The School Committee
Following Superintendent Salim’s resignation announced January 12, the Cambridge School Committee launched a search for an Interim School Superintendent to lead Cambridge Public Schools from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022.
The search process is led by the School Committee’s ad-hoc superintendent search subcommittee (members Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui, José Luis Rojas and Rachel Weinstein) and supported by CPS Chief Talent Officer Lisa Richardson.
Job Description
May 11, 2021-School Committee retains attorney to begin contract negotiations
On Tuesday, May 11, the School Committee voted to retain Norris, Murray and Peloquin, LLC to begin contract negotiations.
May 7, 2021 - Mayor Announces Interim Superintendent Selection
On Thursday, May 7, Mayor Siddiqui announced the selection of the Interim Superintendent of Schools. Read her full message >>
April 14, 2021 - Mayor Announces Remaining Finalists for Interim Superintendent
On Wednesday, April 14, Mayor Siddiqui announced that one of the three candidates withdrew from consideration. The remaining two candidates - Dr. Victoria Greer and Dr. Brian Metcalf - will continue into the final phase of this process.
Read her full message:
Dear CPS Community -
I am writing to provide an update on the search for an Interim Superintendent.
As you know, last week, we hosted Virtual Candidate Forums, where our three finalists answered questions from students, staff, families and community members. You can watch the videos from those sessions (with captions in multiple languages) on the Interim Superintendent Search page.
On Tuesday, we received an update that one of our three candidates has withdrawn from consideration. The remaining two candidates - Dr. Victoria Greer and Dr. Brian Metcalf - will continue into the final phase of this process.
Following the Candidate Forums, we asked the CPS community to share their perspective on the finalists through a feedback form. The key themes from the feedback collected thus far is captured here.Community members are encouraged to continue to share feedback via the feedback form through Wednesday April 20 at 12noon.
- On Thursday, April 15, at 5:30PM, the School Committee will convene in a Special Meeting to hear public comment regarding interim superintendent candidates, review community feedback, and discuss and vote next steps in the process. Watch online or on Cambridge Educational Access TV (CEATV) Channel 98/99, as usual. Use this link to sign up for public comment up to 30 minutes before the start of the meeting.
- On Tuesday, April 27, at 5PM, the School Committee will host a Special Meeting to interview finalist candidates and consider the appointment of an Interim Superintendent of Schools. Watch online or on Cambridge Educational Access TV (CEATV) Channel 98/99, as usual. There will not be public comment at this meeting.
The Interim Superintendent Search page includes additional information about the process and our finalists. Questions about the Interim Superintendent Search should be directed to CPS Chief Talent Officer, Lisa Richardson.
Sincerely,
Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui, Esq.
Chair, Cambridge School Committee
April 8, 2021 - Virtual Candidate Forums
As part of this process, the School Committee hosted Candidate Forums for the three finalists. During these Virtual Candidate Forums, panels of students, family representatives, and educational staff asked questions of the finalists.
Following the Candidate Forums, CPS community members shared their perspective on the finalists through a feedback form. The key themes from that feedback are captured here and have informed the School Committee’s next steps in this process.
Watch the webinars live via the links below.
Community Representatives Panel
Bernette Dawson, Family
Gardite Fourgy, Family
Zane Ghaemi, Student
Rachel Williams Giordano, Staff
Ashley Herring, Family
Herani Hiruy, Student
Anaïs Killian, Student
Jinho Lee, Student
Genteen Jean Michel, Staff
Alexis Morgan, Staff
Farida Moustafa, Student
Banke Oluwole, Staff
Daniel Pelissier, Family
Zuleka Queen-Postell, Family
Elena Serpes, Student
Aarmin Shaikh, Student
Abyan Shire, Student
Megan Singh, Staff
Kate Skubecz, Family
Ryan Souliotis, Staff
Virginia Suarez, Family
Nuriel Vera-DeGraff, Student
Mouna Yasnsane, Student
Timeline:
This Subcommittee met on February 23rd to develop a draft job description and timeline with community input, which were discussed and voted on by the Committee of the Whole on February 25th.
