Council Discusses COVID Uptick, School Committee

The Winthrop Town Council met on Dec. 7, where it heard updates about the School Committee and about the pandemic.

COVID

Between Nov. 14 and Nov. 27, there were 81 confirmed new cases of COVID-19, bringing the percent positive rate for the town to 3.78. Most age groups are meeting the town’s 80 percent vaccination threshold. However, only 67 percent of ages 12 to 15 and 71 percent of ages 50 to 64 are vaccinated.

Winthrop held a vaccine clinic on Dec. 4, where it administered 220 doses of the Pfizer vaccine to children aged five to 11, and 120 doses of the Moderna adult booster. Other clinics were held on Dec. 8, Dec. 12, and Dec. 15 at St. Michael’s Parrish.

“Thanks to [DPH Director Meredith Hurley] for getting the vaccine clinics lined up,” said Council Pres. Phil Boncore. “She’s been doing a great job.”

Between Nov. 18 and Dec. 1, 11 students tested positive for COVID-19, likely connected to the Thanksgiving holiday. The district is urging all parents to submit their children’s vaccination records. If the district can reach the 80 percent vaccination threshold, it will no longer require students to wear masks indoors.

“The sooner we get to 80 percent in the schools, the better off we’ll all be,” said Supt. Lisa Howard.

The district is currently working with Somerville’s Cataldo Ambulance Service to conduct contact tracing after an incident of COVID-19 in student athletics.

School Committee

Supt. Howard reported a massive increase in records requests from the community under the Freedom of Information Act this year compared to other years. Currently, she is fielding these requests on her own, but says that she will need additional staffing and funds to cover these requests.

The policy subcommittee will be revising its language for its policy around homeless students and students in foster care. Those changes will be presented at the next School Committee meeting.

The Zonta Club of Chelsea donated $25 food vouchers for needy families. In addition, Wasabi Technologies donated 100 tickets to the Fenway Bowl on Dec. 29, where the University of Virginia Cavaliers will play the Southern Methodist University Mustangs.

The School Committee accepted the new policy language that will decrease the number of CORI checks run on district employees from once per year to once every two years.

Volunteers will still receive CORI checks annually.

General Announcements

The Town received a grant in the amount of almost $450,000 by the Mass. Dept. of Public Health’s Bureau of Community Health and Prevention.

The Center Business District is on track to finish up work in the spring of 2022, and not at the end of December as previously planned.

The Winthrop Police Department will be hosting a holiday toy drive in the main lobby of the precinct. Toy collection boxes are also scattered throughout town.