Cambridge Public Schools' New CDC Guidelines, Vaccine Updates, FY22 Annual Budget

Press release from Cambridge Public Schools:

March 23, 2021

Dear CPS community,

"With the warmer weather comes a feeling of renewal and hope for the new season. Over the last week, many in our community have had difficult conversations about acts of misogyny and racism against women and the Asian American community. I am proud of the CPS community for its ongoing commitment to create more inclusive communities, and for acknowledging the work we continue to need to do.

April Expansion In-Person Learning

CPS staff is busy preparing for the shift to full-time in-person learning next month. As you know, remote learning will continue for those families who choose it. I want to commend CPS principals and staff for their additional efforts getting us ready for this next phase of in-person learning, even as they continue to teach and support students through remote learning. Our team has continually demonstrated the level of excellence people come to expect from the Cambridge Public Schools. And families have been incredibly supportive as we continue to make adjustments in the midst of significant change. Thank you all.

Updated CDC Guidance

On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced updated guidance based on data from districts across the country, including Massachusetts. CDC now advises a distance of 3 feet between desks in elementary, middle and high schools, while staff should remain 6 feet apart.

Vaccine

We are happy to report more teachers and staff have been getting vaccinated. Governor Charlie Baker recently announced the timeline for when all Massachusetts residents over the age of 16 will be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Find out when you are eligible and pre-register for a vaccine through this link.

Next Year’s Budget

Spring is also when we look ahead to the 2021/2022 school year. Last week, I presented the proposed FY 2022 Annual Budget to the School Committee. Click here for my message, my presentation, and the proposed budget. The budget process continues this week: join us for a Budget Workshop tomorrow and a Public Hearing on Thursday, both at 6PM."

Sincerely,
Kenneth N. Salim, Ed.D
Superintendent

Upcoming Meetings & Events

• March 23 | 6PM: School Committee, FY22 Budget Workshop
• March 24 | 3:30PM: School Committee, Special Education & Student Supports Sub-Committee Meeting
• March 24 | 6PM: School Committee FY22 Budget - Public Hearing
• March 24 | 6PM: COVID Conversations on Safety and Health Protocols, for families from Cambridgeport, Fletcher Maynard Academy, Kennedy Longfellow, and Cambridge Street Upper School
• April 6 | 6pm: School Committee, Regular Meeting
• May 19 | 10AM - 2PM: Together We RISE, A Virtual Conference for Allston, Brighton, and Cambridge High School Sophomores & Juniors, sponsored by the Harvard Ed Portal and the Harvard Public School Partnerships team. CRLS alum, Mohammed Uddin, CRLS ‘15, UMass Boston BA ‘19, MPA ‘20, will be a featured guest speaker.

This press release was produced by Cambridge Public Schools. The views expressed are the author's own.