Worcester School Committee meets Thursday, May 18

You can find the agenda here.
While it does not appear until later down the agenda, in honor of the anniversary of Ernest Thayer's death, the Worcester School Committee will be doing a reading of "Casey at the Bat" as part of the meeting.
There are also a number of congratulations.

The report of the superintendent is end of cycle reports on the innovation plans of Chandler Magnet, Goddard Scholars, University Park Campus School, Woodland Academy, and Worcester Tech. Each of the schools is requesting a renewal of their innovation plans; remarkably, all that is being offered to the committee for this decision is 2 to 4 page charts. Most schools are requesting no change in their innovation plan. The one change that is being requested is from Goddard Scholars, which is asking to eliminate the "proficient" tier for the 4th grade MCAS, which is the sole determent of admission. They would thus be taking only "advanced" students. Interesting in that it more concretely sets the academy's emphasis on test scores, and does so in a year in which testing is through a new system. 

There are updates on restorative justice programs at Claremont Academy and at North High School.

The committee is being asked to accept an "Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education Grant" for $51,602, which surprisingly is actually for machine shop training (with an ESL component).

Mr. Monfredo is requesting a summer reading kickoff.

The committee is being asked to accept a number of donations to Tatnuck Magnet, to Woodland Academy, to Burncoat Street Prep, to Worcester Tech, to Canterbury Street, to Belmont Street, and to the administration (?) for the opening of school in 2017. They're also being asked to vote a prior year payment of $1,685.00 to WB Mason.

There is also an executive session on teachers' contract negotiations, a worker's comp case, and a grievance.

No liveblog; I'm off to cover MASBO's Annual Institute! 

Worcester School Committee meets Thursday, November 6

The Worcester School Committee has a regular meeting on Thursday, November 3 at 7 pm. You can find the agenda here.
After recognitions, we have the Superintendent's presentation of her summative evaluation. You can find the (massive) backup for that here. The School Committee will present their evaluation at the next meeting on Thursday, November 20.
We have the reports of both the Joint Committee and Finance and Operations. (In both cases, the notes start with that blog post and go forward.)
We have a response coming back on site councils.
We have a response on internships.
We have a response coming back on kindergartners on buses.
We have several congratulations being offered: students in the Columbus Day art contest; Rob Pezzella for his selection as "Changemaker for Children" from YOU, Inc; for a donation to Norrback Elementary.
We're sending the city's Byrne grant to Governance.
We have an item on the proposed changes to the teacher licensure system (on which I have posted at length). Note that right now, the proposal is to send this to the Governance subcommittee.
Miss Biancheria is asking about MCAS overrides.
She'd also like a report on coordination with the Department of Public Health on flu and Ebola.
There's a request for a report on CSX donations on Grafton Hill.
We have the quarterly special education collaborative report to consider.
There are several more proposals for congratulations--Burncoat Field Hockey; North High Health Science; South High--all connnected to Channel 5's broadcast here last week.
Administration is sending an elementary report card item to subcommittee (there's no backup; it's for updates as the pilot rolls forward).
We're being asked to approve a six year, $1.8 million contract with Houghton Mifflin for the "Go, Math!" program, being piloted this year.
We are being asked to approve two prior year payments:1,439.86 for an Instructional Assistant and $7,468.00 for an EAW Unit B administration.
We're being asked to accept a $900 donation from Agriculture in the Classroom to Worcester Tech's Biosphere.
Mr. O'Connell is sending part of the Council of Great City School's statement around standardized testing to Accountability. 
Mr. Monfredo would like to congratulate Woodland and Union Hill for receiving the Apple grant.
Miss Biancheria would like an update on dealing with arrests and youth violence.
And we're being asked to accept $13,000 from Millbury Savings Bank for Vernon Hill ($5000) and Quinsigamond School ($8000), as part of their five year commitment to those schools.

