Mid-March updates on the Worcester Public Schools

 largely, though not entirely, taken from the Worcester School Committee updates from the Superintendent

Did you hear about the North High boys' basketball team?
First Division 1 champions in WPS history! 

• The Worcester School Committee and much of the cabinet is having a retreat on Saturday the 25th in the morning, to do some professional development work on governance
  
  
• The letter to the Auditor, Attorney General, Office of the Inspector General, and Ethics Commission regarding Worcester Cultural Academy Charter School, Old Sturbridge Village Charter School, and Old Sturbridge Village, Inc was sent last week. You can read it and the accompanying (lengthy!) backup here. Expect to see something coming on the boycott proposed by the EAW and MTA.
  
  
• You may have seen the district's social media traffic pick up, and if you read all our press carefully, you may also have figured out why: We do now have our Chief Communications Officer Dan O'Brien working for us. Dan comes to us via some time both at Minuteman Regional Tech and Boston Public Schools. (We are trying not to overwhelm him. Really.)
  
  
• Final interviews for principals for the open positions have been conducted, and selections should be coming soon.
  
  
• Dan St. Louis, who many may know as principal of UPCS, has been appointed the district's early college director (you can probably see how that's a fit!).  Chris Kursonis, former principal of Abby Kelley Foster Charter, has been appointed Administrative Director, College and Career. Much of the discussion you've heard coming in meetings about high school--what is it about, what's next--is going to be linked to and through this area. These positions fall under the Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning. 
  
  
• The Superintendent's Student Advisory continues to meet monthly. Most recently, they contributed to our revised dress code, passed last meeting, and they interacted and gave feedback on an AI presentation reflective of our own. 
  
  
• We have had four unfilled wraparound coordinators. One of those positions is being moved to the Parent Information Center, as part of the larger work of Family and Community Engagement. Also translation/interpretation services and parts of our family engagement process are being merged under one position, which is both saving us money ($90K) and allowing for co-directors of this area, Dr. Déborah L. González and Casey Starr. They are in the process of a THOROUGH (thank goodness!) review of the student enrollment process, including voluntary transfer and school choice. 
  
  
• Public hearing on the WPS budget: MAY 24!! Mark your calendars!