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SBC to make reduced request for school items at June Town Meeting

Back before the coronavirus hit, the School Building Committee was planning to ask voters at a Special Town Meeting in March for up to $2.08 million to partially offset items it had to cut from the school project. Now it plans to ask for less than half of that amount at a stripped-down Annual Town Meeting now scheduled for June 13. However, depending on economic conditions, the SBC will almost certainly seek more additional funding at a Special Town Meeting in the fall.

The SBC settled on a list of cuts in February after construction bids totaled $3.5 million more than the project’s budget. The hope then was that $1.5 million in free cash that was originally recommended for a new public safety radio system could be used to restore the first two “buckets” of items the SBC prioritized. But now, with all the financial uncertainty brought on by the pandemic, the SBC was unsure about how much to ask for in this new environment.

After meeting with the Finance Committee, the SBC voted on May 13 to make a two-part funding request totaling $828,945. The first question will ask for $628,945 for seven items. If approved, they’ll then ask for the other $200,000 to pay for furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E).

The first appropriation would fund the following items:

  • Restore the glass wall between the K-4 Science area and hallway ($26,666)
  • Interior lite and built-in bench at K-4 Art Room ($11,291)
  • Sun shades on the building’s exterior ($285,709)
  • A new auditorium divider ($279,400)
  • Concrete pavement in front of Reed/Brooks ($9,435)
  • A concrete walkway up to the main entrance ($13,799)
  • Concrete on the CASE (special education) driveway ($2,645)

The “first priority” list identified in February mostly matches these seven items but does not include $451,000 for FF&E, which includes crucial technology hardware and systems as well as some furniture. If approved, the second $200,000 request would restore some of that.

After reviewing the town’s budget situation, the Finance Committee this week recommended that the SBC “think of an outer limit of about $840,000 in free cash” that could be available for the school project, FinCom Chair Andy Payne said at the SBC meeting. Current estimates show a town budget deficit of about $800,000 over two fiscal years due to a drop in state and federal revue and added expenses from the pandemic. In a bit of good news, the mild winter resulted in savings on snow removal that can be applied to offset this year’s shortfall.

Payne emphasized that the FinCom was not recommending spending $840,000 from free cash on the school — rather, it’s the maximum amount that the board felt comfortable making available for discussion and voting.

Other sources that could be tapped include some of the stabilization fund, which currently stands at $2.2 million, or deferring some or all of the town’s planned $550,000 contribution to its OPEB (other post-employment benefits) fund. OPEB covers non-pension costs for retired town employees such as healthcare premiums. Dipping into the stabilization fund would require a two-thirds majority of votes at Town Meeting.

Given the uncertainty of getting voter approval for more money now or in the fall, SBC member Peter Sugar suggested using part of the construction contingency fund for some of the trimmed items instead. “We don’t know what people’s financial situation is,” he said. “I don’t want to have animosity build up in this town for this project, even from a minority. I think that would be a mistake.”

But others didn’t support that idea. If the contingency fund runs dry later on, “we’ll have to go back to the town [anyway] and tell them they have no choice” but to appropriate more money, SBC member Tim Christenfeld said.

“I’m concerned about eating into our contingency too much even before we’ve technically broken ground,” Selectman Jennifer Glass said. “Let’s put the information before the town so the town can make the best-informed choice about how the project will unfold.”

Some SBC members worried that residents would not be receptive to another “ask” in the fall and that the June request should therefore be larger. But the FinCom encouraged the SBC to keep their request lower for now and defer seeking money for items that don’t need to be committed to at this early stage of the project.

“I’m not trying to discourage you from coming back in the fall,” FinCom member Jim Hutchinson said. “It’s obvious to me that some of the FF&E is needed in this project, but it also doesn’t need to be decided right now.”

“If the SBC is heading down a path of a phased-request approach, I would encourage the SBC to share as much visibility as possible into these future requests with the FinCom and ultimately the residents,” Payne said.

Asking for less than the full amount suggested by the FinCom now might be more politically palatable. “I’m not sure we would get support for [all of] the $840,000. My sense is more like $500,000 to $600,000,” School Committee member Tara Mitchell said.

