Preparing For Back-to-School With Coronavirus

As coronavirus cases increase and we approach the beginning of the school year, parents all over the country wonder how to send their children to school safely. School systems feel the pressure to open; meanwhile, there is no comprehensive standard on how to do so safely. There are existing preventative recommendations, but any government entity has not mandated a standard. Although COVID-19 has profoundly disrupted the school system, it is a central system in our lives, and education must continue to develop students across the country. Here are some things you should consider while preparing for the next school year.

Precautions
The precautions taken in a school environment are especially necessary due to the increased chance of exposure. Sanitation stations, social distancing in classrooms, and virtual days are essential to maintaining the health of the school environment. Without a health standard, it is challenging to enforce recommendations for all students. Parents should contact their child’s school to obtain their written plan regarding their plan for the number of children in a classroom, sanitation protocols, social distance protocols, the requirement of masks, and other standards.

Logistics
Ensuring that students are safely able to return to school is essential to educating through the coronavirus pandemic. With the added coronavirus precautions, schools will have to be creative and develop ways to keep students socially distanced while optimizing their time. Drop off and pick up times will require plenty of logistical planning and coordination. If schools adhere to the social distancing deadlines, extra care and coordination will be necessary to ensure that they are not at risk during their school day. Please vet the school’s logistics safety plan and check for all scenarios.

Mental Health
A classroom is typically a place where students bond and foster a necessary social environment. Various health officials have voiced concerns over students’ mental health, precisely due to the lack of social interaction that they will experience during this school year. Educators will have to find ways to keep students engaged while maintaining safe social distancing. The long-term effects are feared to cause a lack of social skills that are pivotal for post-graduation scenarios. Find out how the child’s school is prepared to compensate for the lack of social interaction creatively. You may be able to help provide classroom materials to help teachers create engaging moments while social distancing.

Support Teachers
Precautions, logistics, and mental health are only 3 of the many concerns that teachers, students, and parents have about this upcoming school year. Teachers will face the challenges of this new environment while supporting students who are struggling with coping. As students prepare to enter the classroom again, many will need extra time and support if their education was compromised while quarantined at home. Teachers will have to balance student engagement, safety procedures, change management, and provide academic support to their virtual and onsite students. When possible, please support your local teachers by asking them how to help.

Steinberg Law Firm encourages our community to practice safe and sanitary precautions during this pandemic. Our community is incredibly important to us, and we want to help in any way we can. Our law firm is operational and safely assisting our community. If you need legal services, please contact us via telephone (843) 720-2800 or online! We are ready to help you!

For more information on the CDC encouraged preparation for the school year read here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/prepare-safe-return.html