Regular Meeting of the School Committee Meeting | Agenda
Back to Meeting ListingHeld 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
September 17, 2024 | 06:00 pm
2. Student School Committee Report:
3. Presentation of the Records for Approval:
None
4. Reconsiderations:
None
5. Unfinished Business/Calendar:
#24-100: Registration for Meeting Participation and Public Comment | Motion by Member Rachel: Download File
WHEREAS: School Committee policy ABA notes the Committee’s commitment to seeking and encouraging public participation in the body’s decision-making processes; and
WHEREAS: The body’s Rules do not specify when meeting registration opens to the public, but past practice has been two days before the meeting; and
WHEREAS: The Committee intends to remove barriers to participation; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED: That meeting registration and public comment sign-up will be available to all members of the public beginning at the time a meeting is officially noticed with an agenda or designated purpose.
#24-227: 2024 Superintendent Search Timeline | Joint Motion by Member Rojas, Member Weinstein, Member Rachel: Download File
6. Awaiting Reports:
None
7. Superintendent’s Agenda:
7a. Superintendent's Update:
Brief comments on the district's leadership team organization for the 2024 - 2025 school year.
7b. Presentations:
Overview of the capital improvements that were completed during the summer of 2024 and offer brief comments on the analysis provided by the pending long-term facilities condition assessment detailing composite scores with respect to infrastructure challenges across the Cambridge Public Schools.
David Murphy, Interim Superintendent
Vedad Konjic, Director of Factilities
7c. CPS District Plan:None
7d. Consent Agenda:
#24-228 Recommendation: Approval of Private School-NuVu Innovation School
#24-229 Recommendation: Day & Residential Program Services not Available from the Cambridge School Department
#24-230 Recommendation: Contract Award: Christopher Vick: College Preparation
#24-231 Recommendation: Contract Award: Upstander Project: Professional Development
#24-232 Recommendation: Gifts/Miscellaneous Receipts
#24-233 Recommendation: Grant Award: FY25 Ms. Hibbs Grant (SC25166)
#24-234 Recommendation: Grant Award: FY2025 McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Grant (SC25707)
8. Non-Consent Agenda:
None
9. School Committee Agenda (Policy Matters/Notifications/Requests for Information):
#24-235: Teaching Local History | Motion by Mayor Simmons: Download Attachment
WHEREAS: There has been significant discussion around the importance of ensuring that young people in Cambridge are ducated about the history of their city; and
WHEREAS: Many students may not be familiar with the rich history of Cambridge, as this subject is not currently part of the general school curriculum; and
WHEREAS: Incorporating local history into the curriculum would provide students with a deeper understanding of their community, its development, and its cultural and historical significance; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the School Committee City go on record in urging that a course on Cambridge history, potentially through the History Department, be offered to CPSD students as either an elective or as an extra-curricular part of the curriculum; and be it further
ORDERED: That the Superintendent of Cambridge Public Schools work with the School Committee to explore the steps necessary to implement this course and to report back on how and when this might be implemented.
10. Resolutions:
#24-236: Passing of Rita Grassi | Motion by Mayor Simmons: Download Attachment
| WHEREAS: The School Committee was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Rita Grassi on September 10, 2024; and |
| WHEREAS: Rita Grassi was born to the late Manfredi Grassi and Mary A. (Pasquariello) Grassi, and was sister to Mary, Anthony, and former School Committee Member Joseph Grassi; and |
| WHEREAS: Rita Grassi was a graduate of St. Joseph’s High School in Somerville and the Wilfred Hairdressing Academy, and she would go on to have a distinguished career, starting as a Senior Fraud Investigator at the Bank of New England, then as a receptionist at Kaufman Inc., and most recently she served for many, many years as Committee Receptionist for the Massachusetts House of Representatives, where she assisted in preparing legislation and responding to constituent inquiries until her retirement in September 2023; and |
| WHEREAS: Despite her health issues, Rita Grassi was known for her loving, caring, and generous nature, she maintained a positive spirit and welcomed all who came into her life, leaving a lasting impact on her family, friends, and community; and |
| WHEREAS: In addition to her siblings, Rita Grassi leaves behind her niece Kristen and her husband William Rollins, her nephew Matthew and his wife Rebeca, her nephew Michael and his wife Bridget, Anthony David Grassi, Montserrat Quintero, and Stephanie Mary Grassi, her great-niece and nephews Madison, Mason, Carter, and Teddy, her godchildren Matthew and Anthony Grassi and Elizabeth Ciampa, and her memory shall be forever cherished by them all; now therefore be it |
| RESOLVED: That the School Committee go on record extending its deepest condolences to the Grassi Family for their tremendous loss; and be it further |
| RESOLVED: That the School Committee Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution to Joe Grassi and the entire Grassi Family on behalf of the entire School Committee. |
11. Announcements:
None
12. Late Orders:
None
13. Communications and Reports from City Officers:
None
Updated on 09/13/2024