Latest news with #SchoolCommittee
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Groundbreaking held for Grandmothers' Garden outdoor classroom pavilion
WESTFIELD — Mayor Mike McCabe, Ward 3 Councilor Bridget Matthews-Kane, School Committee member Kathleen Hillman, board members and friends of the Grandmothers' Garden performed a ceremonial groundbreaking on Wednesday for the new outdoor classroom pavilion set to begin construction this week. Friends of Grandmothers' Garden board member Allen Steiger thanked everyone involved in helping to get the project to this point, singling out the mayor, councilors, the Conservation Commission and all of the volunteers. 'More to come as this takes place,' he said. Jackie McDowell, outreach coordinator for Grandmothers' Garden, said the silt fence will go up later this week, and excavation will begin next week by R.A. LaPlante Construction and Rob Levesque of R. Levesque Associates, architect. McDowell said the Westfield Technical Academy's horticulture department will be doing the landscaping and planting design, under department head Nate Sperry. McDowell said the project should be completed, including an attached restroom, by September or October. In February, the City Council unanimously approved the Community Preservation Commission's funding of $528,200 for the new outdoor classroom pavilion and rest area at Grandmothers' Garden, which sits in a portion of the 10-acre Chauncey Allen Park. At the groundbreaking, McDowell said the project is a wonderful collaboration with Westfield Public Schools. The 30-by-40-foot wood pavilion will be used by local schools for nature-based programs, STEM instruction, arts, photography and community field trips. For Westfield Technical Academy across the street, they foresee class instruction for students of horticulture, construction, technology, history, science and environmental studies; and for Westfield State University, for students and faculty who are pursuing biology studies, visual arts education, environmental sciences and urban planning to use the facility. The pavilion will also be available for private classes, social and special events, small gatherings, picnics, meetings and reunions. At the groundbreaking, McDowell said the project is a wonderful collaboration with Westfield Public Schools. Elementary school STEM Coach Lindsey Ayers, also present at the groundbreaking, said with both the Westfield River and Highland elementary schools nearby, the new outdoor classroom will be a wonderful setting for studies students are already conducting on erosion and ponds. 'Doing those activities over here in an actual environment, and being able to bring students here to do projects, is really going to enhance their [education].' An ADA-compliant restroom will be built on one end of the pavilion classroom, and a paved area for seating, just outside the other end. 'A lot of people put in a lot of work, so we're thankful,' said Friends of Grandmothers Garden board member Dan Florence. 'We're looking to grow the community of Grandmothers' Garden with what we're doing here. It's gorgeous — one of the best kept secrets in Westfield,' he added. 'I'm just thrilled. It's going to make this space even more available to the community. It's a wonderful addition,' said Ward 3 Councilor Bridget Matthews-Kane. Read the original article on MassLive.
Boston Globe
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Jury finds Haverhill School Committee member not guilty of groping teen
A juror told the station that surveillance video from the convenience store did not corroborate the teen's version of events. Neither Ferguson nor her lawyer responded to requests for comment from the Globe on Thursday. Advertisement The mother recognized Ferguson from her son's description and alerted police. Officers went to Ferguson's home and arrested her. According to a police report, Ferguson approached the teen, who was wearing a Halloween mask, outside the store around 7:45 p.m. The report said Ferguson groped the boy's buttocks when she entered the store and grabbed at his chest when she left. 'Oh, you have nipples,' Ferguson said, according to the report. The report also said Ferguson called the teen a 'creep' after he told her to go away. Ferguson did not deny interacting with the teen. She told police she had been at the store playing Keno and that she had poked the boy in the chest and told him he was 'scary.' Advertisement Ferguson denied any further physical interaction, the report said. While awaiting trial, Ferguson was released on personal recognizance with a 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew. She was ordered to stay away from minors and had to wear a GPS monitor. Haverhill Mayor Melinda Barrett and Superintendent Margaret Marotta did not respond to requests for comment from the Globe Thursday. Ferguson was elected to the School Committee in November 2023. Ferguson told 97.9 WHAV that she intends to finish out her term with the School Committee, which ends Dec. 31, and does not intend to run for re-election. Tonya Alanez can be reached at
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Worcester schools budget proposal: $586 million, no layoffs planned, uncertainty remains
