QUINCY SCHOOL COMMITTEE
TEACHING & LEARNING SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING
A meeting of the Teaching & Learning Subcommittee was held on Wednesday, February 5, 2025 at 6:20 pm in the Coddington Building. Present were Subcommittee members Mr. Paul Bregoli and Mrs. Kathryn Hubley, Mrs. Emily Lebo, Teaching & Learning Subcommittee Chair; Mayor Thomas P. Koch, School Committee Chair; and School Committee members Mrs. Tina Cahill, Mr. Doug Gutro, and Mrs. Courtney Perdios. Also present were Superintendent Kevin Mulvey, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Erin Perkins, Ms. Kim Connolly, Mr. Daniel Cosgrove, Mr. Michael Draicchio, Ms. Julie Graham, Mr. Michael Marani, Ms. Karen McPartlin, Mr. James Mullaney, Ms. Maura Papile, Ms. Kimberly Quinn, Ms. Francesca Quintero, Mr. Keith Segalla, Ms. Bridget Vaughan; Quincy Education Association President Gayle Carvalho; and Ms. Laura Owens, Clerk.
Senior Director of Student Support Maura Papile, NQHS Adjustment Counselor Francesca Quintero, and QHS Adjustment Counselor Karen McPartlin presented an overview of the Adjustment Counselor position in Quincy Public Schools. Initially these were grant-funded positions, but are now funded in the Quincy Public Schools budget.
Adjustment Counselors are licensed mental-health professionals who work within a school setting to support student emotional, social, and psychological well-being. The key responsibilities include individual counseling and crisis intervention; leading small group counseling sessions; referrals to outside agencies and providers; collaborate with teachers, administrators, and parents to support student success; and facilitate programs on social-emotional learning to build social and executive functioning skills, coping strategies, and resiliency. The overall goal is to give students the skills and strategies to assist them in completing their high school education; pursue higher education, enter the military, or job training; and succeed in their chosen careers. Students are given the message that their presence is important, that they are strong and resilient, and that school is a positive experience with connections.
Mr. Bregoli thanked the presenters, asked about the licensure. There is different licensure for Adjustment Counselors and School Counselors, but there is common professional development and diverse backgrounds and experience.
Mrs. Cahill said the Adjustment Counselors are important, assisting students in developing coping mechanisms which will help people avoid substance abuse in the future.
Mrs. Hubley thanked the presenters, asked about collaboration with the teaching staff. Ms. McPartlin said there is a variety of communication with the staff, phone, email, formal referrals to Student Support meeting. Ms. Quintero said the staff are eager to collaborate and support the students as much as possible.
Mrs. Perdios asked about caseloads, Ms. McPartlin said it is fluid, some students are successful and transition to independence or a daily or weekly check-in. Ms. Quintero agreed that around 150 students are receiving services at each school.
Mrs. Perdios asked if they are able to respond to students in a timely way or are they overwhelmed by the volume. Ms. Papile said there are school-based clinicians are also seeing students regularly and there are other adults who are part of the support network.
Mrs. Perdios asked how students know the Adjustment Counselors are available; referrals are through the Student Support Team meeting. Mrs. Perdios asked if this will be expanded to the middle schools in the future. Ms. Papile said Walker Therapeutics and Bay State Community Services provide onsite services and each middle school has three Guidance staff members. Ms. Papile is continuing to seek out additional grant opportunities.
Mrs. Lebo asked for and received clarification clarification that students don’t need to have IEPs or 504s to be involved with the adjustment counselors.
Coordinator of Mathematics Kim Quinn presented on the targeted high-dosage tutoring for Grades 4 and 8 offered under a grant from the Department of Elementary & Secondary Education. Virtual tutors are provided by Imagine Learning thirty minutes three times per week for two twelve-week cycles. In the first cycle in Fall 2024, there were 16 students each from Atherton Hough, Broad Meadows, Point Webster, and South~West (64 total). For the current cycle, Quincy Public Schools was offered additional seats, so there are 108 students being tutored in the four schools.
Ms. Quinn shared data for students on the differences in pre- and post-tutoring assessments for different topics and the improvement ranged from 14 to 34%. The Mathematics Intervention Specialists are seeing the differences for their students and documenting the progress. Additional schools will be added for the next cycle.
Mrs. Perdios asked if all of the students saw a positive impact. Ms. Quinn confirmed that students who have regular attendance showed improvement.
Mr. Gutro asked about the grant, Ms. Quinn said it is for this school year and we have indicated interest in continuing for next year. QPS seats expanded in the 2nd cycle because some schools in other districts opted out after trying it in the fall. Ms. Quinn said DESE are focused on the highest needs and consistent implementation and attendance.
Mrs. Hubley asked if there are any materials shared with teachers, Ms. Quinn said that there are a list of topics that will be covered.
Mrs. Cahill asked for clarification, DESE has approved the Imagine Learning curriculum. Mrs. Cahill asked about the time during the school day. For the middle school, students attend during the student support block. The elementary school was more challenging, but through creative scheduling, this was accommodated. Mrs. Cahill complimented the students for their integration of online instruction into their skill set.
Mrs. Lebo asked if the tutors are consistently assigned, Ms. Quinn said this is affected by topics and the tutor schedules. The same tutor does the entire 12-week cycle, but the students may have a different tutor for the next cycle.
Mrs. Lebo reviewed that the Superintendent had shared his draft goals at the November 13, 2024 School Committee meeting and members had the opportunity to make suggestions. The revised goals were shared with the Teaching & Learning Subcommittee tonight.
Mrs. Cahill made a motion to approve the Superintendent’s Goals for 2024-2025 School Year. Mr. Bregoli seconded the motion and on a roll call vote, the ayes have it, 3-0.
Mrs. Cahill made a motion to adjourn the Teaching & Learning Subcommittee meeting at 7:05 pm, seconded by Mr. Bregoli. On a voice vote, the ayes have it.