School Committee Agenda #15 – June 15, 2017

ORDER OF BUSINESS

ACTION

aor #7-14 –  Clerk
(June 7, 2017)

To consider approval of the Minutes of the School Committee Meeting of Thursday, June 1, 2017.

gb #7-144.2  – Administration/Mr. Monfredo/Ms. Colorio/Mr. O’Connell/Miss Biancheria/Mayor Petty
(May 22, 2017)

To recognize Robert Pezzella, Director of School Safety for conducting the highly successful Bullying Prevention and Education Conference that was held at North High School.

gb #7-155.1  – Administration/Mr. O’Connell/Mr. Foley/Ms. Colorio/Mr. Monfredo/Miss Biancheria/Mayor Petty
(June 5, 2017)

To congratulate Marco Rodrigues, Ed.D. on his selection as Superintendent of the Hudson Public Schools.

gb #7-185.1  – Administration/Mr. Monfredo/Mr. Foley/Mr. O’Connell/Ms. Colorio/Miss Biancheria/Mayor Petty
(June 5, 2017)

To recognize Jeffrey Lane and Judy Millott, both teachers from Worcester Technical High School, for receiving the Heart Hero Award from the American Heart Association.

gb #7-196.1  – Administration/Administration
(June 5, 2017)

To recognize Lisa Carignan, a teacher at Columbus Park Preparatory Academy, for being named the Webster Square Business Association’s Teacher of the Year.

gb #7-210.1  – Administration/Mr. Foley/Mr. O’Connell/Mr. Monfredo/Miss Biancheria/Ms. Colorio/Mayor Petty
(June 5, 2017)

To recognize Sara Consalvo, Budget Director, for receiving the Friend of MASBO Award at the Conference at the Seacrest Hotel in Falmouth, MA.

gb #7-211.1  – Administration/Mr. Foley/Mr. O’Connell/Mr. Monfredo/Ms. Colorio/Mayor Petty
(June 5, 2017)

To recognize Brian Allen, Chief Finance and Operations Officer, for having received the President’s Award from MASBO at the Conference at the Seacrest Hotel in Falmouth, MA.

gb #7-222.1  -Administration/Administration
(June 5, 2017)

To recognize Carmen Rosado for receiving the Community Achievement Vision Award from the Worcester Latino Dollars for Scholars Program.

gb #7-223.1  – Administration/Administration
(June 5, 2017)

To recognize Bertha-Elena Rojas, Ph.D. for receiving the Community Achievement Award from the Worcester Latino Dollars for Scholars Program.

gb #7-226  – Administration
(June 7, 2017)

To recognize the first grade students from Thorndyke Road School who participated in a civics lesson about Worcester, the Heart of the Commonwealth with their teachers.

ROS #7-10  – Administration
(June 5, 2017)

UPDATE ON ALICE (ALERT, LOCKDOWN, INFORM, COUNTER EVACUATE) TRAINING

The Standing Committee on Governance and Employee Issues met at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 14, 2017 in Room 410 at the Durkin Administration Building.

gb #6-153.9  –  Administration/Miss Biancheria/Ms. Colorio
(June 6, 2017)

Response of the Administration to the following motions to:

• provide a report as to the dollar figure from Durham Transportation due to the failure to fulfill contract obligations
• compare the credits gained from Durham Transportation due to the failure to fulfill contract obligations to the credits received next year with a new person hired to monitor this process
• change the name of the (2000) E. Non-Recurring Textbook Purchases Account to reflect more accurately the use of the monies

Response of the Administration to the request to provide a report on the success of leasing buses.

Response of the Administration to the request to address the varied defects and conditions affecting the wall separating the property of Tatnuck School from that occupied by the Tatnuck Square  Center, 1097-1099 Pleasant Street, and the land in the vicinity of the wall, which include, and are not limited to:

• the deterioration of parking lot paving in the Center due to erosion from water flowing through the wall
• the location of the Tatnuck School dumpster adjacent to the land of the Center
• the exposed wires along the wall, and
• the deteriorating segments of the wall itself.

To consider the proposed FY18 Budget and the responses to the following motions:

A.   Request that the Administration provide a report to include:

• the cost for Charter School transportation and
• the monies expended for bus passes funded through grants and the amount funded through the Worcester Public Schools

B.   Request that the Administration provide a report in reference to the utilization of the McKinney-Vento reimbursement funds.

C.   Request that the Administration provide a report on the revolving fund account and indicate how much has been utilized to support concessions, custodial help and administrative charges at Foley Stadium.

D.   Request that the Administration provide a detailed report of the sites and dollar amounts for the middle and high school graduations within this account.

E.   Request that the Administration provide at the next Budget Hearing the equipment and facility needs of the Crew Team.

F.   Request that the Athletic Director provide a report on section C. Maintenance/Repair Equipment indicating what athletic equipment is being reconditioned and repaired.

G.   Request that the Athletic Director provide a report on section D. Supplies to include a list of athletic supplies and uniforms that were purchased.

