Our Viewpoint

As August begins, thoughts naturally turn to reopening schools. We are not going to debate the decision to send students and staff back to school — either locally or across the nation. Instead, we will use this space to look over our to-do list. And because it is lengthy, let's look at what we do NOT need to do.

1. We do not need to think we are out of the woods yet. Near the start of this pandemic four months ago, we circled around some of the most vulnerable in our society: the elderly and the young. Now we are sending youth back into an uncertain environment. This could increase the number of people who require testing; it could also increase positive cases.

2. We do not need to become complacent or careless in our efforts to keep the number of COVID-19 cases in Sanders County low. This is not the time to get lazy about social distancing, wearing masks, and washing our hands. It's actually the time to ramp up our common-sense health reminders, model them, and ensure kids do the same.

3. We do not need to fear being wrong. If at some point in-person schooling worsens the spread of the disease, school systems must be willing to change course midstream. If old processes and procedures in classrooms, on buses, and throughout buildings aren't working, school officials must find alternatives to the way we teach, assess, feed, and transport students.

4. And finally, we do not need to waver in our support of teachers, principals, superintendents, and school boards. As the school year progresses, leadership might need to make adjustments to reduce community transmission levels and conduct effective contact tracing if it becomes necessary. In that case, support must be with those working for student (and ultimately community) safety. A kind reminder: Any concerns or criticisms should be sent directly to the source, not first aired on social media.

No one could have predicted the ending to the 2019-2020 school year, and no one knows how this year will go, either. It's a tricky time to be resuming public education. The Sanders County community remains committed to our area schools and supports them as they go forward.