TwiCLERK 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, January 21, 2016 |
| 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 |
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| I. | CALL TO ORDER – REGULAR MEETING | |
| INVOCATION – Pastor Jay Tilley Christ Baptist Church |
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| PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/NATIONAL ANTHEM | ||
| II. | ROLL CALL | |
| III. | APPROVAL OF RECORDS
aor #6-1 – Clerk To consider approval of the Minutes of the School Committee Meeting of Thursday, December 17, 2015. |
Annex A (13 pages) |
| aor #6-2 – Clerk (January 11, 2016) To consider approval of the Minutes of the School Committee Meeting of Monday, January 4, 2016. |
Annex A (6 pages) | |
| IV. | MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION – NONE | |
| V. | IMMEDIATE ACTION
gb #5-285.1 – Administration/Miss Biancheria/Ms. Novick/Mr. Monfredo/ To recognize the following individuals of the 365Z Foundation for their commitment to kindness: Rosemary Ford, President |
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| gb #6-6 – Administration (January 11, 2016) To consider input from the School Committee’s student representatives. |
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| VI. | REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT | |
| VII. | COMMUNICATION AND PETITION | |
| VIII. | REPORT OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE | |
| IX.
6-1 |
PERSONNEL
The Superintendent APPROVED the RETIREMENT of the persons named below: Gribouski, Dolores, Manager, Quadrant, Durkin Administration Building, effective December 31, 2015. Harrity, Paula, Coordinator, Volunteer, Systemwide, January 5, 2016. |
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| 6-2 | The Superintendent ACKNOWLEDGES the RESIGNATION of the person named below:
Grady, Jean Lindquist, Psychologist, Systemwide, effective December 21, 2015. |
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| 6-3 | The Superintendent has APPROVED the APPOINTMENT of the persons named below:
Bland, Ricky, Teacher, ROTC, North, MIP, Step 5, $62,066.16. Davis, Karen, Special Education, Forest Grove, MA+30, Step 8, $75,428 effective January 4, 2016. Licensed: Moderate Disabilities Prek-8. Freud, Nancy, Teacher, English as a Second Language, Systemwide, MA+15, Step 6, $65,689 effective December 9, 2015. Licensed: English as a Second Language Prek-6. Morrow, Dannielle, Teacher, Science, Forest Grove, BA, Step 1, $45,064 effective December 11, 2015. Licensed: General Science 5-8. Moynagh, Jodi, School Adjustment Counselor, Systemwide, MA, Step 5, $61,912 effective December 21, 2015. Licensed: School Social Worker/School Adjustment Counselor All Levels. Silva, Ariel, Teacher, Special Education, Systemwide, MA, Step 1, $50,978. License pending: Speech, Language, Hearing Disorder All Levels. Silva, Katie, Liaison, English Language Arts, Durkin Administration Building, MA, Step 8, $72,283 effective December 16, 2015. Licensed: English 5-12. Spont, Anne, Teacher, Special Education, Systemwide, MA, Step 2, $53,437 effective January 11, 2016. License pending: Speech, Language, Hearing Disorder All Levels. Spratt, Jillian, Teacher, Special Education, Systemwide, CAGS/2MA, Step 2, $58,555 effective January 6, 2016. License pending: Speech, Language, Hearing Disorder All Levels. Torres, Michelle, School Adjustment Counselor, MA, Step 8, $72,283 effective January 4, 2016. Licensed: School Social Worker/School Adjustment Counselor All Levels. |
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| 6-4 | The Superintendent has provisionally APPOINTED the persons named below to the position of Word Processor, permanent/fulltime at a salary of $17.74 (minimum) to $21.58 per hour (maximum) effective as shown:
Foley, Jennifer 11/30/15 |
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| 6-5 | The Superintendent has provisionally APPOINTED the persons named below to the position of Junior Custodian, permanent/fulltime at a salary of $15.28 (minimum) to $19.17 (maximum), per hour, effective as shown:
Blash, Aaron 12/14/15 |
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| X. | GENERAL BUSINESS
gb #6-7 – Mr. O’Connell Request that the Administration forward a letter of appreciation, on behalf of the School Committee, to State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg for her decision to implement “SeedMA” on a pilot program basis for the students of the Worcester Public Schools. |
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| gb #6-8 – Mr. O’Connell (December 15, 2015) To set a date to recognize former City Councilors Frederick C. Rushton and Philip P. Palmieri for their years of dedication and support on behalf of the Worcester Public Schools and the children of Worcester. |
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| gb #6-9 – Mr. O’Connell (December 18, 2015) To review, and to make recommendations to the Worcester legislative delegation regarding HD 4338, An Act to Modernize Municipal Finance and Government, as filed by Governor Baker. |
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| gb #6-10 – Administration (December 22, 2015) To accept donations, in the amount of $500.00 each, from Big Y Foods, Inc. for Heard Street, Jacob Hiatt Magnet, West Tatnuck and University Park Campus schools. |
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| gb #6-11 – Administration (December 22, 2015) To accept a donation, in the amount of $250.00, from Saint-Gobain Corporation Foundation as a matching gift by Susan Popinchalk for the Goddard Scholars Academy. |
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| gb #6-12 – Mr. O’Connell (December 22, 2015) To set a date to recognize and to congratulate Paula Harrity, Coordinator of Volunteer Services, on the occasion of her retirement from the Worcester Public Schools, and to thank her for her decades of dedicated service to the children of Worcester. |
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| gb #6-13 – Mr. O’Connell (December 23, 2015) To request a report from the Administration as to the success of the School Wraparound Program in meeting varied and extensive needs of students at Sullivan Middle School, Woodland Academy, Chandler Elementary Community School, Chandler Magnet School, Union Hill School, the University Park Campus School, and the Burncoat Preparatory Academy. |
