School Committee in 30 Minutes or Less

Jess Goetz
  • 4.6 (11)
  • Politics

Welcome to the unofficial recap podcast for the Cambridge (MA) School Committee. The goal is to improve access to and encourage engagement with the work of the School Committee. The Cambridge School Committee meets on the first and third Tuesdays of most month; new episodes will come out on Fridays following regular meetings, beginning on January 23, 2025.

Episodes

  1. Sep 6

    8. Regular Meeting September 1, 2026

    This episode covers the September 1st regular meeting of the school committee, which included a variety of back-to-school updates and a presentation on the developing guidance around technology, including AI, in our schools. The members discussed the policy on time outs, seclusions, and physical restraint of students as well as motions regarding the policy on surreptitious recording devices in schools and protecting students and families from the federal government’s current approach to immigration.  LINKS Agenda (with links to all agenda items) Presentation Take home device (Chromebook) protocols  Update on Technology Use in Classrooms Health Habits and Tech Limits Generative AI Guidance Toward High Quality Screen Use in Cambridge Public Schools My School Committee Tracker Welcoming city ordinance Protect act The website for this podcast is CSC30.com You can contact the podcast by emailing CambridgeSC30@gmail.com The School Committee email address is SchoolCom@cpsd.us

  2. Jun 2

    7. Regular Meeting May 19, 2026

    This episode covers the May 19th regular meeting of the school committee, which, among other things,  included conversations about the 158 Spring Street building, including the future of Ahern field, screen time, and retirement plus legislation. Two district leadership positions were filled and next year’s school calendar was approved. LINKS Agenda 2026/27 Calendar Hiring and 158 Spring Street Slides CRLS Principal Position Profile FMA Principal Position Profile MA General Law 71 Seciotn 59 DESE Statement on School Committees and Hiring (scroll down to the heading, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education recommendations:")(  Presentation Slides The website for this podcast is CSC30.com You can contact the podcast by emailing CambridgeSC30@gmail.com The School Committee email address is SchoolCom@cpsd.us

  3. May 14

    6. Regular Meeting May 05, 2026

    This episode recaps the May 5th, 2026 regular meeting of the Cambridge School Committee. It includes a discussion on AI in schools, both generally, and specific to the work being done by the CPS AI working group.   ***Just a quick note that I know I said "IA" once instead of "AI" but I'm trusting the listeners to understand. :) Links Agenda Slides (not currently available, but I will link when they are) Meeting portal Massachusetts inter-district school choice program Draft 26/27 Calendar Current AI Guidance Document (from Sept. 16, 2025) The website for this podcast is CSC30.com You can contact the podcast by emailing CambridgeSC30@gmail.com The School Committee email address is SchoolCom@cpsd.us

  4. Apr 21

    5.1. Regular Meeting Apr. 7, 2026

    This is episode 1 of the coverage of the April 7, 2026 regular meeting of the School Committee. It covers public comment and the lengthy discussion prior voting on the fiscal year 2027 proposed budget (spoiler alert: the approved it). Links of Interest -Administrative- Agenda (with links to all motions) Superintendent presentations for the regular meetings remaining in the school year -Budget Discussion- Proposed Budget for FY27 Staffing graphic for King Open and MLK Article about the BRYT program Shore Educational Collaborative School Improvement Plans -Screen Time Motion- American Academy of Pediatrics new screen time guidance -Motion on School Councils- School Councils Law School Councils Handbook School Committee Rules Subcommittees -Superintendent's Agenda- City Employee Salaries Curriculum and Achievement Subcommittee Meeting (March 19th) -District Employees- Chief Operations Officer: Damon Smith Director of Data, Assessment, and Accountability: Jen Amigone  Executive Director of Academics: Dr Heather Francis  Director of Family and Community Engagement: Melissa Bolden Our favorite first grade teacher and now children’s author: Inbal Alon The website for this podcast is CSC30.com You can contact the podcast by emailing CambridgeSC30@gmail.com The School Committee email address is SchoolCom@cpsd.us

