Agenda #15 School Committee September 5, 2019

7:00 p.m. – Regular Session

-Reverend Father Torkum Chorbajian

Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church

aor #9-16  –  Clerk

(August 28, 2019)

To consider approval of the Minutes of the School Committee Meeting of Thursday, August 15, 2019.

Mr. O’Connell/Mayor Petty

(August 16, 2019)

To recognize Ann Ruchala, a teacher at Jacob Hiatt Magnet School, as the recipient of the Community Person of the Year from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS).

(August 16, 2019)

To recognize Sarah Kyriazis, Manager of Instructional Technology and Digital Learning, on her selection as recipient of the 2019 Administrator Award from MassCUE (Massachusetts Computer Using Educators).

Krauss, Jillian                              8/22/19

Rivera, Claribel                            8/22/19

9-34    The Superintendent has provisionally APPOINTED the persons named below to the position of Junior Custodian, permanent/fulltime at a salary of $16.54 (minimum) to $21.05 (maximum), per hour, effective as shown:

Collins, Sumo                              7/2219

Zwicker, Thomas                         8/12/19

9-35    The Superintendent has APPOINTED the persons named below to the position of Driver Full Size School Bus, permanent/fulltime at a salary of $22.66 per hour, from Civil Service List #319-028, effective as follows:

Arsenault, Jayne                          8/19/19

Cullen, John                                7/2/19

Pyram, Kettelie                            6/25/19

9-36    The Superintendent has APPOINTED the person named below to the position of Aide to the Physically Handicapped, permanent/fulltime at a salary of $17.04 (minimum) to $21.00 (maximum) per hour, from Civil Service List #319-042, effective as follows:

Abban, Eric                                 8/26/19

Celestin, Ronald                           8/2/19

9-37    The Superintendent has APPOINTED the person named below to the position of School Bus Attendant, permanent at a salary of $16.23 minimum per hour to $18.08 maximum per hour, from Civil Service List #319-029, effective as follows:

English, Shyla                             8/22/19

Khoury, Tom                               7/1/19

Lopez Abimael                               7/1/19

(August 28, 2019)

Response of the Administration to the request to provide an update on when cursive writing is taught in the district and include any changes forthcoming in the future.

(August 12, 2019)

To set a date to recognize the Worcester Bravehearts, as Champions of the Future Collegiate Baseball League and for its community service activities in the Worcester Public Schools and in the community.

(August 13, 2019)

Request that the Administration update the School Committee on the mold problem at Columbus Park Preparatory Academy and indicate whether or not the City Health Department has provided any recommendations for remediation of this problem.

(August 16, 2019)

Request that the Administration inform schools and parents about the free “Family Fest Day” on September 7, 2019 from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the John Binienda Memorial Beach at Coes Reservoir on Mill Street.

(August 20, 2019)

To accept the Safer Schools Technology Grant in the amount of $80,000.00.

(August 20, 2019)

To accept the High Quality College and Career Pathway Grant in the amount of $28,683.00.

(August 20, 2019)

To accept the 21^st Century Community Learning Centers-Exemplary Programs Grant in the amount of $116,250.00.

(August 21, 2019)

Request that the Administration provide a report on the number of students who attended the Jump Start programs at the secondary schools in August 2019.

(August 21, 2019)

To review the status of the FY20 Budget and make appropriate transfers as required.

(August 21, 2019)

To review the annual audit and agreed upon procedures report on compliance and internal controls for the City of Worcester, including the Worcester Public Schools, for the year that ended on June 30, 2019 which included the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) A-133 Reports and the Management Letter.

(August 21, 2019)

To review the annual audit and agreed upon procedures on the Independent Accountant’s Report on Applying Agreed Upon Procedures for Student Activity Fund Testing for fiscal year 2019.

(August 21, 2019)

To review the annual audit and agreed upon procedures on the Independent Accountants’ Report on Applying Agreed Upon Procedures for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education End of Year Financial Report for fiscal year 2018-19.

(August 21, 2019)

Request that the Administration consider offering half day professional development for staff in light of the training provided to principals that dealt with SEL, the impact of homelessness and foster children and on disciplinary alternatives.

(August 21, 2019)

Request that the Administration continue its collaborative work with various agencies in dealing with the needs of homeless and foster children and consider reviewing the Cincinnati model entitled “Kids in School Rule.”

(August 23, 2019)

To approve a prior fiscal year payment in the amount of $2,323.00 to CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP for the FY17 and FY18 combined Student Activity Account Agreed Upon Procedures Review.

(August 23, 2019)

To review the newly established policy and practice of San Mateo (California) High School, based on a successful pilot project, of prohibiting use of cellphones in school by students during the academic day.

(August 23, 2019)

To review the newly established policy and practice of the Crestwood (Ohio) Local School District which prohibits use of cellphones in schools by students except before and after school, at extracurricular activities and at school-related lunches.

