'Summer Of No Good Choices' For North Shore Schools: Patch PM

SALEM, MA — It's Friday, July 31. Here's what Patch has been covering on the North Shore and across Massachusetts today.

School districts have until Aug. 10 to finalize reopening decisions and forward them to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. That has forced North Shore school systems to live through what Salem committee member Amanda Campbell called "the summer of no good decisions."

The Salem School committee will meet Aug. 4 and 6 to hear recommendations and make a decision on how to reopen schools this fall: in person, fully-remote or a hybrid model that combines in-person and remote learning. Beverly school committee members held a similar meeting this week and will make their final decision on Aug. 6.

"The risk of losing someone, a student or a teacher, is just far too great," Ward 2 school committee member Kelley Ferretti said. She and other Beverly school committee members said they were reluctant to resume face-to-face instruction this fall.

Also on the North Shore today:

Man Accused Of Smuggling Drugs Into Jail After COVID-19 Release

Eric Jalbert, 31, of Beverly, was released from the Essex County jail after testing positive for the coronavirus in April.

Active Coronavirus Cases Increasing On North Shore

Danvers, which had been one of the hardest hit communities in the first stage of the coronavirus crisis, had just five active cases according to town-by-town COVID-19 released by the state Department of Public Health Wednesday. That was in contrast to several other communities on the North Shore and across Massachusetts, a majority of which saw increases in the active case count for the 14 days ended July 29

Across Massachusetts:

Boston Schools Likely Won't Open Fully In Person This Fall: Mayor

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said students probably won't return to the classroom full-time this fall, but the city is still working on plans.

Also today:

• New MA Travel, Quarantine Rules Start This Weekend: What To Know
• Search For Missing Dog 'Max' Extends Beyond Martha's Vineyard
• Letter By Made-Up Natick Man A Twist In Markey-Kennedy Race
• Soldiers' Home Veteran, Staff Test Positive For The Coronavirus

Dave Copeland covers the North Shore for Patch. He can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).