  5. Apr 21

    5.2. Regular Meeting Apr. 7, 2026

    This is episode 2 of the coverage of the April 7, 2026 regular meeting of the School Committee. It covers discussion on the screen time motion (referred to superintendent), the school councils motion (amended and approved), and approval of a new private school. The superintendent’s agenda included a brief discussion on 158 Spring Street as well as a quick look at the range of student assessments employed by schools. Links of Interest -Administrative- Agenda (with links to all motions) Superintendent presentations for the regular meetings remaining in the school year -Budget Discussion- Proposed Budget for FY27 Staffing graphic for King Open and MLK Article about the BRYT program Shore Educational Collaborative School Improvement Plans -Screen Time Motion- American Academy of Pediatrics new screen time guidance -Motion on School Councils- School Councils Law School Councils Handbook School Committee Rules Subcommittees -Superintendent's Agenda- City Employee Salaries Curriculum and Achievement Subcommittee Meeting (March 19th) -District Employees- Chief Operations Officer: Damon Smith Director of Data, Assessment, and Accountability: Jen Amigone  Executive Director of Academics: Dr Heather Francis  Director of Family and Community Engagement: Melissa Bolden Our favorite first grade teacher and now children’s author: Inbal Alon The website for this podcast is CSC30.com You can contact the podcast by emailing CambridgeSC30@gmail.com The School Committee email address is SchoolCom@cpsd.us

  6. Mar 21

    4. Regular Meeting Mar. 17, 2026

    This episode recaps the March 17, 2026 regular meeting of the Cambridge School Committee. It includes discussions about the schedule of presentations for the next five meetings and funding from the Cambridge Community Foundation for help with the district's strategic plan. The committee also honors Fabiane Noronha, the Unified Sports program, and Dr Henrietta S. Attles. LINKS Agenda (which includes links to all agenda item) Superintendent's Presentation Yondr pouches Motion 26-040 (screen time moratorium) Resolution 26-042 (Fabiane Noronha) Resolution 26-043 (Unified Sports) Cambridge Community Foundation Budget Workshop March 18 Building and Grounds Subcommittee Meeting (video) Contract 26-034 (Pathways for Paraprofessionals) Contract 26-036 (Legal Services) Gift 26-039 (Cambridge Community Foundation) Motion 26-041 (Dr. Henrietta S. Attles) North Cambridge Family Opera The website for this podcast is CSC30.com You can contact the podcast by emailing CambridgeSC30@gmail.com The School Committee email address is SchoolCom@cpsd.us

  7. Mar 8

    3. Regular Meeting Mar. 03, 2026

    This episode recaps the March 3, 2026 regular meeting of the Cambridge School Committee. It includes presentations about the strategic planning process from Rachel Skerrit of Attuned Education Partners and an update on the state of social and emotion learning (SEL) in CPS by Kim Huffer, the director of SEL. The committee also discusses motions 26-030 about snow days, 26-031 about principal evaluations, and 26-032 about third grade literacy and retention. I cut out the opening announcements for time, so here they are: First, and I’m going to say this one every time, I am reporting on what was said in the meetings; my reporting of what the members said does not mean what they said is true.  Second, you can check the show notes for references and links. If I’ve missed something please reach out to me at CambridgeSC30@gmail.com.Third: acronymsCPS - Cambridge Public SchoolsCOO - Chief Operating OfficerDHSP - Department of Human Services ProgramsCCF - Cambridge Community FoundationSEL - Social and Emotional LearningBRYT -  Bridge for Resilient Youth in TransitionDESE - Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary EducationFourth and finally, the meeting recap is followed by a few minutes of my absolutely biased analysis of this meeting. Please feel free to skip that part; my prime directive is to inform the public, not make anyone think like me.LINKS Agenda (which includes links to all agenda item) Motion 26-032 Anthony Galluccio wikipedia page Kenneth Reeves wikipedia page Cambridge Community Foundation Thrive Equity Audit  Attuned Education Partners Presentation slides from Rachel Skerritt of Attuned Education Partners Presentation slides from Kim Huffer, Director of Social and Emotional Learning DESE principal evaluations Supplemental material (letter from the superintendent) The website for this podcast is CSC30.com You can contact the podcast by emailing CambridgeSC30@gmail.com The School Committee email address is SchoolCom@cpsd.us

