Innovation grants

You may have seen that Governor Patrick was in Worcester yesterday to announce another round of innovation school grants. You can find Governor Patrick's press release here.
Awards for Worcester are as possible:

• Goddard Scholars Academy at the Sullivan Middle School, Worcester, $30,000
• Lincoln Street School, Worcester, $30,000
• Worcester Technical High School, Worcester, $30,000
• Chandler Magnet, Worcester, $30,000

Also, did you notice that Pentucket Regional got five planning grants? The superintendent of Pentucket Regional is former Worcester Chief Academic Officer Jeff Mulqueen, who was part of Worcester's first round of innovation grants.

Back for regular session: honoring Jeff Mulqueen and retiring principals

...though we're starting this evening with a hearing on educator evaluation.
Comments from Superintendent Boone to open...

And regular agenda..
starting by honoring Jeff Mulqueen, for whom this is the last meeting. He'll be starting as Superintendent of the Pentucket Regional School District on July 1.
Petty says he has to come sit in his WPS rocking chair.

recognizing retiring principals

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

It's official

Jeff Mulqueen has signed a contract with Pentucket Regioinal.

TLSS: Curriculum review

I should point out here that the giant binders you may have seen before each committee member are the backup on this item (and will be added to going forward). So far as I know, it is not yet available online.
Also note that this will be a more-or-less standing item at all TLSS items going forward.
Mulqueen notes the introduction to this at last week's School Committee meeting and Saturday's community meeting on the Common Core.

TLSS liveblog: foreign travel

As the City Solicitor has made the quick trip up from City Hall for this meeting, the item on foreign travel is being take out of order. Publishing as we go...
David Moore notes that new regulations require CORI or CORI type checks on all drivers and others, plus extensive exploration around transportation. Training and planning around political issues, as in Egypt currently. "Formidable issues" is what he says.

Curriculum review

Boone: 2009, started conversation around a curriculum review process
revision due to Common Core
Review the process
Mulqueen: every area an area for improvement
Continue on in perpetuity

Jeff Mulqueen: Pentucket Regional Schools Superintendent

Congratulations to Chief Academic Officer Jeff Mulqueen, on his selection by the Pentucket Regional School Committee as that district's next superintendent.
(Pentucket is West Newbury, Merrimac and Groveland, up on the North Shore)
Petnucket's superintendent is retiring at the end of this school year.

Pennies from heaven

There's a front page New York Times story today on districts being wooed by Apple:

In visits the officials described as inspirational, they checked out the company’s latest gadgets, discussed the instructional value of computers with high-level Apple executives and engineers, and dined with them and other educators at trendy restaurants. Apple paid for meals and their stay at a nearby inn.

The visits paid off for Apple too — to the tune of $1.2 million in sales. In September, Little Falls handed out iPads to 1,700 of its 2,500 students at a celebration in the school gym. And a few days earlier, 200 teachers got a pep talk via video chat from an Apple executive whom the school superintendent had come to know during his company visits.

This is part of a big trend by technology companies to make money off of school districts, even as there's some question about how much difference technology makes in how students learn:

The sales pitches come as questions persist about how effective high-tech products can be at improving student achievement. The companies say their products engage students and prepare them for a digital future, while some academics say technology is not fulfilling its promise.

I found this interesting in light of a press release that Houghton Mifflin Harcourt put out this week around the contract they have with the district around the innovation and Level 4 schools. Frankly, we've been seeing a lot of HMH people: they've been at School Committee meetings, press briefings (where they've provided the muffins), and elsewhere. (And if I'm seeing a lot of them, you can bet that our administrators are seeing even more of them!)
I don't at all mean that we've been bought by a basket of muffins; I don't think that's the case. There is a lot of money flying around (in this case, Race to the Top funds for the innovation and Level 4 schools), and companies are going straight after it. My fear is that what we're doing is spending the money as fast as we get it (or even faster; the RTTT money isn't actually in yet), without taking nearly enough time and care to make sure that it actually does what it's supposed to do. I raised this question (and I wasn't alone), but administration was definitely sold, as demonstrated in the press release:

"The opportunity to implement a comprehensive technology platform that gives students, parents and teachers greater connectivity is at the crux of our interest," said Dr. Jeffrey Mulqueen, Chief Academic Officer, Worcester Public Schools. "Pinpoint allows us to break free from time and place, allowing teachers and parents to work more productively."

That's the theory. We don't actually know that yet.

