1. Public Comment (3 Minutes):

2. Student School Committee Report:

3. Presentation of the Records for Approval:

• May 14, 2019 Roundtable Meeting on College Success
• May 21, 2019 Regular Meeting

4. Reconsiderations:
None

5. Unfinished Business/Calendar:
None

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.

7. Superintendent’s Agenda:

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

7c. CPS District Plan:
None

7d. Consent Agenda:
#19-112 Recommendation: Approval of Agreement between the Cambridge School Committee & the Cambridge Education Association Units A & B Regarding Over-enrollment at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School
#19-113 Recommendation: Approval of Agreement Between the Cambridge School Committee and the Cambridge Education Association Regarding the King Open& Cambridge Street Upper School Moves to the Newly Constructed King Open Elementary School& Cambridge Street Upper School for the Upcoming 2019-2020 School Year
#19-114 Recommendation: Approval of Agreement Between the Cambridge School Committee And the Cambridge Education Association Regarding a Resolution of Issues Related to the Deep Cleaning of the Graham & Parks Elementary School During the Summer of 2019
#19-115 Recommendation: Day & Residential Program Services not Available From the Cambridge School Department
#19-116 Recommendation: Contract Award: Quantum Learning: Math Software Program
#19-117 Recommendation: Contract Award: Bain Pest Control Service: FY20 Pest Management
#19-118 Recommendation: Contract Award: Casey EMI: FY20 Custodial Supplies & Equipment
#19-119 Recommendation: Contract Award: Filter Sales & Services: FY20 HVAC Supplies
#19-120 Recommendation: Contract Award: F. W. Webb: FY20 HVAC Supplies
#19-121 Recommendation: Contract Award: Home Depot: FY20 Carpentry & Maintenance Supplies
#19-122 Recommendation: Contract Award: MD Stetson: FY20 Custodial Supplies
#19-123 Recommendation: Contract Award: New England School Services: FY20 Doors & Supplies
#19-124 Recommendation: Contract Award: NorthEast Electrical Distributors: FY20 Electrical Supplies
#19-125 Recommendation: Contract Award: Pasek: Fy20 Locks, Keys & Hardware
#19-126 Recommendation: Contract Award: PJ Systems d/b/a HiQ Computers: Computer Software & Wireless Upgrades
#19-127 Recommendation: Contract Award: Republic Services: Fy20 Dumpster Services
#19-128 Recommendation: Contract Award: School Specialty: FY20 Classroom Materials
#19-129 Recommendation: Contract Award: Sterling Business Products: FY20 Printing & Mailing Services
#19-130 Recommendation: Contract Award: WB Mason Co., Inc: FY20 Classroom Furniture
#19-131 Recommendation: Contract Award: WW Grainger: FY20 Facilities Equipment& Supplies
#19-132 Recommendation: Contract Award: Applied Behavior Learning Services: Special Education Services
#19-133 Recommendation: Contract Award: Baystate Interpreters, Inc.: Translation Services
#19-134 Recommendation: Contract Award: Boston Behavior Learning: Special Education Services
#19-135 Recommendation: Contract Award: Roman Music Therapy: Special Education Services
#19-136 Recommendation: Contract Award: Center for Autism & Related: Special Education Services
#19-137 Recommendation: Contract Award: Center for Autism & Related: Special Education Services
#19-138 Recommendation: Contract Award: Perkins School for the Blind: Special Education Services
#19-139 Recommendation: Contract Award: Cambridge Health Alliance: Assessment, Diagnostic & Liaison Services
#19-140 Recommendation: Contract Award: Cambridge Health Alliance: Special Education Services
#19-141 Recommendation: Contract Award: Cambridge Ctr. for Neuropsychology & Learning: Neuropsychological Evaluations
#19-142 Recommendation: Contract Award: Easter Seals Massachusetts: Contract Staffing Services
#19-143 Recommendation: Contract Award: North East Educational & Developmental Supports Center: Special Education Services
#19-144 Recommendation: Contract Award: Healy Behavioral Services, LLC: Special Education Services
#19-145 Recommendation: Contract Award: New England Ice Cream Corporation: Milk Products
#19-146 Recommendation: Contract Award: Central Paper Products: Food Service Paper Products
#19-147 Recommendation: Contract Award: Fantini Baking Company: Bread Products
#19-148 Recommendation: Contract Award: Metropolitan Pipe: FY20 Plumbing Supplies
#19-149 Recommendation: Contract Award: Gifts/Miscellaneous Receipts
#19-159 Recommendation: Approval of Revisions to Cambridge Public Schools Policy Regarding the Personal Use of Social Media by CPS Employees (First Reading)

8. Non-Consent Agenda:
None

9. School Committee Agenda (Policy Matters/Notifications/Requests for Information):
#19-150 Joint Motion by Member Fantini, Mayor McGovern

RESOLUTION PERTAINING TO PARTICIPATING IN AN ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENT OTHER THAN MCAS for submission to the MASC Delegate Assembly by the Cambridge School Committee

