Two WPS projects on the Council agenda this week--plus Burncoat is up again

 A couple of Worcester Public Schools facilities-related notes this week:

There are two items on Tuesday's Council agenda related to WPS facilities work. 

• The first is borrowing $2M on the North High building loan to put sprinklers into the Harlow Street building (which is where Challenge and Reach Academy is now). The back up says this was discovered when the MSBA work was done; the Harlow Street School has a new roof, windows, and boiler as of (checks budget) 2020 (if you haven't been by, go check out those new windows! They really make the building look nice!).
  
  
• The second is the full borrowing for the Worcester Arts Magnet project. You might remember that Worcester Arts Magnet just moved forward with another approval vote from the MSBA board on a roof replacement. Because the cost of the work on the building is more than 30% of the building's assessed value, it triggers state regulation 521 CMR 3.3.2, which requires that the entire building then be made accessible. The estimated cost of this in total is now $6.9M. 

Also, on Thursday's agenda, the Worcester School Committee is being asked to (again) put forward Burncoat High as our number one priority (see page 183), as we (apparently?) received word in February that it wasn't accepted this year. We are not giving up on this! 

Worcester School Committee meets Thursday

The agenda--which is pretty short?--is online here.
There are some recognitions coming in, which will mean the National Anthem is being sung by Worcester Arts Magnet students.
The Report of the Superintendent--as yet, no backup--is on Project Lead the Way.
There's also a petition coming in to allow teachers to donate sick time to a colleague.
There are a couple of other public petitions, as well.

The item on Burncoat shades has been forwarded to budget consideration.
The item on Black history month was sent to principals.

We're being asked to approve a prior fiscal year payment "to Learnwell dba EI US. LLC 2 in the amount of $540.00 for services rendered previously" which doesn't appear to have a backup.
We're also being asked to approve a prior year payments in the total amount of $425.88 for salary adjustments to two employees.

We're being asked to approve a $13,000 financial literacy grant which appears to be going to professional development.
We're also being asked to approve two STARS artist residency grants of $5000, one for Clark Street and one for Columbus Park.
While we're getting more backup and it's a little clearer what the funding is going for, we're still not getting the account numbers with allocations that have now been requested twice. This matters for grants, of course, because sometimes those grants go away and we have to decide if we're continuing to fund things, and if so, where that money is and is going. We can't do that if we don't know in the first place.

We're being asked to accept the following donations:
- $125 to Lake View Elementary School from fundraising efforts in collaboration with Thebe Enterprises, LLC
- $700 to Woodland Academy from Scholarship America
- $100 to Woodland Academy from the University of Wisconsin Madison
- $100 to the Library Fund at Quinsigamond Elementary School from Spear Management Group in memory of Peter Petrella, Jr., the recently passed father in law of an employee
- $5,000 to the Belmont Street Community School’s reading curriculum from The Journey Community Church


New items that are coming in (beyond recognitions) include:

• a request from Mr. Monfredo that the administration review the policy on long-term substitutes 
• a request from Miss Biancheria for review of the recommendations about Roosevelt from the school safety task force
• a request to the delegation coming in from me that would make it possible for supplemental budget funding for charter reimbursement to go to the district (right now, in municipal districts it does not and cannot after the tax rate has been set; it needs a separate bit of language at the state level to allow this to happen, rather than it getting stuck cityside and eventually ending up in free cash, which is of course not the Legislative intent)
• a proposal that we offer testimony regarding the low income rate implementation before the Joint Committee on Ways and Means; yes, that's this post
• and my request that we review the updated graduation and dropout rates; the chart below illustrates part of my concern to be discussed further in Standing Committee
  

There are also three worker's compensation cases coming into executive session, which starts at 6 pm. 

