[OutsiderFan]

Obviously, it's a complicated situation, not in terms of what the proper risk mitigation tactics are, but what is the right combination of them in a given area or type of setting. This must also balanced out by the need to act in unison to be most effective.  And as it relates to private schools vs. public, there is another factor at play that has nothing to do with teachers unions. 

This is not wanting to allow wealthy private schools that can afford extra safety measures to open, while underfunded public schools have to stay closed because they can't afford them. If public school parents, know in-person instruction is more effective, and private schools open while their kids' school must remain closed do to financial concerns, they see a privilege gap that already exists, getting even wider. This can lead to a lot of angry parents and ultimately social unrest.

So there is a socioeconomic reason to treat all schools in a given area the same way. Maybe if private schools want to open, they can help the public schools in their area put practices in place and provide supplies that get them on par with themselves, as a price to get them open. It just is not  good policy to have private schools give privileged kids a clear path from the virus and its impact, while less privileged take on damage from it.

[OutsiderFan]

Obviously, it's a complicated situation, not in terms of what the proper risk mitigation tactics are, but what is the right combination of them in a given area or type of setting. This must also balanced out by the need to act in unison to be most effective.  And as it relates to private schools vs. public, there is another factor at play that has nothing to do with teachers unions. 

This is not wanting to allow wealthy private schools that can afford extra safety measures to open, while underfunded public schools have to stay closed because they can't afford them. If public school parents, know in-person instruction is more effective, and private schools open while their kids' school must remain closed do to financial concerns, they see a privilege gap that already exists, getting even wider. This can lead to a lot of angry parents and ultimately social unrest.

So there is a socioeconomic reason to treat all schools in a given area the same way. Maybe if private schools want to open, they can help the public schools in their area put practices in place and provide supplies that get them on par with themselves, as a price to get them open. It just is not  good policy to have private schools give privileged kids a clear path from the virus and its impact, while less privileged take on damage from it.