Parents struggle as schools reopen amid coronavirus surge

DALLAS, Georgia (AP) — Putting your child on the bus for the first day of school is always a leap of faith for a parent. Now, on top of the usual worries about youngsters adjusting to new teachers and classmates, there’s COVID-19.

Rachel Adamus was feeling those emotions at sunrise Monday as she got 7-year-old Paul ready for his first day of second grade and 5-year-old Neva ready for the start of kindergarten.

With a new school year beginning this week in some states, Adamus is struggling to balance her fears with her belief that her children need the socialisation and instruction that school provides.

The death toll in the US from the coronavirus has reached about 155,000, and cases are rising in numerous states.

As the bus pulled away from the curb in Adamus’ Dallas, Georgia, neighbourhood, the tears finally began to fall.

The Adamus children are among tens of thousands of students across the nation who were set to resume in-person school Monday for the first time since March.

Parents in Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee will also be among those navigating the new academic year this week.

Many schools that are resuming in-person instruction are also giving parents a stay-at-home virtual option.

Others are planning a hybrid approach, with youngsters alternating between in-person classes and online instruction.

But an uptick in COVID-19 cases in many states has prompted districts to scrap in-person classes at least for the start of the school year, including Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Washington.

We want to hear from you! Email us at star@gleanerjm.com and follow @thejamaicastar on Instagram and on twitter @JamaicaStar, and on Facebook: @TheJamaicaStar.