Open Meeting Law: Questions answered

• PowerPoint only with presentation; but there is a video online
• What about a joint meeting? Two postings?
• if both bodies plan to deliberate, they both post, but it can be one posting
• if a subcommittee meets after the full body meets, does it need its own posting? It can be a joint posting.
• Is an ad-hoc committee of a school committee for naming a building a public body? It depends. If they haven't been delegated a task, that it may not be formal enough. Is it within the jurisdiction?
• delegating areas of research? do you have a quorum and are you a subcommittee?
• procedural deliberations public? Yes.
• For public recruitment, if two people go, is it subject? Are they a quorum deliberating?
• Consequences? Most common, tell what you did wrong, tell you how you should have done it, "go and sin now more" BUT if you do it again...
• for remote participation: must be audible, can just use a conference call
• municipal website can be where things are posted
• final decision must be made publicly when it comes to candidates to consider
• minutes of executive session approved in open session? Still an open issue. Approval done in executive session is still protected
• Can co-sponsorship be published as part of the agenda? Clerk can request co-sponsorship, but it should be announced at the meeting. "If you are acting otherwise, you are acting as a conduit for deliberation"
• 
  Are AG's interpretations binding? Yes.
• Executive officer determines remote participation
• if there is public interest in an item, it's in your best interest to be sure it is properly posted
• what if criminal misconduct is not related to their professional competency? Rights of purpose one
• Detail of minutes? Back and forth of discussion and how issue was resolved
• Can members of body be cc'ed on submitting an item. Yes, but without an opinion. Would counsel against it. Best practice is to send directly to the staff person.
• Can rules be suspended for new business? Item "items not reasonably anticipated 48 hours in advance" Encourage public participation section; can end comment if new issues
• what if the public body doesn't meet within the 14 days of the complaint? Encouraged to call meeting to deal with it. Can write a response explain need for extension.Should generally get together to discuss it.
• How much detail must be given in posting of executive session? As much as reasonably possible without taking away reason for executive session."to the best extent possible what is to be discussed" There is a practical concern. Identifying union should be fine to list. Same deal with property: if naming it would have a detrimental affect, then don't name it.
• if a meeting has been properly posted, but there is no quorum, what can be done? There's no meeting, but this is a question of the rules of the public body. 
• is a review of personnel rules an executive session? Probably not (not covered)
• should all role call votes be voted publicly? Best practice is yes. Can a member change a vote? Matter for the rules of the body.
• 
  

Attorney General Open Meeting Law training

Open Meeting Law basics
1. Notice must be posted for meetings.
2. Meetings must be open to the public, unless the public body enters into executive session.
3. Minutes must be kept for public and executive session.
4. Public body members must be certified.
5. Complaint process

Level 5 schools to be taken over by the state

In other news today, the state will be taking over the four Level 5 schools. There are two in Boston-- Dever Elementary and Holland Elementary--one in Holyoke--Morgan Full Service Community--and one in New Bedford--John Parker Elementary.
If you read the coverage, it isn't clear yet just what that will look like for the schools.

Transitioning Spirit of Knowledge students

As you probably caught from today's paper, Spirit of Knowledge Charter School's board voted last night, 4-3, to surrender their charter and close the school.
As all but three of the students there are from Worcester, the majority of those students are our responsibility. We received an email from Superintendent Boone this morning which explained the transition plan for those students (note that they are in grades 7-12). I've included some of it below:

Originally, the parents would have received a letter from me on Monday welcoming them to WPS and sharing information about two open houses - one that was scheduled for last night at 6:30 pm and another that was planned for the afternoon of Thursday, October 31st. Friday, November 1st was planned to be a "jump start" day with students spending the day at the school they would attend to meet staff, finalize schedules, receive lockers, textbooks, etc. SOKCS promised that students would have available their current schedules and final first quarter report card to use during enrollment in WPS.  This is a good time for transition because our new grading quarter begins Monday, November 4th.

We will be working today to develop a new schedule for transition.  Additionally, we will have to work to notify parents since the school's closure means hand delivery of the letter to parents may not be possible. We have received the student enrollment information and will try to create a group in CONNECT ED to reach the parents by phone.  Two things impact a transition schedule that begins in the middle of the week - Halloween is tomorrow and holding an evening meeting will be virtually impossible as many of the staff who have been tapped to support the meetings have plans for their families and many who prefer to be at home that night.  The second issue focuses on holding an open house on Friday evening and the conflict wtih high school football games where principals and assistant principals are generally in attendance.  We have already identified the following core staff to support the open houses:  principals, assistant principals, guidance counselors, school adjustment counselors, DAB staff from ELL, special education and the curriculum liaisons.  A separate session for seniors is planned during the open house due to their very specialized needs siince the senior year has started.

