But wait, there's more!

I feel as if I am back in the days when I started this blog, when there'd be the single article about the School Committee meeting, and anything else that happened, you didn't hear about. While admittedly both voting to move to fully in-house transportation and voting to start a national search for a new superintendent are news of the headline making sort, there are other things that happened at our meetings in the past two weeks. 

Here's a rundown on the highlights:

Over the past number of weeks, we've ratified contractual agreements with EAW units A&B (that's anyone classified as a teacher plus assistant principals and the like); drivers and monitors; custodians; computer technicians; 52 week administrative secretaries;  and educational secretaries. In every case, those contracts brought them at least up to date as of the close this past fiscal year OR brought them up through the end of this one (this last is the case with the teachers). As a result, the School Committee this past week voted an increase for the non-represented (non union) employees, which is everyone from administrators to crossing guards. 
I can't talk out of turn on the units that are outstanding save to say that negotiations are ongoing. 

We had an update on the dual language program at the August 26 meeting, which, among other things, noted that the state assessing our dual language learners only in English doesn't accurately assess their actual knowledge and skill in subject matters. We asked to be apprised of which districts are running dual language programs, so we might work with them on advocacy, though this obviously is larger than the dual language program.

While the report out on the August 18 Finance and Operations subcommittee meeting attracted attention largely due to the recommendation to move fully to in-house transportation, I don't want to overlook the closing of the fiscal year. Worcester had, remember, a $372M budget for FY21, after we cut $16M once we finally got a state budget. For municipal districts, anything that isn't spent--down literally to the penny--goes back to the municipality to be certified as free cash for the end of the year. That is a difficult and complex process. 
And how much did the Worcester Public Schools give back this year?

$3. 

Thus, if a dollar went to the Worcester Public Schools for education last year, that's what it was spent on. 

And so when folks ask "how can you have confidence in the projections for transportation?" the answer is this: when you have a finance office that has been doing this (and the associated budget transfers) and the back and forth with RTTT and grants that disappear during budget seasons and all the other swings that we've seen over the past more than a decade, and yet year after year, these are the results, you trust your people and their work.

At our August 26 meeting, on Mr. Monfredo's motions, we voted to send mandating vaccinations of our employees to executive sessions to take up as part of negotiations. I'd note that the EAW leadership has already been public on their agreement with this, so it's largely a matter of working out the how and when. There are negotiations going on now regarding bargaining around issues related to back to school. 

Several of us have received concerns about how lunch is being eaten in this return to school in the pandemic time, so I had filed an item at the August 26 meeting, urging outdoor as possible and creativity everywhere. While some schools are doing some very neat things, I've continued to get heightened concerns from families around what looks a lot like regular operations at some schools, however. 

I had also filed at the August 26 meeting a request for the list of outstanding contracts the superintendent has with employees; that is, the employees whose contracts are not collectively bargained but are directly with the superintendent. We have a number of them that are expired for a year or more. That report was due back at our meeting on September 2, but we did not receive it. 

At our August 26 meeting, Ms. Clancey filed an item regarding the concerns the neighborhood around Lincoln Street School has had with community homelessness impact on the school. We heard something of an update at the meeting of attendance at the community meeting regarding this, as well as work going forward. 

At our September 2 meeting, Ms. McCullough filed an item regarding parking for students at Doherty during construction, which there are a few things going on with.

Also at our September 2 meeting, the Committee on a 6-1 (Biancheria opposing) vote agreed to send a letter to our delegation requesting that the state Department of Public Health mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for students as it is permissible, and, if that does not happen, request that the Legislature do so.

We also asked the administration to look into the recently released update that districts may provide remote education to students who are ill or quarantining due to COVID. We were told, however, that the Department recently said that they'd bar districts from using remote learning for snow days. 

Next meeting of the Committee is September 23 (moved from September 16, which is Yom Kippur). 

Worcester School Committee meets Thursday

You can find the agenda for December 20 here.
There are recognitions and thanks.

The report of the superintendent is the End of Cycle Evaluation; as yet there is no backup posted, so what the School Committee has to say about Superintendent Binienda's performance is not yet public. You might recall that the Superintendent submitted her self-evaluation back at the meeting on November 13, saying that she had exceeded her professional practice and student learning goals, met her district improvement goal, and performed proficienctly in instructional leadership and in professional culture, and exemplarily in management and operations and in family and community and engagement. If you start on page 11 of the PowerPoint linked above, you'll quickly end up with puzzling questions like how one "exceeds" completion of the superintendent's induction program or in evaluating all principals. You can't. And, speaking as a parent, my jaw dropped at an exemplary rating in family and community engagement. 
...in any case...

