WORCESTER—Fully implementing a “preventative rather than reactionary” approach to achieving inclusivity in the Worcester Public Schools “will require us to be nimble and flexible,” Superintendent Rachel H. Monárrez told the Worcester School Committee at its meeting on Thursday.
The superintendent’s comment came after a presentation, “Culture & Climate Inclusivity: A Breakthrough,” by Annie Azarloza, Dr. Kareem Tatum and Thomas Toney. They outlined several goals to improve inclusivity outcomes in the district and to ensure that students “feel safe, have a sense of belonging and a more equitable learning environment,” as Toney put it.
The priority focus areas identified as needing attention for 2024 and beyond are: “increased student engagement, restorative practices, mental health supports and improved supports to students.”
The primary objective of the breakthrough strategies is “to keep kids in school,” Toney said.
School committee members were told that a multi-pronged strategic approach is being utilized to provide students with help. This involves three tiers: intensive supports, targeted supports, and universal supports.
These strategies are making a difference, they were informed.
Mayor Joseph Petty, who chairs the school committee, was the first to congratulate the team on its report.
“People are impressed and we have just started,” the mayor said.
The Culture & Climate initiative syncs with the schools’ “Vision of a Learner” program. “It all comes back to Vision of a Learner,” Azarloza said.
Positives mentioned included an out-of-school suspension rate that is down from 2023, an attendance rate that is better than that of other large school districts, an enthusiastic embrace of a WPS Mid-Year Pulse Check with 742 more responses received than was the case 12 months ago, and the hard work being done by culture coaches, assistants, wraparound coordinators, principals, and related personnel.
Azarloza noted, too, that with “this commitment, all means all.”
The team’s slide show and remarks were backed by several voices from the field, including a mention by Ed Walker, who is dean of students at Worcester Tech, of a “wellness space,” and by Kendra Cox who is principal of Sullivan Middle School, of a “reset room.”
Cox mentioned “a budding Picasso” who was drawing graffiti on bathroom walls. “Positive momentum” came out of a discussion with him about his creative instincts, she said.
Member Molly McCullough pointed out that many people were dubious of all the positions associated with the Culture & Climate push but that these have proven to be invaluable and are working well.
Member Dianna Biancheria said it would be helpful to her to get a description of each of these jobs so that when she is out in the community she can share with people “more than a title” associated with the work they are doing. She also wondered aloud what the main contributing factor is in unexcused absences, adding that the “absent ten days or more” rate is too high. She further requested that when families meet with educators about their child, a reference to attendance issues should be mentioned.
Member Maureen Binienda was told in reply to a question she asked that Climate & Culture coaches are the ones responsible for training provided to those involved in the restorative practices component of the breakthrough strategies. She made a motion for a report on suspension-data incidents for the year, and the specific reason involved in each of them.
“Not knowing what cuts we will have to make” as the budget takes shape, “what impact will these have on Culture & Climate positions?” she asked.
The superintendent said this will be addressed at the next school committee meeting.
A thorough report on the system’s school lunch program by four Forest Grove students brought praise from the school committee and a commitment from the administration to improvements. In a poll the students conducted, 53 percent of Forest Grove students said they sometimes eat lunch, 12.7 percent said never and 34.3 percent said all the time. Agreement was high—86 percent–that there are “not enough options” and that the food served is not appetizing and not nutritional enough.
A comparison was made between the Worcester and Springfield school lunch programs.
Binienda suggested that the students talk with Donna Lombardi who is the in-house food vendor for the schools.
“We are going to work on this, we haven’t forgotten you,” the superintendent told the students, in response to their request for change.
Rod Lee is a career journalist, a veteran of the media scene in Central Massachusetts and the author of seven books including the recently published “Gil Cristopher,” a novel about the difficulties associated with aging. He can be contacted at rodlee1963@gmail.com
