discussion 3-2

WHAT WILL IT COST TO REOPEN SCHOOLS? This document estimates some of the expenses school districts may incur in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and as they plan to reopen for the 2020–2021 school year. These calculations assume the statistics of an average*

school district with 3,659 students, 8 school buildings, 183 classrooms, 329 staff members, and 40 school buses (transporting at 25% capacity, or 915 students, to comply with recommended social distancing guidelines).

ADHERING TO HEALTH MONITORING & CLEANING/ DISINFECTING PROTOCOLS

Hand sanitizers for students in classrooms

$39,517 Disinfectant wipes for

classrooms (four/day per classroom)

$16,833 No-touch thermometer

(one per school)

$640 Oximeter

(one per school)

$360 Electrostatic

disinfectant sprayers

$33,600 Deep cleaning of school after a confirmed case

$26,000

This list of costs is not intended to be exhaustive but illustrates how the overall cost of school operations will substantially increase to safely reopen as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information on

the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on K–12 education, please contact ASBO International & AASA.

HIRING STAFF TO IMPLEMENT HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOLS

Additional custodial staff for increased

cleaning/disinfecting of schools and buses

to prevent spread

$448,000 Ensuring at least one FT/PT nurse in every

public school

$400,000 Ensuring one aide per bus to screen student temperatures before

boarding

$384,000

PROVIDING PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

(PPE)

Gloves for custodial staff

(five pairs/day for two custodians per school)

$1,440 Daily disposable masks

for in-school staff

$44,415 Disposable masks

for students who do not bring masks

from home (est. 30% of students)

$148,190

PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION &

CHILD CARE

Resume before/after school childcare

programs (with social distancing

and cleaning protocols)

$168,750 Fog machines and cleaner for buses

(7 machines)

$55,860 Hand sanitizer for

buses

$10,534

TOTAL ADDITIONAL EXPENSES AN AVERAGE* DISTRICT MAY INCUR TO REOPEN: $1,778,139

External References: “Now What? Navigating K-12 Reopening, A Collaborative Planning Process?” National Council on School Facilities, Working Document, May 2020. “School Bus Driver Pay Rises as Shortage Worsens,” Thomas McMahon, School Bus Fleet Magazine, November 2018. “Total School Districts, Student Enrollment by State and Metro Area,” Governing The Future of States and Localities, eRepublic. Accessed June 2020.

*Costs will vary by district depending on many factors, including regional/market price as economy of scale (i.e., larger districts may have access to lower unit costs because they can buy in higher volumes), and the availability of labor and goods necessary to comply with recommended social distancing and cleaning protocols. Model assumes 25% transportation capacity to adhere to social distancing guidelines. (Bus fleets would need to quadruple in size to safely transport 100% of students under COVID-19 circumstances, which is financially unfeasible for districts.)