PORTLAND, Maine -- School districts across America must make wrenching decisions over how to resume classes in settings radically altered by the coronavirus pandemic.
They face issues like school buses running below capacity, virtual learning, outdoor classrooms and quarantine protocols for infected children.
The plans for the upcoming school year are taking shape by the day, and vary from district to district and state to state.
The debates have been highly emotional, with tempers flaring among parents and administrators.
And discussions have been made all the more vexing by record numbers of COVID-19 cases being reported each day.
They must balance health concerns with clawing back as much normalcy as possible.