Arts Magnet Program: Report of the Superintendent

You can find the report here
Arts Magnet program reviewed: assets and challenges, vision that was developed, highlight some recommendations
Four challenges:

• scarcity of resources
• need for facilities improvements
• lack of recognition for arts magnets

Vision middle school with 10 weeks of arts modalities; then move in to twnety weeks of 2 arts

high school integrated in a more formal way in an expanded way

"that their students not be limited by one art form"

more creativity and more control of what happens to middle school students

expand arts curriculum to learn media arts

develop reliable and convenient funding sources

offer alternative and options to middle school students

improved communication 

next steps to create a specific subcommittee to create an action plan

charge those subcommittees 

FY16 budget increase for arts magnet

Monfredo: exactly what we were talking about subcommittee last week

informing parents about the great programs that go on in our schools

thanks to SOFA "have been relentless in supporting the arts"

Biancheria: when we talk about pathways, this is the example

motivation 

gives kids a chance to try things outside of school

O'Connell: some years back there was a sense that arts were more enrichment

dramatic change and evolution 

continue to stress, continue to develop

Foley: found that the best part of the report was the quotes

quirky kids at Worcester Arts Magnet

opportunity for students who want to explore the arts to explore that pathway in an environment that's supportive of it

Ramirez: getting Lesley to do the recommendation: "that's awesome"

Great value 

and then I talked for awhile...
I asked about if the middle school process was changed (right now, kids pick a speciality on entering middle school)...essentially, they're talking about it
I asked if we were talking about the magnet program reflecting the district...response was about getting the word out to parents (and an observation of the change in the dance program in particular, which looks a lot more like the district)
I floated that we should perhaps should consider someone with some authority around scheduling being in charge of the arts magnet program
And I recommended to the administration the specific (and many) mentions of the need for facilities in their recommendations to us

Worcester preschool and kindergarten registration now open!

If you have someone in your house who will be five by December 31, 2015, they can be registered for kindergarten now at the Parent Information Center (508-799-3194) at 768 Main Street. Please bring proof of the child's date of birth, proof of the child's immunization and test for lead, and proof of residency (a utility bill will do it). Kindergarten in Worcester is full day. Visitors to kindergartens are welcome:

• South Quadrant - Week of February 3, 2014
• North Quardrant - Week of February 10, 2014
• Doherty Quadrant - Week of February 10, 2014
• Burncoat Quadrant - Week of February 27, 2014

(if you don't know what quadrant you're in, the list is here) 

Remember that Worcester has school choice on a space available basis. We run magnet programs (in particular) at Jacob Hiatt and Worcester Arts, and a bilingual (Spanish/English) program at Roosevelt and Chandler Magnet. I'd recommend visiting!

WPS is also now accepting applications for preschool at the Parent Information Center for children who will be four by December 31, 2015. Preschool is half-day and is offered at: 

• Belmont Street Community School
• Canterbury Magnet Computer-Based School
• Chandler Magnet School
• City View Discovery School
• Clark Street Developmental Learning School
• Columbus Park Preparatory Academy
• Elm Park Community School
• Francis J. McGrath Elementary School
• Gates Lane School of International Studies
• Goddard School of Science & Technology
• Grafton Street School
• Jacob Hiatt Magnet School
• Lincoln Street School
• Norrback Avenue School
• Quinsigamond School
• Roosevelt School
• South High Community School
• Vernon Hill School
• West Tatnuck School
• Woodland Academy
• Worcester Arts Magnet School
• Worcester Technical High School

Generally, visitors to preschool are welcome; just call the school to set it up.

Report of the Superintendent: Exam School

I have this only in print; I'll post photos of it once I get home; posting as we go
Petty: we will hold the item so people can think about it for the December 18 meeting
"I think this is very important...going to be another offering...committee is very sensitive to how it will affect the other Worcester Public Schools"
Boone: working on this for the past 18 months
"spent a lot of time...doing additional research of what's happening with advanced learners"
important that the School Committee and the public had a chance to see it without the public already vetting it
Ad Hoc committee working from January 2013 to June 2013 for a final report
state of Massachusetts is virtually silent on gifted and advanced learners, but Worcester has such programs:

• Goddard Scholars at Sullivan and South: have been continuously accepted to excellent colleges across the country; innovation academy at Sullivan
• Burncoat quadrant arts magnet program
• 23 AP courses offered across the district 
• dual enrollment through colleges and universities locally

"I want to be clear...This pilot innovation academy is not designed to replace, supplant, or undermine any of our existing options...The district will continue strong support for and enhancement of those existing programs."

