Minutes
Quincy, Massachusetts - November 18, 2009
Regular Meeting of the Quincy School Committee
Regular Meeting
A regular meeting of the Quincy School Committee was held on Wednesday,
November 18, 2009 in the Clifford Marshall Elementary School. Present were
Mrs. Anne Mahoney, Mrs. Elaine Dwyer, Mrs. Jo-Ann Bragg, Mayor Koch,
and Mr. Dave McCarthy, Vice Chairman.
Vice Chairman
Presiding
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The Superintendent called the roll and Mr. Ron Mariano and Mr. Nicholas Puleo
were absent. Also present were: Dr. Richard DeCristofaro, Secretary; Mrs. Tefta
Burrelli, Clerk; Messrs. Mullaney, Murphy, O’Brien, Draicchio, Keith Segalla,
Ms. Roberts, Tenaglia, Todd, and Hughes. Ms. Tracey Christello, Citywide and
Paul Phillips, QEA. Daruis Varmahmoodi and Lawrence Liuzzo, high school
Student Representatives.
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Reg. Session. Min. Approved 10/21/2009
On a motion by Mrs. Bragg, seconded by Mrs. Dwyer, the Committee approved
the regular session minutes for October 21, 2009. The ayes have it.
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Welcome by Principal
Mr. Phillip Connolly, Principal, welcomed everyone to the Clifford Marshall
Elementary School. Ms. LeeAnn Maki read the book Have you Filled a Bucket
Today? which is used throughout the school, and Barbara Christenson directed
the chorus. They sang “This Land was Made for you and Me.”
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Partnership Recognition
The Committee recognized Mr. Tom Zukauskas with a Certificate of Appreciation.
The Cerebral Palsy and the school department have had a wonderful relationship.
Among other services, they have given their playground equipment worth well
over $10,000. The equipment will be stored and then put up for the Snug Harbor
School. Mr. Zukauskas thanked everyone for acknowledging the Cerebral Palsy
Board of Directors and staff.
Appointment SH Asst. Principal
The Superintendent has appointed Ms. Margaret MacNeil to the Assistant
Principal position at the Snug Harbor School.
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American Ed. Week Student Winners
Ms. Colleen Roberts introduced the winners of the American Educational Week
Essay Contest. Their essay was entitled “What Education Means to Me, My
Family, and My Country.” Ms. Roberts introduced the first, second, and third
place winners, their teachers, and their principals who were present. The first
place winners read their essays to the Committee.
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Open Forum
Ms. Linda Perry commended the Clifford Marshall School. It is an example of
what inclusion in the community is all about. Also, kudos to Point Webster for
their newsletter which includes information about substantially separate classrooms.
It shows what’s right about the Quincy Public Schools.
Ms. Carol Dumas announced that QPAC is hosting a documentary “Including
Samuel” on Wednesday, December 9 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the
Thomas Crane Public Library. She invited everyone to watch a family’s
effort to include Samuel who has Cerebral Palsy.
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Bldg. Update
Mr. Kevin Murphy reported that electricians installed additional lighting at
Broad Meadows, wired the scoreboard at Lincoln Hancock gym. The
carpenters completed a storage facility at Beechwood Knoll, a computer
closet at Wollaston, refurbished exit doors at Lincoln Hancock, repaired the
exterior columns at Atherton House and completed many work orders.
Plumbers have freed a major blockage at the Bernazanni. They are continuing
their work on the automatic soap dispensers throughout the schools and custodial
closets. The Maintenance staff stays busy with heating calls, moving and making
repairs.
The roof over the North Quincy auditorium has been completed and repairs
and painting to the walls has begun. The bids for the tile at Squantum elemen-
tary school’s library are coming in. The Mayor has approved $42,000 for the
elevator at North Quincy to be repaired. It will be a complete overhaul. It
will be ADA compliant and should be ready by December 10.
Mrs. Bragg asked Mr. Murphy to review the School Improvement Plans.
There is a list of repairs that need to be made and some are marked critical.
Mr. Murphy said he was asked by Mr. Timmins to speak at the City Council
last Monday evening about his current budget. He wanted to be clear that when
he said we were approximately 50% through our budget to the Council that
they know that our budget is for supplies and services, and we aren’t using any
of that money for anything but supplies and services.
Mrs. Mahoney said to Mr. Murphy that she was confused with his statements
to the City Council.
