001Okay, good everyone in progress. I'm sorry about that. Okay, welcome to everybody to the West School Committee meeting tonight. And if you can please stand for the pledge of allegiance and the national anthem to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands nationy and justice for all. Oh, say can you see by the early twilight? [Music] Twilight stripes bright. [Music] You're doing great. [Music] So gallently [Music] stream the bombs bursting in gave proof through the night. that our flag was still there. No say that star spangled [Music] yet. Oh, the land of the free and the home of the brave. Charmaine, thank you. Charmaine Dingle, nice job. Charmaine Mener is a great grade 12 student at Dory Memorial High School. Uh, I'm just going to ask everybody to
002stand for a moment of silence for McGovern. Beautiful soul, nice person, live life to the fullest. and keep Jim and Lisa and Patrick in your prayers. Thank you. Roll call. Member Alvarez present. Member Vancaria here. Member Venenda here. Member Guadiola here. Vice Chair Johnson here. Member Mailman here. Member McCulla here. Member Roy here. Mayor Penny uh here. Okay. Our first motion is on the consent agenda. We'll do a roll call. Member Alvarez, yes. Member Vancario, yes. Member Vanoa, yes. Member Guardiola, yes. Vice Chair Johnson, yes. Member Mailman, yes. Member McCulla, yes. Member Roy, yes. Mayor Petty, yes. Okay, we are on public comment. A member of the public may address the committee regarding item on the agenda for two minutes. Does your name see your residence? Hi. Do I have to touch something? My name
003is Carol Sager. Um, and I'm Carol. You can put that mic right down. What do I What do you want? Pull the mic. Pull the mic down. Oh, I'm sorry. That was mine. I didn't see that one. I'm sorry. Okay. My name is Carol Seager. Um and I just wanted to say that um I know at the end of this meeting we are going to be talking about uh an in interim or uh permanent superintendent and I think this is a very important decision obviously um and in the times that we are in obviously we need educators but more important I think personally that we need somebody who really knows the finances of the school committee of the schools um because this is going to be a tough tough year next three years and how
004we're going to get through it and to know those intricacies. So I want you to think think about that when you come to vote on an interim or permanent superintendent. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening everyone and I appreciate the opportunity to be able to uh speak to this body um and have my uh voice heard as you all contemplate some very important decisions. My name is Jennifer Davis Kerry and I am a longtime resident of Worcester. Um, with our superintendent Manarez heading west, we do have an opportunity to um consider a new person for the position. As we consider that, I'd like us to think about uh some in an internal candidate whom I believe will be very strong for the position. Um, and that person is Brian Allen. Um it's my belief that
005we are making strong and rapid progress against the strategic plan which is bringing uh significant and positive transformation to our district. We need continuity in that strategic plan. Um the strength uh that um Mr. Allen brings to this work is an understanding and connection with the community. Um, respect from and toward the community. Um, a reputation as an honest broker who will tell you what you need to hear regardless of whether it's what you want to hear. um an understanding although he has not had classroom experience, an understanding at the K12 level, an understanding of teaching and learning and an understanding of the needs of this diverse community with a view towards where education is taking us. Um he also is a very strong financial person um but not of the pocket protector type. he
006has an understanding of the work of the schools um and how the work of the schools intersects with the budget. Uh also there is a deep bench strength at the at 20 Irving Street in HR in teaching and learning and in student services and supports that I believe he would be able to tap knowing that those strengths would complement his own. Wrap up. Um also one sec. Sure. Yes. Okay. Um also as has already been mentioned this is a time of deep uncertainty in terms of the fi our financial situation uh as a result of decisions coming on almost a daily basis out of Washington that will impact us not just on a local level but on a state level. Thank you. And Mr. Allen does have an understanding of that and how we can
007navigate those waters. Thank you. So, with that, I say a three-year contract. Thank you. Good evening. My name is Dave Garvin. I'm here speaking on behalf of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce. Uh we we thought it was a good idea to come down and say a few words of where we are um with the recent announcement. First of all, we wish well and much success. Um, I've personally worked closely with the worester public schools now for quite some time and I don't think I've ever spoken for only two minutes ever before. But um, I can tell you we we're we are in the middle of many of the programs that we initially launched under the under the strategy and uh and our and the the strategic plan. So, we're in favor of kind of
008maintaining that course if we can because we we've seen progress. We've seen uh forward momentum and we've seen some cohesive activity and uh we just wrapped up as an example we just wrapped up opportunity Worcester which was something that came out of the senior team's meeting and uh we went visit all the high schools and and gave students the opportunity to understand what their options are whether that's a four-year degree whether it's a two-year program whether it's a a certification program and they want to go right into work after after after high school then they need to know all the options and that's what we're providing. We've done it now and today we just wrapped up or yesterday we just wrapped up at at North High. So, it was one of those types of programs
009that fell out of the planning that came came to us and we're uh we're kind of in favor of continuing on that path and uh and and I'm sure when we get a replacement we will continue to do exactly that. So much much success and thanks. Thank you. Does your name say your residence? Um, my name is Siobhan. I am a resident of Worcester and I'm the a parent of a fourth grader who's a student in the Worcester public schools. Um, and who's sadly home with 102 degree fever tonight. Sophia. So, um, I'm a member of the Worcester public schools LGBTQIA plus Family Advisory Council and I'm speaking in regard to agenda items 542, 43, and 44. So, first I want to thank Superintendent Monarez for the positive impact you've had so far. um and
010wish you the best of luck in the future. Um and I'm here to say that as the school committee committee looks for a new superintendent, it's imperative that family advisory councils like ours have a seat at the table, have a voice, and have input into that process. Um the strategic plan um has family and community engagement as a key priority and family advisory councils are a cornerstone of this engagement. um input from our family advisory council will ensure that the superintendent search takes into account the needs of our LGBTQIA plus youth and families. I hope that no matter your political party, you can recognize that queer and trans youth are especially vulnerable right now. So on that note, I just want to say that when I speak here, I actually don't give my name or
011the district or the school because while I'm really grateful that my child is proud of who they are, has never been in any kind of a closet, I also always have to think about their safety. They're 9 years old and they do not understand the kind of hate and violence directed against people like them. So, um, we need to ensure that whoever steps into the superintendent's role is fully and actively committed to ensuring that the Worcester public schools is a safe, supportive, and loving environment for our LGBTQIA plus students, faculty, and families. Um, and that's why I believe input into the process from the family advisory council, the LGBTQIA plus family advisory council is necessary. Um, I also brought this for members of the school committee. Last time I was here, my child was was
012with me. Um, their pronouns are they, they them. My pronouns are she, or they. Some committee members struggled with that. So, I've brought a guide for each of you that I hope you take. Thank you. Hello, my name is Burough. I'm here on behalf of Worcester Community Connections College and I'm also a Worcester parent. Um, I'm here to speak about GB44. um when you have a great thing going um don't change things. We have a great strategic plan that was compiled with so much community input and so much great work is in place now to carry it out. The parents of this community that we have spoken to are so happy and thrilled with the work that's taken place and feel so included. We could lose this so easily if we change gears. Please vote
013on the recommendations to keep this plan going. There's so much at stake with all the changes right now. Imagine what would happen if we change course at this this crucial time. We are working some examples of the work that are being done. We're working so all kids feel a sense of belonging and being valued. There are many opportunities for parent and community input at this time. We are addressing the social and emotional needs of our stu scholars. We are using new restorative justice practices for our kids to make sure all kids can stay in school for the best outcome of them. We are focusing on better um stronger ELLL services and then equity across the district for all students and and the list goes on. We need stability and security at this time. Please vote
014to make sure that this current plan we keep going with what we have. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening. My name is Holly. I'm a Worcester public school parent, a leadership team member of the citywide parent planning advisory council, and a PAR educator. And I'm here to speak on item GB5-44. I'm here tonight to strongly urge this body to maintain the forward momentum of the Worcester public schools current strategic plan even as we prepare for a new administration. This strategic plan is not just a policy. It is a reflection of the community's values, voices, and vision for the future of our children. The work already underway is vital. The current administration has taken meaningful steps to meet the social and emotional needs of our students, improve school climate and culture, and foster a great sense
015of belonging for students of all backgrounds. These efforts are beginning to shift the culture of our schools. And that kind of time, that kind of change takes time, consistency, and commitment. We've seen a focus on restorative practices, increased quality, and higher expectational outcomes of our students. These priorities speak to the heart of what education is. And they are not decided in just isolation. This plan was shaped with extensive community input. Parents, educators, and students came together to create a roadmap that reflects who we are and where we want to go. As a parent, I can personally speak to the difference this plan has made for families, especially those navigating special education. There's been a noticeable effort to improve services, communication, and support for students with unique needs. Now is not the time to turn back
016or start over. We must build on this foundation and see it through. Just as a final thought, I would like to say that there's a person sitting to the left over here that has been an intricate part of this process and should be considered for the upcoming vacant position. Thank you for your time and for your commitment to keeping this process moving. Thank you. Thank you. [Applause] It's your name and say your residence. Good evening everyone. Um, my name is Rachel and I'm a Worcester resident and I'm also a parent of a first grader at City View. And I would like to thank Rachel Monz for everything that she's done for our kids. It's been a pleasure. It's been a learning experience and hopefully the strategic plan stays for to keep following in her footstep
017of what she started and hopefully whoever steps in next will get more respect than she got when she first got here. Thank you. Thank you. She names your residence. Thank you, Mayor Penny, members of the school committee. I'm Jack Foley, 6 Winter Hill Drive. Good to be back here. I want to begin my comments by thanking Superintendent Monerys for really leading us these past three years and giving us a great direction as a school district and a sound plan that was developed with input from everyone across the community. I think that's the most important issue in front of the school committee right now is making sure that work continues. Um, I encourage the school committee to uh have a vote tonight and to consider Brian Allen as the next superintendent. Many of us have worked
018with Brian for the past several decades and recognize that he is known as the best CFO in New England if not beyond. He has great integrity and he has been directly involved and integral part of developing the strate strategic plan for our district. So if we want to continue the work that's begun been begun by Dr. Manz going with Brian Allen and continuing this the next three years will keep us on this strong path and help our district move forward. So I encourage you to have the vote tonight. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you mayor. My name is Espirans and uh I'm a parent leader. I'm speak to GB 544 and uh first of all we thank the current administration for all the work you have been done is very crucial to us
019and our kids and uh I'm here again to support that we keeping the current strategic plan and moving ahead to complete it and uh of course because of the work has been complete reached such as in social emotional needs for our community and uh to improve school climate at creating the greater sense of belongings from different backgroundies. So we really appreciate all your work and the belongings we came from. You put us together as unity. We thank you so much. Thank you. [Applause] Good evening. My name is Francis Anths. I live here in Worcester. Um, and I spoke last time when we had just heard about Superintendent Manares leaving us about how much we would miss her. And I'm actually getting up tonight because I want to thank each of you as school committee members.
