Worcester School Committee meets Thursday, January 5

The agenda is here.
The report of the superintendent is on MCAC college application day.
There are a few resignations and appointments.
The ongoing saga of there no longer being civil service exams for custodians continues.
Administration is back with a neat little spreadsheet comparing the cost of legal services; the Worcester Public Schools' amount is average (by percent of district spending). It may be worth noting here that Worcester doesn't charge back an amount for use of the city solicitor's office for legal services. Also, I'm curious about Boston's revolving fund.
Worcester won't be submitting an application to the MSBA Information Technology Loan program, as the district has maxed out its Erate amount and so isn't eligible.
In response to Miss Biancheria's request for an update on window projects, the committee has a full update on summer/fall facilities work. 
There is a response on the evaluation of principals (not a lot of detail; mostly who does it).
Mr. O'Connell is looking for information regarding the "successor agreement," which I'm assuming is the updated settlement with the Department of Justice; I'd heard there was one, but I haven't seen it or any mention of it anywhere. 
He's also looking for updated school websites.
There are a series of recognitions (someone may want to make a call about who gets music played during committee meetings and who doesn't...?) and requests for acceptance of a series of donations.
Mr. Monfredo would like to raise substitute pay to $85 a day in the next fiscal year.

There is also an executive session on PCBs (again) and a grievance.

CPPAC

Superintendent Boone:
look forward to being here in September and talk about what's exciting and connect with you
throughout the year, members of the district leadership team will be here
CPPAC expo: see programs showcased, give parents a chance to see what's going on
"Great opening of schools"
today was tenth day of school
had heat issues last week as well as this week: principals pay attention to the conditions; water available to all students;
situations in particular schools with windows being replaced
use DPH guidelines on heat and humidity: have never reached that
have had uncomfortable areas
"if we send the students home, we send them in many cases to conditions similar to where they were leaving"
very pleased with what's happening in our schools
monitoring enrollment numbers: enrollment increases after Labor Day
look at enrollment by classroom and by school
report to SC next year on general trend on enrollment
MSBA projects done this summer: West Tatnuck, Clark Street, Union Hill
windows still left to be done at Goddard being done overnight and evening
"see what a real difference that new windows and doors make"
Community Eligibility program: free lunch and breakfast to every child in WPS
encourage your children to participate in this program
balances will be refunded if you like
we are in this for several years; USDA supported
free and reduced lunch status used for many things
working on the quality of our meals; hired a chef last year to work on food quality
school safety: schools are safe
things sometimes happen in our schools
headlines in our schools unfortunately grow legs and tentacles and take a life their own
broad view of safety (as heat, above)
only shift was end of last year was deployment of police liaisons
in conversation with the national school resource officer association
they are not there as armed sentries, not as first line
support school administration when called upon
two additional officers for 7-12 schools and middle schools
"very exciting with what has happened with our liaisons"
school safety audit: review policies, practices, and procedures to see what we're doing well and where there are gaps
we have a number of steps in place
date has closed on RFPs, then reviews take place
15 of our schools (1/3) will be reviewed; schools in every segment and type
all to be reviewed
addressing safety in a broad based and authorative manner
IB school: leadership position is posted, will be named soon
International Baccalaureate program to be put in place
Still figuring out where to put it for now; affiliated with Doherty, still looking at space options
FY16: delegation aided us in returning the Quality Kindergarten grant, funding 22 of our IAs in kindergarten
balanced budget based on enrollment growth
"do we have everything we need? Absolutely not."
end of staffing that we held for enrollment
waiting for Foundation Budget Review Commission coming out in November
what will they recommend to the Governor and Legislature
"strongly urge you to stay tuned into the Foundation Budget Review Commission"
will take voice of parents to push that
Central Mass Recovery High School: opiate issue is not demographic specific
only region of the state that did not have a recovery high school was central Mass
took at long time for the state to issue the RFR
opened on August 26 the first recovery high school
students to suggest some names for the school
ribbon cutting coming this fall
"not one of those places where if you slip, we put you out"
going back into the recovery mode
a health crisis, see it across all demographics
opiate addiction through athletic injury and availability in the home
majority of students enrolled have been through organizations providing care or direct referral by families

CPPAC note: it always meets the second Wednesday of the month at 7 pm. Generally meetings are at the Worcester Public Library. For October, however, CPPAC will be hosting a forum for the candidates for School Committee, place TBA.

