WORCESTER ScHOOL COMMITTEE

CANDIDATE RESPONSES

Read the responses submitted by this year’s candidates for Worcester School Committee.

Responses to questions will be posted weekly. Please check back regularly.

QUESTION 1

What do you think are the most significant strengths of the district? What are the most significant areas of concern?

400 word maximum submissions permitted.

*Currently serving on the school committee.

**LAURA B. CLANCEY* | AT-LARGE**

The morale of the district is unlike what I have seen in a long time. This is due in part to the Superintendent and the team she has put together. I am proud of the nationwide search that we conducted and the amount of work that went into that has paid off. Some of the strengths of the district are the new innovative ideas that the Superintendent has brought to Worcester. For example the office of Culture and Climate, the Dean of Students at the high schools. Also, by creating smaller structures such as the development of the Q-Teams, in such a large district as Worcester it has created a faster and smoother response team.

Some areas of concern for me would be safety and holding students accountable for their actions. Throughout most of last year we had an outside agency conduct our first safety audit and I look forward to getting those results. Another concern for me has been the mental health of our students. I know this has been a top priority of this administration, and they see that if we don’t have students who are focused and ready each day then they won’t be able to focus on learning. We also need to make sure our students are receiving high quality levels of education so that they are ready for what ever path they choose upon graduation.

**SUSAN M. MAILMAN* | AT-LARGE**

The most significant strength of our district is always related to those that we serve - our amazing students and families, the size of our district is a strength that will allow us the opportunity to create one of the strongest urban school districts in our nation, IF we tap into the community resources that have been ready and waiting for WPS engagement. What has changed is our leadership and this IS the single biggest advantage we have over the coming years. Dr. Rachel Monarrez has come into our district for all the right reasons – she too, sees Worcester as a place to make a difference in this world. She is bringing her talents, skills and experience to our city to make a difference.

We have a window to take advantage of all that Dr. Monarrez brings while building our bench of leaders and addressing all systems that are in need of improvement. Those areas include upping our performance for students and families around special education services and multi lingual services. Our buildings are a priority right now – we have got to advocate across every sector for funds to bring our old buildings into the 21st century. We are so, so far behind. Lastly as an employer deeply devoted to vocational education and as a resident understanding the millions and millions of new tax payer dollars invested in our high schools I want to help ensure that we are making the most of our investments in the comprehensive schools by providing rock solid vocational programming in these schools – we have a ways to go – students are not able to access the shop time at a rate even closely similar to Worcester Tech and this is not acceptable. It will take us time and focus to make sure students are getting the value they deserve and we expect.

**TRACY O’CONNELL NOVICK* | AT-LARGE**

In both cases: more than I can possibly cover in 200 words each.

As much as it sounds like a facile answer, the people of the Worcester Public Schools–our students, their families, our staff–are the greatest strength of the district. From the brand new kindergartners being welcomed in September to the newly minted graduates flipping their tassels in June, they add a richness, a humor, a joy in learning that is our fuel. The staff that is there for them every step of the way makes it all possible; we have staff that are the latest of multiple generations of WPS staff, and some that just arrived, and so many of them really love the students and really love this district.

I want, though, to hold up the incredible structural work done by Dr. Monárrez and her administration in ensuring there is now true support for the work in our schools. A deft judge of people, she has increased responsibilities for those already working for the district whose capabilities support it, and has made new hires as needed elsewhere. In turn, those staff have made good choices, from a new literacy curriculum, to new structures of support, and so forth.

And I’m really proud of the success of district-operated transportation.

Worcester is an urban public school district that is a receiving city for refugees in a state that has highly segregated school districts. We thus have all the areas of concern that suggests: we are historically underfunded, and while that is being remedied on the operational side, there has been as yet no movement on the capital side. City, state, and federal branches of government all must do much more to support our buildings. We have a richness of languages which means we need support for learning English, support for maintaining and extending home languages, and translation services. The consequences of racial and ethnic bias in our children’s schooling continues to be reflected in educational attainment across the board. And any of the complications of life surrounding our schools–increases in poverty, generational violence, mental health crises lacking support services–are always going to have some impact on what happens inside them.

I will say, though, that the answer to the latter is the former. The areas of concern are matched by the strengths we have.

MAUREEN F. BINIENDA | AT-LARGE

As a school district, we have incredible strengths originating from the diversity of our broader community. We have students represented from all over the world which enrich the education and cultural competency of our students, making them well rounded and global thinkers.

Worcester Public Schools has an experienced and dedicated staff. Staff have made a positive difference in the academic and social emotional life of students and their families. The addition of specialized personnel such as school adjustment counselors, wrap around coordinators, and family engagement staff continue to support student and family needs.

