Although I have posted on the topic of how parents can assess school readiness for students in this pandemic, I feel it is important to reemphasize the importance for parents to guarantee their children’s safety by having a full understanding of the policies and protocols of their respective schools.
One of Lakeside’s partners in trauma education has been the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. They have published an article that I would like to re-post since it is another good example of what teachers and parents can look for as we reopen this 2020-21 school year.
Here is a quote from the article:
As schools across the country grapple with bringing kids back into the classroom, parents — and teachers — are worried about safety. We asked pediatricians, infectious disease specialists and education experts for help evaluating school district plans.
What we learned: There’s no such thing as zero risk, but certain practices can lower the risk of an outbreak at school and keep kids, teachers and families safer.
If you’re considering sending your child back to school this fall or in the coming months, start with assessing both your own family’s personal risk and the level of spread in your community. The American Federation of Teachers says it doesn’t consider in-person school to be safe unless fewer than 5% of coronavirus tests in an area are positive. As of late July, that one benchmark disqualified eight of the 10 largest public school districts in the country.
As you will see, this article is quite thorough in its scope. I think that their perspective is helpful to read and consider. Many of us are making final plans for our schools, staff and students so we can begin to be ready for the reopening. It is a truly difficult task with all the changing requirements. Hopefully we will be creating a safe environment for our staff and students so we can find our new normal for school in this coming year.
Gerry Vassar
President/CEO
