The Board of Ed meets next week

You can find their agenda here.
The Monday night section of their agenda is on educator evaluation.
As is their custom, the Tuesday portion of the meeting is being held at their student representative's home school, which once again this year is Pioneer Charter School of Science in Everett.
On the agenda is the usual taking of public comment and comments from the Chair, the Secretary, and the Commissioner.
They will be getting an update on the Springfield Empowerment Zone.
They are getting an update on the new MCAS exam and the updated math and ELA standards.
There will be updates on both the Holyoke and Southbridge receiverships.
There is a state student advisory council end of year report.
There is an update on the FY17 budget (the Senate begins budget deliberations Monday).

I plan to be there on Tuesday.

Finance and Operations: student activity fund audit

Matt Hunt, auditor (who also does the federal single audit) is here for this one
Allen: state never adopted regs on student activity accounts, but MASBO has suggestions, which we follow
student activity accounts at all of our secondary schools
we audit annually "above and beyond what we are required to do"
This is the FY14 audit; FY15 hasn't yet been done
because the FY14 audit was completed during FY15, some findings will be the same
many about reconcilation of accounts and such
Hunt: goal is to do FY15 in a more timely fashion, so things can be cleaned up for FY16
report breaks down by each school
summarize procedures performed by auditor
summarize different types of findings: for several schools, a separate fund created for interest income--those funds dispersed by School Committee policy; checking account reconciliations not signed and dated (creates an audit trail); checking account reconciliations to be prepared by month's end; graduating class funds still in existance after graduation (needs to be process for closing accounts); overarching reconciliation of student activity account balances with bank balance (variances, often timing oriented); very isolated issues in receipts and dispersements (tested 200; found issues with 5)..."most internal control issues...most important part are monthly reconcilation which are being done"
work was all done remotely due to assist from business office
Foley: really about driving us towards best practice
"some minimal human area...some policy areas"
consider a vote today on a policy that within 90 days funds..?
Allen: have an existing policy, just need to update
a number of options: can withdraw and create a new fund for reunions, can donate to upcoming senior class; must take a vote on their action before graduation
MOTION TO HOLD pending FY15 report

Student Advisory Council

report of the Superintendent tonight
(and they have snappy blue polo shirts)
There are 35 of them, but only three of them are here due to scheduling conflicts (because they all tend to be very actively involved students).
The administration sets some agenda items, the students also "develop and exercise leadership skills"
Gave input on the budget this year

Joseph Marzilli

Mass Student Council Advisor of the Year
Joe is a science teacher (physics) at North High and he was nominated by his Student Council for this award.
Joe is also a WPS alumnus.
(He also just gave a stirring speech on the real work, measured byMCAS or not, done by teachers and students in WPS. Nice one!)