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<p>Whereas, on March 10, 2020, Governor Charles D. Baker declared a state of emergency due to the outbreak of the 2019 Coronavirus ("COVID- 19"); and </p> <p>Whereas the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 as a global pandemic on March 11, 2020; and </p> <p>Whereas on April 21, 2020, the Baker-Polito Administration announced the extension of School and Non-Emergency Child Care Program Closures until June 29, 2020, in response to COVID-19; eliminating the chances of schools resuming operation in facilities across the commonwealth and expanding remote learning until the end of the 2020 school year, and </p> <p>Whereas the Cambridge Public School District is committed to resuming educational instruction in school facilities for the 2020/21 school year that will follow guidelines from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to ensure the safety of students, staff, and families; and </p> <p>Whereas COVID-19 has presented unprecedented challenges for the global and local economy and resuming, "business as usual," is highly unlikely until medical professionals develop a vaccine or medication that mitigates the impact of the virus; and </p> <p>Whereas the City of Cambridge is home to some of the most dynamic institutions and thought leaders in the world; including Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Lesley University, Harvard University, and the National Bureau of Economic Research; and </p> <p>Whereas because of the unknown externalities associated with managing the COVID-19 crisis until medical interventions are available to contain the disease, COVID-19 will create significant challenges for CPSD, now, therefore be it</p> <p>Resolved that the Superintendent convene a COVID-19 Recovery Task Force comprised of local thought leaders and community members to support CPSD as it works to ensure an academic environment that will assist students in addressing learning loss due to the pandemic as well as providing staff, students and families a safe learning environment that mitigates the impact of COVID-19 until a vaccine or other medications are developed to treat the virus.</p>