Finance and Operations met tonight and will report out on Thursday (and apologies for the late posting, which didn't give a heads up) for the first quarter report; the account balances are here. Note that the request for the FY19 additional allocation goes to the School Committee during the Thursday meeting. There's nearly $500K additional in special ed tuition (some through the Collaborative)...and I don't understand what's going on with the technology line (weren't the Chromebooks in the budget?). Also worth noting that special education legal is up $20K more than budgeted; that may have something to do with the homeschooling case that broke just over a week ago, as I believe the district is being advised by their special education attorney for that (that last bit is a guess). Also on that agenda is a report on snow removal equipment.

There are appointments, resignations, retirements.

There is a report on the Career and Technical Education Partnership grant involving eight students.
There is a recommendation that an item on bullying be filed;

An update on the discussed lawsuit regarding school funding against the state is of interest: it speaks of presentations that the Mass Association of School Superintendents are doing, closing with "a formal lawsuit has not been filed." Superintendent Binienda's position was requested, it appears, by Ms. Biancheria, to which the superintendent has responded:

she feels it is important for legal authorities to review past litigation and to present a legal opinion before a formal lawsuit is filed

...something which would be done as a matter of course. What is interesting is that the backup doesn't actually respond to the item, which asked for an update from Brockton on legal action.

There is a super weak response to a request about recruiting; the request was for information on recruiting outside of Worcester, and the backup comes up with only Westfield State, the statewide recruiting fair, and SchoolSpring. The request to seek information from other districts yields the information the state association of human resource personnel. The Commissioner is handing you things like this, after all. 

The administration is responding that the district does not need to make any changes in response to Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission v. Contributory Retirement Appeal Board (SJC-12331).

There is a round-up of responses coming from the FY19 budget. Really the only interesting thing here--which is worthwhile!--is the savings of switching to Voice over Internet for 20 years at $1483 a a line is $1.13M. And if you read the backup, there are other advantages to switching.

The request for an org chart for emergency protocols receives in response this:

The Superintendent, Mayor and City Manager will communicate by phone messenging and/or emails with detailed information regarding any public safety issues. In addition, the Chief of Police and WPS Director of Safety will be sent these emails in order to coordinate messages to be shared with the public.

Thus not an org chart, and no response on who will communicate what to anyone else, including those not of the public, which includes teachers, staff, students, and parents. "two-way culturally proficient communication" is part of the Family and Community Engagement evaluation standard.

In response to a request for progress report opportunities in vocational education not admitted to Worcester Tech, the response is the grant mentioned above and three new programs being approved for South High.

As mentioned in the F&O report above, the allocation of the additional funding from the FY19 conference committee is reported out (here with an additional "as recommended to the School Committee in June"; the vote is later in the meeting). I'd advise reading the entire memo, as it also discusses elementary class sizes (12 more teachers!), student supports (adjustment counselors!), some administration allocations, and the ongoing dearth of teachers at the high schools (it also may answer why high school kids are now being stuffed into gym classes instead of into study halls).

There is a response to the request for an update on the long-sought facilities master plan (remember that?). The answer...looks to be current work with no additional funding, plus the MSBA submissions. Since the report found a $70M backlog in "urgent" repair needs, one would hope that this won't be enough for anyone.

Speaking of facilities, to the request for an update on the Accelerated Repair program, we learn that Harlow Street is getting a new roof, boiler, and windows. The recommendations for this year (which the Administration requests a vote on later in the agenda) are:

• Burncoat Preparatory School for Roof Replacement
• Lincoln Street School for Boiler Replacement
• Tatnuck Magnet School for Roof Replacement
• Worcester East Middle School for Roof Replacement

There is a really important note at the end of the above memo on Worcester East Middle: it is honestly in need of a major renovation, and it has, in past years, been submitted as a second choice after Burncoat (or third when Doherty was being submitted); it seems, however that the roof situation has grown urgent enough that it can't wait. It's being pulled from the major renovation/repair recommendation this year, and being submitted just for the roof (as Accelerated Repair only does roofs, windows, and boilers, and you can't submit the same building in both programs). EDIT: And here is the T&G on WEMS and the roof. The longer memo backing up the vote relates Worcester's history with the program. 

There is also, while we're on facilities, an item on SchoolDude usage, thus giving the administration yet another chance to remind us that the Worcester Public Schools only spends 60% of the foundation budget on facilities due to chronic underfunding of the foundation budget. Someone should ask for a compounded number on that one!

There is a response to a request, based on numerous teacher requests, that the "First Day Convening" be moved to allow teachers time in their classrooms; the response from the superintendent is that teachers have "ample time during the summer months to make these preparations." 

There is a four page response to several transporation items: note that the ten buses now being run by WPS have allowed, even with the substantial investment needed, for $194K to go back into the rest of the system. Also, if you've had transportation issues this year, you'll want to read the backup, as there may well be something there for you; it looks as though having the student bus passes distributed during the summer would have solved ours. Also, student data geeks rejoice: a SAGE sped transportation module! Good thing student data is handled in house! Also, it is worth noting that Durham apparently...isn't abiding by the contract. 

