Long Beach
HERALD Also serving Point Lookout & East Atlantic Beach
Chamber salutes summer
18/21 itc FG Demi Condensed
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Vol. 31 No. 32
AUGUST 6 - 12, 2020
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Marvel operating on boardwalk
For schools, a sobering reopening plan this plan,” school officials wrote in the document, “and we will be providing resources and video training for staff, students, and families throughout the upcoming weeks.”
By DArwiN YANeS dyanes@liherald.com
The Long Beach School District released its plan to reopen schools this fall, but with strict requirements to keep students and staff safe. The Modified classrooms plan was released The district’s plan l a s t F r i d a y, i n for elementary response to an order school students — by Gov. Andrew kindergarten Cuomo for districts through fifth grade to devise plans for — allows all students opening schools safeto return to classly. rooms, but each class The Long Beach will remain separate district assembled a from others. ChilRe o p e n i n g Ta s k dren will be able to Force, made up of interact only with administrators, their classmates, teachers, parents and although they will students, in June, have the chance to which began meettake part in outdoor loNG BeACh ing regularly to plan learning and activipossible reopening SChool ties. scenarios. The task “We have been DiSTriCT force was split into keeping in mind the four subcommittees, fact that it is difficult including facilities and opera- for anyone to spend extended tions; instructional planning; amounts of time in one space,” ongoing social and emotional officials wrote in the plan. “The support for students and staff; floor plan for each building has and health screening, monitoring been adjusted utilizing every and attendance. available space (cafeterias, gyms, “We are committed to ensur- auditoriums, libraries, innovaing that all families are well tion labs, etc.) to maintain six acquainted with the elements of Continued on page 3
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Christina Daly/Herald
isaias’s aftermath Tropical Storm Isaias made its way up the East Coast on Tuesday, knocking down trees and electrical wires and even blowing roofs off buildings with wind gusts exceeding 50 mph. These trees on Neptune Boulevard were uprooted.
Acting police commissioner wants ‘acting’ gone from his title By JAMeS BerNSTeiN and DArwiN YANeS jbernstein@liherald.com, dyanes@liherald.com
Phil Ragona, 57, has tossed his hat into the ring to become Long Beach’s permanent police commissioner, he said last week. He has a head start. He already sits in the commissioner’s chair, at the commissioner’s desk — because he is currently the acting police commissioner. He has been with the Long
Beach Police department for 34 years, serving as a sergeant and a lieutenant before retiring in 2013. He was rehired soon afterward to monitor activities on the beach, and was named acting commissioner on June 26 when Inspector Ed Ryan, who was also in an acting capacity as commissioner, retired. The city has been seeking a permanent commissioner since the retirement in May of Michael Tangney, who was on
the force for 42 years. In an interview last week in his office at police headquarters, near City Hall, Ragona had a ready answer when asked why he has applied for the job of top cop. “There’s nothing more I’d love than to continue as commissioner,” he said. “I love this city.” The job of overseeing the 62-member force pays about Continued on page 3
he district is prepared to incur the additional costs for providing personal protective equipment.