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Agenda #5 School Committee March 21, 2019

CLERK OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
WORCESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS
20 IRVING STREET
WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS 01609

AGENDA #5

The School Committee will hold a regular meeting:
on: Thursday, March 21, 2019
at: 6:00 p.m. – Executive Session

7:00 p.m. – Regular Session

in the: Esther Howland, South Chamber at City Hall

 

ORDER OF BUSINESS ACTION
I. CALL TO ORDER  –  REGULAR MEETING
INVOCATION

Reverend Robert Jackson

First Congregational Church

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/NATIONAL ANTHEM
II. ROLL CALL
III. APPROVAL OF RECORDS

aor #9-4  –    Clerk

(March 13, 2019)

To consider approval of the Minutes of the School Committee Meeting of Thursday, February 28, 2019.

Annex A (18 pages)
aor #9-5  –    Clerk

(March 13, 2019)

To consider approval of the Minutes of the School Committee Meeting of Thursday, March 7, 2019.

Annex A ( 10 pages)
IV. MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION – NONE
V. IMMEDIATE ACTION

gb #9-69.1  – Administration/Miss Biancheria/Miss McCullough/Mr. Monfredo/Mr. O’Connell/

Mayor Petty

(March 11, 2019)

To recognize Officer Sean Lovely on his selection as the 2019 Worcester County St. Patrick’s Parade Grand Marshal.

gb #9-79.1  – Administration/Mr. O’Connell/Miss Biancheria/Miss McCullough/Mr. Monfredo/

Mayor Petty

(March 11, 2019)

To recognize, with gratitude and appreciation, the work of the Worcester Railers in painting and refurbishing the library of Vernon Hill Elementary School.

gb #9-84  –  Administration

(March 13, 2019)

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

VI. REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT

ROS #9-4 –   Administration

(March 13, 2019)

EMERGING AND SUSTAINED STRATEGIES TO BOOST OUTCOME FOR ELL STUDENTS

Annex A ( 19 pages)
VII. COMMUNICATION AND PETITION – NONE
VIII. REPORT OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE

The Standing Committee on Finance and Operations met on Monday, March 11, 2019 at 5:00 p.m. in Room 410 at the Durkin Administration Building.

Act1 (3-11-19) fo
IX. PERSONNEL

9-14   The Superintendent has ACCEPTED the RESIGNATION for Purposes of RETIREMENT of the person named below:

Vancelette, Thomas, Teacher, Elementary, McGrath, effective March 1, 2019.

9-15  The Superintendent has APPROVED the LEAVE OF ABSENCE of the person named below:

Firmin, Kristen, Teacher, Elementary, Canterbury, effective April 5, 2019 – June 30, 2019.

X. GENERAL BUSINESS
gb #8-350.2  – Administration/Mr. O’Connell/Miss Biancheria/Mr. Monfredo/Mr. Comparetto/

Miss McCullough/Mr. Foley

(March 11, 2019)

Response of the Administration to the request to provide a report, at its earliest convenience, outlining the anticipated costs of implementing a system of online grading prior to the 2020 Budget discussion.

Annex A ( 1 page)
gb #9-20.1  – Administration/Miss McCullough/Miss Biancheria/Mr. Foley/Mr. Monfredo/

Mr. O’Connell

(February 22, 2019)

Response of the Administration to the request to provide a report on the Advanced Placement course offerings and include student/parent feedback, guidelines and costs for the exams.

Annex A ( 2 pages)
gb #9-41.1  – Administration/Mr. Monfredo/Miss Biancheria/Mr. Comparetto/Miss McCullough/

Mr. O’Connell

(March 14, 2019)

Response of the Administration to 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.

Annex A ( 4 pages)
gb #9-50.1  – Administration/Mr. Foley/Miss McCullough/Mr. Monfredo/Mr. O’Connell

(March 11, 2019)

Response of the Administration to the request to work with the site council and staff at Claremont Academy to develop a geographic catchment area for students who wish to attend Claremont.

