Schools are facing unprecedented challenges this fall, prompted by difficult decisions about when and how to physically reopen. The pandemic forced leaders to take into account a complex set of societal, health, and economic factors.
As a father of three — two in college, one in high school — I have seen three unique reopening plans up close. I have dealt with the uncertainty of health and safety, along with concerns about the level of education in a remote classroom. Like most parents, I feel terrible that our children are missing out on so many formative experiences.
With that said, there are key strategies that administrators can employ to mitigate disappointment and make effective decisions. On a macro level, the successful reopenings have several things in common. Effective administrators have constantly communicated with their community members. They have held dialogues for different segments of this community—parents, faculty, staff, and students—offering these groups the space to voice their concerns and ask questions. This approach offers maximum transparency and allows all stakeholders to be a part of the decision-making process. These administrators also understand that their decisions cannot please all of their community members’ competing interests, and do not get overwhelmed by pushback. Most importantly, leaders of these schools have built trust.
Successful leaders provide concise, consistent communications to their constituents, providing clear insight behind their current stance on reopening. I say “current stance” because we have all seen plans change over the past six months. This will undoubtedly continue over the course of the school year.
We have seen during this pandemic that the virus is unpredictable, so it is essential that administrators be flexible and adapt to ever-changing circumstances. This means establishing not just a Plan A, but also a Plan B and C that all include exceptions to account for the different situations of their community members. For instance, when sending out a communication about an imminent reopening, it is important to also prepare a message in the event that the decision must be reversed.
This planning allows schools to be nimble and to cover their bases when dealing with the uncertainties COVID-19 presents. The reopening plans that have failed have done so because of a lack of communication between the school and its community members, sewing distrust between these entities.
These are difficult times, but if communities and schools come together, we can all navigate through this crisis.