020Um, you selected this wonderful superintendent and you supported her in the work that she's done to put together the strategic plan which as you can hear from the audience really meant an awful lot to all aspects of our community whether it was parents whether it was staff members, teachers, whether it was our learners um and that is due to the work that you have done too. So, I want to make sure that we recognize you and your commitment to our learners as well as all the good work that the superintendent has [Applause] done. And finally, I want to say what I'm scared about. So, I'm a person who lives in this world and who pays attention to the news and all I hear about is things getting cut, things getting ruined, things getting stopped. Um,
021and I think the next three years are going to be a really serious time for all of us. And I think um I recognize the importance of the classroom. I recognize the importance of what we plan and I think we've done that very well in the strategic plan. Um but I also recognize as a former CEO that you have to make the balancing act of where the funds are coming from, how you're going to get them, how you're going to continue with what resources you can come up with. So I am really here tonight to say I think that your work now of selecting kind of where we go from this moment has to take into consideration as I know others have said before me the fiscal situation and the environment of the country and
022what we need to do to move forward in the way that has been so well started um but is frankly vulnerable. So thank you. [Applause] Hi, good evening. My name is Dina Tedeski. I'm a Worcester resident and a Worcester public school parent of a graduate and a current seventh grader. First, I'd like to thank Dr. Manarees and her team for continuing to do amazing work on behalf of all scholars and their families. Uh I'm also a fellow member of the LGBTQIA plus Family Advisory Council and I just want to echo the previous comments. Thank you so much. Uh I'd also like to comment on GB5-44. It's critical for the district scholars and the community to have someone who is familiar with as well as committed to the strategic plan to become superintendent. The continuity and
023focus on this is absolutely essential. Scholars and families are still recovering from the pandemic and are facing a myriad of uncertainties from national orders affecting us all locally and some are more impacted than others. The strategic plan is grounding for us. Scholars and families have let felt and seen our strategic plan in action and are benefiting and thriving. When more students want to go to school, more meaningful connections happen academically, socially, other ways, and they feel that sense of belonging. I urge the school community to keep this in mind during the decision-making process. Amazing groundwork has been laid and the path is bright. Our students and our scholars deserve what has been promised in the strategic plan. Also a comment regarding ROS 5-9 specifically on slide 19. We need to commit time, people, and money
024to the elementary school library plan. If we want to grow young readers into lifelong readers s starting at the elementary school level, schools is the right place and space and it's paramount and everyone benefits from this. Short-term kids feel confident and skilled and in the long term they benefit from the knowledge they gain to become empowered as they move on to employees, business owners, and community leaders. I also support the plan to expand dual language programming and curriculum as mentioned in slide 18. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening. My name is Mildred Martinez. I'm a resident of Worcester, a parent of a Worcester public school graduate and a high schooler at Bernote High. Um I would like to address GB um 42,43 and 44. Uh thank you so much Dr. Manarees for um your work
025um and the uh city council for supporting the school council for supporting. Um, I would like also to echo um all of the other speakers um that it really is imperative that we continue um the strategic plan as a parent, as a community member, as a parent advocate. Um to have had um such a impact and input from the community in in setting this up um was really important to making us feel seen. Um and I can speak for other parents, you know, across the board about that. Um and more importantly, you know, uh our scholars, not our students, um our scholars. And that's so important that they see themselves in this light. Um and making sure that we continue to address these social emotional needs. Um the improvement of the wraparound, you know, counselors
026and just all the support that we have for the student. It's really, really, really critical um that we continue to do that. Um, and I hope that's kept in um in in great consideration as we move forward with the next person. Thank you. Thank you. Hi, my name is Ashley Spring. I wanted to um come and speak on um the exit of our beloved uh superintendent, Dr. Manaras. I thank you so much for what you've done and I wanted to give you a personal success story. um brought to you by the strategic plan. Um my first grader has extreme behavior. He is the kid that uh he is the kid that the other kids stare at at school. When we first moved to Wester and he first started school here, he threw everything that he
027could find at Flag Street School, including a book at Principal Janice's head. After several months of uh of IEP negotiations, I was able to seamlessly work with our special education department to get my child moved to a sub-seppparate classroom where he has now not come home with any number less than a 10 for the past 60 days. He is a he is it is this is unheard of. When when I first moved here, I was not even able to work because I was having to to manage his behaviors at school so often. This has been such a huge success for me. I want to thank you so much and my wish is that moving forward um whomever um we choose to to take on this position and to um lead our children will will continue
028following suit with the vision of a learning that Dr. Manares has set forth. Thank you. Thank you. [Applause] Hi, my name is Jody Chillin. resident of Worcester. I came here tonight to thank Superintendent Marz and her team in the school committee. I saw the strategic budget that the elementary libraries could have a five-year plan. My fellow parents and I have been working on this for three years to get this up and running and I'm excited to hear about the five-year elementary school library plan. I'm sad to see Superintendent Manarez is leaving. I'm nervous about the possibility of the turnover of the next school committee. I am hopeful that the administration team will continue supporting this plan in the years to come. Thank you for thinking. Thank you for taking the time to listen to us
029and hopefully find a way to work this into uh out for our scholars now and for the years to come in Wester. Thank you. Thank you. Hi, my name is Heather Stannic. I'm a parent in the Wester public school system. I'm a WPS alum and I am on the special education parent advisory council the site committee at my son's school. Um I would like to speak on GB5424344. Um I would just like to again say thank you so much to Dr. Manarez for making um working with the schools seem so accessible. Um for making it possible for so many voices to be heard. Um, I would like to encourage you all to vote tonight on uh who will be succeeding her. And we are at a pivotal moment in history. We are at an even
030more pivotal moment for public schools. I strongly urge you to vote for someone who will continue the strategic plan that has been laid out so beautifully by Dr. Mnarees and her entire team. Um, and that we continue with the community input. Um, we continue to hear the voices and uplift the marginalized communities that have so long been silent in Worcester. Um, thank you. [Applause] My name is Kaska Yao and um I want to say thank you to the superintendent for the um time he spent with us. But uh tonight uh this article that we're talking about tonight speaks a lot of volume to us and for the for us to put together. So I would like to encourage everyone of us on this tonight to go with the strategic plans as it is um reading
031and um because the community is well informed and the community are participated in the strategic plans. So those ideas were not just something that was abrupt. It was something that was looked at kingly and was taken into consideration and we put in a lot of time. So I would like to encourage every one of us to go with this plan uh for the next uh um 3 years to come so that um our community will feel the sense of belonging and also knows that what they put in place is working. Um, so tonight I just want to say thank you so much and to the school committee I ask that we uh consider the uh strategic plans in place. Thank you. Thank you. Hello. My name is uh Bob Bureau and this is a very
032familiar room to me as is the Lincoln Levi room down the hall. I'm the chair of the accessibility advisory commission, have been for about six years that specifically looks at the needs of individuals in our city that have a disability. I can tell you that it's been a tough a tough time facing the reality of what we're all facing today and perhaps for the next three years. But we have a strong team in place. Dr. Manera has been brilliant in charting the path along with her entire cabinet. all you dedicated educators and professionals to making a true difference for our city. You can probably guess the matter that I'm talking about is whether to go forward with a plan, the strategic plan that has been carefully carefully designed and implemented today. Um, given that, I
033would urge you as a school committee to vote yes to continuing the plan and to providing a three-year um acting role for the current CFO acting as the school superintendent. I'd be remiss in my remarks if I didn't thank personally our current superintendent. I wish you well in California. They're very lucky to have you, but I would also say that we as a city have been very fortunate to have your leadership for the last three years. You can tell I'm a little choked up. I have a grandson who is now in preschool. In the fall, he will be entering kindergarten. I want his experience to be as remarkable as possible and all the students, all the scholars to succeed. So with that, I just thank you for your time and I know you'll make the
034right decision when you vote. Thank you. Thank you. Do we have anybody online? Two people online. Three. Three. Who's going to do it? Okay, good evening everyone. My name is Fred Taylor. I'm the president of the Worcester branch of the NAACP. I'm also a Worcester resident. I'm calling in today to express my gratitude and admiration for Dr. Monter and the remarkable transformation she has brought to Worcester public schools. Through her visionary leadership, Dr. Merez has implemented positive changes on multiple levels, fostering an environment where both students and staff can thrive. We need a successor that will continue this work. One of Dr. Monterz's key initiatives was to promote mentoring relationships from paraprofessionals to leadership. This focus on collaboration and professional development has empowered our educators and enhanced the overall learning environment for our students. It's
035clear and genuinely valued and contributions of everyone in the school community ensures that their voices are heard and their needs are met. Dr. Mz has prioritized parents and student engagement. Recognizing the strong partnership between schools and families is vital for our children's success. Her commitment to open communication has strengthened these essential relationships, fostering a sense of belonging and support for all. As president of the Worcester branch of the NACP, I want to take this opportunity to express our full support for the appointment of Deputy Superintendent CFO Brian Allen as the next superintendent of our public school system. Not interim, not acting as superintendent, Brian has demonstrated exemplary dedication and has worked collaboratively with several superintendent, gaining invaluable experience along the way. We are confident that he will carry forward Dr. Monter's strategic plan ensuring successful
036continuation. This plan is not just a roadmap for our schools. It's a blueprint for improving our entire city. It has potential to uplift not only students but also the broader community, uniting us and pursuing the excellence in education. Thank you for your time and let us continue working together to support our schools and our children's future. Thank you. Thank [Applause] you. Hello everyone. Uh my name is Ally Thresher. Um I'm a parent of two children in the Wester public school system. I want to just quickly utter a very heartfelt thank you to Dr. Monata because um my children are both in special ed classrooms and my older son's experience in the school system turned around so completely when she took over and I we really as a family owe you a debt of gratitude. Um,
037I'm speaking today as a member and chair of the Worcester Public Schools LGBTQIA plus Family Advisory Council and I'm just speaking in support of voting to continue the strategic plan. Um, family and community engagement is a key priority of our district strategic plan and family advisory councils like ours are cornerstone of this engagement. Um, for us at a time when queer and trans youth are especially vulnerable, it is on us, the adults in their lives, and you, the leadership of our school district, and whomever steps in as superintendent to ensure that they are offered the same learning opportunities and environment as their peers. Um, we ask that whoever comes in as superintendent remain committed to the strategic plan, especially with regard to goals and aims around equity and school climate. By continuing to uphold our
038district's strategic plan, our district can become a model not just for active family and community engagement, but also for the creation of safe, supportive, and a loving culture and environment for all of our LGBTQIA plus students, staff, faculty, and families. Thank you. Hi. Hello. No, go ahead. Okay. Uh uh good evening. My name is Andrea Peak and I am a lifelong resident of Worcester, mother and educator and a proud recent graduate of the empower parents program. Um first I also want to thank all of you, Superintendent Manarez, Mayor Petty, and the members of the school committee for your time, your commitment, and your service to the children and families of our city. A special thank you to uh committee member mailman who showed her support by attending our graduation yesterday. It meant a great deal.
