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

May 17, 2022 | 06:00 pm

1. Public Comment (3 Minutes):

2. Student School Committee Report:

3. Presentation of the Records for Approval:
  • April 26, 2022 Regular Meeting

4. Reconsiderations:
None

5. Unfinished Business/Calendar:
#C22-104 Joint Motion by Member Bhambi, Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Chair Weinstein

WHEREAS: The Title IX Aurelia Advocates, Superintendent Greer, Attorney MacFarlane, and School Committee members have been working to update Cambridge Public Schools’ Title IX/Sexual Misconduct Policy; and

WHEREAS: The Cambridge Public Schools’ Title IX/Sexual Misconduct Policy is due for updating in the interests of clarity, transparency and equity; and

WHEREAS: Cambridge Rindge and Latin School students repeatedly have spoken out about troubling levels of sexual harassment and assault; and

WHEREAS: The School Committee has revised the policy with input from the Title IX Aurelia Advocates, Attorney MacFarlane, and the broader community; Now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED: The revised policy now states: (see attachment)


6. Awaiting Reports:
None

7. Superintendent’s Agenda:

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

Superintendent's Update: COVID-19
Dr. Victoria L. Greer, Ph.D., Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Carolyn L. Turk, Deputy Superintendent

Summer Planning and Program
Dr. Carolyn L. Turk, Deputy Superintendent
Dr. Michelle Madera, Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education
Dr. Nicole Gittens, Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education
Dr. Barbara Mullen; Interim Assistant Superintendent of Student Services

7c. CPS District Plan:
None

7d. Consent Agenda:
#22-93 Recommendation: Contract Award: Gaggle.Net, Inc.
#22-94 Recommendation: Contract Award: Apple, Inc.
#22-95 Recommendation: Contract Award: McGraw Hill Education
#22-96 Recommendation: Contract Award: Aperture Education
#22-97 Recommendation: Contract Award: Illuminate Education
#22-98 Recommendation: Contract Award: Learning A-Z
#22-99 Recommendation: Contract Award: The Calculus Project
#22-100 Recommendation: Contract Award: Washington Music Center Inc.
#22-101 Recommendation: Contract Award: Guaranteed Fresh Produce Inc.
#22-102 Recommendation: Contract Award: Kittredge Equipment Co.
#22-103 Recommendation: Contract Award: Smarter HEPA
#22-104 Recommendation: Approval of the Amendment of Contract with Law Firm of Morgan, Brown & Joy, LLP
#22-105 Recommendation: Gifts/Miscellaneous Receipts
#22-106 Recommendation: FY23 Biogen Foundation STAR Data Grant (SC23159)

8. Non-Consent Agenda:
None

9. School Committee Agenda (Policy Matters/Notifications/Requests for Information):
None

10. Resolutions:
#22-107 Joint Motion by Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Chair Rachel

WHEREAS: Since being elected in June of 2020, Cambridge Public Schools has greatly benefited from the hard work and dedication of Student Member Nuriel Vera-DeGraff, who is graduating CRLS in June 2022 after serving two terms as a student representative; and

WHEREAS: Student Member Vera-DeGraff has been an integral member of the Committee, ensuring that the students have had an input on policy decisions and relaying vital information from the student community to the Committee on a wide variety of topics; and

WHEREAS: During Student Member Vera-DeGraff's tenure on the Committee, he has worked tirelessly on creating a non-binding vote for Student members ensuring that student's voices are heard, menstrual equity, increasing school to student communication, and strengthening curriculum requirements for health and wellness classes throughout the school system; and

WHEREAS: Student Member Vera-DeGraff has been a constant advocate for the student community, working on addressing sexual harassment and assault issues at CRLS and updating the Title IX policy leading to better reporting methods; and

WHEREAS: In addition to his work on the Committee, Student Member Vera-DeGraff led the CRLS Club 4, Model U.N., and was captain of the indoor track long-distance team; and

WHEREAS: Student Member Vera-DeGraff was a consummate professional during his time at the Committee consistently going above and beyond and will be greatly missed by the Committee; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED: That the School Committee go on record in its appreciation for Student Member Vera-DeGraff for his hard work as a student representative, thanking him for his dedication to Cambridge Public Schools and wishing him well at Harvard College next year; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the Executive Secretary be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution to Student Member Vera-DeGraff on behalf of the entire School Committee.


