Committee Report CR-3

The Cable TV, Telecommunications and Public Utilities Committee conducted a public meeting on May 29, 2013, beginning at 6:06 p.m. in the Sullivan Chamber.

The purpose of the meeting was to develop measures through which Cambridge's youth population and immigrant population can have improved access to computers and the internet.

Present at the meeting were Councillor Leland Cheung, Chair of the Committee, Councillor Craig Kelley, Councillor Kenneth E. Reeves, Vice Mayor E. Denise Simmons, Mary Hart, Director, Linda Turner, Project Manager, Information Technology Department. Ginny Berkowitz, Media Arts Manager, Cambridge Public Schools, Michelle Farnum, Division Head/Youth Programs, Ellen Semonoff, Assistant City Manager for Human Services, Becca Rutenberg, Aide to Councillor Cheung and Paula Crane, Administrative Assistant, City Clerk's Office.

Councillor Cheung convened the meeting and explained the purpose.  He stated that this meeting is in follow-up to the STEM initiative and the tech inclusion meeting at CRLS.  He noted Mayor Davis asked him to research available digital access to the youth and immigrant population in the City.  He stated that any ideas can feed into the broader goals regarding the digital divide.  He stated that recent Cambridge Housing Authority (CHA) information shows that 30 percent of children in public housing do not have access to home computers.  He stated that more information is needed as it relates to the immigrant population.

Ms. Berkowitz noted an upcoming survey of all students in grades 9 - 11 that will include a short set of questions regarding internet access at home. The survey was initially postponed due to the Boston Marathon bombing, but is still planned to go forward.  She stated that the idea is for the students to complete this survey during English classes to ensure that all students can respond to the survey.  Councillor Cheung asked if demographic information will be included in the survey.  Ms. Berkowitz responded in the negative.

Councillor Chueng stated that the immigrant population is clustered in different parts of the City and asked Ms. Semonoff to speak to this.  Ms. Semonoff stated that she does not have specific information for the immigrant population but noted that there are approximately 600 students a year at any given time that are participating at the Community Learning Center.  She noted that all Community Learning Center students have internet access through their participation at the center.  She noted that only some of these participants have internet access in their homes.  She stated that many students do have access to the internet via their smart phones.

Susan Fleischmann stated that the CHA survey is looking for help with data analysis.  She stated that the CHA does know the demographics of the residents.

Councillor Cheung stated that the City Council recently passed a policy order regarding the desire to look at any restrictions on internet usage at the main library.  He asked Ms. Hart to describe what the City does with laptops when they reach their end of life and stated that he would like to look at how these computers can be put to the best possible use.  Ms. Hart stated that IT is working within the guidelines of procurement laws to donate equipment.  There is some surplus equipment.  She stated that she has submitted a request to donate surplus equipment to Solutions at Work, which is a local non-profit agency.  She stated that approval from the Purchasing Agent is needed.  She stated that there is not a lot of rollover with equipment but currently there are approximately ten PCs and twenty monitors.  She stated that it looks as if this surplus equipment will be donated to Solutions at Work.

Councillor Kelley stated that computer access is an issue at all of the libraries, not only the main library.  He stated that there are also issues with the databases the libraries use versus the databases used in the Cambridge Public Schools.  He noted that a teacher may tell a student about a resource to use but that the library may not have this database.  Ms. Hart explained that the school library would have the same databases available to the students but the main library or youth centers may not have purchased the same license.  She noted that it is important to have a better understanding of the systems that are currently in use.  She stated that there are children who have computers and internet access at home but do not have a printer.  She noted that it is important to think about support equipment that goes hand-in-hand with internet access.

Councillor Reeves then asked for clarification about the databases in the library.  Ms. Fleischmann stated that the library does not have all databases available.  Ms. Hart stated that there are over 500 computers that are currently being supported by the Information Technology Department (ITD).  She noted that to maintain these computers there needs to be a standard set of software.  She noted that the IT Department for the school makes decisions regarding databases for the schools and sets their own standards.  She noted that the School Department gets a discount on licensing costs.  Councillor Cheung asked if there is coordination between the ITD and the IT Department in the schools.  Ms. Hart explained that academic applications are very different from business computing applications.

Councillor Cheung asked if the City could request non-profits in the city to re-deploy computers to the immigrant population.  Ms. Hart stated that donations of equipment stay local to the area.

