Page 4 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2021 School Dept. releases revised plan for hybrid learning Offi cials quell fears about premature rollout By Christopher Roberson T he School Committee, during its January 19 meeting, voted unanimously to approve two changes regarding the implementation of the district’s hybrid learning model. When the meeting began, there was a tremendous amount of concern from parents and from the Everett Teachers Association (ETA) about the rollout of the hybrid model. School Committee Member-at-Large Millie Cardello said that in one day she received more than 400 emails pointing toward an overall lack of communication regarding the transition. However, Cardello said everyone’s patience has been frayed by the pressure of the pandemic, which has been ravaging the country for the past 10 months. “This is a time when everyone is upset – it’s gone on so long,” she said. Lawrence A. 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Open an account and order online at: www.angelosoil.com (781) 231-3500 (781) 231-3003 367 LINCOLN AVE • SAUGUS • OPEN 7 DAYS Chairman Frank Parker assured parents and the ETA that the committee was only voting on changes to the hybrid model and not on its full implementation. “We’re simply revising a document that was created last August,” he said. As the city’s COVID-19 metrics remain high, the first change will be to gradually phase in hybrid learning by grade and student groups rather than bringing everyone back all at once. The second change will be to make the timing of the transition contingent on the availability of the vaccine. Superintendent of Schools Priya Tahiliani said the city has requested 950 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from Moderna and that clinics will be available for all school employees. “We have been going above and beyond on this front,” she said, adding that the fi rst clinic is scheduled for February 6. A third change, which was postponed to the committee’s next meeting, is to change the scheduling from students being in school every other week to students being in school on Mondays and Tuesdays as well as on Thursdays and Fridays. Wednesdays would be reserved for remote learning while the schools are cleaned. Tahiliani also shared results from the ongoing survey pertaining to the implementation of the hybrid model. “The hybrid school day is not going to look like a regular school day,” she said, adding that students will have lunch in their classrooms as well as adhering to a myriad of other health and safety measures. She said that thus far approximately 2,000 families have responded to the survey. Within that group, 61 percent of the respondents with 11th grade students supported sending their children back to school under the hybrid model. In addition, Tahiliani said both rapid and pool testing will be used during hybrid learning. She also said 64 percent of the families surveyed said they would allow the district to share their child’s COVID-19 test results. “We fi nally see a path before us for hybrid learning,” said Tahiliani. “I do believe it would be a mistake not to take it.” Baker “pocket vetoes” An Act creating a next-generation roadmap for Massachusetts climate policy B y January 14, 10 days after the legislature enacted S.2995, An Act creating a next-generation roadmap for Massachusetts climate policy, Governor Charlie Baker had not acted on the bill, which constituted a “pocket veto.” In a January 14 letter to the Massachusetts Legislature, Governor Baker said, “While I support the bill’s goals and am largely in agreement with many of its proposals, 35 hours was not enough time to review and suggest amendments to such complex legislation. …there are certain provisions in this bill to which I cannot agree. Had this bill been presented to me with more time while the Legislature was still in session, I would have returned it with amendments….the Massachusetts economy is just beginning to recover from the pandemic downturn caused by…COVID-19. As we are all learning what the future will hold, I have concerns about the impacts portions of this bill will have for large sectors of the economy.” Prior to the pocket veto, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan had announced that she and Berkshire District Attorney Andrea Harrington, Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey, Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins and Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan had sent a letter to Governor Charlie Baker to express their strong support for the bill and to urge him to sign it into law. The letter stated, “This legislation is needed now more than ever as climate has long been associated with trends in incidents of criminal activity… Similarly, environmental conditions are intertwined with inequality, economic standing and other factors that lead to crime.” Prices subject to change New Year! H Happy Ne FLEET
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