Innovation Schools renewals

Boone: sharing progress of initial five innovation schools at that time in May
schools fully review plans, tweaks or adjustments
Rodrigues: data analyze data so far
see if intended goals have made it, or changes that need to be made
questions to principals at length
Novick: sorry, I took the floor first, and I had a bunch of questions; I'll write them up later
O'Connell: is the lottery a change? (for Goddard Scholars, on whose innovation board he sits)
short version, no
O'Connell: gifted and talented practices changes (on Goddard Scholars)
Ryan: past three years, attending
consultants from UConn; "use their model for how it fits our program"
included a lot of guest speakers and college trips
enrichment clusters "deepen our use of Renzuli learning" to further student interestes
there is a service project component at the end of the year
O'Connell: give innovation schools a chance to develop their programs
deference to schools
"in the end decision left up to the schools"
"shining lights of what our schools have to offer"
Boone: "how do we build a preK-12 pathway"
retention of families and children in schools
Monfredo: five schools of eight in the city here tonight; Worcester has more than anyone
professional development as part of the plan
"ask the parents"
"adding in some of the schools a full day preschool program" (note: pending funding)
"let's develop or consider developing another model such as Goddard Scholars"
Biancheria: "not being just an independent unit...'part of a larger community'"
community responsibility, community involvement, positive attitudes
look at the focus of how we move forward as a city and as a community
hearing of best practices and bringing forward to administration
Foley: "school starts next week...want to be sure everyone's ready to go"
"two factors I want to highlight: strong leadership in these schools...what people don't talk about enough is the strong engagement of the faculty"
"I think that's how our schools are successful"
innovation school plan updates approved

Worcester School Committee meets Thursday, August 21 at 4 pm!

Last summer meeting this year! You can find the agenda here.
First up is the first round of the usual summer retirements, resignations, leaves, transfers, and hires.
We have the results of the annual teacher survey, which is coming in as the report of the Superintendent.
We have a report on the average class size at the secondary level (along with the number of teachers carrying more than 125 students).
As I mentioned earlier, we have several proposed changes to the student disciplinary policy, in response to state changes in regulation. Ms. Biancheria also has sought an answer to what change this makes in School Committee involvement in discipline.
Mr. Foley is publicizing the events of September 6, honoring the 1774 events in Worcester.
Worcester Tech is being given $5000 for their robotics team, for School Committe to receive.
Mr. Monfredo is looking for summer school test results.
He's also asking for an update on the Comprehensive Community Responsibility Framework.
Mr. O'Connell recognizes the 2014 Master Mechanic Award, going to Worcester Tech this fall.
We have the innovation plans for:

• Chandler Magnet
• Goddard Scholars
• Goddard School
• University Park Campus
• Woodland Academy

They are up for three year approval by the School Committee.

Ms. Biancheria would like a report on A.P. classes.

She'd also like information on  internships.

Mr. O'Connell is asking about computer coding classes being offered.

We're also being asked to approve a prior year payment totalling $1988.32. 

We will have an executive session AFTER the meeting, to get an update on negotiations with our nurses.

Innovation schools: presentations

Note that the presentation tonight is on the schools that are completing their innovation plans, which were for three years. You can find the presentation online here. Those schools are:

• Chandler Magnet
• Goddard School of Science and Technology
• Goddard Scholars (at Sullivan Middle)
• University Park Campus School
• Woodland Academy

Boone: initial cycle report of the first round of innovation schools

new schools, conversion schools, academies

six areas of autonomies: curriculum, professional development, scheduling and calendar, staffing, budget, district policies

2011: 13 schools were innovation status--5 in Worcester, 4 conversion, 1 academy

full approval by School Committee after prospectus approved

"what makes the autonomies allow for something different in that school?"

required to report annually the progress of those schools

Governor Patrick: Claremont receiving innovation fellowship grant to prepare a full proposal to be considered by the School Committee

"we've taken on the aspect of innovation in a very serious manner in Worcester"

"show that a district can turn around its own schools without having an outside vendor come in and do it"

Chandler Magnet

Dual Language Program, K-6

reading and writing program; ELL strategies; metalinguistic strategies; block scheduling for grade level meetings; committee to select new staff

dual language students at benchmark in their native language as assessed by Fountas and Pinell; at or approaching benchmark in their second language

all contractual time flextible: "collective commitment and ownership" of plan

teachers trained in ELL and/or ESL

growth within student cohort

will expand dual language to 4th grade next year

expand use of visual materials and use of technology

Goddard School

new electronic report card

literacy module K-3; focus on writing across the content; 40 min targeted intervention; multi-sensory early literacy; AVID for elementary; committee to select new staff; faculty and community partners

not only gaining on literacy; knocking down tardiness

collegial rounds coming

revise governance board for broader representation

community partnership for after-school and summer

Goddard Scholars Academy (in Sullivan Middle)

cohort in grade 6

gifted and talented presentations;pre-AP training'flexible scheduling for enrichments

