information from the School Committee

Sumbul Siddiqui Mayor OFFICE OF THE MAYOR To: Cambridge City Council From: Sumbul Siddiqui, Mayor Date: December 2, 2021 Subject: Communicating information from the School Committee To the Honorable, the City Council: On Tuesday November 30, the School Committee’s School Climate Subcommittee met to discuss the results of the Spring 2021 Teen Health Survey. You can find the presentation here. It was reported that overall, mental health worsened during the pandemic, except for a decrease in reported self-harm. Additionally, there was a decline in meaningful connections with adults. Fewer students reported having a teacher/adult to talk to in 2021 compared to previous survey years. There was also a decline in reported substance use across all commonly used drugs (alcohol, marijuana, cigarettes, and electronic vapor products) but safety concerns were highest among students who identified as female, genderqueer, African American/Black, Asian, and Hispanic/Latino. Finally, the percent of students engaging in physical activity declined compared to prior years. About 3,000 students took part across the middle and upper schools, or about 55 percent of high school students and about 75 percent of upper school students. There is no doubt additional support for students is needed and Cambridge Public Schools has responded in several ways: • Referrals to School Student Support Teams and/or outside providers • Specialized programming Looking ahead the district will be: • Hiring SEL Director • Review of professional learning • Promoting supports available through Teen Health Center to students and families • Supporting School Committee policy reviews • CPHD / CPS campaign around mental health The School Committee will be reviewing and updating our: • Wellness Policy • Student athlete waiver of course requirements • Teen Health Center Policy • Anti-bullying policy and anti-cyberbullying policy Prior to the meeting, there was a walk out of over 400 CRLS students protesting a culture of sexual assaults and harassment. I am supportive of our students' voices and the district is going to

respond with a comprehensive action plan to address the concerns that continue to arise so that we can center student voices and support them. Superintendent Greer released the following statement regarding the action the district is taking following this walk out: “First, staff have been following up with individual students to provide support and take appropriate next steps. Second, we are working on a comprehensive plan for more immediate actions that include school, district, city community and stakeholders. Third, we will be implementing a comprehensive, internal investigation led by a third-party into the ongoing allegations and concerns at the high school. We will continue to provide updates on our efforts.” The School Committee’s next regular meeting will be held on December 7 at 6pm. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions, suggestions, or concerns Respectfully, Mayor Siddiqui