School readiness report

...which is not online yet...
Facilities, HR, School safety, program modifications

Nearly all new windows in at Clark St., West Tatnuck, and Union Hill. Doing doorways, all interior work finishing in second shift
Goddard continues after school starts during second shift. Some will temporarily be boarded up and have fans and small operational windows. Doors and window interior work once all the windows are in
So don't panic; they're being fixed, and they're aiming for a finish by end of September
painting at Jacob Hiatt and Elm Park
Elm Park entry railing and security cameras (facilities funded)
WEMS classroom next to science labe, new floor, paint, lighting
HR work ongoing: still a few staffing positions we're working on
3 day new teacher orientation completed
Community Eligibility vote tonight! Nutrition is ready for it
Posting bus schedules TOMORROW! on the web and there will be a Connect-ed announcement

Safety: RFP is out for bid
ongoing meetings with CM, Mayor, Chief, WPS admin
school resource officer model and development and training
continuing officers in comprehensive high schools (and Tech)
meetings with principals
SRO: "nationally recognized model around training and citizenship"
currently support and share a portion of the costs of four liaison officers
City will shift resources to cover fifth officer (at Tech) and two additional
"relationship gap for" other schools (middle, 7-12)
training will include not only officers but principals and key district admin
"talking about the relationships and how we will begin to look at this"
"giving us a view into things we need to pay attention to"

Program enhancements:
New Citizens: grades 3-5 will go to Clark Street (so kids can socialize with peers and to relieve space crunch on New Ludlow)
Safety Center at Alternative School on Waverly now moving to Central Mass Academy at Harlowe (will also expand to include grade 6)
transition center at Woodward Day (kids lacking records)
Temporary Learning classroom grades 5-8 through Central Mass Academy (socially/emotionally disregulated students); also adds capacity for grades K-4 at other sites
Woodward Day now accepting grade six (long-term suspended students)

Mayor: "our schools are safe, our communities are safe places to live, to own a business"
"have some challenges, dealing with those challenges"
promised principals we'd get their input
"great model" having community resource officers in the schools
build that communication and relationship with the students
addressing community needs and issues
"they're interelated...not a school challenge...a community challenge"

Foley: "can't believe that the summer is over"
find dollars to do significant improvements to our schools
safety: acknowledge mayor's leadership in this
talked about safety: "sometimes productively on the floor, sometimes unproductively on the floor"
police presence in the schools not in a punative sense
make sure those officers are trained and really a part of the school community
thank CM, Chief, Deputy Sargent
really pleased to see it here; communication established and ongoing
youth violence facing every neighborhood throughout our entire community
looking at program enhancement for security
"really reflects a mayor who really gets things done"

O'Connell: potential to be very vital to the school
grateful for time
very important for us...to have right officers and best training
a sympathy for young people and the challenges that young people face
achieve well
principals be front and center in policy
vital to the administration and to us
challenge for us for the model as it evolves

Ramirez: was opposing police in schools, there were disruptions and fights in schools
then weapons, which is a different level
appreciate time and thought
other measures that we should be looking at
mediation techniques to address what we're seeing the community
"there are so many different ways that we can get what's going on in this community"

Monfredo: SRO model is an excellent one
all about prevention and building trust
public needs to know its been a collaborative effort on the part of the city and the school deparment

