001like to call the meeting to order. >> Recording in progress. >> Like to call the meeting to order. Welcome to everybody to the Wister School Committee and meeting. And we if you can please stand for the pledge of allegiance in the national anthem. The national anthem will be sung by Zoe Bonzo, a grade nine student at Bronco Senior High School. The >> pledgece of America to the stands nationy for all. Say you see [singing] by the dawn early light. What so proudly we [singing] held at the twilight last gleaming [singing] broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous [singing] fight or the ramparts we [singing] watched were so gallently streaming and the rockets It red the bombs bursting in air gave proof through the [singing] night that our flag was still there. Oh, say [singing]
002does that star spangled yet or the land [singing] of the free and the [singing] home of the >> [applause] [applause] >> Do a roll call. >> Member Alvarez, >> present. >> Member Vicaria >> here. >> Member Vernendo >> here. >> Member Guadiola >> here. >> Vice Chair Johnson >> here. >> Member mailman >> here. >> Member McCulla >> here. >> Member Roy >> here. Mayor Petty >> here we have student advisory committee. Uh want to introduce yourselves and what school you're from? >> Hi, I'm in Shira and I'm from North High School. I'm in grade 11. >> Hi, my name is Ivonne Roberts. I'm from Burncoat High School and I'm a 12th grader. >> 12th grader. >> Hi, my name is Arson. I'm from Worcester Technical High School. I'm currently a junior. Well, welcome. All
003right. Okay, we are going to go on to the uh consent agenda. That's E 1 through 4, 1 through five. Roll call. >> Oh, by doing so, member McCull by member mailman. [clears throat] >> Thank you. I just wanted to make a motion or not a motion make a clarification on the minutes of the finance operations and governance standing committee that the vote on the transfer was not an actual transfer this time around. It was just a vote to approve the report and hold the item. There were no transfers. >> Okay. Me. >> Yes. Clarifying whether we're it's a the actual items are further in the um >> agenda. Yeah. >> Agenda. Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. Johnson. >> No, member Johnson. >> Yeah. Through the chair. I just have a question in regards to
004the um donation of 20,000 from um Ross Hayes um property to Wood What is that Woodland Academy in uh Claremont? What is that for? What What is that to help? What's the school for? Just >> through the through the chair. It's for school use. Just for the schools to use for whatever they see fit. >> Whatever they see fit. >> Yep. >> Okay. So, just a random donation. Not random, but just a donation. Okay. Thanks. >> Roll call. >> Member Alvarez. >> Yes. >> Member Viania, >> yes. >> Member Bernenda, >> yes. >> Member Guadiola, >> yes. >> Vice Chair Johnson, >> yes. >> Member Mailman, >> yes. >> Member McCulla, >> yes. >> Member Voy, >> yes. Yes, Mayor Penny. >> Yes. Okay. We have uh item for reconsideration 5-112. Please provide report information
005by sport, by season, by high school and middle school describing which sport uses which fields and when. Also include our district process for ensuring equitable access to the fields for games and practices and explain how we ensure alignment with title 9 requirements. Vice Chair Johnson requested a friendly amendment to this item. They received this information on the Friday newsletter and additional information, Mr. Sheay will be posted on the West Public School website. Okay. Roll call. >> Can I speak on it? >> No, not till after we have reconsideration. >> Member Alvarez. >> Yes. >> Member Banceria. >> No. >> Member Bernenda? >> No. >> Member Guardiola? >> No. >> Vice Chair Johnson? >> No. >> Member Mailman? >> Yes. Member McCulla? >> No. >> Member Roy? >> No. >> Mayor Penny? >> No. >> Okay.
006>> Can I speak on it? >> No. >> Yeah. >> Recognitions. Want to recognize Maria Garner, a par professional at Worester at Whams for her efforts to beautify the grounds of WA public school properties. >> Um Mulla. And I don't know if um if Miss Gardner wants to come up forward and then they'll have you come up. No, you can just go right up here and then they'll have you come up. So just stand right here for a second so that I can share that Dr. Morris is actually the one that brought the wonderful work that Miss Gardner has done for our schools to my attention and shared with me that the beautiful garden welcomes everyone at Whams and is the result of years of dedication and care from Maria Gardner. This year, Maria extended
007her passion for gardening beyond whams, sharing her belief that flowers can spread joy and help create warm, welcoming school environments. On her own time, she has worked with multiple schools, planting, weeding, and cultivating spaces that make our campuses more inviting for students, staff, and families. The district deeply appreciates Maria's creativity, generosity, and commitment to making our school places where if everyone feels welcome. So, thank you so much for the extra effort that you've put into helping our students and staff and families have a place that feel welcoming when they enter and to really putting that time and passion in for us as a city. So, we really appreciate it and I'm so glad that Dr. Morris brought it to my attention. So, thank you very much. >> Thank you very much. [applause] >> We have
008member Benenda. Do you want to say something? Do you have your hand up? >> You can go. Uh, yes. Uh Dr. O'Neal had um actually worked uh many years together and couldn't make it tonight because the family emergency. Just wanted me to let everyone know how proud she is of your work and proud of your daughter um who is also a Wham's graduate and hopefully is going to medical school. Uh for all the work uh with the gardening over all those years and putting all your own time and effort. So, thank you for your work and um I just sent Dr. O'Neal your your photo. >> Yes. >> Thank you. We also have a certificate uh in recognition of Maria Gardner. >> What's that? No. For helping beautify the grounds to help beautify the grounds
009of many WA public schools property. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to making WA public schools property places our scholars facility and communities are proud to be have in our city. signed by myself, the superintendent and was the school committee. [applause] >> Oh, you want to say a few words, >> Maria? Say thank you to everybody. I have no experience with student >> and I did like the Hollywood stars when they get award. I first want to thank you uh Dr. Marie Morris for forwarding my emails to the Worster public school uh principles and I thank you very much for all the Wora public schools uh principles for allowing me to go and share my love for planting for flowers but the most important thing is I try to inspire all the principles
010to encourage the school the children to plant and you don't have have to plant spend money going and buy because we don't have a lot of money to spend on flowers right but seeds so my dream since 2008 is to plant seeds in every school with the public schools so I hope this year we can all plant together so I tried to do this this with some of the schools but I hope we can do more and I'll be the apple seed Johnny apple seed I'll is Miss G's apple seed. Plus, I want to thank you very much Doc uh Dr. New who helped me to who inspired me to do this. If it wasn't for her love for flowers, for plants, for taking care of the yard, I would never do this. She loves
011flowers. She helped me many times with doing this. But who really is inspired the most and supported me is Mrs. Kellen, our principal from WHMS and the assistant principal, Miss McSherry, our other one. She everybody helped me and the most important are the kids. They're we make dreams come true for the children, especially for the ones that live in apartment. They don't have chance to dig and play with uh dirt and water, flowers. So, I hope we all can do the same. Thank you. >> [applause] >> Oh, you want to get a picture? Cool picture. Okay. You ready? Thank you so much. >> [applause] >> Okay. So, we're going on to next section the public comment. A member of public may address the committee regarding any on the agenda for two minutes. So, just state
012your name, your city of residence and item number of >> your name. Fred uh Fred Nathan Worcester. So uh GB5-7 uh since there is a bill uh that was passed that allowed the school districts to put cameras on the exterior of the buses. I would just like to know what's taking you. I know Rome wasn't built in the day, but remember there is nothing more important than the lives and the safety of the students on the buses. Your job does not end until the students exit the bus to go home. By the same token, your job starts the moment they get picked up. And never forget that. And if you forget that, just tend to your resignation tonight. If you don't know safety, I hear all this talk about all these different things. You want
013to spend money this that and everything else. Get the job done or tender your resignation. Okay. Next. >> Is your name your residence and item number? >> Hi, I'm Suzanne Remington and I live in Shrewsbury and I'm My remarks are about the TLL or I can't I can't figure out what that is. the TLSS committee report uh GB553. So I serve as the education advocate at the faces clinic, the foster children evaluation services clinic at UMass here in Worcester. For several years, we've worked closely and very positively with Worcester public schools to support students in the foster care system. These students are among the most vulnerable in our community and they often face instability and barriers that directly affect their educational success. As of this morning, I'm told that there are 390 such students enrolled
014in the district. I want to thank Superintendent Allen, Mayor Penny, district leaders, and many of you on the school committee for meeting with me and for exploring the Compass program. I'm grateful that WPS visited visited Framingham High School to see Compass in action and learn about its targeted supports for students in foster care. The district's report noted that Compass aligns closely with Worcester's existing wellness room wellness room framework, especially its focus on relational connection, trauma-informed support, and structured re-engagement. It's encouraging that WPS plans to use wellness rooms as a central hub where foster students can access coordinated support from teachers, deans, counselors, and adjustment counselors, and that these spaces will also support graduation readiness and post-secondary planning. A wealth of research shows that when committed adults connect with a child who feels invisible and alone,
015it makes a world of difference. These steps are a strong foundation. My request is that the district track outcomes for foster students who use the wellness rooms data such as academic progress, attendance, discipline, and graduation rates. This will help determine whether additional support such as a Compass program is needed. and sharing this information publicly will demonstrate the district's commitment to these students while guiding improvement. I have identified potential funding sources if the district wishes to pilot a more focused model and a lot of you have my email address so please reach out if you'd like to. Uh faces is proud to be a community partner and I look forward to continuing to work together to ensure that Worcers's foster youth receive the consistency, stability, and support that they need. Thank you. >> Thank you. >>
