Public schools will run on a state-wide standardized calendar. Next week, the Department of Health will release the minimum guidelines for reopening. In the coming months, the DOH and the Department of Education will work closely with individual school districts to prepare more specialized plans. “We’re going to hold your hand the whole way,” Governor Raimondo said to school officials.
The schools will receive an additional $42 million in CARES Act funding to cover costs such as PPE and additional buses. Schools will consider staggered start times, hybrid learning, and ways of implementing social distancing within the classroom. “It’s not going to look the way it did before,” Governor Raimondo said. The governor says she is prepared to allocate additional funds as necessary.
The schools will have to develop various contingency plans to prepare for a resurgence of cases. “We do not have all the answers today, and life is going to change between now and the end of August,” Governor Raimondo said. “But if we’ve learned anything in the past three months, we’ve learned how to be flexible. We’ve learned how to be innovative and flexible.”
Commissioner Angelica Infante-Green wants to maximize in-person learning while prioritizing the health and safety of school communities.
Governor Raimondo also announced that SNAP recipients can now use EBT credits toward online grocery shopping. Families enrolled in the RI Works Cash Assistance Program can apply for one-time funding to cover food costs.
Graduating high school seniors are invited to a televised celebration of their achievements on Monday, June 15th, at 7 p.m. The broadcast will feature a virtual concert and celebrity appearances.
The department of health reported 66 new cases and 4 deaths as of today. Governor Raimondo announced that those who work in close-contact businesses are now eligible for free testing. The governor also urged those who attended the recent protests get tested or apply for a free test.