001Recording in progress. >> Uh good evening everyone. Welcome to the Worester School Committee. And uh if you can please stand for the uh pledge of allegiance national anthem. Say you see by the dawn early lights on so proudly we held at the twilight last gleaming whose bright stripes and bright stars through The barrelless fight or the rails we watch were so gallently streaming and the rock is red. The bombs were singing air gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say does that as our sple [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] for the land of the free and the home of the brave. [Music] We'll do a roll call. >> Member Alvarez >> here. >> Member Vanceria >> here. >> Member Bernenda >> here. >> Member Guadiola >> here. >> Vice Chair Johnson
002>> here. >> Member mailman >> here. >> Member Mcculla >> here. >> Member Roy >> here. >> Mayor Penny >> here. >> Okay, we have the consent agenda. Roll call. Okay. >> Member Alvarez, >> yes. >> Member Biancia, >> yes. >> Member Bernenda, >> yes. >> Member Guardiola, >> yes. >> Vice Chair Johnson, >> yes. >> Member Mailman, >> yes. >> Member McCulla, >> yes. >> Member Roy. >> Yes. Mayor Penny. >> Uh, yes. Okay. We have held items. We have two held items. First one is G. and to review the process of honoring students of the West Public Schools who achieve the highest grade point averages in their classes or who meet any other appropriate criteria that demonstrate outstanding academic achievement. Um, school member Roy. >> Oh, my microphone is among the missing here.
003Um, so anyway, I did a lot of research on this and there's all kinds of reasons why we should do this. Honoring students um who achieve the highest grade levels, point averages or meet criteria for outstanding academic achievement um is important for several reasons. One, it gives motivation and encouragement to recognize their academic excellence and inspires students to strive for high performance. Two is positive reinforcement. Public acknowledgement of achievement provides positive reinforcement. Boosting students confidence and self-esteem and they become role models for their peers especially when they tutor their peers. Um their success can inspire others to want to do better and it forges community engagement by celebrating academic achievement. strengthens community pride um for the districts to commit to fostering talent, preparing students for future success. So basically what I'm asking for is for
004us to consider to go back to honoring our high achievers and I'm asking for recommendation for this to go to TLSS >> and not the administration first. We get a report back on it. TSS. No administration. We should end the administration first. Thanks. >> Okay. All those in favor post. So ordered. Next item is to request that the um administration update the committee on all anti-bullying initiatives and the impact it has had on our schools and whether additional programs need to be implemented. Member Roy. >> Okay. Let me make sure I got it on my notes right. Bullying is such a danger to our children and some statistics are showing in school bullying is decreasing which is awesome to hear by 30 to 40%. But cyber bullying is up 72%. So, I think it's important
005that we as a committee find out what we're doing exactly to be fostering um anti-bullying at every every cost we can. And I'm asking for this also to go to TLSS. >> Okay. Those in favor? So, ordered >> through the chair. Would that also um go to administration first? >> No, I think we can send you the other one. We can do it both ways. So don't you want in TLSS? >> What's the difference through the chair? >> Sometimes we'll go to TLSS and the administration will come in and have it in subcommittee. I think I've argued that before. I think you might have objected with me arguing that before. So um so motion to send a TLSS. Those in favor opposed so ordered. Uh request that the administration continue to pursue grant monies to
006offer additional anti-bullying programs in our system. Member Rory. So again, having done extensive research on this, I found quite a few programs that offer grants to set up programs in our schools for anti-bullying. Some of them the deadlines to apply are coming up. So with your permission, I'd like to give this folder to um Mr. Allen for consideration so we can apply for more grants. >> Okay. So send that to administration. Those in favor post ordered. request administration review the school committee uh the physical education curriculum and report on how it prepares students to be physically fit after graduating from high school >> as it reads. >> Okay, send the TLSS. I guess all those in favor opposed. We have public comment. Any member from the public can address the committee regarding any item before
007the on the agenda for up to two minutes. This your names your residence and item number. >> Yes, of course. Uh Fred Nathan Worcester item uh 5-94 uh the bullying. You know, let's face it, even though uh there were kids in school who I'm sure again bullied and Worcester has been exceptionally lucky and that no one has died from bullying except for a member of member Johnson's family some 40 plus years ago. Worcester has been able to keep the lid on stuff, but that isn't always going to happen if the right elements are out there in this bullying. And might I also say, we got to stop the bullying here in the school committee. Simple. >> Is your names your residence and item number? >> Hi, good evening. My name is Dina Tedeski. Excuse me.