016[applause] >> Did your name see the resident item number? >> My name is Casey Zinc, um, Rutland. I'm here to speak on number GB3-244. Uh, in my role as a director of a nonprofit serving young homeless children in Worcester and in central Massachusetts, I have been directly responsible for the screening and approval of placing volunteers who will go in and play alongside a very vulnerable population of children living in shelters. Um, in my time, I've placed thousands of volunteers over 10 years, and I know firsthand the importance of having a clear and exhaustive volunteer screening process that is in writing. I'm disheartened to learn how the current policy in Worcester leaves so much room for error and creates unnecessary risks for students. I'm here to ask the school committee to provide a more comprehensive, transparent,
017and consistent volunteer screening process for the district. A written policy that complies with state standards, one that aligns with recognized best practices and is transparent with appeals steps outlined. It needs to be accessible to families and very clear how volunteers are screened and placed in schools, whether it is one day or an ongoing volunteer opportunity. This is a really important step to protect children and provide structure and guidance to school staff. Thank you. #safetyfirst. >> Thank you. [applause] Does your name see your residence? >> Billy Kenyan Worcester. Hi, my name is Billy Kenyon and I'm here to speak tonight on GB3-244. I'm a parent of a second grader at Midland and I was one of the parents deeply upset when John Monfredo was allowed into the school to read to our students. This is someone
018with a substantiated 51A yet he was allowed inside a school with our children. Then at the meeting last week, hearing a sitting school committee member laugh while discussing our policy for volunteers and the safety of our kids was shocking. How can someone responsible for protecting our children laugh about someone being let into a school when it appears that the police recommended charges be brought against him? That moment was unacceptable. And through the chair, Diana, I believe you owe the Midland parents an apology. Express your comments to me please. >> Through the chair [snorts] for concrete steps. Our current volunteer policy only requires a Corey check. Looking at research prior to tonight's meeting, we are behind. We are not in alignment with many other comparable and large cities. We talk about safety, but in this case,
019we are not doing our best. At minimum, we need to add a sorry check, one that includes the national registry. How are we not checking for sexual offenders? We also need to include a check for substantiated 51A. My understanding is that this can be done through DCF or can appear with a Corey and Sori results depending on what is requested. Next, we'd need a clear appeals process, a standard, consistent process for anyone appealing a decision about whether they can volunteer in our schools. Finally, two years ago, I was told that John Manfredo's name was on a do not allow list. I want to know that this list still exists and that it's been shared with every principal and that it's updated anytime someone is deemed not allowed in a school whether they are volunteering for
020a one-time or an ongoing volunteer opportunities. And I want to know that anytime someone gets added to that list, it gets emailed out to the principles the next day. We need a written policy that complies with state standards, aligns with best practices, and is transparent about any appeal processes that can be taken. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Anybody else? We go online. We have uh No, hang on one sec. I I screwed up the thing. Hang on one sec. And we have uh Phil if you want to come online up. >> Oh. >> Okay. >> Uh good evening. Can you hear me? >> Yeah. Just your name, city, your residence, and item number. >> Uh yeah, thank you. Uh Phil, uh city of Worcester. Uh I want to talk about the I think it's
021item K report of the superintendent. >> Yep. >> Uh so it's regarding the district improvement plan. Uh I was reading it and frankly I was shocked to not see any mention of the uh I think it was about maybe two 3 weeks ago there was a report on the chronic absenteeism in the uh Worcester public schools and I'm shocked that the district improvement plan does not make any mention of the fact that the Worcester public schools is uh 34 and a half% of uh just high school students alone. That that's an epidemic of kids not showing up to school. It would behoove the district to at least ask the question, why are our kids not coming to school? And why is it that we can't set up an environment for them to thrive and be
022successful? The previous gentle lady made a couple of comments that I think definitely allude to some of those issues and ongoing concerns. I mean, you have issues of people that bring uh backgrounds of abuse and enact them on the kids. you have uh people that are trying to get justice and uh all sorts of roadblocks being brought up for uh to towards actually enabling and uh executing on that justice. And uh yet there's people clapping on some sort of alleged positive outcome being done here by the Wor public schools. Yet clearly the numbers don't lie. I mean these are your numbers. uh even on the non-public uh high school students, similar rates were seen just in the city alone. Other comparable large metro cities uh like New York or LA, they have similar rates as
023Worcester public schools. And yet, if you were to weigh the two, you would see that Worcester is actually doing far worse uh for our kids than those cities are. Uh even though they have much much larger uh populations and so there's a real crisis here at hand. I mean, 34 and a half% of chronic absenteeism is no joke. Where are those kids going? They're not accounted for. >> Can you wrap up? That's over. >> Can you wrap up? >> And uh I just wanted to leave it at that. So, uh thank you for your time. >> Thank you. >> Okay, we got question. Hi, [clears throat] my name is Cara Berg Powers and I am a resident of the city of Worester and a parent of a seventh grader in the Wester public schools. I
024am here to speak on item GB3244 and like many other parents, I am frankly disgusted at the way the simple ask to have consistent, transparent, and robust guidelines about who can be in contact with our children when we leave them in your care has been handled by this committee. I find it ironic that a member said that we were dancing around the subject in regards to the policy in question when since I first became aware of the allegations against John Manfredo, all I've seen is members of this body dance or who continue to publicly uplift him do is dance around the subject. I want to be very clear that the reason that this example is so important is not because it's isolated, but because we know about it and we can see very clearly how
025it has slipped through the cracks. how the systems we currently have in place failed to do what they need to do to protect children. From a background check that either doesn't turn up substantiated 51A for child sexual assault or was not run at all to a former superintendent who decided a warning from a mandated reporter was not important enough to pursue. The system that exists now has too many holes to continue as is. When I first learned about the allegations of child rape against Monfredo, my own daughter was in kindergarten. Like many of us who are parents now, I had no idea because I was in high school when my now dear friend bravely came forward. But I spent that year seeing him at function after function and frequently at my daughter's school with no
026adult even casting a glance in that direction. Learning that not only were these allegations well-known, but that they had been my entire adult life and many of you said and did nothing has created a rage and distrust of this body that I don't know how to resolve. There are members of this committee that are very quick to use cherrypick statistics to call for more draconian discipline measures against our kids under the banner of school safety, but won't lift a finger to protect our kids from their predator friends. We see you. We want safe schools. We just don't trust you to provide them. >> Thank you. >> This policy needs to be started from scratch. What's your name? Say your residence item number. >> My name is Heather Pruner. I'm a resident of Worcester. I have
027a current sixth grader at Nelson Place School. I am here to speak on item GB3-244. I am a survivor of sexual abuse and sexual violence within the Worcester public schools. Those of you seated here know my story and you know my abuser. Some of you call him a friend. He used to sit where you're sitting. Some of you knew him in 1996 when I first came forward and in 1997 when DCF substantiated my report and he was placed on leave. He was never exonerated as he claimed. If he believes that to be the case, he is mistaken. Committee member Benenda, you were superintendent in 2018 when Lisa Archinbo, a mandated reporter, wrote to alert you to the accusa accusations against Mr. Montfredo after seeing him at her own child's school. She asked you to protect
028children. You replied that you could not do so without hearing directly from me and that even then you might not be able to take any action. It's not clear to me what policy or legal guidance you consulted in your response. It is clear to me that whatever policy permitted a man with a substantiated claim of child rape to return to work as a principal at a school with one of the most vulnerable student populations in the city was a failure. And whatever policy allowed him to continue to walk into any school anytime he liked for decades, even after new details of his crimes became public in 2023, also deserves scrutiny. I won't dance around the issue here. Our kids deserve safety. They deserve to be protected and they deserve to be believed. It is more
029than offensive to find humor in a request for clarification on a policy. It is dangerous. Reporting abuse is the hardest conversation any child will ever have to face. We need to make it as easy as possible for them to come forward and as hard as possible for abusers to get close to them in the first place. It should not be put It should not be hard to put stronger safeguards in place or to establish clear, complete and transparent policies and practices for screening the adults who interact with children in the school system. It should not be hard for parents to find these policies and there should be a transparent process for parents and students to report concerns about adults behaviors and fitness to volunteer. It is still terrifying for me to stand here today and
