Minutes
Quincy, Massachusetts - November 1, 2006
Regular Meeting of the Quincy School Committee
Regular Meeting
A regular meeting of the Quincy School Committee was held on Wednesday, November 1, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. in the Montclair Elementary School. Present were Mrs. Anne Mahoney, Mr. Kevin Mulvey, Mr. Dave McCarthy, Mr. James Timmins, Mayor Phelan and Ms. Linda Stice, Chair Pro Tem.
Chairman Pro Tem Presiding
The Superintendent called the roll and Mrs. Dwyer was absent. Also present were: Dr. Richard DeCristofaro, Secretary, and Mrs. Tefta Burrelli, Clerk; Drs. Mariano and Pattavina. Messrs. O’Brien, Ryan, Walsh, McPhee, Keith and Kevin Segalla, Canavan, and Mr. Mullaney; Ms. Todd, Lebo, Hughes, Powell, and Roberts. Mr. Paul Phillips, QEA President; Mr. Henry Brawley represented Citywide; and Tara McFarland, NQHS Associate member.
Reg. Mins. Approved 10/18/06
On a motion by Mr. Timmins, seconded by Mr. McCarthy, the Committee
approved the regular session minutes for October 18, 2006. The ayes have it.
Principal’s Welcome
Mr. Kevin Marks, Montclair Principal, welcomed the Committee and thanked.
them for their financial support. The school stresses giving back to their community.
Each month they select a project to aid the needs of others. Some of their projects
are: a food drive for a shelter, beautification of gardens, maintaining a veterans
memorial, concerts in the community and Stop and Shop, Toys for Tots Drive, a
May Festival. The students are also learning about voting. Under the direction of
Ms. Janice Ronayne, the entire fifth grade class did a performance on voting and the
constitution.
Colleen Roberts introduced Ms. Maria D’Angelo, NQHS, who gave an overview
of the QPS Renaissance Creative Arts Program. Students from North Quincy
High were present and sang a cappella.
Supts. Report
After a brief recess, the Superintendent congratulated teachers who received
Professional Teacher Status this year. The Quincy Parent Advisory will have a
guest speaker Tuesday, November 14 at Broad Meadows. He thanked Judy
Todd, Don Houghton and for hosting a mini Special Olympics at Squantum Gym.
Dr. Mariano reported on the Teacher Mentor Program. This group meets four
times a year. On October 16 over 130 teachers and counselors met at Point
Webster. Their next meeting is on December 5.
Open Forum
At the Open Forum Paul Phillips, QEA President, reported that it is now 62 days
that the teachers are working without a contract. The Department of Ed will raise
the MCAS cut off score to 240 and that will be the graduation requirement.
The Board of Education also passed a new district accountability standards.
Bldg. Update
Joe Canavan reported that the work order tracking system is working in all
schools. He would like to do a presentation on this at a future Subcommittee
meeting. A new computer lab was installed at the GOALS Program. The
stage at North Quincy High was painted. The City Council Finance Committee
approved the new bond of $3 million which includes a new roof for Atherton
Hough, new roof over the locker room at Central, and building overhauls at
Atlantic and Broad Meadows.
Mr. McCarthy asked Mr. Canavan to get a copy of Atlantic’s list in their
School Improvement Plan and see what items he can take care of right away.
Mr. Mulvey inquired about Montclair issues--leaks within the school,
masonry work, flashing. He asked for a review of where we stand with
those repairs.
Mrs. Mahoney asked for an update on where we are and what’s been done
on the schedule. She asked how do major improvements get onto the
Building Capitol Improvement Plan. Mr. Canavan said that all these
issues are prioritized. Safety comes first. Mrs. Mahoney asked how he
prioritizes repairs. Montclair had issues today with the flashing and
pointing which is a major issue. That would be on a bigger scale of
things.
Mr. Canavan said he can’t do re-pointing until budget time. We need to
get the funds available. This is one of those issues that may have to be
put out for bid. The Mayor said there is a 5 year Capital Improvement Plan.
Mrs. Mahoney asked if Montclair is on the Plan? If not, how does it get
on? Mr. Ryan had listed all the building needs, but they change. The Mayor
said they can check on that.
The Mayor said there is an Energy Conservation Initiative, a new law that
allows cities and towns to identify savings created by various improvements
to buildings, and we are in the process to take advantage of this. Within a
month, we hope to conduct an energy audit. We have an energy project
with Honeywell whereby they will go through each school and identify
needs that each building has and develop almost a second capital improvement plan that will be as extensive as the one in place. That plan is $3
million for the next five years. We will be able to update the School
Committee within three month on all the needs relative to that program
and we can update the Capital Improvement Plan on a regular basis.
The School Committee should take a look at those items that are priority
and weigh in on what they think would be a priority. Next year we will
have a second round and we will be adding different improvements.
We will get copies to the School Committee and have a Subcommittee
meeting. It is a work in progress. We will be able to cross reference with
Honeywell.
New QHS
Mr. Ryan updated the Committee on the new High School. During the last
Building Committee meeting, architects SMMA showed what the exterior
of the new QHS would look like. Work continues on that. The next Building
Committee will be on November 13. They are hoping to bring back the
schematic designs at a School Committee meeting. The Building Committee
is reviewing that. At this time, they are talking to Quincy High School staff
to determine what equipment will be put into the new school. They are also
discussing with the staff what they need. The results of the test borings are
not back yet.
