School Accountability Plans

reminder from Biancheria that we don't approve or make changes
We have the ones from Gates Lane, Burncoat Prep, and Tatnuck Magnet tonight
Perda: "pretty much random, except I tried to get some distribution across the accountability levels"
all schools stick to the district-provided template for providing plans; all aligned to district accountability plans:

• student achievement
• safe and secure schools
• parent and community engagement
• communication

in cycle of reflection ahead of developing plans next year

Biancheria: do they speak with parents on developing?

dates and times? due to admin, but presentation to school site councils at the time

still tweaking of document that takes place: peer review by other principals

reviewed by accountability office, and quadrant office both on measurements and on interventions

then posted online in late fall

Perda: preliminary ELA MCAS data released to schools today for schools to start looking at 

"whether or not the instructional piece that they've put into place is working"

O'Connell: very specific role "in order to ensure consistency with the district accountability plan and three year action plan"

role of parents: parity of members of staff in school on site council, some achieved that

reminder to principals ensure that when site council convene that they have parity (Ch. 71, sec. 59c); thus follow composition of site council and makeup of them

site councils often meet at times that parents cannot make; of concern

Novick: do they ever not use MCAS?
Yes, but not often.
So what will we do next year? ...still to be determined...
concerned that we are lowering or raising the number rather than reaching the outcome wished for
(You can lower the number of student office referrals; that doesn't necessarily make the school any safer)
Not everything important that happens in a school fits in the box; concern with making something go up or down a number, not with what that means for the child, the school, or community

update on One Library

continue to be working on this project
we continue to work on what's happening with this: met with them and facilities yesterday
two things going on:
(not gotten to the point of defining all the operational aspects)
site evaluations at each site, including timelines
best to have that level of specifics
fundraising continuing for facilities needs; some funding was already secured
Roosevelt is most ready: larger space, newer facilities
Burncoat Prep will be in a mobile unit: making sure that is safe
Goddard has active library space
Tatnuck Magnet: looking at opening space and removing computer room
security issues of keeping space for public access
public access only during non-school hours
working to define what will be out of school hours
will be an MOU relative to all of that happening
financial commitment is through fundraising
closer to when we will be able to have more to say
opening throughout the fall
still working out other details

