Worcester School Committee Budget Session 6/18/2025

001Okay, recording in progress. Uh, welcome to the Wister School Committee meeting for the budget process. We'll we'll start with the budget and uh where we left off on page 155, administrative administration salaries. Um, Mr. Allen. Okay. Uh, any questions? You don't have to. Member mailman. Sure. I'll wing it. Um, could you just talk through the chair? You can sit down. Oh, I forgot. Don't stand. Okay. Um, through the chair to Mr. Allen. Can you just talk for a minute about the um increase in the teaching and learning administration upn number? It seems like most of this is seems appropriate reallocation but beyond that the dollars seem to be pretty stable. Is that am I reading am I taking the gist of this correctly to the chair? No, that's absolutely correct. So the baseline salary increases

002for employees is which consistent school committee already approved increases. Yeah. which aligns with represented employees is about 6% for next year. So that's the baseline increase and then entirely correct that there's a reallocation of positions into this account. So it's not necessarily new positions, they're just being reclassified as um instructional u leadership positions which then places them from out of the teacher account into this account. Okay, thank you. Okay, thank you. Anybody else? So motions to approve. Those in favor post so ordered. We are on teacher salaries. We have two recusals. Uh we are on page 158. It's pretty straightforward, but remember mailman um and most of our um contracts are through they don't expire until the end of next year. So, we actually are aware of what those increases are and they're properly classified

003in this um in these dollars to the chair. Yes. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. So, motion to approve. Sure. Okay. Remember being in carrier? Sorry. We just have two districts. Diana, can you can you speak into your microphone? Turn it on. Sorry. Okay. I think I'm you know. All right. Um in a under teacher salary, elementary teachers, how did this affect the salary and what was the difference between the re reallocation of the two district focused instructional coach positions. So we have two in elementary and then we have two in secondary. Is that how that's working through the chair? Uh yes. So those positions are part of the Q team and they were in this account last year. They are being um elevated to supervisor positions uh in the account that we just approved. Um,

004so, uh, it's just moving the two pos the four positions out of this account into the instructional leadership account. So, they're okay. So, we have two that are going to be in the elementary and then two that will be in column B through through the chair. That's just how they were captured in the budget. They're actually district-wide positions, part of the Q team, and now they're going to be supervisors. So even if they're supervisors there, but there it still stays with two for the elementary and two for secondary across the board. Through the madam superintendent though, am I through the chair? Those positions are K12 positions. So although they're captured, even when they were captured last year as two in elementary and two in secondary, they service their quadrant um all elementary through the high

005school in the quadrant. So they they are district as far as K through 12. Yes. Within their quadrant schools and that's sufficient to take care of what we what our needs are at this point. Yes. Because they're not the sole people that are servicing that those those schools. They're within the quadrant team. Okay. Okay. Um in in D, special education teachers. Um could someone explain that to me because it says that it's 4%. But it seems that we drastically went down. So I'm not quite sure how it can be a plus 4% inde special ed teachers. through the chair. So in special education, they're actually going up five positions from the current year. So we're not adding anything else to that from what we took away from last year. So uh through the chair in

006this account, it's an increase of five. That's correct. So we only have an increase of five and and that is sufficient because we lost like 15 and then we had it was 28 and it went to one. So I'm trying to figure out how that could they get how do they get the services that they need if we're going down that file through the chair. So um we worked with our special ed director Dr. Murray and assistant director Miss Kramer. And this is what they've said that would be the additional supports that are needed. Everything else meets within the um what is on the IEP and the services there. There is um some potential reallocation of case loads throughout the district, but districtwide these are meeting the needs. So this covers our entire district. Correct.

007It just seems odd that we would have more people in HR than we would have in special ed when we have an abundance of students that have IEPs and so on. So, I'm kind of concerned with that at this particular time. So, the chair, this account has 549 teacher positions. I'm sorry. There's 549 special education teachers, right? But when they look at this piece here throughout the district for um provide necessary services speech and these are all special services that the kids would be receiving. So this this line um D reflects all uh special education teachers in the district. So either classroom based or those type of supports that you just mentioned um BCBA's uh physical therapists and so forth. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Anybody else? Motion was to approve. Those in favor

008so ordered. Next up is school committee salaries on page 162. Motion is to approve. You do your spiel. I'll say it. Remember mailman. Sure. Um, you know, I hope in my lifetime we see a revision of our charter or review of our charter and that um we find a way to kind of think about how school committee structure fits into the um the larger picture of city government and um thinks about valuing these positions differently than they're valued now at 50%. Thank you. Make a deal here. Um okay. So motion is to approve. All those in favor opposed. Classroom substitute salaries on page carrier. Thank you. So, when we look at this, we're looking at $70 a day, 35 long-term, and 18 full-time. And then, um, but we don't have a listing of the 18

009schools for their sites. So, I would like to make a motion that we have a listing of what the sites are that have the full-time services and if it necessary, do they get transferred to another school that might need a full-time person? Yeah, I'm superintendent through the chair. So, once school gets started, the team will be able to take a look at what the data shows and which schools would just need that building substitute as we refer to them. um that's why we don't have the schools listed here. And then of course if there is a building substitute that is not being used at that particular school and we know about it and we need them somewhere else then um we would ask them to go for that day. T generally speaking they're all taken

010on a daily basis. Okay. We have it. It looks like there's no full-time fought specific to elementary. Am I missing a sentence here or something? To the chair. Of the 18, there are some of those that are assigned to elementary schools. The larger elementary schools. The larger elementary schools. Okay. And we find that we're looking at building substitutes. We went up 119 um percent on that. And what what do you find that would be the difference through the SH? So, if you recall, um, we added those positions back, uh, through the city's, uh, free cash that was provided to us, uh, mid year. Um, and we decided to keep most of that free, uh, free cash money was spent on one-time costs. In this case, we spent it on building substitutes and we're carrying those

011positions forward into the budget. So, that's the increase. It's fully funding the 18 positions for the full year. And that's high school and elementary. It's 18 total positions. It includes uh secondary and elementary. Yes, secondary and elementary. So when do you think we could receive a list on where the substitutes are going through the chair at in September when they uh the these are assigned by the executive directors. So once they do a reassessment of where they will be assigned, we can provide a list to you in September. Okay. So that would be my motion that we receive ad by September on that. Thank you. Thank you. Those in favor of the motion post awarded me Penda. So on the substitute, so I know today that uh staff received an email that said that there

012are shortage of days in the sickly bank and uh that they're down to a dangerous number of 10,000 days. And I guess the contract says that once you hit that low number uh you have to take more days um from from each person. So each person that's a member was told they have to give two days. So the reason I mention that with this is it sounds like people are taking a lot of days whether there's a lot of maternity leave or sickness and I I worry that uh we don't have enough subs right to cover when we have so many people taking days. the some elementary people have told me that when there's no subs, they're taking the um the ESL tutors um or the teacher to substitute because it there isn't just anybody

013to do the subbing. So, I'm just wondering if can we look at this again um sometime before school begins to see if we can find if there's any extra money if it's possible. I mean, I know the attendance thing is another issue, but I'm more I'm concerned with this part is that we are providing more substitutes because we have more than 18 schools. So, is there a way that we make a motion we could return to this maybe in August to look at if there was any extra funding if we could add more subs so that every school does have one? Okay. I know. Yeah, we can put a motion to it and see where we are. to the chair if I I'll just add to that just to say I think everything's contingent on

