Schools implementing COVID-19 safety plans as fall semester gears up
DALLAS (NewsNation) — With students back in the classroom, school administrations across the country are now seeing how their pandemic preparations are panning out. As expected, many campuses are experiencing some bumps in the road and a few major, unforeseen concerns.
At Syracuse University, the school has launched a full investigation into a party held by first-year students that unfolded on the quad. The gathering possibly did enough damage to shut down campus again—including residence halls and in-person learning—before the semester even begins.
Syracuse’s vice chancellor, Dr. Mike Haynie, released a statement said: “The world is watching, and they expect you to fail. Prove them wrong. Be better. Be adults. Think of someone other than yourself.”
At Penn State, hundreds of students gathering Wednesday night to party outside freshman dorms. No masks, no social distancing. And at Baylor University, students have been warned that anyone who blatantly disregards COVID protocols could face suspension or expulsion.
When it comes to learning, districts in North Carolina reporting issues with online classes being hacked by outside accounts. Those hackers showing graphic content, offensive language, even pornography.
Parent Karen Conroy says her daughter’s online lesson was hacked.
“My daughter was a little shook up,” said Conroy. “She couldn’t believe what was happening. There’s no reason for it, except to disrupt a class.”
And in Texas, school nurses feeling the pressure to help classrooms operate as safely as possible by way of healthy students.
Texas Medical Association COVID task force member Dr. Valerie Smith says nurses now have to be certain they’re diagnosing and treating the correct illness. Not to mention the underlying fears that accompany new COVID guidelines that she said some nurses are experiencing.
“A child with asthma who presents with a cough—the first thing to do is make sure that their asthma is appropriately treated, and then to assess whether they’ve had an exposure or need to be considered as a possible COVID patient.”