001Good evening. Welcome to the Whist School Committee >> recording in progress. >> Good evening. Welcome to the Wister School Committee. And uh if you can please stand for the pledge of allegiance, the national anthem. Ice to the flag of the stands nationisible. Oh, say can you see by the dawn early light so proudly we held at the twilight last gleaming whose bright stripes and bright stars through the barrelless fight or the rails We wash. We're so gallently streaming and the rock is clear. The bombs bursting in air gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say does that star spangle man [Applause] for the land of the free and the brave. [Music] Roll call. >> Member Alvarez >> present. Member Bianceria. Member Benenda >> present. >> Member Guadiola >> here. >>
002Vice Chair Johnson >> here. >> Member Mailman >> here. >> Member McCulla. Member Roy. Mayor Petty >> here. >> Okay. Kathy Rory had a family emergency. She couldn't be here tonight. Okay. And uh we have student advisory committee items. We introduce uh Austin, do you want to introduce yourself and what school you're from? And uh yes, hit the button there. Yep. So I want to say good afternoon to everyone and my name is Arson Maritian and I'm from finance and marketing department at Worster Technical High School >> and currently I'm the new representative of the school committee and I'm very excited to be here and I'm very thankful for the warm welcoming from everyone and yeah so much. >> No, thank you and welcome. I look forward to seeing you every so often here at
003the school committee. Thank you. >> Okay, we'll take a roll call on the consent agenda. Member Alvarez, >> yes. >> Member Bianceria, member Benenda, >> yes. >> Member Guardiola, >> yes. >> Vice Chair Johnson, >> yes. >> Member Mailman, >> yes. >> Member McCulla, member Roy, Mayor Petty, >> yes. Okay, we have we a motion to suspend the rules. Uh, and go to public comment. Um, all those take a roll call. Roll call. >> Member Alvarez. >> Yes. Member Bianceria. Member Benza. >> Yes. >> Member Guadiola. Yes. >> Vice Chair Johnson. >> Yes. >> Member Milman. >> Yes. >> Member McCulla. Member Roy. Mayor Petty. >> Hi. >> Yes. Okay. So, we'll have a public We'll go with the public comment now. And you have two minutes. Just your name, your residence, and item number.
004>> Oh, not going to lie. I don't remember what the item number was. My apologier. I live on Dixfield Road in Worcester. I'm also here as the president of the Educational Association of Worcester. Good evening, Mayor Petty. Superintendent Allen and school committee members. Uh I wanted to say that this is the on in July it was the beginning of my fourth year as the EAW president and this time I've had the opportunity to establish and maintain very collaborative working relationships with members of the administration of the Wester public schools. At the end of last year we started talking about the work the grading committee had done and the things that were coming out of that. We were told these were guidelines and highly suggested. Over the summer, as I enjoyed my time on the beach,
005it was brought to my attention that there was a grading policy on the school committee agenda for the 14th. Unfortunately, because I was away, I was unable to join the meeting that night and wanted to take some time tonight to speak. Uh so, as I said, it was a surprise to see that it was on the agenda as a policy that was going to be voted on. um this had not gone into any negotiations. We had sent a demand to bargain. I appreciate that that was taken into consideration um before a vote was had and we have met once. We have not met again and I do believe we have a lot of work to do around this. Um when that vote was first brought to the to the school committee, it was 7 days
006before the start of the school year. Um, I don't know about every secondary educator, but I can speak for a lot of them and say that we have a lot of things in place before we start school when we're that close. We have our our syllabi are done. we're looking to do our grading and as of right now um we are going to continue negotiating and I do appreciate that and kind of slowing things down but our one of our concerns is that the WOOID uh platform that we use for student information is locked into a percentage for grading of a 6040 or actually a 603010 and that is something that many members um in the association are very uncomfortable with and that is all I just made Okay. Is your name and say your
007residence? >> Uh, good evening everyone. Um, I'm Christine Mushin. I'm a Worcester resident and a special educator up at South High and the first vice president of the EAW. And I'd like to just share a few thoughts in addition to Melissa's. All teachers want accurate grades. I've spoken with high school teachers, members of the original grading equity team, and attended the bargaining session on this topic. Everyone agrees that since MCCAST has been eliminated, we need a consistent system to report student competencies to the state. But teachers also agree that rolling out the policy without clear explanation, training, and time will result in resistance, frustration, and ultimately inaccurate data. Right now, the proposal feels more like a way to quickly meet state requirements than a plan that supports classrooms. It doesn't fit AP special ed chapter
00874 programs. It conflicts with existing teacher contract language since it adds significant workload in grading and feedback. The proposal also falls short on equity. Simply saying no to simply saying no grade will fall below a 40 does not address the equity in grading. Mastery grading done properly does not count homework or classwork in its assessments. Yet this policy does. Placing these steps in the learning process is an in an arbitrary 30% bucket will only lower grades unfairly when students don't resubmit work. I encourage the members of this committee to read the information that you have been sent and research the districts in Rochester, Kansas City, and Chicago that have implemented a comprehensive grading policy as a collective process in which all stakeholders come to the table, teachers, administrators, principles, and the union to make sure
009that all stakeholders have their needs met for the betterment of students. I would also suggest that we ask how other Massachusetts districts are meeting their reporting obligations. The EAW under Melissa's leadership has partnered with this administration in good faith for the fa for the past three years. We want that relationship to continue, but we must take the time to develop a grading system that is consistent, comprehensive, and truly equitable to all students. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anybody else? >> I have something we'll come down in a second. Send one more person here. is your name so your residence. >> Hi, good evening. My name is Dena Tedeski. I'm a Worcester resident. I'm also a parent of a Worcester public school graduate and a current eighth grader. Um just wanted to take a moment to
010say thank you and welcome to the new school year for all those families out there. Again, um and have hope everyone's had a great start and we want to appreciate all the great work that uh Mr. Allen and his team have put in place to make that a smooth transition I think for many many families. Um, I just want to make a comment this evening regarding GB5-82. I was able to speak at the August 14th meeting regarding this as well for the cell phone policy. really want to strongly encourage the school committee to consider a lot of different factors and to really put the community, the parents, the caregivers, and the students into the the communication pool regarding this to make sure that there's good coverage and understanding of what will really be practical. Um,
011and at the August 14th meeting, I mentioned my daughter had some comments. I did submit those to um the clerk today for sharing with the school committee as we added a little bit of information to it. Um and that's from a student perspective. The other piece I'd like to share in information is parents, scholars, and community members are concerned and may have misunderstood some recent publicity regarding ICE and immigration policies. Families need reassurance that ICE will not be allowed into schools unless they have a signed judicial warrant that is presented to the district first. There's a lot of concern and I'm sure attendance is taken into consideration at the beginning of the school year and families that are fearful may not be sending their children to school or children may not be able to go