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| gb #6-14 – Mr. O’Connell (December 23, 2015) To set a date to recognize and to congratulate South High Community School teachers Erin Morrissey-Hendricks, Mary Sebring and Tara Vaidya on receiving the Mass Insight Partners in Excellence Advanced Placement Teacher Award, “for their demonstrated teaching excellence through student achievement and exemplary leadership in working with Mass Insight Education on the AP STEM program.” |
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| gb #6-15 – Mr. O’Connell (December 28, 2015) To set a date to recognize and to congratulate the following recipients of the 2015 Posse Scholarships: Burncoat High School Alswell Tulasi, Denison University Doherty Memorial High School Tavian Vassar, Bucknell University South High Community School Ngoc Ngo, Hamilton College Worcester Technical High School Esmely Munoz, Bucknell University |
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| gb #6-16 – Mr. O’Connell (December 30, 2015) To forward a letter of congratulations to Edward Boamah, a senior at Worcester Technical High School, on his selection as Most Valuable Player of the Boston Holiday Challenge Sprints, including his new meet record for the 300 meter event, his qualification for the NB Indoor Nationals, his participation in the record-breaking 4 x 200 relay and his medal for the long jump. |
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| gb #6-17 – Mr. Monfredo (January 6, 2016) To request that the School Committee conduct an internal search, under the direction of Mayor Petty, for the next superintendent with a deadline sometime in March for the final interviews. |
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| gb #6-18 – Mr. O’Connell (January 6, 2016) To review the ALICE program (“Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate”) – “the first active shooter response program” – as an option for protection of the staff and students of the Worcester Public Schools. |
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| gb #6-19 – Mr. O’Connell (January 6, 2016) To determine whether the Worcester Public Schools should nominate any additional buildings or sites for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. |
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| gb #6-20 – Mr. O’Connell (January 6, 2016) To set a date to recognize, with gratitude and appreciation, the donation of ten Heart Start defibrillators to the Worcester Public Schools by the Josh Thibodeau Helping Hearts Foundation. |
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| gb #6-21 – Mr. Monfredo (January 6, 2016) Request that the Administration forward letters of congratulations to Rachel Dao, a 12 grader at North High School and Shamus Flynn, a 10th grader at South High Community School for their selection as winners in the Martin Luther King, Jr. essay contest. |
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| gb #6-22 – Mr. Monfredo (January 6, 2016) Request that the Administration forward letters of congratulations to the following students for being selected as winners in the Martin Luther King, Jr. essay and poetry contest and to Ann Kahiu for receiving the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Service Award: Burncoat High School Paolo Bustos, grade 9 Goddard Scholars Academy Jessica Cohen, grade 7 North High School Chris Nguyen, grade 9 South High Community School Maxine McInnes, grade 10 |
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| gb #6-23 – Mr. Foley (January 8, 2016) Request that the Administration work with Fallon Health and other interested funders to explore the potential opportunity to implement a pilot program developed by Playworks in several elementary schools that train staff and volunteers to run recess sessions that include positive play, greater levels of exercise and better utilization of limited recreational space. |
Annex A (7 Pages) | |
| gb #6-24 – Mr. O’Connell (January 8, 2016) To set a date to recognize and to congratulate the following students who were honored by the Worcester County Superintendents’ Association, at its Scholars Luncheon for their academic, social and civic achievements: Burncoat High School Laurana Nyman Claremont Academy Jaqueline Alvarez Doherty Memorial High School Aubrey Leary North High School Allen Quang South High Community School Kenneth Adusei University Park Campus School Sibgha Javaid Worcester Technical High School Abeeku Bondzie |
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| gb #6-25 – Ms. Colorio (January 8, 2016) Request that the Administration provide a list of Drug and Alcohol Educational Programs and assemblies scheduled for the 6th, 7th and 8th grade students for the school year 2015-16 academic year. |
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| gb #6-26 – Ms. Colorio (January 8, 2016) To re-examine the Kindergarten Entrance Age Policy. |
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| gb #6-27 – Ms. Colorio (January 8, 2016) Request that the Administration consider conducting an anonymous school safety survey for teachers. |
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| gb #6-28 – Ms. Colorio (January 8, 2016) Request that the Administration provide a list of assessments that were administered to kindergarten students for the 2015-16 academic year. |
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| gb #6-29 – Ms. Colorio (January 8, 2016) Request that the Administration provide the most recent results of the Teacher Climate Survey to include all of the teacher comments. |
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| gb #6-30 – Ms. Colorio (January 8, 2016) Request that the Administration forward a letter to parents indicating their right to opt their child(ren) out of the PARCC assessment. |
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| gb #6-31 – Ms. Colorio (January 8, 2016) Request that the Administration provide an update, by school, on the implementation of the Common Core State Standards. |