Mr. Murphy answered that he meant to say is that we’ve used approximately
50% of his budget for services and supplies and the money he is currently
using for heating issues for Honeywell repairs is not coming out of that.
That’s the money we are looking for from the City Council.
Mr. Murphy said he was asked by the Mayor and Mr. Timmins to show up
at the meeting to answer questions about Honeywell issues currently going
on at our schools. He put together a list of deficiencies. The reason why
he was there is because the City is looking for more money from the Council
to fix the schools deficiencies.
Mr. Mahoney thought that the School Committee should have been made
aware before he went to the City Council. When the Committee is asked
questions about Honeywell, and where our buildings stand, we are being
told that it is in Gary Cunniff’s hands. So, she was surprised to see him
representing the schools with regard to Honeywell. Although the
Committee has asked for information regarding Honeywell, they haven’t
received anything.
The Mayor said that all contracts come out of the City side. The City is
using an inordinate amount of contract lines on issues because they have
not resolved the Honeywell issue. They went to the City Council to
ask for a $200,000 appropriation in order to keep the heating systems
throughout the schools working. Some may be related to Honeywell,
some may not.
There are a number of issues the City is dealing with Honeywell. It is
all City side funding. The School Committee didn’t take a vote. A lot
of issues involve the schools buildings. In order to keep things going
the City is taking appropriations and moving it into Mr. Cunniff’s line.
The Mayor said that Mr. Murphy was not asking for any money, the Mayor
of the City was asking the City Council for a transfer. Mr. Murphy was asked
to be there in case questions came up relating to some heating issues. There
was no request by the school system.
Mrs. Mahoney thought it was the wording that there was a shortfall on the
school side and that Mr. Cunniff should have been up there. The School
Committee would like to have Mr. Cunniff here to educate them on Honeywell issues.
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Mr. McCarthy asked Mr. Murphy to look at the Stadium boiler room. He
noticed a significant leak in the boiler room.
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New QHS Update
Mr. Gary Cunniff; Mr. Jim Anderson; Mr. Eugene Caruso, Tishman Project Mgt.;
Mr. Ed Frenette, Symmes, Maini & McKee Design Status / MA Chips;
Mr. Jim Driscoll, Gilbane Construction; and Mr. Frank Santoro, Quincy High
School Principal were present and gave an update on the progress of the
new Quincy High School building.
Update on Project
Mr. Cunniff began the update and said that the new high school is a success
story in the making. The building is 2/3 of the way finished. Mr. Gene Caruso
gave and overall presentation on the building budget. We are on schedule and
under budget. The cost of the school is $126,579,607 and we are now at
$82,999,897 and the school is 65% complete. We had a contingency fund of
$8 million and we have spent $5 million. We will be opening on schedule and
the gym and auditorium will be ready by the end of September. There are
seven to twelve Quincy residents working there every week. We have been
awarded a Mass CHIPS grant for $300,000 for a photo tank system.
Mr. Ed Frenette spoke to the Mass CHIPS grant. Quincy should be receiving a
letter this week announcing that we have achieved 34 points on the Mass renewable
trust. We will get a 30-kilowatt system for that $300,000.
Mr. Jim Driscoll showed a series of pictures of the building progress. They had
a “topping off” on October 15. They are working to close in the building for the
winter. All the floors and roof are complete. We are on schedule and on budget.
The project is going well.
Mr. McCarthy asked who the Quincy person was that is there to check on the
progress of the building. Mr. Cunniff is there all the time. He does the checks.
Mr. Frank Santoro said that all the men are easy to work with. His only concern
is the noise from the coffee truck. Staff and students are very excited. It is a
whole new way of teaching. Students are very well versed. We have begun
our “move” meetings.
Mrs. Bragg questioned a Wheatstone letter the Committee received about a
decision whether we are going with Class C or a Phase 4/5 report? Mr. Cunniff
said there are still two wells that are capped and are monitored. They are required
to monitor them. Wheatstone comes out and checks.
Mr. Cunniff said as they get towards the close out, they will make another punch
list. They are working with a consolidated punch list.
The Superintendent thanked the gentlemen for coming to the meeting. On
December 14, they will make a presentation to the City Council and share
with them plans for parking.
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QHS Bldg. Comm. Mrs. Dwyer reports
Mr. Dwyer reported that the QHS Building Subcommittee voted to go with the
Class C filing for Wheatstone. Gilbane has hired Day and Zimmerman Security
Service. There is 24-hr. security around the new building.