  8. Mar 2 ·  Bonus

    Bonus Episode: Public Comment

    This is a bonus episode discussing the processes and purposes for public comment at School Committee meetings. All public comments made at the first three regular meetings of 2026 are summarized. LINKS Rules of the School Committee Sign up to receive School Committee notifications Instructions to register for public comment School Committee email address: SchoolCom@cpsd.us Agenda for March 3, 2026 View public comments made on: January 6, 2026 (regular meeting)January 20, 2026 (regular meeting)February 3, 2026 (regular meeting)Meeting motions mentioned in episode: June 3, 2024 (governance subcommittee meeting report)October 1, 2024 (regular meeting minutes)Motion 24-241Motion 24-245October 22, 2024 (governance subcommittee meeting report)November 19, 2024 (regular meeting minutes)Motion 24-285December 3, 2024 (regular meeting minutes)February 25, 2026 (governance subcommittee meeting video)The website for this podcast is CSC30.com You can contact the podcast by emailing CambridgeSC30@gmail.com The School Committee email address is SchoolCom@cpsd.us

  9. Feb 9

    2. Regular Meeting Feb. 03, 2026

    This episode recaps the Feb. 3rd, 2026 regular meeting of the school committee. The meeting included a budget planning presentation, and discussion of motions regarding educator input and meeting formality. ****SORRY IT WAS A LITTLE LATE! :) **** Notes & Links Subcommitte leadership and members  Anne Coburn's notes on the Friday, Feb. 6th special meeting  Budget presentation slides This meeting's agenda (includes links to all the motions discussed) Information on the Thrive! presentation  CRLS Jazz Band performance The website for this podcast is CSC30.com You can contact the podcast by emailing CambridgeSC30@gmail.com The School Committee email address is SchoolCom@cpsd.us

  10. Jan 25

    1. Regular Meeting Jan. 20, 2026

    This episode recaps the Jan. 20th, 2026 regular meeting of the school committee. The meeting included contracts for legal services, a budget presentation, a science and civics MCAS presentation, and a motion to improve public comment practices. Notes & Links School Committee email address: SchoolCom@cpsd.us Summary table of meeting items The website for this podcast is CSC30.com You can contact the podcast by emailing CambridgeSC30@gmail.com The School Committee email address is SchoolCom@cpsd.us

  11. Jan 22 ·  Bonus

    Short Introduction: Special Meeting 01/05/26

    This is a quick recap of the School Committee's Inauguration/Special Meeting from January 5th, 2026. Notes and Links: City Ordinance 2.129 Slide Deck about the 2025 School Committee Candidates Glossary of Education Terms Podcase website CSC30.com Send Feedback to CambridgeSC30@gmail.com The website for this podcast is CSC30.com You can contact the podcast by emailing CambridgeSC30@gmail.com The School Committee email address is SchoolCom@cpsd.us

  12. Season 1 Trailer

    Trailer: Cambridge School Committee in 30 Minutes or Less

    This is the trailer for an upcoming podcast that will report on the School Committee in Cambridge, MA. We officially launch on January 23rd, 2025. Until then, check out CSC30.com for more information. The website for this podcast is CSC30.com You can contact the podcast by emailing CambridgeSC30@gmail.com The School Committee email address is SchoolCom@cpsd.us

Trailer

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About

Welcome to the unofficial recap podcast for the Cambridge (MA) School Committee. The goal is to improve access to and encourage engagement with the work of the School Committee. The Cambridge School Committee meets on the first and third Tuesdays of most month; new episodes will come out on Fridays following regular meetings, beginning on January 23, 2025.

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