Minutes
Quincy, Massachusetts - March 26, 2008
Regular Meeting of the Quincy School Committee
Regular Meeting
A regular meeting of the Quincy School Committee was held on Wednesday,
March 26, 2008 at North Quincy High School. Present were Mrs. Anne
Mahoney, Mr. Kevin Mulvey, Mr. Nick Puleo, Mrs. Elaine Dwyer, Mayor
Tom Koch, Mrs. Jo-Ann Bragg, and Mr. Dave McCarthy, Vice Chairman.
This meeting began at 6:30 p.m.
Vice 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.
O’Brien, Walsh, Mullaney, McPhee, Keith Segella, Dr. Pattavina, Ms. Powell,
Hughes, and Roberts. Ms. Tracey Christello represented Citywide, and Mr.
Paul Phillips, QEA President, was present. The Committee observed a moment
of silence for Sonny Christello who recently passed away.
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Regular Mtg. Mins. Approved 3/12//2008
On a motion by Mr. Mulvey, seconded by Mr. Puleo, the Committee approved
the Regular Session minutes for March 12, 2008. On a roll call vote, the
motion passed unanimously 7-0.
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Welcome by Principal
Mr. Earl Metzler, Principal of North Quincy High School, welcomed the
Committee. He spoke to the Science Fair in its 50th year, the athletic teams,
girls' basketball in the semi finals, and showed a film of 2008 Class
Spirit Week. Three North Quincy choir students entertained the Committee
singing the National Anthem and Jericho. The students invited everyone
to the Spring Concert on April 16 at North Quincy High School.
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Gift: School Bus Masons
Janet Powell introduced Daryl Rhodes, Peter Carlson and Dave Smith
of the Quincy Rural Masonic Lodge. Over the years, the Masons have
given to the school department defibrillators, funds for emergency kits in
every school, an Epi-pen for each school, life skills curriculum, scholarships
for graduates, and the CHIP Program. This year, they are donating an
18-passenger yellow school bus with wheel chair capability which will
help transport Special Ed Children. The Committee is invited Wednesday,
June 11 at the Masonic Building for a dinner and presentation of an official
check for the cost of the bus. The Mayor and Committee thanked them for
their help they give to the children of Quincy.
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Beechwood Knoll Environmental Classroom
Ms. Diane O’Keeffe, Beechwood Knoll Principal, shared with the
Committee details of an Environmental Classroom proposal the school
wishes to build in the wetlands behind the school. They would like to put
in a wild flower garden and sitting area with benches and create a grassy
area behind the school property. They will refurbish the nature trails.
Teachers could bring their students along the trails for walks. There will be
six animal track traps. They plan to reseed the recreational area for soccer.
An outdoor classroom would be 32’x40’ platform two feet in the wooded
area back from the marsh. There will be motion lighting in the evening for
security. The lights will shine on the outdoor classroom itself. They wish
to repair and install a fence that is there but is in disrepair. The DPW will
take out hot top that was dumped there back in 1961. The PTO has financed
the preliminaries. The Quincy Conservation Commission has approved plans
for this project. They hope to get consideration from the Preservation
Committee. This will be open to the whole community.
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Partnership Recognition
Tonight the Committee recognized partners Boston Financial Data
Services. Mr. Keith Segalla introduced Jean Sternson and Donna Bears.
They partner with North Quincy High School. Boston Financial Data
holds mock interviews, a three-day mediation training, an art and photo
show, $1,000 gift to two students annually. Boston Financial is committed
to the partnership. They received a plaque in appreciation from the
Committee in recognition of their commitment, dedication, and support
to the Quincy Public Schools.
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Robotics
There is a Robotics competition at Boston University this weekend. Keith
Segella and Tim Scow, Quincy High student, highlighted team accomplishments
at the Florida Regional. Thanks went to the Gillette engineers and Paul Mauriello,
program facilitator, for the endless hours they give to this program. There is a
dinner on Saturday night. The Committee received an invitation.
The Committee received information on Student Expo/Building Bridges to
the Future, the Golf Tournament on June 26, the Partnership Breakfast on
April 3, Performing Arts Workshops, Drama Dance and Vocal Instrumental.
Marshall Math Academy begins this Saturday with three additional Saturdays.
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School Leavers
Ms. Janet Powell was invited to speak to the Board of Education last Tuesday.
She put together the School Leavers issue based upon the work done by the
School Committee to try and keep our students in school. It was well received.
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Open Forum
As no one wished to be heard at the Open Forum, the Committee went on
with the business at hand.
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Bldg. Update
Maintenance is working on the intercom system at North Quincy High
and Lincoln Hancock. It has been determined that the North Quincy
intercom is beyond repair. We are going through the bidding process.
Installation for the intercom system at Lincoln Hancock is scheduled
for Thursday and Friday. On Saturday, connections will take place.
Fire extinguisher inspections have been completed. We are into a rotation
and the Superintendent will keep the Committee comprised of that.
Dave McCarthy thanked Mr. Ryan for the detailed report he gave at
the School Facilities Management Subcommittee meeting. He answered
a lot of questions.
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New QHS
Mrs. Dwyer reported that there is a Quincy High School Building Committee
meeting scheduled for tomorrow. A Topping of the Tree ceremony was held
on March 18. Ms. Mahoney and Mulvey were present along with
Ron Mariano and Mike McFarland, and it went very smoothly. The
Quincy High School Building Committee has scheduled a meeting on
the last Friday of every month.
Mrs. Bragg asked that the School Committee and City Council receive
copies of the minutes of those meetings. Mrs. Dwyer said she hasn’t
received any as yet.
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Central Building Committee
Mayor Koch announced the membership for the Central Building Committee.
Mayor Koch said it was a forgone conclusion that Central needs to be
replaced. The members are as follows:
Superintendent DeCristofaro.
Jen Fay, Principal
Jim Timmins, Chair
Gary Cunniff
Chris Walker, Mayor’s Representative
Joann Bragg, School Committee
Anne Mahoney, School Committee, and
a citizen from the community at large to be announced.
Mrs. Dwyer recommended that a City Councillor be on the Committee.
The Mayor will consider her recommendation.
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Calendar Tabled
The School Calendar for 2008/2009 remains on the table.
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SC Calendar 08/09 Approved
On a motion by Mrs. Bragg, seconded by Mr. Mulvey, the committee
approved the School Committee Calendar for 2008/2009. The ayes have it.
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Q-Math Assessment
Mrs. Roberts gave an overview of the process of creating an internal Quincy
teacher assessment in mathematic called the Q-Math Assessment.
The Q-Math Assessment will help teachers and principals know when students
are at grade level in math. We want to be able to identify students who are
excelling, identify students who were struggling and reflect on the pace
of the teaching Math through the school year. Teachers participated on a
Design Team to create a system-wide assessment on Math in grade 3.
The panel consists of Carolann Marx, Lauren Laub, Ann Pegg and Mary
Fredrickson.
Ms. Marx and Ms. Laub went on to explain the design team process.
Q-Math has extended beyond the elementary school and has been designed
for grades 6 and 8. Middle school principals and teachers saw the benefit
in the Q-Math assessment in the lower grades. Assessment results are
currently being reviewed by both principals and teachers.
Mr. Puleo asked what was the benefit of this model vs. traditional bench-
marks testing? The teachers answered that the format is similar to MCAS.
Mrs. Mahoney praised the teachers for their accomplishments.
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BM to Rhode Island
On a motion by Mr. Puleo, seconded by Mrs. Dwyer, the Committee
approved Broad Meadows trip to Rhode Island on April 11, 2008. Mr.
McCarthy asked that another chaperone go on the trip. The ayes have it.
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NQROTC to DC
On a motion by Mrs. Bragg, seconded by Mrs. Dwyer, the Committee
approved the North Quincy ROTC students’ trip to Washington DC on
April 9 -13, 2008. The ayes have it.
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Gift - Casastart
On a motion by Mrs. Bragg, seconded by Mayor Koch, the Committee
accepted a gift of $634.38 to the Casastart program. The ayes have it.
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To Subcommittee
Mr. Puleo put into the Health Safety and Security Subcommittee an
assessment of ways to increase the school breakfast participation
in our elementary schools.
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Budget Subcommittee Scheduled
Mr. Mulvey has called a Budget Subcommittee meeting Tuesday, April 8
at 4:00 p.m. to review the quarterly budget.
Mrs. Bragg asked if they could also look at teacher resource libraries.
However, Mr. Mulvey said he will call a separate meeting for that issue
as we would need to see what types of funding are available and if we
can afford that.