030say these things to you. Almost as terrifying as it was when I came forward as a child. But I know what happened to me and I know how to use my voice and I am not going to stop. I'm not here tonight asking to be believed. I know that the chair and other members of this body already do believe me. If you don't, I hope with all my heart that your children were luckier than me. I wouldn't ask anyone to go through what I went through. I hope it is not too much to ask that those of you who have put your trust instead in my abuser have the basic decency not to snicker or whisper or feain concern. I am here speaking tonight with the same hope I had then. That you, the adults
031in charge, will take your duty to protect kids seriously and act urgently to make it that much harder for what happened to me to happen to any other child. Maybe that is one point we could all agree on. >> Thank you. #safety. [applause] >> Thank you. We're going to uh Amy, I'm sorry. You going to speak or get your names to your residence and the item number? >> My name's Elizabeth Ka. I'm a resident of Worcester, Massachusetts. >> Speak. Yeah, speak right into the mic. There you go. >> My name is Elizabeth Ker. I'm a resident of Worcester, Massachusetts, and I work in a Worcester public school. Um, I came here to talk about the grievance filed by the union regarding the walkthrough tool that administrators have been directed to use in their buildings when
032this tool was >> I'm sorry I we could talk after. It's not on the agenda. You can't speak on it. Public meeting. >> Then I'll talk about something that's on the agenda. >> Okay. Of course. >> I'm a parent of a Worcester public school student at the Worcester dual language program. Um the kids developments are spectacular, but the school program, the dual program needs an expansion because at the moment the program does not continue on into high school. In the middle school only has one class in Spanish. At the elementary school level, students enter in preschool or kindergarten and it's an 8020 80% Spanish, 20% English program. It moves up as the kids move up to 7030 60 40 50. By the time they get to middle school, they barely have any instruction in Spanish.
033And so I'm asking for an expansion of the dual language program and for John Manfredo not to be allowed in the building. >> Okay. >> Sorry, that's probably a first. I don't know if anybody else is breastfed up here, but here we go. All right. My Oh, you started already. I didn't even say when I'm speaking. Thank you. I know you don't like when I talk. My name is Katherine Holmes. I'm a Worester parent and a taxpayer. I'm here to speak on the report of the superintendent 5-15. I see you started it already again. Slide 13. So, we're going to learn that the district spent $15 million in the past three years on high quality instructional materials. It's a euphemism for flashy, well-marketed tech products that do not hold up to scientific scrutiny, create more
034work for teachers, and are not in alignment with child development. It's both a misallocation of limited resources and erosion of parents trust in the schools. Parents want school libraries, after school programs, lower studenttoteer ratios, things that have shown through academic research for decades that improve student outcomes at all levels. But we're always told there's not enough money for that. But there's $15 million for things like Amplify CKLA, a K5 literacy curriculum that's been criticized for historical inaccuracies, racial and gender stereotyping, developmentally inappropriate pacing. So Amplify uses studies riddled with bias to sell its curriculum. There's conflicts of interest. They exclude results. There's entire studies not even published. There's these are common industry practices that inflate effect sizes in order to sell the tech products to schools. Amiral Learning is a company that has has unleashed
035experimental AI bots onto our kindergarteners because I was told there's no money for to pay for human tutors without the knowledge of ex the knowledge or explicit consent of parents. Amira uses our children's voices to train AI, lining the company's pockets with profits subsidized by Wister taxpayers. This should come as no surprise when Human Rights Watch has found that 89% of all edtech products embed trackers that report student data to advertising industry. When I asked who in the administration is responsible for ensuring these products, I've been told that it's no one's job. And most importantly, we use Ed Reports, a discredited company that relies on a green smiley face to tell us that these things have been vetted. Their own chief executive of Edports says, "Edports does not factor in evidence of a curriculum's effectiveness.
036Yet, this is why we buy these curriculums based on something that doesn't even look at the effectiveness." Did >> you wrap up? >> Yep, I will. Last year, hundreds of Massachusetts teachers sent a letter to Governor Healey criticizing Ed reports. Yet, this is what Worcester still uses to justify signing multi-year, multi-million dollar contracts for ineffective and harmful products that stalk our children and profit off of them. Thank you. Okay, we're going to go online. We have Amy Everson. Thank you. I'm Amy Ebersonson. I'm a resident of Worcester and I'm representing Worcester Addresses Childhood Trauma and the Worcester NAACP. I want to speak on items GB3-244 and GB5-86. I want to start by thanking Superintendent Brian Allen for his clear commitment to datadriven decisionmaking and equity. The removal of police officers from Worcester public schools was
037a datadriven decision as well as a bold and necessary step towards equity signaling a commitment to practices that reduce harm rather than criminalize children. The harms of policing in schools are well documented. It disproportionately impacts black, Latino, and other marginalized students, reinforcing systemic inequalities and contributing to the schoolto prison pipeline. It undermines trust between families, communities, and educators and increases suspensions. Massachusetts law governing suspensions and expulsions emphasize re-engagement, due process, and minimizing long-term expulsion. Students are safer, better supported, and more likely to thrive in environments built on relationships and understanding restorative approaches rather than surveillance and punishment. Removal of police was a powerful statement that equity and justice and education require shifting towards prevention, support, and healing. Worcester acts is an intervention that stemmed from the Worcester Youth Violence Prevention Initiative. Kids are acting out
038in response to the trauma they have experienced. behavior is a manifestation of the environment our children are growing up in. They're these are profoundly difficult times for families socially, politically, economically with housing and food insecurity. Kids are coming to school carrying trauma, instability and anxiety that directly affect their regulation and behavior. This reality highlights the critical need for Worcester public schools to continue their initiatives in mental health interventions, restorative justice, trauma informed. >> I also want to say that I stand with Heather and agree there's no circumstances ever where John Monfredo should be allowed in Worcester public school. >> Thank you. Okay. Okay. Our next speaker is Dena Tedeski. Hi, good evening. My name is Dena Tedeski. I'm a Worcester resident. I'm also the parent of a Worcester public school graduate and a current eighth
039grader. And tonight, I'd like to make some comments regarding GB3-244. and want to encourage this body to make decisions that really impact and make things better for our students as well as the other people that are in the school districts uh in the schools, the volunteers. So to comply with state standards that require written policy on record that clearly identify which positions require background checks, the type of checks conducted and establish decision-making criteria for evaluating the records as run. Also instead of just doing a Corey, we should also be doing a Sori and doing something that's a wider branch than just in Worcester. We know that this is a state that has a lot of our region has a lot of regionality. We have a lot of people that live and work in uh different
040states and it is important when they have kids that are coming into our families that are coming into our schools, they should be assured that everyone is checked not just from Massachusetts but other areas of this region because we know that folks have, you know, moved and lived around this area and that could be problematic for background checks that may be in other states. something also that aligns with recognized best practices and is transparent about the process and any appeal steps that can be taken. So, I'd strongly encourage the school committee to take a look at this in light of some new information uh or and to recognize what has been old information and not being addressed. I too also stand with my friend Heather and would not want to have John Manfredo in any
041of the schools around any children. Thank you. >> Okay. And thank you. Our next speaker is Echo Collins names. >> Oh, you have to unmute yourself, Echo. >> Oh, okay. Great. Can you hear me? >> Yes, we can. >> Good evening. My name is Echo Lewis Collins. I am a Worester resident and a WPS parent. Thank you for giving me the time to speak tonight on GB5-116. I am here as a parent who lives directly across from the Bellmont Hill Pond and Park on Route 9 at the top of the hill where the crosswalk connects straight to the playground. There's a beautiful park there, a basketball court, a lake, someplace for kids to play. Except I feel like my child feels like a prisoner looking at the park that he cannot access safely. Although we
042live steps away, I do not allow my son to go to the park. [clears throat] Cars fly down that hill so fast that even if a car stops, you have to wait and see if there's going to be a car accident behind it first. It feels unsafe. We have seen near misses and I worry about my son's actual life and whether or not he'll be coming home when he walks down the hill to try to cross the street to the park. My son, I've allowed him twice to attempt it, but he said both times he stood there for nearly 5 minutes waiting to cross until he felt safe enough. The entire time he was gone, I was anxious as a mom because I knew how dangerous that spot is. and even I have been run
043over by a car walking across the street in a crosswalk. I now drive him back and forth to a a park that is across the street from my house because this is the only way I feel safe to do so. This park is right next to a school. There are plenty of children who live in the neighborhoods across the street from this park that have to use this crosswalk to uh access the park. I'm asking for the school committee to please come do an in-person visit to this crosswalk and stand there to see how dangerous this actual crossing place is. Um, and I'm asking that a light a safety light be put in that park um in that park. And I just want to thank Vanessa Alvarez who met with me um to discuss this
