Comment on State says school districts should plan for 3 COVID re-opening scenarios in the fall

The BDN is making the most crucial coverage of the coronavirus pandemic and its economic impact in Maine free for all readers. Click here for all coronavirus stories. You can join others committed to safeguarding this vital public service by purchasing a subscription or donating directly to the newsroom. The Bangor and Brewer school departments, like many others in the state, are putting together three separate plans for reopening public schools in fall, including a full return to in-person schooling, a combination of in-person and online learning and a fully online semester. But to decide which plan to put into action, they will need input from the state. The Maine Department of Education and the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention will work together to help school district leaders across Maine in determining the COVID-19 related risk factors and health assessments of their communities, according to department spokesperson Kelli Deveaux. Local health assessments can include a decline of influenza-like illnesses and COVID-like cases in the area; a downward trajectory of documented cases and newly hospitalized patients; and local hospital capacity. The department also will assess the readiness of school administrative units to reopen for in-person instruction based on how closely they’ve followed the cleaning, social distancing and communication guidelines the department issued in June. Based on the risk factors, schools can choose a mode of instruction.