Cost of Ensuring School Safety Complicates Reopening Plans

Associated PressPublished: July 15, 2020

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The cost of bringing students back to classrooms is proving a major stumbling block to safely reopening schools across the U.S. In the debate raging from the White House to local school boards about bringing students back, health concerns are getting most of the attention. But school and union officials say cost is a major concern.

There's a list of new expenses, including adding teachers, bus drivers, custodians and nurses, plus buying protective gear.

Schools are trying to figure out how to reopen amid uncertainty over how to pay for it. They're pushing Congress to foot the bill, but whether it will is not clear.