jwhittaker@post-journal.com
Dr. Kevin Whitaker, Jamestown Public Schools superintendent, is pictured at a school board meeting over the summer. Whitaker said federal aid to the state could help the districtâs budget issues.
P-J file photo
Even the smaller of two state budgets proposed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo is good news for the Jamestown Public Schools District.
On Tuesday, Cuomo proposed two state budgets one which uses $6 billion in aid from the federal government and one with $15 billion aid from the federal government. From a practical standpoint, Cuomo’s proposed budget only assumes the $6 billion in federal aid. In order to cover the rest of the $9 billion state budget shortfall, Cuomo said New York will need to borrow, raise taxes and slash state spending for local governments and social services. He said New York would spend $600 million less on Medicaid and continue $900 million in 5% across-the-board spending reductions.
6:00 am, May. 30, 2020 ×
The Jamestown hands out these bravos this week:
Bravo to Don Altringer of Jamestown, who has played taps during Memorial Day ceremonies for 65 years. Altringer, a Navy veteran and member of the Jamestown Drum and Bugle Corps, says it s an honor and a privilege to play for every veteran.
Bravo to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for approving permanent road repairs for flooded roads in North Dakota. Previously it allowed only temporary road repairs which would then have to be removed once floodwaters receded. This allows FEMA to participate in helping with road grade raises for routes that provide emergency or sole access for residents in the area. Although the change is welcome, the townships still face hurdles for their local share for repair costs.
Jamestown Public School Board approves a return to a standard classroom schedule. Written By: Keith Norman | ×
Students will return to the classroom five days per week later in January after the approval of the Jamestown Public School Board.
The board unanimously approved the change during a special meeting Wednesday. We are going to instruction plan 1, said Rob Lech, superintendent of the school. Full days, full weeks.
The new schedule goes into effect Tuesday, Jan. 19, which is the first day of the new semester. The first day of the five-day-per-week schedule will be the week of Jan. 25.
Schools within the Jamestown Public School District started the year in a hybrid mode with elementary school students attending class five days per week and middle and high school students attending in the classrooms two days per week and distance learning for three days each week.
A recap of the major stories of the Jamestown area not related to the coronavirus pandemic. Written By: Keith Norman | ×
The reconstruction of the football field and outdoor track has started this fall on the University of Jamestown campus. John M. Steiner / The Sun
While the coronavirus pandemic held most of the area s attention for the past 12 months, there were other milestone events occurring in Jamestown and the surrounding area. Here are some of the other top stories of the year:
Economic development
The announcement of one project and the continuation of plans for another kept much of the region s economic development focus on the Spiritwood Energy Park Association industrial park through 2020.