School Committee Meeting Agenda: June 18, 2019

From the Office of the Executive Secretary to the School Committee

School Committee - Regular Meeting June 18, 2019

A G E N D A

1. Public Comment (3 Minutes):

2. Student School Committee Report:

3. Presentation of the Records for Approval:

• May 28, 2019 Roundtable on Disproportionality

4. Reconsiderations: None

5. Unfinished Business/Calendar: None

6. Awaiting Reports:
C19-064 That the following be amended and referred to the Superintendent:
Whereas the School Committee worked to raise the level of instruction for all students through the Level Up initiative at CRLS; and
Whereas a recent Globe project on valedictorians documented a sobering and critically important question of whether high schools are preparing students for success: and
Whereas the recent report The Opportunity Myth by The New Teachers Project found that despite 71% of students in a national representative sample of audited classes met classroom expectations and succeeded on assignments, only 17% of those assignments were on grade level when evaluated; and
Whereas both the Valedictorian Project and The New Teachers Project identified the need for high expectations and intentional focus on rigorous curriculum, instruction and assignments as key to delivering on the promise of success in college and life; and
Whereas there were gaps by racial subgroups in performance on common assessment; and
Whereas nearly 1 in 3 CRLS students indicated that teachers do not have very high expectations of them; Therefore, the School Committee directs the Administration to evaluate the Level Up ELA classes, to ensure that the initiative is as successful as possible. The School Committee requests the Superintendent submits a report no later than the August 6, 2019 Regular Summer Meeting.

C19-131 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.

C19-179 that the Superintendent or designee provide an update on Special Education transportation to the School Committee by Tuesday, June 18, 2019.

C19-181 That the following be adopted as amended:
That whereas bottled water is environmentally devastating, and
Whereas bottled water costs approximately 50 times more than city water, and
Whereas Cambridge's water routinely exceeds health and safety standards, and
Whereas the school district and the city have sought to reduce waste and encourage city water consumption over bottled water, and
Whereas the City Council passed an order recognizing this issue on January 28, 2019, be it ordered
That the district establish a policy that no district funds, unless necessary, may be used to purchase bottled water, and
That this policy be referred to the Superintendent for a report by the summer meeting, and
That this policy be communicated to all schools.
7. Superintendent’s Agenda:
7a. Presentations:
District Plan Update Year 2……………………………..……….
Dr. Kenneth Salim, Superintendent of Schools
Members of Admin Council

7b. CPS District Plan:

7c. Consent Agenda:

19-160 Day & Residential Program Services not Available From the Cambridge School Department

19-161 Contract Award: ReadyNurse: Nursing Services

19-162 Contract Award: All Star Staffing: Nursing Services

19-163 Contract Award: Delta T Group: Contract Staffing Services

19-164 Contract Award: Riverside Community Care: Special Education Services

19-165 Contract Award: Hummingbird Transportation: Student Transportation Services

19-166 Shore Educational Collaborative: Professional Development

19-167 Contract Award: Illuminate Education: Software Maintenance

19-168 Contract Award: PJ Systems d/b/a HiQ: Computer Hardware

19-169 Contract Award: Apple Inc.: Computer Hardware

19-170 Contract Award: Gifts/Miscellaneous Receipts

19-171 Grant Award: Nellie Mae Education Foundation- Building Equity Bridges (SC20144)

19-172 Grant Award: FY19 Small Change Big Impact/Hormel Foods (SC19160)

19-173 Grant Award: Puerto Rico and USVI Hurricane Relief (SC19146)
8. Non-Consent Agenda:

9. School Committee Agenda (Policy Matters/Notifications/Requests for Information):
#19-174 Motion by the Attendance Violation Sub-Committee, that whereas the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School has undertaken an extensive process to examine and redesign its Attendance Violation Policy; and
Whereas data can be used for continuous improvement;
Therefore, the Attendance Violation Policy will be amended per the attached document and corresponding revisions will be made to the Rights and Responsibilities Handbook, (second reading).
https://www.cpsd.us/UserFiles/Servers/Server_3042785/File/school_committee/5_ED_AV_Ad_Hoc_Sub-Com_Policy.pdf

#19-175 Motion by Committee Member Dexter, that whereas supporting the Whole Child is one of the strategic goals of the Cambridge Public Schools; and
Whereas excessive amounts of natural and added sugar are associated with early onset diabetes and childhood obesity; and
Whereas some CPS parents opt their children out of drinks served in CPS cafeteria that have high levels of natural or added sugar, but other parents do not know they have that option or do not realize that sugary drinks are served in CPS cafeterias;
Therefore the School Committee requests that the CPS administration send beverage opt-out forms to all parents in their summer registration packets that inform parents that juices (though with no added sugar) and chocolate milk are served in CPS cafeterias and that they have the option to opt their child out of these beverages.

#19-176 Joint Motion by Committee Member Dexter and Mr. Fantini, that: whereas out of school time (OST) programs provide invaluable learning experiences to CPS students; and
Whereas staggered arrival times impede the ability of OST programs to provide consistent, uninterrupted programming; and
Whereas CPS is currently considering changes to the start and end times of CPS elementary schools; and
Whereas the added cost of transportation for uniform school ending times would be more than matched by an increase in OST learning time;
Therefore the School Committee urges the administration to establish uniform start and end times for all elementary schools that are not Extended Learning Time schools;
and to make provisions for all school buildings to be open to students beginning no later than 7:30 am.

#19-177 Motion by Ms. Nolan, that the School Committee congratulate the Super Seniors of CRLS class of 2019, in recognition of academic achievement for the top ten students and in recognition of the honor given twelve students chosen for their demonstration of living up to the motto Opportunity Diversity Respect.

#19-178 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 and 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.

#19-179 Motion by the Communication Sub-Committee, Approval of Revisions to Cambridge Public Schools Policy Regarding the Personal Use of Social Media by CPS Employees (second reading).
https://www.cpsd.us/UserFiles/Servers/Server_3042785/File/school_committee/agenda/CPS_SocialMediaPolicy_05-30-19_draft.pdf

#19-180 Joint Motion by Ms. Bowman and Mayor McGovern, whereas the City of Cambridge City adopted Policy Order
POR 2019 #126 on April 8, 2019 that directed the City Manager to request City personnel to compile a full accounting of streets, schools, and public buildings that may be named in honor of those who have ties to the American slave trade, and to work towards renaming all of these streets, schools, and buildings as soon as possible, and
Whereas the research and renaming of school buildings will provide CPSD the opportunity to better understand how the legacy of the American slave trade is connected to our city's history, and
Whereas there is a possibility that multiple CPSD schools may be impacted by the policy order that would require district and city staff to rename school buildings, and
Whereas CPSD students and families should play an active role in determining the names of their schools,
Therefore be it resolved that the School Committee and Superintendent form committees with CPSD schools impacted by the research that emerges from the City Council policy order,
Be it further resolved that each CPSD school impacted by the policy order must have diverse representation on their committee with a requirement to include families who are the descendants of or those who benefited from the institution of slavery.
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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