012to school for those reasons. So, I want to just add that into there. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Okay, we have two. Okay, you want to go online? We have one more person. We have a Zoom user. >> Hi. Yes. Uh my name is Heather Stanick. I'm a Worcester resident, Worcester public school parent um and community organizer for the Worester Education Justice Alliance. I'd like to reiterate what Dena said. Um I would just like to say that I know that the Wester public school policy has not changed um regarding ICE in schools. I know that it is still absolutely um the district's policy to uh not cooperate with ICE as far as that is legally possible. I think that um because fear is so heightened that things got taken um out of turn
013and people misunderstood what was said. Um but I think just having a very clear concise um statement sent out saying that you know um ICE will not be allowed in schools unless they have a signed judicial warrant. I'm not sure what the process is, but I think I heard something around um making sure that the central administration um has verified that judicial signed judicial warrant with legal um but that might help to allay some fears um to just give our scholars the best possible outcome um and start to the school year. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Does your name say your president? Item number. >> Good evening. My name is Walter Sheay uh 98 Kelly of Worcester. I want to take thank you for the opportunity to say a few words. Um I'm
014involved with an organization called the American Political Items Collectors. Each quarterly we have an event up in Haver Hill, Massachusetts. And over the years over the years the um the attendance has been really low. Um so I made a suggestion to the organization why don't we have it in Worcester? I can get you a hall 2 minutes off of 290. I can get you uh which has ample parking and the location is St. Bernard's Gymnasium off of Lincoln Street. Uh this organization has about 16,000 members nationwide. Their big uh the big um annual convention is going to be in in um Danvers next year. And um so as a prelude to the the the national convention, I felt that Worcester would be an ideal place to expose Worcester uh the organization to Worcester with um
015the crowd that they have um expected. I've uh given taken liberty to passing around some of the items that will be displayed um at the event. The event is from 9:00 a.m. to 2 to 2 2 pm on uh Saturday, May 27th. Uh also um there are um numerous vendors that attend the uh event but they also go out into their communities into the schools whether it's the grammar schools, high schools or colleges of uh um community college to show what they have in the history that they collected over the years. Um it's a rewarding not it's it's something that doesn't the schools system doesn't teach but it's a great exposure to what um what's what the history of collecting and uh remembering what it's all about to be part be a participant in the
016organization. One other item that I'd like to pass around. It's a It's a It's from the Worester Telegram magazette and it was printed in 2006 I mean excuse me u 1916 where it said Charles Hughes was elected to the presidency but unbeknownst to the telegram uh Woodro Wilson beat him instead of uh it's similar to what happened to Dempsey and um >> oh yeah Truman >> Truman. >> Yep. Thank you. If you could expose those to the and pass those flyers out, that'd be helpful. Thank you very much. >> September 27th. Okay. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Anybody else? Does your name still say res and the item number? >> Um Ambure Wister Mass. Um Oh, I'm sorry. I don't have the item number. I just wanted general comments. I'm here to just um support
017the continuation of the current strategic plan for the Wester public schools which means so much to the community that took so much community input that focuses on equity, inclusion, a sense of belonging. Um, also want to just mention the we know the Wester public schools has a a a good policy around ICE and the response to that, but the community, we've heard from the community some fears around um wanting to know more about that policy, people wanting to know that they're going to be safe, especially with what might be coming down. So, um just additional messaging to the community about, you know, how the schools will be keeping families safe. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Okay. Okay. Well, thank you everyone. We'll close that out part of the meeting. We'll go back to
018G and uh we have 5-70. High school mastery based grading practice information proposed mastery based grading practices written policy. We can send this to uh council council. Sorry, school may member Johnson. >> Thank you to the chair. Um, so I I I know we held this there's been a lot of back and forth um in in regards to this um in numerous conversations. I I'm I'm very very frustrated and confused on where the disconnect here is in regards to where we're going with this. Um I'm when we talk about equity based grading and mastery grading for our students in the WA public schools and the population we serve. I believe it's um very very important. Um and I think we really need to take a step back and look at the core of who this
019is impacting and it's our students here in WA public schools. So I think as a body I think we need to really get to work along with administration and working with DAW on resolving this issue and let's moving it move move this forward because I believe this is best for um the district because what I'm hearing is it's not about whe whether or not this is a good grading policy. What I'm hearing is there's some things regarding back and forth on percentages and numbers and and other things like that. I I mean, I'm not sure how much that um can't be resolved and figured out um in very short order um in order for us to move this forward. So, I'm going to make two motions here. My first motion is to um refer this
020pot to fog um to review and approve the district's proposed mastery based grading policy and the district's proposed new competency determination policy. send that to FOG and then also then to send to TLSS to discuss how the district's proposed mastery grading practices will align with state new graduation requirements that re that will require students to demonstrate a mastery of skills in English language arts, mathematics, science and the satisfactory completion of relevant coursework. So, those are my two motions is to send these two things back, one to FOG and one to TLSS. Um, as we're aware that um Wester Public Schools, we're obligated to put forth our competency determination um plan to DESIE by December 31st of this year. and that along with the mastery grading um policy and equity grading or whatever is linked and
021it goes hand in hand on what we're trying to do here at the district. So the expectation is that we come back to something in those committees prior to December 31st so we could get that to the full school committee so we could get these both approved and moved along. Um, and I just have one question to administration in in regards to in in regards to kind of what I just talked about regarding connecting the links here or whatever. Can you kind of just give some background on the work you guys did and how that um relates to the competency determination? Thank you. >> Certainly. Um sorry as you spoke through the chair um we are developing the competency determination recommendation that will come to the school committee soon for your review and then ultimately
