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.