School Committee Meeting Agenda: August 7, 2018

From the Office of the Executive Secretary to the School Committee

School Committee - Regular Meeting                                           
August 7, 2018                                                                             

A G E N D A

  1. Public Comment (3 Minutes)

  2. Student School Committee Report: None

  3. Presentation of the Records for Approval:

    • Regular Meeting, June 19, 2018
    • Special Meeting, June 19, 2018
  4. Reconsiderations: None

  5. Unfinished Business/Calendar:

    #18-209 Joint Motion by Ms. Nolan & Mr. Fantini whereas the district vision is a commitment to joyful rigorous learning and

    Whereas the district has a long history of supporting students who have already mastered class material to be placed in an appropriate class, including students in the middle grades who know the math content, and

    Whereas students entering the district are given the opportunity to have their knowledge assessed, that the School Committee supports all students and

    Further that the administration is directed to ensure that all students who have completed math studies and have requested a placement test in sixth or seventh grade be assessed either by the end of the school year or by mid August to ensure an appropriate instruction can be delivered.  (Nolan 6/19/18)

    #18-214 Motion by Ms. Bowman

    Whereas the RSTA program prepares students for post-secondary education and careers in some of the fastest growing professions in the world today and

    Whereas the CPSD understand there are multiple career pathways that lead to long-term success and

    Whereas the city, as well as CPSD consistently acknowledge students who earn college scholarships upon graduation without the same level of acknowledgment for students who directly enter the workforce as a result of the RSTA program,

    Therefore be it resolved that the CPSD report out on all students directly entering the workforce as a direct result of the RSTA program and,

    Be it further resolved that the CPSD create a 'Signing Day' recognizing high school seniors starting jobs instead of college.  (McGovern, 6/19/18)

    #18-217 Motion by Governance Sub-Committee, that the following be referred to a second reading:

    That the School Committee adopts the revised Cambridge Public School District Fundraising Policy (first reading). (Bowman 6/19/18)

  6. Awaiting Reports:

    #18-143, Joint Motion by Ms. Nolan and Mr. Fantini, that the district provide a report by the first meeting in September on any past evaluations of the Summer Compass program effectiveness (C18-188)

    #18-144, Joint Motion by Mr. Fantini and Vice Chair Kelly, that the School Committee asks the Superintendent for a report describing our present internship programs(s) C18-189

  7. Superintendent’s Agenda:

    7a. Presentations: None 

    7b. CPS District Plan: None

    7c. Consent Agenda:

             #18-219            Settlement of AFSCME Council 93, Local 1611 & The Cambridge School Committee

            #18-220            Approval of Revisions to Cambridge Public Schools Rights & Responsibilities Handbook (First Reading)

            #18-221            Approval of a Request from the School Committee to The Election Commission for Mailing Addresses

            #18-222            Day & Residential Program Services not Available From the Cambridge School Department

            #18-223            Contract Award:  ABACS, LLC:  Special Education Services

            #18-224            Contract Award:  Breakthrough Cambridge:  Educational Services

            #18-225            Contract Award:  Cambridge Housing Authority: Educational Support 

            #18-226            Cambridge School Volunteers:  Student Support Services:  Volunteer Management

            #18-227            Contract Award:  City Sprouts:  Educational Services

            #18-228            Contract Award:  Contract Award:  Enroot: Educational Support

            #18-229            Contract Award:  Filter Sales & Service: FY19 HVAC Supplies

            #18-230            Contract Award:  Playworks Education:  Professional Development

            #18-231            Contract Award:  Hummingbird:  Student Transportation Services

            #18-232            Contract Award:  McGraw Hill Education:  Computer Software

            #18-233            Contract Award:  Parker Gallini LLP:  Legal Services 

            #18-234            Contract Award:  SchoolCity, Inc.:  Software Maintenance

            #18-235            Contract Award:  uAspire:  Educational Support Services 

            #18-236            Contract Award:  ARE-MA Region NO. 61:  Rental of Parking Lot

            #18-237            Contract Award:  Follett/X2 Development Corp.: Student Information System for Cambridge Public Schools

            #18-238            Gifts/Miscellaneous Receipts 

            #18-239            Grant Award:  FY19 Special Education IDEA Allocation (19605)

            #18-240            Grant Award:  FY19 Title III:  English Language Acquisition for Limited English Proficient (LEP) Students (19737)

            #18-241            Grant Award:  FY19 Title IV/Student Support & Academic Enrichment (SC19732)

            #18-242            Grant Award:  FY19 Title I Distribution (SC19604) 

            #18-243            Grant Award:  FY19 Title IIA/Teacher Quality (SC19731) 

            #18-244            Grant Award:  Young People’s Project (SC19147)

            #18-245            Grant Award:  FY19 Special Education Early Childhood Allocation (SC19607)

            #18-246            Grant Award:  FY19 Popplestone Foundation (SC19695)

  8. Non-Consent Agenda:

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

    #18-247, Joint Motion by Mayor McGovern, Vice Chair Kelly and Mr. Kimbrough, WHEREAS: The CPS District Framework views the whole child as an individual; and

    WHEREAS: The District Framework strategic initiatives implement social, emotional, and behavioral learning frameworks and multi-tiered systems of support for students; and

     WHEREAS: Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is critical in the education of the whole child and for each child's future success; and

    WHEREAS: CPSD supports a culture of continuous improvement through monitoring and evaluation of best practices in SEL and multi-tiered support; now therefore be it

    RESOLVED: That the District Administration provide information of the current status and planned next steps to strengthen these initiatives; and be it further

    RESOLVED: That the School Committee and Superintendent will convene a roundtable on Social Emotional Learning no later than October 12, 2018. Educators and staff most engaged in supporting students’ needs will participate in this discussion. 

    #18-248, Motion by Ms. Nolan, whereas there has been an overall policy on homework and a policy on homework for K-8 students and

    Whereas CRLS students have worked to establish a thoughtful homework policy, that the School Committee supports the work and establishes the attached policy for the upcoming school year.

    Further that the policy be communicated to all staff and students as soon as practicable (first reading). 

    Attachment: Regulation of out-of-class time

    #18-249, Motion by School Committee Member Dexter, whereas students benefit from exercising some choice in their academic program; and

    Whereas one goal in creating separate upper schools was to offer 6th-8th grade students more choices in their academic program, such as via electives;

    The School Committee requests a report from the Superintendent on the number and percentage of 6th, 7th, and

    8th grade students in each CPS upper school and Amigos that have been granted, for school year 2018-2019, their first choice of courses in elective subjects and world language.  The Committee requests this report by October 2, 2018.

    #18-250, Joint Motion by Mayor McGovern, Ms. Bowman and Ms. Nolan, WHEREAS:     Cambridge is a diverse city that embraces newcomers as equal and valued members to our shared community; and 

    WHEREAS:     As a school district CPS is committed to affirming the dignity and rights of our students, staff and families, specifically taking steps to safeguard student data related to immigration status (please see motion #17-115 from June 6, 2017); and

    WHEREAS:     CPS strives to create welcoming environments, rigorous, joyful, engaging learning and an understanding, supportive approach to the education of the whole child; and

    WHEREAS:     Under federal, state, and local law, all students are guaranteed equal access to school regardless of their or their families' immigration status; and

    WHEREAS:     Equal access to education is bolstered by a strong foundation of shared expectations and practices as well as feelings of safety, welcoming, and connectedness to community; and

    WHEREAS:     Current national and local events have shown a ramp up in deportations of undocumented immigrants and feelings of uncertainty in the expectation of security of student information; and

    WHEREAS:     Cambridge is a declared Sanctuary City, respecting the safety and well-being of all people, delivering universal protections of civic life, without regard to immigration status; now therefore be it

    RESOLVED:    That in order to build on previous and ongoing work CPS go on record to reaffirm our continued commitment to welcoming, educating, and supporting all students and families in Cambridge Public Schools regardless of immigration status; and be it further

    RESOLVED:    That CPS take all necessary actions to continue to ensure that policies and practices related to students' immigration status are in optimal standing, securing confidentiality while maintaining students' full access to services. Action steps for Superintendent to consider include:
    *         Review and update (as needed) CPSD policies related to sharing of student data
    *         Communicate polices clearly to students, families and staff
    *         Communicate to all staff that they should not share a student or his/her family's immigration status with any federal or state agency, including ICE
    *         Share widely best practices for supporting immigrant students to all teachers and staff Example: 
    https://www.nacacnet.org/globalassets/documents/knowledge-center/undocumented-students/e4fc_educatortop10.pdf
    *         Work with students, families, teachers, staff and admin to create a sign of welcoming in multiple languages to be displayed in each school building foyer
    *         Prominently display sign of welcoming on CPS website home as well as each individual school homepage, as well as links to resources
    *         Share out a list of local resources to students/families, that may include: The International Student & Family Center, Cambridge Human Rights Commission 
    https://www.cambridgema.gov/hrc/discriminationfaqpag, and Commission on Immigrant Rights and Citizenship (CIRC)
    *         Work with CET and other services to ensure that materials are/can be translated into the different primary languages spoken in by students and families