50% average family attendance at family events

broaden applications for admission

planning for a summer institute

increase grants and fundraising

UPCS

rigorous course of studies for college readiness

redesign of senior year; training for new staff; gateway performances for grades 8,10,12; committee selects new faculty; summer transition academies; before school AP courses

increase in four year graduation rate: 89.7-->100%

now 114 AP students in 9 courses

further integrate technology; focus on umeracy; grants; partnerships for internships; expand APs

Woodland 

curriculum and professional development

monthly early release for professional development; teacher-led PD; full day preschool for 4 year olds; inclusion for special ed and ELL; supplementary innovation grants; direct oversight of student transfer; governance board

attendance has stabilized at 96%

increase to 87% of students "following core values"

student growth percentages higher than state and district on MCAS

increasing parent attendance at conferences

increase network with community partners; support for school (per demographics); increase opportunities for rounds and lessons; develop and refine student-specific Tier 2 interventions

reauthorization: can petition for extention of not more than 5 years

leadership convenes a stakeholder group to discuss revision and solict recommendations

stakeholder groups by June 20

present proposed changes to superintendent (as provided by statute)

present to School Committee by July 2014

Rodrigues: ownership of school community; commend for a job well done

Update on the weekend burst pipes

The School Committee received the following from Mr. Allen yesterday:

...please be advised that the Facilities Department responded to eight schools over the weekend to address frozen / burst water pipes within the schools.  The frozen / burst pipes were at Claremont/Woodland Academies, North High, Belmont Street, Forest Grove, Canterbury Street, City View, Nelson Place, and Worcester Technical High School (City Technical Services section of building).  In all cases, the water lines were repaired and did not cause any interruption to school operations this week.  Repairs to ceiling tiles, insulation, walls, and other areas will occur over this week as needed.  In some cases the water damage was quite extensive and the Facilities Department is addressing the manner in which repairs will be scheduled.

The Facilities Department is in contact with both our ESCo and monitoring companies to determine to what extent new controls and monitoring systems contributed to some of the freeze ups.  This analysis is on-going at the present time.

Facilities and custodial staff at these schools provided an excellent response and worked much of the weekend to ready the impacted areas for normal school operations Monday morning and should be commended for their tremendous efforts!

And should you have any questions, please pass them along!

Worcester School Committee meets tomorrow night

The Worcester School Committee meets tomorrow night at 7 pm for our last regular meeting of this year.
You can find the agenda here.
It is Ms. Colorio's last meeting with us, so we'll be recognizing that. We also have both Sheila Harrity and South High coming in for recognitions.
We also have the (as yet unreleased) self-evaluation of the superintendent. We were originally scheduled to do the superintendent's evaluation at this meeting; the self-evaluation not having yet appeared makes this not possible.
We have another round in the question of legal opinions on PARCC, this time on the question of if refusal would impact funding (a moot point, as the committee voted to participate in the pilot).
A member of the public is petitioning for the installation of security cameras at Woodland Academy.
We have a report coming back from Teaching, Learning, and Student Supports.
We're accepting some retirements and approving some appointments.
City Solicitor David Moore is weighing in on co-sponsorship.
We're getting a request for a report on items not covered by warranties.
It's being suggested that we thank outgoing City Manager O'Brien for his years of service to the City.
We're approving a prior year payment (for special education) of $1305.65. 
There's an item coming in on alternative placements, one on the (now vacant) St. Paul's school building, one of recognizing Doherty's Division 4 champion football team, one to recognize Coach Mulcahy on his selection of Patriot Coach of the Year, one to figure out how much PARCC is going to cost us, one on House Bill 450, one that we review our evening introductory programs, and to inform parents of their right to opt their children out of PARCC pilot testing.
We've got a request that we waive the academic requirements for competitive sports for one season.
We also need to decrease our reimbursement per mile (per the IRS) from $0.565 to $0.56 per mile.
We're being asked to accept a $5000 grant for Jacob Hiatt.
And we've got a budget adjustment to review and consider!
Plus, an executive session which includes:

To conduct the disciplinary hearing of a student and to do so in Executive Session to protect the statutory privacy rights of the students under Chapter 30, Section 21, paragraph 7 and Chapter 214, Section 1B of the Massachusetts General Laws.