039I am here tonight for just a couple of little ones little of Here we go. Um it agenda ROS5-6E vice chairman's um Johnson's request to um regarding dyslexia. Um I appreciate uh vice chairman's uh but yeah vice chair Johnson's request for bringing this forward and I'm asking all of you to keep pushing keep asking the hard questions and watching closely this daughter this issue is personal for me and I appreciate all of your time. I also want to echo everything everyone has been saying about Superintendent Minarez. And before I go, I also want to thank um Mayor Petty. Um I read the comments in Mass Live and I want to say thank you. I think the fact that you are also listening to us, listening to the community, we need to stay the course. Superintendent
040Manarez and her team have set us up on a strong strategic path forward and they are leading real change. We need to give this time the plan time to grow, co-impact and to continue on its path. I support the idea of seeing it through until 2028 and then re-evaluating again as a community. Thank you so much for your time. Thank you. [Applause] Good evening. My name is Kai and I'm a Worcester resident, a a resident of Worcester. I have two students in the public school system and one graduate. Two of my students have special needs and I would like to express support for the strategic plan. in particular. Um, I'm hoping that the school will continue to provide support for scholars with special needs, scholars who are gender expansive, and scholars who are immigrants. Thank
041you. Thank you. Hello. And folks, can folks hear me? Yes, we can. Go ahead. Great. Um, thanks so much for having folks speak tonight. My name is Rebecca. I'm a resident of School Committee District F. I'm a parent of a child at Worcester Dual Language Magnet School and I'm also a member of the Worcester Public Schools LGBTQIA plus Family Advisory Council. I'm speaking in regard to a agenda items 5-42,43 and 44. As the school committee embarks on a search for a new superintendent, it is imperative that family advisory councils like ours, but not only ours, have a seat at the table. Family and community engagement is a key priority of our district's 2023 to28 strategic plan, and family advisory councils are a cornerstone of this engagement. As a queer parent, I'm proud to call Worester
042my home. I'm proud to know that I live in a sanctuary city for trans and gender non-conforming people and I intend to send my children to the Worcester public schools throughout their K through2 education. At every step of their educational journey, my children deserve a school environment where families like ours are represented, valued, and recognized. Input from our family advisory council will ensure that the superintendent search takes into account the needs of our LGBTQIA plus youth and families. Moreover, and most critically, this is a time when queer and trans youth are under attack. So, it's incumbent upon us, the adults in their lives, the leadership of their school district to ensure that they're offered the same learning opportunities and the same environment as their peers. So, whoever is our next superintendent with big shoes to
043fill must remain committed to the strategic plan, especially with regard to the goals and aims around equity and around school culture and climate. By continuing to uphold our district's strategic plan, Worcester can become a model not just for active family and community engagement, but also for the creation of a safe, supportive, and loving culture and environment for our LGBTQIA plus students, faculty, and families. Thank you. Thank you. [Applause] Okay, is everybody all set? Then I wrap up the public portion of this meeting. Before we go to the super uh report of superintendent, I'd like to go to the three items um that have been discussed tonight. Why would people are here in the audience? Uh 5-42, 5-43, 5-44. It's okay with everybody. Okay, we have uh Okay, before we do that, how long should we
044report for? We'll come back to that. No. So, um, we'll do some of the finance items if that's okay with everybody. Then we'll come back. We Mr. Guardola will be back in a minute online. So, uh, can you make sure he gets online, Christie? Mr. Gu is not feeling well, so he'll he'll he'll join us online. Second. Okay. So, we have we'll skip the uh superintendent's report. approval of the grants and finance items. Um, everybody's all set with that. We take a roll call on that. If I miss something, I'll come back to that. Yeah, roll call. Member Alvarez. Yes. Member Biancia. Yes. Member Benenda. Yes. Member Guardiola. Vice Chair Johnson. Yes. Member Mailman. Yes. Member McCulla. Finance items. Member Roy. Yes. Mayor Penny. Yes. Okay. We'll go to uh general business response to the
045administration. to consider consideration results of survey about student experiences with the lower cost and anti- anti-semitism education part of the social justice um advocacy fellowship of the union for the reform judism as presented by the south community school junior let's say Anna Gist so the motion is to approve the file that right everybody okay motion approve the file all those in favor opposed to information on the dile dyslexia pre-screening grades K through one pre-screening for students and that's the response to administration also with that the motion is to approve and to file response to the administration to receive a report on how many positions were allocated at the beginning of the 2425 school year any quer Yeah, go ahead. Member Johnson. Thank you to the chair. Um, just in regards to the the response with
046this, I maybe I wasn't clear um on kind of what I was looking for. I'm actually looking for um whatever the 3%. So, I'm kind of looking for if there are, say there were five custodian positions not filled this school year or whatever it is. I'm just looking for the actual positions that weren't filled um this school year that we had allocated for. I'm looking for those specifically um and it's more around some budget stuff. So, when we come to budget, if we're looking to allocate for those positions again and we didn't fill them this year, how do we fill that gap? and if it's really needed. My guess is your administration's took you guys taking a look at that. But that's kind of what I was kind of looking for the chair to the
047superintendent through the chair so that we come back with the right information. And would you prefer that to be actual numbers versus percentages? I would actually like to know the positions like four custodians that we didn't fill that we were supposed we allocated for but we didn't fill four of them. just so we know what those positions are. And I don't need a report back. I I think the best way to do it, if you guys don't mind, if we could just receive an email from UKQ or someone with that information in it just so we can see it for budget budget purposes. That's all. Okay, sounds good. We got it. Yes. Thank you. So, we can file this item. All those in file that those in favor? So, audited. Not yet. Okay. Motion from
048member Bian Carrier to receive a list of pathways we currently have for our scholars and any recent changes in those pathways. We can approve in the file. Yes. All those in favor oppos. So audited to consider appeal of the proposed new courses for approval. I'm not sure of the proposed new courses for 2526 school year refer to TLSS prior to doing so. Member mailman just confirming that they're going to TLSS for approval then coming back here again. Is that the Okay. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. Member Johnson. I'm sorry. Just in regards to that in in TLSS, I I saw the list of them. I have them here. Are those all secondary schools that all these are going into? I just it doesn't and are they going into every high school or or like
049every secondary school if they're secondary schools? I don't know if we could just get that answer in TLSS so when it comes back we just have a clear picture on where those um um classrooms um classes are going into or unless you have the answer now through the chair. Member Johnson, I do have that answer for you. Um, those are all uh secondary high school classes only that are being offered. There's some transitions that we often do. It's usually a language and then um that we would do in the middle school. Uh the majority of those are addition of chapter 74 courses that we added those programs at Doherty. So we need to build 10th, 11th, and 12th grade classes. Uh we also have added more AP that you see in there. And then we
050also have um most of those are related to the programs at Burncoat and the theater arts and the magnet program as well. So those are all high school but when they they can get pulled down across the district uh and available to all schools with the exception of um some of those uh arts are particular to burn coat but they do offer them as individual elective classes at the other high schools. So they do have access to pull them down and offer them to students. Thank you. And just a followup question that question then through the chair to um administration in regards to that. It's great to see the um those classes as AP courses. Um, is there a plan like in the high schools, are they looking to increase enrollment and offering more students
051to get involved in AP courses move moving forward? Is that the plan on why we're offering that? Or is there if not then I'm just wondering how come some of the classes are not being offered at say the honest level or whatever to have access for most students that way through the chair. Uh so the AP micro uh macroeconomics you see we have microeconomics as an A and a B. So we just added the other section to it because there's a focus um on the economic piece uh for one avenue or another going to college whether it's like accounting or um economics particular to it and the business uh side of it. So that was particular that we found that more students wanted to take that. We we are also in an audit of our
052AP that we did this year. Uh so you'll see probably more courses come forward as we looked at uh quality control. So we do have larger numbers but also we want to increase scores. So with that focus we're working on programming to work with our teachers also to work with prerequisites uh for these courses to make sure that not only our students are taking them but they understand that uh taking these classes does help your grade point average by taking the course but you can also earn college credits by getting a certain grade of three, four or five on those exams and that will help you financially and moving forward if you're particularly interested in a a specific major. So, we're looking at quality control of all those pieces. So, yes, we want to add
053students taking them. So, we want more options. Um, and then the reverse of that, we have an AP human geography we offer in the district. We don't offer human geography. So, we brought that back down so other students who may not be able to take an AP level class could take it at the honors or the college preparatory level. Thank you. Great for that. Great. Thanks, member Carrier. Thank you. Um, is it possible to receive there there's a listing of 13 here and I know it's going over to committee but prior to it arriving to committee. Is it possible to get the information on um as Mr. Johnson um mentioned it does not say what school specific. So if you just take a list and make it and email it to us so we know
054what school. And you mentioned chapter 74. Are they all chapter 74? Doesn't appear that they are, but through the chair. No. So, things like construction craft laborer too. Um there are some parts of the the AP dance, but we're building the construction craft labor. We already have some classes that are already been um provided because Worcester Tech offers them. So, we're able to offer that marketing and the programming web design that those those courses are already in effect because Worcester Tech. So Doherty is able to pull those down automatically. Okay. So if they are chapter 74, if we could indicate if they're chapter 74, the difference would be we receive additional funds, we receive additional tools. It is um a course and it is set up in the similar um recording and what we need
055to do for uh funds and so on. But it also applies in a different manner than a regular course. So if we could uh stipulate which ones were actually chapter 74 and what school they'll be held in appreciate. Thank you. I made a motion for that. Is that necessary or do you think we can just get the slips through? The chair is just going to recommend we can put it in not tomorrow's what's happening. I want to give um Mr. Crista some time but the following Friday we can put it in there. That's fine. And and member Johnson, can we do the same with the the HR data that you're requesting? If you get it next Friday, is that sufficient or would you like it earlier? Um, yeah. I I guess that's good. I'm I'm
056still I can't remember when we get our budget book, but I'm excited to get the budget book. I know it's closed. Next Friday. Next Friday. Yeah. So, you'll get it simultaneous. All right. Sounds good. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. So, refer this to Fog Ro. I mean, TSS Roll call. Member Alvarez, yes. Member Vancaria, yes. Member Bernenda, yes. Member Guardiola, yes. Vice Chair Johnson, yes. Member Mailman, member McCulla, yes. Member Roy, yes. Mayor Penny, yes. Okay, we'll go to uh you don't mind, we'll go to those last three items. uh 5-42 5-43 5-44. First item is to formally accept the resignation of Dr. Rachel Monrez as superintendent of the Whistler public schools effected June 30th, 2025. To go along with that item, we have pursuant to action taken in executive session. It is moved to
057wave the 90-day nose um requirement under articles 3C of Dr. Mar's contract to be effective on June 30th, 2025, thereby terminating the contract on that date. We take a roll call on that. Member Alvarez, yes. Member Biania, yes. Member Bernenda, yes. Member Guardiola, yes. Vice Chair Johnson, yes. Member Mailman, yes. Member McCulla, yes. Member Roy, yes. Yes, Mayor Penny. Yes. 5-43 is now relevant since we just took that vote. So, we can u file that roll call. Member Alvarez. Yes. Member Bianceria. Yes. Member Bernendo. Yes. Member Guardiola. Yes. Vice Chair Johnson. Yes. Member Mailman. Yes. Member McCulla. Yes. Member Roy. Yes. Mayor Petty. Yes. to discuss the process of the for the appointment of a new superintendent of schools in order to consider the appointment of a new superintendent of schools. Number okay you want
058to speak first Mayor Patty. Um, thank you, Mr. Chairman, and uh, again, thank you Dr. Monz and for everything you've done the district and I really believe that this vote here is about the really the wellness where we're going as a district. I've done a number of these searches in the past and um there's no right or wrong way to do it. It's what you think is right and how you're going to bring the community forward. I believe that the successor to our current superintendent has to believe in the systems that the superintendent has created over the last three years and developed especially regards to the support systems that have been put in place by Dr. Monz and the school committee. the people that we've hired, the change of the organization, the support, the scholars
059has made a big difference in the Wister public schools. Secondly, if not just equally, if not more important, is the strategic plan that we do. Keep that strategic plan in place. That's been asked for by the community and that's our goal. That's what we are going to do. It's not a goal. We are going to do it. We have a few more years left in that strategic plan and pretty soon we'll be probably developing a second strategic plan over the next year or so. And I'll make a motion. I know people have asked that we take a lease a motion that we uh still approve the continuation of the strategic plan. I think it would go a long way with the community that that uh we do support that. You know we have uh undergone
060significant transformation enhancement because of you and the school committee over the last three years. Much of this um progress is about collaboration of leadership in this district and the clear strategic vision to what's going on. I will say I have noticed a change in the leadership team and administrators and the educators in the par educators in the Wister public schools. you've bought into this system and that so it's so it's important that we continue with that system. That is why if we really believe in the work that superintendent has done over the last three years, you need someone who has been involved in shaping the school district for the last three years working with the superintendent and the leadership team and also to guide this transformation to ensure that we have we stay focused as
061a community, as a school committee and as a district on what is best for the schools, our scholars, and our students that we take care of every day. Over 25,000. In my opinion, that person would be Deputy Superintendent Brian Allen. He's been with the Wister public schools for over 27 years with the city of W City of Worester to be over 32 years. He's given his uh dedication to the Worester schools. He knows this district inside and out. He is committed. He's a steady leader. He has deep institutional knowledge which is so important. He's well positioned to maintain the current momentum and continue our trajectory for growth and improvement in this district. In addition to his leadership skills, Brian Allen has we know he's one of the best finance people in the city in the
062state of Massachusetts. and his expertise of public education and municipal budgeting. Nobody is better than him. And as we has been mentioned, in these uncertain times, who would be better us with some of this his experience? Who we better than him to guide us through what could be pretty tough times going forward. And again, I'm just going to reiterate, I made a couple of comments in my notes about this, how important it is to keep that strategic plan in place. Mr. Allen has chaired the strategic plan committee. So, people should know that he has cheered that committee. So, he knows all about the strategic plan. You can tell he's bought into the strategic plan. He's also chairs school safety advisory committee which people talk about and he's committed to the LGBTQ plus community which is
063important. We hear that and that's going to continue. Also he's developed the equitybased budget process that we do right now. So, and that's how I heard tonight too about equity by the community. I already mentioned I say it again. I just noticed the change in the administration of your leadership, the team that you put together. And I've asked when the superintendent and I had a number of discussions, one of the things I think I first said to her when she became superintendent, you have to figure out who's going to be the next superintendent and develop a team around you that we don't have to do a national search. That's what you've done. You have a lot that whole group in the back over here do a great job. Anybody could step up. So if needed
064be I know there's be some arguments maybe why Mr. Allen shouldn't be superintendent, maybe doesn't have the teaching experience in the classroom. So, I did my own research. I think everybody else has too. You know, we have probably Massachusetts alone, you have 10 uh ex CFOs who run the school systems, three urbans, seven and non- urban school districts. Even the new commissioner of education was a CF was a CFO now he's super he's currently the super he was super he had a MBA degree and accounting degrees and he was now the currently the superintendent of Chicago now he's going to run Massachusetts so there is precedence of this and I know Mr. talent will surround himself with good people which he has right now right over here. They're already there and uh there's a lot
065of good support system and of the assistant superintendent and uh and the people who are the executives that we have here, they're all good support staff and they know what they're doing. So, someone say he doesn't have a license as superintendent, but I know he's taking the intel and uh so word on that pretty soon. he has the July 1st in order to do that. Um I know madam superintendent you took the intel maybe a few months after you got here and uh so and some people say Mr. Allen will say Mr. Allen doesn't live in the city of wor and uh Mr. Allen has a south eye grad. His wife's a north eye grad. He's invested 32 years of his life into the city of Whisker. And today we It's a a unique situation
066today. I think the community wants someone who's going to continue with what we've been doing for the last three years. I think Mr. Allen is that person. and and uh he has committed after this he has two to be fair he has two children in high school after the graduation he has committed to come to the city of western to move to the city of wor I think that's important and you have to figure most of the time you give them a year and a year and a half to find a place so you're already halfway through the through the period anyways so we'll give them that time and uh so when his kids graduate He's committed to come here to the city of West. He only lives a few miles up the street, too.
