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School Committee Agenda #1 – January 22, 2015

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

AGENDA #1

The School Committee will hold a regular meeting:
on: Thursday, January 22, 2015
at: 6:00 p.m. – Executive Session
7:00 p.m. – Regular Session
in: Council Chamber, City Hall

ORDER OF BUSINESS

ACTION

I. CALL TO ORDER  –  REGULAR MEETING
INVOCATION  –  Reverend Clyde Talley
Belmont AME Zion Church
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/NATIONAL ANTHEM
II. ROLL CALL
III. APPROVAL OF RECORDS

aor #5-1 –   Clerk
(January 13, 2015)

To consider approval of the Minutes of the School Committee Meeting of Thursday, December 18, 2014.

IV. MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION – NONE
V. IMMEDIATE ACTION

gb #5-1 –  Administration
(January 6, 2015)

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

VI. REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT – NONE
VII. COMMUNICATION AND PETITION

c&p #5-1  –  Clerk
(January 14, 2015)

To consider a communication from the EAW regarding staffing levels at North High School.

Annex A (9 pages)
VIII. REPORT OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE

The Joint Committee of the Standing Committee on Finance and Operations and the City Council’s Standing Committee on Education met at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 20, 2015 in the Levi Lincoln Chamber at City Hall.

IX.

 

 

 

 

5-01

PERSONNEL

The Superintendent has APPROVED the APPOINTMENT of the person(s) named below:

Bush, Tammy, Teacher, Science, Forest Grove, BA, Step 8, $64,424 effective December 15, 2014. Licensed: General Science 5-8.

Cantwell, Kevin, Teacher, Social Studies, Worcester East, BA, Step 6, $57,312 effective November 25, 2014. Licensed: History 5-8.

Huynh, Thuan, Teacher, English, Worcester East, BA, Step 9, $68,536 effective January 5, 2015. Licensed: English 5-8.

Leonard, Brian, Teacher, Social Studies, Sullivan Middle, BA, Step 1, $43,743 effective December 15, 2014. Licensed: History 5-8.

McPartland, Ashley, Teacher, English as a Second Language, New Citizen Center, MA, Step 2, $51,870 effective January 5, 2015. Licensed: ESL Prek-12.

Rivera, Cerinette, Wraparound Coordinator, Sullivan Middle, MA, Step 8, $70,164 effective January 12, 2015. Licensed: N/A

5-02 The Superintendent has APPOINTED the persons named below to the position of Cafeteria Helper, permanent/intermittent at a salary of $12.19 per hour, from Civil Service List #314-043, effective as shown:

Oppong, Agnes 12/3/14
Tivnan, Barbara 12/3/14
Mattson, Allison 12/3/14
Mensah, Enoch 12/3/14
Castillo Carreno, Joery 12/3/14
Brown, Selma 12/3/14
Buckley, Michaela 12/3/14
Osei, Georgina 12/3/14
Banfill, Kara 12/3/14
Shanley, Deborah 12/3/14
Cornelio, Niurka 12/3/14
Ferrer, Giuselle 12/3/14
Yiadom, Brigitte 12/3/14
Acquah, Lilian 12/3/14
Germitus, Manette 12/3/14
Santiago-Diaz, Glenda 12/3/14
Tadesse, Netsanet 12/3/14
Amador, Katie 12/3/14
Berrios, Bobbie-Jo 12/3/14
Ameyaa, Rita 12/3/14
George, Shirley 12/3/14
Chreim, Jean 12/3/14
Wiggins, Ann 12/3/14
Esteras, Karla 12/3/14
Pacheco, Patricia 12/3/14
Ermlick, Brandy 12/3/14
Harvin, Alex 12/3/14
Gyasi, Nana 12/3/14
Dicent, Ana 12/3/14
Duke, Steven 12/3/14

5-03 The Superintendent has APPOINTED the persons named below to the position of Senior Building Custodian, permanent/fulltime at a salary of $17.18 (minimum) to $24.55 (maximum) per hour, from Civil Service List #314-041, effective as follows:

Stewart, David 11/3/14

5-04 The Superintendent has APPOINTED the persons named below to the position of Aide to the Physically Handicapped, permanent/fulltime at a salary of $15.90 (minimum) to $18.64 (maximum) per hour, from Civil Service List #314-022, effective as follows:

Incle, Luisa 1/05/15

X. GENERAL BUSINESS

gb #4-289.2  –  Administration/Miss Biancheria/Mr. Monfredo/Ms. Novick/Mr. O’Connell
(January 14, 2015)

Response of the Administration to the request to provide a report on the funds transferred from the City to the Worcester Public Schools under CSX, the dollar amount and how the funds have been appropriated.

Annex A (1 page)
gb #4-329.1  –  Administration/Miss Biancheria/Mr. O’Connell/Mr. Monfredo
(January 14, 2015)

Response of the Administration to the request to provide an update on the filling of the position of principal for Worcester Technical High School.

