001Front row. Maybe what's that? Okay. Welcome to the list of school committee. Uh if you can please stand for the pledge of allegiance and the national anthem. Ice to the flag of the United States of America to the republic for it stands one nation indivisibley and justice for all say [Music] by the dawn early light so proudly We held at the twilight last gleaming whose bright stripes and bright stars through the barless fight or the railarts we were so gallently streaming and the rock is red. 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 home of the brave. [Music] Roll call. Member Alvarez here. Member Viania here. Member Bernenda here. Member Guardiola
002here. Vice Chair Johnson here. Member mailman here. Member McCulla here. Member Roy here. Mayor Penny here. First item of business we have the consent agenda. Roll call. Member Alvarez, yes. Member Bianceria, yes. Member Benza, yes. Member Guardiola, yes. Vice Chair Johnson, yes. Member mailman, yes. Member McCulla, yes. Member Roy, yes. Mayor Petty, yes. We have held items, which is G. And so the consider the approval of the uh what's the public school fiscal 26 budget? Roll call. Member Alvarez, yes. Member Bianceria, yes. Member Bernanda, yes. Member Guardiola, yes. Vice Chair Johnson, yes. Member Mailman, yes. Member McCulla, yes. Member Roy, yes. Mayor Petty, yes. Then we have the response to the following items from the administration. We can file those if all set. Okay. Those in favor? Close. So ordered. response for administration. So we
003filed all those. We have recognitions uh to recognize members of the school school committee student advisory committee for their hard work and dedication as liaison between our scholars and the stu school committee. Member McCulla. Thank you. And I know, thank you to the clerk for sending all of our student reps and advisory committee members certificates. I know it's challenging to get people to come back after they've been long done. So, I appreciate that Mary Jane and Tom were able to come tonight and I just like to thank them both um for all of their commitment. Tom, we didn't get to have you on this year, but you stayed involved and we appreciated it. And Mary Jane, thank you for all your contributions over the last few years and all of your work that you've both
004done. Uh we are certainly lucky to have you. I'm excited to see what happens next for all of you. Those of you are here tonight and those of you that couldn't be here going off to Yukon and SAS and Duke Kushon, I might be saying that right, and all the other wonderful places or out into the workforce. So, we are so fortunate to have you all be a part of this committee and provide student input and student feedback. So, thank you to both of you for being here tonight. Congratulations and best wishes. [Applause] Okay, we do have some certificates to hand out. Mary Jane, uh, for the participation the student advisory committee to the Worester school committee, we could not be more proud of your efforts to represent your school on the committee for with
005professionalism and cander signed by myself, the superintendent in the entire Worester school committee. [Applause] In recognition of Thomas Sutton for participation in the student advisory committee of the Wister school committee, we could not be more proud of your efforts to represent your school on the committee for with professionalism and cander. Uh signed by myself and uh the superintendent in the Wister school committee and your parents are up there too. [Applause] on the side. Congratulations. [Applause] Yukon. That's right. Yeah. Okay. Good luck at Yukon. and St. Islams. Okay. Okay. We have a few other people that couldn't make tonight. Raphael de Jesus Jr. want to thank him. Was it Sky Skylene Solano? Want to thank Skylene. Viviana Singh. Want to thank her. Aa was it Kenza Nazarin Ismile and Cle VZ Da Cruz. Thank you. You
006want these? [Applause] Okay. Should we do public comment for you? Okay. Okay. We're going to do let's skip the public comment. So, um before we do the recognition to the superintendent. So, public comment. Any member of the public may address the school committee regarding NAM before before the school committee for two minutes. This your name and city of residence and uh you'll have two minutes and you can come up and speak. Hi, good evening. My name is Dena Tedeski. I'm a Worcester resident and I'm a Worester public school parent of a graduate and now a rising eighth grader. So, a huge thank you to all the educators and the support staff and everyone in the school's last day of school. Hooray! you made it. Um, first I would like to take a moment to once
007again express my deep appreciation to Dr. Manores and the incredible groundwork now in place for our district, our schools and staff and most importantly our scholars and families. Thank you. You will be missed. Mr. Allen, she likely has smaller feet than you, but the footprint is sizable. While budget decisions have already occurred, I just want to highlight a few items regarding GB5-18. Building subs are a necessity and allow consistency and familiarity for scholars, especially around changes and transitions. Regarding GB5-22, I along with many other library volunteers excitedly and anxiously look forward to the development of a five-year library plan. as a member of the Worcester Elementary School Library Coalition. Um, adding library elementary school librarians are key to literacy and reading interests for all young learners. Wonderful to see this. Regarding GB5-60, I hope the
008school committee will fully support this recognition of June and September as pride months and actively affirm support for our LGBTQIA plus community. Recognition months hold weight and significance and helps bring people together with celebration, honor, and respect. Last one regarding GB5-70. I'm glad to see researchbased focus on MA uh mastery based grading. Our scholars have so much potential and I believe the shift will be more encouraging and empowering and less frustrating for all. This is another level of support for their education with the opportunity to learn from their work and make corrections. These are lifelong skills we hope to impart on our children, including thinking critically. And how great that they can see adults taking time and effort to make this change an improvement. Thank you. Thank you. Does your name your residence and item
009number? Um, my name is Carolinelair. Um, I am a resident of Worcester. Um, good evening, uh, Mr. Mayor and school committee members. I'm here tonight to speak about our girls high school hockey cooperative. Last season, five Worcester student athletes played on the Auburn cooperative team. In total, more than 30 girls made up this program last year. Two new Worcester students were set to join next year. By January, it became clear that the Auburn C co-op with its 10 member schools was on track to reach over 40 players next season. That's nearly triple the size of a standard roster and a clear indication that multiple co-ops are being housed in Auburn. At that point, Worcester and Grafton parents reached out to their athletic directors with a simple request. Can we rightsize these programs to ensure players
010have meaningful opportunities to play? Worcester AD Dave Dave Shay agreed and began working with Grafton AD Ashley Pollson. Grafton stepped up to be the host school when Worcester NDA and Northbridge committed to join. By March, ice time was reserved and games were scheduled. The new co-op was ready to go. But on May 28th, Auburn head coach Katie Mason reached out to only three of the five Worcester players, giving them two days to decide if they wanted to return under a grandfather clause. All declined or didn't respond. On June 9th, she contacted the same three girls, citing back and forth over the clause and hinted that Worcester students wouldn't have to pay out of pocket. Again, all declined or didn't respond. She didn't contact the other two Worcester players or any of the returning players from
011Grafton, NDA, or North Brbridge. On June 12th, Mr. Sheay confirmed directly with each Worester family that every player wanted to join the new co-op with Grafton and leave Auburn. But the very next day, the Worcester public school suddenly reserved reversed course. The athletic director, assistant AD, and two quadrant managers informed families that Worcester would not honor the players decision and intended to stay with Auburn. And that brings us here tonight. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening, Mr. Mayor and school committee members. My name is Tony Chandler and I live in Worcester. Here tonight to speak about our girls high school hockey cooperative. Stunned by the sudden reversal from Worcester public schools and facing tight deadlines to submit new co-op application, our families quickly came together to voice our concerns to the school committee, athletic department,
