What happened at the first April Worcester School Committee meeting?

 with apologies for this taking until now; I got to enjoy a really lovely weekend in Chicago, and am playing catch-up. As always, this is from me as a member of the Committee. 

The agenda is here; the video of the meeting can be viewed here.

I should note that the meeting started with two hours of executive session, including deliberations on the contracts with our bus drivers, our paraprofessionals, and units A & B, which are teachers and assistant principals. It's against the ground rules agreed to by both the EAW and the Worcester School Committee at the beginning of negotiations for me to say any more than that.

The Grafton Street chorus not only sang the National Anthem, but "This Land is Your Land."

Note that among the items on the consent agenda were several relating to recent athletic successes, and some generosity that has gotten the Burncoat High orchestra to Washington, D.C. this week.
(The consent agenda puts a group of items of which approve is reasonably expected, and has us take them with a single vote. Any member can pull an item off the consent agenda for separate approval with a 2/3rd approval.)

I was swamped enough that I didn't get a chance to put up a blog post to explain reconsideration, but if you search the blog, you can find earlier explanations. Both Laura Clancey and I filed for reconsideration on the Governance report, she to send the dress code back to standing committee for further discussion, me to take up the process of the strategic plan now with the report from Hanover Research (contracted to support the work) in hand. 
Reconsideration cannot be deliberated, but the member filing is required to file an explanation as to why with the request for reconsideration. In this case, both reconsiderations passed unanimously, so the dress code is not yet amended  (this is why nothing is done until it passes full committee!) and goes back to standing committee, and the process described by Dr. Monárrez for the strategic plan (let me give you a separate post on that) goes forward. 

We had also held two items (which also get to go first): the Human Resources position description, which, with a few additional edits, we approved; and Sue Mailman withdrew the bill she'd requested endorsement of on vocational school buildings.

The report of the superintendent was on social emotional learning and student mental health supports. Let me note here that we on the Committee have received emails from a number of staff members about planned reorganization of the social emotional learning department; we did hear a bit about that on Thursday in response to questions, and I am confident that we'll hear more.

The report came about 20 minutes into the meeting (if you'd like to review on the video), and included a substantial number of statistics, some of our students specifically, some national, regarding their mental health and resiliency. 

The presentation was about twenty minutes, and it was followed by at least that of questions, so I'd say there's a significant amount of Committee attention to what is being done here and what is still to come.

We approved one prior year payment and three grants, including one for a new meat slicer at Claremont Academy; one for summer work with English learners; and one to fund work with refugee families from Brazil, Central America, and Haiti (the area from which we get the largest number of people currently) in ensuring they are well connected to the school district.

You may have heard we unanimously passed a boycott of Old Sturbridge Village. I wrote about why over here. 

We sent items on the use of AirPods to administration; on vaping detectors to F&O; on signs for North High basketball to the City Council; on suspension of the voluntary uniform policy until there's a way out to Governance; on moving dance teams under athletics to administration.

Administration will be bringing forward a recommendation for a new reading curriculum to Teaching, Learning, and Student Supports subcommittee this coming week after a pilot this year. They've been collating the feedback that they have received from staff; that will go through subcommittee to the full committee. You can find what we know so far here.

We passed a description for the Physical Security Systems Technician (this was in the FY23 budget; it had just never been brought forward); this is the person who runs the "stuff" (like cameras) of our security systems. 

We did some updating on policies, something which you'll see in a number of upcoming meetings; I had noticed a few worrying things in our policies, so over February break, I did a full review of our current WPS policies compared to the state model policies. I'll be putting them on the agenda in batches. The first batch we updated ensured that we are following federal and civil rights legislation in our list of protected classes. This is a substantial list, and it also includes the note on the Crown Act, passed last year. 

We also updated the policy on school calendar (which I thought was a little bit funny); in spring of 2020, the Commissioner dropped 10 school days for the calendar for professional development (due to the pandemic). Worcester changed our policy...and never changed it back. It still said we were going 170 school days. We cannot, of course--our policy doesn't change state regulation!--so we changed it back to 180 days.

Dr. Monárrez will bring back the descriptions of the Director of Nursing and the Director of Climate and Culture positions with the budget, so we can see how they fit. 

We sent a proposed revised Wellness Policy to Governance for consideration.

We sent a proposed Unifed PE to TLSS for consideration.

A proposal from Jermoh Kamara that we endorse S.340/H.583 “An Act enabling all students to thrive: protecting a high quality, diverse educator workforce” which would remove seniority as considered in layoffs, was withdrawn.

A proposal that we endorse H.1367 "An Act to facilitate additional financial student assistance," which would require students to complete the FAFSA in order to graduate (unless they had a signed waiver), was voted down, as was the item accompanying it, to request financial assistance for implementation. 

And that was the meeting! Note that our next regular meeting is Thursday, April 27. 

What happened at the Worcester Public School meeting on Thursday: FY24 here we come!

 The agenda that has everything on it is here. The video of the meeting is here. 

May 12. Mark your calendar!

The meeting opened with two public presentation under petitions: one on Neighborhood Strings, the second Anya Geist, a student at South High, who is completing a Teen Justice Fellowship Project on anti-Semitism and Holocaust education. Note that Ms. Geist's project is going to Teaching, Learning, and Student Supports for further discussion.

FY24 preliminary budget report
The report of the superintendent was the preliminary FY24 report; I've uploaded just that PDF here. The presentation from Brian Allen begins about 19 minutes into the meeting. I'm pretty sure I say every year that if you're at all interested in the WPS budget--and if you're in Worcester, that should be you!--you should just watch it. 

A few things I'd highlight as a seasoned budget watcher: 

• Remember that we have used ESSER funding both to hold our budget harmless with regard to enrollment losses two years ago (aka: we didn't lay off elementary teachers during the pandemic) and that we have been frontloading some of our expected Student Opportunity Act increases. Mr. Allen represented those like this (the images are from previous budgets): 
  
  

  So this then needs to get absorbed into the FY24 budget (subject to consideration of continuing, just like everything else): 
  
  

  
  
  

  
  
• Leading to the crucial takeaway on where we are walking into the FY24 budget planning with: 
  
  
  
  

  That essentially is a level service budget (running with projected percentage increases). This led to today's headline on a budget shortfall. 
  Please note: this is early days for us. There are going to be tradeoffs of current spending, of what the administration wants to continue, of what is needed elsewhere. 
  
  
  
• It's crucial to note, not only for our budget (the budget is student enrollment based) but also for all sorts of district planning: our student enrollment is up over 500 students from last year. That's a lot of kids! 
  
  
  
  Do note that the presentation itself goes more deeply into where those increases are (and where the decreases are) by school. The boosts, as seen above, are Head Start and elementary, so those are students that will be with us awhile, and this impacts the whole district. Expect more to come on that. 
  
  
• Worcester is of course (and as intended) one of the big gainers under the Student Opportunity Act. You can see that in Mr. Allen's walk through of how we get to the foundation budget: 
  
  
  
  Do keep in mind that most of that SOA funding increase is due to the third year phase in of increases in the low income rates; Worcester is group 11 of 12 groups, with 72% of our students considered low income. 
  
  
• Mr. Allen proposed for budget priorities for us in our Legislative advocacy:
       1, Inflation: The Student Opportunity Act caps the inflation rate at 4.5%. The actual inflation    rate for this year would be 9.3%. Advocacy for the real rate started back in January with a joint letter from MASC, MASS, AFT-MA, and MTA to the Governor and legislative leadership.
       2. Out-of-district special education tuition: The Operational Services Division issued a 14% tuition increase for tuition for out-of-district special education schools back in the fall; you can find their issued tuitions from last month posted here. As if in response, Governor Healey Friday filed a supplemental budget that includes $75M (more, as her House 1 budget already included $15M) in what's known as extraordinary relief.
  (In my comments I again noted that the MSBA being uncapped from its $800M cap, reinstating the Accelerated Repair program, and getting the state to cover the inflation in current projects from ARPA funds would be a good third one.)
  
  
• Mark your calendars!
  
  

Subcommittee report

Governance reported out, and I cannot tell you how glad I am to report that we have updated the student dress code. In addition to the much more reasonable language around how students can actually dress (about time), it also quite plainly states that students can only be disciplined for dress code infractions if they are violations of the Code of Conduct. In other words, the dress code violation has to rise to the level of the list of clear disciplinary infractions in order to be treated as one. Again, about time!

There was also a report on the strategic plan. If you're interested in this, I'd recommend watching the actual Governance meeting; this section starts about 23 minutes in. This started with Mr. Allen reviewing what had been shared with us earlier, which appeared to be a draft outline for next steps. That includes this: 

Mr. Allen then passed that meeting over to people from Hanover Research, who gave this presentation (I asked for that Friday). They have been hired via WEC, funded by a grant. 
In the Governance meeting, Laura Clancey, chairing the meeting, asked for questions, and asked about funding. 
Let's say Sue Mailman and I had many questions, particularly about the contract with Hanover Research, but also about process. I think that this is not a process the School Committee currently is steering, which isn't how this is supposed to work; I won't say more here as I said plenty at the meeting. 

Other business

We sent a number of items off for reports or work in subcommittees: a requested report on Chromebooks; one on Ch. 74 (vo-tech) programs; a list of courses for possible approval for next year; next year's student handbook (which is revised annually).

We sent the much-reported (some even accurately!) item on revising the homework policy to subcommittee. For informational reasons, let me note that what it actually says is: 

To consider a review of the Homework Policy and explore no homework dates, expectations around homework overall and utilize parent, student and educator feedback

....really. That's all it says.

We passed revised position descriptions for the School Safety Director and the Chief Diversity (now becoming Equity) Officer. We made revisions to but held the document of the Chief Personnel (as a proposed revision?) or Human Capital (as proposed?) Officer, so we can see them all.

We unanimously passed support for federal HD 1269, the "Healthy Meals Help Kids Learn Act of 2023," proposed by Representative Jim McGovern, which would raise the reimbursement for free lunch 45 cents and for free breakfast 28 cents with a yearly adjustment in both cases. 
 
We also had a deliberation over endorsement of state HD485/SD1697, around support for vocational education in capital projects, most significantly to regional vokes; adding a DESE office regarding vocational education; and outlining requirements on access to middle school students by vocational schools. On a vote of 3-2-1 (Laura Clancey wanted to speak and wasn't seen; she did not vote), it was held for more information at the next meeting. 

And our next meeting is now scheduled for April 13, with the second April meeting after April vacation on the 27th. 
Do note that F&O meets Monday the 20th at 5:30; TLSS meets on March 27. 

October at Worcester School Committee

 

A few quick updates from last night's Worcester School Committee meeting (agenda, video):

• Public comment included (as noted in the T&G) student comment on dress code, and a request from students that recycling and sustainability. Dress code, please note, is currently in Teaching, Learning, and Student Supports, and the petition on sustainability went to Finance and Operations. It's always outstanding to see students come talk to us about policy!
  
  
• The report of the superintendent was on the MCAS results and the state accountability system; note that this is report one of two. That starts about 11 minutes into the video. 
  
  
• We sent two batches of policy off to the Governance subcommittee; that includes (again as in the T&G article) the updates in our list of protected classes (and the supporting law citations), and some of our fiscal policies (which are largely citations and cross-references, though it also finally gets the section in K that talks about gifts right in that they have to be voted accepted by the School Committee).
  
  
• We authorized the administration to pursue a four year lease for 1100 laptops (this should get the rest of staff outfitted!).
  
  
• We authorized the administration to enter up to a five year lease to replace the original 13 school buses we have had under lease (predating the purchase of 165 with ESSER funding), as that lease ends in June. The plan is for these to be propane-powered buses, as we’ve discussed in F&O, as the district continues to work on greener solutions.  
  
  
• We authorized the superintendent to sign documents regarding grants,legal settlements, and contracts on behalf of the School Committee. This purview question I am highly attuned to, so I aprreciate the patience in my getting to a appropriate amended motion.
  
  
• We’re moving towards translated meetings! The report from administration which outlined costs and recommended we pilot translation in Spanish, was recommended to go to subcommittee for consideration. We instead voted to request administration immediately move forward with the pilot, and we’ll discuss the rest in subcommittee (operational and costs money = it went to F&O) in November. 
  
  
• I want to do a separate post on the org chart and the approved positions. We did approve the position descriptions put forward, however. 
  
  
• We requested a report on enrollment, and one on how security guards are assigned to schools. 

A few Worcester things not to miss this week

 I've been largely doing my WPS updates via video on Facebook and Instagram but I know that isn't how everyone actually gets their information, so I'll endeavor to do better here.

While the full Worcester School Committee doesn't have a regular meeting until May 6, the full Committee will be on for the family forum on Tuesday evening at 6:30. This is focused on the five day return of those students whose families have chosen it, which starts next week on May 3. If you have any questions, please submit them by Monday at 6 pm.

We also have three subcommittee meetings this week, all of which will report out next week:

• On Monday at 5:30, Teaching, Learning, and Student Supports meets for the second of their two meetings on the proposed sex ed curricula. There's also consideration of a few new courses on the agenda, but the first will be most of the focus, I believe. 
• On Tuesday at 4, Governance meets for a few employee requests on donations of sick time, plus the dress code, plus another section of the student handbook, plus our rules. Apparently, those are being held? 
• On Thursday at 5, Finance and Operations is jointly meeting with the City Council's Education subcommittee for (as the agenda says) items "of mutual interest." The two things on the agenda are the reopening plan (at Council request) and the FY22 budget, though do note the backup on that is the February one based on the House 1 budget. The Worcester Public Schools budget comes to the Committee on May 14; it will be based on the budget the House passes this week. 

A few things to watch from last week's Worcester School Committee meeting

I mean, I always tell you to go watch the budget presentation, literally. It starts about 15 minutes in.

• There was some updating of minutes necessary, but the upshot is that there will be, going forward, a standing item on the Finance and Operations subcommittee agenda on transportation, a form for families and students to fill out to report late and missing buses, and reports on that weekly posted online and sent to the School Committee until we get an app and can report from that. So far, no sign of the form. 



...in the meantime, let us know...

• This was coming out of Miss McCullough's subcommittee, but, as was noted in the T&G, there's some revision going on around admission to Worcester Tech. Note that there is also a larger state effort around equity in admission that may require further revision. 
• Mrs. Clancey's item to provide social media updates in multiple languages passed for implementation, so watch for that.
• I asked for a report on all fees paid by families of Worcester Public School students for classes. When this comes back, I'd appreciate some reflection on if we've missed anything, as we are supposed to be offering a free public education.
• The dress code is back in Governance, but we've also sent this to the Student Advisory Council. This needs student and family input!
• My request that we pass a resolution, calling on the City administration to not attribute work on Duffy Field or Foley Stadium's fields stemming from Doherty's construction to the Worcester Public Schools' capital budget passed, 5-2, Monfredo and Biancheria opposing. Here's why that matters: the School Committee does not pass the schools' capital budget. As with all municipal committees, it is passed on the city side. For both North and South, we had to make allowances of various kinds to get athletes to practice space during school construction. For Doherty, it was proposed back at the December meeting that the back field at Foley and Duffy Field (which is a city park) both be astroturfed, to a cost of $5-$7M. As I noted last month, funding this work from the Worcester Public Schools' capital budget of more or less $3M a year would zero our other capital work out for most of two years if not more. We simply cannot afford to have absolutely NO capital work done in our 50 buildings, which have 86% of the delayed maintenance on 60% of the city buildings, for multiple years.
  This was a view shared by most of my colleagues. 

Worcester School Committee meets Thursday: FY21 discussion starts NOW

I mean, at least publicly it does...

If you want the one thing on Thursday night's agenda that you should note, it is the report of the Superintendent, which will be the first look at the FY21 budget numbers. The backup is not yet posted. Do note that this is, of course, the Governor's proposed budget, which is not usually--certainly never in this administration--where the numbers end up.

Do also note that the Department's requirements around reporting out on Student Opportunity Act spending was shared yesterday. I would say that they have rather aggressive definitions of what constitutes the "new" funding on which districts need to report. More on this to come

There are of course recognitions, retirements, and such...

Also on the agenda: not one, not two, but three subcommittee reports! The only one we're missing is Governance, which meets next Tuesday at 4:30 pm at the Administration Building (the agenda isn't posted yet; I'll share once it is).
Reporting out is the standing committee I chair (School and Student Performance; agenda here), TLSS chaired by Ms. McCullough (agenda for that here), and Finance and Operations chaired by Mr. Foley (agenda here; my notes here). As F&O had the second quarter report, there's about half a million dollars in transfers coming through there (transfers by cost center require a vote of the School Committee).

Reports coming back:

• a report on the condition of the crew boats, 'though Miss Biancheria was specifically asking about the one named for Brian O'Connell (the answer is that others are in rougher shape)
• a backup on the grants we passed last week (tough to read, I know)

We are being requested to accept donations :

‑ $66.00 from American Life Insurance Company
‑ $79.60 from Box Tops for Education
‑ $500.00 from Big Y
...to Canterbury Street
‑ $118,200 from the Worcester Technical Skyline Fund to support the Innovation Pathways Program
‑ $2,000.00 from Worcester Historical Museum/Pow Wow Worcester to WPS Visual Arts
‑ ‑ $700.00 from Scholarship America/Target Field Trips to Flagg Street School to help with the cost of field trip expenses
‑ ‑ $1,514.00 from fundraising efforts to Lake View School
‑ ‑ $1,000.00 to Lake View School from donors
‑ ‑ $452.90 from Box Tops for Education to Tatnuck Magnet School

We are being requested to approve prior year payments  (and hey, we're getting actual explanations for why they're late now):
--in the amount of $367.50 to AA Transportation Company because the invoice "was not received or misplaced this summer when school was not in session"
--totaling $13,010.98 for JROTC instructors for whom no monthly minimum instructor payment for March through June 2019
--totaling $1103.02 for a teacher and an instructional assistant

We are being asked to approve grants:
--for Teacher Diversification for $74,482
--from UNUM for Strong Schools for a total of $20,000 ('though it's a bunch of different projects; check it out)
--for Targeted Assistance twice: one for $150,000 and one for $200,000 (aside from it being spent on professional time, it is difficult to figure out what is going on here)

New items:

• Mrs. Clancey is requesting updates on CPPAC, ELPAC, SPED-Pac meetings and ways to include parental participation
• She is also requesting that social media be translated (I co-sponsored, so I think I'm cleared to say HEAR HEAR!) and that we make certain Connect-Eds are going home in home languages
• Ms. McCullough is requesting an update on what the impact of the merger of St. Peter-Marian and Holy Name will have on our buses (yes, Worcester students who attend those schools ride WPS buses)
• We're being asked to DECREASE the mileage rate in line with the IRS (from 58 cents to 57.5 cents; no I am not kidding)
• Miss Biancheria is requesting what new Ch.74 programs there are going to be
• I've asked the City Solicitor to advise us on the legal "hey this is a public document" boilerplate to go on the bottom of our emails (No, I didn't phrase it that way)
• I've also asked for a list of all fees associated with coursework in the schools
• I've asked that we discuss this proposal of the City Council's that they move polling places back into schools without discussing with the School Committee
• I'm sending the dress code not only to Governance but to the Student Advisory Council (This is going to be another one that only works if folks show up once it is being discussed in subcommittee; I'll let you know.).
• I've also asked that we pass a resolution calling on the City Manager not to supplant our capital allocation for FY21 or future years with whatever work is done on Foley Stadium or Duffy Field as was discussed at the Doherty building committee meeting. We still need to be able to fix schools!

There also is an executive session at 6: 

• To discuss strategy with respect to litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the public body and the chair so declares – Janie Lanza Vowles, Personal Representative Estate of Suzanne F. Miville v. Worcester Public Schools, MCAD Docket No. 1785CV00162
• To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the public body and the chair so declares – International Union of Public Employees, Local 125 - Plumbers and Steamfitters. To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the public body and the chair so declares – International Union of Public Employees, Local 135 - Tradesmen
• To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the public body and the chair so declares –Massachusetts Laborers’ District Council for and in behalf of Worcester Public Service Employees Local Union 272 of the Laborers’ International Union of North America, AFL-CIO, Unit D, Computer Technicians
• To discuss strategy with respect to litigation for Worker’s Compensation- Instructional Assistant, if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the School Committee and the chair so declares.
• To discuss strategy with respect to litigation for Worker’s Compensation- School Nurse, if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the School Committee and the chair so declares.
• To discuss strategy with respect to litigation for Worker’s Compensation- School Secretary, if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the School Committee and the chair so declares.

