1. Public Comment (3 Minutes):

2. Student School Committee Report:

3. Presentation of the Records for Approval:

Special Meeting, June 4, 2020

4. Reconsiderations:
None

5. Unfinished Business/Calendar:
None

6. Awaiting Reports:
#20-95: Support of H. 4737 | Joint Motion by Member Rachel, Member Weinstein, Member Wilson

Whereas the Cambridge Public Schools prioritize the health and safety of scholars, staff and school communities, and;

Whereas CPSD is committed to ensuring that our young people learn about and exercise their voting rights as part of instilling lifelong habits of civic engagement, and;

Whereas public health guidelines dictate that safely responding to the COVID-19 pandemic requires limiting the number of people in close proximity, particularly indoors, and;

Whereas individuals including CPSD students, staff, and their close contacts have different levels of vulnerability to COVID-19, and CPSD school buildings have been long utilized as polling places for elections, now therefore be it;

Resolved that the Cambridge School Committee encourages all who are eligible to vote to register and vote, and eligible voters to register to vote by mail, and be it further;

Resolved that, while respecting student privacy with regard to citizenship status and other personal information, the Superintendent will work with Cambridge Rindge and Latin School and relevant elections agencies to ensure that all students who are 16 years of age or older are provided with voter pre-registration or registration forms far enough in advance to participate in all upcoming elections, and all students who will be eligible to vote in the next election are provided with materials to request voting by mail far enough in advance to participate, and be it further; Resolved that the Cambridge School Committee joins the City Council in supporting H. 4737, "An Act ensuring safe and participatory 2020 state elections in response to COVID-19," and will send a copy of this motion to the State Legislature and Governor Baker, and be it further;

Resolved that the School Committee requests a recommendation from the Cambridge Election Commission, Cambridge Public Health Department and Superintendent Salim by June 30, 2020 in regards to closing school buildings to scholars and staff on election days in 2020 and 2021 and any other viable options in order to ensure that voters who choose to exercise their right to vote in person are able to physically distance from school communities.

Resolved that, the School Committee requests a recommendation from the Buildings and Grounds Sub Committee by June 30, 2020 in regards to closing school buildings to scholars and staff on election days in 2020 and 2021 and any other viable options in order to ensure that voters who choose to exercise their right to vote in person are able to physically distance from school communities.

#20-99: Parent University | Joint Motion by Member Fantini, Vice Chair Bowman

That the following be referred to the Community Relations Sub-Committee:

Whereas the Cambridge Public School District is committed to providing families with information that will promote increased family engagement; and

Whereas engaging families as a partner with a formal, ongoing feedback mechanism that creates differentiated opportunities for family voice and engagement is a crucial component of the 2017 - 2020 District Plan; therefore Be it resolved that the committee directs the Superintendent to create a Parent University whereby the school department organizes and provides relevant information/courses to parents to allow all parents to become partners in the education of their children. Be it further

Resolved that the School department works with the two newly created parent engagement leaders and parent liaisons in this work.

7. Superintendent’s Agenda:

7a. Superintendent's Update:
None
7b. Presentations:

