Page 12 - October 2020 Issue_Neat

DOLLARS AND SENSE by Tolbert Rowe

But, Along Came Coronavirus

In February of this year I announced finish line so we could then focus on But, along came Coronavirus.
that I would not be seeking reelection reopening schools normally in the fall.
As soon as it became apparent that our
to the Caroline County Board of But, along came Coronavirus.
children would not be returning to their
Education. After 18 years of school
I am not going to debate the validity of schools for in-person instruction, every
board service I was, and remain ready
200,000 deaths in our country attributed school system in the state was charged
to step back and allow someone else the
to Coronavirus/Covid19. Nor am I going with creating a plan of action. This
opportunity to serve. I also want to be
to debate the politics of whether what plan required systems to immediately
able to spend time in other endeavors,
has been done to mitigate its impact prepare for the start of a new school
mainly being there more for my family,
and potentially save more lives has been year with very few, if any, children in
especially my growing grandchildren.
sufficient or not, hindsight is always their buildings. Contrary to what has
But, had I known then what I know now,
20/20. (No pun intended) I am going to been communicated by some elected
I might, notice I say might, have decided

recognize and support all the dedicated officials, a lot of blood, sweat and tears
otherwise.

staff who have spent countless hours and were shed during the summer months

There is no denying that the Covid19 days addressing all the moving parts by educators all over the state to come
pandemic has changed our world much necessary to facilitate the education of up with a plan of action for school year
as the tragedy of 9/11 did. Our lives have our children during these unique and 2020-2021. Caroline County came up
never been the same since 9/11 and our trying times. with such a recovery plan and, with
lives will never be the same after a cure I will be the first to acknowledge that the help of a community committed to

and vaccine are discovered and widely the single best way for our children following proper guidance, we will begin
distributed. moving children back into schools in
to be educated is in a safe and secure
Coronavirus forced our education environment, surrounded by their early October, starting with elementary
schools.
systems to completely shut down peers, guided, and supported by a staff
in-person instruction and halt all of compassionate, committed, and Some have said that there was little,
activities both inside and outside of caring adults whose primary concern if any consideration of the hardship
our buildings. As students and their during the school day is their health families would endure by having their
families were forced to shelter in place, and wellbeing, while being challenged children access their education from
we, the public-school systems of our to learn new and exciting things about home in a scheduled virtual day. The
country, and especially Caroline County, our world. Regardless of their ethnic, challenge to families without the luxury

had to instantly find a way to continue socio-economic, racial, or handicapping of a stay at home parent, grandparent
and ultimately complete school year condition, this, I believe, is what every or other family member would be
2019-2020. What was done to complete parent, grandparent or other family especially difficult. In some cases, a
last school year was an all hands on member would ask of their public parent or other family member has been
deck effort to get our students to the educational system for their children. forced to reduce working hours or even
worse, stop working.
Unfortunately, those challenged with
making the decision of how to open
“Your Mortgage Consultant Since 1985”
schools had to do so knowing full well
Purchase or Refinance it was going to hurt many families
economically. No American, regardless
of their socio-economic status should
ever have to make the decision between
the education of their children and the
economic well being of their family.
115 E Dover St. Ste 3 - Easton, MD No American should have to suff er the
tolbert@baycapitalmortgage.com C. Tolbert Rowe, economic consequences of a deadly
www.baycapitalmortgage.com NMLS Vice President/Lending disease that forces one to quarantine and
182844
avoid contact with others. Once again,
410-819-3005 / cell 410-310-3520 along came Coronavirus.

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