• April 27, 2021 Special Meeting
• May 6, 2021 Special Meeting
• May 11, 2021 Special Meeting

Whereas the Cambridge School Committee unequivocally condemns misogyny and gender-based harassment and assault; and

Whereas students at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School have recently called attention to the need for CPSD to better address misogyny and gender-based harassment and assault, with the goals of better supporting those impacted by it, better responding to specific incidents and to broader school culture and climate concerns, and ultimately eliminating it; and

Whereas for many years Cambridge Public School students have been leaders in calling upon CPSD to better prevent and address sexual harassment and assault; and

Whereas four years ago, Mayor Simmons stated in a May 17, 2016 official letter that “In light of the state-wide conversation surrounding gender-based harassment, in response to recent events at CRLS (such as the walkout that took place on April 13) and in recognition of the need to better address and prevent incidents of bullying, the City of Cambridge must take a new and more focused approach in addressing these concerns”; and

Whereas in that May 17, 2016 letter Mayor E. Denise Simmons announced that she would be “appointing a Special Committee on Gender-based Issues to better examine and monitor reports pertaining to sexual harassment, as well as to all forms of gender-based discrimination in our schools and in our wider community”; and

Whereas that committee drafted a set of “Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Action Plan Recommendations”; (see here); and

Whereas those recommendations were presented at the May 2, 2017 School Committee Meeting, as part of motion #17-80 (see here) which passed unanimously; and

Whereas motion #17-80 included the following: “ORDERED: That the Superintendent of Schools be and hereby is requested to formally review the feasibility of all recommendations included in the aforementioned and attached systemic Action Plan which references CRLS and all the Cambridge Public Schools, and to solicit recommendations from stakeholders, including students, from each school as to what measures should be enacted; and be it further

ORDERED: That the Superintendent of Schools hereby is requested to devise a timetable for the stages of a scaled implementation of these measures, devise plans for implementation, and report back to the School Committee in a timely manner on how, and how soon, this implementation can begin”; now therefore be it
Resolved that the Superintendent update the School Committee at the May 18, 2021 regular meeting on the history and current status of the implementation of these recommendations, and of any other district initiatives or plans currently in place related to the issue of fighting misogyny, gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, and sexual assault within CPSD.

COVID 19 Response Update: Dr. Kenneth N. Salim, Superintendent of Schools

Whereas the Federal Drug Administration has recently expanded the emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to include children ages 12 years and older; and

Whereas in Cambridge Public Schools there are more than 3,000 students in grades 6-12, the vast majority of whom are 12 years and older; and

Whereas current plans for the 2021-2022 school year anticipate nearly all students in all grades returning to learn in person, now therefore be it

Resolved that the Superintendent work with the Cambridge Public Health Department to explore and determine the feasibility of offering and administering the Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine at the upper schools and the high school buildings and any other appropriate Cambridge Public Schools facilities to Cambridge Public Schools students who are eligible for vaccination; and be it further

Resolved that the Superintendent present his findings to the School Committee as soon as possible.

Whereas it has been brought to the School Committee's attention that materials produced by Eversource promoting its commercial interests in natural gas were recently inadvertently distributed to CPS students in school; and

Whereas in 2009 the School Committee passed motion #09-213 which states, in part, “No advertising of commercial products or services will be permitted in school buildings or on school grounds or properties”; and

Whereas climate justice, learning about climate change and the environment, and addressing climate change is a priority of the City of Cambridge and CPSD; and

Whereas the School Committee wishes to ensure all CPSD educators and staff have the support and tools they need to ensure distribution of commercial materials does not happen again in our schools; now therefore be it

Resolved that the Superintendent will report to the School Committee detailing the current relevant procedures and supports for CPSD educators that address the CPSD policy noted above, and noting any other relevant CPSD policies; and be it further

Resolved that the report will identify and recommend any additional steps and supports, if needed, to help teachers and school leadership prevent future distribution of commercial materials that violate CPSD policy; and be it further

Resolved that the Superintendent will prepare a report for the Curriculum and Achievement Sub-Committee on current CPSD curriculum and school-based activities around climate justice.