One Library press conference

And Finz is here. posting as we go
Petty: "another great announcement for the city of Worcester"
Thanks everyone for being here today
"very positive impact on Worcester's youth...One City, One Library...little collaboration, working to get things done"
"things don't happen by accident...really amazes me how things get started...a couple of people have an idea, get talking...happened almost by accident"
"having library open during the day and also by night for the neighborhood"
Patty Eppinger: "all of our show"
"exciting time for Worcester...lots of positive energy, heading in a great direction"
"when we see a need, we don't just walk away, we try to get things done"
"critical to have our children have access to books, technology and professionals"
score higher on standardized achievement tests in reading
third grade
"many needs in our community..pulled in many directions...think creatively...how to benefit everyone"
several months: "a group of very dedicated, very hard working volunteers...libraries back to schools and neighborhood"
worldwide system of resources, librarians, library staff
"all have a stake in helping our children and our neighborhood"
not exactly as accidentally as the Mayor referenced
....WPL Foundation, WEDF, WPL, WPS, UMass-Med, CM, WEC
MCAS scores on
"two reasons: to thank volunteers...to build and maintain the libraries that exist in our libraries today"
"four school-based children services branches opening in the fall, one per quadrant"
"update existing" technology...books, facilities,
"offer new programs that will make reading fun"
open to neighboring public when schools are not in session
"we all believe this will be a win-win situation"
sites chosen for "a variety of" neighborhoods, access from an outside entrance, parking
Plus a second Libby solely for children's services
asking principals to come forward
Principals of Tatnuck Magnet, Roosevelt, Burncoat Prep, and Goddard
"have graciously opened their schools to us"
cites O'Brien
CM O'Brien: "wonderful to be here"
"not looking forward to ice and snow"
"amazing work in our public schools"
volunteers are "a foundation that we hope to build upon"
improve access to all that our library has to offer to all of our citizens
"uniquely positioned to go forward...new and innovative way"
"children achieving their grade level reading ability"
Private/public partnership like no other
schools and libraries are "working together" to how they work on hours, staffing, access
current PILOT from WPI, Clark,
UMass-Med for $700,000 in materials
private support from WPL Foundation "going forward"
thanks subcommittee that "analyzed statistics on grade level reading
"pleased to announce the city...fund designated solely for library services...additional $250,000 towards this goal"
$1.25 million for year one
"some things take time, and age like fine wine"
Leary from UMass-Med
kids growing up in Worcester and staying here
used to be to work in the mills
45% of employment is higher ed and health care
STEM fields: early literacy
"very happy to participate, happy for you to have me hear today"
"would not happen without the 100% support of our superintendent"
Boone: share in the excitement of all on this stage here today
on my mind since I've been here, "I know was on the agenda of the School Committee prior to that"
"libraries not just places where we house books and we check them in and out"
"where lifelong learning really takes hold"
sister of an elementary librarian
rolling up sleeves
"when you have a vision, you have to bring something of substance to the table"
front-loading success...moving away from remediation
proactive stance
initial sites for this intiative
"every school has its unique personality...how do we use that to create the best for the schools and the community"
principals: hours, role of librarian in schools
still going to take a great deal to close the gap on hours and services
volunteers cited and thanks
"sibling of Libby"
"large school system and going to take a lot of effort to get where we need"
reading levels of 3rd and 4th grade boys used to calculate the number of prison beds are needed
"great and exciting day for the city of Worcester" and the Worcester Public Schools
Susan Gately: (president of WPL board)
proud to be part of the city of Worcester
"loveable, liveable city that we have"
"work together on the board with these big ideas"
cites library director for her "big ideas"
"really great ideas, resourceful, creative, responsive, impactful, bold"
four branches
"more reach with little Libby"
well-spent city resources: "I hope that we'll see more of all of you as we work to see this really great idea come together"
Leslie Fish (president of WPL Foundation)
"when the City Manager came and presented this idea to the WPL Foundation, not only did the Board immediately vote on it, a member wanted it to go down on this as 'enthusiastically'"
sent children to WPS, access to libraries
"superior resources of the Worcester Public Library...seems to be no other"
"going to raise the matching funds to complete infrastructure needs for this year"
working with WEDF to get the funds for the "little Libby"
comments that One City, One Library is up online (it's not...yet)
Rebecca Alt, library organizer from Tatnuck Magnet: parent volunteers at our school that is "an amazing group of people ever"
"to see our kids day in and day out enjoying it...such a highlight of being a parent at this school"
"this is incredible..makes what we did this year worth it, let's us breathe a little"

In closing, Patty Eppinger notes that this will cost $2 M for the first year, and thus far they have $1.25 M

Libraries

Here's the report:
We're actually not doing a terrible job for a district that has not had elementary librarians full-time since 1991. We now have part-time librarians at Union Hill, Burncoat Prep, and Chandler Elementary.
There's a few of our schools that have taken library space for classrooms; asking for information on which ones no longer have space
question on if the library at Woodland/Claremont is big enough for both schools (as it was built to do); understanding is that it is not
Monfredo speaks of wanting to get books into the hands of children and parents over the summer
O'Connell long-term goal to have staffed libraries with frequently updated books that are open for the full school day
"that we take this report as a beginning...plans for enhancing libraries, books, and supporting materials"
"what we can do to see that every school that's on this list is open 30 hours a week..."

Meetings next week

Hugely behind on posts...fighting a flu this week...

There is a meeting of the Teaching, Learning, and Student Supports subcommittee on Monday at 5:30 (4th floor of DAB). You can find the agenda here. Under discussion:

• an "early warning" system to target potential dropouts
• strategies to deal with truancy
• question of restoring DARE
• a report on the youth health survey
• a review of the absentee policy

The full Worcester School Committee meets on Thursday at 7 pm at City Hall. You can find that agenda here.

After some honors (including Thorndyke's playground committee!), the report of the Superintendent is on the innovation schools, year one (worryingly without a backup, as yet).

We're hearing about the new children's gallery at the Worcester Historical Museum.

We've got both the TLSS and the Governance and Employee Issues committees reporting out.

We have a response back on JROTC programs.

Several requests for recognitions, publications, and reports are going in.

We're reporting out on the exam/IB school committee.