008I am a Worcester resident. I'm also a parent of a Worcester public school graduate and a current eighth grader. First, I'd like to thank Mr. Allen and his dedicated team for the hard work to make the first couple of weeks of school starting a good one. It's obvious. Thank you. Also, the know your school nights this year so far have been welcoming, inclusive, and resourceful with many having community partners tableabling to connect with caregivers. And this is really critical um and welcoming for a lot of parents. I'd also like to comment on ROS 5-12. As a parent and community advocate, I'm excited to see this year's set of goals. I'm particularly appreciate the district improvement goal number two of growing your own and vision of a leader. The district should heartily continue to invest in
009this. We have a fabulous student population and many of whom can can and will be future educators hopefully in our community and working with our their with their former mentors which I think would be really unique and special and I'm sure that's already happened for district improvement goal number three. It is absolutely critical to include parents and caregivers in the process not only to hear their thoughts but to ensure best understanding. Presenting this information at site councils, family and parent advisory councils and PTO's would be invaluable and thorough throughout the process. And I want to give a shout out to Casey Star, the family and community engagement team and other staff members and the Pride family advisory council for such an amazing show of support to march in the Pride Fest parade. Thank you. And
010member mailman was there and member Alvarez and it was it was well appreciated. Thank you. >> Thank you. Okay. See nobody else. Anybody online? Can you see? Okay. So, we'll close that part of the meeting. Miss the So, we're going to go to the report of the superintendent. Um, Superintendent Allen. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I'm pleased to provide the proposed goals of the superintendent for the 2526 school year. The goals align with the Massachusetts superintendent evaluation process, have been written to be smart goals, and have been aligned to the state's evaluation rubric. Upon approval of these goals by the school committee, the administration will provide a midcycle report in December and allow the school committee to provide feedback and an end of cycle uh report at the end of the school year for
011the purpose of the school committee to conduct the annual summitive evaluation. Overall, you will see that these goals span across all divisions and include the student learning goal, the professional practice goal, and three district improvement goals. I will also share other highlevel areas of focus uh for the district this year. For the student learning goal, I propose a goal the goal to be uh to increase the percentage of students meeting or exceeding benchmark on star reading at end of the year grades 2 through 9 from 33% to 36% and math at end of year grades 1 through nine from 33 to 36%. We believe a 3 percentage point increase is realistic given targeted instructional strategies, data-driven interventions, and ongoing progress monitoring throughout the school year. This goal aligns with the strategic plan's key priorities: equitable
012resources and programs, aim one, and family and community engagement, aim two. This goal also aligns with three standards, instructional leadership, management and operations, and family and community engagement. The five indicators within the superintendent evaluation rubric for the professional practice goal. I propose the goal to be to increase the percentage of collaborative teams, PLC's, department grade level teams, and school-based leadership teams. Implementing the collaborative teaming structures with fidelity from 0% baseline. our new district-wide initiative to 70% of teams districtwide by end of year as measured by the district collaborative teaming reflection tool in district progress monitoring protocols. Professor and researcher John Hattie emphasizes collaborative teaming as one of the most impactful strategies for improving student learning driven by collective teacher efficacy. The shared belief among teachers that they can positively influence student outcomes. This efficacy is
013built through collaborative teams, analyzing evidence of their own collective impact, developing commoning understanding of student growth, sharing expertise, and focusing on shared high expectations rather than just curriculum or resources. While we know that schools have used PLC's and department and grade level team for many years, a focus of our equity-based budgeting process was to allow the re for resources to increase collaborative teaming in schools. And this work will now be tracked and measured by schools through a agenda use data protocols, progress tracking, and clear action steps. This goal aligns with strategic plan, key priority, equitable resources, and programs, aim one and three. This goal also aligns with three standards, instructional, leadership, management, operations, and family and community engagement, and five indicators within the superintendent evaluation rubric. The first district improvement goal is around a communication
014strategy. I propose the goal to be by June 2026, the district will implement a unified communication framework. This initiative will streamline staff updates, enhance family and community outreach through diverse formats, and ensure all messaging is consistent with the vision to action. The effectiveness of this framework will be assessed through surveys and audits. Two of the guiding principles of my entry plan are unified leadership and transparency. We are working to improve internal communications throughout the district, ensuring our message is consistent across departments and that the work aligns with the vision to action strategies. Our work on external communications will focus on enhancing family and community outreach through diverse platforms in a streamlined manner. This goal aligns with strategic plan priority family and community engagement aims one and two. This goal also aligns with family and community
015engagement and five indicators within the standard of the superintendent evaluation rubric. The second district improvement goal focuses on the grow your own initiative and vision of a leader. I propose the goal to be to design and implement a five-year grow your own pipeline and pathway inclusive of community partnership and concrete pathways. By June 2026, WPS will recruited its first cohort of 15 to 20 high school juniors and seniors who will commit to a WPS future teacher pipeline through a promise commitment signatory as well as complete the first early college course for the program. The WPS has access to high quality pool of future teachers represented in our student body population. Therefore, a structured, supportive, intentional program with commitments is key to de developing future educators. We know that many of our current staff members attended
016the West Public Schools. Rather than solely relying on external programs for the recruitment of our future teachers, we can develop a sustainable program that leverages early college and new pathway opportunities to engage and retain Worcester students in a teaching career. This goal aligns with strategic plan's key priority to acquire and retain talent aims one and three. The goal also aligns with three standards of the superintendent evaluation rubric. Management operations, family and community engagement, and professional culture. The third district improvement goal focuses on school boundary and quadrant uh alignment. I propose the goal to be to complete and implement a realignment of school boundaries that reduces overcrowding in at least 90% of schools currently over capacity and increases utilization of underenrolled schools to at least 90% of building capacity based on the comprehensive analysis of student