There is a response that all WPS employees are informed of public employees' participation in political activities and have been since August, and this report was in October. 

There is a request for approval for a prior year payment of $56,497 to CollegeBoard (no backup, so no idea what for). 

There is a request that K-3 parent conferences be held during the day.

There is a request for a report on the changes in the school nutrition regs.

There is a request for an update on the sex ed curriculum.

There is a request for changes in policy due to the changes in laws on marijuana (no need).

And there is the request from administration for allocation of the additional FY19 funding. (man, I hope they take some of these agenda items together!) The budget goes up by $3.4M for this current year!

In the ongoing idea that the handbook is supposed to be the same as the policy manual (it isn't; the handbook should be more specific), there's some changes proposed around the passed attendance, absence, and long term absences policies.

There is also an executive session for a grievance, two rounds of negotiations, and litigation.

Worcester School Committee meets Thursday, October 18

You can find the agenda here. There is again not a report of the superintendent (...are we going to talk about accountability at some point, here?). There are a number of recognitions.
Miss Biancheria has filed for reconsideration of her item on snow removal equipment (is she questioning the referral?).
Miss McCullough's item on on I'm Not Scared; I'm Prepared is back on the agenda (?).
Mr. Monfredo is requesting a report on cursive writing.
Because there are still a number of homeschooling families receiving run-around on getting their plans approved by the district (and with an utter lack of consistency), homeschooling plans are back on the agenda on an item filed by Mr. O'Connell.
As you may have read, the House Worcester 17th district race got a Worcester Public Schools crossover this week:

[17th Worcester district Republican candidate Paul] Fullen and Jeff Creamer, principal of South High, are pictured shaking hands with the front facade of South Community High School displayed prominently in the background. It also includes a plug from Creamer, which, importantly, attributes him as the principal.

Creamer is now vigorously denying that he ever endorsed Fullen, and Superintendent Binienda says that Creamer didn't ask what Fullen was going to do with the photo of he, a candidate for public office wearing a suit, shaking hands with Creamer, the principal of South High, in front of South High. Okay, then.
In any case, the item from Mr. Comparetto that made it on the agenda for Thursday reads:

Request that the Administration interact with the City Manager and City Solicitor to make certain that all City of Worcester employees are fully informed about the State's guidelines regarding appointed and public employees’ public participation in political fundraising efforts and endorsements.

...which would seem to be only part of the problem (as Binienda is saying that she understands this not to be a conflict, which in case can someone get an actual OCPF ruling?); the other problem (as Bill Shaner covered in "Worcesteria" in the first link) is the principal of a predominately children of color school has endorsed, in appears, a candidate with openly racist views. Training in campaign finance isn't all that's needed here; administrators in Massachusetts are in part evaluated on culturally proficient communication (indicator III C) and on cultural proficiency itself (indicator IV B), and while this is hardly the only indication that WPS has a serious issue on cultural proficiency, it certainly is an important additional one.

Mr. Comparetto also is asking about the cost of high stakes testing (any chance we could examine the USE of high-stakes testing, as well, since we seem to be doing a nice job of channelling a lot of privileged kids into "gifted" programs using them now?).

Miss Biancheria is asking about the use of In Force Technology which is software that allows teachers to call 911 directly in case of an emergency, per the item. (er...)  And here's that article again on how much money is being made on school safety in the current atmosphere.
Miss Biancheria also would like a report on environmental management, including the number of employees involved.

There are two requests for prior fiscal year payments: $200.00 to the Educational Development Center (EDC) Learning Transforming Lives for the 2018 Urban Collaborative Spring Meeting Registration and $1,150.00 to Taft Education Center for services rendered in FY18.

There are also two (BIG) grants: the Skills Capital Grant ($495,575) for robotics equipment at Worcester Tech, and $150,000 from the Barr Foundation for what looks like research on post-secondary success of WPS students, in connection with the strategic plan.

There is also executive session posted for negotiations with Plumbers and Steamfitters and with Tradesmen.

FY16 budget deliberations, account by account

The budget is here. The Table of Contents links to the page. Posting as we go

Boone: budget released on May 8, a couple of updates and key comments shared at City Council
budget assumes an increase that is entirely attibutable to enrollment
we're up almost 600 students in overall enrollment
over 700 special education, 800 in ELL
based on Seven Point Financial plan passed, new funds directed towards classroom and building student services and supports
reduction of third party contracted services
"The school department budget was approved on that night...first time that has happened during my time in Worcester"

Monfredo: "working as one city"
below the minimum on our foundation budget...continue to move forward to meet the foundation budget as required by law
high numbers in elementary schools
Kindergarten grant? Still on hold in the Senate?
Boone: letter to Senators...heard back from Moore
did not play out as he had hoped
budget in conference committee, House had included funding at level of 9C cuts
"we're very hopeful...and holding out hope"
funds 31 of our IAs in kindergarten classrooms

