TwiCLERK OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
WORCESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS
20 IRVING STREET
WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS 01609
AGENDA #17
| The School Committee will hold a regular meeting: | |
| on: | Thursday, July 31, 2014 |
| at: | 5:00 p.m. – Executive Session 4:00 p.m. – Regular Session |
| in: | Council Chamber, City Hall |
ORDER OF BUSINESS |
ACTION |
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| I. | CALL TO ORDER – REGULAR MEETING | |
| INVOCATION – Pastor Leshy Payner Quinsigamond United Methodist Church |
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| PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/NATIONAL ANTHEM | ||
| II. | ROLL CALL | |
| III. | APPROVAL OF RECORDS
aor #4-13 – Clerk To consider approval of the Minutes of the School Committee Meeting of Thursday, June 19, 2014. |
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| IV. | MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION – NONE | |
| V. | IMMEDIATE ACTION
gb #4-166.1 – Administration/Mr. O’Connell/Mr. Monfredo/Ms. Novick/Mr. Foley/Miss Ramirez/Mayor Petty/Miss Biancheria To congratulate the EcoTarium on receiving the 2014 Promising Practice Award Reimagined from the MetLife Foundation and Association of Children’s Museums for its innovative strategies “in adapting Countdown to Kindergarten (CTK), a one-day celebration for incoming kindergarten students in Worcester Public Schools, to better accommodate families who experience physical or mental disabilities, and learning or social difficulties.” |
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| gb #4-172.1 – Mr. O’Connell/Mr. Monfredo/Ms. Novick/Mr. Foley/Miss Ramirez/Mayor Petty/Miss Biancheria (July 14, 2014)To recognize, with gratitude and appreciation, the work of Mass Aububon, Broad Meadow Brook and the EcoTarium in implementing the “Real Math, Real Science” project-based program in the Worcester Public Schools. |
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| VI. | REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT – NONE | |
| VII. | COMMUNICATION AND PETITION – NONE | |
| VIII. | REPORTS OF THE STANDING COMMITTEES
The Standing Committee on Accountability and Student Achievement met at 5:32 p.m. on Monday, June 23, 2014 in Room 410 at the Durkin Administration Building. 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 Wednesday, July 23, 2014 in Room 410 at the Durkin Administration Building. |
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| IX. | PERSONNEL – NONE | |
| X. | GENERAL BUSINESS
gb #4-100.3 – Administration/Administration To consider the Administration’s responses to the following motions: A. Request that the Administration provide a report to include the number of hours per school that Instructional Assistants are requested to work in the classrooms. B. Request that the Administration provide a copy of the section of the Instructional Assistants’ contract regarding a monetary payment for covering a classroom. |
Annex A (1 page) Annex B (1 page) |
| gb #4-184.1 – Administration/Ms. Novick/Mr. O’Connell/Mr. Monfredo (June 30, 2014)To allow Ms. Novick to thank the School Committee for expeditiously forwarding the approved backup regarding state mandates to the Massachusetts Association of School Committees. |
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| gb #4-192 – Administration (June 16, 2014)To accept a donation in the amount of $400.00 made payable to Worcester Technical High School. |
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| gb #4-193 – Administration (June 16, 2014)To accept a donation in the amount of $5,000 made payable to Worcester Technical High School. |
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| gb #4-194 – Administration (June 25, 2014)To accept a grant in the amount of $94,279 from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Administration and Finance for a Vocational Opportunity Challenge Grant for Worcester Technical High School. |
Annex A (24 pages) | |
| gb #4-195 – Administration (June 25, 2014)To accept a grant in the amount of $10,000 from the Learning Forward Foundation to support the Close Reading and Writing to Sources Program at Worcester Arts Magnet School. |
Annex A (19 pages) | |
| gb #4-196 – Administration (June 30, 2014)To review bid specifications and contract requirements for pupil transportation services for the period beginning on July 1, 2015. |
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| gb #4-197 – Administration (June 30, 2014)To consider amending the policy regarding Employee Use of Social Media, Websites, Blogs and Other Online Social Tools. |
Annex A (2 pages) | |
| gb #4-198 – Mr. Monfredo (June 30, 2014)Request that the Administration consider working with the WEDF on a pilot program for placing potential black and white ads on some of the school buses as a way of increasing revenue for our student programs and for teacher initiated programs. |
