School Committee Agenda: November 21, 2017

From the Office of the Executive Secretary to the School Committee

School Committee - Regular Meeting November 21, 2017

A G E N D A

1. Public Comment (3 Minutes):
2. Student School Committee Report:
3. Presentation of the Records for Approval:

• Regular Meeting, September 19, 2017
• Special Meeting, September 26, 2017
• Regular Meeting, October 3, 2017
• Special Meeting, October 17, 2017

4. Reconsiderations: None
5. Unfinished Business/Calendar:

#17-243, Motion by the Community Relations Sub-Committee, that whereas how siblings are assigned to the immersion programs should be aligned with the district goals of supporting families and prioritizing sibling togetherness in schools, that the lottery for Kindergarten assign all siblings in the two immersion programs prior to any internal transfer and further that the internal transfers within the schools with immersion programs be ended starting with the January 2019 lottery for the 2019-20 school year. (Nolan 10-3-17)

6. Awaiting Reports: None
7. Superintendent’s Agenda:
7a. Presentations: None
7b. Innovation Agenda:
7c. Consent Agenda:

#17-246 Approval to Re-establish a Cap of Students at the Kindergarten and/or Junior Kindergarten Grade Level for the SY18-19 JK/K Lottery

#17-247 FY17-18 General Fund Budget Statutory Transfers

#17-248 Approval of Revisions to Cambridge Public Schools Family & Medical Leave & Small Necessities Leave Policy

#17-249 Approval of Revisions to Weapons & Assaults On School Staff Policy

#17-250 Day & Residential Program Services not Available From the Cambridge School Department

#17-251 Contract Award: uAspire: Educational Support Services

#17-252 Contract Award: Enroot: Educational Support

#17-253 Contract Award: Doc Wayne Youth Services, Inc.: Program Development/Site Design for Therapeutic Sports Program

#17-254 Contract Award: NOVAtime Technology Inc.: Software & Maintenance for Time & Attendance System

#17-255 Contract Award: NorthEast Electrical Distributors: FY18 Electrical Supplies

#17-256 Contract Award: Hummingbird Transportation: Student Transportation Services

#17-257 Recommendation: Contract Award: Southwest Strings: Musical
Instruments

#17-258 Contract Award: Wilkem Scientific: Instructional Materials for Bio-manufacturing

#17-259 Contract Award: Sargent Welch/VWR: Instructional Materials for Bio-manufacturing

#17-260 Gifts/Miscellaneous Receipts

#17-261 Grant Award: Summer Camp Scholarships In Memory of James Conry (SC18143)

#17-262 Grant Award: FY18 Special Education IDEA Allocation (SC18605)

#17-263 Grant Award: FY18 Title III: English Language Acquisition for Limited English Proficient (LEP) Students (SC18737)

#17-264 Grant Award: FY17 Title II-A/Teacher Quality (Increase) (SC17731)

#17-265 Grant Award: FY18 Massachusetts Cultural Council-STARRS (SC18894)

8. Non-Consent Agenda:

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

#17-266 Motion by Ms. Dexter, that whereas this has been an unusually difficult year for the City of Cambridge and for the Cambridge Public Schools community; and

Whereas the adults who work in our schools—educators, staff, administrators, parents, volunteers, and others—are often the emotional first-responders when negative events and tragedies affect our community;

The Cambridge School Committee wishes to express its deep appreciation to all those who work in our schools, who have done so much this past year to uphold the values of our city and of our public school system, and who, in addition to performing their regular jobs, have been repeatedly called upon to provide extra emotional support to our students, our students’ families, and to their colleagues, in response to unusually difficult local, national, and global events and circumstances. We are very grateful.

#17-267 Motion by Ms. Dexter, that whereas there is evidence that consumption of "sugary drinks," including chocolate milk or fruit juices with only natural sugar, contribute to childhood diabetes and obesity, the School Committee requests a report from the administration on the extent to which sugary drinks are made available to students in CPS cafeterias in the elementary, middle, and high school grades.

#17-268 Motion by Mr. Harding, that the Superintendent report to the School Committee on the elimination of the "College Prep" designation from the CRLS Course Catalog and on all relevant materials.

#17-269 Motion by Mr. Fantini, that whereas the School Committee has adopted an on-line registration system for the rental of our facilities;
And whereas the policy has not changed;
And whereas many local youth groups who have never been charged fees previously are starting to get bills;
Be it resolved that the administration review our policy and determine what is happening and recommend a course of action.

