Agenda #2 February 7, 2019

7:00 p.m. – Regular Session

aor #9-2  –    Clerk

(January 25, 2019)

To consider approval of the Minutes of the School Committee Meeting of Thursday, January 17, 2019.

gb #9-25.1  – Administration/Administration

(January 22, 2019)

To recognize Benjamin Robinson, a student from Burncoat High School, for his brave and selfless action in helping to save eight people from potential peril at a recent fire in the City of Worcester.

(January 30, 2019)

To consider input from the School Committee’s student representatives.

ROS #9-1.1  – Administration

(January 25, 2019)

TO APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT REGARDING THE MICHIGAN’S UPDATED COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH EDUCATION CURRICULUM

Annex B (2 pages)

Annex C (38 pages)

Annex D (1 page)

(January 30, 2019)

FY20 PRELIMINARY BUDGET ESTIMATES

9-8 The Superintendent has APPROVED the APPOINTMENT of the persons named below:

Ayande, Sharon, Teacher, Special Education, Systemwide, MA, Step 2, $56,163 effective January 24, 2019. Licensed: Moderate Disabilities Prek-9. *

Berthiaume, Jessica, Teacher, Art, Systemwide, BA, Step 2, $49,946 effective January 15, 2019. Licensed: Visual Art Prek-8. *

Conway, Ellen, Teacher, Allied Health, North, MA, Step 8, $75,970 effective January 17, 2019. Licensed: Health Assisting 9-14. *

Cardogno, Rachel, Teacher, Elementary, Chandler Magnet, BA, Step 1, $46,894 effective January 9, 2019. Licensed: Elementary 1-6. *

Krouner, Mitchell, Teacher, Science, Worcester East, BA, Step 8, $69,064 effective January 10, 2019.  Licensed: Middle School 5-9. *

Macora, Erin, Teacher, Elementary, May Street, BA, Step 1, $46,894 effective January 14, 2019. Licensed: Elementary 1-6. *

Murphy, Amanda, Teacher, Elementary, Tatnuck Magnet, BA, Step 1, $47,363 effective January 17, 2019. Licensed: Elementary 1-6. *

Murphy, Erica, Teacher, Art, Systemwide, BA, Step 1, $47,363 effective January 28, 2019. Licensed: Visual Art Prek-8. *

Tropeano, Adriana, Teacher, English as a Second Language, Woodland, BA, Step 3, $53,682 effective January 30, 2019. License pending: English as a Second Language Prek-6. *

Turner, Brianna, Teacher, Special Education, Vernon Hill School, MA, Step 3, $59,300 effective January 14, 2019. License pending: Social Work/School Adjustment Counselor.*

        *prorated

9-9   The Superintendent has ACCEPTED the RESIGNATION of the persons named below:

Jarrett, Arthur, Teacher, Special Education, North, effective February 1, 2019.

Kelly-Bernhard, Patricia, Teacher, Art, Systemwide, effective January 25, 2019.

Nguyen, Peter, Teacher, Math, Forest Grove, effective January 25, 2019.

gb #8-289.1  –  Administration/Miss Biancheria/Mr. Comparetto/

Miss McCullough/Mr. Monfredo/Mr. O’Connell

(December 12, 2018)

Response of the Administration to the request to provide a report on all transportation operations that were transferred to the Fremont St. facility and include all administrative vacancies that were advertised along with new or additional bus routes that were added.

Miss McCullough/Mr. Monfredo/Mr. O’Connell

(November 28, 2018)

Response of the Administration to the request to provide a report on the Worcester Public Schools’ bus transportation system and include information relative to the ten new buses operated by the Worcester Public Schools and indicate the routes of said buses.

Miss McCullough/Mr. Monfredo/Mr. O’Connell

(January 16, 2019)

Response of the Administration to the request to provide a report on the In Force Technology (IFT) 911 Software program that allows teachers and other staff members to contact 911 directly in case of emergency.

Mr. O’Connell

(November 12, 2018)

Response of the Administration to the request to review the process by school for requesting changes or additions to bus stops.

Mr. Monfredo/Mr. Comparetto/Miss McCullough/

Mr. Foley

(January 28, 2019)

Response of the Administration to the request to develop and implement a system of online grading which would be accessible to parents/guardians and appropriate staff members.

(January 23, 2019)

Response of the Administration to the request to consider raising the pay of substitute teachers for the next school year and consider giving those retired teachers who worked in the Worcester Public Schools additional compensation as an incentive to come back as a substitute.

Mr. Monfredo/Mr. O’Connell

(January 11, 2019)

To explore the possibility of having the Parent Information Center (PIC) open several times throughout the year on weekends/evenings in an attempt to accommodate parents who are working during typical hours.

Mr. Monfredo/Mr. O’Connell/Mayor Petty

(January 16, 2019)

To forward letters of appreciation to the individuals responsible for the very successful Coats for Kids drive this past season.

(January 18, 2019)

To accept the STARS Residences FY19 Woodland Academy Grant in the amount of $5,000.00.