Annex A (1 page)
gb #5-2  –    Mr. O’Connell
(December 11, 2014)

To apply for funding for expansion of the preschool education program of the Worcester Public Schools under the Preschool Expansion Grant Program of the United States Department of Education.

Annex A (2 pages)
>gb #5-3  –   Mr. Monfredo
(December 16, 2014)

To set a date to recognize Deni Hoxha from South High Community School, on being the grand prize winner in the Film/Video/Song category from the Sodexo Foundation for his project on “Childhood Hunger in the United States.”

gb #5-4  –   Mr. Monfredo
(December 19, 2014)

To set a date to recognize the Quadrivium of Burncoat High School, under the direction of David Twiss, for its work in the community and for being the back-up group for singer Kenny Rogers.

gb #5-5  –   Mr. Monfredo
(December 19, 2014)

Request that the Administration forward letters of congratulations to the following students for being winners in the MLK, Jr. essay and poetry contest:

Doherty Memorial High School
Miriam Opare, grade 12, Poetry
Worcester Technical High School
Elise Painchaud, grade 9, Essay
North High School
Elizabeth DeJesus, grade 9, Poetry
Esteban Ortega, grade 12, Essay
Sullivan Middle School
Pearl Abaidoo, grade 8, Poetry
South High Community School
Miles Arnet, grade 10, Poetry
Lillian Cain, grade 10, Poetry
Mahli Charpentier, grade 10, Poetry
Paris Jensen, grade 10, Poetry
David Judkins, grade 11, Poetry
Adam Maarij, grade 10, Poetry
Travis Tran, grade 10, Poetry
Burncoat Middle School
Hussain Bhatti, grade 7, Poetry
gb #5-6  –   Mr. O’Connell
(December 22, 2014)

To set a date to recognize, with gratitude and appreciation, the donations by Saul Feingold and the Feingold Cos., with the assistance of the United Way of Central Massachusetts, for the purchase of iPads for the students of Belmont Street Community School.

gb #5-7  –   Administration
(December 29, 2014)

To accept a donation in the amount of $500.00 in memory of Paul Piuze from Matthew and Amy Piuze, made payable to the City of Worcester Fund for Special Needs Students.

gb #5-8  –   Mr. O’Connell
(December 29, 2014)

To set a date to recognize, with gratitude and appreciation, the donation of $5,000 by the Emerald Club to the Special Olympics Program of the Worcester Public Schools.

gb #5-9  –   Administration
(December 29, 2014)

To approve a prior fiscal year payment in the amount of $5,940.00 for tuition expenses for a special education student to the Town of Oxford (Project Coffee) for the 2013-14 school year.

gb #5-10  –    Mr. Monfredo
(January 5, 2015)

To set a date to recognize Grafton Street School and Friendly House for their partnership in meeting the needs of students in the Grafton Street neighborhood.

gb #5-11  –    Mr. O’Connell
(January 7, 2015)

To encourage students in grades 7 through 12 in the Worcester Public Schools to participate in the 25th annual Betty Curtis Worcester County Young Writers’ Conference at St. John’s High School.

gb #5-12  –   Mr. O’Connell
(January 7, 2015)To determine whether to request that the City of Worcester return the former Lincoln Square Boys’ Club, with its gymnasium and swimming pool, to the Worcester Public Schools.
gb #5-13  –    Mr. O’Connell
(January 7, 2015)To set a date to recognize, with gratitude and appreciation, the Rotary Club of Worcester, for its donation of $1,500 to Tatnuck Magnet School, to assist in construction of a rainwater collection system to irrigate a community garden maintained by the school.
gb #5-14  –    Mr. O’Connell
(January 7, 2015)To invite a representative of Tenacity to meet with the Worcester Public Schools, to consider cooperative opportunities to expand the Tenacity Summer Tennis and Reading Program for the benefit of the students of the Worcester Public Schools.
gb #5-15  –    Mr. O’Connell
(January 7, 2015)To determine whether the School Safety Patrol program of AAA Southern New England can provide additional assistance to the Worcester Public Schools in enhancing the safety and well-being of students who walk to and from school.
gb #5-16  –    Mr. O’Connell
(January 7, 2015)To review the Pilot Program of the Boston Public Schools to determine whether Worcester can and should emulate it, in whole or in part, to expand academic opportunities for students at their neighborhood schools.
gb #5-17  –    Mr. Monfredo
(January 8, 2015)Request that the Administration update the School Committee in a Friday Letter in February regarding the progress made on the CPR/AED program with high school students.
gb #5-18  –   Mr. Monfredo
(January 8, 2015)To accept a donation in the amount of $4,100 from various donors for the Special Education Transitions Department.
gb #5-19  –  Administration
(January 8, 2015)To accept a donation in the amount of $17,488 from the United Way of Central Massachusetts for the purchase of iPads and other reading materials at Belmont Street Community School.
gb #5-20  –  Administration
(January 8, 2015)To accept a donation in the amount of $400 from Shaw’s Supermarkets Charitable Foundation made payable to Francis McGrath Elementary School.
gb #5-21  –    Administration
(January 8, 2015)To accept a donation from the Lake View PTO in the amount of $2,503.04 for the schoolwide Math-a-Thon.
gb #5-22  –   Mayor Petty
(January 9, 2015)To set the date to recognize the recipients of the Posse Foundation full four-year college scholarships as follows:

Student High School College/University
Kwaku Amponsah Claremont Academy Bucknell University
Alex Black Doherty Memorial High School Hamilton College
Nancy Lopez Ramirez North High School Union College
Vanna Tran University Park Campus School Denison University
Sha-Asia Taylor Worcester Technical High School Bucknell University
gb #5-23  –    Administration
(January 8, 2015)To accept a grant in the amount of $20,000 from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for Alternative Education for at risk students.
Annex A (9 pages)
gb #5-24  –   Administration
(January 8, 2015)To accept a grant in the amount of $75,000 from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for the Innovation Schools Enhancement and Sustainability programs.
Annex A (13 pages)
gb #5-25  –     Administration
(January 9, 2015)To review the 2014-15 October 1st Student Enrollment Report.
Annex A (29 page)
gb #5-26  –     Administration
(January 12, 2015)To accept a grant in the amount of $13,141 from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for the Collaborative Partnerships for Student Success program.
Annex A (8 pages)
gb #5-27  –   Administration
(January 12, 2015)To accept a grant in the amount of $165,000 from the Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts for the WorcesterHEARS project.
Annex A (5 pages)
gb #5-28  –   Administration
(January 13, 2015)To consider the final FY14 Audit for the Central Massachusetts Special Education Collaborative.
Annex A (40 pages)
gb #5-29  –   Administration
(January 14, 2015)To approve a prior year payment in the amount of $24,480 to the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) representing the 2013-2014 dues for high schools.
Backup
gb #5-30  –   Administration
(January 14, 2015)To approve a prior year payment in the amount of $4,086.83 to the Assabet Valley Collaborative for a transportation invoice.
Backup
gb #5-31  –   Administration
(January 14, 2015)To accept a grant in the amount of $5,000 from the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation for the Together We Grow! Program.
Annex A (5 pages)
gb #5-32  –   Administration
(January 14, 2015)To approve a prior year payment in the amount of $1,015.23.
gb #5-33  –     Mr. O’Connell
(January 14, 2015)To set a date to recognize and congratulate the twenty-two DECA students of Worcester Technical High School who have qualified for the DECA State Competition in March, and the following students who received awards in the 2015 DECA District 7 competition on January 9, 2015:

Chris Dipilato
Marta Wasiewicz
Seniors First Place Financial Services Team Event
Sha-Asia Taylor Senior First Place Food Marketing Series
Abdallah Isaa Senior Second Place Marketing Management
Kada Gaye Sophomore Third Place Personal Finance Literacy
Kyle Geller Junior Third Place Retail Merchandising
Tiarra Fisher
Talia Saysay
Juniors Third Place Financial Services Team Event
Lindsey Allen Sophomore Third Place Auto Service Marketing
Christopher Plucinski-Taylor Freshman Fourth Place Personal Finance Literacy
Tiffany Chan Senior Fourth place Human Resource Management

Including the following additional State Conference Qualifiers:

Julia Soares Freshman Personal Finance Literacy
Desiree Edmonds Junior Quick Serve Restaurant Management
Kishawna Long Senior Food Marketing Series
Oneisha Dixon Freshmen Food Marketing Series
Esmely Munoz
Bobbi McHugh
Juniors Buying & Merchandising Team
Emily Trotta Senior Business Services Marketing
Jake Ford Freshman Business Financial Services
Adjoa Duodu Freshman Business Financial Service
Alexis Garcia Sophomore Auto Service Marketing
Skye McNeil Freshman Principles of Finance
gb #5-34 –  Administration
(January 14, 2015)To approve a prior year payment in the amount of $5,282.
gb #5-35 –  Administration
(January 14, 2015)To encourage students in the Worcester Public Schools to participate in the 2015 Fair Housing Poster Contest sponsored by the Worcester Human Rights Commission.
Annex A 1 (page)
gb #5-36 –  Administration
(January 14, 2015)To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining for Educational Secretaries, 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 in preparation for contract negotiations with nonunion personnel and to conduct negotiations with nonunion personnel

– Superintendent.

XI. ADJOURNMENT

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

“The Worcester Public Schools is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer/Educational Institution and does not discriminate regardless of race, color, gender, age, religion, national origin, gender identity, marital status, sexual orientation, disability or homelessness. The Worcester Public Schools provides equal access to employment and the full range of general, occupational and vocational education programs. For more information relating to Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action contact the Human Resource Manager, 20 Irving Street, Worcester, MA  01609, 508-799-3020.”