#17-270 Motion by Mr. Fantini, that whereas in May 2003 the School Committee adopted to join the SOLVED (Shore Occupational Learning and Vocational Education Division) Collaborative;
Be it resolved that the School Committee receive a report on the number of students that have taken advantage of this opportunity and the course of study they pursued.

#17-271 Motion by Ms. Nolan, that whereas how siblings are assigned to immersion programs should be aligned with the district goals of supporting families and prioritizing sibling togetherness in schools, beginning with the January 2018 Lottery for new students entering CPS in the 2018-2019 school year, the internal JK to K transfer program from King Ni Hao to King Chinese Immersion and King Open to King Open Ola will be eliminated. This means that JK students registering for the 2018 Lottery for school year 2018-2019 will not have the opportunity to transfer for their K year between programs at King and King Open during their 2019-2020 school year.

Furthermore, all internal transfer rules in place for the two programs at the time of the 2017 Lottery for the 2017-2018 school year will govern the current JK to K transfer rights for internal transfers between King Ni Hao and Chinese Immersion and King Open and Ola. This means that current JK students in King Ni Hao and King Open retain their internal transfer rights for their K year for the 2018-2019 school year.

Further, that the administration will work to ensure that all siblings affected by the internal transfer policy be assigned to their siblings’ school for the 2018-2019 school year.

#17-272 Joint Motion by Ms. Nolan and Ms. Bowman, that the budget guide be mailed to all households except dormitories.

Further, that the administration and School Committee work together on future mailings to include additional information on the district.

#17-273 Joint Motion by Ms. Dexter and Ms. Bowman, that whereas the School Committee and CPS administration have prioritized expanding and strengthening family and community partnerships; and

Whereas annual School Committee budget discussions held in public, along with public hearings at which family and community members are invited to speak, influence how educational resources and opportunities are distributed to CPS schools and students in the following year; and

Whereas not all family or community members can easily attend public meetings due to childcare responsibilities, physical disabilities, work schedules, lack of transportation, and other circumstances;

Therefore be it resolved that the School Committee will seek to increase community participation in the budgetary process by expanding community engagement efforts for the FY19 budget discussions by:

1) Providing childcare at budget hearings and publicizing childcare availability on notices about budget hearings;
2) Assessing the need for language interpreters, including sign language interpreters at meetings;
3) Holding at least one budget hearing on a Saturday in a location other than the School Committee Meeting Room;
4) Broadcasting, livestreaming, and video-archiving all budget-related roundtable discussions, workshops, retreats, and special meetings.

These rules will apply to the FY19 budget convenings, to be reviewed for permanent status in Fall, 2018.

#17-274 Report of the September 22, 2017 Community Relations Sub-Committee

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

#17-275 Motion by Ms. Dexter and Ms. Nolan, the Cambridge School Committee commends State Senator Sal DiDomenico for sponsoring and passing, with overwhelming majorities, legislation that overturns the 2001 state referendum that eliminated bilingual education. This new legislation affirms the value of multilingualism and languages other than English, and provides educators with the much-needed flexibility to design programs for the English Language Learners in their district. We also commend the creation, in the legislation, of a "seal of bi-literacy" on Massachusetts high school diplomas for students who graduate with mastery of more than one language. As a school district, we are proud to offer three language immersion programs, and to be currently expanding our elementary school language programs.

#17-276 Motion by Ms. Dexter, the Cambridge School Committee congratulates Mr. Hasan Rashid upon his successful completion of the Commonwealth Seminar, a program for current or future leaders that is "designed to help open the doors of government to communities of color, recent immigrant groups, and other under-serviced and under-represented constituencies." Mr. Hasan has been a strong advocate for the many homeless residents of Cambridge and others living in poverty in our city. He has also provided compelling testimony about the need for the CPS curriculum to include the study of the causes of poverty and homelessness, and has developed a draft curriculum on these topics. We congratulate Mr. Rashid for being an effective community leader, a tireless advocate for social justice, and a role model of a lifelong learner.

11. Announcements:
12. Late Orders:

At the conclusion of the Regular Meeting, the School Committee may entertain a motion to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of hearing a Level III Grievance (CEA Unit A) as part of collective bargaining as an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the School Committee and for the purpose of discussing strategy with respect to the Level III and litigation positions of the School Committee.