Agenda #4 School Committee January 16, 2020

7:00 p.m. – Regular Session

(January 10, 2020)

To consider approval of the Minutes of the School Committee Meeting of Thursday, December 16, 2019.

(January 10, 2020)

To consider approval of the Minutes of the School Committee Meeting of Thursday, January 2, 2020 Agenda 1 – Straw Vote for the Vice-Chairperson and Seating Order.

(January 10, 2020)

To consider approval of the Minutes of the School Committee Meeting of Thursday, January 2, 2020 Agenda 2 – Inauguration.

(January 10, 2020)

To consider approval of the Minutes of the School Committee Meeting of Thursday, January 2, 2020 Agenda 3 – Acceptance of Rules.

(January 10, 2020)

UPDATE ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW SOUTH HIGH COMMUNITY SCHOOL

(January 2, 2020)

To consider a communication from Gordon T. Davis, Chair of the Education Committee, Worcester Branch NAACP, relative to a policy regarding clear and uniform districtwide standards for suspensions.

(January 2, 2020)

To consider a communication from Gordon T. Davis, Chair of the Education Committee, Worcester Branch NAACP, relative to a uniform districtwide policy on age appropriate touching.

(January 2, 2020)

To consider a communication from Gordon T. Davis, Chair of the Education Committee, Worcester Branch NAACP, relative to a policy of an adequate number of counselors and teachers.

(January 2, 2020)

To consider a communication from Gordon T. Davis, Chair of the Education Committee, Worcester Branch NAACP, relative to a clear and uniform policy for the Worcester School District regarding emergency removals that do not have a racially adverse impact.

(January 2, 2020)

To consider a communication from Gordon T. Davis, Chair of the Education Committee, Worcester Branch NAACP, relative to the establishment of a Residents’ Advisory Commission which can formally petition the Worcester School Committee and to which the Worcester School Committee would be required to provide a response.

Candalino, Bonnie, Teacher, Special Education, Systemwide, MA+15, Step 8, $78,904, effective January 2, 2020. Licensed: Moderate Disabilities PreK-8.*

Dionne, Anna, Teacher, Mathematics, Claremont, BA, Step 1, $48,310, effective January 2, 2020.  Licensed: Mathematics 5-8. *

Kashmanian, Cortney, Occupational Therapist, Special Education, Systemwide, MA, Step 1, $54,650, effective January 2, 2020. Licensed: Occupational Therapist.*

Platzer, Christopher, Teacher, Automotive Technology, Technical, VL3, Step 8, $77,489, effective January 2, 2020. Waiver: Automotive Technology – Chapter 74. *

Seger, Katelynn, Teacher, Special Education, Woodland, MA, Step 3, $61,091, effective January 6, 2020. Licensed: Moderate Disabilities PreK-8. *

*prorated

McIntire, Adam, School Adjustment Counselor, Systemwide, effective January 3, 2020.

Thomas, Denelee, Teacher, Special Education, Systemwide, effective January 3, 2020.

Baker, Denise, Teacher, Special Education, Systemwide, effective December 31, 2019.

Mawson, David, Teacher, Social Studies, Doherty, effective December 31, 2019.

(January 6, 2020)

Response of the Administration to the request to provide a copy of the report contained in the FY19 Budget, prepared by an outside consultant, regarding the feasibility of combining certain city and school departments.

(January 6, 2020)

Response of the Administration to the request to invite Tina Grosowsky, Project Coordinator for the Central Massachusetts Tobacco Free Community Partnership, to give a short presentation on the issue of vaping.

(January 6, 2020)

Response of the Administration to the following motion from the FY20 Budget:

       500101-96000 Retirement

Request that the Administration consider adopting a city based comprehensive Early Retirement Program.          Mr. O’Connell

(January 6, 2020)

Response of the Administration to the request to provide an update 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.

(December 18, 2019)

To accept the College, Career and Technical Education Grant in the amount of $15,000.

(December 23, 2019)

To consider approval of the following donations:

‑    $561.47 to Lake View Elementary School from the Boon Supply Fundraiser

‑    $1,000.00 to Worcester Technical High School to be used for Unified Sports (specifically Josh Menard’s participation costs) from the Nashoba Regional School District Athletic Department on behalf of the Z-Murphy Scholarship Fund.

‑    $2,845.08 from the Worcester Technical High School Homecoming account to the ALS Association in memory of Mr. Scanlon, history teacher at Worcester Technical High School

‑    $186.40 from Box Top for Education to City View Discovery School

‑    $142.65 from the Thorndyke Road School PTG to Thorndyke Road School

‑    $300.00 from Penske to the South High Community School Diesel Tech Program

‑    $27.00 from a donor to the Worcester Public Schools

(January 2, 2020)

To accept the Increased Access to Quality Afterschool and Summer Learning Programs Grant in the amount of $47,000.

(January 3, 2020)

Request that the Administration and School Committee consider setting up a meeting in March 2020 with the Worcester Legislative Delegation.