017enrollment trends, program placements, feed of programs, and the citywide magnet designations ensuring programming aligns with each building's capacity by June 20. uh 27. The overall goal is a two-year objective, but we have identified measurable steps for this year, including completing a set of scenarios ready for public review and input leading into next year. The goal to realign school boundaries to address issues of overcrowding and underutilization of ex of existing buildings. This process will involve a comprehensive analysis of student enrollment data, program placements, and uh the school designations. The goal aligns with strategic plan, key priorities, equitable resources and programs, aims one and three, family and community engagement, aims one and three, and modernize and safe facilities aim two. This goal also aligns with management and operations as well as family and community engagement standards of
018the superintendent rubric. These five goals are not the only priority areas for the district for the year. Connected with the strategic plan, we have formed working groups to study the launch of culturally responsive instruction which is currently in a pilot at two schools. Additionally, work is underway on district alignment through the reformatted of district leadership meetings, the roll out of training in information around restorative practices, and the roll out of vision of a leader initiative. Teams are al also working on improvements to our admissionbased programs, the use of artificial intelligence by staff and students, elementary screen time, elementary time on learning in accordance with state requirements, evening programs for adult learners, and site council development at schools. Teams are also working on refining our afterchool model and sparkmies through district resources or community partners. And
019finally, teams are working on several initiatives. the future of chapter 74 and CTE programs in the district, a five-year elementary library plan, continued work on our equity-based budget model, and the continued expansion of the vision of a learner. The goals and these focus areas are ambitious but essential for our students, staff, and families. Some of this work will involve input from a variety of stakeholders, may require policy changes from the school committee, and in many cases, resources through the budget process. With that, be happy to answer any questions you have. >> Council member Guardola. >> Uh, thank you, Mr. Mayor, and uh, thank you to to you, Mr. Superintendent. That was a great presentation. I think there's a lot of good things that came out of this. Um, with your goals and uh, your your
020initiatives here. Um, specifically on goal number two, uh, grow your your own in the vision of a leader. I think uh, it's a great idea. I think it builds a pipeline for us to be able to have future teachers here. and we haven't grown within. Um obviously the co early college is a great incentive and really good initiative so they can get that going right away. I guess my question for that goal is are there any chance of on-site learning uh you know internship opportunities especially you know obviously it probably be a little difficult to have uh internships with peers of your age but I'm talking about maybe some elementary school on-site learning or maybe sometimes during the summer so they can get that hands-on experience that I think is really vital uh to to
021growing and learning uh firsthand >> through to through the chair. Uh that's something we certainly will consider as we start to build out this program. Yeah, >> our anticipation is that the first cohort of students will be in that early college class in the spring semester. So, as we start to develop over the next couple of years, we certainly can uh fold that into that conversation. Great. >> Thank you. Yeah, I think that's uh I think an opportunity there to be able to again have that hands-on learning that in other uh industries that that we do and uh especially with the chapter 74 programs and the CTE stuff, I think this is an opportunity as well to have some help and work right on within our own school system. So, thank you. And then on
022goal number three at the alignment of the school boundaries and districts, I think it's a great idea. I think as the city continues to grow in different neighborhoods continue to grow. I think you're starting to see that there is overcrowding especially in the neighborhood districts uh for our our elementary schools, our middle schools. I think people are starting to grow. Obviously uh you're kind of bound by your districts in general. But I think it gives the opportunity for more um opportunities to have less students in one class at all times. And again, as we you know, neighborhoods are going to continue to grow. you know, obviously the Canal District has grown over the last 10 years, right? Uh the Vernon Hill district, my district up there, that's growing at a, you know, exponential rate as
023well. Um and more and more people coming to the city. So, I think it's a great initiative and I'm excited to uh to see how that folds out. But thank you again for the presentation. >> Thank you, member Meria, followed by member Mailman, followed by member Makulla. >> Thank you. Um I'm very excited to um say I'm going to piggy back on my colleague here for chapter 74 and any uh CTE programs that u can expand. I'm certainly open to I think it's a great way to do it. And I we've talked about um teachers and positions in education that we ironically enough we bring in many career opportunities for our interns that are interested in in our classrooms. there's presentations and very seldom do we say anyone in education um has a vision and
024can then uh be a leader. Um the great thing about what we have right now in our system when we've had in the past is that a career path does not limit them to being a teacher. It does not limit them to being a principal. We have many positions in administration that originally that particular career path was in a school but now it is in administration and that I think is um some of the stars that we don't look at. So to be able to bring that to the table I think is a great idea along with the fact that it's a vision that we needed to show our concern about what we need to focus on in the areas and I think we're going to have that ability to do that with bringing this
025on. So I certainly congratulate you on expanding what we would look at as professional goals as the strategic part of what we're doing in goal setting is one of the pieces that brings us to success and we're able to measure our success. Um, and there's been times over the last few years that when you are looking to measure success, it was looked at as though you don't necessarily want to compare. Well, as we move forward, we're going to have to measure our success because that is the only way we are knowing whether we're improving. um what needs to expand, what needs to be reviewed again to improve and um this will show us some really good measurements. So I thank you for that work. >> Thank you member uh mailman. >> Thank you. Um, district
0262 improvement goal, grow your vision leader. You say, um, who will commit to WPS future teacher pipeline through a promise commitment signatory? What does that mean? >> I'm gonna have Dr. C answer that. >> Dr. Q. >> Thank you. and through the chair. Last spring, you heard me talk about the promise that was made through a report from 2020. And we took that and really looked at knowing that for many of our students, we want to for them to commit for to understand, but it's also a family commitment um that the families need to commit their promise to taking the four years to getting a college degree in order to come back and teach. So the promise commitment is really about saying that we recognize that we have to do this for a better future.