044issue and agrees that this is very dangerous. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I appreciate it. >> Okay. So, seeing nobody else, want to move on? One more person. Cheryl, did you want to say anything? >> No. Okay. >> Good evening. >> Did your name say res? [laughter] >> Uh, my name is Gayen Moore. I live in Worcester. I have a child in the seventh grade at Brunot Middle School. Um, I'm here to speak on item GB244. Um, just a [clears throat] little background about me. I write about city leadership for the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard Kennedy School. So, I feel I've seen the best and worst of city leadership and I have to say that a school com me a school committee member knowing exactly what triggered this policy review
045and laughing about it in public is up there with the very worst I've seen. As a parent, I've come across the volunteer form to request a Corey many times. I've seen the language on volunteers in the student handbook that I sign every year, but neither of these documents would qualify as a policy. Um, so I had to poke around city government website for quite a while before I found more detail, but that's part of what I do my in my day job. So I know how to do that. Um, I still had questions after seeing what looked what appeared to be the the actual policy. Um, and these are the questions that I have that I would just like to understand better as a parent. Uh, does a Corey search capture data from all available
046sex offenders registries including the national registry or registries in neighboring states? Does a Corey search capture people with supported abuse claims in DCF's database? And if not, is there a way to capture that kind of information while protecting people's privacy and rights? What kind of Corey findings result in immediate disqualifications? What information do students and parents receive about how to report inappropriate conduct and what to expect after a report is made? Could we be providing this information in the behavior and safety section of the student handbook? Is a three-year interval between Corey checks appropriate? And finally, the policy document that I was able to locate seemed to exempt from background checks anyone having only quote having only the potential for incidental unsupervised contact with children in in commonly used areas of the school grounds such
047as hallways, which seemed like a loophole you might consider closing. Um, I just hope that this committee would take a serious look at best practices and policies in other schools and consider revising ours before anyone dangerous tries to ride an elephant through the holes in it. Thank you. Thank you. >> Safety first. >> Here are the policies from other cities and towns in New England. >> Policies. >> Okay, we're going to go on to the uh report of the superintendent vision to action district improvement plan. So the chair, our strategic plan, which is our promise to the future, outlines our five-year priorities and aims for the district. Sue, >> this year's theme is vision to action, intended to keep us on course and our work and go deeper in tier one instruction um for all
048students with emphasis on multilingual learners and students with disabilities. Tonight's report of the superintendent is the district's improvement plan for the 2526 school year. The improvement plan aligns our strategic plans overarching priorities with the vision of action framework and outlines the action steps the district and schools are taking this year to improve student achievement across the district. Presenting the report this evening are the four executive directors. Will Foley the executive director of Bernard Quadrant, Chris Croissonus, executive director of the south quadrant. Kareem Tatum, executive director of the North Quadrant, and Ellen Kelly, executive director of the Dhy Quadrant. Well, welcome everybody. >> Good evening. Thank you for giving us an opportunity to present tonight. We are pleased to present the Worcester public schools district improvement plan for the school year 2025 2026. The school committee
049will receive background information on the instructional and systems improvement efforts underway this year. We will also highlight the major areas of focus driving the plan. Our goal is to provide clarity on what we are doing, why we are doing it, and how it will improve student outcomes. Slide three. Thank you. Our district our district improvement plan is aligned to the district district strategic priorities. These include family and community engagement, equitable resources and programs, culture and climate, talent acquisition and retention, health and wellness and facilities. These priorities frame all district level improvement work. Next slide. Our purpose is straightforward. ensure every student has access to high quality teaching and learning every day. This purpose anchors our decisions, our strategies, and the goals in this plan. Next slide. Our student learning goal focuses on raising STAR proficiency.
050We aim to increase the percentage of students meeting or exceeding benchmark from 33% to 36% in reading and math by the end of the school year. This target reflects our commitment to accelerating academic growth. Slide six. Our professional practice goal centers on collaborative teaming across the district. This is a brand new initiative with a 0% baseline. Our goal is for 70% of collaborative teams to implement the teaming structures structures with fidelity by the year's end. This will drive consistency and quality across all classrooms. And now at this time I will pass it over to Dr. Tatum who will discuss our instructional improvement areas for 2526 academic school year. >> Thank you, Ellen. As Ellen said during this presentation, I will highlight our plan to enhance teaching and learning in the Wester public schools. At the
051heart of our work is a commitment to creating schools where every student feels safe, valued, and supported. Our mission is to deliver highquality instruction that develops thoughtful, engaged learners who are prepared for long-term success in our everchanging world. This slide illuminates the instructional improvement strategy embedded within our district's improvement plan. Our focus is clear and is and it is to implement a highlevel coherent improvement plan that strengthens instructional systems, elevates classroom practices and ensures improved outcomes for all students through the use of research-based approaches. On our next slide, our vision uh comes to life through the actualization of these four priorities. We aim to ensure that we are providing strong tier one instruction through the intentional implementation of core instructional practices. We want to promote the effective use of high quality instructional materials that are
052aligned to our curriculum. We are working to streamline robust collaboration and teaming protocols that are carried out in meaningful ways on a consistent basis. And lastly, we will continue to have a targeted emphasis on instructional practices used to support the growth of our mult multilingual learners as well as our students with disabilities. As this committee knows, uh, the superintendent's goal of increasing the percentages of students meeting or exceeding benchmark on both STAR math and reading by 3% at the end of the year was approved. As a result, with the focus on achieving this goal, we are working to build systemwide practices that strengthen consistency and collaboration as it relates to improving teaching and learning. We are working to provide educators with highly qu highly qualified learning opportunities, resources, and supports. And we are also strengthening
053the use of data protocols as a lever to accelerating student achievement. Here are the key components to our instructional improvement. Uh we want to ensure that the existence of engaging and rigorous instruction is driven through strong professional learning. We want to make certain that the intentional use of formative data is embedded in our collective teaming protocols and that systematic shifts in pedagogy will provide more coherent, effective, and equitable instruction for all of our students in the Wor public schools. As previously mentioned, we're working to establish consistent learning conditions across all of our schools. This slide highlights the use of three tools that will guide our improvement in providing strong tier one instruction. The combination of the instructional framework and the universal expectations provide a shared vision of highquality teaching and learning across the district. Its
054purpose is to ensure that every classroom has consistent expectations for what strong instruction looks like in a safe and supportive learning environment. And the five essential ML practices are designed to ensure that our multilingual learners have full access to grade level content while simultaneously developing academic language. This slide highlights the commitment that we have made uh to ensuring the use of HQIM throughout our district. Over the last three years, we've invested 15 million in high quality instructional materials, including Amplify CLA, Amplify Science, Reveal Math, and Study Sync. In addition, we have developed multiple supports for our administrators, faculty, and staff through our curriculum maps, our guide books, our walkthrough tool, as well as our collaborative teaming tool. And lastly, we are committed to providing meaningful professional development opportunities to all of our groups. And just
055to name a few, we have our principal academy. We have our spark coaches academy. We have our elementary and secondary assistant principles network. We have our school adjustment counselor network as well as our quadrantbased teams. At this time, I'll pass it over to my colleague Chris Personus who will provide greater insight into our system improvement focus areas. >> Thank you, Dr. Tatum. Uh this section of slides introduces the following initiatives that are part of a broader effort to improve district-wide systems and supports for all students and in particular students with disabilities and English language learners. Next slide, please. In the collaboration and planning piece, we are establishing evidence-based core collaboration and teaming practices across all schools. This includes providing clear criteria, tools, resources, and systemwide monitoring beginning in 2526. This these collaboration structures are required
056in all instructional meetings, our PLC's, ILTS, climate and culture, attendance, and data meetings. The focus of this is to create and implement evidence-based core collaboration and teaming practices with the goal of having these practices used in all instructional meetings across all schools. The district will support this by by providing clear criteria, tools, and resources, and a system for monitoring progress and systemwide use. Next slide, please. And how do we elevate the needs of our multilingual learners? We have identified five essential practices that support multilingual learners in tier one instruction. The five essential ML practices are to provide rigorous grade level instruction, academic language and vocabulary, student discourse, the use of scaffolds that support independence, and the last one, integration of cultural and linguistic assets. Wor public schools has developed tools, resources, and a strong professional