“My sense is that the more we ask for, the thinner the support might be,” agreed FinCom member Gina Halsted.

Town Meeting plans

The current plan is to hold the June 13 Town Meeting outdoors under a large tent and lawn seating in the central ballfield on the school campus. This location provides easy access to electricity from the portable classrooms and the temporarily paved areas offer better footing than the grass in Codman Field, which was also considered as a site.

The Town Meeting will feature an expanded consent calendar of financial items that can be voted on in a bloc (though residents have the right to “hold out” any items for separate discussion and voting). There will also be separate votes for the school funding question and a Water Commission capital request. The commission voted in January to seek another $250,000 to replace aging equipment in the town’s water system.

If the Town Meeting still can’t happen on June 13 for public health reasons, the town (and the Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School district) will open the new fiscal year on July 1 using monthly budgets based on 1/12 of their fiscal 2020 budgets for as long as necessary.

Town Meeting decision expected next week

Town officials will make a decision next week about whether to go ahead with a streamlined Annual Town Meeting on May 30 as currently planned.

At their April 20 meeting, the Board of Selectmen indicated they were waiting on word from Gov. Charlie Baker about whether Massachusetts schools would reopen May 4 when his closure order was originally set to expire. But the following day (April 21), he decreed that schools will stay shut for the rest of the academic year due to Covid-19 epidemic.

If an abbreviated Town Meeting is to take place on May 30, officials must commit by May 11 to meet public notice and printing requirements. The board’s next weekly meeting is April 27.

Along with other financial items that can’t be delayed, the Town Meeting will include a vote on whether to spend additional money for items that had to be cut by the School Building Committee (SBC) in February. Before the Covid-19 pandemic upended plans, the SBC identified three lists of items grouped by priority totaling $2.08 million that they hoped to see restored.

One possibility that’s been discussed is postponing a proposed $1.5 million public radio system and use the money for the school instead. Potential budget sources include free cash or the town’s stabilization fund, which currently stands at $2.2 million (this requires a two-thirds majority vote at Town Meeting). More borrowing would require a two-thirds majority at Town Meeting plus a simple majority at the ballot box.

Because of increased expenses and shortfalls in expected revenues, the town is facing a two-year estimated deficit of $600,000–$830,000 for the 2020 and 2021 fiscal years, even after some Covid-related expenses are reimbursed through state and federal grants, Finance Committee Chair Andy Payne told the SBC on April 15.

Guaranteed maximum price approved

The SBC voted last week to approve a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) of $78,324,908. That figure covers hard construction costs plus the construction manager’s contingency as well as insurance and bonds. It also incorporates cuts of $783,162 from items that were on the lists to bring to Town Meeting.

The SBC is awaiting word on the scheduling of Town Meeting before deciding whether to amend its lists of requests. They are scheduled to meet next on May 13. However, the project will proceed regardless of the outcome of the Town Meeting votes.

There was a delay in finalizing the GMP because the town and construction manager Consigli Construction had to negotiate how they would handle any extra expenses incurred as a result of the epidemic. They agreed that Consigli can tap its $1.7 million construction contingency, and if that is exhausted, they can ask for reimbursement of additional expenses totaling no more than $425,000 from the town. Any expenses Consigli identifies as being due to Covid-19 will be submitted for approval to Daedalus (the owner’s project manager) and/or the SBC. 

In March, the SBC signed a power purchase agreement for a 1.4 MW solar photovoltaic system along with a 500 Kw battery backup and gas-fired backup generator that will make the campus net-zero in terms of energy use. SunPower Corp. will provide the solar PV system through a nonprofit solar program organized by PowerOptions, Inc.

One possible bright spot about schools closing for the rest of the year is that the project might be able to start earlier than planned. Work can’t begin until teachers and students leave after the last day of school, which normally isn’t until mid-June.

“The subcontractors are champing at the bit. If school were to be canceled [for the rest of the year], they’re ready and raring to go,” Consigli’s Christian Riordan told the SBC on April 15.

Schools to skip April vacation as online learning continues

An example of what Lincoln teachers are planning and doing to educate kids during the Covid-19 lockdown. Click image to enlarge, and click here to see more.

