English  Shqipe  العربية  kreyòl ayisyen  नेपाली  پښتو  Português  Español  Tiếng Việt  Republic of Ghana flag Twi

Enroll now! It's time to register for the 2024-25 School Year!

School Committee Agenda #21 – August 18, 2016

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

AGENDA #21

The School Committee will hold a regular meeting:
on: Thursday, August 18, 2016
at: 4:00 p.m. – Regular Session
5:00 p.m. – Executive Session
in the: Esther Howland, South Chamber at City Hall

ORDER OF BUSINESS

ACTION

I. CALL TO ORDER  –  REGULAR MEETING
INVOCATION – Reverend Roosevelt Hughes
John Street Baptist Church
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/NATIONAL ANTHEM
II. ROLL CALL
III. APPROVAL OF RECORDS

aor #6-18 –   Clerk
(July 28, 2016)

To consider approval of the Minutes of the School Committee Meeting of Thursday, July 14, 2016.

Annex A (20 pages)
IV. MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION – NONE
V. IMMEDIATE ACTION

gb #6-239.1  –  Administration/Mr. O’Connell/Mr. Foley/Ms. Colorio/Mr. Monfredo/Miss Biancheria/Mayor Petty
(July 20, 2016)

To recognize, with gratitude and appreciation, Science from Scientists, its founder, Dr. Erika Ebbel Angle, an MIT graduate with a doctorate in biochemistry from Boston University School of Medicine, and Dr. Don Gammon, a virologist engaged in postdoctoral research at UMass Medical School, for their support for the education of the children of Burncoat Preparatory School in science.

gb #6-248.1  –  Administration/Mr. O’Connell/Mr. Foley/Ms. Colorio/Mr. Monfredo/Miss Biancheria/Mayor Petty
(July 20, 2016)To recognize AbbVie, with gratitude and appreciation, for the time and effort devoted by its staff to refurbishment of the Burncoat High School Library, as part of its “Week of Possibilities” volunteer initiative.
gb #6-262.1  –  Administration/Mr. O’Connell/Mr. Foley/Ms. Colorio/Mr. Monfredo/Miss Biancheria/Mayor Petty
(July 20, 2016)To congratulate Albert G. Ganem Jr., Manager of Professional Learning, on his selection as Superintendent of the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District.
VI. REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT

ros #6-5  –   Administration
(August 10, 2016

SCHOOL OPENING READINESS

Annex A (9 pages)
VII. COMMUNICATION AND PETITION

c&p #6-5  –  Clerk
(July 22, 2016)

To consider a communication from the Goddard School of Science and Technology’s Site Council regarding a request to institute a voluntary school uniform policy.

Annex A (1 page)
VIII. REPORT OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE

The Standing Committee on Teaching, Learning and Student Supports met at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 16, 2016 in Room 410 at the Dr. John E. Durkin Administration Building.

IX. PERSONNEL
X. GENERAL BUSINESS

gb #6-77.2 –    Administration/Mr. O’Connell
(July 7, 2016)

Response of the Administration to the request to provide a report as to the number of children attending the Worcester Public Schools under School Choice from outside the City of Worcester and the amount of revenue we have derived from that this year and recent years.

Annex A (2 Pages)
gb #6-220.1  –   Administration/Mr. Monfredo/Mr. O’Connell/Miss Biancheria
(August 10, 2016)Response of the Administration to the request to work with community groups such as the Worcester Chamber of Commerce, Media Outlets, and the Colleges to create a video/dvd about the successes in the Worcester Public Schools and share it with real estate brokers and other agencies in the city.
Backup
gb #6-236.1  –   Administration/Miss Biancheria/Mr. O’Connell/Ms. Colorio/Mr. Monfredo
(August 10, 2016)Response of the Administration to the request to provide a copy of the job description of the new position created as a compliance position to oversee Durham Transportation and also include:

   –   a list of the present positions in the Worcester Public Schools’ Transportation Department

   –   a copy of the Durham Transportation contract and

   –   a payment schedule to Durham Transportation

Annex A (2 pages)
Annex B (1 page)
Annex C (23 pages)
Annex D (1 page)
 gb #6-255.1 –  Administration
(August 5, 2016)

Request that any items or motions that were referred for responses in a Friday Letter, that are not acted upon within 24 months, should automatically be filed.

gb #6-264  – Mr. O’Connell
(July 6, 2016)To consider opportunities to enhance the education of the academically gifted students of the Worcester Public Schools, at all appropriate levels.
gb #6-265  – Mr. O’Connell
(July 15, 2016)To determine whether the Administration has signed the 2017 Grant Assurances Document of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and, if so, whether and how it complies with its obligations to “expel from school for a period of not less than one year any student who is determined to have brought a firearm to a school under the jurisdiction of the district,” subject to due process and case-by-case modifications “on a case-by-case basis”, also as mandated by the Gun-Free Schools Act, Public Law No. 107-110 section 4141, 20 United States Code Section 7151.
gb #6-266  – Mr. O’Connell
(July 15, 2016)To determine whether to restore, or to remove, the “guard shack” at Burncoat High School.
gb #6-267  – Mr. Monfredo
(July 18, 2016)Request that the Administration forward a letter of thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for its generous donation of over 11,000 books to Worcester: the City that Reads for distribution to our students.
gb #6-268  – Mr. Monfredo
(July 20, 2016)Request that the Administration forward a letter to James Leary, Vice – Chancellor of UMass Medical School to express thanks for its check of $875,000 to support the Worcester Technical High School’s Health and Biomedical Science Programs.
gb #6-269  – Miss Biancheria
(July 22, 2016)Request that the Administration forward letters of appreciation, on behalf of the School Committee, to the appropriate contacts at each of the sites of the College Community Connections Program for its support of the high school sites.
gb #6-270  – Mr. Monfredo
(July 22, 2016)Request that the Administration provide a report on the summer school programs to include:

