Worcester School Committee agenda for February 3

You may have heard there's a Worcester School Committee meeting this Thursday!
The following motions are dealing with the recent "in-the-news" issues:

Mr. O’Connell/Miss Biancheria/Ms. Novick

Request that a comprehensive investigation be conducted as to the circumstances leading to invalidation of the 2010 MCAS results at the Goddard School of Science and Technology.

Mr. O’Connell/Mr. Monfredo/Ms. Novick/Miss Biancheria

To request a report from the Superintendent as to her plans to comply with the mandate of the Commissioner of Education that "the Office of the Superintendent of the Worcester Public Schools will conduct the 2011 MCAS test administration at the Goddard School", and that "the Office of the Superintendent of the Worcester Public Schools will require all Worcester principals and central office administrators to attend a DESE MCAS Administration Security Procedures Training session prior to the administration of the 2011 MCAS administration.”

Ms. Novick/Miss Biancheria

Request that the Administration provide a full accounting of the internal investigation into the 2010 MCAS testing at Belmont Street Community School.

We also, per the policy change (we now vote to accept grants), are voting on whether or not to accept the first of Worcester's Race to the Top portion: all of $120,000 (details here: it's nearly all stipends).
There are reports coming back from both the Accountability and the Teaching, Learning, and Student Supports subcommittees, which have had meetings recently (TLSS met tonight; sorry for the lack of liveblog).
We're honoring the Finn School for their generosity to our students at Chandler Elementary.
There's a flurry of items from the mayor--questions on substance abuse programs and one on text messages for snow days (nice one!)--plus a few honoring various people, asking for reports, setting dates for Legislative meetings (it's got to stop snowing sometime, right?), and reviewing use of the automated phone system (let us know if you have an opinion on it!).

7pm Thursday, City Hall
If you have thoughts on ANY of the above, do get in touch with the members of the Committee. You'll find contact information to the bottom right OR you can get us at SchoolCommittee@worc.k12.ma.us .