Worcester School Committee meets Thursday, September 7

There's a meeting of the Worcester School Committee on Thursday, September 7. You can find the agenda here. Looks like a light agenda!
The report of the superintendent is on collaborative learning.
Mr. O'Connell wants to review the latest accountability data; he also wants to know how schools are observing Constitution Day.
Miss Biancheria wants a report on Ch. 74 programs and on the Worcester East Middle science program.
The Committee is being asked to receive a toxic use reduction grant and a number of donations.
The Committee also is scheduled for an executive session for negotiations with nurses, custodians, computer techs, and IAs, and contract negotiations with non-represented employees.

Worcester schools meetings this week

The Worcester School Committee meets on Thursday, March 16; you can find the agenda here.

The report of the superintendent this week is on drinking water quality (as an aside: that's been uploaded as the actual PDF, which I haven't seen happen on a school committee backup). The EAW is rallying ahead of Thursday's meeting for healthy schools, something which began with the PCB issue and has now expanded to air and water quality. Note that the report on Thursday is Worcester's part of the larger statewide testing in schools of water for lead and copper, as this is well beyond being a Worcester issue.
(I've been intending to do a larger facilities post at some point; I hope to get to that this week.)
There are a number of recognitions.
There are subcommittee reports from TLSS and from Governance. Note that TLSS apparently discussed the Burncoat academy (TM), in the only place I've been able to find that actually describes admission requirements--at least an advanced/proficient on 5th grade testing--and its "enriched" course of study. It is procedurally fascinating/problematic that this meeting took place after both the announcement and the first parent meeting; both parent meetings are taking place prior to any action by the full school committee. Also, the request to approve those courses appeared on the school committee agenda without detail prior to any discussion as to where they were going. 
In Governance, after a several years abeyance, it appears as though the subcommittee is doing a policy review!
The Administration is responding to a request for an update on dual enrollment.
They are also responding to a request regarding a Main South soccer team (no backup to link to).
There is a request that the committee accept a STARS residency grant for Elm Park ($4400 for Asian myths and storytelling).
There is a request that the committee accept a$37,292 Mass Commended Schools grant, which is going to the former Level 4 schools to share best practices during summer professional development.
There is a request that the committee accept a donation to Tatnuck Magnet.
There is a request that the committee accept a donation to Lakeview.
Miss Biancheria is requesting an update on the career and technical education grant; an update on summer school; and the enrollment report which the committee received at their January 19 meeting.

While it is not a report of the superintendent, Superintendent Binienda is also sharing her (draft until approved by the committee) goals (which are...vague?). Paraphrased:

• professional practice goal: to complete the first year of superintendent training
• student learning goal: by September, to provide intervention for 3rd, 6th, and 10th graders at high risk and not meeting test scores
• 1 on instructional leadership: to create and sustain excellent instruction through 1) continually evaluating data; 2) adding AP capstone and continuing SAT, PSAT, and college application day; 3) enhancing current literary initiatives
• 2 on management and operations: a supportive, safe, orderly learning environment through 1) a chronic absenteeism plan; 2) all teachers on the state evaluation system; 3) "implement and monitor strategies to ensure a safe, welcoming learning environment"
• 3 on family and community engagement: "engage responsively with families and higher education, business and community partners" through: 1) attending community events; 2) "deepen community support for 'Compact for Public Education in Worcester' by partnering with community businesses, agencies, and higher education" to quote; 3) opportunities for family engagement
• 4 on professional culture: "enhance professional collaborative culture that promote strong ethical leadership and scholarship" through: 1) providing high quality professional development; 2) providing targeted intervention including central admin support for lowest performing schools by monitoring turnaround schools; 3) assist schools in using data

The committee is also being asked to review and approve changes to the Collaborative's agreement; this appears to be a name change throughout (from "Central Massachusettts Special Education Collaborative" to "Central Massachusetts Collaborative"); there are no substantive changes.
And there is a request that the committee approve the AP Capstone Program; there is no backup on this, so I would assume it is going to subcommittee...? 
The Committee is also scheduled for an executive session at 6 on negotiations with the teachers' union and with custodians; and a grievance for an HVAC technician.

There also is a Legislative breakfast on Friday morning at 9 am at Worcester Tech; on the agenda is the FY18 budget and a visit to the new Nelson Place. It also appears they want to have another legislative meeting on March 30 to discuss the new academy, AP test funding, MSBA projects, and the Adopt-a-School program.
no liveblog at the meeting; I'll see about the Legislative breakfast. Maybe. 

