1. Public Hearing on Teacher Performance Standards (3 minutes):

1b. Public Hearing on School Choice (3 minutes):

1c. Public Comment (3 minutes):

2. Student School Committee Report:

3. Presentation of the Records for Approval:

• April 4, 2023 Regular Meeting
• April 4, 2023 Special Meeting
• April 11, 2023 Special Meeting

4. Reconsiderations:
#: Student Travel Opportunities | Joint Motion by Member Fantini, and Vice Chair Rachel

WHEREAS: Travel opportunities and field trips provide significant learning opportunities for Cambridge Public School District (CPSD) students; and

WHEREAS: These exceptional learning opportunities should be available to students regardless of their financial ability to cover the costs of such trips; and 

WHEREAS: Travel opportunities and field trips may be most convenient and preferable to take place outside of the school calendar year; therefore, be it

RESOLVED: That the School Committee direct the Superintendent to redraft CPSD Field Trip Policy to allow for reasonable financial support for overnight, out-of-state or out-of-country travel for our students, particularly those who would not otherwise be able to access such travel; and be it further 

RESOLVED: That certain criteria be established to ensure that such trips are safe, equitable, and provide for significant learning experiences; and be it further

RESOLVED: That such travel opportunities and field trips may take place during the summer, outside of the school calendar year. 

5. Unfinished Business/Calendar:
#23-072: School Council Handbooks | Motion by Communications & Community Relations Sub-committee

WHEREAS: School Councils play a critical and valued role in the Cambridge Public Schools by assisting school principals in planning for and implementing best practices that enhance the achievement of all students; and

WHEREAS: The School Committee seeks to support our schools and our School Council members by ensuring School Councils in CPSD:

• follow uniform policies and practices while being able to adopt practices that best serve each school community;
• are inclusive, diverse, and equitable spaces that reflect the diversity of our students, with representation from parents/guardians, caregivers, secondary-level students, teachers, and community members; and
• function as they should under state law and regulations and are supported to do so; and

WHEREAS: The School Committee is grateful for the work from March - June of 2021 of the School Council Working Group, which included a diverse group of parents/guardians/caregivers, students, family liaisons, teachers, and administrators, listed by name in the Handbook, in partnership with the then-newly formed CPSD Family Engagement Office, and is grateful for the subsequent review of the handbook by the CPSD administrative team and for the additional input and feedback of members of the CPSD community who reviewed draft versions of the Handbook; and

WHEREAS: The Communications and Community Relations Subcommittee of the School Committee has convened multiple meetings to review and revise proposed versions of the Handbook resulting from this process and is satisfied that the attached version is ready for full implementation, with regular review with the aim of continuous improvement; therefore, be it

RESOLVED: That the School Committee approves the attached School Council Handbook; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the School Committee notes that at the time of this motion being submitted, current law related to extending certain state emergency accommodations, which, among other things, extends the provision allowing public bodies to continue holding meetings remotely without a quorum of the body physically present at a meeting location and to provide “adequate, alternative” access to remote meetings until March 31, 2023, has not yet been further extended, and therefore the language in this handbook will be adjusted to ensure compliance with Open Meeting Law as in effect of April 1, 2023, if this provision is not further extended.

6. Awaiting Reports:
#C22-311: MBTA Bus Order | Joint Motion by Member Weinstein, Mayor Siddiqui

WHEREAS: The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) is reviewing and revising bus service schedules; and

WHEREAS: Cambridge Public School District (CPSD) students and their families rely on public bus service to attend school and to participate in out-of-school time opportunities including extracurricular activities, sports, jobs, and internships; and

WHEREAS: CPSD does not provide school bus transportation to students in grades 9 to 12; and

WHEREAS: Proposed changes to MBTA bus routes serving the City of Cambridge include reductions and changes in routes and/or schedules that would greatly impact the ability of CPSD students to access school and other activities; and 

WHEREAS: Many issues with the proposed route modifications and recommendations have been brought forward by the community, including:

• Route 68 Harvard - Kendall / MIT (travels down Broadway between Kendall Sq. and Harvard Sq.). MBTA proposes reducing service to weekdays only 6:00 am- 9:00 am and 4:00 pm-7:00 pm every 30 minutes. Afterschool activities and sports need evening rush hour frequency service extended to 3:00 pm-8:00 pm;
• Route 69 Harvard - Lechmere (travels down Cambridge St. between Lechmere and Harvard). MBTA proposes a reduction from every 15 mins to every 30 mins;
• Route 83 (Rindge Ave to Central Sq. via Porter Sq.). MBTA proposes a reduction to every 30 minutes from the current 20 minutes. Current frequency should be maintained, or increased to every 15 minutes to make the bus usable between 3:00 pm and 8:00 pm;
• Routes 69 and Route 83 are being cut drastically; the frequencies of both routes should be increased to account for the needs of students;
• Route 78 (78 Arlmont Village - Harvard via Garden St., Concord Ave to Cambridge Highlands). MBTA proposes a reduction from every 25 minutes to every 60-90 minutes (6:00 am-1:00 am). Students on this line need more frequent service to access school and afterschool activities and sports need evening rush hour frequency service extended to 3:00 pm-8:00 pm. Cuts to Route 78 also reduce access to Neighborhood Nine, Cambridge Highlands, Concord Ave between Huron and Blanchard Rd, including assisted care and medical facilities; it is also the only connector between West Cambridge and Arlington;
• Route 75 (The dedicated CRLS route on school mornings) provides essential transportation services for high school students to get to school on time and should be reinstated and additional dedicated CRLS routes considered for other areas of the City;
• Routes throughout the City need to be assessed in light of new and planned housing units including affordable housing and the potential future needs of students living in that housing; therefore, be it

