Listen to the interview with Abby Getman Skillicorn.
A milestone is being reached in an effort to combat food insecurity during the pandemic in the largest city in western Massachusetts.
It is expected that today the six millionth free meal will be distributed by the Springfield Public Schools.
The emergency food program that started when school buildings closed last March has continued at 18 sites across the city where breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack can be picked up three days a week.
WAMC’s Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill spoke with Abby Getman Skillicorn, Student Engagement Manager for Home Grown Springfield the food service program of the Springfield Public Schools.
Springfield Looks to Identify and Provide Skills Students Need to Thrive
But maybe an adjective is in order to get the complete picture, pun intended.
Indeed, what the Springfield Public Schools are focused on now is creating a portrait of a successful high-school graduate, through an initiative designed to gain feedback from a host of constituencies regarding the skills as in all the skills that young people will need to not only earn a high-school diploma, but thrive in an ever-changing, technology-driven economy.
And this portrait will become a valuable blueprint of sorts as school administrators go about creating a new strategic plan for the city’s public schools, said Superintendent Dan Warwick, who stressed repeatedly that Portrait of a Graduate is very much a community-driven process that will define success for Springfield students, including the values, knowledge, skills, and work habits they will need to thrive as learners, workers, and leaders.
Springfield Public Schools begin vaccinating educators and school staff
451 doses were given out at Saturday’s clinic and administered by Cascade Health Solutions.
Posted: Jan 30, 2021 1:45 PM
Updated: Jan 30, 2021 9:01 PM
Posted By: Kennedy Dendy
SPRINGFIELD, Ore. Springfield educators rolled up their sleeves Saturday to receive their first dose of the Moderna vaccine.
There were 451 doses given out at Saturday’s clinic, all administered by Cascade Health Solutions.
Springfield Public Schools received an allocation of 324 doses this week, with an additional 87 going to smaller districts. District officials told KEZI 9 News extra doses were able to be extracted Saturday, so they were able to vaccinate more people than they intended.
Springfield set to vaccinate educators this weekend
This clinic is not open to the public.
Posted: Jan 28, 2021 7:58 PM
Updated: Jan 29, 2021 2:56 PM
Posted By: Connor McCarthy
SPRINGFIELD, Ore. Springfield Public Schools will start vaccinating staff this Saturday.
The Springfield school district was allocated 324 doses by the state. Also Saturday at the same location, another 87 doses will be given to rural districts such as Marcola, Lowell, and Oakridge.
Brett Yancey, chief operating officer for SPS, said teachers, specialists, and operations staff at elementary schools are a priority. That’s been a difficult conversation that we’ve had, Yancey said. The way that we’re handling it is anyone who s here in-person we have to prioritize and we’re hoping to follow up quickly with the rest of our employees.