What happened at the December 7 Worcester School Committee meeting

 Last night was a LOT, and with two members having commitments as parents and it being the mayoral holiday rounds, we ran part of the Committee with just a quorum, which is unusual! 

That's why, oh committee watchers, I was chairing; in the absence of both the chair and the vice-chair, the senior member chairs (and then hands off sequentially, which is why Molly McCullough chaired when I was speaking). 

Also, it appears the T&G is going to do a terrible job covering this meeting, so I guess it's up to us again.

Note that the agenda is over here.

We started with a lengthy executive session, which was largely concluding our negotiations with new Worcester School Committee clerk Kristi Turgeon, whose finalized contract was voted at the end of the meeting (and thus that reason for the executive session has concluded, so I can say that). Ms. Turgeon will start Monday, so she'll be on for the transition of year, term, and committees; her contract runs through June of 2026.

Also coming out of executive session were extended contracts (at their request) for Mr. Allen and Dr. Morse; I've posted the extension dates, along with Dr. Monárrez's, over here, as I was recently asked that. Mr. Allen, as an SBO, can have a contract for up to six years under MGL Ch. 71, sec. 41. Dr. Morse's contract had a salary increase; other than the extensions, the only other change to the two contracts was language allowing their annuity to instead be taken as part of their salary for what would amount to their final three years (which then would count towards their pensions).

Among those who had a chance to honor last night was Jack Foley, whose MCAS Life Membership recognition I posted over here. Once the video is up, I'll link to Jack's remarks, because Jack is never one to miss a chance on saying what needs to be said, and he did again last night. 

There were two public petitions, one on buses (going to F&O, and we'll take that on the 19th) and one on bullying (going to Governance). There was also public comment by Jennifer Davis Carey, who was vice-chair of the strategic planning committee, speaking in favor of the strategic plan...

...which was the report of the superintendent, and I do recommend watching the presentation on it, as it lays out the plan for the next several years. In addition to the feedback already given in Governance, there was more feedback last night (a lot from me, some of which has to do with framing, as this becomes the Worcester School Committee's strategic plan once passed. That, and I'm allergic to public documents that are too lingo-y).

In addition to prior year payments and reimbursements, there were many grants accepted: 

• the Connecting Activities Grant for $145,043
• the FY24 FC325 Targeted Assistance Grant for $400,000.00.
• the Care Coordination for Chronic Condition Management in Schools from the American Academy of Pediatrics in the amount of $12,000.00.  
• the Computer Science Engagement Grant for $16,858.00. 
• the STEM Week Mini Grant for $400.00.
• the Early College Full School Impact Grant for $374,892.00.

We voted in favor of naming the gymnasium at Claremont Academy after Al Jenkins, on the recommendation of the School. 
The question of what to do with Laura Clancey's request that the alternative program be named after Michael O'Neil went to Governance.

We got back the specifics of what happens when there's allegation of abuse made by a student. This is a very highly regulated process.

We sent two requests for a separate social media presence for WPS athletics off to administration. It sounds as if that is already in train.

We added language to our policy IMD that spells out what is already practice for the Worcester School Committee on graduations: 

School Committee Members shall be drawn at random to speak at the High School Graduations. Members may request exchanges with other members based on circumstances that may arise if the other member is able to switch. Graduation speeches should be no more than 3 minutes in length. School Committee Members will be drawn at random to attend middle school promotion ceremonies, if they are available. There is no speaking portion at middle school promotion ceremonies for School Committee Members.

There's an update coming to TLSS on the Doherty Biomedical program.

I went through all of policy section D--those are the financial policies--and added the legal references, cross-references, and a few updates that we didn't have. That's going to F&O; we'll take them up on the meeting on the 19th to have back to the full committee on the 21st. And yes, this is literally my trying to tie up a loose end. 

I asked that we end the addition of artificial turf fields on WPS property. If you aren't familiar with the NFL Players Association call for the end of the use of turf, the issues with heat on such fields, and the plastics going into our water, there's a link for each, but there is much much more available on all of those. And no argument with our student rep Thomas Sutton, who noted that our grass fields need more upkeep; this is a trade-off on costs, and we're going to need to be real about that.

My request that we submit testimony in opposition to the Commissioner's proposed increase in weight of chronic absenteeism passed (more on that from me here).

My request that we request a Foundation Budget Review Commission be established as part of the FY25 budget (reporting back before the filing of the FY26 budget) also passed. I noted that this is an issue that Worcester has led on, but that we cannot go it alone, and so we also are requesting that MASC, MASS, and MASBO take it on as a budget priority.
Mayor Petty added his concern regarding the projected low inflation rate for FY25 (as I noted over here).

Jermoh Kamara, building off the climate and culture emphasis in the strategic plan, proposed a policy on culture and belonging.

She'd also filed two items stemming from this recent report on student arrests, requesting five years of data. This is data that we're required to report, via DESE, to the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights; the data regarding students who are referred then having ancillary services is data we don't yet have but will coming from the strategic plan. Thus both items were filed.

And an item regarding an update on gifted education was sent to TLSS.

We authorized an up to five year lease for computers.

And then the contracts, as mentioned above. 

Let me preview that the agenda for Finance and Operations on December 19 is going to be PACKED, so we've moved the start time back to 4 pm.
Final meeting of the term is on December 21.