TwiCLERK OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
WORCESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS
20 IRVING STREET
WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS 01609
AGENDA #15
| The School Committee will hold a regular meeting: | |
| on: | Thursday, April 28, 2016 |
| 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 |
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| I. | CALL TO ORDER – REGULAR MEETING | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| INVOCATION – Reverend Carla Dietz Greendale People’s Church |
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| PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/NATIONAL ANTHEM | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| II. | ROLL CALL | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| III. | APPROVAL OF RECORDS
aor #6-11 – Clerk To consider approval of the Minutes of the School Committee Meeting of Thursday, April 7, 2016. |
Annex A (13 pages) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| IV. | MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION
gb #6-167 – Miss Biancheria To reconsider the motion to deny Grievance #15/16-20. |
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| V. | IMMEDIATE ACTION
gb #6-20.2 – Administration/Mr. O’Connell/Mr. Monfredo/Miss Biancheria/Ms. Colorio/Miss McCullough/Mayor Petty To recognize, with gratitude and appreciation, the many donations of defibrillators to the Worcester Public Schools by the Josh Thibodeau Helping Hearts Foundation. |
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| gb #6-112.1 – Administration/Mr. Monfredo/Mr. Foley/Mr. O’Connell/Miss McCullough/Miss Biancheria/Mayor Petty (April 13, 2016) To recognize the Worcester Educational Development Foundation for awarding grants to the following schools:
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| gb #6-126.1 – Administration/Mr. Monfredo/Mr. O’Connell/Ms. Colorio/Mr. Foley/Miss McCullough/Mayor Petty (April 13, 2016) To recognize Jeffrey Lane, Judith Millott and the students at Worcester Technical High School for their fundraising efforts for Tedy’s Team to benefit the American Heart/American Stroke Association for Heart Month. |
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| gb #6-130.1 – Administration/Mr. Monfredo/Mr. O’Connell/Ms. Colorio/Mr. Foley/Miss McCullough/Mayor Petty (April 13, 2016) To recognize Margaret Bondar, Principal and staff members of Lake View School for receiving a MA Commendation Schools/MA Blue Ribbon School Grant from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in the amount of $15,000. |
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| gb #6-140 – Administration (April 14, 2016) To consider input from the School Committee’s student representatives. |
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| VI. | REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT – NONE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| VII. | COMMUNICATION AND PETITION
c&p #6-4 – Clerk To consider a communication from a citizen with a request to install a portrait of Maureen Binienda, Superintendent-Elect in the entranceway of every public school building as a welcoming sign to parents, students, educators and educational support professionals. |
Annex A (1 page) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| VIII. | REPORTS OF THE STANDING COMMITTEES
The Joint Standing Committee on Finance and Operations and the City Council’s Standing Committee on Education met at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, April 25, 2016 in Room 410 at the Dr. John E. Durkin Administration Building. The Standing Committee on Governance and Employee Issues met at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 26, 2016 in Room 410 at the Dr. John E. Durkin Administration Building. The Standing Committee on Accountability and Student Achievements met at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 26, 2016 in Room 410 at the Dr. John E. Durkin Administration Building. |
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| IX.
6-15 |
PERSONNEL
The Superintendent ACKNOWLEDGES the RESIGNATION of the person named below: Martinez, Patzy, Teacher, Elementary, Woodland effective April 19, 2016. Perez, Randy, Teacher, Science, Doherty, effective April 8, 2016 |
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| 6-16 | The Superintendent has APPROVED the APPOINTMENT of the person named below:
Shields, Jennifer, Teacher, Special Education, Norrback, MA+15, Step 8, $73,602, effective March 11, 2016 |
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| 6-17 | The Superintendent has provisionally APPOINTED the persons named below to the position of Senior Custodian, permanent/fulltime at a salary of $17.52 (minimum) per hour to $22.51 (maximum), per hour, effective as shown:
O’Brien, Paul 12/14/2015 |
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| 6-18 | The Superintendent has provisionally APPOINTED the persons named below to the position of Junior Custodian, permanent/fulltime at a salary of $15.28 (minimum) to $19.17 (maximum), per hour, effective as shown:
Navarro, Luis 4/19/16 |
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| 6-19 | 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 #315-078, effective as follows:
Ayala, Juan 4/4/16 |
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| X. | GENERAL BUSINESS
gb #6-141 – Mr. Monfredo Request that the Administration, on behalf of the School Committee, forward an e-mail to all teachers and nurses in the Worcester Public Schools during National Teacher’s Week May 4 – 8 and Nurses’ Appreciation Week May 6-12 in appreciation for their efforts for the students in the Worcester Public Schools. |
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| gb #6-142 – Mr. Monfredo (April 1, 2016) To set a date to recognize the Worcester Public Schools’ Teacher of the Year, the finalists and the Nurse of the Year when the selection is completed. |
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| gb #6-143 – Mr. O’Connell (April 4, 2016) To review, and to prepare recommendations for the Worcester legislative delegation, regarding Senate Bill 2203 – “an act enhancing reform, innovation and success in education.” |
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| gb #6-144 – Mr. O’Connell (April 4, 2016) To update Worcester Public Schools’ policies regarding substance abuse prevention and education, and to post the updated policies on the Worcester Public Schools website, in compliance with Chapter 71, Section 96 of the Massachusetts General Laws. |
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| gb #6-145 – Mr. O’Connell (April 4, 2016) To consider adoption of Policy JLCD of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, regarding administration of medications to students. |
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| gb #6-146 – Mr. O’Connell (April 4, 2016) To consider adoption of Policy JJF of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, regarding student activity accounts, to reflect the audit guidelines recently updated by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. |