057learning to support consistent implementation of all of these practices. The academic needs of multilingual learners are a district-wide priority. Understanding that we cannot improve tier one instruction by solely focusing on tier 2 and three supports, we must provide all of our schools with consistent and meaningful opportunities to be exposed to highquality teaching and learning opportunities. We are making certain that we do not stop at simply providing our faculty and staff with highquality materials, but that we are focusing on how we are using these tools to enhance the growth of our faculty, staff, and students. The focus is to create the optimal conditions for learning for multilingual students in all of our classrooms. We are working to ensure that our administration, faculty, and staff have meaningful and consistent opportunities to collaborate around providing strong tier one
058instruction through their use of highquality instructional materials, professional learning communities, co-eing models, and in common planning time. At this time, I'll pass it over to my colleague, Mr. Foley who provide the insight and supports for the rest of the district. >> Thank you Mr. Cassonus. We are additionally we are strengthening the supports that are provided to our students with disabilities. Strengthening special education supports and service delivery through researchbased instructional models and better scaffolds in tier one along with consistent highquality professional development is expanding our educator expertise. Additionally, consistently reinforcing the expectation that supporting students with disabilities is a shared responsibility across all classrooms is leading to improved student outcomes. We're also building system systemwide culturally responsive practices meant to enhance instruction. Culturally responsive pedigogy both upholds high academic standards and honors students cultures, strengths, and
059lived experiences. Our goal is to provide meaningful, authentic learning experiences for all of our students. Data literacy is a significant district-wide focus intended to help educators make more informed decisions. We are also providing more tools and resources to support effective data use which supports our broader effort to deliver high-quality instruction that that accelerates learning. Ultimately, our improvement work supports the district's vision of a learner. We want students to graduate as problem solvers, curious learners, empowered individuals, effective communicators, and engaged community members. Our instructional and improvement priorities build toward this vision. Thank you. We appreciate your time. >> Okay. Thank you. Any questions? Member Mman, >> thank you um for the report. I um this is part two of the MCCAST um presentation through the chair to the superintendent. Is that correct, >> Mr. Superintendent? through
060the chair. So these are the strategies we're using to address student achievement across the board. So as you heard that uh vision to action which is the focus on tier one instruction in particular focus on multilingual learners and students with disabilities is what we're doing uh for all school all students all schools. So it it's correlated to the MCCAST presentation but it's not necessarily part two of the MCCAST presentation. It's what our district improvement strategies are for this year. >> And and is is there an will there be an additional part two presentation on MCCAST through the chair? >> Absolutely. Um can you say more about what that means? I think we had a presentation to last meeting or the meeting before about MCCAST and I thought there was a part two and I'm feels
061like this is the response to our MCCAST but I appreciated also seeing member Johnson's item about accountability and a lot of items there that I think relate to the work here. So, >> so this pres yes through the chair. So this presentation is a response to our student achievement status and how we're addressing that. So there isn't going to be another plan present report of the superintendent specifically on MCAST. >> There is not there is not. Okay. But but when we get to the end of our agenda, some of these specifics um that member Johnson called for will be addressing part of what's here. Is am I does that make sense, >> Mr. Superintendent? >> Yes. So we'll be providing reports back based upon that those items later on the agenda. >> Okay. Thank you.
062>> Thank you. Anybody else? See nobody else. So the motion is Miss Carrier. >> Thank you. Just first of all would like to thank you. This is a great report. It certainly gives us very informative updates. So I appreciate it. Um when we look at um elevating the needs of the ML learners, you talked about um scaffolding. Is that still used in every classroom or are we cutting back or changing that >> Through the chip, the ML supports, it's an expectation that ML supports exist in every single classroom, in every lesson. >> Okay, that's Thank you. That's what I was hoping to hear. So once again, I appreciate it. And then um you mentioned the vision of a learner. All Worester Public School students will be empowered to lead a meaningful and purposeful life. Our
063students will leverage a broad set of multi-it literate skills, excuse me, to graduate as problem solvers, curious learners, empowered individuals, effective communicators, and engaged community members. Very positive and very happy to hear that our vision is positive. So with those key pieces, are we branching out to find out what our colleges are bringing to the table to perhaps help us now that they're in the next stage for our high school students? >> No, >> through the chair. >> Mr. Superintendent. >> So the chair, if I can, I'll take the first um crack and then M Mr. Croonus can add to it. But I've met with almost all the college presidents so far and we're working on ways to partner with each of them. um both for a win-win for us and for the colleges. >>
064Thank you. >> And and through the chair, we did have some communication over the last couple of years um with Dr. Leman also over here uh in speaking to them as as expectations, not just about what do they need to be prepared to go to college, but how do they succeed and finish? Um a lot of it is that, you know, they hear that term grit and being able to do things on their own and achieve. uh we do a lot of exercises in school where they can learn skill sets from kindergarten all the way through but how does that develop and change when it becomes a basic skill that they have but it's put in a different arena for them to do it as they get older. So uh the preparation for that to
065sort of be off on their own in college not necessarily have somebody there uh you know an adult that they could have or somebody they can turn to. So we're trying to prepare them to do that but we've reached out and talked to uh as Mr. Allen said the majority of all the schools in the area to see what they have and what they request and when they go to the high schools I know our guidance counselors speak to them as well to ask them um you know about what it looks like for our students to be successful as they move forward. >> Thank you. Thank you >> member Johnson. >> Thank you through the chair to administration probably to um superintendent Allen because when I when I went through this report and I actually
066um to the member in the community who spoke on this when I looked at the 15 million as well. Um that's not 15. Just explain where that 15 million goes like what what is that about? >> Certainly through the chair. So that's for all the curricula that we've purchased over the last three years. So CLA um the science curriculum, multilingual curriculum, math and so forth. Often there's digital uh components that come with that. But these are the textbooks that are provided to the students in the classroom as well. So not just >> applications and computer >> through the chair. >> Correct. Now to the chair. So, and and the reason why I bring that up because I I don't know where my um my item is in regards to kind of um I guess screen
067time and computer time and kind of what we're doing in the classroom and kind of I I would say maybe starting to getting away from that as much as we're doing and and doing more hands-on stuff in the classroom and going I guess going back to some of your traditional type learning of teachers teaching and speaking and on the board and hands-on stuff. Um, so I I think maybe uh next year during budget season we kind of take a look at kind of where we're at with all that together to kind of make some um informed decisions in in regards to that. Um I do like the highlevel um nature of this report. Um, I I guess I I I get it all and I I I understand it to a degree, but I I
068guess my thing is is at some point I would like to kind of hear I guess from our staff members in the field on what all this that we're talking about here what that actually looks like in the classroom and what they're actually doing. So, I think we get a better sense of not just hearing about it, but trying to get a sense of people coming in and talking about how that relates to our students, what it looks like in the classroom. I I remember I know sometimes we get pictures and stuff and how they're doing hands-on stuff, but we don't really hear about it. So, I'm wondering if at some point in the future towards the end of the year, maybe we could get something like that. Maybe that's on the part of the
069agenda. I don't know that, but it looks like someone's going to answer through the chair >> through through the chair. Um, in the meantime, uh, Vice Chair Johnson, um, all the EDS conduct monthly walkthroughs at schools. Um, so any school committee member is more than welcome to attend. Um, in addition, we have, uh, two coaches academy meetings per month. Um, and a lot of this work is done there with our schoolbased folks, instructional coaches. So, you were all um invited to to uh come observe that work as well because it's all related to the topics that we spoke to tonight. >> Thanks. And just I just throw it out there if you guys could just connect with me, send an email, whatever, whatever the schedule is, I will join. I mean, you know, we I
070think we all like going into schools and kind of seeing that, but I I want to see some of that work going on um in the classroom. Um but again um thanks for the report. Um I know what member Milman is um getting at. I do have an item on um because I I know we're talking a lot about our ML students and and students with um disabilities and we we do talk a lot about um our elementary students and and the reading and that kind of stuff. I'm I'm actually I want to hear more about our high school students and kind of where we're at with that. I'm starting to get a little just me a little concerned um with that. And it was also a gentleman that was on talking about the absenteeism
071um that that's also occurrence also a concern. Um I wish we would have got some of that I guess in this and we didn't. And so I guess I'm glad that my uh my item is on the agenda for further um conversation in the report. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for your report and we will recommend to approve the file. All those in favor of post ordered. Next up is next next up is L. We have the uh the stand committee on fog. Member McCulla. >> Thank you. So fog met on November 10th and we took up a variety of different items. Many of them being as they read. I wanted to make note that one of the items on the agenda uh 4-30 to work with the administration and the
