Agenda #26 December 20, 2018 School Committee

7:00 p.m. – Regular Session

Salem Covenant Church

NATIONAL ANTHEM  –  Worcester Arts Magnet School Special Chorus

(November 26, 2018)

To consider approval of the Minutes of the School Committee Meeting of Thursday, December 6, 2018.

Annex A (23 pages)

Mr. O’Connell/Mayor Petty/Miss McCullough

(December 20, 2018)

To recognize Christine Foley, Coordinator of Andy’s Attic at South High Community School, for her role in assisting those in need within the community.

(December 12, 2018)

Kwaku Nyarko (December 4, 2018)

To consider the feasibility of presenting more yearly academic and character awards, at the individual school level, to recognize students from each grade who excel in and out of school.

(December 12, 2018)

END-OF-CYCLE SUMMATIVE EVALUATION REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT

Elsayyad, Hossam, Teacher, English as a Second Language, Elm Park, DOC, Step 2, $67,081 effective November 26, 2018.  License pending: English as a Second Language Prek-6. *

Freeman, Michael, Assistant Director of Transportation, Bus Yard, $90,000 effective November 26, 2018. *

Kelly, Kerri, Teacher, Elementary, Burncoat Prep, MA, Step 7, $69,547 effective November 29, 2018.  Licensed: Early Childhood Prek-2.*

Loewen, Kelly, Teacher, English as a Second Language, Grafton Street, BA, Step 1, $46,894 effective November 30, 2018.  Licensed: English as a Second Language Prek-6. *

Mascetta, Jordan, Teacher, Special Education, Jacob Hiatt, MA, Step 1, $53,048 effective December 10, 2018.  Licensed: Moderate Disabilities Prek-8. *

Souza, Taryn, Teacher, Music, Sullivan – Goddard Scholars, MA, Step 8, $75,218 effective November 29, 2018. Licensed: Music – All levels. *

*prorated

Holden, Seth, Teacher, Enrichment, Systemwide, effective December 7, 2018.

Isaac, Elizabeth, Teacher, English as a Second Language, Claremont, effective November 20, 2018.

Borges, Carmelo, Teacher, Elementary, Vernon Hill, effective December 3, 2018.

Daley, Deborah, Assistant Principal, Nelson Place, effective December 9, 2018.

Keating, Shawn, Teacher, Special Education, North, effective December 3, 2018.

Tangney, Ann, Teacher, Elementary, Burncoat Prep, effective December 3, 2018.

Michelle DiRoberto                              11/27/18

Mildred Graham                                   11/26/18

Annah Killebrew                                  11/28/18

Laura Laloi-Joseph                               11/28/18

Heather Landry                                    11/28/18

Savannah Madera                                 11/14/18

Oscar Rodriguez                                   11/27/18

Peter Salas                                            11/14/18

Felix Sevuvor                                       12/12/18

Mr. Monfredo

(December 12, 2018)

Response of the Administration to the request to provide a progress report on the Career and Technical Education Partnership Implementation Grant which provides students opportunities to participate in manufacturing and other career pathways at Worcester Technical High School.

Mr. O’Connell/Mr. Monfredo

(December 12, 2018)

Response of the Administration to the request to provide a report on the 2017 Annual Bullying Prevention and Education Conference to include explanations regarding:

–  the six rules in reference to the awareness of bullying and

–  the activities and solutions that will be implemented during the 2017-18 school year

(December 12, 2018)

Response of the Administration to the requests to receive an update from the Brockton Public Schools regarding the School Funding Lawsuit and a statement as to the Superintendent’s position regarding the lawsuit.

(December 10, 2018)

Response of the Administration to the requests to:

–  provide a report as to recruitment initiatives outside of Worcester and

–  seek information from other school districts as to how they recruit new teachers.

(December 10, 2018)

Response of the Administration to the request to review the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decision in Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission v. Contributory Retirement Appeal Board (SJC-12331), and make its own modifications, if any are required, to its own practices in order to be in full compliance with the decision.

(December 12, 2018)

Response of the Administration to the requests from the FY19 Budget to:

–   a Report of the Superintendent on Instructional Technology

–   a listing of the expenditures from the Out of State Travel account

–   a report on the Unemployment Compensation Account regarding funding

–   a report on an outside assessment of the current telephone lines

Mr. Comparetto/Mr. Foley/Miss McCullough/

Mr. Monfredo/Mr. O’Connell

(December 12, 2018)

Response of the Administration to the request to work with the City Manager’s office to develop an organizational chart and communication procedures for any public safety events in the Worcester Public Schools.

Mr. Comparetto/Mr. Foley/Mr. Monfredo/Mr. O’Connell

(December 12, 2018)

Response of the Administration to the request to provide a progress report regarding additional vocational/technical opportunities for students not admitted to Worcester Technical High School.

(December 12, 2018)

Response of the Administration to the request to provide a report on the allocation of funds after the House and Senate approve the Budget.

Mr. Monfredo/Mr. O’Connell

(December 12, 2018)

Response of the Administration to the request to provide an update on the Facilities Master Plan Report, prepared by Symmes, Maine & McKee Association, Inc.

Mr. O’Connell/Miss McCullough

(December 12, 2018)

Response of the Administration to the request to provide an update on the 2018 Accelerated Repair Projects and include recommendations for 2018-19.

Mr. Monfredo/Mr. O’Connell

(December 12, 2018)

Response of the Administration to the request to provide the SchoolDude’s recommendations for 2018-19 and include the 2018 requests for issues and concerns at school sites.

