Quincy Citywide Parent’s Council

Minutes from February 12^th, 2007

Broad Meadows Middle School

Meeting was called to order at 7:05pm, with Sandy Arabian presiding.

Sandy introduced Jane Kisielius, coordinator of Health Services, and Joanne Morrissey, director of Food Services. This is Jane’s 4^th year as coordinator of Health Services. She believes that health and education are very connected and that the role of school nurse helps to remove health barriers to learning. They have developed a more comprehensive health program for the QPS. There are 22 full time and 2 part time, and 4 para-professionals in Health Services. All nurses in the QPS have dual licenses and they have an average of 15 years of prior nursing experience before entering QPS. The goals of her department for this year are: (1) publish a seasonal newsletter; (2) to develop individual building wellness teams, focusing on nutrition education, an increase in physical activity, and other initiatives that promote good health, and (3) to identify specific health education topics that can be addressed by school nurses at specific grade levels. She collaborates with several community agencies including, Manet Health, Norfolk County DA, and the Quincy and Mass. Departments of Public Health.  Due to the Essential School Services Grant, they have been able to pay for extra staff and supplies and computerized record keeping. Almost all schools are equipped with AED’s (automatic external defibrillators) now (each high school has two). The schools still waiting for AED’s are Atherton Hough, Della Chesia and the Child Development Center. She would always like to have more. Eight nurses are certified CPR instructors and they train the staff. CPR rules have changed this year. A parent noted that the AED’s are very easy to use.

Joanne has been Food Services Director for 13 years. Her department has 85 employees, and is a self-supporting program. They collect their own money and pay their own bills. They buy all their own supplies and pay their own labor. (except for lunch staff, who work for the principals). They get federal reimbursement for some of their costs. About 20% of all food is government donated. They’re working on getting more fruit and vegetables from the government. They have a lunch and breakfast program, a summer food service program, and sell to Weymouth in the summer. 35% of all breakfast and lunches in the QPS are reduced cost meals. The elementary schools have limited facilities so all meals are made at NQHS and shipped out to the elementary schools. They are expanding their web page to include nutrient information, and have been incorporating healthy snacks. Food items not allowed to be sold at schools are candy, gum and soda. The drinks sold at the high schools are juice (minimum 10% juice) and water. Schools could stock Crystal Light. Parents could ask the principals to stock sugar-free, non-carbonated drinks.

In response to a question as to whether Quincy has a large number of students with diabetes, Jane said we do not have an unusually high number. However, they are seeing students with type 2 diabetes, which is normally seen only in adults.

There is a state mandate to do height, weight and BMI and they are considering ways to get this information to all parents.

In response to the question about the policy on students with peanut/nut allergies, Jane said that QPS has a life threatening food allergy policy, available on the website. There are 219 students in the QPS with life threatening food allergies. Schools are not peanut free. Joanne said that many companies are now labeling their food products as “processed in a facility that also processes nuts/peanuts” as a precaution, even though the nuts/peanuts could be processed in a completely different wing of the building. Parents with transitioning children (elementary to middle school, for example) should notify the school nurse, and Joanne Morrissey.

In response to a question about nutrition, Jane said that nurses do classroom talks on nutrition. The curriculum at middle school includes nutrition education but there is none at the high school level.

It was acknowledged that students who turn 18 while in the school system no longer need parental permission to sign out of school (even though nurses try to call the parents). All high school seniors get a copy of their health record. Jane said this subject is not really addressed and that it might be a good idea to provide some tips for parents and students on the web.

In response to a question about the Substance Abuse program in the QPS, Jane felt that John Franceschini would be the best person to answer questions on this subject, but she did have some information. There is a defined curriculum in the 6^th, 7^th and 8^th grade and they talk about it in 9^th grade. Dare is offered to 5^th and 7^th graders. There is also a tobacco cessation program and peer educators at the high school level. There are no defined programs at the 10^th, 11^th or 12^th grade level, which shocked some parents who felt that the students were not been given support and information when they needed it most.

In response to a question, Jane acknowledged that there have been dramatic cuts in funding for health education.  There are periodic assemblies addressing issues of substance abuse and other health topics at the high school level. Both QHS and NQHS are planning a Health Fair in the spring. She emphasized that parents should talk to their children frequently about drugs and alcohol.

A parent expressed a concern with the way physical education is run at the high school. There are sometimes 60 to 80 students in the gym at the same time and it is chaotic.

Sandy thanked Jane and Joanne for their great information.

 The minutes from January 8^th, 2007 were accepted.

The treasurer’s report was accepted.

School Committee Report:

In Henry Brawley’s absence, Fiona Canavan gave the report of School Committee. The District Improvement Plan was presented at School Committee and made available at the meeting for parents to look over. Henry expressed that we need more parent inclusion, as the word ‘parent’ only shows up once in the whole plan. The transition from middle to high school was discussed but Henry said that our concerns were not adequately addressed. Fiona suggested that we could take up any issues with Janet Powell at the next meeting, as she is our guest speaker in March. The budget up to Dec 31^st 2006 was presented at School Committee. Roseann pointed out that most expenses are at the beginning of the year as schools buy most of their supplies. SPED has the biggest shortfall, specifically in tuition and transportation. All expenses must go through Dr. DeCristofaro, even budgeted items. Roseann also noted from School Committee that the dropout rates published recently count a student as a dropout if they don’t graduate in 4 years. Students who graduate after the 4 years are counted as dropouts- even though they graduate!

Old business:

There was much discussion about the teacher contracts and Citywide will keep an interested eye on the process.

Janet Powell and Judy Todd will be the guest speakers at the March 12^th meeting.

Fiona and Sandy reported about a meeting they had with Jen Fay-Beers about the language program at Central. It is clear that our children are being offered the minimum required foreign language instruction. Ms. Fay felt that if she had a .5 teacher, she could offer more foreign language instruction. Parents are very concerned about the fallout at the high school level from all the middle schools offering instruction on a different schedule. Fiona said that indication is that the schedule for all schools will change next year. 

New business:

A parent expressed concern that so few schools in Quincy are handicap accessible. Parents weren’t aware that if their child was disabled that they might have to go to a school out of district in order to have handicap accessibility.

QPS will present “BeatleMania Live” on March 16, 2007 at the Quincy Marriot. More details available at the schools.

Sandy informed parents that Central is doing an arts fest, silent auction fundraiser on March 27^th