School Committee Agenda: May 15, 2018

From the Office of the Executive Secretary to the School Committee

School Committee - Regular Meeting May 15, 2018

A G E N D A

1. Public Comment (3 Minutes):

2. Student School Committee Report:

3. Presentation of the Records for Approval:

• Special Meeting, April 24, 2018
• Regular Meeting, May 1, 2018

4. Reconsiderations: None:

5. Unfinished Business/Calendar: None:

6. Awaiting Reports: None

7. Superintendent’s Agenda:

7a. Presentations:

7b. CPS District Plan: Innovation and Design Lab
CPSD Educators presenting

7c. Consent Agenda:

#18-117 FY17-18 General Fund Budget Statutory Transfers

#18-118 Approval of Cambridge Professional Safety Specialists
Association Collective Bargaining Agreement 7/1/18-6/30/21

#18-119 Approval of Global Revisions to Policies in School Committee Policy
Manual (Second Reading)

#18-120 Approval of Revisions to Cambridge Public Schools Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Policy (Second Reading)

#18-121 Approval of Revision to Cambridge Public Schools Advisory Committee-Affirmative Action Policy

#18-122 Approval of Revisions to Cambridge Public Schools Non-Discrimination Policy & Prohibition Against Sexual Harassment (Second Reading)

#18-123 Approval of Revisions to Cambridge Public Schools Uniform Grievance Procedures Policy (Second Reading)

#18-124 Approval of Revisions to Cambridge Public Schools Health Plan Options Policy (Second Reading)

#18-125 Approval of Revisions to the Website Privacy Policy
(Second Reading)

#18-126 Approval of Revisions to Cambridge Public Schools Anti-Bullying Policy
(Second Reading)

#18-127 Approval of Revisions to Cambridge Public Schools Policy Against Teen Dating Violence (Second Reading)

#18-128 Approval of Revisions to Cambridge Public Schools Freedom of Expression Policy (Second Reading)

#18-129 Approval of Revisions to Cambridge Public Schools Anti-Cyberbullying Policy (Second Reading)

#18-130 Approval of Revisions to Cambridge Public Schools Student Dress Code Policy (Second Reading)

#18-131 Approval of Revisions to Cambridge Public Schools Physical Restraint Policy (Second Reading)

#18-132 Contract Award: PJ Systems d/b/a HiQ Computers Computer Software
& Wireless Upgrades

#18-133 Contract Award: CTS Language Link: Translation Services

#18-134 Contract Award: Quantum Learning: Math Software Program

#18-135 Contract Award: Pasek: Lock, Keys & Hardware

#18-136 New England School Services: Doors & Supplies

#18-137 Contract Award: Home Depot: Carpentry & Maintenance Supplies

#18-138 Gifts/Miscellaneous Receipts

#18-139 Grant Award: FY18 Cambridge in Motion/ Cambridge Health Alliance (SC18128)

8. Non-Consent Agenda:

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

#18-140, Motion by Emily Dexter, whereas the CPS district plan framework prioritizes equity of opportunity to learn and achieve; and

Whereas the City of Cambridge administration, in collaboration with the CPS administration, will soon commission an outside consultant to make recommendations about expanding access to Early Childhood Education in Cambridge;

The School Committee requests that the CPS administration request that the final report include explicit recommendations about the CPS JK program currently for 4-year-olds born between September 1 and March 31, specifically whether to:

• retain the current JK access and eligibility rules beyond 2018-2019;
• increase JK access to include all 4-year-olds, regardless of birth date, beginning in 2019-2020;
• provide JK access to all low-income 4-year-olds, regardless of birth date, beginning in 2019-2010;
• other options.

#18-141, Motion by Mayor McGovern,
WHEREAS: There will be a Roundtable on Athletics held on May 22, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. in the Dr. Henrietta S. Attles Meeting Room, CRLS, 459 Broadway, Cambridge, MA; now therefore be it

RESOLVED: That this Roundtable meeting be televised and archived.

#18-142, Motion by Ms. Nolan, that whereas the district invests money in School Committee Member attendance at an educational conference each year, and whereas good management practices set up systems to capture lessons learned from such opportunities and ensure that relevant ideas are communicated, disseminated and considered for implementation, the School Committee wishes to establish a formal way for each conference attendee to report back, verbally and/or in writing, a summary of what was learned at the conference that might be helpful to achieve district goals and improve practices.

#18-143, Joint Motion by Ms. Nolan and Mr. Fantini, that whereas the district has a longstanding goal of program evaluation being used to direct initiatives and whereas the Compass summer program has been in operation for many years with a goal of supporting students, that the district provide a report on any past evaluations of the program effectiveness by the last meeting in June and further that the district ensure that this summer pre and post achievement assessment data for each student enrolled be provided in a report by the first meeting in September.

#18-144, Joint Motion by Mr. Fantini and Vice Chair Kelly, whereas strong internship programs have been proven to create success for student career and college aspirations, that the School Committee ask the Superintendent for a report describing our present internship program(s), and the district’s plan to create enhanced internship programs in our schools.

#18-145, Joint Motion by Mr. Kimbrough and Mayor McGovern, WHEREAS: Students, including those within the Black Student Union, as well as CPSD parents, have asked for more transparency in the reporting of concerns to school leaders regarding cultural competency, and have called for greater clarity in the process that occurs after a concern is expressed; and

WHEREAS: The creation of the Innovation Agenda in 2012 supported the district’s dual goals of academic excellence and social justice (https://www.cpsd.us/schools/innovation_agenda); and

WHEREAS: The Superintendent and School Committee are committed to the district vision and strategic initiatives centered on culturally responsive learning, partnerships, progress monitoring, and engagement; and

WHEREAS: CPSD is a learning environment, involved in vital social justice and equity efforts, with the aim of continuous improvement; now therefore be it

RESOLVED: That the Superintendent will work with school administrators to create a concrete process for reporting matters of cultural competency so that these matters may be handled with care, compassion, transparency, and urgency, providing opportunities for learning and progress; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the process of reporting matters of cultural competency is in place by the start of
SY 2018-19 and is clearly communicated to both teachers, staff, students, and their families.

#18-146, Motion by School Committee Member Dexter, that whereas the district's strategic plan framework prioritizes equity of opportunity and achievement; and

Whereas students' Grade Point Average in high school can have a strong affect on their post-secondary opportunities;

The School Committee encourages the administration working collaboration with the CRLS Faculty Council to recommend a final Attendance Violation Policy that specifies consequences other than grade reduction for students who are frequently late or absent to class without acceptable reasons.

#18-147, Motion by Governance Sub-Committee, whereas Yom Kippur falls on a School Committee Regular Meeting, and
Whereas the School Committee seeks to reschedule the Regular Meeting in observance of the holiday,
Therefore be it resolved that the School Committee reschedule the September 18, 2018 Regular Meeting to September 25, 2018.

#18-148, Motion by Governance Sub-Committee, be it resolved that the School Committee adopt the Governance Sub-Committee’s Public Participation at School Committee Meetings guidelines

1. All members of the public are welcome and invited to attend Cambridge School Committee meetings and Sub-Committee meetings. The only meetings not open to the public are Executive Sessions, which usually focus on personnel issues, not school policies.

2. All members of the public are invited to speak at Regular School Committee meetings during the Public Comment period at the beginning of the meeting. Remarks should be limited to 3 minutes and should address a topic on the agenda. Anyone wishing to speak about a topic not on the agenda, or wishing to speak for more than 3 minutes, must request permission from the chair of the meeting. For Sub-Committee meetings, the chair of the meeting decides if members of the public can offer comments or participate in the discussion.

3. Please turn off your cell phones and pagers and refrain from private conversations during the meetings.

4. Members of the public attending School Committee meetings shall sit in designated public seating areas.

5. Those speaking at Public Comment should speak into the microphone and should begin by stating their name, address, and the topic on the agenda they are speaking about. If they wish to speak about a matter, not on the agenda, they must request permission from the chair of the meeting.

6. Those speaking at Public Comment should address their remarks to the entire School Committee, not to any individual Member or Members. In order to protect privacy, speakers may not speak about any school department staff, students, or parents by name.

7. Members of the public are asked to speak in a calm and respectful tone and to avoid shouting or acting in ways that might disrupt the meeting.

8. Members of the public attending meetings may wear buttons or clothing with messages, but may not bring posters or signs into the meeting room.

9. Anyone unable to attend a meeting in person may watch the proceedings live on Ch. 99 or live-streamed via the School Committee Meeting webpage. Videos of regular meetings are also archived on the Committee Meeting webpage: https://www.cpsd.us/school_committee/school_committee_meetings

10. Regular School Committee meetings are typically held the first and third Tuesday of every month. Meeting information, including agendas and meeting minutes, are found on the CPSD School Committee webpage

#18-149, Motion by Ms. Bowman, whereas the City of Cambridge released a Request for Proposals (RFP) to conduct a study of the existing and mixed delivery system of a pre-school program serving three and four-year-olds in the City of Cambridge; and

Whereas the RFP identifies an analysis of the impact of projected public-school enrollment growth on the space needs of Cambridge Public Schools; and

Whereas this study will provide crucial information that will impact the City of Cambridge Department of Human Service and the Cambridge Public School Department efforts to define and establish a framework for Universal Pre-Kindergarten in the City of Cambridge;

Therefore be it resolved that a Cambridge Public School Department representative be directly involved in this research effort and a Joint Roundtable between the City Council and School Committee be conducted to discuss the findings of the research;

Be it further resolved that the school department evaluate the current delivery model for the three-year-old and Junior Kindergarten program to determine if any adjustments will be needed to accommodate a future citywide universal pre-school program.