Custodial Salaries
O'Connell: recommendation to add three positions: where will they go?
Martin: back in same locations taken from: Norrback, Worcester Tech, and Sullivan/South split
Novick: numbers on utility crew?
Martin: feel numbers are sufficient; started drop shift directly to the schools
middle and high take care of lawn care; has been pretty successful so far
motion: report on staffing levels for school plant
Custodial overtime
O'Connell: budget increase of 2% over current year adopted
budget running $500,000 over this year: why? is it snow? or something else?
Allen: exactly related to winter, reported through F&O where greater than normal winter expenses that we've seen
recommendation thus only for 2% at this time
traditionally does go over, but generally offset by salaries
passes
Maintenance service salaries
Novick: saved money by bringing services in house
also improved service
passes
Maintenance service overtime
O'Connell: also follows same pattern
Allen: half of plow drivers out of this account
passes
Facilities OM
Novick: spending less than FY15 adopted, recommended to be less than that
actively looking for more money for this
Foley: 10% less than FY12 expenditure
"need to put more money into our buildings"
have made some strong improvement in our buildings
"still not enough money there to get the jobs done"
Monfredo: would like to hear from Mr. Allen on this
Allen: funding on foundation budget hitting us in this area
funding would come back into school districts if you follow recommendations of MassBudget
MASBO's recommendation would tie a target to each of the catagories
spending $14M below what foundation budget provides in operations and maintenance
Biancheria: ask that MSBA's announcement be reviewed
Boone...and our needs are still great
in our budget document we also map out our next several years of projects
passes
Building Utilities:
O'Connell: C, fuel oil assumption rate from last year: rates have changed
does admin know current spot price?
Allen: haven't checked recently, determined to level fund due to limited locations
O'Connell: Erate has changed on telephone
is that what the change is?
Allen: primarily, yes, as well as use of local funds for internet speeds increase
O'Connell: any line by line analysis of telephone usage? outside contractor?
Allen: purge or make changes as needed
O'Connell: Motions: contact Spyglass to review....look at that as option for savings funds
reduce fuel oil by $5000
reduce telephone by $10000
Monfredo: after July 1 do we bid for fuel oil contracts?
Allen: city contract, work with city, based on spot price that they've purchased
Monfredo: get it through the city
Foley: purchasing requirements of state, would have to go out to bid, not one vendor
Allen:splitting savings is bidable expense
Foley: we cannot determine a company to work with
we'd all like to see money going to
don't have enough money going into IT areas in schools; necessary upgrade to our district's connectivity
on fuel oil, it's a real roll of the dice
Allen: could talk to the city in the meantime and come back with a recommendation
HOLD of account of Building Utilities and of motions for June 18

Vehicle Maintenance
Novick: snow wear and tear?
Allen: have not replaced plows in a couple of years
shared plowing?
ongoing discussions with city and schools
not at a point on those conversations have concluded
anticipate that the next phase of conversations would anticipate those topics
Boone: state trucks helped with large schools during snow emergency
O'Connell: price on gas?
Allen: $2.33 til end of year $2.92 for calendar year
O'Connell: no adjustments
Allen: fixed rate
Monfredo: motion to approve
passes