Report of the April 1, 2021 Buildings and Grounds Sub-Committee

Report of the April 28, 2021 Special Education and Student Supports Sub-Committee

Whereas the School Committee is deeply saddened to learn of the death of Daniel Robert Montgomery, who passed away suddenly on April 20th, 2021, at a very young age; and

Whereas Daniel is survived by his daughter Lizzie Kelly-Montgomery, Lizzie's mother Rua Kelly, parents Lynn and Bob Montgomery, and sister Sara Montgomery, among many other loving friends and family; and

Whereas Daniel was a beloved member of the Amigos School community and was deeply involved in the Amigos School as President of the Friends of Amigos, instrumental in the creation of the Amigos-Cambridgeport Neighborhood Community School, and as a room parent for Lizzie's class for several years; and

Whereas Daniel was a wonderful community member who connected with everyone he met; and

Whereas Daniel will be remembered for his character, love of life, sense of adventure, and warmth; now therefore be it

Resolved that the School Committee go on record extending its deepest sympathy to the family of Daniel Robert Montgomery at this time of such personal loss; and be it further

Resolved that the Executive Secretary to the School Committee be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution to Rua Kelly and daughter Lizzie Kelly-Montgomery, on behalf of the entire Cambridge School Committee.

Whereas May is Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, and celebrates the heritage, history, culture, and achievements of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States; and

Whereas about 830 students in the Cambridge Public Schools, or 12.4% of entire student body identifies as AAPI; and

Whereas Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have a rich heritage thousands of years old and have both shaped the history of the United States and Cambridge; and

Whereas AAPI residents have played a vital role in our city's development and history, contributing much to the cultural, civic, and economic vibrancy of our community, and today approximately 17% AAPI residents call Cambridge home; and

Whereas with a terrible rise in hate crimes against our AAPI residents, it is more important than ever to celebrate and honor the legacies of and stand in solidarity with our AAPI scholars, families, and educators; now therefore be it

Resolved that the School Committee go on record recognizing May 2021 as AAPI Heritage Month.

Whereas the School Committee is deeply saddened to learn of the death of Alan J. Dworsky on January 19th, 2021 at the age of 90; and

Whereas Alan was a resident of Cambridge who leaves behind his wife Suzanne Werber Dworsky, his children Jeff Dworsky and Arianne Dar, his five grandchildren Isaac, Zephyr, Cyrus, Imran, and Rayhannah, and two great-grandchildren Selah and Marigold; and

Whereas Alan and his wife Suzanne founded the Popplestone Foundation in 2000, which has supported environmental, tax, research, social justice, public policy, early childhood, and choral singing initiatives, including theKodaly Music Programin the Cambridge Public Schools, which has impacted the lives of many CPS scholars; and

Whereas Alan's partnership with CPS and Kodaly enabled more children to develop the language of music, which has shown to develop the brain in ways similar to foreign languages and math, providing students with another way to engage with school; and

Whereas Alan will be remembered for his generosity and his belief that “the voice is the original instrument and a chorus is an example of democracy in action with people of all backgrounds coming together”; now therefore be it

Resolved that the School Committee go on record extending its deepest sympathy to the family of Alan J. Dworsky at this time of such personal loss; and be it further
Resolved that the Executive Secretary to the School Committee be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution to his wife Suzanne Werber Dworsky, on behalf of the entire Cambridge School Committee.

At the conclusion of the Regular Meeting, The School Committee may entertain a motion to convene in Executive Session immediately following the Regular Meeting on Tuesday, May 18, 2021, in the Dr. Henrietta S. Attles Meeting Room, 459 Broadway, Cambridge, for the purposes of discussing strategy for purpose of discussing bargaining strategy for CEA Units (A & B) as an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining positions of the School Committee.