The Lincoln Public Schools will not have April vacation this year — instead students and teachers will continue with their online “Learning at Home Together” efforts during that time.

The School Committee’s decision was based on results of a survey and the recommendation of Superintendent of Schools Becky McFall. Seventy-four percent of families and 80% of faculty favored canceling spring vacation and ending the school year on June 12. If there were vacation as usual, school would not end until June 18. Patriots Day (April 20) will still be observed as a school holiday.

Sixty percent of parents and 67% of faculty said their first priority was that “our students have continuity and consistency of routines, learning and connection to school.” However, a few faculty members who submitted comments advocated keeping the vacation because of teacher fatigue due to additional workload as well as juggling work and young families.

At the School Committee’s online meeting on April 9, Assistant Superintendent Jess Rose gave a presentation highlighting student and family needs/desires, outlined the support structures the district has put in place, and explained what type of Learning at Home Together enhancements could be expected in the coming weeks (see the video of the meeting from 00:57 to 1:48).

Mary Emmons, administrator for student services, gave an update on how students are being supported, even though some of the typical services they normally receive can’t be replicated virtually.  She explained the process regarding students who are on IEPs (individualized education programs for special education students) and 504 plans (for students with identified disabilities) and how students will physically return to school.

More than a third of students in the district now have school-issued computer devices, and Rob Ford, director of technology, described outreach efforts to families who don’t have internet access at home, as well as the work that he and school technology specialists have been doing to train and support faculty as they move to a virtual teaching model.

Clarification

As originally published, the April 7 article headlined “Town Meeting now eyed for May 30; further postponements possible” may have given the mistaken impression that the school project vote plays a role in deciding when the Annual Town Meeting will be held. That meeting will include a vote on adding back items that were removed from the project, and officials had hoped to have that vote take place some weeks before construction is due to start in June. However, the Board of Selectmen clarified on April 9 that public health concerns, not school project deadlines, will be the determining factor in deciding whether the meeting needs to be postponed beyond May 30. The original article has been updated.

 

Town Meeting now eyed for May 30; further postponements possible

(Editor’s note: this article was updated on April 9.)

Lincoln officials plan to postpone the Annual Town Meeting (ATM) until at least May 30 as Lincoln’s Covid-19 caseload has risen to nine residents, including two at The Commons.

Public Health Nurse Tricia McGean reported on April 6 that there were eight “lab-confirmed” cases reported so far (the ninth was reported in a town communique on April 7). This does not include cases “where the doctor says ‘It sounds like Covid’” but the patient has not been tested, she said. McGean added that she would not be informed of cases among town employees who don’t live in Lincoln; however, the public health nurse in their towns of residence would do contact tracing for those patients, which would include co-workers but not customers who hadn’t been in close contact with the person.

  • Click here to see previous Lincoln Squirrel articles about Covid-19 in Lincoln

Five of the eight cases reported as of April 6 have recovered; one is in the hospital and the other two are in isolation, McGean said. Lincoln emergency response personnel who were in contact with individuals who subsequently tested positive have subsequently tested negative.

McGean noted that, at the recommendation of the state Department of Public health, some towns have stopped publicly posting their case numbers because the figures underrepresent the true number of cases in the community and may lead to a false sense of security. However, Lincoln officials will continue to report the figures.

“We don’t believe there would be any complacency,” Town Administrator Tim Higgins said at the April 6 Board of Selectmen meeting.

“As much information as we can provide to the community is critical. I don’t see a downside to doing it,” said board chair Jennifer Glass.

Continuing to report cases “provides some measure of the spread rate of the virus and one additional data point for residents to consult when making personal health decisions,” McGean said in the April 7 update.

