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A meeting of the Quincy School Committee was held on Wednesday, November 13, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. in the School Committee Room at the Coddington Building.
Superintendent Kevin Mulvey called the roll and present were School Committee Members Mr. Paul Bregoli, Mr. Doug Gutro, Mrs. Kathryn Hubley, Mrs. Emily Lebo, Mrs. Courtney Perdios, and School Committee Vice Chair Mrs. Tina Cahill.Mayor Thomas P. Koch was absent.
Also present were: Superintendent Kevin Mulvey, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Erin Perkins, Ms. Kim Connolly, Mr. Michael Draicchio, Ms. Julie Graham, Mr. Michael Marani, Mr. James Mullaney, Mr. Keith Segalla, Mr. Christopher Tierney; QHS Student Representative Annabella Chin; Director of Public Buildings Walter Macdonald; and Ms. Laura Owens, Clerk.
Superintendent Mulvey recognized the following retirees who passed away recently: Charles Baillargeon, Quincy High School CVTE teacher for 37 years;
Angela Carroll, secretary for 27 years; Christine Karaska, guidance counselor at Snug Harbor for 30 years; Helene King, elementary school teacher for 35 years;
Joanne Sheridan, elementary and middle school teacher for 20 years
Mrs. Cahill 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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As there was no one present who wished to speak at Open Forum, School Committee went on to the next item on the agenda.
There were no letters submitted online for Open Forum.
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Open Forum
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Superintendent Mulvey opened his report with Student Recognitions, congratulating the 212 graduating seniors in the class of 2025 who have been awarded the John & Abigail Adams Scholarships for scoring in the top 25% district-wide on the MCAS Assessments. The scholarship covers eight semesters of tuition at any University of Massachusetts, state university, or community college campus. On November 9, Quincy High School's History Bowl team won first place at the Greater Boston History Bowl varsity championships. Quincy High fielded two teams (A and B) and both made it to playoffs and there was a historic Quincy A versus Quincy B matchup. Both the A team and the B team qualified for the national competition in Washington, D.C. this April and the A team re-qualified for the International History Olympiad in Paris this summer.
The new QPS Digital Communications Coordinator Katherine (Katie) Delaney started in mid-October and has already been busy with sharing academic, athletic, and extracurricular highlights on social media and continuing the design refresh/reorganization of the QPS website. Katie has an extensive background in website development and social media in higher education and healthcare, most recently at Boston University.
Thanks to Commissioner Paul Hines and the Public Buildings department for securing grants for energy-efficient lighting for Lincoln Hancock Community School. The cost estimate to replace several hundred light fixtures is $170,000, but a National Grid incentive of $75,000 and a Green Communities grant of $90,000 reduces the city’s cost to $5,000. The work will be completed outside of school hours in November and December.
In light of the outcome of last week’s state Ballot Question 2, it is anticipated that the Grade 10 MCAS may no longer be a high school graduation requirement. We are awaiting guidance from the Department of Elementary & Secondary Education on the timeline and implementation of this, but in the meantime, the scheduled MCAS retests are underway for students in Grades 11 & 12 who had not yet achieved a passing grade on one or more of the tests. Further updates will be shared when available.
Upcoming Quincy Public Schools and City of Quincy Events include: Quincy High School Drama is presenting Ruth Gordon’s Autobiographical Play Years Ago on Friday, November 15 at 7:30 pm; Saturday, November 16 at 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm; and Sunday, November 17 at 2:00 pm. North Quincy High School’s Drama Club is presenting Little Women on December 13, 14, and 15, 2024 in the Peter Chrisom Auditorium at North Quincy High School. On Thanksgiving morning, the North Quincy and Quincy High School Football teams will meet for their annual competition. Kickoff is at 10:00 am at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
The winter holiday season officially begins in Quincy the next day with a weekend of events capped off by the 71st Annual Christmas Parade on Sunday, December 1 beginning at noon in Quincy Center and featuring floats and local marching bands, including our own QNQ Marching Band & Colorguard.On December 5 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm, Quincy and North Quincy High School Photography students will be hosting their annual Holiday Art Show and sale to benefit Boston Children’s Hospital at Quincy High School. Mayor Koch and the Quincy School~Community Partnership are once again sponsoring ‘Tis the Season… Symphony & Song on December 5 at 7:00 pm in the Quincy High School Auditorium. The concert features the Quincy Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Yoichi Udagawa and performances from QPS student musicians in the John Adams Orchestra and the combined High School Choral group.
Thanks to Granite Telecommunications for their tremendous support of Quincy Public Schools, most recently through their plan to display QPS student artwork at their new headquarters at One Heritage Drive. Granite Telecommunications has planned a reception for the student artists and their families on Saturday, December 7 from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm, featuring local food trucks and is also giving away art supplies to our young artists.
