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ORDER OF BUSINESS
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ACTION |
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I. CALL TO ORDER – REGULAR MEETING
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INVOCATION - Reverend Noel Williamson
Pleasant Street Baptist Church
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/NATIONAL ANTHEM |
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II. ROLL CALL
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III. APPROVAL OF RECORDS
aor #4-5 - Clerk
(March 11, 2014)
To consider approval of the Minutes of the School Committee Meeting of Thursday, February 27, 2014.
aor #4-6 - Clerk
(March 11, 2014)
To consider approval of the Minutes of the School Committee Meeting of Thursday, March 6, 2014.
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IV. MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION
gb #3-323.2 -Administration/Mayor Petty
(March 10, 2014)
To reconsider the following motions made at the March 6, 2014 School Committee meeting:
Request that the Administration ask the State Department of Education to allow the parents to opt their children out of the pilot examination of PARCC.
Request that the Clerk of the School Committee forward a letter, on behalf of the School Committee, to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education modeled on the Norfolk Public Schools’ letter.
Request that the Administration develop a clear protocol for students whose parents choose not to have their child/ren participate in the field testing of PARCC.
Request that the protocol be provided as backup on the agenda for March 20, 2014.
Request that the School Committee band together with other committees across the state to respond by strongly opposing the weak legal opinion provided by Rhoda Schneider, General Counsel, Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, which indicated that there are no opt out provisions for parents for the sample of students selected to participate in PARCC field testing.
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gb #4-42.1 - Administration/Miss Biancheria/Mr. Monfredo/
Ms. Novick/Miss Ramirez/Mr. O'Connell/
Mayor Petty
(March 10, 2014)
To recognize the following students of the Worcester Public Schools who received awards from the Worcester Historical Museum for their entries in the 36th Annual “Be Our Valentine” Contest:
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Historic
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Contemporary
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Verse
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Masters
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Grade 4
Kianna Rodriguez
Lincoln Street School
Grade 5
Isabella Zambrano City View School
Grade 6
Alexandra LaFratta Lake View School
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Grade 3
Nolan Farrell Worcester Arts Magnet School
Grade 4
KC Minton
McGrath Elementary School
Grade 5
Alena Nguyen Chandler Elementary School
Grade 6
Ines Nieves
City View School
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Grade 3
Sean Bellin
Midland Street School
Grade 4
Marc Hilliard
Belmont Street Community School
Grade 5
Kayre Molina
Belmont Street Community School
Grade 6
Rita Brederson Worcester Arts Magnet School
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Grade 6
Samuel Levenson
Worcester Arts Magnet School
Grade 5
Kayla Collins
City View School
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VI. REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
ros #4-3 - Administration
(March 12, 2014)
To conduct the School Committee's FY15 Budget priority setting session.
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VII. COMMUNICATION AND PETITION
c&p #4-4 - Clerk
(March 11, 2014)
To consider a communication from a citizen regarding a fundraiser campaign for May Street School to replace the gym floor.
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VIII. REPORTS OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE
The Joint Meeting of the Standing Committee on Finance and Operations and the City Council’s Standing Committee on Education met at 5:35 p.m. on Monday, March 10, 2014 in Room 410 at the Dr. John E. Durkin Administration Building.
The Standing Committee on Teaching, Learning and Student Supports met at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18, 2014 in Room 410 at the Durkin Administration Building.
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IX. PERSONNEL
4-9 The Superintendent ACCEPTED the RETIREMENT of
the persons named below:
Levine, Anita, Reading, Sullivan Middle, effective February 28, 2014.
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X. GENERAL BUSINESS
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gb #4-10.2 - Administration/Miss Biancheria/
Mr. O'Connell/Mr. Monfredo/Mayor Petty
(March 11, 2014)
Response of the Administration to the request to provide a report regarding the process and procedures for individual staff members to utilize School Dude to include emergency requests.
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Annex A (2 pages) |
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gb #4-16.1 - Administration/Mr. Monfredo/
Miss Biancheria/Ms. Novick/Mr. O'Connell/
Miss Ramirez/Mr. Monfredo/Mayor Petty
(March 11, 2014)
Response of the Administration to the request that all of the Elementary and Middle Schools participate in the NEA’s Read Across America Day during the week of March 3rd and reach out to the community partners and include them in a “literacy celebration.”
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Backup
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gb #4-72 - Mr. Monfredo
(February 27, 2014)
To congratulate all members of the Worcester Public Schools’ staff involved in initiating the second Bullying Prevention and Education Conference which was held at Worcester Technical High School on February 27, 2014.