072DY high school community to work on naming a space in the new school after fallen WFD firefighter Lieutenant Jason J. Manard. Manard is a DY alum. Met his wife Tina while they were both students at the school and even took his fire fighter exam there. Was approved four to zero. And I just want to acknowledge that Jay's mom and stepdad are here with us tonight. So they have been very supportive of this. So I just wanted to make note of them being here. But that being said, as most of them are as they read, I do sorry I do want to bring up on GB3-244 that while the intent of that was to have the policy be as it was and then have the superintendent or designate review that I am going to make a
073motion that we go back to subcommittee on this item and work with administration, MASC and whatever other back best practices information are available to review the volunteer policy so that we have something that might be more robust and comprehensive. >> Okay. Member member mailman followed by by member mailman. >> So, um I want to comment on 3244. Um I filed that item two years ago. Two years ago. And we have a bunch of people that gave very impassion speeches here today and um talked about a very important item and we and they talked about us not addressing the elephant in the room and I think they are right and I think um so I absolutely support Molly's item to send this back for a stronger policy. I want to make comment that we can clearly
074although I would like to hear from our superintendent and our mayor on this item. I um clearly I don't we cannot leave this in the hands of a superintendent because god forbid we have one that makes poor decisions related to this kind of stuff again. Um, so what do we have to say? I mean, this is this is this has not gotten better. The information has only gotten um harder to swallow for me for sure. And I um I feel like we live in this city where we're not like why can't we stand up and say never again. This can't happen. We will not allow it. We made mistakes. big mistakes. I don't understand that. And um and I just thank these people that have a lot more guts than most of us do for
075um for speaking up on something that has just been swept under the rug for years and years and years and years. And um the other item I just wanted to comment is this where the um discipline stuff is too. I wanted to just say that when we hopefully we're going to get a lot more in-depth disciplinary item and not just like this stuff. Um and I think you guys made a bunch of motions in committee for it. Um, so I would like to always have us put percentages with incident rates and I would really welcome um any comments on 3244 from our chair or our superintendent. Thank you. >> Okay, member Johnson. Thank you to the chair and uh thanks member mailman for your your your comments. Um, what I would say is, as I
076think numerous people have said and and and so many people so eloquently said tonight, um, things that happened years ago, tragic. Whoever was in the room, whoever was part of whatever it was, it's all this stuff. DAS the there's so many multiple systems that were involved. Tragic. I feel for everyone who was involved. I feel for for for for Heather. I feel for for everyone and and what I would say being on this committee for the past four years and we'll continue hope for next two that I will do everything in my power to ensure that we continue to protect our children and our schools and ensure that our schools are safe and by bring and I spoke up at the meeting and bringing it back to committee to ensure and work with administration and
077work with my colleagues to ensure that we get this tightened up and everything's fine. I mean, there's always holes in in in certain things. So, there's always communication that needs to go on around this stuff because again, it's not always black and white. It's not always something goes on and this I think was my point. Something goes on and someone is charged with something or whatever. There's always speculation out there. whatever. We need to have someone who steps in and says despite a Corey, no Corey issue or whatever or no sorry or no whatever, this individual based on what we know out in the community or have heard or anyone has brought to my attention will not be allowed in our school and that should fall on the superintendent. They're in charge of the schools.
078That should fall on the superintendent. We can't look at what the superintendent might look like in three years, six years, 10 years. We need to entrust that that individual, whoever it is, is ensuring that our kids are safe in schools. And I would hope everyone on this body is feeling the same thing that I feel. I think everyone was moved by everything that has been said and talked about tonight. And I believe as a body, as a district, as administrators or whatever, we will do everything in our power to ensure that our policies are straightened tight. We follow state, federal rule, law, whatever it is, Mass General laws to ensure that our kids are safe. Um, no one ever wants to be a part of a situation that happened with uh Heather and her family
079or any No one wants to be a part of part of that again and we will ensure that that is taken care of and never to occur again. Thank you, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you. Mayor P. >> Thank you. And I just want to thank the committee. I want to thank everybody for coming out tonight in the testimony, having your testimony, the uh survivors. Um, it's very emotional and uh, I understand and uh, so I appreciate the promise, but we have to get this right. You know, there's no second chance anymore. We have to have it right. And uh, some good testimony tonight, especially when uh, I think the young person here in the green talked about you had the core rejects and all the questions you have. You should send those questions to us
080so we can make sure those are answered. And uh you talked about Corey checks and this 51A is part of that Corey check. What isn't part of the Corey check? What more do we do in the city of Worcester? Uh if if it beyond the Cory check. So um and also talking about someone speaking about the compliance with state regulations and statutes and uh and also working with the police. What's the appeal process? So if someone does get this designation, how does that person appeal or how does the parents appeal? uh either way. And uh so I think it's I think member McCulla will get this right in committee. Uh we get some information that was brought to us tonight. We'll put that in the committee too and talk about it and have a public
081hearing and people can come in and testify about what they like to see in this and uh because I'm sure we don't have all the information and uh but the legal information. I mean what we can what we cannot do but like I said these are these are both our students our safety our students and uh and we can't overlook anything so we need a good process in place we need a good regulation policy in place uh that all principles know what the rules are and there's no deviant um from the the rules and u and also superintendent would have the final say if it was appeal to you. So, thank you. >> Okay. I I really like to talk on this subject. First of all, um somebody that has never been convicted um has
082a clear Corey and um as a superintendent, uh you do not have control of your your school committee members. they're your bosses. So, I think there's a lot of inaccurate things that were said tonight uh regarding um those two points. Uh furthermore, um as being a superintendent not in Worcester but also in Qua Bog in East Hampton, um this is a uh question that comes up often and that is um how do you make a decision as a superintendent because it is a superintendent's decision for the daily um running of the school district and who goes in as a volunteer in a class and who doesn't? And uh several times the uh the question comes up, what do you do uh when a person is not found guilty um passes the core Corey passes the
083story and also passes the DCF um and yet there's some uncomfortableness for some reason in the community. So I I really uh in all those cases uh in East Hampton um we did consult legal counsel uh because it it is uh it also affects parents. So we're making this policy. We're not making policy uh for one person. Uh this is a policy that covers everybody that wants to volunteer in a school system. And uh the other areas that have been challenging uh when I was superintendent uh was what do you do about a parent Corey when a a parent has been convicted uh of a crime seven years 8 n 10 years prior but wants to go on their child's field trip. So as a superintendent uh you again have to make that decision whether
084you're going to allow that to happen. So, um it's important that u Mr. Allen has guardrails to try to help with that decision because it's a decision that is happens more often than you would think um with parents asking to come to their school uh to help in the classroom and also to attend field trips. So, I would like to um add an amendment to that is that um not only does it um return back to fog, but we also get legal counsel on um those guardrails and how our lawyer feels we should be going forward because this is you're making a legal decision that affects people's reputation. uh we're also making a a legal decision that affects parents and if they can be involved in their child's school. So I would ask the amendment
085that we do get legal counsel uh also for the guide reels. Thank you >> Mman. >> Yeah. through the chair. Is John Manfredo still on your list to not come into our schools? >> Through the chair. Yes. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Okay. So, motion is we're going to send that back to committee and a motion to approve the fog um minutes and uh those we have any finance items on this. Okay. All those approved opposed. So order. Okay. We are on uh TLSS. Member Guardiola. >> Uh thank you Mr. Mayor. So the committee on teaching, learning and student success met this Monday 11:117. Uh we had eight items. So as they read, I just want to make a point on GB5-63, the dual language program plan. Uh there was a lot of work done
086on this and a lot of uh you know folks from this the school administration uh a colleague of ours here from the school committee as well as parents and community members who really took the time and worked hard to make sure that this program uh is done correctly and with thorough analysis on what should be the future for this program. So uh we I just wanted to recognize those folks and and thank them for all hard work they did on this uh dual language program plan. Uh but as it reads uh Mr. Mayor, thank you. >> Okay. >> Those in favor post so awarded and also on the previous item approve all the the motions [clears throat] that were made by the members. Those in favor post ordered. We are on sorry Johnson. No good.