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| gb #4-199 – Mr. O’Connell (July 14, 2014)To implement a revised plan for expanded and improved Wi-Fi networking in the Worcester Public Schools, funded in part through the e-Rate program under the July 11, 2014 Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FCC- 14-99) of the Federal Communications Commission. |
Annex A (2 pages) | |
| gb #4-200 – Mr. Monfredo (July 14, 2014)To set a date to recognize:
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| gb #4-201 – Mr. Monfredo (July 17, 2014)Request that Administration consider having all schools participate in the October 3rd kick-off of the Worcester: the City that Reads campaign and the World Smile Day literacy event. |
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| gb #4-202 – Miss Ramirez (July 21, 2014)To set a date to recognize Jennifer Cordero, a student at Doherty Memorial High School, for being selected for the Hispanic Youth Research and Leadership program at the University of New Mexico. |
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| gb #4-203 – Administration (July 21, 2014)To approve the Miscellaneous Educational OM Account in the FY15 Budget to reflect the various statutory sub-accounts per the request of the City Auditor. |
Annex A (6 pages) | |
| gb #4-204 – Mr. Foley (July 21, 2014)To review the status of the FY15 Budget and make appropriate transfers as required. |
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| gb #4-205 – Mr. O’Connell (July 22, 2014)To inform parent groups, booster clubs, and other entities supportive of the Worcester Public Schools about Internal Revenue Service Form 1023-EZ, which, effective as of July 1, permits most such entities to file for Section 501(c)(3) tax exempt status on a simple and expedited basis, as detailed in IRS News Release 2014-77. |
Annex A (1 page) | |
| gb #4-206 – Mr. O’Connell (July 22, 2014) To set a date to recognize the work of the Worcester Bravehearts, the Massachusetts Education Career Opportunities, Inc., and the Gear Up Green Energy Camp in instructing students of Worcester East Middle School in solar energy and STEM topics at National Grid’s Sustainability Hub. |
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| gb #4-207 – Administration (July 22, 2014) To consider the appointment of a district representative to the Board of Directors to serve on the Central MA Special Education Collaborative. |
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| gb #4-208 – Miss Biancheria (July 22, 2014) Request that the Administration provide a report regarding the new policy on suspensions and expulsions that went into effect on July 1, 2014. |
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| gb #4-209 – Miss Biancheria (July 22, 2014) Request that the Administration indicate the role of the School Committee as a result of the passage of the policy voted into law regarding long-term suspension hearings. |
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| gb #4-210 – Miss Biancheria (July 22, 2014) Request that the Administration provide a report on the science laboratory at Worcester East Middle School and indicate the grant monies that supported this project. |
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| gb #4-211 – Mr. Monfredo (July 22, 2014) Request that the Administration review this year’s data on chronic absenteeism to determine the impact of the awareness campaign and to schedule a meeting with the stakeholders prior to September in order to update the strategic plan. |
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| gb #4-212 – Ms. Novick (July 22, 2014) To set priorities regarding the state’s reconsideration of the foundation formula. |
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| gb #4-213 – Ms. Novick (July 22, 2014) To discuss the city’s FY15 capital budget. |
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| gb #4-214 – Ms. Novick (July 22, 2014) To consider the city’s contribution to the Worcester Public Schools for FY16 and years following. |
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| gb #4-215 – Ms. Novick (July 22, 2014) To consider again the Worcester Public Schools’ dress code and its enforcement. |
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| gb #4-216 – Administration (July 23, 2014) To consider approval of a prior fiscal year payment in the amount of $4,166.75. |
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| gb #4-217 – Administration (July 25, 2014) To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the governmental body, to conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with nonunion personnel, to conduct collective bargaining sessions or contract negotiations with nonunion personnel. |
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| XI. | ADJOURNMENT
Helen A. Friel, Ed.D. |