Is It Safe to Reopen Schools? 20 Questions to Ask First

AUSTIN, Texas - Jan. 21, 2021 - PRLog -- Parents are concerned.

Teachers are concerned.

Educators are concerned.

Public health authorities are concerned.

The question on everyone's mind: when will it be safe to reopen schools again?

20 Questions To Answer To Reopen Schools Safely

Let's look at the most recent information available to answer 20 of the most important questions facing parents, teachers, educators, and public health officials trying to decide when it's safe to reopen schools.

1. President Biden Wants To Reopen Schools In 100 Days. What's The Plan?

"It should be a national priority to get our kids back into school and keep them in school," says President Biden. "If Congress provides the funding, we need to protect students, educators, and staff. If states and cities put strong public health measures in place that we all follow, then my team will work to see that the majority of our schools can be open by the end of my first 100 days."

The incoming Biden administration has proposed a $400 billion pandemic response budget to increase vaccination rates and provide financial relief to schools, local governments, and small businesses. Here are some of the key proposed budget line items which affect the safe reopening of schools:

· $350 Billion Emergency Funding For State Local And Territorial Governments

Provides emergency aid to local governments hard-hit by tax revenue shortfalls to provide new funding sources for frontline workers, vaccine distribution, increase Covid testing, and costs associated with reopening schools.

· $130 Billion Fund To Help Schools Reopen

The plan provides for substantially increased school funding to modify school buildings for increased social distancing, reduced class sizes, personal protective equipment, and improved ventilation systems.

· Funding For 100,000 Public Health Workers To Manage Vaccine Outreach And Contact Tracing

Direct funding for 100,000 public health workers to established new vaccine outreach programs and enhanced contract tracing efforts, with particular emphasis placed on disadvantaged communities hard-hit by the pandemic.

· $50 Billion Expanded Testing Program

This funding would support increased testing by local governments and schools, including the purchase of rapid Covid tests and expanded lab capacity.

· $20 Billion National Vaccination Program

The proposal would help ramp up a national vaccination program similar to the massive polio vaccination campaigns of the 1950s, with funding for community vaccination centers and mobile units for rural areas.

· Emergency Paid Sick Leave And Medical Leave

Paid medical leave will allow workers to stay home if they suspect they are sick and help parents take care of sick children at home.

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