THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, November 20, 2020 Page 15 INFORMATION| FROM PAGE 5 families and caregivers of the district’s highest needs students to gauge their status. The goal is to ensure the students are receiving an adequate level of services they require to continue on a positive path of success, according to fi rst-year Assistant Superintendent of Student Services Pamela MacDonald. Assistant Supt. MacDonald, who was hired and began work in mid-September, gave an update on the Special Ed Department’s actions at the Nov. 9 Malden School Committee meeting, which was held virtually via Zoom Webinar. MacDonald reported that about 80 percent of all the Special Ed families or caregivers have been contacted and their needs evaluated, with about 200 of approximately 1,000 families left to go. She said most of the elementary and middle school students’ families had been contacted and had their concerns, if any, noted, addressed or in the process of being addressed. “We’ve made a lot of progress in rebuilding our relationships with a lot of families,” MacDonald said. “Any families with issues needing to be addressed we have followed-up with individual attention.” The Assistant Superintendent said the individual family contact process, which is being followed in conjunction with a School Committee request earlier this year, spearheaded by Members Michelle Luong (Ward 7) and Adam Weldai (Ward 5), has taken additional time partly due to the necessity of using a translation service. Some questions and explanations are being made to some parents of diverse cultures whose home language is not English. “I like how things are coming along overall,” Luong said at the meeting. “I know there are still some parents of students in the elementary grades who have not been contacted, but I am sure you will get to them soon.” Ward 3 School Committee Member Jennifer Spadafora asked about outreach to families of students who are being educated out-of-district by outside agencies. “Those students should be audited, too,” Spadafora said. MacDonald confi rmed there were just over 90 families of out-of-district students and noted that well over 90 percent of those students are in in-person learning situations out of sheer necessity, and there has been little interruption of that education mode, despite the onset of the pandemic. As for the in-district, highneeds Special Ed students, MacDonald said, “We are determining for these students, ‘Where were you on March 11 [when all schools were shut down]? How do we get you back to that level?’” “All of our special needs students have regressed, and our next question is how do we address that regression?” MacDonald added. She said ideas being discussed include extra learning sessions during February and April vacations, a potential “Saturday School” series and possible extended school year programs. Malden Board of Appeal grants two variances, allows another petitioner to withdraw The Malden Board of Appeal granted two variances and allowed another petitioner to withdraw, with the advice to apply again to be heard at a future meeting. These actions and others were taken at the Board of Appeal’s virtual meeting, which this month was telecast Wednesday evening on the Malden Access Television/Urban Media Arts YouTube livestream on the MATV/ UVA website. The Board approved, 4-1, a variance to petitioners Seth and Makeda Brown to make interior improvements to their residence at 48 Boylston St. which will enhance their ability to maintain a dressmaking small business operation out of their home. Unanimous approval, 5-0, was given for a petition by Thomas and Patricia Mahoney, 100 Bainbridge St., to add a small addition to the rear of their home as well as to make interior changes to the first fl oor or their two-family home. Previously, the Mahoneys lived on the second fl oor and other family members had occupied the four-room downstairs living space. In order for them to continue living in the community, Thomas Mahoney said, the longtime residents would like to add space in one section of the home and create a larger space in the middle by knocking down a wall between the existing living room and dining room. Three members of the public, including Ward Four Councillor Ryan O’Malley and two neighbors, Ed Arbo and Ann Lacey, spoke in favor of the petition during the public comment period, as did Malden Building Inspector Nelson Miller. The Board approved a request by a representative of the owner of 72 Bowers Ave. to withdraw a petition without prejudice seeking to replace an existing, nonconforming patio deck with a larger, enclosed space. When it became apparent the existing plan would be approved for a larger space, advising the petitioner that a revised plan for a smaller replacement deck would be viewed more favorably, the petition was withdrawn. It is expected a new plan will be submitted before a future meeting. A fourth petition discussed at Wednesday’ meeting was also withdrawn when it was discovered in the course of questioning that the name of the owner of a residence at 34 Pamela Circle was incorrectly listed in both the legal advertisement and the petition. A person representing the petitioner was advised by Building Inspector Miller that the legal ad was a legal document for future reference and that problems could arise in future reviews of petitions regarding this property. The representative expressed concern over the cost of re-advertising the petition, preferably before the next meeting in December, but realized there was no other option and agreed to follow that route and resubmit the petition and properly advertise with the correct name. MRA Board approves $23,717 in change orders to Trafton Park rehab project The Malden Redevelopment Authority (MRA) Board of Directors at its regular monthly meeting Tuesday night approved several changes to the Trafton Park rehabilitation project, totaling just over $23,000. The changes will not drive up the cost of the project since the funds have been pledged to be covered by the mitigation fund accounts of City Councillors David Camell (Ward 6), Steve Winslow (Councillor-at-Large), Debbie DeMaria (Councillor-at-Large) and Craig Spadafora (Councillor-at-Large), according to MRA Executive Director Deborah Burke. The additional changer orders include the removal of additional ledge, which was not foreseen in the original plan, costing an additional $7,900; the removal of a dead tree, which apparently is in danger of falling down in heavy winds, at a cost of $4,000; and the replacement of four leaching basins fi lled with clay and silt, which will come to $12,127. The construction began last month on the $625,000 project and it is expected to be completed by late spring, 2021. Mystic Valley Elder Services receives sock donation from Bombas B ombas, a national sock manufacturer, recently donated 1,000 pairs of socks to Mystic Valley Elder Services (MVES) to provide to the agency’s inneed individuals. Bombas is a comfort-focused sock and apparel brand with a mission to help those in need. One pair purchased = one pair donated. Literally hundreds of low-income people will benefi t from Bombas’ generosity with socks being distributed by MVES care managers as well as through MVES philanthropic partnerships with the North Suburban WIC Program/MelroseWakefi eld Healthcare’s Mobile Food Market and Bread of Life. Bombas has donated more than 43 million clothing items, including socks. Residents Josephine Orloff and Jill Carter of the Senior Housing Apartment Building received some pairs of Bombas socks from MVES. Josephine Orloff Jill Carter Malden resident Linehan to perform in virtual “Christmas Carol” this holiday season M alden resident Mark Linehan will be performing in The Hanover Theatre’s production of “A Christmas Carol Reimagined” this holiday season, with video on-demand performances streaming online from Dec. 11 to Dec. 21. Linehan, a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association and cochair of the Malden Cultural Council, has performed live in The Hanover Theatre’s stage production of “A Christmas Carol” for the past three holiday seasons, and he is returning this year to the virtual and remote production as Jacob Marley and other roles. Viewers who buy access to the fi lmed theatrical production will receive a web link and instructions by email to watch or download the show Mark Linehan at home, plus some fun recipes to make the most of the at-home viewing experience. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https:// thehanovertheatre.org/accreimagined. Ticket prices start at $5 for seniors, students and artists.
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