Transportation salaries
O'Connell: sped bus monitors: recommendation to increase by about 5%: why?
Allen: collective bargaining agreement included a new maximum step
approved
Transportation overtime
Foley: approve
Transportation
Petty: are we saving money because gas prices are down?
Allen: yes, have a credit due to price of fuel
was already included in third quarter
Transportation
Novick: McKinney-Vento goes to city general fund
Novick: WRTA?
Allen: talked about impact made several year ago with elimination of discount and transfer
discussion about differentiated student rate
proposal submitted to WRTA
O'Connell: do we use routing software?
Hennessey: Versitran
O'Connell: have we requested a legal opinion on reimbursement of McK-V?
Allen: DESE has made it clear that barring a statute change, goes back to the city's general fund
Monfredo: is this the general practice in all of Massachusetts?
Allen: practice of it being recognized a general receipt is, but how those then are disbursed is different
"if there's 350 school districts, I'd guess there's 350 ways of that being done"
Boone; this and Medicaid subject to varying practices across the state
Monfredo asks if we can discuss with city
Biancheria: mentioned looking at discount rates for bus passes
Allen: single use or swipe passes, looking to expand services
any purposes would be subject to negotiations
Biancheria: sometimes using grant funds for transportation, could bring funds back to those
motion to be kept up to date on proposal with WRTA
Allen: absolutely, discussion of if cost savings or if more students accessing programs
could be that it allows us to purchase more tickets with same funds
Biancheria: would a letter help? Not yet
Monfredo: motion to discuss McK-V in shared committee
Ramirez:; WRTA more stops, more access, might be a great time to combine with the college level
approved
SC salaries passes
crossing guards:
Novick: why three crossing guards for Worcester Tech but none for any other secondary schools? All others at elementary schools
"because of the traffic flow and pattern, guards on Belmont Street"
Biancheria: suggestion due to traffic on Belmont when school was opened
O'Connell: recollection is exactly mine
passes
School clerical salaries:
Monfredo: any intent to bring up to higher levels?
Boone: 7 point financial plan, realignments during that time
some ways in which we do business have been streamlined as well
does increase a couple of needs across the district, but not a wholesale adjustment of where we were
Monfredo: need to be sure 2ndary needs met
approved
Other insurance programs
O'Connell: city self-insuring, has city ever done analysis
Allen: had an in-depth review a few years ago, recommended to continue, fairly comprehensive analysis done
O'Connell: recommendation still?
Allen: little had changed between 2003 and most recent analysis, would not expect any since
approved
Retirement: approved
Workers comp:
O'Connell: can understand reason for expenditures over FY15, could we backtrack further, or do we need adjustments for more
Allen: our budget either reflects or is still below actual spending going back to 2012
going forward, we're not yet in a position where that would result in a significant reductions
O'Connell: some of our payments were from those we might have expected to make into the future
look at this account at some point in the future
looking ahead this year and in future years
motion for a review of projected workers comp in F&O
passes
Health insurance passes
Unemployment "another reason to be grateful we aren't laying people off"
O'Connell: how much we've spent in years when we haven't been laying people off?
Allen: in terms of history, only the second time in my twelve years that we haven't laid people off due to budget reasons "so that would be kind of a short report"
have reviewed those who were possibly being laid off
O'Connell: could look back at years when we've had no layoffs
if there might not be any potential savings
Monfredo asks for it in our next budget sessions
Foley: numbers based on historic perspectives: this is a projection
once we get back to second quarter, we'll have a better perspective
look halfway through year
passes
Educational support salaries
passes
Printing and Postage
Novick: downtown copy center was an attempt to save on printing at schools
how's it working?
Allen: can't quantify savings yet, but saving costs and wear and tear on school machines
also saving jobs for reprints
Biancheria: any catalog of jobs?
not yet
passes
In State travel
passes
Out of State travel
Biancheria: "I know it's small dollars..if we're looking at out of state travel...as we receive notices for out-of-state travel...benefit of having those funded through grants"
would we go back up to the $5000...motion to reduce to $3000
Boone: as you recall from a couple of years ago, travel that goes beyond that grant funded
"there are times that our work can't occur within the district and within the state"
"could find ourselves not able to participate in key conferences for the district"
Biancheria: restates the motion
Luster: did not expend full amount as we received a grant for recruiting as were presenters
not foreseeable that we would receive the benefit of such funding for the forthcoming year
O'Connell: many of the travel arrangements under grants and Title IIA
push expenditures off budget
Novick calls for roll call
Petty: not likely to receive that grant?
Luster: no, we were guests this year
roll call: motion fails, 4-3
Day by Day subs
Novick: how are we doing with recruiting?
Luster; doing quite well, juniors in college now eligible
recruiting done in our colleges and universities
Monfredo: "that is a low, low number" of the pay
Luster; "our goal to provide a substitute for all absences"
O'Connell: what percentage of coverage we seek for our substitute?
Luster: about 78%, can get figure
Biancheria: have day by day and long term subs
have IAs that cover classrooms, as well, and their salaries vary when that occurs
do we know when that occurs?
"our IAs work very hard when they are in a classroom...is there a time frame on how their salary varies?"
Luster: based on half-hour intervals: $2.92 per half hour (says Allen)
Luster comments that Boone has concern on having IAs doing that, as IAs have a job in the building
"it's a very delicate balance that we walk"
differential substantial
approve
Supplemental program salaries
...lots of questions here for me...
Biancheria: what will happen next year?
Boone: this is not the full cost; the remainder is the city NSS page
exactly what has occured is what is occuring
community policing model, head off potential incidents
working on that through the early part of the summer, sooner rather than later
RFP for a security audit, looking for input on interaction with policing in our schools
"can't do it without them"
Biancheria: how does NSS amount count?
Allen: city charges us the equivalent costs for what it costs them, up and above the $125,000 in he budget
eligible city cost towards net school spending
Biancheria: "talking nearly half a million dollars"
"at no time has it gone up"
Allen: city adds it on to the charge on an annual basis
different amounts depending on the salaries of the officers assigned, also now does not include benefits
take into account city provided that we don't have to pay for
Boone: budget amount hasn't shifted, but increase gets accounted for the total package
Biancheria: AP program,
then Creamer program, Reach and Challenge isn't in this program: not included in this account
Allen: this represents non-day programs at Creamer Center
this is contractual $35/hour beyond school day for next year
Biancheria: shift in administration of Creamer
Boone: happened several years ago, not this year
core salary positions are in the teacher and so forth accounts; this is only over and above that
Ramirez: credit recovery at Creamer only during day?
Rodrigues: yes at Creamer, other chances in other schools,
O'Connell: translator coordinator in C; combination of services and person's job
Allen agrees
O'Connell: are we having success in the areas we need
Allen: funds employees providing these services, Personnel services is for contracted services out
O'Connell: community schools not a high priority?
Boone: wouldn't call it a lack of priority, community school model had not been implemented for a number of years
will be evaluated and fully implemented (it is hoped) at Elm Park as part of Level 4 plan
framed and shaped in a way for Elm Park and its needs, plus learn from practices on community schools for others to use in some way
O'Connell: could consider next year?
Boone: would not commit to a one year plan
O'Connell: could be a progress report for next year
Boone: as always for Level 4 schools
O'Connell: crisis prevention training?
Allen: put into staff development account last year
motion for a report on Worcester Future Teachers Academy
also report on community schools
Boone: work ongoing as part of Level 4
Foley: confused, typically those items are referred to budget, not to subcommittee
Monfredo: confused about Worcester Future Teachers, cost to live in dorms waived
Allen: yes, funding was out of two accounts, funding restored in other account
Monfredo: library processing: why difference?
Allen: change in personnel that did service, no change in workload or service
Petty: adult ed is that Night Life?
Allen: Night Life is a revolving account (self-funded)
Petty: would like to know our vision for adult ed going forward, as needed for immigrants into city
approved
athletic coaches taken together with athletic OM
to allow Mr. Shea to go home, the Mayor notes, to a reaction from the bullpen
Novick: anyone playing outside of typical gender divisions?
Shea: not right now, have been boys who played field hockey in the past
O'Connell: no cheerleader team at Burncoat
Shea: girls at Burncoat are in dance team...not interested
Biancheria: volleyball dropped?
Allen: funding lines up with actual costs
Biancheria: supplies has been level funded: are you finding that it is working out?
Shea: very creative in funding supplies and equipment: Hall of Fame fundraiser, individual school fundraising, DA's office
"there's always going to be a need to replenish over the years"
Biancheria asks for clarification on school choice funding
Allen: in FY14 and prior, school choice used to offset teacher salaries
for FY15, used for coaches and OM to fund fully
school choice for FY16 used for partial funding of this account
Biancheria: can we be informed?
Allen: if anything changes from here, would be in second or probably third quarter report
approved
and that's it for this week!

