Laid off by ISD, 10 workers may regain jobs

LYNN-Mayor Edward J. Clancy Jr. said Thursday that approximately 10 of the 26 Inspectional Services Department employees who were laid off earlier this year could get their jobs back this summer.Clancy told the School Committee that ISD Director Michael Donovan will be able to rehire up to 10 workers from the list of those that were laid off – employees that are expected to return to city schools.”It looks like we will be able to rehire up to 10 custodians that were laid off,” said Clancy. “So hopefully that eases some of the earlier concerns of the committee (that school cleanliness would suffer if custodians were laid off).”Donovan, who predicted he would rehire a portion of the employees when he appeared before the committee in March, credited several department retirements and a reduction in overtime costs for making the re-hires possible.The city is prepared to use $800,000 in energy stimulus money to upgrade the boilers at nine schools this summer.The project means that the city will only have one school remaining on the list of buildings in need of a new boiler.By installing new boilers, the city not only ensures that schools will have safe, functional heating systems heading in to next winter, but will also save money in energy costs.Clancy also said ISD is prepared to install new lights at Breed, Pickering and Lynn Vocational and Technical Institute, a project that should save the city about $67,000 in energy costs next year.The Julia Callahan Elementary School is welcoming two donations this month from local business partners.The first, made by King’s Lynne, will provide $2,000 for the school to continue its Study Island MCAS program next year.The second donation, from the Mortgage Network Company, will bring three computers to the school, ensuring that every classroom teacher has a computer right in the room.As a result, Principal Ed Turmenne hopes to implement computer-based attendance and report card programs next year.Finally, the Callahan School PTO received approval from the School Committee to hang a banner for the 2008-09 Lynn Elementary Division One Champion girls’ basketball team.Due to allegations of discrimination in last summer’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Coordinated Program Review of the district, the Lynn Public Schools have been forced to change its policy on pregnant students.Deputy Superintendent Jaye Warry announced Thursday that the department has updated its policy regarding pregnant students to ensure that all future moms are treated equally.In the past, pregnant students were required to have a doctors note to stay in school, something that has been eliminated. Now, any student who is pregnant will stay in school and take the same classes as their peers. In certain situations, special arrangements will be made to accommodate students.In addition, the school district will no longer require a consultation with the husband of a student or that student’s parent.