School Committee Agenda #17 – July 20, 2017

ORDER OF BUSINESS

ACTION

aor #7-15 –  Clerk
(July 6, 2017)

To consider approval of the Minutes of the School Committee Meeting of Thursday, June 15, 2017.

ROS #7-11  –  Administration
(July 12, 2017)

SUPERINTENDENT’S MID-CYCLE REPORT BASED ON HER GOALS

gb #6-153.10  – Administration/Miss Biancheria/Ms. Colorio/Mr. Foley
(June 21, 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.

Response of the Administration to the following motion:Request that the when the Administration provides the report on Durham Transportation at the next meeting that it also reflect if there is an increase in the Capital Budget from the City Manager.

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.

Response of the Administration to the request to provide copies of the old and new Job Descriptions for the Clinicians.

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

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)

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 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.

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 set a date to recognize the following Claremont Peer Mediators, who donated a segment of their 2016 summer vacations to be trained through the Center for Nonviolent Solutions, who have helped to resolve the conflicts of their peers throughout the 2016-17 academic year, and who have built a solid foundation for expansion of the program in future years, thus contributing to the peaceful and supportive environment and culture of Claremont Academy:

Yaw Amponsa              Fathi Horror

Marigona Bacaliu         Rodrigo Portillo

Keyla Blanco                Oscar Rosario

Mileyda Cruz               Steven Robles

Yellybeth Diaz             Michelle Veth

Request that the Administration forward a letter of thanks to Simon Eber, grade 8 student at Forest Grove Middle School for giving backpacks to the students in grade six at Columbus Park School and Woodland Academy through the nonprofit organization he established in Worcester, Simon Says Give-Worcester.

To congratulate the members of the Worcester Technical High School Girls 800 Meter Sprint Medley Relay Team for placing 15th out of 47 teams at the New Balance Nationals Outdoor competition at Aggie Stadium, in Greensboro, North Carolina during the weekend of June 17-18, the 3rd consecutive trip to Nationals for all 4 athletes:

Leilani Torres           Worcester Technical High School

Bernice Mensah       Worcester Technical High School

Adja Sackor             Worcester Technical High School

Stevenna Bowhile    North High School

To accept a donation in the amount of $350.00 to Clark Street Developmental Learning School from the Boston Museum of Science to reimburse the cost of bussing for the 4^th grade field trip that was held on May 10, 2017.

To recognize, with gratitude and appreciation, the members of the Worcester Public Schools’ staff who retired during the 2017 fiscal year.

To consider an amendment to Rule 20 of the School Committee Rules:

20.  Motions requiring a two-thirds (2/3) vote shall be as follows:

a.  amend, repeal, rescind or annul any part of the By-Laws or Rules of Order
(It also requires previous notice.)

b.  suspend the Rules

c.  move the question

d.  rescind previous vote

e.  limit or extend one’s limit of debate

The City Charter requires the School Committee to obtain five votes to pass any measure which requires a two-thirds vote.

To forward a letter of appreciation to AbbVie, Inc. for its efforts in renovating and refurbishing the science laboratory of Worcester East Middle School.

Request that the Administration provide a report relative to the alternative programs at the Gerald Creamer Center to include the day time programs, the evening classes for credit recovery and the work based learning plan opportunities.

• the number of students who opted for inter-district School Choice (502) and the names of the receiving schools and
• the number of students who opted into the Worcester Public Schools (85) from other districts

To accept a donation in the amount of $100.00 from S and S Kitchens for Woodland Academy.

To accept a donation in the amount of $221.87 from CEC Entertainment, Inc. for Woodland Academy.

To accept a donation in the amount of $402.74 from Scholastic, Inc. for Woodland Academy.

To accept a donation in the amount of $200.00 from Ballard Mack Sales & Service, Inc. for the South High Community School’s Diesel Program.

To accept a donation in the amount of $200.00 from D. Murgo Trucking, Inc. for the South High Community School’s Diesel Program.

To accept a donation in the amount of $5,000.00 from the Unum Group as a portion of the costs for the guest speaker for the Opening of Schools Program.

To accept the Level 3 Turnaround Grant for the Goddard School of Science and Technology in the amount of $375,000.

Request that the Administration provide an update on the feasibility of producing a marketing video about the Worcester Public Schools, in conjunction with key partners within the community, and share it, upon completion, with parent groups, realtors and the business community.

Request that the Administration continue to develop ways to market the accomplishments of the Worcester Public Schools by increasing the number of media press releases and by encouraging the principals to forward to the media outstanding events that are taking place at their schools.

To consider approval of the enVisionmath 2.0 textbooks, published by Pearson Education, Inc., for students in grades K-6.

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

To discuss collective bargaining for Nurses if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigation position of the School Committee.

To discuss collective bargaining for Custodians if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigation position of the School Committee.

To discuss collective bargaining for Computer Technicians (Unit D) if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigation position of the School Committee.

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