Biancheria: appreciate the report and update
physical improvements will make a difference
"windows are a large piece of how our buildings work"
matters to the neighbors, matters to the community
not quite clear on if dollars are being impacted by school lunch decision
"consider all of our meetings productive"
thrilled about this evening
leadership shown by mayor, CM, and police chief "want to congratulate more than you can possibly imagine"
would have appreciated more of a plan; how are we going to handle elementary schools?
"can only hope the first day of school and the rest of the days of schools are safe"
would like to have principals have more of a voice
glad they'll have training
Boone: coordination of meetings will be done by Rodrigues of SROs and principals
conversations with principals have been ongoing since June
always included in thinking
logistically we will addressing support through the floating officers, first
Boone: inference that the principals have not been part of this is concerning to me
principals have been part of this since June (and earlier)

Two playgrounds closed due to window replacement

Just a quick note that the playgrounds at Union Hill and West Tatnuck are closed due window replacement work.

"Their close proximity to construction trailers, boom lifts, and increased truck traffic throughout the parking lots have made it necessary to take this measure.  The contractor will be installing temporary signage stating the playground is closed due to construction activity and will install temporary fencing around the playground entrances."
That last bit from Facilities...

Five year plan on MSBA accelerated repair submissions (windows, roofs, boilers)

As I mentioned on Monday, part of the updated Facilities report is a five year plan on submissions to MSBA for accelerated repair. Those are the window, roof, boiler repairs that we've done across the district over the past several years. This isn't written in stone--submissions have to be approved by the School Committee and the City Council each year--but it does give us an idea of where we're heading, at least until we get the comprehensive master plan.

2016
Chandler Elementary: windows
Wawecus Road: windows
Belmont Street: windows
Creamer Center: boiler, roof, windows

2017
Midland Street: roof
Vernon Hill: boiler, roof
Thorndyke Road (rear): windows
Lake View: roof
Rice Square: windows, roof

2018
Elm Park: boiler, windows
Sullivan Middle: boiler
Lincoln Street: boiler

2019
Tatnuck Magnet: roof
Caradonio New Citizens: roof
UPCS: roof
McGrath: roof
WAMS: roof

2020
Gates Lane: boiler, roof
Burncoat Middle: boiler
Clark Street: boiler, roof
City View: boiler,
Union Hill: roof

Joint Finance and Operations/ Education subcommitte TONIGHT!

with apologies for the late update...I've been out of commission for a few days

There is a joint meeting of the City Council Education committee and the School Committee Finance and Operations subcommittee. We're meeting tonight at 5:30 pm at City Hall.

You can find the agenda here, though the agenda itself doesn't tell you much more than that we're meeting. The real information is in the backups.
There is a facilities update, including the great news on both Nelson Place and South High from last week, and including administration's recommendations for accelerated repair projects, which are:

• Flagg (windows)
• McGrath (windows)
• Grafton Street (windows, boiler)
• Jacob Hiatt (windows)

The F&O subcommittee votes these, then the full School Committee, then the full Council, before they are submitted to MSBA. The Statement of Interests are due by April 10 this year. 

We also have the transportation information, much of which you know already if you have been following this. What's new is the School Bus Consultants report, which comes with an attached memo from administration regarding their findings. 

While we don't have a written update on budget, I wouldn't be surprised if Mr. Foley asks for one at the meeting. 

Windows

In my earlier post on the City Council agenda, I missed this, which was caught by Nick Kotsopoulos:

City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. is asking the City Council to adopt an $11.5 million loan order for window replacement projects at four public school buildings: Clark Street, Goddard School of Science and Technology, Union Hill and West Tatnuck. 

These projects were already approved by MSBA; the city has to approve a loan order for the full cost, though the state will reimburse the city for 80% of the costs. All told, it should cost the city less than $2 million for these four projects.

And stay tuned: the Statement of Interest period for MSBA for 2015 opens Friday, so we should have another round coming!

Four new accelerated repair projects approved by MSBA this morning!

Good news from the MSBA Board meeting this morning!
Approved today are window projects for:

• Clark Street
• Goddard
• Union Hill
• West Tatnuck

(This is the approval of the actual money, meaning we can roll forward next summer.)