Upcoming Finance and Operations subcommittee

Now posted: Finance and Operations subcommittee meeting on Monday, March 16 at 6 pm in the 4th floor conference room at DAB.
The agenda isn't out yet, but it will definitely be the 2nd quarter report (which will be hits from both the Governor's budget cuts and the SNOW) and (possibly?) the school calendar for 2016 and beyond. Mark your calendar if those are of interest!

Reville "best way to get attendance at a school committee meeting is to threaten to change the school day and year" #MaEdu
— Tracy Novick (@TracyNovick) February 26, 2015

Back to school tomorrow! Evening update from the Superintendent

We've just received the following from Superintendent Boone:

​Good evening!

This winter seems relentless! If it's not the snow then the frigid temperatures are dominating the weather. February vacation gave us the much needed time to complete snow cleanup on grounds following a very historic three weeks of snow. Obviously, roof capacity and loads due to snow accumulation has been a focus and concern. Last week, visual inspections were conducted at all by buildings by our structural engineer. We took action based on his recommendations. An outside contractor was hired to remove snow from buildings where necessary. Removal continued through yesterday. In addition, our staff removed snow where needed, including the modular units. Snow removal has been ongoing on those units following each significant storm. The City Inspector continues to inspect the structural integrity of modular units.

The Facilities and Operations leadership and staff have planned the work in a very efficient manner and conducted all necessary visual inspections and removal in a very effective manner. City Manager Augustus also made DPW support available to support our snow removal efforts at some of our schools. Based on the above actions, schools are ready to open under normal operating status tomorrow morning!

To date, nine school days have been missed due to snow and/or dangerous temperatures with the last day of school now set for June 25, 2015. We are preparing a recommendation to the School Committee on options to makeup the missed days and to be prepared should the weather necessitate additional missed days. The Commissioner of DESE issued general statements and guidance and we will be following up with the department to finalize our recommendation.

The forecast for tomorrow does not include precipitation but the arctic blast returns!!! Please stay warm and walk/drive carefully because today's melting will refreeze over night.

As always, please feel free to contact us should you have questions or need additional information.

Melinda

And if you're keeping track on snow

...the race for snowiest cities (over 100,000), last night Worcester pulled ahead of Buffalo and now is only 1.4 inches behind Erie, PA.

