Concerned about the start of school

As we all face a challenging school year ahead, I’d like to take the time to express some of my concerns and pose a few questions. As teachers prepare to return to their classrooms during this COVID 19 Pandemic, they will enter ready to teach and inspire, but one must acknowledge that all teachers/staff need to feel safe in their school environment and children also need to feel safe to be able to learn, explore and excel.

My question is, can all communities assure the safety of all those going back to school full time without specific plans in place that includes all communities in the area?

Why would the Blended Model only come into effect if the state mandates it? Would it not be better, to have a Blended Model in place and implemented...being proactive instead of reactive?

How will a full classroom of students be able to sit and move around the class maintaining 6 ft. apart? Or walking in hallways, and eating in lunchrooms.

Masks and face shields, for children and staff — should someone fall ill during class, who will be responsible for taking that person’s temperature? Many schools don’t have school nurses, would teachers or staff be responsible to do this, with no protection for themselves?

Are schools supplied with specific cleaning and disinfecting products recommended by the CDC for classrooms, bathrooms, hallways, staff workrooms, playground equipment, etc.?

As a community, by definition...a people with common interests, it is a group linked by a common policy, we should be all working together for the safety of all students and staff with a concrete plan for all to follow before opening the doors to a regular school schedule. We must realize that returning to school in August 2020 is not the same as returning to school in August 2019, the circumstances have changed and we have the ability to change accordingly.

In closing, we all know that COVID 19 is transmitted through respiratory droplets, where it can live up to 3 hours and surface transmission, among other ways. A simple cough or sneeze can send the virus airborne to others and the most dangerous part of this virus is that a person can be asymptomatic and spread to all those he/she are around. COVID doesn’t care what school it visits, if one infected person enters that building and comes in contact with others that virus will spread, it’s science. As we, as a community/country continue to learn about COVID 19, is it not better to err on the side of caution for all?

Debra A. Creedon