022approval. Now with regards to the grading policy we've been working for a number of years um with pilot schools and pilot teachers on the grading policy. Um we certainly understand uh some concerns um but we believe that the grading policy um is important to move forward and have equity across uh the every classroom um and so that different schools and all the classrooms are measuring student mastery the same and and as you mentioned I think it's important to tie the two of them to the new graduation requirement which will be effective for the this year's graduating class of 26. six. Um, we have a strong collaboration as mentioned with EAW and we appreciate their feedback and input into this process and we'll continue to work with them on implementation and uh the feedback on all
023aspects of our work. Um, but what we would hope to do is proceed with training and implementation of the plan with principles and focused instructional coaches and then followed by school-based uh training. We also want to work with students and families on the grading policy um as well. We'll do that concurrent to work um with FOG and TLSS. >> Thank you. And and my next question is is so when you talk about moving forward with kind of implementation in regards to this, you know, when we talk about it and I and I had this conversation with numerous people today. when we talk about it, I I think we need some type of flaw here to kind of guide us on where we're going so we could kind of make some determinations on whether or not
024whether that 60 3010 actually works or if we need to move to something else. And I do just want to bring up that, you know, there are a couple motions out there. one by member um Bian Carrier regarding um trainings for our educators moving forward in regards to this and then also um a motion that I had made in regards to a report on the grading and policy and feedback from educators in each school multiple subjects at a regular session school school committee meeting and then as well as any training moving forward for our middle school educators and principles with the plan that we'll be rolling this out in the middle schools in um school year 2627. So those motions are still there. I think we know that we really need to kind of take
025a look at this and ensure that whatever we need to work out that we work out and make sure that we roll this out the right way and it's implemented the right way. I think we're all in agreement of that. But I also think that there needs to be some work in the meantime and around that. We have to have be able to gauge um Mr. chair where we are at and whether or not this is going to work to be able to tweak that. As you as we all know that every year we look at the policy. So we will be bringing this back up in May and June anyway in fog to discuss all our policies and my guess is this will be one of the major topics if we have to make
026any changes to so that would be my last comment. I don't know if you want to kind of >> through no through the chair I we agree with you. Uh we actually have a comprehensive training plan um ready to go uh which starts with uh training principles then instructional coaches and then ultimately down to the schoolbased level. We do want to engage students and families in um that training as well um once we you know get the uh principles feedback, coaches feedback and then start working with the classroom teachers at the school level. >> That's member Benenda. Um, thank you for this. Um, I've done a lot of reading, you know, on what this what this means, as I said the last time we brought this up. And, you know, since then, I've had a
027lot of conversation with teachers. And one of the things is that uh, teachers that are wellprepared have already done their Google classrooms. They've already sent out to to students uh, how they're going to decide on their grades. So it it's difficult um in order to get teachers confidence in this where it it it didn't start right in the beginning and we held it. So that's probably one of the reasons why it didn't start in the beginning. So I looked at I think uh I know Magdalena a guy who's did a lot of work on this she did a great job on it. Uh my concern and this since yesterday uh that I was thinking about it um when when Mr. Alan and I uh met and had a conversation about this is that it's hard
028to say we're going to approve it and then go forward with it when we haven't had an agreement with the union on exactly what are we approving. So I think that's a a major point. I I do think that we can train and I saw the timeline. We've already missed what we had set up to begin in July and August. Uh we certainly can train principles. Uh they're not part of the union. Um I'm just wondering uh what we'll train them on when we haven't had an agreement on what the pol the policy is going to be. So I think this needs to go to committee and I think it needs to go to teaching and learning. A lot of things run away to fog on us that really do need to go in teaching
029and learning. So, I would like to make a recommendation uh that we this we do not approve this tonight that it goes to teaching and learning and um the district works with the union also on an agreement with the idea that we try to get this done as quickly as possible so that the work can go forward and and we can have equitable grading for our for our students. It's pretty much >> it's similar to what I think it's similar to what member Johnson just asked. >> Yeah. Through through the chair >> half of it's going to go to teaching and learning. The other half it's going to go to FAR. I my motion wasn't to approve anything tonight. It was for them to go back to separate committees because we we take up the
030policy portion. So that's why we send in the policy portion to um to fog. >> Okay. So through the chair, so could it go to teaching and learning first and then and then after go to fog? >> We can do it at the same time, right? The policy is the policy and the education part's the education part. >> Well, I I I don't know how how that would work. >> If that if it can go to both at the same time, I guess we could. >> Yeah. Yeah. That's what I do. >> I know you don't remember me. >> Thank you. I was going to ask if member Johnson would accept that friendly motion to send all of it to TLSS so that TLSS would then send the policy to FOG. I ju I don't
031know I don't know how I actually I agree. I don't know how we have a policy before we go through this work and I think it's important work. Um, so I would be in favor of the friend from the emotion if you would consider that or another motion by member Benenda, but you have one other question before. >> What if we send it to TLSS, right? >> I send the whole thing to TLS. >> No, the fog before I can wait till you're done for your recommendations and and uh it works. >> There's nothing there until it goes to TLSS. Okay. >> So, I would recommend that we send the whole thing there. >> Um, I just wanted to ask through the chair to the superintendent. Um, the question that got brought up on the
032floor about how the WOODU setting is, is that I don't I'm ignorant of that. What was the setting last year and is that something that should be reset until this policy is determined >> through the chair? We'll take a look at all of that as we work uh continue to work with the AA on the policy. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Anybody else? >> Johnson. >> Thank you to the chair. I I have no problems with the the amendment and they want to send it all to TLSS. My one concern is is that we're aware that they have to send over the competency determination thing to DESIE by December 31st, 2025. So whatever happens in TLSS, that work needs to get done to be able to get over to us in fog to be able
033to do the work in fog to get it back out to the full committee to get get this done. >> Okay, >> that's all. >> Alex, I'm sorry. >> Uh thank you, Mr. Mayor. As chair of the TLSS subcommittee, uh I understand the priority of this and how the time is of the essence. So I would prioritize this right away. It comes to TLSS first to make sure that it gets to fog shortly thereafter. Thank you. >> Okay. So send it to uh TLSS and uh I just want to thank everybody who's putting this together. It's a good program, but we are going to work with uh EAW to make sure this gets done. This we need to get this done together and quickly. So uh Can I say something? >> Okay. >> No. Okay.
034Real quick. Real quick. Only because this is important. >> We have a full negotiations that we need to get done. So, we really don't want to spend a lot of time on this. I see it being done very quickly. >> Perfect. Okay. And so, I'm going to work together and this is >> member B and Carrier. >> Thank you. So who works with EAW to establish what needs to be done to make this work and get done by December 31st? >> Mr. Allen, >> the chair. So the administration has um ongoing standing meetings with EA every week and so we just fold it into our ongoing work with them. >> So when they work with EAW or they're not they're not looking at the whole piece. They don't see the policy. They don't see what
035the guideline practices are because they're not established if they haven't gone to the committee and then sent over to the other committee. Am I correct on that? >> The chair. No, I think the W is fully aware what's in the policy. Um those are the conversations we're having with them and working with them through the nuances of their concerns. >> But when if the policy changes, what occurs then? >> Well, we don't have the policy yet. That's going to come from >> Right. That's my point. My point is >> we're going to work together. Okay. So, it first goes to one committee. >> Yeah. >> Gets sent to FOG. >> Yeah. >> And then you have to establish some relationship with EAW to discuss it because there isn't a policy at this point in time.
036Correct. >> Through the chair. There's a draft policy that's been recommended. EAW has a copy of that. We're working with them on um any recommendations and changes that they're proposing. >> Okay. So then they would have to bring it back to the committee with the proposed changes. >> Based on the work we do with the AW, the administration will bring something back to the committee. >> Okay. So during that time frame, we still would not have a full policy is what I'm getting at because it hasn't been approved. >> Correct. >> Through the chair. Correct. >> Okay. So we have a couple of months to get it all in order is what I'm saying. So the chair, we have our couple months to get our graduation requirement in order. This ties a is a piece
037of that, but it's not the whole piece. >> No, it's not the whole piece. So we still have other >> parts we have other work to do to actually get accomplished. >> Okay. >> I'm actually I'm I I guess I do through the to the chair. I guess I'll do the amendment, but I'm I'm I'm struggling with fog fogg governance deals with policy. So the policy piece to this, I don't understand what that has to do with TLSS. The company piece, I could see it, but the policy piece cuz the work in TLSS, they shouldn't be doing work on a policy. The administration once they work with the EAW will come back with a new written policy or updated policy based on the draft that we have here and submit it to FOG and we
038will then go through it and approve it and then send it out to the floor. That's where I'm confused. That's why I asked for it to go to two different committees. Like I But if I I don't understand. I'm trying to figure this out. But to make everything easy, >> Yeah. >> Let's just send it to TLSS. >> They could do whatever they want >> and send it over the phone. But the one thing is is that they shouldn't be doing work on the policy because that's not the work that should be done in >> absolutely correct. We'll see if they do that or not. Okay. Okay. So get it done. Okay. So we'll send that to uh TLSS. All those in favor opposit. >> Okay. We have next item is requested the W public
039schools change the current cell phone policy to align with the new proposed beltto bell cell phone policy voted by the mass senate currently in the mass house. recommend by the governor implement the new policy for W public schools for the 2520 school sixth year. I don't think they've passed anything yet, have they? >> It has a member Van. >> So through the chair um that has not passed uh through the house yet. So can it still stay on hold >> or we can just send it to the we can send it to the the fog? But go ahead. Do you have an answer for that, Mr. Johnson? Yes, >> to the chair. I have a motion to file that item due to the fact is I'm this is just me. I have no plans on
040implementing a change to the current cell phone policy that we currently have this school year and due to the fact that nothing's been taken up in the state that we could even take up and discuss. >> I think I think we could >> if that were to happen, we could then um bring it back. >> Yeah. It'll be filed to bring it back when they pass it. Member Benenda, is that fine? >> Through the chair. So, would we be waving the 90 days on that? >> Yeah. >> Oh, perfect. >> Okay. >> I'm agree. I'm in agreement. >> Those in favor post. So, a ordered. Okay. Let's get to the business of the meeting. Now, we have report of the superintendent action opening schools at 2526 school year. Looks like it's going pretty well so
041far. So, uh, did I miss something or No, we're good. >> Okay, Mr. Owen, thank you. Through the chair, the administration's pleased to give a school opening report for the 2526 school year. Overall, the first week of school uh when we submitted this was smooth across the board. Credit to teaching and learning team for having materials and plans ready for school opening. To finance and operations for having buses, buildings, and school meals, Chromebooks, and supply budgets ready. To human resources for the onboarding of employees to be ready for the first day of school. To communications for keeping families, staff, and the community up to date over the summer on WPS activities. And particularly to principles, assistant principles, coaches, teachers, and school staff for having systems, structures, courses, and materials ready for the first day of
042school. Tonight, we will cover an overview of the opening of the school year, including trainings and the district leadership convening, an update on safety enhancement, operation updates, and systems improvement, receive an update on preliminary student enrollment, staffing, and an introduction to the district and new school leadership. We welcomed almost 25,000 students to school on Monday, August 25th. Uh we thank the Herd Street School staff for allowing us along with almost every media outlet from Western Boston and a few players from the Holy Cross football team to join them for the annual red carpet event to welcome uh students back to school. A week prior uh school and district leaders gathered at Derty High School for the annual leadership convening session. There was a uh there we presented the vision to action framework for the year.
043had an exceptional keynote address by Adam Braun and took a moment to reminisce with a walk down memory lane featuring yearbook photos. We're extremely happy uh that so many people participated in the event, including members of the school committee who also submitted their yearbook photos. As discussed in my entry plan slides from last month, one of the guiding principles for this year is unified leadership with a central office uh will work and operate as one team breaking down silos in the service to schools. Also part of the entry plan, I have met one-on-one with all central office and cabinet uh level leaders and to learn about their roles, identify their strengths, and begin uh building a unified team culture. I've met one-on-one with every building principal to learn strength, needs, and resource gaps of each
044school. Consist consistently heard from building principles were around the strong climate and culture developed at their schools. They're focused on tier one instruction with strategies for multilingual and students with disabilities, strong support of our QT model and uh of supportive schools and the appreci appreciation of staying the course to allow the work to deepen around instructional practices. Consistently the district administration had expressed their commitment to support schools and for further improve systems structures and communication. As you know, I plan to visit every school in the district in the first month of school, prioritizing walkthroughs of classrooms to observe instruction and learning environments. As of tonight, I've visited 26 schools in locations, including the parent information center. Since last Monday, I want to commend the principles and teachers at the schools visited so far. I have
045seen across the schools instruction that was engaging and purposeful co-eing strategies of multilingual and special education teachers in classroom that met the needs of our diverse learners. Classroom discourse that was rich assessments were ongoing. Students were active participant in co content. The learning environment was inclusive, respectful and supportive. technology and resources are used strategically enhancing not replacing meaningful instruction. I saw cultural and linguistic uh diversity being celebrated and the joy in teaching and learning was evident with curiosity, exploration and a sense of accomplishment driving the classroom culture. We know we have hard work ahead. Our vision to action, but great instruction is happening with the schools. We are seeing that in some of the assessment data and our rhythm is building strong momentum. Initial overall enrollment is trending slightly higher than last year. Kindergarten and
046prek uh began August 28th. Head Start begins on September 15th. As of last week, preliminary kindergarten enrollment is slightly lower than last year with official enrollment finalized with the October one submitted to Desi. We've had the largest attendance at the countdown to kindergarten event since 2017. So, as the person who has done the enrollment projections and presentations for the past 25 years, if you've ever wondered why we give preliminary or enrollment trends during this report every year, it's because October one is truly just a snapshot of time. While October 1 is the date that the state uses for districts for their official enrollment levels for this year and is the basis of funding for next school year, I want to give a example of how Worers's enrollment changes each day using last year's school data.
047Between the first day of school last year and October 1st, the district enrolled an average of 125 new students each day. While we also unenrolled 46 student each day during that same t period from October 1 until the end of the school year last year, we enrolled an average of 12 students every day while we unenrolled an average of eight students every day. So, while we were 24,778 students enrolled in the school district last October 1, that was the only day that we actually had 24,778 students enrolled in the district. So, our initial trends are overall higher than last year, but we'll know our enrollment and will continue change over the next few weeks until October 1st. With regards to student transportation, bus routes were published on a August 1st, well ahead of prior years.
048Department is fully staffed to operate 104 bus routes, an increase from 101 routes last year. The transportation department hosted a statewide electric bus event, showcasing our soon to be 20 electric buses being integrated into our fleet this fall. Transportation department also partnered with the Wista Police on a safety training exercise on school buses this summer. Looking ahead, there are many enhancements to our technology upcoming that will significantly improve the mytop bus application, allow for students to swipe on and off of buses, and provide a better communication platform to support families during route changes in any emergencies. The other operation departments were also busy this summer with the ongoing window replacement at Worice Middle, window repairs at Union Hill, uh parking garage improvements at WA Technical High School, um the upgrades to uh the Roosevelt parking,
049ADA upgrades at both Thornike Road and Lincoln Street School. Significant upgrades to lock indoor hardware and improvements to the intercom system have occurred throughout the district. We've deployed 6,000 Chromebooks at the middle schools with more uh a durable design along with around 160 Chromebook carts. We reallocated 3,500 Chromebooks to provide increased availability for all school locations. This summer, approximately 40,000 breakfast and lunch meals were provided to our children at over 20 citywide locations. The nutrition department is has initiated a first phase of a school-based equipment assessment and begin department discussions to create a plan to standardize equipment for future replacement schedules using school nutrition revenue. A systems improvement for this year. Our vision to action in communications is to develop protocols, implement a staff newsletter, and improve communication efficiency through procedure implementation. We'll do this
050through improvements in our internal and external communication strategies. Our internal communication will increase information sharing with staff, reduce overcommunication, and streamline information shared. One example of this will be eliminating multiple department new newsletters into a single weekly newsletter for schools so principles have all of the information updates they need from one source, allowing them to share information with school staff in a more coordinated manner. Our external communication work will be to enhance communication, increase effective multilingual communication and prioritize alignment to vision to action. We are still in the process of filling some position and as of last week we are 97.3% staffed at elementary level and 96.5% staffed at the secondary level. Um schools sorry uh schools departments and human resources had a busy summer as well and onboarded 303 new hires so far with
051the largest uh being uh teachers and par educators. We are pleased to announce that we had 15 district level position promotions or upgrades, 13 new principal appointments or location changes, 17 assistant principal appointments, 12 focused instructional coach appointments, and five dean appointments. Dr. Coup will introduce these school and district leaders to you at this time through the chair. Thank you, Superintendent Allen. So, I have the privilege every year to announce all of our new leaders and many of them are here with us tonight. In the ROS, there's also a presentation where if they're not here tonight, you get to see their beautiful not high school pictures for recent pictures that they submitted. So, as I say your name, and again, um, we talked about some of these are promotions, some of these are going from