Track
The Committee inquired into the track. Mayor Koch answered that his
administration is committed to building a track for our student athlete
and the community. Mrs. Mahoney asked what the time frame was on
it as there is a process involved in both locations—the Quincy Ave. site
and Faxon Field. Mayor Koch however, said he didn’t know when it
would be done. He thought Faxon Field would be an ideal location. However,
Faxon Field will have to be reloaded and throwing events would not be
allowed in the infield area. Discussions are on-going with the YMCA to
use their facilities across the street for throwing events.
Mrs. Mahoney asked where could they have high school football
practice. The Mayor answered that the track season is in spring,
cross country fall, the infield would be used for football.
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SPED Subcomittee
Mrs. Mahoney announced a SPED Subcommittee for April 1 at Atlantic
Middle at 7:00 p.m. She invited people to the Robotics on Saturday. Blue
Man Group will be there. She promised an exciting event.
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Walk around Beechwood
Mc. McCarthy invited all to go to Beechwood Knoll on April 5, at 20 p.m.
and take a 45 minute walk around to see where they want to put the outdoor
classroom.
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Policy Subcommittee
Mrs. Bragg made a motion, seconded by Mayor Koch, to approved the January 31
Policy Subcommittee meeting minutes. The ayes have it.
Another Policy Subcommittee meeting on March 17 was held to discuss alternatives
and options to voting places inside the schools. In gathering the information they
found the situation to be more complex then thought. Mr. Joe Shea will be at the
April 7 meeting. The policy manual, three parts of section 5 and all of section 11,
were reviewed. Some policies were tabled for further action so the whole section
will remain on the table. On a motion by Mrs. Bragg, seconded by Mr. Mulvey,
the Committee approved the minutes. The ayes have it.
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School Facilities Mgt. Subcommittee
The School Facilities Management Subcommittee met on March 19. They
reviewed the school system’s Critical Needs List. Mr. Ryan gave a presentation.
Mrs. Dwyer briefly went down the list of what has been accomplished. Key
was the money that came from a bond issue for this. There will be another
meeting on April 16 at 4:00 p.m. to review the Honeywell project--what has
been done what hasn’t been done and a time line for what needs to be done.
They discussed the intercom systems at Lincoln Hancock and North Quincy.
However, there are no funds left. Mr. Puleo asked how much was left of the
$50,000 that was appropriated. Mrs. Dwyer answered none.
The Superintendent said between Mr. Ryan and Mr. Cunniff, they might be
able to get some funds from other areas. If there is money left it will come
from the bond issue as well as other line items.
On a motion by Mrs. Dwyer, seconded by Mr. Mulvey, the committee approved
School Facilities Management Subcommittee Meeting minutes. The ayes have it.
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Safety Subcommittee Traffic @ NQHS
Mr. Puleo gave a quick update on his February 28 Health and Safety Subcommittee
meeting. They met to discuss the issue of traffic and pedestrians at North Quincy
High School. They discussed the history of the issue, improvements made so
far; and a number of additional traffic concerns which are beyond the School
Committee’s role of responsibility. They focused on issues that the School
Committee can be advocates for. Mr. McPhee has been in touch with the MBTA
to discuss the fence that needs to be repaired.
Mrs. Mahoney asked the Mayor what the status is for the traffic study being
done on Hancock Street. He answered that Mr. Gillan is working on it. There
are other proposals forthcoming--the Foley Chrysler site. There is no timeline
as yet. However, he is committed to coming up with the resources necessary
for a long term plan of approach for that intersection. He will speak with
Mr. Gillan again.
Mrs. Mahoney stated although there is a long term plan, they are looking for
a short term solution. The Committee is looking for a dialogue and is requesting
that representatives from the City side be in attendance at the next subcommittee
meeting. They are asking for a timeline.
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Resignations
The Committee noted the following resignations:
Teachers: Jason Bialka, Christa Clarke
Paraprofessional: Kathleen Nazzaro
Cafeteria Helper: Deborah Powers
Appointments
The Committee noted the following appointments:
Lunch Attendant: Eileen Bolger
Paraprofessional: Deborah Powers
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Adjournment
On a motion by Mrs. Dwyer, seconded by Mr. Mulvey the committee voted
to adjourn at 8:55 p.m. On a roll call vote, the motion to adjourn passed
unanimously 7-0. There was no executive session.