School Committee Agenda #4 - February 2, 2017 - Worcester Public Schools, Massachusetts

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

AGENDA #5

The School Committee will hold a regular meeting:
on:	Thursday, February 2, 2017
at:	6:00 p.m. – Executive Session 7:00 p.m. – Regular Session
in the:	Esther Howland, South Chamber at City Hall

	ORDER OF BUSINESS	ACTION
I.	CALL TO ORDER – REGULAR MEETING
	INVOCATION – Reverend Paul Frechette Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church
	PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/NATIONAL ANTHEM
II.	ROLL CALL
III.	APPROVAL OF RECORDS aor #7-3 – Clerk (January 25, 2016) To consider approval of the Minutes of the School Committee Meeting of Thursday, January 19, 2017. aor #7-4 – Clerk (January 25, 2016) To consider approval of the Minutes of the School Committee Meeting of Friday, January 20, 2017.	Annex A (15 pages) Annex A (4 pages)
IV.	MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION – NONE
V.	IMMEDIATE ACTION gb #7-5.1 – Administration/Mr. O’Connell/Mr. Foley/Ms. Colorio/Mr. Monfredo/Miss McCullough/Miss Biancheria/Mayor Petty (January 23, 2017) To recognize the Unum Group for initiating its Unum Strong Schools grant program in the Worcester Public Schools, as “financial support for effective and innovative initiatives that engage students and improve their learning and achievement levels.” gb #7-8.1 – Administration/Mr. Monfredo/Mr. O’Connell/Ms. Colorio/Miss McCullough/Mayor Petty (January 23, 2017) To recognize the Burncoat High School Quadrivium on its performance with Superstar Kenny Rogers at Mohegan Sun and at the Massachusetts House of Representatives as the guests of Representative James O’Day and Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo. gb #7-38 – Administration (January 23, 2017) To consider input from the School Committee’s student representatives.
VI.	REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT ros #7-3 – Administration (January 25, 2017) FY18 PRELIMINARY BUDGET ESTIMATE
VII.	COMMUNICATION AND PETITION – NONE
VIII.	REPORT OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE The Standing Committee on Accountability and Student Achievements met at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, January 30, 2017 in Room 410 at the Dr. John E. Durkin Administration Building.	Action Sheet
IX. 7-07	PERSONNEL The Superintendent has ACKNOWLEDGED the RETIREMENT of the persons named below effective as shown: Collins, Larry, Department Head, Vocational, Worcester Technical, effective January 22, 2017. Dowell, Christine, School Adjustment Counselor, City View effective January 22, 2017.
7-08	The Superintendent has ACKNOWLEDGED the RESIGNATION of the person named below effective as shown: Howard-Donlin, Grace, Director, Systemwide, effective January 20, 2017.
7-09	The Superintendent has APPROVED the APPOINTMENT of the persons named below effective as shown: Gingras, Brianne, School Adjustment Counselor, City View, MA, Step 6, $64,371 effective January 17, 2017. Licensed: School Social Worker/School Adjustment Counselor all levels. Jancura, Mary Rose, Teacher, Elementary, Flagg Street, BA, Step 1, $45,064 effective January 17, 2017. Licensed: Elementary 1-6.
X.	GENERAL BUSINESS gb #6-153.7 – Administration/Mr. O’Connell (January 24, 2017) Response of the Administration to the request to provide a report regarding Charter School Tuition Assessment and then refer it to the Standing Committee on Finance and Operations for further discussion.	Annex A (2 Pages)
	gb #6-192.1 – Administration/Miss McCullough/Ms. Colorio/Mr. Monfredo/Miss Biancheria (January 25, 2017)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.	backup
	gb #6-252.1 – Administration/Mayor Petty/Mr. O’Connell gb #6-253.2 (January 25, 2017)Response of the Administration to the following motions to: provide a report as to recommendations to deal with the $2.25 million deficit in the FY17 Budget request that the City Council and the City Manager consider providing funds to the Worcester Public Schools sufficient to maintain the 63 Kindergarten Instructional Assistants lost to the school system by virtue of the Quality Kindergarten Grant deletion and changes in Title I which is a total of $736,360 and request that the Administration provide a report as to additional steps with regard to: the need to find funds within the confines of the school system’s budget or elsewhere to maintain these positions and to take any actions advisable to provide supplemental services for students to minimize the impact from the loss of these positions. include any resources the Administration has been able to garner for the Instructional Assistants	Consider with gb #7-50
	gb #6-394.1 – Administration/Mr. Monfredo/Miss McCullough/Ms. Colorio/Mr. O’Connell (January 25, 2017)Response of the Administration to the request to interact with the local colleges and universities in an effort to expand the number of mentors for the AVID program and after school programs.	Annex A (1 page)
