Minutes from April 14, 2008

Broad Meadows Middle School 

Attending:  Sandy Verhault (Atlantic), Deirdre Durkin (Broad Meadows & QPAC), Tracy Christello (Beechwood Knoll), Susan Molloy (Beechwood Knoll), Fiona Canavan (Broad Meadows & Central), Carol Dumas (Central and QPAC), Mary Rose Bohone (Lincoln Hancock/Della C), Corinne Kimmel (Lincoln Hancock), Ann Mariano (Montclair), Sue Sheridan (NQHS), Linda Kelly (NQHS), Barbara Isola (NQHS), Paula Smith (Point Webster), Roseanne Russell (QHS), Bonnie Marcel (QPAC), Deirdre Small (Squantum), Karen Chretien (Wollaston). 

The meeting was called to order at 7:04 pm, with Co-President Fiona Canavan presiding.  

The minutes from the March 10, 2008 meeting were passed around.  Fiona asked for any changes and since there were none, a motion was made to accept the minutes.  The motion was seconded and unanimously approved. 

Treasurer, Marybeth Dooling was not able to attend so Fiona presented the Treasurer’s Report.  She noted that the following schools have not paid dues yet this year: Marshall, Parker, Snug Harbor, Squantum, and Atlantic.  A vote to accept the Treasurer’s Report was put off until next month’s meeting since the balances did not print out on the report. 

Tracy Christello, Citywide representative to the School Committee meetings, handed out the minutes from the March 12^th and April 9^th meetings.  She also handed out the QPS budget report.  She noted a few items including the fact that next year’s school calendar was approved and that the day of the Presidential Election in November, all schools will be closed.  Also, NQHS graduation will have a raindate instead of being moved into the gym in case of rain.  She said that a request was made at one of the meetings that the job descriptions and qualifications be published for two positions that are opening up: Director of Personnel and Director of Security.  Fiona said she had the calendar of school committee meetings for next year and could give it to anyone who wants it.

Old Business:

School Safety—The Citywide subcommittee on school safety (including Fiona, Tracy Christello, Linda Kelly, and Barbara Isola) met with Superintendent DeCristofaro, Earl Metzler, NQHS principal, Ken McPhee, Director of Security, Mike Ryan (building needs) and Nick Puleo, chair of the school safety subcommittee for the School Committee.  They discussed the issue of school intercoms, which are not working.  It was clear that Mr. McPhee was not aware of them and some other issues related to school security and that there was not enough communication between him and Mike Ryan, Director of Facilities.  Fiona noted that parents must remain vigilant and not assume that the schools are safe.  It has since been reported that the intercom at NQHS will be replaced; a waiver for the cost has been approved.  The installation is scheduled for school vacation.  Also, the MBTA seems to be agreeable to putting a fence between McDonalds and the NQ parking lot, which may help prevent people from crossing the street where they shouldn’t.  Nick Puleo has told Fiona that a traffic study of the NQ area is underway and that it is an extensive one.  The School Committee Safety Committee will probably report in the fall.

New Business:

QPAC  SPED(Quincy Parent Advisory Council for Special Education) representatives asked that Citywide reps report on the membership of their School Councils.  QPAC is interested in having SPED representation on the councils.  A discussion followed which covered several topics including definition of what SPED includes, the needs of the SPED population (kids and parents), and the makeup and responsibilities of School Councils.  Many present had suggestions for QPAC SPED reps on how to reach SPED parents including: making presentations at PTO/PAC meetings, getting their issues on the agendas of PTO/PAC meetings, presenting at school Open Houses, and asking School Committee members to present about SPED at a School Committee Meeting.  Barbara will forward information to Fiona about the regulations regarding School Councils.

Nominations for Officers for next year—Fiona noted that all of the current officers had completed 2 terms and could not run again for the same offices.  She asked for nominations and received the following:  President—Linda Kelly, Vice President-none, Secretary-Deirdre Small, Treasurer-Sandy Verhault.  Nominations will remain open until the vote, which will take place at next month’s meeting.  Offices can also remain open until next fall if necessary.  A quorum (more than 50% of voting members) will be necessary at the next meeting.  Fiona will send out a notice.  She also asked reps to ask their PTOs to consider reps for next year.  It was also noted that the By-Laws would need to be reviewed next year.

Citywide representation at School Committee Meetings—It was noted that when attending the meetings, as a rep for Citywide, individuals should check in with Tefta Burrelli, School Committee Secretary, so that she can make note that a rep from Citywide was present. 

Siting of the Track—It was proposed that Citywide should take a stand on the siting of the new track.  A discussion of the sites was begun, but it was decided that Citywide should not take a stand on the site, but should make a statement about wanting the project to move forward quickly.  Tracy will make a statement to that effect at the next School Committee meeting:

A representative said that a parent asked her why coaches must have a Criminal Offender Record Inquiry (CORI) done before coaching, but volunteers in the school do not have to.  Others present noted that all school volunteers should be CORI’d and that parents should bring this up to the principal if they are not.

QPAC representatives said that they had been working with the Transportation Dept about problems and had finally made some headway.  A QPAC rep will attend negotiations.

Sandy Verhault reported that she has been part of a group to review Booster Club practices and that they had drafted a set of guidelines that apply to all Booster Clubs.  Fiona will forward the document to the Citywide membership. 

The final meeting of the school year will be May 12^th 7:00 at Broad Meadows Middle School.  The room has been changed since there is another meeting going on that night in the auditorium.  Citywide will meet in a room across the hall from the Principal’s office.

A motion was made to adjourn the meeting.  The motion was seconded and unanimously approved.  Meeting was adjourned at 8:15 pm.