027So because we talked a lot for many of our first generation families sometimes they have to choose between going to school or going to work and what we want to provide is a promise to say we commit to you if you commit to us. And so that's what that means that it's a whole community promise. So it's more than just the students committing. It's about families committing the students to this. It's about um our partners committing to this and about us committing to students to say there is an end goal to this. >> Is it about money? >> Um that is through the chair. We are working on that piece. So it could possibly money but it's really the commitment is if we see this through there is a you know goal at the end
028of this that you do have a position here with the Worester public schools. I think it's a great idea, but it doesn't really say anything to me so far yet about like I get the general thing, but I mean if I'm a family I, you know, so are you going to are the school's going to help back my loan? I I don't know. I mean, but I think at the end of the day, it's about money. And I also think that we don't that when kids make decisions and at 14 or 15 to this kind of a, you know, that's it's it's their best guess and it's the family's best guess. Um, but I mean I'm in favor of this work. I think this is we should be trying to create the cohort from within,
029but I just kind of like so what is measurable here is the number of students that we will have in this and it sounds like the program maybe has to be a little further defined. Is that fair? So through the chair that is fair as we're developing this, we want to have a commitment of between 15 to 20 students who will begin with our early college course this spring. We know that for every year we wait, we're pushing out a year. To answer your question, the hope is that as we build up this program that students will be able to access their um college for a minimal amount of money and and through the chair, I know the state has um granted apprenticeships in teaching to there's a particular district and I feel like it's
030on the north shore somewhere and that's worthy of us trying to figure out um how Gateway Cities could maybe attach some of that because I think that the apprenticeship model would be super terrific um in this district as well. And the second question I have is on page 54 or page 13, how are 13 of slides 54 on the document. You talk about um I think this quadrant and boundary stuff is hugely important. I think we got delayed last year. I hope that we're not going to be further delayed this year because we we got issues and we got to get to the end of it. Um so you talk about develop scenarios. This is for June of 2026, next June. Um develop scenarios in collaboration with the realignment committee. Who is the realignment committee
031>> through the chair? So it's an administrative committee that we've put together. Um, but we're also uh finalizing an RFP to bring in a consultant that has worked in other districts that has gone out and uh uh solicited public feedback through the process. Right? So, they're skilled at doing public feedback forums um and putting all that information together. So, as we're developing recommendations that will ultimately come to the school committee, we've engaged principles, staff, families um in that process. But ultimately we have many different departments representing the that committee from um led by uh Miss Consalvo um but it will be teaching and learning um IT folks, facilities folks, transportation, there's a whole host of folks that are looking at the impacts of um either changing uh boundaries or quandit assignments or where programs are
032located and so forth because there's impacts throughout the district based on those recommendations. And so through the through the chair, I mean, I think a a core realignment committee makes a ton of sense. And I committees of 400 is not probably your goal. And um so I I would through the make a motion through the chair that we when a realignment committee is picked that we're informed about who's on the realignment committee. And then I just a general, you know, what when you put your goals together for this year, what did you what were some decision points that you made? A little bit of your thinking about um how you came down on some of these things? What what we had last year or maybe even in other years that you thought about but decided
033to hold on or can you share some of your thinking about how you put these goals together? >> Superintendent. Certainly. So, um, as it relates to the student learning goal, we had a star goal last year. Uh, I think we simplified the way we're going to be measuring that um, for this year. Um, looking at that 3% growth in both, uh, reading and math for this year. Very simple way to, but using STAR data, um, we believe is the right tool to use. With regards to the professional practice goal, again, we invested in the equity budget process of collaborative teams. And so we thought to show that investment in resources, we should include that in our goals. And then uh really through cabinet work this uh summer, we've identified a bunch of focus areas uh
034for the district. And then we picked three of those uh to align with the goals. One in human resources, one in finance and operations, and one in communications. So there's a goal that's impacting all of our divisions from teaching and learning both the uh student um learning goal and the professional practice goals and then each of the other divisions have a goal assigned to them as well. >> Okay. Um and did you was it was there I I just like this is the first time you've done it. I'm um was it different than you expected it to be? was because you've been sitting on the sidelines for so long you kind of like oh yeah we'll just do these and you know >> so I don't I don't consider it to be new to me
035because I've been part of the district administration for 25 years so we've maybe we've done it differently in the past yeah >> but really what we looked at is what work do we need to accomplish and that's why I listed the other focus areas it's not just those five goals we're working on working on a whole bunch of things but we have to submit something for the evaluation process and so those are the five goals we selected for the purposes of my evaluation this year. >> Okay. Thank you, >> Member Mala. >> Thank you. I really don't have many questions. I just want to thank you for this. I know that something when we look at um the pipeline development, I think that's an excellent goal to continue working on. I know that it's something
036that has been a conversation we've had for many years and I remember sitting and I I think um Maren member Benundo was a part of this group at the time too. We were sitting at Worester State and one of the things I remember saying is we need to not only encourage students to understand that it's an achievable goal but a desirable goal for them to go into education. And I think the more that we continue to work on diversifying our staff as well. So students are seeing themselves reflected in their staff members that that is going to go a long way to helping us develop that pipeline for our own homegrown students to go into education. I appreciate the work done around the district alignment. It's something I know that several of us have brought
037up over the last few years knowing that so many of our schools are feeling that pinch of the overcrowding um and when we're looking at the new burn coat hopefully that's all playing into that and what that capacity will be for what we're looking at with the new um burn coat buildings and as well as when we look at the sorry the um chapter 74 programs that that's part of that process too when we're looking up not only that I know we've talked about um the chapter 74 programs and um adding those on at Burnout, but also we're looking at our alternative programs, too. So, that's something, you know, we see more of. So, thank you for the goals. I look forward to working together and certainly I'm sure I'll be asking questions along the
038way. >> Bernenda. >> Yes. Thank you for the goals. I just had a few questions. So, the first one is on student learning goal. I greatly appreciate that you're doing the end of year uh for the star. So my question is, is it I hope it's the end of year from the grade before to the end of year, the current grade >> to the chair. Yes. >> Perfect. Um I can't I'm not sure if everybody here on on the school committee understands on h how assessment should be done and that was my argument before is that we we weren't doing it the way that we should be doing it, which is NDS. So I want to personally thank you for giving that because that will actually show us student growth and in the areas that
039we really need to focus on. So I uh greatly appreciate that. Um the uh other thing that I really want I was happy to see is about um grow your own and actually um the Worcester future teachers started in Worcester in 1980 and it was in every single high school there was an advisor. um those people got paid um to grow future teachers and uh and in that those those days we we did grow future teachers. Uh eventually it only ended up at South High Community School. Um I was the adviser for the WISA future teachers. Um we didn't get paid. We volunteered our time. Um and what I really like about it is that personal connection you have with the students. And our connection was Worcester State University, which as we all know is
040a strong connection for the Worcester public schools. So your Worcester future teachers that were accepted um went there free of charge, right? Worcester State paid for their tuition and the promise was that upon graduation we would hire them in the Worcester public schools. So I'm thankful to see that's back here. Um my guess is that we want we only offered it to two students a year got the free tuition from Worester State because obviously it's a financial challenge for them too. And the reason that the program ended is that uh school committee years ago uh during budget times actually cut the budget for um it was a $10,000 a year budget to $5,000 a year and that was uh Worcester our students in the Worester future teachers got to go to um Worcester State University
041uh stay over there for a week and uh learned how to do lesson plans and really learned how um to get before early college um initiated into the college experience got to know all the people there so that when they went to Worester State they felt comfortable there uh and then of course that uh got cut and during budget cuts and Worcester State came up with the other 5,000 and the program had continued. So, I'm very happy to see that we're doing this again and that we're I don't know if it will be at every high school or they'll just be one group that will meet somewhere. I'm assuming after school. I was thinking that it's a good connection to where our 74 programs are because those students in the 74 are learning to be
042teachers mostly for early childhood, but it would be great to be able to expand that where you already have the 74s. And then also um I really liked the program that we did start a few years ago with the paraprofessionals. I hope that some way we're able to look for funding for that. I mean they they did get a break on their tuition with the state program that was available. Um we hired five retired teachers and they worked with our parents because they hadn't been in school for very long, you know, had been a long time since they'd been at school and they needed that support. And we you do have right now um teachers of color that went through the PAR program and our teachers in the Worcester public schools. Uh we even went
043so far as to allowing the paras to still get paid as paras and do their student teaching in their classrooms that they were paras in. So they got the hours um and they got their certification. And in a case we had one one teacher one parah who was at the new citizen center and they wanted to be a biology teacher. So we switched uh south high teacher went down I mean a south high parro went down to new citizen center and the one came up in uh I was a parah in a biology classroom and got certified. So I hope that we're looking at those other areas too because our paras are dedicated uh to our schools. they they're not going anywhere. A lot of them have many years experience with us. They live in
