Cambridge Public Schools' Superintendent Publishes Leadership Values & Coronavirus Updates

Cambridge MA

03 August, 2021

7:38 PM

Description

Press release from Cambridge Public Schools: August 2, 2021 week's video message Will families have a remote learning option for fall 2021? No. The state is not permitting school districts to offer a remote learning model. CPS is planning for full-time, in-person learning for all students. CPS will continue to have clear quarantine plans to support continuous learning and services if a classroom or school must temporarily quarantine due to a positive case. Will masks be required? On Tuesday evening, the School Committee will discuss my recommendation to require masking indoors for all students and staff for the first semester, (September - January). See below for a summary of the other COVID-19 recommendations. How will CPS protect students and staff from COVID-19? CPS will continue to use the robust COVID-19 protections we implemented successfully last year, including comprehensive testing, contact tracing, and quarantine procedures. We are continuing to work closely with the Cambridge Public Health Department and our school leaders to monitor the public health situation, gather input from the scientific, medical, and educator experts, and update our policies and procedures as necessary. School Committee to Discuss Recommended COVID-19 Protocols on Tuesday, August 3 Conduct once-weekly surveillance testing for all students and staff, which is most important for unvaccinated individuals, as well as symptomatic testing.Do not require COVID-19 vaccinations for students. Do require full vaccinations for those participating in CPS-related travel, interns, student teachers, volunteers, and chaperones.Require masks indoors for the first semester. Revisit this policy no later than January based on community public health conditions.Relax most physical distancing and require 3 feet of physical distancing only when masks are off or for higher respiration activities.Require appointments and masks for parents/caregivers, volunteers, and visitors to enter school buildingsPermit employee meetings to take place indoors with masks and prohibit foodPermit small meetings with families indoors with rooms with at least 4 air exchange rates per hour and with masks. Permit large community gatherings outdoors and with food.Permit walking field trips and field trips requiring a bus ride of 1 hour or less. Required parent/caregiver chaperones to provide proof of vaccination as part of the regular background check process.Require meals to take place outdoors, weather permitting. If meals must take place indoors, require students to maintain 3 feet distance with all students facing in the same direction. August 4 | 3-7PM: Vaccination Party at King Open School. Walk-In's Welcome! Save the Date In Case You Missed It This press release was produced by Cambridge Public Schools. The views expressed here are the author's own.