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Navratri Edition
From the Council Office of Steve Rao

October 22, 2020
Alert!
Governor Cooper extends Phase 3 for three more weeks. 

Important Updates
GOTV event for Indian American Community
Maya Harris Headlines GOTV event for Indian American Community!

Register at:
Town of Morrisville Advisory Committee Application Deadline
Town of Morrisville Advisory Committee Application Deadline is extended until 5 pm on Oct 27th.   For more information on these opportunities, and to submit your application visit www.townofmorrisville.org/government/citizen-advisory-committees

If you have any questions, e-mail townclerk@townofmorrisville.org.

(Positions open at Morrisville Environmental and Recycling Committee, Morrisville Public Education and Advisory Committee, Performance Measures Committee and Senior Advisory Committee)     
Town of Morrisville Trick or Treat the Trail
Town of Morrisville drive-thru version of Trick or Treat the Trail is this Saturday, from 3-5 p.m. at MCP.  
  
Biden and Trump Debate on Thursday evening.
Debate Commission will Mute Candidate Responses.   

Happy Navratri
Komal, Sonia, Rayan and I wish each of you a very Happy Navratri.  

During these uncertain and dark times, I cannot think of a better time to let the light and love of hearts, serve as our true GPS, providing us the wisdom and direction we need to keep us strong so we can move forward and be stronger together.  
My Navaratri Message
EARLY VOTE!
Early Voting runs to Oct. 31.   Please visit www.wakegov.com to find our Polling Location.  Monday- Friday 8 am to 7:30 pm, Saturday from 8 am to 1 pm and Sunday from 1 pm to 6 pm.   Masks not required at Polling Places.   


YOU CAN MAIL IN YOUR VOTE:
Please request your Absentee Ballot at https://www.ncsbe.gov/.   Absentee Ballots must be requested by Oct 27th and received by Board of Election by Nov 5 to be counted.  (6800 Absentee Ballots from Black Voters are Incomplete)   

North Carolina can accept absentee ballots that are postmarked Nov. 3, Election Day, until Nov. 12, a federal appeals court decided Tuesday in a 12-3 majority ruling
Oct 26 Virtual Reception for Senator Wiley Nickel
Please join me on Monday, Oct. 26th at 6 pm for a Virtual Reception for Senator Nickel, which I am hosting with Richard and Carolina Sullivan.   I will be on American Politics on IBM.TV with Senator Nickel on Sunday at 7 pm!  Ibm.tv 

To sign up for the Reception, please visit https://act.myngp.com/Forms/-5102766469533922816.  
JOIN ME IN SUPPORTING CHRIS HEAGARTY FOR WAKE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD
New public schools in Morrisville would not be possible if we did not have school board members who recognize our community needs. I am proud to support Chris Heagarty and his work to fund new school construction to help us meet the demands of our growing community.

State of the art public schools like Parkside Elementary do not happen by accident. It takes smart planning and cooperation between the school board and local governments. My friend Chris Heagarty understands that and works with our community to advocate for more schools in Morrisville.

Let's help Chris Heagarty return to the Wake County Board of Education so we can continue to work together for new and innovative schools in Morrisville!

For more information about school reopening please visit: https://www.wcpss.net/returntocampus

For more information about Chris Heagarty and his campaign please visit: https://www.heagarty4schools.com/
SPRING REGISTRATION WAKE COUNTY VIRTUAL ACADEMY 
The Wake County Public Schools System on Monday released the registration windows for the WCPSS Virtual Academy for the spring semester of the 2020-21 school year. The window for middle and high school registration will be Oct. 21-28. The window for elementary schools will be Dec. 2-9.
For More Information, please visit https://www.wcpss.net/Page/46163.  

