Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #WorcSchools
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Last beam for Doherty going up today! #WorcSchools 
@Mass_SBA Jack McCarthy said that I am almost as much of a pain as @RepJohnMahoney (while noting that this means John is doing his job), so clearly I am doing something right. #BurncoatNext
This means it is time for my annual reminder of MGL Ch. 71, sec. 34:
"The vote of the legislative body of a city or town shall establish the total appropriate for the support of the public schools but may not limit the authority of the school committee to determine expenditures within the total appropriation."
#WorcSchools folks, if you have been among those concerned (to put it mildly) about the district’s continued use of Fountas and Pinnell, please note that is on Tuesday’s TLSS subcommittee agenda. The meeting is at 4.
The agenda is here.
worcesterschools.org/wp-content/upl…
The administration’s response starts on page 14.
worcesterschools.org/wp-content/upl…
The administration’s response starts on page 14.
It opens like this:
Note that including remote participation for public comment is on the #WorcSchools Governance subcommittee docket for Thursday’s meeting, as they take up our rules.
This is one where it is going to be VERY important to remember that the subcommittee *proposes* changes to the full committee.
The weather outside may be frightful, but it's a great day to apply to work for #WorcSchools transportation! See below or online: worcesterschools.org/transportation…
Text reads as follows:
WORCESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS TRANSPORTATION
Transportation Systems Coordinator (IT)
School Spring 3727249
Transportation Personnel Supervisor(HR)
School Spring 3727253
WORCESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS TRANSPORTATION
Transportation Systems Coordinator (IT)
School Spring 3727249
Transportation Personnel Supervisor(HR)
School Spring 3727253
Transportation Safety Supervisor
School Spring 3727283
Transportation Safety and Training Liaison
School Spring 3727267
School Spring 3727283
Transportation Safety and Training Liaison
School Spring 3727267
#WorcSchools finance and operations subcommittee meets at 5 tomorrow, so doing some agenda review this afternoon: worcesterschools.org/wp-content/upl…
(No, I didn’t print out all 171 pages, but I write all over budget and transportation updates.)
It's 171 pages because it has the three year student activity fund audits (pages 6-65) as well as the annual city audit (pages 71-138)
I shared this link yesterday, but a few thoughts:
whyy.org/articles/want-…
If you're on a school committee/board, you knew the "we didn't like what you decided (whatever that was)" challenges were coming. It's been a dark joke for months at this point.
whyy.org/articles/want-…
If you're on a school committee/board, you knew the "we didn't like what you decided (whatever that was)" challenges were coming. It's been a dark joke for months at this point.
Second, we have REALLY got to talk more about pandemic privilege. There are absolutely some parents who are pushing for various things because of massive losses for children.
That, though, is a relative handful, and generally are NOT those fronting these efforts.
That, though, is a relative handful, and generally are NOT those fronting these efforts.
If we don't talk about the things far too many white Americans don't like to talk about--race and class--we're going to whiff what this is about.
#WorcSchools thread:
This afternoon, WPS staff received the following updated planning document. dropbox.com/s/0hgzohzilbyn…
This afternoon, WPS staff received the following updated planning document. dropbox.com/s/0hgzohzilbyn…
A few notes:
•It is a PLANNING document. That means that everything isn’t fleshed out yet. That is why it was shared with staff, as the planning will be continuing.
•It is a PLANNING document. That means that everything isn’t fleshed out yet. That is why it was shared with staff, as the planning will be continuing.
•The main two changes you will note if you have been following closely are:
I have far more than can fit into 280 characters to say about the @worcesterpublic budget document, so I will limit myself to two things:
It is far and away the most useful document I use as a #Worcester School Committee member (I’d argue it should be), and I feel very, very lucky to work with it.
I personally know that I do a better job because of the budget document we receive from which to deliberate.
I personally know that I do a better job because of the budget document we receive from which to deliberate.
If you, anywhere else in Massachusetts, find my school finance work on here and elsewhere of use, ten plus years of close use of the #WorcSchools budget book is part of why.
The joint meeting of the #Worcester City Council Education subcommittee and #WorcSchools Cmte Finance and Operations isn't livestreaming on Facebook, but you can find the livestream on the @TweetWorcester site worcesterma.gov/video-on-deman…
The agenda (with substantial backup) is online here: worcesterschools.org/wp-content/upl… #WorcSchools
Oh, nice reminder of City Council purview there by the assistant clerk (aka the councilors can't make requests of the school department unless they do so through the Committee)
Flu shots and COVID-19 testing at University Park til 6! #WorcSchools
#WorcSchools families, come visit our great school nurses (they’d love to see you!) and #GetYourFluShot! @worcesterpublic
The great people from @AIDSProjectWorc are doing FREE COVID-19 testing
ok, because the press dutifully replicated the #Worcester City Manager's 'spending as much on schools as five ballparks' line in allll the reporting from yesterday's South tour, a couple of things:
First, could we check the math please? The *city* is spending as five times as much on school construction as ballparks the same way the *city* spends most of its budget on schools: ONLY IF WE JUST MISS THAT MOST OF THE MONEY COMES FROM THE STATE.
Let's not, eh?
Let's not, eh?
Second (and more importantly):
What do we actually NEED, #Worcester?
Do we need a minor league ballpark that by every bit of research out there is going to become a giant money sink?
Or do we need new school buildings?
What do we actually NEED, #Worcester?
Do we need a minor league ballpark that by every bit of research out there is going to become a giant money sink?
Or do we need new school buildings?
The #Worcester elected officials had a chance to tour the under construction South High today. I took LOTS of photos, which are over on my Committee FB page (still to be labeled), but here’s a handful. Here’s how close to the current building it is going up:
Here’s the main entryway between the auditorium and the gymnasium:
Check out the amazing (north) light in the art rooms!
