A few notes from the Commissioner

I just pulled these off of the weekly Commissioner's update*

• The state Board of Ed is meeting on November 26 and 27. On the 26 in Malden, the Board will focus on Level 4 schools. On November 27, the Board will meet in Lawrence, to "hear a presentation from Lawrence Public Schools Receiver Jeff Riley on the turnaround effort that he is leading. The Board will discuss its budget priorities and will vote on its state education budget proposal for FY2014. The Board will also take an initial vote on proposed amendments to the regulations on innovation schools, vote on a charter amendment for the Match Charter Public School, and hear a report on the Gloucester Community Arts Charter School."
• DESE is holding eight hearings across the state on the proposed new charter schools. The schedule is posted here. 
• Commissioner Chester begins this week his term as president of the Council of Chief State Schools Officers. 

*If you want to subscribe, send an email to imailsrv@list1.doe.mass.edu with the following in the body of the email: subscribe ESEUpdate Your Name.

Literacy Partnership grant

...for $64,000
O'Connell is asking about a literacy consultant at $2000/day and a word generator at $1500/day (4 days each). The state requires a "partnership" with those the state regards as experts, as we work at the K-12 ELA curriculum.

Congratulations to South High!

...on their Bronze level Wellness Award from the Mass DESE and DPH.
Setting a date to honor them on December 6.

Career and Technical Educator Questionnaire

Biancheria speaking of the ACTE questionnaire (which I can't find online...is it this?)

Bus contract

I'm coming in partway through here, as we've done a switch in chair. Ms. Biancheria is speaking of concerns on substitute drivers over the past several weeks. She's asked that all members receive a copy of the bus contract, and we're having a discussion over what subcommittee it should be referred to. Transportation is under Finance and Operations.
Biancheria wants to be sure that the meeting is after 5.
Allen comments that we will add the item to the agenda for Tuesday's meeting of F&O (at 5 pm, 4th floor, DAB).

It might be a light blogging night

...I'm chairing at least the beginning of the meeting.
Starts at 7!

Burncoat to Broadway Friday night!