012and the MIAA. The decision was an overnight U-turn from previous communications. It contradicts the MIA's stated purpose for co-ops and disregards the clear wishes of the families and athletes involved. We're concerned this was driven more by a desire for Auburn to stay ultra competitive than by what's best for Worcester students and athletes. Per MIA's guidance, cooperative teams will only be approved if necessary to support a single varsity program. Yet, Auburn had more than 30 players last year. enough for two teams and is projected to have more than 40 this season. This is not a co-op out of necessity. That's a program using the system to build an oversized ultra competitive program. Co-ops are meant to be temporary responsive to participation numbers. Auburn no longer needs so many member schools just to feel the team. At
013this point, the co-op is being used in a way that MIA explicitly prohibits. If the Auburn co-op is deemed too big and denied now or down the line, Auburn already has long-standing ties with Shepherd Hill and Tantasqua through their boys team. They're far more likely to preserve those relationships. Worcester, meanwhile, could be left out entirely. Our players sideline, not because of talent, but because we weren't prioritized. The split wasn't about gaining a competitive edge. Auburn and Grafton would each retain seven varsity players. And both programs, thanks to strong underclassmen, are sustainable through at least 2028, even with no new additions. All athletes in the Auburn cooperative, not just those from Worcester, deserve more than bench time on an overcrowded roster. They deserve meaningful roles, regularized time, and then a chance to develop in a balanced,
014right-sized program. That's exactly what the proposed grafting co-op provides and why it has the full support of every family involved. On a personal note, as someone who's been involved with hockey since lacing them up on Indian Lake and then transposing that skill to the now defunct Webster Scare Webster Square and Shore Drive Arenas, playing for 55 years and still playing on three teams at the age of 64. This decision is wrong. These girls just need more ice time. In central Massachusetts, there's more ice in a 20 mile square radius than anywhere in the world inside. And these girls deserve to have the ability to get on another team and play. Thank you. Good evening, Mr. Mayor, school committee members. My name is Aaron Barnes. I'm a Worcester resident in District 6 or District A, excuse
015me. I'm here tonight to talk about the girls cooperative in its reversal. of the Worcester athletic department said Auburn offers competitive opportunities at both the JV and varsity level which helps create a feeder system that accommodates different skill levels and encourages player development. But the truth is that system doesn't serve Worcester athletes. It serves Auburn. Last season, Auburn's JV team only played seven games, onethird of the varsity schedule. Some were cut short due to ice time and JV them games themselves are significantly shorter than varsity. There were also entire weeks with no ice time at all. That's not meaningful development. It's a placeholder for girls who don't make the varsity roster. Girls JV hockey in Massachusetts is very rare. Less than 25% of programs have a JV team and co-ops are not intended to support
016them. This imbalance isn't just about playing time. It's about fairness and value. As the Auburn co-op swells beyond capacity, Worcester players, not Auburns, are the ones at risk for being cut regardless of their playing ability. Yet, Worcester paid the same fee last season for both varsity and JV players, even though those on JV receive significantly less opportunities than their varsity counterparts. That's not just inequitable. its irresponsible spending of our public education dollars with a clearly better alternative exists and is available to us right now. The level of talent in Worcester is also not to be overlooked. Two of our players who both dressed and played in varsity games last season also competed at USA Hockey National Tournament with their club team in April, a level of hockey few athletes ever achieve. And yet those two
017players were the ones not invited back by the Auburn coach. That speaks volumes. Worcester players deserve more than to be feeders for the Auburn overcrowded program. They deserve a team where they can develop, compete, and be valued. Thank you. Thank Thank you. Good evening, members of the school committee, Mayor Petty. My name is John Hermillio. I'm a Worcester resident and the father of a rising junior hockey player. Um I'm also a 30 plus year uh education veteran public and private schools and I spent uh 10 years in the Worcester public schools uh Worcester East Middle School and also at Doherty. Uh and I'm here to support uh Worcester ice hockey moving to the new Worcester Grafton Cooperative. And you've heard some wonderful uh information and data from my fellow parents here. And I think the
018two most important pieces of information uh that you need to consider are one the numbers. Uh as you heard from the three previous speakers, the numbers have grown to a point in the Auburn collaborative where the girls are not getting proper ice time and not getting proper development. And that's what this is all about at the high school level. This new cooperative with Grafton would allow for further development for the hockey players, these scholar athletes. It would allow for both cooperatives to grow to grow girls hockey in this region which is on the rise and this provides further opportunity for them. And then the other important piece of information is that we all agreed when the athletic directors in Grafton and in Worcester and Notre Dame Academy and Northbridge reached out to the parents and
019to the scholar athletes if they would want to move to the new cooperative. 100% we said yes and less than 24 hours later that decision was reversed. It feels like a bit of disrespect, a bit of not listening to the families, to the athletes, to the parents. I urge you all to in to provide the opportunity for the Worcester girls to be part of this new cooperative. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening, Mayor Petty and school committee members. My name is Laura Clair and I'm a freshman at South High School and a multisport athlete. Thank you for giving me an opportunity for for my voice to be heard regarding an issue that I'm very passionate about. I have been playing hockey for the past nine years. This past year I played at the JV level
020for the Auburn co-op. Although I appreciate the opportunity to play a sport I love at the high school level, I feel as though I was robbed of the high school hockey experience due to the lack of games scheduled and little ice time. It was hard to feel like contri like like a contributing and valuable member of the team or grow as a player. Coming from a club team of 15 girls to vying for a spot on varsity level bench with more than 30 interested athletes next year possibly 42 interested athletes. It is hard to feel like a valued valued sorry valued and known player known member of a team. Everyone should be able should be allowed the high school hockey experience they deserve and a new Grafton co-op will give us just that. By creating
021a new co-op, we will be creating more opportunities for ice time and stronger competition for Worcester athletes to grow rather than players choosing not to play at all or sitting on the bench because there are too many players. Thank you so much for the for your time and considering the Grafton co-op as the best option for myself and fellow athletes. Thank you. Good evening. My name is McKenna Dunaman. I live in Worester and will be a sophomore at DHY in the fall. I've been playing hockey since I was in kindergarten and it has been my primary sport in passion ever since. As a female student athlete, I strongly believe that girls sports should matter as much as the boys sports. This past season playing on JB Auburn hockey, I wondered if this would even be
022considered acceptable if we were in a boys program. Even though girls hockey is a lot different than boys, that doesn't matter. It that doesn't mean it deserves less attention and effort to make sure it's a good place for us. One important difference is that the JV isn't a real option in girls high school hockey, and that is because there are barely any other schools that offer it for us. This past season, playing on JB meant barely playing at all. Auburn has too many players from all the schools that send them there. We are asking that you hear us out when we say it is not right place for us. Please believe us when we say that our opportunities and growth will be better with the graft and co-op. Thank you. Thank you. [Applause] Good evening.