044the area. They have great relationship with students and they just need that opportunity to be able to get those classes almost if they could for free and then the opportunity to do the internships uh in our schools. So, I I really want to say I like your format of your goals um how you align it to the rubric. So on the right is the um desk uh rubric for superintendent and um Mr. Allen only really didn't have to do all the indicators um but he did more indicators than he needed to. So um I just want to thank him for that too because uh shows that he is really working hard in um wanting to make a difference here. So thank you. >> Thank you member Alvarez. I just wanted to make a comment about
045the student learning goal. Um so on the floor right now we do have one of our scholars arson and he's very eager to learn. So I'm wondering if you're able to um through the chair uh super to the superintendent if you're able to explain to him um and other students or parents who are watching what this student learning goal means. How and why this was identified? What is star and how these percent how were these percentages identified? >> Superintendent. >> So the chair. So we provide uh star testing which is um um likely indicator of how students will perform on uh MCCAST. And that testing um that we're using is grades two through nine and one through nine in uh reading and in math. And so um I'm not sure how many classrooms I went
046into in the last month that I've interrupted start testing during my site visits, but um so the schools were working hard on the beginning of year test. They'll do a midyear and then an end of year test. And what it what it shows is the number of students that are meeting or exceeding benchmark um in each of those areas. And at the end of last year, we were at 33%. We know we have a long way to go. If 33% of our students were meeting or exceeding benchmarks, so we've got a long way to go, but we believe a 3% growth to 36% at the end of this year is showing um modest increase. And if we can sustain that level of increase year-over-year, then we'll get sufficient number of students to where we need
047to be. We were measuring that differently in the past. U but I think this is a straightforward way to just to say 33% of our students at the end of last year were meeting or exceeding benchmark in reading and math and we our goal is to get that to 36%. That's hard work. we give, I think, 17,000 um STAR tests per year. And so just think of the number of students, the number of new students in the district. And so a 3% growth is a is a heavy lift for the district. Um but because of the resources, the instructional practices, the work that is being done in the schools, we believe it's a realistic goal to set for this year. >> Thank you. And I'm I'm wondering if I'm able to ask Arson if he
048has any questions for you directly based off of what you just said. >> Sure. >> Uh as of right now, I don't have any questions, but if I have any questions, I can let you know. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> All set. All right. Thank you. All set. All right. Yeah. So the motion would be to approve the superintendent's goals for 2526 school year. Roll call. >> Member Alvarez. >> Yes. >> Member Biania. >> Yes. >> Member Bernenda. >> Yes. >> Member Guardiola. >> Yes. >> Vice Chair Johnson. >> Yes. >> Member Mailman. >> Yes. >> Member McCulla. >> Yes. >> Member Roy. >> Yes. >> Mayor Penny. Okay. Um, so moving on to our report of the standing committees FOG member. Thank you through the chair. So um, fog met
049on 98. Uh, we filed item GB5-35 which was to fully fund special chorus at Wasarts Magnet School as it was part of the budget discussion. Um then next was GB5-70 uh yes uh to amend school rules to add a rule regarding proper procedure should a tie vote occur on an item in a standing committee and we sent that to the legal department for an opinion. And then the final item was to retake the hos grant item but that is going to be sent back to fog after a public meeting is posted to have that u meet procedural requirements. So as of right now that has even though at the motion was to accept the grant was approved after we got the feedback from that committee um to meet the procedural requirements that will be going
050back to fog. >> Thank you. And TLSS member Guardiola. >> Uh thank you Mr. Chairman. Uh TLSS met on uh September 11 uh 2025. We had two items on the agenda. GB5-70 um high school mastery based grading practice information proposed mastery based grading practices written policy again this was sent down because uh obviously we have a timeline on this uh on a motion uh to hold it was approved 3 to one our second um item was GB5-61 a request uh to request a report on the number of students in the American Sign Language ASL program in 2023 2024 and how to expand the program as a career pathway by working with local hospitals and other institutions in need of this service. Uh that was uh approved on a motion and uh approved four to zero
051and filed. That is the report on TLSS. >> Thank you. Motion to file. Those opposed? No. So ordered. So, we'll move on to N approval of grants and other finance items. >> You want to speak on this? >> I did. I wanted to speak on the um the minutes of the fog meeting. >> Okay. I'm sorry. Go ahead. >> Thank you. Um I just wanted to make clear to the public that we had an open meeting law um request on the HS item. So um through the chair to the chair of fog um this would be correct that we will on any naming committee that will be a public meeting um that will be required >> um >> through the chair procedurally naming committees will be public meetings. Yes. >> Okay. So going forward so
052that's part of and that will be through the chair. Will that be amended in our um naming committee requirements? >> No, because it's part of the procedure. So, it will just be like a public body. >> So, we'll just make sure we follow that. >> Thank you. >> Correct. Administration is already on top of that. >> Thank you. >> All set. So, we're approve and follow that. Those that oppose? No. So, ordered. So, approval of grants and other finance items. Roll call. Member Alvarez, >> can you please repeat that? >> We're looking to approve um a grant and other finan finance items in >> Got it. Thank you. Yes. >> Member Biania, >> yes. >> Member Benzo, >> yes. >> Member Guardiola, >> yes. >> Vice Chair Johnson, >> yes. >> Member Mailman, >> yes.
053>> Member McCulla, >> yes. >> Member Roy, >> yes. Yes, Mayor Penny. We >> move on to O general business request administration provide the student discipline data for 2024 25 including all offenses. Uh member B and Carrier. >> Thank you for the report. The recommendation here is to file. What I'm asking is this go to fog for more more discussion. When you look at some of these numbers, I have some concerns, uh, safety is a top priority in our schools, in our system, whether it be with our students, our staff, the actual buildings. Um, and I think we need to have some more discussion once we look at what the numbers are on this. So, I ask that this uh be sent to fog instead of file. >> Anyone else? So the motion is to
054member Alvarez. >> I do just want to make a comment around some of the things that I saw. Um for example, when it comes to bullying, harassment, I did see a decrease. Oh, excuse me. No, I read that wrong. Sorry. Um when it comes to Where did it go? >> There are some of these that uh directly are a result of whether it's fighting or or um carrying a an object that can hurt someone, whether it's a handgun, knife, or other firearm. I did notice there was a decrease in some of those. So I did just want to make sure that I made this comment made that aware like brought that to awareness that um even though this does look like a large number at the bottom um there are a few decreases between last
055year to this year specifically with carrying weapons and dangerous objects. >> Thank you. So I I just So we're sending this the fog Would that would that be the right I don't know if that would be the right committee to send to and you're looking to have further discussion in regards to what and I'm just trying to I would like to not only review the numbers um that have increased but the numbers that have decreased and this is a review of what our policies and so on would be. So, I asked that it go to fog because we would have to then look at programs that need some financial um help whether it be with uh bullying or safety presentations that we have in our schools and so on. So, my concern is that the
056finance and operations and government would be the appropriate place at this particular time to discuss those numbers and what we need to do. >> Okay. So motion to send that to Fog. Let's take a roll call on that. >> Member Alvarez. >> No. >> Member Biania. >> I'm sorry. >> Member Roy. I'm sorry. >> Yes. Thank you. As I'm going through this list, I safety is also one of my biggest concerns. Some of the numbers that have gone up are quite serious offenses, especially um physical assault of an employee. um fighting among students. I really think we need to take a really decisive look at this and see what we can do as a body. Um and I agree that I think it should go to fog. Thank you. >> Okay. Um so let's take
057a roll call on that please. >> Member Alvarez. >> No. >> Member Biancia. Yes. >> Member Benenda. >> Yes. >> Member Guardiola. >> Yes. >> Vice Chair Johnson. >> No. >> Member Mailman. >> No. >> Member McCulla. >> Yes. >> Mayor uh member Roy. >> Yes. >> Mayor Petty. So GB5-100 to review the independent accountants report on applying agree procedures for the department of um elementary and secondary education end of the school year for fiscal year ending June 30th 2025 motion is to send that to fog those opposed no so ordered so from administration to review the annual audit and agreed upon procedures report on the compliance and internal controls for the city of Worcester, including the Worcester public schools, which includes the government accountability office and office of management and budget 8-133 reports on
058the management letter for fiscal year ending June 30th, 2025. Motion is to send that to Fog and from administration to review the report on applying agreed upon procedures of student activity fund testing for the fiscal year ending of ending June 30th 2025. The motion is to go to fog. So member Bernenda, >> could someone just explain what the student activity fund testing is? Is that for AP testing? is what is that fund? What is a student activity fund testing >> to the chair? It's the audit of all of the student activity accounts in the district. >> Thank you. >> So the motion for all three of those is to send that to FOG. Those that oppose no so audit. So we move on to GB5-103 to provide an update on the technology committee including software
059and accusation acquisition policy in the process structure around time of on devices especially at the elementary level and when AI use is allowed and when it is not. Member Milman >> thank you. Um I think this was another committee that was delayed last year and I had met with um Sarah Kuratis this summer uh or very end of the school year and know that um hopefully this is um like in process to begin in September. I think that was their goal. I think this is such important work right now especially around the AI issues in education and around our um readiness for this. I it's another area where I feel like I wish we had our own attorney so that we could be um faster at responding to some of these things that might come
060up contractually. Um, and I want to make sure that that committee has, you know, the critic that there are one or two critics because I know technology committees are excited about getting doing the new stuff and all that kind of thing. And I think there's a lot for us to be um paying attention to in this fastm moving place. So, I'd encourage us through the chair to the superintendent to make sure that we have some critical thinkers in this group. And um if he can offer any thoughts right now about our timeline, are we starting for September? Where are we at? >> Mr. Superintendent through the chair. So, as part of the report of superintendent on that last slide, the other focus areas that were not included in the goals were both AI use and
061uh elementary screen time. So that our that is committee work that we're doing as part of our district leadership work this year. Um and we've said from the outset that we know um AI is something that we need to address authentically and ethically within the district both students and staff. So that's something that this committee will be working on and then also looking at appropriate levels of uh elementary screen time. So both of those items were listed on the slide as focus areas for this year. >> Okay. And has that work begun? It's September. So, uh, we're just forming these teams now. So, that work will be going on starting essentially now through some of those focus areas are going to take longer than others and so that work is commencing. >> Thank you. >>
062All that. So, we're sending that to administration. Those that oppose, no. or audit GB5104 to revisit the opportunity to utilize climate and culture staff or other staff particularly at the beginning of the school year to help set behavioral expectations on buses that have a need. parents petition in 2023 with many good ideas which included policy recommendations for a number of students on buses addressing overcrowding crowding buses assisting drivers with safety concerns etc. member mailman >> through the chair. Thank you. Um this is a followup. I mean as we all know that have served for a while most of the items that come before us are number items that have come before us many times before and certainly you know bus um bus behavior, bus struggles at the beginning of the year is no different this
063year than other years. and we did not we were not able to move forward with um some kind of monitor on some of the buses because of financial considerations two years ago. I'm wondering if there's a way to be more flexible with our climate and culture people because and I learned this by talking by knocking on doors and talking with some drivers um that work for us that that suggested maybe that um there was a way to help on the buses that are having issues which are probably the same five or 10 or whatever the number is. Um, do can we look at this in a way that might be flexible? Not assigning monitors for the entire year, but a roving monitor. I'm making these terms up. Um, I I think it seems worthy that
064we want to encourage families to use our transportation and I think that anything that we can do to show the families that we're trying to make um our buses safe and that um to teach kids how to behave on a bus um that maybe have not taken them before would be helpful. chair if I if I can I I think we work closely with the building principles on issues when they arise on student discipline. Bus drivers cannot issue discipline on buses but principles can and often principles ride buses. assistant principles, other uh faculty of the school have ridden buses when needed. And um so we do rely on the school staff to assist on some of those issues um as they occur, whether we whether it's climate and culture uh staff assigned to that school.