RESOLVED: That the Superintendent and Mayor Siddiqui send a letter and forward this policy order along with emails from the community to representatives at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and the Cambridge state delegation on behalf of the entire School Committee, and be it further

RESOLVED: That this letter will detail the MBTA bus routes and schedules that are critical for the needs of CPSD students, with particular attention to those students and families who rely the most on MBTA busses; and be it further

RESOLVED: That CPSD will review student needs and the most recent MBTA proposals before submitting the letter and will add to or modify the list noted above if needed, and be it further

RESOLVED: The Cambridge School Committee goes on record in support of changes that improve access and in support of further changes to address the concerns of residents as summarized above, and be it further

RESOLVED: That this letter will be delivered to the MBTA, the state delegation and the Governor-Elect Maura Healy as soon as possible with a request for a response.

7. Superintendent’s Agenda:

7a. Superintendent's Update:

None

7b. Presentations:

Office of Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Update: Superintendent's District Goal 1 & Standard I & III

Manuel Fernandez. Chief Equity Officer

 Dr. Leslie Jiménez, Director of Equity Inclusion and Belonging

Raymond Porch, Director of Family and Community Engagement

7c. CPS District Plan:

None

7d. Consent Agenda:
#23-076 Recommendation: SY2023/2024 State School Choice-Recommendation for Non-participation
#23-077 Recommendation: Approval of Agreement Between the Cambridge School Committtee and the Family Liaisons Invested in Families & Education AFSCME/AFL-CIO (LIFE/AFSCME)
#23-078 Recommendation: Approval of Amendment fo the COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for Sports & Extra-Curricular Acivities
#23-079 Recommendation: Day & Residential Program Services not Available from the Cambridge School Department
#23-080 Recommendation: Contract Award: Concdntric Math: Professional Development
#23-081 Recommendation: Contract Award: Mansfield Paper Company: Food Service Paper Products-Amended
#23-082 Recommendation: Contract Award: Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology: Instructional Services
#23-083 Recommendation: Contract Award: Just Right Reader, Inc.: Instructional Materials
#23-084 Recommendation: Contract Award: Sterling Business Products: Printing Services
#23-085 Recommendation: Gifts/Miscellaneous Receipts
#23-086 Recommendation: Grant Award: FY23 Cambridge Hospital Legacy Project (SC23171)

8. Non-Consent Agenda:
None

9. School Committee Agenda (Policy Matters/Notifications/Requests for Information):
#23-087: Report of the April 24, 2023, Special Education and Student Supports Subcommittee | Motion by Special Education & Student Supports Sub-committee: Download Attachment

Report of the April 24, 2023, Special Education and Student Supports Subcommittee 

#23-088: Educator Diversity Act | Joint Motion by Vice Chair Weinstein, Member Wilson

WHEREAS: The Cambridge Public Schools’ Anti-Racist Mission Statement reads, “On the journey to becoming an anti-racist school district, the CPS community actively uplifts and collectively holds each other accountable to equitably support our young people and families. We center the voices and prioritize the needs of youth, families, and educators of color with antiracist decisions, practices, and policies to dismantle historical oppression and to support learning spaces where all students are known, celebrated, empowered, and thrive;” and

WHEREAS: Students of color and all students benefit academically and socially when they have educators of color (Will, M. (2022, Feb). Teachers of Color Are Linked to Social-Emotional, Academic Gains for All Students. Education Week); and

WHEREAS: The Cambridge Public Schools continue to work on recruiting and retaining educators of color while recognizing that additional systemic barriers exist externally, including in preparation programs and state licensure processes outside of the district’s purview; and

WHEREAS: The Educator Diversity Act (H. 4539, S. 2748) would develop an alternative pathway for educator certification, charge the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education with an Educator Diversity Data Dashboard, mandate diversity and anti-bias training for district leaders and staff, elevate the voices of educators of color through advisory councils, and create an educator diversity grant fund for increasing hiring and retention; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED: The Cambridge School Committee goes on record supporting the Educator Diversity Act and advocates that our state representatives and senators support this legislation; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the Executive Secretary to the School Committee forward copies of this resolution to each member of the state delegation on behalf of the entire School Committee.

10. Resolutions:
None

11. Announcements:
None

12. Late Orders:
None

13. Communications and Reports from City Officers:

None

Updated on 05/11/2023