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| gb #6-147 – Mr. Monfredo (April 4, 2016) Request that the Administration support the reading incentive program of Worcester’s baseball team, the Worcester Bravehearts, by encouraging students in grades K-6 to participate in the “Home Run Club” during the month of May. |
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| gb #6-148 – Mr. Monfredo (April 11, 2016) To set a date to recognize South High Community School’s music teacher Angela Poirier and the students in the “South Harmonies” group for placing first in the first “WEC’appella” high school competition sponsored by the Worcester Educational Collaborative. |
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| gb #6-149 – Mr. O’Connell (April 11, 2016) To forward a letter to congratulate the Quadrivium Chorus of Burncoat High School for achieving a first-place tie, and a Platinum rating, in the 2016 Disney Sings Choral Festival, with a score of 48 of 50 possible points. |
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| gb #6-150 – Miss Biancheria (April 12, 2016) Request that Administration forward a letter, on behalf of the School Committee, to UMASS Memorial Hospital for its support for the Health and Science Career Expo held at the College of the Holy Cross for our students. |
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| gb #6-151 – Administration (April 13, 2016) To review the reports on compliance and internal controls for the City of Worcester, including the Worcester Public Schools, from the Certified Public Accounting firm of CliftonLarsenAllen, LLP for the year ended June 30, 2015 which include the GAO and OMB A-133 Reports and the Management Letter and the Independent Accountants’ Report on Applying Agreed Upon Procedures for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education End of Year Financial Report for fiscal year 2015, prepared by Robert C. Alario, CPA, P.C. |
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| gb #6-152 – Mr. Monfredo (April 13, 2016) Request that the Administration set up tentative dates to meet with our local delegation in late October 2016 and in January and March 2017. |
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| gb #6-153 – Administration (April 13, 2016) To set the dates for the FY17 Budget Hearings. |
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| gb #6-154 – Mr. Monfredo (April 14, 2016)To forward a letter of support, on behalf of the School Committee, to the Legislative Delegation to support the Fair Share Amendment known as the “Millionaire Tax,” sponsored by the Raise Up Coalition, which would allow the state to charge an additional 4% tax on incomes above one million dollars per year and the money collected would be used to fund transportation and education initiatives. |
Annex A (3 pages) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| gb #6-155 – Mr. O’Connell (April 15, 2016)To set a date to recognize, with gratitude and appreciation, the donation of a “hybrid food truck” to the Worcester Public Schools, by the Stop and Shop Family Foundation and the Worcester County Food Bank. |
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| gb #6-156 – Administration (April 15, 2016)To accept a donation from the Worcester Refugee Assistance Project, Inc. in the amount of $100.00 in memory of Diane MacConnell for the Greendale Head Start Program on Grove Street. |
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| gb #6-157 – Administration (April 15, 2016)To accept a donation from the Worcester District Medical Society in the amount of $1,000.00 to support the CPR Project. |
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| gb #6-158 – Administration (April 15, 2016)To accept a donation from Digital Federal Credit Union and the DCU for Kids Charitable Foundation in the amount of $10,000.00 which is intended for scholarships to graduating seniors in the Worcester Public Schools. |
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| gb #6-159 – Mr. O’Connell (April 19, 2016)To forward a letter of congratulations to the Green Reapers Team 1735 of Burncoat High School on winning the Judges Award at the robotics’ New England District Championships for its “unique efforts, performance or dynamics.” |
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| gb #6-160 – Mr. Monfredo (April 19, 2016)Request that the Administration continue in May or June the Annual Evening of Celebration which honors: – staff (Thomas Jefferson Award) |
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| gb #6-161 – Mr. Monfredo (April 19, 2016)Request that the Administration place posters in locations throughout the community to alert the public about the importance of summer reading. |
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| gb #6-162 – Mr. Foley (April 19, 2016)To invite Treasurer Deborah Goldberg to a School Committee meeting in May to explain the pilot $eedMA program whose goal is to encourage Worcester kindergarten students and their families to plan and save for college. |
Annex A (2 pages) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| gb #6-163 – Mr. Monfredo (April 19, 2016)Request that all schools participate in the “Stand for the Silent” anti-bullying program which will take place on April 29th and to thank Mr. Pezzella for spearheading the movement. |
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| gb #6-164 – Administration (April 19, 2016)To accept a donation from The Hanover Insurance Group in the amount of $2,500.00 to support the South High Community School’s Band trip to Philadelphia. |
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| gb #6-165 – Mr. O’Connell (April 20, 2016)To set a date to recognize Sebastian Kopacz, a 12th grade student in the Worcester Technical High School electrical program, on his selection by The Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators (MAVA) and the Massachusetts Vocational Association (MVA) as one of 52 Massachusetts students honored at the 30th Annual Outstanding Vocational Technical Student Award Banquet at Mechanics Hall. |
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| gb #6-166 Mr. O’Connell (April 20, 2016)To congratulate the Gates Lane School of International Studies, Chandler Magnet School, Maureen Mohammed (South High Community School), and James Nowosacki (Francis J. McGrath Elementary School) upon their recognition, by the Worcester Educational Development Foundation, for their support of its 2016 Employee Payroll Deduction Campaign. |
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| gb #6-168 – Administration (April 20, 2016)Finding that an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the School Committee, the committee votes to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing Grievance #15/16-20. To discuss strategy in preparation for contract negotiations with nonunion personnel and to conduct negotiations with nonunion personnel – Superintendent-Elect. |
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| XI. | ADJOURNMENT
Helen A. Friel, Ed.D. |