Miss McCullough/Mr. O’Connell/Mayor Petty

(January 22, 2019)

Request that the Administration forward letters of congratulations to:

–          Gordon Hargrove, Friendly House Director and Dorothy Hargrove, former teacher and School Committee member for receiving the MLK, Jr. Community Service Award

–          Ronald Waddell, Jr., for the MLK Jr. Youth Service Award

–          and the following students for winning the poetry contest

Goddard Scholars Academy

Chloe Williams

Emmanuel Torto

Tatyana Richman

Anya Geist

Matthew Mingolla

Burncoat Middle School

Vafa Soheyli

Wyatt Dancy

Ella Wells

Mary Kathryn Lambert

Doherty Memorial High School

Lolita Cani

Worcester Technical High School

Hussain Bhatti

Claremont Academy

Rudy Sanchez Cortez

Miss McCullough/Mr. O’Connell/Mayor Petty

(January 22, 2019)

Request that the Administration forward letters of congratulations to the following students recognized at the Martin Luther King, Jr. event at Quinsigamond Community College for their winning work:

Essay winner: Emma Robeau, grade 8, Sullivan Middle School

Art winners

Group Art Winners:

Grade Four    Second Place – Flagg Street School – Charlotte Rose,

Anna Pasenello, Angeliki Soufleris, Julia Cahill,

Ava Rogers

Grade Five    First place – Flagg Street School – Sarah DeFusco,

Emma O’Connor, Lucia Smachetti, Roisin O’Malley,

Daphne Baumann

Second place – Flagg Street School – Elisse Boucher,

Phoebe Martin, Charlotte Martin, Mina Tsoutsis

Grade Six      First place – Flagg Street School – Leilah Ali,

Mia McCarter, Dea Kamberi, Malak Laallami

(January 22, 2019)

To consider approval of the following donations:

– $57,346.00 from the Worcester Technical Skyline Fund to support the Innovation Pathways Program.

–  $349.80 from Box Tops for Education to Tatnuck Magnet School

–  $78.60 from Box Tops for Education to Woodland Academy

–  $500.00 from WEDF for Get Fit at Woodland Academy

–  $1,000.00 to the Betty Reidy Scholarship at North High School

Miss McCullough/Mr. Monfredo

(January 22, 2019)

To develop a process, for use with Worcester Public Schools construction and “accelerated repair” projects, to ensure that contractors participating in these projects, as general contractors or as subcontractors, pay their employees all wages to which those employees are entitled by law, including, but not limited to, regular wages, overtime, holiday pay, and, where applicable, minimum wage, all calculated, as appropriate, at prevailing wage rates.

Mr. Monfredo/Mr. O’Connell/Mayor Petty

(January 23, 2019)

To set a date to recognize Madelyn Rich, a student at Burncoat High School, for being nominated to audition and for being accepted to an International All Young Women’s Choir that will be performing at Carnegie Hall in New York City on Sunday February 11, 2019.

Miss McCullough/Mr. Monfredo

(January 25, 2019)

(January 25, 2019)

To meet with representatives of the Worcester Red Sox, at an appropriate time, to discuss a preference for Worcester students in filling of internships and summer employment positions with the team.

Miss McCullough/Mr. Monfredo

(January 25, 2019)

To include a hiring preference for Worcester students in construction projects involving the City of Worcester, including but not limited to the stadium to be constructed for the Worcester Red Sox, and for related structures, especially for summer positions and for positions which are amenable to the academic schedules of students.

(January 25, 2019)

To consider approval of the 2019-20 Student Handbook of the Worcester Public Schools.

Mr. Monfredo/Mr. O’Connell/Mayor Petty

(January 28, 2019

To forward a letter of congratulations to SOFA for its successful performance of FAME.

Miss McCullough/Mr. O’Connell

(January 29, 2019)

Request that the Administration have all students in K-6 participate in the NEA’s “Read Across America Day” on March 1st honoring Dr. Seuss with a variety of motivational reading activities in their classrooms and to encourage parents to do the same.

Miss McCullough/Mr. Monfredo

(January 30, 2019)

To establish a practice and procedure for expeditious compliance with School Committee Policy GCA (“All professional staff positions in the school system will be created initially by the Superintendent and approved by the School Committee.”)

(January 30, 2019)

Request that the School Committee approve the appointment of the following provisional civil service employees as School Nurse effective as shown:

Kibe, Marygoretti, Systemwide, Bachelors, Step 1, $47,363, effective January 7, 2019. License Pending: School Nurse All Levels

Engel, Melinda, Systemwide, Bachelors, Step 1, $47,363, effective January 7, 2019. License Pending: School Nurse All Levels

(January 30, 2019)

Request that the Administration consider creating a public policy forum on sex education within the next few weeks.

(January 30, 2019)

Request that the Administration establish a committee to develop a Parental Engagement Plan which would include members of the community with expertise on the topic.

(January 30, 2019)

Request that the Administration review the recommendations regarding rigorously evaluated sex education curricula listed by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Adolescent Health (OAH) and the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS) (Annex A) and consider input from the representatives of the public policy forum on sex education prior to formulating its recommendations.

Mr. Monfredo/Mr. O’Connell/Mayor Petty

(January 30, 2019)

To set a date to recognize the following students who were recognized at the Martin Luther King, Jr. event at the Historical Museum for their art work:

Art winners

Group Art Winners:

Grade Four     Second Place – Flagg Street School – Charlotte Rose,
Anna Pasenello, Angeliki Soufleris, Julia Cahill, Ava Rogers

Grade Five      First place – Flagg Street School – Sarah DeFusco,

Emma O’Connor, Lucia Smachetti, Roisin O’Malley,

Daphne Baumann

Second place – Flagg Street School – Elisse Boucher,

Phoebe Martin, Charlotte Martin, Mina Tsoutsis

Grade Six       First place – Flagg Street School – Leilah Ali, Mia McCarter,
Dea Kamberi, Malak Laallami

(January 30, 2019)

To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining and to conduct collective bargaining regarding Grievance #18/19-1.

To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining and to conduct collective bargaining regarding Grievance #18/19-5.

To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining and to conduct collective bargaining regarding Grievance #18/19-7.

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

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