The Commons has taken extra protective measures for residents in their memory care unit as outlined in a March 31 letter to families. This builds on measures outlined in an earlier letter, when there was one case reported at the facility. These include:

  • assigning dedicated staff to care for memory care residents
  • utilizing a separate entrance into the community, where possible, and having them avoid visiting other communal areas
  • implementing enhanced employee and resident engagement activities to maintain safety, structure, dignity, and connection for memory care residents
Town meeting

Town Moderator Sarah Cannon Holden this week postponed the Annual Town Meeting to May 23 with the ultimate goal (for now) of postponing to May 30. The change has to happen in two steps because state law allows postponements of no longer than 30 days at a time. Towns are required to hold their ATMs no more than 30 days after the lifting of the governor’s state of emergency, which currently extends to May 4. 

“Public health and safety will be the determining factor in deciding whether we need to postpone beyond May 30. The moderator and the selectmen will not bring people together before the state has lifted the state of emergency and large gatherings are allowed,” the board said on April 9.

The Special Town Meeting for voting on restoring items to the school building project and the ATM will now be combined into a single streamlined meeting, which may include an online budget presentation that residents can watch ahead of time. The meeting will almost certainly be limited to votes on financial items, with the rest of the agenda postponed to a Special Town Meeting in the fall.

The town had originally hoped to have the school vote before June 1. If construction begins as scheduled in June and the fate of the school items is still up in the air, it might be possible to start without those items but include them later by creating a change order. It wasn’t clear on Monday what additional cost, if any, that process would incur.

The local election is now tentatively planned for June 1. State election officials have said that towns can postpone local elections to an undetermined date as long as they occur by June 30. Local voting normally must be done in person only, but early voting by mail will now be allowed.

Schools closed until May 4; distance learning to be rolled out

Gov. Charlie Baker announced on March 25 that all public and private schools in Massachusetts as well as nonemergency daycare facilities must remain closed until May 4.

“This is not an extended school vacation,” Baker said. “During this long-term closure, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will work with school districts to further develop educational programming students can use at home… This will allow school districts to provide the best possible opportunities for remote learning to all students.” Click here for remote learning and other educational resources from the state.

“We are working to put a more extensive plan in place to support student learning during this extended closure,” Superintendent of Schools Rebecca McFall wrote parents in an email on Wednesday evening. Parents are being asked to complete an online survey by Friday, March 27 at 7 a.m. (doing so multiple times for more than one child in the schools) about what they and their children need to make home schooling successful, such as help with using online resources, making a schedule, or creating longer-term projects for children. Faculty and administrators will use the feedback to design the next phase of supports and will share plans and our progress early next week. 

Before Baker’s announcement, Massachusetts Commissioner of Education Jeffrey Riley met with teacher, superintendent, and school committee organizations but offered little guidance about remote learning curricula or requirements, according to a Wednesday night email to parents from Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School Principal/Superintendent Bella Wong.

“Since the order to close all schools effective March 15, 2020, there has been lack of sure guidance offered by state leadership for what is permissible for delivery of alternative education beyond what we are currently offering. What we are allowed to offer is affected by state and federal rules designed to ensure equitable access for all our students. The purpose of the meeting was to impress upon the commissioner the urgency for guidance given a likely extension of school closure. Now that the order for closure has been extended to May 4, the urgency for guidance is all the more imperative. Commissioner Riley suggested guidance would be provided last week, and now states it will be by this Friday.” 

In the meantime, L-S staff have been working together to develop “meaningful learning experiences for all our students,” Wong wrote. “L-S teachers will continue with the lesson plans already developed for the remainder of this week. Whether we receive guidance this week as suggested or not, please be assured our planning teams have already considered the possibility of and will adjust for a longer-term of school closure.”

School lunch assistance

In an earlier email to parents on Wednesday, McFall appealed for donations for meal assistance that the schools are providing to needy students. As with most school districts, the Lincoln Public Schools’ regular food service program is not funded in the operating budget. Costs are recouped through federal grants and revenue from student lunch purchases. The federal government is reimbursing districts for providing meals only if 50% or more of the students receive free or reduced lunch and Lincoln doesn’t qualify, so expenses meal assistance during the Covid-19 closure aren’t covered.

Lincoln schools are now providing 55 students in 32 families in Lincoln, Boston, and at Hanscom Air Force Base with lunch for each weekday at a cost of $3.10 per meal, or about $850 per week. The district is seeking donations in any amount to help cover costs. Go to this UniPay site, scroll down to select Lincoln Public Schools, and click the Meal Assistance bar on the left.

Click here for other sources of food assistance in Bostb and MetroWest. Click here for mental health contacts and resources for Lincoln chuldren and families.

Technology devices

The schools last week distributed 47 devices (laptops, Chromebooks and iPads) on loan to families and another 90 on March 25. Anyone in need of technology support may email support@lincnet.org.

MCAS testing

The state has postponed the grade 10 English language arts assessment scheduled to begin on March 24 and the start of the grades 3-8 English language arts assessment window scheduled for March 30. Gov. Baker has asked the legislature to waive the high school competency determination for seniors and all other MCAS requirements for this school year. More information will be shared as it becomes available.

Businesses close due to Covid-19, but town services carry on

Businesses
Town government
Social services
Police and fire
Schools
(Editor’s note: This story was posted Tuesday evening and updated at 11 p.m. to include more information from the schools.)

By Alice C. Waugh

All nonessential businesses are closed in Massachusetts until April 7 as ordered by Gov. Baker on March 23, but the town’s vital services are operational, officials reported at a Board of Selectmen meeting conducted online via Zoom on March 23.

Public safety/law enforcement, health care and public health, water and sewer services, and public works are all exempt from the order. “For many of these offices, emergency operations are second nature,” with protocols already in place in case of natural disaster or national emergencies like 9/11, Town Administrator Tim Higgins said.

Here are some of the brick-and-mortar business categories particularly relevant to the Lincoln area that are closed:

  • Landscaping services (except emergency tree work)
  • Gift and antique shops
  • Dry cleaners (laundromats and laundry services may operate)
  • Barbershops, hair and nail salons
  • Professional offices (law, real estate, architecture, accounting, etc.) Exceptions: legally mandated activities and critical sector services, or those where failure to provide such services would result in “significant prejudice”
  • Gyms, fitness centers, indoor pools
  • Indoor arts and recreation (video arcades, bowling alleys, movie theaters, museums, etc.). The outdoor deCordova Sculpture Park is open and free, but no restrooms are available.

Public-facing businesses and employment categories that are exempt from the lockdown include the following (click here for a detailed list):

  • Restaurants (takeout and delivery only; no dining in)
  • Health care, including physicians, home health aides, social workers, dentists, veterinarians, medical lab personnel, assisted living facilities, and residential facilities for psychiatric and disabled patients
  • Pharmacies
  • Convenience stores
  • Farms and grocery stores (anyone involved in food production, inspection, distribution, and sales)
  • Stores that sell pet supplies, auto supplies, hardware and home improvement items, home appliances
  • Gas stations and auto repair shops
  • Liquor stores
  • Hotels
  • Bank ATMs (maintenance, armored cars)
  • Sanitation/garbage removal
  • Maintenance and construction for both public and private customers (plumbers, electricians, carpenters, exterminators, inspectors, etc.)
  • Funeral homes, crematoriums, cemeteries
  • Workers in medical and public health records, cybersecurity, and other information technology functions that can’t be carried out remotely
  • Providers of food, shelter, social services, and other necessities for economically disadvantaged or otherwise needy individuals
  • Medical marijuana dispensaries
    • No recreational sales, but the state Cannabis Control Commission is allowing health care providers to certify medical marijuana patients through a telehealth waiver, rather than requiring in-person visits

Police have been fielding questions this week about where people are allowed to go during the lockdown. The governor’s order does not forbid Massachusetts residents from leaving home or traveling, but the Department of Public Health has issued an advisory for those 70 and older or with underlying health conditions to stay at home except for “essential trips for food, medicine, and focused time for exercise and fresh air.”

As far as enforcing the business lockdown and other restrictions on public gatherings, “we’re relying more on education and cooperation rather than enforcement,” Higgins said.

Town government

Although Town Hall and Bemis Hall are closed, the town’s social services and Council on Aging (see below) are functioning via phone and email, as are the town’s financial operations and vital records management in the Town Clerk’s office. Except for the selectmen, Board of Health, Finance Committee, and School Committee, town boards and commissions have suspended their work.

