School Committee

AGENDA #20 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 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, October 23, 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. B.​ Call to Order C.​ Pledge of Allegiance/National Anthem: The National Anthem will be performed by Zoe Bodinizzo, a grade 9 student at Burncoat Senior High School. D.​ Roll Call​ M. ​ Student Advisory Committee Items E.​ Consent Agenda i. ​ Approval of Minutes of the October 9, 2025 School Committee Meeting. Approval of Minutes of the October 16, 2025 Finance, Operations, and Governance Standing Committee meeting.  AGENDA #20 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Page 2 Approval of Minutes of the October 16, 2025 TLSS Standing Committee Meeting ii. ​ Approval of Donations iii. ​ Notification of Personnel Records a.​ New Hire Non-Instructional Staff b.​ Resignations/Retirements ​ iv. ​ Initial filing of Recognition ​ October 23, 2025 ​ ​ (McCullough) To recognize Maria Gardner, a paraprofessional at WAMS, for her efforts to beautify the grounds of many WPS properties. October 23, 2025 ​ (McCullough) To recognize Robin Dion, a teacher at Burncoat High School, who saw a student in distress and immediately jumped into action, performed the Heinrich maneuver on the student, and successfully dislodged the item. 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 5-14 (Administration) ​ ​​ (October 23, 2025) ​ Vision to Action…MCAS Data Report Recommendation: Approve and File L.​ Reports of the Standing Committees ​ TLSS - October 16, 2025  AGENDA #20 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Page 3 ​ ​​ gb 5-70 (Administration) ​ ​​ (June 18, 2025) ​ ​ High School Mastery-Based Grading Practice Information ​ ​ Proposed Mastery-Based Grading Practices Written Policy ​ ​ Result: A motion was made to recommend, to the Finance, Operations, and ​ ​ Governance Standing Committee, that 65 should remain the passing grade ​ ​ rather than the suggested grade of 60, in keeping with the current policy. On ​ a roll call vote of 3-1, the motion passed. ​ ​ A motion was made to approve the guidelines that have been agreed upon by ​ both Worcester Public Schools (WPS) and the Educational Association of ​ ​ Worcester (EAW) to date and to hold on the professional development details ​ still to be worked out. On a roll call vote of 4-0, the motion passed ​ ​ ​ unanimously. FOG - October 16, 2025 ​ ​​ These items were considered together: gb 5-108 (Administration) ​ ​ ​ (October 9, 2025) ​ ​ Response from Administration ​ ​ To review and revise the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Policy that is ​ ​ required by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). ​ ​ Result: This item was approved on a roll call vote of 4-0 with a motion ​ ​ from Member Biancheria to “add a notice be attached to the policy that the ​ ​ WPS policy noting that while this is a WPS Policy, it is following DESE ​ ​ ​ guidelines.” ​ ​ ​ gb 5-109 (Administration) ​ ​ ​ (October 9, 2025) ​ ​ To approve the Middle School Pathway Exploration Policy. ​ ​ Result: This item was approved on a roll call vote of 4-0 N.​ Approval of Grants and other Finance Items ​ To consider approval of the FY2026 Safe and Supported Schools Grant in the amount of $9,988. Funding for this grant is designed to ensure that each participating school creates an equitable, safe, positive, healthy, culturally competent, and inclusive whole-school learning environment for all students. ​ To consider approval of the Fair Share Earmarks Grant from DESE in the amount of $50,000 to provide additional reading materials for English language learners that are relevant to and reflective of their experiences. ​ To consider approval of the Whole Kids Garden Grant in the amount of $7,000. This funding will allow for the creation of a new garden space at Canterbury Street, and the significant expansion of the garden at Rice Square. ​ To consider approval of the Next Generation Learning Challenges Grant in the amount of $6,000 to fund sending 6 participants to the Innovative Schools Learning Excursion  AGENDA #20 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Page 4 in Washington, D.C. ​ To consider approval of three prior year payments in the amount of $36,741.74. O.​ General Business ​ gb 5-111 (Administration) ​ ​​ (October 23,2025) ​ To approve a 3-year lease agreement for Worcester Public Schools to continue use of the gymnasium and parking lot at the YMCA for Jacob Hiatt Magnet School. ​ Recommendation: Approve and File ​ gb 5-112 (Mailman) ​ ​​ (October 23, 2025) ​ Please provide a report which includes information by sport by season by high school and middle school describing which sport uses which fields and when. Also include our district process for ensuring equitable access to fields for games and practices and explain how we ensure alignment with title 9 requirements. ​ Recommendation: Refer to Administration ​ gb 5-113 (Alvarez) ​ ​ (October 23, 2025) ​ To request the administration provide a comprehensive review and discussion of the current support systems and resources available to adjustment counselors within Worcester Public Schools, with the aim of identifying potential areas for enhancement to better serve student needs. ​ Recommendation: Refer to Administration P. Announcements Meeting Dates: -​ November 6, 2024, 5:00 p.m., Standing Committee on Teaching, Learning, and Student Success, 20 Irving Street, Room 410. -​ November 20, 2025, 5:00 p.m., Esther Howland Chamber, Worcester City Hall, 455 Main Street. -​ November 10, 2025 Standing Committee on Finance, Operations, and Governance, 20 Irving Street, Room 410 Q.​ Adjournment Kristi Turgeon, Clerk of the School Committee