052acting to actual positions, some of these are newly acting positions. I'll just read them all. If you can just stand and wave um, really quickly as I go through it, it would be wonderful. So these are the district leadership promotional positions. Jeff Kramer, the director of culture and climate. Michael Freeman, administrative director of operations. Kel Kelsey Lamaro, um, assistant director for college and career readiness. Emily Leman, administrative director of college and career readiness. Jason Maderos, our turnaround manager. Patty Padilla, director of student placement. Tara Thompson, administrative director of finance. I should have said, let's hold our applause till the end. Um, Timothy Williams, assistant director of informationational technology. Magda Agon, administrative director of school compliance and improvement. Chris Troonus, executive director of the South Quadrant. Our teaching and learning promotions for supervisors and district focused
053instruction coaches. Kay Asetin, Timurray Larry, Jean Ling, Chris Grady, Colleen Murray, Marissa Brown, Marissa Perez, Brown, Colleen Santin, Julie Stanley. These are our principal promotions. Megan Boyette, Kelly Boyd, Tara Dexter, Emily Coanscape, Christopher Lere, Angela La Rose, Amanda Martinez, Aaron McMahon, Liz Merchant, Oga Papadopoulos, Rachel Savage, Mary Sely, Christina Toraniano. These are our assistant principal promotions. Tammy Bailey, Karen Benson, Elizabeth Burns, Josh Cohen, Megan Cook, Elizabeth Driscoll, Jessica Joyce, Dan Little, Haley Long Bottom, John Mendes, Jason Okano, Joey Padilla, Enzaric, Christine Sawyer, Julie Taka, Rashidita Tatum, Emily Zavala. These are our dean promotions. Steve Azimora, Lisa Gats, Giannis, Rich Hulahan, Bucker Lester, and Pat Williams. And we also have our um focus instructional coaches Danielle Kapaluchcci, Stephanie Booth, Kelly Brimmer, Cat Shiver, Claire Carter, Aaron McI, Lindseay Perry, Angela Pilotta, Carrie Plant, Renee Power, Veronica
054Wheeler, and Siobhani Taylor. So again, thank you for coming out for those of you are here tonight. I know it's a very very exhausting second week of school. So, we appreciate you being here and we hope to see your faces here um in future school committee meetings. So, thank you >> Mr. Chairman. That concludes the report of superintendent. >> Okay. Any questions? Member mailman. >> Just a couple. Um the easier one first maybe. Um do you have any comparison or does anybody have comparison of the summer feeding for this year to last year? Did we improve? Um did is it did we feed more kids? Any does anybody here >> through the chair? We can get you a report on it. >> Thank you. And then the second item is unenrollment. you know, if the
055state is going to through the chair to the superintendent, if the state is going to take a look at funding models and different ways to do it, I'm since you this is your thing, like what would you recommend the state do instead of maybe the October 1st um traditional date >> for the chair? So, I think different states use different models. Some use an average uh attendance rate for the year um and some use a um October one type date and then do an adjustment midway through the year, but they don't take money away if you go down in enrollment. So, those I think are legitimate conversations we should have as part of what I'm going to call SOA2 >> um in terms of how we're capturing um enrollment numbers particularly in communities like ours
056where you could see an enrollment um during the year but don't have the resources to properly support the students. So would you so would you think it would be the average or would you think about two different you would think about October 1st and then maybe later in the year and if the number goes down not to be penalized is that >> as of today that would be my preferred method but we certainly can >> we'll see okay all right thank you >> thank you member Beria >> thank you couple of questions first of all thank you um certainly informative and um tracking of what we did this summer. I will say I don't know the numbers. I know my colleague asked about numbers and the success. I can tell you that the visits I
057made to different parks and so on, they were very busy. They had a lot of fun. It really was worth while to have it. Uh 40,000 I think was the number you said, >> which is terrific. And to me it seemed like an increase from last year, but that just may be um how we're looking at things as far as the volume that was there. My questions pertain to uh facility safety and technology first and that is um we have a lot of staff members that use walkietalkies during the day. Is that something we're looking at as uh not only repairing but updating in the next scale of things >> through the chair? So sorry through the chair. So twofold. The first priority is really improving intercom systems in their schools so there's less dependence
058in some cases on walkie-talkies. That's kind of a secondary means of communication. But yes, we're constantly working with schools as they need more or um improved walkie-talkies. We're providing those through the school safety budget as well. The most important part of it that I see and that I've been told is that um during recess time, the walkie-talkies are definitely a tool that everybody needs because you're looking at not only the recess area but the surrounding area and if there's any issues um they want to be able to report immediately um to the office and that would be their way of communication >> through the chair. So yeah, so through through the chair the primary objective and priority based on our guide post report is to work on improving the non-working intercom systems but also to
059in for communication to have um functional walkie-talkies as well. >> Okay, thank you. And then I did have a question on um we had looked at North High School and we said that there was going to be a an associate principal. Is it possible I can get some notes on that because from what I have been told discussing things with not only teachers but staff members um that there is a variety of of activity going on and originally um I was under the impression when this came through that that position for North was supposed to be able to help them with everything. So, I'm not quite sure how that ended up. If we could have some feedback on that, I'd appreciate it. >> Sure. Um through the chair. So, we've um actually we're using um
060a title that I think was created under a prior administration called turnaround manager for that position, not the associate principal. We felt that leaving school autonomy at the school is important, but to provide a district level support person around turnaround practices was important. So, we filled it as a turnaround manager. Um, the position was created years ago. It just was never filled, but we're using the state money uh for North High improvement to fund the position and is going to be primarily located at North High and will assist the other schools um in their turnaround practices as well, but primarily will be working on improvement at North High. We we had discussed this um at length and that was the one of the schools that we looked at as saying that they needed some some
061real support and I certainly want to see that for 25 26 at that high school. I think we have a lot of kids there. We have good staff there. Um we just need to >> narrow it down a little give some guidance >> through the chair. So the funding we received from DESI is a three-year grant. Mhm. >> Um so certainly the position will be funded for 3 years and then we would look for sustainability of continuing it beyond that three-year period. >> Okay. Okay. And then lastly um at Worcester Technical High School besides the parking garage repairs I know that we are also looking at the uh veterary department and that is incre I realize it's not under our dollars. Um, but at some point if we could get some details on that. I've