As previously announced, the March 28 Town Meetings have been postponed until April 25. The Special Town Meeting was scheduled to vote on supplemental funding for the school project, and the Board of Selectmen will take a formal position on the issue before that vote.

“Once we know whether Town Meeting is moving forward on April 25, the appropriate meetings will be rescheduled. As events unfold, we will make sure that all decision points are transparent,” Selectman Jennifer Glass said. The School Building Committee is scheduled to meet virtually on March 25 to get an update on where the project stands, and to approve any necessary expenditures.

The town is keeping track of expenditures it’s making as a result of the epidemic, and those expenses can be amortized over several years, Selectman James Dwyer said. Higgins said that there will be federal and state money available in the future for reimbursements. The town’s reserve fund is somewhat larger than usual for this time of year because there has been so little money needed for snow removal this winter, he added. 

Social services

As they’ve done in the past during major storms and power outages, police and Council on Aging staff are keeping tabs on specific residents who are “considered vulnerable” with regular check-ins. The COA (which aims to change its name to the Council on Aging and Human Services) is handling calls from people of all ages who need help obtaining food or medicine because of Covid-related loss of income, COA Director Carolyn Bottum reported.

More than two dozen people have volunteered to make deliveries or reassurance calls to Lincolnites in need, and the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry “is literally working night and day” delivering food to cars and homes, as are local churches, and Minuteman Senior Services is still visiting homes when necessary, she said.

Police and fire

The police and fire departments are fully staffed around the clock in the usual eight-hour shifts, though they’ve worked out plans for going to 12-hour shifts to cover absences due to quarantine or illness if necessary, Chief of Police Kevin Kennedy said.

Lincoln and surrounding towns also have mutual-aid provisions in place when extra help is needed. Police departments in the North Eastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (comprising more than 60 cities and towns in Middlesex and Essex Counties) can also pool resources to provide extra manpower and specialized units.

Some police departments in the U.S have started to tread lightly when it comes to minor infractions, and Lincoln is no exception. For example, Lincoln police stopped issuing most traffic citations after March 15.

“What we’re trying to do is limit our contact with members of the public that we don’t necessarily need to have to have contact with,” Kennedy told the Squirrel on March 24. “They’re definitely out on patrol and vigilant, but it’s really a discretion thing. Obviously we’ll make a traffic stop or an arrest that needs to be made. I don’t want to say that police aren’t going to do X, Y, or Z.”

Police officers continue to respond along with EMT firefighters to all medical calls in Lincoln, but in non-life-threatening situations, they’re now waiting on scene for the Fire Department to let them know if their help is needed. The Fire Department is also waiving the fee for outdoor burning permits, which residents can obtain in advance by phone. 

Residents shouldn’t let virus fears prevent them from calling for medical help, said Deputy Fire Chief Brian Young. EMTs wear masks on all calls, and the ambulances are regularly sanitized. “We’re fearful that people might sit at home and wait and wait and wait,” he said. “We don’t want to overwhelm hospitals, but people who need care can still call. It’s kind of a delicate balancing right now.”

The Police Department’s mental health and domestic violence staff are still at work, Kennedy said. Although court schedules have been adjusted since the Covid-19 outbreak, residents can still obtain restraining orders and harassment prevention orders, he added.

“The response as a community has been outstanding. People have been very cooperative and supportive and have been staying home,” Kennedy said. He also thanked Minuteman High School for its recent donation of personal protective equipment to police. Many of those supplies are on backorder even for first responders, “and I can’t thank them enough.”

Testing kits for Covid-19 are in short supply, but public safety and medical personnel with official ID can get drive-through testing at the CVS in Shrewsbury, he noted.

Schools

The decision to close the schools as of March 13 was made late in the evening of March 12, so there was almost no time to plan ahead, but since then the district has been working on three core areas: access to food, technology, and learning resources.

As of March 23, Lincoln Public Schools are providing free lunch deliveries twice a week for 52 students in 31 families in Lincoln, Boston and Hanscom Air Force Base who indicated their need in a survey, “and I’m expecting those numbers will rise as we move forward,” said Superintendent of Schools Rebecca McFall, adding that Donelan’s had donated 400 paper grocery bags for packing and delivering the food. The schools are also bringing loaned laptops, Chromebooks, and iPads to families who need them for educational purposes.

