Worcester’s School Committee and Principals Were Forced to Wait for Safety Plan
Friday, August 21, 2015
Although Mayor Joe Petty released plans Wednesday afternoon for an increase of police presence in Worcester’s schools, as of Thursday afternoon the Superintendent’s office had yet to release those plans to Worcester Public Schools personnel.
School Committee member Brian O’Connell said, “I am very concerned that the proposed safety plan, whatever its merit, is being released today (Wednesday), almost literally on the eve of the start of the school year. Students and parents have little real opportunity to react to it, in time to recommend whether it provides the level of safety which they have a right to expect.”
“It is even more concerning that this plan may have been developed with little or no input from teachers and school building administrators during the summer. The School Committee was informed of it only today (Wednesday) as well. It appears that principals – who will be on the front lines of school safety – may have learned nothing about the plan until today also, and then only through the public press release,” added O’Connell.
On Wednesday evening, GoLocal inquired on whether or not Dr. Boone had any intention of reaching out to school administration regarding the police presence in the school.
In a response early Thursday afternoon,WPS Communication Specialist Jen Roy told GoLocal that Dr. Boone and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Marco Rodrigues met with high school principals in June to hear their opinion on the police liaisons already stationed in their schools. According to Roy, they also discussed the school resources model as an option.
Roy also told GoLocal that Dr. Rodrigues met with all secondary principals and assistant principals on Wednesday, along with the WPD (deputy chief, liaisons, gang unit), to discuss the summer activity in the community.
“This meeting was similar to the monthly protocol meetings WPS has to ensure that fluid and open communication between WPS, WPD and selected community organizations (i.e. DYS)," said Roy. "Yesterday, Dr. Rodrigues announced to the principals that a press release would be coming out and that Dr. Boone would elaborate on it during the ROS (Report of the Superintendent) at school committee tonight (Thursday).”
According to multiple sources, the safety plan was prepared and ready for the school year weeks ago, but city and school administration were refraining from sharing that plan until Mayor Petty and Dr. Boone could present it to the public.
Sources also told GoLocal that many of the principals and assistant principals were both upset and confused that they weren’t told what the safety plan is with only a week before school starts. WPS administrators refused to reveal what the safety plan was to these principals until Mayor Petty could reveal them in his press release. The principals were allegedly told that they would receive the plan in an email later on Wednesday.
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