Now there's a headline you won't see most places

 I had to darkly laugh when I saw this headline in the T&G last week:

headline reads
"City Council passes 90-day parking ban near Worcester elementary school"

...I mean, do you like being an elected official?

TLSS meeting: notes

agenda is here

Worcester School Committee meets Thursday

The Worcester School Committee meets this Thursday, September 3. You can find the agenda here. 
We'll have the opening of school report at our next meeting, I'm told, once we get the numbers clear.
Our student reps are back! Looking forward to their contributions!

It's the hiring report! Thus while face of the agenda doesn't look very long, here's what the School Committee, with backup, version looks like:

And yes, I'll read every page! Thanks to the HR department for getting the information together!

We have a reponse on clearing up the grounds at City View (it happened).
We have a couple of responses coming from our budget session: the first clears up Miss Biancheria's query regarding the IT department; the third describes the school fruit and vegetable grant. The middle one is pretty interesting, as it deliniates school security spending. As you can see in the backup, more than double the designated school security budget is spent on security from the facilities budget. That's over and above what is spent on security out of the safety budget. 
We have the (now graduated) Doherty students coming to talk to us about their mentoring proposal.
We have recognitions for Mock Trial, for the library foundation awards, for the Boys and Girls Club awards, for Melissa Watson and the 1000 Watts barber shop, and for Mr. Twiss and the Burncoat Madrigals.
We're being asked to accept a donation from the Emerald Club for iPads for Belmont Street School.
We're being reminded of International Walk to School Day (October 7) and Manufacturing Day (October 2).
And we're being asked to appoint four school nurses.
There is NO executive session this week.

7 pm, City Hall!

Meetings next week

Meetings up next week:

• The Board of Ed has their June meeting at 8:30 on Tuesday morning in Malden. The agenda is here: the big item on the agenda is the annual evaluation of the Commissioner. There's also an update on Lawrence, on Holyoke, on Level 5 schools, on the FY16 budget, on PARCC, on breakfast in the classroom. There's also a presentation on the new definition of low income that depends on enrollment in other programs (not free and reduced lunch) to encourage districts to participate in community eligibility (for universal free lunch); at some point I should do a post on this, because it's going to miss kids, and, while I admire the motivation, I think it's a bad idea.
• Also meeting on Tuesday morning, this at 10 at the State House, is the Foundation Budget Review Commission. And this is tough, because I can't be in both places at once. Anyone want to liveblog the BoE for me? They should be passing language on special ed and on health insurance and setting their priorities for the remaining time til their final report in the fall. 
• At 5:30 pm on Tuesday, there is a meeting of the Teaching, Learning, and Student Supports subcommittee. You can find the agenda here. We have an update on the curriculum review process (specifically math);  a report on Safe Routes to Schools; and an update on the new elementary report card pilot.

Also? It's the last week of school! School is out for the summer on Thursday!

International Walk to School day is Wednesday, October 8!

Plan to celebrate with us on Wednesday, October 8! 

Worcester School Committee meets September 18

The Worcester School Committee has its regularly scheduled meeting this Thursday, September 18, at 7 pm at City Hall. You can find the agenda here.
First up, recognitions! Worcester Tech English teacher Caitlin McCarthy is being recognized for her Kathleen Roberts Creative Leadership Award from the MTA. Ms. McCarthy was recognized for her work on diethylstilbestrol (DES) (a synthetic estrogren) and its impact on those who have been exposed in utero. For more on that, see here. 
We had a great event this summer, seeing some nice work at Worcester East Middle School's library, due to their librarian Sarah Kopka and the grant she received from Heart of America. That, with volunteers from AbbVie, led to a lovely library!
Jennifer Cordero, a student at Doherty, was selected for the Hispanic Youth Research and Leadership program at the University of New Mexico.
And the Worcester Bravehearts baseball team, along with others, instructed some of our youth in solar and STEM topics this summer.

The report of the Superintendent is (my personal favorite) the opening of school report! The presentation is not yet posted. Should you want to know how the beginning of school went, or all those numbers that go into running a system of 25,000 students, this is the report for you!