McFall told parents in a March 24 email that the schools are launching BrainPop, Dreambox, Lexia, and Newsela to additional grade levels. General-education classroom teachers have also been asked to offer one session via Google Meet (a videoconferencing app) for their students this week and two sessions per week moving forward. Instructions for parents on connecting with these resources will be forthcoming.

“The purpose of these Google Meets is to connect teachers to students and students to each other, to say hello, to talk about what students are doing, to practice mindfulness or other coping strategies, etc. Think of it as a morning meeting or advisory,” McFall wrote. Administrators and faculty are developing more structured methods that may include live and/or pre-recorded learning sessions with the goal of helping parents create a daily educational plan for children.

“This is new for all of us and we are building the plane as we fly it, continuing to make child-centered decisions about next steps,” McFall wrote. “While our beginning steps may not seem adequate at this time for long-term learning and I understand you may have a desire or an expectation for more, please know that we are working with faculty to continue to develop and define learning opportunities for students that are responsive to their needs.”

Minuteman donates protective equipment to police, fire departments

Police officers from Lexington and Lincoln arrive at Minuteman High School to pick up donations of personal protective equipment to assist in the coronavirus emergency on March 23 in the school’s automotive shop. (Minuteman Photo)

Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical High School on Monday donated more than 300 packages of various types of personal protective equipment (PPE) to the Lexington and Lincoln police and fire departments, along with Emerson Hospital in Concord, to assist in the coronavirus response.

Minuteman joins several other vocational-technical high schools across Massachusetts that have donated items such as face and respirator masks, hospital gowns, gloves, eyewear, and hand sanitizer amid a global shortage of such items during the public health crisis.

Minuteman, like other vocational-technical schools, has PPE on hand for students in programs such as biotechnology, environmental science, health assisting, culinary arts, cosmetology, automotive technology, electrical, carpentry, and early education. Donations were also received from the nurse’s office, science classrooms, and administrative offices. 

“Thank you so much to Minuteman,” the Lincoln Police Department wrote on its Facebook page. “We’re certainly receiving this in a time of need, as such equipment is on backorder.”

“The police, fire, and medical workers in our communities are putting their health at risk everyday to care for us during this unprecedented emergency,” said Edward A. Bouquillon, Superintendent-Director for Minuteman. “At Minuteman High School, many of our students are the next generation of nurses and EMTs. Helping one another through any sort of crisis is part of who we are.”

Minuteman has also donated food to local organizations providing free food during the Covid-19 emergency.

 

Schools close; Town Meeting and election postponement likely

Lincoln Public Schools will be closed for the rest of the month, and the Board of Selectmen has scheduled an emergency meeting on Friday morning to discuss postponing the town meetings and election scheduled for March 28 and March 30.

The latest development in the swiftly progressing Covid-9 pandemic events came late Thursday night, when Superintendent of School Becky McFall contacted parents to tell them there would be no school on Friday, March 13 and schools would not reopen until at least March 30. Earlier in the day, she said the state Commissioner of Education had scheduled a Friday morning conference call for school superintendents where we “anticipate we will be given some direct guidance about school closures.” 

These were just the latest in a rapid series of communications from McFall about the virus in the last two days, starting with a March 11 notice about limiting access to the schools to students and employees only, while canceling field trips and athletic events.

“Since my communication this afternoon, we have seen a significant shift in the coronavirus outbreak and we have decided to take proactive measures to slow the rapid spread of the virus,” McFall said in a email to parents sent Thursday night at 10:12 p.m. announcing the school closures through at least March 27.

This came after the School Committee met Thursday evening and reviewed the latest information about the spread of the virus as well as closures by other school districts. Sudbury schools and Minuteman High School are also closed as of Friday; Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School is open Friday but will close after that for at least two weeks. Six other districts including Bedford and Lexington jointly announced closings as of March 13.