Quincy Public Schools is presenting a Parent Academy for parents and guardians of students in Kindergarten through Grade 2: Supporting Your Child’s Literacy Development. This Parent Academy will be held on Tuesday, December 10 from 6:00 to 7:00 pm on Zoom and also recorded for families who are unable to attend during the scheduled time
Elementary, middle, and high school parents will all have the opportunity to attend Report Card Conferences beginning this week and continuing up to the holiday break. These conferences are an excellent opportunity to meet with your student’s teachers and gain insight into their academic successes and challenges.
Winter Concerts are being scheduled for all schools, some in December and others in January after the return from winter break. A complete schedule will be shared on the Quincy Public Schools website and social media in the coming weeks.
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Superintendent’s
Report
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There was no Old Business.
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Old Business
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PCA 360 Owners Project Manager Brian Laroche and Architects Tina Soohoo and Larry Spang from Arrowstreet presented an update on the Squantum Elementary School project, introducing the construction partner Lee Kennedy. Squantum Elementary School is the fourth major building project done in partnership with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), along with fifteen projects completed under the Accelerated Repair program. For the Squantum project, the Feasibility and Schematic Design phases have been completed and on October 30, 2024, the MSBA Board approved the Project Scope and Budget. City Council has referred the project to Finance Subcommittee and will vote on funding at the December 2, 2024 meeting. The design development phase has been continuing with ongoing cost estimating to ensure fidelity to the project budget. In January, the construction document phase will begin with the goal of bidding beginning in the summer. Site preparation work will begin in Spring 2025 with full construction beginning in Fall 2025. Infrastructure work has been completed in the neighborhood around the school to address drainage, water main upgrades, and sewer line upgrades are underway.
Construction will happen in phases, allowing sections of the school to continue to be occupied and supplemented by modular classroom units. The 1919 original façade of the building will be retained and new spaces built out around this section of the building. The building is appropriately scaled for the neighborhood location, durable and cost-effective exterior finishes. Interior spaces are organized around an internal courtyard, a library media space, a cafeteria with a stage, and a separate gymnasium, all of which can be spaces for public use outside of school hours. The goal for the building is to be net-zero, heat pump system with geothermal wells.
A detailed timeline and sequence are being developed and will be shared in January with School Committee and at a community meeting. While students and staff are still on site in the spring, there will be drilling for the geothermal wells (two were already completed for testing purposes). The park will also remain open during this time. In July, there will be some demolition and preparation work and installation of the modular classrooms. Similar to the construction of South~West Middle School, construction will continue during school time, observing safety guidelines and restrictions on vehicle movement during the opening and closing times for the school. Construction will be completed over two years, with the new school projected to open in September 2027.
The total project budget is $108,712,832, with $81,196,053 in anticipated reimbursements. The cost is almost $1,000/sq. ft. to construct the building, and additional budget lines are for furnishings and equipment. Some costs have doubled from the construction of South~West Middle School. Anticipated reimbursement will start at 60.4% with the opportunity to earn additional incentive points to get closer to 66%. However, the effective reimbursement rate is 35.27% once the scope exclusions are applied, but is still higher than the state average. There will be opportunities for rebates through MassSaves and other grants.In summary, the building will be 60% larger than the existing building, due to the educational requirements of modern school buildings.
Mrs. Hubley thanked the presenters for keeping the community informed of the details and timeline. Mrs. Hubley asked about the drainage for the outdoor classroom/interior courtyard. Ms. Soohoo said that the water will be captured and recharged into the ground.
Mrs. Lebo said this project is very exciting for the students, families, and community and thanked the architects for incorporating the historic building façade.
Mrs. Perdios asked for and received clarification on several design details, including work spaces and safety features. Mrs. Perdios asked about street work on Huckins Avenue, that will be completed with as little disruption to school drop off and pickup as possible. Mrs. Perdios asked about how the Physical Education program will work during the construction. Mr. Laroche said the school will use the park and other outside space as much as possible. There is interior space in the current media center that could be used for motor skills area.
Mr. Gutro thanked the presenters for all of the considerations of building on an existing building site, but noted concern that the alternative energy credits will continue to exist. Mr. Gutro asked about the security features, Mr. Laroche said the security features are state of the art, very robust, and details can be reviewed in Executive Session.
Mrs. Perdios asked for a review of the air cooling system, similar to Central and South~West. The system is designed to remove humidity and circulate the cooled air, can be 20 degree difference between outside and inside the building. Administrative areas are air conditioned.
Mr. Bregoli asked about whether the project could be grandfathered for the tax credits, Mr. Spang said this is typically a credit after the work is completed.
Mrs. Cahill thanked the project team, the experience of the members and ability to anticipate the impact and complications is valuable. Continuing communication is key to the success of the project.
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New Business
Squantum Elementary
School Project Update
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Assistant Superintendent Dr. Erin Perkins and Curriculum Director Michael Marani presented an overview of the Spring 2024 VOCAL data. Students in grades 4, 5, 8, and 10 have the opportunity to complete the VOCAL survey after their last MCAS assessment and participation is voluntary. The VOCAL Survey is based on the conceptual framework of the US Department of Education’s School Climate Surveys. Measures of school climate include Engagement (Cultural Competence, Relationship, Participation); Safety (Emotional safety; physical safety; bullying/cyber-bullying); and Environment (Instructional environment, mental health environment, and discipline environment).
Quincy Public Schools has a high participation rate, 93-95% for all grades, consistently higher than the state average. Quincy Public Schools students surveyed indicated that overall school climate, engagement climate, safety climate, and environment climate was somewhat favorable or favorable at all grades. Historically, the younger students feel more positive about school and this is reflected.
On the positive side, strengths include that students feel that school staff members care about them as people and that students are treated respectfully. Students have concern about other student’s behaviors and students respecting each other. Students do not consistently see themselves in their educational materials. Each school will share their individual VOCAL data in the School Improvement Plan presentations coming up in the next month.
Mr. Gutro asked about the trend data over the years, Dr. Perkins said the last three years (post-COVID) data shows that students are consistently split on whether their curriculum materials reflect their families and cultures. Dr. Perkins said the concern about bullying is trending in a positive direction. In general, the responses are consistent across school sites.
Mrs. Lebo said the rate of students who have friends from other cultures is very high, a testament to our community. Mrs. Lebo feels that student interest will grow over time due to the CKLA program in the elementary schools. Mrs. Lebo would like to discuss the selection of curriculum materials in Teaching & Learning.
Mrs. Perdios said that some of the students’ perceptions about peer interactions and the students feeling like they can report something to an adult are linked.
Dr. Perkins said that the programs Ms. Papile introduced this year, the Sandy Hook Promise and See Something, Say Something will be connected with the PBIS and Restorative Circles already in place.
While the data on teachers and other educators is very positive, the stress expressed by the high school students is concerning. Mrs. Perdios suggested developing our own survey to administer to students apart from the VOCAL survey, the wording of some of the questions is difficult. Mrs. Perdios asked if we know other districts’ data, are there best practices they are using that are having a positive effect on some of these issues.
Mrs. Cahill asked if the data can be analyzed by cohort over time, Dr. Perkins said the actual questions are different from year to year. Mrs. Cahill agreed that some of the questions are complicated for students of these ages.
Mrs. Hubley said that the question about seeing themselves in books is overly complicated for younger students, many young students are literal.
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New Business
QPS Spring 2024
VOCAL Data
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School Committee has received the Summative Evaluation form for Superintendent Mulvey, populated with the Superintendent and District Improvement Plan goals for this past school year, 2023-2024. Superintendent Mulvey presented a review of his progress towards his 2023-2024 goals at the October 23, 2024 School Committee meeting. School Committee has also been provided with supporting materials from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on the Superintendent evaluation process. The completed evaluation form can be returned to Ms. Owens by Monday, December 2. The individual evaluations, including comments, will be compiled into a composite summative evaluation to be reviewed at the December 11 School Committee meeting.
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New Business
Superintendent’s
Evaluation
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Mrs. Hubley reviewed the recent Massachusetts Association of School Committees General Meeting which took place on November 8, 2024. Resolutions 1 and 7 passed with amendment; Resolutions 2-6 and 8-10 passed.
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New Business
MASC Conference
Resolutions Update
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Mrs. Lebo made a motion to refer the Pivotal Response Program to the Special Education Subcommittee for Presentation. Mr. Bregoli seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
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New Business
Pivotal Response
Program
For referral to
Subcommittee
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Mr. Gutro made a motion to refer the Impact of Technology on Teaching & Learning to the Teaching. Mrs. Hubley seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
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New Business
Impact of Technology
For referral to
Subcommittee
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Mr. Gutro made a motion to approve the item listed under the Consent Agenda: Approval of the October 23, 2024 Regular Meeting minutes; a donation of new glass basketball hoops and backboards for Atlantic Middle School by Granite Telecommunications; and six student travel requests (Quincy High School Student Council to the MASC Convention in Hyannis, Massachusetts; North Quincy High School AFJROTC to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.; Quincy High School to Croatia, Slovenia, and Italy; Quincy High School to Greece; Central Middle School to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; South~West Middle School to New York, New York).
On the motion, Mr. Bregoli is concerned about the cost of some of the field trips. Mrs. Lebo agreed and the topic is in the Budget & Finance Subcommittee for further discussion.
Mrs. Lebo seconded the motion and on a roll call vote, the ayes have it, 6-0. Mayor Koch was absent.
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Consent Agenda
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There was no Additional Business.
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Additional Business
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Mrs. Cahill noted that upcoming School Committee meetings will be held on December 11, 2024, and January 8 & 22, 2025 all at 6:30 pm at the Coddington Building. There will a number of Teaching & Learning Subcommittee meetings scheduled for School and Program Improvement Plans; tentative dates are November 20, 25; December 4, 9, and 16 at 6:00 pm.
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Communications
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The review of the October 23, 2024 Quarterly Budget & Finance Subcommittee minutes was deferred to the December 11, 2024 School Committee meeting agenda.
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Reports of
Subcommittees
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There was no Executive Session.
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Executive Session
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Mr. Bregoli made a motion to adjourn at 8:40 pm. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Hubley and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
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Adjournment
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