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 (?).

Looking for a summer job or internship?

The Regional Environmental Council's YouthGROW corps is looking for members!

If you are or know a low income young person between the age of 14 and 16 in need of a summer job, please pass along the application for the YouthGROW program. All youth who apply are guaranteed an interview and candidates who are hired will have the opportunity to work on one of our two urban farms in Bell Hill and Main South!
But maybe you've graduated high school? We want your applications as well! We have a budget for a couple of paid positions but are especially looking for students interested in volunteering as interns (hopefully for credit.) Our youth hiring committee is planning to interview candidates in late April and the position would entail around 5-7 hours of planning time with the youth during May and June and then participating in our summer program during 6 weeks in July and August for around 25 hours a week. Interns will have the opportunity to co-lead a project with a Youth Leader like planning an awesome neighborhood block party, visit farms across New England like Nuestros Raices and Seeds of Solidarity through our field trips, and get to work with some of the coolest young people in Worcester. We will also feed you during our summer program! Email me your application by April 10th if you are interested.

I've shared the application here. For more information, contact Grace at Youthgrow@recworcester.org .

Food Day!

Saturday, October 20 is Food Day! You can find it at the Main South Farmers' Market.

School garden workshop

Tomorrow as a part of the Regional Environmental Council's spring plant sale, there will be a workshop on school gardens:

Planting Tips and Stories from the School Garden: 11 - 12:30

Stacie Brimmage, REC School Gardens AmeriCorps VISTA and participants from Doherty's PEACH Club - Stacie will kick off the first half of the workshop with tips on choosing plants and planting times well suited for the school garden. She will review USDA planting zones, average frost dates, and tips on vegetable planting and harvesting.  The PEACH Club will begin the second half of the workshop by sharing their experience in starting and maintaining a school garden. They will go over the challenges and successes they've had, how they decide on what crops to grow, and what they do with their harvest. If you're interested in learning great tips for planting with your classroom, as well as hearing from experienced school gardeners, then this is the workshop for you!

The Plant Sale runs from 10 to 4 tomorrow at 63 Oread Street.