 

To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining for the following groups if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body and the chair so declares:

 

Teachers

Tradesmen

Plumbers and Steamfitters

 

To conduct contract negotiations with non-union personnel

 

            Non-represented Employees

student safety in Main South

"to address the impediments to the safety and well-being of the students who walk to school, who wait at school bus stops, and who attend school in the Main South area"

Councilor Rivera: prostitution in the area of our students walking to school and around schools
"as a parent, that's a concern for me as our students are walking to school"
increase toward the end of the school year and again towards the end of August
"we really need to deal with this issue"
"there is some work being done at the Council level...does pose a serious safety issue for these students"
"I think sometimes things become a norm within an area, but there's no reason why we should be tolerating this in the vicinity of our students"
Casey Starr, Main South CDC
students need to be able to walk to and from school every day safety
"need an immediate and sustainable solution to this"
Mayor: been an issue in Main South for too long
Boone: schools have been a center of activity, caught in the middle: example where "community comes together"
"staunch supporters of the schools"
O'Connell: meeting on Monday morning on this issue
points brought up this evening were brought up at that meeting
question if there is more we can do: surveillance equipment, to cover in a more blanket way
mention of Department of Homeland Security
Claremont students reluctant to go to Boys Club because activity in area
I should note that our representative here tonight from Claremont is nodding; she lives by the Boys Club and agrees that this is an issue in the area.
Mayor says "many meetings to come on this"
"we are on the right track and this is going to be handled"

Note that our student rep adds that students should know that they can anonymously text a send  "TIPWPD" to the number 27463

Worcester School Committee meets this Thursday!

The Worcester School Committee has its regular first Thursday meeting this week (and we're back to the 7 pm meeting time, too!). You can find the agenda here.
I'm still sorting my way through the Superintendent's report (which has four back-ups; check the agenda) on "District Systems of Support Review." post on that to come
We'll get an Opening of School report at our meeting on September 19.
Much of the bulk of the agenda---and why it'll look so think on our desks this week!--is the retirements/resignations/hires that are on this week. We have a resume for every new staff person hired, and it's quite a list!
There's a request for the formal agreement on the Regatta Point boathouse.
I'm asking for more information on the PARCC pilot this spring.
We're being asked to approve prior year invoices of $4,399.64, of $12,765.34, and of $1719.96.
We're being asked to accept an innovation school grant of $30,000 for Woodland Academy; we didn't get a backup on this, so I've asked for one.
Ms. Biancheria (et al) is asking for more information on the new attendance initiative; there's also an item further down asking that we accept (in advance) donations for this initiative.
And several requests for recognitions, plus we're supposed to have Mr. O'Neil from the WRTA in to thank him for putting those great reading posters on his buses this summer.

7 pm, City Hall!

Extensive update from Finance and Operations today

You can find this Friday's letter from Superintendent Boone here; most of it is an extensive update from Mr. Allen regarding Finance and Operations.

• Not great news on the budget (that Governor Patrick signed today): due to the way that the charter assessments shake out, we've got $265,984 to make up in FY14. Expect an "adjustment" (that's a cut that'll go to Worcester's charter schools) sometime this fall.Not in the memo, but on the good news front: the state budget took the Senate's number for McKinney-Vento reimbursement, which was the higher of the two. As the city has now recognized this as a reimbursement for a service provided by the Worcester Public Schools, but used the House number to do so, we have a conversation to have with Council.
• We don't know about federal grants yet, but we will later this month.
• We'll be leasing four classrooms from the YMCA this fall for Chandler Magnet students; no word on which classes yet.
• The city is transferring 6 Claremont Street (a tax-title property) to the Worcester Public Schools for Woodland/Claremont use. The plan is to use the current (Woodland Street) parking lot as a playground (Woodland only has a teensy paved spot to play on now) and move staff parking to the 6 Claremont lot.Super cool that the city administration is seeing kids having space to play as a worthy use of space!
• Kindergarten is nearly at what we projected already (and there are always more who register as it gets closer to the fall), so it looks as though most of those reserved six teachers are going to be teaching kindergarten.
• On facilities, apparently MSBA is SO successful that we're now backing up window manufacturing! Jacob Hiatt is on track to get their boiler this summer. Caradonio New Citizens is also on track to get their boiler, and should have their windows by fall; if they don't, they'll be finished over weekends. May Street and Lake View are going to have their exterior windows done this summer, all others done this fall over weekends (May Street's gym will get done this summer). Chandler Magnet is having all exterior doors and windows done this summer, which is a surprise: it's a big enough building where it was projected to take two summers! Note that all of the above is MSBA reimbursed work. Vernon Hill's exterior masonry is getting fixed this summer (no more scaffolding!). Heard Street's roof is contracted out, and it is hoped that it will be done this summer. And finally, Worcester East Middle's science labs (at a base level; no reworking of gas or water lines or any other rooms) is being contracted out to be done for next year! In response to a reader question: Yes, we're still on track for Columbus Park, Tatnuck Magnet, Worcester Arts Magnet, and Worcester East Middle work, but those projects were just approved on June 5. That work would be for next (we hope!) summer.