Response of the Administration to the request to provide a grid on the locations and costs for both middle and high school graduations for 2016-17.

To discuss the feasibility of consolidating recognitions to one meeting every two months.

To schedule public hearings, and opportunities for public deliberation, as to the renovation or replacement of South High Community School, including discussion of facilities to be included in the building, prior to preparation of preliminary architectural drawings and schematics.

To discuss, with appropriate officials and consultants of the City of Worcester, possible consolidation of particular departments and services of the Worcester Public Schools with those of the City.

To accept a donation from Debra and Dung Dang in the amount of $19.10 for classroom books.

To ask the Mayor and the Superintendent to develop a new approach to the School Committee agenda that will make the meetings more effective, productive, and deliberative. Suggestions would include the establishment of a consent agenda for items such as routine approvals of donations and recognitions, the development of criteria for recognitions, designated meetings for honoring recipients of recognitions, and the presence on the agenda at each meeting or every other meeting an important educational policy issue facing Worcester Public Schools that school committee members would learn about (through materials distributed prior to the meeting) and discuss with administrators at the meeting.

To send the backup as was featured on NBC “Inspiring America Series” to our elementary schools and have them consider working with their business partner or PTO on establishing a “buddy bench” as we enter the 2017-18 school year.

To send letters of congratulations to the following students who were selected as the Telegram and Gazette’s Student Achievers for 2017:

Valenia Bergier   Burncoat High School                     (Boston University)

Viet Le                Claremont Academy                        (Boston College)

Lindsay Ho         North High School                            (UMass Amherst)

Travis Tran         South High Community School       (Yale University)

Le Tran               University Park Campus School      (UMass Amherst)

Lindsey Allen      Worcester Technical High School    (Bentley University)

To accept a donation in the amount of $1,000 from RISO, Inc. to be used as a student scholarship in recognition of the 2017 President’s Award from the Massachusetts Association of School Business Officials that was awarded to Brian Allen.

Request that the Administration report on best practices as they relate to itinerant special education staff caseloads, specifically for occupational therapy and physical therapy employees, and what agreements currently exist between the Boston Public Schools and the Boston Teachers Union related to itinerant special education staffing levels and/or caps.

Request that the Administration report on what, if any, orientation, training or ongoing professional development is provided by special education department leadership to principals, as it relates to itinerant special education staff, so as to facilitate a proper understanding of roles and responsibilities to ensure legal compliance as well as positive and appropriate outcomes for students.

To approve a prior fiscal year invoice in the amount of $585.00.

To accept a donation in the amount of $10,000.00 from Hanover Insurance Group Foundation through Worcester Educational Development Foundation (WEDF) to help support the Worcester Public School’s SAT college admission testing for seniors.

To accept the Gateway to College Success Network Grant in the amount of $80,000.

To accept donations in the total amount of $670.00 for the Special Education Transition Program.

To revise the meeting calendar of the School Committee for 2017-18 to add additional meetings of the Committee on the following dates: July 6, August 3, August 31, November 30, March 29, and May 31, so the Committee will meet twice each month during the summer, and on each “fifth Thursday” of months having five Thursdays, to allow the Committee more time in which to address issues of policy, strategic planning, budget planning, and instructional improvement.

To approve a prior fiscal year payment in the amount of $9,110.76 made payable to the City of Springfield for a student for whom the Worcester Public Schools was fiscally responsible.

To accept the Professional Development for Frameworks and Standards Grant in the amount of $50,000.

To consider all items filed by the School Committee that have budgetary implications in light of the FY18 Budget.

Request that the Administration forward letters of congratulations to the following schools which had a chronic absenteeism rate for the year of less than six percent:

To set a date to recognize the Alternative School Team for receiving the “Most Creative Use of Materials” Award for the Furniture Trust’s Annual Signature event, The Eco Carpentry Challenge 2017, that was held on May 4, 2017 at District Hall in Boston.

To accept a donation from the Furniture Trust Organization, Inc. in the amount of $250.00 for students at St. Casimir’s Alternative Program for receiving the award for “Most Creative Use of Materials” in the Eco Carpentry Challenge 2017.

To approve prior fiscal year invoices in the amount of $7,695.00.

To accept a donation from the Intel Volunteer Grant Program in the amount of $660.00 for the volunteer time employees dedicated to organizing and working with the Worcester Public Schools to donate recyclable items through the Fab clean out last year.

To accept a donation from the Quinsigamond Village Improvement Advisory Committee in the amount of $13,000.00 to purchase school equipment.

To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining for Teachers and Unit A/B, if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the collective bargaining position of the School Committee and the chair so declares.

To consider an International Union of Public Employees (I.U.P.E.) Grievance Complaint – HVAC Technician

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 conduct contract negotiations with non-union personnel:

Non-Represented Employees – Administrators

Non-represented Employees – Non-Administrators

To authorize the Superintendent to negotiate an employment contract for Susan O’Neil, Ph.D. as the Deputy Superintendent, effective July 1, 2017.

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