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| gb #6-32 – Ms. Colorio (January 8, 2016) Request that the Administration provide a list of the Professional Development training for teachers on the implementation of the Common Core State Standards. |
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| gb #6-33 – Ms. Colorio (January 8, 2016) Request that the Administration consider offering Civics as an elective course at the high school level for the 2016-17 academic year. |
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| gb #6-34 – Mr. Monfredo (January 11, 2016) Request that the School Committee and the City Council assist in the search for mannequins or the resources to purchase them to increase the bystander CPR program for secondary students in Physical Education classes. |
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| gb #6-35 – Mr. O’Connell (January 11, 2016) To encourage Worcester secondary schools with robotics programs to consider participation in the 2016 FIRST (“For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology”) Robotics Competition. |
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| gb #6-36 – Mr. O’Connell (January 11, 2016) To establish a Special Committee, consisting of at least three School Committee members, to continue the review of policies proposed for the Worcester Public Schools by the Massachusetts Association of School Committees. |
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| gb #6-37 – Mr. O’Connell (January 11, 2016) To address the incidents of violent and aggressive behavior on the part of students toward teachers, administrators and other staff members in school, including staff development training in responses to student aggression, and consideration of appropriate policies and practices to curtail such incidents. |
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| gb #6-38 – Mr. O’Connell (January 11, 2016)To determine whether sufficient student interest exists to form gymnastics teams, in individual schools or on a citywide basis, in cooperation with any private Worcester gymnastics centers willing and able to assist the teams to minimize costs. |
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| gb #6-39 – Mr. O’Connell (January 11, 2016)To review the Every Student Succeeds Act, to address its impact on the Worcester Public Schools, and to consider any options which it provides to states and school districts to modify current practices and to reduce present testing, record-keeping and reporting requirements. |
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| gb #6-40 – Mr. Monfredo (January 11, 2016)To prepare any resolutions which the Worcester School Committee may wish to submit to the 2016 meeting of the Board of Delegates of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees. |
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| gb #6-41 – Ms. Colorio (January 11, 2016)Request that the Administration provide a chart indicating the number of school behavior referrals, by school, for the 2014-15 academic year. |
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| gb #6-42 – Administration (January 12, 2016)To accept the STARS Residencies FY16 South High Community School Grant in the amount of $1,800. |
Annex A (5 pages) | |
| gb #6-43 – Administration (January 13, 2016)To authorize the Administration to submit Statements of Interest to the Massachusetts School Building Authority for the following Accelerated Repair Projects for 2016: Belmont Street Community School: Window and Boiler Replacements |
Annex A (5 pages) | |
| gb #6-44 – Administration (January 13, 2016)To authorize the Administration to submit Statements of Interest to the Massachusetts School Building Authority for the following projects for major renovation or replacement for 2016: Doherty Memorial High School (district priority project) |
Annex A (2 pages) | |
| gb #6-45 – Administration (January 12, 2016)To approve a decrease in the mileage reimbursement rate from $0.575 per mile to $0.54 per mile, effective January 1, 2016, for all represented and non-represented personnel in accordance with the 2016 standard mileage rate established by the Internal Revenue Service. |
Annex A (1 page) | |
| gb #6-46 – Mr. O’Connell (January 13, 2016)To study the report of the Worcester Regional Research Bureau and the Worcester Education Collaborative, “The Urgency of Excellence: Considerations for the Next Superintendent of Schools in Worcester, Massachusetts”, and to consider implementation of the recommendations set forth within it. |
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| gb #6-47 – Miss Biancheria (January 13, 2016)Request that the Administration provide an updated report in February, March and April for the STEM Program to include upcoming events, locations and participating schools. |
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| gb #6-48 – Miss Biancheria (January 13, 2016)Request that the Administration provide the number of consultants that are paid by grant funding or taxpayer dollars currently working in the Worcester Public Schools. |
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| gb #6-49 – Mayor Petty (January 13, 2016)To consider, as we prepare the Massachusetts School Building Authority proposals for South High Community School, either adding vocational technical programs at the school or converting it into a vocational technical high school. |
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| gb #6-50 – Mayor Petty (January 13, 2016)To consider joining and fully funding Worcester Technical High School’s schoolwide participation in SkillsUSA. |
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| gb #6-51 – Administration (January 13, 2016)To discuss strategy in preparation for contract negotiations with nonunion personnel and to conduct negotiations with nonunion personnel – Manager of Special Education and Intervention Services. To review the Superintendent’s search firm proposals to comply with Chapter 30B of the Massachusetts General Laws. |
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| XI. | ADJOURNMENT
Helen A. Friel, Ed.D. |