#18-150, Motion by Governance Sub-Committee, WHEREAS, the School Committee is interested in continuing to foster a good working relationship with the Cambridge Education Association;

WHEREAS, the School Committee is interested in providing opportunities for the voice of educators through input from the Cambridge Education Association:

NOW THEREFORE, the School Committee amends the Rules of the School Committee as follows:

Section 4.2 of Chapter II of the Rules of the School Committee shall be amended by adding the following sentence to the end of the first paragraph of this section:

In an effort to encourage input from the Cambridge Education Association regarding items on the School Committee agenda, the Cambridge Education Association President may, at the discretion of the Chair of the School Committee, be allowed up to six (6) minutes during the public comment period to address items on the School Committee agenda. and

Section 7 of Chapter I of the Rules of the School Committee shall be amended by adding the following sentence at the end of this section:

The Cambridge Education Association President will be invited by the Governance Subcommittee, on a periodic basis, to provide an update on the work of the Cambridge Education Association at a scheduled Governance Subcommittee meeting.

Further, that the School Committee will review these additions to the Rules of the School Committee after one year of implementation in order to determine whether these amendments should continue in place or be otherwise modified or deleted (first reading).

#18-151 , That the Report of the March 23, 2018 AV Policy Ad Hoc Sub-Committee be accepted as presented.

#18-152 , That the Report of the March 24, 2018 AV Policy Ad Hoc Sub-Committee be accepted as presented.

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

#18-153, Motion by Mr. Fantini, that the School committee hereby goes on record in expressing its congratulations to Phyllis Newton for her retirement after 50 years of service working at various places in the community including the Morse school in 1977 and the last 39 years at the Fletcher Maynard Academy and that the Executive Secretary be and hereby is requested to forward a suitable retirement resolution on behalf of the entire School Committee.

#18-154, Motion by Mr. Fantini, that the School Committee hereby goes on record in expressing its congratulations to Susan Gurry for her retirement after 43 years of service as a special needs educator and that the Executive Secretary be and hereby is requested to forward a suitable retirement resolution on behalf of the entire School Committee.

#18-155, Motion by Mr. Fantini, that the School Committee hereby goes on record in expressing its congratulations to Rosalind Aldrich O’Sullivan for her retirement after 54 years of service as a teacher in CPS and that the Executive Secretary be and hereby is requested to forward a suitable retirement resolution on behalf of the entire School Committee.

#18-156, Joint Motion by School Committee Member Dexter and Ms. Nolan, that the Cambridge School Committee fully endorses the recommendations of the 2015 Foundation Budget Review Commission and Massachusetts Senate Bill 2506, "An Act modernizing the foundation budget for the 21st century." This bill promises much needed budget relief to the Cambridge Public Schools and other municipal public school systems throughout Massachusetts in response to:

1. Steep increases in the cost of employee health insurance.
2. Increasing numbers of students with disabilities and the cost of special education services, as well as "the growing use of inclusion as the preferred pedagogical model in the Commonwealth."
3. Increasing numbers, at all grade levels, of English Language Learners and Students with Interrupted Education.
4. The need for increased support to fund programs the Commission considers successful interventions for low-income students, including: wraparound services, instructional improvement, extended learning time, pre-K education, and targeted class size reduction for the highest need students, including "SIFE/SLIFE ELL students... or other high school students with significant gaps to redress in a short time, or students with significant social emotional needs, or who are at high risk of dropping out, or have a high history of truancy, who need intensive staff attention to help keep them in school and on task," with a recommended student teacher ratio for these students of 10:1 "to increase achievement rapidly."
5. The "staggering" increase in the need for more socio-emotional, mental, and physical health supports for students, including "social workers, guidance and adjustment counselors, wraparound coordinators, and other staff to ensure that the needs of their students are met, and that students arrive school stable and ready to learn."
6. The need to improve data collection and reporting, particularly in terms of per pupil expenditures.
7. The need to correct the formulas used for inflation calculations.

11. Announcements:

12. Late Orders:

13. Communications and Reports from City Officers: