Minutes
School Policy Subcommittee Meeting
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
A meeting of the School Policy Subcommittee was held on Tuesday, October 25, 2011 at 4:30
pm in the Superintendent’s Conference Room. Present were Mrs. Elaine Dwyer, Ms. Barbara
Isola, Mrs. Emily Lebo, and Mrs. Jo-Ann Bragg, Chair. Also attending were Superintendent
DeCristofaro, Mrs. Colleen Roberts, Mrs. Ann Pegg, Ms. Dorothy Greene, Mr. Steve Sylvia, Mr.
Peter Dionne, Mrs. Diane O’Keeffe, and Ms. Laura Owens, Clerk.
The meeting was called to order at 4:35 pm by Mrs. Isola.
After opening remarks, Mrs. Ann Pegg presented the Merrymount Elementary School
Improvement Plan and reflected on last year’s goals. Neither the Math nor ELA goal was fully
met as Open Response results varied across the grades but the percentage correct targets were
not achieved. The scores on year-end Assessments for both Math and ELA did meet the 70%
target for proficiency. The school’s MCAS Student Growth Percentile remained in the moderate
range.
For 2011-12, in ELA, Merrymount wants to increase the students’ ability to apply the knowledge
they acquire in the ELA classroom and become responsive readers, writers, and thinkers. The
Keys to Literacy professional development workshop is a key tool for staff and they are using
consistent strategies. For Math, Merrymount wants to improve mathematical abilities by
enhancing students’ skills to solve problems, think critically, and respond effectively.
Goals for 2011-12: (1) Teachers in grades 1-5 will implement various reading initiatives to
increase student success in ELA. Initiatives will result in 75% of students in grades 1-5 scoring at
proficient or above on year-end Trophies assessments. Also, students in grades 3, 4, and 5 will
increase from the grade-level 2011 MCAS open response average score by 2% in the 2012
MCAS assessment. Additionally, students in grade 5 will increase their open response average
score by 2% from the previous year’s average. (2) Teachers in grades 1-5 will implement
various math initiatives to increase student success in Math. Initiatives will result in seventyfive percent of students in grades 1-5 scoring at proficient or above on year-end Houghton
Mifflin Harcourt assessments. Also, students in grades 3, 4, and 5 will increase from the gradelevel 2011 MCAS open response average score by 2% in the 2012 MCAS assessment.
Additionally, students in grade 5 will increase their open response average score by 2% from
the previous year’s average. (3) Merrymount teachers and support staff in grades K-5 will
examine and dissect the Common Core Standards and “aim to align instruction” with the new
frameworks.
There was a discussion of facility needs, specifically intercoms that aren’t fully functioning in
four classrooms. The subcommittee asked questions about PTO fundraising, text and learning
purchases, Orton Gillingham teachers (1 SPED teacher is certified), and subgroup populations
(total enrollment: 371 students in grades K-5, 31 students on IEPs, 98 students with free or
reduced lunch, 41 ELL students)
At the conclusion of the discussion, Mrs. Dwyer moved to approve the Merrymount Elementary
School Improvement Plan. Mrs. Bragg seconded the motion, and on a voice vote, the ayes have
it.
Ms. Dottie Greene presented the Atherton Hough School Improvement Plan and spoke about
the strong tradition of the school; multiple generations from the same families have attended
the school and there is a high level of community investment. Last spring’s Centennial
Celebration was a successful community event, one of the goals from the 2010-2011 SIP. Last
year’s Math goal was met, but the ELA goal was not fully met.
For 2011-2012, the school’s goals are (1) The number of students in grades 4 and 5 scoring in
the proficient category on the 2012 Mathematics MCAS will increase by 2% as compared to the
2011 Mathematics MCAS. (2) The raw score for Topic Development, as measured by the Grade
4 Long Composition on the 2012 MCAS will increase by two points as compared to the 2011
Long Composition scores. (3) To improve scores by an average of one point on the Open
Response questions on the Literature Strand for the 2012 ELA MCAS.
During the discussion that followed, facilities needs around repointing were reviewed and also,
the number of improvements completed in anticipation of the Centennial celebration. The
before and after-school programs’ efficacy in improving children’s problem solving abilities and
overall self-confidence was reviewed as well as the subgroup populations (total enrollment: 291
students in grades K-5, 31 students on IEPs in regular education classes, 18 students in LDC
Grades 1-5, and 4 students in STARS K-1, 67 students with free or reduced lunch, 8 ELL
students).
At the conclusion of the discussion, Mrs. Dwyer moved to approve the Atherton Hough
Elementary School Improvement Plan. Mrs. Isola seconded the motion, and on a voice vote,
the ayes have it.
Mr. Steve Sylvia then presented the Squantum Elementary School Improvement Plan,
highlighting last year’s achievements, including being commended by DESE for exiting status in
both Math and ELA and the school’s High performance ratings. Ten of nineteen classroom
teachers took professional development classes over the summer, cited Keys to Literacy and
Skillful Teacher as good resources.
