Despite positive COVID-19 cases, Gill-Montague continuing with hybrid learning
Published: 3/10/2021 4:06:33 PM
MONTAGUE Two people connected to the Gill-Montague Regional School District have tested positive for COVID-19 within the last week. However, Superintendent Brian Beck says the situation does not rise to a level that threatens the schools’ ability to hold classes in person.
Beck said the school district cannot publicize whether the affected people are students, staff members or family members of someone with a direct connection to the district.
The cases were reported to the school district voluntarily by the affected families, Beck said. He noted that, throughout the past year, staff and students have been proactive in alerting administrators in cases when they may have been exposed to the coronavirus.
Gill-Montague School Committee stays in remote format for now
Turners Falls High School and Great Falls Middle School. Staff File Photo/PAUL FRANZ
Published: 3/10/2021 4:03:48 PM
MONTAGUE After meeting remotely for almost a year, the Gill-Montague Regional School District School Committee briefly discussed Tuesday the possibility of returning to in-person meetings. While members were interested in meeting in person, they ultimately agreed that several drawbacks still make remote meetings preferable.
School Committee Chair Jane Oakes explained that the school district having transitioned to a hybrid class model in which about half the student population is in the school building each day, and the other half is at home and communicates remotely within the last month prompted her to consider whether the School Committee should also be moving away from the virtual meeting format it has used since last March.
Area superintendents recognize student achievements
CONROD
Published: 3/3/2021 6:35:00 PM
Editor’s note: This is the first of two stories featuring the honored students across the county. The second story will appear in Friday’s edition.
Pandemics are no longer just something today’s students learn about in history or science class.
The COVID-19 public health crisis has upended normalcy around the world and thrown a monkey wrench into the routines and plans of high school students. Winners of Superintendent’s Awards typically have the recognition commemorated with a banquet dinner, but large gatherings are a no-no until the novel coronavirus is under control. Instead, the seniors selected for 2020 received their certificates from the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents in different, less ceremonial settings.
Mahar superintendent recognizes student achievement
CONROD
Modified: 3/4/2021 1:43:42 PM
By DOMENIC POLI
Pandemics are no longer just something today’s students learn about in history or science class.
The COVID-19 public health crisis has upended normalcy around the world and thrown a monkey wrench into the routines and plans of high school students. Winners of Superintendent’s Awards typically have the recognition commemorated with a banquet dinner, but large gatherings are a no-no until the novel coronavirus is under control. Instead, the seniors selected for 2020 received their certificates from the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents in different, less ceremonial settings.
But, as Ralph C. Mahar Regional School Superintendent Elizabeth Teahan-Zielinski said, “Different doesn’t mean better or worse.”
Old tiles a safety concern for Gill Elementary School, expense for town
Degrading floor tiles in Gill Elementary School at 48 Boyle Road have raised safety concerns, and will require a replacement by the town this summer. Staff Photo/Paul Franz
Published: 3/2/2021 4:34:02 PM
GILL Degrading floor tiles in Gill Elementary School have raised safety concerns, and will require a replacement by the town this summer for a price likely over $100,000.
The problem is that the tiles contain asbestos, a material that was commonly used in tiles until the 1980s, when it was found that degrading asbestos can be hazardous if inhaled.