023My name is Elizabeth Barnes and I live in Worcester. I'm a rising junior at South High. Being one of only two girls hockey players in my school, having the opportunity to play high school hockey at a competitive level is extremely valuable to me. Having played for almost 11 years, I can truly appreciate how much the sport has grown for girls like me. Joining the Auburn Cooperative for my freshman year showed me not only how competitive the sport was, but the amazing number of skilled female players. I was lucky enough to play varsity with 16 other talented girls, and that year was so formative for me, both as a player and a teammate. My experience that year was exactly what was intended with MIA cooperatives, playing high school hockey at a competitive and beneficial level. Unfortunately,
024most freshmen that joined this past season did not have that experience. I've had the privilege of playing club hockey with many of these girls. Incredible players who have competed on state and national level. I watched girls who play some of the most competitive hockey in the state have their ice time cut short and their skills overlooked, all in the name of a growing JV program. I saw so much talent go to waste and girls who I know and love lose their confidence in a sport they love. This is the reason I jumped at the idea for a chance for a new cooperative team. Knowing the value of my teammates, I'm confident that it will be a better option for every town involved. I know that with a more appropriately sized varsity team, players will have
025the chance to grow and improve their skills while competing at a high level, something many did not experience at Auburn. Failing to split from the Auburn Cooperative will rob talented players like my sister of the high school hockey experience they have worked so hard to earn. It will continue to leave skilled players to wilt on an inefficient and inequitable JV team while less than half get sufficient ice time. The players of Worcester, Grafton, Northridge, and Notre Dame Academy deserve the opportunity to play on a team that will give as much to them as they have given to the sport. You've heard from parents and players about how important it is that we take this opportunity to give our student athletes the platform they needed to succeed. And we just ask you to use your influence
026to help this go through. Thank you. Thank you. [Applause] Before uh the hockey people leave, I just want to say we heard you well in CO. I talked to the superintendent and the next superintendent have an answer by Monday uh with with a you'll get something by Monday uh next week. Is that does that meet your time frame? Okay. Thank you. Name name and res city of residence and uh item number. Um my name is Ekko Lewis. I am from the city of Worcester. I have a son um in Dherty High School as well as a sixth grader who just graduated from Elm Park Community School and I'm here to talk about um GB540. Um as you are going through the breakdown um of the budget of after school and in school out of school
027care um I would just really like to say that um my program 508 cheers is a youth empowerment nonprofit and for two years we've been struggling to find a location to serve um the students that we serve in Worcester public school and due to the hard work of the administration um I want to thank Superintendent Manz Jessica Boss um and all of you here who found importance of bridging the gap between um providers to be able to come into school to deliver that care um to cross out the transportation need. Um but as you're considering this budget and as you're moving towards a plan that allows um informal and formal afterchool programs to utilize school facilities um I would also like you to consider um increasing the budget items for um the cost of administration
028that we are charged when we utilize the facility the facilities. um the cost of evening janitorial services when we utilize the facilities and the rental cost when we utilize the facilities. Um informal programs like mine deliver um exponentially um quality um programming to youth that is separate from sports programming. Um it is needed to provide a safe environment um for youth who are looking to express themselves and to be positive contributors within the community. Um, and I think we can all agree that one thing we all support is safe places for youth. So, I'm asking you to consider those budget line items. Um, making sure that um, an increase in those costs are considered to cover programs like mine who hope to be able to utilize the school and make it affordable. Thank you. And
029congratulations on your wedding coming up and uh, have a nice wedding. Thank you. 11 days. 11 days. I just broke this on Monday, but it's not the ring hand. Um and actually um I am I'm here on behalf of the um WCC and U Inc. and an Bureau and all these amazing people who are also a part of PEP. Um Superintendent Minerys has given an extraordinary amount of time and energy um to parents and families who are concerned um and active in the school system. and we would just like to thank her um for all of her work, all of her contributions um and the forward motion that the schools um have been put in in place to continue to consider um after school care um IEPs, transportation, and all of those other things. Um
030we'd like to thank the administration um for the forward path that you've set. Um and Superman um Superintendent Merz, we do have a small gift for you. Um and Superintendent Allen um we do hope that you do um continue in the way of the legendary um and that you continue this path forward that's been a positive path for um all of our our families and students and we'd like to thank you for the contribution um that you've given to families and students in the school. Thank you. Thank you. [Applause] Hello, my name is Heather Stanick. I'm a resident of Worcester. I have a rising sixth grader um and a soon to be kindergartener. Um I am here to speak um to uh Dr. Bernarez and say thank you for setting the benchmark that we now
031know exists so that we can help our scholars become all that they dream of. Um thank you for um putting in place this amazing cabinet and administrative team so that we know that going forward um Brian, Mr. Allen and your um team will continue with the uh oh my god I forgot the name of the plan strategic plan um that was so that you listen to so many community members to come up with. Um, I also, um, would like to say that I do hope that we, um, that we I encourage you to support, uh, Pride Month in June and September. Um, and I know that this was talked about in the budget and there's not some any money this year, but eventually um, getting after school activities for at the elementary level. I know
032that my son would have really um, benefited from that. Um, and hopefully we can look forward to the five-year library plan. Thank you so much. Thank you. You will be missed. [Applause] Okay. Okay. Hi. Um, my name is Andrea Peak and I'm from Worcester. And before I begin, I have a gift for someone special. And um, I'll show you guys what it says. It actually says, "I'm that legendary superintendent everyone is talking about." So that's for you. Um, and truly, Dr. Marez, you are. Um, and you've been more than a superintendent. You've been human, a mom, and someone I can talk to honestly, parent to parent. You listened not with just not just not just with your position, but with your heart. Your leadership reminded us that we're not just raiding raising students. were shaping
033scholars and your legacy will live on in every child who benefits from the work you helped set in motion. From the bottom of my heart and behalf of my daughter, thank you, Mr. Annaline. I promise we're not here to compare. I want you to be legendary in your own right. I am believing in not you're going to like surpass her. Like we got this like you have your own legendary that you are going to make us all proud of. So I'm excited. I'm excited. No compare. Excited. All right. As we look ahead, um I we um and we carry the I know we're going to carry the same energy forward, but I believe the most urgent area that we need to elevate is special education. Um tonight's item ROS 5-6, which calls for information about
034the school budget and tools of school education. Special education reminds us that we must not just ask how much we're spending, but who we're investing in and how those investments are changing lives. Special education impacts more than 21% of our students in Worcester and more than threequarters of our students are considered high needs. Research shows us that special education can influence the trajectories in profound ways, but if it's underresourced or reactive, it can also limit opportunity. We've done such important work on school safety. We've made strides in climate and culture. Oh, nuts. And the list goes on. This is the moment we're going to push forward in that one. This needs to be or not um um it's a front burner issue at this time. Um okay. I think that's it. Um thank you very
035much. No problem. Thank you. And anybody else said or Okay, so we're going to wrap up this part of the uh agenda and we're going to go to recognition of Rachel H. Monz, PhD, for three years of dedicated service to the scholars, families, and the staff of the Whistler public schools. Um, [Music] We all set. You good? Mayor Patty. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And uh I just want to thank uh Dr. Monz for everything you've done. That word scholar is in everything I see now. It's always written and uh and you put that in place. And I was just proud to set this emotion to bring you to the city of Worcester working with the committee led by Molly McCulla uh over over three years ago. And uh and it worked out really well for
036the city of Worester. You made a difference. You should be proud. I know I'm proud that I was able to serve with you and some of the infrastructure we have put in place. So Mr. Al will have an easier time when he uh takes over on tomorrow at the end of the month. But uh as again on behalf of the students, the scholars, the parents, the community, um school committee, u city council, I just want to thank you for your service and uh Jesus, thank you too. And uh thank you and enjoy your trip back to California and wish you well. I think it was well said by the people in the last couple weeks who've spoken spoke in favor of you and and really complimentary and uh you know when you make a difference
