1. Public Comment (3 Minutes):

2. Student School Committee Report:

3. Presentation of the Records for Approval:

• Special Meeting, Budget Workshop, March 12, 2019
• Regular Meeting, March 19, 2019

4. Reconsiderations:
None

5. Unfinished Business/Calendar:
#19-51: Policy Revisions by AV Policy Ad-Hoc Sub-committee | Joint Motion by Member Dexter, Vice Chair Kelly, Member Nolan

That: Whereas the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School administration has been engaged in a two-year process, supported by a School Committee Ad-Hoc Sub-Committee, to revise the high school Attendance Violation (AV) Policy toward greater equity; and

Whereas the School Committee values data-informed policy-making and comprehensive communication of policies; The AV Ad-Hoc Sub-Committee, chaired by Member Dexter with members Member Kelly and Member Nolan, requests that a draft of the new policy, to be implemented beginning in September, 2019, be presented, as a First Reading, to the School Committee no later than May 21, 2019, along with a communication plan to ensure that all students, faculty, and administrators are aware of the new policy and that there is faculty "buy-in"; and The Committee requests data from the Fall, 2018, semester showing the following attendance data in the aggregate and disaggregated by: lunch status, race/ethnicity, gender, disability status, and ELL status: 1) number of students absent and tardy; 2) number of students absent and tardy without an excuse (Earned AV); 3) number of students "buying out" their Earned AV's; and 4) number of students whose grades were reduced due to an Assigned AV. These data are requested by May 7, 2019.

6. Awaiting Reports:
#19-52: External Audit of Level Up ELA Classes | Joint Motion by Member Nolan, Member Kimbrough

Whereas the School Committee worked to raise the level of instruction for all students through the Level Up initiative at CRLS; and

Whereas a recent Globe project on valedictorians documented a sobering and critically important question of whether high schools are preparing students for success: and

Whereas the recent report The Opportunity Myth by The New Teachers Project found that despite 71% of students in a national representative sample of audited classes met classroom expectations and succeeded on assignments, only 17% of those assignments were on grade level when evaluated; and

Whereas both the Valedictorian Project and The New Teachers Project identified the need for high expectations and intentional focus on rigorous curriculum, instruction and assignments as key to delivering on the promise of success in college and life; and

Whereas there were gaps by racial subgroups in performance on common assessment; and

Whereas nearly 1 in 3 CRLS students indicated that teachers do not have very high expectations of them; Therefore, the School Committee directs the Administration to evaluate the Level Up ELA classes, to ensure that the initiative is as successful as possible. The School Committee requests the Superintendent submits a report no later than the August 6, 2019 Regular Summer Meeting.

7. Superintendent’s Agenda:

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

7c. CPS District Plan:
None

7d. Consent Agenda:
#19-57 Recommendation: Fiscal Year 2020 Recommended Budget
#19-58 Recommendation: Cambridge Public Schools 2019/2020 District Calendar
#19-59 Recommendation: Day & Residential Program Services not Available From the Cambridge School Department
#19-60 Recommendation: Gifts/Miscellaneous Receipts
#19-61 Recommendation: Grant Award: FY19 Special Education IDEA Allocation- INCREASE (SC19605)
#19-62 Recommendation: Grant Award: Hasty Pudding (SC19775)
#19-63 Recommendation: Grant Award: FY19 Title IIA/Teacher Quality- INCREASE (SC19731)
#19-64 Recommendation: Grant Award: FY19 Title I Distribution-INCREASE (SC19604)
#19-65 Recommendation: FY19 General Fund Budget Statutory Transfer

8. Non-Consent Agenda:
None

9. School Committee Agenda (Policy Matters/Notifications/Requests for Information):
#19-66: Televise Special Education Roundtable | Motion by Member Dexter

That Whereas the School Committee has scheduled a Roundtable on disproportionality in Special Education for Tuesday, May 28, 2019; and

Whereas this topic is of interest to members of the public who may not be able to attend the Roundtable in person; That the School Committee televise and livestream the Roundtable and archive a video of the Roundtable on the School Committee website.