This is a most unfortunate situation for the students and families at SOKCS.  Marco and I have met with principals twice to ensure that the transition occurs as seamlessly as possible.  John Hennessey is completing an analysis of bus routes, based on student addresses, to determine if any route adjustments will be required.  It is our hope to have students sitting in WPS classes by the middle of next week. Should any parents show up at our schools seeking enrollment prior to the open house, principals will welcome them and facilitate their enrollment and have them ready for classes as soon as possible.

And those students, all as students who come to us in the Worcester Public Schools, are most welcome. We will do our very best for and by them.

Curriculum update: professional development

Ganem: K-3
Second grade and third grade so far
grade by grade, all teachers from that grade level for three days
"really looking at the framework, looking at embedding the content"
"quite something to see all teachers from a grade level at every public school across Worcester"
binders; "everything a teacher needs to go from a three day institute and implement it all as well"
teachers feeling that they have a better and a deeper understanding of that
Biancheria: suggests adding IAs
working with Mark Brophy to see about that
many of them work two or three jobs, must consider in scheduling
don't want to see it be an inconvenience and challenge for them
Ganem: two days at start of school of PD for IAs as well
Monfredo: how is it being implemented?
Ganem: bringing them back to see what else they need: not going to be just a one shot
also instructional coaches
Monfredo looking for an update in January
building online community through Edmodo
personal relationship, as well to feel that they can access
plea here from me to not do this in a way that disrupts the classroom: that's three days the kids don't get back
Rodrigues: value of being together as a group

Curriculum update: mathmatics

Rodrigues: we need to look into different math pilots for the elementary level
piloting four programs right now
Thompson: asked across districts: what resource is being used? what are they planning to do for new MA standards?
most districts waiting and seeing, looking to see what publishers are going to put out
researched resources that are out there and what is being developed and how it aligns to standards
can't pilot in every school, piloting in 16 schools, all four quadrants, variety of sizes, diversity of need, departmentalization, pre-K or not, income level, interest level of teachers in the district, and instructional capacity
150 teachers, 4000 students, math resources advisory committee (includes teachers, principals, parents, special ed) met Oct. 15
this committee will create a list of criteria (beyond list of standards); then will take to pilot schools to see if piloting curriculum fits criteria
teachers piloting have had 2 days for PD, plus meetings beyond
plan to have teachers of a single grade talk to all others of that grade piloting
advisory committee meeting several more times
O'Connell: different approach from Common Core on mathmatics due to literacy
Mondfredo: four different companies? No, two
Houghton Mifflin:
Go Math
Math in Focus
Math Expressions
Pearson: Visions Math
Thompson: has been skeptic, looking for them actually embedded in the curriculum, "not just a label slapped on"
Biancheria: is this a fit for the future in terms of testing? (switch from MCAS to PARCC)
Thompson: the standards are "a huge opportunity for students as they progress through math in their lives...the assessment becomes secondary"
"focused about embedding practice standards"
"if that is happening, then the assessment becomes secondary"

Biancheria: do you have the tools (on professional development) that you need?
Thompson: teaching students habits of mind
show classrooms in which habits of mind are being taught
not only the piloting, "every teacher needs access to this"

Middle school honors

Admission depends on:

MCAS scores

MAP scores

Student grades

Teacher recommendations

Parent recommendations

In addition, schools may have other criteria. 

O'Connell: any weighing?

Houlihan (principal at Burncoat Middle): no, students are different

Williams (principal at Forest Grove): it's flexible. Cited AVID students taking two honors, hoping to get them to full honors 

Monfredo: school of choice. Wishes to send information out to parents of fifth and sixth grade, Connect-ed to let people know.

Rodrigues: very important for families to know 

Biancheria: very positive things happening in the middle schools

Kids pleased with what is going on in the halls. How can we help you?

Williams says he'll take five more staff members 

Activities: intermural program. FG has 250 kids coming after school for sports
Biancheria: other opportunities? Programs you'd like to offer?
Houlihan: students who stay after for extra help.  Pockets of activities happening; transporting students home after activities, especially going into daylight savings.Would love to have the art agencies working after school working on site.
Biancheria: looking at transportation and the cost of transportation, how to get the students home
"that's a piece that we should bring to finance and operations; if we're not providing the bus, we need to provide the bus passes"
programs at the school
Rodrigues: next month working with middle school principals for after school activities
principals from arts magnet quadrant, looking at the quality and enhancement of the program
Monfredo: talk to Steve O'Neil at the WRTA