MORE SUPPORT NEEDED FOR SCHOOL REOPENING

On Friday Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law his $6.6 billion plan to help school districts deal with fallout from the pandemic. Most of the funding — $4.6 billion — will go to all districts to craft programs to help students make up for learning gaps caused by inadequate distance learning. But $2 billion of the plan is specifically meant to incentivize more school districts across the state to reopen elementary school classrooms by April 1. Will it work? TBD.

Standing in the way are many school officials and teachers themselves. The San Diego Unified School District has criticized Newsom’s interest in using incentives to promote school reopenings since it was broached, saying it undercuts the safety of students and school staff alike. The San Diego Education Association, the local teachers union, has pushed back on the school district’s April 12 reopening target. And United Teachers Los Angeles, representing teachers in Los Angeles Unified, calls Newsom’s plan “a recipe for propagating structural racism” because of its effects on non-White communities.

This resistance to reopening is frustrating. Schools worldwide have reopened with few complications, helping students not just with their education but their mental and physical health. Masking and social distancing work. And issues about equity, vaccinations and ventilation are manageable with a concerted effort by all. Your move, school officials.