DISPATCH
Biden details COVID response plan
MedPage Today - President-elect Joe Biden announced his plan to battle the COVID-19 pandemic , including delivering 100 million vaccine shots in his first 100 days in office -- enough to cover 50 million people . Biden said he will invoke the Defense Production Act to compel faster production of vaccine materials and personal protective equipment . He will also request all people in the U . S . to wear a mask during his first 100 days and will order mask wearing for all federal workers in government buildings and during interstate travel . Biden will also prioritize school openings . " We need to steel our spines for what ' s ahead ," he said . " And each of us needs to do what we can to protect ourselves , our families , and our fellow Americans ." As for masks , Biden said he would work with government officials at the state and local levels to help launch mask mandates in their cities , towns and states . Finally , re-opening kindergarten through eighth grade would require increased testing , expanded transportation options -- for example , social distancing on school buses requires more vehicles -- enhanced cleaning , protective equipment , and improved ventilation . Biden estimated it will take " tens of billions of dollars " to implement these measures and reopen most K-8 schools in the first 100 days of his administration . – by Shannon Firth for MedPage Today
NJ lawmakers drafting legislation to address loopholes raised in USA TODAY Network series
Asbury Park Press - New Jersey lawmakers , stunned to learn about the major loopholes in the state ' s school bus safety laws in a USA TODAY Network investigation earlier this year , have vowed to close some of those gaps in the upcoming legislative session . A pair of state senators are working on legislation to fix the most egregious issues that were found to put New Jersey schoolchildren in danger on their way to and from schools across the state . Meanwhile , the findings in the Network ’ s investigation have prompted school bus industry officials to call for reform and cooperation with state agencies . They also called for enforcement of all current and future laws as the key to remedying the problem . In a letter to Motor Vehicle Commission Chief Administrator Sue
Fulton , the New Jersey School Bus Contractors Association likened the Network ’ s investigation to “ having our dirty laundry aired in a public forum .” “ We do see this piece of investigative journalism presenting a great opportunity to open the doors for dialogue with you and your commission ,” wrote Eric Raphael , owner of the Irvin Raphael bus company and president of the NJSBCA . Chief among the failings revealed in the Network ' s months-long investigation is a need for a law that blocks rogue private bus operators with bad track records and sanctions from creating a new company and operating with impunity under essentially the same ownership . Sens . Joseph Lagana and Patrick Diegnan , who is the chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee , are sharing ideas about how to close holes in legislation and expand regulations to deter company owners from skirting rules and laws when it comes to bus safety . But strengthening the laws is not so clear-cut , the lawmakers said . Here are ways the legislators are considering tweaking the laws and caveats that come along with them :
• Require those who have at least a 10 percent stake in a bus company , for example , to disclose their name and involvement in the company . Or , Diegnan said , if they have " an immediate family member [ who has ] ever been involved with an entity that is no longer allowed to operate in the state of New Jersey ," that would have to be disclosed , or else they would face penalties . But this might not stop people from being silent partners or simply not officially having a stake in the company but still running it .
• Change the law that requires school boards and municipalities to award contracts to the lowest bidder to make it the most responsible bidder . While this " takes away the money component as being the final arbiter " of who is awarded contracts , Lagana said , it could encourage other questionable decision-making , such as awarding contracts to friends and family or showing others favoritism . It could , however , empower district officials to do a " full examination of the contractor providing the service ," he added . Diegnan said companies that fail to make the proper disclosure should face severe penalties . – by Colleen Wilson and Mike Davis for Asbury Park Press
Bullhead City School District distributes 23,000 meals
Mohave Valley Daily News – The Bullhead City School District delivered more than 23,000 meals in 90 minutes , running out of supplies for its winter break distribution and prompting a second day for the pre-Christmas program aimed at getting food to students who otherwise might not have nutritious meals over the holidays . About 780 boxes of food — each containing 15 prepackaged breakfasts and lunches — were delivered by school buses using neighborhood delivery routes . The boxes included shelf-stable supplies and one gallon of milk ; each student 18 years old or younger could receive one box . Because of the demand , some routes ran out of food before the deliveries were completed . A second round of food — 300 more boxes totaling 9,000 meals — will be distributed with routes run in reverse order , starting with the final stop on nine of the 12 routes . The district has more than 2,200 students , grades pre-kindergarten through eight . – by Mohave Valley Daily News staff
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