Being a larger school district affords significant financial resources that allows us to provide our students with the very best curriculum, teachers, and school programming. In my tenure as a teacher, principal, and superintendent, I championed numerous school initiatives designed to provide access and opportunities for all students in all spaces of power, making sure they experienced and saw themselves reflected in the careers and community leaders in our community. Additional strength of our school district is our ongoing efforts to always provide more programming to ensure more opportunities for our students.

Fiscal accountability is an important priority that we can improve on as a district. We must look closely at where we are spending our significant resources, reassessing those avenues to ensure that we are maximizing every dollar, every curriculum and programming to the benefit of our students.

In the 2023 MCAS district report, Worcester had 10 schools “requiring assistance or intervention”. The district will need to review individual student and staff data, provide professional development to staff, implement focused instruction to accelerate student learning, provide additional academic support and provide advanced learning to high performing students. Data also shows the need to continue the expansion of dual language programs and targeted support for special education students.

The Worcester Public Schools manages 62 public buildings. Eleven of the buildings were built prior to 1900. There are significant facilities challenges throughout the district. Burncoat Middle/High School, Worcester East Middle and Grafton Street Schools all need immediate repairs or replacement. There is a shortage of funding to adequately address these projects.

There are continued concerns from staff, students, families and community members regarding school safety. There needs to be a sharp focus on providing a safe environment for both staff and students.

I look forward to my continued work with the Worcester Public Schools.

**MOLLY O. McCULLOUGH* | DISTRICT A**

One of the significant strengths of our district is our diverse student population, which brings a wealth of experiences and perspectives to schools. This diversity is an asset that we should continue to celebrate and harness for the benefit of all students.
Another asset is our Superintendent. Under her leadership, along with the work of our high quality educators and staff, we have already begun to see progress in our District that will only continue.
One of our areas of opportunity is the achievement gap that exists among students of different backgrounds. We must continue our efforts to ensure that every student, regardless of their background, has access to high-quality education and the support they need to succeed. This includes efforts to get students reading on grade level by grade 3.

VANESSA ZULEYMA ALVAREZ | DISTRICT B

Strengths:

Worcester's public school (WPS) system benefits from a diverse student population. This benefits students and provides opportunities for cultural exchange. In addition, it enhances integration amongst students and the community. When thinking about the classrooms, there are many dedicated and passionate educators within the WPS system who work tirelessly to provide quality education to their students. WPS offers advanced placement (AP) and honors programs in its high schools, providing students with opportunities to challenge themselves academically and achieve educational goals. WPS offers strong career and technical education (CTE) programs that allow students to gain practical skills and prepare for a wide range of careers. The district collaborates with various community organizations, due to this it may enhance students' educational experiences.

Areas of Concern:

WPS face challenges related to the achievement gap. There is research describing the disparities in academic outcomes among different demographic groups, which need to be addressed. It is essential to bridge educational disparities within WPS by ensuring equitable resource allocation across schools and programs. In relation to cultural competence the district may experience challenges in retaining experienced and culturally competent teachers, which can impact the quality of education of diverse and vulnerable students and families. Enhancing community engagement and communication between parents, educators, and administrators is crucial for addressing concerns and implementing positive changes. On the other hand, when it comes to environmental factors, some schools may require maintenance or upgrades to create a safe and conducive learning environment.

In addition, providing adequate mental health and support services for students is increasingly important. Ensuring that all students have access to mental health services and professionals is vital. This includes new American students, students who are fluent in a language other than English, etc. When addressing these concerns, it's essential to emphasize collaborative efforts among the school district, parents, teachers, and the broader community to work together toward improvement.

**JERMOH V. KAMARA* | DISTRICT c**

Right now we have a new school boss/ superintendent who has come in with new ideas and ways to improve educational excellence for all students. This new superintendent cares about building relationships and molding teams to be responsive to the district's needs. An example of this is that she's built a central office team, as well as teams at the local levels. She has improved upon the scope and quality of work of these local teams i.e the Quadrant Executive Directors, to be grassroots on the ground in the Quadrants, and their roles support Principals and other professional development needs, this role also supports the community such as parents having questions about needs at their child/ren school. We also have clarity in handbooks that have been developed for staff across the district, which we did not have before. Our Family and Community Engagement teams are plowing the way, connecting with new parents, immigrants, and everyone in the district. Lastly, our Communication Office has done a remarkable job over the last year, getting out to each school and sharing the stories of our students, educators, and programs across our district schools on all social media platforms. This information can also be seen in the local newspaper, which we did not have before.

The most significant areas of concern are the physical health and safety of our school buildings. The city has done assessments on most if not all of our school buildings but little to nothing has been done for elementary and middle school buildings (besides Nelson Place). Secondly, the voters in Worcester need to keep electing a quality pool of candidates to the School Committee that bring fresh perspective and relentless strength in advocacy for the next ten years and beyond to ensure key issues such as the health of our school buildings, are kept at the forefront of deliberations. Our children deserve a quality school environment to learn in and this must be a priority at the district level for both the School Committee and City Council. We have to eliminate the saying that “this is a national issue” and instead work on how we as “elected officials” can advocate at the state and federal levels for such funding or grants to rebuild our elementary- middle public schools. I am ever ready to earn the re-election of voters to continue in such a direction.

ALEJANDRO GUARDIOLA, JR. | DISTRICT D

Our public school district has many strengths – a robust curriculum, excellent teachers and staff, great sports and extracurricular programs, a plethora of career pathway opportunities, and the diversity of our student population. Our new superintendent is also a great asset as an organized strategic thinker who understands how to maximize the potential of every child.

Perhaps our greatest strength is our diversity as a community. There are over 70 different languages spoken in our schools, and students benefit greatly from learning about the different cultures and perspectives of their peers. For District D, vocational programs are deeply important. These programs are nationally recognized, and our district is considered a leader in Massachusetts in terms of access to career pathway programs. These opportunities are a difference maker for Worcester students who might thrive in different learning environments and who may not be looking to go to college after graduation.

That said, I would not be running for school committee if I did not see areas for improvement. My top three areas of concern are expanding vocational technical education, improving school nutrition, and supporting teachers.

Expanding Vocational Technical Education – In Massachusetts there are thousands of students on waitlists to get into vocational programs. Worcester Tech has high demand and a waitlist. Every WPS student interested in pursuing a vocation, trade, or other career that does not require an increasingly expensive college education should be able to access that pathway. We must continue investing in our high quality voc-tech programs in our high schools and promote co-ops and apprenticeships.

Improving School Nutrition – Nutrition and food security is essential for students to properly learn during the day, and as an urban public school system we also have a responsibility to do our best to ensure no student goes hungry at school or at home. There is a problem with the quality of meals in many of our schools, and a lack of locally sourced food. WPS students deserve access to locally sourced, healthy, and appetizing meals.

Supporting Teachers – I was glad to see the recent contract for the teachers’ union. Before signing the new contract, Worcester lagged behind at just 57th statewide in average teacher salary despite being the second largest district. Worcester should continue to be a leader in working with our teachers’ union to ensure that teachers and paraprofessionals have all the resources and support they need.

Jermaine lamont johnson* | District f

The Worcester Public Schools system has changed dramatically over the past year. We hired a new Superintendent after a nation-wide search, Dr. Rachel Monarrez. She has come into the district and created an atmosphere of inclusion, transparency, and community focused. She created a solid administrative structure to carry us into the future. New positions such as climate and culture staff and Dean of Students. She set up Q (quadrant) teams that are in the schools supporting our students and educators. She was attentive to budgetary needs and concerns and addressed this in the fiscal year budget.

One of the districts biggest strengths is the hiring of superintendent Monarrez, and her hiring and restructuring her administrative team. This has led to this school years opening being touting by educators as one of the best openings we have had in years. I would say the communication is one of our other strengths at this time. Due to the hiring of the communication director the district is more visible on social media highlighting the strengths and the good work that is being done by our schools, principals, educators and students. The next strength would be our transportation department. This is our second year of having our own transportation. We were able to save 650,000 thousand dollars and was able to allocate some of those funds to hiring more para educators for our kindergarten classrooms to help support our early learnings. The transportation has been much improved over the past year with the hiring of drivers, and monitors which has led to our children being picked up on time and ready to learn.

One of the most important concerns currently in our district is our supporting of English language learners. There continues to be a lack of progress in decreasing the academic gap. This has been much more difficult lately as we continue to see an increase of students coming from other countries. This is a focus of myself and the current school committee to address these barriers and inequities to exist. The other concern I would like to note is the hiring, retaining and promoting more educators, and administrative staff the mirrors our student body. This also is a focus of mine and the administration. I continue to discuss these concerns with the Superintendent.

I believe as a district we are moving in the right direction but there is more to do.

QUESTION 2

Worcester continues to struggle to meet the needs of English language learners and to recognize the value of proficiency in more than one language. What steps do you think the Committee and District need to take to address this inequity?

QUESTION 3

If elected, what actions, specifically, would you take to address understaffing in the WPS? Please prioritize the staffing shortages you would address.

QUESTION 4

Many of our schools are housed in inadequate or antiquated buildings with infrastructure inadequate to the needs of 21st century learners. What steps would you take to begin to address this issue?