Newsom signs $6.6B bill to expand in-person learning
Ridgecrest Daily Independent
Governor Gavin Newsom signed a $6.6 billion package on Friday intended to accelerate the return of in-person instruction in California.
A portion of funds $2 billion will go toward safety measures to support in-person learning. The other $4.6 billion will go toward expanded learning opportunities, including summer school, tutoring, mental health services and more.
“This package of funding and supports for our schools recognizes that in-person education is essential to meet not only the learning needs, but [also] the mental health and social-emotional needs of our kids – especially the youngest and the most vulnerable,” Newsom said.
When it comes to pandemic damage, Ridgecrest has fared better than many places, according to Mark Schniepp.
Ridgecrest lost far fewer jobs and rebounded more quickly than the rest of Kern County and California and can likely look forward to a good future along with the rest of the Indian Wells Valley assuming recovery from the pandemic continues, he said.
Schniepp, who is Director of the California Economic Forecast in Santa Barbara, was the keynote speaker at the virtual Indian Wells Valley Economic Outlook Conference Feb. 25.
Employment in Ridgecrest only went down around 4% at the worst last April, as compared to nearly 16% for both the state and Kern County at the same time. Job loss was at its greatest shortly after the first statewide shelter-in-place order went into effect last March.
Immanuel CDC staff get vaccinated in Ridgecrest ridgecrestca.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from ridgecrestca.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Ridgecrest Daily Independent
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that California’s Central Valley region can expect an increase in vaccine allocations, some arriving as soon as this week.
Kern County will receive 78% more vaccines compared to last week, while the Central Valley will receive 58% more, Newsom announced during a trip to Arvin.
Nearly 15,000 vaccinations will ship to Kern County alone, but despite this increase, Kern needs more vaccines.
“As of this week, Kern County has only received enough vaccine to cover 43% of our [65+] population,” said Brynn Carrigan, Kern County Public Health Department Director, during the Kern County Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday morning.
Economist who predicted COVID-19 crash last year to speak Thursday ridgecrestca.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from ridgecrestca.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.