And finally, I'm just going to quote Mr. Allen's final paragraph:

Jack Navin, the district’s Coordinator of Maintenance and Custodial Services and Robert Alvarado, the district’s Working Foreman, both recently retired after a combined 80 years of dedicated service to the Worcester Public Schools. In addition to their “normal” workday, both Jack and Bobby have been critical members that worked tirelessly through hurricanes, blizzards, fires at schools, and other events. Their dedication and support of school operations were certainly second to none, and the combined loss of institutional knowledge will be difficult to replace.

To which I can only add, they will both be missed.

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..."

Innovation School updates

posting as we go

For

• Chandler Magnet
• Goddard Scholars
• Goddard School of Science and Technology
• University Park Campus School
• Woodland Academy

Chandler Magnet

83.5% of students at Chandler Magnet are English Language Learners, over 70% of those Latino

change in focus

"build background knowledge and increase vocabulary development to help students make connections"

change in focus from last year's focus on literacy

"accelerate literacy and language across all curricula"

guided reading across grade levels

"took our existing strengths and built upon them"

dual language implemented last year for grades K and 1; grade 2 added this year

parent trainings, movie nights, PTO in a variety of settings

no stagnant or declining MCAS scores; even better in MEPA (which assesses ELL students)
"discourse in our building is non-negotiable"
Next steps: parent workshops, stakeholders meetings, expanding community partnership, PBIS program

Goddard Scholars (which is at Sullivan Middle)
"teacher-led innovation plan"
"City-wide magnet program serving gifted and talented middle school programs grades 6-8"
online gradebook
three years of middle school "allowing for more depth and more rigor"
six subjects considered core classes: math (4 years in 3), social studies, science (with lab), English, music (including band), foreign language (full level 1 course in either Spanish or French); technology, field trips, gifted and talented classes
"also benefit from the wraparound coordinator"
staff expanded to nine full-time teachers (as they added grade 6 this year)
high student growth percentiles
challenges: cross curricular projects and exhibitions of learning
culture and team building among staff and students
using new digital resources
gifted and talented education for all teachers
Goddard School:
"collaboratively build a neighborhood structure that supports students in the Main South Community from cradle to college and career"
innovation governance board, increased training, shared vision
"read, respond thoughtfully, comprehend!"
"new comprehensive progress reporting tool" that is differentiated by grade level, unpacks all subject areas in parent friendly language, includes lots of data, rubrics and teacher narrative
reports came out 8 times a year; students participated in parent/teacher conferences
early childhood literacy: addition of two preschool classes, monthly literacy workshops for neighborhood children and day cares
"working to build family participation in the school"
increased health center options for preschool and kindergarten options
GED and ESL classes offered to adults twice a week (each)
Next steps: expanding working in math, focusing on implementation; multi-sensory literacy program in pre-K through grade 2; professional development to differentiate instruction; revitalize PTO, increased classes for adults; collaborate with other innovation schools

University Park Campus School:
Goddard started with a quote from Robert Goddard; UPCS starts with one from Walt Whitman
grades 7-12 heterogeneous classes
"student-centered, active learning...work collaboratively...education of the whole child"
numeracy curriculum for 8th graders
expanded AP before school
new classroom technology "wifi in little 12 Freeland Street built in 1884"
8th, 10th, 12th Gateway presentations
8th grade math seen as a success
hiring: "sense of pride and ownership in getting to decide who is part of the team"
challenges: to raise SAT and AP scores; maintain math score gains; outside grant funding for before and after school programs
Numeracy across the curriculum; new after school clubs; Pinpoint computer use (from Houghton Mifflin); continue partnerships; and parent council

