Public Policy Updates: September 2021 Board of Education

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education had their regular September meeting on Tuesday, September 21, 2021. Meeting at 9:30 at 1 Ashburton Place, the Board had a very unstable livestream for much of public comment, resulting in incomplete coverage of that portion here. The agenda of this meeting can be found online here. 

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Report of the Resolutions Committee

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SRO MOU Commission Public Input Survey

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) in partnership with Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) are co-chairing the School Resource Officer (SRO) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Commission. The Commission is tasked with updating its 2018 Model MOU to be used as a template for local communities to adapt to meet their needs. This Commission is seeking public input on the types of information that should be included in the MOU.

The survey is available here. Commission members are sharing the link with our community, stakeholder groups, and professional affiliations. The success rate for survey response depends on each of us and our efforts to request participation in the survey. In the introduction section of the survey links are provided explaining the purpose for the survey as well as the 2018 MOU Model and the Commission work.

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Public Policy Updates: Special August meeting, 2021

Today, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education held a special meeting to consider Commissioner Jeffrey Riley's request for authority to implement additional public health measures for all Massachusetts public schools prior to reopening for this school year, specifically masking in school buildings for all those ages five and up. Video of this meeting, which was held remotely, can be found online here. 

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Important Update on MASC/MASS Conference Registrations

Due to the ongoing COVID pandemic and the need to ensure safe and appropriate spacing for conference attendees at the MASC/MASS 2021 Joint Conference, we have had to temporarily cap the number of in-person registrations.

Registrations for on-site attendance received after FRIDAY, AUGUST 13 will be put on a waiting list. There is NO cap on virtual registrations. If the situation improves and we are able to open up more space we will invite people on the wait-list to join the conference in-person. Please indicate on the registration form if you would like to be contacted should spaces for on-site attendance become available later this fall.

Policy Update: EBCFA - Face Coverings

During the next few weeks, School Committees will be deciding whether masks will be required on school property for all or some students and staff in the 2021-2022 school year.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC), Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), and Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) have all recommended that masks or face coverings be worn in school buildings and on school grounds. While each agency strongly recommends the wearing of masks, each stopped short of requiring them. This has forced local school committees to make the determination.

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