Teachers of color departing Cambridge, citing hostile workplace, failed intentions
Teachers of color describe “microaggressions” in the classroom and hallways and in staff meetings, as well as administrative resistance and punishment for questioning the quality of district efforts – with the result that they are tiring of the struggle and leaving.
City planning misses need for new schools, officials note of coming 5,900 housing units
With several thousand new housing units due in the Alewife, NorthPoint and Kendall Square neighborhoods, School Committee members noted that if even 10 percent of those units have one child, that’s easily two schools’ worth of students.
Superintendent’s district plan denied vote, mayor seeking roundtables for the specifics
“I’m looking for more of a plan. I don’t have enough to adopt for right now,” the mayor said, asking for a roundtable meeting in July at which the School Committee could get deeper into the details. “I want to vote when it’s finished.”
Cambridge’s public schools receive new vision that many say remains fuzzy around the edges
Superintendent Kenneth Salim presented his three-year “district plan” to a variety of audiences in recent days, finding support f0r the broad, overarching concepts, but worries about the details.
Affirmation of protection for immigrants among flurry of actions by school officials
Immigrant families were assured Tuesday of their “protection and safety” from federal agents by the school district, one of several issues looked at Tuesday by the School Committee.
School officials join parents in a ‘mystery’: How district will keep aiding two schools
Parents at two struggling schools were worried how help from the district would continue into the new budget and next school year, and now that the budget has been approved, members of the School Committee are still trying to figure it out.
Tricky math of school choice wins a look, parents warned there’s no fast solution
Groundwork for a look at the kindergarten lottery system was laid last week by the School Committee, noting demographic changes in the city and growing interest in language immersion programs. The last review was in 2013.
Look at school day length, coaching revival part of educators contract effective to 2020
The School Committee unanimously ratified an agreement Tuesday with units of the teachers’ union that includes the creation of several working groups responding to important issues raised repeatedly over the past two years:
Plan fighting sexual assault, harassment passes; was sparked by student walkout
An “action plan” to address sexual harassment and assault, particularly at the Cambridge Rindge and Latin high school and upper schools, received enthusiastic School Committee support last week.
Trying to keep school lunch price hikes low won’t help parents for long, officials warn
Historically, the district has chosen to make larger price increases less often, instead of incremental changes each year, but several School Committee members hesitated at the size of the increases.