037and you make people happy that they made heard and so that's what you did let the students be heard too which is very important as scholars. So you made a difference and uh so you can look back at said after when you leave this job and go to your next job you made a difference here in the city of Worester. Thank you much appreciate it. We go. Member McCulla, then member Melman, and then member El, member McCulla. Thank you. Thank you so much. You know, this is definitely a bittersweet night. I certainly want to give my heartfelt thanks to you as you prepare to head back to California and also to Jesus because I know that while we are sad to see you go that this is the right decision for you and your family
038and that there are so many great things to come for you and we really know Jesus really wants to get back to California so you know it's not all about you Jesus okay but um but you know certainly see you gave some uh you know give and take right you came out here because superintendent Monz came out here, but now she's ready to go back because you're ready to go back. So, we appreciate the time that you did spend out here with us. We're so grateful for you both for taking a chance on Worcester and moving across the country, settling here, welcoming Worcester as your home, but also, you know, it was us taking a chance on you as well. And I think we really know that it worked out and it was an excellent
039process to be a part of and helped to lead the superintendent search. There are some people that were on the committee at the time and some former members that are up in the gallery who were a part of this process and we had many excellent candidates. We had a nationwide search that proved very wellreceived and many applications came in and many wonderful people that interviewed. But I will never forget finishing your first interview and in my head going is there really going to be somebody that might be better than this option tomorrow because this seems hard to believe. But of course, we had to go through the process and there were four wonderful finalists and we went through the process. But you shown through and you led with such purpose and heart the past three
040years here. And you reminded us of our shared mission, which is to center everything around our scholars and all that we do. Your leadership helped us reaffirm our Oh my goodness. I I should just read off what I wrote because I was trying to go from heart, but I'll fluster myself here. So you reffirmed you helped us reaffirm our collective commitment to the growth, well-being, and potential of every student in the Worcester public schools. Change can be uncomfortable, but it can also be transformative. Under your leadership, we've seen people step outside their comfort zones, questioning old assumptions, embracing new ideas, and pushing themselves to think and act differently. You work on the your work on the strategic plan will have a lasting impact setting the stage for Worcester to move to the next level. More
041aligned, more focused, and more prepared to meet the needs of our students in a rapidly changing world. As you return to California, please know that you leave behind a legacy of courage, conviction, and care. And that your time here mattered. On behalf of myself, my family, my friends, my colleagues, and well, not my colleagues and the educators that I know that feel the same way. I thank you for your leadership, your vision, and your believing in Worcester. And I wish you and Jesus and your family all the best in what comes next. And now I might just have reason to go visit California. So thank you. Thank you. Thank you, [Applause] member Mia. Thank you. I stand here as the only person that actually voted for Philly and not California. However, um I'm super happy
042that you came here, that your family moved here, that you bought a house in Worcester, um that you became part of the community. And I I think I've been clear with my comments about the job that I think you've done over the course of the past almost four years now. And um but I want to just focus on one thing. I said, what would I want to say? And I've thought a lot about the reputation of our district is a place that you can't get into from the outside. And that's one of the reasons I ran for school committee as a business owner and somebody that has been involved with the schools. This reputation of family and community that there's there's no way to work with Worcester public that they don't want, you know, they
043don't want us. And you've you've made amazing cultural change in this district. And that item is something I beg you to please we have to continue that. It makes such a difference when community feels that they are have a voice that they are heard and that um we're going to try to get stuff done and I your positions are wicked hard and you are have people biting at your heels all the time but please this is people's lives right? this is that their kids are here for a short amount of time and they need us to understand that their voices really matter and I think that you gave us that example and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you, Jesus. [Applause] Dr. For those who can't roll their Rs, Dr. Monarees.
044And for those who can, Dr. Monarees. I It's hard knowing that that's going to probably be one of the last times to say that on the floor. Um I'm just so thankful that you are the superintendent that I was able to first meet, work with. It was really scary coming onto a floor that nobody really looked like me. I didn't really ever see myself standing here. Um, but a lot of women like yourself really uh encouraged me and empowered me through this whole process. Um, you were you are the sweetest person I've ever ran into. Uh, you taught me so much on the floor but in in our meetings too on that oneonone. Um, I absolutely admire your thought process and the way you navigate any and every type of conversations and comments that are
045brought to your attention. Um, I just really adore you as a leader, as a woman, as a mom, as a just everything. There's so many lives that you've touched, but I do know that those lives touched you just as much. And this was these past 3 years. We needed that. You needed to be here. There was a reason why you were here. It's time to go on to the next chapter and go use this power that you carry and and use it elsewhere. And I know earlier I met you, but it for some reason it did not occur to me in that very moment that you are the Jesus. Okay. You are the Jesus to Dr. Monades and it's just so nice to to piece it together. It's really nice and uh thank you for
046everything that you've done. I know that these uh conversations, these comments are repetitive and but I know that you still take them with all the love and I just hope that we get to run into each other again in the future and I still have your book and um I need to return that to you. But um but I I deep down I'm like maybe if I keep this I'll see her down the road. I'm just kidding. I'll get that to you. Um so thank you so much for for just touching everyone's lives and allowing your life to be touched as well. Uh there's so many things that you did, but to wrap it up, the one thing that really comforted me and being new and coming to this is that you didn't make my
047thoughts feel scary. And by that I mean I have a huge passion for children who experience behaviors. And the way you broke that down on this floor, it made me feel so comfortable. And it not once did the word discipline, the word crim criminalization, none, none of that ever came to my mind because you allowed behaviors to be looked at from a different light. The light that I always was taught from growing up and I just wanted to leave off on that. So, thank you [Applause] Johnson. Thank you. Um, so Dr. Rachel Hela Monorets and that that popped up on my Facebook page recently or whatever. I'm like, "Oh, Hela, pretty cool." Um, so last time, um, couple weeks ago, I talked about the impact you had, um, on me as a parent of two
048kids in the Wor public schools and what what that did for my kids and for me as a father. Um, today I'm going to talk to you on the working relationship that we had um, as you being the superintendent, me being a member of the school committee. Um, we could talk about the process and bringing you here and I we I've talked about that numerous times. Um, you know, one thing I would say for sure is for me what I learned from you working with you and and in and doing the work that we've been doing is you really challenge my thought process on the Wester public schools and what could be afforded and out there for our kids. When I came into this four years ago, I came in as a father just want
049to do something different, had a voice, had kids in the school, and thinking I could make a change, not knowing what I was walking into. Um, but over the last three years, what I could say is the the innovation that you had, the the thoughts that you put into things and how you presented it and put that out there with your team or whatever really made me started to think about what else can I do in order to continue to move this district forward as a school committee member, working with you as the superintendent and moving on, working with Bryant, Mr. Allen as the superintendent. So, I really really appreciated your ability to challenge me, a older guy who was kind of stuck in my ways too here in Worcester and not really realizing what
050we really could do differently here in Worcester because we've been doing the same thing and and just watching things just snow snowball um continuously and now it's it's totally different on the light that you brought here, the vision that you had that you brought to this district and and working with you. And we were able to spend a lot of time together cuz we had to do the agenda and and to sit in your office and just have genuine conversations about our students, our scholars, our educators, and what's going on out there in the world in the school and how that impacts our kids, us personally, and how that drives us to do this work um was very very special to me and I really really appreciate that. Um, and I will always value that.
