Alice's accomplishments on School Committee
During her five terms on the Cambridge School Committee, Alice…
Alice worked to Improve Curriculum and Instruction
As chair of the Curriculum Subcommittee, she supported the development of system wide academic standards in subjects including technology, and then worked towards curriculum audits in math, science and second languages. These audits enabled the school department to know for the first time what was actually being taught in classrooms across the city.
Alice ensured that system-wide goals included meaningful instruction in the Arts, assessment of student progress using approaches including portfolios and delivering appropriate curriculum at, above and below grade level.
As chair of the Vocational Education Subcommittee she supported the full restructuring and renovation of the Rindge School of Technical Arts (RSTA), making it possible for students to receive high quality, state certified vocational education in many fields without leaving Cambridge.
She successfully advocated for an additional year of second language instruction in every elementary school.
As chair of the Special Needs Subcommittee, she worked to ensure that funding was allotted annually toward full implementation of the Special Education Strategic Plan, which was developed by working closely with parents of special education students.
Alice organized a task force on instructional aides which resulted in every first grade classroom receiving extended hours with an assistant teacher and the addition of assistant teachers into middle school classrooms.
Alice served on the Middle School Subcommittee, which started a district-wide initiative to support middle school faculty in improving their teaching practices.
Alice Chaired the Mayor’s Task Force on Kindergarten Entry Age. Recommendations from this group led to a change in the age requirement for entry into first grade, allowing Cambridge to continue serving very young kindergarteners without sending them on to be the youngest students in the state at every subsequent grade level.
Alice successfully advocated for the skills of reading music and playing an instrument to be introduced to every elementary school student rather than to a self-selected group.
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Alice advocated for fair and effective use of resources
As co-chair of the 2011-2012 Budget Subcommittee, Alice initiated a budget comparison of Newton (our Superintendent’s previous district) and Cambridge. This comparison led to a greater understanding than previous comparisons have because Dr. Young knows both systems from the inside. Cambridge’s per pupil expenditures declined slightly in this budget because student enrollment increased at a faster pace then funding increased.
She initiated a review of central administration costs and efficiency, which led to over a million dollars being reallocated directly to schools.
As co-chair of the 1999-2000 Budget Subcommittee, Alice sent discretionary funding directly to schools for implementing School Improvement Plans and supporting teachers through professional development. Her advocacy more than doubled the funding that individual schools controlled during her tenure on the School Committee
Alice’s presence at teacher’s union negotiations led to more time for faculty members to confer with families, and to reimbursing teachers for classroom supplies.
Alice lobbied the Massachusetts Senate President about the budgetary impact of charter schools. This action led to increased state reimbursement to our school district.
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Alice encouraged and supported school based leadership
Alice supported elementary school principals by budgeting for an assistant principal and full-time secretary in every school. This allowed principals to concentrate on educational improvements in their schools and on teacher evaluation.
Alice worked with the teacher’s union to ensure that the high school principal had complete authority to hire the most qualified individuals to administer the small schools within C.R.L.S.
Alice chaired the School-Based Management Subcommittee, which developed two new policies:
a policy allowing schools more decision-making power and control of their resources and
a policy enabling the Superintendent to make significant improvements in underperforming schools.
Alice brought forward the recommendation that Cambridge’s successful two way language immersion program, Amigos, become a school with it’s own principal.
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Alice improved communication with families and citizens
As a member of the Family Involvement Subcommittee, she worked to reorganize the Family Resource Center under new leadership. Policies she developed removed barriers and encouraged more Cambridge residents to use our schools.
Alice supported translation services at meetings and on written documents.
Alice insisted that School Committee hearings be held on controversial issues.In addition, she called for public meetings at schools that faced significant change.
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Alice worked to improve student health and safety
Alice supported increased athletic opportunities for girls and boys. Her work fostered strategies that engaged more girls in sports.
Alice worked with the city to improve the distribution of crossing guards for increased safety at dangerous intersections.
Alice served on the Transportation Task Force which increased training for bus drivers and created a new bus safety policy for students.
Alice served on the Healthy Children’s Task Force which secured a large multi-year grant for the critically needed expansion of mental health services in our schools, another large multi-year grant which focused on improving the physical education program and many grants which have improved the quality of food in school cafeterias.
Alice worked with the Director of Food Services to obtain federal funding for a pilot program that offered free breakfast to all students in seven of our schools. By alleviating the stigma associated with eating subsidized meals more children started the day nourished and ready to learn
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