Where

Esther Howland Chamber, Worcester City Hall

From the posted agenda, as read by AI. The agenda is the official notice; check it before you go.

Recordings of School Committee meetings: WEA-TV, live and archived broadcasts (opens in new tab).

What was decided

The superintendent presented progress on his 2025-2026 goals, and the report was filed. Members approved grants, including an $80,000 DES grant, a $100,000 PlayBall Foundation grant, and a $131,758.40 STEM grant. Several items were referred to administration or the Standing Committee on Finance.

Decisions recorded

• Approved the consent agenda, excluding the June 25 open session minutes, by a vote of 8-0. p. 2page 2 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Approved the minutes of the June 25, 2026 meeting by a vote of 8-0.
• Filed the superintendent's report on his 2025-2026 goals by a vote of 8-0. p. 4page 4 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Approved the grants and other finance items by a vote of 8-0. p. 5page 5 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Approved the contract for Amy Grinet as Director of Nursing by a vote of 8-0. p. 5page 5 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Referred the update on the City of Worcester IT Department moving out of Worcester Technical High School to the Administration by a vote of 8-0. p. 5page 5 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Referred the update on Safe Schools LGBTQIA training and programming to Administration by a vote of 8-0.
• Referred the update on the WPS Homework Policy to Administration by a vote of 8-0.
• Referred the review of the FY27 Budget status and transfers to the Standing Committee on Finance by a vote of 8-0.
• Referred the review of the Student Activity fund testing report to the Standing Committee on Finance by a vote of 8-0.
• Referred the review of the Independent Accountants' Report on agreed-upon procedures for fiscal year 2026 to the Standing Committee on Finance by a vote of 8-0.
• Referred the review of the annual audit and agreed-upon procedures report for the City of Worcester to the Standing Committee on Finance by a vote of 8-0.
• Referred the request for a minimum four month lead time for curriculum, contracts, or policy changes to the Standing Committee on Operations and Governance by a vote of 8-0. p. 7page 7 of the minutes (opens in new tab)
• Approved and filed the item to set a date and process for the Superintendent Evaluation by a vote of 8-0.
• Approved and filed the item authorizing a three-year Software License and Services Agreement with Renaissance Learning, Inc. by a vote of 8-0.

The full text is in the city's PDF, linked below.

Minutes posted on Google Drive (PDF, 698 KB). Saved copy (opens in new tab), saved October 27, 2026.

Agenda

The agenda includes several grant and finance approvals, along with budget review and audit reports. It also covers a contract for the Director of Nursing and an update on the Superintendent's annual goals.

Agenda items

• Executive session: workers' compensation settlement for cafeteria manager
• Executive session: workers' compensation settlement for cafeteria worker
• Executive session: contract negotiations with Director of Nursing-elect Amy Grniet
• Executive session: review of executive session minutes from June 4, 2026
• Consent agenda: donations from Benchmark Senior Living, University of Wisconsin ($1000), Worcester Educational Development Foundation ($2,585), and UMass Med
• Consent agenda: notification of new hire instructional staff, new hire non-instructional staff, and resignations/retirements
• Presentation on the 2025-2026 annual goals of the Superintendent and Superintendent Self-Assessment 2026
• Approval of DES grant FY 27 FC426 CTE Frameworks and Competency Based Implementation ($80,000)

Show 16 more items

• Approval of National Education Association grant "Envision Equity" ($2,500)
• Approval of PlayBall Foundation grant for 2026-2027 Middle School sports ($100,000)
• Approval of 4 prior year payments ($18,090.65)
• Approval of STEM Equipment and Professional Development Grant ($283,355.40)
• Approval of prior year payment to AA Transportation ($950.00)
• Update on City of Worcester IT Department moving out of Worcester Technical High School
• Update on Safe Schools LGBTQIA training/programming
• Update on WPS Homework Policy, one year after implementation
• Review of FY27 Budget status and transfers
• Review of Student Activity fund testing report for fiscal year ending June 30, 2026
• Review of Independent Accountants' Report on agreed-upon procedures for DESE end of year, fiscal year ending June 30, 2026
• Review of annual audit and compliance reports for the City of Worcester, including Worcester Public Schools, for fiscal year ending June 30, 2026
• Request for four-month lead time for curriculum, contract, or policy changes needing School Committee approval
• Set date and approve process for Superintendent Evaluation
• Vote to execute employment contract with Amy Grniet as Director of Nursing, July 16, 2026, through June 30, 2029
• Authorize three-year Software License and Services Agreement with Renaissance Learning, Inc. for reading, mathematics, and early literacy instruction

The full text is in the city's PDF, linked below.

Agenda posted on Google Drive (PDF, 142 KB). Saved copy (opens in new tab), saved October 27, 2026.

Terms used here

consent agenda

Routine items, such as minutes and reports, voted on together in one motion without discussion. A member can ask to take any of them up separately.

executive session

A part of a public meeting closed to the public. State law allows it only for specific reasons, such as lawsuits, negotiations, or personnel matters.

Open Meeting Law

The state law (M.G.L. Chapter 30A, Sections 18 to 25) that requires public boards to meet in public, post notice of their meetings in advance, and keep minutes.

All the terms in the glossary

Source

This meeting is listed in more than one place: the same board on the same day, and only one listing gives a time. The listings are shown here as one meeting.

• School Committee (opens in new tab), on the city's meeting portal
• School Committee Meeting (opens in new tab), on the school district's website

First recorded by Worcester Publick on October 27, 2026.