For schools that choose to reopen, a key challenge is ensuring that people feel safe entering the building. That can be a difficult task for educators, students and parents alike. In fact, for many school systems, the reopening of buildings is one of the hardest parts of the pandemic.
As the COVID-19 vaccine becomes more available, school reopening is becoming more feasible. However, a number of factors remain, from sanitizing classrooms to making sure that students are prepared to return to the classroom, and even ensuring that staff are able to continue working remotely.
Developing a robust plan is critical for any school system looking to reopen. This should include a detailed market analysis, including a thorough understanding of the education landscape in your target area and the competition. It should also include a complete business model, financial projections, and marketing strategies.
Once you have your plan in place, you will need to secure a facility to use as your campus. This could be a school that is already empty or another suitable space. If you are opening a new school, the site should meet all of your licensing and safety requirements.
In addition to a comprehensive school safety plan, it is important to develop a robust testing and tracking system. For example, in New York City, prior to reopening, all teachers and students were required to take a nasal swab for molecular surveillance testing every week. This testing was coordinated by the NYC Test & Trace Corps.
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