087Okay. Now we have approve of the grants and other finance items. That's section N. Any questions before we take a roll call. Roll call. >> Member Alvarez. >> Yes. >> Member Viania. >> Yes. >> Member Bernendo. >> Yes. >> Member Guardiola. >> Yes. >> Vice Chair Johnson. >> Yes. >> Member Mailman. >> Member McCulla. >> Yes. >> Member Roy. >> Yes. >> Mayor Petty. >> Yes. Okay. General business response to administration. Dory Mo High School class 1972 request designation of the replacement tree in memory of a class with the addition of the memorial plaque to be financed by the class committee. Recommendations to approve and file. Those in favor post so ordered. Okay. The following eight items will be considered together. Responses from administration. Um the following eight items. Does anybody have any questions uh
088on these items? to respond. Member member Mailman. >> Thank you. I'd like to hold these eight items until we have the backup um submitted to us which I the committee is working on. For some reason they weren't able to directly tie these to the agenda, but they are working on doing that. So I I don't think there's anything a lot of these are older items. If we could just hold that to our next item so we get the direct backup. So hold these motions to hold these until we get the backups. >> Thank you. >> Roll call. >> Member Alvarez. >> Yes. >> Member Biancia. >> No. >> Member Bernenda. >> No. >> Member Guadiola. >> Oh, pri. Okay. Do you have a question? Prior. >> I apologize. I usually do this. We're in the
089middle of vote, but are we so um through the chair, we received this backup in weekly updates. Is that correct? Through the chair to administration. >> Through the chair. Yes. >> Thank you. >> We did. Okay. >> Okay. So, start with the roll call. I'm sorry. >> I'm sorry. >> Through the chair. They came in weekly backups. they did not come as backup like all the other items that we have here as the response for the so it's a it's a formality I'm asking that we get the information attached to it and I think I spoke with the vice chair and he agreed with me and we agreed to make this change >> okay Johnson >> yeah the to the chair. Um I guess it it makes sense um to have if we're going to
090put it on the agenda to have to where we click into it and we were able to see what was given in the weekly thing. And my guess is that would make the most sense. Um, and that's why I had my hand raised earlier cuz I couldn't click on the item for TLSS cuz I wasn't able to read it cuz I had a question about something. But I'll wait for another time to deal with that. But it I I overall I think it makes sense. I I don't know if anyone else would disagree. I was going to work that out through through the chair with the clerk and the superintendent to try to figure that out moving forward. >> Okay. bless you. Okay, anybody else? Member B and Carrier. >> Thank you. It appears that
091what we're looking at for this evening for this to hold eight items. Is it possible that we would then be able to file these eight items and put that item on an agenda to change a policy? Because that's what we pretty much would be doing. we be be changing a procedure that we have followed through on. So if we're going to change a procedure, perhaps there should be some discussion in reference to it because if these eight items all we receive the information on it in prior newsletters is that correct superintendent >> Mr. Allen >> through the chair. Yes, they were all in the weekly update. So, if they were in the weekly update, we have in the past have said for different items I' in and I've been told for questions that I've asked
092it'll be in the weekly update, which has been satisfactory. So, I I guess what I'm looking at this evening is to say these items become filed this evening. And for our next agenda, we have on there, discuss how we would like to have the procedure occur because if we're going to change a policy, then it would be across the board for everything, not just certain items. Um because there have been times, as I said, that I've had something come across and they've said it's been it'll be in the weekly Friday and I haven't followed through. So it didn't hit and become an item. But if that's how we want to do it, then we're going to be changing the policy. So my concern is that we haven't really talked about it. Thank you. I just
093I want to ask another clarified question. I'm happy that member mailman answered my first question because that's what I was curious about. But were these items specifically supposed to be Friday letter items or were they supposed to be reports back to the school committee through the chair? >> Through the chair. I know some of them were referred to the weekly update. I I'm not sure if all eight I'd have to look on all eight of them. >> Okay. Because I don't have a problem getting back the information. I think uh to member B and Carrie's point typically the this isn't the procedure for when it we ask for information back. If we get a weekly if we say weekly update it comes in the weekly update. If we're saying we want information back to the
094full committee that's where it should come. It seems like these were all being stated that they were in the weekly update in lie of but that's not a change in procedure. It's just this this was a change tonight. This isn't the typical wave we've received this if I can through the chair. That's my understanding as well. I'm understanding from the clerk though since they were passed as motions by the school committee, you still have to file them. And so this is our attempt to just file them because they've been responded to through the weekly update. >> Thank you. I I understand that. But they were not designated to be a weekly update item. That's the only thing I just want to make sure that we don't need to change a procedure. It's that this should
095have been if they were supposed to come back to full committee, they were supposed to come back to full committee. If they were supposed to be a weekly update, it the weekly update was fine. That's I don't have an objection. If they if it was supposed to be weekly update, I don't feel that we need to get it again. But if it were supposed to be response back to the committee, that's the only thing I have that's so I don't know that all eight need to be. But if we didn't receive it, you know, you don't I'm sorry I'm rambling now, but I'm trying to say I don't think it's a change in our procedure because procedurally that's not what we've done. I think that this is a specific instance where some of these came
096in a Friday letter per our request for Friday letter. Some of them were in a Friday letter, but they were requested to come back as a report. So I think we just need to make sure we're consistent with that. Thank you. Member Milman >> through the chair. Could our clerk speak on this item, please? >> You have a question. >> Our clerk is in charge of our agenda, in charge of making sure we're doing this properly. Can you can you offer your thoughts on this discussion? >> Sure. through through the chair. It would be my preference that um going forward if we make a motion for more information through the Friday letter that would the Friday letter would close the loop on the motion. If we make a motion for a report back, then I
097would like a separate item to close the loop on that motion. Does that make sense? >> So if you said I'd want more information, yes, put it in the Friday letter. It goes in the Friday letter. The loop is closed. >> Okay. So if we want it to be if we want our our the work of our committee is public and so um I don't I feel like I won't even agree to a I know that we have somewhere uh will it would those items come back to this agenda at all >> in in my perfect world if you said you wanted in a Friday letter and that was okay then no I would not anticipate they would come back to the full committee. If you ask for a report back, I would I would
098prefer that the item comes back to the full committee in report. >> Then then if some of these were Friday letters, why are they on the agenda tonight? >> That's the backup I received. >> Um, >> but why are the items even listed here? >> I think that was the matter this the office superintendent's office. >> Okay. >> The what? >> I would I would assume the superintendent put that on there, but yeah. or his office, right? I got that right. >> Maybe not. Okay, let's uh let's uh we can just have a policy together, right? >> We already have a policy. So, we just >> Correct. Okay. So, I guess >> so you guys all So, can I get the backup directly for these answers? Can we get the answers to these questions? which
099is what um >> put that in the Friday letter. >> Oh my god. [laughter] Okay. So, that's a no. All right. Thank you. >> Okay. >> Thanks. >> Well, that's what you want, right? I'm sorry. I didn't mean to like you. >> I want I want us to re This was on our agenda. And when it's on our agenda, I think that we should have a direct link to the response. That's all. That's what I talked to member Johnson about. >> Okay. I got you. >> That's all. >> Okay. So we have a motion for something. >> Oh, motion to hold. So >> So the motion is to hold. >> Everybody in agreement? So um I guess we whole need a roll call anyways. Roll call. >> Member Alvarez. >> Yes. Member Biancia. >> I
100have a question. What am I holding? >> Oh, this is a motion to hold these five eight items. >> I'm sorry. >> The motion is to hold these eight items. So once we hold them then what is going to occur? >> He's going to I would assume they're going to come back attach these to the items and uh then this is the last time we have to deal with it because we'll go back to what we've always done. Fair. >> Okay. So it's like a one time exception the way I look at this. So, it's a onetime exception to say that we have eight items that the backup we already received in the weekly letter will now come back with eight items and eight items will have backup information. Correct. Correct on that? >> Yes.
