Mastery Based Grading Debate, Open Meeting Law Ruling, and Worcester Election Watch

By Hank Stolz

Photo- submitted

WORCESTER, MASS.- On this edition of the Radio Roundtable, Matt Wally, Guillermo Creamer, and Randy Feldman tackle the topic of Mastery Based Grading. Matt and Randy raise questions about how it would work in Worcester Public Schools, while Guillermo and Hank seem more open to giving it a try. Mastery Based Grading allows students multiple opportunities to revisit and improve their work, moving away from the traditional system of numeric or letter grades.

The panel also reacts to a recent finding from the state Attorney General’s office, which determined that Councilors Etel Haxhiaj, Thu Nguyen, and Khrystian King violated the Open Meeting Law by issuing a press release affirming support for LGBTQ students. The only penalty: a warning not to repeat the action. Hank asks whether this ruling will affect the upcoming election, but the general consensus is it won’t. However, the Roundtable notes that opponents of the three councilors may try to link this to a broader pattern of behavior, creating a negative perception among voters. While one incident alone may not sway opinions, several tied together could.

Looking ahead to the September 2 preliminary election, the panel believes placement in the preliminaries doesn’t necessarily predict the general election outcome. Still, if an incumbent fails to place in the top six, it could be a sign they need to step up their campaign. Candidates to watch include Dr. Satya Mitra, Gary Rosen, Cayden Davis, and Jermoh Kamara—each employing different strategies. The panel is also watching for a dark horse candidate who might deliver a surprisingly strong showing that no one is talking about yet.