Worcester School Committee meets Thursday

Wow, it's been awhile!
The Worcester School Committee resumes its meetings this Thursday at 7 pm. You can find the agenda here.
We have a petition from the North High faculty.
We do not have a report of the superintendent. We do, however, have (further down in the agenda) the October 1 enrollment report. 
Today's joint meeting will be reporting out.
We have some midyear appointments.
We also have lots and lots of suggested recognitions (check the agenda!).
Administration is reporting back on where CSX funds went.
We also have the timeline on a new Worcester Technical High principal appointment.
Mr. O'Connell is suggesting that we apply for a preschool development grant (though, reading the backup, it appears we should be urging the state to do so, as this is not a district level grant, but a state one).
We're being asked to receive a donation to special education in memory of Paul Piuze.

We're being asked to approve prior year payments of:

$5940 to the Town of Oxford (for a special education student).

$24,480 to NEASC for our 2013-14 dues

$4086.83 for transportation to Assabet Valley Collaborative

$1015.23 for bus repairs

$5282 for bus repairs

Mr. O'Connell wants to look into getting the former Lincoln Square Boys Club back.
He also wants to talk to Tenacity and to AAA.
And he'd like us to look at pilot schools (which are what Boston had for innovation schools before the state had them).
Mr. Monfredo would like an update on students being CPR/AED certified.
He's also bringing in a donation (?) for special education transitions.

We also are being asked to accept donations of:

$17,488 from the United Way for Belmon Street School for iPads

$400 from Shaws for McGrath Elementary

$2503.04 from Lakeview PTO for their school.

And we have grants!

$20,000 from the state for alternative education

$75,000 from the state for our innovation schools (for professional development)

$13,141 from the state for "the Collaborative Partners for Student Success" program

$165,000 from the Health Foundation of Central Mass for the WorcesterHEARS project (more on that to come)

$5000 from Lowe's for Chandler Magnet for outdoor work

We also have the final FY14 audit for the Central Mass Special Education Collaborative.

We do have an executive session starting at 6 pm to discuss collective bargaining with Educational Secretaries and to discuss contract negotiations with the superintendent.

School Committee meets this Thursday

The Worcester School Committee meets on Thursday at 7 PM. You can find the agenda here.
After a few honors (I wonder if we are having any of these musicians sing the National Anthem?), the report of the superintendent is the--held--discussion on the proposed International Baccalaureate school. While we don't have an item on the agenda for it, public comment is allowed under suspension, and do remember that you can always get in touch with us at schoolcommittee (at) worc.k12.ma.us (and I'm really hoping to hear from our student reps on this, too).
We'll then take up the proposed bid spec that passed F&O tonight.
We have a prior year fiscal payment of $14,811,73 that we're being asked to approve for services for a special education student at the Robert F. Kennedy Action Corps (we never received an invoice).
Miss Biancheria is asking for an update on the filling of the Worcester Tech principal position.
She's also looking for our (annual) report on the $1 per pupil provided for elementary schools for recess.
We're being asked to accept a Strategic Support Grant from the state for $100,000.
Mr. O'Connell is asking that we, "pursuant to Rule 50 of the School Committee" hold a hearing on the deisolation plan (Rule 50 says it was supposed to have happened last meeting. We haven't had one during my time on the School Committee). 
And--we knew it was coming but here it is!--we are being asked to "adjust" the budget. What we have to do is CUT the budget by $450,061, as our charter reimbursement is--AGAIN--short. In fact, it's nearly a million dollars short, but the city is holding us harmless on $500,000 of that. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU KEEP INCREASING CHARTER SCHOOLS WITHOUT REGARDS TO FUNDING.
Oh, it's being cut from special education, and it's balancing out only because the Collaborative still has frozen our tuition rate. In other words, it's only a happy coincidence of timing that the Worcester Public Schools aren't having to cut a half a million dollars out of the budget in December.
We're being asked to raise our mileage reimbursement rate to $0.575 from $0.56 per mile, per the 2015 standard (federal) mileage rate.
Mr. O'Connell is asking that we recognize the contributions of Ted Coghlin to the Worcester Public Schools.

We also have three items in executive session: one on bargaining with our Educational Secretaries; a grievance; one on the Superintendent's contract. The committee will take those up at 6 PM.

