On the next Commissioner (and the elephant that is still in the room)

 Okay, people, this is officially too many succession plans for me to keep track of.
Anyway, I will remind you as always that this is from only me, no one else. 

One of the things that those who govern organizations, including educational ones, should have an awareness of is the bench; that is, who is being prepared for leadership. Educational organizations vary in size, of course, so not every organization has one (or much of one). There are also educational leaders that don't spend time and energy on preparing others for leadership. Nonetheless, who's on the bench, who isn't, who is prepared, who isn't--these are questions that boards should have an awareness of.

Thus when an educational leader steps down, a reasonable board at least asks the question of who in the organization is prepared to lead it. That isn't always going to be the right answer--there are, for example, times when a break with the previous leadership is very necessary--but it should at least be asked. 

A bench (this one overlooks Curtis Pond in Worcester)

It's not clear that the Board of Ed ever really did this. It essentially only came up as Russell Johnston was leaving. 

On Pope Francis

 You don't come here for this but nonetheless:

• Lovely compilation of photos of Pope Francis via Jim McDermott
  
  
• Similarly, from Vatican News, a shepherd "with the smell of his sheep"
  
  
• The Pope's final "Urbi et Orbi" ("to the city and the world") message from yesterday, which includes: “May the principle of humanity never fail to be the hallmark of our daily actions.”
  
  
• This remarkable set of memories from his visit to the White House in 2015.
  
  
• Father James Martin, S.J. on how he changed the lives of LGBTQ people
  
  
• A solid compilation of his thoughts on education can be found here.
  
  

And in terms of what comes next:

• Here's what happens after a pope dies
• And what this conclave will look like, given the very high number of voting cardinals appointed by Pope Francis

Apologies for the flood of posts

 If you are someone who has these posts emailed to you, you received a flood of them yesterday. Sorry about that! The system was stuck and resetting. I hope it is back to normal (once a day at 3 PM when there is something new) now. 

You can sign up to have them emailed here.

Things to read this week

•  on federal education funding, Elleka Yost from ASBO International wrote this piece, which beats my "nobody knows" answer
  
  
• this state Supreme Court decision from Wisconsin is my favorite school finance story of the week. You might remember Governor Tony Evers vetoed the "20-" in a school funding bill in 2023 to change the end date to 2425. The court says that was within his veto power.
  
  
• this piece on Beverly Hills (yes, 90201) shutting out students after the wildfires in California rather hit home, I have to say
  
  
• My latest edition of "70 on 70" (for this round "60 on 70") at last Friday's MASC Learning Lunch was recorded and is online, for those looking to better understand the Massachusetts school funding system. We got into hold harmless and minimum aid funding of the past few years in this one towards the end. 

Commissioner interviews recording and feedback

The full video of the three interviews for Commissioner can be found here. 

Note that the Board is soliciting feedback, which you can submit here. Do it before Tuesday! 

Numbers on House Ways and Means

 I'm off to the Good Friday Way of the Cross, but the spreadsheet for FY26 state education accounts is now updated. It looks like it is important to view with the supplemental budget which is still moving through the state legislature. 

FAQ on superintendents in Massachusetts

 I will let what I said stand on its own regarding Dr. Monárrez, but I'm seeing some questions come up that are pretty straightforward "how does the superintendency in Massachusetts and elsewhere work?" questions, so let's look at those. As always, I post this in my personal capacity.
I'll add to this if I see more. 

Is three years "short" for a superintendency?

Not really. This is actually a somewhat difficult thing to nail down, but frequently, it's said that city superintendents on average have a tenure of between 3 and 5 years, with a 2018 look from the Broad Center coming in a bit higher. 

While Worcester isn't among the 100 largest school districts, it has more in common with those districts than we do with our neighbors.

Is this an unusual time for such an announcement to happen?

No, this is exactly when a lot of these announcements happen, for the simple reason that it is when a lot of hiring happens. In fact, we're about at the anniversary of Dr. Monárrez being appointed. 

Does the district now need a superintendent?

Yes, districts in Massachusetts are required to have a superintendent.

