September 20, 2021

Dear Neighbors,

Today, Mayor Bowser announced that DC Public Schools (DCPS) will now
require that all teachers, school building staff, childcare facilities, and
workers in regular contact with children must be vaccinated against
COVID-19 by November 1st. This eliminates the "test-out" option where staff
had the option to be tested on a weekly basis in lieu of getting
vaccinated. It was also announced that all student athletes aged 12 and
older will also be required to be vaccinated by November 1st in order to
participate in school-based sports. These are very welcome changes, but
today's announcement only partly addressed [1]the many DCPS COVID-19 policy
concerns raised by families, school advocates, and members of the Council.

One clear example of an outstanding policy shortcoming is excluding
siblings from excused absences/remote learning opportunities when a student
tests positive for COVID-19. In this scenario, a sibling within the same
household as a child who tests positive is not considered an exposure risk.
The protocol of requiring that that exposed student attend school—without
so much as a negative test result—defies logic and all that we know about
how this virus spreads. We have spent weeks trying to work through these
types of problems with DCPS' Central Office, only to have announcements
like today's fall short. All students aged 12 and up for whom it is
medically safe, not just student athletes, should be vaccinated. Moreover,
schools need to be properly supported in order to move lunch and classrooms
outside. Students must be adequately distanced. Vaccine clinics should be
located at all of our schools where students can be vaccinated. A virtual
option must be provided.

Tomorrow at 1:00 pm, the Council is holding a virtual public roundtable to
hear from students, parents, and members of our school community on the
experience of the first few weeks of in-person learning. The Council is
evaluating an emergency legislative response to outstanding DCPS
coronavirus protocol and policy concerns. The Committee of the Whole
limited the number of witnesses for the roundtable, but please do not
hesitate to share your experiences and suggestions by submitting testimony
to the committee ([2]here) or by reaching out to my office's [3]Legislative
Director. To watch the hearing live, please tune in to Channel 13 or watch
online: [4]here.

Regards,

Mary

Additional Details from Today's DCPS Announcement:

On Wednesday afternoons, school testing data for the previous week will be
posted on coronavirus.dc.gov

Adults Included in the School Worker Vaccination Requirement Include:

DCPS Reporting Protocols

Continuing Incentives for Youth Vaccinations

Our Office is Open

Connect with our staff - While Councilmember Cheh's physical office is
closed during the public health emergency, she and her staff are
teleworking and will remain accessible for residents.

You may continue to reach us via phone through our main line at (202)
724-8062 with legislative ideas, budget requests, and constituent services
requests.

[5]Facebook [6]Twitter

FOLLOW MARY

References

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4. [link removed]
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Mary Cheh
Mary Cheh Ward 3
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NWSuite 108
Washington, DC 20004
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