Letter from Mayor McGovern, communicating Highlights from the School Committee Meeting held on January 2, 2018

CITY OF CAMBRIDGE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR mayor@cambridgema.gov Marc C. McGovern Phone: [phone removed] Fax: [phone removed] Mayor MEMORANDUM To: Cambridge City Council From: Marc C. McGovern, Mayor Date: January 11, 2017 Subject: Communicating Highlights from School Committee Meeting January 2, 2018 To the Honorable, the City Council: In an effort to increase communication and awareness between the City Council and the School Committee, I will be submitting communications summarizing the major discussions and decisions from the previous meeting for inclusion in the City Council agenda. For an official record, members should continue to refer to minutes prepared by the Executive Secretary to the School Committee. These communications are not meant to be detailed minutes, but rather bullet points to offer brief highlights. If you read anything in these communications that you would like to know more about, I request that you reach out to either myself or my Educational Liaison Elizabeth Liss (eliss@cambridgema.gov). Highlights from School Committee Meeting: January 2, 2018 • Cold weather is impacting facilities and transit across the city • Heating units • Diesel buses • Transit Communication Technology • Budget 2019 Process • School Committee looking forward to an efficient process, focusing on transparency and collaboration • Steps taken to ensure open dialogue include open hearings, scheduled at various times for both educators and other community members, as well as outgoing communications to share this process widely • Desire for a meeting with the City Council earlier in the process • School Committee seat for Cambridge Education Association (CEA) • Governance Subcommittee is exploring the possibility of creating an official seat for the CEA at School Committee meetings, to foster open collaboration and open

communication. Subcommittee will report back to School Committee (including clear guidelines and goals) coming at February meeting. • Vocational Technical Education • School Committee through CPS administration is investigating post-secondary school success of Vocational Technical education (of all Chapter 74 programs offered). Results will be shared and a roundtable discussion held (date TBD). • Attendance Violation Policy • Discussed, including awareness of policy and possible inequities of implementation. Superintendent Dr. Ken Salim reports CPSD is in the analysis phase but is working towards creative approaches to understand both root causes as well as focus on the creation of a positive values success methodology. This communication is being forwarded to the Donna Lopez, City Clerk, with a request that it be placed on the Regular Meeting agenda for January 22, 2018, in Communications and Reports from City Officers. Respectfully, Nine MCe- Marc C. McGovern .... The Mayor's office shares the goal of creating regular joint City Council - School Committee meetings to collaborate and support highlighting need to work together on larger issues that impact our students, families and larger Cambridge community.