Councillor Reeves stated that many people do not know that there is a community lab at the Windsor Street Clinic that is utilized by immigrants and members of the community.  He noted that the staff is very supportive with one-on-one assistance.  The Margaret Fuller House and CCTV also maintain their own labs.  He noted that the Community Arts Center no longer has a lab for community use.  He stated that it would be beneficial to have these sites assessed.

Ms. Semonoff stated that it would be beneficial to have the Cambridge Housing Authority involved in the conversations.  She noted that the CHA has labs in a number of their family developments.  She stated that the Cambridge Learning Center teaches in those labs and is contracted to provide service in the labs.  Some of the funding for the management of those labs is ending.  They will continue to have some staffed lab hours but classes being taught in those labs will not be continuing.  She stated that the underlying question is whether the goal is to have access to computers in general or access to computers within student homes.

Councillor Kelley stated that generally, student work is undertaken via some type of Google platform.  He stated that a fair amount of work that he sees his children undertake has to do with web-related research.  He does not understand how many students can succeed without the opportunity without internet access or computer sharing.  He stated that when a student is not given these tools, it can create challenges for the student that becomes difficult to overcome.

Councillor Cheung stated that it is his goal to ensure that every child has access to internet in their home.  He asked about the funding for the labs.  Ms. Semonoff stated that the funding for the labs was some sort of urban development funding.  She could not confirm definitively but stated that she was relatively sure that the money was from HUD and stated that they do not have funding for the upcoming fiscal year.  Councillor Cheung questioned the scale of the funding.  Ms. Fleischmann estimated approximately half a million dollars.

Councillor Cheung asked how to ensure at-home internet access.  Ms. Semonoff stated that 80 percent of the children in Cambridge attend Cambridge Public Schools.  She noted that this would be the best starting place for this discussion.  She noted that the other 20 percent of children attend charter, parochial and independent schools.  Councillor Chueng stated that there are approximately 6,000 children in public schools.  When including the fact that some of these are multi-sibling homes, this number could potentially be approximately 5,000.  He questioned how difficult it would be to speak to these families.  Ms. Berkowitz stated that this premise is being considered.  She stated that there are now discussions regarding the one-to-one computer model that would enable every student to have a device.  If this model takes place, internet and computer access will become less of an issue.  She noted that it is true that schools are moving to web-based teaching.

Councillor Cheung asked about the proposed cost to have a social worker contact each of the 5,000 families to ask questions about access and then tabulate the results.  Ms. Semonoff stated that access to this information would be a problem.  The schools are not able to provide information to DHSP staff without permission from the families due to privacy issues.  She also noted language-related issues may then be difficult to address.  She stated that a face-to-face format with a diverse group of staff would be necessary.

Ms. Semonoff stated that approximately five years ago a survey was given to students in grades 6-8.  She believed that 87 percent of the participants indicated that they had a working computer at home.  She added that this was a snapshot at that moment.  Councillor Chueng asked if this survey was anonymous.  Ms. Semonoff answered in the affirmative.

Councillor Cheung asked for suggestions as to how to get information from schools regarding computer access.  Ms. Fleischmann stated that the classroom teachers have a good sense of students that may not have access.  She stated that this information could be funneled down.  Councillor Cheung asked Ms. Semonoff is DHSP could put someone in the schools to work on this. Ms. Berkowitz stated that the guidance counselors are the best people to check in with students.  Vice Mayor Simmons then stated that the Teen Health Survey is done every other year.  She noted that this survey is always given via the homeroom teacher.  The homeroom period is a coveted time where information can be dispersed.  She stated that it is important to have more representation by the School Department when discussing this issue.

Councillor Kelley stated that at some point the schools are not going to be using textbooks.  Students are going to be taking the next version of the MCAS online.  Ensuring that all students are comfortable using a computer is necessary.  He noted that this is a vast issue and that the changes need to be planned for.

Ms. Fleischmann stated that the Digital Access Committee has identified some issues and noted that there are resources along the spectrum.

Councillor Cheung then spoke about a meeting that Mayor Davis held at CRLS.  He stated that the estimated cost to provide every student with a computer was in the range of two million dollars.  Councillor Reeves stated that a similar program in North Carolina allowed the laptops to be rented and the family only contributed to the insurance on the computer.  He noted that this model made a positive impact on student achievement.  Vice Mayor Simmons stated that laptops become obsolete very quickly.  She stated that she is in favor of the rental aspect.