    Attachment: Motion #17-115 (June 6, 2017)

    #18-251, Joint Motion by Mayor McGovern, Vice Chair Kelly and School Committee Member Dexter, WHEREAS: The CPSD District Framework Objective Engaging Learning is supported by maintaining classroom sizes that enable integrated, hands-on, and real world learning opportunities; and 

    WHEREAS: The January 2018 Elementary Program Review highlighted that many teachers and staff are involved in the curriculum delivery of classroom instruction; and 

    WHEREAS: Evaluating staffing and class size will provide a deeper understanding of CPSD curriculum delivery and effective teacher-student ratios in our elementary schools and classrooms; and

    WHEREAS: Teacher skill set and teacher-student ratios may impact equitable delivery of curriculum across the district and workload size among teachers and staff; and 

    WHEREAS: Each elementary school's staffing may differ according to the student population's needs and how school improvement funds are used, i.e. for hiring paraprofessionals, interventionists, and interns; and 

    WHEREAS: The School Committee supports a culture of continuous improvement through monitoring and evaluating best practices with the aim to create joyful and rigorous learning for all students; now therefore be it  

    RESOLVED: The School Committee and Superintendent will convene a roundtable no later than September 28, 2018 to review current staffing models for each elementary school, which includes use of paraprofessionals, interventionists, interns, and teachers/staff that regularly provide instruction to general education students; and be it further 

    RESOLVED: Administrators and educators from multiple elementary schools and grade levels will participate in this roundtable discussion.  

    NOTE: This motion replaces Motion #18-109 adopted May 1, 2018 submitted by Mayor McGovern and Emily Dexter

    #18-252,  Joint Motion by Mayor McGovern, Ms. Bowman and Mr. Kimbrough, WHEREAS:   CPSD district framework objective includes providing Equity and Access to Increase Opportunity and Achievement; and 

    WHEREAS:   During the 2017-18 school year the CRLS Black Student Union shared personal experiences of micro and macro aggressions; and 

    WHEREAS:   The School Committee has taken steps to ensure that student voice is a true catalyst to action including:

    • In March of 2018 the School Committee voted that the ongoing cultural proficiency and professional development provided for teachers and staff explicitly include training on micro-aggressions and implicit bias

    • In March of 2018 the School committee voted that in addition to teachers and staff training on micro-aggressions and implicit bias be held for School Committee Members and CPSD central administration

    • In May of 2018 the School Committee voted that 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 is in place by the start of SY 2018-19 and is clearly communicated to both teachers, staff, students, and their families

    • In June of 2018 the School Committee voted that the Superintendent identify and engage trained diversity and inclusion specialist that can assist the district with appropriately managing issues of racism in real-time within the school district

    • Student led micro aggressions working groups have been ongoing under the guidance of Dr. Carolyn Turk; and

       WHEREAS:   Student voice, perspective and experience are vital and highly valued in creating welcoming and engaging environments of learning; now therefore be it 

      RESOLVED: That together the School Committee, Administration and Educators extend an invitation directly to the students and advisor of CRLS Black Student Union to convene in a roundtable discussion, to be held no later than November 2, 2018; and be it further

      RESOLVED:  That the goal of the roundtable discussion is to continue to be in conversation with students, actively demonstrate the significance of student voice, perspective and experience with the intent to hear directly on the beginning of the 2018-19 school year, as well as to provide the CRLS community a forum to collaborate and update on relevant work being implemented.

       #18-253, Motion by Mr. Kimbrough, whereas the district has a goal of achieving 30% educators of color be it resolved that all people who are on hiring committees be trained in implicit bias training prior to serving on an interview committee. 

      #18-254, Approval of Invoice for $4,165.00 from the National School Board Association (NSBA) for 2018-2019 annual dues

      #18-255, Approval of Invoice for $7,320.00 from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) for 2018-2019 annual dues

      #18-256, Report of the June 11, 2018 AV Policy Ad Hoc Sub-Committee

      #18-257, Report of June 20, 2018 AV Policy Ad Hoc Sub-Committee

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

    #18-258, Joint Motion by Vice Chair Kelly and Mayor McGovern, that in recognizing the contributions Dr. Lori Likis has made to public education and to the Cambridge Public School District, the School Committee hereby goes on record in expressing it’s appreciation and thanks to Dr. Lori Likis and that the Executive Secretary be and hereby is requested to forward to forward a suitable resolution on behalf of the entire School Committee.

  11. Announcements:

  12. Late Orders:

  13. Communications and Reports from City Officers:
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