WORCESTER ― The proposed Worcester Public Schools budget for the next school year is set at $586 million, an increase of $33.8 million, or 6.1% over last year. The district announced earlier this month that the proposed budget would be within striking distance of $600 million and the budget is undergoing a series of public hearings before it will ultimately be voted on by the School Committee. Unlike last year, which saw the district cut nearly 200 positions due to budget shortfalls, no layoffs are anticipated under the current proposed budget. However, in a press release the district has noted that a few outstanding items remain beyond the city's control, such as actions by the federal government, which controls 9% of the district's proposed budget, and state funding. More: Impact of school budget cuts: 86 classroom teachers, 70 support staff, 22 administrators "No layoffs are planned due to the budget next year. However, Worcester Public Schools continues to monitor actions by the federal government, which provides 9% of the district budget. Additionally, the state Legislature may make adjustments to the final amount that Worcester Public Schools receives," the district stated. From the proposed budget, $142 million will come from the city, while $381 million comes from the state, with the remaining funding coming from federal grants and other minor revenue sources. Superintendent Rachel Monárrez stated that the district is proud to be past the difficult cutting process and that resources can be used to help the highest-need students in the district. "I am grateful we can begin to move our resource allocation in the right direction to support our scholars, especially our highest-need students, even if we are doing so incrementally,' Monárrez said. 'While factors such as inflation reimbursement and health benefits pose a challenge, we are building upon a strong foundation to ensure funding is used in the most effective manner possible, now and in the future.' The proposed budget would be the first in which the district uses what it calls its equity-based budgeting practice, a formula developed by Monárrez and Deputy Superintendent and Chief Financial Officer Brian Allen that is intended to better allocate resources to schools and students that have been historically underserved. Allen, who will take over as superintendent in July, said the budget has been constructed with the intent of putting educators at the forefront. "This budget prioritizes classroom investments including common planning time and textbook and technology purchases, despite ongoing challenges," Allen stated. "Through it all, we are putting educator voice at the forefront and ensuring our budget is rooted in the district's 'Vision of a Learner' and strategic plan priorities." Part of the budget will add eight additional climate and culture coordinators in Worcester secondary schools, new positions that were created last year to help improve student behavior and encourage better outcomes for students struggling in school. More: Climate and culture team aims for reform at Worcester East Middle School Other aspects of the budget include funding to replace approximately 6,000 Chromebooks, which are given out to students across the district, the use of "late" buses at all middle and high schools to help transport students who have after-school activities, and to maintain current staffing ratios of 21 students per teacher across the district. The School Committee held public meetings on the budget May 19 and 27, and will hold additional meetings on June 5 and 18. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Worcester Public Schools proposed budget set at $586 million
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Who is running for School Committee in Worcester this year?
WORCESTER ― With election season just a few months away, the race to see who gets seats on the Worcester School Committee is underway. The School Committee is arguably the second most powerful elected board in Worcester behind the City Council, overseeing a school district with approximately 25,000 students and 4,000 employees, and a budget approaching $600 million. The School Committee members will be tasked with evaluating a new superintendent, Brian Allen, who was hired to replace the departing Rachel Monárrez in May. They will also oversee the effort to replace Burncoat High School, while grappling with uncertainty at the federal level, including a lawsuit against the Trump administration's plans to eliminate the Department of Education, in which the school district is acting as a witness on behalf of the plaintiffs. According to the City Clerk's office, every current member of the School Committee is running for reelection, some running unopposed while others have multiple challengers. Former Worcester Public Schools Superintendent Maureen Binienda is running for reelection. Binienda ran for the School Committee in 2023, after her contract as superintendent was not renewed. She ended up receiving the most votes of any candidate. Binienda has been a vocal critic of Monárrez, who was hired as Binienda's replacement. The other incumbent at-large candidate is Sue Mailman, who is seeking her third term on the School Committee. A staunch ally of Monárrez, Mailman has been vocal about her desire for the committee to take more progressive positions in the district, particularly on social issues. A new candidate for an at-large position is Adwoa Sakyi-Lamptey, who according to her LinkedIn profile is an employer relations manager at Clark University. Molly McCullough, who has been on the School Committee since 2015, is seeking reelection as District A representative. The granddaughter of former Worcester Mayor James O'Brien and the niece of longtime state politician Thomas White, McCullough is a notable supporter of current Worcester Mayor and School Committee Chair Joe Petty, having held prominent positions on his reelection campaigns in the past. She is running unopposed. Vanessa Alvarez is the lone candidate running in District B, according to the City Clerk's office. Alvarez, a Worcester native, was first elected to the committee in 2023. The youngest member of the current committee, she is a social worker and has been closely supported by Mailman during her first term on the committee. Dianna Biancheria, who is easily the longest-tenured member of the committee, is running for an eighth term, having first been elected in 2009. Biancheria has been vocal about her desire for increased security and safety in the Worcester Public Schools, and has generally been supportive of Binienda's motions on the committee. Challenging Biancheria is Feanna Jattan-Singh, who has created a website for her campaign. According to the website, Jattan-Singh is a mother of four with two students attending North High, and is aiming to increase transparency in the school department and institute different ways for parents to have their voices heard in the district. A real estate agent, Jattan-Singh previously ran for City Council in District 3 in 2023. The lone candidate in District D is Alex Guardiola, who is seeking reelection after first being elected in 2023. Guardiola is the head of the Better Business Bureau of Central Massachusetts and has a close relationship with the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce. The most competitive race this year will likely be in District E, which has three candidates. First, incumbent Kathleen Roy, who has first elected in 2023. After working as both a before-and-after school programming director, Roy has pushed for greater community involvement from parents and calling for greater school safety policies, often voting in lockstep with Binienda and Biancheria on committee motions. Challenging Roy is Nelly Medina, who fell just short of beating Roy in 2023, losing out on the seat by just 97 votes. Medina works for the Worcester Education Justice Alliance and is a local advocate for various progressive causes aimed at improving the lives of disadvantaged youth. The third candidate is newcomer Noelia Chafoya, who has been campaigning for months already, regularly attending School Committee meetings and launched a website last year to challenge Roy. A graduate of North High, Chafoya has said she wants to push for further STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) programs and career and technical education access for Worcester students. In District F, incumbent Jermaine Johnson is running unopposed for a third term on the committee, having first been elected in 2021. A social worker and Worcester native, Johnson has served as vice chair on the committee over the past two years and has at times taken the floor to call for greater comradery from the committee, which is often divided on significant issues. Since the mayor of Worcester also has a seat on the School Committee, the winner of the mayoral election will end up on the committee in 2025. Mayor Joseph Petty, who chairs the School Committee, is seeking an eighth term as mayor. Petty has been a big supporter of Monárrez as superintendent, and the progress that the city has made in school construction has been a key part of his mayoral campaign. Petty will be challenged by City Councilor Khrystian King, who has been on the council since 2015. A progressive, King has been in attendance at recent school committee meetings and recently filed a petition to determine if Worcester Public Schools had any interest in the use of former Becker College buildings that were purchased by the city. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Who is running for School Committee in Worcester this year?
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Let her walk': After public outcry, Cumberland exchange student walks at graduation
CUMBERLAND, R.I. (WPRI) — A Cumberland High School exchange student was allowed to walk at graduation Wednesday night following a last-minute reversal sparked by community backlash. Clara, a foreign exchange student from France, was blindsided and confused after school leaders pulled her aside after rehearsal wrapped Tuesday, telling her she would not be able to participate in the ceremony. According to Jason Dean, a Cumberland School Committee member, Clara's host family emailed the entire committee expressing that she was devastated and had never been told she couldn't walk. Not only was it never communicated to Clara or her host family, but the school allowed her to go through the full graduation preparation process—including paying dues, ordering a cap and gown, and submitting the proper pronunciation of her name. Dean clarified that Clara was not seeking a diploma, but simply wanted recognition for completing her senior year abroad. 'Since November, she had assumed she was going to be allowed to walk across the stage,' Dean explained. 'She never thought she was going to get a diploma.' While certain policies prevent students from walking if they do not meet graduation requirements, Dean said that wasn't the case here. 'The policy that the superintendent quoted didn't mention foreign exchange students or people that weren't matriculating for the diploma from other countries,' he said. This decision prompted swift backlash from parents and community members, who criticized the school for poor communication and a lack of transparency. Word spread quickly on social media, with several people saying Clara had been 'led on' and raising concerns about the 'fairness and inclusivity' of the district's policies. In response, two emergency meetings were called—the first an executive session behind closed doors, which Dean said he strongly opposed. 'Whatever can be done in the public eye, in the spirit of transparency, should be done in the public eye,' Dean said. 'Unfortunately, they didn't invite the student or the host parents to that meeting, so when we did go from executive to the public session, they weren't there to explain themselves.' In the interim, the superintendent reportedly said Clara's previous host family was notified in July 2024 that she wouldn't be able to walk. However, Dean said that was not clearly communication to her current host when she transferred. He said Clara was so confident she'd be participating that she moved her return flight to France ahead of the ceremony. On Wednesday morning, the principal issued a statement saying he stood by his decision, a position backed by the superintendent, leaving it up to the School Committee to make the final call. Ultimately, the committee voted 6-0 to let Clara walk, and after a stressful 48 hours, she crossed the stage Wednesday night alongside her classmates. 'It really was the political uproar that caused the special meeting,' Dean said, adding that the justification for the reversal was the short notice of the situation. Dean said that the committee plans to revisit the district's policy to prevent similar confusion in the future, such as students who may receive diplomas after summer school. NEXT: Warwick twins graduating high school as valedictorian and salutatorian Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
