CITY OF WORCESTER

Education Committee Meeting

Monday, May 22, 2023

Esther Howland (South) Chamber

Convened: 5:34 P.M.

Adjourned: 6:31 P.M.


Mayor
Joseph M. Petty

 

www.worcesterma.gov

 

Clerk of the City Council
Nikolin Vangjeli

Committee Members

Chairperson Thu Nguyen
Vice Chairperson Donna M Colorio
Councilor Kathleen M Toomey
 


Present Were:Chairperson Councilor Thu Nguyen Councilor Khrystian E King School Committee Member Tracy O’Connell Novick School Committee Member Jermoh Kamara School Committee Member Susan Mailman
 
Also:Superintendent of Public Schools Rachel Monárrez Deputy Superintendent of Public Schools Brian Allen Clerk of the School Committee Helen Friel Deputy City Clerk Stephen AJ Pottle, clerk
 
1.

Virtual Attendee Call-In Information

1a.

Pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021 and in order to ensure active, public engagement, the City of Worcester currently allows for both in-person and remote participation at all City Council and Standing Committee meetings. To partake in the meeting, you may attend the meeting in-person within the meeting location, follow the below link to join via Zoom or dial the direct line as indicated.

Education Committee Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/96739569567
Education Committee Zoom Phone Number: (929) 205 6099
Education Committee Zoom Access Code: 967 3956 9567

Attachments
2.

Approval of the Minutes

2a.

Order- That the City Council Standing Committee of Education hereby approves the minutes of the Education Committee meeting on November 21, 2022.

View Agenda
3.

Miscellaneous Item

3a.

Order of Councilor Thu Nguyen - Request Standing Committee on Education meet jointly with the School Committee’s Standing Committee on Finance and Operations for the purpose of reviewing matters pertaining to public education, the public libraries, arts, culture and higher education listed on their agenda. # 10g CC March 29, 2022

In Committee May 16, 2022 - Held In Committee November 21, 2022 - Held

Attachments

Chairperson Councilor Nguyen read the item and recognized School Committee Member O’Connell Novick, who discussed the item on the School Committee Standing Committee on Finance and Operation’s item, “To consider a communication from the City Clerk regarding the City Council's Standing Committee on Education and the School Committee's Standing Committee on Finance and Operations: To consider meeting jointly on a regular basis throughout the year concerning issues of overlapping interest.”

Chairperson School Committee Member O’Connell Novick recognized the Deputy Superintendent of Public Schools, who provided a presentation concerning the FY24 recommended budget for the Worcester Public Schools.

Chairperson School Committee Member O’Connell Novick recognized the Superintendent of Public Schools, who spoke concerning the item.

Chairperson Councilor Nguyen then discussed the allocation of state and city funding for the Worcester Public Schools, anticipated revenue sources for the upcoming fiscal years, plans relative to the Student Opportunity Act (SOA) funds, the future needs concerning public school facilities, anticipation concerning future public schools enrollment relative to housing development within the city and the feasibility of increasing the capital funding for public schools with the Deputy Superintendent of Public Schools and the Superintendent of Public Schools.

Chairperson School Committee Member O’Connell Novick recognized School Committee Member Mailman, who spoke concerning the item.

Chairperson School Committee Member O’Connell Novick recognized School Committee Member Kamara, who discussed the process and challenges concerning capital funding allocations and underfunded areas within the Public Schools budget the Deputy Superintendent of Public Schools.

Chairperson School Committee Member O’Connell Novick then discussed the adoption of the Student Opportunity Act by the city and the increase in state funding.

Chairperson Councilor Nguyen recognized Councilor King, who discussed the strategies concerning the allocating capital funding for projects and the school safety audit process with the Deputy Superintendent of Public Schools and School Committee Member O’Connell Novick.

Chairperson Councilor Nguyen brought forth the following two (2) Chairman’s Order: 1) Request City Manager work with the Superintendent of Public Schools to review the budget formula for components that have not been updated in 5 years; and 2) Request City Clerk work with the Superintendent of Public Schools to provide City Council with a copy of the Worcester Public Schools budget presentation.

Chairperson School Committee Member O’Connell Novick recognized School Committee Member Kamara, who discussed funding available to address traffic issues in the vicinity of schools with the Deputy Superintendent of Public Schools.

Chairperson Councilor Nguyen recognized Councilor King, who discussed the Public Schools legislative priorities with the Deputy Superintendent of Public Schools.

Chairperson Councilor Nguyen brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager work with the Superintendent of Public Schools to provide City Council with a report concerning the legislative agenda and priorities for Worcester Public Schools.

Chairperson Councilor Nguyen moved the recommend the item be held.

Recommend Hold

Chairman's Orders

Request City Manager work with the Superintendent of Public Schools to review the budget formula for components that have not been updated in 5 years.

Request City Clerk work with the Superintendent of Public Schools to provide City Council with a copy of the Worcester Public Schools budget presentation.

Request City Manager work with the Superintendent of Public Schools to provide City Council with a report concerning the legislative agenda and priorities for Worcester Public Schools.