051Um, for sure. Um, I think you put us in a very good place here in the district. Um, and we kind of talked about some of the top three or four things that this district really needs to hone in on over the next few years to continue to propel us to the next place that we we need to go. And my promise to you is I will continue to push that work that you have started and that we talked about. and I think we all want to do here. My promise to you is that I would continue to do that and work with Mr. Allen to in his administration and educate his students or whatever to achieve that goal that I believe that we could get to. And I really only believe that we could
052get to that goal because you set the foundation for us and the belief in us that we could do things that I don't think many people around here cuz if you hear them talk, not many people around here thought that Worcester 3 years ago could do the things or have the things going on that we have going on now. And that's pretty impressive in a three-year period. So, um, I really want to give you credit for that. And then I just wanna want to just give you this and I want you to take a look at it. So that is so that is our first graduation together and we're sitting there and Tracy Novik snapped a picture of us and we shared this laugh and when I look back at that we have sat here
053numerous times and in your office and kind of looked at each other and have shared that laugh numerous numerous times and I don't know if you remember what that was over but I ended up speaking and I sat back down and in part of my speech I gave a quote and stuff from all the places you go Dr. Seuss book and I sat down and you said I don't know what I'm going to do. Um I had the same quote from Dr. Seuss as well and she Tracy snapped that picture as we were laughing or whatever. So, I hope you take that. You could do whatever you want with it. Hopefully, you put it up in your office and sometimes you could turn around and look and and and and smile on the smiles that
054we shared together because I have a picture of that now as well. And I will always remember that and remember the times we laughed, smiled, and had a good time. And that's what I will bring with me and cherish. So, thank you so much for what you brought to this district and to me. Thank you. [Applause] Uh, member Guoa. Uh, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Dr. Manades, I want to say thank you so much. Um, it seems like it's been a very quick three years. Uh, it was a lot done in a short amount of time. Uh, we are better for it. Much appreciated. Like member Alvarez says, I can roll my Rs. Uh, and I I think I mentioned this to you before. uh my mother who was super excited that there are going to
055be more Monadises in the district because that's my mother's maiden name even though spelled with just one R. So when we heard there was a monadis coming into Worester except for my mother uh it was a very uh exciting time in the Guardiola house but again thank you uh for everything u on a personal level I truly appreciated our one-on- ones. I think that it was amazing how fast an hour went because we talked on a real granular level. It wasn't, you know, superintendent and school committee member. It was two people who truly cared about the future of the district. And I think that was a real uh a blessing for me to have that conversation and be able to have that candid conversation and not really have to mince my words or have to,
056you know, really be careful of am I going to offend. No, it was a really great conversation that we both were kind of visionary in the in the sense that we both wanted the best for this for the for the district. And I think that was I really did appreciate those conversations. Um obviously I appreciate everything you've done for the system ensuring that we have um you know a good uh administration ready to go with a structure and I think that's something that we we sometimes overlook but having that structure in place really does help us be be able to find the right person that we need to speak to on whatever it is. Uh I'm excited obviously to have Mr. Allan take over because I think he actually understands what the the the mission
057at hand is and I appreciate and I can't wait to you know to continue the mission that we were working on. Um I will say this, it's a it's a win for California. They beat us again somehow. Uh and I I get it. You know, I remember having to go to different events in the middle of the winter and you were bundled up like we were in Alaska and I was I think I had a sweater on. I was like I get it. It's it's okay. I got you like the cold, but I understand that you'll go back to a temperature that's probably more uh adaptable for you. But um I wish you the best of luck. Again, I say I say this wholeheartedly. It's a win for California. I think that district is uh
058better with you. Um you know, to Jesus, thank you so much for putting up for three years. I understand that it's hard to leave home, but the investment that you guys made was going to pay is going to pay dividends for the WA public schools. So, thank you so much. But um you know we're going to continue the process that you started and we're going to continue all of the good things that we've been working on. Uh it was you know obviously there was a lot of things that were going on you know postcoid there was a lot of things that really you know there were there was some hurdles and I think as a you know a collaborative group with you know the administration and the school committee I think we've done some great
059things and I hope to continue that. Uh and I I appreciate everything you've done and best of luck to you. [Applause] member Benenda. Um, so Rachel, I just want to thank you for the work that you did for the West Public Schools. Um, and you brought a lot of things from California here and um, I hope that the things that you learned from Worcester, too, and Massachusetts that you carry them with you, you know, back to your new job uh, in California and I wish you much luck in your new position. Thank you, member Veria. Thank you. I'm not going to ask you any questions. Um your your time here definitely made a difference. So I thank you for that. And I think um Massachusetts learned a few things from you. I know Worcester did.
060Um, we had a lot of fun with North High in the championship and we had a good time with that. We saw our kids um accomplish uh different things with the robotics which was interesting. We brought together um different partnerships. So, I hope that all stays. I wish you and your family the best in California and the best of luck with everything. Um, I feel as though when you look at our district, um, we always move in a direction that is beneficial to our students and your time here was not wasted. Thank you. Thank you, member Roy. I guess I'm last. So, I just want to say thank you so much, Rachel. you've definitely made a difference in the um our own personal lives and the lives of our scholars. Um and I too want
061to reiterate that the one hour that we would meet, next thing you knew the hour was over and our conversations would who knew where they went, but it was always fun and to to meet with you and talk to you and our lunch at the 110 Grill. You taught me about Brussel Salad, but we but thank you so so much. And I I wish you and and Jesus and your beautiful daughter a wonderful future. And uh you can throw your winter coats away now and never ever take them back. Uh I never knew how you could leave sunny California for here, but you did. And thank you for that. Um safe journeys and a bright and happy future for both of you. Thank you. Thank you. [Applause] That's everyone. Yeah. [Music] Madam Superintendent through the
062chair through the chair. No, I'm just kidding. Um, so I first of all I just want to I want to thank you for the kind words and um and I did prepare something because otherwise like Molly you know right I just um so I'll do a little bit of ad liibbing but I I want to um I I don't know how to start this. I guess I'll just start. Um like I've ever had a loss for words. That's never been the case. Jesus would tell you that. So, so I really stopped and thought about what is it that I I feel about Worcester Worcester public schools. And three words came to mind. Gratitude, joy, and love. And I know those aren't common descriptions of a leader's work. Um, however, they capture how I feel about
063being here. um the staff, my team, um the caregivers, the community, the school committee who took the risk, and I did choose that word too, of of bringing me here, bringing a stranger in. Um the governing body that is sits here with me today and has sat here for 18 months now. um our city manager, Eric Batista, who's been a great ally and a collaborator um and especially the beautiful, brilliant, bold, and creative scholars of Worcester public schools. And so, gratitude. Why do I feel gratitude? I'm so grateful for the commitment and the perseverance to push beyond what is visible, to strive for the invisible and make it visible. Um really writing that squiggle. I can't. It's It's kind of interesting how many people have brought up the squiggle to me in the last couple
064of weeks. And um I'm I'm taking that with me because it it I guess it really speaks to what life is about and and giving people permission to um not be, you know, things aren't linear. And so writing that squiggle on behalf of our youth, on behalf of your community, your children, your peers, yourself, I'm just really grateful for that. and the joy the joy for the accomplishments that have been um achieved. Marie's gonna send me all the data. Um but we're already looking and it's looking really good. I mean, that's what it's all about ultimately, but we've accomplished so much more. And the the profession, the joy of the profession, I I love the educational profession. the time I was able to spend at our schools, the time I spent with community members, with
065you as individual committee members during our check-ins, our 7:30, maybe 7:45 meetings, Mayor Petty, every Tuesday. And really the joy um of leading and then love um and I don't use that word very easily. My husband would tell you that. But a a true love for the people, um for the kind spirits, um the passion for excellence, um the open arms, you know, I I knew coming here, um I was definitely a stranger. We both were. Um but the amount of people that opened their arms to us, we've been to more people's homes here than I think we've been in California. It's just a different different culture, different way of of how people engage and the love for the possibility of what can and what should be for our children. And what I have learned,
066you know, born and raised in California, it's not very common. Um, and so living in another part of the country, you realize what is really um foundational, I guess, to that area. And and what I learned coming here is that the region of New England, the state of Massachusetts, the city of Worcester, um were steep in tradition. I mean, tradition is really important here. And of course it is. There's so much history that has that is grounded here. And holding true to tradition, it's essential. And I I see how New Englanders, you hold it, right? It's then it's really it's it's beautiful. And I want to say that it does not contradict progress because I believe we can hold tradition and progress and we can say change and progress are synonymous. We can hold tradition
067and progress in the same space. Um and really we must because our youth expect it and they deserve it. And so as I leave here with a heart of gratitude, joy and love, I ask each one of you to allow for the traditions and the progress to coexist. Because we can have curriculum that is relevant to our diverse youth and teach the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic. We can have safe, orderly schools and practice restorative justice and support climate and culture. We can provide an administrative support system and be fiscally responsible and we can protect our neighbors from immigration fears and engage with public safety. We can do all of those things together. We don't have to live in a space of ore. So I really encourage you practice the and and you will
068feel that gratitude, that joy and the love for what we do and why we exist as an institution called Worester Public Schools and ultimately our children will thrive because that's why we're here. So thank you. Thank you. Thank you. [Applause] You guys want to come around for a picture? Yeah. Sit in your chair. Yeah. There you go. All right. Allow you to step on my glasses. I'm going to be okay. Over here. All right. We got we got to have the administration come up. Let's go. I think you're Are you No, you're not. Oh, you're sorry. You're just transportation. Give you a solo. Yeah, they're all there. I just wanted to share One more after this. Maybe the fan club. You guys want to come in? I'll be tell. [Music] Oh, before we did [Music]
069I like it. What is it? Heather, when we You should come up with something before the crops. That's all we do is drink all day. I came home I was like, "Are you kidding me? He did. Okay. So, brings us the um back to the agenda. First one is Oh, report to the standing committees. We have a motion from TLSS. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh yeah, so we did have uh six items. Uh all were approved as as written. Um yeah, there was no issues there, but as as it reads. As it reads. Okay. Those in favor. There's no financial items on this, right? All those in favor? So ordered. Okay. So we're good on that, right? Is that the only one? on committee report. Okay. Okay. We are on n approval of grants and
070other finance items. That's an N. Roll call. Member Alvarez. Yes. Member Biancia. Yes. Member Bernenda. Yes. Member Guardiola. Yes. Vice Chair Johnson. Yes. Member Mailman. Member McCulla. Yes. Member Roy. Yes. Mayor Penny. Yes. um to receive a list of contracts with financial details between list of public schools and community agencies. Any questions? Motions to approve on the file. Those in favor? Oppose? So ordered. Next item is receive the final list of summer meal service locations once complete. And uh motion is to approve into file. All those in favor post. audit to request that the administration provide a report to the process by which students are placed in alternative school settings and this report include makes some decisions who makes the decisions and criteria to use to make that decision. Uh any questions on that? Motion
071is to approve and member Alvarez. Yes, it happened so quickly I link my eyes and we're here. Okay. Um, I just wanted to say uh I took a look at the the documents provided. So, thank you for that for that feedback. Um, I would have liked to see a breakdown of where the students were prior to being placed on the alternative like part of the demographic parts that I had asked for just to see where these students are coming in from and just keeping an eye on it um if that's possible. Also, um, are we able to receive a bianual reports on students being placed out but also returning to mainstream? Um, and I did want to make a motion to extend this data. Uh, is it possible to extend it for 10 more years
072and have a total of 15 years? Um, let's get a report on that. Okay. I did five years but I wanted to extend it for 10 more years. Okay. Or at least 10 then 10 years total. So 2015 to to 2025. Um and the last thing I wanted to uh ask to the ad through the chair to the administration um based I know on the information piece on the document is a part of the criteria was through the I they're placed on IEPs um through educational disabilities. Um I'm just wondering what type of disabilities do you guys see the most on these IEPs? Madam Superintendent through the chair. So member Alvarez, um we don't have our our our director of special ed here. I know as a district our our biggest percentage of disability is
073um specific learning disability, but I think you're asking but so I know that but are you asking about for the children who get placed in the alternative spaces? Yeah, because if I read correctly, um the criteria for a included uh students um the team deciding that the students needs are greater than what can be provided at a uh a traditional setting. So they are transferred over to the alternatives um with an IEP and a diagnosis. So um we can get you that data. Anecdotally, I would tell you that um just based off of the program options that we have, right, that um it would either be um autism as the disability or it would be um emotionally disturbed social emotional learning would be the other one. So, those what I that's what I believe, but
074let let the team pull together the data and some of the other things. We don't know if we'll be able to get many more years as you requested, but we'll look and then what they can provide that they they will. Okay, I would appreciate that. Would that report also reflect where the students are coming from? If we can pull that data. So, what what the report will show is you want us to to start tracking like are they coming from certain parts of the city. I think that's what you're getting at. Yeah. Which which which school whatever grade level that is. So, correct, we can see if we can track I I'm not sure how easy that will be to gather it. Um but let us look. So, it'll be about where they're coming from,
075see how much more data we can provide, and then the the disabilities that are I think what you're trying to figure out, is there a profile of a student that ends up going into our dis our our more restrictive environments. So, we'll do it. We'll see what we can bring back for you. I would appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you. And the last thing I just wanted to mention about my item is I noticed that on the chart uh that was provided the the numbers they it looked like up and down but most recent within the last two years I've seen an increase in for the Gerald Kramer Center students. Um and I'm just wondering why like what why And yeah, for the So, I noted that as well. I also noted the increase on
076the alternative schools and um it's actually that means that we're not losing kids. They're not dropping out. They're staying with us and we're finding the right space to put them in, which is a good thing, right? It does increase, you know, like if we just look at it through one lens, but um when we see them, I mean, this year I think you're at Yeah, you were at some of the graduations with me. we have very large graduating classes coming out of there. So, yeah, I do I do remember that. So, thank you for connecting that for me. That was the largest class um I was told uh for the Gerald Creamer Center, which my mentee who wasn't able to be here tonight, but he graduated within that 200 and something kids. Um but thank
077you for that. You're welcome. Motions to approve and file. All those in favor oppose. So ordered to receive a report on the Wister public schools receiving Mckin Vento transportation of the Wister public schools. Uh we can approve and file. All those in favor oppose. So ordered uh the consider approved the successor contract for the war firm of Murphy Wora in Murphy of Brainree Mass of the city of Worester act and through school committee to request the committee in such special education related matters effective July 1st 2025 June 30th 2028. The motion is to approve. Roll call. Member Alvarez. Yes. Member Bianio. Yes. Member Benenda. Yes. Member Guardiola. Yes, vice chair Johnson. Yes, member mailman. Yes, member McCulla. Yes, member Roy. Yes, Mayor Petty. Yes. To the city approve the success of the contract of attorney
078Sean P. Sweeney and the war offices of Sean P. Sweeney of Pum Math and the city of Wista act combined through the school committee to represent the committee in such matters as contract negotiations arbitration of the legal matters as requested by the committee effective September 20th, 2025 and December 19th, 2028. Roll call. Member Alvarez, yes. Member Biancia, yes. Member Bernando, yes. Member Guardiola, yes. Vice Chair Johnson, yes. Member mailman, yes. Member McCulla, yes. Member Roy, yes. Mayor Penny, yes. I just want to say that uh we're lucky to have both attorneys. I think they do both a good job and uh for the city of Worcester. Okay. 5-.6 request that the WKUI formally recognize both uh June and September as pride month in the city of Worester and reaffirm it support for the LGBTQIA plus
079community by highlighting the importance of pride as a time for visibility, celebration, education, advocacy. The W school committee encourages appropriate recognition and accomplish acknowledgement. Member McCulla as it reads. Okay. All those in favor so ordered. Yeah, member Alvarez, I'm happy that this made the agenda. Um, I think that awareness months are needed. Um, I just, you know, going back to the couple of weeks ago when the resolution came to the floor. Um, I was just hoping that that would also be reflected. But thank you for putting this on the agenda. You're welcome. Thank you. Next item is request report. there's a number of students the American Sign Language program in 2023 and 24 and how to expand the program as a career pathway by working with local hospitals and other institutions that needed the services.
080Member Guardiola. Uh thank you Mr. Mayor. Just uh you know obviously uh ASL is uh offered here at one levels one, two, and three uh in the West public schools. It's a great program. I was lucky enough to be at the Claremont uh high school graduation uh and they did a entire song in American Sign Language which was fantastic to see. Uh it's a growing and continuous need in uh in our community as a whole. Uh but ASL interpreters are actively sought in in Worcester uh in the area positions in schools, healthcare, nonprofits. Uh, and there's real career pathways here. Uh, you know, ranging with uh, you know, salaries are $40 to $55 an hour. I mean, it's the real possibility for folks to utilize this uh, what they learn here in with public schools
081to make this a career uh, in utilizing it on different things. So, again, I hope that we can continue to kind of promote this program and show that there is a need and especially in the healthcare area where there's uh, a lot of folks that, you know, use uh, American Sign Language as their base communication. uh and especially when we're talking about uh healthcare being the number one employer in the Worcester area, I think this is something we promote. So, thank you. Thank you. So, we will send that to TLSS. Those in favor of post audited to review and approve the W public schools due language program plan. We can send that to TLSS. Those of member mailman Nobody's going to say anything about it. Let's go committee. Um well, I'd like to say something
082before it goes to committee and that this is um I was fortunate to serve on the committee with my friends back there and um I um very much appreciate not knowing I maybe had some knowledge about vocational stuff but not necessarily dual language. So, um, it's been an honor to learn about it and you know the your focus, Dr. Monarees, on this program and what it could be and insisting that we do it right and that we go back to kind of square one is a huge issue. And I think that families that are very much engaging, which I think we've learned from going to the other schools is typical of what happens in these with these programs. These are very involved families which is awesome for our district just like other great programs that
083we have. But um we need I'm looking to the group over there again. We need please I again beg you that we have focus that we have um urgency around this work and that we keep it um moving forward because I think it's a re it could be like just an amazing thing for us to have. So thank you. Thanks for having me be part of the group and I'm glad it's going to go to our committee. Thank you. Thank you. Senate the committee. All those in favor post so ordered to award Mr. Lewis Bogalt with the honorary high school diploma. Yeah, we received a um question of whether or not we'd be able to do this. It it is a a person. He's 100 years old now. uh he was a student at classical
084high school. World War II happened and uh he left before his graduation and uh he went on to be very successful, but he lives in the Carolinas and uh there was a person that worked here um in Worcester that ran into him and sent me an email, sent it on to May Petty saying that um he has some purple hearts that he earned, but he's always said, "I wish I had my diploma." and he just never came back to get it. And he he was 17 when he left. He's 100. So, we'd like to be able to give him a an honorary diploma. You know, he served our country. He um got many distinguished awards and so we're asking that we're able to give him the diploma. Uh we were looking actually to see if
085we could uh find his picture in the yearbook so we could also uh give him a yearbook picture and and I believe um Mayor Petty's administrative assistant has friends there and has volunteered to deliver the diploma there because he's not able to travel. Okay, perfect. Okay, so we'll send that to administration. We'll get that out ASAP. All those in favor post. So what remember being carrier? Yes. Um can we make sure that we get this out like uh in the next couple of days? Yeah. Seriously, that's an amazing story. How how wonderful that that man is I mean looking towards saying the one thing he would like is his diploma. The diploma is so let's get it done. Sir, the diploma is done. It's on my chief of staff's desk ready to go. Okay. Thank
086you, Dr. Monz. Okay. Okay. Those in favor post. So ordered to review the summer 2025 school committee meeting schedule. I just put this on because a number of members will not be available on July 17th meeting. My suggestion is that we meet on July 10th, unless that's an issue uh for anybody. Um I'm just throwing it out there. Um so we can amend the summer schedule to July 10th of uh of this year. So all those in favor opposed. So ordered. Okay. To consider approve a proposed reorganization of the central administration portion positions to include the establishment of the position of deputy superintendent and chief principal and operation officer to approve the proposed job description. um to those positions. Okay. So, this is the reorganization. We'll take a vote on that. Roll call. Member Alvarez.
087Yes. Member Biancia, yes. Member Bernanda, yes. Member Guardiola, yes. Vice Chair Johnson, yes. Member Milan, yes. Member McCulla, yes. Member Roy, yes. Mayor Petty, yes. to consider and authorize establishment positions of deputy superintendent and chief financial and operation officer. All those in favor post ordered to approve to appoint Marie Morris to the position of deputy superintendent subject to contract negotiations. Motions to approve. Roll call. Member Alvarez. Yes. Member Vancaria. Yes. Member Bernanda. Yes. Member Guardiola. Yes. Vice Chair Johnson. Yes. Member Mailman. Yes. Member McCulla. Yes. Member Roy. Yes. Mayor Penny. Yes. To appoint Sarah Conso to the position of chief financial operations officer subject to contract negotiations. Roll call. Member Alvarez. Yes. Yes. Member Biancia. Yes. Member Bernanda. Yes. Member Guardiola. Yes. Vice Chair Johnson. Yes. Member Mailman. Yes. Member McCulla. Yes. Member Roy. Yes,
088Mayor Penny. Yes. Yes. [Applause] Congratulations. Look forward to working with you both as in the past. Do both do a great job. So, thank you for stepping up. Much appreciated. Okay. To review and improve the high school mastery based grading practices. referred to fog. Those in favor oppos a audit. Next motion is to conduct um is to go into executive session to conduct strategy sessions preparation for negotiations with non-union personnel and or conduct negotiation with non-union personnel deputy superintendent of schools elect Marie Morse. The school committee may return to open session in order to vote for the execute the contract for appointment between the school committee and Marie Morse for position of deputy superintendent. Also, the GU strategy session preparation for negotiations with the chief financial and operation officer elect Sarah Conso. Uh the school
089committee may return to open session in order to vote to execute the contract from point between the listed school committee and Sarah Conso for the position of chief financial and operations officer. and three to discuss strategy respect to collective bargaining if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the public body and the chair so declares which I do to initial contract negotiation between teamsters local union 170 and on behalf of the public schools transportation mechanics roll call member Alvarez yes memberia yes member Benenda yes member Guardiola yes vice chair Johnson yes member mailman yes member mcculla yes member Roy Yes, Mayor Penny. Okay, back into open session. We'll take a roll call. Member Alvarez, yes. Here. Member Bianceria here. Member Bernenda here. Member Guadiola here. Vice Chair Johnson here.
090Member Milman here. Member McCulla here. Member Roy here. Mayor Penny here. Okay, we've come out of executive session to uh move it execute a contract of employment between the Wistic School Committee and Dr. Marie Morse for the position of deputy superintendent for the period of July 1st, 2025 through June 30th, 2027. And summary of the terms, two-year contract from the period I just mentioned. salary effective July 1st 2025 263 344 effective July 1st 2026 increased by the same percentage as non-representative employee group as approved by the school committee termination by the by the committee or superintendent with good cause with no further financial liability by the deputy superintendent with 90 days notice arbitration appeal for termination for good cause we evaluate yearly accepted the continuing policy compliance maintaining certification from desi throughout the term of
091the contract contract excuse me excuse me may require medical exam during the term of the contract if such request is jobreated and consistent with business necessity oped contribution on the same terms as may require for the future of all non-represented employees of the city vacation 25 days per year buyback of unused sick unused days sick leave 15 days per year with buyback of uh at the end of the employment holidays those reserved by the west public schools bereavement leave and funeral leave varies depending upon relationship of descendant. PD was that PTO 5 days per year health and life insurance on the same terms as a fulltime employee of the district annuity only employee deferral and to and no employer contribution membership in certain professional associations at the expense of the district reimbursement of um pro-
092related job related expenses. Identification language. Roll call. Member Alvarez. Yes. Member Vancaria. Yes. Member Venenda. Yes. Member Guardiola. Yes. Vice Chair Johnson. Yes. Member Mailman. Yes. Member McCulla. Yes. Member Roy. Yes. Mayor Penny. Yes. Congratulations, Dr. Mullen. Let's move the executive um the executive session at the contract employment between Wist School Committee and Sarah Gonzalez Gonzalo for the position of chief financial and operation officer for the period July 1st 2025 through June 30th 2028. It's a three-year contract from July 1st, 2025 to June 30th, 2028. CFO must notify school committee no later than 6 months prior to contract expiration to advise if the desires to negotiate a successor contract. Salary as effective July 1st 2025 227,000 from July 1st 2026 increased by the same percentage as non-represented employee group as approved by the school committee
093and again effective July 1st 2027 increase by the same percentage as non-represented employee uh represent group as approved by the school committee. Termination by this committee or superintendent with good cause with no further financial liability by the CFO with 90 days notice. Arbitration appeal for termination for good cause eval you get evaluated yearly subject to Corey policy maintaining certification from DESI throughout the term of the contract. School committee may require medical exam during the uh term of the contract as such requires a job related inconsistent with business necessity. OPIP contribution the same year as may be required in the future for all NAR representative employees of the city. Vacation 25 days per year with the ability to receive buyback for the five days five vacation days per year. Sick leave 15 days per year with
094buyback at the end of the employment. Holidays those reserved by the Wister public schools. Berement and leave varies depending on relationship of the senate. PTO 5 days per year. Health and life insurance on the same terms as the full-time employee of the district. Membership and certain professional associations and expense of the district. Reimbursement and job related expenses. And then we have identification languages. Roll call. Member Alvarez. Yes. Member Benia. Yes. Member Bernanda. Yes. Member Guardiola. Yes. Vice Chair Johnson. Yes. Member mailman. Yes. Member McCulla? Yes. Member Roy? Yes. Mayor Penny? Yes. Congratulations, Sarah. [Applause] With that, we have a motion to adjourn. All those in favor.