Update from City Manager Augustus

We've just received the following from City Manager Augustus via Superintendent Boone:

Worcester Prepares for another Winter Storm

City has received more than five feet of snow in past two weeks

WORCESTER – Following two weeks of historic snowfall, another major winter storm is bearing down on Worcester and the city is reminding residents of the ongoing winter parking ban and urging caution during both of Monday's commutes. 

The National Weather Service is forecasting a prolonged winter storm, the first band of which has already dropped several inches of snow on Worcester. By the end of the storm, expected sometime Tuesday, Worcester can expect about 19 inches of snow.

Forecasters are not predicting high winds, and power outages are not expected to be a major concern in and around Worcester.

City Manager Edward Augustus, Worcester Public Schools Superintendent Melinda Boone and key staff members from the city's Department of Public Works, Emergency Management and the City Manager's Office met by conference call Sunday afternoon to coordinate the city’s response. 

Worcester Public Schools will be closed on Monday. The Durkin Administration Building will be open. The WRTA will be in service. The Worcester Senior Center will be closed to the public. City Hall, the Worcester Public Library and other municipal buildings will remain open.

Trash and recycling will be collected Monday on the usual schedule.

More than five feet of snow has covered Worcester over the past 14 days, presenting an unprecedented challenge for the city's residents and snow removal crews. Worcester's 63.5 inches of snow in the past 14 days is possibly an all-time record for the city, the National Weather Service says.

The Department of Public Works had roughly 335 pieces of equipment out on the roads early Sunday, clearing an initial 2-4 inches of snow. The plowing was complete around noon Sunday, and plow operators were sent home to rest up and get ready for the next round of snowfall. Roughly 35 salt trucks stayed on to treat the city's main lines this afternoon. When the snow starts again Sunday night into Monday, Worcester expects to have about 350 to 375 pieces of equipment on the roads. 

During the height of the storm, the city's focus will be on keeping major routes open for public safety and emergency response vehicles. Commuters should give themselves extra time for both the morning and evening drives.

Teams from the city and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency have been working, as late as this weekend, to remove and haul snow from some of the large snow banks around major routes through the city. But many large piles still exist around the city, and drivers are urged to use caution when pulling out into intersections.

The declared parking ban remains in place. Vehicles are not allowed to park on the city’s major streets, bus routes, or any street downtown. Parking on other streets is restricted to the odd-numbered side, unless otherwise posted. Check the city’s website for details about a particular street. Tow crews were out removing illegally parked cars Sunday morning, and they will again be towing Sunday night to ensure the streets are clear for the plows.

City Manager Augustus has again waived the fee to park at municipal garages, starting at 3 p.m. Sunday into Monday morning. This will allow residents to move their cars off the streets, helping plows clear snow and saving drivers from a lot of shoveling.

Wednesday update from Superintendent Boone

We've just received the following from the Superintendent:

​​Good evening!

Today was a full day dedicated to assessing and intervening to ready our schools for reopening. Brian Allen and Jeff Martin spent almost the entire day surveying the status of each school campus. Most of our schools are in really good shape with just some minor cleanup required. There are several of our larger campuses that need major plowing and several other campuses need entrances widened along with parking lot cleanup. The modular unit inspections will occur tomorrow with support from the city's Inspectional Services staff. We conduct these inspections following the accumulation of significant snowfall on those roofs.

At the invitation of City Manager Augustus, we participated in a conference call with various department heads discussing the city's recovery and cleanup efforts. We were able to inform the group of the work underway in WPS and to discuss thoughts around our decision making process regarding school status. City Manager Augustus and his team continue to provide collaborative and direct support to assist in our preparation to reopen schools.

In addition to the final work that is needed on our campuses, we have provided information to the city regarding the monumental snow mounds on corners which can pose safety hazards for walkers to school as drivers may not see students over those mounds and students may have to step into intersections to see if it is clear to cross the street.  The widening of side streets that is underway by the city will definitely support our buses that have to navigate streets to complete routes.​

The statement we've coined this week is that historic snowfall results in herculean efforts to clean up! Our WPS staff are giving that herculean effort and the collaboration with the city makes the heavy lifting a little less stressful! Moving 34.5 inches of snow is no minor task especially when you multiply that by 44+ campuses!!!

Schools are closed tomorrow and we're hopeful that the extra day for both the schools and the city to improve travel and access will allow us to open schools on Friday. I will make that determination tomorrow afternoon. The forecast for additional snow tomorrow night through Monday has us watching forecasts very closely!

Continue to be safe as you travel to and from and as you continue cleanup efforts in your homes! Please feel free to contact us should you have questions.

