Report on dropouts and graduation rate

"And after they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives" says Superintendent Boone
two of eighteen level 4 schools that have gotten money
entire Level 4 process was extremely emotional for this community
"agree that every child should have a high quality education, but I don't agree with all" has happened
thanks all that were involved in the level 4 school process
"an example of what happens when a community rallies around what it believes in"
Mayor echoes thanks to community

Public comment:

Tim Garvin, United Way, presenting "a community response"
he stresses that it is a community response (not THE response)
United Way, Stand for Children, Jewish Family Services, Christian Community Church
He comes around to pass out copies

Teaching, Learning, and Student Supports standing committee report: much on Fanning

Mr. O'Connell on the report from Tuesday's session, taken out of order, due to the presence of students from the Fanning Learning Center.
Periodic review of curriculum, specifically mentioning mathematics
Application for "Health Assisting" program Ch. 74 status (that gives us vocational reimbursement for this program) at North High School
dropout decrease/ graduation increase which includes reorganization of the system, including an administrative recommendation of closing of what is now the Fanning Learning Center
(which I'm still figuring out, to be honest)

supporting statutes requiring CPR and AED training and medical emergency response

Worcester School Committee

...starting a bit late tonight due to a long executive session.

Level 4 schools funds

I see from the WPS website that the Level 4 schools have been awarded School Transformation Grant funds by the state: $1,350,000 to Chandler Elementary and $1,200,000 for Union Hill over three years.
That works out to $400,000 a year for Union Hill and $450,000 for Chandler Elementary.

Good reason to be sleepless in Seattle

 I know...that's the second Nora Ephron reference in a week. Sorry.

Last night, the Seattle School Committee voted unanimously to fire Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson (a quick Google of "Seattle Public Schools" for news will give you more than you can read today). Goodloe-Johnson, Broad class of 2003, is being brought down by a financial scandal that has cost the school district $1.8 million. It seems that a well-intentioned attempt to employ minority-owned business became a training center and also an opportunity for the director of that program to embezzle funds (he's left the state). The Seattle Public Schools Community blog has a good summary here (and is well worth reading overall). Full timeline here. The financial officer has also been fired.
Further, it appears that the Superintendent did not know what was going on and had created a system that ensured the public and the school committee didn't know what was going on.

Worcester School Committee Thursday

The regular meeting of the Worcester School Committee is tomorrow night at 7pm at City Hall. You'll find the agenda here. (or not...the page isn't loading. To be fixed)
Up this week:

• the Superintendent's report is on the dropout rate, which, as you may have heard, went down this past year. The backup has charts and graphs with more information.
• we've got recognitions for Dr. Leonard Morse for his work as the Public Health Commissioner. We've also got Bank of America coming in in honor of their $50,000 donation.
• Teaching, Learning, and Student Supports subcommittee report is coming back.
• a response to a question on summer programs
• items asking about the special education parent survey, the STEM initiatives, and Poem in Your Pocket day.