(January 3, 2020)

Request that the Administration provide an update on the district’s evidence based three year plans that address persistent disparities in achievement among student subgroups to include the four areas outlined in the new law which must be submitted to DESE by April 1, 2020.

(January 6, 2020)

Request that the Administration provide data for the last 7-10 years on the number of students in the WPS who have mastered a particular trade and succeeded in securing a position in it and review this data in an effort to provide additional opportunities for students interested in pursuing trades.

(January 6, 2020)

To accept the Gateway City Grant for High Quality-Intensive ELL Programs in the amount of $161,867.

(January 6, 2020)

To set dates to meet with the Student Advisory Committee at least every other month, as required by MGL Ch. 71, Sec. 38M.

(January 6, 2020)

To approve the final FY20 General Fund Budget in the amount of $369,535,329, reflecting an increase of $4,607,306 over the budget amount approved in June 2019, based on the final state budget and request that the School Committee appropriate these funds into the accounts in accordance with the attached backup.

(January 6, 2020)

To authorize the Administration to enter into a contract for the lease-purchase of special education school buses for a term of up to five years for the operation of student transportation for a contract term to begin in June 2020 as part of the five-year fleet replacement cycle of existing school buses.

(January 6, 2020)

To authorize the Administration to submit Statements of Interest to the Massachusetts School Building Authority for the following Accelerated Repair Projects for 2020:

Vernon Hill School                       Boiler Replacement

Worcester Arts Magnet School       Roof Replacement

(January 6, 2020)

Request that the Administration consider placing shades at the Burncoat Middle and Burncoat High schools’ classrooms this school year due to the fact that the sun’s rays may impact learning.

(January 6, 2020)

Request that the Administration encourage the schools to incorporate studies in black history during February’s “Black History Month.”

(January 6, 2020)

To accept the Gateway City Grant for  High Quality-Intensive ELL Programs in the amount of $72,133.

(January 6, 2020)

Request that the Administration encourage elementary students in grades 3-6 to participate in the 42^nd Annual Valentine’s Day contest, sponsored by the Worcester Historical Museum.

(January 7, 2020)

To set a date to recognize Worcester Arts Magnet School for being one of seventy-three schools in the country to be named as a National Elementary and Secondary Act’s Distinguished School based on performance and academic growth for two or more consecutive years by DESE.

(January 7, 2020)

To explore the use of Polycom devices that can be used during presentations, teacher meetings and other school functions/meetings in order to enhance communication with non English speakers.

(January 7, 2020)

Request that the Administration forward a letter to the City Manager and City Council, on behalf of the School Committee, in favor of the Worcester Regional Transit Authority fare free transportation system which will greatly impact the students of the WPS.

(January 7, 2020)

Request that the Administration provide a report first to the School Committee and then to the City Council indicating the benefits of the Worcester Regional Transit Authority’s fare free transportation and provide such services to students in the Worcester Public Schools to include those on internships and Chapter 74 courses.

(January 8, 2020)

To accept and abide by the state School Committee Code of Ethics.

(January 8, 2020)

Request that the Administration interact with the Massachusetts Association of School Committees and schedule a retreat for the members of the Worcester School Committee to develop strategic goals and clear metrics for the committee.

To create an Ad Hoc Subcommittee of the Worcester School Committee to consider changes to the school committee rules, meetings and agendas to make the work of the School Committee and our meetings more effective and better aligned with the focus on the strategic direction of the district.  These changes should reflect best practices and address the recommendations included in the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s report from 2017.

(January 8, 2020)

To charge the Standing Committee on Finance and Operations with the responsibility to develop and conduct public forums that will solicit community input for the planned expenditure of new funding for public education as required by the Commonwealth under the Student opportunity Act.  It should also recommend to the school committee alternative means for soliciting community-based input for this funding.

Request that the Standing Committee on School and Student Performance monitor the benchmarks and metrics for the district, and in particular the new investment under the Student Opportunity Act, to gauge the success of our work and to identify the challenges still facing the district.

(January 8, 2020)

Request that the Standing Committee on Teaching, Learning and Student Supports recommend a comprehensive, inclusive, evidenced-based sexual and health curriculum and an appropriate level of increased classroom time for health education to the school committee for the FY21 budget.

(January 8, 2020)

Request that the Administration, upon the successful implementation of MyStop, monitor the movement of public school buses, to have the administration report daily (or weekly) to the school committee on any morning and afternoon late bus delays or “no shows”.  This information from both Durham and Worcester Public school operated buses should include the route number, the destination school, the total minutes each bus was late and any routes that were not run by Durham and/or were picked up by Worcester buses.  This daily information should also include any driver shortages experienced.  This information should also be posted daily (or weekly) on the Worcester Public Schools’ website.

(January 8, 2020)

To include a standing item for “Transportation Update” at each Finance and Operations committee meeting with information provided regarding the problems facing student transportation and improvements experienced.

(January 8, 2020)

To accept the Alternative ELE Programs Grant in the amount of $90,000.

(January 8, 2020)

Request that the Administration provide an update on the Dual Language expansion initiative made possible through grants awarded to the Worcester Public Schools.

(January 9, 2020)

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.

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