Update from Superintendent Boone

Earlier this evening, the School Committee received the following from Superintendent Boone:

The Blizzard of 2015 is holding on and not letting go of its grip!  Our snow plow crew has been working all night and throughout most of the day to keep emergency access open to our schools during the storm. Obviously, this is a very difficult storm to stay ahead of due to the winds creating major drifting of the snow. We are also currently experiencing one of the heavy snow bands that is increasing our snow fall total!
We have been working very closely with the city's Emergency Operations Team and DPW. City Manager Augustus and I have been in regular contact throughout the planning for and now through the storm itself. We supported WTHS as an emergency shelter and  provided a custodian, nutrition helper and nurse onsite. The city closed that school as a shelter at approximately 1:30 pm today.
Due to the ongoing storm and what will be significant cleanup requirements, schools are closed tomorrow for WPS. If the travel ban for Worcester County is lifted by 6:00 am tomorrow morning, DAB will open on a two hour delay. I wanted to be sure that full year employees would have ample time to clear snow to allow them to head to work tomorrow safely and not attempt to rush for early opening.  If the travel ban is not lifted by 6:00 am tomorrow morning, DAB will be closed. This information has been sent out via Connect Ed messaging, provided to TV and print media, posted on Facebook, Twitter and the district's website.(Note: as the travel ban ends at midnight, that means DAB opens on a two hour delay tomorrow.)
I am so appreciative of the efforts by facilities and operations leadership and staff in helping us successfully navigate what will be an historic weather event for our city! Thanks also to City Manager Augustus and all of the city's leadership in what has been great collaboration throughout this storm.
My next update will be sometime tomorrow after the full impact of the storm on the schools has been determined and to provide information on school operating status. Stay safe and warm!

EDIT: activities AFTER 6 PM cancelled

Due to the impending snowstorm, all evening activities (AFTER 6 PM!) for the Worcester Public Schools are cancelled.
Also, the Board of Ed meetings for tonight and tomorrow have likewise been cancelled.

There'll be no school tomorrow

Due to the forecast of heavy snow, the Worcester Public Schools will be CLOSED on Wed, Feb 5, 2014.  The Head Start Program is also closed.

For those keeping track, this brings the last day of school to June 18.

text an uncleared sidewalk

the suggestion is going to the City Manager

Finance and Operations: Capital equipment

report on capital equipment
Bedard: process
"critical path"
snowblower going down at a school is critical need (unlike a lawnmower, which can wait a day and be borrowed from another school)
replace six snowblowers a year (for 44 schools and 50 buildings and 394 acres)
parking lots plowed with pickups
"needed to ensure safety"
Novick: what would a reasonable budget look like?
if our snowblowers go down, we can't open the school
work with city, DPW, others on clearing?
Motion for a "reasonable budget" in a report for discussion with Joint committee

Two hour delay on Wednesday, January 22

Worcester Public Schools will open on a TWO HOUR DELAY today.

There is no morning preschool. Afternoon preschool will be held as usual.  

Be safe out there!

Here's the next MSBA list:

...which we're getting tonight (and then full Committee, and then Council):

For major renovation and rehab:

• South High
• Burncoat High
• Doherty High

For 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

Other things that need to be fixed (but aren't going to MSBA because they don't rise to the ):

•School Safety Equipment
• Heard Street Roof
• Vernon Hill Masonry
• Jacob Hiatt Masonry
• WEMS Boiler Room Repairs*
• Roosevelt School Walk-in Cooler Repairs
• Parent Information Center Boiler
• Underground Storage Tank Removal
• Playgrounds Maintenance & Repair
• Replace All Modular Units
• Univent Repair
• Facilities Equipment for Buildings

"I pretty much guarantee that tomorrow's snowstorm is going to kill our remaining snowplow equipment..." which is on a fifteen year replacement cycle.

MCAS Long Composition postponed

I haven't gotten this from downtown yet, but Boston.com is reporting that MCAS Long Composition is postponed until Monday. 


AND here it is from the state:

In anticipation of severe weather that may result in numerous school closings and delayed openings tomorrow, Tuesday, March 19 (which is the date scheduled for the MCAS ELA Composition test), the Department has decided to postpone the administration of the MCAS ELA Composition test until Monday, March 25.

All schools must administer the ELA Composition test to students in grades 4, 7, and 10 on Monday, March 25, including schools that are not affected by the weather. We realize that this change may be disruptive for some schools, but for security reasons it is critical that all schools administer the ELA Composition on the same day. Even schools that are unaffected by the storm must wait until Monday, March 25, to administer the test.

Note that this ONLY affects the Long Composition; the rest of this week's testing will go forward as scheduled!

What about the MCAS? UPDATE (1)

Tomorrow is the fourth grade long composition: what will happen if there is no school?
I asked; I'll post once I hear!

UPDATE 1: The administration expects to hear something from the state today on this. The fourth grade composition is scheduled to take place statewide tomorrow, so...

School committee also cancelled

The Worcester School Committee meeting for tonight is also cancelled.

After school activities cancelled for this afternoon.

All after school activities are cancelled for this afternoon.