1. Public Comment (3 Minutes):

2. Student School Committee Report:

3. Presentation of the Records for Approval:

May 28, 2020 Special Meeting
August 24, 2020 Special Meeting
October 6, 2020 Regular Meeting

4. Reconsiderations:
None

5. Unfinished Business/Calendar:
None

6. Awaiting Reports:
None

7. Superintendent’s Agenda:

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

7a. Presentations: COVID-19 Response Update: Staffing & Budget
Dr. Kenneth Salim, Superintendent of Schools
Lisa Richardson, Chief Talent Officer
Claire Spinner, Chief Financial Office

7c. CPS District Plan:
None

7d. Consent Agenda:
#20-256 Recommendation: Day & Residential Program Services Not Available From the Cambridge School Department
#20-257 Recommendation: Contract Award: CDW Government LLC: Instructional Computer Supplies
#20-258 Recommendation: Contract Award: uAspire: Educational Support Services
#20-259 Recommendation: Contract Award: Public Consulting Group: Medicaid Reimbursement Claiming Services
#20-260 Recommendation: Contract Award: Overdrive Inc.: Instructional Materials
#20-261 Recommendation: Contract Award: Contract Award: Impact Fire Services Exhaust Hood Cleaning & Inspections
#20-262 Recommendation: Gifts/Miscellaneous Receipts
#20-263 Recommendation: Grant Award: FY21 McKinney Vento Homeless Students (SC21707)
#20-264 Recommendation: Grant Award: FY21 Occupational Education Vocational Skills (SC21606)
#20-269 Recommendation: Gifts/Miscellaneous Receipts

8. Non-Consent Agenda:
None

9. School Committee Agenda (Policy Matters/Notifications/Requests for Information):
#20-265: Televise Roundtable with Principals | Motion by Mayor SiddiquiWhereas CPS strives to engage parents, students, educators, staff, and the community in CPS decision-making, the School Committee will televise the scheduled Roundtable discussion with Elementary School Principals (Oct. 27, 2020).
#20-266: Absenteeism Prevention | Joint Motion by Mayor Siddiqui, Member Wilson, Member Weinstein

Whereas health and safety, racial equity, and family partnerships are among the guiding principles of the Cambridge Public Schools Department in their back-to-school planning; and

Whereas chronic absenteeism is one of the District Outcomes that CPSD has been striving to improve; and

Whereas prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, students from disadvantaged populations were more likely to be chronically absent, need intervention, and produce lower baseline performance scores; and

Whereas pre-existing inequities are exacerbated by COVID-19 school closures; and

Whereas particularly hard-hit students will continue to be disproportionately vulnerable with regard to their physical, emotional, and educational wellbeing; and

Whereas there must be adequate data collected and shared to identify and support our most vulnerable youth; and now therefore be it

Resolved that the Superintendent share the number and percentage of students at each school who are chronically absent, at risk of dropping out, and in need of intervention with the School Committee monthly in his Weekly Update, beginning on November 6, 2020; and be it further

Resolved that CPSD will ensure any technology and database supports are put in place to support the collection, analysis and reporting of this data.

#20-267: Monday Holiday effect on Wednesday Asynchronous Learning Day | Joint Motion by Mayor Siddiqui, Member Wilson, Member Rachel (In collaboration with Student Member Killian & Student Member Vera-DeGraff)

Whereas for every week that includes a Monday holiday, current CRLS procedure applies a Monday synchronous learning schedule to the Wednesday of that week; and

Whereas during remote learning, educators take advantage of Wednesdays by using the time for curriculum planning, educator collaboration, professional development, and schedule organization; and

Whereas many CRLS scholars feel that having school on Wednesdays during a week with a Monday holiday disrespects, invalidates, and delegitimizes the holiday; and

Whereas CRLS scholars use the asynchronous nature of learning on Wednesdays to take a break from the many hours of live classes; and

Whereas many CRLS clubs have been using the asynchronous nature of learning on Wednesdays to host club meetings; now therefore be it

Resolved that in each week that includes a Monday holiday, the Wednesday of that week remain an asynchronous learning day at CRLS.

10. Resolutions:
#20-268 : Dyslexia Awareness | Joint Motion by Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Chair Bowman, Member Wilson

Whereas October is Dyslexia Awareness Month, a month in which we come together to raise awareness, share resources, and tell stories about dyslexia successes; and

Whereas Cambridge school and community stakeholders are joining efforts to raise awareness in the City of Cambridge about dyslexia as the most common learning challenge; and

Whereas dyslexia is a learning disability that makes it difficult to learn or read accurately and fluently, affecting as many as 17% of people locally, nationally, and globally; and

Whereas while dyslexia is a lifelong condition that impacts learning, it is not related to intelligence, and students can improve key skills with the right community and educational supports; and

Whereas Cambridge City Hall was lit up red from Tuesday October 13, 2020 through Friday, October 16, 2020 in recognition of Dyslexia Awareness Month; now therefore be it

Resolved that the School Committee and Superintendent go on record recognizing October as Dyslexia Awareness Month in the City of Cambridge; and be it further

Resolved that a formal copy of this Resolution be prepared by the Executive Secretary to the School Committee and forwarded to the Cambridge Special Education Parent Advisory Council

11. Announcements:
None

12. Late Orders:
None

13. Communications and Reports from City Officers: None
Updated on 04/26/2021