DAVID IN THE NEWS
David's statement in response to Harvard Crimson article "Cambridge Paid Additional $40,000 to Superintendent Search Firm Without Full School Committee’s Knowledge"
"In my experience everyone involved in our process of selecting a new permanent superintendent has been working with integrity and commitment to do their best for the children of Cambridge, and I appreciate the dedication and work of all of my colleagues on the School Committee that enabled us to reach a successful conclusion to this process and select a permanent superintendent who I believe is the right person for this role in Cambridge at this time. That said, I would like to see more transparency and communication between members of the School Committee within the necessary constraints of Open Meeting Law, and between the Committee and the public, even on matters that the Committee doesn’t legally need to vote on, in the interest of building trust and engagement.
The $40,000 contract being referenced has not come before the School Committee for a vote. It should have. In their recent joint statement the Mayor and the Vice Chair stated that “Had we been advised at that juncture that the additional compensation for this work should be placed before the School Committee for formal approval, we would have taken that step.” It will be important for the School Committee, our legal department and our financial department to review our processes in conjunction with the City’s legal and financial departments to put in place controls to ensure that everyone on the School Committee has complete, timely, and accurate information in situations like this and key steps and votes are not missed."
"Weinstein... aims to work with the Ed Redesign Lab at the Harvard Graduate School of Education — a research group dedicated to ensuring equal opportunity for all students — to create a 'success planning model' where educators create personalized learning goals for each student. 'We are in process of building this out, with the ultimate vision being that every student has an adult navigator who’s making sure that they’re getting the access to both supports and opportunities that will enable them to thrive to their full potential and follow their own paths,' he said."
“'When I’m at the subcommittees that I chair, I make a real effort to proactively invite educators, parents and caregivers and students to be a part of those meetings,' he said. 'I don’t really think I could do this job effectively without both being very responsive but also being proactive to get out into schools, get into communities, go to events, meet with folks.'"
The Crimson: "'My Voice Matters': Cambridge Public Schools Celebrate $50,000 Sound Equipment Grant"
"CPS Visual and Performing Arts Department director Andrea Zuñiga praised Weinstein for spearheading the grant, saying the new equipment was a 'huge' development for school performances. 'I can’t say the amount of events that we have and the impact that this has, not only for our communities and for making amplified voices sound beautiful,' but also to make events accessible to attendees with auditory disabilities, Zuñiga said."
The Crimson: "CPS Says Students Will Be 'Unaffected' by Trump Funding Cut for K-12 Schools"
"School Committee member David J. Weinstein said in a Tuesday School Committee meeting that regardless of changes at the federal level, the district will continue 'standing by our principles and our policies… I know all of us have been hearing from people in the community who are understandably concerned…While every dollar matters, I will not agree to compromise our principles or our policies for the sake of funding. I’m confident that this city and state would have the financial wherewithal and also the support for our students, for our schools, to make up for any funds if they were to be lost.'"
The Crimson: "Cambridge Issues Vote of Confidence in School Committee, Reelects All Four Incumbents"
"The four incumbents — Rachel B. Weinstein, David J. Weinstein, José Luis Rojas Villarreal, and Caroline M. Hunter — will return to their positions on the School Committee for the upcoming term. Hunter, Rachel Weinstein, and David Weinstein worked together to introduce a September motion to establish Algebra 1 in all Cambridge middle schools by 2025."
The Boston Globe: "Cambridge MCAS scores show full recovery from pandemic”
“David Weinstein, a Cambridge School Committee member, said the MCAS scores were only one measure of how students are doing in his city. Emotional and social health, he said, are important, too, and he worries about how students from disadvantaged groups are faring. …Weinstein said the district must work to continue to close opportunity and achievement gaps between students from different racial and socioeconomic backgrounds. ‘It’s really great to see the results of the work we’ve been doing — and we’re not satisfied.’”
"'This will now be consistent across the entire district, so we can also better ensure that all kids in Cambridge have the same kind of preparation and sequencing for math by the time they get to eighth grade,' Weinstein said. '...I think we can have more consistency in the way math instruction is happening.”
"Weinstein said the district’s plan to expand Algebra 1 education to all eighth grade students will set 'a high floor for our students,' which will involve 'supporting them to get there.'
'I and others on the committee are really committed to seeing this through, and seeing this through in a way that is consistent with our equity and anti-racism commitments,' Weinstein said."
Register Forum: “Menstrual Product Equity: Are We Leading by Example?”
"School Committee member David Weinstein described to the Register Forum, 'I am proud that we as a district made this commitment and are leading on this. In practice, we are falling short of that commitment, though not through any intention.' The Cambridge School Committee plans to update its current policy on menstrual health in order to ensure that products are accessible in a gender-inclusive, clear, and equitable way."
Following up on concerns raised by a student journalist in this article, and working in collaboration with Student School Committee Members and School Committee colleagues Vice Chair Rachel and Member Hunter, David drafted an updated menstrual equity policy that encompasses gender inclusivity, greater accessibility, and better communication. This was passed by the full School Committee.
“'I think this really shows the power of an inclusive curriculum,' Weinstein added. 'You certainly can’t understand American history if you don’t understand Black history — you can’t understand world history if you don’t understand Black history.'”
Register Forum: “Cambridge School Committee Fights Back Against Hate”
“'We see you. We have your back. We’re a community of allies,' said School Committee Member David Weinstein during a meeting on March 7th. In light of the recent antisemitic incident, committee members decided that an update to Cambridge Public School’s hate policy was necessary. This update was unanimously adopted."
"David Weinstein, a Cambridge School Committee member, attended as well, getting a chance to meet or reconnect with neighbors. 'I deeply appreciate that the Ethiopian community has welcomed me to events such as this one,' he said. 'I want every community in Cambridge to know that their hopes, concerns, questions and ideas are important to our public schools. We’re fortunate to have a large and active Ethiopian community in the Cambridge Public Schools, and events like this help us build important relationships and understanding – while we enjoy great food, great music and family activities.'"