"this is in addition to, not instead of"

key recommendations of Ad-Hoc committee that are being included: 

"Students who have demonstrated exceptional interest in and ability to be successful in a rigorous high school program of studies leading to advanced college readiness"

No grade level to exceed 63 students; total student population of 250

beginning with grade 9 (possibly 10) and adding a year

recommendation is to have it be an IB school

ninth and tenth grade prepares student for IB courses in 11 and 12 grades
strong liberal arts component and Theory of Knowledge
students have either a certificate or diploma option

Admission:

• application
• grades from prior and current year
• MCAS or other state assessment scores
• transcripts
• essay
• teacher recommendation
• attendance history
• discipline history

application process coordinated by district BUT reviewed and processed by local higher ed institutions to keep it a blind to politics process

a rubric will be developed

weighed scores for honors classes, pre-algebra, foreign language

"we see this as an opportunity for the readiness aspect of this program"

lottery will be held if there are more students than slots

proposed budget is a planning year then rollling out from ninth grade
planning year: appointment of assistant principal, IB coordinator (which is required by IB) and clerical position
"there is a process for admission to IB...they will vet us"
"this planning year is significant to get that IB piece up and running"
will finalize admission process and criteria
support marketing and recruitment process and materials
budget assumes dedicated teachers for the cohort (which is more or less required as well; teachers have to be IB certified)
first group of students for 2016-17 school year
advisory council to be compromised of community members, higher ed, ex-officio SC member, and parents
to advise district on the start up
program evaluation for the pilot will be designed in partnership with higher education, led by Dave Perda

timeline: on December 18 agenda
at least one public hearing late this year
looking at facilities for site survey and early spring
SC votes in April
included in May 2015 budget proposal
June: assistant principal and IB coordinator appointed
July staff positions
August: Advisory Council appointed

Comments
Monfredo: would you like questions in advance?
Boone: yes, that would be very beneficial
"sounds like a great plan...my concern would be the funding of the mechanism"
O'Connell: asking for the siting of the program specifically at next meeting
"raise concerns as well if the school would have the space to handle that"
Boone: will not have that information available by the 18th; is intent to have that in concert with public hearing
"we are not at a place to have that available in two weeks"
O'Connell: look at criteria for admission
"not an exam school in any respect...I'm just going to point out here that Mr. O'Connell is recapitulating his (minority view) arguments that he made at the Ad-Hoc committee when we were having this conversation. Essentially he's convinced that anything other than an exam as an admission requirement is "less rigorous."
Petty: I disagree with some of that..timeline is very clear, going to have a meeting at Doherty
disagree with you on the IB program..."there is no way that someone could go through this program"
Boone: "passing an exam is not a 100% indicator of future success"
"we can bounce that tennis ball across the court any number of ways"

Sorry, no full notes from me, but two main points: appreciate that this work isn't being put on the shelf and YOUR VOICE IS NEEDED IN THIS CONVERSATION! PLEASE PLAN ON WEIGHING IN!

Biancheria: admission, worked on community piece
student essay: would we determine what the topic would be on, or would it be a choice?
Boone: single essay topic, changing from year to year

HELD

WPS weathers the storm: UPDATED

We've just received the following from Superintendent Boone:

Last night's storm provided great excitement, heavy wind & rain, lots of lightening, and of course, spawned a tornado. Members of our Finance and Operations Team have spent the day assessing the storm's impact on our schools.  Once again, WPS was spared the brunt of serious damage from the storm and tornado. 

Below is a summary of issues that have been addressed today: Millbury Street Head Start was the only building to lose power. This outage was created by a neighbor's tree snagging power lines as it came down during the tornado/storm. Power remains out there now, however, National Grid crews are on the scene and we expect power to be restored by5:00 pm today, so that building should be available for its programs on tomorrow.  

