McGee, Mr. James Mullaney, Ms. Maura Papile, Ms. Diane Peterson, Ms. Madeline Roy, Mr. Keith Segalla, Mr. Lawrence Taglieri; Ms. Meghan Giovannoni, Assistant Vice President for Student Success, Quincy College; and Ms. Laura Owens, Clerk.
Ms. Giovannoni, Ms. Friel, Ms. Peterson, and Ms. McGee presented on the LEAP College program at Quincy College, along with the twelve students currently attending the program. The students have made an impact on the Quincy College community, participating in student life through classes and activities, as athletics supporters, assisting with creating school spirit. Students are learning about following a schedule, being prepared, working on projects in groups and independently, increasing confidence and freedom, engaging in academic classes, navigating public transportation, participating in community service, internships, and job training.
Mrs. Hubley and Mrs. Cahill thanked the student presenters.
Mrs. Lebo congratulated the student who transitioned to a full-time job recently. All the staff and students involved are amazing.
Mr. Gutro thanked the students for their personal insights, the team at Quincy College gives so many Quincy students opportunities.
Mr. Santoro thanked the staff for the partnership between Quincy College and the Quincy Public Schools.
Mr. Bregoli said that this is an amazing cooperative effort for the staff and the students are making impressive impact on the college.
Superintendent Mulvey thanked Quincy College Dr. DeCristofaro for proposing the project, it was several years in collaborative development to launch this past fall.
After a brief recess, the meeting resumed with an update on the Early College High School program. For Fall 2022, the enrollment is 204 students, an increase of 55 students over Fall 2021. 113 students are from North Quincy High School and 91 from Quincy High School, and several additional students have enrolled for the Spring 2023 semester. 52.9% of ECHS students are first generation college students, 37.3% are also CVTE students. Funding from the program is $500,000 from the State Street Foundation, $150,000 for Quincy Public Schools for the ECHS School Counselors. DESE provides $327,000 in an Early College Support Grant.
The 2nd Annual ECHS Symposium was held last week, students participated in workshops, staff participated in professional development, graduated students shared their experiences, and guest speakers included Mayor Koch, Secretary of Education Dr. Patrick Tutweiler, Speaker of the House Ronald Mariano, Massachusetts Board of Elementary & Secondary Education Chair Kathryn Craven, and Erika Giampietro, Massachusetts Alliance for Early College Executive Director.
For the second year in a row, Quincy College will offer current Grade 12 ECHS Pathway students with a full scholarship for the 2023-2024 academic year, including tuition for up to 24 credits, fees, and textbooks for the academic year. Current Grade 12 students have four opportunities during the academic year to visit the Quincy College campus. Twelve students have taken advantage of this offer for the current academic year. Early College High School parents are being invited to join the Parent Advisory Council as an opportunity to connect with other parents and welcome new parents to the program. Outreach to current Grade 9 students and family will begin with the Parent Academy Zoom webinar scheduled for February 28 at 6:00 pm. At the High School Course selection events on March 14 and 15, the ECHS program will be highlighted.
Eight courses will be offered this summer: Introduction to Computers, Foundations of Business, Public Speaking, Sociology, Pre-Calculus, Introduction to Biotechnology, Nutrition, and Forensic Science. This program will have free tuition, fees, and cover textbook and public transportation costs.
Mrs. Lebo is impressed with the diversity of the participants, asked and received confirmation that the summer program is on the Quincy College campus. Mrs. Lebo asked if students will be assisted in completing the FAFSA, Ms. Giovannoni confirmed and if students are Pell Grant eligible, that will be applied and then any additional costs covered by Quincy College.
Mrs. Cahill asked about ECHS students who are attending other colleges and transferred their credits. Mr. Segalla said that students who begin the program in Grade 10 and attend the summer program for two summers can earn up to 40 credits before they graduate.
Mr. Gutro complimented the program growth and the impressive list of speakers, especially the new Secretary of Education. Our program can be a model for the state.
Special Education Director Julie Graham, accompanied by Coordinator Sarah Anderson, and Team Administrators Simone Buckley, Catherine Carey, Donna Cunningham presented on Special Education Rights & Responsibilities to ensure that parents will understand their children’s rights and the special education process. The information in the presentation will hopefully enhance the collaboration between the family and school and allow for the parents and staff to participate in special education matters as knowledgeable partners. The Quincy Public Schools Special Education department operates under the state’s Special Education law for Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA).
