From the Office of the Executive Secretary to the School Committee
School Committee - Regular Meeting October 2, 2018
A G E N D A
1. Public Comment (3 Minutes):
2. Student School Committee Report:
3. Presentation of the Records for Approval: None
4. Reconsiderations: None
5. Unfinished Business/Calendar: None
6. Awaiting Reports:
#18-110 Joint Motion by Ms. Dexter and Mr. Kimbrough, that whereas the School Committee values equity and access of learning opportunities during and after high school; and
Whereas a low high school GPA indicates that a student has extreme difficulty meeting academic expectations, and severely limits the student’s post-secondary opportunities;
The Committee requests data from the CRLS registrar on:
- The number and percentage of CRLS students grades 9-12 with a current GPA of a D or lower, disaggregated by gender in the following subcategories: income, race, disability status, and ELL status, with particular attention to the GPA of African American, multiracial, and Latino boys.
- The number and percentage of current 9th grade students who failed one or more classes in their first semester, similarly disaggregated, with particular attention to African American, multiracial, and Latino boys. (5-1-18 C18-133)
#18-114 Joint Motion by Mr. Kimbrough and Ms. Nolan, whereas the CPS has included in its district plan a goal to address equity and access and
Whereas a walkout in 2016 on the uncomfortable environment at CRLS as documented by students led to a number of changes and an action plan to address issues of sexual harassment, and
Whereas CPS district outcomes look to measure student/family comfort levels in our schools and meaningful relationships with teachers, and
Whereas female, LGBTQ+ students at CRLS have written in the register forum on multiple occasions to express their concerns regarding discomfort as a female, LGBTQ+ students at CRLS be it resolved that the Superintendent will by the Summer meeting:
- update the School Committee on the status of work on addressing issues in CRLS and district wide,
- update the School Committee on our districts professional development regarding supporting our teachers to support our female, LGBTQ+ scholars
- share specific details about the current work in the district with our male students that addresses hyper masculinity and creating anti-sexist spaces for female, LGBTQ+. (5-1-18 C18-137)
#18-144, Joint Motion by Mr. Fantini and Vice Chair Kelly, whereas strong internship programs have been proven to create success for student career and college aspirations, that the School Committee ask the Superintendent for a report describing our present internship program(s), and the district’s plan to create enhanced internship programs in our schools. (5-15-18 C18-189)
#18-248, Joint Motion by Ms. Nolan, that the following be referred to the Superintendent: Whereas there has been an overall policy on homework and a policy on homework for K-8 students and
Whereas CRLS students have worked to establish a thoughtful homework policy, that the School Committee supports the work and establishes the attached policy for the upcoming school year. The Superintendent will provide a report back to the School Committee by the second Regular meeting in October, 2018.
Further that the policy be communicated to all staff and students as soon as practicable (first reading). (8-7-18 C18-304)
#18-249, Motion by School Committee Member Emily Dexter, the School Committee requests a report from the Superintendent on the number and percentage of 6th grade students in each CPS upper school and Amigos that have been granted, for school year 2018-2019, their first choice of courses in world language. The Committee requests this report by the end of the 2018 calendar year. (8-7-18 C18-305)
7. Superintendent’s Agenda:
7a. Presentations: District Outcomes:
School Climate Survey……………..Kenneth Salim, Superintendent of Schools
Jennifer Amigone, Director of Research, Assessment & Evaluation
7b. CPS District Plan:
7c. Consent Agenda:
#18-283 Day & Residential Program Services not available from the Cambridge School Department
#18-284 Contract Award: Watertown Ford: 2018 Ford Transit Connect Van
#18-285 Contract Award: Steve Weiss Music: Musical Instruments
#18-286 Contract Award: Musicians Friend, Inc.: Musical Instruments
#18-287 Gifts/Miscellaneous Receipts
#18-288 Grant Award: FY19 McKinney Vento Homeless Students (SC18707)
#18-289 Grant Award: Puerto Rico & USVI Hurricane Relief (SC18146)
#18-290 Grant Award: FY19 Circuit Breaker Allocation (SC19776)
8. Non-Consent Agenda:
9. School Committee Agenda (Policy Matters/Notifications/Requests for Information):
#18-291 Motion by Governance Sub-Committee, that the School Committee adopts the revised Cambridge Public School District Fundraising Policy (second reading).
#18-292 Joint Motion by Mayor McGovern, Vice Chair Kelly and Ms. Bowman, WHEREAS: Cambridge Public Schools promotes safe and affirming schools for all kinds of students and families by providing resources and support to enhance understanding between students and adults from diverse backgrounds, cultures and circumstances; and
WHEREAS: Cambridge Public Schools explicitly affirms LGBTQ+ students, providing resources and supports as well as policies, including the 2015 adoption of a policy on Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity.
WHEREAS: The November 6, 2018, statewide ballot includes a question seeking to strip away the provision in the Massachusetts Public Accommodations Law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of gender identity in places of public accommodation; and
WHEREAS: Such “public accommodations” where protections for transgender and gender-nonconforming people would be withdrawn should this regressive, discriminatory ballot referendum succeed encompasses “any place, whether licensed or unlicensed, which is open to and accepts or solicits the patronage of the general public,” to include not only public restrooms, but also hotels, stores, restaurants, hospitals, banks, museums, public swimming pools, and homeless shelters; and
WHEREAS: Repeal of this law would be devastating for transgender and gender-nonconforming people across the Commonwealth, and would be antithetical to the core values our city and schools proudly upholds and affirms; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the School Committee go on record as standing in vigorous support of Freedom for All Massachusetts’ Yes on 3 campaign to uphold the law preventing gender identity based forms of discrimination; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the School Committee Executive Secretary will send suitably engrossed copies of this resolution to the Massachusetts Legislative Delegation and the Freedom for All (Yes on 3) campaign on behalf of the entire School Committee.
#18-293 Motion by Ms. Bowman, whereas the Communication Sub-Committee will be working on Social Media guidelines and policies for the CPS staff and students to be put in place for the 2019/2020 school year; and
Whereas the input of educators and students will be crucial for shaping the CPS Social Media policy;
Therefore be it resolved that the Superintendent work with the Cambridge Teachers Association and Student Government Leadership to identify representatives to work with the Communication Sub-Committee in developing a CPSD Social Media policy for staff and students.
#18-294 Motion by Ms. Nolan, Whereas there was an issue raised a year ago, the fall of 2017, of teachers bringing their own children on field trips for which they were chaperones, which had been allowed for decades, and whereas a one year policy exemption made to ensure the continuation of the past actions, with a promise of full discussion and review of the issue for future school years, that the School Committee receive an update on the discussions and resolution of the policy question on teachers bringing their own children on field trips for which they are chaperoning, provided that ratios of student: chaperone are maintained.
#18-295 Report of the May 16, 2018 Community Relations Sub-Committee
#18-296 Report of the September 24, 2018 AV Policy Ad Hoc Sub-Committee
10. Resolutions (letters of congratulations, letters of condolence):
11. Announcements:
12. Late Orders:
13. Communications and Reports from City Officers: