2026-09-03 - School Committee

Summary

This page summarizes the posted agenda (Agenda #15), not what happened at the meeting. The 5:00 PM executive session covered collective bargaining strategy for four Educational Association of Worcester units (Units A/B, Paraeducators, Therapy Assistants, Parent Liaisons) and negotiations with nonunion personnel (the Clerk of the School Committee, Kristi Turgeon); the open session began at 6:00 PM. The consent agenda included minutes of the August 13 meeting and the August 18 Operations and Governance meeting and many donations, among them 1,000 backpacks from Cradles to Crayons and 200 pairs of work boots from BRUNT for CTE programs. A public petition from Michael Douglas (c&p 6-14) asked for a policy limiting flags on school premises to the U.S., Massachusetts, Worcester and POW/MIA flags, with exceptions for instruction, sports and military flags; the recommendation was to refer it to Operations and Governance. Under standing committee reports, the agenda carried the August 18 Operations and Governance outcomes: the boundary realignment update (gb 6-72) held on a 3-0 vote, and three items (magnet school names, BMS/BHS magnet scheduling, and a 1.5-mile bus eligibility request) filed 3-0. New general business referred to Operations and Governance included updating Policy JCA (assignment of students to schools) alongside the realignment vote, the voluntary transfer policy review, alignment of three policies with the student handbook, and a new DESE-mandated policy on interaction with law enforcement officers under the PROTECT Act; McCullough's proposal to recognize June and September as Pride Months and second-meal prices were marked approve and file. Grants listed include $521,064 (CPPI), $236,835 (PRISM), $27,831 (Computer Science Engage) and a cost-reimbursement High Dosage Tutoring grant.

Source: posted agenda (PrimeGov, template 76146); no minutes or transcript yet.

Issues discussed: School Boundary Realignment, School Flag Display Policy Petition

Agenda

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, September 3, 2026
At: 5:00 p.m. Executive Session
6:00 p.m. Open Session
Esther Howland Chamber, Worcester City Hall or virtually with link below

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.

To conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with nonunion personnel
and/or to conduct negotiations with nonunion personnel – Administrative Clerk of
the School Committee Kristi Turgeon.

B. Call to Order

C. Pledge of Allegiance/National Anthem

D. Roll Call

M. Student Advisory Committee Items

i. Approval of Minutes
Approval of Minutes of the August 13, 2026 School Committee Meeting.

Approval of Minutes of the August 18, 2026 Standing Committee for
Operations and Governance.

ii. Approval of Donations
To consider approval of a donation of 50 backpacks from UMASS Chan to
benefit students at Belmont Street School.

To consider approval of a donation of various sport/gym equipment and tshirts
for a field day event scheduled in September to benefit Belmont Street
School. Completed list of items is attached.

To consider approval of a donation of backpacks from Kids in Need Foundation
to benefit students at Belmont Street School.

To consider approval of a donation from St Mary's Parish consisting of various
school supplies including notebooks, backpacks, pencils, pens, pencil
sharpeners, colored pencils, crayons, markers, highlighters, and other
classroom and personal hygiene supplies to support Worcester Public School
students, valued at $4,209.00.

To consider approval of a general donation in the amount of $115.77 from
Pledgeling Foundation to support Worcester Technical High School.

To consider approval of a donation in the amount of $100 from Steven and
Leona Joseph to support Worcester Technical High School in memory of
Joseph Alfego.

To consider approval of a donation in the amount of $100 from Julie Grenier to
support Worcester Technical High School in memory of Joseph Alfego.

To consider approval of a donation in the amount of $100 from Wendy &
James Diamantopoulos to support Worcester Technical High School in memory

of Joseph Alfego.

To consider approval of a donation in the amount of $25 from James & Sandra
Marine to support Worcester Technical High School in memory of Joseph
Alfego.

To consider approval of a donation of 32 student desks from St. Spyridon
Greek Orthodox Cathedral to benefit the Worcester Public Schools.

To consider approval of a donation in the amount of $2000 from D'arren E
Wuensch DBA A-Plus Education Services for used books to benefit Worcester
Public Schools.

To consider approval of a donation of 200 pairs of gently used work boots, of
mixed sizes and styles, to support CTE programming that requires such
footwear from BRUNT.

To consider approval of a donation from Cradles to Crayons of 1,000
Elementary and Middle School Backpacks filled with basic supplies to benefit
Worcester Public Schools Elementary and Middle School students.

To consider approval of a donation from Coldwell Banker of 200 backpacks
filled with school supplies such as notebooks, crayons, and pencils, etc.to
benefit Worcester Public School students.