#19-67 : Schedule Roundtable on Language Immersion Programs | Joint Motion by Member Dexter, Member Kimbrough

That Whereas the Cambridge Public Schools currently offer three language immersion programs and several elementary school world language programs; and Where there is increasing demand for these programs as well as enrollment challenges related to socioeconomic and language balance; and

Whereas the School Committee has not comprehensively discussed issues related to its elementary world language and immersion programs in many years; The School Committee will hold a Roundtable discussion on CPS Elementary Immersion and World Language Programs, which will include but not be limited to the following topics: 1) Language and SES balance in immersion schools and the related lottery formulas; 2) Data from recent years on enrollment and lottery choices in the CPS elementary schools that offer immersion or world language education; 3) Capacity and number of seats and classrooms in the current immersion programs; 4) Equitable access to elementary world language and immersion programs across the 12 elementary schools; 5) JK-12 language pathways for students beginning their language instruction in elementary school and middle school. 6) Language assessment and language proficiency levels attained in CPS immersion and elementary world language programs. This Roundtable will be televised, livestreamed, and video-archived on the School Committee webpage.

#19-68: Creation of Criminal Justice Program | Joint Motion by Member Fantini, Mayor McGovern

Given that the Cambridge Police Department is creating a Cadet Program beginning at age 18 primarily to support Cambridge youth to become Police Officers; That the School Department evaluate what it would take to open a Ch. 74 Criminal Justice Program that would serve to compliment the Cadet Program.

#19-69: Reconvene the AV Ad-Hoc Sub-Committee | Joint Motion by Vice Chair Kelly, Member Dexter, Member Nolan

That the AV Ad-Hoc Sub-Committee will reconvene with Member Dexter as Chair, Member Kelly and Member Nolan as members on Tuesday, April 2. 2019. The AV Ad-Hoc Sub-Committee will share its recommendations with the full School Committee on Tuesday, June 18, 2019.

#19-70: Investigation N-Word | Motion by Member Bowman

That the School Committee requests that the Superintendent undertake an educational programmatic review of the January 10, 2019 panel discussion that occurred at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School and that this review be conducted by outside legal services and that it seek to address the issues detailed in the attached scope of services; and

Further, that the Superintendent bring forward to the School Committee any recommended revisions to relevant policies that he believes are warranted as a result of this programmatic review, including but not limited to, the following policies: School Departments Non-Discrimination Policy and Prohibition Against Sexual Harassment, Teaching About Controversial Issues/Controversial Speakers, and Community Resource Persons; and Further, that the School Committee be provided with a copy of the completed report for its review and consideration of whether to take any actions with respect to the findings, including making any revisions to either School Committee policies and/or School Committee rules; and Further, that this motion supersedes and replaces paragraphs five through seven of School Committee Order C19-033.

Scope of Services Overview The Cambridge Public Schools is seeking the services of an attorney to conduct a prompt and objective fact-finding review of a matter which occurred in a class at the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School (CRLS) on January 10, 2019 which involved the use of language (the n-word) during a panel discussion, and which was reported to have made a number of students uncomfortable, and has been a subject of internal and community discussion and debate as well as the subject of local press coverage. The scope of services sought include:

Conduct individual and/or group fact-finding interviews with parties involved, including but not limited to, students in the class, the teacher of the class; panelists; members of the Black Student Union (BSU) and student government; the Dean overseeing History classes at CRLS and others participating or attending the panel discussion in question.

Engage in a comprehensive review of the conduct of the classroom panel discussion, including but not limited to:

• The basis and context for the selection of the panel topic
• Particulars relating to panel organization
• The connection between the panel discussion topic and the class syllabus and the CRLS History department's curriculum
• Approval procedures associated with the panel conduction
• Selection and preparation of panel participants;
• Panelist preparatory discussions, meetings and materials
• Student preparatory discussions, assignments and materials
• Review of the video recording of the panel discussion.
• Review of the immediate and subsequent follow-up actions taken by school and district adults in response to the 'n-word' being used, in context with related school district and School Committee policies.

Prepare and submit a written report to the Cambridge Public Schools of the fact-finding review, its findings, and recommendations by no later than June 2019. Please submit your hourly rate together with a budget to perform the above scope of services not to exceed $9,500.00 to: Legal Counsel Cambridge Public Schools Office of Legal Counsel 159 Thorndike Street Cambridge, MA 02141

#19-71: Additional Funds for Breakthrough | Joint Motion by Member Nolan , Mayor McGovern

Substitute Order: That the Superintendent look at end of the year balances to determine if there is additional funding for our Community Partners who are not receiving a funding allocation in the FY 2020 budget.

#19-72: Add Kindergarten to OLA Program | Motion by Member Nolan

That as part of the budget for SY 2019-20, the Administration is directed to add a second Kindergarten to the OLA Program, to ensure that educationally and fiscally the Program can be more fully enrolled, per discussions on having a sustainable program long term.

#19-73: No decrease in budget allocations for paras | Motion by Member Nolan

That Whereas the budget includes an increase in aides as a way to address educational needs of students; and

Whereas the bilingual immersion school model has an educational rationale for an aide allocation that has served it well over time, that in next year's budget no school has a decrease in aide allocations.

#19-74: Schedule Roundtable on Elementary Immersion and World Language Programs | Motion by Member Nolan

That Whereas the Cambridge Public Schools currently offer three language immersion programs and several elementary school world language programs; and

Whereas world language study in early grades is educationally beneficial; and

Whereas bilingual immersion programs have demonstrated effectiveness is closing gaps; and

Whereas there is increasing demand for these programs as well as enrollment challenges; The School Committee will hold a Roundtable discussion before the end of this school year on CPS Elementary Immersion and World Language Programs, which will seek to explore expanding such programs with a goal of equitable access to elementary world language and immersion programs across the city; Further that JK-12 language pathways for students beginning their language instruction in elementary school and middle school will be discussed.

#19-75: Chromebook Policy | Motion by Member Bowman

Whereas the 1-1 Chromebook implementation technology program is designed to create more equality and access for CRLS students; and

Whereas some students have challenges accessing or replacing a Chromebook if the device is lost or broken because of the replacement fee associated with the 1:1 Chromebook implementation policy; and

Whereas creating a 1:1 Chromebook program to create equity and access is a vital component of the Cambridge Public School District Plan,

Therefore, be it resolved that the Superintendent works with the ICTS Department and CRLS leadership to ensure the current 1:1 Chromebook policy is providing proper access for all CRLS students.

#19-76: 3-20-19 Buildings & Grounds Sub-Committee Report | Motion by That the Report of the March 20 2019 Buildings and Grounds Sub-Committee be accepted as presented.
#19-77: 3-25-19 Special Education & Student Supports Sub-Committee | Motion by That the Report of the March 25 2019 Special Education and Student Supports Sub-Committee be accepted as presented.
10. Resolutions:
#19-78: Congratulations to Register Forum | Joint Motion by Member Nolan, Member Dexter

That the School Committee congratulates the Register Forum on receiving first prize for "Excellence in Editorial Writing" in the Greater Boston High School Newspaper Competition, sponsored by Suffolk University, a competition judged by professional journalists. Further, that both the faculty advisor and students receive congratulations on behalf of the school district and School Committee.

#19-79: Condolences to Officer Ed Burke's Family | Motion by Mayor McGovern

That the School Committee hereby goes on record in expressing its deep condolences to the family of Officer Edward Burke for their loss and that the Executive Secretary be and hereby is requested to forward a suitable letter of condolence to the family of Officer Edward Burke on behalf of the entire School Committee.

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 discussing strategy for collective bargaining for (units A and B and Unit E) as an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the Cambridge School Committee.

Updated on 04/04/2022