067So again, I've been through this process a number of times. There's no right or wrong way to do it. And I think the scooter's job, the only job to a lot of responsibilities, but there under charter, your job, Skugam's job, nobody else's job is to hire the superintendent schools. You could do it, you go through a process, you could go through uh search a national search and you know there's arguments for both both and against but in this particular case we have a good team here we don't need to do a national search our leaders are right here because you have developed these leaders and ready to take over so that's important to me and that's why Brian Allen is that person I've talked to a number of people in the community a lot of
068them here tonight a lot of them are not here who I talked to I've talked to a lot of parents. I talked to a lot of business people and they al they all say let's get the right person. A lot of them think that Brian Elm is that right person and I think he's the right person. So that motion I would like to make that the school committee of the city of Ward does hereby appoint Brian Allen as the next superintendent of WA public schools to begin his term on July 1st 2025 for a period of three years and further request school committee convene a meeting executive session a date to be determined for negotiations for with Brian Allen for a term of three years and I probably add to that that our attorney Sean
069Sweeney could get that process going while we while negotiating. So that's my motion. Mr. Brian Allen, superintendent of schools for a three-year period. Thank you. Thank you. Member Bian Carrier, then member McCulla, then member Pernanda, then member M. member be interior. Thank you. Um it's a tough night. Um, everyone is looking at what we need to do pretty fast and I think there are some residents who wanted us to at least reflect and give some process time um to then perhaps have an internal search um a a local search. I attended a meeting um this week with about 40 to 45 residents and they expressed their interest in not having a national search. I am not interested in a national search. I would like to make a motion that we do have an internal search.
070I feel as though we may may be moving a little faster than we should and encourage that we give some time to the process when we look at what we did with for our city manager or our police chief or in history for our prior superintendence. Um there was discussion and so on. And I realized and I certainly uh realized that the mayor stated that he had some meetings with residents. We had uh residents here this evening. And I'm saying that I attended a meeting with 45 40 to 45 residents of the city who said that they were interested in an internal search. Um the flip side of that I will say is that um my experience as a school committee member um when we were working on our budget books, we were bringing the
071information out to the community, we were tallying them up. Um over the last uh 14 years, uh Mr. Allen has been the one that has um brought those numbers to the board. Mr. Allen is the one who um answered the public's questions when it came to what direction we were going in with our dollars. So, I certainly can say that. I've also can say that there have been times when we um didn't agree. He was looking for um different avenues with our transportation and um but we ended up coming to an agreement of what would be successful for Worester public schools. So he was willing to have the discussion, willing to sit at the table and discuss that. uh willing to then turn around and say this is how we're going to work it and
072has consistently brought that to the finance and operation agenda so we can continue to then have that conversation and take a look at the numbers and what we are doing. Uh so it's it's a difficult situation. I don't want to discourage our employees from saying that um we've had examples of superintendent that have had the classroom and so on and I feel as though that obviously that is a big part of it. Um what I would like to see uh I won't make a motion but I I'm putting this idea out so perhaps we can have it as a future discussion and that is the position of CFO um be split and we have someone in that position who would not only know finance but be an educator. So that would be a position uh
073that would have some change and some movement and reflect what the gap would be considered for someone who is a superintendent. But yes, as the mayor stated, we I uh I I have done some research and there are superintendents in Massachusetts uh that have not had classroom experience. Um, and we when we look at numbers and we look at grants, I I have said several times over the years that I'm a numbers person. Um, so when I sit down with the superintendent and they talk about a program, my automatic question is has always been how much does it cost? What are we going to do? Where is the grant? What is the money? Um, so I I do look at uh the the whole picture in that manner. not only what the benefits are to
074the student, but what is it going to cost us. So, I I feel as though this is probably one of the toughest decisions I've had to make because I know what the rules are and the rules are the mayor made the first motion and the first motion is that Mr. Allen becomes superintendent. Um, and whatever my mo and if that goes through, then whatever my motions are mute, but I I will make the motion that we reflect on this as something for our community and perhaps have an internal search and give the process a little more time. We have um a superintendent who was gracious enough to stay on to answer some questions during the first couple of weeks in July. So, we are looking at a time frame that may be rushed, but we
075still have time. It doesn't it's not uh the building is not on fire as of just as of yet. Um I encourage us to think about this. Uh perhaps we could hold the mayor's motion for and have a special meeting next week and give some reflection of an opportunity to encourage um in-house opportunities for our staff. Um perhaps hold an additional community meeting if we feel as though that is necessary. Um, and I look at what we have for a plan to go forward and I have a question on the safety piece. Um, I think that we need to build uh more e and put more effort into keeping our schools safe. Um there have been occasions where uh staff has been hurt. Um and we need to take a step back and make some
076decisions um on how we want to manage the safety in our schools. Um we also need to look at what the new courses are going to be approaching. On the agenda tonight, there are suggestions of adding more people that would not really reflect what we're doing in a plan to ensure that we cover our classrooms. So there are some questions um and there and there are always going to be and part of our job as school committee members is to look at those tough things makes make those tough decisions uh to determine how we're going to move forward. So there might be some tweaks to the plan but I don't see a drastic search of a process of saying we're going to scrub what we have and start uh again. I see us moving forward.
077Um, and that's uh obviously a reflection of not only of what people have said have has have worked, but also a reflection of what hasn't worked. Um, so I encourage us to to give it some time. Um, but that I I realize that I also, as I said, I know what the process is and the first motion will make the others mute, but I did have to put that in there. Um, and I guess I I uh do want to say that over time um people have come to publicly speak in reference to thanking the superintendent which I think is terrific. However, there's a step there that always needs to be looked at and that step is the superintendent is not a standalone. The superintendent has a team. The superintendent has school committee that that
078position has to answer to. And we as school committee members represent the people in our community. So, it's a collaboration. It's not just one person. So I hope in the future when we thank someone for their efforts and what they have accomplished that all of that is brought in because it's a very big world and it's not just one person. Thank you. Thank you. So your motion is to do an internal search. So I'm going to amend my motion. So your motion would be first and my motion would be second. Okay. Up next is member McCulla. Thank you through the chair. This will be my third superintendent hiring process that I've had the honor of participating in during my time on the committee. And I firmly believe that we made the right decision in conducting
079a national search and ultimately hiring Dr. Monores. Under her leadership, our district has advanced in ways many of us hadn't even thought possible. That growth is evident not just in the reports that we receive, but in the classrooms I visit, the voices of our educators, families, and students, and in the overall energy within our schools. With that in mind, I believe it is extremely important that we maintain continuity. I've had the opportunity to work with Mr. Allen through my entire tenure on the school committee, most recently in my role as the chair of finance, operations, and governance, and he has proven himself to be a leader in our district. While his role at times has me been behind the scenes, particularly on the fiscal side of operations, he has overseen numerous departments and helped develop
080strong leaders across the system. In recent years, he's also expanded his involvement in the academic side of our work, gaining a deeper understanding of how teaching and learning connect with financial and operational decisions. I'm reminded of what former superintendent Benetta said upon her retirement that she hoped that her tenure would show people that you can have a career in the Wester public schools, rise through the ranks, and one day become superintendent. Brian Allen represents exactly that. A proud graduate of self high, he has served both the city and the schools for over 30 years. He brings not only consistency, but a deep and genuine commitment to our school community. I fully support the motion to offer Mr. in the role of superintendent along with the three-year contract to ensure the stability and leadership our district
081needs at this critical time. Thank you. Thank you. Next, we have member Benenda. So, we are being asked tonight to vote on a permanent superintendent for the second largest school district in Massachusetts. We are provided no job description and no information. So, I went and tracked a whole bunch of job descriptions. What do we want in a superintendent? Number one, certified as a superintendent in the state of Massachusetts. Number two, re uh recommended requirements, evidence as being a teacher or a school administrator or a principal, experience teaching students. The role of a superintendent is to be in charge of teaching and learning. It's not something you read about. It's something you do. You're able to guide teachers, other administrators because you did the work. The city manager process here in the city of Worcester was
082a long full process. He also was a Worester public school student. He also served as assistant city manager. But there was a process. Why not a process for the second largest school district in Massachusetts? Our students, families, and staff deserve this. Every other process in Louisa public schools has interviews. Why not the superintendent of schools? I recommend that we do an interim for one year. In the fall, we start a full-time search probably in November. and the uh new superintendent after going through a search committee. Um also then would start in uh July 1st, 2026. As I've gone getting my signatures this week, I have great concerns from the community. I counted how many people I spoke to that asked me, "What is going on? Is there something wrong? And that's why we're quickly moving
083someone without community input." 100 people this week asked me why myself as a school committee member were not allowing a process for a very very important job. I didn't have the answer. Another very important part that everyone asked me is the superintendent has to live in Worcester just like the police chief, the fire chief, the city manager, the director of public works. Why are we not saying that the superintendent must live in Worcester and taking the job? So you have a finance manager for budget and you have a superintendent whose main job is to lead teaching and learning. These are very different roles. When you get a superintendent, you also still have a finance manager. Again, there has to be a process for all the push for this current administration and this current school committee
084for inclusive decisions. Making the decision tonight go against all of that. Where is the community voice? Where is the school input? Where is the student input? Where is the community involvement? All right, let's talk about the strategic plan decisions. Shouldn't anyone that takes on the superintendent role follow the strategic plan? Where is the opportunity to ask the questions tonight of the candidate about the strategic plan? A vote tonight without a process is an insult to the Worcester community. We have now taken away their voice. We've heard tonight all the groups that want a voice. They want to be included in the process. So again, I state there should be no vote tonight. There should be a process that the people of this community are demanding. And when money is short, many people tonight said, "Well,
085in the next couple of years, money is going to be short, so we need the money guy." No, we don't need the money guy. We still have the money guy. We need the leader who knows how to teach and learn and make it without money because that is the person we need in front of us. So tonight I'd like to make a motion uh first that we hold the process for a interim and also a permanent superintendent. If we're not able to get that, I'd like to have a motion to recommend Dr. Marie Moss for the interim superintendent of the Worester public schools. She's a certified superintendent. She's been a teacher for over 30 years in the Worcester public schools. She has experience as a principal. She knows teaching and learning. She resides in Worcester.
