Minutes
Quincy, MASSACHUSETTS – August 13, 2020
--------
Special Meeting of the Quincy School Committee
Special Meeting
Vice-Chair Presiding
A special meeting of the Quincy School Committee was held on Thursday, August 13, 2020 at 7:45 p.m at the Coddington Building. Interim Superintendent Kevin Mulvey called the roll and present were Mayor Thomas Koch, Mr. Paul Bregoli, Mr. Douglas Gutro, Mrs. Kathryn Hubley, Mrs. Emily Lebo, Mr. Frank Santoro, and Mr. Anthony Andronico, Vice Chair.
Also present were: Interim Superintendent Kevin Mulvey, Mr. Robert Cavallo, Mr. James Mullaney, Ms. Maura Papile, Ms. Erin Perkins, Ms. Madeline Roy, Mr. Keith Segalla, Mr. Robert Shaw, Mr. Lawrence Taglieri, and Ms. Laura Owens, Clerk.
There was a moment of silence for those affected by COVID-19.
§
Chairman’s Update
Due to the length of the meeting, Mayor Koch deferred his update for this meeting.
§
Approval of Minutes
Mrs. Hubley made a motion to approve the minutes of the August 5, 2020 Special School Committee, Executive Session, and Policy Subcommittee meetings. Mrs. Lebo seconded the motion and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
§
Open Forum
As there were no submissions for Open Forum, Vice Chair Andronico moved on to the next item on the agenda.
§
Executive Session
Mr. Bregoli made a motion for School Committee to enter into Executive Session at 7:50 pm for the purpose of contract negotiations. Mrs. Hubley seconded the motion and on a roll call vote, the ayes have it, 7-0. School Committee will return from Executive Session.
§
QPS Fall 2020
Re-Opening Plans
Interim Superintendent Kevin Mulvey reviewed that the Quincy Public Schools Fall 2020 Re-Opening Plan is due to be submitted to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on Friday, August 14. City of Quincy Public Buildings Department Mechanical Engineer David Scott submitted an analysis of each HVAC system in Quincy Public Schools and a commitment to address any deficiencies prior to the first day of school on September 16. Filters will be upgraded and operational windows installed in places where there were previously panels. On-call outside engineering consultants have been contracted with to assist with the process.
Mayor Koch emphasized that all buildings have ventilation systems, but they are not all the same type, there is a variety depending on the age of the building.
Mr. Bregoli asked about filters, Mr. Mulvey said that filters will be changed more frequently than the current schedule of three times per year, now will be up to six times per year and use a higher grade filter when possible. Mr. Bregoli asked who is responsible for the filter changing, Mr. Mulvey said the custodians complete this in consultation with Public Buildings department
Mr. Andronico asked about the proposed hybrid plan for high needs students. Ms. Perkins said that substantially separate program students would all be invited to attend full days and weeks in person, plus English Learners with Level 0, 1, and 2 fluency. Ms. Perkins said other students on IEPs with a high level of need for Resource Room and other supports will be scheduled for more in-person support for remote learning days.
Mr. Andronico asked about feedback for the summer Special Education programs. Ms. Perkins said feedback from students and staff was very positive, the safety protocols were instrumental in containing the two COVID-19 cases. The teachers reported challenges with keeping autistic students appropriately distanced. There were about 150 students and 50 staff, on staff member at each location tested positive but there were no additional cases.
Mr. Gutro asked about a post-program survey, Ms. Perkins said the Della Chiesa ECC staff sent in feedback about the challenges
Mr. Gutro asked about the online summer programming. Ms. Perkins said 1,300 students were taught by 72 staff members, 2 hours of live learning daily for ELA and Math. Ms. Roy reviewed the various middle and high school programs that served over 1,000 students including credit recovery, Bridge to High School for Grade 8 to 9 transition, STEM programming, SAT prep, and over 300 in middle school Summer Boost program. Feedback from students was they enjoyed the live interaction with teachers.