Okay, let's get some #WorcSchools projects done!
How about knocking off the last bit needed to get Ms. Barston's students a rug? donorschoose.org/project/comfor…
While we're doing rugs, how about Mrs. St. Thomas needing one over at Roosevelt? donorschoose.org/project/classr…
The #WorcSchools Governance subcommittee will be recommending to the full committee that our mask policy require that ALL individuals wear a mask fully covering the nose and mouth while in WPS buildings, in our buses, or on our grounds.
This report will be on Thursday's #Worcester School Committee agenda.
(There is a medical exception. There is not an age exception.)
The @AP picked up @ScottOConnellTG's coverage of our meeting on municipal broadband! #Worcester #worcpoli #WorcSchools #municipalbroadband
Also:
There's data on this! internetinnovation.org/special-report…
You don’t tug on Superman’s cape.
You don’t spit into the wind.
You don’t, as a Massachusetts elected official, post new social media content during the first @Patriots game of the season.
You don’t spit into the wind.
You don’t, as a Massachusetts elected official, post new social media content during the first @Patriots game of the season.
#Worcester folks, new video up on Facebook: facebook.com/67267607981270…
(YouTube is S-L-O-W right now; will link there once it posts and I’ve gotten subtitles on it) #WorcSchools #worcpoli #BackToSchool2020
(YouTube is S-L-O-W right now; will link there once it posts and I’ve gotten subtitles on it) #WorcSchools #worcpoli #BackToSchool2020
oh, and there's a similar post up on Instagram, where I always do them as live videos first (so sometimes those are a little rougher); no subtitles on Instagram, though
The #WorcSchools Cmte did have some discussions around technology, but the main upshot of tonight was a second vote (6-1) to continue moving forward with fall golf, girls and boys soccer, and cross-country for this fall season under the restrictions outlined by MIAA.
oops, missed field hockey! That, too.
And if you haven't reviewed the MIAA changes, they're here: miaa.net/contentm/easy_…
(Recommended, especially if you play soccer!) #WorcSchools
(Recommended, especially if you play soccer!) #WorcSchools
#WORCESTER FOLKS: a word with you, if you would.
You may have seen @WRRBureau's recent "Broadening Broadband" report, found online here: wrrb.org/reports/2020/0…
You may have seen @WRRBureau's recent "Broadening Broadband" report, found online here: wrrb.org/reports/2020/0…
The #WorcSchools Cmte sent this report to School and Student Performance (the subcommittee I chair) for further discussion, deliberation, and testimony, as internet access is such a key piece to education right now.
Here's where I could use your help!
Here's where I could use your help!
We have invited @bytomquinn and @PaulFMatthews in to present the @WRRBureau report regarding municipal broadband, and then we are opening for public testimony regarding education and internet access.
Thursday, September 10
5:30 pm
worcesterschools.zoom.us/j/98515491223?…
Thursday, September 10
5:30 pm
worcesterschools.zoom.us/j/98515491223?…
We did something--or rather didn't do something--at last night's #WorcSchools Cmte that won't get a lot of attention that I'm proud of us on and maybe will give folks some hope.
(let me note here again that I am sharing this SOLELY in my capacity as a #WorcSchools Cmte member, not in any others, and this is in no way advice or guidance)
And right up front, let me give a h/t to @AntDambrosioMA of the Revere SC for making me think about it.
And right up front, let me give a h/t to @AntDambrosioMA of the Revere SC for making me think about it.
@AntDambrosioMA You may or may not have been following this, but among the myriad things US Ed has put out is revamped Title IX regulations on investigating sexual harassment and assault.
The revamps are problematic, to put it lightly.
The revamps are problematic, to put it lightly.
on the Thursday #WorcSchools Cmte meeting (this is the everything-but-the-budget-cut video)
I did fail to mention here ('though it made the Instagram edition) that @MayorPetty put two requests from the Black Families event two weeks ago on the agenda:
The 1993 affirmative action plan
The 1999 recruitment and retention plan
The 1993 affirmative action plan
The 1999 recruitment and retention plan
.@mollyom81, @ClanceyForWPS, and I are on as co-sponsors for those (looking at the agenda, I think Jack Foley missed this email)
#WorcSchools #Worcester
#WorcSchools #Worcester
“The projected deficit is based on the state’s exclusion in its budget plans of the phase-in of the first year of the new Student Opportunity Act” #FBRC #MAEdu
Note, BTW, that we had a slide on this back in February: what happens without the Student Opportunity Act?
And as promised, here's my explainer video on this one: #WorcSchools #FBRC
The #WorcSchools Cmte meeting agenda for Thursday, August 28 is now posted. There's LOTS here, but a rather large shoe just dropped:
worcesterschools.org/wp-content/upl…
worcesterschools.org/wp-content/upl…
A budget reduction of $15.5M.
I am sharing here the images of the relevant pages. Starts on page 264 of the agenda.
I am sharing here the images of the relevant pages. Starts on page 264 of the agenda.
These are the cuts being recommended by administration in order to balance the #WorcSchools FY21 budget.
"“We make a statement when we spend this kind of money, and then send it to our English teachers saying, ‘This is what we should be using,’ ” said Novick,
who, while appreciative of the curriculum’s emphasis on female authors and authors of color, believed its list of reading materials was still heavy on older, more traditionally taught texts."
#WorcSchools
telegram.com/news/20200820/…
#WorcSchools
telegram.com/news/20200820/…
And for those who asked for a blog post who-cester.blogspot.com/2020/08/why-di…
(And with my ongoing thanks to all #onhere who have continued to push my thinking on this)
(And with my ongoing thanks to all #onhere who have continued to push my thinking on this)
