CPS

Regular Meeting Meeting | Agenda

Back to Meeting Listing

Held in and broadcast from the Dr. Henrietta S. Attles Meeting Room, Cambridge Rindge, and Latin School, 459 Broadway, Cambridge. To sign up to call in using the ZOOM app on your computer or mobile device: visit www.cpsd.us/school_committee/virtual

Regular Meetings will be live-streamed at www.cpsd.us and broadcast on Cambridge Educational Access TV (CEATV) Channel 98/99, as usual. Motions shown below are updated live as they progress.

From the Office of the Executive Secretary to the School Committee

January 21, 2020 | 06:00 pm

1. Public Comment (3 Minutes):

2. Student School Committee Report:

3. Presentation of the Records for Approval:

Organizational Meeting, January 6, 2020
Regular Meeting, January 7, 2020


4. Reconsiderations:
None

5. Unfinished Business/Calendar:
None

6. Awaiting Reports:
None

7. Superintendent’s Agenda:

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

7c. CPS District Plan:
None

7d. Consent Agenda:
#20-05 Recommendation: Recommendation: Authorization for the Superintendent to submit a Statement of Interest to the Massachusetts School Building Authority For the replacement of the Cambridgeport School Building Windows
#20-06 Recommendation: Recommendation: Contract Award: The Resource Connection: Temporary Clerical Services -Amendment
#20-07 Recommendation: Recommendation: Contract Award: Center for Youth & Community Leadership in Education: Educational Support Services-Change in End Date
#20-08 Recommendation: Recommendation: Gifts/Miscellaneous Receipts
#20-09 Recommendation: Recommendation: Grant Award: FY20 Early Literacy Intervention(SC20632)-Increase
#20-10 Recommendation: Recommendation: Grant Award: FY20 Massachusetts Cultural Council-STARRS (SC20894)
#20-11 Recommendation: Recommendation: Grant Award: FY20 Financial Literacy (SC20164)
#20-14 Recommendation: Recommendation: Retain the Law Firm of Morgan, Brown & Joy, LLP to Provide Legal Services for Labor & Employment Matters.

8. Non-Consent Agenda:
None

9. School Committee Agenda (Policy Matters/Notifications/Requests for Information):
#20-12 Joint Motion by Member Rachel , Member Wilson

Whereas: The Cambridge Public Schools are committed to "building rigorous, joyful and culturally responsive learning for all students"; and racial inequity has plagued our schools for many generations; and

Whereas: Families, teachers and community members have shared experiences of racism with this body and the administration; and we know, from advocacy of many students that anti-racist schools are a prerequisite for culturally responsive learning; and

Whereas: Students are better positioned to reach our district's academic goals in third grade literacy, eighth grade math and enrollment in AP or honors courses in schools that are culturally responsive and intentionally anti-racist; and there are many school leaders across our district that serve as exemplars for engaging school communities in advancing racial equity; and

Whereas: The Superintendent brought the Disruptive Equity Education Project into work with district leadership, and invested in the Building Equity Bridges (BEB) movement. The Building Equity Bridges movement has developed a coalition of students, families, teachers, administrators and the Cambridge Education Association (CEA) who share the understanding of the critical need to center the voices of students, families and teachers of color; and

Whereas: The Superintendent has already begun to develop a set of anti-racism actions drawing on the twelve Building Equity Bridges commitments and taken immediate actions to center the voices of students and families of color, establish an enhanced investigation and response system for racist incidents and mandated anti-racist training. We recognize the severity of this problem and are driven by a sense of urgency;

Now Therefore be it Resolved: That the School Committee will prioritize racial equity and anti-racist work throughout this term; and

Be it Further Resolved: That the School Committee will join the Superintendent in 'taking decisive action' to respond to the concerns raised in each of the twelve areas outlined by the Building Equity Bridges movement. That the Chair and Vice Chair will call for a School Committee retreat with district administrators and the Building Equity Bridges leadership team by March 31, 2020 to build shared understanding of the work and coordinate which subcommittees or other venues will advance particular commitments; and

Be it Further Resolved: That throughout the 2020-21 term, School Committee Members will partner closely with the CPSD Administration, BEB, CEA as well as other interested students, families, educators and community partners to recommend policies that strengthen our district's racial equity and anti-racist work.


#20-13 Motion by Vice Chair Bowman

Whereas the Cambridge School Committee seeks to provide a more efficient process for managing the responsibilities of the body; and

Whereas after reviewing subcommittee roles and responsibilities, the Vice-Chair saw opportunities to streamline subcommittee work by reorganizing subcommittees,

Therefore be it resolved, that the Committee consolidate the Communications & Community Relations Sub-Committees; and
Be it Further

Resolved that the School Committee dissolves the Ad-hoc Sub-Committee on Attendance Violation Policy and the Civic Unity Sub-Committee in order for the School Committee to be more focused and effective in meeting the needs of families, students, and the public.


10. Resolutions:
None

11. Announcements:
None

12. Late Orders:
None

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