Washington schools expected to reopen this fall with in-person learning after long Coronavirus closures, stock market rally: Amazon Microsoft, other Seattle companies bounce back from March lows, and more from this week’s Seattle in the Spotlight.

Washington Schools Expected to Reopen this Fall with In-Person Learning After Long Coronavirus Closures

Seattle Times | Hannah Furfaro | June 11

https://www.seattletimes.com/education-lab/washington-schools-expected-to-reopen-this-fall-with-in-person-learning-after-long-coronavirus-closures/

“Washington’s schools chief said Thursday that he expects school districts to reopen buildings and return to in-person learning next school year, as long as public health guidelines allow them to do so. The goal: resume regular, face-to-face schedules for most or all students at the beginning of the 2020-21 school year. State schools chief Chris Reykdal announced the plans minutes after releasing a 55-page document that lays out what instruction could look like come fall. The guidance is the result of work by more than 120 educators, parents, students and community organizations that have met a few times over the past month to hash out details about whether — and how — to resume school.”

Stock Market Rally: Amazon, Microsoft, Other Seattle Companies Bounce Back from March Lows

GeekWIre | Taylor Soper | June 8

https://www.geekwire.com/2020/stock-market-rally-amazon-microsoft-seattle-companies-bounce-back-march-lows/

“U.S. stocks have come roaring back despite millions of people still unemployed due to pandemic-related layoffs and the threat of COVID-19 lurking. The S&P 500 was up more than 1% Monday as it returns to pre-COVID-19 levels following a massive drop in March due to the global pandemic…Tech companies are also contributing to the stock market rebound, including Seattle-area stalwarts Microsoft and Amazon, which are seeing shares reach record high levels…Back in February, longtime investor and Code.org CEO Hadi Partovi said Seattle might come out ahead of other metro areas if economic activity plunges.”

As Seattle Wins ‘Library of the Year,’ Chief Librarian Marcellus Turner Sees Key Role for Tech in Pandemic

GeekWire | Kurt Schlosser | June 6

https://www.geekwire.com/2020/seattle-wins-library-year-honors-chief-librarian-marcellus-turner-touts-tech-pandemic/

“After the Seattle Public Library was named the 2020 Gale/Library Journal Library of the Year this week, Executive Director and Chief Librarian Marcellus Turner was excited to discuss everything that contributed to the prestigious recognition. And he was nervous about another honor — his choice as GeekWire’s latest Geek of the Week. “It’s not that I’m afraid of being a geek,” Turner said. “I’m afraid that I won’t live up to the definition of a geek.”