It's almost the end of July, with parents and students still out there enjoying their summer vacations but this hour we'll be discussing the approaching school year.
This part of the year, in any other normal year, might be occupied with picking out a new backpack, supplies and a school uniform.
But 2020 and 2021, school wise, has been anything but normal, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
While COVID-19 rates have dropped significantly, and many people have been vaccinated, the rise of the highly contagious delta variant, as well as the vulnerability of the youngest and the unvaccinated means worry remains.
In addition to that, CDC guidance can seem a bit unclear.
School districts nationwide have made returning to the classroom their priority, citing how many students struggled with remote learning, not to mention the strain it caused on parents.
But what about masks and vaccinations?
Those under 12 remain unvaccinated and mask guidelines vary from state to state, even district to district.
The return to the classroom is less than a month away for many, so on the show today, we'll discuss how all this uncertainly plays out with the youngest in our society.
Later in the hour we'll talk to both the outgoing and incoming CEOs of a local business organization that connects organizations with volunteers.
And finally, a new book of short stories explores the relationship between Indian immigrants and American society.
- Jenny Hamel, Education Reporter, Ideastream Pubic Media
- Arthur Lavin, M.D., Pediatrician & Chairman, Committee on the Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health, American Academy of Pediatrics
- Elizabeth Voudouris, President and CEO, Business Volunteers Unlimited
- Brian Broadbent, outgoing President and CEO, Business Volunteers Unlimited
- Drew Maziasz, Producer, Ideastream Public Media
- Jyotsna Sreenivasan, author, "These Americans"