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.
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

c&p 6-14 (Michael Douglas)
(September 3, 2026)
For the Worcester School Committee to establish a formal district policy governing
the display of flags on school grounds and within municipally controlled public school
buildings. Specifically, I request that the School Committee enact a policy to prohibit
the flying or displaying of any flag on public school premises that is not an official
governmental banner or recognized military/veteran remembrance banner, restricted
exclusively to:

 The national flag of the United States of America

 The official flag of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 The official flag of the City of Worcester

 The official National League of Families POW/MIA flag

EXCEPTIONS CLAUSE:
This policy shall not apply to flags or banners used temporarily for direct classroom
instruction (including, but not limited to, world history, geography, or foreign
language classes), official school sports and spirit flags, or recognized U.S. military
branch flags.

REASON FOR PETITION:
To establish symbolic uniformity, reduce community division, and ensure that public
school infrastructure remains focused exclusively on core civic symbols and
educational neutrality.
Recommendation: Refer to Operations and Governance

K. Report of the Superintendent

ros 6-11 (Administration)
(September 3, 2026)
Welcome Back - Opening of Schools
Recommendation: Approve and file

L. Reports of the Standing Committees

gb 6-72 (Administration)
(June 25, 2026)
Response from Administration
Boundary Realignment Update Presentation
To consider the recommendations of the district boundary and realignment report.
Results: On a 3-0 vote the item was held.

The following three (3) items were taken collectively:
gb 4-92 (McCullough)
(October 10, 2024)
To have administration review school names with magnet in the title and determine if
it is an appropriate designation and, if not, to consider replacing the word magnet
with elementary or a designation so recommended by the administration.

gb 5-21 (McCullough)
(February 27, 2025)
To ensure that magnet program scheduling at BMS/BHS can be efficiently scheduled
in relation to the potential 26-27 tier change for BMS.

gb 6-26 (Johnson)
(February 26, 2026)
To look at changing the distance for bus transportation from 2 miles to 1.5 miles. In
an attempt to address traffic at pick up and drop off at schools moving forward, and
with the new school district lines.

Results: On a 3-0 vote, these items were filed.

N. Approval of Grants and other Finance Items

To consider approval of the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative (CPPI)
Grant in the amount of $521,064.

To consider approval of the High Dosage Tutoring Grant from DESE. Funds will be
used to pay stipend tutoring staff. The amount will be determined on a
cost-reimbursement basis.

To consider approval of Partnership for Reading Success Massachusetts (PRISM)
Grant to improve literacy outcomes in secondary schools in the amount of
$236,835.00.

To consider approval of the Computer Science Engage Grant to aid computer science
curriculum implementation, in the amount of $27,831.00.

O. General Business

gb 6-94 (McCullough)
(September 3, 2026)
Request that the Worcester School Committee establish a standing annual recognition
of June and September as Pride Months by recognizing Pride as a time for visibility,
celebration, education, and advocacy. The Worcester School Committee encourages
appropriate recognition and acknowledgment.
Recommendation: Approve and file

gb 6-95 (McCullough)
(September 3, 2026)
Policy JCA
To update policy JCA-Assignment of Students to Schools, when appropriate in
conjunction with the district realignment vote.
Recommendation: Refer to Operations and Governance

c&p 6-6 (Katrin McRell)
(May 21, 2026)
Response from Administration
Review of district voluntary transfer policy, process, and decision-making criteria.

Recommendation: Refer to Operations and Governance

gb 6-96 (Clerk)
(September 3, 2026)
To review policies ECAF-Security Cameras in School, IHBG-Home Schooling and JFBB-
School Choice to ensure that the policy manual and student handbook align.
Recommendation: Refer to Operations and Governance

gb 6-97 (Clerk)
(September 3, 2026)
Model Policy ACL-Interaction with Law Enforcement Officers
DESE Guidance on PROTECT ACT and Policy
To consider review and approval of a new policy, ACL - Interacting with Law
Enforcement Officers, as mandated by DESE and the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts after the signing of the PROTECT Act.
Recommendation: Refer to Operations & Governance

gb 6-98 (Administration)
(September 3, 2026)
Second Meal Prices
To approve the second meal breakfast, lunch, snack, and adult meal prices for the
2026-2027.
Recommendation: Approve and file

P. Announcements

Meeting Dates:
--September 16, 2026, Operations and Governance Regular Meeting, 5:00 p.m.,
Worcester Technical High School Auditorium
-September 16, 2026, Operations and Governance with Realignment Forum, 6:00
p.m., Worcester Technical High School Auditorium
-September 17, 2026, School Committee Meeting, 5:00 p.m., City Hall, Esther
Howland Chamber
-October 1, 2026, School Committee Meeting, 5:00 p.m., City Hall, Esther Howland
Chamber

Q. Adjournment

Kristi Turgeon, Clerk of the School Committee

Transcript

Transcript pending: YouTube captions can't be retrieved yet (see the Worcester playbook).