Two grants: 

1. $95,716 for Kindergarten Assessment Entry testing (largely to be spent on materials)
2. $421,715 has come in for Burncoat Prep's Level 4 grant. You will remember that this is the money that is contingent on a number of things, including the replacement of the principal.

Also $13,274.44 in prior year invoices (for natural gas).

And we're getting a recommendation that finalists for the special education position be interviewed on October 18.

Worcester School Committee: committee reports and new principals

Sorry, chairing for the beginning of the meeting; I'll catch up with public testimony later...now on standing committee reports...posting as we go
Accountability and Student Achievement: which you've seen as I was there...
Taking a break to introduce the new (and moved) principals:

• Joanna Cackett to Grafton Street
• Deb Catamero to Burncoat Prep
• Paula Gibb-Serverin to McGrath
• Kendall Grigg to Goddard
• Ricci Hall to Claremont Academy
• Charles Healey to Rice Square
• Patricia Jordan to Jacob Hiatt
• Daniel St. Louis to University Park Campus

TLLS: reporting back on gaming, anti-bullying...
We've also got a report back on the use of sports to fulfill the gym requirement (not a lot of students taking us up on it, actually, except at North in the fall)
(there's also a bunch of clean-up items being filed)
Claremont Academy now has a full-time librarian; this was a NEASC concern in that building

G&EI: social media policy is on here for approval (sorry, I can't find it online...it wasn't a backup for the agenda of either this meeting or the subcommittee)
filing federal legislation item
missing trees and shrubs at Durkin (concern from the Crown Hill Neighborhood Association)
Novick: concerns with social media policy: basically this is a new area of interaction between students and faculty/administration
What about subscriptions? what about groups on Facebook? What about students following to teachers on Twitter or vice versa?
motion to send it back to subcommittee to consult with teachers and students
Monfredo: no problem taking it back to subcommittee
Colorio: very intrusive, how much does this go over the line?
Luster: held to same standards when acting in professional capacity
O'Connell: clear statement by the school district on the behavior expected by the school employees
wishes approval
Foley: "basic policy...state standards that are there
Colorio: "that we are now asking our teachers that they are now working 24/7...when they're home...going far beyond the means"
Boone: "is a realistic statement that teachers do end their workday when the times that they leave the school site...involve contact with students...adopted a policy of students"...sorry, missed this...basically that students can be held responsible for actions in the community
passes 5-2
TLSS (yes, again; they've met twice since we last met): anti-bullying policy, special education review (some question here regarding costs for the next budget), summer programs: what is their impact on testing, and can we join forces with other providers of summer programs, and crew (the answer came back that crew costs are minimal and optional)

Principal hiring

Colorio: have many principals have we hired and how many have gone through this full process
Boone: five principals retiring, all five have had this process
appointed principal for Burncoat Prep and for Claremont
(that's seven in total)
O'Connell: "there's a real benefit for the school and the school process" if this process is followed
"a buy in from a number of constituencies"
"beneficial recommendation, as it comes from those who know the school and know where they'd like the school to go"
Boone: disappointed that we have rehash this
"instructional leadership is a very key leadership position in a building"
"continue to preserve that opportunity"
"there are times that I deem a direct appointment correct for the school"
"at least 80% have involved stakeholder involvement"
Biancheria: asks for a report on the number that did have stakeholders
"would be interesting to have for information"

Burncoat Prep plan before the state

I was part of a team from the district that went into Malden yesterday to present the Burncoat Prep turnaround plan to the state for school turnaround funding. I'd say the presentation went well; we had about a half-hour to present (for both district and school) and then there was an hour of questions.
The state did emphasize that they are once again not only considering Level 4 schools for SIG funds, 'though those schools are prioritized. They also were clear that budgets may not--again--be fully funded. They will be letting us know in early June.

Burncoat Prep Level 4 plan (not-so-liveblog)

One item on the agenda here tonight: the Burncoat Prep turnaround plan. Note that the plan is due Tuesday, April 24, so there is no opportunity for a rewrite.
 
Boone:
Deadline for application for federal funds
wanted to have it with regular agenda, but deadline before then

Mulqueen:
Team composed of 50% teachers
central office really comes together as a support team
original draft was initial work
rubric to write to; draft given on Friday
state deadline is tomorrow

Monfredo:
submitted a two page report to Mulqueen and new principal, including on preschool, summer programs, building relationships

Colorio:
still have a few concerns with this
looking at a very tight budget; additional staff being put on

• 0.2 social worker
• 0.5 librarian
• lead teacher
• wraparound coordinator

$184,000 in salaries from grant
doesn't include extended day money
probably could have additional tutors or IAs in classroom; could help with ratio
about 10% increase in staff overall in budget
what does culturally competent mean? How do you measure it?