"Worcester: the City That Reads and Smiles!" kicks off on October 3. We're going to be hearing from Jen Carey on that during the meeting. 
A recommendation from Mr. O'Connell coming in that we acknowledge the late Rep. Binienda.
Mr. O'Connell wants to try out standing desks. 


We have this great list of facilities work that was done over the summer. 

We are being asked to approve three grants: one for $16,500 from the Mass Biotechnology Education Foundation for science equipment for Worcester East Middle School; $15,000 from the Verizon Foundation for STEM education for grade 5; and $31,200 for "professional development innovation" from the state (I don't know what that last one means, either, but I'll ask.)


Mr. Monfredo is asking about additional bullying prevention programs for October, and the bowling club at Tech. 
I'm asking that we give our student advisory council space on the agenda. 

And it's INTERNATIONAL WALK TO SCHOOL DAY on October 8; please plan to celebrate!

Miss Ramirez proposes honoring Candles to Crayons.
Ms. Biancheria is asking for a review of procedures for kindergartners getting on and off buses.

We're being asked to approve school year calendars through 2018! 
We're being asked to approve the appointment of a nurse.

And we have two items in executive session (which starts at 6, which is going to be interesting, as the City Council now has a meeting at 5:30): collective bargaining with nurses, and an update on litigation. 

Here come the marathon meetings: School Committee meets June 5

The first of our two long ones is this coming Thursday, June 5.
Remember that our June meetings are effectively double-headers: budget at 4, regular session at 7.
Thus, beginning at 4pm, we will be considering the FY15 Worcester Public Schools budget, beginning with the School Committee account (for our salaries, set by city charter) and continuing on from there.
We'll break at six for our executive session, and come back at 7pm for the regular agenda.

On the agenda:

• honoring the teacher of the year and finalists (as announced last night)
• recognizing the students who are going to the international DECA conference
• The report of the Superintendent is the mid-cycle report (no back-up as yet...)
• We have a boatload of recognitions and congratulations on this agenda, so I'd recommend you take a look at them all!
• And speaking of which, we are being asked to vote acceptance of the donations from EOS for our universal school breakfast programs. 
• We're being asked to accept the $75,000 state planning grant for Claremont Academy's innovation plan.
• We're being asked to accept the $51,753 state grant for math and science (which looks like it's for professional development? But I'll ask).
• We're being asked to accept the $94,292 state grant for academic support and learning (which is for getting kids to pass MCAS? I think?).
• We have the annual request that the Superintendent be allowed the discretion to transfer funds as needed within the budget to close the fiscal year.
• Mr. O'Connell wants to review the second grade pedestrian safety training with an eye to expansion (as yet it's a pilot). 
• He's also, per the opinion received this week from the Mass Association of School Committees that this is a policy decision, suggesting that the Worcester School Committee vote to use the MCAS rather than the PARCC next spring. The early submission deadline on that is June 30.
• I have three items, all asking that we look at what it would mean to bump back secondary school start times (through the research, through the impact on teaching and learning, and through operations), all heading off to subcommittees.
• And I've asked for what the calculation would look like if the foundation budget funded actual enrollment of special education, rather than the flat percentage that it does now.

Safe routes

query from Ms. Biancheria about safe routes to walk to school
Rodrigues reports that there is an active group working on this issue, has three pilot schools that are working on this
reporting back from task force
goes to Administration

And today in City business

Things you only discover by reading the City Council agenda:

• apparently, there's going to be a ribbon cutting for the new library at Roosevelt Elementary on October 30. No, we still don't have answers on security, hiring, review of personnel, cleaning, ownership, or long-term funding, but yes, there's going to be a ribbon cutting. 
• a pilot on Safe Routes to Schools is kicking off tomorrow at Canterbury, Vernon Hill, and Grafton Street tomorrow, which is International Walk to School Day!

And I hope you're celebrating that, if you can!

October 9 is International Walk to School Day!

And you are hereby encouraged by Mayor Petty to observe it!

Worcester School Committee meeting tonight!

