How much technology belongs in elementary classrooms—and how much the district should spend to maintain it—will be among the major questions before the Worcester School Committee when it meets Thursday, Nov. 12.
The committee considers a parent-backed petition seeking to remove individually assigned, internet-connected devices from preschool through second-grade classrooms, alongside reports examining screen time, educational applications and the district’s approach to artificial intelligence.
At the same meeting, members take a look at authorizing a lease of up to five years to replace 6,000 student Chromebooks and 1,000 staff MacBook Airs.
The proposals come amid growing scrutiny of classroom technology, with some Worcester parents questioning whether frequent device use is appropriate for young children and calling for greater emphasis on hands-on, teacher-led instruction.
The petition, submitted by Noelia Chafoya, asks the district to revise its one-to-one device program for students in preschool through second grade. It would preserve access to assistive technology for students with disabilities, allow technology enrichment classes and permit teachers to use digital tools to support instruction.
In its written response, the administration says it has been reviewing instructional screen time through usage monitoring, research and feedback from families and educators. However, the district is not recommending specific screen-time limits at this point. Instead, administrators say they will continue gathering input from parents, staff, students, technology and health experts, and community members before determining whether changes are warranted.
The committee is also scheduled to receive reports on how frequently Chromebooks are used in elementary classrooms, what educational applications the district has approved and the work of its Future Ready Technology Committee.
According to the district’s screen-time audit, students averaged 28.5 minutes of device use per day in kindergarten, 32 minutes in first grade and 39 minutes in second grade. The averages increased in higher grades, reaching 87.5 minutes for 11th-graders.
The district says recreational screen time is prohibited during instructional periods and that students in preschool through sixth grade are not permitted to use screen-based technology during lunch or recess.
That advisory group, which includes parents, educators and community members, has discussed how students should learn about artificial intelligence at different grade levels. Its work includes questions about critical thinking, academic integrity, interpersonal skills and the risks of children relying on AI for social or emotional guidance.
A separate district report describes efforts to review educational applications and strengthen oversight of student data privacy. Worcester Public Schools says it is using a new auditing tool to determine which approved applications remain in use and identify those that may no longer be necessary.
The proposed computer lease would replace existing devices as part of the district’s technology replacement schedule, rather than provide 7,000 additional computers. The administration says it plans to reduce future replacement quantities as it adjusts to declining enrollment and seeks to maintain fewer spare devices.
The agenda does not specify a dollar amount for the proposed lease.
Students seek bathroom improvements
Students at Sullivan Middle School are also bringing their concerns directly to the school committee.
A group of eighth-graders has submitted a petition requesting bathroom repairs and renovations, citing problems with privacy, hygiene, accessibility and the availability of functioning toilets. According to the petition, some bathrooms have only one or two working toilets, forcing students to wait and potentially miss instructional time. The students are seeking functioning sinks, properly maintained soap dispensers, stall doors that provide adequate privacy and working sanitary napkin dispensers, along with improvements to restroom cleanliness.
The petition is part of a student-led civic action project. The administration recommends referring the matter to the Standing Committee on Operations and Governance for further consideration.
Enrollment trends and school realignment
The committee also receives a report examining why students leave Worcester Public Schools and whether departures differ by grade level or demographic group. The analysis, requested by school committee member Sue Mailman, examines students who withdraw during the school year and those who finish one year but do not return the next.
District data shows that the annual withdrawal rate has remained near 4% for the past three school years, while the proportion of students who do not return the following year has ranged from 4.6% to 5%.
The report also identifies higher-than-expected withdrawal rates among Hispanic students, English learners and students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. Although students continue to leave the district, administrators say comparable numbers of students also enter Worcester Public Schools during and between school years.
School boundary realignment remains on the agenda as well, with the committee scheduled to receive the report from its Oct. 26 Operations and Governance meeting.
The district is weighing proposals that could change school assignments, attendance boundaries and the locations of certain programs as it seeks to address overcrowding and underused buildings. A community realignment forum is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 16, at 6 p.m. at South High Community School, 170 Apricot St. The Operations and Governance Committee is expected to narrow the proposals Nov. 30, ahead of an anticipated final School Committee vote Dec. 3.
Spending, grants and other business
The school committee will likely approve two state education grants totaling nearly $185,000. The larger award, a $175,000 Intensive Assistance Grant renewal, would support efforts to improve classroom instruction in schools that have been designated low-performing for at least five years. A separate $9,998 Safe and Supportive Schools grant would support continued work under that state program.
Members are also scheduled to consider a three-year, $157,500 extension of the district’s website hosting contract with Apptegy and a three-year renewal of web-filtering services through CDW Government and Lightspeed Systems.
The committee also welcomes several donations, including biotechnology supplies valued at more than $5,100 for Worcester Technical High School and $5,000 worth of used social studies books for the district.
The Burncoat Quadrivium Honors Choir will also be recognized for earning a gold medal and third-place finish in a higher competition division, an achievement that led to invitations to perform at Carnegie Hall in 2027 and 2028.
The School Committee will meet Thursday, Nov. 12, in the Esther Howland Chamber at Worcester City Hall. An executive session is scheduled for 5 p.m., followed by the public meeting at 6 p.m.
Members of the public may attend in person or participate virtually through the district’s Zoom meeting, using webinar ID 827 4644 0670. Public comments are limited to two minutes per speaker.
