School Policy Subcommittee Meeting
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
A meeting of the School Policy Subcommittee was held on Tuesday, June 12, 2012 at 4:30 pm in
nd floor Conference Room of the NAGE Building. Present were Ms. Barbara Isola, Mrs.
Anne Mahoney, and Mr. Paul Bregoli, Chair. Also attending were Superintendent DeCristofaro,
Mrs. Colleen Roberts, Mr. Kevin Mulvey, Mr. Keith Segalla, Mrs. Jane Kisielius, Mrs. Maura
Papile; Ms. Allison Cox, President of the Quincy Education Association; and Ms. Laura Owens,
The meeting was called to order at 4:30 pm by Mr. Bregoli.
The first item on the agenda was the High School Community Service Pilot. Mr. Bregoli
reviewed the history of the discussions on this topic and the meetings he and Dr. DeCristofaro
have had with the High School Principals, Assistant Principals, staff, and student
representatives. In reviewing the draft of the Community Service Overview and Policy,
suggestions were made about making the language parallel in both places and specifically
require Community Service in each year of high school. Mrs. Mahoney requested that the
School Committee be kept apprised of the pilot as it is rolled out. Dr. DeCristofaro suggested
that monitoring the Community Service Pilot could be one of the Policy Subcommittee’s goals
Dr. DeCristofaro asked if the Subcommittee feels comfortable with the Policy as it is written and
if they are willing to bring it forward to the full School Committee. The tasks still to be
completed include posting the Community Service Coordinator positions and executing a
memorandum of understanding with the QEA about the new positions and stipends. Ms. Isola
made a motion to move the High School Community Service Pilot out of the Policy
Subcommittee and Mrs. Mahoney seconded the motion. On a voice vote, the ayes have it.
The next item on the agenda was a proposal to add to the School Committee’s current
Prescription Medicine Self-Administration Policy (10.11.4). Mrs. Kisielius introduced the
proposal to add the Department of Public Health regulations governing medication selfadministration to be effective in September 2012. This change would allow high school
students to administer their own medications on overnight field trips. Mrs. Kisielius cited the
trips abroad that school nurses do not accompany students on as an example of where this
policy would be helpful. While the intention is for self-administration to take place outside of
school, Ms. Isola wondered whether this expands the options for students administering
medication to themselves in school. Ms. Isola requested that language be added to the existing
policy to specify that this is for for overnight field trips and not during the school day. This
revised Policy amendment will be presented to the full School Committee for a vote at the June
13, 2012 School Committee meeting.
The last item on the agenda was Conflict of Interest. Mr. Bregoli opened the discussion by
noting his own situation as a School Committee member and soccer coach. He has consulted
with the State Ethics Commission and Mr. Mulvey; per Mr. Mulvey, the State Ethics Commission
have said that options include Mr. Bregoli being a volunteer coach while serving on the School
Committee or to petition the City Council to be granted status as a Special Municipal Employee
that would allow him to be compensated for coaching while on the School Committee.
Mrs. Mahoney then reviewed her reasons for adding the Conflict of Interest Policy review to
the agenda. The current Conflict of Interest policy is somewhat vague and she would like to see
the wording tightened up as much as possible. The last issue relates to tutoring by teachers;
School Committee policy is that teachers are not allowed to tutor on-site. Another question is
whether students can be tutored for a fee in any school building. The final issue is the hiring
and promotion of family members of school department administrators and School Committee
members. Mrs. Mahoney suggested adding language to the Conflict of Interest Policy to
strengthen it and address the issue of spousal supervision. Mrs. Mahoney suggested
considering adding a School Committee member to hiring committees, specifically for Principal
and Assistant Principal positions.
Mr. Bregoli asked about personnel decisions under the Education Reform Act. Mr. Mulvey said
that under the Education Reform Act, final hiring decisions are the Superintendent’s. The
School Committee hires the Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent. Mr. Mulvey and
Mrs. Mahoney disagreed about whether having a School Committee member as part of the
hiring committee contravened the Education Reform Act. Ms. Isola asked for clarification about
whether the purpose of the discussion to review and update the existing Conflict of Interest
policy. Mrs. Mahoney said that yes, and that she has done research on how other cities and
towns word their policies. Ms. Isola agreed that the School Committee has a duty to review
and update the existing Conflict of Interest Policy without suggesting that there has been
impropriety; she disagreed that the hiring committees need a School Committee presence. All
agreed that this was a topic for further discussion and that the topic will carry forward to the
2012-13 school year, including providing an opportunity for public comment at Open Forum.
Mr. Bregoli made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 5:35 pm and Ms. Isola seconded the
motion. On a voice vote, the ayes have it.