(December 12, 2018)

Response of the Administration to the request to consider changing the date of the Opening of Schools Event in order to give the teachers time to prepare their classrooms for the opening of school.

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.

Consider with

gb #8-290.1 and

gb #8-341.1

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.

gb #8-289.1 and

gb #8-341.1

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

(December 12, 2018)

Response of the Administration to the request to interact with the City Manager and City Solicitor to make certain that all City of Worcester employees are fully informed about the State’s guidelines regarding appointed and public employees’ public participation in political fundraising efforts and endorsements.

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.

gb #8-289.1 and

gb #8-290.1

Mr. Foley/Miss McCullough/Mr. O’Connell/Mayor Petty

(November 30, 2018)

To forward letters of congratulations to the following individuals who were honored by Friendly House for their outstanding community participation as part of its Galaxy of Stars event:

Thomas Toney, Assistant Principal at Grafton Street School

Terry Walles, Coach at Doherty Memorial High School

Charles Payson, Honor Student/star athlete at Doherty Memorial High School

Christine Foley, teacher at South High Community School

Mr. Foley/Mr. Monfredo/Mr. O’Connell

(November 30, 2018)

To check on the condition of all the flags in the Worcester Public Schools and make certain they are well maintained to be flown daily.

Mr. Foley/Miss McCullough/Mr. O’Connell/Mayor Petty

(December 6, 2018)

To forward a letter of congratulations to Andrea Cook, a Music teacher at Burncoat Middle School, for having an article published in the Massachusetts Educator’s Quarterly Journal regarding innovative approaches to the teaching of music at the middle school level.

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

(December 6, 2018)

To forward a letter to Ellie Marhefka, a Data Accountability Specialist, for her years of dedicated service to the Worcester Public Schools.

(December 6, 2018)

To approve a prior fiscal year payment in the amount of $56,497 to be made payable to the CollegeBoard.

(December 8, 2018)

To consider approval of the following donations:

–  $250.00 from CMMB Inc./Kathleen Fitzgerald Fund  to support the Exhilarate Worcester Initiative at Woodland Academy

–  $250.00 from Webster Five Cents Savings Bank to support the Exhilarate Worcester Initiative at Woodland Academy

–  $3,286.85 from Eventbrite to support the Exhilarate Worcester Initiative at Woodland Academy

–  $7,789.50 from the Worcester Arts Magnet Parent Group to Worcester Arts Magnet to help fund the purchase of Chromebooks and Chromebook cart

–  $500.00 from the Aaron & Gertrude Weiss Donor Advised Fund to Goddard Scholars Academy

–  $1,000.00 from the Pappas Scholarship Fund to be used for scholarships at Worcester Technical High School

–  $3,000.00 from the Pappas Scholarship Fund to be used for scholarships at South High Community School

–  A donation of a Grab-and-Go Serving Cart  valued at approximately $10,000.00 to be used at South High Community School from the generosity of the PepsiCo Foundation in partnership with the National Dairy Council, New England Dairy Council and NFL Fuel Up to Play 60.

Mr. Foley/Mr. O’Connell

(December 10, 2018)

Request that the Administration consider having parent conferences for K-3 parents during a Professional Development Day in October.

Mr. Foley/Miss McCullough/Mr. O’Connell/Mayor Petty

(December 10, 2018)

To forward a letter to Robert Pezzella, Director of School Safety, for coordinating the Youth and Drug Conference, sponsored by the Worcester Public Schools, which was held at North High School for agencies in Central Massachusetts. and select personnel.

Mr. Foley/Miss McCullough/Mr. Monfredo

(December 10, 2018)

To review the United States Department of Agriculture Press Release No. 0263.18. announcing a “final rule on school meal flexibilities,” and to ask the administration to determine whether the rule, which “is designed to make meals more appetizing to students, and to reduce food waste,” warrants any modification in the meals offered to students and staff in the Worcester Public Schools.

(December 12, 2018)

Request that the Administration provide an update of the Sex Education unit in the Health Education curriculum.

(December 12, 2018)

Request that the Administration review and make necessary changes to discipline policies, if needed, regarding marijuana use.

(December 12, 2018)

To authorize the Administration to submit Statements of Interest to the Massachusetts School Building Authority for the following Accelerated Repair Projects for 2019:

Burncoat Preparatory School        Roof Replacement

Lincoln Street School                      Boiler Replacement

Tatnuck Magnet School                  Roof Replacement

Worcester East Middle School      Roof Replacement

(December 12, 2018)

To approve an increase in the FY19 Budget in the amount of $3,417,794 in the following accounts reflecting the final state budget amounts for Chapter 70 State Aid and other adjustments and adopt the general fund budget in the amount of $345,058,676.

(December 13, 2018)

To align the Attendance Policy from the Student Handbook to the Policy Manual.

In Section JH –Student Absences and Excuses , delete the 2^nd and 3^rd paragraphs and insert Numbers 1-5 from page 54 of the Student Handbook.  (Annexes A & B)

Insert the first two paragraphs from page 55 of the Student Handbook  after paragraph six into Section JH of the Policy Manual.  (Annex C)

Annex B (1 page)

Annex C ( 1 page)

(November 28, 2018)

To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining and to conduct collective bargaining regarding Grievance #17/18-27.

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.

To discuss strategy with respect to litigation – Personnel Matter.

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