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A meeting of the Quincy School Committee was held on Wednesday, October
25, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. in the School Committee Room at the Coddington Building. Superintendent Kevin Mulvey called the roll
and present were Mayor Thomas P. Koch, School Committee Chair and School
Committee Members Mr. Paul Bregoli, Mrs. Kathryn Hubley, Mrs. Emily Lebo, and
Mr. Frank Santoro, Vice Chair.
Also present were:
Superintendent Kevin Mulvey, Assistant Superintendent Erin Perkins, Mr.
Michael Draicchio, Ms. Julie Graham, Ms. Meghan Healy, Mr. Michael Marani, Mr.
James Mullaney, Ms. Maura Papile, Ms. Kimberly Quinn, Mr. Keith Segalla, Mr.
Stephen Sylvia, Mr. Lawrence Taglieri, Ms. Bridget Vaughan; NQHS Student
Representative Amy Tan, QHS Student Representative Mollie Smith-Gaeta; PCA360
Project Manager Brian Laroche; and Ms. Laura Owens, Clerk.
School Committee members Mrs. Tina Cahill and Mr. Douglas Gutro
were absent.
School Committee observed a moment of silence for the safety of
students and staff and all those in harm’s way around the world.
Ms. Owens read the following statement
into the record: Pursuant to the Open Meeting Law, any person
may make an audio or video recording of this public meeting or may transmit
the meeting through any medium.
Attendees are therefore advised that such recordings or transmissions
are being made whether perceived or unperceived by those present and are
deemed acknowledged and permissible.
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Regular Meeting
Vice-Chair Presiding
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Superintendent Mulvey reviewed the response to the Quincy High School bomb threat
that was received today. The first
call was received at approximately 12:30 pm, followed by a second call at
12:34 pm. Students and staff were evacuated
from the building and School Messenger alerts were sent out to inform the
community that school was dismissed and that all after-school activities were
cancelled. The Quincy Police Department and their K-9 units made a
systematic search of the school building.
At 3:15 pm, the school was deemed safe and communication was sent home
to the Quincy High School community to let them know that school would resume
as scheduled on Thursday, October 26.
Mrs. Lebo asked where the calls
were received, both lines of the Quincy High School Attendance office.
For the upcoming November 7
Professional Development Day for QPS Educators, over 80 different small-group
sessions are available for 850 professional staff members to choose from with
topics ranging from literacy, STEM, English Learner, and Special Education
supports to integrating music and movement, educator wellness, and
restorative practices. We are looking forward to this special day for
Quincy Public Schools professional staff members and have provided a copy of
the schedule at your places.
The QPS Assessment Calendar
2023-2024 was shared with
School Committee. This is the schedule of the Measures of Academic
Progress (MAP) and Amplify MClass Early Literacy Universal & Dyslexia
screenings given three times per year, followed by Integrated Learning Team
meetings for Grades K-8. Preliminary dates for ACCESS (for English
Learner students) and MCAS assessments are also provided and will be updated
as they are finalized.
Ninety-two Quincy Public Schools
professional educators recently received QPS Educator Mini-Grants of
$350 each for a total of $32,200. The mini-grants will provide support
for the academic, emotional and social development of students. The
annual QPS mini-grants are made possible thanks to the generosity of our
Quincy School~Community Partnership members (including Mayor Koch), and
$585,000 has been distributed to date. The recipients are as
follows: Courtney Alcott, Patricia Ambroult, Laura Anderson, Julie Barron,
Julie Barry, Jake Bergonzi, Stephanie Bogan, Lucy Booth, Dinnean Boss, Claire
Boudreau, Jill Boussy, Julia Buben, Julie Campbell, Meghan Carthas, Lisa
Chin, Dawn Ciardi, Lara Collier, Karen Coneely, Katie Connolly, Patti Cooper,
Rebecca Cordero, Fallon Creedon, Victoria Cronin, Michael Cuccia, Michelle
Cunniff, Holly Davis, Casey Deaguero, Christina Deiorio, Kimberly DeLisle,
Mallory Devoe, Cassandra Feeney, Jake Forrest, Marlena Forrester, Christina
Gilman, Jill Griffith, Kelli Guarino, Deborah Harper-Padula, Jillian
Harrington, Nancy Hayes, Jason Healy, Patrice Healy, Tracey Henault, Michelle
Holland, Tristen Houlihan, Anna Hunt, Michael Imhoff, Jillian Jasie, Gina
Kaslousky, Elizabeth Kelly, Kerry Kelly, Megan Keough, Darby Kindley, Mera
Kriz, Evaline Lai, Karin Lanham, Maureen Lynch, Kathryn Markt, Bridget Mazza,
Christine McBride, Samantha McGrath, Nancy McLaughlin, Mary McMorrow, Nancy
McPartlin, Aici Mei, Nina Meltzer, Marybeth Mulcahy, Danielle Mullaney, Emily
Murphy, Lisa Nasanofsky, Trang Nguyen, Stacie O’Callaghan, Alyse Olivieri,
Danielle Parry, Cara Pekarcik, Maryellen Phillips, Kristen Pieper,
Christopher Ranft, Erin Riley, Sara Riley, Amanda Rosenhagen, Lauren Ryan,
Paula Ryan, Alicia Segalla, Antonio Tenaglia, Evelyn Tian, Meghan Tierney,
Pakamas Tongcharoensirikul, Cynthia Vu,, Kimberly Walsh, Katie Welch, Mary
Kate White, Joseph Wilder, Charles Wilson, Loksze Wong
Superintendent Mulvey thanked
Mayor Koch and his staff for organizing the Dedication and Open House for the
Dr. Rick DeCristofaro Learning Center on October 22, 2023. Thanks to
the members of the state and federal delegations, City Council, School
Committee, and Norfolk County commissioners who were so supportive in the
funding for this wonderful addition to the Quincy Public Schools facilities. To begin the transition process to the
Learning Center, a Zoom meeting with Della Chiesa Early Childhood Center
families was held on Monday, October 23, 2023. Approximately 40 parents
attended and heard an overview of the new school building and preliminary
transition plans. The meeting was also
recorded and will be posted on the Quincy Public Schools website. Della
Chiesa families who have signed up for scheduled tours of the new Learning
Center building will be contacted by the end of the week to select a date and
time. Tours will be scheduled in November, December, and again in early
2024.
Upcoming Quincy Public Schools
events include the MICCA Statewide Marching Band Competition at Veterans
Memorial Stadium this coming Sunday, October 29 beginning at at 11:00
am. The North Quincy and Quincy High School Student Support
Services are hosting the annual Financial Aid night for juniors and seniors
and their families on Thursday, November 2 from 6:00 to 7:30 pm in the Quincy
High School auditorium. On Wednesday,
November 8, clinical psychologist and creator of Open Parachute Dr. Haley
Watson, will host a Parent Academy on Building Student Resiliency. The
event will be held in the Central Middle School Auditorium at 6:00 pm.
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Superintendent’s
Report
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PCA360
Owners Project Manager Brian Laroche and architect Tina Ho from Arrowstreet
gave an overview of the early phases of the Squantum Elementary School
project underway with the Massachusetts School Building Authority
(MSBA). Modules 1 and 2 have been
completed, the project is now in Module 3 The Feasibility Study, waiting for
comments on the latest submission to the MSBA (Proposed Design Program) and
beginning to work on the Preferred Schematic Report.
The
current school design and site placement was reviewed, along with the
condition of the original 1919 building, the additions, and interior and
exterior views. In the existing
building, there are issues with accessibility due to the grade changes on the
site topography, aging finishes on the interior, and structural issues on the
exterior. The building systems are
beyond the service life.
There
have been collaborative meetings with the staff on the educational vision for
the new school, tours of new elementary schools in other districts, and an
educational plan that calls for 80,000 sq. ft. for the new building. The preliminary design plan has been
completed in collaboration with the project working group and the Building
Committee.
Mayor
Koch noted that a community meeting was held in September, had the chance to
hear from neighbors about traffic concerns as well as their hopes for the new
building. Mayor Koch said that there
is parkland abutting the school, so the goal is to keep the school on the
current school property. If parkland
is needed to swap, there is a legal procedure to follow.
Mr.
Bregoli asked about the façade of the 1919 building and incorporating this
into the new building. Mr. Laroche
said that out of the ten options presented to the MSBA, this was incorporated
into the majority of the schemes.
These ten will be narrowed down to three options by the Building
Committee.
Mrs.
Lebo said the project is so great for the students, staff, and community.
Mr.
Santoro thanked Mr. Laroche and Ms. Ho for their dedication to the Squantum
Elementary School project.
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New Business
Squantum
Elementary
School MSBA
Project
Update
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Mrs.
Hubley reviewed that at the upcoming Massachusetts Association of School
Committee General Meeting there are a number of resolutions that will be
discussed and voted on. As the Quincy School
Committee representative, she will vote on each resolution based on what School
Committee decides tonight.
Mayor Koch made a motion to Abstain on Resolution
1: Full, Stable Funding for METCO. The
motion was seconded by Mr. Bregoli, and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
Mrs. Lebo made a motion to Support Resolution
2: Transportation Bidding Procedures
Support. The motion was seconded
by Mr. Bregoli, and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
Mr. Bregoli made a motion to Abstain on
Resolution 3: Regional Transportation.
The motion was seconded by Mrs. Lebo, and on a voice vote, the ayes
have it.
Mr. Bregoli made a motion to Support Resolution
4: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
The motion was seconded by Mrs. Lebo, and on a voice vote, the ayes
have it.
Mrs. Lebo made a motion to Support Resolution
5: Massachusetts School Building Authority.
The motion was seconded by Mr. Bregoli, and on a voice vote, the ayes
have it.
Mr. Bregoli made a motion to Support Resolution
6: School Bus Stop Arm Surveillance Act.
The motion was seconded by Mrs. Lebo, and on a voice vote, the ayes
have it.
Mrs. Lebo made a motion Not to Support Resolution
7: Related to MCAS. The motion was seconded
by Mr. Bregoli, and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
Mrs. Hubley made a motion Not to Support
Resolution 8: Safe Storage of Firearms.
The motion was seconded by Mr. Bregoli, and on a voice vote, the ayes
have it.
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New Business
MASC Resolutions
(VOTE)
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Mr. Santoro noted upcoming School Committee Meetings on November
15, 2023 and December 13, 2023, both at 6:30 pm at the Coddington Building.
Ms. Owens read a letter from the Massachusetts
School Building Authority dated October 25, 2023 into the record:
Dear Mayor Koch:
I am pleased to report that the Board of
the Massachusetts School Building Authority (the “MSBA”) voted to approve the
Proposed Accelerated Repair Project (the “Proposed Project”) in the City of
Quincy (the “City”) for a boiler replacement project at the Francis W. Parker
School, a partial roof replacement at the Montclair School, and a partial
roof replacement at the Wollaston School. The Board approved an Estimated
Maximum Total Facilities Grant for each project as shown in the table below,
which does not include any funds for potentially eligible Owner’s or
Construction Contingency Expenditures. In the event that the MSBA determines
that any Owner’s and/or Construction Contingency Expenditures are eligible
for reimbursement, the Maximum Total Facilities Grant for the Francis W.
Parker School, the Montclair School, and the Wollaston School Projects may
increase to each amount shown below. The final grant amounts will be
determined by the MSBA based on a review and audit of all project costs
incurred by the City, in accordance with the MSBA’s regulations, policies,
and guidelines and the Project Funding Agreement. The final grant amount may
be an amount less than the Estimated Maximum Total Facilities Grant.
Francis W. Parker School: Estimated Maximum Total Facilities Grant
$766,920; Maximum Total Facilities Grant $798,070
Montclair School: Estimated Maximum Total Facilities Grant $648,157;
Maximum Total Facilities Grant $673,369
Wollaston School: Estimated Maximum Total Facilities $644,783 Maximum Total Facilities Grant $669,826
Pursuant to the terms of the MSBA’s
Accelerated Repair Program, the City has 90 days to acquire and certify local
approval for an appropriation and all other necessary local votes or
approvals showing acceptance of the cost, site, type, scope, and timeline for
the Francis W. Parker School, the Montclair School, and
the Wollaston School Project. Upon receipt of the certified votes
demonstrating local approval, the MSBA and the City will execute a Project
Funding Agreement, which will set forth the terms and conditions pursuant to
which the City will receive its grant from the MSBA. Once the Project Funding
Agreement has been executed by both parties, the City will be eligible to
submit requests for reimbursement for Proposed Project costs to the MSBA. We
will be contacting you soon to discuss these next steps in more detail, but
in the meantime, I wanted to share with you the Board’s approval for a boiler
replacement project at the Francis W. Parker School, a partial roof
replacement at the Montclair School, and a partial roof replacement at the
Wollaston School and the Board’s authorization to execute a Project Funding
Agreement for this Proposed Project.
Sincerely,
Mary L. Pichetti Executive Director
Mayor Koch thanked Treasurer Goldberg
and the MSBA Board, Quincy has been the recipient of funding for three core
building projects, with Squantum in the pipeline, and sixteen Accelerated
Repair Program projects.
Mrs. Lebo asked about the schedule for
School Improvement Plan presentations; Ms. Owens will share a draft schedule
with School Committee.
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Communications
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