Worcester School Committee meets Thursday, November 6

The Worcester School Committee has a regular meeting on Thursday, November 3 at 7 pm. You can find the agenda here.
After recognitions, we have the Superintendent's presentation of her summative evaluation. You can find the (massive) backup for that here. The School Committee will present their evaluation at the next meeting on Thursday, November 20.
We have the reports of both the Joint Committee and Finance and Operations. (In both cases, the notes start with that blog post and go forward.)
We have a response coming back on site councils.
We have a response on internships.
We have a response coming back on kindergartners on buses.
We have several congratulations being offered: students in the Columbus Day art contest; Rob Pezzella for his selection as "Changemaker for Children" from YOU, Inc; for a donation to Norrback Elementary.
We're sending the city's Byrne grant to Governance.
We have an item on the proposed changes to the teacher licensure system (on which I have posted at length). Note that right now, the proposal is to send this to the Governance subcommittee.
Miss Biancheria is asking about MCAS overrides.
She'd also like a report on coordination with the Department of Public Health on flu and Ebola.
There's a request for a report on CSX donations on Grafton Hill.
We have the quarterly special education collaborative report to consider.
There are several more proposals for congratulations--Burncoat Field Hockey; North High Health Science; South High--all connnected to Channel 5's broadcast here last week.
Administration is sending an elementary report card item to subcommittee (there's no backup; it's for updates as the pilot rolls forward).
We're being asked to approve a six year, $1.8 million contract with Houghton Mifflin for the "Go, Math!" program, being piloted this year.
We are being asked to approve two prior year payments:1,439.86 for an Instructional Assistant and $7,468.00 for an EAW Unit B administration.
We're being asked to accept a $900 donation from Agriculture in the Classroom to Worcester Tech's Biosphere.
Mr. O'Connell is sending part of the Council of Great City School's statement around standardized testing to Accountability. 
Mr. Monfredo would like to congratulate Woodland and Union Hill for receiving the Apple grant.
Miss Biancheria would like an update on dealing with arrests and youth violence.
And we're being asked to accept $13,000 from Millbury Savings Bank for Vernon Hill ($5000) and Quinsigamond School ($8000), as part of their five year commitment to those schools.

Central Mass Special Ed Collaborative report

Note that Vice Chair Monfredo is chairing
We've got the quarterly report as well as a renewal of contract with the Collaborative.
Novick: note that the collaborative is seeing increased numbers of children with autism and trauma history (as are WPS generally)
O'Connell: FY14 operativing budget projecting a use of surplus of slightly over $1 million. Allen notes that it is being used to freeze our tuition; "it's a benefit to the sending districts"
Biancheria: PBIS, positive effect on their behavior, children talking about it, would like to receive more information about how that is working for them.

On contract: Boone: have been collaborative agreements in the past, first agreement established 1975
one of the agreements of the new collaborative law
state department provides "what they call technical assistance, what we call 'okay, we have to do this'"
Webster looking at this next week
contract here for School Committee approval
O'Connell notes that most collaboratives have many members, unlike ours, which has just Worcester and Webster. Most of the action comes from Worcester. Should we have a weighted board, "this is bascially a Worcester organization with a touch of Webster"
Boone: understanding that the law provides for a one-for-one representation
"we've never found an issue where either Worcester or Webster felt under or overrepresented"
apply overall fiscal and leadership hats over the program
O'Connell: tuition rate is a factor; "annual per pupil rate less 15%" for districts with fewer than ten students; are we giving Webster a discount?
Boone: Webster has more than ten students; tuition rates are driven by services needed by students
non-member districts "buy seats" for students that are in need of services
O'Connell: why do we have the 15% discount then?
Boone: it's in the law; different calculation for districts that fall below ten students; much of the concern about fiscal concerns and organizational concerns
O'Connell: support adoption, but contact state around weighted composition; would like notice of the board meetings
Boone: meet open meeting law requirements, meetings posted, agenda posted

Mary Baker, Executive Director of collaborative
getting contract through state, "arduous at best"
"spirit of chapter 43 is that every member would have an equal say"

Novick: could we see the fee structure?
Sure
Ramirez: similarly, why is the fee structure not laid out in the contract?
Boone: fees are set as part of their budget
Treasurer has to certify that we have set a fee structure and that it has been provided in the budget

contract approved

Agenda this week includes next year's testing plan

The Worcester School Committee meets tomorrow night, back at our regular 7 pm time at City Hall. You can find the agenda here.
As you may have seen in today's paper, the biggest item on the agenda this week is the PARCC/MCAS decision, which is the report of the Superintendent. The recommended list is this:

 PARCC: Chandler Magnet, City View, Clark Street Community, Columbus Park, Elm Park Community, McGrath, Gates Lane, Goddard School of Science and Technology, Jacob Hiatt, Lake View, Lincoln Street, May Street, Quinsigamond, Roosevelt, Thorndyke Road, Wawecus Road, Woodland Academy, Worcester Arts Magnet, University Park Campus School, Claremont Academy, Burncoat Middle, Forest Grove Middle and Worcester East Middle. 

