DEALS OF THE $DAY$ PG. 3 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021 DEALS OF THE School systems learning as they go remote$DAY$ PG. 3 By Tréa Lavery get elementary students back reached out to the school dis- single school.” “I have some kids who are ac- ITEM STAFF in the classrooms and elimi- trict to try to have her daughter Lynn Public Schools has hired tually attending with a higher nate remote learning by April, put on an IEP (Individualized more social workers and nurs- degree now in remote learning Almost a year since schools it’s been an uphill battle in the Education Program), but so far, es, and launched a diagnostic than they were in traditional in Massachusetts closed due to meantime. she hasn’t had any luck. testing program in January to learning, and then we have the the COVID-19 pandemic, many Nicole Hudson, mother of Ci- “She already broke the com- attempt to determine where other side whoDEALS struggle mighti- students in the region are still ara, 8, and Celia, 6, who attend puter the school gave us and students are falling behind. Su- ly,” Tutwiler said.OF “OurTH E rst line struggling, and the schools Sisson Elementary School, said she’s having a hard time,” Hud- perintendent Dr. Patrick Tutwil- is the teacher relationship with themselves are struggling to that while her older daughter is son said. “I understand there’s er said that while that system the students $andDA families.”Y$ reach them. doing just ne with her online almost 20 elementary schools has been helpful, it’s too early to The issue isn’tDA limitedY to Lynn. And even as Gov. Charlie Bak- classes, her younger daughter is in Lynn, but you have to pay at- make any concrete determina- PG. 3 er said Tuesday he is looking to having a tougher time. Hudson tention to the students in every tions from the data. REMOTE, A2 DEALS Council OFand THE committee$ DAmeetY$ PG. 3 on Marshall By Allysha Dunnigan ITEM STAFFDEALS LYNN — The Lynn City CouncilOF and TH SchoolE Com- mittee debated the fate of the former Thurgood Mar- shall Middle School during a special council meeting Tuesday night. $DAY$ The two Lynn boards have been atPG odds. 3 over the issue in past weeks. The City Council wants to trans- fer the Porter Street property to the city, with an in- tent for it to eventually be sold, so it is no longer the school’s responsibility. However, the School Committee is opposed to that plan because there is not much land left in the city to build new schools, which its members say is a pri- ority. ITEM PHOTO | SPENSER HASAK Members of both boards, along with other city of - Style during the COVID-19 pandemic has shifted to largely a comfort rst approach: a fa- cials, expressed their concerns and desires regarding vorite hoodie, sweats, beanie, and of course, a mask. the property. Chief Financial Of cer Michael Bertino said that the asbestos and deterioration inside the building makes maintaining the property for the future use of Another victim of the virus: style a school unrealistic. Mayor Thomas M. McGee, who is chairman of the By Allysha Dunnigan The “work from home” style that skyrocketed School Committee, retained his previous position, fa- ITEM STAFF last year has enticed people to purchase more voring the council’s recommendation to sell the prop- sweatpants and limited their wardrobe to lounge erty, stating that the costs to renovate and maintain Zoom meetings, conference calls and working clothes and pajamas. People have been turning to the property would be too much. remotely have altered the traditional style of comfortable pants paired with a nice-enough look- The site was originally estimated to cost $2-3 mil- everyday and work wear that we have known for ing top to appear business-like for Zoom meetings, lion to tear down. The price increased to about $9 so long. which usually only show participants from the million over the last few years, due to the res that Lipstick, foundation, skirts and dresses may not waist up. have occurred inside, the leak in the ceiling that has be present in women’s wardrobes anymore, but new, more comfortable trends are starting to emerge. STYLE, A3 MARSHALL, A3 READERS’ ADVOCATE Lynn talk show seeks Claude What we have Exama is the host of a new to provide inspiration web series, learned and what “Claude and By Guthrie Scrimgeour Exama, a graduate of St. Me,” that aims ITEM STAFF Mary’s. “No one teaches you to help how to master yourself, mas- we need to learn viewers LYNN — A long-time dream ter your inner world. Once you overcome of local lmmaker Claude can do that, you become more (Editor’s note: The Readers’ Advocate’s role is Exama was nally realized challenges powerful, you become more in to address the concerns