School Committee Agenda #5 – February 16, 2017

ORDER OF BUSINESS

ACTION

aor #7-5 –  Clerk
(February 8, 2017)

To consider approval of the Minutes of the School Committee Meeting of Thursday, February 2, 2017.

gb #7-30.1  –  Administration/Mr. O’Connell/Ms. Colorio/Mr. Monfredo/Miss McCullough/Mayor Petty/Miss Biancheria
(February 6, 2017)

To recognize the Student Kindness Ambassadors of South High Community School, and the students and staff of South, Generation On and Hasbro Toys for working together through the Kindness Joy Maker Campaign and otherwise to donate, wrap, tag and distribute holiday season gifts to children of Abby’s House Shelter and the Village Shelter.

gb #7-55  –  Administration
(February 6, 2017)

To consider input from the School Committee’s student representatives.

ros #7-4  –  Administration
(February 8, 2017)

CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM

The Joint Standing Committee on Finance and Operations and the City Council’s Standing Committee on Education met at 5:40 p.m. on Monday, February 6, 2017 in the Levi Lincoln Chamber at City Hall.

7-10

The Superintendent has APPROVED the APPOINTMENT of the persons named below effective as shown:

Morse, Jessica, Teacher, Chandler Magnet, Special Education, BA+15, Step 1, $47,360 effective January 30, 2017. Waiver: Moderate Disabilities PreK-8.

Nowicki, Stephanie, Teacher, Systemwide, Special Education, MA, Step 1, $50,978 (prorated .4FTE) effective January 30, 2017. Licensed: Speech, Language, Hearing Disorders: All Levels.

Odongo, Paul, Teacher, Burncoat High, Special Education, MA+30, Step 8, $75,428 effective January 25, 2017. Licensed: Severe Disabilities – All Levels.

gb #6-153.8  –  Administration/Mr. O’Connell
(January 30, 2017)

Response of the Administration to the request to provide a list of crew equipment that would be appropriate for the team to request over the course of the next year with a view to using that list as a means of seeking funds whether it be from the Worcester Foundation or through other opportunities to specifically get what it needs.

Response of the Administration to the request to inform students and staff about the dangers of participating in the “Space Monkey Challenge” in order to educate and protect children from the consequences of this game.

To set a date to recognize Saul Ramos, a paraprofessional, who was named the 2016 MTA Education Support Professional of the Year.

To congratulate the students whose entries have won awards and recognition in the 2017 Valentine contest of the Worcester Historical Museum.

Historic

Contemporary

Verse

Masters

Honorable Mention

To accept the Patterson Partnership Grant in the amount of $3,000 for Chandler Elementary Community School.

To reestablish the PEAK (“Providing Enrichment for Able Kids”) Program in the Worcester Public Schools.

Request that the Administration study the feasibility of establishing competitive wrestling teams in the Worcester Public Schools.

To consider approval of a Unified Track and Field Team at Burncoat High School, sponsored and supported by the Special Olympics of Massachusetts for the Spring 2017 season.

To set a date in April for a public hearing on school choice.

To accept the UNUM Strong Schools Grant in the amount of $21,000.

To accept the CTE Partnership Implementation Grant in the amount of $122,500.

To accept a donation in the amount of $7,500.00 from McGraw Hill Education that will allow Susan Farrell, Rose Dawkins and Dr. Mary Meade-Montaque, to attend the 2017 Patrick Suppes Personalized Learning Forum at Stanford University and Google Inc. Headquarters.

Request that the Administration present a summary of the changes resulting from the principals’ meeting regarding safety.

Request that the Administration consider implementing a K1 program for students needing additional help, due to readiness issues.

Request that the Administration forward congratulatory letters to Kevin Cox, Jr., a Physics teacher at Burncoat High School, and his sister Katie Trippi, a teacher at Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School, who appeared on the television game show “The Wall” and were very successful contestants.

Finding that an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining and litigation position of the School Committee, the committee votes to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing strategy with respect to litigation and strategy for collective bargaining for a denial of access.

c&p #6-9

To consider a communication from a citizen relative to a request that the School Committee drop its Court Appeal and allow for testing for PCBs at Burncoat High and Doherty Memorial High schools.

gb #6-332

Request that the Administration drop the appeal and allow PCB testing at Burncoat High School and Doherty Memorial High School this school year and do what is necessary to correct the problem.

To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining for Teachers and Unit 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 litigation of a worker’s compensation case for a Cafeteria Helper, if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the School Committee and the chair so declares.

To discuss strategy with respect to litigation of a worker’s compensation case for a Utility Crew Foreman, if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the School Committee and the chair so declares.

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