YOUR LOCAL NEWS & SPORTS ONLINE. SCAN HERE! Vol. 34, No.34 -FREEwww.advocatenews.net Free Every Friday All Abilities Day at Revere Beach a Great Success R 781-286-8500 Friday, August 23, 2024 RHS Principal announces cell phone-free policy to begin this year By Barbara Taormina evere High Principal Chris Bowen and Deputy Principal Caitlyn Reilly met with the School Committee this week to discuss the district’s cell phone and attendance policies. Bowen said the focus for the upcoming year will be the goal of a cell phone-free environment with a focus on implementation of the policy. The day-today steps of that implementation will require more involvement from administrators, staff and teachers. Bowen said it would be imA DAY AT THE BEACH: Commissioner Ralph DeCicco with help from the City’s Parks & Recreation Dept. members, shown seated, Gemma Stamatopoulos and Junaida Sosa. Shown standing, Anwar Ichcha, Stephanie Phan, Joe Flaherty, and Mohamed Belkhina during All Abilities Day at Revere Beach. See photo highlights on page 8. (Advocate photo) City of Revere Announces First-Time Homebuyer Downpayment Assistance Program Special to Th e Advocate T he City of Revere’s Aff ordable Housing Trust Fund has announced the formal launch of Revere’s First-Time Homebuyer Downpayment Assistance Program, which opened up for applications on Monday, August 19. First-time homebuyers with at least two years of established Revere residency and who meet income eligibility guidelines are eligible for up to $10,000 toward the purchase of a home in Revere in the form of a fully forgivable loan. Over a fi ve-year period, 20% of the loan is forgiven each year, if you use the home as your only residence. After fi ve years, the loan is converted to a grant. No payments are required of the applicant unless the home is sold, refinanced or ownership transferred during the five-year period. Funds may be used to purchase a condominium or singlefamily home at an aff ordable rate or market price rate. If purchasing a two-to-three-family home, the applicant must enter into an agreement with the city and the state to rent all non-owner-occupied units below market rate in accordance with state guidelines. This assistance is provided on a first come, first served basis until funds are exhausted. Applicants must be approved for a fi xed-rate primary mortgage loan with a lender (no cash buyers) and must apply prior to signing a purchase and sales agreement. Funding for this program was made possible via an earmark in the state budget toward the Aff ordable Housing Trust Fund for this purpose in partnership with Senator Lydia Edwards and Representatives Jessica Giannino and Jeff rey Turco, along with matching funds from the Aff ordable Housing Trust Fund — aligned with Mayor Patrick Keefe’s priority of advocating for aff ordable fi rst-time homeownership opportunities in Revere. “The Aff ordable Housing Trust Fund board voted unanimously to approve this program and we are excited for the opportunity to support fi rst-time homebuyers in Revere,” said Joe Gravellese, Mayor Keefe’s appointee as chair of the Aff ordable Housing Trust Fund’s Board of Trustees. “We are grateful for Mayor Keefe’s ongoing advocacy for helping Revere residents put down roots in the community, and for Senator Edwards, Rep. Giannino and Rep. Turco’s advocacy for these funds at the state level.” To be considered for the program, homebuyers are asked to submit a completed application, along with supporting documentation and proof of eligibility and priority status, until funding is exhausted. Applications, along with complete income and eligibility guidelines, are available at: City of Revere, Offi ce of Planning and Community Development, Mezzanine Level, Revere, MA 02151, or online via www.revere. org. For additional information, please contact Lorena Escolero at lescolero@revere.org. portant to begin with whole school messaging about the policy, including opening day assemblies at each school that outline cell phone rules. The district plans to also reach out to parents and caregivers to inform them of the rules and to share information about the problems big tech and social media often cause for adolescents and teens. All phones must be put away or out of sight and sound during classes. Any device that is turned on or making noise is subject to confi scation by the teacher or staff . According to the student handbook, there may also be additional disciplinary action and families will be notifi ed. Students are allowed to use their cell phones during lunch and free periods. “There will be lock boxes in each classroom to securely store phones during class,” Bowen told the committee. There have been some thefts of phones and students have Christopher Bowen RHS Principal complained about the lack of security. But the main difference is there will be an “all hands-on deck” strategy that will allow teachers to send out an email to fellow educators, administrators and staff when they are facing a problem with a student who refuses to surrender a phone. Fellow staff will go to the classroom to assist a teacher and avoid a confrontation. Committee members were pleased to hear administrators would be helping teachers implement a diffi cult and unpopular policy. “It’s good to take the teachers out of the equation,” said Committee member Anthony Caggiano. The committee asked about the cell phone policy at the middle schools, but Superintendent Dianne Kelly said it’s not a problem with middle school students. They are more compliant and not likely to refuse to give up a phone that a teacher has asked for, said Kelly. RHS PRINCIPAL | SEE Page 6
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