2/16/2021
‘It’s going to be much better’
Vincent Ceceri, left, a kindergartner, and his brother Gianni, a 4th-grader at Potter-Burns Elementary School in Pawtucket, virtually learning at home. Their mom, Destini Ceceri, said she’s happy that the School Committee voted to allow students to return to in-person learning next month, adding that Gianni jumped up and down when he heard the news.
Parents relieved, excited children can return to school
PAWTUCKET – When Rayna Tomasian told her daughter Alayna, a 1st-grader at Varieur Elementary School, that she would be able to return to school next month, the 6-year-old smiled from ear to ear and ran to hug her mother.
2/16/2021
Bumpy road ahead as leaders prep for students’ voluntary return
PAWTUCKET – The last school district in Rhode Island to send students back into schools will be doing so for only a few months before the 2020-2021 school year comes to a close.
After facing mounting pressure from parents who want the option to send their children back to school, the Pawtucket School Committee reversed course last week and voted to approve the superintendent’s school reopening plan, leaving School Department officials to scramble to figure out the logistics from busing, substitute teacher shortages, reshuffling of schedules, and more.
The School Committee had voted in January to reject Supt. Cheryl McWilliams’ reopening plan and continue with distance learning through the end of the school year, but voted unanimously during its Feb. 9 virtual meeting to accept her gradual reopening plan.
Feeding the front line, whooping cranes, stadium crowds: News from around our 50 states From USA TODAY Network and wire reports, USA TODAY
Alabama
Montgomery: Vaccines against COVID-19 will soon be available at more than 70 Walmart and Sam’s Club stores across Alabama, the company and the state announced. The retailer said people who meet the state’s eligibility requirements can begin signing up for appointments, and the immunizations begin Friday. Part of the program’s aim is to get the vaccine into areas without adequate medical services, the company said. That includes the south Alabama town of Brewton, which the company said was chosen to get the vaccine because other immunization sites are so far away. More than 1,000 Walmart and Sam’s Club pharmacies in Alabama and 21 other states are receiving federal vaccine allocations this week. Gov. Kay Ivey said the state was grateful for the doses but urged patience since each store will have a limited supply
Each year in the General Assembly there are truly stupid bills submitted — ones that are poorly drafted, with ridiculous concepts, or are just unconstitutional, but this year the Rhode Island State Senate is pushing legislation that is simply cruel.
Pawtucket School Committee votes to return to in-person learning
PAWTUCKET The School Committee Tuesday night unanimously approved an in-person return to school for most of its students, a plan they had unanimously rejected a month ago.
Pawtucket was the only district out of 60-plus districts to remain in remote learning, a move that left many parents furious and demanding in previous meetings that the committee reverse its decision.
The plan now calls for bringing back elementary students March 1, middle school students (grades 7 and 8) March 15 and returning high school students on a hybrid schedule March 29.
Parents will have the option to choose remote learning.