From the Office of the Executive Secretary to the School Committee
School Committee - Regular Meeting October 20, 2020
*REVISED AGENDA WITH SUPPLEMENTAL RECOMMENDATION (10-15-2020)
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, 2020 Special Meeting
August 24, 2020 Special Meeting
October 6, 2020 Regular Meeting
4. Reconsiderations: None
5. Unfinished Business/Calendar: None
6. Awaiting Reports: None
7. Superintendent’s Agenda:
7a. Presentations: COVID-19 Response Update: Staffing & Budget
Dr. Kenneth Salim, Superintendent of Schools
Lisa Richardson, Chief Talent Officer
Claire Spinner, Chief Financial Office
7b. CPS District Plan: None
7c. Consent Agenda:
20-256 Day & Residential Program Services Not Available From the Cambridge School Department
20-257 Contract Award: CDW Government LLC: Instructional Computer Supplies
20-258 Contract Award: uAspire: Educational Support Services
20-259 Contract Award: Public Consulting Group: Medicaid Reimbursement Claiming Services
20-260 Contract Award: Overdrive Inc.: Instructional Materials
20-261 Contract Award: Contract Award: Impact Fire Services Exhaust Hood Cleaning & Inspections
20-262 Gifts/Miscellaneous Receipts
20-263 Grant Award: FY21 McKinney Vento Homeless Students (SC21707)
20-264 Grant Award: FY21 Occupational Education Vocational Skills (SC21606)
*SUPPLEMENTAL RECOMMENDATION
20-269 Gifts/Miscellaneous Receipts
8. Non-Consent Agenda:
9. School Committee Agenda (Policy Matters/Notifications/Requests for Information):
#20-265 Motion by Mayor Siddiqui
Whereas CPS strives to engage parents, students, educators, staff, and the community in CPS decision-making, the School Committee will televise the scheduled Roundtable discussion with Elementary School Principals (Oct. 27, 2020).
#20-266 Joint Motion by Mayor Siddiqui, Member Wilson and Member Weinstein
Whereas health and safety, racial equity, and family partnerships are among the guiding principles of the Cambridge Public Schools Department in their back-to-school planning; and
Whereas chronic absenteeism is one of the District Outcomes that CPSD has been striving to improve; and
Whereas prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, students from disadvantaged populations were more likely to be chronically absent, need intervention, and produce lower baseline performance scores; and
Whereas pre-existing inequities are exacerbated by COVID-19 school closures; and
Whereas particularly hard-hit students will continue to be disproportionately vulnerable with regard to their physical, emotional, and educational wellbeing; and
Whereas there must be adequate data collected and shared to identify and support our most vulnerable youth; and now therefore be it
Resolved that the Superintendent share the number and percentage of students at each school who are chronically absent, at risk of dropping out, and in need of intervention with the School Committee monthly in his Weekly Update, beginning on November 6, 2020; and be it further
Resolved that CPSD will ensure any technology and database supports are put in place to support the collection, analysis and reporting of this data.
#20-267 Joint Motion by Mayor Siddiqui, Member Wilson, and Member Rachel (In collaboration with Student Member Killian & Student Member Vera-DeGraff)
Whereas for every week that includes a Monday holiday, current CRLS procedure applies a Monday synchronous learning schedule to the Wednesday of that week; and
Whereas during remote learning, educators take advantage of Wednesdays by using the time for curriculum planning, educator collaboration, professional development, and schedule organization; and
Whereas many CRLS scholars feel that having school on Wednesdays during a week with a Monday holiday disrespects, invalidates, and delegitimizes the holiday; and
Whereas CRLS scholars use the asynchronous nature of learning on Wednesdays to take a break from the many hours of live classes; and
Whereas many CRLS clubs have been using the asynchronous nature of learning on Wednesdays to host club meetings; now therefore be it
Resolved that in each week that includes a Monday holiday, the Wednesday of that week remain an asynchronous learning day at CRLS.
10. Resolutions (letters of congratulations, letters of condolence):
#20-268 Joint Resolution by Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Chair Bowman and Member Wilson
Whereas October is Dyslexia Awareness Month, a month in which we come together to raise awareness, share resources, and tell stories about dyslexia successes; and
Whereas Cambridge school and community stakeholders are joining efforts to raise awareness in the City of Cambridge about dyslexia as the most common learning challenge; and
Whereas dyslexia is a learning disability that makes it difficult to learn or read accurately and fluently, affecting as many as 17% of people locally, nationally, and globally; and
Whereas while dyslexia is a lifelong condition that impacts learning, it is not related to intelligence, and students can improve key skills with the right community and educational supports; and
Whereas Cambridge City Hall was lit up red from Tuesday October 13, 2020 through Friday, October 16, 2020 in recognition of Dyslexia Awareness Month; now therefore be it
Resolved that the School Committee and Superintendent go on record recognizing October as Dyslexia Awareness Month in the City of Cambridge; and be it further
Resolved that a formal copy of this Resolution be prepared by the Executive Secretary to the School Committee and forwarded to the Cambridge Special Education Parent Advisory Council.
11. Announcements:
12. Late Orders:
13. Communications and Reports from City Officers: None