Minutes
Quincy, Massachusetts - March 18, 2009
Regular Meeting of the Quincy School Committee
Regular Meeting
A regular meeting of the Quincy School Committee was held on Wednesday,
March 18, 2009 in the Atlantic Middle School. Present were Mrs. Jo-Ann
Bragg, Mrs. Anne Mahoney, Mrs. Elaine Dwyer, Mr. Nicholas Puleo, Mr. Ron
Mariano, Mr. Dave McCarthy, and Mayor Tom Koch, Chairman.
Chairman
Presiding
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The Superintendent called the roll and all members were present. Also present
were: Dr. Richard DeCristofaro, Secretary; Mrs. Tefta Burrelli, Clerk; Messrs.
Mullaney, Mulvey, Murphy, Draicchio, Keith Segalla, Ms. Roberts, Powell,
Hughes, and Dr. Sylvia Pattavina. Ms. Tracey Christello, Citywide and Mr. Paul
Phillips, QEA.
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Reg. Mins.Approved 3/18/2009
On a motion by Mr. McCarthy, seconded by Mrs. Bragg, the Committee approved
the regular session minutes for March 11, 2009. The ayes have it.
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Atlantic Middle School Student Recognition
Principal Maureen McNeil welcomed everyone to Atlantic Middle School.
The first hour of this meeting was devoted to student recognition. The Atlantic
School Choir sang the National Anthem and the Alphabet Song. Ms. Pat
Dunne introduced the Young Writers editors. The All City Jazz Band, under
the direction of Mr. David Carroll, played several selections. Students who
participated and placed in the All State Musical Competition were recognized.
Art work from both high schools is on display at the Crane Public Library.
The Arts Festival at the Crane Public Library is scheduled to begin on May 4.
Winners of the Boston Globe Scholastic were recognized and received Certificates
of Recognition from the School Committee.
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Open Forum
Ms. Pam Bonfiglioli, Ms. Margo Nelsamo, Mr. John Bonfiglioli, Ms. Nancy
Davis, Mr. Jim McCarthy, Ms. Lynn Bailey and Tracey Christello asked
that the Committee revisit the school calendar which they approved last
week. This calendar had school beginning before Labor Day. Parents said
they have paid and made reservations for that week and do not want to lose
their money. They didn’t see any benefit beginning the school year before
Labor Day.
Mr. Karl Roos spoke to the GIC plan and asked that the Mayor consider
the savings he will realize by people freezing their raises.
Ms. Suzanne Early spoke about her two children, a third and fifth grader,
who are dyslexic. Her third grader has improved but her fifth grader
still cannot read. Her daughter, she said, is not being serviced. She has
spoken with school officials and she feels nothing is being done. She
wants help for her daughter.
Ms. Debbie Napstedt spoke to the Progress Reports for the high school.
She claims they just say “passing” and this could mean a 65 or a 100.
She couldn’t tell which. She would like more definition.
School Cal. 2009-2010 Reconsidered
At this time, Mrs. Dwyer made a motion, seconded by Mr. Mariano, to
reconsider the approval of next year’s school calendar which would
begin before Labor Day. The ayes have it.
New Calendar approved Begins after Labor Day
After some discussion,
Mrs. Dwyer made another motion, seconded by Mr. Mariano, to go
back to the original calendar. This calendar will have school begin
on September 8, 2009, after Labor Day. On a roll call vote, the motion
passed unanimously 7-0.
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Honeywell Update By Messrs. Timmins & Mr. Cunniff
City Solicitor Jim Timmins did a power point presentation showing what
Honeywell was supposed to do in each building and what they did do.
Every year, the City has to come up with $3 million. This is a self-funded
program which will impact the budget and the school budget. He gave an
example of the Wollaston Library. A permit was pulled for a roof for $45,000.
Honeywell charged the City $242,000. The City has concerns about the costs
that were assessed to the City.
He gave other examples -- North Quincy, a water heater which was installed
near a water main gauge. Four new heaters that were hooked up to two old
boilers. By the time the water goes from the new boilers through the old
boilers, the water gets cold. There is no master engineering plan. At Broad
Meadows, the salt marsh return pipes are rusting. The lights installed are
not all the same model. At Beechwood Knoll, there are frozen univents, an
engineering failure. They were installed on the northeast side. The flaps open
and cold air comes in. Honeywell is supposed to monitor these. Mr. Timmins
said that a lot of work has been poorly done. At Squantum, univents were
replaced and a poor job was done. Mr. Timmins showed steam pipes that were
filled with concrete and then capped.
Gary Cunniff meets every week with Honeywell. He stated that Honeywell
keeps carrying things forward. There are communication issues and questions
of confidence. In 2008 the City paid $1.4 million. All payments are in excess
of $1 million
Mr. Timmins said he has contacted the Inspector General. They are reviewing the Energy Savings contract. They will come out and provide help
to Quincy. He is going to try and negotiate some issues. There has been
productive results on some problems. Honeywell says that they did value
billing--over a certain point you are going to realize savings.
Mrs. Bragg said she knows that a lot of work was done at the schools.
She also knows they were there trying to fix problems. The Committee
would like to be kept in the loop.
Mr. McCarthy said the Committee’s request was a listing of what was
completed and what wasn’t and what to do about it. He thought Mr.