The district also announced that all high school arts activities will begin on Monday, Oct. 19, with the following two exceptions: high school bands and orchestras will not be allowed to play brass or woodwinds and high school choral groups will not be allowed to sing. Those exceptions will also be in place for all K-12 in-person instruction, once it begins. Percussion and stringed instruments will be allowed to rehearse. Groups can, however, meet and participate in team-building activities, SEL activities or other music-related activities that do not involve singing or playing instrument
Wake County Return to In Person Schools Update
WAKE County
  • Wake County's PreK- 3 students and K-12 Special Education students in regional programs will return for in person instruction on Oct. 26th  They will be on cycle of one week of in person classes and two weeks of remote classes, before switching to daily in person classes on Nov. 16.   
  • Middle School students will return to school on Nov. 9th for a three-week rotation of in person and on line courses.  
  • Fourth and Fifth Grade Students will begin the rotation on Nov 16th.  
  • High School students will continue to only receive on line classes for the rest of the Fall Semester. 

*Please note that Wake County Schools will require Masks for all Students, Staff, and on all School Transportation.

* Visitors inside School Buildings will be restricted to vendors, parents, substitute teachers, emergency personnel, and municipal inspectors.  

* The School System plans to launch a webpage which will update families on any schools with a confirmed Covid 19 case.  The site will be up by Oct 26th and will be updated weekly.  
WAKE COUNTY SPRING SEMESTER PLANS
During yesterday's board's work session, plans for the spring semester were also discussed.
School leaders presented the following plan for students return to the classroom at the start of the semester in January:
  • K-12 special education programs: Daily in-person instruction
  • PreK-grade 5: Daily in-person instruction
  • Grades 6-12: Three-week rotation (students learn two weeks online and one week in-person)
  • Grades 9-12: Three-week rotation

Spring Plans may change if Governor issues new Executive Orders and adds restrictions.
Oct. 28th Remote Learning Virtual Conference Oct.
The state is organizing an effort for a free virtual conference for North Carolina teachers and parents to help deal with the challenges of remote learning. The conference is set for Oct. 28. The REAL 2.0 (Remote Education & Learning) Conference will include sessions by experts in fields including education, mental health and technology.  

Register at https://www.ncstudentconnect.com/ until Oct. 28th. 
Immigration Fireside Chat
Thanks to everyone who came out to our Immigration Fireside Chat with Deb Ross!      

Pelosi Upbeat on Stimulus Deal Before Election Day
  • For latest Covid 19 information, please dial 2-1-1 or 888- 892-1162.  
  • Get Updates by texting COVIDNC at 898211.    
  • For unemployment insurance, please visit NC Dept of Employment Security at https://des.nc.gov/.    
  • Apply for Wake Forward program at https://covid19.wakegov.com/wakeforward/. 
NCDHHS reported 1,842 new COVID-19 cases, marking more than 250,000 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The state also reported just 16,150 more completed COVID-19 tests with a percent positive rate of 7.4%. The state also reported 40 more deaths related to COVID-19, bringing the death toll above 4,000. Currently 1,219 people are hospitalized with COVID-19 statewide.

CASES: 1842 New Cases

+ N.C. = 250,592 Cases (Deaths = 4,032) - 7.4% Positive Rate
+ Wake County = 20,250 Cases (Deaths = 267)
+ US = 8.38 million Cases/222 K deaths 
+ Worldwide = 41.3 million/1.13 million deaths
+ Completed Tests:  3,683,243 

Lee County health officials are reporting 130 more COVID-19 cases since last week, bringing the total to 1,954. There have been a total of 16 COVID-19 related deaths in the county. Sampson County health officials are reporting 20 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 2,571. There have been 28 virus-related deaths to date in the county.

TESTING (NC)
+ Completed Tests = 3,640,086 Tests    
+ Positive Test Rate: The latest percent positive rate was updated Friday and is at 5.7%.    
+ 1,219 Hospitalizations
Office Hours
Council Member Rao holds office hours on Friday from 12:00-1:00 PM by appointment only at 100 Town Hall Drive in Morrisville. 

For more information or to schedule a time to speak with Council Member Rao, please email SRao@TownofMorrisville.org and copy Town Clerk Eric Smith, esmith@townofmorrisville.org, 463-6150.
Council Member Steve Rao
Town of Morrisville
Dedicated to transforming Morrisville into an ideal place to work and raise a family!
Learn more at: SteveRao.com