Clark Street, Union Hill, and West Tatnuck are about $2.5 million each and Godddard is about $5.5 million, so that's $9.6 million in reimbursements from the state (at Worcester's 80% reimbursement rate).

I should also note that this is Treasurer Steve Grossman's last meeting as chair of the MSBA Board. You'll be missed! 

Joint Committee: Facilities update

backup is here
Allen: $8 million matched by $32 million from state on facilities updates (windows, roofs, and boilers)
can tell updates as you drive by the building
in schmematic design phase for Nelson Place
"project is moving right on schedule"
South High has had a senior site visit; MSBA has toured the school
reviewing 108 projects for the core program, we're told
facilities master plan: joint effort between schools and city
internally have done two schools to get a baseline to see what information needs to be collected
pilot contracted out Doherty
what's the best way to proceed?
hope to have by end of FY14
Toomey: creative funding; some question around private funding; is there the same type of investment in technology?
Zidelis: a sale/leaseback: "we continually look for non-conventional ways to fund projects"
Economou: WPI and Doherty: could WPI build a new technology wing for Doherty?
Allen: has been conversation with local colleges from school side. not sure to what extent in facilities, but would pursue if available
Foley: would be difficult for a college to build something for a public school; can bring students onto campus
Toomey: state sells bonds, where are we on that?
Zidelis: that's what we do
Toomey: do we have a breakout of that process?
Zidelis: yes, have that information as of end of FY14; also in auditor's report
Novick: Boston building a new Mattapan High without going through MSBA; bonding out entirely (though possibly not most needed facility at this time)

Back-to-school facilities update!

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

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

Send along questions if you've got 'em! 

Finance and Operations (mostly operations) update

Today's (early) Friday letter includes a Finance and Operations memo, which you can find here.

• First up, the annual school choice report, in both directions: 480.5 students choicing out, 85.2 choicing in. The district receiving the largest number of WPS pupils is West Boylston (that's a change, incidently; it's been Wachusett for a number of years) at 130, followed by Wachusett (109), Berlin-Boylston (65.3), Leicester (29.4), and Auburn (20.7). We're receiving the largest number of students from Shrewsbury (14.4), Leicester and Wachusett (11 each).
• The summer feeding schedule is also forwarded, but you can also find it here. Any child under 18 can visit and get lunch Monday through Saturday, save July 4 and 5. Locations include all library locations (including the schools), Union Hill School, and both state pools. Please pass this along to anyone in the city who could use the information. Summer can be a hungry time for kids.
• We also have the solar panel update. Roof coatings ahead of the panels going in looks as though it's mostly complete; most panels are going in now, 'though South's will be going up in September, and Norrback's in November.
• As for MSBA (you got some of this already, so I'll give you what's new), it looks like Worcester Arts Magnet and Columbus Park will have their windows for school, or shortly thereafter; no date on Chandler Magnet, but that's finishing a second year, so let me check; Tatnuck Magnet is going to be a second shift in the fall job, as May Street and Lake View were last year, due to window manufacturing schedules; and the boiler replacement at Worcester East Middle is a complicated project, so we may be looking at a temporary one come fall (boy, I hope not!).

Let me know if you have questions!

Summer building work

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

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

Good stuff! (And thanks, MSBA!)

Worcester projects before MSBA tomorrow!

We've received excellent news from Superintendent Boone earlier today:

We learned late yesterday that the four Statements of Interest submitted to the MSBA’s Accelerated Repair Program will be recommended for funding by the MSBA Board.  The four schools are: Clark Street, West Tatnuck, Goddard and Union Hill.  The MSBA Board Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 4, 2014 at 10:00 am at its office in Boston.  This is exciting news and brings to 13 the total number of projects funded from the Accelerated Repair Program.

I'll be there and blogging!

MSBA windows projects

It looks as though Columbus Park and Tatnuck Magnet's windows are before the Historical Commission on Thursday, March 13.