065That's something we can explore with principles, but they're generally assigning people to the school that we best usually it's the principal riding the bus um to particular bus stops. So we certainly can look at other options. We think in terms of overcrowding on buses will uh be significantly improved once we get the software system in place where students can scan in and off of buses. We get instant um um information on ridership levels and we can uh quicker respond to those overcrowding issues which may lead to other issues on the bus. >> Okay. So through the chair, this item is is going to administration and you'll come back at some point and let us know how we're addressing some of these concerns. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Can I just ask a quick question?
066Any have there been any major concerns with um buses this school year with overcrowding? Like how are we with buses? >> Through the chair, there's been pockets of overcrowding. It always happens at the high school level. Um, as soon as we know about those, we try to redeploy buses to alleviate those so they won't be overcrowded. First couple of weeks is always tough and then we uh address it uh by rebalancing loads. >> Thank you. >> That's an annual Yeah, it's an annual issue. >> Yeah. Member B and Carrie. >> Thank you. Um I would ask that administration when you look at this item um I think it's terrific. I know that the principles and assistant principles have participated. I know that we are looking at uh monitors that are on our school bus routes
067presently and um I would be curious on the number of monitors we have presently um within our system if that's possible to get to get that information to us. I don't >> to the chair we can get the exact number but it's roughly a hundred because we run just over 100 midsize bus routes. So they're on the midsize and wheelchair buses only. That's been our past practice. Um we can get the exact number, but we're running about 100 routes. So about 100 monitors. >> Okay. So we presently have people that are staff members that are on the bus bus buses that are looking at these kids >> through the chair. Again, it's on the midsize and the wheelchair buses only, not big buses. >> Okay. So then the principles and the assistant principles, you would
068say that they're manning the when necessary um the the big buses >> through the chair. Yes. >> Okay. So, I I would ask that you would look to uh continue that practice and perhaps open the communication a little more if need be. Um but I I certainly am not one that would want to see climate and culture people on the our buses. Uh right now when we look at the statistics that we receive from 2425 in the variation of numbers under discipline, um I want them in the our schools. I want them in our hallways. I want them working with our kids close in our schools, in our staff, in our schools. Um, as far as buses are concerned, I'm open to a variety of ideas that administration can come across. Um, perhaps we can
069find some funding, move some money around and have some additional monitors when absolutely necessary on the buses or maybe monitors that rotate bus routes um on a regular basis. that that might be a way. But um as a school committee member, I'm looking at the big picture in saying that right now um the climate and culture are needed right in our school buildings and not on our buses. So I would appreciate any avenues that you have for ideas, but I certainly am not leaning towards having that those staff members uh then take on the job of being on the buses. Thank you. So we will send this to administration. Those that oppose no so ordered to request that administration work with the city clerk on the possibility of phasing out WPS buildings being used as
070polling locations. Member McCulla. >> Thank you. You know, I did file this item after receiving some comments from concerned parents around this. I do realize that it is a challenge for the city to find polling locations and obviously I I know most of us probably remember our schools being polling locations growing up and it actually bringing excitement around voting but I also understand safety concerns. So not necessarily having to be phasing out but if administration can just work with the city clerk so we really ensure that if it is necessary that the school is secure because that seems to be the concern that I'm hearing from parents. So, I just ask the administration work with the city for whatever remedy to that is to ensure that those buildings are safe on voting day. >> So,
071chair, if I can just respond quickly, but we'll get a and we'll work with the city clerk uh in more detail on that, but we speak to the city clerk um frequently during um the election the polling times. And so, as you know, we actually uh have rearranged uh staff development days in November and March to coincide with any elections that occur during that time. And then um in September when it may be primaries uh they do assign additional police coverage to the five schools that have polling locations. So we do work closely with the city clerk we'll have continued conversations with him as well. >> Thank you very much. >> So that's an ongoing thing. Can we just file that or you still want to >> We can file it and if as long
072as administration gets us something back in a Friday letter that's fine. Thank you. >> Thank you. So motion to file. Those that oppose no so ordered. Uh and thank you. Motion to adjurnn.