The Ad-hoc Superintendent Search Subcommittee subsequently convened in Executive Sessions on March 12th, March 17th, and March 20th to conduct a preliminary screening of the 17 applicants and interview 5 applicants. On March 25, the Ad-hoc Subcommittee recommended 3 finalists to move forward in the interview process, listed in alphabetical order.
- February 12, 2021 - School Committee, Special Meeting
- February 23, 2021 - Ad-hoc Superintendent Search Subcommittee
- February 25, 2021 - School Committee, Special Meeting - Job description and timeline adopted
- March 12, 2021 - Executive Session, Ad-hoc Superintendent Search Subcommittee
- March 17, 2021 - Executive Session, Ad-hoc Superintendent Search Subcommittee
- March 20, 2021 - Executive Session, Ad-hoc Superintendent Search Subcommittee
- March 26, 2021 - School Committee announcement of finalists and Virtual Candidate Forums
- March 30, 2021 - Special Meeting for the Committee of the Whole, Executive Session
- April 8, 2021 - Virtual Candidate Forums (see below for details)
- April 9-12, 2021 - Collect feedback/questions for finalists from community members
- On Thursday, April 15, 2021at 5:30PM, the School Committee will convene in a Special Meeting to hear public comment regarding interim superintendent candidates, review community feedback, and discuss and vote next steps in the process. Watch online or on Cambridge Educational Access TV (CEATV) Channel 98/99, as usual. Use this link to sign up for public comment up to 30 minutes before the start of the meeting.
- On Tuesday, April 27, 2021 at 5PM, the School Committee will host a Special Meeting to interview finalist candidates for the position of Interim Superintendent of Schools. Watch online or on Cambridge Educational Access TV (CEATV) Channel 98/99, as usual. There will not be public comment at this meeting.
- May 6, 2021: Special Meeting of the School Committee to consider the appointment of the Interim Superintendent of Schools.
- May 11, 2021: Special Meeting of the School Committee to vote on the retention of an attorney to begin contract negotiations and for purposes of entertaining a motion to enter into executive session for the purpose of discussing strategy for contract negotiations for (Interim Superintendent).
- June 1, 2021: Special Meeting of the School Committee for the purpose of discussing strategy for contract negotiations for Interim Superintendent.
- June 15, 2021: Special Meeting of the School Committee for the purpose of entertaining a motion to enter into executive session for the purpose of discussing strategy for contract negotiations for (Interim Superintendent), as an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the strategy and negotiation positions of the School Committee.
- June 22, 2021: Special Meeting of the School Committee for the purpose of entertaining a motion to enter into executive session for the purpose of discussing strategy for contract negotiations for (Interim Superintendent).
- June 25, 2021: Special Meeting of the School Committee for the purpose of approving and ratifying the contract for Dr. Victoria Greer as Interim Superintendent of Schools effective July 1, 2021.
- November 9, 2021: Special Meeting of the School Committee to review and accept the 90 Day End-of-Cycle Summative Evaluation Composite Report of the Interim Superintendent of Schools.
- November 9, 2021 - Executive Session to discuss strategy for contract negotiations for non-union personnel (Interim Superintendent of Schools).
- November 16, 2021 - Executive Session to discuss strategy for contract negotiations for non-union personnel (Interim Superintendent of Schools).
- December 7, 2021 - Executive Session to discuss strategy for contract negotiations for non-union personnel (Interim Superintendent of Schools.)
- December 17, 2021 - Executive Session to entertain a motion to go into Executive Session to discuss strategy for contract negotiations for non-union personnel (Interim Superintendent of Schools)
- December 21, 2021 - Executive Session to discuss strategy for contract negotiations for non-union personnel (Interim Superintendent of Schools).
- December 28, 2021 - Special Meeting to approve and ratify the Addendum to the contract for Dr. Victoria Greer, effective January 1, 2022.
Questions
Questions about the Interim Superintendent Search should be directed to CPS Chief Talent Officer, Lisa Richardson.