School Committee Meeting Agenda: June 6, 2017

From the Office of the Executive Secretary to the School Committee 

School Committee - Regular Meeting
June 6, 2017 

*Corrected on 6/2/17
with additional Motion Names**
and School Committee Late Motion***

 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, May 16, 2017 
Special Meeting – Roundtable on the High School Extension Program, May 16, 2017 
Special Meeting – Roundtable on Grade 3 Reading, May 23, 2017 

4. Reconsiderations: None 

5. Unfinished Business/Calendar: 

#17-97, Motion by Ms. Bowman, Mr. Harding and Ms. Nolan, that the School Committee requests a plan of action specifying the criteria which will be used to determine whether additional resources are needed to address the challenges identified and addressed with extra resources this year, the Haggerty School current second grade cohort and the PAUS math program. Further that the plan of action be delivered to the School Committee and directly communicated to the affected school communities by June 1, with an update by July 15. (Mr. Fantini, 5/16/17) 

6. Awaiting Reports: None 

7. Superintendent’s Agenda: 

7a. Presentations: 
Draft Multi Year District Plan………District Planning Team Members 

7b. Innovation Agenda: 

7c. Consent Agenda: 

#17-99 Recommendation: Approval of Revisions to Cambridge Public Schools 
Wellness Policy (Second Reading) 

#17-100 Recommendation: Approval of Revisions to Cambridge Public Schools 
Family & Medical Leave & Small Necessities Leave Policy (Second Reading) 

#17-101 Recommendation: Approval of Revisions to Cambridge Public Schools 
Leaves of Absence Policy (Second Reading) 

#17-102 Recommendation: Day & Residential Program Services not Available from the Cambridge Public Schools 

#17-103 Recommendation: Contract Award: Heinemann Publishing: Instructional Materials 

#17-104 Recommendation: Contract Award: Sterling Business Products: FY18 
Printing & Mailing Services  

#17-105 Recommendation: Contract Award: School Specialty: FY18 Classroom 
Materials 

#17-106 Recommendation: Contract Award: PJ Systems d/b/a HiQ: Computer 
Hardware, Professional & Network Services 

#17-107 Recommendation: Contract Award: Trident Machine Tools: One 
Vertical Machining Center with Horizontal Profile Projector 

#17-108 Recommendation: Grant Award: HGSE Residencies (SC17116) 

#17-109 Recommendation: Grant Award: PD Materials-Early Literacy (SC17140) 

#17-110 Recommendation: Grant Award: PD for Frameworks & Standards (SC17141) 

8. Non-Consent Agenda: 

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

#17-111, Motion by Ms. Dexter, that whereas the School Committee is interested in sustainable practices, the Committee requests that the committee’s Executive Secretary survey the Committee members to determine how many would forgo paper copies of meeting materials if provided, via loan, a digital device for reading electronic materials sent by email; and whether members believe that the high school student representatives should be issued digital devices to use while on the committee. The Committee further requests that the Executive Secretary obtain price quotes from the ICTS Department for iPads, PC tablets, and Chromebooks. 

#17-112, Motion by Ms. Dexter, that whereas the School Committee wishes to give Cambridge Public School principals the flexibility to make student placement choices based on their best judgment as educators; and 
Whereas Cambridge currently has an elementary school in which an early childhood program for three- and four-year-olds feeds directly into the JK/K program without requiring families to reapply to the JK/K lottery; 
Be it resolved that, for any CPS school that has a preschool program that feeds directly into a JK/K program, the school's principal will have the option of moving four-year-old preschool children born after March 31st into their school's JK/K program if developmentally appropriate for the students and if there are available spaces in the JK/K program. 
Be it also resolved that if students are moved up to JK/K, the school, if possible, would then admit students off the preschool waitlist to fill the vacated preschool seats. This policy would not require principals to move any preschool four-year-old into the JK/K program unless it was determined to be beneficial to the child and acceptable to the child's parents/guardians. 

#17-113, Joint Motion by Ms. Dexter and Ms. Nolan, that whereas the Cambridge School Committee values parent and community engagement in issues related to the Cambridge Public Schools, and values equity of access to the School Committee, 
Therefore be it resolved that parent/guardian information and registration packets mailed home in the summer will include an information sheet on information resources for parents including contact information for the School Committee. Therefore be it further resolved that the district work with the Community Relations Sub-Committee on creating the resource sheet, providing that such work does not delay mailing of the packets.  

#17-114, Joint Motion by Ms. Kelly and Mr. Fantini, that the Superintendent explore the creation of a special needs stabilization fund as created through the Municipal Modernization Act and consider funding through use of unexpended year end balances. 