062seen it personally, but I thought the public should know that, you know, it's really coming along and everything seems to be falling into place and it's new item uh new mechanics for everyone. I guess >> through the chair. So fundraising is through the chair. Fundraising through external service sources is still going on. We certainly can um fold in updates to that project as part of the quarterly uh finance uh facilities updates we do at FOG. >> Okay. Excellent. Thank you. >> Thank you. Just want to say thank you to uh Mr. Allen who wants me Johnson. >> Thank you to the chair. I I I stepped out for a second. I don't want to repeat the question. Did anyone ask regarding um question regarding retention stuff? No. So I just have a question through the
063chair to administration in regards to resignations 226. Was that for the total of last year? >> Dr. Q >> through the chair. Yes, that is correct. And that in encompasses everything including retirement ret um folks who leave in the middle of the year, folks who we've asked to leave. And so it's the whole composite number. >> So the 220 So the total loss was 3 what 12? >> No 332 is it? I don't know what it is. 226 and 66 retirements. Is that correct? I >> the 226 is encompassing of the 66. So we were separating it because the state doesn't recognize retention as uh retirements or resation. So we we just parsed it out so that we can make a distinction between folks who actually retired versus folks who were leaving us so we
064can target the folks who are leaving us and trying to figure out why they were leaving >> through the chair to administration. The 226 resignations for whatever reason they are. What's that? Is that high? Would we consider that high based on like any trend or anything that we've seen >> through the chair? That's actually lower than it's been >> lower. >> Okay. And I think we talked about this before through the chair through administration. I know you guys try to do like exit interviews and that kind of stuff. Did how do we capture that through the chair? >> Through the chair. We do have exit interviews and I believe um member manenna had asked about a report from that. We currently have 55 folks already who've responded to our interviews and many times we'll ask
065if they would like for us to reach out to them and we do attempt to reach out to them if they say yes. So again I'm happy to share the number data um not the qualitative pieces but it gives us a better understanding of where we need to go. >> Okay. Awesome. Thank you. >> Again I just want to thank everybody for great start in the school year the last two weeks and uh uh tell you the truth I get no complaints. So it uh so it worked out pretty well and so I want to say thank you especially the bus transportation um and two years in a row. So I appreciate that and so keep up the great work. It's been a great year. So with that we're going to recommend to approve the
066file. All those in favor post. So ordered. We have approval of grants and the finance items. We have a roll call. Roll call. >> Member Alvarez. >> Yes. Member Biancia. >> Yes. >> Member Benza. Yes. >> Member Guardiola. >> Yes. >> Vice Chair Johnson. >> Yes. >> Member Mailman. >> Yes. >> Member McCulla. Member Roy. Mayor Penny. >> Yes. >> General business. I request the administration provide update and details pertaining to the Gerald Kramer evening program which is um being relocated to the West Technical High School. Please include transportation, number of staffing, course offerings, how many students will be offered this program, time frame of courses, start date and and this program going to the promoted in our schools. Member B carrier, >> thank you. Um I certainly look forward to the report. quick question
067um prior to and that is Joe Kramer will be closed at in the evening is what we're saying at this point in time there'll be no additional program that will be going to that school >> Mr. through the chair. So we'll still operate the day program but then for evening programs we are moving that program to Woret. Correct. >> Okay. And then it says um number of staffing just out of so when we determine the staff that is um for the evening that goes blanket out to everyone correct as an option. Is that >> Dr. Q? through the chair. That is correct. It's an internal posting which we abide by the union postings for that particular position. >> Okay. Thank you. I look forward to the information. Thank you. >> Yes. Senator the administration. All
068those in favor post so awarded >> member mailman. >> Thank you. Um there if you can just explain kind of the organizational setup for the night program that was on Granite Street that is now going to go to um Skyline. What will there be changes to the organizational structure for that program at night school >> through the chair? So our current plan is to have our their own site administrator or program leader for the program to take care of administering the program and then it will be staffed by the appropriate content teachers. So it will be folded into other night programs that are occurring at the school. Um it will come under the umbrella of one site administrator but they will have their own program leader overseeing the evening program. >> Okay. So not an
069additional site administrator but a program person and then would you imagine through the ch this is happening like tomorrow right >> through the chair no uh traditionally the GCC evening program doesn't start until October >> okay so October through the chair through so October um there will be I heard you just said that there'll be are they going to be participating in other nightlife programs that are there >> through the chair. Not initially, but ultimately we want to as part of the work we want to engage this year is reimagine what adult or or um older uh student uh programs could look like and introduce potentially CTE opportunities for all of our older learners. >> Awesome. I think that's great goals. Um through the chair I just make a motion that we include like current
070nightlife administrators and supervisors as part of the discussions of this process and thank you. >> Okay, just going to send those to the member Vendanda. >> Oh, I just had one question on it. Uh that was about the L's uh multiple lingual. Uh we had quite a few right that the adult program that used to be at Fanning and they would then last year there was a lot of multilingual at the Joe Krema Center. So will uh those students because sometimes they work during the day right would they also be included is are the multilingual students that went to the Gerald Kremer program also going to go to West Tech? So through the chair, if they're part of the GCC day program, they'll continue to be at the day program. If they were part of
071the evening program, then they'll have an opportunity to participate GCC evening at Wet Techch. >> Okay. Thank you. And uh send that to the administration. All those in favor? So audited. Just want to recognize Tracy Novik, former school member in a Holy Cross grad class. So, uh, thank you for coming out and, uh, make sure she gives you good credit and, uh, thank you. Okay, we are next. The cancel the school committee meeting on November 6, 2025 because everybody's gone. Everybody goes to that conference, I think, right? >> The conference is the following week. >> Election. >> It's election. >> Yeah, the conference is the following week. >> Yeah. through the chair. Thank you. Um I think the conf if the conference we're talking about is the MASC conference, then I think um >> I
072don't know. I don't I you know, we only meet once a month in September. There's a full agenda here. I'm not in favor of cancing the meeting because it's >> We can move it to the next Thursday. >> Okay. There's just a problem with that week. >> Yeah. So we we'll schedule two meetings for November through the >> chair. We'll have the court contact everybody. No. >> Okay. Just keep it on there. >> The conference is November 12th. >> Oh, the conf Okay. I was told that. >> Sorry. Through the chair. I I thought the motion was to cancel that meeting and we would just do one in November. I mean, it's a >> Okay, we can have a roll call then. Okay. >> Motion is to cancel the meeting on November 6. Roll call.