Woodland Academy:
I should mention that we have a group from Woodland up in the balcony tonight, and now they all have World Smile Day stickers.
"we welcome and celebrate our students' diversity while advocating for their support"
"where teaching and learning is characterized by engagement, awareness, curiosity, and academic risk taking"
"collaborative approach to the hiring process"
wraparound coordinator: social-emotional, academic, college & career readiness
organic model of professional development
Next steps: reorganize ELL "push-in" model using collaborative teaching model; redesigning progress reports and report cards
one of the areas of the report card is "character development" which includes children being graded on respect, cooperation, responsibility, dedication, curiosity, compassion/empathy, perseverance  honesty/integrity, courage, and independence

notes from January CPPAC

Notes from CPPAC January 12, 2012
Barbara Sergent presenting on Title I
authorized in 1965 under LBJ: "to level the playing field between advantaged and disadvantaged children"
ESEA is up for reauthorization (note that Title I is part of that)
waivers being offered by the Obama administration, which does affect Title I
"supplemental federal funding for improving student achievement in high-poverty schools"
Title I is school-wide (not specific to particular children)
30 out of 33 elementary schools are Title I schools in Worcester, and the funding is used school-wide at those schools
Title I is used to support: preschool programs, IAs, coaches, literacy tutors, parent liaisons, PD, parent/family activities, supplemental educational services, and instructional materials
all schools were encouraged to offer a Title I informational session, along with a literacy evening
districts are required to offer school choice to students enrolled in a school that has not made AYP; note, however, that if 27 out of our schools are deigned "underperforming," that does not leave much room for movement
Most parents choose not to move their children (this is true nationwide, incidentally)
yearly NCLB report cards are sent home
School compact signed by parents, students, teachers required by Title I
information related to school activities must be sent home in a format and (as practicable) language parents understand
Organizing a Title I parent council: scheduling meeting for February
I asked for a bit more information about this being up in the air today; it seems there's some chance that states that requested waivers MAY (we don't know) have their Title I funds cut. We don't know yet.

Innovation schools taken out of order

and collectively.
Monfredo recommends approval.
All approved unanimously.

Full house tonight: innovation schools

We've got a full house tonight: plenty of people here to testify on innovation, recess, special ed.
Public hearing on innovation schools
School Committee will deliberate and vote at next Thursday's meeting
with apologies in advance for all the names I miss
publishing as I go...updating as the testimony continues 

Woodland Academy

note that both UPCS and Woodland have a team presentation
they start with a quote from Stuart McNaughton (had to Google that)
demographics don't mirror those of the district
college readiness, character development, community responsibility
full day preschool: Up to 15 neighborhood preschoolers for a full day
community partnerships for early intervention
"looping" teachers: students staying with teachers with more than one year
"of course the final hiring decision will rest with the principal" after staff review

Innovation School plans: updated

I should point out that the innovation school plans are posted as part of this week's School Committee agenda.In order of attachment, they are:

1. Chandler Magnet 
2. Goddard Scholars 
3. Goddard School
4. UPCS
5. Woodland Academy

All are LARGE, so be prepared!

UPDATE: In answer to T's question below: the presentations are tonight. There is a public hearing on the plans at the April 28th School Committee meeting (remember, our schedule gets thrown off this month due to school vacation week). The School Committee votes on the plans on May 5th.

Worcester's Race to the Top application goes in Friday

Worcester's Race to the Top application is due on Friday. John Monfredo and I were updated yesterday on the application, and here are the notes I sent out to my colleagues on the committee last night:
some projects are required; some are optional. Some we can opt-in on; some the state decides on
this year is planning, studying, doing research, serving on state working groups, working to spring implementation in some cases

Woodland Academy uniform policy

Woodland Academy uniform policy has passed on a voice vote.
Note that all uniform policies are voluntary at non-magnets under WPS policy.

Uniforms

The cover story in today's local section of the Telegram and Gazette is timely for Worcester as well, as the parents at Woodland Academy are collecting signatures to request a uniform policy at their children's school. It should turn up sometime later this month. From what I understand, a preponderence of parents must sign a petition requesting the policy, and then the School Committee votes on it (I imagine it will go out to subcommittee for a recommendation before a full committee vote.).