	gb #7-39 – Miss Biancheria (January 12, 2017)Request that the Administration provide the Incident Reports for 2015-16.
	gb #7-40 – Mr. O’Connell (January 12, 2017)To forward letters to the following Worcester public school students who have won awards in the annual Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Poetry Contest: Claremont Academy Chantielle N. Chapman, grade 12 Doherty High School Jayda Cesar, grade 9 Mariah Acquaye, grade 12 Burncoat High School Steven Thomas Rivera, grade 12 North High School Adanna Duanys, grade 9 Tracy Frimpong, grade 9 Gabriella Medeiros, grade 9 Brian Le, grade 11 Daniel Mbusa, grade 11 Millicent Oppong, grade 11 South High Community School Meshia Brooks, grade 10 Worcester Technical High School Hussain Bhatti, grade 9 Goddard Scholars/Sullivan Middle School Lily Engquist, grade 8 Clarise Liu, grade 8 Abigail McDermott, grade 8 Boa Han Ngo, grade 8 Samuel Posner, grade 8 Forest Grove Middle School Annalisa Allan, grade 8 Sullivan Middle School Kiana Alliance, grade 7 Isabella Archambault, grade 7 Drusilla Wilson, grade 7
	gb #7-41 – Mr. Monfredo (January 16, 2017)Request that the Administration forward letters of congratulations to the following art winners in the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. annual contest: Art group winners grade 4: Flagg Street School – teachers – Ms. Aspen and Mr. CunhaIzzy Caprioli Malak Laallami and Gabrielle Mora Grafton Street School grade 5 – teachers – Ms. Bernhard and Ms. Toon Leia Hernandez and Nichole Hejia Lopez Art winners: Worcester Arts Magnet School Troy Munroe – teachers – Mrs. Walden and Mrs. Mahoney Ava Kelly – teachers – Mr. Walden and Mrs. Desimone
	gb #7-42 – Mr. O’Connell (January 20, 2017)To encourage the fifth grades of the Worcester Public Schools to participate in the 2017 Arbor Day Poster Contest sponsored by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Massachusetts Tree Wardens’ and Foresters’ Association, with the guidance and assistance of the Worcester Tree Initiative.
	gb #7-43 – Mr. Monfredo (January 22, 2017)Request that the Administration include in its summer package not only a students’ reading list but also a list of ideas for parents/students regarding math activities for the summer months and include online sites for the students.
	gb #7-44 – Mr. Monfredo (January 23, 2017)Request that the Administration provide an update on the Dual Enrollment Program and indicate any plans for expansion.
	gb #7-45 – Administration (January 24, 2017)To authorize the Administration to submit Statements of Interest to the Massachusetts School Building Authority for the following Accelerated Repair Projects for 2017: Elm Park Community School Window Replacements Lincoln Street School Window, Roof and Boiler Replacements Rice Square School Window Replacement Thorndyke Road School Window Replacement	Annex A (6 pags)
	gb #7-46 – Administration (January 24, 2017)To accept a donation in the amount of $292.20 from Box Tops for Education to Woodland Academy.
	gb #7-47 – Administration (January 24, 2017)To accept a donation in the amount of $1,212.49 from Lifetouch to Woodland Academy.
	gb #7-48 – Administration (January 24, 2017)To accept a donation in the amount of $400 from Shaw’s We Love Our Schools! to Forest Grove Middle School.
	gb #7-49 – Mr. Monfredo (January 24, 2017)Request that the Administration work with the Worcester Chamber of Commerce to create a video that would promote the Worcester Public Schools and share it with the local real estate brokers.
	gb #7-50 – Administration (January 24, 2017)To consider a budget increase in the amount of $70,000 to partially fund Kindergarten Instructional Assistant positions as included in the final City Budget.	Annex A (10 pages)
	gb #7-51 – Administration (January 25, 2017)To consider approval of the following new courses for the 2017 – 18 school year:High School Accounting 1 AP Seminar Document Processing Middle School Chorus Dance Ensemble Dance for Fitness String Orchestra
	gb #7-52 – Administration (January 25, 2017)To consider approval of the 2017-18 Policies Handbook of the Worcester Public Schools.
	gb #7-53 – Miss Biancheria (January 25, 2017)Request that the Administration invite a representative from each of the colleges and universities in Worcester to discuss with the Superintendent and School Committee representatives possible ways for them to support programs such as the funding necessary to administer the Advanced Placement Exam.
	gb #7-54 – Administration (January 25, 2016)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
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.”

School Committee Agenda #4 – February 2, 2017

AGENDA #5

ORDER OF BUSINESS

ACTION

Academics

Current Families

Activities

Student Support

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