FY12 budget hearing: publishing as I go

sorry, we had a squirrelly wifi connection there
Keep hitting "refresh" as I'll post these as we go

we've received a letter from the state ethics commission that WPS should stop all fundraising activities (due to WEDF fundraising activities), pending legal advice...posted around athletics fundraising

considering community schools on an annual basis and evaluating placement and funding on an annual basis

Race to the Top budget

Presentation by Mulqueen; you can find the backup here (the budget is spelled out in pages 5 and following)
teacher evaluation
alignment to Common Core
strengthening school culture
teachers getting ELL and sped certification
data warehouse
MassCore
pre-AP training
STEM early college
innovation schools

A few quick things of note: this continues the Focus on Results contract for another four years (at half a million dollars a year); there's a half-time librarian for Union Hill and Chandler Elementary; there's technology for the Goddard Scholars program. Other innovation schools will be getting money through the wraparound services grants and possibly Promise Neighborhood.

Recess policy

Mulqueen:
"followed through with contributions you all asked for"
"all of that information came to me"
"parents typically are finding at their school is what they like"
"principals are working with their site council and things are working at their schools"
strong feedback from principals asking for more autonomy
"general policy is acceptable to everyone"
"to adjust from a very solid 30 minutes to 15-30 minutes"

Mullaney on buses

says that there's state law involved
I should also point out that we have both Jeff Mulqueen and Brian Allen at the table now; you know you've got a doozy of an item if you get multiple administrators on it!
Allen says we're required to provide K-6; we provide K-12.
Mullaney also objects to adding buses, because we can't afford it.

Listening and Learning report

Biancheria asks why we would hold on this information?
"baffles me completely as to why administration would hold on this information without forwarding it to School Committee"
(Mulqueen comes to the table)
"engage all stakeholders with more information"
"well, I hope the poor secretary wasn't working on this for the last six months"
"it would have hit home a lot harder" earlier
"we're ten, eleven months into this, and nothing was given back to the School Committee"

Boone says this information was not withheld from the public (!)
"clearly heard" that parents did not want schools reconfigured away from a K-6 setting

Biancheria: we have people that never attended another meeting
"administration..."may have used this
tell people they're going to get feedback in a reasonable amount of time
"the schools, the parents, perhaps put on the website"
have missed opportunities to put items on the agenda
"express my disappointment that administration did not get this information out to public"

Jeff Mulqueen's contract

On the consideration of the contract of Jeff Mulqueen, Chief Academic Officer, whose contract expires in July, to extend the contract from then to June of 2014, under the same terms of his current contract (no raise, pension, or transportation allowance), the vote is 5-2, Biancheria and Novick against.

North: more voc-tech programs for the new North

A great deal of conversation from the members here around expanding and improving the vo-tech programs at North, as the new building opens, particularly from Biancheria. Possibly getting chosen as one of the RTTT schools for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Mulqueen speaks of "being practical"
"just opening it may not be enough to get us to where" we want to be
principal is very excited about the early college aspect
early college "it could be that when you graduate, you could graduate with an associate's degree"
Biancheria "for all students"
question around the representation of minority students at Tech
what about computer gaming? Finding out from the state whether that's a vo-tech program

More innovation schools questions

Teacher from South High: what is our part in either accepting or rejecting what will happen at South High?
Mulqueen: a conversion: faculty will accept or not
a brand new school does not require a faculty vote
School Committee has the final authorization: even if a prospectus is accepted, final approval must come from School Committee
Sullivan Middle teacher: what is the planning committee?
"the proposal is really around accept the six steps and having those creating the proposals have some guidance...'here's what we think would be a really good'..give everyone something to get a footing one"
teacher points out that there is a template from the state for proposals
Mulqueen's partnership group (which, note, is NOT A STATE REQUIREMENT) would try to set the 11 essential conditions around the proposals
Mulqueen notes that this is HIS PROPOSAL for the School Committee to adopt, not adopt, or amend
Mulqueen says his only caution would be having a managable group size
teacher asks if they could get help on the finances
within the district, Mulqueen could offer support on proposals; can't offer that to groups outside
Promise Neighborhood grants: how does that affect innovation?
connection is that the Main South initiative connects as a way to support school performance: have to work out the details of what that looks like--a planning grant
school as a hub for activity
money? "any money would be speculation on my part" says Mulqueen
Parent of students at South: I don't see a lot of parents here
"we didn't get that for this particular meeting..you're talking about a grassroots program. The parents are the grassroots. A little concerned that this was slid by the parents..."
Mulqueen: "we have to start somewhere.. that we have a proposal doesn't mean it has to move forward"
why is the focus on the South quadrant?
"we have the right conditions, we have high need, we have some innovative practices going on" in the South quadrant
"don't want to do too much too quickly"
"sounds to me that it's how it's working" says the parent; focus ought to be on Level 4 schools
how would an innovation school academy change the schools that are already there?
Mulqueen: students would enroll (or not) in that school, which would be in that proposal
how quickly are you looking to implement all of this?
"I just don't understand, as a parent, how it would fit...they have pretty high numbers"
Mulqueen says it wouldn't bring in more numbers
Mulqueen says process isn't in place yet
parent says "now you have a process, there's something for you to understand here"
"I can't do that on my own independent of the School Committee"
Monfredo: it's in the inital stage
Biancheria: "I certainly can appreciate the anxiety of not hearing...this is to keep everyone informed...this is the first...this is a continuation of the discussion..to keep the conversation with teachers, parents, and the community involved"
comment on district "being forward thinking...learned something from that process...partnership group will allow for creation of plan and proposals...open, honest, transparent...make sure we have communication going back and forth"
how is this different from small schools, which were disbanded? and how do we know that it isn't going to be disbanded again?
Mulqueen says he doesn't want to keep repeating the past "doesn't show good learning"