“It is important for families to understand that this is an initial determination, and as we monitor the outbreak, it may lead to a longer closure,” McFall wrote. 

Lincoln made its announcement amid widespread measures nationwide to restrict gatherings of people, and McFall urged families to follow that guidance in coming weeks. “If students and families continue to meet together in groups outside of school, this initial closure will not have the desired impact. It is critical that everyone refrains from meeting in large groups and practices social distancing as recommended by the CDC,” she wrote.

School administrators, teachers and technology specialists are developing “curated resources” for families and students during the closure. “These resources are not intended as a ‘virtual school,’ but rather will provide a bank of ideas for learning activities that families may find useful,” McFall wrote.

Information on preschools in Lincoln was not available Thursday night.

There were 108 presumptive or confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Massachusetts as of March 12, according to the state Department of Public Health. Middlesex County had twice as many cases as any other county in the state with 49. It’s unclear if are any cases in Lincoln yet.

Town meeting and election

The Board of Selectmen has scheduled an emergency meeting on Friday, March 13 at 7:30 a.m. to discuss the possibility of postponing the town meetings scheduled for March 28 and the town election on March 30. The agenda can be found here.

The Lincoln Squirrel will report on actions that result from that meeting and will post a story on Friday. We’ll continue to post on weekends when breaking news warrants.

Other cancellations

As the Lincoln Squirrel learns about cancellations due to the Covid-19 epidemic, the affected events will be noted as postponed in the calendar. However, if an event is still listed, don’t assume it’s happening —  check with organizers before going.

  • The Council on Aging has canceled or postponed all COA classes and activities through Friday, March 27. At that point they will review the situation. COA staff will be in their offices during regular business hours and we will continue to offer social work and other social services as usual. For more information, call the COA at 781-259-8811.
  • The Lincoln Public library has canceled or postponed the Friday morning book group on March 13 and will probably cancel some other activities as well, once they’ve talked with the presenters. Please check the library website at lincolnpl.org for the latest news.
  • The library has also canceled all children’s programming through the month of March. Please contact the library with any questions or concerns: 781-259-8465 ext. 4 or dleopold@minlib.net.
  • The Lincoln Family Association has suspended its weekly Wednesday playgroups through the end of March. 
  • The March 13 WHDH videotaping at the Lincoln train station described in the March 11 article headlined “TV station to film Lincoln MBTA activists on Friday” has been canceled.
  • The Old Town Hall Exchange will close for the time being. Saturday, March 13 will be its last day open until further notice.
  • The deCordova Museum will remain open for now, with increased cleaning protocols. However, events in March where more than 100 people are expected have been canceled. For the immediate future, if programs or events that you are registered for are canceled, you will be notified via email and issued a full refund. If you’re unsure of the status of the event, check the deCordova website at decordova.org and social media channels.
More information:

Covid-19 updates and cancellations

Restricted access to schools

Beginning March 12, access to the Lincoln Public Schools is being limited to students and employees only, with a few exceptions. Events that include invitations to parents, extended family members, and outside guests will be postponed, canceled or rescheduled, Superintendent of Schools Becky McFall said in a March 11 communication.

This means that events like plays and musicals (including the middle school performance of “Frozen Jr.” that was scheduled for the evenings of March 19 and 20) may be performed for a student audience during the school day but will not be open to parents and community members. “We will do our best to take steps to allow parents and family members to view the performances via video or other measures. Performances may also be rescheduled to later in the year,” McFall wrote.

Community events that are scheduled in school gyms and auditoriums or other large spaces will also be cancelled.

Other changes and cancellations
  • The Friends of the Library monthly used book sale (was Saturday, March 14 in Bemis Hall). Organizers hope to proceed with the next scheduled book sale on Saturday, April 11 but will keep LincolnTalk posted about plans. Donations are still welcome in the box at Bemis Hall.
  • “Coping & Understanding Hearing Loss” (was Saturday, March 14 at the library). Organizers hope to reschedule for later in the spring.
  • “Tough Guys and Gentle Men: Healthy Men in the Age of #MeToo” (was Saturday, March 14 at St. Anne’s Church). This was a half-day summit hosted by the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable. 
More information: