information from the School Committee’s summer meetings

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR Sumbul Siddiqui Mayor To: Cambridge City Council From: Sumbul Siddiqui, Mayor Date: July 23, 2020 Subject: Communicating information from the School Committee’s summer meetings To the Honorable, the City Council: In the last four weeks, the School Committee has convened a total of ten times, via Special and Subcommittee meetings. • June 30th, 2020 o Curriculum and Achievement Subcommittee Meeting (video) ▪ Discussing curriculum planning for the Fall, with a focus on emerging models o Special Meeting (video | presentation) ▪ Voting on Superintendent recommendations • July 8th, 2020 o Building and Grounds Subcommittee Meeting (video) ▪ Discussing facilities plans in response to COVID-19 • July 9th, 2020 o Communications and Community Relations Subcommittee meeting (video) ▪ Discussing communication needs, opportunities, challenges • July 13th, 2020 o Curriculum and Achievement Subcommittee Meeting (video) ▪ Discussing curriculum planning for the Fall: remote, in-person, hybrid • July 14th, 2020 o Special Meeting (video | presentation) ▪ Discussing CPSD’s hybrid, in-person, and remote models • July 15th, 2020 o School Climate Subcommittee Meeting (video) ▪ Discussing CPSD administration’s proposal for individual check-ins • July 17th, 2020 o Curriculum and Achievement Subcommittee Meeting (video) ▪ Discussing curriculum planning for the Fall: remote, in-person, hybrid o Special Education and Student Supports Subcommittee Meeting (video) ▪ Discussing lessons from the Spring and planning for the Fall

• July 21st, 2020 o Special Meeting (video | presentation) ▪ Discussing CPSD’s proposed re-opening models, voting on Superintendent’s recommendations Through these meetings, we have engaged with scholars, families, educators, as well as curriculum and medical experts to help inform CPSD in their planning. We’ve learned that there is quite a long way for us to go in order to ensure a safe re-opening—which means following the data and the science—and preparation for another shutdown—which includes a robust remote learning plan and adequate childcare options for our families, not just compliance to state guidelines. With increasing evidence of the need for surveillance testing to safely reopen schools, Vice-Mayor Mallon and I have been in many conversations with the City Manager, Superintendent, Broad Institute, and Cambridge Public Health Department to advocate for the implementation of testing in our school community. As DESE is requiring all school districts to submit their three learning models (in-person, hybrid, and remote), by July 31st, the School Committee was originally scheduled to vote on CPSD’s proposed models at the July 21st Special Meeting. However, my colleagues and I did not feel prepared to, with so many questions remaining unanswered. It is important for everybody to understand that given our circumstances, we must always be ready to adapt and pivot with new data and evidence, hence these models will evolve and are not final. The School Committee is now scheduled to hold another Special Meeting on Tuesday, July 28th, to continue providing feedback as the Superintendent prepares to submit his plans on July 31st. As a supplement to their Initial Fall School Reopening Guidance, DESE came out with Transportation Guidance as well as Facilities and Operations Guidance on Wednesday, July 22nd. I look forward to seeing how this new information will inform CPSD’s planning and the discussion at our next Building and Grounds Subcommittee Meeting on Friday, July 24th. Our upcoming meetings are as follows: • July 23rd, 2020 o Communications and Community Relations Subcommittee Meeting | 12:30 PM ▪ Discussing Motion #20-99: establishing a “Caregiver University” • July 24th, 2020 o Buildings and Grounds Subcommittee Meeting | 12:30 PM ▪ Discussing facilities plans in response to COVID-19 • July 28th, 2020 o Special Meeting | 5:00 PM • August 4th, 2020 o Regular Meeting | 5:00PM Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions, suggestions, or concerns. Respectfully, Sumbul Siddiqui