#22-108 Joint Motion by Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Chair Rachel

WHEREAS: Since being elected in June of 2020, Cambridge Public Schools has greatly benefited from the hard work and dedication of Student Member Anaïs Killian, who is graduating CRLS in June 2022 after serving two terms as a student representative; and

WHEREAS: Student Member Killian has been an integral member of the Committee, ensuring that the students have had an input on policy decisions and relaying vital information from the student community to the Committee on a wide variety of topics; and

WHEREAS: During Student Member Killian's tenure on the Committee, she has worked tirelessly on menstrual equity launching the Period Equity Bank program which gives students free sanitary products which can be taken home by students; and

WHEREAS: Student Member Killian was also instrumental in creating a non-binding vote for student members ensuring that student's voices are heard, increasing school to student communication, strengthening curriculum requirements for health and wellness classes, and advocating for the student community-working on addressing sexual harassment and assault issues at CRLS and updating the Title IX policy leading to better reporting methods; and

WHEREAS: In addition to her work on the Committee, Student Member Killian served on numerous stakeholder committees and working groups including four CPS interview committees, the ACLU Summer Institute Council, the DESE Kaleidoscope Community Council, CRLS French Club President, Homeless Volunteering Club 4 President, and one of 26 students to serve on the MIAA Student Advisory Committee; and

WHEREAS: Student Member Killian has provided the Massachusetts Association of School Committees and other local organizations with training on how to work with student members; and

WHEREAS: Student Member Killian was a consummate professional during her time at the Committee consistently going above and beyond and will be greatly missed by the Committee; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED: That the School Committee go on record in its appreciation for Student Member Killian for her hard work as a student representative, thanking her for her dedication to Cambridge Public Schools and wishing her well at Harvard College next year; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the Executive Secretary be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution to Student Member Killian on behalf of the entire School Committee.


#22-109 Joint Motion by Member Weinstein, Mayor Siddiqui

WHEREAS: Every year,the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and partner organizations recognize a small number of outstanding educators from across the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS: DESE's amazing Education Awards ceremony, the formal celebration honoring their achievements, was held on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, postponed from 2021 to 2022 due to the pandemic; and

WHEREAS:Two Cambridge Public Schools teachers, Karen Engels and Ariel Serkin, were recognized by DESE for their excellence in 2021 and honored at the 2022 celebration; and

WHEREAS: Karen Engels, fourth-grade teacher at the Graham and Parks School, was a finalist for the 2021 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year; and

WHEREAS: Ariel Serkin, a chemistry teacher at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, was a finalist for the 2021 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching; and

WHEREAS: Both of these educators exemplify the professional excellence and personal commitment shared by their fellow Cambridge Public School teachers; now therefore be it

RESOLVED: That the Cambridge School Committee go on record honoring and congratulating these educators on the well-deserved honors they have received from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and be it further

RESOLVED: That a formal copy of this resolution be prepared by the Executive Secretary to the School Committee and forwarded to Karen Engels and Ariel Serkin.


#22-110 Joint Motion by Member Weinstein, Mayor Siddiqui

WHEREAS: The Cambridge Rindge and Latin School (CRLS) Traveling Chorus, directed by Dr. Ivan Stefanov and the CRLS Big Band Jazz Ensemble, directed by Mr. Nate Powers (see Appendix A) participated in the Music in the Parks Festival at Westfield State University In Westfield, Mass. on May 7, 2022; and

WHEREAS: Both the Traveling Chorus and the Big Band Jazz Ensemble won first place in their categories and received superior ratings from festival judges; and

WHEREAS: Elias Seidman ‘24, a trumpet player, received the award for Best Soloist with an Ensemble Award; and

WHEREAS: Sabrina Urbancik ‘24, a soprano vocalist, received the Best Soloist with an Ensemble Award; and

WHEREAS: Every student had an amazing performance, resulting from their dedication to their craft and to their ensembles during a very challenging time for singers and instrumentalists; and

WHEREAS: These scholars deserve recognition for their hard work, their teamwork, and their accomplishments; and

WHEREAS: The educators who have supported these scholars deserve recognition for their hard work, and dedication to these young people; now therefore, be it

RESOLVED: That the Cambridge School Committee go on record honoring and congratulating these scholars and their educators on their hard work and dedication; and be it further

RESOLVED: That a formal copy of this resolution be prepared by the Executive Secretary to the School Committee and forwarded to the scholars and educators listed in the appendix.


11. Announcements:
None

12. Late Orders:
None

13. Communications and Reports from City Officers:
Updated on 05/13/2022