THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2020 Page 13 The Coronavirus Count Revere has 6th highest rating in state for COVID-19 O ver the past week, the number of confi rmed COVID-19 cases in Revere increased from 1,701 to 1,733 – a 1.9 percent increase, according to the latest weekly city/town cases available Wednesday. Revere has the 6th highest rate in the state, with an average of 2,844.89 per 100,000. Of the 7,303 people who were tested for COVID-19, 23.73 percent tested positive. People are able to compare the number of COVID-19 cases TEACHERS | FROM PAGE 1 of contractual grievance procedures are not considered by the administration when decisions are made on renewing contracts. “The District does not comment on individual personnel matters; however, every year administrators review all teachers,” said Kelly. “In regard to teachers without professional teacher status…consistent with Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 71 determines which teachers to return to work for the subsequent year. This year was no diff erent than the previous years in that some teachers without professional teacher status were issued notices of non-renewal for the upcoming school year,” she added. Teachers earn professional teacher status after teaching for three years and one day. Both Cochrane and DeVincent were one day short of achieving that status. And both Cochrane and DeVincent said that they were rated as either profi cient or exemplary in all categories of their performance evaluations in previous years. However, after filing their grievances, they were rated as teachers in need of improvement. “It hurts me to think that people feel this decision was retaliatory,” said School Committee member Fredrick Sannella. “From what I understand from the superintendent and people who had a supervisory role, the decision not to renew the contracts was due to job performance, and we should leave it at that.” Sannella said the RTA’s support FATHER’S DAY | FROM PAGE 5 I refl ect on that this Father’s Day, hopeful that I live the genuine appreciation for “giving” that my Dad imparted to me. When we give, and when we truly savor the act of giving of ourselves, we can make for a better world. Our nation, our City, and every one of us face unique demands in 2020. If we pause, and remember what is important in confi rmed in Revere to those in neighboring cities and towns as well as communities of similar size by going to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) website at https:// www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-response-reporting. Click on COVID-19 cases by city/town. Chelsea (7,659.63 per 100,000), Brockton (4,246.39 per 100,000) and Lawrence (3,904.69 per 100,000) have the highest rates in the state for people testing positive for the Coronavirus. for the teachers is the union doing their job and protecting their membership. But Anthony D’Ambrosio, who is also a member of the School Committee, feels Revere teachers, whom he called some of the hardest working and most valuable members of the community, should be heard. “In a time when the rights of working Americans across the country have come under siege, I fully support the eff orts of Revere educators. They have bargained collectively for the right to engage in grievance procedures, and it is their constitutional right to demonstrate publicly when they feel as though their rights have been undermined,” said D’Ambrosio. “If we are to commit ourselves to the protection of all working Americans, we must jointly commit ourselves to supporting Revere’s teachers,” he added. Both Cochrane and DeVincent said they have been treated unfairly and the decision not to renew their contracts had nothing to do with their work as educators. DeVincent said it doesn’t look good for a teacher if a contract is not renewed after three years, and the most important thing for her and Cochrane is to tell their truth and clear their names. Meanwhile, 1,081 people have now signed an online petition launched by the RTA calling on the district to reinstate Cochrane, DeVincent and Kantrowitz. “This action from Revere is insulting, unacceptable, anti-union and bad for teachers and students,” said the RTA. our lives, if we refl ect on the importance and purpose of giving, we will not only survive this tumultuous year, we will all be better for it. As a Father, I am resolved to instill that awareness in my children. As a Mayor, I aspire to exemplify it for our community. Father’s Day is an opportune time for all of us to think about it, and when we live it, all the good that will come of it will be another reason to say “wow” about 2020. Here’s how nine other area communities compare to Revere: Lynn: 3,548 cases, 3,516.24 per 100,000 (5th highest in state). Revere: 1,733 cases, 2,844.89 per 100,000 (6th highest in state). Everett: 1,724 cases, 3,551.97 per 100,000 (4th highest in state). Malden: 1,211 cases, 1,787.36 per 100,000 (30th highest in state). Peabody: 969 cases, 1,737.62 per 100,000. Saugus: 553 cases, 1,945.44 per 100,000 (21st highest in state). Wakefi eld: 309 cases, 1,144.24 per 100,000. Melrose: 240 cases, 829.81 per 100,000. Reading: 293 cases, 1,066.08 per 100,000. Lynnfi eld: 93 cases, 798.35 per 100,000. Statewide totals: 101,654 cases, 1,459.12 per 100,000. (Data compiled by DPH and made public as of June 17, 2020, count and rate [per 100,000] of confirmed COVID-10 cases in Massachusetts by city/town, January 1, 2020– June 17, 2020.) On its website, the DPH noted that the rate specifying the number of cases per 100,000 “provides a standardized way to compare the burden of disease in cities and towns regardless of the size of their population.” The DPH stressed “these are reported cases only.” Space for Lease 3 Large Rooms, each with Large Walk-in Storage Area. or Aerobics Studio. Located at Route 1 South at Walnut Street. Rollerworld Plaza, Route 1 South, 425 Broadway, Saugus. Call Michelle at: 781-233-9507
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