Councilor Smith

citing himself (to much Councilor muttering and chuckling) as a fine example of a Worcester Public Schools graduate
He asks how Superintendent Boone would spend more money, if she had it, "to increase student achievement"
There are a lot of things, she says, to provide "stretch goals" for the district (she's doing a dang good job, incidently, of citing councilors by name). She's going to be meeting with her "leadership team" to develop those. She also thanks Councilor Smith in citing himself.

Interm Superintendent Loughlin has a wish list to offer:

• low class sizes
• teacher development
• 3rd grade and sped achievement gap
• student health
• gifted and talented programs
• parental involvement (not just having meetings, but training parents in reading and math)

Smith asks what is the long-term plan for the loss of federal dollars.

Boone says that's a good question and she's going to be working on that..."a clear direction" She calls it a "real change in landscape" She's also considering in using stimulus dollars to "cushion" the blow.

Smith asks how much we've lost in students ($10 million of $60 million in losses over the past 6 years). And have we gotten more now? Yes (as, Brian Allen points out, he already explained once). Smith wants to know when the money is coming; this year, says Mr. Allen, based on last year's enrollment. Smith asks if we're going to continue to see that; it varies, says Mr. Allen.

Smith asks about repairing schools, citing Nelson Place School in his own district (which has to be periodically be checked for how far it's leaning). It's a question of when the state will fund it. "Kids should be able to learn in a school where they aren't worried about the building crumbling around them."