Haverhill Public Schools will no longer perform COVID-19 pool testing, but instead will switch to weekly at-home testing for students and staff. The decision follows last week’s announcement by the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education of a program wherein schools may opt-in to an alternative program that eliminates the need for contact tracing, pool testing and the “test and stay” policy. School Director of Health Services Katie Vozeolas gave School Committee members the rationale last night. “The concept is that school districts that opt-in, parents and staff will get a home kit with two tests for each child or each staff member, and you would test once a week and that the district would, in turn, would stop contact tracing and test and stay,” she explained.
The Haverhill City Council wants more say in how the city’s budget is spent and members are proposing a ballot question to achieve that goal. Councilor John A. Michitson along with Council President Timothy J. Jordan introduced a plan they say would level the playing field between the mayor and the Council. Michitson, who has long advocated limiting the powers of the corner office, detailed his concerns.
Lawrence City Councilor Pavel Payano is working to shore up support in Haverhill in his run for state Senate, saying yesterday he received endorsements from two former Haverhill officeholders as well as a potential legislative colleague. He said the backing comes from former Rep. Brian S. Dempsey of Haverhill, who also served as House Ways and Means Committee chairman; former Haverhill Mayor James A. Rurak; and state Sen. Barry R. Finegold. Payano is seeking the reconfigured First Essex State Senate seat that includes Lawrence, Methuen and a part of Haverhill.
Registered Haverhill Republicans are having a caucus to elect delegates to the Massachusetts Republican Party Convention. Republicans from across Massachusetts will gather at the convention to endorse candidates for statewide office. The local caucus takes place Wednesday, Feb.
