All Schools Back To Full, In-Person Learning In The Fall: The HUB

The HUB is a rundown of the stories people in Boston are talking about. Patch publishes the HUB every weekday.

Good morning, Boston! Today is Friday, May 28. We're talking a path to termination, a top resignation and an almost full house.

Programming note: The HUB is taking the long weekend off. We'll be back Tuesday morning. Sign up for a free subscription to get us in your inbox every weekday.

3 things to know today

1. Will she or won't she has turned into can she or can't she? But she can, and it looks like she will. A state appeals court denied Dennis White's appeal of a ruling that allowed Kim Janey to terminate him, meaning the acting mayor is finally free to have a hearing that can result in the firing of Boston's embattled police commissioner. (Danny McDonald, The Boston Globe)

2. Can you blame her? Dr. Monica Bharel, the state's public health commissioner, announced yesterday she will step down in June. Bharel became one of the leaders of the state's fight against COVID-19 in the early days of the pandemic, even contracting the virus last March. (Alexi Cohan, The Boston Herald)

3. It'll be a (nearly) full house when the Bruins begin their playoff series with the New York Islanders Saturday at 8 p.m. in Boston. The TD Garden hasn't been at anything resembling full capacity since early March of 2020, but that will change as most of the state's COVID-19 restrictions are lifted tomorrow.

Back to normal

Pandemic learning will soon be a thing of the past.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education said in guidance released last night that full-time, in-person learning will be required of all schools and districts in the fall, no longer allowing remote learning as a standard learning model.

"Pathways that existed prior to the pandemic for offering virtual learning to individual students in limited cases will remain available to districts and schools," DESE said.

The guidance also says COVID-19 mitigation strategies such as wearing masks inside and social distancing will remain through the spring and into any summer learning.

What I'm reading today: Can removing highways fix America's cities? That's what a three-reporter team at The New York Times set out to find. Boston and Somerville are mentioned in this piece.

Weather

The National Weather Service says: During the day — A chance of rain, mainly after 5pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 63. East wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. At night — Rain, mainly after 7pm. Low around 48. Northeast wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Have a swell weekend.

You can email me at mike.carraggi@patch.com and follow me @PatchCarraggi.