of readers on a variety of recently when he wrapped and become control.” matters, including the fairness of stories; what production on the pilot epi- the best While he said he was inter- The Item covers and how; stories that may have sode of his talk show, “Claude versions of ested in the idea of running a been missed; and the emphasis put on certain and Me,” focused on exploring themselves. talk show for many years, the stories but perhaps not on others. It is written the spiritual journeys of his idea of speaking on people’s by Jo Sullivan, a retired educator who is not a guests. member of The Item staff and is not being paid. personal struggles did not ITEM PHOTO | “The show is there to help These commentaries appear periodically, on no JULIA HOPKINS people help themselves,” said set schedule.) INSPIRATION, A2 Thank you to The Item for the detailed sto- ry, “Home Schooling, Covid-Style” (Feb. 17), in which the reporter pro led two families coping Saugus to hold food and necessities drive with the challenges of remote learning: children in multiple grade levels, with varied learning By Tréa Lavery 12 p.m. at the Senior Center, 466 water, piles of toilet paper or pa- styles and needs. As challenging as it was, one ITEM STAFF Central St. per towels,” Panetta said. “It’s family was fortunate to have parents doing a tag Selectwoman Debra Panetta said just wonderful how our communi- team of work and supervision of their children’s SAUGUS — The Board of Select- that this is the fourth drive the ty comes together to help the less learning. men will hold a food and necessities board has held during the pan- fortunate.” drive this Saturday, February 27, at The Item should give us more of these details demic, and that at other events the This is the first drive that has of students, teachers, parents and their strug- the Saugus Senior Center. community has been very gener- been held since the death of Board gles. Stories about schools during this pandemic Donations of canned and boxed ous. of Selectmen clerk and former always tug at my heart and at times make me food items and necessities such as “People will go to the grocery School Committee chair Wendy cry. This is especially true when I try to picture toilet paper and hand sanitizer can store and come back with bags what it is really like for teachers, students and be dropped off between 10 a.m. and and bags of stuff, cases of bottled DRIVE, A2 families day to day. I have had the following questions all year long: In The Item’s coverage of area cities and towns, when learning remotely: How are teachers with children handling their INSIDE students and helping their own children? When teachers live in one district and teach in Opinion another, how does that work when each district Msgr. Garrity has a different model (remote, hybrid, or in-per- Learning our history. A4 son) or schedule? How do principals and supervisors observe and LOOK! evaluate teachers, especially those who are new Swampscott native and need extra support? appointed director of Are all schools, in-person, hybrid or remote, Boston Sports providing breakfast and lunch? How? Medicine clinic. A8 When parents cannot work from home, are old- Sports er siblings supervising younger ones while doing Lynn eld’s star their own remote classes? gymnast. B1 Are young students at home on their own? LEARN, A2 OPINION ...................................A4 SPORTS ................................ B1-2 CLASSIFIED ........................... B6-7 HIGH 26° VOL. 142, ISSUE 66 POLICE/FIRE .............................A5 COMICS ....................................B4 FOOD ........................................B8 LOW 36° LOOK! .......................................A8 DIVERSIONS .............................B5 PAGE A8 $1.50 A2 THE DAILY ITEM WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021 Saugus to hold Lynn, Lynn eld, Revere, Salem necessities and and Saugus report new virus cases By Gayla Cawley 3,490, the town website Seven new cases were not updated in Marble- ITEM STAFF said. reported in Salem. The head, Peabody, or Swamp- In Lynn, 16 new cases city now has 4,033 cases scott on Tuesday. New coronavirus cases food drive were reported to bring the and 72 people have died, As of Monday, Marble- were reported Tuesday in city’s caseload to 15,431. the city website reported. head had 1,146 cases DRIVE cheese can make a differ- Lynn, Lynn eld, Revere, Of that total, 282 cases are Lynn eld reported an and 31 deaths, Peabody From A1 ence to a needy family, she Salem and Saugus. active, 193 people have additional case, which had 6,121 cases and 291 said. Saugus also reported an died, and 14,956 have re- brings its total number Reed on February 5.