Mrs. Bragg asked where the contingency fund money goes if it is not used?
Mrs. Dwyer said she would like to see it go to restore some of the items that
were cut. However, she thought the money would go back to the City. Most
of the $5 million contingency fund went to the leaky oil tanks and new
sewer pipes.
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Central Building Committee Mrs. Mahoney reports
Mrs. Mahoney reported that the enrollment projections have been submitted to
the SBA for Central Middle School. The refreshed Statement of Interest for
Reay E. Sterling has also gone to the SBA.
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Gifts Elementary Students
On a motion by Mrs. Bragg, seconded by Ms. Dwyer, the Committee accepted
a donation of 635 dictionaries for elementary students from the Quincy Lodge
of Elks. The ayes have it.
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Communications
The Committee commended the Quincy High School Culinary Arts Program.
Mr. Noe and his Quincy High students are doing an exceptional job on the
many functions being held in the school.
Congratulations went to the Quincy High School Girls’ Volleyball Team. They
will be present on the December 16 meeting for recognition.
The MASC acknowledged Senator Michael Morrissey and Representative
Ronald Mariano as “Legislators of the Year.” Quincy is very fortunate to have
them.
Mrs. Bragg congratulated Mrs. Lebo and Mayor Koch for winning on
election day.
The Mayor mentioned the Patriot Ledger article naming Quincy the “greatest
place to raise a family.” Congratulations to everyone for the good work they
do, especially the outstanding school system in Quincy.
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QPS Robotics to Florida 3/11-3/13/10
On a motion by Mrs. Bragg, seconded by Mayor Koch, the Committee
approved the QPS Hyper Robotics Team’s travel request to go to Florida
Regional Competitions held at the University of Central Florida on March 11-
March 13, 2010. The ayes have it.
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Mrs. Bragg hoped that Quincy’s high schools would submit stories about what’s
happening in their schools to the Patriot Ledger. The Ledger has begun a
section on area high schools.
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Hanlin Charter School
Mrs. Mahoney reports
The City Council joined the School Committee’s resolve regarding the Charter
School. Ron Mariano did write a letter against the Hanlin Charter School in
Quincy that will go with the package to the Department of Education asking
them not to approve the Hanlin Charter School. Mrs. Mahoney attended a
information night sponsored by the charter school. There was a lot of miscommunication. Some of the things in their presentation were misleading.
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will be at the Crane
Library from 4-6 p.m. The public is invited to speak to the final application.
Mrs. Bragg was concerned with some of the statistics they presented. She
asked that the Superintendent look it over. Also, they are going to explore using
Quincy Public School buses for their students.
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Policy Subcommittee Mrs. Bragg reports
The Policy Subcommittee met on October 28, November 5 and November 12
and reviewed all the School Improvement Plans. These were the best plans
they have ever seen. There were many corrective ideas, some new program.
Mrs. Bragg made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Mahoney, to approve all of the
high school, middle and elementary school plans. The ayes have it.
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Graduation Requirements Policy 9.11.5 approved
On a motion by Mrs. Bragg, seconded by Mrs. Dwyer, the Committee approved
the Graduation Requirements Policy 9.11.5. On a roll call vote, the motion
passed 5-0. Mr. Mariano and Mr. Puleo were absent.
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Budget Subcommittee
Mrs. Bragg reports
The Budget Subcommittee met on Monday and reviewed the Quarterly Budget
which went through to September 30. Everything looks great. We are hoping
for a mild winter. We are where we should be. Mrs. Bragg made a motion,
seconded by Mrs. Mahoney, to approve the Quarterly Budget Report. The
ayes have it.
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Appointments
The Committee noted the following appointments
Teachers: Colleen McDonnell, Breanne Therrien
Paraprofessional: Christina Conley
Resignations
The Committee noted the following resignations:
Guidance Counselor: Lauren Gallo-Heston
Teachers: Nicole McGovern, Matthew Reggiannini
Café Helper: Lillian Shionis
Retirements
The Committee noted the following retirements:
Paraprofessional: Kathleen Cashman
Sr. Clerk-Typist: Diane McNiff
Jr.
Custodian: Raymond Scanlon
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Adjournment
On a motion by Mrs. Dwyer, seconded by Mrs. Mahoney, the School Committee
meeting adjourned at 9:25 p.m. for the evening. There was no Executive
Session. On a roll call vote, the motion passed 5-0. Mr. Mariano and Mr.
Puleo were absent.