School Committee Meeting Agenda: November 19, 2019

From the Office of the Executive Secretary to the School Committee

School Committee - Regular Meeting November 19, 2019

A G E N D A

*REVISED AGENDA WITH SUPPLEMENTAL RECOMMENDATION (11/15/19)

1. Public Comment (3 Minutes):

2. Student School Committee Report:

3. Presentation of the Records for Approval:

• Regular Meeting, October 15, 2019
• Roundtable on MCAS & Assessments, October 22, 2019

4. Reconsiderations:

By Emily R. Dexter, of the vote taken at the Regular Meeting of October 15, 2019, which did not adopt the following Motion: VOTED: #19-252: 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)

By Patricia M. Nolan, of the vote taken at the Regular Meeting of October 15, 2019, which did not adopt the following Motion: VOTED: #19-253: 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)

5. Unfinished Business/Calendar:
None

6. Awaiting Reports:

#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, 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. (C19-205)

#19-109 Joint Motion by Vice Chair Kelly and Mr. Fantini, 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. (C19-210)

7. Superintendent’s Agenda:

7a. Presentations:
2019 MCAS Performance
Kenneth Salim, Superintendent of Schools
Jennifer Amigone, Director of Research, Evaluation & Assessment
Michelle Madera, Interim Asst. Supt. Curr. & Instruction
Carolyn L. Turk, Deputy Superintendent
Maryann MacDonald, Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education
Julie Ward, Jk-12 Math Coordinator
Janice Tingle, English Language Arts Coordinator
Janet MacNeil, Jk-12 Science Coordinator

7b. CPS District Plan:

7c. Consent Agenda:

19-275 Recommendation: Day & Residential Program Services not Available From the Cambridge Public School Department

19-276 Recommendation: Contract Award: Beyond the 4th Wall: Educational Services

19-277 Recommendation: Contract Award: Public Consulting Group: Medicaid Reimbursement Claiming Services

19-278 Recommendation: Gifts/Miscellaneous Receipts

19-279 Recommendation: Grant Award: Patel Family/Mindfulness

*SUPPLEMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
*19-285 Recommendation: Approval of Agreement between the Cambridge School Committee and the Cambridge Education Association, Units A&B

8. Non-Consent Agenda:

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

#19-280 Motion by Mr. Fantini, That a working group be established to examine whether the Early College Initiative is one that the Cambridge Public Schools wants to pursue. Seventeen high schools have been designated by the Board of Higher Education as Early College designees. With this designation planning funds have been provided. The initiative is mainly focused on first generation college goers and data is showing strong success in college completion and career success. Design principals include 1. Equitable Access, 2. Academic Pathways, 3. Robust Student Support, 4. Connections to Career, 5. High Quality and Deep Partnerships.

#19-281 Motion by Ms. Nolan, That whereas there have been times when policies are not coordinated or updated with new language or reviewed for overlap, and whereas the School Committee wants to ensure policies are relevant and updated; and
Whereas there are a number of School Committee policies that warrant review, for example MCAS policies from 2004 [ref. IKBA-1] which references old laws and the CRLS grade policy [ref. IKA] which is confusing due to block scheduling and is covered in the Rights and Responsibilities Handbook;
Now therefore the School Committee asks that a review of all policies be scheduled over the next six months so that by the beginning of the next school year policies are updated, irrelevant policies are taken off the books and any duplicative policies are merged; and
Further, that a review of the written and online communication of policies be reviewed to ensure it is accurate and matches current policies.

#19-282 Motion by Mr. Kimbrough, Be it resolved that the Cambridge Public Schools will pay a 100% reimbursement fee to all CRLS graduates who pass a remedial, non-credit course at a community college or four-year college.

#19-283 October 24, 2019 Athletic Ad-Hoc Sub-Committee Report

10. Resolutions (letters of congratulations, letters of condolence):

#19-284 Motion by Ms. Nolan, That whereas the opportunity for CRLS students to learn firsthand about the criminal justice systems failures which can result in wrongful convictions resulted in a powerful learning experience; and
Whereas students connected with an exonoree and the Innocence Project Director,
That the School Committee send a letter of thanks to Professor Sharon Beckman, of Boston College Law School for bringing the Wrongful Convictions Day program to CRLS.

11. Announcements:

12. Late Orders:

13. Communications and Reports from City Officers:
Girls in sports in the community


At the conclusion of the Regular Meeting the School Committee will entertain a Motion to convene in Executive Session in the School Committee Conference Room, 459 Broadway, Cambridge, for the purpose of hearing a Level III grievance (CEA Unit C) as part of collective bargaining and an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the School Committee and for the purpose of discussing strategy for collective bargaining and litigation as an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining and litigation positions of the School Committee.

NOTE: The School Committee will not reconvene in open session, votes may or may not be taken and in executive session along with a vote to adjourn from the executive session.

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