Back to school and back to dress coding

Going back to school in August inevitably means that the parenting boards fill up with tales from parents whose children have been pulled from class, made to change, and even punished for violations (or perceived violations) of dress codes.
Last week's Worcester teacher orientation began with a review of the updated dress codes, which, it was quickly noted online, still make no allowance for headwraps not of religious or medical significance.
To add to the resources we have available in this conversation, let me add to Seattle this piece from Phi Delta Kapplan looking at the disparate impacts of dress codes on students of color. 

Seattle Public Schools revise their dress code

This is good:

Seattle Public Schools' new policy, in contrast, puts the beholder in charge: "Students and staff are responsible for managing their personal distractions," it reads.  

It also calls for staff to avoid "dress-coding" students in front of their peers, which has been common practice for years, leading to embarrassment.

The new district policy indicates that enforcement of the dress code must not "create disparities, reinforce or increase marginalization of any group, nor will it be more strictly enforced against students because of racial identity, ethnicity, gender identity, gender expression, gender nonconformity, sexual orientation, cultural or religious identity, household income, body size/type, or body maturity." 

The district's acting head attorney, Ronald Boy, said the dress code is something he'd long hoped to make modern - and equitable. “My hope is that we are able to not waste time in school addressing things that just don't matter," Boy said.

You can read the text of the new code here. It includes this directive to staff:

Students shall not be disciplined or removed from class as a consequence for wearing attire in violation of this policy unless the attire creates a substantial disruption to the educational environment, poses a hazard to the health or safety of others, or factors into a student behavior rule violation such as malicious harassment or the prohibition on harassment, intimidation, and bullying. Further, no student shall be referred to as “a distraction” due to their appearance or attire.

Worcester dress code

As I noted in the agenda preview, among the items on tonight's Worcester School Committee agenda is the district dress code, which currently says this:

The T&G discusssed this earlier in the week, noting the sexism not only in the policy itself, but also in its execution. Do note Superintendent Binienda's comment in this coverage from Boston:

Worcester Public Schools Superintendent Maureen Binienda said, "we have to follow policies of the school committee until they’re changed.”
Binienda says it's up to committee members to change the policy but adds that "you can’t have those little shorts that, ya know, just go down right below your underwear."

And that's how you get dress codes that are harder on girls than on boys.

Ah warm weather...

...means the dress coding starts (yes, it's been verbed). Please note that Politico took this up today in their daily email, linking to this report on D.C. and this letter to a district in Florida.
And I read this before my own children came home with their reports from the first warm day in Worcester...

And while we're talking about how female students are treated inequitably, I know this report from Noble Charter Schools in Chicago has also been making the rounds, in case you thought period shaming only happened in other countries.

Speaking of student-centered learning

Among the questions asked last week of candidates to the Worcester School Committee was one on "student-centered learning." All spoke, in some fashion, in support of it. Mr. O'Connell, in fact, went on at some length at how this was something that Worcester doesn't do enough of.

Worcester just didn't do enough of it again.

A group of students delivered a set of policy proposals to the superintendent yesterday, having, per the report, first asked candidates to sign off on it. They were, it appears, largely dismissed (including by Mr. O'Connell).

Contrary to Miss Biancheria's comment that this "isn't how you get things done," having candidates promise to support policy proposals is exactly how one gets things done, or at least moving, in an election year. Surely we haven't all forgotten the yearly "lowest residential tax rate" pledge the Shrewsbury Street Neighborhood Association extracted from candidates?

As is clear from the above sequence, yes, it takes more than nice noises to get elected officials to do something. Perhaps someone could remind the students that they have (as required by law) a representative on the Worcester School Committee. Time to start making use of that.

Student representative

Walker (Doherty):
Senior class last day changed
Boone: last year went through the coordinated program review with the state
"it seemed to be an awful long time between the seniors last day and the last day of school"
state found that we were short days
making up snow days: "we're going to sit back and see what the state says"
"going to pray that it's not an issue"

Jenkins (South High)
"it was received poorly from students"
I'll let my fellow students know
"appreciate that greatly"
concerned about the hoodie policy
"to try to prevent hidden faces...outcry of the student body"
"this policy is likely not to be as accepted by the students right away"
"very similar to that of the outdoor jacket policy"
students already wearing hoodies to school; protest to wear hoodies to school
rumors that homecoming was cancelled: mention to principals that this was done
Boone: you answered the question I had on homecoming
"as far as the hoodie issue, we've been around that several times"
Rodrigues: two weeks ago, met with all principals and assistant principals, one of the themes was students who are not obeying protocol of not having hoods down, not where they should be; principals were concerned about that
has come to my attention that a couple of schools have said that students could wear the sweatshirt to school, but not in school
"not one of the items that is forbidden within the policy handbook"
Jenkins: we were informed of the policy on the first day of school
many students come to school only wearing hoodies, especially young women
school programs that sold hoodies, National Honor Society wear them with pride
"they understand the policy of the school, but they feel this is unfair"

TLSS meets today at 5:30

The Teaching, Learning, and Student Supports committee meets today at 5:30 in the fourth floor conference room at DAB. You can find the agenda here.
Items on service learning, an early warning system for dropouts, an expired bill on dress codes, and the Temporary Learning Center.
I'm not going to be at that, but you can watch it live on Channel 11.

I Am More Than A Distraction

A good post on what we say in dress codes, in how they're enforced, and in how girls are speaking up about them.

The rules applied across the country, however, go well beyond short shorts. For example, a school in North Dakota recently banned skinny jeans, leggings and yoga pants. What these examples tend to have in common is the targeting of girls — and not just of bare skin but of the female silhouette itself.

The trend has created a new front in the dress code wars. Refusing to be shamed, girls are instead raising their voices. They are demanding to be treated with fairness — as more than the sum of their body parts and more than a classroom distraction to boys. Students at Tottenville High School in Staten Island, New York, and Bingham High School in South Jordan, Utah, have recently walked out of classes, protesting strict and unfair dress code enforcement.

And this is in Governance subcommittee in Worcester, so more to come! 

Dress code

I'm sending this off to Governance, but also asking that it go to CPPAC, the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council, and our student reps.
Two concerns: implementation, and one section of the dress code (page 28 of the Student Handbook)
in implementation: there are places where authority is being exceeded (there is, for example, no mention of the width of tank top straps), and places where it's sexist (girls being asked to put cartigans on over shirts, when boys aren't). Needs to stop, and we need to be thoughtful about how we talk to kids about this
in dress code: states that length of skirts and shorts must be as long as fingertips when held by your sides. This has everything to do with length of arms and torso; little to do with length of skirts and shorts. It also is nearly impossible to find in stores. It's not fair for us to have a requirement that students and parents cannot meet.
Refer to Governance
but do weigh in!

Legislative budget update

Senators Moore and Chandler are here with with an update on the FY11 state budget.
*note that this is the House budget; the Senate budget comes out in two weeks
concern with using rainy day funds as it will hit the bond rating
(the rainy day fund has about $700 million now)
running out of stimulus funding (so may need rainy day fund then)
Have increased ed funding by $300 million over the last three years
House budget is $1 billion less than the Governor
many of the losses of government employees have been in health and human services
loss in capital gains revenue of 75%

Worcester $191 million coming here
$176 million was last year, so it's an increase ($14.6 million more)

Senator Chandler mentions that it's very nostalgic (she left SC 16 years ago)
circuit breaker cut down to $139 million
Senate President Murray suggested that they might revisit local aid if they're better than expected (tax due date was extended to May)

Legislation:
bullying bill: includes all school facilities and functions, buses, and bus stops
must have intervention plans
professional development and age-appropriate instruction in effect for next school year
(free or low cost to district)
principal or designee must investigate immediately
dropout age extended to 18: still in committee
H.1347: dress code legislation
out of committee favorably, pending in House (and has been for awhile)
Ed Reform: adequency study required
has to be done by Dec. 2011 (get in touch to find out when hearings are)
Commissioner gave Spirit of Knowledge their charter today