School Committee

AGENDA #17 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 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, September 4, 2025 at:​ 5:30 p.m. 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 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 School Committee meeting on August 14, 2025. ii. ​ Approval of Donations To consider approval of 10 Recycling containers, 10 Recycling baskets, 1 Composting worms to WTHS AP environmental program. To consider approval of a donation of school supplies from People for Urban and Rural Education (PURE) to Worcester Public Schools for Wraps to give to students. To consider approval of a $559.08 donation from Shutterfly LLC to Worcester  AGENDA #17 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Page 2 Dual Language Magnet 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 ​ gb 5-70 (Administration) ​ ​​ (June 18, 2025) ​ High School Mastery-Based Grading Practice Information ​ Proposed Mastery-Based Grading Practices Written Policy ​ Recommendation: Approve and File ​ 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. 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 5-12 (Administration) ​ ​​ (September 4, 2025) ​ Vision to Action…Opening of Schools 2025-2026 Recommendation: Approve and File L.​ Reports of the Standing Committees ​ ​ ​ N.​ Approval of Grants and other Finance Items ​ To consider approval of the FC718 Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative (CPPI) Implementation Grant in the amount of $750,000.  AGENDA #17 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Page 3 ​ To consider approval of the National Science Foundation Grant in the amount of $35,000. ​ To consider approval of the FY26 FC511 Intensive Assistance Grant (IAG) in the amount of $223,739. ​ To consider approval of the Creative Experiences Initiative Grant from the Mass. Cultural Council in the amount of $30,000. ​ To consider two (2) prior year payments of $900 each ($1,800 total), to employees for tuition reimbursement. ​ ​ To consider a prior year payment of $4,192.10 to an employee for step misplacement. ​ To consider approval of 18 prior year payments in the amount of $35,088.20. O.​ General Business ​ gb 5-89 (Biancheria) ​ ​​ (September 4, 2025) ​ Request administration provide an update in details pertaining to the Gerald Creamer evening program, which is being relocated, to Worcester Technical High School, please include transportation, number of staffing, course offerings, how many students will be offered this program, timeframe of courses, start date and how is this program going to be promoted in our schools. ​ Recommendation: Refer to Administration ​ gb 5-91 (Mayor Petty) ​ ​​ (September 4, 2025) ​ To cancel the School Committee meeting for November 6, 2025. ​ Recommendation: Approve gb 5-92 (Administration) (September 4, 2025) To accept the transfer of the property located at 0 Northeast Cutoff from the City Manager.​ Recommendation:Approve gb 5-93 (Roy) ​​ (September 4, 2025) To review the process of honoring students of the Worcester Public Schools who achieve the highest grade point averages in their classes or who meet any other appropriate criteria that demonstrate outstanding academic achievement. Recommendation: Refer to Administration  AGENDA #17 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Page 4 gb 5-94 (Roy) ​​ (September 4, 2025) To request that the Administration update the committee on all anti-bullying initiatives and the impact it has had on our schools, and whether additional programs need to be implemented. Recommendation: Refer to TLSS gb 5-95 (Roy) ​​ (September 4, 2025) Request that the Administration continue to pursue grant monies to offer additional anti-bullying programs in our system. Recommendation: Refer to Administration gb 5-96 (Roy) ​​ (September 4, 2025) Request administration review with the School Committee the Physical Education Curriculum and report on how it prepares students to be physically fit after graduating from High School. Recommendation: Refer to TLSS gb 5-97 (Administration) ​​ (September 4, 2025) To approve the second meal breakfast, lunch, snack, and adult meal prices for the 2025-26. Recommendation: FOG gb 5-98 (Administration) ​​ (September 14, 2025) To approve the Report of the Superintendent Schedule for the 2025-2026 school year. Recommendation: Approve and file gb 5-99 (Administration) ​​ (September 14, 2025) To review the status of the FY26 Budget and make appropriate transfers as required. Recommendation: Refer to FOG P. Announcements Meeting Dates: -​ September 8, 2025, 5:00 p.m., Standing Committee on Finance, Operations, and Governance, 20 Irving Street, Room 410. -​ September 11, 2024, 5:00 p.m., Standing Committee on Teaching, Learning, and Student Success, 20 Irving Street, Room 410. -​ September 18, 2025, 5:00 p.m., Esther Howland Chamber, Worcester City Hall, 455 Main Street. Q.​ Adjournment Kristi Turgeon, Clerk of the School Committee