WHEREAS, as flexible and adaptable learning organizations, the membership of the Mass Association of School Committees uphold the important strategic objectives of Equity, Access and Continuous Improvement; and WHEREAS, improvement requires the regular monitoring of progress in multiple ways however, the current format and frequency of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) does not fully align with Mass Association of School Committee districts visions of rigorous, joyful, culturally responsive learning; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) recently acknowledged that a racially insensitive question appeared on the 2019 10th grade English Language Arts MCAS exam that called for students to take on the perspective of a racist character after reading passage in Colson Whitehead's 'The Underground Railroad;' and

WHEREAS, this highlights the need for inquiry into MCAS test question creation, review, and approval process as well as the developmental and cultural appropriateness of the MCAS as an effective and unbiased assessment measure; now

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Massachusetts Association of School Committees go on record in support of the role that the Massachusetts Association of School Committees and their respective Superintendents can play in advocating to the Massachusetts Commissioner of Education and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) for flexibility from federal assessment regulations in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA); and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Massachusetts Association of School Committees request the Commissioner of Education and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) encouraging the state to file an application to the Innovative Assessment Pilot (ESSA Section 1204) for Massachusetts be one of the US States allowed to 'pilot innovative systems of assessments" with a goal of providing continued accountability, and improving authentic and meaningful assessments that more equitably serve our students; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Massachusetts Association of School Committees to the extent possible create innovative models of performance based assessments.

RATIONALE: Massachusetts is ready to move forward from a practice of high stakes testing to high quality assessments systems that provide timely critical information that meet the needs of all students.

#19-151 Joint Motion by Member Dexter, Member Kimbrough, Mayor McGovern

That: Whereas CPS strives to create equitable, developmentally appropriate learning environments in which all students are included and able to learn; and

Whereas the CPS discipline policy prohibits out-of-school suspensions of PreK-2nd grade students who bring a weapon to school; Therefore the CPS discipline policy will be revised to specify that students in grades PreK-2nd grade will not be suspended out-of-school for any reason; and CPS schools will collect data on the number and demographics of preK-12th grade students excluded from class by being sent to the office or otherwise excluded from class but not formally suspended; and These data will be provided to the School Committee twice per year for each CPS school.

#19-152 Joint Motion by Member Kimbrough, Member Dexter, Member Nolan

Whereas CPS believes in academic excellence for all students; and

Whereas CPS created a strategic plan for the district with academic outcomes measures for students in the fall of 2017; and

Whereas the district;s outcomes for 8th grade math and 3rd reading are different for separate sub-groups; and

Whereas these different expectations are counter to the district's work on equity, Be it resolved that the School Committee affirms the vision and strategic objectives of the district plan and directs CPS to set equal strategic outcomes for all subgroups with support from families, educators and the CPS administration.

#19-153 Motion by Vice Chair Kelly

That the Superintendent or designee provide an update on Special Education transportation to the School Committee by Tuesday, June 18, 2019.

#19-154 Motion by Member Dexter

That: Whereas the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School has undertaken an extensive process to examine and redesign its Attendance Violation Policy; and

Whereas data can be used for continuous improvement;

Therefore, the Attendance Violation Policy will be amended per the attached document. In addition, the CPS Administration will provide the School Committee with data on attendance violations after the conclusion of each semester, which will include information about numbers and percentages of students who: 1) qualify for an AV, 2) buy-back to retain their course grade, 3) attend a Studentship Workshop, 4) receive an Individual Support Plan, and 5) have their course grade reduced by 10 points. This data will be disaggregated by DESE categories (second reading).

#19-155 Motion by Member Nolan

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.

#19-156 Motion by Member Nolan

Whereas the school district has consistently been following policies of meeting the highest possible environmental standards in all operations, and

Whereas the district has desired to stay in compliance with LEED standards, the School Committee affirms that the school district maintains sustainable policies and practices and is committed to environmental best practices in all operations.

#19-157 Motion by Report of the May 20, 2019 Buildings and Grounds Sub-Committee Meeting
10. Resolutions:
#19-158 Motion by Member Nolan

Whereas Jeffrey (Jeff) Gaglione has been a leader in the district and at CRLS, and

Whereas his work on behalf of opportunity for all with a focus on equity, and

Whereas the program he developed and initiated, the Math Move Up Program, has successfully transitioned many students into honors level math classes, especially students from underrepresented groups, and

Whereas Mr. Gaglione will be leaving the district to be a Principal elsewhere, That the School Committee send a letter of gratitude for his service and contributions to CPS and wish him well in his new position.

11. Announcements:
None

12. Late Orders:
None

13. Communications and Reports from City Officers:

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 purposes of hearing a Level III grievance filed by the CEA Units A&B as part of collective bargaining as an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining and litigation positions of the School Committee; and to discuss collective bargaining and litigation strategy with respect to a CEA Units A&B Level III grievance and pending arbitration with the CEA Units A&B as an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining and litigation positions of the School Committee.

The School Committee will not reconvene in open session; no votes will be taken in executive session other than the vote to adjourn the executive session.

Updated on 05/04/2021