073>> Member Alvarez. Yes. Member Banceria. >> Yes. >> Member Bernendo. >> Yes. >> Member Guardiola. >> Yes. >> Vice Chair Johnson. >> Yes. >> Member Mailman. >> No. >> Member McCulla. Member Roy. Mayor Petty. >> Yes. Okay. To accept the transfer amount of um property located at Zero Northeast Cutoff from the city manager. Recommendation is to approve. Roll call. >> Member Alvarez. Yes. >> Member Bianceria. >> Yes. >> Member Bernenda. >> Yes. >> Member Guardiola. >> Yes. >> Vice Chair Johnson. >> Yes. >> Member Mailman. >> Yes. >> Member McCulla. Member Roy. Mayor Penny. >> Yes. Uh next four items uh by member Roy. She's asked me to hold these to the next meeting. So uh motions to hold. Roll call. >> Member Alvarez. >> Yes. Member Vanceria. Yes. >> Member Bernendo. >> Yes. >>
074Member Guardiola. >> Yes. >> Vice Chair Johnson. >> Yes. >> Member Mailman. >> Yes. >> Member McCulla. Member Roy. Mayor Penny. >> Yes. To approve the second meal uh breakfast, lunch, snack, and adult meal prices on 25 2025 2026 school year. Recommendation go to fog. Member. Well, this is always, you know, a tough one because there are students who don't have a money, right, for the for the second lunch. Uh especially on Mondays. Uh is there still a way that students can get a a second lunch if they're hungry for that >> through through the chair? So, we're required by Desi to establish a second meal price. So, we never deny a student a second meal should they need one regardless of financial circumstances. We obviously, as you know, we work with families and so
075forth, but we would never deny a student a second meal. >> Oh, perfect. And then my other question, last question is, um, at some point at uh, South, I think it was a pilot at the time, we also provided dinner for so athletes could come in and get free dinner. Uh that was around 3:00 or 4 uh and it was going to be a pilot that was supposed to be spread through the district because uh after athletics kids are hungry and uh it worked really well. There is such a program still going on or are there any plans to have something like that >> through the chair? So that is a separate application that we can continue to pursue um for programs that are running at night. So we can look at anything that's running
076at night that would be eligible for that program and offer uh dinner service um as we piloted that. >> Thank you. >> Okay. So refer that to um fog. All those in favor opposed. See here we have the approval of the report of the superintendent schedule for the 2526 school year. Approving the file. Roll call. Member Alvarez. >> Yes. >> Member Biancia. >> Yes. >> Member Bernando. >> Yes. >> Member Guardiola. >> Yes. >> Vice Chair Johnson. >> Yes. >> Member Mailman. >> Yes. >> Member Makaba. Member Roy. Mayor Penny. >> I don't know. >> Yes. >> I'm sorry to the chair. In regards to um GB597, the the second mail thing. It was to approve that. I I don't think that needs to go to a committee. I think we're just approving >> approving
077that thing if am I right? Yeah. >> So, I don't know if we need to take a roll call. Oh, you do. >> So, we're back and uh I guess the motion is suspend the rules and go back to uh 5-97 roll call. >> Member Alvarez. >> Motion first. First the motion is suspend. Second motion is to reconsider the item. Okay. Member Alvarez, >> yes. >> Member Biania, >> yes. >> Member Bernenda, >> yes. >> Member Guardiola, >> yes. >> Vice Chair Johnson, >> yes. >> Member Milman, >> yes. >> Member McCulla, member Roy, Mayor Petty, >> yes. Motion to reconsider. Roll call. >> Member Alvarez, >> yes. >> Member Banceria, >> yes. >> Member Bernenda, >> yes. >> Member Guardiola, >> yes. >> Vice Chair Johnson, >> yes. >> Member Mailman, >> yes. >>
078Member McCulla, member Roy, Mayor Petty, >> yes. Member Johnson. Motion to approve. >> So just on GB 597 to um motion to approve um that um second meal thing. >> Okay. Roll call. >> Member Alvarez. >> Yes. Member Biania. >> Yes. >> Member Benenda. >> Yes. >> Member Guardiola. >> Yes. >> Vice Chair Johnson. >> Yes. >> Member Milman. >> Yes. >> Member McCulla. Member Roy. Mayor Petty. >> Yes. Okay. We are on I believe 5-99 and to review the status of the fiscal year fiscal year 26 budget and make appropriate transfers as required. The recommendation is referred that to fog. All those in favor oppose so audited. And uh that's it. So motion is to adjurnn. All those in favor post so audited.