cnelson@thealpenanews.com
News photo by Crystal Nelson
Amy Corbin, second from right, president of the Atlanta Community Schools Board of Education, speaks during a special board workshop between the Atlanta school board and the Hillman Community Schools Board of Education held on Monday in Atlanta.
ATLANTA Talks about whether Atlanta Community Schools and Hillman Community Schools should consolidate are underway.
Trustees with the Atlanta and Hillman boards of education on Monday spent nearly 90 minutes discussing the potential for consolidation, before agreeing each board should vote on whether to pursue the matter further during its next board meeting.
No formal decisions were made during the special workshop held in Atlanta.
cnelson@thealpenanews.com
News Photo by Crystal Nelson
Ella White Elementary School crossing guard Jennifer Huotari helps a family cross the intersection near 3rd Avenue and Ripley Boulevard on Thursday.
ALPENA Alpena Public Schools administrators recommend the district’s Board of Education stop emergency COVID-19-related sick leave to the district’s employees.
Federal coronavirus relief measures initially mandated employers to provide paid sick leave for absences related to the virus. When that mandate expired at the end of the year, Congress allowed employers to continue the sick leave through March 31, but employers would have to pay for the leave themselves.
cnelson@thealpenanews.com
ALPENA Students will continue to receive free school meals through the end of the school year.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently extended waivers that allow schools to continue to provide meals at no cost to all children through June 30. The waivers also allow parents or guardians to pick-up meals for their children.
The USDA had previously extended free meals through December 31, based on funding available at that time.
Alpena Public Schools Superintendent David Rabbideau said the decision is good news for the district’s students and families.
“We know that students learn better when they are fed, and it is wonderful that the USDA has committed to doing what it can to make sure all students are fed on a regular basis,” Rabbideau said. “Parents should not have to worry about having access to or being able to afford healthy meals for their children. This decision takes that worry off of parents and students and that is a tremendous
United Way of Northeast Michigan
Last month, Anne Gentry (my daughter) wrote an article, “Couldn’t we all use a Clarence?”, telling the story of the angel named Clarence from the movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life”.
Clarence helps George Bailey discover how his life has touched so many and to never forget the influence that one life has on so many.
Yes, Anne, we could all use a Clarence and a Dudley.
Dudley, played by Cary Grant, is an angel from the movie “The Bishop’s Wife” who comes in answer to a prayer from Bishop Henry Brougham. Bishop Henry is trying to build a grand cathedral and has lost sight of his wife, family, friends and his values as he has to deal with a stubborn, wealthy widow donor.