Budgets Limit Social Distancing Choices for Some Schools
2020-07-01
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1Schools across the country are considering how and when to reopen their buildings as they plan measures to control the coronavirus.
2Many school officials are worried about the costs of operating under social distancing guidelines.
3Such costs include protective equipment, additional teachers for smaller classes and more transportation to keep students spread out on bus rides.
4These costs are frightening for urban school systems, which are under financial pressure.
5They say they do not have enough money or space to make classes smaller.
6In Hartford, Connecticut, Superintendent Leslie Torres-Rodriguez is very worried about how to pay for additional teachers.
7She said that now each classroom must have fewer students and social distancing is required.
8In some grades, she said, she has individual teachers with as many as 27 students in their classrooms.
9"My budget would be nonexistent," she said.
10Many schools are developing plans for at least some distance learning, but many are worried about the cost.
11Camden is one of New Jersey's poorest cities.Superintendent Katrina McCombs said costs for classroom cleaning and protective equipment are a concern for her.
12That is because the city depends on the state government for money.
13For the next two years, New Jersey predicts it will face a budget deficit of$10 billion.
14New Jersey has not yet produced rules for the reopening of schools.
15McCombs said she hopes the governor gives urban areas like Camden a lot of choices.
16She added that many of her students live with families that have more than one generation in the same house.
17These are at high-risk for infection.
18"...I would hope that as the governor is rolling out those recommendations, they can take those...factors into consideration," she said.
19The School Superintendents Association (AASA) and the Association of School Business Officials International say making social distancing possible in schools will be costly.
20The Virginia-based groups estimate that it will cost the average school system about $1.8 million.
21However, most schools are expecting budget cuts because of the weak economy.
22"You have a significant increase in costs for school districts at a time when school districts are going to have less money," said Dan Domenech.
23He is executive director of AASA.
24Alexa Garveyis school board chairwoman in the town of Stonington, Connecticut.
25She said it would cut costs if the state ended a rule for the summer that there should be only one student on each seat of a bus.
26The seats normally fit two children.
27She also had some other questions.
28"Does every child need a mask?" she asked.
29"What are our obligations to supplying those masks?"
30Some schools have fewer problems.
31In the wealthy town of Greenwich, Connecticut, the school system has 12.2 students for every teacher.
32To keep up social distancing when buildings reopen, Superintendent Toni Jones has said they will have enough open spaces in their buildings to spread out the classes.
33I'm Susan Shand.
1Schools across the country are considering how and when to reopen their buildings as they plan measures to control the coronavirus. 2Many school officials are worried about the costs of operating under social distancing guidelines. Such costs include protective equipment, additional teachers for smaller classes and more transportation to keep students spread out on bus rides. 3These costs are frightening for urban school systems, which are under financial pressure. They say they do not have enough money or space to make classes smaller. 4In Hartford, Connecticut, Superintendent Leslie Torres-Rodriguez is very worried about how to pay for additional teachers. She said that now each classroom must have fewer students and social distancing is required. 5In some grades, she said, she has individual teachers with as many as 27 students in their classrooms. 6"My budget would be nonexistent," she said. 7Many schools are developing plans for at least some distance learning, but many are worried about the cost. 8Camden is one of New Jersey's poorest cities.Superintendent Katrina McCombs said costs for classroom cleaning and protective equipment are a concern for her. That is because the city depends on the state government for money. For the next two years, New Jersey predicts it will face a budget deficit of$10 billion. 9New Jersey has not yet produced rules for the reopening of schools. McCombs said she hopes the governor gives urban areas like Camden a lot of choices. She added that many of her students live with families that have more than one generation in the same house. These are at high-risk for infection. 10"...I would hope that as the governor is rolling out those recommendations, they can take those...factors into consideration," she said. 11The School Superintendents Association (AASA) and the Association of School Business Officials International say making social distancing possible in schools will be costly. The Virginia-based groups estimate that it will cost the average school system about $1.8 million. However, most schools are expecting budget cuts because of the weak economy. 12"You have a significant increase in costs for school districts at a time when school districts are going to have less money," said Dan Domenech. He is executive director of AASA. 13Alexa Garveyis school board chairwoman in the town of Stonington, Connecticut. She said it would cut costs if the state ended a rule for the summer that there should be only one student on each seat of a bus.The seats normally fit two children. She also had some other questions. 14"Does every child need a mask?" she asked. "What are our obligations to supplying those masks?" 15Some schools have fewer problems. 16In the wealthy town of Greenwich, Connecticut, the school system has 12.2 students for every teacher. To keep up social distancing when buildings reopen, Superintendent Toni Jones has said they will have enough open spaces in their buildings to spread out the classes. 17I'm Susan Shand. 18The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 19_______________________________________________________________ 20Words in This Story 21superintendent-n. the leader or head of a school system 22rolling out -v. to introduce a new system 23recommendation-n. to make suggestions about something 24factor-n. one of the items to be considered in a decision 25district-n. an area within a town that determines which school a student attends 26mask-n. clothe worn over the face to avoid disease 27obligation-n the state of being in debt to something, financially or morally