014the final state budget. I know the item later today about the charter school funding impact we I discussed that last time but similar to this once we know what the final state budget is then we can make recommendations on different accounts. If we have to cut $2 million because the Senate version is used that's obviously a different story than where we are today. Just curious that pressure knows what what's a building substitute. It's um it's a full-time position assigned to a school to provide coverage. It's one position to provide anywhere in the school where where need in that school. Correct. Why is it increased so much? Because we used the we cut this out of the budget last year because and so we reinstated it with the free cash money that we received from the

015city mid year. So this is a fullear funding of those positions. We kept the 18 that we in re reinstated this year. Okay. Okay. Motions to approve. All those in favor opposed. Okay. We are on par educator salaries on page 164. Please for the record note that Miss Makoa has recused herself. Okay. Okay. Pretty straightforward. U member Johnson. Thank you to the chair to administration. Just looking at this, I'm just trying to I guess understand um this. So when you look at your um D, right, the bilingual office assistance one, I just kind of want to hear about what they do on a daily basis and also E the positive youth development. and then F the multilingual pareducator because when I looked at this I'm just trying to figure out what the rationale is for

016why we have only seven multilingual pareducators compared to 12 and 15 in other line when we talk a lot about some of our um English language learners and the support that they need in um in the classroom and improving their their scores to get them back get them you know move them forward along with um everyone else. I'm just wondering why h how that decision is made on where where these positions go and where the money spent actually because it's it's a huge difference in where the money is being spent compared to the three Dr. Q. So through the chair, so I will start with the bilingual office assistants. Those are under the par educator line, but their role is to work with the front desk to um especially our schools with high instances of

017families that do speak another language. So they help support by answering the phone, directing families when they come in in that level of support. But they do fall under the PAR educator salary scale. However, they are office assistants. That's why they're coded in that way. In terms of the multilingual para educators, they're usually at our dual language schools to support in those programs specifically because we do have um the level of support through our MLE teachers. So the PAR educators in that category is specific to our dual language or dual language and bilingual programs. So okay, that makes I guess that makes sense. Yeah. Okay. No other questions. Okay. Um motions to approve. All those in favor opposed. Member B and Carrier followed by member Benenda. Thank you. Um when we look at a under

018special education, you have down here um six additional positions to support three autism classrooms. Um where are those three autism classrooms? What schools are they in? Anybody know? Dr. So through the chair um those those um PAR educators will be going to Gates Lane School Norach and Roosevelt to support um three additional AU class sale classrooms. So it was Gates Gates Lane, Roosevelt, and Nobec. Okay. And they already have students that are lined up for those those classrooms. Correct. Through the CHA. Yes, that is correct. So, we're starting I I I look at that as starting with those three classrooms. So right now if we have acceptance of any other students with autism um they would be placed in one of those three schools. Correct. To administration through the chair depends on the where the

019student lives. Um we have classrooms throughout the district. So it would it would vary. we look at where the students addresses and um what program that they were accepted into or is appropriate for them. So, for example, if they were a student that was in a substantially separate classroom, we would look for a substantially separate placement where we had openings. Um and so it really would vary depending. So, these aren't the only three classrooms we have with autism then. Correct. Okay. All right. Right. So then I make a motion to ask the administration to provide us with the number of classrooms that support autism um in our schools. Okay. I think it's something that u we need to look further into. When we look at column Thank you. When we look at column C under

020culture and climate assistance, we have 46 and then we're looking for a supervisor and a director. So, I'm a little curious on how we're figuring that we're no longer depending on the principal to be running their schools. We're asking for a supervisor and a director for climate and culture. So that's two administrative positions that would be working with the schools on 46 employees that are under climate and culture. And unfortunately we still have teachers that are getting hurt because they're breaking up altercations in our schools. So I'm asking administration to make it clearer to me please on why we would need a supervisor and a director for this particular area when we have principles and assistant principles in our schools. Madam superintendent through the chair. Thank you for the question. And so the supervisor position

021has been in place as long as I've been here. That particular position works directly with our school adjustment counselors. That's the area of um expertise of the individual in that position. the director of climate and culture that we have budgeted for which is really a reallocation of a position that we had um created I think two years ago is not to be the supervisor of the climate and culture assistance but what we've heard over and over again is the importance of building the skill base and the knowledge of those individuals having consistency across the district in our secondary schools we hear that also um people are seeking consistency on how people do their jobs. And so we want to give the people, these climate and culture assistants, the training they need to deescalate situations at

022the school level to build relationships with youth and to serve as that connected tissue, if you will, for our students while the teachers are busy doing their instructional duties. Um there is an increase specifically in climate and culture assistance because our um high school principles and our middle school they had um they said if they had some additional people who could do the non-instructional duties that they have to assign to their teachers such as monitoring the restrooms. um then those teachers could have more time um in their professional learning communities doing what they're trained to do which is to look at student work to plan lessons to work with their peers. So that is what we're looking at. The director is the one who will um provide the direct support and training to our climate

023and culture assistants, build the capacity of them, working in collaboration with the supervisor who works with the school adjustment counselors and supporting the entire positive youth development work that has started in Worcester public schools. And we've heard we need continued training on what this means. How do we put this in place? How do we give better so that we continue to reduce the number of people that are impacted when students make the wrong decision um and keep them in our schools so that they can make better decisions because they're learning. So those are the differences. I hope that's helpful. It is helpful. I just feel as though we are going from 1.2 2 and we're going up to 1.7. And then we have the positive youth development and that's up to 385. So we're we're

02444% increase and a 46% increase in those two areas which means that we are over uh the 2 million mark for um looking at culture and climate when it seems to be increasing drastically and if it's working so well then why are we have to increase it so so much? I don't understand if this if it's working and everyone feels as though they are safe in our schools then why are we increasing to that dollar amount? Why aren't we staying level funded as we are in other areas but we're increasing in this area through the chair. So this is an area that has been underfunded for it wasn't an area of focus for the district. So $2 million in an um over $500 million budget is a very very small percentage. And we're talking about

025um all of our middle schools, all of our high schools. That's a large number of youth that we're serving with a very small num amount of money. The this is never meant to be where people are where we're never going to have issues. It just doesn't work that way. Not when you're talking about lots of bodies moving around, but $2 million to um address the the way schools feel and address um how we respond when behaviors are not the way we want them to is actually again in the size of our budget a very small amount. So although percentage-wise you're absolutely right, it is going up. Um, and as I said, the the biggest increase is to add an additional climate and culture assistant at every one of our secondaries so that teachers are not

026spending their prep time doing non-instructional duties. The the climate and culture assistants will do that so they can use their time doing the instructional work that we've trained them to. So, you're right, it's going up percentage-wise quite a bit. When we look at the total budget, it is actually a very small percentage of our overall budget. I understand that 2 million out of 586 million seems like it's small, but my concern is that we for the last 18 months have walked around saying that this is all working and if it was working so well, my concern is that we would not have to add this much to it. We would have kept it level funded like we keep other pieces that are level funded. We have other programs or support. The multilingual, the kindergarten only

027went up six. Special ed only went up 11, but we're looking at 44 and 46 for climate and culture assistance. And I have a big concern with that. So I I would like to make a motion that we receive a monthly report in reference to the activities and what is going on in the data that shows how many students and how many repeated students are attending these rooms and what services are being provided because that's maybe a small amount but that small amount could have gone into other departments. ments and it didn't. It went into keeping our schools safe, which is one of my top priorities. But I need to know the facts about supporting this and why I would support it to say that it keeps our schools safe and that's the only way

