Education secretary urges schools to remain open

[brooklynite]

Source: Politico

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona on Sunday said the expectation is that schools will do everything they can to remain open for in-person learning amid the Omicron surge.

“There’s a level of urgency that we shouldn’t lose in making sure our children learn in person,” he said to host Trace Gallagher on “Fox News Sunday,” saying the pandemic has proved how difficult remote learning was for all concerned.

“We’ve been very clear: Our expectation is for schools to be open full-time for students for in-person learning,” Cardona told Gallagher. “We remember the impact of school closures on students last year, and our science is better.“

The Omicron variant has led to a surge in Covid cases throughout the nation. Cardona acknowledged that in the coming weeks, last-minute staffing shortages caused by the pandemic could cause some short-term school closures.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2022/01/02/cardona-schools-covid-closures-526353

[Orrex]

1. That's terrific, because otherwise Omicron might have a harder time spreading

Last edited Sun Jan 2, 2022, 02:32 PM - Edit history (1)

My school district of ~700 students has maintained a consistent 20-40 students sick throughout the school year so far, translating to one sick kid in every 1.75 to 3.5 classrooms. Aging ventilation has combined with "masks & vaccines optional" to yield a magnificent infection opportunity for the virus.

There are more new cases daily now than on the date when schools were locked down in the first place.

Thank goodness "our science is better," or we'd have reason to worry about these skyrocketing numbers!

[ybbor]

2. Tell that to the teachers and staff who have it

Tough to open when there are no adults to watch the kids in the building.

These next couple weeks are going to be crazy after the holidays when everyone acted like the pandemic was over.

[Thtwudbeme]

3. School districts are already shutting down

Atlanta made the announcement...Cumberland county in NC has an emergency be meeting on Monday.

That guy is a fool if he thinks districts are going to stay open.

[Ruby the Liberal]

4. Sounds like they are learning the messaging game

Declare loudly to "keep it all open" (which is a great goal to have!)

Then when the patchwork of closures start, its because of individual locally controlled School Boards. (not our call!)

Honestly, I don't know what other choice they have at this point. The level of sheer ignorance in this country still hasn't sunk in for me.

[JanMichael]

5. Renowned scientist Adams said the same for NYC

https://www.yahoo.com/news/nyc-mayor-eric-adams-said-170543885.html

[Marthe48]

6. Distance learning might have been hard

but people lived.

The pandemic isn't over and I don't understand how people can ignore the numbers of new infections and deaths or say Covid-19 is slowing down.

[IronLionZion]

7. Students are sharing it with their teachers and parents

so mask up and hope for the best. Hope DUers' kids are vaxxed and masked

[marie999]

8. Our great-grandson has been quarantined 3 times already this school year because of other students

[NH Ethylene]

9. They should all close for a couple of weeks, imo.

Omicron is expected to peak by mid-January. Short closures are not going to hurt students psychologically like year-long ones do. Anything to slow the spread would be welcomed by the overworked medical community.