Mrs. Lebo asked about Professional Development, Ms. Perkins said 173 teachers are signed up for next week’s Dr. Wills training plus new staff will be meeting with Dr. Wills during new Professional Staff Orientation. 75 middle & high school staff will also be participating the week of August 17-21. Ms. Perkins said that Dr. Wills allows recording of training and additional staff will have the opportunity to participate the week of September 8.
Mrs. Lebo asked about the high needs population levels, Ms. Perkins said there are approximately 630 Special Education students, 130 homeless or foster care, and 400 English Learner students. In addition, students may have as-yet unidentified needs that will increase this population.
Mrs. Lebo asked about cleaning for the high needs student classrooms, Wednesdays would be a half day and those classrooms will be cleaned that day.
Mr. Santoro asked if remote learning teachers will be in school or at home, Mr. Mulvey said this is a bargaining issue, would prefer the teachers are in school.
Mr. Andronico said that a School Committee vote is needed this evening.
Mrs. Lebo would like to see a phased-in hybrid model, beginning with high needs students and followed by elementary students at a later date.
Mr. Andronico agreed, these are the students with the most difficulty with remote learning.
Mayor Koch said there is no easy solution here, there are a lot of opinions and no matter what the vote, some people will not be pleased. The health and safety of our students comes first, but he is worried about the long-term effect of being out of school. There is a very low incidence of the youngest students getting sick, would like to bring Kindergarten through Grade 3 into school along with the high needs students.
Mr. Gutro agrees with Mayor Koch, appreciates the work of the Task Force in creating the plan.
Mr. Andronico asked for clarification if Pre-Kindergarten cohort would be included, Ms. Perkins said this is important as an integrated program with Special Education students.
Mr. Santoro thanked the Superintendent’s Leadership Team and Principals and Task Force, agrees with Mrs. Lebo to prioritize high needs students but all other students begin the school year remotely.
Mrs. Hubley agrees with Mayor Koch, parents in Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 3 have the choice to remain remote.
Mr. Bregoli asked School Committee to consider being unified on this vote, the remote learning model does not work well for the youngest students. The longer students are out of school, the more difficult it will be to catch up. Mr. Bregoli thanked Interim Superintendent Mulvey, the Leadership Team, and Principals for the many hours of work to develop the re-entry plan.
Mayor Koch made a motion to adopt the hybrid model for High Needs Students and all Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 3 students on September 16, with all other students remote learning which will be evaluated by School Committee week to week. Mr. Gutro seconded the motion.
On the motion, Mrs. Lebo is still concerned with the remote model for Grades 4-12, it will be difficult for students and teachers who do not know each other, wishes that health data allows for all students to return to school.
Mr. Andronico said these issues have been looked at from every possible angle, over 30 focus groups, 4,400 responses from parents, and over 700 responses from staff. All School Committee members serve because they care about the school system, this is a difficult situation. Mr. Andronico asked for understanding, tonight’s decision is the best option available at this time.
On a roll call vote, the ayes have it 4-3. Mr. Andronico, Mrs. Lebo, and Mr. Santoro voted NO.
§
QPS 2020-2021
School Year Calendar
Mayor Koch made a motion to approve the revised Quincy Public Schools 2020-2021 School Year calendar as presented. The motion was seconded by Mrs Lebo and on a roll call vote, the ayes have it, 7-0.
§
Update of School
Committee Policies
5.5.1, 5.5.2, 5.5.3, 5.5.4,
5.5.5, 5.5.6, and 10.11.3
School Committee Policies 5.5.1 through 5.5.6 (Transportation Services Management) and 10.11.3 (Communicable Diseases) were referred to the Policy Subcommittee for review and updating.
§
QPS Superintendent
Search
Mr. Andronico reviewed that the Superintendent finalist interviews are completed and that deliberations and selection of the new Quincy Public Schools Superintendent will take place on Friday, August 14 at 6:00 pm.
§
Adjournment
Mr. Bregoli made a motion to adjourn the Special School Committee meeting at 10:15 pm. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Hubley and on a voice vote, the ayes have it.
§