November 18, 2025, Regular Meeting

An update on pending matters and highlight various initiatives. The report will include an excerpt from the presentation provided to the Buildings & Grounds Subcommittee on November 20, 2025 focusing on the district administration’s analysis of the implications of modifying the elementary and upper school three-tiered start time system in the 2026 - 2027 school year for the purpose of ensuring all CPS students are consistently delivered via district transportation on time for school.

The Superintendent and members of the administration will present on the recommendation to adopt a competency determination policy as a high school graduation requirement in response to the December 31, 2025 purported deadline imposed by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.  

WHEREAS: The annual joint conference of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) and Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents (MASS) took place in November 2025; and

WHEREAS: The conference represents a unique opportunity for school committee members to learn from strategies being implemented in other districts; therefore be it

RESOLVED: That the Cambridge School Committee asks the Superintendent to look into the feasibility of providing additional world languages in high school through online providers, such as Founders Education, when providing them at CRLS is not feasible.

WHEREAS: The annual joint conference of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) and Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents (MASS) took place in November 2025; and

WHEREAS: the conference represents a unique opportunity for school committee members to learn from strategies being implemented in other districts; therefore be it

RESOLVED: That the Cambridge School Committee asks the Superintendent to look into the feasibility of providing complimentary third-party in-person and virtual career exploratory opportunities in middle schools and high school, such as LiUNA! New England Region and Learning Blade, when providing them in-house is not feasible.

WHEREAS: The annual joint conference of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) and Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents (MASS) took place in November 2025; and

WHEREAS: MASC provides services ranging from the required orientation by recently elected school committee members to helping school committees perform useful superintendent and self evaluations; therefore be it 

RESOLVED: That the Cambridge School Committee will consider coordinating a joint orientation of all recently elected school committee members through the MASC in January 2026.

WHEREAS:  Excessive screen use can be detrimental to students’ academic engagement and well-being; and

WHEREAS:  Families have a strong and legitimate interest in understanding the amount and nature of screen use their children experience during the school day; and

WHEREAS:  The district currently lacks a consolidated, grade-band analysis of instructional and non-instructional screen time across elementary, upper school, and high school settings; therefore be it

RESOLVED: That the Superintendent will prepare and deliver to the School Committee, no later than the last regular meeting of the 2025–26 school year, a report that:

1. Quantifies average daily and weekly screen time for students in elementary, middle, and high school, distinguishing between instructional and non-instructional use, and including program-specific caveats where appropriate;
2. Assesses whether there are opportunities to reduce screen-time exposure in age-appropriate ways;
3. Provides a recommendation—or a determination that no change is warranted—regarding district-wide or grade-band policies to reduce screen time; and
4. Outlines the anticipated costs, benefits, and operational impacts of any proposed changes.

WHEREAS:  Member Rachel is deeply rooted in the Cambridge community, proud daughter of Lawrence and Diane Weinstein, product of Cambridge Public Schools and a graduate of Cambridge Rindge and Latin School before heading off to Brown University; and 

WHEREAS:  Her longtime commitment to children and public education is unwavering, demonstrated through her work as a reading teacher with AmeriCorps, a paraprofessional at the Graham & Parks School, and in her current role as Chief Collaboration Officer for the Boston Compact, where she fosters partnerships among Boston’s district, charter, and Catholic schools; and

WHERAS:  As a CPS parent, she served on the Tobin Montessori School Council and participated in the district’s Building Equity Bridges initiative, further deepening her engagement with students, caregivers, and educators; and

WHEREAS:  Following in the footsteps of her father, Lawrence Weinstein, who served on the Cambridge School Committee from 1986 to 1994, Member Rachel sought elected office in 2019, citing her four years at CRLS as the most important of her education; and

WHEREAS:  During her first election campaign she championed the priorities that have remained steadfast throughout her six years of service: racial equity; support for all children; championing each and every student; universal pre-K; and fostering strong, healthy school cultures; and

WHEREAS:  She has been the lead author of more than 40 motions and a co-sponsor of over 60, Member Rachel has been a dedicated collaborator throughout her tenure, from her first motion in January 2020, co-sponsored with Member Wilson to prioritize racial equity and anti-racist work, to her partnership with Mayor Siddiqui in strengthening the Title IX policy with the Title IX Aurelia Advocates; and 

WHEREAS:  She served with distinction through an unprecedented period during the COVID pandemic, an unchartered time for Cambridge and the world. She consistently centered student and educator safety while advocating for access to in-person learning for families who sought it; and

WHEREAS:  Member Rachel has unwaveringly placed students at the forefront of her work, understanding that social-emotional well-being is essential to academic and life outcomes. She has been a committed partner and advocate for the Cambridge Families of Color Coalition, Cambridge Families of Asian Descent, and the LGBTQ+ community; and

WHEREAS:  Her lifelong passions and advocacy work made her an ideal leader as Chair of the School Climate Subcommittee, where she actively engaged students, educators, administrators, and caregivers in this critical work, and championed the importance of social-emotional learning and the critical need for each and every child to feel supported and safe; and

WHEREAS:  Her leadership, integrity, and steadfast commitment to the Committee’s priorities earned her the unanimous support of her fellow members to serve as the Committee’s Vice Chair for the 2023–2024 term, during which she worked tirelessly behind the scenes with the Mayor and Superintendent to advance the district’s vision and goals; and

WHEREAS:  Her colleagues, peers, fellow leaders, and caregivers consistently describe Member Rachel’s approach to work and life as one grounded in personal sacrifice, responsiveness, accountability, deep care for others, active listening, and a genuine commitment to building bridges across differences; now therefore be it

RESOLVED:  That Member Rachel leaves the School Committee, the Cambridge Public Schools, and the broader community better than she found them through her dedicated service, compassion, innovative thinking, and unwavering leadership; and that the Committee knows she will continue to bring these values to all of her future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED:  That a formal copy of this resolution be prepared by the Executive Secretary to the School Committee and presented to Member Rachel with profound gratitude and respect.