MCAS: Belmont Street Community, Burncoat Street, Canterbury, Chandler Elementary, Flagg Street, Grafton Street, Heard Street, Midland Street, Nelson Place, Norrback Avenue, Rice Square, Tatnuck, Union Hill, Vernon Hill, West Tatnuck and Sullivan Middle. 

Note that in addition to the grades 3-8 tests above, all tenth graders will take the MCAS, and several schools are asking to take optional tests: Burncoat Middle would like to have their eighth graders try the PARCC Algebra I test; Burncoat High would like to have some ninth graders take the ELA test; Burncoat High would like have some eleventh graders try the Algebra I and Geometry tests; UPCS would like to have some eleventh graders try the Algebra II test; and Worcester Tech would like to have some eleventh graders try the ELA and Algebra II tests

In addition to that list, note that the report ALSO includes the information about which schools had students opt-out of the pilot test last year. Some very interesting stats there!

We are also having a report from yesterday's Teaching and Learning subcommittee; getting our usual update on new hires (Welcome!); possibly talking about class size at the secondary level (note that those are last year's numbers); approving a few prior year payments.
We're also being asked to approve a new early childhood director, Laurie Kuczka, and some new nurses.
We have the quarterly report of the Central Mass Collaborative and we're being asked to approve a new contract with them.
And speaking of contracts, we're getting updates (?) on contract negotiations in executive session.

New suspension regs

on item from Biancheria
Boone: new regs "have created as many questions as answers...will come out with a report in August"
every district in the Commonwealth is doing the same
notice for parents and due process for students
planning to get that to us August 12; discussion at the August 21 meeting
there will be policy language at that time for the student handbook
Biancheria: receiving prior to the meeting, how it's going to be implemented in schools
Boone: responsibilities of School Committee will be included in communication to School Committee
Boone: suspension still allowed, removal from school still allowed, communicated in August
O'Connell asking:

•  if Woodard Day counts as the alternative program
• can we send students there for short times?
• who will be our hearing officer?
• matrix for what happens to students who are not going to be in school?

Boone: has been part of discussion with collaborative on an ongoing basis

they will be ready to address having students on a short-term basis 

Biancheria asks that what we get be sent to the EAW president, as well

Worcester School Committee meets Thursday, May 1

We have our May Day meeting at 7 pm; you can find the agenda here.

First up: recognitions! Science fair award winners, safety poster winners, and volunteers at Worcester State.
Then we're going to say goodbye to Jim Bedard, our facilities director, who is going to work for WPI (who is amazing and will be greatly missed...but I'll save that for the floor).

Report of the Superintendent is a new Seven Point Financial Plan, on which more anon; most of these are things we either already explicitly or implicitly do in our budgeting in the Worcester Public Schools.

Standing Committee reports from yesterday's Finance and Operations meeting and hearing are coming back to the full committee.

We have a report back that administration did ask that students be given access to library materials during MCAS testing (did anyone hear anything around this?).

The United Way is making a donation to Belmont Community School and Burncoat High (of $500 each).

Mr. Monfredo (who always remembers these) is asking that we remember Teacher Appreciation week (May 5-9) and Nurses Appreciation Week (May 5-11) and that we recognize the Teacher and Nurse of the Year (which we'll do at our final regular year meeting on June 19). Write a note!

North High got a grant for a garden!

Miss Biancheria has a transportation request, and is also looking for an update on the Worcester Tech graduation.

We're being asked to approve a prior year (a prior prior year? 2012-13) payment of $2652 for a guidance counselor stipend.

We're being asked to approve the new fingerprinting policy required by state law.

And we have the quarterly Central Mass Special Education Collaborative report. They're looking for new space, and it appears they're doing some marketing (?).

School Law 201

again, from the MASC/MASS conference in Hyannis
Non-renewal of non-tenured teachers