CPS

Regular Meeting Meeting | Agenda

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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

August 6, 2019 | 05:00 pm

1. Public Comment (3 Minutes):

2. Student School Committee Report:

3. Presentation of the Records for Approval:
  • June 4, 2019 Regular Meeting
  • June 18, 2019 Regular Meeting

4. Reconsiderations:
None

5. Unfinished Business/Calendar:
#19-179 Motion by Member Bowman Approval of Revisions to Cambridge Public Schools Policy Regarding the Personal Use of Social Media by CPS Employees (second reading).
6. Awaiting Reports:
#C19-064 Joint Motion by Member Nolan, Member Kimbrough

That the following be amended and referred to the Superintendent:

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.


#C19-131 Joint Motion by Vice Chair Kelly, Member Fantini

That the following be adopted as amended: 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.


#C19-135 Motion by That the School Committee request an update on prior School Committee Orders related to building projects, C12-095 on space for hands-on programming including but not limited to Woodshop and Culinary Arts in the Upper Schools and C13-043 on appropriate athletic facilities available to all residents and high school teams. Further, that all current enrollment projections be shared with the School Committee and the City to ensure adequate space for the growing district population in future building projects.
#C19-181 Motion by

That the following be adopted as amended:

That whereas bottled water is environmentally devastating, and

Whereas bottled water costs approximately 50 times more than city water, and Whereas Cambridge's water routinely exceeds health and safety standards, and Whereas the school district and the city have sought to reduce waste and encourage city water consumption over bottled water, and

Whereas the City Council passed an order recognizing this issue on January 28, 2019, be it ordered

That the district establish a policy that no district funds, unless necessary, may be used to purchase bottled water, and

That this policy be referred to the Superintendent for a report by the summer meeting, and

That this policy be communicated to all schools.


7. Superintendent’s Agenda:

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

7c. CPS District Plan:
None

7d. Consent Agenda:
#19-181 Recommendation: Recommendation: Increase in Maximum Balance for Student Activity Accounts
#19-182 Recommendation: Recommendation: Revolving Fund for Lost/Damaged Textbooks, Materials Or Electronic Devices
#19-183 Recommendation: Recommendation: Cambridge Public Schools Student Breakfast & Lunch Prices for SY2019/2020
#19-184 Recommendation: Recommendation: Day & Residential Program Services not Available From the Cambridge School Department
#19-185 Recommendation: Recommendation: Contract Award: Cross Cultural Communications: Written Translation Services
#19-186 Recommendation: Recommendation: Contract Award: Center for Youth & Community Leadership in Education (CYCLE): Educational Support Services
#19-187 Recommendation: Recommendation: Contract Award: McGraw Hill Education: Instructional Materials
#19-188 Recommendation: Recommendation: Contract Award: CCS Presentation Systems: Interactive Display Hardware
#19-189 Recommendation: Recommendation: Contract Award: Follett/X2 Development Corp: Student Information System for Cambridge Public Schools
#19-190 Recommendation: Recommendation: Contract Award: Roman Catholic Archbishop Of Boston: Rental of 159 Thorndike Street Building
#19-191 Recommendation: Recommendation: Contract Award: A. Russo & Sons Inc.: Fresh Produce
#19-192 Recommendation: Recommendation: Contract Award: Thurston Foods, Inc.: Groceries
#19-193 Recommendation: Recommendation: Contract Award: UAspire: Educational Support Services
#19-194 Recommendation: Recommendation: Gifts/Miscellaneous Receipts
#19-195 Recommendation: Recommendation: Grant Award: FY20 Food Services Program Appropriation (SC00402)
#19-196 Recommendation: Recommendation: Grant Award: FY20 Special Education IDEA Allocation (SC20605)
#19-197 Recommendation: Recommendation: Grant Award: FY20 Title I Distribution (SC20604)
#19-198 Recommendation: Recommendation: Grant Award: FY20 Title IIA/Teacher Quality (SC20731)
#19-199 Recommendation: Recommendation: Grant Award: FY20 Coordinated Family & Community Engagement (SC20851)
#19-206 Recommendation: Recommendation: Approval of Request from the School Committee to the Election Commission for Mailing Addresses

8. Non-Consent Agenda:
None

9. School Committee Agenda (Policy Matters/Notifications/Requests for Information):
#19-201 Joint Motion by Member Nolan, Member Kimbrough

Whereas the School Committee passed an order related to reviewing school building namesakes relation to the slave trade; and

Whereas the School Committee also wishes to understand if any school buildings are named for people who sought to oppress women; Now therefore the School Committee ask that the historical review of ties to slavery include a review of ties of namesakes to the oppression of women.


#19-202 Motion by Approval of Invoice for $7,519.00 from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) for 2019-2020 annual dues.
#19-203 Motion by Approval of Invoice for $5,206.25 from the National School Board Association (NSBA) for 2019-2020 dues.
#19-204 Motion by Report of the June 13, 2019 Athletic Ad-Hoc Sub-Committee Meeting
#19-205 Joint Motion by Member Nolan, Vice Chair Kelly and Member FantiniThat 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.
10. Resolutions:
None

11. Announcements:
None

12. Late Orders:
None

13. Communications and Reports from City Officers: None
Updated on 05/04/2021