School Committee Meeting Agenda: May 18, 2021

From the Office of the Executive Secretary to the School Committee

School Committee - Regular Meeting May 18, 2021

A G E N D A

1. Public Hearing Comment

2. Student School Committee Report:

3. Presentation of the Records for Approval:

April 27, 2021 Special Meeting
May 6, 2021 Special Meeting
May 11, 2021 Special Meeting

4. Reconsiderations: None

5. Unfinished Business/Calendar: None

6. Awaiting Reports:

C21-139 Joint Motion by Member Weinstein, Member Rachel and Mayor Siddiqui
Whereas the Cambridge School Committee unequivocally condemns misogyny and gender-based harassment and assault; and
Whereas students at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School have recently called attention to the need for CPSD to better address misogyny and gender-based harassment and assault, with the goals of better supporting those impacted by it, better responding to specific incidents and to broader school culture and climate concerns, and ultimately eliminating it; and
Whereas for many years Cambridge Public School students have been leaders in calling upon CPSD to better prevent and address sexual harassment and assault; and
Whereas four years ago, Mayor Simmons stated in a May 17, 2016 official letter that “In light of the state-wide conversation surrounding gender-based harassment, in response to recent events at CRLS (such as the walkout that took place on April 13) and in recognition of the need to better address and prevent incidents of bullying, the City of Cambridge must take a new and more focused approach in addressing these concerns”; and
Whereas in that May 17, 2016 letter Mayor E. Denise Simmons announced that she would be “appointing a Special Committee on Gender-based Issues to better examine and monitor reports pertaining to sexual harassment, as well as to all forms of gender-based discrimination in our schools and in our wider community”; and
Whereas that committee drafted a set of “Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Action Plan Recommendations”; (see here); and
Whereas those recommendations were presented at the May 2, 2017 School Committee Meeting, as part of motion #17-80 (see here) which passed unanimously; and
Whereas motion #17-80 included the following: “ORDERED: That the Superintendent of Schools be and hereby is requested to formally review the feasibility of all recommendations included in the aforementioned and attached systemic Action Plan which references CRLS and all the Cambridge Public Schools, and to solicit recommendations from stakeholders, including students, from each school as to what measures should be enacted; and be it further
ORDERED: That the Superintendent of Schools hereby is requested to devise a timetable for the stages of a scaled implementation of these measures, devise plans for implementation, and report back to the School Committee in a timely manner on how, and how soon, this implementation can begin”; now therefore be it
Resolved that the Superintendent update the School Committee at the May 18, 2021 regular meeting on the history and current status of the implementation of these recommendations, and of any other district initiatives or plans currently in place related to the issue of fighting misogyny, gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, and sexual assault within CPSD.

7. Superintendent’s Agenda:

7a. Presentations:
COVID 19 Response Update……………. Dr. Kenneth N. Salim, Superintendent of Schools

7b. CPS District Plan: None

7c. Consent Agenda:

#21-126 Recommendation: Approval of Authorization for the Superintendent to Submit a statement of Interest to the Massachusetts School Building Authority for the Replacement of the Morse School Building Boilers

#21-127 Recommendation: Approval of the Interdepartmental Services Agreement Between the Cambridge Public School Department and Cambridge Public Health Commission

#21-128 Recommendation: Day & Residential Program Service not Available
From the Cambridge School Department

#21-129 Recommendation: Contract Award: Cambridge Center for Neuropsychology
& Learning: Special Education Services

#21-130 Recommendation: Contract Award: Cambridge Health Alliance: Special Education Services

#21-131 Recommendation: Contract Award: Cambridge Health Alliance: Special Education Services

#21-132 Recommendation: Contract Award: Perkins School for the Blind: Special Education Services

#21-133 Recommendation: Contract Award: Riverside Community Care: Special Education Services

#21-134 Recommendation: Contract Award: Careerstaff Unlimited: Special Education Staffing Services

#21-135 Recommendation: Contract Award: Easter Seals: Special Education Staffing Services

#21-136 Recommendation: Contract Award: The Stepping Stones Group: Special Education Staffing Services

#21-137 Recommendation: Contract Award: Precision Human Resources: Special
Education Staffing Services

#21-138 Recommendation: Recommendation: Contract Award: Overdrive, Inc.: Instructional Materials

#21-139 Recommendation: Contract Award: Curriculum Associates, LLC: Computer Software

#21-140 Recommendation Contract Award: Newsela: Educational Computer Software

#21-141 Recommendation: Contract Award: Quantum Learning: Educational Computer Software

#21-142 Recommendation: Contract Award: Remind: Computer Software

#21-143 Recommendation: Contract Award: PJ Systems d/b/a HiQ Computers: Computer Software

#21-144 Recommendation: Contract Award: CDW Government LLC: Computer Software

#21-145 Recommendation: Contract Award: Interpreters & Translators: Translation Services

#21-146 Recommendation: Gifts/Miscellaneous Receipts

8. Non-Consent Agenda:

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

#21-147 Joint Motion by Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Chair Bowman, and Member David Weinstein in collaboration with Member Vera-DeGraff and Member Killian
Whereas the Federal Drug Administration has recently expanded the emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to include children ages 12 years and older; and
Whereas in Cambridge Public Schools there are more than 3,000 students in grades 6-12, the vast majority of whom are 12 years and older; and
Whereas current plans for the 2021-2022 school year anticipate nearly all students in all grades returning to learn in person, now therefore be it
Resolved that the Superintendent work with the Cambridge Public Health Department to explore and determine the feasibility of offering and administering the Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine at the upper schools and the high school buildings and any other appropriate Cambridge Public Schools facilities to Cambridge Public Schools students who are eligible for vaccination; and be it further
Resolved that the Superintendent present his findings to the School Committee as soon as possible.

#21-148 Joint Motion by Mayor Siddiqui, Member David Weinstein, and Member Fantini
Whereas it has been brought to the School Committee’s attention that materials produced by Eversource promoting its commercial interests in natural gas were recently inadvertently distributed to CPS students in school; and
Whereas in 2009 the School Committee passed motion #09-213 which states, in part, “No advertising of commercial products or services will be permitted in school buildings or on school grounds or properties”; and
Whereas climate justice, learning about climate change and the environment, and addressing climate change is a priority of the City of Cambridge and CPSD; and
Whereas the School Committee wishes to ensure all CPSD educators and staff have the support and tools they need to ensure distribution of commercial materials does not happen again in our schools; now therefore be it
Resolved that the Superintendent will report to the School Committee detailing the current relevant procedures and supports for CPSD educators that address the CPSD policy noted above, and noting any other relevant CPSD policies; and be it further
Resolved that the report will identify and recommend any additional steps and supports, if needed, to help teachers and school leadership prevent future distribution of commercial materials that violate CPSD policy; and be it further
Resolved that the Superintendent will prepare a report for the Curriculum and Achievement Sub-Committee on current CPSD curriculum and school-based activities around climate justice.

#21-149 Report of the April 1, 2021 Buildings and Grounds Sub-Committee

#21-150 Report of the April 28, 2021 Special Education and Student Supports Sub-Committee

10. Resolutions:
#21-151 Joint Motion by Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Chair Bowman and Member Rojas
Whereas the School Committee is deeply saddened to learn of the death of Daniel Robert Montgomery, who passed away suddenly on April 20th, 2021, at a very young age; and
Whereas Daniel is survived by his daughter Lizzie Kelly-Montgomery, Lizzie’s mother Rua Kelly, parents Lynn and Bob Montgomery, and sister Sara Montgomery, among many other loving friends and family; and
Whereas Daniel was a beloved member of the Amigos School community and was deeply involved in the Amigos School as President of the Friends of Amigos, instrumental in the creation of the Amigos-Cambridgeport Neighborhood Community School, and as a room parent for Lizzie’s class for several years; and
Whereas Daniel was a wonderful community member who connected with everyone he met; and
Whereas Daniel will be remembered for his character, love of life, sense of adventure, and warmth; now therefore be it
Resolved that the School Committee go on record extending its deepest sympathy to the family of Daniel Robert Montgomery at this time of such personal loss; and be it further
Resolved that the Executive Secretary to the School Committee be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution to Rua Kelly and daughter Lizzie Kelly-Montgomery, on behalf of the entire Cambridge School Committee.

#21-152 Joint Motion by Mayor Siddiqui, Member Rachel and Member Wilson
Whereas May is Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, and celebrates the heritage, history, culture, and achievements of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States; and
Whereas about 830 students in the Cambridge Public Schools, or 12.4% of entire student body identifies as AAPI; and
Whereas Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have a rich heritage thousands of years old and have both shaped the history of the United States and Cambridge; and
Whereas AAPI residents have played a vital role in our city’s development and history, contributing much to the cultural, civic, and economic vibrancy of our community, and today approximately 17% AAPI residents call Cambridge home; and
Whereas with a terrible rise in hate crimes against our AAPI residents, it is more important than ever to celebrate and honor the legacies of and stand in solidarity with our AAPI scholars, families, and educators; now therefore be it
Resolved that the School Committee go on record recognizing May 2021 as AAPI Heritage Month.

#21-153 Joint Motion by Mayor Siddiqui, Member Fantini and Member Rachel
Whereas the School Committee is deeply saddened to learn of the death of Alan J. Dworsky on January 19th, 2021 at the age of 90; and
Whereas Alan was a resident of Cambridge who leaves behind his wife Suzanne Werber Dworsky, his children Jeff Dworsky and Arianne Dar, his five grandchildren Isaac, Zephyr, Cyrus, Imran, and Rayhannah, and two great-grandchildren Selah and Marigold; and
Whereas Alan and his wife Suzanne founded the Popplestone Foundation in 2000, which has supported environmental, tax, research, social justice, public policy, early childhood, and choral singing initiatives, including the Kodaly Music Program in the Cambridge Public Schools, which has impacted the lives of many CPS scholars; and
Whereas Alan’s partnership with CPS and Kodaly enabled more children to develop the language of music, which has shown to develop the brain in ways similar to foreign languages and math, providing students with another way to engage with school; and
Whereas Alan will be remembered for his generosity and his belief that “the voice is the original instrument and a chorus is an example of democracy in action with people of all backgrounds coming together”; now therefore be it
Resolved that the School Committee go on record extending its deepest sympathy to the family of Alan J. Dworsky at this time of such personal loss; and be it further
Resolved that the Executive Secretary to the School Committee be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution to his wife Suzanne Werber Dworsky, on behalf of the entire Cambridge School Committee.

11. Announcements:

12. Late Orders:

13. Communications and Reports from City Officers:
At the conclusion of the Regular Meeting, The School Committee may entertain a motion to convene in Executive Session immediately following the Regular Meeting on Tuesday, May 18, 2021, in the Dr. Henrietta S. Attles Meeting Room, 459 Broadway, Cambridge, for the purposes of discussing strategy for purpose of discussing bargaining strategy for CEA Units (A & B) as an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining positions of the School Committee.

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