LYNN NEWS ROUND-UP
AUGUST 6, 2020

See our other COVID-19 related posts by clicking here.

We are currently working on gathering information and videos for the MA State Elections that impact Lynn. Basic information about voting has been added on our Election section, found by clicking here, and we will update that section with more information.

Lynn Public Schools will begin with remote learning, starting Sept. 16th

Last night the Lynn School Committee voted unanimously to move forward with remote learning in the Lynn Public Schools for the fall. This comes as new 14-day numbers released by the state show a 6.1% positivity rate of COVID-19 in Lynn, the highest in the state and well above the 1.82% state average.

The first day of remote learning is currently scheduled for September 16th, but the entire year may not consist of remote learning. The School Committee is set to assess if a hybrid model can be utilized later this year, currently said to be for on or about November 20th. At that time the committee members will look over data for both the state and city to determine if the school year should continue remote or not.

According to School Committee member Brain Castellanos on Facebook, “They will be developing an orientation for students and families. The new Learning Management System will be a great tool to help with adjusting with remote learning. Professional development is being offered. The Superintendent will be releasing more information that is family friendly and easier to understand. Also DESE just released guidance last night. I’ll take a look at how they want districts to move on this system.”

Recently Superintendent Tutwiler participated in a panel discussion from the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce about reopening schools. You can watch that talk with regional education leaders on YouTube by clicking here.

At this time information is still scarce in regards to exactly what students and families can expect for fully remote learning this year. It is important to note that while the school year will begin remotely there will be special exemptions made for in-person learning. This will be offered to special education students and English Language Learners. We have reached out to the Lynn Public Schools for more information on the remote learning model, and will share when we receive this information.

Last night there were a number of slides used to explain the remote learning process. Here is a gallery of these slides, courtesy of Castellanos, along with the 2020-2021 calendar. Please note that these slides contain information that is subject to change, based off information the Superintendent & his team receive.

Lynn Public Schools – Remote Learning Slides & 2020-21 Calendar

Below is the full School Committee meeting available on YouTube:

We will update as we receive more information.

Read the 3rd family update letter from the Superintendent by clicking here for English. & clicking here for Spanish.

Read about upcoming LPS virtual town halls by clicking here.

Visit the LPS website’s Reopening section by clicking here.

Happy 15th anniversary to The Food Project

MassDevelopment Bond Helps Centerboard, Inc. Create Temporary Housing for Homeless Residents

MassDevelopment has issued a $7,080,800 tax-exempt bond for Centerboard, Inc., a Lynn nonprofit focused on increasing economic opportunities for North Shore residents. Centerboard will use bond proceeds to buy, renovate, and equip six properties that will be used as temporary housing or programming space for homeless families and individuals. The organization will also use bond proceeds to refinance previously issued debt for nine additional properties that were purchased and renovated for the same purposes. Altogether, the 15 properties, located in Beverly, Lynn, Peabody, and Salem, offer 46 units of rehabilitated housing. Citizens Bank purchased the bond.

“The challenges homeless individuals face today are more critical than ever,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Lauren Liss. “MassDevelopment is proud to once again be a resource for Centerboard, Inc. as the organization develops housing for those in need and continues offering important services throughout the North Shore.”

MassDevelopment has previously provided financing for numerous Centerboard Inc. facilities and projects. In April 2014, MassDevelopment provided a $1,125,000 loan to help Centerboard buy and renovate its current headquarters at 16 City Hall Square in Lynn; in November 2017, Centerboard crowdfunded $20,360 and received a $20,000 matching grant from MassDevelopment’s Commonwealth Places program for a project to illuminate High Rock Tower in Lynn; and in August 2017, MassDevelopment issued a $5.9 million tax-exempt bond to help Centerboard buy and renovate four properties in Chelsea, Lynn, and Melrose to be used as group homes, and a fifth property to be used for supportive programming.

Founded in 1988 as Serving People in Need, Centerboard, Inc. began as a collaborative effort among Lynn’s business, public, and private communities to address increasing homelessness as a result of job losses, industry closures, and declining investments. It has since grown into an organization serving more than 1,500 people annually by providing housing, employment programs, independent living programs, and an adolescent group home. Centerboard provides specialized support services for mothers ages 13 to 20.5 and their children through its Teen Parenting Programs, employment programs for mothers ages 18 and up,  independent living programs for clients ages 16 to 22, and manages the Lynn Family Forward Resource Center, which is a single point of entry for family members to access support services. The organization also participates in the growing arts and culture movement in Lynn by spearheading public art projects and supporting the Downtown Lynn Cultural District.

“We continue to be grateful in MassDevelopment’s commitment to Centerboard,” said Centerboard, Inc. CEO Mark DeJoie. “This will allow us to continue to provide stability and improve the quality of life for many and combat issues surrounding homelessness in Essex County.”

MassDevelopment, the state’s finance and development agency, works with businesses, nonprofits, banks, and communities to stimulate economic growth. During FY2019, MassDevelopment financed or managed 316 projects generating investment of more than $2 billion in the Massachusetts economy. These projects are estimated to create or support 9,743 jobs and build or preserve 1,992 housing units.

MBTA announces multiple changes
to Fall 2020 service & fares

Virtual public meetings outlining service changes to be held on August 12 (Spanish language) and August 13 (English language).

Yesterday the MBTA today announced that service is being added on twenty-three bus routes effective August 30 and that the T is expanding service on certain routes due to ridership demand, to avoid crowding on vehicles, and to allow for physical-distancing in keeping with health and safety protocol guidance. Meanwhile, some bus routes with low ridership or routes with other service options nearby will have service frequency reduced or will continue to have service suspended.

Additionally, effective September 1, CharlieTicket and cash fares will be lowered to CharlieCard prices. These customer-driven fare tariff changes were approved by the Fiscal and Management Control Board on May 21.

Ridership levels are also leading to some schedule changes on other MBTA modes of travel. Effective August 30, minor service adjustments will also be made on the Blue and Green Lines in response to both COVID-19 ridership and as part of the Lechmere Viaduct/Green Line Extension work, respectively. Service on other subway lines, Commuter Rail, ferry, and The RIDE will remain at their current levels on August 30 and through the fall.

The MBTA encourages essential travel only. Customers should make efforts to distance and face coverings are required within the MBTA system. The MBTA reminds the public that providing safe transit service during the pandemic is a shared responsibility among the MBTA, its customers, employers, and cities and towns. The MBTA urges employers to continue to allow telecommuting and to consider staggered work schedules to promote social distancing on public transit. The MBTA also encourages cities and towns to assist in this effort be expanding available space at busy bus stops and working with the T to implement dedicated-bus lanes.

Members of the public may learn more by attending two virtual public meetings being held by the MBTA on Wednesday, August 12 (Spanish language), and on Thursday, August 13 (English language). For more information, customers can visit mbta.com/servicechanges. Feedback received during these virtual public meetings will continue to inform future service changes.

The above information are selections from a larger press release that the MBTA released regarding changes to their fall 2020 service.

You can read the full press release on their website by clicking here.

Updates from state government

• As of Tuesday night, DPH reported a total of 111,371 cases of COVID-19. The state has now confirmed a total of 8,438 deaths from the virus.
• Lynn’s 14-day positive test rate for COVID-19 is at 6.1%. this makes it the highest in the state, and puts us well above the state’s 1.82% average.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts customers and members will receive $101 million in premium refunds and rebates due to lower than anticipated health care costs during the COVID-19 emergency. BCBS said it had also invested $116 million to support its members, customers, clinical partners, and the community throughout the pandemic, bringing the company’s COVID-related financial commitments to more than $217 million.
• State lawmakers are seeking information about the MBTA Transit Police department’s decision to disband its SWAT unit, warning that eliminating the unit creates a gap in the agency’s public safety apparatus. Twelve senators, including all four of the chamber’s Republicans, wrote to Transit Police Chief Ken Green last week questioning “the rationale of this decision” and seeking more information about the process behind it.
• A group of 20 attorneys general, including Attorney General Maura Healey, wrote to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Wednesday insisting his company do more to stop the spread of hate speech, disinformation and cyberbullying. The attorneys general said they wanted to offer “positive” advice for how Facebook could improve its operations following a the publication of a civil rights audit of Facebook’s practices that was commissioned by the company and faulted Facebook for failing to protect and advance civil rights, including giving a platform for white supremacists. The letter came from the offices of District of Columbia Attorney General Karl Racine, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, and New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal.
• More than 315,000 Massachusetts tenants have little to no confidence that they will be able to pay rent in August, according to survey data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau, a figure that one group said indicates as many as one in three renter households could soon face eviction. Most evictions and foreclosures are paused in Massachusetts until Oct. 17 under a temporary ban Governor Baker approved and then extended. Housing rights groups warn, however, that the financial uncertainty evident in the survey data is a harbinger of a wave of housing removals that will arrive once the moratorium expires.

From Mayor McGee’s office: The Lynn Public Health Department has confirmed that as of today, the number of active, confirmed positive COVID-19 cases is 566 with 9 new cases today. 3,407 Lynn residents have recovered and 111 have died. The total number of confirmed positive COVID-19 cases in Lynn since March 21, 2020, including those who have died and recovered, is 4,084. Please visit the new City of Lynn COVID-19 Data Dashboard which is updated daily.

The Lynn School Committee officially voted to begin the 2020-2021 school year with remote learning for the majority of students, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools. In-person learning will be offered to special education students and English Language Learners. Please follow the Lynn Public Schools Website for updates on the phased re-opening of schools at http://www.lynnschools.org/.

STOP THE SPREAD Initiative:
Please visit http://www.ci.lynn.ma.us/covid19/resources.shtml#p7GPc1_2 for more information on how you can get a free COVID-19 test in the City of Lynn through August 14th.

We will continue to provide regular updates on COVID-19 through the City website (www.lynnma.gov), social media, and the Smart 911 emergency notification system (sign up at www.smart911.com).