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Amidst Rancor, City Initiative Continues

In the aftermath of this week's heated City Council meeting, in which councillors accused Harvard of turning its back on Cambridge, relations between the University and city officials have cooled but not frozen.

City councillors blasted the University on Monday night for pledging $5 million to afterschool programs in Boston, while committing just $100,000 to develop a Cambridge-Harvard Summer Academy at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School (CRLS) this year.

Since that night, officials for both sides say that plans are still going forward for Harvard to participate in the Summer Academy project.

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But while such community initiatives are usually greeted with fanfare at unveiling ceremonies that highlight cooperation between the University and the city, plans for the Summer Academy are going forward quietly.

A public announcement has been put on hold indefinitely and University administrators say they are now waiting for city officials to take the initiative.

"I think what we're looking for is interest from the schools and the mayor for a public announcement," said Mary H. Power, Harvard's senior director of community relations.

The new Summer Academy program essentially means Cambridge Rindge and Latin School (CRLS) will offer an extended summer school program this year, an increase paid for in part by Harvard. While Harvard pays $100,000 this summer, the city will contribute $50,500 to the project.

But not all of the money will go towards teaching CRLS students. The program will also train student-teachers at the Graduate School of Education (GSE), who will work with veteran Cambridge teachers to teach the CRLS students.

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