A communication from Mayor Siddiqui transmitting a memorandum regarding information from the School Committee.

To: Cambridge City Council From: Sumbul Siddiqui, Mayor Date: June 17, 2026 Subject: Communicating Information from the School Committee OFFICE OF THE MAYOR Sumbul Siddiqui Mayor (2020-21, 2022-23, 2026-27) To the Honorable, the City Council: I write to provide an updated summary of recent Cambridge School Committee activity. The School Committee's June 16 meeting served as the final regular meeting of the school year. The agenda included commencement highlights, a strategic planning update, and a preview of key district priorities for the 2026-2027 school year. Superintendent’s Update Commencements and End-of-Year Celebrations The Superintendent opened his portion of the agenda by noting that commencement season is underway, with upper school graduations approaching. This milestone marks a celebratory close to the academic year for the district. Strategic Planning Update The Superintendent provided an update on the district's long-term strategic planning process. Work completed to date includes initial community engagement, an organizational diagnostic, drafting of ten- year aspirations, a leadership team review and refinement process, and principal and director input on potential strategic initiatives. The district has identified four broad emerging outcomes for students that will anchor the plan: • Equitable Access and Outcomes • Strong Academic Foundation • Personal Growth and Connection • Purposeful Life and Leadership The process is now transitioning toward defining priorities and outcomes. Over the summer, the focus will shift to facilitating meetings in response to the organizational diagnostic and defining the initial core elements of the strategic plan, including its mission, measures, strategic priorities, and potential

initiatives. Specific summer activities will include sharing draft priorities and initiatives with the community, gathering additional feedback from students, families, staff, and community members, and refining aspirations, priorities, and measures. In the fall and winter, the district plans to finalize strategic priorities, establish an implementation roadmap, identify Year 1 action steps, and present the final strategic plan to the School Committee. The next formal update is expected at the August meeting. The Superintendent encouraged both committee members and community members to begin sharing feedback now, without waiting for that formal presentation. 2026–2027 School Year Priorities The Superintendent also outlined the development of preliminary strategic priorities and objectives for the upcoming school year. Two primary strategic levers will guide district work: educator effectiveness and family engagement. Several significant decision points and milestones are anticipated, including determinations regarding programming and use of the 158 Spring Street building, collective bargaining agreements, before-school arrival and meaningful use of that time, and the implementation of effective student support systems including FY27 initiatives. The district also identified areas requiring alignment and consistency across the organization, including professional learning objectives and structure, behavioral response protocols, and employee relations management. Priorities related to instruction include defining and improving Tier 1 instructional practices, intentional and developmentally appropriate technology usage, high school competency determination, and high-caliber reciprocal communication with families. The Superintendent identified several district areas of focus and needed improvement for the coming year: • Elementary literacy outcomes and gap reduction and elimination • On-time arrival consistency • Incorporation of 360-degree feedback in school leader goal-setting • Student attendance, particularly at CRLS • Staff attendance • Staff familiarity with the district's artificial intelligence guidance Other Meetings and Upcoming Events Since the last update, the Committee held an Executive Session on Friday, June 5 to discuss bargaining strategy, which will continue on Thursday, June 18. The Special Education and Student Supports Subcommittee met on Monday, June 8 to hold a public hearing on how the district documents incidents and notifies families when students are injured, restrained, or otherwise involved in incidents at school.

Upcoming subcommittee meetings include the School Climate Subcommittee on Thursday, June 18, which I co-chair, which will review SY25-26 attendance data and current efforts, and consider future strategies at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School to combat chronic absenteeism, including the role that improved student and family engagement can play. The Governance Subcommittee, which I chair, will also meet to discuss proposed School Committee rule changes for the 2026-2027 school year. This meeting has yet to be scheduled. Finally, the School Committee and City Council will sit together at a joint roundtable from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Monday, June 29 to discuss the Cambridge Preschool Program. I look forward to that conversation with my colleagues. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or requests for additional information. Sincerely, Sumbul Siddiqui Mayor of Cambridge (2020-21, 2022-23, 2026-27)