Timmins was going to bring a punch list.
Mr. Cunniff said that 99% of the equipment has been installed but that he
cannot sign off on a future savings, as it might not occur. His focus is that
everything listed is installed in the buildings.
Mr. Puleo expressed concern for students who might get burned from
the steam pipes with the cement caps. Mr. Cunniff said this only
happened in one school.
Mr. Cunniff said given some time he could get a listing. Physically,
they are there but there are problems with the functions.
Mr. Kevin Murphy added that there are ten buildings completed. A lot
of the building are fine. He will do an assessment of custodial and
maintenance.
Mrs. Mahoney thought that it was irresponsible that the Committee did
not receive the information they requested. Mr. Timmins added that
Mr. Cunniff is extraordinarily busy – working on the new high school,
Central Middle School, and city buildings. This type of report is
very complex. All of the information is being shared weekly with the
people in the school department who do the work. The information is
there. As far as getting these reports it is going to take some time.
Mrs. Dwyer said she would like to find out what Honeywell paid
the contractors. She has been asking for a report since last September.
She would like information school by school on what was done and
what we’re still doing.
Mayor Koch added that he thought this was an outrageous contract and
goes against everything we do in public bidding. The City took a
bad rap. He will continue to fight this issue for the taxpayers and to get
the buildings right.
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Bldgs. & Grounds
Mr. Kevin Murphy reported that the auditorium at Sterling will be ready
for the MCAS. He had a quick tour on Friday with the Superintendent.
They installed a new batting cage at Lincoln Hancock. The security systems
at Wollaston and Montclair are working fine. They are still working on
the Squantum lab.
Mr. McCarthy asked if he could install the glass backboards over the
summer at Point Webster.
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QHS Bldg. Committee
There was no new action by the Quincy High School Building Committee
to report.
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Central Bldg. Committee
Mrs. Bragg reported that they submitted the name of the Owners Project Manager
to the SBA. They are still awaiting a reply.
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Transitions Tabled
The Quincy Public Schools Transitions presentation was tabled until the
April 1 meeting.
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Additional Business
Mrs. Bragg has called a Policy Subcommittee meeting for Wednesday, March
25 in the Superintendent’s Conference Room at 30 p.m. to discuss recess and
the Policy Manual.
Mrs. Mahoney called a Special Education Subcommittee meeting for
Wednesday, March 25 at 7:00 p.m. at Broad Meadows.
Superintendent DeCristofaro commended staff on the Coordinated Program
Review. Many areas are examined by the Department of Education.
The Special Education Department did very well. He commended the
Director of Special Education, the teaching staff, and Dr. Pattavina. Quincy
does a tremendous job in Special Education. The process is very difficult
and families need to know we are here for them.
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GIC Proposal Passes
Mr. Mariano made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Bragg, to take the GIC
issue out of the Finance Committee and dispose of it. The ayes have it.
Mr. Mariano said it’s been around for many meetings and everyone expressed
their concerns. They know for sure where the City is going to be with
regards to health insurance. This will free up $4 million for both
the City and the Schools.
Mr. Mariano made a motion, seconded by Mr. Puleo to accept the GIC
Proposal.
Mrs. Dwyer asked if there was a change as to who was going to get the $300.
Mayor Koch answered that anyone who is insurance eligible will receive it.
The Mayor, his City Department Heads, and the staff in the Mayor’s office
will not get it including the receptionist and the secretary. Clerical that
are non civil service and personnel in the law office will receive it. All
department heads will not, his staff in the mayor’s office will not, other
clerical non union and non civil service will get it. It is built in there for non-
union people in the city side.
Mrs. Dwyer said she didn’t understand how the Committee could vote on it
tonight. Mrs. Dwyer continued her questions. The memo of agreement that
the Mayor wanted them to sign are not supposed to have anything to do with
joining the GIC. Now, it’s being called the GIC agreements.
At this time, Mrs. Bragg moved the question, seconded by Mr. Mariano. On a
roll call vote to move the question, the motion passed 4-3. MRS. DWYER,
MR. MARIANO and MR. MCCARTHY VOTED NO.
GIC Agreements Passed
On the original motion to accept the GIC side agreements and sign them, the
motion passed 5-2. MRS. DWYER and MR. MCCARTHY voted NO.
Mrs. Dwyer made a motion, seconded by Mr. McCarthy, that the equivalent
of the $300 for the Quincy school employees be submitted in our budget on the
line that says “reserve for negotiations.” Mr. Puleo made a point of order
that the school budget can’t be earmarked.
$300 equivalent on school budget
Mrs. Dwyer changed her motion to put on the school budget line “reserved
for negotiations” the equivalent of the $300 for the 1,562 school employees.
On a roll call vote, the motion passed unanimously 7-0.
$300 toward textbooks
Mr. Puleo announced he would be waiving his $300 increase and asked Mr.
Mariano to earmark it for school textbooks. Mrs. Bragg, Mr. Mariano and
Mrs. Mahoney joined Mr. Puleo.
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Adjournment
On a motion by Mr. McCarthy, seconded by Mr. Puleo, the Committee
voted to go into Executive Session at 10:14 p.m. for the purpose of
negotiations. On a roll call vote, the motion passed unanimously 7-0. The
Committee did not return to Open Session.