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News Photo by Crystal Nelson
Tables in Alpena High School’s gymnasium were set up in advance of state testing which is to begin next Tuesday. Students will be spaced three feet apart during the testing.
ALPENA School districts in Northeast Michigan are preparing to administer state tests to students amid the latest surge of coronavirus.
Some Northeast Michigan school districts plan to move forward with the required testing next week, while other schools will be relying on alternate testing dates for their students, who are currently learning remotely from home.
Alcona Community Schools is among the districts that will have to test students on alternate dates. The school district transitioned to remote learning on Thursday, when a number of students and staff either tested positive or were forced to isolate because of COVID-19.
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News Photo by Crystal Nelson
Carl Seiter (far left) superintendent for Hillman Community Schools and Atlanta Community Schools, addresses the Hillman school board on Monday.
HILLMAN The Hillman Community Schools Board of Education on Monday decided it did not want to further explore consolidation with Atlanta Community Schools.
The board rejected further exploration of consolidation in a 5 to 1 vote, with Kelly Burwell, the board’s president, casting the dissenting vote.
Trustee Shanna Firman did not attend the meeting.
Burwell said she opposed the decision because she believes there are opportunities not only for students, but also for taxpayers if the two districts were to consolidate. She said the schools could expand their curriculum without losing jobs because staff could fit into other roles.
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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.
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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