Burncoat Senior HS, Nelson Place, Worcester Arts Magnet School, and Goddard Elementary each experienced water intrusion as a result of the very heavy rain.  That cleanup has been underway and normal school operations are expected in those sites tomorrow.  

City crews are out working to clear streets and sidewalks in the Grafton Hill and Vernon Hill areas so that buses and children will be able to navigate safely to school tomorrow morning.  

I want to express my appreciation to Jeff Martin, Tom Barrett, Brian Allen and all members of the district's trades and custodial crews for the rapid and highly effective response to this weather event! As indicated during the school opening message, these team members worked very hard to have our school sites ready and now they continue to work to restore that readiness for Tuesday morning!  

So, schools will be open and operating tomorrow under normal conditions!  Should anything occur throughout the evening or overnight to impact that, I will notify you of changes.

UPDATE: Mr. Allen just let us know that Millbury Head Start has their power back on. 

Back-to-school facilities update!

Today's Friday letter is a back-to-school facilities update! In brief:

• Chandler Magnet is coming back to new windows! ("substantially complete" by the first day)
• Columbus Park is going to have all boarded up windows done by the start of school; the rest will be finished during second shift work this fall. (Another hold-up at the window factory) The new ramp is in, but it won't have a handrail for the start of school, plus it needs to be clear with Boston before use. The new boilers are in, and the vestibule and bathrooms will be done by school opening.
• Remember those massive Worcester East Middle School boilers? They have been quite a project! Thus that project is behind schedule. The call on whether the school is put on a temporary boiler for this winter will be made by September 20. And MSBA hasn't gotten back to us yet on the rest of the work there: windows and the interior electrical/plumbing/heating.
• Worcester Arts Magnet is getting their windows delivered in late September; they'll be installed second shift. The bathroom and vestibule work will be done for back to school.
• Tatnuck Magnet, likewise, will get their new windows in late September, and they'll go in during second shift. Note that this is expected to impact the branch library there. 

Send along questions if you've got 'em! 

Writing program at WAMS

there's a bit in the grant here about this being scaled up to the whole district; asking for some more information prior to citywide implementation.
Ms. Biancheria asking for a Friday letter on which schools are doing it this year; also, asking for an update ahead of budget. Some question as to that being possible (or meaningful), as the year won't be done.
Dr. Rodrigues clarifies that it's an opportunity, a choice, for the district, should it come to scale.

The Worcester School Committee meets TOMORROW!

We have the July meeting of the Worcester School Committee tomorrow at 4 at City Hall. (Different time, same location) You can find the agenda here.
We have a two-fer on congratulating and thank the Ecotarium.
There is no report of the Superintendent; note that this means that we are not voting on next year's standardized test plans this month. I suspect this is because we have several members out for this meeting; I haven't heard yet when we will vote.
We have two reports from subcommittees: Accountability (my notes here and here) and our joint committee with City Council (notes here and here).
We have two reports coming back on instructional assistants: the number of hours per school that they work; and how they are paid when they cover a class.
We have two donations coming in for Worcester Tech.
We're being asked to accept a grant for $94,279 for machine shop equipment at Worcester Tech, and a grant for $10,000 for a writing program at Worcester Arts Magnet.
We have an item to work on the bids for transportation in Finance and Operations, as our transportation contracts are up this year.
We are being asked to amend the social media policy.
Mr. Monfredo is asking us to consider putting ads on school buses.
Mr. O'Connell is referring the changes in Erate (as previously discussed in F&O) be referred to F&O.
Mr. Monfredo is commending those responsible for the redone library at Worcester East Middle, and asking reminding us of World Smile Day (October 3).
Ms. Ramirez calls our attention to Jennifer Cordero for being selected for the Hispanic Youth Research and Leadership program at the University of New Mexico.
The city auditor is requesting that we pass the Misc Ed OM account again, specifying the three accounts into which it goes. 

We have our usual "now that we've passed the budget, we might need to make transfers" item, heading to F&O.

Mr. O'Connell calls to the attention of our PTOs and such that there is a new way of being recognized as a 501(c)3. 