Mr. Timmins asked him to set up a mechanism where any handouts can get to
to those members who can’t make the meetings.
Mrs. Mahoney said that the City Council requested a previous borings report
on the field for the track. The Committee would like a copy of that also.
This is a report on the field that states the track can’t be there.
Mr. Mulvey also inquired about the borings taken at Faxon. Mr. Ryan said
that only borings for the new high school were done. He knows there is data
available from previous work done there. Mrs. Mahoney asked that the City
Council be provided results of the borings from the previous company and
she would like those reports given to the School Committee also.
Trophies Program
Ms. Colleen Roberts, Ms. Ann Pegg, Mr. Phil Connolly, Ms. Janet Bagilione
and Ms. Edie Hughes gave an overview of the Trophies Program. The Three
Tier Reading Model is a preventative model designed to meet the instructional
needs of all young readers. It is aimed at identifying struggling readers before
they fall behind. It provides struggling readers with support through the first
four years of schooling.
Ms. Hughes explained the difference between the three tiers. Ms. Pegg spoke
to the assessment procedures. The Integrated Learning Team collects and
organize school wide assessment data. They meet with classroom teachers to
help analyze the assessment data to inform Tier I instruction, identify students
performing below certain benchmarks. It monitors the progress on Tier II and
Tier III students. It provides information to parents, classroom teachers, and
others involved in student learning. Ms. Janet Baglione described the supplemental
programs. Ms. Colleen Roberts spoke to the professional development programs
available to the teachers. The Mayor and members asked a number of questions
about the program and were very pleased with Trophies.
Gift Health Dept.
On a motion by Mr. Timmins, seconded by Mayor Phelan, the Committee
accepted the gift of $14,550 from the Rural Masonic Lodge A.F. & A.M.
to the school Health Services Dept. for the purchase of AEDs for our schools.
The ayes have it.
Additional Business
Mrs. Mahoney attended an Advisory Board Meeting at Quincy High School
and then took a tour of the building. There are some exciting new programs
coming out in the next year. A new program she spoke to is the Protective
Services Program where students can get EMT certification in different services
that they can utilize when they get out of school. She was happy to learn that
not only do the Advanced Placement students get to take credits on to college
but our also our CTE students have the opportunity to take credits for ongoing
studies.
Mr. Timmins said on Friday he attended a Middle School Cross Country meet
at Pageant Field. There were over 230 students participating. Each of the
schools had a strong showing. It was very well run and he commended Jeff
Hennessey for his work with the Track Team.
MASS/MASC
The Committee then reviewed the MASC Resolution and voted on each. Mrs.
Mahoney, the voting delegate to the MASC meeting, will vote on these
resolutions as this Committee decides.
#1 Support
Resolution #1: Including Transitory Student Enrollment in the Calculation
of Aid under Chapter 70: On a motion by Mr. Timmins, seconded by Mr. McCarthy,
the Committee voted to support Resolution #1 as presented. On a roll call vote
the motion to support passed 6-0. Mrs. Dwyer was absent.
#2 Failed
Resolution
#2: Protection of Individual Committee Member Performance
Evaluation Comments: On a motion by Mr. Timmins, seconded by Mr. Mulvey,
the motion to support failed 5-l. Mrs. Mahoney, Mr. McCarthy, Mr. Mulvey,
Mr. Timmins and Mayor Phelan voted NO and Mrs. Stice voted YES, and
Mrs. Dwyer was absent.
#3 Failed
Resolution
#3: Adequate Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 Public Education
Funding: On a motion by Mr. Timmins, seconded by Mr. Mulvey, the motion
to support Resolution #3 failed 6-0. Mrs. Dwyer was absent.
#4 Support
Resolution #4: Reinstatement of the Legislature’s Funding Local School
Transportation Costs at 100%. On a motion by Mr. Timmins, seconded by
Mrs. Mahoney, the motion to support Resolution #4 passed 5-1. Mrs.
Mahoney, Mr. McCarthy, Mr. Mulvey, Ms. Stice and Mr. Timmins voted YES
Mayor Phelan voted NO, and Mrs. Dwyer was absent.
#5 Failed
Resolution
#5: Funding for Unbudgeted Transportation, Fuel, and Electrical
Costs. On a motion by Mr. Timmins, seconded by Mr. McCarthy, the motion
to support Resolution #5 failed 3-3. Mrs. Mahoney, Mr. Timmins, and Mayor
Phelan voted NO, and Mr. McCarthy, Mr. Mulvey and Ms. Stice voted YES
and Mrs. Dwyer was absent.
Retirements
The Committee noted the following retirements:
Teachers: Nancy McGrory, Eileen Rowbotham
Custodian Nicholas Zannis
Resignations
The Committee noted the following resignations:
Lunch Attendants: Cindy Anglehart, Marguerite Barry, Anna Harris, Jean Manning
Appointments
The Committee noted the following appointments:
Lunch Attendants: Paula Capobianchi, Denise Devane, Susan Gillespie
Adjournment
On a motion by Mr. Mulvey, seconded by Mrs. Mahoney , the Committee
voted to adjourn for the evening at 10:00 p.m. There was no executive session.
On a roll call vote, the motion passed 5-2, Mr. Timmins and Mayor Phelan
voted NO and Mrs. Dwyer was absent.