#17-115, Joint Motion by Ms. Bowman, Ms. Kelly and Mr. Harding, WHEREAS, the Cambridge Public School District (CPS) is committed to ensuring the protection and safety of our children and families and 
WHEREAS, CPS is a welcoming district that seeks to support families irrespective of their immigrations status, national origin, ethnicity, race, religion, sexual orientation, sex and gender identity, ability status or social-economic situation and, 
WHEREAS, the Mayor E. Denise Simmons and City Manager Louis A. DePasquale in a joint statement on January 25, 2017, reaffirmed the City of Cambridge 31 year commitment of being a Sanctuary City and, 
WHEREAS, the Cambridge School Committee recommends the district continues to refine the necessary operational protocols and procedures to ensure our students and staff understand their rights regarding the inquiries of students and their family’s immigration status by federal immigration law enforcement officers and, 
WHEREAS, there is no legal requirements that CPS District employees volunteer information regarding the immigration status of students and their families to federal immigration law enforcement officers, 
WHEREAS, searches and seizures are unreasonable unless conducted under a valid warrant, which typically involves hot pursuit of a criminal suspect or destruction of evidence and is extremely unlikely to be present in the context of students engaged in school activities; 
WHEREAS CPS is responsible for students during the school day and hours of approved extracurricular activities, 
WHEREAS, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) policies provide that enforcement actions at or focused on sensitive locations such as schools, places of worship, and hospitals should generally be avoided, and that such actions may only take place when (a) prior approval is obtained from an appropriate supervisory official, or (b) there are exigent circumstances necessitating immediate action without a supervisor’s approval and, 
WHEREAS, the ICE policies are meant to ensure that ICE and agents exercise sound judgment when enforcing federal law at or focused on sensitive locations, to enhance the public understanding and trust, and to ensure that people seeking to participate in activities or utilize services provided at any sensitive location are free to do so, without fear or hesitation and, 
WHEREAS, the presence of ICE on CPS premises will have a significant impact on the social, emotional and academic learning environment of our students, families, and staff; 
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Office of the Superintendent directly handle all requests by federal immigration law enforcement officers to enter any CPS building or premises, or to communicate with any student while that student is under the supervision of CPS during any school activity or while utilizing CPS transportation, 
THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that any ICE request for information regarding students shall be forwarded immediately to the Office of the Superintendent and CPS Legal Counsel, and that no federal immigration law enforcement officer shall be permitted to enter any CPS building or premises without approval from the Superintendent or a valid judicial warrant signed by a neutral magistrate or judge, except under exigent circumstances; 
BE IT RESOLVED: That all subpoenas or other requests received by CPS for any information from a student’s education record shall be forwarded immediately to CPS Legal Counsel, in determining the response to such subpoenas or requests, shall consult with the Superintendent and shall exercise the full extent of the lawful authority of CPS to protect the constitutional and legal rights of CPS students; 
BE IT RESOLVED: That CPS shall distribute this Resolution to schools and staff, and parents in the most commonly spoken languages of in the district; 
BE IT RESOLVED: That if a court of law declares any part of this Resolution to be contrary to any statute, regulation, or judicial decision, the validity of the remainder of this Resolution shall not be affected. 

#17-116, Report of the May 25, 2017 Community Relations Sub-Committee Meeting 

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

#17-117, Motion by Mr. Fantini, WHEREAS: The family liaisons work each and every month at our districts four “School Food Markets” to make these food markets happen; and 
WHEREAS: In conjunction with local food rescue and hunger relief organization Food For Free, these school food markets have the capacity to serve close to 100 families and senior citizens in the school community. These markets bring in over 3,000 pounds of fresh produce, eggs, meat and pantry items and are open to the entire school community, removing stigma from the act of receiving free food; and 
WHEREAS: In a time when many at risk families are not attending regular food pantries because of their immigrant status, these food markets are even more important as schools are seen as safe spaces; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT 
RESOLVED: That the School Committee goes on record in thanking 
–Nancy Wyse, family liaison at the Kennedy Longfellow School 
–Nicole Sullivan and Ellen van Bever, family liaison and parent captain at the Peabody School; 
–Mildrid Gedeon and Lauren Morse, SEI family liaison and family liaison at the Graham and Parks School; 
–Marguerite Hicks-Gyewu, family liaison at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School 
for their extraordinary work in managing these markets every month, and for continuing to create a warm, welcoming and caring environment for the families in their care. Our family liaisons go above and beyond each and every day, and the School Committee expresses its gratitude to them for these extraordinary monthly acts of family engagement; and BE IT FURTHER 
RESOLVED: That a formal copy of this Resolution be prepared by the Executive Secretary to the School Committee. 

#17-118, Joint Motion by Ms. Nolan and Mr. Fantini, that the School Committee congratulate Sydney Chaffee, the first Massachusetts Teacher of the Year to be selected as the National Teacher of the Year. 

#17-119, Joint Motion by Ms. Nolan, **Ms. Bowman and Mr. Fantini, that the School Committee formally congratulate 7th grader Christopher Dante Ashih for outstanding performance and recognition by Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth.  

#17-120, Joint Motion by Ms. Nolan and Mr. Fantini, that whereas 22 students have been named Super Seniors, for exhibiting the traits of successful students and living the values of CPS, in the areas of Academics, Opportunity, Diversity and Respect, that the School Committee send congratulatory letters to the Super Seniors of the CRLS Class of 2017, in recognition of their accomplishments and for serving as role models for all in our community. Further that the Super Seniors be acknowledged in the printed CRLS graduation program. 

***#17-121, Joint Motion by Ms. Nolan and Ms. Dexter, that the School Committee thank Porter Square Books for their generosity as community partners in providing books for our students.

11. Announcements: 

12. Late Orders: