WORCESTER—Worcester Public Schools has revived its Safety Advisory for Education Committee, signaling a new approach to how the district addresses safety — one that emphasizes both physical security and student well-being.
Mayor Joe Petty said the relaunch comes at a time when schools face dual challenges. “The most pressing challenges we face today are twofold,” Petty said in a statement. “First, ensuring the physical security of our buildings in a way that is welcoming and not intimidating; and second, addressing the growing mental health needs of our students. Safety today means more than locked doors; it means creating schools where every child feels seen, supported and able to thrive.”
The committee is divided into two groups — physical safety and felt safety — to reflect that broader mission. Dr. Matt Morse, the district’s safety director and a former teacher and principal, said collaboration across disciplines is essential. “All of the issues within the work of school safety — including physical, operational, and felt safety — are complex,” Morse said.
Community members are also weighing in on external safety concerns. District C candidate Feanna Jattan-Singh pointed to the “lack of sidewalks to and from the roads surrounding the two-mile radius that children have to walk on going to and from schools,” calling conditions “not safe to have to walk on these pothole-ridden streets with no sidewalk.”
Petty said Superintendent Brian Allen and his team ensures the committee’s recommendations lead to action, possibly in coordination with Worcester police, public health and youth services. Still, resource constraints remain a challenge.
“The biggest safety concerns come from a lack of staffing,” said Melissa Verdier, president of the Educational Association of Worcester. “There are allocated positions that are not filled and positions schools need cannot be added because of budgetary constraints.”
Verdier also noted the financial trade-offs. “Physical security is usually a one-time cost, whereas mental health would have to be sustainable on a yearly basis,” she said. “They come from different budgets — capital and operating.”
To track progress, Morse said the committee plans to use both qualitative and quantitative data. “With new technology, hardware, policies and programming, we can assess effectiveness through surveys to measure how our stakeholders perceive safety,” he said.
A new feature of the committee’s structure brings both subgroups together midyear to collaborate on shared topics — a change Morse called “a new approach for us.”
Petty emphasized that stakeholder voices drive the work. “Caregivers, educators and students are the heart of this process,” he said. “Their lived experience is critical to identifying concerns and shaping solutions.”
The committee meets throughout the school year and provide regular updates to the School Committee and public. Petty said the relaunch establishes a lasting framework for safety planning in Worcester schools. “By relaunching this committee, we’re building a framework that will guide safety planning for years to come,” he said.
Matt Olszewski is a freelance content and news writer based in Boston, MA. In his free time, Matt enjoys running, hiking or skiing. Matt recently graduated with his MPH from Tufts University. He can be reached at mattoskier@gmail.com