086She knows how to teach special needs. She has been most instrumental in the work that has gone on in Dr. Monard's administration. She has been the one that has helped develop the documents. She's been the one that's done the presentation on the strategic plan. So I would like to make also a second motion that uh we hold a search an internal search for a permanent superintendent to begin July 1st uh 2026. One [Music] more. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. This my last thing. So now also as far as Mr. Allen goes, Mr. Allen is a talented business manager. However, he is not currently certified. He never was a teacher. He never had a class of teacher, a class of students in front of him. That's not something we learn because our people near us did it. You
087have to learn by doing it yourself. He was never principal. And I'm told that as we heard tonight, he's not willing to move to Miss Worcester until his children attend high school. However, Mr. Allen lives in the Watus district and there is school choice. So, his children could still go to the Wuset and he could become a person living in Worcester. on the CFO point made by the mega many CFOs have teaching licenses and were pro previously principles. So the number that was stated like look at all the CFOs that didn't have teaching experience. Well, let's look at the ones that have been teachers and have been principles. And then as far as the new commissioner, we don't do not yet know what his work will be like. So again, uh my motion, another motion
088is that we have a process. We do not pick a permanent superintendent tonight. Thank you. Thank you, member mailman. My notes have are all mixed up now from what I thought I was going to say. But um I want to start with I think it was um 2016 or 17 when we had So there's one theme I've heard a couple of times tonight that I am want to be very clear to the public through you, Mr. Mayor. I will never be in favor of and that's this internal search stuff. My I will vote for Mr. Allen tonight for a three-year contract for this job. I want to be clear about that. But three years from now, I'm going to be voting that we have a national search again because it's a good process for the
089city. It's a good process for the people that are part of the thing. And um and we did that in 2016 or 17. We did not even think about people in this district. So somebody goes from principal to superintendent. Is that the normal course of affairs? Not necessarily. A lot of times they go into administration. Mr. Allen's had more time in administration than the former superintendent that was um given the job with a internal search in 2016 or 17 whatever year that was. Couple of the things that are super important to me right now is um and it's important to be real. That's why I want to say my comments about what I think about searches and where they believe. I have been I was in favor of Ed Augustus getting a job. I was
090in I was absolutely not in favor of the process that happened when Superintendent Benenda got the job. I was um I also thought it would have benefited city manager Batista to have a national search. He could have still gotten the job. All of these people could have still gotten the job. But I think that we showed in Worcester with Molly and the rest of the very large community search fir um group that we had, we got what we wanted. Um and we got something that was valuable and it showed the Worcester community that we can do this, that we don't just have to hire Worcester, that somebody can come from the outside and provide tremendous value. So what I believe is the tremendous value that has been brought to this district and it's why I
091ran four years ago. I guess now we have shifted the culture in this district. We that is an amazing task. I'm not sure it could have been done with any of these awesome people that are sitting out here. Thank you Marie. Thank you you all of you for doing the work because I do agree with Diana Biancaria. We got it done because all of you got it done with the superintendent's leadership and the educators up above. Thank you, too. It takes a village and the village bought in and the community said, "We need to have a new direction. We need to stand for something else. We need to support our families and students." And this superintendent did that and Brian Allen has been at the table to do that. And we need to um we
092need to continue that process. I got a list of actually all the names of the supers. So, we've already killed that point. There's plenty of supers that are business managers. And it's and it's actually not a an item. It's this good discussion happens in every industry, right? We say, "Oh, does it have to be the the this person or can it be a business person?" Well, he's bringing business skills surrounded by people that are going to bug the heck out of them every day if we screw something up. And our parents and community are so engaged right now. they're going to be on his butt and we before all of that will be the ones on his butt. So I have said several times um and it and it's not I you know we se
093some people have said the business manager we want him in there if if um we get cut. It's more than that. It's the it's the structure of our entire district. it is um if Medicaid cuts come down from the federal to the state through the chair, this could be catastrophic. We don't know that it's going to happen, but there's not a person in this room that can tell me it's not going to happen. And I have as much concern and have expressed it several times that we better be watching out for this stuff. And so I when I look at myself and I listen to community and had probably over a hundred discussions in the last couple of weeks, people to me are most number one we want to move this district forward. We want
094to continue this strategic plan. We don't we want someone that is that has our backs and I believe that is um Mr. Allen. I think the equity budgeting is incredibly important. You can bring and and I'm I still say we should look at that this year even though there's not that much more money. Um geographic redistricting is an incredibly important task. The buildings that Dr. Monara as you have mentioned several times that we have got to keep on track with that. That's all critical facilities work. Um you have laid our plan with this team. you have laid our plan for the future and um community is in. I'm in. I thank you and I guess that's it. Thank you. We member Roy, do you have your hand up? I'm sorry. Not yet. Member Roy, then
095we'll go. Thank you. I'm truly torn with this item on many levels. Been doing a lot of soulsearching and thinking all day today. My stance has always been about transparency and full disclosure. That said, is appointing someone without an interview process the right avenue to take. I think we should open up a local search um to applicants that may be both qualified and interested to at least get the chance to interview for the position. That said, I certainly is not a slight or reflection on Mr. Allen or his qualifications. As many people have said, he's done a remarkable job with our budget. But I also have a great fear of what message we are sending to the taxpayers of our city who feel that an interview process should take place especially where our city manager
096and police chief both had to go through the proper process. I understand that continuity is extremely important especially when dealing with children and but I worry are we rushing this through where as member B and Carrier said we have plenty of time. We owe it as an elected body to our constituents, students, faculty and families to conduct a transparent and proper search. I was also at this community meeting on Monday night and yes there were quite a few people there and they were quite vocal about doing an interview process and quite vocal about only looking inside at the talent we have locally. So that said I don't really know how I'm going to vote and I will know when the vote comes. So, thank you very much. Okay. Um, member Alvarez, it is a tough
097night. I feel it. I'm like, it's heavy. Um, as a newcomer though, I did want to share how I am experiencing this. Um, it's very confusing to be honest, but I will say that I listen, I research, and I really try to like be present and feel it out for for the people's for the names that have been mentioned on the floor. um as a newcomer who h I'm the youngest one on the floor right now and some of the some of the things I've heard tonight is um there Brian Allen uh and everyone else that was mentioned um they have a tremendous sorry I didn't name you Dr. Uh but you guys have a tremendous history with our district, with our schools, with our community. Uh and that that time frame is as old
098as me or half my age. But all I know is that I trust the process and I trust the leaders that I've looked up to when I was in high school and elementary school. I I trust all of you guys and I trust every single opinion that has been mentioned on the floor. And when I do vote, I'm going to vote with what feels right for me. Um and and just follow the leaders that really have impacted uh this community. Um and I just wanted to put that there. Thank you, member Johnson. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, so like everyone else, I you know, we knew this was coming when when Superintendent Monz um decided to to resign due to family reasons. and we all um agree and make sure that um she's happy and
099her husband's happy and and does what's right for her family. Um we hear a lot from my colleagues tonight in regards to different things, reasons why uh Mr. Allen should be the superintendent, numerous reasons why Mr. Allen um should not be the superintendent and different processes that we should go through in order to find the new new superintendent of the Worester public schools. Um you know like many things you know and you're if you're in the business world or you know I'm I'm I'm big into sports. So when you talk about the coaching range ranks and different things like that, when when you give someone a interm tag, that's a tough tag to have because that means that whoever gave you that tag is not all in on you and they're looking for someone else
100or maybe the next best thing. and whoever you have playing for you or whatever is not going to give you their all because they're not sure you're going to be here at the end of the year. That's why I would not be in support of anything to do with intermag because we need someone who we name who is permanent who is going to move us forward because I think that's what everyone needs to see. We need to see someone who is going to be here, who is going to stick by us, and it's not just going to be here for a year. So, the interm tag would not be good for this district moving forward. Um, and we were talking about going through the process of interviewing and having an internal search or whatever. Um
101although he hasn't been or no one has, they actually in front of us every other week for the past 3 years has been interviewed. They have gotten up here and sat in a chair on numerous times and presented on different reports of the superintendent and have sat there and answered questions. They have answered our phone calls. They have given us reports that we have asked for. We've seen some of the body of work that people in Superintendent Monz's administration could do. Although they haven't been officially interviewing, I would say they actually been interviewing. We know what they could do. We know what they're capable of. Marie Moss, Brian Allen, Tom Tony, Chris Casson, Kareem Tatum, Jessica Boss, Dan O'Brien, Will Foley, UKQ. We have uh Tammy Sullivan, um Tammy Murray, I'm sorry. I went to
102high school with us. She was Sullivan back then. Sorry. Sorry, Tammy, if you're watching. um numerous educators, numerous principles that I know or whatever, man, they worked their tail off over these past three years. It hasn't been easy, guys, Mr. Chairman. It has not been easy. The buyin hasn't all been there all the time. There's been a lot of pushing and pulling. We know this. And we don't know everything that goes on behind closed doors. We don't know what goes on in the schools behind closed doors. But what I can tell you is I hear things. I still hear things. Some people still haven't fully bought in. That's okay. Tons of people have fully bought in. We sat here and talked about maintaining the strategic plan that has been put in place. Anything short of
103continuing that strategic plan with someone that is currently on board on this administration will be detrimental to this district, to our students, to our educators here in the Worester public schools. I Brian is a South High grad. So am I. I went to school with um um Brian's brother. Um he's a long time worester guy. He's worked here for a long time. Um you know, truly dedicated to our students here. And you know, one thing I would say and and we've said this numerous times, Rachel came here and said her job is to lead and to build people up within our district. So when she is no longer here, we have someone who could step in and do the job. And I think for months and for years now, we have seen she has built
104this team. This team is more qualified to step in and continue to lead this district forward. Yeah. May not the teaching and learning and the principal and the education staff or whatever. But damn, he has one of the best ones sitting right next to him right there who will be on the forefront of continuing in that work that we do hand in hand along with other ones who have been in the education room, who've been principles in school, who've been teachers in school to continue to help and support that work that we're trying to do moving forward. Mr. Chairman, I understand everyone's point of view. I've listened to it all. I not saying anyone's right or wrong or whatever, but we we are pressed for time. We need a leader. We need someone in charge
105of this district, in charge of our educators, in charge of administration and our students on July 1st. We still have many other things to do from now until then, including budget session that happens in a month from now when we're going to be approving a budget for fiscal year 26. We need to have someone in place who is going to lead us there and lead us in that session to get us to where we need to go starting July 1st. Mr. chairman. So again, I I'm willing to move us forward and I've listened to a lot of people. My phone did not stop ringing last night. My phone did not stop ringing this morning. Um, and I'm going to tell you this, and I and I and I say this, I don't say this often.