Foley:
He begins by reminding us to "make sure we turn the fridge back on" (which we've turned off here at Nelson Place due to noise)
wraparound do deal with issues that teachers and principals deal with every day: hopefully can deal with issues parents have
"if we reach in a real positive fashion, parents will come to the table"
"keep in mind...they've taken on an inordinate number of students with special needs...50% do not come from Burncoat Prep"
find places in their neighborhood schools for these children
redesign should be dispersing those children properly to their home schools

O'Connell:
"committed to excellence"
"sound practical logical ideas that have been used before"
Two schools in the city that did not have libraries are Level 4 schools
community participation: that's vital
expand into summer programs, prekindergarten

Biancheria:
appointment of new principal
"it appeared that this change in staff would not take place until June...is there a transitional period and how is that going to work?"
new principal begins July 1
Boone: planning has to occur now, before principal change
students are bussed in, but aren't coming from a distance: fine line of a few minutes
"wonderful that we're discussing having parents engaged in the school"
Do we see parents not only coming to the school, but some community function that will take them away from the school but into the community?
We might find that parents do not have their own transportation to the school...perhaps we can have events in the community
"began to level that expectation by having meetings at Great Brook Valley"
transportation offered and interpreter services
"biggest concern I have with this particular school"


Novick
correction on p.6: there's actually a smaller percentage of African-American students at the school than in the district
agree with Colorio on wraparound coordinator: have a child at a school with one, unproven model, "want real data before I vote another $70,000 position"
demographic data so out of line with the rest of the district; this is an even larger issue than Level 4 status, and is dealt nowhere in the plan
plan mentions majority of children come from Great Brook Valley, then discusses crime
"more to Great Brook Valley than crime, challenges and otherwise"
60% Latino school in a district that is 38.4% Latino
"those children are bussed; this does not reflect a neighborhood"
choice that the committee has made on lines of cachement area: have created a segregated school
Uncomfortable conversation, but one we need to have
Also, plan speaks of two way communication: that means parents talk back
where are they talking back? Very concerning

Boone: neighborhood, housing patterns
O'Connell: children in Burncoat Prep's neighborhood don't attend Burncoat Prep; how to attract them back?






Petty: supports plan, moving right direction

Plan voted through 5-2, Colorio and Novick against

School Committee meets tonight!

There will be a special meeting of the Worcester School Committee this evening to consider the Level 4 plan for Burncoat Prep. You can find the plan here.
The meeting is being held at Nelson Place School* at 7:30 in the school cafeteria.

*because there's a press conference at Nelson Place about their library at 7, and most of the committee was going to be there, anyway!
 

New principal at Burncoat Prep

Superintendent Boone has announced that Deborah Catamero will become principal of Burncoat Preparatory Elementary School effective July 1, 2012. Ms. Catamero is currently interim principal at Clark Street School.
Burncoat Prep's current principal Deborah Frank will, we are told, be taking over as PBIS Coordinator for the district, as that position will be vacant due to a retirement at the end of the school year.

And yes, this means that the principal at this Level 4 school has now been replaced, freeing the way for federal funds. Expect a school committee vote on that sometime in April.

Committee comment on Level 4 school: Burncoat Prep

again publishing as we go
Colorio: teachers will turn this school around
"vested in their students"

Level 4 stakeholders recommendations: Burncoat Prep

publishing as we go
 Boone: teams of community members for parents and others in attendance to make recommendations, plus stakeholders' group, whose membership is laid out in the "Act Relative to the Achievement"

