School Committee

Regular Meeting

Worcester, MA · September 18, 2025

AGENDA #18 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 18, 2025 at: 5:00 p.m. Executive Session, 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 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. 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. AGENDA #18 Page 2 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 of the September 4, 2025 School Committee Meeting Approval of Minutes of the September 8, 2025 Standing Committee on Finance, Operations, and Governance Meeting Approval of Minutes of the September 11, 2025 Standing Committee on Teaching, Learning, and Student Success meeting. ii. Approval of Donations To consider approval of a general donation to WPS students of 400 backpacks from Joyner Lucas. To consider approval of a donation of 1,800 pairs of gently used works boots, of mixed sizes and styles, to support CTE programming that requires such footwear from BRUNT. iii. Notification of Personnel Records a. New Hire Non-Instructional Staff b. New Hire Instructional Staff c. Resignations/Retirements iv. Initial filing of Recognition (Alvarez) (September 18, 2025) To recognize Carmen Rosado, Family and Community Engagement Liaison, from the Latino Education Institute afterschool program for 25 years of service. v. Notices of Interest to the District or to the Public F. Item for Reconsideration G. Held Items 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 #18 Page 3 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 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…New Goals for 2025-2026 Recommendation: Approve and File L. Reports of the Standing Committees FOG 9/8/2025 gb 5-35 (McCullough) (April 17, 2025) To fully fund Special Chorus at Worcester Arts Magnet School. Results: The item was approved and filed. gb 5-70 A (Motion from Mayor Petty) AGENDA #18 Page 4 (July 10, 2025) To amend Rules of the School Committee to add a rule regarding the proper procedure should a tie vote occur on an item in a standing committee. Results: Motion to send the item to legal department for an opinion was approved. N. Approval of Grants and Finance items - Gene Haas (August 14, 2025) To accept a donation in the amount of $500,000 from the Gene Haas Foundation to Worcester Technical High School (through the Worcester 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. Results: Motion to accept the grant was approved and filed. TLSS 9/11/2025 gb 5-70 (Administration) (June 18, 2025) High School Mastery-Based Grading Practice Information Proposed Mastery-Based Grading Practices Written Policy Results: Motion to hold this item in TLSS was approved gb 5-61 (Guardiola) (June 18, 2025) Request a report on the number of students in the American Sign Language (ASL) program in 2023 and 2024 and how to expand the program as a career pathway by working with local hospitals and other institutions in need of this service. Results: This item was approved and filed N. Approval of Grants and other Finance Items To consider approval of FY26 FC325 Targeted Assistance Grant in the amount of $320,000 to provide funding to select schools/districts to support priorities each district identifies as most pressing to facilitate school and district improvement. To consider approval of the DESE English Learner Education Support grant in the amount of $58,566 to implement new and innovative ELE programs and create a more linguistically diverse workforce. To consider approval of the DESE Proficiency Outcomes in World Languages grant in the amount of $27,391 to support World Languages programs. To consider approval of the High Dosage Early Literacy Tutoring DESE Grant to support early literacy improvement for K-3 students. To consider approval of six (6) prior years payment in the amount of $20,640 (details attached). AGENDA #18 Page 5 O. General Business gb 5-75 (Biancheria) (August 14, 2025) Response from Administration Request administration provide the student discipline data for 2024-2025 include all offenses. Recommendation: File gb 5-100 (Administration) (September 18, 2025) To review the Independent Accountants’ Report on Applying Agreed-Upon Procedures for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education End of Year for fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Recommendation: Refer to FOG gb 5-101 (Administration) (September 18, 2025) To review the annual audit and agreed-upon procedures report on compliance and internal controls for the City of Worcester, including the Worcester Public Schools, which includes the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) A-133 Reports and the Management Letter for fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 Recommendation: Refer to FOG gb 5-102 (Administration) (September 18, 2025) To review the report on applying agreed-upon procedures of Student Activity fund testing for fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Recommendation: Refer to FOG gb 5-103 (Mailman) (September 18, 2025) To provide update on the technology committee including software acquisition policy and process, structure around time on devices especially, at the elementary level, and when AI use is allowed and when it is not. Recommendation: Refer to Administration gb 5-104 (Mailman) (September 18, 2025) To revisit the opportunity to utilize climate and culture staff/or other staff, particularly at the beginning of the school, year to help set behavioral expectations on buses that have a need. Parents petitioned in 2023 with many good ideas, which included policy recommendations for number of students on the buses, addressing overcrowded buses, assisting drivers with safety concerns, etc. Recommendation: Refer to Administration gb 5-105 (McCullough) (September 14, 2025) AGENDA #18 Page 6 To request that administration work with the City Clerk on the possibility of phasing out WPS buildings being used as polling locations. Recommendation: Refer to Administration P. Announcements Meeting Dates: - October 6, 2025, 5:00 p.m., Standing Committee on Finance, Operations, and Governance, 20 Irving Street, Room 410. - October 9, 2025, 5:00 p.m., Esther Howland Chamber, Worcester City Hall, 455 Main Street. - October 16, 2024, 5:00 p.m., Standing Committee on Teaching, Learning, and Student Success, 20 Irving Street, Room 410. Q. Adjournment Kristi Turgeon, Clerk of the School Committee