School Committee Meeting Agenda: October 15, 2019

From the Office of the Executive Secretary to the School Committee

School Committee - Regular Meeting October 15, 2019

A G E N D A

1. Public Comment (3 Minutes):

2. Student School Committee Report:

3. Presentation of the Records for Approval:

  • Regular Meeting, October 1, 2019

4. Reconsiderations: None

5. Unfinished Business/Calendar:

C19-293, #19-252 Motion by Mr. Fantini, that the School Committee go on record as opposing the granting of a recreational cannabis dispensary at 966 Cambridge Street because of its proximity to the King Open Complex, numerous preschools and the Frisoli Youth Center. There is also significant neighborhood opposition. (Bowman, 10-1-19)

C19-294, #19-253 Motion by Ms. Nolan, That whereas summer learning and encouragement to read throughout the summer break is an important value and an effective way to prevent summer learning loss and;
Whereas the School Committee endorses high expectations and standards for all students and;
Whereas the expectations for the summer of 2019 for upper school students were higher than for high school students, the School Committee requests a report on summer reading expectations with a plan to ensure higher expectations for all high school students before next summer, 2020. (Bowman, 10-1-19)

C19-295, #19-254 September 12, 2019 Communication Sub-Committee Report (10-1-19, Bowman)

C19-296, Late Order by Mr. Kimbrough, that the following be placed on the Calendar:
That detentions at the high school are suspended until the School Committee gets a report back that

a. They are trauma sensitive, and
b. They are focused on targeted interventions (Nolan, 10-1-19)

6. Awaiting Reports:

#19-205, Joint Motion by Ms. Nolan, Vice Chair Kelly and Mr. Fantini
That whereas the district has a commitment to all learners; and
Whereas the position of lead teacher for advanced learners has not had stable leadership for some time; and
Whereas the district has been reviewing protocols to address advanced learners needs; and
Whereas at times circumstances are such that students’ needs cannot be met in a classroom;
That the School Committee request, before the next school year begins, a report on recruitment efforts for the position, on supports for learners, including existing statistics on existing plans, and future updates to procedures, policies and protocols, including changing the existing system of relying on parents and guardians to identify students, which is inherently inequitable, and to ensure transparency and clarity, and under what circumstances a student may advance a grade.

C19-210 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 by the Regular meeting in November.

C19-272 Motion #19-236 by Committee Member Dexter that the following be removed from the Calendar and adopted as amended:
That whereas the School Committee has expressed concern about the Cambridge Public Schools practice of suspending students in grades PreK-2, a practice abolished in some other districts, the Committee requests data from the Administration from the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 school years on the total number of PreK-2nd grade students who were suspended one or more times in either or both of these years, with, if possible, specification of the number of these suspended PreK-2nd grade students across all demographic subgroups, as well as data on informal suspensions if available. This data is requested by October 15, 2019.

C19-273 Motion #19-237 by Committee Member Dexter, that the following be removed from the Calendar and adopted as amended:
That whereas the School Committee has expressed ongoing concern about the CRLS practices of reducing grades for high school students who are frequently absent or tardy without accepted excuses (Attendance Violations), the School Committee requests data from the Administration from the first and second semesters of 2018-2019 on the total number of students whose grades were reduced due to Attendance Violations, as well as these grade reduction frequencies disaggregated by gender, race, income, ELL status, and disability status. This data is requested before October 15, 2019.

7. Superintendent’s Agenda:

7a. Presentations: District Plan Update: Building Equity Bridges Project
Findings & Next Steps: Kenneth N. Salim, Superintendent of Schools
Khari Milner, Co-Director, Cambridge Agenda for Children
Tessa Bridge, Nellie Mae Building Equity Bridges Grant Coordinator
Dan Monahan, President Cambridge Education Association

7b. CPS District Plan:

7c. Consent Agenda:


#19-255 Recommendation: Approval of Agreement between the Cambridge School Committee & the Cambridge Education Association Units A & B in Accordance With the Provisions of the May 16, 2017 Side Letter Regarding the Establishment Of a Cambridge Rindge & Latin School (CRLS) Extracurricular Committee

#19-256 Recommendation: Approval of Agreement between the Cambridge School Committee & the Cambridge Education Association Units A & B Regarding Appendix C of the Collective Bargaining Agreement

#19-257 Recommendation: Approval of Agreement between the Cambridge School Committee & the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees AFL-CIO, Council 93, Local 1611 Regarding Resolution of Case No. MUP-18-6793 Pending Before the Massachusetts Department of Labor Relations

#19-258 Recommendation: Day & Residential Services not Available from the Cambridge School Department

#19-259 Recommendation: Contract Award: J.S.C. Transportation Services: Vocational Student Transportation Services

#19-260 Recommendation: Contract Award: Cambiar Education DBA Onward Corporation: Professional Development

#19-261 Recommendation: Contract Award: PJ Systems DBA HiQ Computer: Computer Hardware

#19-262 Recommendation: Contract Award: CitySprouts: Educational Services

#19-263 Recommendation: Contract Award: Applied Behavioral Counseling: Special Education Services

#19-264 Recommendation: Contract Award: Baystate Interpreters, Inc.: Translation Services

#19-265 Recommendation: Contract Award: Applied Behavior Learning: Special Education Services

#19-266
Recommendation: Contract Award: The Management Center (TMC) Professional
Development

#19-267 Recommendation: Grant Award: FY20 Occupational Education Vocational Skills
(SC20606)

#19-268 Recommendation: Grant Award: Broad Institute of MIT & Harvard(SC20153) INCREASE

#19-269 Recommendation: Grant Award: FY20 Popplestone Foundation (SC20695)

8. Non-Consent Agenda:

9. School Committee Agenda
(Policy Matters/Notifications/Requests for Information):

#19-270, Motion by the Buildings and Grounds Sub-Committee, that the following be adopted: 1 to amend the custodial fee schedule to align with recent changes to the Custodian Collective Bargaining Agreement and Recommendation 2 to increase the rental rates on July 1, 2020 for Tier 4 users according to the following schedule. We need to give advanced notice to our users.

#19-271, Joint Motion by Mayor McGovern and Mr. Fantini, whereas to deliver on the vision of rigorous, joyful, culturally responsive learning; and
personalized support to build post -secondary success CPSD must seek to continuously improve program offerings; and
Whereas the CRLS Rindge School of Technical Arts (RSTA) currently offers twelve Chapter 74 programs with varying levels of student engagement and connections to future career and educational pathways; Now Therefore be it Resolved; given CPSD vision and goal of improvement, a summary review of RSTA programs will be compiled and reported to the School Committee by end of year 2019 to determine:

  • Total enrollment in each program, including breakdown down by subgroup;
  • Students continuing post-secondary career or education in a field correlated to program;
  • Internship programs connected to each program;
  • Current occupational outlook in Massachusetts for each of the programs.

#19-272, Joint Motion by Ms. Nolan and School Committee Member Dexter, whereas the city and the district support the use of public transit and the city has recently provided free T passes to all low income students, that the district explore how to ensure that CPS middle scholars know how to safely commute within all parts of Cambridge by bus, bicycle, subway, walking, scooter and/or other environmentally sound forms of transportation. The benefits would include getting to know Cambridge neighborhoods and greater independence and safety.

#19-273, September 26, 2019 Governance Sub-Committee Report

#19-274, September 27, 2019 Buildings and Grounds Sub-Committee Report

10. Resolutions (letters of congratulations, letters of condolence): None

11. Announcements:

12. Late Orders:


13. Communications and Reports from City Officers:
None

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