Message from Superintendent Salim
Our hearts go out to families and residents of East Cambridge affected by yesterday's fire. The school department is part of an extensive coordinated response with state and local officials and our schools have been reaching out to families and staff in the affected neighborhood.
If you were directly affected by the fire and have not yet connected with emergency responders, please contact: 800.564.1234.
How to Help:
Support for Students & Staff
We know that more than 40 students from across CPS may have been directly affected by the fire, due to the way our school assignment process distributes families. Teachers, staff, families, and students have been displaced - some temporarily, others for the foreseeable future. As officials assess the damage, we are also coordinating with local agencies to ensure these students and staff members receive every available assistance.
Agencies actively working with affected families include: City Manager’s Office, Office of the Mayor, American Red Cross, Cambridge Fire Department, Massachusetts Emergency Management System, Cambridge Public Health and Health Alliance. The Red Cross is coordinating extensive outreach to affected individuals and sharing that information with the City and School Department.
In addition to the services offered through this collaboration, we are working with Riverside Trauma Center to and school-based counselors to reach out to students and staff in order to offer support to anyone wishing to speak with someone about this traumatic experience.
We know that as a community, we will pull together -- and our schools will be a refuge of calm and caring for students affected by this tragic event.
Resources
Cambridge Emergency Response Resources