106As a black man on this school committee, I did reach out to the BIPO community. I wanted to ensure that they were in support of what I was thinking and where we were going as a district because although I represent all students here in the West public schools and all people here in the community, I also have a huge obligation to my BIP my BIPO community and I wanted to ensure that we were all on the same page. In every conversation I had, I could tell you what I was thinking, they were also thinking the same thing. So, I know in taking my vote tonight that I'm clear that we're moving in the right direction for our district, for our kids, for our educators moving forward. There may be some people that may not like
107it, but I think this is the right decision that we make moving forward in the vote that I'm going to take tonight. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. [Applause] Okay. Yeah. Member Guardola. Uh uh thank you very much very uh I apologize Mr. Mayor that I I could not be there in person for this conversation. I just I didn't want to get anybody ill. Um I will I'm going to keep my my my statement short. Just know that I am in support of the fact that the administration has been put into a good position. I believe I believe that uh Dr. uh Manarees has has has put us in a better position than we've been in the past. Uh I I truly believe and I'm going to echo a little bit of what um uh
108what uh uh vice chair vice chairman has said. Um, I would say that there's a lot that we have to do in the next few years, especially when it comes to uh uh, you know, who we have. And I would ask that we make sure that Mr. Allen knows that, you know, as a Latino male that we ha we have to know that 50% of of the community is Latino and we have to diverse our continued sorry uh continue the diversity that that uh we have been doing over the last two years to make sure that we are always going to move forward and make sure that we are we are continuing with um we are continuing with the uh the future of the the entire district. So, please uh as as as the mayor
109and as the the the chair of this uh committee, we want to make sure that the next person is whether whether it's Brian Allen, whether it's Marie Morris, doesn't matter. I'm going to support you because I think that you understand this. just let us move forward and get this thing done and make sure that everybody is going to know that we support our district. Thank you. Mayor Petty, I'll be very quick. I want to make sure we have nine people to vote [Laughter] tonight. Okay. Um I just want to we correct the historic history on this. I'll be very quick. You know, I've been around for a bit. Uh we've gone through searches. We haven't gone through searches. Michael O'Brien was appointed without a search. He was the head of pox. Head of pox. Nobody
110knew who he was. We voted him in that night. No search, no resume. Turned out to be one of the best city managers we had. Rachel Moz, I put a committee together of seven, I know 17 or 20 people. Moy McCulla led that. At that time, I really believed in my heart we needed new set of eyes to look at the district. Not a crit criticism to anybody, but just an evaluation where we were and where we want to go. Proved out to be the right decision. And even the other senior manager search Ed Augustus we named him that night. Nobody knew I was naming them. Not one person in the room know I was naming him. Came in named him. People's faces dropped. Didn't work for the city of Worester. Came in as the
111uh till we could get a search going. And finally just named him again because we did a search couldn't find nobody. Then uh took one correction though. We had one fire chief who did not live in the city of Worcester. He was appointed for a reason. He wasn't going to move into the city of Worcester because he because he he committed to 18 months and he did his 18 months because that's what we asked him to do. So I did have situations where people do not live in the city of Worester. It's all about my what what you think is right. I'm not disagreeing with anybody uh agreeing, but it's what you think is right. But I think this is right tonight what we're doing for the city of Worcester. And that's what you I
112always think we have I do as as the mayor of the city of Wor has two big responsibilities the city manager and superintendent of schools that the right people get into those positions. Sometimes people don't like the way it's done but at the end of the day was it the right decision. Thank you. Okay. So, under the rules, the first motion I need to take is the hold the hold the process. So, you need six votes, I believe. Is that right? Majority. What's that? Yeah, majority. Yeah, you need a majority votes. That's five votes to hold the process. So, that's the first one under the rules. The second one is the amendment to do an internal search. That'll be the second motion. The third motion will be my motion to name Brian Allen for a
113three-year term. If that fails, the fourth motion is recommend Marie Morris as interim superintendent. Okay. So, the first motion is to hold this item to the next meeting. Sorry. Roll call. Member Alvarez. No. Member Bianceria. No. Member Benza. Yes. Member Guadiola, no. Vice Chair Johnson, no. Member Mailman, no. Member McCulla, no. Member Roy, no. Mayor Petty, uh, no. So, the second motion is to do an internal search. Roll call. Member Alvarez, no. Member Vancaria, yes. Member Bernenda, yes. Member Guardiola, yes. Vice Chair Johnson, no. Member mailman, no. Member McCulla? No. Member Roy? Yes. Mayor Penny, no. Okay, that's fine. Feels fails. Okay. Okay. So, is that that right? Yeah. Okay. four yes, five. Yeah, four yeses and five nos. So, that fails. Okay, next motion is that we continue that we uh name Brian Allen
114as his next superintendent of the West Public Schools with a three-year term subject to negotiations. Okay. Member Alvarez. Yes. Member Bianceria. Yes. Member Bernenda. No. Member Guardiola? Yes. Vice Chair Johnson? Yes. Member Mailman? Yes. Member McCulla? Yes. Member Roy? Yes. Mayor Petty? Yes. Okay. [Applause] Ju just say a few words. Nothing. Real quick, Matt, can we can we can we do a motion to rec reconsider, please? Okay, the mot Okay, we have before Mr. Allen speaks, we have a motion for reconsideration. So, the first motion we need to take is to suspend the rules. Oh, sorry. So, the motion is suspend the rules. Roll call. Member Alvarez, yes. Member Banceria, yes. Member Benoa, no. No. Member Guardiola? Yes. Vice Chair Johnson? Yes. Member Mailman, yes. Member McCulla, yes. Member Roy, yes. Mayor Penny, yes. No,
115I mean no. I was right. Yes. So, I'm focus I'm focused on too many things right now. Okay. So, Okay. So, so now the motion is to reconsider. Member Alvarez. No. Member Bianceria. No. Member Bernenda? Yes. Member Gardiola? Uh, no. Vice Chair Johnson. No. Member Mailman. No. Member McCulla. No. Member Roy. No. Mayor Penny. Uh, no. Okay. So, um, Mr. Allen to the chair. I just want to uh thank the school committee. I appreciate all of the comments that were made tonight. Um, with regards to the process, I I just want to say, and I'll be brief, we'll say more down the road. We still have a couple of hoops to go, but we are uh I am with the team behind me fully committed to seeing through the strategic plan, the family and community
116engagement, school safety, safe and well-maintained buildings. Um, that is our commitment. That has been our work. And we assure you, I assure you, that is what we will see through to the end of the strategic plan. That is my commitment to everybody. So, I want to thank the school committee for all of the comments uh tonight for the vote. Um and I look forward to the work ahead. So, thank you. Congratulations. Thank you, Brian. Good job, Brian. [Applause] Enjoy the moment and [Laughter] changes. Well, I want to thank you everybody for coming out tonight and putting your input in. Much appreciated and sticking it out for Thank you, Mr. Yes. I think we left off on 5.39. Is that correct? You consider the approval of the calendar changes for the 2526 school year proposed 2526
117calendar. Refer that to fog. All those in favor? Oppos? So ordered. I'm sorry. Um I think is he on still or do you go off Alex is off? He's off. Yeah. Okay. All those in favor? Oppos? So ordered. Provide a report with a breakdown of after school and before school budget. Member mailman. I'm sorry. Goes on to the next page. provide a report of the breakdown of after school and before school budget allocations by segment elementary, middle, and high school. Please include all enrichment programs, including sports. member uh mailman through the chair um I think it's self-explanatory but um I want to see dollars by elementary middle and high school through the chair um for all enrichment programs and what is part of our budgets because I do think part of the equity as I
118have said several times before is um what are we providing the elementary the different groups in our schools so I think it's self-explanatory but thank you okay send that to fog those in favor opposed to audit uh to consider approved the attached job description. Motion is approved in the file. Any question? Madam superintendent through the chair. I was going to speak on these two um job descriptions during the ROS. However, it's okay. I can still speak to them later. Um, so what I want the committee to know is there is no intention of filling the instructional specialist position for the 2526 school year. We just want to get this job description on the books. I will be speaking to it. It's part of that eye to the future. Um, and so we we just want
119that there so that we have that that structure already set as we move forward. The second um job description, associate principal for instructional leadership. So that one is pending potential grant re receiving that we would get from DESIE. The committee may recall that North High School was kind of this soft labeling of a school of concern at the beginning of the school year. And at that time Desi said that they were going to be allocating a million dollars over three years, not a million dollars each year, a million dollars over three years, which is not a substantial amount of money for a high school. um but that grant information would be forthcoming. Well, we've been waiting and we've been waiting and um we started asking if this grant information was going to be forthcoming. Um
120we just got an email uh two days ago that finally said, "Okay, you can apply. Here's the process. Here's everything you need to do." We which is why we put this on the agenda before we even got that email because we were concerned that we would get information from Desi it would be kind of late and then we wouldn't be able to start moving on what we already have in place in terms of a potential plan for North High School. So we have to apply for this grant. If the grant is approved, then we would fly this position as well as the additional money that we would get from the grant would be to um provide additional planning time for the teachers so that they can work together and so that is a million dollars
121over three years is not a whole lot of money for a high school. Um I'm just going to say that the elementary schools that were already also considered schools of concern which serve hundreds of left children are getting the same amount of money. So um that's just the way this grant may or may not come to be. But we want this on the books in case we get the grant and we don't have to wait where it might be till like November where we could actually fly a position and then we're not going to get the the caliber. No one's going to want to leave their position to um to take this. So none of these are in the budget that you will get. This is just our forward thinking. Thank you. Member Ben, I'd
122really like to make a motion that we don't approve any new positions or funding uh for this school year and to the new superintendent uh takes takes the job. Thank you. Okay. Okay. Which is different than what we're doing here. Correct. So this has not your emotion as long as you realize your emotion has nothing to do with this particular item because it's not going to fill it and we're not going to as long as people realize that remember Benenda. Okay. Okay. Through the chair either position at this time. Okay. Just you're talking in general. Okay. So you don't want to fill or budget until the new new superintendent comes on. But we're going to have a budget. So it could before Okay. Well, the budget comes out in a couple weeks. If there's any
123new positions in there, I don't know. No, there's nothing. Okay. Remember um can you guys switch your signs around? Little name tags. You're confused. But uh remember um being carrier. Okay. So, I guess we're going to have to do that regularly because someone who's putting these on is not looking to see what they're doing. Unfortunate. Okay. Thank you for letting me know that. I wish I knew that earlier. But it was a hell of a lot more serious than two courses. But I guess I need to uh look at my sign every time now. Great. Um reason I'm asking this question is because I've been approached by staff at North High School. I have a very close uh relationship with the uh employees there and they're a little concerned about an associate principal for instructional
124leadership. So you talked about a grant superintendent My question is what discussion has been held with the staff at North High School um the administrative staff to then say that this is a position that they would be interested in and feel as though moving forward they are aware of what direction that they should be moving forward with this position. Madam superintendent through the chair. So I'll give high level and Dr. Tatum if you can come up and then explain what we what we've done. Um so we when Desi said this was going to be a school of concern, we went to the school at that time and we um I I explained to them what this meant um which was very broad because we didn't really know what that meant. And then we asked the
125school to start working on if we get this grant, what should we be looking for? And so they gave input. Then they came um Dr. Fanfan came with some of his team and shared where things were at. And then we we paused. We didn't move forward on anything else because we were waiting for Desi. So it's been a while. Um but again, we want this on the record on the books in case we actually can start moving on things. Dr. Dr. Tatum, what else can you fill in on that process through the chair? Um, specifically to these two positions, the only conversations that were had with the school was with the administration. Um, so there was never any conversations with faculty and staff members about this position, these positions because we didn't know if we
126would be able to fill them. So the individuals that you're speaking of who are contacting, I'm really not certain how they know about these positions because it was just with the building principal and the administration. Um, so a as of right now it's we'll see if we get the funds. Um, but that's kind of as far as we are in the process right now because there was no real teeth to the process because we were never granted the funds to get this going. Okay. So there really was just a discussion with the principal. I I have to ask, was this in reference to the um uh the uh trip to Florida, the seminar that you went to Florida on? Is this in tie in with the through the chair um with the No, no, no.