COVID-19 Response Update……………….Kenneth Salim, Superintendent of Schools

7c. CPS District Plan:
None

7d. Consent Agenda:
#20-107 Recommendation: Recommendation: Approval to Waive the Cambridge Public Schools Student Meal Balances as of March 13, 2020
#20-108 Recommendation: Recommendation: Approval of a Request from the School Committee to the Cambridge Election Commission for Mailing Addresses
#20-109 Recommendation: Recommendation: Day & Residential Program Services Not Available from the Cambridge School Department
#20-110 Recommendation: Recommendation: Contract Award: Apple Inc.: Computer Hardware
#20-111 Recommendation: Recommendation: Contract Award: Center for Autism & Related Disorders Inc.: Special Education Services
#20-112 Recommendation: Recommendation: Contract Award: Applied Behavior Learning Services: Special Education Services
#20-113 Recommendation: Recommendation: Contract Award: Applied Behavioral Counseling: Special Education Services
#20-114 Recommendation: Recommendation: Contract Award: Baystate Interpreters, Inc.: Translation Services
#20-115 Recommendation: Recommendation: Contract Award: Boston Behavior Learning Center: Special Education Services
#20-116 Recommendation: Recommendation: Contract Award: Cambridge Ctr. For Neuropsychology & Learning: Neuropsychology Evaluations
#20-117 Recommendation: Recommendation: Contract Award: Cambridge Health Alliance: Assessment, Diagnostic & Liaison Services
#20-118 Recommendation: Recommendation: Contract Award: Cambridge Health Alliance: Special Education Services
#20-119 Recommendation: Recommendation: Contract Award: EI US, LLC: Tutoring Services
#20-120 Recommendation: Recommendation: Contract Award: Follett/X2 Development Corp.: Student Information System for Cambridge Public Schools
#20-121 Recommendation: Recommendation: Contract Award: Illuminate Education: Software Maintenance
#20-122 Recommendation: Recommendation: Contract Award: McGraw Hill Education: Computer Software
#20-123 Recommendation: Recommendation: Contract Award: McGraw Hill Education: Instructional Materials
#20-124 Recommendation: Recommendation: Contract Award: North East Educational & Developmental Supports Center: Special Education Services
#20-125 Recommendation: Recommendation: Contract Award: North Reading Transportation: Special Education Transportation Services
#20-126 Recommendation: Recommendation: Contract Award: Remind: Messaging Services
#20-127 Recommendation: Recommendation: Contract Award: Ricoh USA, Inc.: FY21 Multi-function Printer Leases, Maintenance & Supplies
#20-128 Recommendation: Recommendation: Contract Award: Riverside Community Care: Special Education Services
#20-129 Recommendation: Recommendation: Contract Award: Roman Music Therapy: Special Education Services
#20-130 Recommendation: Recommendation: Contract Award: Scholastic, Inc.: Instructional Materials
#20-131 Recommendation: Recommendation: Contract Award: School Specialty: FY21 Classroom Materials
#20-132 Recommendation: Recommendation: Contract Award: Sterling Business Products: FY21 Printing & Mailing Services
#20-133 Recommendation: Recommendation: Contract Award: WB Mason Co., Inc.: FY21 Classroom Furniture
#20-134 Recommendation: Recommendation: Grant Award: FY18 Circuit Breaker Allocation Increase (SC18776)
#20-135 Recommendation: Recommendation: Grant Award: FY19 Circuit Breaker Allocation Increase (SC19776)
#20-136 Recommendation: Recommendation: Grant Award: FY20 Transitional Relief Aid (SC20161)
#20-137 Recommendation: Recommendation: Grant Award: FY20 Nellie Mae Education Foundation- Building Equity Bridges Increase (SC20144)
#20-138 Recommendation: Recommendation: Grant Award: FY21 Food & Nutrition Services Appropriation (SC00402)
#20-139 Recommendation: Recommendation: Grant Award: Biogen Foundation STAR Data Grant (SC21159)
#20-140 Recommendation: Recommendation: Grant Award: FY21 ESSER CARES Act (SC21200)
#20-149 Recommendation: Recommendation: Approval of Cambridge Education Association Units A & B Collective Bargaining Agreement 9/1/20-8/31/21
#20-150 Recommendation: Recommendation: Contract Award: UPD Consulting: Project Management & Consulting Services

8. Non-Consent Agenda:
None

9. School Committee Agenda (Policy Matters/Notifications/Requests for Information):
#20-141: Tobin & Vassal Lane | Motion by Building and Grounds Sub-Committee

Whereas, the Tobin and Vassal Lane Upper School (VLUS) are scheduled to move to swing space in December of this year to accommodate the construction of their new facility and;

Whereas Cambridge Public Schools (CPS) may face a shortage of physical space brought by the COVID-19 pandemic; therefore Be it resolved, that the School Committee requests that the Superintendent to determine if the swing space to be occupied by the Tobin and VLUS School could be better used to allow greater social distancing in other CPS schools; be it further

Resolved, that the School Committee requests that the Superintendent work with the City Manager and his staff to determine the impact of any delay of the relocation of the Tobin / VLUS would have on the completion of the capital project; be it further

Resolved, that the Superintendent be authorized to delay the scheduled move of the Tobin/VLUS to the close of school year FY21 in collaboration with the City Manager and his staff due to the impact of new COVID-19 guidance established by the Mass Department of Elementary & Secondary Education; Be it further

Resolved, that if there are adjustments to the Tobin/VLUS project, the Superintendent will develop a plan to accommodate anticipated enrollment growth with the district.

#20-142: Allow schools for community use | Motion by Building and Grounds Sub-Committee

Whereas, the Cambridge Public School District has a comprehensive policy for the use of CPS buildings by outside users and;

Whereas, the Cambridge Public School District has a goal of returning students to school in September of this year and;

Whereas, the CPS Facilities Department will be charged with keeping our facilities clean and protecting our faculty and children during the COVID-19 pandemic; and

Whereas, this assignment, even with additional cleaning staff added will be a daunting challenge and;

Whereas, It is counterproductive to open CPS buildings up to community and corporate users outside of regular school hours; therefore; be it

Resolved, that the School Committee directs that the permitting of school buildings for community use outside of normal hours be suspended until at least January 2, 2021; be it further

Resolved, that all CPS out of school time providers including the Department of Human Service Program as well as third party providers will have access to CPS buildings Monday through Friday to operate their student support programs.

#20-143: Policies for the rights of black staff and scholars | Joint Motion by Member Wilson, Vice Chair Bowman

Whereas, People of Color face greater discrimination, structural discipline, lack of social support both in schools and in society at large; and

Whereas, children, adolescents, and adults in the Black community face higher rates of social and structural violence and racial discrimination, and

Whereas, centering the experiences of scholars and staff of color is a core value of the Cambridge Public Schools; and

Whereas, scholars and staff's mental well-being is a fundamental concern of the School Committee as the nation grapples with issues of structural racism in public institutions due to the unjust killing of George Floyd; therefore be it

Resolved, that the School Committee affirms its immediate support to promote the needs and safety of all staff and scholars who identify as black by reviewing the Non-Discrimination and Non-Tolerance of Hate Crimes policy or other policies that disproportionally impact scholars and staff of color to ensure they are current, relevant, and up to date; and be it further (referred to Governance Sub-Committee)

Resolved, that the School Committee, encourage the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to enhance programming to provide schools with the guidance needed to provide anti-racist curriculum and professional development for all staff to build understanding and awareness of the history and the challenges of minority communities, and of structural racism in the United States; and be it further (Referred to Curriculum and Achievement Sub-Committee)

Resolved, that the Cambridge Public Schools commit to holding our district accountable to policies that protect the rights of black staff and scholars within our district.

#20-144: Non-academic student & families check in | Joint Motion by Member Rachel, Member Wilson, Mayor Siddiqui

Whereas, most public school districts in the United States were founded with white supremacy culture and have alienated scholars and families of color for generations, and;

Whereas, Cambridge Public School scholars and families have asked for stronger scholar-student relationships for years and identified the lack of trusting relationships as one of the barriers to racial equity, and;

Whereas, the Massachusetts Commissioner of Education has indicated, "Successfully implementing six feet of social distancing will require significantly smaller class sizes and reduced staff-to-student ratios," in the coming school year and we anticipate at least some of the 2020-21 school year instruction to happen remotely, and;

Whereas, scholars learn when they are engaged and usually engage when they have trusting relationships with school personnel, and;

Whereas, the CPSD administration found data collection across Cambridge Public Schools in spring 2020 difficult because of the variety of data tracking mechanisms, now therefore be it;

Resolved that, by July 15th, the Superintendent will develop and share with the School Committee a district-wide plan to track individual, two-way, meaningful non-academic check-ins between scholars, families and school staff at least once per week, and be it further;

Resolved that, for at least the first semester of SY2021, schools will report weekly to the Superintendent on the number of students they have not been able to reach, and that the Superintendent will share this data with the School Committee bi-weekly at regular meetings.

#20-145: 5-22-2020 Building & Grounds Sub-Committee Report | Motion by That the Report of the May 22, 2020 Buildings and Grounds Sub-Committee be accepted as presented.
10. Resolutions:
#20-146: Barbara Allen Retirement | Motion by Member Fantini

Whereas: BARBARA ALLEN was born and raised in New York; attended Boston University, Journalism, MBA Simmons College School of Management, and

Whereas: BARBARA ALLEN began her career State Street Bank where she held a range of roles including: Communications Editor, Training Administrator, Personnel Program Manager, Benefits Service Manager, Manager of Employee Relations, Assistant Vice President of Bank Operations Management/Mutual Funds Services and finally Assistant Vice President of Employee Relations; and

Whereas: BARBARA ALLEN first joined CPS in 1993 to lead the Human Resources Department, left for two years; and through hard work and determination, furthered her education, returned to CPS where she has worked tirelessly for 23 more years to ensure students, staff, and families are supported by sharing her wisdom and guidance on work related to: Recruiting, training and developing staff, looking after the health, safety and wellbeing of ALL employees Strengthening district policies and procedures, and;

Whereas: BARBARA ALLEN has one daughter Erica, a son in law Dion and two grandchildren Demarco and Jianna, and

Whereas: BARBARA ALLEN interests include being a voracious reader, enjoys attending the theater never misses a season without going on a whale watch, enjoys warm, sunny days and going to the beach

Whereas: BARBARA ALLEN will be moving to Florida where she has just built a new home; and has her eye on relaxing, spending time with her family, reading and spending LOTS of time on the Beach, NOW THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED: that the Members of the Cambridge School Committee extend to BARBARA ALLEN our sincere APPRECIATION for 25 years of excellent service and extend to her our best wishes for continued good health and happiness; and BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED: that a formal copy of this Resolution be prepared by the Executive Secretary to the School Committee.

