CITY OF WORCESTER | Education Committee Meeting | Monday, March 18, 2024 | Esther Howland (South) Chamber | Convened: 6:00 P.M. | Adjourned: 7:15 P.M. |
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Mayor
Joseph M. Petty | 
www.worcesterma.gov |
Clerk of the City Council
Nikolin Vangjeli | Committee Members | | Chairperson Etel Haxhiaj | | Vice Chairperson Thu Nguyen | | Councilor Khrystian E King |
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City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts | |
| Present Were: | Chairperson Councilor Etel Haxhiaj
Councilor Thu Nguyen
Councilor Khrystian E. King, who arrived at 6:08 p.m. | | | | | Also: | WPL Executive Director Jason Homer
WPL Director of Administration and Operations Sulma Rubert-Silva
Deputy City Clerk AJ Pottle, clerk | | | |
| 1. | Virtual Attendee Call-In Information | |
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| | | 1a. | Pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021 and in order to ensure active, public engagement, the City of Worcester currently allows for both in-person and remote participation at all City Council and Standing Committee meetings. To partake in the meeting, you may attend the meeting in-person within the meeting location, follow the below link to join via Zoom or dial the direct line as indicated.
Education Committee Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/96739569567
Education Committee Zoom Phone Number: (929) 205 6099
Education Committee Zoom Access Code: 967 3956 9567 | Attachments |
| 2. | Approval of the Minutes | |
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| | | 2a. | Order- That the City Council Standing Committee of Education hereby approves the minutes of the Education Committee meeting on May 22, 2023. | View Agenda | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj read the item and moved to adopt the item. Order adopted | |
| 3. | Communication of the City Manager | |
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| | | 3a. | Transmitting informational communication relative to the services provided to and needs of the vulnerable population at the Worcester Public Library.
# 11.24A CM March 12, 2024 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj read the item and moved to take the item up collectively with item #4a.
Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj recognized the WPL Executive Director, who discussed the planning, creation and impact of the March Meowness initiative.
Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj then discussed the services provided to visitors of the WPL and the library reorganization process to use internal resources to reallocate services to people experiencing crisis with the WPL Executive Director.
Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj recognized Councilor Nguyen, who discussed the trauma-informed de-escalation model used by the library, responsibilities of the Safety Compliance Officer, the needs for additional Safety Compliance Officers, responsibilities and accomplishments of the Social Service Specialist, training programs provided to the library staff and changes to the library budget with the WPL Executive Director.
Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj brought forth the following two (2) Chairman’s Orders: 1) Request City Manager review trainings undertaken by the staff at the Worcester Public Library and encourage municipal staff to also take said trainings; and 2) Request City Manager consider making the Social Service Specialist position located at the Worcester Public Library a permanent position.
Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj recognized Councilor King, who discussed process of and staff involvement in the library reorganization process, whether de-escalation training was offered to library staff prior to the library reorganization, the impact of interdepartmental communications and partnerships, work with the union relative to the reorganization, funding sources for the training budget, collaborations with WPS, data concerning police responses at the library, programs for youths and current library projects with the WPL Executive Director.
Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager request Executive Director of the Worcester Public Library provide City Council with a report concerning the collaborative work done between Worcester Public Library and Worcester Public Schools.
Chairperson Councilor Haxhiaj moved to recommend the item be filed.
Recommend File | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager review trainings undertaken by the staff at the Worcester Public Library and encourage municipal staff to also take said trainings. | | | | Request City Manager consider making the Social Service Specialist position located at the Worcester Public Library a permanent position. | | | | Request City Manager request Executive Director of the Worcester Public Library provide City Council with a report concerning the collaborative work done between Worcester Public Library and Worcester Public Schools. | |
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| | | 4a. | Order of Councilor Donna M. Colorio - Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the situation at the Worcester Public Library regarding the homeless population. Further, request City Manager include in said report information concerning how the Worcester Public Library accommodates additional seating requirements for the homeless population, as well as funding sources for supporting the homeless population at the Worcester Public Library and whether the homeless population support is built in the Worcester Public Library budget.
# 14b CC January 9, 2024 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File (See Item #3a) | |
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