OHIO, USA — As more of our local school districts finalize their plans for the upcoming school year, parents are deciding whether they're on board.
"Looking at it from a public health perspective, the illness is important but we also have to consider the socialization factor and also the economic factor. If we keep kids out of school that means many parents have to stay home" said Dr. Brian Kaminski, an ER doctor at ProMedica.
If you're on the fence about sending your kid back, there are some things you should take into consideration: How physically large is your child's classroom/school and how many kids go there.
"We have very large schools with upwards of 1,000 children attending and then we have very small private schools that are really in an entirely different situation," said Kaminski.
Placing desks six feet apart might sound like a simple solution, but parents should consider if there is even enough room in your child's classroom for that.
Some schools have decided to go back five days a week, while others are on a hybrid model. It's important for parents to consider how many kids will be in one space at a time.
"While it might make sense for smaller schools that don't educate as many children to go back to school five days a week, it might make less sense that is dealing with bigger class sizes, more bodies, more contact," said Kaminski.