Safety first. That was the focal point of a Wednesday night virtual town hall where more than 300 educators, parents and community members discussed concerns about reopening schools in New Orleans as the coronavirus — which closed schools for three months in the spring — is on the rise again in Louisiana.
Hosted by a collective of advocacy organizations, the gathering focused on school safety and what that means for students, families and all school employees. The six organizations — Kids Rethink New Orleans Schools, called “Rethink,” Friends and Families of Louisiana’s Incarcerated Children (FFLIC), StepUp Louisiana, Familias Unidas En Acción, OPEN NOLA and United Teachers of New Orleans — were asked to provide answers to two questions.
“Is it really safe to reopen schools? What does safety in schools mean for your organization?” UTNO member Adrienne Dixson asked.