Schools Can Push Reopening, Teachers Say It's Step One: Patch PM

Today is Tuesday, July 28. Here are some of the top stories we are covering.

Massachusetts schools have been given an extra 10 days to prepare for reopening, pushing the latest permissible start date to Sept. 16. This shortens the school year to 170 days, a step educators and state officials said is necessary to allow schools to prepare for a safe return of students. Some educators, however, think that this is only the first step in a longer process necessary for a safe reopening.

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education signed a memorandum of understanding with the Massachusetts Teachers Association; the American Federation of Teachers, Massachusetts; and the Boston Teachers Union Monday night to make the change.

Those three teachers associations had issued their own reopening recommendations last week, afte Gov. Charlie Baker issued guidance to schools. Merrie Najimy, president of the Mass. Teachers Association, told Patch the 10-day extension was a win, but it wasn't the end. She says that DESE Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley paid attention to only one part of their proposal, and ignored the other issues they raised.

"The commissioner was not really interested," said Najimy. "He paid lip service to the ideas but he was not really interested in coming to a real solution. He wasn't a true partner in tackling the hardest issues here."

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Other top stories

List Of Patriots Stars Opting Out Grows

Patrick Chung is the latest New England Patriot to opt out of the 2020 season — if there is one. The safety and three-time Super Bowl champion joins five others who won't be playing due to coronavirus concerns.

Linebacker Dont'a Hightower, offensive lineman Marcus Cannon, running back Brandon Bolden, fullback Danny Vitale and offensive lineman Najee Toran also opted out of the season, according to several reports Tuesday morning. More players could announce their intentions to miss the season as veterans are expected to report to Gillette Stadium Tuesday for COVID-19 testing.

Whether a NFL season ever takes place remains to be seen. Major League Baseball is currently struggling with a COVID-19 outbreak that has put a temporary pause on the Miami Marlins season and caused the cancellation of several games.

Protesters Camp Outside Spilka's Home To Support License Bill

A group of protesters pitched tents outside Senate President Karen Spilka's Ashland home on Tuesday in a bid to convince her to push a bill through the Legislature that would grant driver licenses to undocumented immigrants.

Activists from several groups — including major labor unions and Cosecha — have been holding demonstrations in Spilka's home district in recent weeks. They held a car parade in Framingham on July 9. The Work and Family Mobility Act needs to be passed before the end of the legislative session on July 31.

The bill has been added as an amendment to an economic development bill in the Legislature along with close to 500 other amendments.

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