Packed TLSS subcommittee meeting

The Teaching, Learning, and Student Supports subcommittee meeting up on the fourth floor of the admin building is PACKED tonight: people are standing in the hall (I wonder if there's a case to be made her for wiring the auditorium for cable?). Lots of teachers and administrators from the South quadrant, some community members, as well.
We're down a subcommittee member--chair Brian O'Connell is absent.
Mulqueen is talking now about the various committees involved in innovation schools: "overaching portfolio...floated a proposal" for community committee to make decisions about the innovation schools "portfolio"...11 essential conditions
(to interject here: this is entirely outside the law and the regulations on innovation schools)
"provide to superintendent, union leadership, and school committee for their consideration in making decisions on schools"
Mulqueen lists the "wide variety of people who could come together...wouldn't have decision making on their own...broadbased group"
Monfredo: proposals would "be judged according to the guidelines"
"set the stage for grassroots decision making, grassroots ownership" says Mulqueen
screening committee of superintendent, school committee, union (one of each) makes first round decision
school committee makes final decision
planning committee creates proposal then makes final proposal to school committee
Monfredo: what would be the next step after they submit their application?
Mulqueen is asking that his proposal move to entire school committee, and then it could move forward
Mulqueen points out that decisions have to be make in line with the current budget, as there's no extra money for this to happen
who would select the 14 member group, asks Monfredo
the three member group would, says Mulqueen
Monfredo suggests to O'Connell that they take questions from the audience

Math wars!

We've got a report back on the math curriculum. Monfredo heads this up, and, if I'm understanding him correctly, he has his doubts about the current curriculum (kids need to know whole numbers before they start fractions; kids need to memorize their facts).
He says he's uncomfortable with simply filing this item.
He wants the new accountability officer to look at what we are doing, what works, what doesn't.
(He comments that he used to ask math facts of the kids as he went down the hallway. I just had a flashback to second grade.)
Kids should know the order of operations, and, again, "basic facts."
O'Connell reminds us that there was a middle and high school committee, to look at the fourth year of math in high school, to look at the curriculum..they'd asked that they use the Saxon math program in middle school....suggests they also look at elementary math.
Biancheria says it's across Massachusetts, it's not just here.

Aha! Mulqueen mentions the Common Core standards "sets a new stage for us" he says.
"algebra-ready for eighth grade"...have to backtrack that to kindergarten and project that forward into high school and college
He suggests we need periodic curriculum review as a matter of course.
He says that "by the spring, we should have a pacing guide" on reviewing each curriculum area.

Monfredo on PD

"as an indicator, this position has a mixed history with me"
"when I first looked at this position it was not Curriculum and Staff Development...more to this position than what's on the budget sheet"
Monfredo cites Allen that this position manages $6 million for professional development
(and Allen comes forward)
professional development requirements with all of our grants
PD levels going forward
Monfredo asks what the range of salary would be going forward
FY11 budget reflected the current position holder, says Boone; she did not intend to replace someone at the same level
"could start as low as $85,000 and move up"
Monfredo asks if grant money could be used to hire teachers (and yes, we can, and we do...there's 21 right now)
Mulqueen comes forward to reference a three page letter that we got just as we got here
"the current system was designed to get the results that we do"
(at least I think that's what he said)
"important that we have a planning process...one of the key roles is someone to conduct that process"
he's now citing parts of the Dept of Justice report
"not just a staff development position; it's a leadership position"
"beyond providing professional development, we need to measure to what degree professional development is implemented in the classroom"
"it may be a misinterpretation of the paring back of language around it...the position has actual expanded"
Monfredo says, "in other word, it is vital. I wish we had this information before"
Monfredo supports the position