President Donald Trump said he may cut off funding to schools that don’t reopen from lockdowns imposed by governors across the nation.
Most schools in the United States remain closed amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Democrats believe it would be “bad for them politically if U.S. schools open before the November Election, but is important for the children & families,” Trump, a Republican, wrote on Twitter on July 8.
“May cut off funding if not open!”
Secretary of Health Alex Azar said at a White House round table on July 7 featuring students, administrators, teachers, and health officials that schools can reopen safely.
“It’s really simple practices of common sense. It’s social distancing. It’s wearing face coverings when you’re in a setting that you can’t social distance. And it’s practicing good personal hygiene. The tools are there to bring our kids back safely, to protect our teachers and our staff, and it’s time to do it now,” he said.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Robert Redfield said all schools are encouraged to do what they need to reopen.
“CDC never recommended general school closure, throughout this pandemic. We see schools as a vital part of this society, and we think as you measure the different risks, we would see the great risk to our society is to have these schools closed,” he told people at the round table.
Recommendations for schools include having students wear face coverings, teaching proper hand-washing techniques, and urging students and staff members who feel sick to stay home.
Trump said in another social media statement that he disagrees with the CDC on their reopening guidelines for schools.
“While they want them open, they are asking schools to do very impractical things. I will be meeting with them!” he said.
A number of health experts, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, are recommending schools reopen to in-person instruction.
“The importance of in-person learning is well-documented, and there is already evidence of the negative impacts on children because of school closures in the spring of 2020,” the group said.
“We’re ready to go,” said Jeff Bearden, superintendent at Forsyth County Schools in Georgia. “We’ve been planning and preparing all summer, [and] we will have guidelines in place. Our students need to be back at school.”
Others aren’t sure if schools should reopen in the fall.
Gardner said that teachers “are scared to death” and want to know whether there will be government funds to buy masks and face shields.