Vice Mayor Simmons stated that computers and access to computers are two different issues.  She questioned if a parent's view towards and familiarity with technology may be an issue.

Councillor Cheung stated that he feels that a caseworker may be the best avenue to getting necessary information.  He stated that he is not pleased with the numbers that he has seen in his work with the Digital Access Committee.  He stated that he is looking at the DHSP to help solve this problem.  Vice Mayor Simmons stated that obtaining information is a problem due to privacy issues.  She noted the importance of collaborating with the School Department.

Ms. Berkowitz stated that since it is a known fact that family involvement is the single biggest predictor of success, it is imperative for families to get up to speed.  In that vein, the DHSP may be better equipped to spearhead this information gathering.  On the school side there will be a survey for students in grades 9-11 that will glean information regarding devices and access.  This survey will be anonymous.  Councillor Cheung questioned if this survey could be done without anonymity.  Ms. Berkowitz answered in the negative.

Councillor Reeves stated that KIPP School in Lynn whose students are predominantly Dominican.  He stated that teachers are hands-on and go to homes in the evenings and conduct ESL classes.  They know the home situations of their students.  The City of Cambridge does not do this.  Vice Mayor Simmons stated that Cambridge needs to look at a new model.  She spoke of the Harlem Children's Zone which affirms that if there is not extensive outreach, there will not be success.  Vice Mayor Simmons stated that the family liaisons are an integral piece to this project.

Ms. Semonoff then spoke about sending information home to families indicating that the City is aware that there are students that do not have computer access.  Outreach can be done to affected families.  Councillor Cheung stated that this seems labor intensive.  Ms. Berkowitz stated that she will look at this option.  Councillor Cheung questioned the cost of putting someone in place for a one-year time period.  He stated that lack of information is the main problem.  Ms. Semonoff stated that it is not impossible to imagine that a person who had access to a community engagement team could perform this kind of outreach as long as they had access and support from a multilingual team of people.

Susan Fleischmann questioned how many families are currently engaged with other non-profits in the community.  She stated that it is important to know what would be offered as a motivation.  It is important not to raise expectations without having a concrete direction.  Councillor Cheung stated his opinion that at some point the only solution is municipal broadband.  Ms. Hart stated there was a very good presentation made to the Digital Access Committee recently that researched the status of Municipal Broadband nationwide.  Basically the research shows that there are a couple of approaches that worked for municipal broadband: Cities that owned municipal electric utilities or utility vendors that offered to collaborate with a municipality and provided the infrastructure and support similar to what Google is doing.  In either case, conduit and cable would need to be laid down, and possibly streets dug up in order to accomplish this goal.  Cities that have done this have had to create or expand entire operational departments in order to manage a broadband network as well as compete against local cable utilities.  Costs to subscribers in the cases that were presented were close to what the private providers offer.

Ms. Semonoff stated that there is no simple solution.  She stated that children and families that live in public housing are most impacted.  She stated that thinking could be geared to these developments and there would be a large group who would be positively impacted.  She stated that the opportunity for access in public housing developments is an avenue that should be pursued.

Councillor Cheung stated that the problem is that there is not itemized data available.  He asked who made the decision to have the surveys be anonymous.  Ms. Berkowitz stated that she did not know who made that decision.  Ms. Semonoff stated that in general, when an anonymous survey is conducted, people tend to answer more honestly as well as the fact that parent permission is not necessary when conducting anonymous surveys that would not include personal information.  Councillor Cheung asked Ms. Semonoff to have someone from DHSP work with the School Department to ensure data protection and then work with community outreach team to get better data.  Ms. Fleischmann noted the importance of reaching younger students.

Ms. Hart stated that areas of target should be libraries, schools and low-income housing.  She stated that it is important to ensure access in these three areas.  She stated that it is important to work on better access in all areas of the city.

Ms. Semonoff stated that it would make sense to schedule a meeting around the schedule of the CHA, as this is an important issue to the CHA.  It would be useful and beneficial to engage Mr. Russ.  Councillor Chueng agreed that the input of the CHA is extremely important.

Councillor Kelley stated that whatever is going to be done is going to be expensive.  He noted that at the end of the day, there is no guarantee that anything will change.  He stated that there needs to be a more complex system of support and encouragement.