A student is eligible for Special Education if they have one or more disabilities, they are not making effective progress in school as a result of the disability(ies), and the student requires specialized instruction to make effective progress. There are thirteen types of disabilities defined in state and federal regulations: autism, developmental delay, sensory impairment (hearing, vision, and hearing and vision), neurological impairment, emotional impairment, communication impairment, physical impairment, health impairment, specific learning disability, and multiple disabilities. Special Education is a specially designed instruction to meet the unique needs of an eligible student and/or related services necessary to access and make progress in the general curriculum.
The timeline is up to 45 working days following the consent to evaluate a student, including evaluating the student, a team meeting to determine eligibility, development of the IEP and determination of placement, and proposed IEP and placement to parent within 10 calendar days of team meeting. Services would begin upon parent consent.
There are six Special Education principles: (1) Parent and Student Participation; (2) Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE); (3) Appropriate Evaluation; (4) Individualized Education Program (IEP); (5) Least Restrictive Environment (LRE); (6) Procedural Safeguards. These principles support the student-centered nature of the process and the rights of parents and students above age 14 to participate in the planning of specific, measurable goals, decision-making activities, and to be assessed in non-discriminatory fashion with appropriate notifications for each stage of the process.
Mrs. Hubley thanked the presenters, this is a very clear overview of the process.
Mrs. Cahill thanked the presenters, the work that they and their staff do is so important.
Mr. Bregoli thanked the presenters, Quincy Public Schools has made a lot of effort for this to be a cooperative process between the parents and the schools. Mr. Bregoli noted that if a parent disagrees with a school-based evaluation, they have the right to request an outside, independent evaluation and for that to be factored into the services offered for IEPs.
Mr. Bregoli suggested creating a program in Quincy Public Schools for students with dyslexia, that could be a collaborative program (where other districts pay tuition) and fewer students sent to outside placement. Ms. Graham said that the Language Development Center program has grown to the degree that Quincy Public Schools has been able to retain students within the district with the support of the Landmark consulting program.
Mrs. Lebo noted that Dyslexia is still not a named disability under federal standards, Massachusetts has made a lot of progress with mandated screening. Mrs. Lebo asked and received confirmation that if a parent requests an independent evaluation, Quincy Public Schools pays for this service.
Mr. Santoro asked about the change in students being allowed to the attend the Carroll School, the school no longer accepts public funding, only private pay students.
Ms. McGill, Ms. Ritchie, and Ms. Daggett, from the Quincy Parent Advisory Council to Special Education Board presented an update on 2022-2023 activities and goals. Through efforts to collaborate with parents, there is a full board for the first time in several years. The annual Trunk or Treat and Gingerbread Decorating events were held, hybrid monthly meetings and parent support groups (in person and Zoom offerings), targeted presentations on topics of interest, including supporting students with anxiety, navigating MassHealth, strategies for dental visits for autistic students, and transition planning. Expanding extracurricular activities for special education students has been a long-term goal, pilot program for CARES students at Squantum, collaboration with the Recreation Department for summer and Saturday programming, vacation week camp planned.
Mrs. Hubley thanked the Board members for their energy and connecting parents.
Mrs. Lebo suggested that the QPAC Board make requests for funding to School Committee for workshops, appreciate their advocacy for their own students
Mr. Bregoli agreed that keeping the out of district students and families updated is important.
Ms. McGill thanked Ms. Owens for coordinating the distribution of Out of District student contact card, updating the corrected information in Aspen, and also for assistance in sharing event flyers.
Ms. McGill said that an information brochure has been created and translated, interpretation support is available as needed.
Mrs. Cahill thanked the QPAC Board members, asked about the funding for the vacation week programming. ESSER funding was used for this program and pilot after school program.
Mr. Gutro thanked the Board members, innovative thinking to offer the meetings hybrid and supports the expansion of after school and extracurricular programming.
Mrs. Cahill made a motion to adjourn at 7:50 pm, seconded by Mr. Bregoli. On a voice vote, the ayes have it.