For 2011-2012, the school’s goals are: (1) By June 2012, students will demonstrate enhanced
informational text strategies across the curriculum, as assessed by Trophies end-of-selection
tests, MCAS nonfiction scores, and Reading GRADE tests. Students will meet or exceed the
District’s percent correct in Nonfiction questions on MCAS and QPS GRADE tests. (2) By June
2012, increase the schools 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade MCAS Mathematics Open Response scores to
equal or exceed the State’s proficient percent. (3) By June 2012, Squantum School staff will
support and encourage a school environment of multicultural respect and understanding
through various activities outlined in our action steps.
Mr. Sylvia mentioned current curriculum initiatives including Go Math! for Grades K-2 and
piloting for Grades 3-5, Study Island, Lexia, and Cornerstones ELL curriculum. The staff are
utilizing online curriculum and using LCD projectors (some of the school’s technology initiatives
are supported by the PTO). Other notes for this school year is that there is now a full-time
Literacy teacher at Squantum and almost all of the facility issues from last year’s SIPs were
completed. This year’s needs are traffic concerns, completion of the roof repairs, and
completing the gym/stage area renovations.
After a review of the subgroup populations (total enrollment: 364 students in grades K-5, 80
students on IEPs in regular education classes and in the SST classes, 102 students with free or
reduced lunch, 44 ELL students), Ms. Isola moved to approve the Squantum Elementary School
Improvement Plan. Mrs. Dwyer seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
Mr. Peter Dionne then presented the Bernazzani Elementary School Improvement Plan,
reviewing some of the highlights from the spring’s MCAS results: the CPI scores for both Math
and ELA are the highest in school history, growth over last four years has been impressive.
Student growth is heading in the right direction, but AYP remains a frustration. Great staff,
participated in voluntary summer meeting and also monthly Tuesday afternoon meetings.
For 2011-2012, the goals are (1) During the 2011-2012 school year, the Bernazzani School will
increase our percentage of students achieving proficiency in ELA by three percent, through
open response practice as well as differentiating instruction. (2) During the 2011-2012 school
year, the Bernazzani School will increase the percentage of students achieving proficiency by
two percent with special focus on number sense, probability, and geometry. (3) During the
2011-2012 school year, will facilitate better communication throughout the school and school
community by implementing and completing the following action steps.
Mr. Dionne noted that Keys to Literacy professional development, Study Island, and the
school’s meet the author program were keys for meeting the ELA goal, while the problem of the
week, focus on math vocabulary, and other math initiatives were keys for the Math goal. The
school gets a lot of support from their PTO, in terms of technology (MOBIs, clickers, document
cameras, LCD projectors.
After a review of the subgroup populations (total enrollment: 344 students in grades K-5, 31
students on IEPs, 65 students with free or reduced lunch, 23 ELL students), Mrs. Lebo moved to
approve the Bernazzani Elementary School Improvement Plan. Ms. Isola seconded the motion
and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
The final presentation of the evening was Mrs. Diane O’Keeffe, who presented the Beechwood
Knoll Elementary School Improvement Plan. Mrs. O’Keeffe reflected on the 2010-2011 goals
and how the Literacy/Writing goal is continuing into this school year. Beechwood Knoll was
commended by DESE for the 2nd year in a row for high growth, even though the school did not
make AYP. The school has been successful in Math as well, but there is still room to grow.
Goals for 2011-2012: (1) Through the continued use of the John Collins Writing Program, the
Four-Square Writing Graphic Organizer, and the implementation of the 6+1 Traits of Writing
Program, at least 60 percent of Beechwood Knoll students will achieve a score of 16 or above
on the 4th grade Long Composition exam. (2) The percentage of students scoring proficient or
higher in Grade Four will increase by 3% from their Grade Three Math MCAS Spring 2011 test
results. (3) The percentage of students scoring Proficient or higher in Grade Four will increase
by 3% from their Grade Three ELA MCAS Spring 2011 test results.
In terms of facilities, the greatest need is for additional classroom space. The school’s outdoor
classroom is up and running. After a review of the subgroup populations (total enrollment: 375
students in grades K-5, 32 students on IEPs in regular education classes, 130 students with free
or reduced lunch, 50 ELL students), Ms. Isola moved to approved the Beechwood Knoll
Elementary School Improvement Plan. Mrs. Dwyer seconded the motion and on a voice vote,
the ayes have it.
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 2nd at 3:30 pm in the Principal’s
Conference Room at Quincy High School. The School Improvement Plans for Lincoln Hancock,
Clifford Marshall, Montclair, Parker, Snug Harbor, and Wollaston will be presented by their
principals. The School Improvement Plans will be distributed to the School Committee on
Friday, October 28.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:50 pm.