• comments on process
•  90/90/90 article*
• actual recommendations

School kid-friendly, staff had done research, provide support necessary for teachers to be successful
prep work done around 11 Essential Conditions 
a lot of momentum at the school, particular at building a strong student and teacher culture
Faculty and staff had done work prior to school being declared Level 4; had assessed themselves by 11 Conditions in the fall
programs that centered around the success of each child
90/90/90 article: mini-book study
"thriving with teachers who believe deeply in their craft"
instructional group: easier due to the work done by faculty prior
nearly all of the recommendations related to teaching and learning
initiatives already in place & changes to made
wraparound coordinator and adjustment counselor
when students' basic needs are met, more likely to succeed
professional development
"to foster a life-long love of learning"
"areas of need and areas of strength" in use of data
even greater level of detail
recommendation for lengthened day: by 90 minutes (note that at Burncoat Prep this would require transportation)
Community and parent engagement: parents what they want for their kids
"strong relationships with families" especially ELL
discuss assessment practices: report cards
social events with families to engage them
strengthen PTO: offsite meeting, flexible times, childcare
"hopes, dreams, and wishes for the students"
include parent feedback in assessment of school


Boone: heard that work done by school before Level 4 allowed process to go through
Year of level 4 schools: what has been working in those schools



*for concerns about this article, see EdWeek

Burncoat Prep Level 4 plan

I should perhaps point out that due to technical difficulties, this meeting is not being broadcast live.

stakeholder group finalizing their report
presenting to school community next Wednesday, January 25
then that plan goes to superintendent, who creates plan to present to School Committee
Feb. 16 School Committee meeting: presentation of turnaround plan by Superintendent Boone
possibly vote on School Improvement Grant at the same time
faculty had already been working on changes under innovation plan
next set of timelines: potential work outside of collective bargaining agreement
School Improvement Grants are available
require district to choose one of four options:

1. close school
2. outsource school
3. replace 50% of faculty plus principal
4. replace principal plus annual evaluation of staff (plus)

Boone intends to pursue money, as in past two, if School Committee approves
none of these four models represent a pancea for scuccess
"my recommendation for a model represents no lack of confidence" in school leadership
"very clear...not a statement of lack of confidence for principal and leadership team"

 Essential conditions are still in play: extended learning time is still required, as are specific professional development
increased attention to English Language Learners

Worcester School Committee meets tomorrow: UPDATED

The first regular meeting of the Worcester School Committee is tomorrow evening at 7 pm at Worcester Tech. You can find the agenda here.
In addition to recognizing the work recently done at Doherty by Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, approving minutes, filing a number of retirement and other personnel items coming in, and a variety of new business being sent off to subcommittee, we are getting our first report on the FY13 budget (yes, it's that time of year again; check out the report! It should have a works cited page!) and getting an update on Burncoat Prep (which you'll remember has Level 4 status).
Burncoat Prep backup still to come.

Stakeholder group for Burncoat Prep

informing the School Committee about the make-up of the group:
Jeff Mulqueen will chair
ESE Designee: Erika Werner/Joan Tuttle
School Committee designee: Donna Colorio
Union designee: Howard Clash
School administrator: Brendan Keenan
Teacher: Beth Zeena-Dowd (Coach)
Parent from school: Jovanny Marinez
Social service rep: Tim Garvin (United Way)
Early Education and Care: Linda Granville
Community Memeber: Paul Hernandez
Teacher Kara King (Gr. 1)
District administration: Mary Meade-Montaque

Completed plan approved by April
being done under the current turnaround options (under NCLB); so, those same four choices:

1. close the school
2. restart the school under different management (aka: a charter)
3. fire the principal
4. fire half the staff and the principal

Coming, it sounds like, in January...

Burncoat Prep uniforms

sorry, I should mention:
The uniform request is being sent back to the school, as Burncoat Prep is now a Level 4 school, so it's being sent back to their stakeholders' group.

New round of Level 4s

Sorry for the lack of posting: I've come down with a doozy of a post-election, post-MASC bout with bronchitis.
The news of the day is the latest round of level 4 schools being announced by the state, including Worcester's Burncoat Prep. As Burncoat Prep was in the midst of creating an innovation plan (jointly with Lincoln Street), we are, as NECN explains, in a bit of a no-man's-land regarding the need for a turnaround plan. This after (as the T&G covers) a vote of no confidence in the principal. (I don't know what measures were taken in the building after the vote; I intend to ask.)
The big news on the Level 4 front comes from Lawrence, however, where Mayor Lantigua is calling for a state takeover of the entire school system after the state added three more schools to the two that Lawrence already had in that designation. Lawrence is between superintendents (their last one was indited), and, as of last Tuesday, has four newly-elected School Committee members.