    • academic progress
    • attendance
    • community involvement
    • engagement of colleges in summer activities
    • number of ELL students
    • number of grade 1 and 2 students

and suggest improvements for next year.

gb #6-271  – Mr. Monfredo
(July 21, 2016)Request that the Administration consider including training in the Heimlich maneuver as part of the Compression CPR Program and review the Heimlich Heroes Program, which was created by Deaconess Associations, Inc. (DAI) with the support from the Heimlich Institute, for possible implementation in the Worcester Public Schools.
Annex A (1 page)
gb #6-272  – Mr. O’Connell
(July 22, 2016)To consider submitting an application to participate in the Massachusetts School Building Authority Public School Information Technology Loan Program.
Annex A (1 page)
gb #6-273  – Mr. Monfredo
(July 25, 2016)Request that the School Committee forward letters of congratulations to the Doherty Memorial High School and Worcester Technical High School teams which participated in the 2016 Mass Envirothon.
gb #6-274  – Mr. O’Connell
(July 25, 2016)To congratulate Johnetta Smith and Lisa Leach on being awarded Future Symphony Hall Scholars Grants, funded by members of the Massachusetts Music Educators Association.
gb #6-275  –   Mr. Monfredo
(July 28, 2016)Request that the Administration encourage all of the schools to participate in Constitution Day activities during the week of September 12, 2016.
Annex A (1 page)
gb #6-276  –   Administration
(July 28, 2016)To consider necessary policy changes concerning the implementation of the recently enacted Bill  relative to Substance Use, Treatment, Education and Prevention and review the policy developed by the Massachusetts Association of School Committees.
gb #6-277  –   Administration
(August 1, 2016)To consider a request from the School Committee to file certain Friday Letter items.
Annex A (1 page)
gb #6-278  –   Mr. Monfredo
(August 4, 2016)To set a date to recognize the Eaton Corporation for its donation of $25,000 to the Worcester Educational Development Foundation which, in turn, forwarded the monies to South High Community School in support of its Band.
gb #6-279  –   Administration
(August 9, 2016)To consider approval of the TEC Schools as a private Montessori school in Worcester.
Annex A (48 pages)
 gb #6-280  –   Administration
(August 10, 2016)

To accept a donation in the amount of $500.00 from the United Way for Worcester Technical High School.

 gb #6-281  –   Mr. O’Connell
(August 10, 2016)

To implement the provisions of the November 1995 letter of the Commissioner of Education, and the Advisory on School Governance which accompanied it, that “the school committee remains the body responsible for approving and transmitting school department expenditures to the municipal accountant for the drawing of warrants. The Department of Revenue’s Division of Local Services has advised that all school department bills must be approved by the school committee. When the superintendent, or principal and superintendent, have statutory authority to incur expense, the Department of Revenue advises that the bills must be approved by them as well as by the committee.”

 gb #6-282  –   Miss Biancheria
(August 10, 2016)

Request that the Administration provide a report containing a list of the new bus routes.

gb #6-283  –   Administration
(August 10, 2016)

To approve Phase I of the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Partnership Planning Grant from DESE in the amount of $10,000.

gb #6-284  –   Administration
(August 10, 2016)

To approve a prior fiscal year payment for the 2015-16 school year in the total amount of $43,460.25 made payable to HMEA for services rendered to students between May 28 – June 30, 2016.

 gb #6-285  –   Administration
(August 10, 2016)

To approve a prior fiscal year payment for the 2015-16 school year in the total amount of $605.00 made payable to HMEA for services rendered to students between May 28 – June 30, 2016.

gb #6-286  –   Administration
(August 10, 2016)

To approve a prior fiscal year payment for the 2015-16 school year in the total amount of $6,484.00 made payable to the Providence Nursing Agency, LLC. for services rendered to students on June 27, 2016.

gb #6-287  –   Administration
(August 10, 2016)

To approve a prior fiscal year payment for the 2015-16 school year in the total amount of $1,120.00 made payable to the Providence Nursing Agency, LLC. for services rendered to students on June 7, 13 and 14, 2016.

gb #6-288  –   Administration
(August 10, 2016)To approve a prior fiscal year payment for the 2015-16 school year in the total amount of $570.00 made payable to the May Institute, INC. for services rendered to students on May 31, 2016 and June 21, 2016.
gb #6-289  –   Administration
(August 10, 2016)

To approve a prior fiscal year payment for the 2015-16 school year in the total amount of $1,530.00 made payable to the May Institute, INC. for services rendered to students on June 10, 16, 28 and 29, 2016.

 gb #6-290  – Administration
(August 9, 2016)To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining for Bus Drivers and Bus Monitors, 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 with respect to collective bargaining for Custodians, 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 with respect to collective bargaining for Teachers, if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the collective bargaining position of the School Committee and the chair so declares.

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.”