School Committee

AGENDA #6​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 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, March 5, 2026 At:​ 5:00 p.m., Executive Session; 5:30 p.m. Open Session ​ Esther Howland Chamber, Worcester City Hall or virtually with link below 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 Executive Session pursuant to Mass. G.L. c. 30A, Section 21(a), Purpose 7 to comply with, or act under the authority of, any general or special law, including the Massachusetts Public Records Law, Mass. G.L. c. 66, Section 10, and the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law, Mass. G.L. c. 30A, Sections 22(f) and (g), relating to review of executive session minutes for meetings that occurred between 2023 and 2026. Executive Session pursuant to Mass. G.L. c. 30A, Section 21(a), Purpose 7 to comply with, or act under the authority of, any general or special law, including the Massachusetts Public Records Law, Mass. G.L. c. 66, Section 10, and the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law, Mass. G.L. c. 30A, Sections 22(f) and (g), relating to review of executive session minutes for meetings that occurred February 26, 2026. To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining and to conduct collective bargaining regarding Grievance 25/26-17. The Worcester School Committee is convening in executive session under Mass. G.L. c. 30A, Section 21(a)(1) (Purpose 1) to discuss an Open Meeting Law complaint filed by Robert Contois against the Worcester School Committee. The Worcester School Committee is convening in executive session under Mass. G.L.  AGENDA #6​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Page 2 c. 30A, Section 21(a)(1) (Purpose 1) to discuss an Open Meeting Law complaint filed by Aislinn Doyle against the Worcester School Committee. The Worcester School Committee is convening in executive session under Mass. G.L. c. 30A, Section 21(a)(1) (Purpose 1) to discuss an Open Meeting Law complaint filed by Aislinn Doyle against the Worcester School Committee. B.​ Call to Order C.​ Pledge of Allegiance/National Anthem: C.J. Franklin, grade 11, from Doherty Memorial High School will perform the National Anthem D.​ Roll Call​ M. ​ Student Advisory Committee Items ​ E.​ Consent Agenda i. ​ Approval of Minutes Approval of Minutes of the February 25, 2026 Standing Committee meeting for Finance. Approval of Minutes of the February 26, 2026 School Committee Meeting. ii. ​ Approval of Donations To consider approval of a donation from Ms. Claudia Cullen of 50 hand-knitted winter hats to the students at Vernon Hill. iii. ​ Notification of Personnel Records a.​ New Hire Instructional Staff b.​ New Hire Non-Instructional Staff c.​ Resignations/Retirements ​ 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.  AGENDA #6​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Page 3 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 6-5 (Administration) Vision to Action…Vision of a Leader - Vision of a Leader Recommendation: Approve and file L.​ Reports of the Standing Committees ​ Finance: February 25, 2026 ​ ​​ gb 5-99 (Administration) ​ ​ ​ (September 14, 2025) Response from Administration To review the status of the FY26 Budget and make appropriate transfers as required. Result: Requested budget transfers were approved by a margin of 3-0 on a roll call vote; the report was approved and the item held for future updates. N.​ Approval of Grants and other Finance Items ​ To consider approval of a grant from the Toshiba American Foundation in the amount of $3,000 to support school gardening project at Challenge & Reach. O.​ General Business The following two items will be taken together: ​ Items gb 5-110 and gb 5-117 will be taken collectively ​ Response from Administration for gb 5-110 & gb 5-117 ​ gb 5-110 (Guardiola) ​ ​ (October 9, 2025) ​ Request that the Administration provide the School Committee with a detailed report on the district’s plan to address student achievement in light of the newly released MCAS results. gb 5-117 (Johnson) ​ (November 20, 2025) Request administration provide a report on school accountability report. Within report please report on four year cohort graduation rate, extended engagement rate, chronic absenteeism, and advance coursework completion. And report on the plan to address the concerns regarding the accountability report. Recommendation: Approve and file gb 6-28 (Mayor Petty) ​​ (March 5, 2026) To consider rescheduling the School Committee meeting of Thursday, June 18, 2026 to Wednesday, June 17, 2026. Recommendation: Approve and file  AGENDA #6​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Page 4 P. Announcements Meeting Dates: -March 9, 2026, Standing Committee for Operations and Governance, 5:00 p.m., 20 Irving Street, Room 410. -March 19, 2206, School Committee Meeting, 5:30 p.m., City Hall, Esther Howland Chamber Q.​ Adjournment Kristi Turgeon, Clerk of the School Committee