Reporting out: Joint committee and F&O

And I'm not going to take notes on this, as you've already seen them. This is the joint meeting that was held on December 18; notes here and following. 
Possibly the first some are hearing that we are under net school spending by $1.3M due to benefits of city administration not being able to be counted towards education spending.
Also, yesterday's F&O meeting, with Mr. Foley reporting out on addition of assistant principal at North High and special education increases.

Full committee approving quarterly transfers:

• $135,000 from Custodians to Custodial Overtime
• $95,000 from Maintenance Services to Custodial overtime
• $50,000 from Maintenance Services to Maintenance Overtime
• $80,000 from Administrative clerical to Support Overtime
• $100,000 from Non-instructional support to Support Overtime--drivers
• $10,000 from Non-instructional support to Bus monitor Overtime

Full committee approving Statements of Interest to send to the Mass School Building Authority 
Again, those are South High, Burncoat High, Doherty High for renovation/replacement
Clark Street, Goddard, Union Hill, West Tatnuck for window replacement

Statements of interest for MSBA

Foley: have had some significant work done these past few years
Allen runs through list of past two years of projects
"in conversation with MSBA, they invited us to change our submission on Worcester East Middle to now reflect...robust accelerated repair"
asked to remain in accelerated repair for just the boiler (as we think it will not last another year)
understand that it will be invited for full mechanical systems over a multi-year process
"significantly changes scope of work and investment"
does not require level of education spec planning (as Nelson Place does)
good news/bad news: much more work, but much longer
does free up money for over this summer, as only doing boiler this year
working with the city for dollars that are now being freed up; work that is not reimbursable by MSBA
some of those can happen this summer now instead
recommending that we submit three high schools for repair/replacement
new accelerated repair recommendations: Clark Street, Goddard, Union Hill, West Tatnuck, all for windows
"this is time sensitive" have to be approved by SC and Council
told that master plan needed to move forward
priority 1 based on needs assessment is South High, and remains so
Motions separately to submit three high schools for renovation/repair, and elementary schools for windows

Whoops on the Chandler Magnet update

We had a typo in the Chandler Magnet update we got on Friday. It should have read:

Chandler Magnet School:   The school will have all exterior windows and doors replaced as part of the MSBA funded projects.  All exterior doors, gymnasium windows, ADA upgrades and any exterior masonry work will be completed this summer.  Given the size of this project, it was fully anticipated that this work would take two full summers for completion.  The City has already received approval from MSBA to complete this project in Summer 2014.  Other than the work listed above for this summer, all other work will be scheduled and completed next year. 

Thus, gym windows (and all outside doors) replaced this summer (plus bathroom upgrades!); all other windows replaced next summer.
Sorry for the confusion!

This makes nine accelerated repairs for Worcester

And we're in!!

Expect to see those projects as early as next summer!

As a reminder: these projects are:

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

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

Worcester school buildings before the state tomorrow!

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

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

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

I will be there and will liveblog the meeting. 

Capital spending: repairs

Allen: $7.7 million work at 10 schools, all complete
ESCo: boiler/chiller replacement, boiler replacements are all completed this past year
SoI's last year on Nelson Place, plus accelerated repairs
5 schools in accelerated repair: work will start this summer

• Chandler Magnet will get windows this summer and next summer
• May Street will get new windows
• Lake View will get new windows
• Jacob Hiatt will get new boiler
• Caradonio will get new boiler and new windows

O'Brien: how much?
Allen: 80% state funding, bids received, contracts being awarded
$9 million in total, we're funding about $1.8 million
Allen reserving some for environmental work, plus Heard Street roof, masonry at Jacob Hiatt and Vernon Hill
Biancheria: additional sixth grades, in Worcester East Middle, which we promised a science lab
Allen: Worcester East Middle science labs should be bid this week, construction to begin by summer vacation to be done by next school year
completed by fall of 2013
Allen comments that getting bids that has been difficult, getting a successful bid will allow work to be completed for school year of 2013-14
"project budget is a little less than $350,000"
complete school painting jobs: not just classroom by classroom