What happened at the first February Worcester School Committee meeting

 You can find the agenda here. You can find the video online here.

Note that we opened the meeting with an executive session involving a worker's comp case, litigation, and updates on seven collective bargaining negotiations.

We had the Rice Square Elementary chorus sing (pre-recorded) the National Anthem for us!

The report of the Superintendent--and really the main part of the meeting--was a report on special education. Do note that this report is the first of two parts. 

The presentation starts on page 21 of our agenda; the report starts about 5 minutes in on the video.
Something I have had to learn over my time on the Committee is how the various things we do in Worcester fit together; I think this visual is very helpful:

There's lots that was and could be said about special education--if this is of interest, do watch the video!--but I wanted to highlight the demographic data we received.
First, by gender:

yellow is boys

And then by disability by race and ethnicity; note the dotted lines across represent the overall district enrollment:

The above of course gets into the question we've seen raised of if children of color, especially boys, are over-identified for special education services, when it may well be that their needs are not that of special education. Definitely something the district is looking into.

We also did touch on the issue of supplemental services due to the pandemic, towards the end.

Because I try to cite my sources, the piece I was referencing from Vanderbilt about sub-separate classrooms is here. Don't blow that one out of proportion as "Novick is endorsing going back to entirely sub-separate education" or anything of the kind. This is a "what's up with that?" question.

The reporting out on Finance and Operations was the monthly transportation update. The minutes of that are on page 54; the video of that meeting is here. Two takeaways for everyone:

we are still training and hiring bus drivers! 

Families: please be sure that your student and parent apps (WooEdu) actually have your bus information. We will be continue to 'undouble' routes, and that will mean changes for not only doubled but undoubled routes in some cases.

In voting acceptance on grants, there were a few questions that came up. The grants we accepted with some information as it came up are:

• FC215 Genocide Education Grant from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in the amount of $57,120. As often with our grants, this is about professional development. Member Kamara asked about this; I'll share this FAQ from DESE which covers the legal requirement we have on genocide education.
  
  
• FC104 Financial Literacy Planning and Implementation Grant from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in the amount of $15,000. This is for after school clubs, and there were questions about the degree to which this is being incorporated into the regular school day, which is...ongoing, I think I would say?
  
  
• Teacher Diversification Pilot Program Grant (FC253) in the amount of $45,756.00. This one we've received a few years in a row now. It's supporting paraprofessionals to who are pursuing licensure as a teacher, including covering MTEL fees.
  
  
• To accept the ParentChild+ Pipeline Program Launch Grant funded by the Wellington Foundation in the amount of $20,000.00. This is work on expanding the network of family care providers. We're the receiving agency on this one as it's through the Worcester Family Partnership.

Member McCullough proposed an item--sent to budget--to consider the hiring of athletic trainers, citing this piece from USA Today. (Gosh, I love a solid backup!)

Member Clancey requested that we send the voluntary transfer policy to Governance for consideration and updates if needed. (It's confusing, for sure.)

Member Kamara submitted an item to ask about "ongoing learning options during inclement weather." Dr. Monárrez responded that administration had checked; that alternative online options when we cancel school due to weather cannot be counted as days of learning. However, the administration will ensure there are online resources (a page of links) for families who may wish them on those days. The item was filed. 

I also gave an update on the municipal broadband work (I'm the School Committee rep on the committee, which meets monthly; I've been working on this with the Committee for several years.). Verizon offering fiber to the city now means Spectrum has competition; that doesn't mean the problem is solved. The city has also been ongoingly speaking to other cities that are similarly pursuing options like SiFi that provide fiber networks at no cost to the municipality. The city is currently working on an RFP for just such an option. 

The School Committee next meets on February 16th.