Superintendent Binienda seeking to appoint a deputy

From Thursday night's Worcester School Committee agenda:

To consider approval of the appointment of Susan O’Neil, Ph.D. as Deputy Superintendent of Schools, effective, July 1, 2017. 

That is the date that Dr. Rodrigues begins in Hudson. 
Dr. O'Neil was the principal of Worcester Arts Magnet School until last year until she joined central administration.

Note that this is also a reorganization of positions, as there is as of now no deputy position in administration; there is no note of a request of that being approved, though the creation of such positions does require School Committee approval under the Massachusetts General Law:

Upon the recommendation of the superintendent, the school committee may also establish and appoint positions of assistant or associate superintendents, who shall report to the superintendent, and the school committee shall fix the compensation paid to such assistant or associate superintendents. 

As for the appointment itself, under MGL Ch. 71

The school committee shall approve or disapprove the hiring of said positions. Such approval by the school committee of the recommendation shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided, however, that upon the request of the superintendent the school committee shall provide an explanation of disapproval.

New Chief Academic Officer

subject to contractual negotiations, Marco Rodriguez, currently Director of Special Education for the Worcester Public Schools. Approved unanimously.
We will meet in special session should the contract come to conclusion prior to our next meeting on July 19.

Chief Academic Officer

Sorry; I only realized this morning that this didn't post last night. This gives some more context to the report from Jackie Reis at the T&G this morning

 
We have a description of the Chief Academic Officer...Administration is asking that this move forward tonight so as to start advertising on Sunday.
O'Connell is concerned about "eligible for" certification rather than having it. He's making the point that this is not a position that you want someone completing a practicum during.
Luster gives the example of a principal who may not have served directly under a superintendent but had met all other requirements (who may even work in the district now)
O'Connell speaks of not wanting "on the job training...(it's) important for the person to do the work"

Monfredo asks that the position require residency within 18 months (he wants this to be part of the advertisement)
Boone: that requirement would disallow people who work for us NOW to not be eligible: "that concerns me" Cites that most Massachusetts superintendents do not live in the districts that they lead
O'Connell cites that Jim Garvey lived in Auburn and moved when he was appointed; Caradonio also moved when appointed; Mulqueen moved at his contract extension
Foley suggests making it part of the conversation during the interview process; O'Connell concerned about letting people know up front
Biancheria says "there shouldn't be a question of embracing our city...if it affects the pool that will apply, so be it...should be proud to put that on the advertisement"
Vote goes 5-2 on including a residency requirement in the advertisement (Foley and Novick against)

Novick asks that we including teaching experience (that will be included in the interview process) and asks that we move communication up the list to required. Done.
School Committee to get periodic updates on the process as it goes forward: will happen
Advertisement to start this weekend

Worcester School Committee: Ides of March edition

The Worcester School Committee meets tomorrow night at 7 pm at Worcester Technical High School. You will find the agenda here
The report of the superintendent is on the role of guidance counselors in course selection in 9th grade.
Lincoln Street School is asking for approval of a uniform policy.
We have reports from at least three subcommittees (Accountability met yesterday; perhaps that's reporting out at the next meeting?).
We have some requests for reports on student assessment data.
We have two items regarding busing: one on kindergarteners and one on routes.
The process by which the Chief Academic Officer will be filled is being discussed (there's some hope we can post this position this weekend).
Two bookmobile items: one to urge sixth graders to enter the naming contest (rules here) and one to thank Holy Cross.
We are getting an auditing report (but we haven't yet).
Sullivan Middle would like to add band.
And Worcester Arts Magnet is asking for approval on a grant for music in the classroom.


I'm told the Mayor is getting to the meeting late, and, while I can participate and blog, I'm not going to try to chair and blog. I will try to catch up on what I don't get blogged if I end up chairing! And yes, chairing on the Ides of March...

Mulqueen

And for those of you who get this as a stream rather than read it all on the blog, I didn't get the new Chief Academic Officer's name correct in my initial post. It's Jeffery Mulqueen (not McQueen). I've corrected it now. And apologies to him!

Making lemonade out of lemons

...from the Chief Academic Officer, Jeffrey Mulqueen, now presenting to School Committee on next year's budget.

reframe making WPS the choice from a problem into an opportunity

Chief Academic Officer

...will, it appears, be hired by the School Committee, according to MA General Laws (this came up in the retreat earlier, in the question of who got what report when and if they should have). They have ultimate authority.
Ms. Mullaney has opened the conversation for what the School Committee would like to do about this. The position has been posted, applications are coming in, Boone is waiting to see what the School Committee would like to do.
Lukes is back to who got what...wanting to know the legality of a School Committee member getting an opinion before the Superintendent got it. She wants a legal opinion on that. She also wants to know if there's a legal obligation the School Committee has.
Monfredo says, let's have her suggest someone for and vote 'em up or down.
Lukes says she sat in on interviews. She thinks there's a process by law.
Mullaney says she thinks it's a little different from what Lukes is referring to (which was the special ed director). She thinks we ought to excercise that little bit of authority state law allows the School Committee.
Lukes wants a policy for how School Committee hires the people they hire. Mr. Foley says he'd like Boone to get going on hiring CAO, and makes a motion to that end.
O'Connell says that Ed Reform only changed the hiring process for some positions in redrafting the lines, thus the difference among positions. He suggests that if a meeting is needed, the Mayor has the authority to convene such a meeting and should do so.