(August 26, 2019)

Request that the Administration forward a letter of congratulations to Michael P. Lyons, on being selected for the Worcester State University Distinguished Alumni Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service to the Community.

(August 26, 2019)

To set a date to recognize Darya Kuruna, an art teacher at Canterbury Street Magnet Computer-Based School, for the creative painting of 30 murals at her school.

(August 27, 2019)

To consider approval of the following donations:

–  $67.55 from a donor to the Worcester Public Schools

–  $100.00 from a donor to the Patricia Falcone Memorial Scholarship

–  $3,820.00 from Worcester Area Mission Society for the Summer Cubs Program held at Woodland Academy

(August 27, 2019)

To review the Massachusetts Model System for Educator Evaluation, Superintendent and District Administrator Rubric, as updated during July 2019, and to determine whether it requires, or makes advisable, any change in the current process utilized by the School Committee to evaluate the Superintendent, and by the Superintendent to evaluate other district administrators.

(August 27, 2019)

To congratulate the Administration for the 4th annual kickoff of school opening for the entire staff at the DCU Center.

(August 28, 2019)

To accept the Comprehensive School Health Services (CSHS) Grant in the amount of $28,683.00.

(August 28, 2019)

To consider establishing goals for the School Committee for 2019-20.

(August 28, 2019)

To determine the most appropriate manner to review all plans for the siting and  construction of the replacement Doherty Memorial High School, in light of Section 4-1 (d) (5) of the Worcester Home Rule Charter, which provides that “No site for a school building shall be acquired by the city unless the approval of the site by the school committee is first obtained. No plans for the construction of or alterations, with the exception of ordinary repairs, in a school building shall be accepted, and no such work shall be commenced on the construction or alteration of a school building unless the approval of the school committee and the city manager shall have first been obtained.”

(August 28, 2019)

To review the pilot program of the Elkhart Indiana Community Schools, which, in conjunction with Cultivate, a nonprofit food rescue  organization, repurposes surplus cafeteria food into frozen meals and distributes those meals to needy families for weekend use.

(August 28, 2019)

To review the schedule of dates and times of the first meetings of the school site councils, which, pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 71, Section 59C, shall take place “no later than forty days after the first day of school.”

(August 28, 2019)

To verify full compliance of the Worcester Public Schools with the provisions of 527 CMR 1.00, Section 20.2.4.2.1.4, which require that the first fire drill of the year occur within three days of the start of school.

(August 28, 2019)

Request that the Administration provide an update regarding ongoing student transportation issues.

(August 28, 2019)

To approve a prior fiscal year payment in the amount of $5,252.25 to Harbor Networks.

(August 28, 2019)

Request the establishment of an inclusive and transparent process for selecting and implementing a comprehensive Sex Education Curriculum that is age-appropriate, evidence-based, medically-accurate and LGBTQ inclusive in the Worcester Public Schools.

(August 28, 2019)

Request that the Administration provide a report of the number of students who applied to Worcester Technical High School and the number of students who are now enrolled.

(August 28, 2019)

Request that the Administration provide a report listing the Chapter 74 courses in all schools and the number of students enrolled in each of these courses.

(August 28, 2019)

Request that the Administration provide the following information regarding AP courses:

-the number of courses by titles and school sites

-the number of students who took the courses by titles and school sites and

-the student results by course titles and school sites

(August 28, 2019)

Request that the Administration provide a report on the way in which the Worcester Public Schools is highlighting its successes in the STEM/STEAM Programs during the week of Oct. 21-25, 2019.

(August 28, 2019)

To approve a prior fiscal year payment in the total amount of $7,800.00 to school nurses for longevity rates.

(August 28, 2019)

Request that the Administration prepare a plan by January 2020 that will provide a link on the website and a connection to the landing page in order to provide access to student/families to the calendar of events in all schools as well as to the teachers e-mail addresses, forms and supply lists for each grade.

(August 28, 2019)

To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining for Plumbers and Steamfitters, if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the collective bargaining position of the School Committee and the chair so declares.

To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining for Tradesmen, if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the collective bargaining position of the School Committee and the chair so declares.

To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining for Aides to the Physically Handicapped and Bus Monitors, if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the collective bargaining position of the School Committee and the chair so declares.

To discuss strategy with respect to litigation for if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigation position of the School Committee and the chair so declares – Educational Association of Worcester and Worcester School Committee, Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Labor Relations, Case No. CAS-19-7323.

To discuss strategy with respect to litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the School Committee and the chair so declares – Worcester School Committee v. International Union of Public Employees, Tradesmen, Local – 135 and International Union of Public Employees, Plumbers and Steamfitters, Local – 125, Worcester Superior Court Civil Action No. 1885CV01520.

To discuss strategy with respect to litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the School Committee and the chair so declares – Jennifer Foley v. City of Worcester School Department, U.S. District Court Civil Action No. 4:19-CV-40109-TSH.

Helen A. Friel, Ed.D.
Clerk of the School Committee