Annex A ( 2 pages)
gb #9-85  –  Mr. Monfredo/Miss Biancheria/Miss McCullough/Mr. O’Connell/Mayor Petty

(March 11, 2018)

To set a date to recognize the Doherty Memorial High School’s Powerlifting Team and its coach Bradley Dustin for placing:

–  first at the Elite High Open Cup held in Middleton

–  third overall in the State –wide Ryan Moore New England Open and

–  first in Central Mass.

Alwaleed Al Habeeb            Jason Amantea

Michael Boutros                 Anthony Migridichian

Kyle Monfredo                   Michael Monfredo

Jordan Nguyen                  Kwaku Nyarko

Fabian Valencia

The Doherty team is the first group from Worcester to participate in the powerlifting statewide tournament.
gb #9-86  –  Mr. Monfredo/Miss Biancheria/Miss McCullough/Mr. O’Connell/Mayor Petty

(March 11, 2018)

To forward a letter of congratulations to Worcester Technical High School’s Boys Basketball Team and its coach Sean Lynch for capturing the Central Mass Championship and the Division IV State Semi-Final titles.

gb #9-87  –  Mr. Monfredo/Miss Biancheria/Miss McCullough/Mr. O’Connell

(March 11, 2018)

Request that the Administration alert schools and the community that the week of March 24th is Public School Week, sponsored by the National Education Association.

gb #9-88  –  Mr. Monfredo/Miss Biancheria/Miss McCullough/Mr. O’Connell

(March 11, 2018)

Request that the Administration provide a report on the 100 Males to College Program.

gb #9-89  –  Mr. O’Connell/Miss Biancheria/Miss McCullough/Mr. Monfredo

(March 12, 2019)

To participate in the 2019 Massachusetts Educational Recruiting Consortium Career Fair on Thursday, April 18, 2019 at the George Sherman Union, Boston University.

gb #9-90  –  Mr. O’Connell/Miss Biancheria/Miss McCullough/Mr. Monfredo/Mayor Petty

(March 12, 2019)

To forward a letter of congratulations to the staff and students of Doherty Memorial High School on their successful production of the musical Once Upon a Mattress.

gb #9-91  – Miss Biancheria/Miss McCullough/Mr. Monfredo/Mr. O’Connell/Mayor Petty

(March 13, 2019)

Request that the Administration forward a letter of congratulations to Brody Simoncini, the IHOP Kid Champion for 2019.

Brody is the creator of the Oreo, Oh My Goodness Pancake for IHOP.
gb #9-92  –  Miss Biancheria/Miss McCullough/Mr. Monfredo/Mr. O’Connell

(March 13, 2019)

Request that the Administration provide an update on the funding, progress of sites reviewed, construction, and structural design of the new Doherty Memorial High School to include a timeframe of construction and indicate the location for current students when construction begins.

gb #9-93  –  Miss Biancheria/Miss McCullough/Mr. Monfredo/Mr. O’Connell

(March 13, 2019)

Request that the Administration, through the Human Resource Department, provide an update regarding the concerns of the bus maintenance staff and bus drivers at the bus yard located at Fremont Street.

gb #9-94  –  Miss Biancheria/Miss McCullough/Mr. Monfredo/Mr. O’Connell

(March 13, 2019)

Request that the Administration monitor the arrival times of all busses to schools.

Annex A (1 page)
gb #9-95  –  Miss Biancheria/Miss McCullough/Mr. Monfredo/Mr. O’Connell

(March 13, 2019)

Request that the Administration survey the schools without air conditioning to verify their supply of fans for classrooms and availability of bottled water for students and staff for excessively hot days.

gb #9-96  –  Administration

(March 13, 2019)

To consider approval of the following donations:

–  $25,000.00 from The Hanover Insurance Group Foundation to The Hanover Insurance Academy for the Arts at Burncoat Middle School

–  $20,000.00 from Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) to the Worcester Public Schools to be used as scholarships to graduating seniors.

gb #9-97  –  Mr. Comparetto

(March 13, 2019)

Request that the Administration review the Memorandum of Understanding between the Worcester Public Schools and the Worcester Police Department and make any necessary changes.

gb #9-98  –  Mr. Comparetto

(March 13, 2019)

Request that the Administration ensure that feminine hygiene products are available in all bathrooms in grades 6-12.

