View Motion

Order ID#:

Motion ID#:

Original Meeting Date:

Lead Motion Maker:

Co-Sponsors:

Original Motion Content:
<p>Whereas CPSD is facing unique health and safety concerns due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the science indicates that outdoor settings have a lower risk of transmission of COVID-19 than indoor settings, and </p> <p>Whereas in-person educational experiences are highly beneficial for scholars, and in some cases of critical importance, and </p> <p>Whereas pre-pandemic CPSD has had a commitment to and has offered various outdoor and nature-based experiences, and outdoor and nature-based experiences have value independent of pandemic response, and </p> <p>Whereas during the pandemic CPSD has been using the outdoors in new ways, and </p> <p>Whereas the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's guidance from July 22nd 2020 urges districts to consider outdoor and off-campus options for classes; and </p> <p>Whereas during the 2019-2020 school year CPSD has been using the outdoors in new ways, has inventoried outdoor spaces accessible to our schools, and has acquired through purchase or rental agreements infrastructure such as tents that can support some types of outdoor education programming, and </p> <p>Whereas there are educational, logistical, and health and safety considerations that are unique to outdoor education, and there is local, regional and national experience and expertise on these considerations, and </p> <p>Whereas members of the CPSD community with relevant expertise and experience have offered to support CPSD's work in this area, therefore Be it resolved that CPSD will establish a working group on outdoor education as a part of the COVID-19 Task Force, with this working group to first convene in January 2021, and</p> <p>be it further Resolved that this working group will include outdoor education experts with local, regional, and or national experience implementing outdoor education programming, together with community members, CPSD educators, CPSD scholars, and CPSD caregivers, and</p> <p>be it further Resolved that this working group will work in coordination with the Curriculum and Achievement Subcommittee to develop recommendations to the administration and full School Committee for outdoor education in CPSD for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year, summer 2021, and the 2021-2022 school year, and will act in an advisory capacity on an ongoing basis.</p>