Agenda Preview: April 16 School Committee Meeting
Climate and Culture Wellness Rooms and other bits and bobs.
Before we get to the agenda preview, I want to share two things:
Please come to the district realignment forum this Wednesday, April 15 at 5 p.m. at Doherty High. Also be sure to fill out the Initial Input Survey, which is open until May 15.
Last week I put out a Guide to WPS Middle School Enrollment, which is a very unofficial guide to navigating Worcester Public Schools’ middle school magnet programs and voluntary transfer policies. If you have kids in elementary school, check it out.
Ok here’s the preview:
April 16 School Committee Meeting
The next school committee meeting is scheduled for April 16. Executive session starts at 5 p.m. and the regular meeting is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. The actual start time depends on how long the executive session takes. See the agenda here. You can watch it via zoom or Youtube Live. Spanish translation is available on zoom.
Report of the Superintendent
This month’s Report of the Superintendent is on the culture and climate wellness rooms. The rooms are in Worcester’s middle schools and high schools. Also, I missed the rebrand, because up until this year the office was called climate and culture, but I guess it’s culture and climate now.
Farm to School Grant.
Massachusetts Farm to School was awarded $100,000 to lead a two-year project to facilitate local food collaboration for Boston, Worcester and Springfield. According to the grant the purpose is “to support alignment of menu items to increase local food purchasing and promotion. The districts will work together to establish ‘New England Harvest Menus’ that feature multiple items that utilize locally grown, raised, or caught foods.” Up for approval is $20,000 of the grant to come to Worcester.
Middle School Sports Grant.
Also up for approval is a grant for $50,000 to support middle school sports from the PlayBall Foundation. The grant will support “four Spring sports (baseball, softball, boys’/girls’ soccer) across five middle schools within the district. Funds will support the purchase of uniforms, equipment, transportation and coaches’ stipends.”
Reports From Administration On:
Other Items.
Sue Mailman (at-large) has an item requesting an update on the plan to move the transitions program out of the Fanning Building.
Molly McCullough (district A) is requesting an update on the supports and services currently offered for students with dyslexia and other language-based learning disabilities.
Alex Guardiola (district D) is requesting a report on the custodial and grounds staffing at Foley Stadium, with a long list of what he’d like to specifically see included.
Vanessa Alvarez (district B) has an item asking for data on enrollment and participation of Hispanic/Latinx students in advanced coursework.
The administration is requesting a renewal of the McGraw-Hill Contract for five years for “History- grades 6,7,9, Psychology, Sociology, and Legal Aspects.
That’s it. Have a good week! If you have feedback you can always get in touch: aislinn.doyle@me.com