He also wants to thank those who educated our students on solar energy.

It is time to appoint someone to represent us on the collaborative board (this tends to be the superintendent).

Miss Biancheria would like additional information on the new regs on explusion and suspension and its implementation. 

She'd also like an update on the Worcester East Middle School science labs.

Mr. Monfredo wants to know if the attendance campaign last year worked.

I think we should talk to the state about the foundation formula (now that they have a committee considering it), the City Council about the capital budget, and the City Council about the city's investment in education. 

I'm also sending the dress code (the student dress code, from the student handbook) to Governance, and I want to talk about implementation, too. More on that tomorrow. 

And we have a prior year payment of $4,166.75 we're being asked to authorize. 

There is NO executive session.

Tomorrow at 4! 

Summer building work

There are often projects going on in our schools over the summer; this summer, we have several BIG projects happening:

• Worcester East Middle School is getting new boilers.
• Chandler Magnet School is getting the rest of their new windows. They're also getting the roof work and solar panels done, thus the flags around the roof.
• Worcester Arts Magnet School is getting new windows, as well as some work done to the vestibule and the bathrooms.
• Columbus Park is getting its new boiler, as well as having the new windows installed.
• Tatnuck Magnet is getting new windows.

Good stuff! (And thanks, MSBA!)

Night at the Oscars

If you haven't had a chance to see it, below is the entire "Night at the Oscars" by the arts magnet program.

Interim principal for City View announced

This afternoon, we received the following information from Superintendent Boone:

Effective tomorrow, November 7, 2013, Patricia Murphy Brown will begin serving as interim principal at City View Discovery School.  Ms. Brown is currently assistant principal at Worcester Arts Magnet School.

Middle school honors

Admission depends on:

MCAS scores

MAP scores

Student grades

Teacher recommendations

Parent recommendations

In addition, schools may have other criteria. 

O'Connell: any weighing?

Houlihan (principal at Burncoat Middle): no, students are different

Williams (principal at Forest Grove): it's flexible. Cited AVID students taking two honors, hoping to get them to full honors 

Monfredo: school of choice. Wishes to send information out to parents of fifth and sixth grade, Connect-ed to let people know.

Rodrigues: very important for families to know 

Biancheria: very positive things happening in the middle schools

Kids pleased with what is going on in the halls. How can we help you?

Williams says he'll take five more staff members 

Activities: intermural program. FG has 250 kids coming after school for sports
Biancheria: other opportunities? Programs you'd like to offer?
Houlihan: students who stay after for extra help.  Pockets of activities happening; transporting students home after activities, especially going into daylight savings.Would love to have the art agencies working after school working on site.
Biancheria: looking at transportation and the cost of transportation, how to get the students home
"that's a piece that we should bring to finance and operations; if we're not providing the bus, we need to provide the bus passes"
programs at the school
Rodrigues: next month working with middle school principals for after school activities
principals from arts magnet quadrant, looking at the quality and enhancement of the program
Monfredo: talk to Steve O'Neil at the WRTA

Summer capital projects and Nelson Place

update from Bedard and Moosey
Mr. Moosey from DPW
boiler at New Citizens and Jacob Hiatt virtually done
new windows: Chandler is a two year project "very large amount of windows"
New Citizens should be done in the next few weeks (doors and such ongoing)
Lake View and May installed in the fall during non-school hours
those projects have to be done at the end of this year
October for Lake View, early December  for May Street

This makes nine accelerated repairs for Worcester

And we're in!!

Expect to see those projects as early as next summer!

As a reminder: these projects are:

• Columbus Park: windows and boiler
• Tatnuck Magnet: windows
• Worcester Arts Magnet: windows
• Worcester East Middle: roof, windows, boiler

Best estimate we have right now is we're looking at projects totalling about $15 million.

Worcester school buildings before the state tomorrow!