028I'm going to be able to do that. Thank you. Thank you, member. Member Johnson. Yes. I I want to address item C also. Uh so I was in the high school for 38 years. uh never needed this many people roaming the hallways. When I read it, I felt like are we running malls that we need this many people uh in the hallways of schools? Uh assistant principles, principles always were in the hallways. I don't understand why we need to add the additions. Um, I also was in charge of duty duties and doing the duties in the high school probably 20 years and the addition of one extra person or however you're going to do it. Um, by contract uh teachers can get 180 minutes of duty a week, which would be that's bathroom duty, hallway

029duty, cafeteria duty. We don't have studies anymore. And uh so I'm understanding that not everybody is doing 180 minutes of uh duty time, but by the contract that's definitely allowed. And so that let's just say they're doing half of that. the addition. I don't know how that's going to actually work so that there's equity in the high school or the middle school where you're going to put them for duties because you have many bathrooms and you have them open for, you know, 15 minutes after the bell and you close 15 minutes before the bell. That's a lot of bathroom duties. So, a I wonder how the equity will be achieved because there's just not enough of culture and climate to actually take everybody's duties away or to give everybody one less duty. And then second

030of all, um when we say that we're going to have them work together um to look at the work and um maybe extra PLC's that has to be monitored. So this you just can't say okay now you can go meet with each other and talk. Uh that has to be monitored. So who's going to monitor it? There has to be a plan for it. So I'm concerned about that area. Also I did ask for a report um maybe three weeks ago to evaluate the effectiveness and culture and climate. I know there's been a lot going on and we did not receive that. So, my motion is to subtract 600,000 from this account uh and put that into the substitute account for elementary schools. Which account was that one? Coach and climate. See? Okay. Johnson, you

031have a hand up. I'm sorry. I did. Um, I still I I'm at some point I'm going to need some clarity on the 600,000 motion and kind of what what impact that would have on climate and culture in regards to positions before we before we vote on something like that. I just would need to have some clarity on what impact that would have. Um, Mr. or someone I I don't need Can I just make my statement? Sure. Go ahead. Okay. Thank you. Um so in regards to climate and culture, um I know that um what you're reporting is that the principles of the high school and the secondary schools asked for additional um climate and culture person. Is that correct? Through the chair, Mr. Holland. Through the chair. So through our equity budgeting process this

032year, we asked principles to identify high leverage investments we can make to actually um get student achievement to accelerate f further and clearly the research shows that uh professional learning communities of teachers is one of those impacts that can be made. So what we decided was if we through conversations with the building principles, if we added climate and culture uh assistance to the schools that could provide bathroom coverages instead of a teacher um providing those coverages, then they can actually be arranged through supervision with the assistant principles or the focus instructional coaches in professional learning communities to look at student achievement data. Um, so I think our administration's perspective is we'd rather have assistant principles and focus instructional coaches and teachers doing instructional stuff, not monitoring hallways. And so that's why uh through uh the

033climate culture assistant increase uh principles can arrange in their schools effective PLC's that actually are looking at student achievement. Thank you. So, climate and culture with the addition of the um staff that they already have there, they would now be in charge of covering ba bathroom duty. Correct. In other non-instructional duties that are normally assigned to teachers where we would want that time being focused on instructional um activities. Okay. I'm sorry. just just to manage everyone's expectations. We're not the one addition isn't going to be able to cover every single non-instructional duty in the the school, right? Um but when our team took some high school principal, I believe it was all our high school principles to Connecticut um last school year and we visited high schools there that are performing very highly that are

034outperforming their peers. Um they saw they don't call them climate and culture assistants, but they saw these individuals in the school. They talked with them. they learn what they're doing and this is the type of work that was making a difference in the school. So they came back and they were like can we have more and we said can we make sure that what we have is actually working. So the high school principles and the middle school principles are all asking for additional um because they want to as Mr. Brian said use the time of their assistant principles to move the instructional needle rather than um serve as people monitoring the halls. Thank you. So, climate and culture assistants in the schools help with the culture of the school. They walk around making connections with

035kids. They if there's kids in the classroom being disruptive or roaming the halls, um that's what they're tasked with. And they also know what the policies of the Worester public schools are. They're also able to intervene in situations where typically if you had some other personnel in the school wouldn't be able to intervene because they're not employed by the Worester public schools and not trained through the Wor public schools. And then you're also adding the director and assistant thing to help with the training so it's consistent because we talked about consistency through each school um over the course of the past year and a half. If I recall, am I correct through the chair to administration? Yes, that is a good summary. Okay. I think I'm going to still die on this sword, but I

036saw this thing on the news last night. Vape vape detectors in the bathroom. It was a thing on the news last night. And the new thing is is it doesn't have to be high w hardwired into the ceiling. It's a thing that could be detected through a message through the cell phone, right? And if we're now looking at climate and culture potentially doing more bathroom duty because I know I think one of the concerns are that a lot of teachers don't want to intervene with students when they're in the bathroom vaping because it's just controversy, right? Okay. So, my motion is going to be to re-examine the new vape detectors that are now able to be monitored through a cell phone thing instead of being high hardwired into the schools. Maybe it might be more

037cost effective than what it was before when we were looking at it. and maybe look at a school next year or half the year because whatever that is willing to pilot this program if we have the funding in order to get this in because again I still believe that's part of climate and culture and safety of our kids in school and the health of our kids in school. That's my motion. My next thing is is I need some clarity on the $600,000 from the climate and culture account going over to the other account and what would be the staffing impact in climate and culture if that were to be approved tonight. My second thing is is I would like to take the motions when we do this separately because unfortunately I don't understand member B

038and Carrier's motion. Um maybe it could be right again. I'm not understanding it and I'm not sure I'm willing to um vote that motion. That's just me. Okay. Mr. Allen, do you want to answer the question on the 600,000? will be the equivalent of reducing 15 climate culture um assistance from this account. 15 15. Okay, that I got my answer. Okay. at H and if the 600,000 was I'm sorry through the chair to administration if the $600,000 went over to was it the elementary school account that you sub account what would that add to the the substitutions? Sorry. So when we're talking about building subs, it'd be about 10 positions. 10 positions. Okay. No other questions. Okay. Member Mailman, just to clarify, I'm confused about the um 600,000 through the chair that you're Is it

039line C? Is it the increase that you're in in line C? Okay. And and you're wondering if we should use that for building substitutes instead. Is that what you're You didn't make that motion, but No, I didn't make the mo that motion ca sorry through the chair to clarify that motion came through member Bernenda. I was just trying to ask where that $600,000 if it went over there what the impact would be in the climate and culture assistant positions. What would the impact be for that? So if I can just for clarity on the number the increase in this account um just from the narrative in the budget book there were three positions that we added midyear through the one-time free cash money from the city. So those are also we're continuing those positions forward

040plus the additional eight positions full funded for the full year. So that represents the increase. So it's three that were added during middle of this year plus the eight new positions. um that's what represents the entire increase. Now we have vacancy factors and all that in there but that's why that account is going up that dollar amount. Okay. How's that? Yeah. and and through the chair I just want to you know I had the opportunity to go to the national school board meeting and there was a district down in Baltimore in north of in Maryland somewhere that had really was kind of the superstar of what's going on with climate and culture and I think through the chair member Johnson had made um references to how are we going to evaluate how different teams are