Feminine hygiene products are available from the Nursing Office at the individual schools free of charge.
gb #9-99  –  Mr. Comparetto/Mr. O’Connell

(March 13, 2019)

Request that the Administration review the action taken by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection against White & Brite Cleaners in Worcester and take necessary precautions to ensure that the students and staff at Gates Lane School are safe from exposure to contaminants.

gb #9-100  –  Mr. Comparetto/Mr. O’Connell

(March 13, 2019)

Request that the City Manager and City Council consider creating a program that prioritizes housing for all homeless students and their immediate families.

gb #9-101  –  Mr. Comparetto

(March 13, 2019)

Request that the Administration consider creating an initiative to provide more services and support for the system’s approximately 2500 homeless students.

gb #9-102  –  Mr. Comparetto

(March 13, 2019)

Request that the Administration consider creating by-weekly School Committee listening sessions modeled on those in other urban school districts.

gb #9-103  –  Mr. Comparetto/Mr. O’Connell

(March 13, 2019)

Request that the Administration collaborate with the MASC and community organizations to strengthen school site councils.

gb #9-104  –  Mr. Comparetto

(March 13, 2019)

Request that the Administration consider incorporating into high school curricula African-American, African, Puerto Rican and Latino studies.

gb #9-105  –   Mr. Comparetto

(March 13, 2019)

Request that the Administration consider incorporating into high school curricula LGBTQI history.

gb #9-106  –  Mr. Comparetto/Mr. O’Connell

(March 13, 2019)

Request that the Administration examine the first few years of the elementary school curriculum and make certain that there is a balance of history, science, arts, etc.

gb #9-107  –  Mr. Comparetto/Mr. O’Connell

(March 13, 2019)

Request that the Administration examine “Ethics of American Youth” and consider ways to add more ethics training into the curriculum of the Worcester Public Schools.

gb #9-108  –   Mr. Comparetto/Mr. O’Connell

(March 13, 2019)

Request that the Administration examine the report by the Houston Education Research Consortium entitled Investigating Causal Effects of Arts Education Experiences: Experimental Evidence from Houston’s Arts Access Initiative and consider implementing a similar initiative in the Worcester Public Schools.

gb #9-109  –   Mr. Comparetto

(March 13, 2019)

Request that the Administration consider hiring a consultant to study racial equity in the Worcester Public Schools.

gb #9-110  –   Mr. Comparetto/Mr. O’Connell

(March 13, 2019)

Request that the City Manager consider creating a home-buyer program for educators to purchase homes in Worcester.

gb #9-111  –   Mr. Comparetto/Mr. O’Connell

(March 13, 2019)

Request that the Administration consider creating a program to support Instructional Assistants in their efforts to receive the appropriate education and licensing to become teachers.

The system is in the process of implementing such a program.
gb #9-112  –  Mr. Comparetto

(March 13, 2019)

Request that the Administration consider increasing recess time in elementary schools.

Due to time on learning requirements, the Administration cannot increase the 30 minutes for recess at the elementary level.
gb #9-113  –  Mr. Comparetto

(March 13, 2019)

Request that the Administration review the US Department of Education’s Preschool Development Grant Program and the Early Learning Challenge Competitive Grant Program and develop a Pre-School Program for every elementary school that does not currently have one.

Annex A ( 1 page)
gb #9-114  –  Mr. Comparetto/Mr. O’Connell

(March 13, 2019)

Request that the Administration consider the report Makerspaces in School Libraries and identify local and federal grant opportunities for a pilot program in one of our school libraries.

The system currently has Makerspaces in several of our schools.  The Grants Office will continue to explore funding sources to support this type of resource.
gb #9-115  – Executive Session (Administration)

(March 13, 2019)

To discuss strategy with respect to litigation for a Worker’s Compensation for an Instructional Aide, if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the School Committee and the chair so declares.

To discuss strategy with respect to litigation for a Worker’s Compensation for a Bus Monitor, if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the School Committee and the chair so declares.

To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining and to conduct collective bargaining regarding Grievance #18/19-6.

To discuss strategy with respect to litigation in the case of Jane Doe v. Worcester Public Schools.

 
XI. ADJOURNMENT

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