127With the Promised Neighborhood No, this is not I couldn't remember that. That's okay. Okay, that's okay. So, it's this does this is not Italian with this. This is completely separate. This this is solely for North High School. The Promised Neighborhood is for the North Quadrant. Okay. So, it's both positions would be instructional specialists would be at North High School and the instructional leadership or just the instructional leadership would be so um the instructional specialist is a district-wide position again for school year 2627. Okay. the um associate principal. It doesn't specify North High School in the job description, which I think is what Dr. Tatum is saying. So, we're not um but the plan would be that that's where we would have it and if we get the grant. If not, then we won't be doing
128anything. And what is the time frame for the grant? Good question. Right now, we have to turn it in May. End of May. Do we Oh, Dr. more just literally we just got the email two days ago. So we've been asking are we going to get any information and we now all of a sudden now they're they're finally doing something. So we don't want to have to wait if we actually get the money but the plan is supposed to be that it's for next school year. That's the plan. When that arrives that's what we're not sure from Desi yet. So is it so the application is in the process correct? Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. So we have a uh the motion uh is to uh not to fill or budget any
129new positions until the new superintendent takes effect on July 1st. This a question to the superintendent. Just do we have any new positions until July 1st or that we're filling or before July 1st? There are no new positions between now and the end of the school year. Okay. So, right now we're following that motion. Okay. So, okay. Okay. Question through the chair. Just to clarify, this is specifically saying like nobody's being hired between now and July 1st, like no new position is being started and hired before July 1st. It's not talking about any plans within the budget or anything like that. Is that correct through the chair? Um to, you know, I just want to make sure that we're clear about like I don't want there to be something that comes up during budget that
130we would support and this counteracts that. That's my only concern. That's the question I asked and you pretty much said that would not be the case. What did you say? I I think now I'm getting confused. So So I think what member McCulla is saying is and what I understood your question to be from right now until when the new superintendent starts, are there any new positions that we are filling? And the answer is no. But if you you're still hiring people to replace people, I would think. Correct. That would be a vacancy. Yep. Okay. Okay. You still want to do the motion? Member Benenda or Yes. I I would just like to hold on these two with the grant. You won't know you'll have the grant. You'd probably know you have the grant by
131July 1st. So, if we could just hold on them until the new superintendent takes takes the position. So, the motion is to hold this position which doesn't I guess this is a process, right? Well, anyways, you need majority vote to hold. Motion's to hold. Roll call. Member Alvarez. No. Member Biania. No. Member Bernenda. Yes. Member Guardiola. Vice Chair Johnson. No member mailmanian. No member McCulla. No member Roy. No. Mayor Penny. No. So next is motions to approve and to file. Those in favor? Post. So ordered. We will go to uh one item left I believe. Report of the superintendent from here to anywhere together. Strategic budget um prioritization preparation ROS summary. Motion is approved in the file. Madame superintendent through the chair. Okay. So, we're a little backwards tonight, but we're going to finish with
132the ROS report of the superintendent. So, tonight committee, you're going to hear the process that we used um for the development of the budget that you will receive next Friday. Correct, Mr. Allen? Next Friday. Yes. Um and so in that um we did a combination of maintaining what we've been doing with an eye for the future and I'm going to explain um this at a very high level and then if you have some more detailed questions then I can um ask Mr. Allen to come on up. So next slide. So specifically, you'll gain an understanding of of the budget prior prioritization process for school year 2526 and receive an overview of budget recommendations now and into the future. And when I say future, we're already talking about school year 2627 because of all the work
133that we did this year um around the equity budgeting. So oh, and um Mayor Petty had asked for a summary to start providing summaries of the presentations. So, you received a summary. Does that work for you, Mayor Patty? Um, so you can also use that. Um, it's just high high level kind of information for you. Um, it was one of the attachments. So, it would be part of your report of the superintendent. It probably either be the first page or the very last page or your your digital. So, you'll see it underneath. It's just a se another link. Find it. Okay. Next slide. So as always we stay committed to um the strategic plan and the superintendent goals. This part of the pres or my goals direct directly relates to goal number two which again
134this is remember that as a superintendent in Massachusetts you're only required to have one district goal but because Worcester has such grand needs in the area of modernization and safe facilities we add a second goal. So this is included in there and then next slide it goes deeper in terms of the direct connection modernizing and safe facilities. One of the pieces of evidence that I was going to submit for my evaluation is to codify an equity budgeting process. So um Mr. Allan took the lead on that and he developed a process digging into what best practices are and then we took that process and took it on the road with our principles and to various um commi um yeah community meetings advisories and those type of things. I'll talk about that briefly um and and
135I'm going to share with you where we came with that and kind of some of the challenges that we encountered along the way. But we do have an equity budgeting process that is now codified. just not going to be able to actualize it much this school year or next for this budget. Um, next slide. So, I want to just remind the committee because a budget as we have said multiple times is a representation of priorities. If your your household budget when you take a look at it and now our banks do this for us very nicely, it shows us what percentage of money we spend in different areas and it really helps us to know how we prioritize our money. It's the same thing in business and there is an educational side, there's a business
136side of the educational world. So we use some big ideas um to develop a framework around the budget. Next slide. First and foremost, because we are an educational system and we are about the scholars that we serve, the vision of a learner is our north star. Again, just a reminder that the vision of a learner are the skills and dispositions that we want every child to have upon walking across that stage when they are graduating high school. Um, we are in still in the early stages of imple implementation. But more and more I see evidence of this in our schools. Um, and our educators are seeing that so much of it they already do. Now we just have common language around that. The vision of a learner is a cornerstone of the Worcester public school
137strategic plan, our promise to the future, which you heard mentioned multiple times tonight. So the next slide is just a reminder of the strategic plan areas. A reminder that this was developed um and approved 70 at that time by the school committee um in my second year as the superintendent. And the data that we gathered represented um hundreds and hundreds of people throughout the community who said these are our priority areas. Please make this happen for our children. And so the budget continues to reflect work in these areas. Next slide. in addition to what the community has asked for. And remember, community includes the families that live here, the staff that works here, the children that we serve, our community partners, it it includes everybody. My first year, the team and I, we um we
138we read districts that succeed. And we actually had um Dr. Chennowith, I actually I'm not sure if she's a doctor, but Karen Chennowith come and speak with our principles at the end of the year um on this book. and and it's a study of what school districts have done to break that correlation between race, poverty, and achievement. And these are the levers that make that happen. So involved families, collaborative teachers, effective leaders, supportive environment, and ambitious instruction. When we read when we read this text, when we then got the the priority areas for our strategic plan, there's so much alignment there. um the budget and so we've we've allocated monies in that area since my second year involved families the wraparound coordinators and you heard a report of the superintendent on them they have been
139tremendous they are bridges for our families and for our principles um collaborative teachers that's the collaborative um planning time that our teachers have but there's never enough time so you will hear in the budget that we're we're working on how we can give more time to teachers Of course, effective leadership is important and we continue that work through our principal academy. So, we didn't feel like we needed additional money there. We just need to be purposeful with our time. Supportive learning environments. Uh we have continued that work. That's the culture and climate. It's making a huge difference for our students. We still have things that happen in schools. We serve 25,000 children, um almost 5,000 adults. There's a lot of things that happen. And then of course all of that leads to ambitious instruction. So
140specifically, go ahead and click Casey because there's a circle collaborative teachers and collaborative PL or time for teachers to collaborate. Another fancy educational term is collective efficacy. That's where we're putting some additional resources to help support that for next school year. Next slide. Again, these are just grounding us on how we made these decisions. So, we reworked this visual that we had before, but if you'll remember last school year, because we had to uh reduce the budget by $22 million, we worked with some principles and some directors to develop guiding principles, the other kind of principle for budget decision-making and these continue to be our guiding principles. So, of course, we have to adhere to our collective bargaining agreements and state and federal law. We want to be as transparent as possible and use data
141to guide the decisions as it relates to budget. Ensure quality academic excellence through a continuous improvement process. So, we're never going to reach um an end. We're always going to work on getting better. Embrace the culture of equity and engagement that allows for the variability. And that really spoke to our principles and the differences at our schools um and being um understanding that not every school is the same. And then finally commitment to safe, secure and welcoming schools. So these were our guiding principles. The previous slide is what the the data and the the experience tells us we need um and the strategic plan and um vision of a learner are are cornerstones. So let's be sure next slide that we are all clear when we say resource and resource allocation. What are we talking
142about? And resource comes in three ways. It's time, which every educator will tell you there's never enough of. It is the one thing that is finite and we need it more and more. So, in the budget process, we found ways to increase time for teachers to to collaborate with each other to practice collective efficacy um with minimal cost uh because we just didn't have a lot of money. I'll explain why. People is what we tend to go to when we think that we need a resource. We need to hire another person. And sometimes that's the case, but not always. And then finally, money is um really important, of course, but it's not the only resource. So when we when we talk about people, it's about developing people so that they have the skill set and
143they feel that personal efficacy to be able to meet whatever comes their way. this year. What you'll see in the budget as it relates to money is again time for um common planning time, the purchase of curriculum, um the purchase of something's not clicking in my mind. Curriculum is a really big one. So, I'll I'll talk through that further as we go through. So, resource time, people, money. Next slide, please. Finally, if you'll remember last year, what we did um to say, "All right, what what must every school have is we developed what we're calling our foundations of excellence." And the budget reflects this this coming school year. So, still maintaining an average class size of 21 to1. In order to do that, we're having to hire more teachers. We have more students, so we're
144going to hire more teachers and um that will be already in place. The budget will reflect that. counselors. And when we say counselors, we're talking about both guidance and school adjustment counselors doing our best to give a ratio of 250 students um for one counselor. Now, I want to say that that we're we're adhering to that for the most part at our secondary schools, but at some of our elementary schools, they're they are bigger schools and they have more than 250 count um students and we have one counselor there. Um and we did talk about should we change that up and we said no our secondaries need both the guidance and the school adjustment counselors. Um the elementarymentaries are doing okay. We made slight changes but nothing major um to make sure that we kept
145our secondary schools with both a guidance counselor and a school adjustment counselor. And then finally we did take a look we've heard many times throughout the year at our elementary spe special education inclusion model. So, if you'll remember last year, we said we were going to staff for 30 students on a TMSN educators roster, they would get two pair of professionals. What we realized when we started actually um assigning people that that would mean possibly moving some um teachers to then reduce um the the class the case load. So rather than moving teachers, we're just reworking the way we're talking about this. So instead of it being th um one teacher has 30 students with two paraprofessionals, instead we're saying if you think about an adult, whether that's a teacher or a pair of professional,
146no more than 10 students assigned to that still equals about a 30 to 30 students to two um adults. But we're going to look at it slightly different. So, some schools have maybe more TMSNS because they don't come in perfect bundles of 30 the student needs um and maybe one less para educator is what I'm getting at or it could be reversed. Maybe we have a school where it's for example 35 um students on a case load. You would have the TMSN and then you would have two additional uh pair of professionals and possibly a third. So we're looking at it more about 10 students per one adult versus 30 students for um two adult an adult and two paris still comes out to be the same. Those that is our foundations of excellence that
147is how we staffed for all schools. So that's not using the equity model for that. Okay. So now let me go into the equity budgeting process. Next slide. So equity budgeting the foundation allows the the the foundations of excellence allows to make sure that everyone has base and then we can start to adjust for schools and programs that might need more so that our our scholars continue to excel. So the next slide talks just gives a big overview of how did we do this. So um we we engaged like we always do. We talked with our principles. We spent a lot of time with our principles. We used our principal academy time um I think at least three different times to allow them to work with each other about what the research says, give them
148a template to then take back to their schools to work with their leadership teams. Then come back to us. The principles worked with each other, gave each other feedback um and then we collected the information. So we spent a lot of time with our our our principles and then they worked at their individual schools. Then we also and we asked them to work with their school site councils as well. Um we also took this information to the family and community engagement roundt. We took it to the superintendent student advisory. Mr. Allen led all of this and the citywide parent planning advisory council and did the same thing. What would be the um the levers that we would um want if we could do anything but not for everybody, right? What's the biggest need? And I'll
149tell you with the family and community engagement roundtable, they had a list. Oh my gosh. They had a very long list. And then I said, "Okay, so now um now that you know that or now that you have this really long list, we can do anything we want. We just can't do everything we want. What's the what's the one thing?" And um and they said, "Give your teachers planning time." And we even we didn't even put that out there. They said it. So they know the power of the educator. Um next slide. I think we got to click one more time. I don't know why that was doing that. There we go. So, what happened with the schools? So, the schools came with some big ideas, big themes. There were three of them. One is