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gb #4-73 - Mr. O'Connell
(March 10, 2014)
To forward a letter of congratulations to Meggan Mwangi and Paris Jensen, on the awards they received at the Worcester Regional Science Fair for their projects on the Ozone and on Knowledge of Environmental Change, respectively.
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gb #4-74 - Administration
(March 11, 2014)
To set a date in April for a public hearing on school choice.
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gb #4-75 - Ms. Novick
(March 12, 2014)
To consider the fundraising policy of the Worcester Public Schools.
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gb #4-76 - Ms. Novick
(March 12, 2014)
Request that the Administration provide for access to library materials during MCAS and other testing.
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gb #4-77 - Mr. O’Connell
(March 12, 2014)
To congratulate the following instructors of the Worcester Public Schools on receiving Mini-Grants from the Worcester Educational Development Foundation:
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Teacher
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School
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Mini-Grant
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Christine Rovezzi
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Gates Lane School of International Studies
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"Nothing but the Truth"
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Patricia Ryan
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Sullivan Middle School
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"Learning Beyond Reading"
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Karen Azoulay
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Columbus Park Preparatory Academy
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“We are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball"
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Linda Weaver
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Roosevelt School
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"Words with Wings"
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Michelle Maloney
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Worcester Arts Magnet School
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"Using Text to Understand What Happens When and Why"
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Pascalia Mattioli
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South High Community School
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"A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier"
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Drew Merrill
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Doherty Memorial High School
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"The Impact of Wind Turbines on Wild Life"
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Lauren Sargent
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J. A. Caradonio New Citizens Center
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"Literacy through Legos"
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Annex A (1 page)
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gb #4-78 - Mr. O'Connell
(March 12, 2014)
To extend an invitation to the Education Association of Worcester, other interested employee associations, staff members of the Worcester Public Schools, and members of the Worcester community to the meeting of the Standing Committee on Teaching, Learning and Student Supports at which the draft copy of the 2014-15 Policies Handbook is discussed.
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gb #4-79 - Miss Biancheria
(March 12, 2014)
Request that the Administration consider updating and repairing the lunch room accommodations for the Fanning School Reach and Challenge Program.
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gb #4-80 - Miss Biancheria
(March 12, 2014)
Request that the Administration provide a plan/protocol to replace, to date, seven open principal positions.
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gb #4-81 - Mr. O'Connell
(March 12, 2014)
To forward letters of congratulations to the following robotics teams of the Worcester Public Schools on the awards they earned at the New England Regional Vex Robotics Championships, as follows:
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School
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Award
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Worcester East Middle School
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Innovative Award
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Sullivan Middle School
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Design Award
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Claremont Academy
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Judges Award
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City View School
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Judges Award
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Clark Street Developmental Learning School
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Engineering Notebook Award and Judges Award
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Goddard School of Science and Technology
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Tournament Finalist, Excellence Award and Energy Award
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Midland Street School
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Engineering Notebook Award and Create Award
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Quinsigamond School
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Engineering Notebook Award and Judges Award
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Tatnuck Magnet School
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Sportsmanship Award and STEM Project Award
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Vernon Hill School
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Team Spirit Award and Judges Award
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Woodland Academy
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Tournament Finalist, Engineering Award and Judges Award
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and to recognize, with gratitude and appreciation, Quinsigamond Community College for funding, supporting and hosting the program.
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gb #4-82 - Administration
(March 12, 2014)
To approve a prior year payment in the amount of $14,479.70 for services provided by You Inc. (Cottage Hill) for special education students for the 2012-13 school year.
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gb #4-83 - Administration
(March 12, 2014)
To approve a prior year payment in the amount of $3,000.00 for services provided by Devereux for 1:1 aid for a special education student for the 2012-13 school year.
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gb #4-84 - Administration
(March 12, 2014)
To accept a grant in the amount of $15,000 from the SME Foundation to support manufacturing education at Worcester Technical High School.
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Annex A (5 pages)
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gb #4-85 - Administration
(March 12, 2014)
To accept a grant in the amount of $185,000 from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to support the Gateway Cities ELL Academies program.
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Annex A (13 pages)
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gb #4-86 - Administration
(March 12, 2014)
To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the governmental body, to conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with nonunion personnel, to conduct collective bargaining sessions or contract negotiations with nonunion personnel.
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XI. ADJOURNMENT
Helen A. Friel, Ed.D.
Clerk of the School Committee
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