From the Office of the Executive Secretary to the School Committee
School Committee - Regular Meeting January 17, 2017
A G E N D A
1. Public Hearing on FY18 School Department Budget Priorities (3 Minutes):
1a. Public Comment (3 Minutes):
2. Student School Committee Report:
3. Presentation of the Records for Approval:
- Regular Meeting, January 3, 2017
- Roundtable Meeting on the Office of Student Services – January 3, 2017
4. Reconsiderations: None
5. Unfinished Business/Calendar: None
6. Awaiting Reports: None
7. Superintendent’s Agenda:
7a. Presentations: Entry Plan Report & District Planning Process
Dr. Kenneth N. Salim, Superintendent of Schools
7b. Innovation Agenda:
7c. Consent Agenda:
#17-09 Day & Residential Program Services not Available from the Cambridge School Department
#17-10 Contract Award: uAspire: Educational Support Services
#17-11 Gifts/Miscellaneous Receipts
8. Non-Consent Agenda:
9. School Committee Agenda (Policy Matters/Notifications/Requests for Information):
#17-12, Motion by Ms. Dexter, whereas CPS has a long waitlist of children seeking access to its preschool programs; whereas four four-year-olds have exited the Scholars College CPS preschool program; and whereas three-year-olds on the waitlist cannot be admitted to fill these vacancies due to class size constraints in 2017-2018; the Committee requests that the Family Resource Center fill these seats with four four-year-olds on the preschool waitlist, offering seats in waitlist order.
#17-13, Motion by Ms. Dexter, whereas CPS strives to provide clear and accessible information to all high school students and their families about high school course options; whereas the current CRLS catalog specifies course levels and has, in the past, explained GPA; and whereas the majority of CRLS students will apply to a Massachusetts State university or college, the School Committee requests that the 2017-2018 CRLS course catalog include: Definitions of Honors, Advanced Placement, College Preparatory, and Dual Enrollment; andA description of the "weighted GPA" used by Massachusetts State universities and colleges in which extra GPA points are added for honors and AP classes.
See pgs. 14 of 2016-2017 CRLS course catalog
See pg. 17 of "Admissions Standards for the Massachusetts State University System and the University of Massachusetts, June 2016."
#17-14, Motion by Curriculum and Achievement Sub-Committee, whereas the District Leadership and CRLS Administration plan to implement the 9th grade English Leveling Up Model in FY 2018, that the budget implications of the model be shared with the Budget Sub-Committee (Committee of the Whole) by February 7, 2017.
#17-15, Motion by Budget Sub-Committee Co-Chairs, Mr. Harding and Ms. Kelly, that on Thursday, February 2, 2017, the Budget Sub-Committee (Committee of the Whole) will hold a public hearing on Budget Priorities at 5:30 pm that will end by 6:30 pm. The public hearing will be followed by a Budget Sub-Committee meeting for School Committee Members to share their concerns and priorities for the FY 2018 School Department Budget from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm.
#17-16, Joint Motion by Ms. Nolan, Mr. Harding and Mr. Fantini, that whereas the district has a record of providing extra support to schools identified as in need based on state classifications, the School Committee requests a plan of action for supporting and addressing the school needs at PAUS, the one school in the district the state has identified as performing at Level 3.
#17-17, Joint Motion by Mayor Simmons, Ms. Kelly and Mr. Harding, WHEREAS: The School Committee is committed to the success of its Upper Schools while providing the students of the Upper Schools with the requisite skills to compete in the 21st Century
WHEREAS: Through the direction of the Superintendent of schools the Committee will convene community meetings at the city's upper schools starting with the Putnam Avenue Upper School. The meeting's charges are to review the school's current strengths and challenges and to make Budget recommendations for FY 2018 that are aligned with the School Improvement Plan
WHEREAS: Through the direction of the Superintendent of Schools and in collaboration with school leadership at the Upper Schools; community members and vested stakeholders along with families of attending schools will be invited to learn about the school's improvement plan, and the school
community's short and long term goals
RESOLVED: The School Committee through the Superintendent's leadership review and enact policies that will support the educational experience of all upper school students with a focus on preparedness for high school and beyond.
10. Resolutions (letters of congratulations, letters of condolence):
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 discussing strategy for contract negotiations with non-union personnel (Executive Secretary to the Cambridge School Committee) and for the purpose of conducting contract negotiations with non-union personnel (Executive Secretary to the Cambridge School Committee) as an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the strategy and/or negotiation positions of the Cambridge School Committee.