150the school said, and remember this is their equity budgeting process. They wanted to have a strengthened tier one instruction. And tier one is just our fancy way of saying what children receive each and every day. And they wanted some professional development. um that in that included some um procurement of curricular resources, some professional development time for multilingual youth and a co-eing model. Um instructional coaching was a big one that that the teach they they were asking for and teacher collaboration time. They also requested staff for student support and instructional improvement. And so um hiring of additional ML teachers, hiring of additional special education teachers and par educators. So the budget reflects some of those requests. Not all of them. We I'll get to what the actual money was. There was a big ask to expand
151the climate and culture staff um to include some additional climate and culture assistance which at our secondary schools would free up the secondary educators who sometimes have to spend time on non-instructional duty work to actually let someone else do that so they can work in their collaborative um department teams. They also asked to um look at some potential to return our building subs to ensure the instructional continuity. So that's part of staff for student support instructional improvement. And then finally the final bucket that we heard um and again these are in big themes is to expand student learning opportunities and equity based programs. And so that included um some after-school tutoring or afterchool support um some summer learning time and then to increase the academic intervention and acceleration res resources. So those that's what the
152schools asked for and then where do we land on these recommendations? So the next slide. So we're ready we're ready to go. We were really excited. We had we thought we had some good money. Um, and the good news is there's no reduction to the budget. I'm a big Snoopy fan. My daughter and I love sending each other Snoopy memes. So, hope you have a little fun with that one. Um, so we were ready to start allocating um the resources to support the equity budgeting and literally within two hours we received some news from the city that changed everything. So, the next slide kind of outlines it for us. So, I'm going to start with the revenue change for uh fiscal year 26. And Mr. Allen has talked about this multiple times with you. We
153have an increase of of students, $12.6 million. We also have an increase on the foundation um budget inflation for 12.5 million. We are getting additional funds for student opportunity act year five. Um and we are but we're also losing some money for the charter choice assessment. So the total revenue was $38.2 million. Sounds great, right? Then we have to account for kind of what we've already spent. So this is um where we land. So salary increases for this next school year is $22 million. So we're and we're hiring new people. So we need to plan for that. The unexpected increase that we did not anticipate was the increase the amount the percentage increase on health insurance and retirement. So that went up um more than 7%. Correct, Mr. Allen? So that we had to budget
154$10.3 million. That took a big chunk of the money that we thought we were going to be able to use for the equity budgeting. The outofdist transportation is $1.1 million. And we've done a lot of work in the systems improvement in that area. For a while there, um the out of school out of district transportation was really kind of a runaway train. We've slowed that, but still we have to budget 1.1. and then all other accounts is another 1.1. So the total increase is $34.4 million. That leads to $3.8 million to apply to equity budgeting. So just a little less than4 million. Not a lot of money for 50 schools. So we had to be very strategic on how we were going to do this. So we have two strategy areas. Next slide. We couldn't
155do everything that our schools had asked for, but we can work on enhanced collective efficacy through com common planning time. And the research says the collaborative teachers, collective efficacy, those are synonymous with each other is the greatest impact on student achievement. Over and over again, it has shown that. So, we want to invest in that. We can't do it at every school, but what we're going to do is we put money aside and when our data comes out from um MCCAST, then we're going to allocate a certain amount of money to elementary schools by grade level. So, we're really going to dig into what does the which grade levels need additional support um and allocate bud buckets of money, if you will, to those schools to then be able to offer additional time to their
156teachers for professional for planning. Um, so that's one of the things we're going to do. We're also work we're going to make a recommendation to reduce the at the secondary level reduce educator time spent on non-education duties. And when I say that, what that looks like in practice is we have teachers during some of their prep time where they sit outside the restroom and they sign students in and out. Um, and I just don't think that that's the best use of their time. And I think we can have someone else do that and that would allow them to then work with their te their peers and do some common planning time and we can do that by hiring um additional climate and culture assistance which is what the schools asked for. So and we can
157do that at all of the secondary schools. So the elementary schools, we're going to look at the schools that have the greatest they have the need based off of the data and and put and give money there and um put an additional climate and culture assistant at the secondary schools so that they can have the time um to do what we what they went to school to do, which is to um be those teachers that can provide that ambitious instruction for students and not have to sign students in and out of the restroom. The um second um strategy that we're looking at, and we heard it from the community, and I've heard it from the community since I got here, is um to expand some afterchool opportunities. So, we're going to continue to fund the
158secondary late bus option. Um, we're going to work with our community partners so that they can come into our schools and um, utilize our facilities and we'll take care of some of those costs for them, but then they would actually come into the school so we can work on that. We that's not a a heavy lift financially for us. Um, and then we're looking at creating a cluster option for our elementary school age children. So, um, Miss Boss has been working with our community-based agencies and really trying to set up. We can't have an afterchool care program at throughout the district. We the our our community providers don't have the bandwidth to do that, but we want to create a cluster option for the families who need it. Um, and and then we would provide
159the transportation for that. So, these are the kind of things we're looking at, which would be um a minimal cost to the district because we only have 3.8 $.8 million to do that. So the next So that's those those are the two big ideas around the equity budgeting. We can't do it everywhere, but we're going to try to do it in some places. The next slide then goes into specific um additions that you will see in the budget book. So you will put you will see money put aside for common planning time. you will see money put aside for um additional staff, an assistant principal, of course, classroom educators, para educators, a BCBA, climate and culture assistants um and a a TMSN. You will see um expansion and therefore the people necessary to expand our
160dual language program and um our CTE andor chapter 74. So those will be additional people. You will also see money put aside for the curricular resources materials, the secondary late bus routes and um secondary afterchool facilities use. Those are all additions that you will see with the 3.8 million. Next slide. Um because when you have minimal money, you find ways to repurpose or refine things. So when it comes to time, we're going to give the teachers additional time. And this year we have developed um the Worcester public schools collaborative team structures guide book that our integrated coach has developed and already shared with our principles. Um and so we'll be implementing that and it is really the best practices of how teams work together to improve collective efficacy. Um we are going to train um
161people at our school sites around restorative practices. We have heard over and over and it's it's something that we definitely need to do. people don't understand what does it mean um restorative practices and and classroom teachers need it at a basic level because they're not the ones who have to do it. Um it is our school adjustment counselors, it's our assistant principles, but people need training on that. So we're putting together a train trainer of trainer of trainers model, training of trainers model. Um and then professional learning support um will continue specifically in the area of multilingual. um at our our secondary we're looking at um schooling our engagement active engagement strategies and then of course continuing the work on um literacy in people again elementary after school care cluster options so we're are going
162to have to budget a little bit for the buses and that and the bus drivers um refinement of the TMS elementary model I already spoke to that briefly um we have a very active uh parent group who um have they are I think they call they're the elementary library coalition and we've met with them and we have um agreed that we will launch a five-year scale plan with them. I think there's actually a date that they've got scheduled in September fall of next school year where we will be sharing this this plan with them. um and they've done a great job of helping us to identify where we have libraries that need minimal improvement, where we have some other opportunities, but we're we're going to get started on that. And then um enrollment and student
163placement. So, we continue to have as we grow access to our various programs. And this again was one of the the needs and the asks that I had I heard during my um gathering of data for the strategic plan. People said over and over again, there are great programs in Wester public schools. We just don't all know how to access them. And so now we're getting more access to them and we need someone who can do oversight on the enrollment and student placement. PIC does a great job, but we need someone who understands um how schools work. We've had some students misplaced. Not misplaced. Well, I don't want like we didn't lose them. We have students who have been put in a program that maybe should have been put somewhere else and we find it
164later and that shouldn't happen. Um and so we want to we want to take care of that and we have a plan to do that that would have um no fiscal impact on the district. It's a repurposing of um some existing um individuals. And then finally um we are going to make a recommendation to refine some existing instructional positions as we prepare ourselves for the future. Next slide. So that's all for this the current budget, but as I shared when I talked about the job descriptions, we are because we were planning for equity budgeting for this school year and then we got that news. We don't want to stop the work. So want to let the committee know that this is our plan as we move forward for budget 2627. We want to we want
165to enhance collective efficacy, the common planning time. Our principles gave us great ways that they'd like to be able to do that at the schools. Unfortunately, we can't fund it all, but we can get started with some and then that'll be a nice model that then we can use to improve. So, um we we plan on being able to do that. If the research tells us that the best thing for student achievement is teachers who um their own personal efficacy has grown, but also their collective, then why wouldn't we give them that necessary time? Um the boundary realignment is a big heavy lift for next school year and that will have multiple um layers of movement, not just re realigning where some students might go to school, but also looking at programs. We're going to
166have to be sure that we include the community. Probably a lot of um grandfathering in families and and that kind of stuff. It's not going to be easy, but um we've got the right team to do that. um as part of the boundary re um realignment is that people work around um access. So in increasing our dual language, thinking about where is the best place for the secondary dual language, um increasing CTE opportunities, growing that and advanced learning. So, I've had the parents ask me about Goddard verse handover verse the program we're putting in at um at Dardy and um and there's just not clarity around that and they they want to understand it. And what we realized as we started looking at it um maybe the even the communication on how people get in,
167what's the purpose of each program that needs to get worked on. We're actually starting on that now, but we want to continue to increase and grow that. And then finally for school year 26 27 um it's this new uh uh unit A advancement opportunities and that's that instructional specialist position that um you just approved the job description for. We've talked with the union about it. They are excited to to know that there would be an actual advancement opportunity within unit A. So for teachers who aren't interested in going into administration but they want to do more they have they want a broader impact this will allow for that. Um and that new job description also then allows increase um afterchool programming options because it's actually going to be a longer workday which then allows for
168more people at the school which then we can start to offer more things. So that's for the future um and something that I know the team is looking forward to. I will be sharing this same presentation with our principles next Wednesday so that they understand where we landed, why we landed where we did and and they know where we're going towards the future. So the the next slide is then just a aggregate of how the money is being spent. So first, as I said, budget reflects priorities. And when you look at this this pie chart, you can see that 56.4% of the budget is in the instruction. That's teachers, that's principles, that's counselors. The next part that is related to that position or those is each each employee has benefits, right? So, we've got the
169benefits um that is 18.5% of the budget. And then the um other school services that orange that also includes um different people at the school site. So, it includes transportation, but it also includes um school safety, our wraparound coordinators, our school nurses, our athletics. So, if you add up the instruction and you add up the other school services, 67.5% of our total budget is in um support to schools, direct support to schools. Then you put the benefits on top of that and now we're up to nearly um 87% is in um supports to schools. Then from there you see that administration is 1.3% of the total budget. And I point that out because since I've arrived, there's been a constant there's been a constant drum beat that for that I have bloated the administration and
170that it is heavy. And if that was the case, that would be fair. But the facts show otherwise. And I want to remind anyone who is listening, Worcester Public Schools is the second largest district in New England, not in Massachusetts, in New England. And we're the second largest employer in the city. Over 5,000 people in this city. And we spend 1.3% on administrative positions. The rhetoric that there is a bloat is ridiculous. It's inaccurate. And frankly, it's poor form. And it's irresponsible. and it's harmful to those we serve to continue to spew this inaccurate rhetoric. I hope that people will start using the facts when we talk about the budget because 1.3% for administrative costs for a district that is the second largest in New England and the second largest employer in the city is
171nothing. It is absolutely nothing. And I am so proud of our administrative staff for doing what they have done with so little. I am incredibly proud of them. With that, the next slide reminds us that success is not a simple line. Success doesn't mean get a strategic plan in place, put budget in place, and we're just going to achieve that. And I think tonight we saw with me stepping down and the conversations that have happened that this squiggly line continues and that's okay because the district's going to continue to grow from that. And I will close by saying I want to thank the hardworking individuals in Worcester public schools for what you do each and every day and for the systems and structures we have put in place. The district is in a really good
172place and I feel really good about where it is and I I can leave it in great hands. Thank you, Mr. Allen, for stepping up. With that, I turn it back to you, Mayor Penny. Thank Thank you for the presentation. Okay, any questions? A good presentation. That number did stick out to me, 1.3%. On the administration, where do we rank in Massachusetts on New England as far as administration? It'll be in the budget book, but Mr. Allen, do you know off the top of your head what we rank? Because I know we are below nearly all of the urbans through the through the chair. So, consistently, we we have been um lower spending in administration. Historically, we spend well below the foundation budget allocation for administration. And you may recall, we actually have a seven-point
173financial plan. We we self-imposed a administrative cap of 1.5% of the net school spending amount. And we're well below um that threshold as well. So we spel spend well below each of the benchmarks on administration. Yeah. Before the superintendent spoke, I circled the 1.3%. And uh because it's probably not enough, but we do a good job with what we have. And uh so we appreciate everybody who's here tonight. And I know everybody's had a long night. So the motion is a motion is to uh approve and file this. And all those in favor opposed. Motion is to adjourn. All those in favor opposed.