Letter from Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui, communicating information from the School Committee

Sumbul Siddiqui Mayor OFFICE OF THE MAYOR To: Cambridge City Council From: Sumbul Siddiqui, Mayor Date: September 9th, 2021 Subject: Communicating information from the School Committee To the Honorable, the City Council: Today we welcomed students, families, teachers, and staff back to school for the first day of the year! Two School Committee meetings were held in August. The first was a Regular Meeting held on August 3rd and the second was a Special Meeting held on August 31st. On August 3rd, the School Committee approved the key updates to the CPS COVID-19 Safety and Facilities Manual, including the following: • Mask are required indoors for all staff and students for the first semester. We will revisit this policy no later than January. • COVID-19 vaccinations are not required for students. Proof of full vaccination are required for those participating in CPS-related travel, interns, student teachers, volunteers, and chaperones. • 3 feet of physical distancing is required only when masks are off or for higher respiration activities. • Large community gatherings may take place outdoors and with food. • Walking field trips and field trips requiring a bus ride of 1 hour or less are permitted. • Meals must take place outdoors (weather permitting) or indoors with 3 feet distance between students facing in one direction. In the case of inclement, schools using indoor spaces for meals will follow the CPS protocols: maintain at least 3 feet of distance, students face in the same direction, and ventilation maximized using air filters and open windows. On August 31st, the School Committee approved a Recommendation for the School Committee and the CPS Administration to enter into impact bargaining with all CPS collective bargaining units to implement mandatory COVID-19 vaccine requirements for all staff who are members of an organized bargaining unit. Based on recent surveys, most CPS staff are already vaccinated. Tomorrow, September 10th at 1pm, a Special Meeting of the School Committee will be held for the purpose of discussing roles and responsibilities, developing agreements for communication and engagement between the School Committee and Superintendent, and developing a timeline for mutually acceptable goals and objectives, including measurable outcomes for the 2021-2022 school year.

Sumbul Siddiqui Mayor OFFICE OF THE MAYOR Our next regular meeting will be held on September 21st at 6pm. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions, suggestions, or concerns. Respectfully, Mayor Siddiqui