School Committee

AGENDA #16 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Page 1 ​ ​ ​ CLERK OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE WORCESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS 20 IRVING STREET WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS 01609 The School Committee will hold an in-person meeting with a virtual option*: on:​ Thursday, August 14, 2025 at:​ 4:00 p.m., Executive Session, 5:00 Open Session; Esther Howland ​ ​ Chamber, Worcester City Hall Virtual: ​ https://worcesterschools.zoom.us/j/82746440670?pwd=dmp4TnIxYThBd nhkZWQ1bm1hMjFFZz09 Also accessible by telephone, to dial in call: +1 301-715-8592 or +1 305-224-1968; Webinar ID: 827 4644 0670 *This meeting/hearing of the Worcester School Committee will be held in-person at the location provided on this notice. Members of the public are welcome to attend this in-person meeting. Please note that while an option for remote attendance and /or participation is being provided as a courtesy to the public, the meeting/hearing will not be suspended or terminated if technological problems interrupt the virtual broadcast, unless otherwise required by law. Members of the public with particular interest in any specific item on this agenda should make plans for in-person vs. virtual attendance accordingly. ORDER OF BUSINESS A.​ General Business Items taken in Executive Session To discuss strategy with respect to litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the public body and the chair so declares – Worker Compensation Settlement - Cafeteria Motor Equipment Operator. To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the public body and the chair so declares – Successor Contract Negotiations – Educational Association of Worcester, Units A/B; Educational Association of Worcester, Paraeducators Unit; Educational Association of Worcester, Aides to the Physically Handicapped, Monitors and Drivers Unit; Educational Association of Worcester, Therapy Assistants Unit; Educational Association of Worcester, Parent Liaisons Unit; and Educational Association of Worcester, ESL Tutors Unit. To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the public body and the chair so declares – Successor Contract Negotiations - Massachusetts Laborers’ District Council for and in behalf of Worcester Public Service Employees Local Union 272 of the Laborers’ International Union of North America, AFL-CIO, Custodians.  AGENDA #16 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Page 2 To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the public body and the chair so declares – Successor Contract Negotiations - Massachusetts Laborers’ District Council for and in behalf of Worcester Public Service Employees Local Union 272 of the Laborers’ International Union of North America, AFL-CIO, Unit D, Computer Technicians/IT Professionals. To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the public body and the chair so declares – Successor Contract Negotiations - Massachusetts Laborers District Council for and in behalf of the Worcester Public Service Employees Local Union 272 of the Laborers’ International Union of North America, AFL-CIO, Educational Secretaries. To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the public body and the chair so declares – Initial Contract Negotiations - Teamsters Local Union 170 for and on behalf of the Worcester Public Schools Transportation Mechanics. B.​ Call to Order C.​ Pledge of Allegiance/National Anthem D.​ Roll Call​ M. ​ Student Advisory Committee Items ​ E.​ Consent Agenda i. ​ Approval of Minutes To consider approval of the minutes of the Standing Committee on Finance, Operations, and Governance meeting on July 8, 2025. To consider approval of the minutes of the School Committee meeting on July 10, 2025 To consider approval of the minutes of the Standing Committee on Finance, Operations, and Governance meeting on August 5, 2025. ii. ​ Approval of Donations To consider approval of a donation in the amount of $100 from Darren E. Wuench DBA A-Plus Educational Services for World Language used books. To consider approval of a donation in the amount of $1,050.00 from Like Skill Martial Arts Inc. for the Worcester Dual Language Magnet School. To accept a donation in the amount of $500,000 from the Gene Haas Foundation to Worcester Technical High School (through the Worcester  AGENDA #16 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Page 3 Educational Development Fund) to be used for renovations and remodeling of the Advanced Manufacturing space, to be named the Gene Haas Center for Advanced Manufacturing, for a period of twelve years. Haas Naming Rights Slide Deck Haas Naming Rights/Grant Information To consider approval of a donation in the amount of $750.00 from Carr Financial Group to Worcester Technical High School. To consider approval of a donation of school supplies from St. Mary's Church for students. To consider approval of a donation in the amount of $1000 from the Associated General Contractors of MA for the benefit of WTHS's engineering program. iii. ​ Notification of Personnel Records ​ iv. ​ Initial filing of Recognition ​ v. ​ Notices of Interest to the District or to the Public F.​ Item for Reconsideration ​ G.​ Held Items ​ ​ H.​ Recognitions I. Public Comment-Any member of the public may address the Committee regarding any item before them for two (2) minutes. Those speaking will state their name, their residence, and the item on which they wish to speak for the record. Those speaking may do so in person or via remote participation. Those wishing to address the Committee in a language other than English are asked to notify the Clerk of the Committee in advance, so the Committee may be provided with an interpreter. Members of the Committee may not respond to the comments of the public at the meeting. Click to view Policy BEDH-Public Comment J. ​ Public Petition K.​ Report of the Superintendent ​ ros 5-11 to be taken with item gb 5-70 ​ ros 5-11 (Administration) ​ ​​ (August 14, 2025) ​ Vision to Action...Progress on 2024-2025 Goals Recommendation: Approve and File ​ gb 5-70 (McCullough) (July 10, 2025) Request a report from the administration on the progress made toward the  AGENDA #16 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Page 4 Superintendent’s goals for the current academic year. Discuss and reflect on the progress made and provide feedback to inform the development of goals and objectives for incoming Superintendent Allen. Recommendation: Approve and File L.​ Reports of the Standing Committees ​ ​ FOG, August 5, 2025 ​ gb 5-70 (Administration) ​ ​​ (June 18, 2025) ​ To review and approve High School Mastery-Based Grading Practices ​ N.​ Approval of Grants and other Finance Items ​ To consider approval of a grant from the Nellie Mae Education Foundation in the amount of $61,200 to support the district in addressing an emergent issue that is eroding progress or mitigating barriers that further progress towards improving outcomes for students least well served. ​ To consider approval of a grant from DESE/21 CCLC/Summer Enhancement in the amount of $84,000 The purpose of this program is to support the implementation of academically enriching programming during Out-of-School Time that increases student engagement and contributes to a well-rounded education. ​ To consider approval of FC215 Genocide Education Grant from DESE in the amount of $70,280. ​ To consider approval of the Perkins Program Improvement and Equipment Grant in the amount of $30,000. ​ ​ To consider approval of a prior year payment to an employee for a degree lane change in the amount of $2,902.01. ​ To consider approval of a prior year payment to an employee for sick days not paid out in the amount of $1,440.00. ​ To consider approval of a grant from DESE/FC460 Early College Support in the amount of $560,000 to support early college programing. O.​ General Business ​ ros 5-6 D (Motion from Vice Chair Johnson) ​ ​​ (March 20, 2025) ​ Response from Administration ​ To receive a progress report on the DESE Special Education Audit. ​ Recommendation: Approve and File ​ gb 5-74 (Clerk) ​ ​​ (August 14, 2025) ​ To review and consider approval of meeting dates for 2026 ​ Recommendation: Approve and file  AGENDA #16 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Page 5 ​ gb 5-75 (Biancheria) ​ ​​ (August 14, 2025) ​ Request administration provide the student discipline data for 2024-2025 include all offenses. ​ Recommendation: Refer to Administration ​ gb 5-76 (Biancheria) ​ ​​ (August 14, 2025) Request administration provide an update on College and Career Readiness providing a listing of Chapter 74 courses and Technical courses including division of Perkins funds. Recommendation: Refer to TLSS gb 5-77 (Biancheria) ​ ​​ (August 14, 2025) Request administration provide an update on the students in 6th grade from Rice Square traveling to WEM for classes to include number of students, transportation, number of staff and participation in extra activities held at Rice Square. ​ Recommendation: Refer to Administration ​ gb 5-78 (Administration) ​ ​​ (August 14, 2025) ​ Request that the School Committee establish an ongoing review and revision of the WPS Student Handbook to ensure alignment with current laws, district policies, evolving best practices, and provide a structured opportunity for timely updates as needed throughout the year. ​ Recommendation: Refer to FOG gb 5-79 (Administration) (August 14, 2025) To approve an easement to National Grid a portion of a parcel of land situated on the southeasterly side of Lincoln Street and the easterly side of Tyler Prentice Road. Recommendation: Approve gb 5-80 (Roy) ​​ (August 14, 2025) Request report from Administration if each student (those who receive one) will be obtaining an operable chrome book for this upcoming school year. Recommendation: File gb 5-81 (McCullough) ​​ (August 14, 2025) To coordinate with Worcester’s Clean City Initiative in order to educate our students, staff and families. Also, to encourage additional education/involvement through our civics programs/projects on ways we can work together to keep Worcester clean. Recommendation: Refer to Administration  AGENDA #16 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Page 6 gb 5-82 (Binienda) ​​ (August 14, 2025) Request the WPS change the current cell phone policy to align with the new proposed bell to bell cell phone policy voted on by the MA Senate, currently in the MA House and recommended by the Governor, and implement the new policy for all WPS for the 25-26 school year. Recommendation: Refer to FOG gb 5-83 (Mailman) ​​ (August 14, 2025) Request administration provide an update on preppy kindergarten program. Recommendation: Refer to TLSS gb 5-84 (Mailman) ​​ (August 14, 2025) Review subcommittee structure, roles and responsibilities for any changes and updates prior to new school committee swearing in. Recommendation: Refer to FOG gb 5-85 (Biancheria) ​​ (August 14, 2025) Request School Committee review the process of items accepted on the School Committee agenda that will be determined and discussed that have been brought to our attention by our constituents. Recommendation: Refer to Administration gb 5-86 (Guardiola) ​​ (August 14, 2025) Request an update on the current status of our School Liaison Officer (SLO) partnership with the Worcester Police Department. Specifically, in understanding if/how the program is being implemented in the WPS and what strategies are in place to ensure that it is being used as a tool to build positive and trusting relationships between our students, their families and our police officers. Recommendation: Refer to TLSS gb 5-87 (Guardiola) ​​ (August 14, 2025) Request the administration to explore the opportunity to implement an Army JROTC program in one of Worcester public high schools. Recommendation: Refer to Administration ​ gb 5-88 (Administration) ​ ​​ (August 14, 2025) ​ To review and approve the Administrator Injuries from Student Encounters. ​ Recommendation: Approve and File  AGENDA #16 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Page 7 P. Announcements Meeting Dates: -​ September 4, 2025, 5:00 p.m., Esther Howland Chamber, Worcester City Hall, 455 Main Street. Q.​ Adjournment Kristi Turgeon, Clerk of the School Committee