1. Public Comment (3 Minutes):

2. Student School Committee Report:

3. Presentation of the Records for Approval:

• Regular Meeting, October 15, 2019
• Roundtable on MCAS & Assessments, October 22, 2019

4. Reconsiderations:
None

5. Unfinished Business/Calendar:
None

6. Awaiting Reports:
#19-109: Dyslexia Screening | Joint Motion by Vice Chair Kelly, Member Fantini

Due to legislation passed by the State Legislature that requests early screenings of students to identify if they have dyslexia,
That the Superintendent take appropriate steps to ensure that students are screened and that students who are identified receive appropriate and timely supports and that training and support for teachers is in place. Superintendent will report back on how the district will comply with the present law by the Regular meeting in November. (C19-210)

#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:

2019 MCAS Performance
Kenneth Salim, Superintendent of Schools
Jennifer Amigone, Director of Research, Evaluation & Assessment
Michelle Madera, Interim Asst. Supt. Curr. & Instruction
Carolyn L. Turk, Deputy Superintendent
Maryann MacDonald, Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education
Julie Ward, Jk-12 Math Coordinator
Janice Tingle, English Language Arts Coordinator
Janet MacNeil, Jk-12 Science Coordinator

7c. CPS District Plan:
None

7d. Consent Agenda:
#19-275 Recommendation: Recommendation: Day & Residential Program Services not Available From the Cambridge Public School Department
#19-276 Recommendation: Recommendation: Contract Award: Beyond the 4th Wall: Educational Services
#19-277 Recommendation: Recommendation: Contract Award: Public Consulting Group: Medicaid Reimbursement Claiming Services
#19-278 Recommendation: Recommendation: Gifts/Miscellaneous Receipts
#19-279 Recommendation: Recommendation: Grant Award: Patel Family/Mindfulness
#19-285 Recommendation: Recommendation: Approval of Agreement between the Cambridge School Committee and the Cambridge Education Association, Units A&B

8. Non-Consent Agenda:
None

9. School Committee Agenda (Policy Matters/Notifications/Requests for Information):
#19-280: Establish working group on college initiatives | Motion by Member FantiniThat a working group be established to examine whether the Early College Initiative is one that the Cambridge Public Schools wants to pursue. Seventeen high schools have been designated by the Board of Higher Education as Early College designees. With this designation planning funds have been provided. The initiative is mainly focused on first generation college goers and data is showing strong success in college completion and career success. Design principals include 1. Equitable Access, 2. Academic Pathways, 3. Robust Student Support, 4. Connections to Career, 5. High Quality and Deep Partnerships.
#19-281: Update Policies | Motion by Member Nolan

That whereas there have been times when policies are not coordinated or updated with new language or reviewed for overlap, and whereas the School Committee wants to ensure policies are relevant and updated; and

Whereas there are a number of School Committee policies that warrant review, for example MCAS policies from 2004 [ref. IKBA-1] which references old laws and the CRLS grade policy [ref. IKA] which is confusing due to block scheduling and is covered in the Rights and Responsibilities Handbook;

Now therefore the School Committee asks that a review of all policies be scheduled over the next six months so that by the beginning of the next school year policies are updated, irrelevant policies are taken off the books and any duplicative policies are merged; and
Further, that a review of the written and online communication of policies be reviewed to ensure it is accurate and matches current policies.

#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)
#19-283: 10-24-19 Athletic Ad-Hoc Sub-Committee Report | Motion by October 24, 2019 Athletic Ad-Hoc Sub-Committee Report
10. Resolutions:
#19-284: Thanks to Professor Sharon Beckman | Motion by Member Nolan

That whereas the opportunity for CRLS students to learn firsthand about the criminal justice systems failures which can result in wrongful convictions resulted in a powerful learning experience; and

Whereas students connected with an exonoree and the Innocence Project Director, That the School Committee send a letter of thanks to Professor Sharon Beckman, of Boston College Law School for bringing the Wrongful Convictions Day program to CRLS.

11. Announcements:
None

12. Late Orders:
None

13. Communications and Reports from City Officers:

Girls in sports in the community


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 grievance (CEA Unit C) as part of collective bargaining and an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the School Committee and for the purpose of discussing strategy for collective bargaining and litigation as an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining and litigation positions of the School Committee.

NOTE: The School Committee will not reconvene in open session, votes may or may not be taken and in executive session along with a vote to adjourn from the executive session.

Updated on 04/30/2021