041doing and I think that's where we should go. I don't think my personal view is I don't think that we should reduce um the investment in this category. I think it's critical for safety, frankly. And I think that um I think that we we can only improve when we're if we can evaluate how it's going um and be able to, you know, get reports from all of you about how we're doing in different schools. And I think you had asked through the chair, member Johnson, for like, you know, how folks are using the job in different high schools and different middle schools. and so what's going to be Worcester public school best practice. So I'm happy with this investment and that's all. Thank you. So one of the things that I think before we add

042money into investments is as you were saying u member mailman like what is happening in each school and how we evaluating it. That's why I asked for a report on that which we did not receive. So I would be willing to amend the motion to not add any additional not add the eight additional positions at this time until we do get a report on the effectiveness and still concerned about elementary coverages and L students and special ed students getting what they need when there's nobody to cover class. So what would Mr. through the chair Mr. Allen what how much money is that just for the eight additional positions Mr. Uh for the chair 240,000 somewhere in that range 40,000 240 oh 240 and how many subs with substitute teachers for the elementary would that equal

043six oh six well that's better than none because they do need them. All right. Uh could I amend my miss uh my motion to the chair um to uh since we have not received a report yet on the effectiveness of the climate and culture to continue with the number we have but to um not fund the eight additional positions and have that funding go to fund uh six substitute positions for elementary school. to the chair if I if I can just comment on that. And so what we're saying is um we don't want schools to implement the equity based budgeting recommendation they made to us so they can actually do PLC's um during duty periods. That's essentially what this would eliminate um or wouldn't allow us to start increasing is having secondary schools using duty

044periods for PLC's um instead of covering bathrooms. Okay, remember so um high schools and middle schools already have PLC's right at uh right now. So this is just this is increasing them but um I uh think that uh there are other ways for us to work to get additional PLC's in schools and these eight positions are going to have a zero effect on covering uh most duties. one uh person at each school is not going to be useful. That would be like one period a day and how many people are you going to release for one period a day when you have like six bathrooms open in some places. I think it has zero effect on PLC's because you're only adding one person per school. Madam superintendent through the chair. So I understand the need

045or the desire to make sure that we have these immediate needs covered um when we have these when teachers are not calling in or not coming in and we have absences for whatever the reason. Um I I would urge the committee to think systemically about how do we scale what we know the educational research continues to tell us over and over and over again. If we want student achievement to improve, then it is our responsibility to create the conditions where teachers can spend time together. And you're right, member Bernenda, they're not going to be able to meet each and every day, and they don't need to. That's not what the research says. But the research does say over and over again that collective efficacy is the greatest impact on student achievement. So, this committee has

046to decide where you're going to put your fiscal resources. Are you going to do the quick stop band-aid of covering a class? And that's important, but it is not going to move the needle academically for the youth that you serve. It is your decision, but it's my responsibility and Mr. Allen's responsibility to remind you that in your decision making, there are policy implications. And when your school leaders are saying, "We see this working in other districts, in other states, we see this working because this is what the research tells us over and over again." And the researcher that I'm talking about, he does metaanalysis and he's been doing it for over a decade and a half is John Hadtie. I'm sure we have heard of him in different settings at different times. That is what

047makes the biggest impact collective efficacy and not just of with classroom teachers but with all educating spaces all educators. So we've we're creating spaces in Worcester public schools for our principles to work together to develop their collective efficacy for our counselors to work together to develop their collective efficacy for our climate and culture assistance. And you don't just put them in a room as you said, we have them leading being led through work and our our Q teams do the same thing. So I'm just going to close by saying absolutely we can hire six additional building subs and that will take that will support one school year and you will be back in the same place next year. the teachers would not have been able to continue to grow their collective efficacy. And you're going

048to continue to spin your wheels and then wonder why the district is not growing the way that it can because that is what makes the difference. U member Johnson, I'm sorry through the chair to administration in recent subs. My guess is we did this two years ago or it was two years ago because we had to eliminate them last year. When you met with principles and you went through your equity budget and my guess is some schools made the decision that they no longer wanted to build in subs and they wanted to do something differently through the chair to administration. Mr. Well, so the chair I wouldn't characterize as an either and or. I mean, I think we know the benefit of building subs and at some point maybe next year we can put we

049had 70 building subs two years ago. Then we had the $22 million deficit. That's something we can look we would want to look forward to doing again. It just where we were putting the resources in FY26 this emerged as the priority from the building principles. Correct. And then on top of the 18 building subs within this budget, we still have the day-to-day subs, right? And then we still have the long-term subs, correct? Through the chair to help fill gaps when things are needed in elementary schools or wherever they're needed. Is that correct, Mr. Allen? Through the chair. Yes. Thank you. No other question. Okay, Ben. So I think another thing we have to look at have you looked at the access scores for the elementary school and some of the conversation around that has been

050that their staff has had to substitute way too many times uh for teacher absences. there is, you know, the the middle and high school show progress, but in looking at the elementary um and me asking why, those are the responses given to me uh by very respected people that work in the Worester public schools in that area. So, they said, "Is there something you can do so that we don't have to be used as subs?" And that's that's, you know, that is the high school and middle schools already have PLC's. They're going to continue with that work and the addition of one person per school is going to make a zero effect on PLC's over time. However, we do have this issue. Uh it's very difficult for day-to-day subs. A lot of schools can't get

051them. They're just not out there. And so we right now, you know, there are students that are not receiving the services they should need in some elementary schools because they're always being pulled to some and you have to have a teacher or an adult in a class or it's a safety issue. So that's why I bring it up. We again have not gotten any data that proves this is working. And I'm not saying I want to cut what you already have, but I'm saying instead of adding, we have no report to prove that they're effective and we know that there's some challenges here. Um, that I think the elementary schools need a data. So, uh, the sub we're talking about, I don't know if everybody knows the difference. They just report to that school every

052day, right? that. So, you always know when you're planning coverage that you've got this person and that it's a it's a big thing to know that you have that person every single day and and they don't have it. So, I think if we're looking at our role as being responsive to what schools need, this is an important role that we need to have teachers in front of kids and we need to know that there is somebody there that's going to cover for our classes. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. So, um I think we've had this conversation three or four times, but uh I think the cultural and climate positions are important. Um and it shows on the data that's important and it's still an achievement. Um and they're going to stick with it until uh

053it shows me otherwise, but we can get some reports during the year. We can evaluate it for next year and make a decision in next year's budget where we go with this. But the principles seem to want this and uh because it works and they I think they're the ones who have been asking for the expansion of uh this program. So uh because they see the benefit of doing it. So I'm going to stick with this and I think this is passionate as other members are against this. I'm for it. So uh we're going to keep these going. So uh so the first so we have three motions. Um remember being carried is you want a monthly report to do um can you describe under month. You want monthly or quarterly? Ask for it to

054be monthly. So we would be able to have data to support why the increase in these two areas for culture and climate and positive youth development are 44% and 46% when everybody else is about 11 6 7 and 11. So they're very low compared to those two areas. To justify that, I'm asking for a monthly report on what we are doing. What services are we providing? Is it repetitive students? How long are they spending? We need to dig deep into this to make sure that we're doing it correctly, that it's working and it's beneficial because it's $2 million of the budget and we're not increasing special ed. We're not increasing multilingual uh translation or anything else with that dollar amount. So, that's concerning to me. So, I'm asking for it to be monthly with it

055with the information so we can be consistent and have it so we know what is occurring with the climate and culture and the positive youth development. Okay. Member Milman through the chair. Um it seems to me and I'm thinking about um our teaching and learning subcommittee and that um the climate and culture work I don't I through the chair I asked Dr. Morris um belongs as a standing item in that committee and maybe we already have it through the chair. I'm not sure. I I don't know how people would put monthly reports together. And again, I'll hearken back to uh member Johnson's item, which was not that many weeks ago about um looking for updates on that work. So I I we're growing something that's important that has been shown in many other districts across

056the country to be really important work and um monthly strikes me as but we'll we'll vote it but monthly strikes me as overkill. Thank you. Okay. Okay. So the first motion is for the monthly report roll call. Member Alvarez, no. Member Biania, yes. Member Benenda, yes. Member Guardiola, yes. Vice Chair Johnson, no. Member mailman, no. Member Roy, yes. Mayor Penny, yes. Okay. Then we have member Bernend cut for $240,000 under the uh cultural and climate assistance. Roll call. Member Alvarez, no. Member Vianio, yes. Member Vanza, yes. Member Guardiola, no. Vice Chair Johnson, no. Member Mailman, no. Member McCulla, member Roy, yes. Mayor Penny, no. There's the vote on that. My motion. Uh, the third motion is to reexamine the new vape detectors. No. No. What's the vote on? Oh, the vote is um three yes,

057five no. Okay. So, it's three yeses and five nos. Okay. We have a member Johnson's on regarding uh vaping. Um roll call. Member Alvarez. Yes. Member Bianio, yes. Member Benoa, yes. Member Guardiola, yes. Vice Chair Johnson, yes. Member Mailman, yes. Member McCulla, member Roy. Yes. Mayor Petty, yes. Approve of the PAR educator salaries. All those in favor? So ordered. Okay. We are on transportation salaries on page 168. Any questions? Member B carrier. Transportation salaries on one page 68. Okay. Thank you. When we look at the operations support, we have six mechanics presently. Mr. Through the chair. Uh we have five mechanics. We we are going up to six mechanics. So presently we have five and we're moving to six. Correct. And those are under the teamsters union. Uh yes we are in negotiations with the

058teamsters. Okay. And that is um what union were they under before? They were non-union. They were non-union. So now they're going under the teamsters. Correct. Through the chair. Correct. Okay. So, um, we feel as though the six would be sufficient even with the electric buses coming in because they're going to take care of the buses and the um facilities trucks through the chair. Yes. Okay. Okay. And we have 107 special ed drivers. And then we have special ed bus monitors 112. And for bus drivers for full size we went it we went up 10 positions. Is that correct? So the chair because we're receiving the electric buses that allows us to expand the number of routes. So we're using that um to increase by the 10 bus drivers because we'll be getting the electric buses

059this year. Okay. And when do we suspect that those will be coming, sir? Mr. Chair, hopefully uh for the start of school year. So, we're still working on the delivery of the buses and the installation of the chargers. So, we don't have a definitive date at this point in time, but um it probably will not be for the first day of school. It will be sometime during the fall. Sometime during the fall. Okay. Approach. And we are already working towards the increase in the roots. through the chair. So once we have a more definitive date, we'll then uh plug those into um routes um or supporting um student transportation other ways um such as athletics or something um once we um know that the start date of those buses. Okay. And we're all set with

060the um van drivers because we have the um McKinley Vinto transportation piece in there through the chair. Yeah, we we Yes, we we expect to be fully staffed um during next year. So that went up 35%. Yes. And that was because we added positions or because of what the contract was the through the chair. This is all of our employees. So, we're adding physicians so we can take on more 7D routes than using contracted vendors. Okay. So, even though we don't have the electric buses that will be arriving sometime in the fall, we have sufficient transportation for the first day of school come September. Mr. Alan, we we're fully staffed with the number of routes we're currently running. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, motions to approve. All those in favor? Post so ordered. Next

061we have supplemental program salaries on page 171. Member mailman. Thank you. Um, so I had asked for I'm not sure I think it's um I had asked for an item about how much um from an equity-based model where we're going to go in future years, how much district budget dollars are being spent on extracurricular activity for high school, middle school, and elementary school. Um, so when and we got a report which is part of the budget backup and I if I'm reading this correctly, it it's about $2 million that is basically sports. And let me begin by saying I am not anti-port. That is not my point. But my point is when we look at these budget dollars that be being allocated, you know, the elementary allocation for any kind of afterchool um programming um

062that that would be that is enrichment that would be the same value would be at the elementary level that we all know exists at the high school level. So, I'm thinking it's about $2 million. And um I want to keep talking about this item because I'm not sure it's a district responsibility to fund after school programs in elementary school, but I think if we ever through the chair were to get to a community school model where and we've talked about having something in quadrants um that that it's that this will fall into equity based funding. And so I don't know through the chair if you have any comments um super Dr. Manarez or um Mr. Allen about where where we could go with this and how am I looking at this incorrectly Mr. Ellen through

063the chair. So this is part of our strategic plan and part of the strategic plan is partnering with community agencies to provide additional supports particularly for out of school time um programs and so if that looks like a quadrant model looks like something else those are things we're trying to flush out as what the long-term impact is that would take students from before school care during school uh under those public schools and what an after school type and summer program looks like. So that is work that we are um engaged in and having conversation with community partners on and through the chair I'm correct that when we look at middle school high school sports it's about $2 million that we're those are general fund dollars a million4 and um salaries and non- salaries etc. So

064though that is a budget allocated dollar amount and um do you ever see a day where we would have budget allocated dollars that would be supporting after school programs in elementary school. So the the way I'd look at it is so athletics has been fairly consistent in our budget through the general fund for many many years. We've used and relied upon federal grants including ESSER funds in the to the tune of $5 million a year. Correct. As those funds have run out, we have not yet replace those either through West Public Schools funds or through community partners. So, I would say we're kind of in a transition and we need to figure out what the long-term sustainability is of before and after school programs looks like in those public schools, whether we need to fund

065them in order to provide opportunities for students or other community partners that we can work with that can provide those same opportunities. Thank you. Thank you for the information and the report. Dr. Monarez, did you I'll just add to that. um in conversations with the community partners, it's our one of the biggest challenges is um the transportation. And so as we grow our transportation department, as we have more access to buses, then we can get students to um existing community partners at their space and they could scale up. So then the cost would really run through the transportation, less about us providing the service. That's probably one of our initial steps into working towards this and Miss Boss has been corelling all the different groups to really um forward think what this could look like

066but it tends to be the transportation that is what Worester public schools can bring to the table and so it maybe it's not so much budgeted it as it is in kind services to to be thinking about it might start to look like that in in the budget in the future. That's interesting. Thank you. Okay. Motion to approve. Those in favor post so ordered. Custodial salaries on page 174 carrier. Thank you. Um, when I looked at the individual schools and the number of custodians that each school has, my concern was that we used to go by the square footage, but some of the concerns with square footage doesn't always fit. So with a list of the schools and the number of custodial staff, um the example I would go with would will say um North

067High School, especially in the in the high school portions, I I guess is what I'm looking at. So if we go with North um We have nine that are there and we have uh 400,000 square feet. So that would be for Worester Technical High School. Sorry, wasn't North High. for custodial we have seven and we have 190 square ft. So, I'm trying to figure out how do we determine do we determine by the activities in the school because let's face it, West Tech needs more because they have more on hand um areas chapter 74. So, it's more cleanup is needed. Um but when we look at South High and so on, how are we figuring what the number of custodial staff is needed through? So through the chair, so you're right as a general guideline,

068there are industry standards on uh expected plainless level based upon the square footage of the building. However, that is really just a starting point for the allocation of custodians. There are a number of other considerations um that we look at which includes building use flooring material um that's in schools. So, South High is a much different floor for material than other schools in terms of ease of cleaning. Um um the uh areas that are being cleaned. So, there are some areas perhaps within Worcester Tech that might be cleaned by students as part of their shop experience. Um so, all of those factors are used. So, it's not just a um a division of square footage uh and to figure out the number of custodians. There's way more factors. The number of floors, is there an

069elevator? The type of equipment that's used for uh cleaning within the building, all of those are factored into the assignment and allocation of custodians in schools. Mhm. Okay. So, do we find that when a custodian calls in sick, so how do we replace that custodian? Do we how what what is the shift actually when we look at that? because there have been sometimes there's been issues about certain schools on what what is occurring and what's happening. So there's some contractual language for the custodians that provides for coverages during absences. So depending on the length of the absence there is for more short uh term absences is manpower which is additional overtime they're assigned to custodians within that building um to do the cleanliness of that school. longerterm absences, we may may need to pull custodians

070from schools to support another building within the district. So, it depends on the length of the absence, but um clearly um any extended absence is going to diminish the level of cleanliness because the amount of time and attention needed is not getting the full amount that they're getting on the manpower. So, we recognize that. So we try to um hopefully minimize the length of abundances or provide some coverages to the schools um when needed. But we we do recognize that could be an issue for schools. Do we have any substitute through the chair positions in this incorporated into the custodial salaries? Mr. Through the chair we do not according we are uh in adhering to the contract. There's no substitutes in the contract right now. So there's no substitutes in the contract right now. Correct.

071Okay. Okay. All right. That's that was one of my concerns was how we were looking at this and what we were doing with that. Thank you. Member Ben. I was just wondering since there's no substitutes in the contract, does that then mean that we move custodians from one building to another to help out or how do we handle that through the chair? So, depends on the length of the absence. If it's just a couple of days, then contractual language does provide manpower over time for build custodians already within that building. If it's a longerterm absence, then uh we would have to reassign custodians um maybe on split coverage to cover their building and also cover another school or another building. So it depends on the length of the absence and which building um needs coverage.

072And just one more question uh for summer getting oh in summer now for those public schools. So getting ready for, you know, the reopening of schools, is there a plan to have custodians move from school to school or what what's the plan for that for the summer through the chair? Uh yes, we do utilize this uh custodians that are in one man buildings. when they are completed their buildings, then we'll reassign them to another building in order to uh make up any shortfall in vacations and whatnot. And and are we going to be able is there any over is there any I couldn't find if there was overtime it in the budget for that? Is there planned overtime because I think that they you know they work their regular shift sometimes, right? And then they'll

073like they come in on a Saturday sometimes right before school starts. So will there be some funding for that through the on page 190 192 we haven't got there yet is the custodial overtime account and so that provides overtime for coverages such as that snow removal um the manpower that we were just talking about. So there is a separate account for custodial overtime. Has there been a decrease in that for like say the summertime? I know there is um snow day things that go on, but what about summertime through the chair? Yes, we've tried to maintain a uh or minimize the amount of overtime given in the summertime. We will only utilize it when necessary. Okay. Yep. Thank you. That's it. So, we have a motion to approve. Those in favor? So ordered. You want

074maintenance service salaries on page 176. I'll set on that one. Just a quick excuse me a quick one on this and that is how many trade positions do we have? Sorry again through the chair. Presently through the uh through through the budget we have 20 positions. We are I'm sorry. We have 20 budgeted positions. We have we are 13 se uh people actively employed though. We're trying to find seven more. Okay. And we're working with unions and so on when where you look at what we're we have made inquiries into a number of different areas. We continue to uh advertise for them. We're making every and every possible opportunity to try to find people. Yes. Okay. So, we're looking at um the sufficient dollar amount. What maybe we should get a list of what positions

075are filled. Why don't Why don't we provide to the school committee over the next couple of weeks a motion? I'll make a motion, excuse me, toe over what the trade positions are to the chair. I was just going to suggest I think we've been including that in our quarterly facilities report. We can just give an update at the next time we do our quarterly report. That's fine. Thank you. Thank you. All those in favor for the report, so audited. Motion to approve. All those in favor, so audited. Administrative clerical salaries page 178. motion member Benda. I was just uh figuring out um for the chair the who's going to be in the superintendent's office now. Um it says one position for uh clerical and we know there's already one in there. So I was just

076wondering is that going to be changed? Who who who is going to be in the superintendent's office for clerical? to the chair. I'll provide an update to the school committee on what central office will look like after July one. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Motion to approve. All those in favor post. So ordered. School clerical salaries page 180. Motion is to approve. All those in favor. So ordered. N structural support salaries on page member Benenda I just had some clarifications with the chair. Um what does the this is under B. So this line includes the reallocation of the director of recruitment and retention to the coordinator of recruitment and retention and then also the director of family and community engagement to the coordinator of translations. Can you somebody explain like what's the difference there like in

077the job duties? Dr. the queue through the chair. So the first impact is financial. There's a fiscal um difference between a director line and a coordinated line. So we did take a look at all of our the folks in our office as we continue to grow and build systems. We were looking strategically at what do we really need? And so we took the two directive positions and we looked to see could we do that differently by or reorganizing and reallocating positions to support the budget in general for the overall budget. So those two positions have been um are positions that were director level positions that are now coordinative positions supervisor positions and through the chair what what does the coordinative translations do that that's a full-time job just to coordinate translations. So through the chair,

078if you recall, prior to um the development of the face office, we did have a full-time person as well as a clerical support in that role. So we are going back to that model where someone is again, you talked about those two positions. We want to really make sure that we are honing in on things that we know we need to be focused on instead of a broad stroke. So that person will be mostly responsible for ensuring that our translations, interpretations are um being outputed in the best and most effective way. All right. And then I I I don't know if you might run through the chair, but also um did we re add in because I know we cut the McKinley bento position for this current year. Here it says um positions career in

079partnership. It's in D specialist for the innovation path program grant program specialist for McKinley Vento. Is that really a grant position or is that someone overseeing McKinley Vento through the chair? That is someone who works with um the director of family community engagement to support McKini Vento. So that would be um similar to like Mar Mahoney did before is or is it a se different type of job? This position has existed in the budget prior to me taking over this department. So that person continues to do that work. I couldn't tell you directly where her funding came from, but it is not a new position. And then who is the coordinator of school safety? We have do we have I thought we had one. No, through the chair. So we did an allocation reallocation last

080year. So we have a director of school safety and a coordinator. And so the coordinator came from facilities and is now in school safety. That's Tom. Yes. Okay. That's what I wanted to know. Thank you. I think that's all I had. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Uh on page 183, you have office of human resources. So it reads director of recruitment and retention to the coordinator of rec recruitment and retention. And then the director of family and community engagement to the coordinator of translations. And I get what Miss Benendo was asking, but my question is that reads one way and then on page 156 we have director of culture and climate family and community engagement director. So do we have two community engagement directors or is it one? Because on page under B, teaching and

081learning administration, we have someone with the same title. So the chair, so this year there were two directors. There's now going to be one. I'm sorry. This year there were two directors of family and community engagement. In FY26 there will be one director of family and community engagement. Okay. So is that going person going to be in HR or are they going to be at the parent information center? Madam superintendent through the chair. So, our assistant superintendent uh personnel equity and engagement oversees more than just HR. So, it's placed under there because Dr. Coup has family and community engagement as part of her oversight responsibilities as well as human resources as well as the um equity work that the district is is leading through in her world through um the diversification of the workforce. So,

082the actual office where the person's going to be located, if that's what your question, is at the district the district the Durkin building. Um, and then the parent information center. We actually have a reallocation of an existing position and we will have an administrator over there at the parent information center that will help with will provide the oversight and systems and structures for um enrollment and student placement. So what will that position entail if it's not community engagement? No. The the director of family and community engagement continues to do the work of of family and community engagement, bringing together our wraparound coordinators, working with our community providers, working with our various um parent councils that we have put in place that that stays. Their office is located at the Derkin building. Okay. But we still

083have someone at the parents information center. So what would that title be under administration because that's a little confusing on who's doing what through the chair. So there's always been a student assignment officer um at the parent information center. Right. So that position remains at the parent information center and then there is a um a new position or reallocated position um next year. Sorry, I just want to get the title correct. It's a student placement and enrollment administrator. That's a reallocation of a principal position to uh work on um the student placements and enrollment policies and practices in the district. Okay. And they will be at the parent center. Yes. Okay. Over the year we send a lot of people there. So we want to find out who's doing what and where they should be

084going. That was one of the questions I had. And then when we look under district support under column D um it talks about coordinator of school safety um and that's gone up 88%. Where was the 88%? I don't understand where that came in. So through the chair if you look at the expected expenditure compared to the recommended budget it's not an 88% increase. So no what we and there's more than one position in that account. It's multiple positions. Quite frankly, last year when we were trying to balance the $22 million deficit, we were we made some assumptions um in vacancies and so forth. Um so really the important number is the expected expenditure, not the FY25 adopted budgets. It's that increase which reflects non-represented mostly fullyear uh funding of the positions and the um non-rep

085um increases that have been approved by the school committee. So the those that's increases already there, correct? Yes. Okay. That's why I was asking why it read 88. It just seemed to me that it was kind of deceiving. Yes. Read the 88%. But they were already um in that field category, I guess. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, member Mman. Through the chair. Um I see the nightlife is um being continued to be supported through the um revolving fund but I guess we have not this year to my recollection seen a report on how we're doing with night life. So I'd like to make a motion that we get a a report on how finances and the growth of the program etc etc. Those in favor post award. Yep. Motion to approve. All those in favor

086post awarded. Okay, we are on crossing guard salaries non instructional motion is to approve in the crossing guards member and carrier. Thank you. How many vacated slots are we at now for this visit for these? Mr. Allen, I'm going to refer to Dr. Morse. Dr. Mosair, for the chair, could you repeat the question, please? How many vacated slots do we have at this particular time for the gun? Crossing guards. Yes. 89. So, we have 89 vacated. 89 for I'm sorry. 89 that we and do not have filled. There are 89 filled positions. All right. So I was asking the number of vacancies. Uh about uh 20 20 21 vacancy uh 21 openings. 21 openings. Correct. Okay. So we have 21 vacancies at this particular time. Are we looking to um have something a little different

087and offer a variety of different schedule? maybe someone in the morning, someone in the afternoon, or can they work on different projects in the school or come up with something that'll be more desirable than 7 a.m. and then coming back at 300 p.m. So, I'm trying to figure out how we can make this so it actually works because we have teachers out there, which is not good, and we have traffic that's jammed, which is not good. So, how do we do this to make it more desirable for people to apply? Mr. Helen, for the chair. So, we're in conversations, but we do not have a recommendation at this point for next fiscal year about um maybe a change um in the crossing guard position that would be more full-time and then support the school during

088the day as well. So it might be um a climate and culture assistant that has an extended day that could do crossing guard duties during the morning and afternoon and also support the school. That way we feel we could actually attract more candidates and not have 20 vacancies for crossing guards. That is not a recommendation at this point. It's something that we're exploring having conversation if this is actually a viable model uh to implement. Um no earlier than the FY27 school year. No earlier than the FY27. Correct. Correct. There is no funding um recommendation at this point to do that. Okay. So, right now making a motion to look at this would not would kind of be correct because we don't have the budget for it. There is no there's no funding recommendation to support

089that change. It just seems unfortunate because the teachers that are doing this, it's it it doesn't always work out. And we have throughout the city a number of problems. I mean, not just in my district, but they're all over. So, it's and and when someone doesn't show up for the position, whether it be in the morning or the afternoon, it's it's um a crisis because the traffic backs up so fast. Um I'm just trying to figure out a better way to do this and maybe come up with some opportunities. But during the school year, maybe we can have some discussions in reference to it and ask some of the crossing gads for some suggestions perhaps on how we can work it out. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Motion's to approve. Those in favor of posted. We

090are on school nurse salaries. Okay. Do we have any vacancies in school nurses? Vacancies for school nurses are, I believe, three positions. We recently hired, we were at five with recent hires that'll began in August. brings us to uh three vacancies. We trying to fill those. Yes. Yes. Okay. So, every school has a nurse. How's that work? Does every school have a nurse? Yes. Okay. Okay. Vana, I was just wondering, we used to have two nurses at the parent information center. Uh the reason being it was uh for new students that come, they can get all their vaccinations there. are are we down to one nurse there? Um so in my um time in the Worcester public schools um the parent information center way back was it kind of forming. Uh when I returned two

091years ago there was one nurse at the parent information center. That nurse vacated her role in April of this year. Um we have hired and will be onboarding a nurse to that position in July through the this July there'll be a nurse there. Yes. So does it still happen then that when families register you know they used to get their you know um EPL level tested and then they would go upstairs and uh get whatever shots they needed. Is is that still a process? Still happens. Yes. Okay. Great. Thank And we have LPN staff as well that covers in the absence of a full-time person. Perfect. Thank you. And through the chair, I just wanted to say I was able to attend the program that you partnered with several organizations for drug use um to

092educate families. And I thought it was awesome and I hope to see more of that. And I think that's that topic in particular is critically important and to me should be always part of what we're doing. But I can imagine there's many other topics. So thanks for that work. Thank you for your support. Motions to approve. Member Carrier. Thank you. Uh my concern is that um when we have activities in a school and the students are taken off grounds um do we have a nurse that is covering that or are they expected to leave the the school and then go with the students on ground? Are you referring to field scheduled field trips? Correct. Um so we do an assessment of the student body that's leaving our buildings and if there's identified health needs among

093that group um there is a school nurse that goes on field trips. If there's no identified health needs we refer back to our emergency plan that would be in place for students without a nurse outside of the building. And the reason I'm asking this is because Wester Tech is under District C and they have a lot of field trips in it. Some of those field trips are right outside of the school area up in in the wooded area. Somewhere by the zoo area and so on. And on occasion if a student is gets hurt, falls, and so on, they're looking for a nurse to come out right away. So we have down here in the budget book that it's 2.5 nurses at Worcester Tech. That's correct. So what is that half of a nurse? What

094what how does that work? Sorry. So our workflow there is planned in a way that there's two full-time people there and then a half FTE that splits their time between that school and another high school. So generally the high school generally it works. Um this coming school year it will be split between Worcester Technical School and Dardy High School. Um and they split their week basically three days at one school, two days at another school and that assignment will flip the following week to secure that there's equity in the hours that's delivered to each school. So they flip every week. Yes. So if they're three days at Worcester Tech and two days at Darity, the next week it's the opposite. Yes. Okay. So that's how the two and a half comes into mind. So are

095we looking at um moving some of the nurses around in some of our schools or do we find that right now it's necessary to have the number of nurses? Is there any moving movement of the nurses from any of the schools? So, contractually, there's a bid list that goes out um a couple of times a year. We just had a bid list go out. So, nurses then have the opportunity to change their assignment for the next year. Carrie. Okay. Just making a note on that. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Motion is to approve. All those in favor of post. So a ordered or educational support salaries page 188. Motion was to approve. All those in favor? Both. So ordered. We're in transportation overtime. It's pretty straightforward. M carrier. I know we discussed this uh couple

096of weeks ago at the last school committee meeting, but I certainly just want to reiterate the fact that um we want to make sure that when we look at our overtime, we look at our bus transportation that we are providing buses for our middle school sports. We talked about this the other day at finance and operations. Um and we don't want to have to cancel events. We worked very hard to get our sports built up in the middle schools. We have the teams, we have the coaches, we have the equipment, and we can't forgo to to the game because we don't have the transportation. So, I'm hoping we can have all this fall into place. So, when we look at the coming year, we're providing what transportation is necessary. That's more or less how I'm

097looking at this. I know we're getting our electric buses. I know we're moving with additional routes. Um, but our afterchool buses are absolutely needed for us to be successful with our middle schools. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Motion was to approve. All those in favor of postal audit. Gustoonian overtime. Motion to approve. All those in favor post. So a ordered maintenance overtime. Which one's to approve? Those in favor oppos. So audited support overtime. Motion is to approve. All those in favor oppose. So audit brings us to the end of the budget. We have special revenue accounts. Any questions on nutrition program? Member Benenda. So I know we had said we had no cuts, but I've been told by the nutrition department there were cuts in long-term personnel that work there. So I was just wondering

098if why that happened. if we said we weren't cutting anybody with this budget through the so if I can through the chair so when we talk about the nutrition department as you know they're funded through their own revolving fund yes and so uh given uh the amount of meals that they serve we have to stay within the revenue that um we anticipate for the year um and there is a reallocation of positions within the nutrition account for for next here. I was through the chair, longtime people that have worked for a long time in the not in the kitchen but doing the budget part of nutrition. Uh some of those were um put on leave till the end of the year and jobs eliminated. So I just don't understand how that happened. if we're talking

099about the amount of meals, we still probably still have the same amount of budget work, right, for those people. So, I'm just concerned that that occurred to those individuals when we said we weren't cutting anything and we did indeed cut through the chair. So, there is a reallocation of those assignments within the department. Um, I I recognize uh some of those were long-term employees. Um, but all of that work is continuing with the remaining staff through the chair. Why was there do we have all the equipment that we need? Because it says minus 100% under I look like in 25 is a million 251 and then it says recommended budget. So we're recommending no new equipment for nutrition for this year. So within next year's allocation, there is no equipment that's um budgeted for. However,

100um we do apply and receive grants for equipment um that we've utilized and the school committee has approved a number of those uh grants this year and as you know, school nutrition can carry a fund balance. So that money that is generated nutrition can carry over and so we're using those funds as the plan to replace equipment. Okay. And then my next question is, are all the refrigerated vehicles working for, you know, how we had the refrigerated vehicles for the summer program? Are they all working? So the chair, so we've just recently replaced our older vehicles. So if you remember those blue, there was a blue truck and another truck. Those have been replaced by newer vehicles that have been been funded through this account. So they're they're refrigerated. Are we doing the summer PAC

101program this summer with those through the chair? So on tonight's agenda is a listing of all the nutrition programs that we're are doing this summer. So it includes our school-based programs plus other community- based um programs as you may remember um some programs are covered by us and some are covered by friendly house. Um and so that continues uh this summer as well. Oh, great. Thank you. Some motions to approve. Any other questions on uh grant programs or other special revenue funds? Member main carrier. Thank you. On nutrition, so just so I'm clear on this, when we look at the account position summary for FY25, we had 331 under nutrition department. Now we have 310. Correct. Yeah. Through the chair. Yes. So 21 were laid off or what? What happened? to the chair. It's a

102combination of positions being eliminated that were full filled um and uh vacant positions. So, no one was laid off through the chair. So, I'm not I'm not sure the status of the people that were filled whether that's through retirement or uh reassignment to other areas. We'll have to get back to you if there's any um layoffs within the department. Okay, I would appreciate that. I'd certainly if we could make a motion that we receive that information because when we received the budget originally, we were told there were no layoffs through the chair. Yes, Mr. Allen. Yes, we can provide a report. Okay. Thank you. Motion to approve. Motion to approve the grant programs. Member Berry, member Benender, I mean first the the pages are fine, but what struck me in uh reading them is the

103number of people that are still included in the positions here. And so the scary part is if these grants don't get funded uh in full, then you know, we're looking at a tough situation for for some people. I I don't know how you plan for that but through the chia do we have any idea what we would do in that case? Mr. Allen through the chair it clearly depends on what if any level of cut um ends up occurring um if there is so we know and I'm sure I think we talked about this at a recent school meeting. We know the state already has the federal allocations for next year. Just districts just haven't been informed of their individual allocations. So as of right now it appears that our entitlement grants are all set

104as of today for next year. It all depends on the level of which grants in the extent to there may be reductions. Again we get funded from uh three different areas from the department of education for our entitlement grants from USDA for the nutrition program and health and human services for a head start. So it it all depends on if and how much the cuts are and then we'll have to respond accordingly. Yeah, but I'm but there would be reductions in programs or services clearly to Louis public schools. It's over $54 million of federal money that supports this budget. And just to the chair, I I think that in spending this year in the 26 budget, we should try to squirrel away some money in because what's going to happen in 27, right? in those

105positions um somehow get into chapter 70 or some other area so that we're able to maintain those services. So chair, we're paying attention to the federal government more closely than we ever have. So as we watch their budget process unfold, then we can make plans uh for future budget years. Thank you. Thank you. Motion member through the chair. Sorry, I just wanted to um the on page 227 Perkins dollars. I I see that they've come up, but have we ever taken a look? It just seems so such a small amount of money for a district our size for what this work is for and do we know how we compare like versus Springfield or others on this funding through the chair? We do I don't have the those comparisons, but we do know those. we

106can provide a report um that can show us to our comparable communities and make that motion. Thank you. Okay. Off the motion, we approve the uh budget. All those in favor? Post so. Okay. Other special revenue funds. So motion is to approve. All those in favor post audit. That brings us to the end of the budget. So, I just want to member, do we need to do a motion to reconsider if the budget's being approved or we wait till later on that? We're going to approve the budget first, then we'll do the reconsideration. Okay. Thank you. Okay. So, um Okay. So, the motion is to approve the 2026 fiscal year budget in the amount of uh is it 586,32,44? Yes. Okay. And roll call. Member Alvarez. Yes. Member Bianio, no. Member Bernendo, yes. Member Guardiola,

107yes. Vice Chair Johnson, yes. Member mailman, yes. Member McCulla, yes. Member Roy, yes. Mayor Petty, uh, yes. Motion is suspend the rules for reconsideration. So, the first motion is suspend the rules. So, audit to reconsider. Roll call. 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, yes. Members, um, motions to reconsider. Roll call. Member Alvarez, no. Member Biania, no. Member Bernendo, no. Member Guardiola, no. Vice Chair Johnson, no. Member Milman, no. Member McCulla, no. Member Roy, no. Mayor Penny, no. Okay, we'll take a uh a break. We'll be back for the public portion of the meeting probably about Well, we're scheduled for 6:15, so it should be right around there. If not, a little bit later. Okay.

1086:15. Yeah.