We've recently gotten word that ALL FOUR of our proposed Accelerated repair projects are before the Mass School Building Authority board tomorrow at 10 am!
As a reminder, those projects are:

• Columbus Park: windows and boiler
• Tatnuck Magnet: windows
• Worcester Arts Magnet: windows
• Worcester East Middle: windows, roof, boiler

This is great news! Remember, this means we're up for 80% reimbursement on these fixes! 

I will be there and will liveblog the meeting. 

update on Nelson Place and MSBA projects

Allen: invited into feasibility phase of project for Nelson Place
between now and May 2014
March 2014 through mid 2014 doing schematic designs
May 2014 to August 2014 is when they fund the project
June 2014-March 2015 design and planning
construction until January 2017, anticipated opening

MSBA submissions for this year
remaining three comprehensive high schools for renovation or repair
MSBA forces you to name a priority school
MSBA did a needs assessment: South graded the worst by MSBA; "to show MSBA that we're serious about their assessment"
"our intention is to the three schools as a joint package"
four schools for accelerated repair for this coming year

• Worcester East Middle: Windows, Boiler, & Roof note here that WEMS is down to one boiler; if (and when) it fails,they're done
• Columbus Park School: Windows & Boiler
• Tatnuck Magnet School: Windows
• Worcester Arts Magnet: Windows

Waiting to hear from MSBA to hear what are the next steps are

Statements of Interest going to Mass School Building Authority

Major repair or renovation:

1. South High Community School
2. Burncoat High School
3. Doherty Memorial High School

Accelerated Repair:

• Columbus Park School: windows and boiler
• Tatnuck Magnet School: windows
• Worcester East Middle School: roof, windows, and boiler
• Worcester Arts Magnet School: windows

PASSES UNANIMOUSLY with reconsideration unanimously voted down
These now go to the City Council for their next meeting on April 2. Note that it must be voted (and reconsidered that night) in order to meet the state deadline of April 10. 

MSBA Statements of Interest

You can find the snazzy report here.
Three high schools for replacement or major renovation
"I just want to be candid...MSBA requires that we identify a priority project, and the administration identifies South High...however, this is being presented as a package" of the three high schools
Used MSBA's numbers for priorities
Can only identify one project as priority: impact on educational environment
...all three schools are on warning status

And accelerated repair

• Worcester East Middle: Windows, Boiler, & Roof note here that WEMS is down to one boiler; if (and when) it fails, they're down to one boiler
• Columbus Park School: Windows & Boiler
• Tatnuck Magnet School: Windows
• Worcester Arts Magnet: Windows

Unanimously approved, so on to the full committee on Thursday with a quick turnaround to Council

Worcester School Committee meets Thursday

The Worcester School Committee meets tomorrow night at 7 pm. You can find the agenda here.
We are honoring both Harvard Pilgrim Health Care (for their work this year at Chandler Elementary) and South High (for their wellness award).
The report of the superintendent is a report back from the Blue Ribbon Panel on technology. If you have an interest in technology in education, please take a look and tell me what you think!
Reports are coming back from:

• Finance and Operations
• Teaching, Learning, and Student Supports
• Governance and Employee Issues
• the Ad-Hoc Committee on the exam and/or IB school

We have a few appointments coming through.

We are opening negotiations with our secretaries.

Mr. O'Connell has filed an item to consider civics mastery, including possibly having students take the U.S. Naturalization test.

We are being asked to receive a donation for McGrath School from Unibank for leveled readers.

We are being asked to receive donations on behalf of Claremont Academy for their trip to Spain this year.

We are being asked to receive a grant for family literacy for $5000. 

We are being asked to receive a grant from the Boston Foundation in Architecture for $1920 for an after school club at Worcester Arts Magnet School. 

We are forwarding letters to our distinguished alumni. 

I'm asking that we have regular meetings of the Standing Committee on Finance and Operations with the City Council's Education subcommittee (anyone wonder why?)

We're congratulating the Burncoat quadrant on the "Burncoat to Broadway" concert.

Miss Biancheria and I are requesting that we review the school accountability plans (in the Accountability subcommittee).

We are being asked to approve spending for FY12 in the amount of $20,383.21 . 

7pm, tomorrow night at City Hall!