1. Public Comment (3 Minutes):

2. Student School Committee Report:

3. Presentation of the Records for Approval:

• Roundtable Meeting November 12, 2019
• Regular Meeting November 19, 2019

4. Reconsiderations:
None

5. Unfinished Business/Calendar:
#19-282: Remedial Course Reimbursements | Motion by Member KimbroughBe it resolved that the Cambridge Public Schools will pay a 100% reimbursement fee to all CRLS graduates who pass a remedial, non-credit course at a community college or four-year college. (C19-335, C19-339)
6. Awaiting Reports:
#19-178: Advanced Learners Teacher | Joint Motion by Member Nolan, Vice Chair Kelly, Member Fantini

That Whereas the district has a commitment to all learners; and
Whereas the position of lead teacher for advanced learners has not had stable leadership for some time; and

Whereas the district has been reviewing protocols to address advanced learners needs; and

Whereas at times circumstances are such that students' needs cannot be met in a classroom;That the School Committee request, before the next school year begins, a report on recruitment efforts for the position, on supports for learners, including existing statistics on existing plans, and future updates to procedures, policies and protocols, including changing the existing system of relying on parents and guardians to identify students, which is inherently inequitable, and to ensure transparency and clarity, and under what circumstances a student may advance a grade (C19-205).

7. Superintendent’s Agenda:

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

Presentation 2018-2019 Cambridge Middle Grades Health Survey
Jennifer Flynn, Lead Teacher, K-12 Health & Wellness
Dr. Carolyn L. Turk, Deputy Superintendent

7c. CPS District Plan:
None

7d. Consent Agenda:
#19-286 Recommendation: Report of Educational and Programmatic Review Requires acceptance and approval from the School Committee
#19-287 Recommendation: Recommendation: Day & Residential Program Services not available
From the Cambridge Public School Department
Requires acceptance and approval from the School Committee
#19-288 Recommendation: Recommendation: Contract Award: FMC Ice Sports: Facility Rental
Requires acceptance and approval from the School Committee

8. Non-Consent Agenda:
None

9. School Committee Agenda (Policy Matters/Notifications/Requests for Information):
#19-289: Roundtable on Upper Schools | Motion by Ms. Dexter

That whereas the Innovation Agenda proposal of 2011 stressed that the new middle schools would be small schools with cohorts of roughly 88 students per grade for a total enrollment of 300 students or fewer; and

Whereas the current total enrollment of VLUS (FY20 projected) is 303 students; and

Whereas current plans for the new VLUS are for a total population of 552 students, which would be an 82% increase in size;

The School Committee will have a roundtable to discuss the desired size of CPS upper schools and any alternatives to having any upper schools of more than 350 students. (C19-343)
https://www.cambridgema.gov/~/media/Files/publicworksdepartment/tobinschool/tobinvassallaneschool_communitymeetingpresentation_11132019.pdf

Current (Projected FY20) Projected new VLUS
Total = 303
Total = 553
Regular = 259
Regular = 450
Self-contained special education =6
Self-contained special education=28
Sheltered English Immersion = 38
Sheltered English Immersion = 75

#19-290: New Montessori School | Joint Motion by Member Nolan, Member Kimbrough, Mayor McGovern

That whereas the School Committee has sought, through studies and reviews and in policy, to use data to ensure that schools in the district are equally successful and to expand and replicate successful programs and bring programmatic change to struggling; schools; and

Whereas the data consistently shows that the Tobin Montessori and Amigos Schools are both high achieving for a range of demographic groups and highly chosen; and Whereas it is desirable to stabilize our schools and have even choices across the district, that the School Committee commits to:

• Start a second Montessori School, east of Harvard Square,
• Start a second Spanish Bilingual Immersion School which would be K-5, and join the Amigos School for grades 6-8
• Explore how to expand the MLK Chinese immersion program to enable more Cambridge students to have the opportunity to learn a language of world importance and economic benefit
• Use choice and achievement data to support programmatic change at schools to implement the above changes (C19-344)
• A goal of 95% of all families receiving their first, second or third choice school in the Kindergarten lottery, which would stabilize school enrollments and provide the community more certainty.

10. Resolutions:
None

11. Announcements:
None

12. Late Orders:
None

13. Communications and Reports from City Officers:

At the conclusion of the Regular Meeting the School Committee will entertain a Motion to convene in Executive Session in the School Committee Conference Room, 459 Broadway, Cambridge for the purpose of hearing a Level III CEA Unit C grievance as part of collective bargaining and for the purpose of discussing strategy with respect to a Level III grievance heard as part of collective bargaining and litigation positions of the School Committee as an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the School Committee. The School Committee will reconvene in open session; votes may be taken in Executive Session along with a vote to adjourn from Executive Session.

Updated on 04/30/2021