Sorry for the late agenda review here...
The Worcester School Committee meets tonight at 7 pm at City Hall. You can find the agenda here.
In addition to the substantive issues coming out of subcommittee regarding the policy manual, we are also:

• recognizing the Boston Globe Scholastic Art and Writing award winners
• getting a short presentation on the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council
• voting (one assumes) to open negotiations with the EAW (for tutors, assistants, IAs, and parent liaisons) and with the MNA (for nurses)
• getting (in addition to Governance) reports out from Accountability and from Finance and Operations.  
• hearing back from Columbus Park on naming their auditorium
• setting dates for a number of recognitions
• accepting a donation from St. John's church for iPads at Union Hill 
• accepting a grant from Johnson & Johnson 
• sending the (now annual) school lunch increase off to F&O
• asking for a report on summer programs
• asking for a report on pedestrian issues (crosswalks, signage) around schools
• considering awarding diplomas to veterans whose military service interrupted their completion of school
• requesting training for our principals for the new regs on suspension
• And (love this one) asking that the City Manager put back the star in front of City Hall where Isaiah Thomas read the Declaration of Independence! (before it was read in Boston...just saying!)

7 pm, City Hall!

It's spring Walk/Bike to School Day!

Tomorrow is spring Walk/Bike to School Day, and it looks as though it should be GORGEOUS! Plan to walk or bike if you can!

Yes, we are open tomorrow

From WPS administration:

Today’s cancellation because of slippery road conditions allowed schools extra time to clear parking lots and walkways around the school.

As we return to school, and for the next several weeks until there is significant melting, we ask parents for a little patience as bus travel may be slowed in areas of narrow streets. We also ask parents to remind children to be extra cautious on any street where snow piles force them to walk on the street. There are areas throughout the city, particularly at street corners, where it may be difficult for drivers to see students crossing the street.

We are eager to get back to school but want everyone to use extreme caution while getting themselves to and from the schools

Sunday evening update from City Manager O'Brien

Can be found here:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/3sbjtz82xgx3hq4/Feb%20Storm%20Response%20Update%20_5.pdf

No school tomorrow, plow operations ongoing citywide. Please get your sidewalks clear but STAY SAFE! Hospitals are reporting increased numbers of injuries from shoveling.

Worcester School Committee will start...

soon...
Excellent rendition of the National Anthem by the South High Community Band!
Also, recognizing International Walk to School Day on October 3! Walk or bike to school on that day (and any day!)
And thanking the DCU for collecting instruments for the Worcester Public Schools through Barry Manilow's effort!

Crosswalk need repainting?

We're putting together a list of crosswalks near schools that need repainting. If you've got one, drop me a line.

Transportation isn't only about cars

...but you'd think that was all that matters from the current Transportation bill before the House.
Speaking as a School Committee in a community where we have entire schools that get there by walking, this is insane. 
Please get in touch with your reps and tell them that walking and biking are transportation, too. Ask them to support the Petri amendment.

Plan on walking to school

National Walk to School Day is October 5 this year!

Worcester School Committee meeting Thursday

There will be a regular meeting of the Worcester School Committee this coming Thursday at 4 (NOTE THE TIME!) pm at City Hall. You can find the agenda here.
The Superintendent's report this month is on school choice.
Teaching, Learning, and Student Supports is also reporting out.
There are also several items coming back with reports (some dating back to Mayor Lukes!): elementary National Honor Society, cell phone use by school bus drivers, update on capital needs, funding of the Clark Masters' program, continuing of CPR training, security cameras at South High.
There are also a number of new items filed by members (it's been a bit since we've had a regular meeting!): signing onto the NSBA's waiver request (of which more later), National Walk to School Day, second round Promise Neighborhoods grants, increasing mileage (which we are required to do; going up four and a half cents!), update on North, looking at summer reading, considering outside signage on buildings, reviewing emergency management, reviewing the hiring of principals, sending someone off to the state school committee conference in the fall.
Again, 4pm Thursday at City Hall, and also on Channel 11.

Crosswalks

Biancheria is asking that they be repainted
The mayor comments that Councilor Toomey has an item filed on this, and we might consult with the City Clerk about that item.