101So, it's a onetime thing. >> Okay. Okay. Roll call. >> Member Alvarez. Oh, >> yes. Member Vancaria. >> No. Member Bernenda, >> yes. >> Member Guardiola, >> yes. >> Vice Chair Johnson, >> yes. >> Member Mailman, >> yes. >> Member McCulla, >> yes. >> Member Roy, >> yes. >> Mayor Penny, >> yes. Okay, so that's taken care of. Okay, we are on. We on 5-114 to request that the safety department work with the schools, particularly those in hight traffic areas, to review pickup and drop off policies and require right turn only into and out of the school driveways during specific drop off and pickup times to improve significant congestion in those areas with a particular focus on middle and high schools. >> Thank you very Thank you. And I would just like to thank um
102Mr. Morrison's safety department and Superintendent Allen. Everyone has been working on this for years, so it's not a new issue and I appreciate the work that has been done on it. It just seems to continue to be an issue, especially in a lot of our hightra areas. For example, if you're going to Burncoat High School in the morning, you can see that and middle school, there's a lot of congestion coming in. People don't follow the right turn only out policies, things of that nature. and it causes significant safety concerns when children and students are running in and out of traffic to get to cars that might be parked across the street and just the drop off and pickup procedures with those. So, I've just asked that we take a look at this and we work
103with the city if there are things that pertinent to the city side to really make sure with those hightraic areas that we're maximizing or minimizing traffic, I guess, maximizing safety, minimizing traffic. Another concern that had been brought directly to me and I'm not sure if it were to any other members was the new traffic pattern at the new high school at New Derty. There was some concern about like the two ways in one way out situation. So I just asked that that be looked at as well. So if the safety department could just look at this in particular overall and any uh concerns with that scenario. Thank you. >> I think we refer that to the administration. All those in favor oppose. So ordered. request that the district explore the possibility of centrally located family
104resource center that provides centralized services for food and clothing needs as well as the possibility of including washers, dryers for family use, one of the school-based health centers. Um, member McCulla, >> thank you. And a several years back, I had the opportunity to shadow a staff member at the parent information center. And this came up then. And I know we've worked very hard in the district by adding wraparound coordinators to all of our schools and services for students and families at the schools. Some of our schools do have washers and dryers. But one of the thing that I keep hearing um from our wraparound coordinators and other community members is if there were ever a possibility of having a centralized component of that, not just the pick wrap, but places where families may be able
105to have like time slots where they're able to use washers and dryers. This could be very pie in the sky thinking, but we know sometimes that a child having to bring something to school to be washed can be, you know, embarrassing, you know, I mean, so if there are opportunities where families have a lot of time slots, again, I'm referring to this to administration to consider and to look at and see what our opportunities are with that. Thank you. >> Okay, Ben. So, um, we put washes and dries, as you know, in in a lot of a lot of the schools, um, from 2016 until, uh, COVID hit. Uh, one of the great things, uh, I do think that'd be great to add it to a central location, but I also like them to be
106in schools. So, for example, let's take Union Hill for a great example. Um, there's books there. So when they're doing the the um washing and drying, there's discussions on literacy and you know examples of academic work there. So it's combined with the staff that are available that are there uh in order to also increase literacy. So I I think a central location uh would be great. Uh the problem with the wash and dryers is that you have to have someone be able to fix them because um they get a lot of use. uh family, it's been very effective. Families come and sign up and most of those uh washer and dryers were donated. Uh we had a partnership with um UMass and UMass um bought a lot of the washer and dryers that are in
107the schools. Um, Sullivan has a a plan where they bring their laundry on the bus and then they bring it right downstairs to the washer and dryers and then uh they come during the day, put it in the dryer and then they go back on the bus. So, uh it's it costs a lot to wash and dry clothes right now and where sometimes uh you have to choose between food and clean clothes and we don't want that to happen. Um, another thought that we we explored, um, which I still think is something else we should continue to look at is there are those big washer and dryer trucks. Um, when there's, you know, hurricanes, whatever, uh, they drive into those areas. I was I was wondering if maybe we could look at maybe the wraparounds
108go look at um having those occur in the city several times, you know, during the year at different locations because they do handle a large number of um they have a lot of large number of washer and dryers and uh it would be advantageous and I think our families would really appreciate that. >> Okay, so send that to the administration. Those in favor oppose ordered. We're on 5-11 >> 5-116. Request that the administration work with the city of Whisters Department of Transportation Public Works assess traffic and pedestrian safety concerns at the crosswalks located at Belmont Street across from the uh Stanton Street near the basketball located at best basketball located at the Bell Hill Park. Has been reported that the drivers agreed through [clears throat] this area despite the existing crosswalks speed through this area.
109further request that the city explore safety enhancements such as flashing pedestrian lights for non-school hours, additional signage, and the assignment of crossing guards during the school hours. U member Alvarez >> as it reads I just sorry not the basketball the basketball court so I apologize for that. [laughter] Um I want to better understand the process. So will when this is put in the agenda, is there someone that tours the area just to see like what it looks like? >> Yeah, what we'll do is send that to public works through the council and then uh once it gets through somewhat through a process, we can make a phone call and >> Okay. >> making sure someone looks at >> and do we get notified is >> sometimes. Yes. But if we stay on top, we will.
110Yes. Mhm. >> Um I only asked because I I heard earlier um Ekko would like to be a part of that. Um I don't know if that would be a possibility. >> Oh, we can talk to them afterwards. >> Okay, sounds good. Thank you. >> So you're asking for like a meeting and have go out and take a look at this. Right. I get it. Okay. So we'll send that to the administration also to the uh well it's really to the city city of listener and uh to the clerk's office. All those in favor opposed. Request administration provide a report on the school accountability report within the report. Please report on the 4-year cohort graduation rate extended engagement rate, chronic epi absenteeism in advanced coursework completion report on the plan to address the concerns regarding
111the accountability report. Uh member Johnson >> as it reads the administration. All those in favor oppose. So ordered. Okay. Next is a considerate disclosure by the superintendent of schools pursue the Massachusetts General Law 6 268A section 19 at review of contents to make determinations there on there on uh motion is to approve and to file. Those in favor of post soed and uh okay so uh brings us to the end of the meeting. I want to thank our student reps and I want to thank people for coming out tonight. Everybody have a nice Thanksgiving week and uh we'll see you I think on to a meeting on the 5th. The fourth fourth our next meeting is on December 4th. Motion to adjurnn. All those in favor so ordered.