#20-147: MaryAnn MacDonald Retirement | Motion by Member Fantini

Whereas: MARYANN MACDONALD began her illustrious career as a Teacher with the Cambridge Public Schools on September 1, 1976; and

Whereas: MARYANN MACDONALD has had many noteworthy achievements and positions throughout her forty four year career; such as, Assistant Principal of the Harrington School, Coordinator of Primary Education, Director of Student Achievement and Accountability, Executive Director of Student Achievement and Accountability, Assistant Superintendent of Student Achievement and Accountability and finally retiring as Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education and Curriculum; and

Whereas: MARYANN MACDONALD has earned the admiration and respect of her students and colleagues at CPSD for her dedication, collegiality, enthusiasm, professionalism, and hard work;

Whereas: MARYANN MACDONALD's two sons Keith and Evan are also tremendously proud of her accomplishments, have also benefited from her exceptionally soothing nature; and

Whereas: MARYANN MACDONALD's many years of distinguished public service are a hallmark of exceptional commitment and dedication to public education and to the children of Cambridge, and her years of service in her many roles afforded her countless opportunities to impact public education; and; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED: that the Cambridge School Committee, takes great pleasure in recognizing the significant professional achievements of MARYANN MACDONALD and herewith expresses its sincere gratitude for the invaluable contributions she has made to Cambridge Public School Department and its children; and wishes her well on her retirement, and that the Members of the Cambridge School Committee extend to MARYANN MACDONALD our sincere APPRECIATION for 44 years of excellent service and extend to her our best wishes for continued good health and happiness; and BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED: that a formal copy of this Resolution be prepared by the Executive Secretary to the School Committee.

#20-148: Robin Harris Retirement | Motion by Member Fantini

Whereas: ROBIN HARRIS is a fifth generation Cantabrigian and a graduate from Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School. Received a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and a Master of Education degree in Special Education, from American International College, Springfield, MA and served 2 years as a member of the Cambridge School Committee; and

Whereas: ROBIN HARRIS's exemplary career in Cambridge has spanned 20 years and is the most experienced Principal in the Cambridge School Department, with previous teaching and educational experiences at the Trotter School in Boston Ma, Escola Pan Americana da Bahia, Brazil; Dallas, Texas Public Schools, director of Dover/ Sherborn METCO, and assistant principal at Benjamin Banneker Charter School, Cambridge, MA; and

Whereas: ROBIN HARRIS joined the Cambridge Public Schools as an Elementary School Principal, opening the Fletcher Maynard Academy in September 2000, focused on educational excellence for all students and smaller class size and

Whereas: ROBIN HARRIS Robin Harris is best known for her educational vision, dedication to her students, leadership, family involvement, and has touched the lives of countless students, families and colleagues, and

Whereas: ROBIN HARRIS founded Qualls Academy in 2006 and supported the establishment of Sisters With A Dream in 2017, and ROBIN HARRIS received the grant for Fletcher Maynard Academy Extended School Day in 2006 which allowed students to receive extended instructional time in a wide range of subjects, and

Whereas: ROBIN HARRIS has been recognized for her contributions as an educator and community activist and has been presented the Cambridge Peace and Justice Award (2008), The YWCA Outstanding Women Award (2014), and The Unsung Heroines of Massachusetts Award (2019), and

Whereas: ROBIN HARRIS has broadened the horizon of the Fletcher Maynard Academy students, providing opportunities of educational and international trips abroad. Students have traveled to England, Mexico, Costa Rica, China, Italy, Senegal, Puerto Rico, India and Morocco.

Whereas: ROBIN HARRIS Robin Harris has led the Fletcher Maynard Academy to a Level I School, indicating success in closing the achievement gap and ROBIN HARRIS established a welcoming environment for family participation and education for all students by recognizing and respecting diverse family goals

Whereas: ROBIN HARRIS is known for her effective collaborative efforts, listening to all and developing relationships with a range of stakeholders and policy makers to provide excellence in education, Now THEREFORE BE IT

RESOLVED: that the Members of the Cambridge School Committee extend to ROBIN HARRIS our sincere APPRECIATION for 20 years of excellent service and extend to her our best wishes for continued success working with the CPS Administration; and BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED: that a formal copy of this Resolution be prepared by the Executive Secretary to the School Committee.

11. Announcements:
None

12. Late Orders:
None

13. Communications and Reports from City Officers: None
Updated on 04/30/2021