Officials Having a Hard Time Finding Qualified Candidates for Positions City to Bid out Senior Meal Program to Try to Draw in Mo
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Wednesday, February 24, 2021 Some EPS students could be returning to school in March By Seth Daniel after a few weeks they’ll be protected.” The Everett School School Committeeman Committee voted 7-2 to Marcony Almeida Barros move forward with ne- said he understood the gotiations with the Ever- concerns, but has heard ett Teachers Association too many horror stories (ETA) and form a plan about kids getting lost in that would bring willing remote schooling or being families back to school home alone and isolated. throughout the month of “I’m hopeful and I be- March. lieve by approving a plan, Any new plan will only with the vaccine and other Several police officers and firefighters were present online Monday night for promotions in the departments. Fire Lt. be in effect after an ex- things happening now… Sabato LoRusso was promoted to Deputy Chief; and Firefighter Daniel Lloyd was promoted to lieutenant. Meanwhile, in tensive negotiation with that we’re going to be able the Everett Police, Officers John Cristiano and Robert Hall were promoted to sergeant; Lt. Scott Stallbaum to captain; and teachers that is happening to move forward with this Sgts. Jeff Gilmore, Stephen Panzini and Larry Jedrey to lieutenant. this week, and a signed tiered re-entry plan,” he Memorandum of Un- said. “We have all heard derstanding (MOU) that the same thing from dif- City to bid out senior meal program details every facet of the ferent parents that they return plan. are desperate and want Voting against the their kids back in school.” to try to draw in more equity plan – which would bring Chair Frank Parker teachers back before vac- Council meeting on Mon- a week of 520 meals per and on Tuesday the City pointed out that under the By Seth Daniel cination on March 8 and day night when it was dis- day from Rita’s Catering produced a bid document plan, kids would enter in then slowly roll children The City will bid out cussed who the providers and The Square Deli. City with a menu for each day a phased approach. That into hybrid models on the daily meal service for were and how they were employees and other vol- in March and the potential would mean on March March 15 – were Mem- March deliveries in an ef- picked. Adrien said the unteers deliver the meals cost. 15, special education stu- bers Allan Panarese and fort to diversify the con- process was not equita- to mostly senior citizens The City published dents would return in the Millie Cardello. Both pre- tractors making the City’s ble and excluded a lot of and physically challenged the bid this week and is hybrid format. On March ferred a plan that would nd meals and reaping the restaurants in the City who residents. hoping to get outreach to 22 it would be K-2 have waited until at least guaranteed income from might have wanted to shift Robert Moreschi, the more restaurants and food grade, then on March the first vaccination shot rd th the City contract. gears and scale up to pro- Chief Procurement Offi- providers/caterers for the 29 it would be 3 to 5 to begin going back to hy- It was a matter that was vide some of the meals. cer, said on Monday that March program. grades. Then there would brid. brought to light by Coun- At the moment the City they would be willing to be a re-assessment and “I do believe it would cilor Gerly Adrien at the takes delivery five days bid out the program again, consideration of the older See SENIOR MEALS Page 7 be helpful if the teachers students’ return schedule. were to get their first shot “That’s two months and because after a few weeks that means two months of with the first shot, you’re vaccine distribution and 95 percent protected and the next phase of people – Officials having a hard time finding that just gives those who greater availability and a don’t get it some protec- more secure and efficient tions,” said Panarese, who pipeline,” he said. “There qualified candidates for positions has worked on the COVID are things like that to take frontlines as a Respiratory into account over the next By Seth Daniel have been vacant for verse group of candidates ter array of candidates Therapist. “I’m sorry, but eight weeks as the plan some time. that we have not been to meet our needs,” said what I’ve seen (at the hos- goes on.” City officials told the Councilor Fred Ca- able to attract to date,” Deveney. pital), I think they should City Council on Mon- pone brought the matter said Mayoral Chief of For the new director get the first shot and then day they are having a up in an order on the Staff Erin Deveney. of the Office of Diversi- See SCHOOLS Page 7 hard time filling critical agenda asking about the City Solicitor Colleen ty, Equity and Inclusion positions in the admin- Elections Commissioner Mejia said they do plan – proposed more than a istration, including the and the Library Director. to hire a recruiting com- year ago – that position DeMaria not giving up Election Commissioner, The Council just recent- pany to help draw at- also remains open and Diversity Director and ly filled the ISD Direc- tention to the many key has not had qualified can- on teacher vaccination the Planning and Devel- tor position with long- positions that are and re- didates to date. The City opment Director, among time Facilities Director main vacant. has sought help from By Seth Daniel ic and we do have ample others. George Lane, but so far For the Planning Di- Boston on the matter, spots open. We could To that end they told many key positions re- rector, the City got 12 while at the same time Mayor Carlo DeMaria instead be vaccinating the Council they would main vacant and the applications, but none of Chelsea had more than has not given up on his teachers. There’s pressure be hiring an outside job City continues to have them were fully qualified 60 candidates apply for a plan to try to get teach- to get teachers vaccinated recruiter to try to lure difficulty finding a good and that position remains similar position there and ers in the Everett Public even though information candidates to these City group of candidates. open. Schools (EPS) vaccinated was shared that school positions, some of which “We really want a di- “We hope to get a bet- See POSITIONS Page 5 ahead of schedule so as to children aren’t a contrib- enter into a smoother and utor to the spread.” safer return to hybrid ed- Supt. Tahiliani is join- Everett vaccination clinic combines with Cataldo for second operation ucation. ing the mayor in that push At the School Com- as well, and also said they By Seth Daniel cessfully vaccinated 386 rector Deanna Devaney miliar site for Everett mittee meeting Feb. 16, are formulating a wait list eligible individuals with said they will be con- residents and they’re and reiterated this week, of teachers were there any Not one dose of the the assistance of Catal- tinuing the clinics next more apt to go there than the mayor said he is con- leftover vaccine available COVID-19 vaccine went do…We have another weekend, and have a to travel to another area, tinuing to plead with Gov. that had been unused at to waste last weekend at clinic scheduled for this goal of getting transla- especially with the vac- Charlie Baker to allow the end of any clinic. the second City of Ever- Saturday Feb 27. These tion in place. cine being so unknown Everett to be a pilot pro- The Everett Teacher’s ett and Cataldo Ambu- appointments are all “Our next goal is to to a lot of people,” she gram in the state when it Association (ETA) is lance vaccination clinic booked, but we may be work with the state to said. comes to teacher vaccina- working with the Everett in the former Pope John opening up additional get interpreters at the Devaney added that tion. Public Schools and the High School. spots. clinics,” she said. “This the odd number of 386 “I’m still not giving up mayor on that wait list, The effort was able “The City will contin- week we had all the in- didn’t mean doses went hope,” he said. “We did in addition to pushing for face a setback on our plan vaccination as well. to vaccinate 386 seniors ue these clinics as long formation translated so to waste. She said some that were 75 and over, as to vaccinate teachers, but as the State provides us people who don’t speak vials had 11 doses and I’m not giving up hope well as the new catego- with the medication/dos- English have the infor- that accounted for the un- the governor would allow ries of those 65 and over, es,” said the mayor. “We mation they need.” even number, and that no just the City of Everett in THINKING OF having two co-morbidi- are working with the Ev- She said they plan to doses last Saturday went a pilot program to vacci- SELLING YOUR ties or are living in senior erett Housing Authority translate into Spanish, to waste at the clinic.