Does there have to be a search?

No, there is no requirement that searches be conducted before an appointment.

What are the requirements of the school committee appointing a superintendent?

They have to conduct the vote in a properly posted public session, and they have to appoint someone who either holds or is eligible to hold a licensure for superintendent in Massachusetts.

Is there anyone who cannot be appointed?

Yes, because a school committee member cannot be a teacher or a superintendent in the district in which they are on the committee, a superintendent cannot be a member of their own school committee, per MGL Ch. 71, sec. 52.

Also, one cannot be a member of the appointing authority and apply for a position, under the conflict of interest laws (MGL Ch. 268A). 

Letter from Dr. Monárrez

 And while the Board of Ed continues question selection, some Worcester news...

Dear Worcester Public Schools Community,

I am writing to you with mixed emotion. After deep reflection, I have accepted a Superintendent position in California and will step down as Superintendent of Worcester Public Schools at the end of June 2025. I have come from this decision taking into account the needs of my family. As many of you know, my husband, Jesus, is retired, and this next chapter in our lives will allow us to spend more time together with our family and friends in our home state of California.

Serving as your superintendent has been an incredible honor. Over the past three years, under our guiding mantra—from here, anywhere… together—we have made meaningful progress toward greater equity and opportunity for our scholars. We have strengthened specialized programming options, expanded inclusionary practices, and remained steadfast in keeping scholars in school. We have fostered a safer, more welcoming environment for both students and staff, bolstered by robust safety training and a deepened sense of belonging in part through our school-based culture and climate teams. Our youngest scholars are reading at the highest level since my arrival.

We have transformed how we engage with families and the community, ensuring that communication is clear, accessible, and inclusive. With the successful rollout of our five-year strategic plan, Our Promise to the Future, we have built a strong foundation for the district’s continued growth. Our creation of the quadrant teams have brought district staff closer to schools, strengthening connections between educators and children. We celebrated the opening of the new Doherty Memorial High School and launched the long-awaited Burncoat High School construction project. And over the past three years, we have doubled the annual funding toward facilities and school safety, from $8.2 million to $16.6 million.

Most importantly, we have lifted the voices of those we serve. The Superintendent’s Student Advisory Committee, Family and Community Engagement Roundtable, and Educator Advisory Council have provided essential perspectives in shaping our work. Our collaboration with the Educational Association of Worcester has resulted in a stronger partnership and a significant reduction in staff grievances. And with the launch of Vision of a Learner, we have set a clear path for what it means to be future-ready upon graduation.

Through it all, the greatest privilege of my time here has been elevating the brilliance of our scholars. Their achievements, creativity, and resilience inspire me daily.

I have informed members of the Worcester School Committee, including Mayor Joseph M. Petty, along with my WPS Cabinet team and key stakeholders of my decision. I am committed to ensuring a smooth transition. I have made myself available to discuss the transition plan and offer my support to the School Committee in any way necessary.

I extend my deepest gratitude to the Worcester School Committee members along with many local and state elected officials, our city and state leaders, our dedicated educators and staff, our families, and our many community partners for your support and commitment to our scholars. I am confident that the momentum we have built together will carry Worcester Public Schools forward to even greater success.

As we look to the future, I encourage everyone to remain on a journey of excellence embracing this quote.  “Excellence can be obtained if you ... care more than others think is wise; ... risk more than others think is safe; . . . dream more than others think is practical; ... expect more than others think is possible.”  I want to share my deep appreciation and love for the families, staff and community members of WPS who practice this mindset each and every day. 

With appreciation,

Rachel H. Monárrez, Ph.D.

Superintendent 

Worcester Public Schools

 The T&G has coverage here. 

Interviews for the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education

 

Coming to you live from Mass Bay Community College in Wellesley

My rundown of the finalists can be found here. My initial perspective on them can be found here.

There is a livestream of this, which will be going up here. UPDATED: video is here.

Posting as we go. 

Jack Elsey, Lily Laux, Pedro Martinez to be interviewed

and Craven just said a whole bunch of things including the schedule which I missed because I was trying to find the livestream...sigh...it also isn't written down, as best as I can tell

The Board is soliciting feedback on the finalists here. 

Regarding the finalists for Commissioner

As per usual, this is only my personal opinion.

When asked for my (own personal) opinion about what we need in the next Commissioner, I have said two things: 

Meanwhile, state budget season continues

 and the House Ways and Means budget is posted. 

Three finalists for Commissioner of Education

 ...as reported by State House News Service shared by WWLP: 

The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education announced Tuesday that it will conduct public interviews Thursday with three finalists for the open Department of Elementary and Secondary Education commissioner job.

Board members will consider Jack Elsey, Lily Laux and Pedro Martinez.

Elsey previously worked as chief of innovation and incubation at Chicago Public Schools and as assistant superintendent at Detroit Public Schools. In 2022, he founded the Michigan Educator Workforce Initiative, which Massachusetts officials described as "an organization committed to addressing the teacher shortage crisis and building a more robust educator pipeline for Michigan."

Laux works as executive director of Economic Mobility Systems. Before that, she spent seven years as deputy commissioner of school programs at the Texas Education Agency, a role that involved overseeing academics and efforts to shift from a "compliance focused" approach to an "outcomes-driven" one, DESE said.

Martinez leads Chicago Public Schools, the fourth-largest district in the nation. He previously worked as superintendent of the San Antonio Independent School District.

You can find the Boston Globe report here, and Chalkbeat, which has a Chicago bureau, focuses most only Martinez here. 

please enjoy this sign left at an Orange line station in Boston after the march

I am going to strain to keep this post very straightforward, and I'll give some preliminary thoughts in another post.  

While the finalists for Commissioner are not yet posted (watch this space)

 ...the interviews and the selection meeting now are. 

• Interviews are 2 to 8 (oof) Thursday (the 17) at Mass Bay Community College Auditorium
• Selection for recommendation to the Secretary (who actually appoints) 2 to 4 at DESE in Everett on Tuesday the 22

Both are public meetings and both will be livestreamed.

The Speaker says 'no' on education formula review this year

 From State House News Service from last week (which no one appears to have picked up, so this is behind a paywall; I assure you this is the whole education funding section): 

No Chapter 70 Reform In The House This Year

Though Mariano promised that the House Ways and Means budget proposal will continue funding free school meals for all public school students and commit to fully funding the Student Opportunity Act, he told reporters that reform of the school funding formula is off the table.

Superintendents, school committee members and public school students have made their case at budget hearings for the state to overhaul the Chapter 70 funding formula for public schools, saying that small- to mid-sized districts are facing a financial crisis resulting in teacher layoffs, program cuts and even school closures.

Asked after the chamber event if the House would consider changes to the formula this year — something that Senate President Karen Spilka has signaled an interest in — Mariano said no.

"No. Too much uncertainty," he said, shaking his head.

He did say the House plans to continue funding Commonwealth Cares for Children early education and child care grants, a $475 million program that began with federal dollars during COVID-19 and the state has since taken on.

Overall, Mariano said the House would spend "more than a billion dollars" on the EEC sector. Gov. Maura Healey recommended $1.8 billion in state support for early childhood education in her fiscal year 2026 budget, a 20% increase from fiscal 2025.

Mariano said the House plans to take up legislation aimed to bolster access to early college programming for Bay State students, and voiced his support for three-year college degrees. The Board of Higher Education is considering regulations to allow students to achieve their bachelor's degree with less than the typically-mandated 120-credits.

"I was pleased to see that the Board of Higher Education moved to consider adopting this innovative approach. A reduced bachelor's degree would be especially beneficial to non-traditional students, and it will allow graduates to enter the workforce sooner and with less debt. This is the kind of fresh idea we need in education right now," he said during his speech to business leaders.

 "Too much uncertainty" includes "whatever we do is going to cost more," of course.

I am doomed to have the same discussion over and over forever

 The FY24 net school spending report was released yesterday.

if you click this, it will get bigger

Here’s a zoom in of the current year:

In words, that's "you didn't meet required spending last year by $5,548,031; you are required to make up for it this year, and you are not budgeted to do so."

Massachusetts responds

 DESE released this just a few minutes ago. 

While not as combative as Minnesota's, it does footnote the greeting, which one must admire. That isn't just passive aggressive--though it is!--it also points out how they're dodging someone taking responsibility for this mess.

And footnote 3! The Paperwork Reduction Act! 

Also note that this is the state saying districts have no responsibility to respond on their own. 

"you know what we mean" certification from U.S. Ed

There's much to be said about the U.S. Department of Education's Thursday demand that states and districts sign that they "aren't doing DEI" to continue to receive federal funds, but the thing that keeps coming to mind for me is this Monty Python skit: 

You know, DEI! You know what we mean!
No, we don't, Secretary McMahon. Please be more specific!

Worcester did what?

Plenty of press last week on the announcement* of the Worcester School Committee voting to become part of the lawsuit against President Trump, Secretary of Education McMahon, and the U.S. Department of Education, which argues that the elimination of the Department would be harmful, and in fact, the cuts of employees that have already occurred are harmful, mostly due to federal funding. 

If, like me, you learned the word "declarant" from this, welcome. This means that Worcester is not itself actually suing--that's Somerville Public Schools, Easthampton** Public Schools, AFT-MA, AFSCME, and AAPU--but is supporting the position of the plaintiffs officially. 

Note, by the way, that's the School Committee taking action here, as they're essentially the legal entity of the district (for all that they mostly weren't the "face" of the press).

______________________

*I think? This appears to have only been done in executive session?
** for those surprised by Maureen Binienda's vote in favor: she's currently the interim superintendent of Easthampton

Massachusetts may be "under attack" but so is everywhere else

The end of the federal ESSER extension announced by Trump Secretary of Education McMahon Friday hit the Massachusetts news wires today, largely because the executive branch issued a frankly not very helpful press release, which goes for impact without starting with what the funding actually is. 

And now we have news articles and headlines that are only making that worse, so in lieu of banging my head against the train window here, let's try to parse more of this out.

New Bedford Light interviews Superintendent Andrew O'Leary

 Cheering for large sections of today's New Bedford Light interview with Superintendent Andrew O'Leary: 

Soon after Trump took office this year, O’Leary got some social media and talk radio flak because he had sent out a letter to school staff informing them that the New Bedford district follows state guidelines that restrict building and information access from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorities.

O’Leary feels strongly about his system’s immigrant students. He spoke at a Saturday City Hall rally, objecting to a March 21 New Bedford raid where, he said, several children who attend city schools “woke up to terror” when federal agents in military fatigues broke the door to their home.  

He says the criticism hasn’t bothered him because as superintendent he’s the person who can better deal with rebukes so staff can go about their jobs educating and protecting children. He is particularly concerned, he said, about continuing the New Bedford schools’ inclusive philosophy toward marginalized populations like undocumented immigrants and transgender and nonbinary people.

“All the criticism came to me because you have seen scenarios out there, around the state and around the nation, where this individual teacher and this individual principal got targeted,” he said. His voice then grew quiet. “I would hate to see that” in New Bedford, he said.

And also: 

 Business roundtable-type organizations, he said, have incorrectly convinced the public that schools should be about producing skilled, high-earning graduates for the commercial sector.

That’s the wrong paradigm, according to the superintendent.

“I think we’ve listened to the wrong people around that, and what it does is, it diminishes what a school actually is for: its community,” he said. “It’s a place where students grow and flourish and develop as young people who can contribute to society in all sorts of ways.”

O’Leary is doing nothing less than laying down a marker that the New Bedford schools are not about business or careers or even getting into college, but rather about boosting the people of the city and how they feel about themselves.

“What concerns me the most is that these are community assets,” he said. “Schools are the hubs of neighborhoods. Schools, where our young people are, are one of the most important things that society invests in, and they belong to the community.”

Public schools have traditionally been thought of as something for the whole group, not for one individual, he said.

“Eroding a community asset is something we should raise concern about,” O’Leary said.

Yes, indeed! More of this, please!