Education Minister Rabbi Shai Piron announced he is determined to open the new school year on September 1st as planned. The IDF Homefront Command will play a vital role towards permitting the opening of many schools in rocket attack areas including using armor plated buses to transport students; soldiers escorting buses; and having Homefront Command personnel present in public schools. These are just some of the measure that are planned to permit opening the new school year as Hamas rocket fire continues.

Officials point out that in the communities hardest hit, up to seven km from the Gaza border, have adequate fortification in all public buildings.

Piron remains determined to open schools on schedule, announcing military vehicles will escort school buses in addition to other measures taken to permit transporting children safely to and from schools. On Monday 29 Menachem Av, leaders of southern municipalities met with the minister to map out their strategies for the opening of the school year. Not all mayors are in agreement with the minister, signaling they plan to keep the schools closed.

The IDF Homefront Command determines if schools may open. However, a local mayor has the right to adopt a more stringent policy and keep schools closed. Some mayors explain they simply do not want the responsibility of making certain hundreds of children run for shelter and make it on time. The shutter at the thought of a rocket striking a school bus chas v’sholom, explaining until the rocket attacks stop, schools will remain closed in their district.

In communities situated between the seven and forty km line, schools will open if a particular school feels it can get the children to safety in the allotted time if a siren sounds. In schools in the 40-80km mark, it is “the best you can do” situation and each municipality will have to decide – weighing the threat against keeping children at home.

Despite the call of some mayor to keep schools closed, citing children should not be in the front lines, the Ministry of Education remains adamant and it plans to open schools nationwide. The ministry adds that in areas where schools remain closed it will offer online classes in the hope of avoiding a situation in which children are not learning. Ministry officials continue efforts to allay the fears of parents, explaining they remain updated constantly by the Homefront Command.

PTAs however appear less enthusiastic and 1,500 parents have already signed a document promising not to send their children to school on September 1st. They are calling on Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to bring a halt to the rocket fire rather than expecting their children to become soldiers on the front lines.

Northern community officials have announced that any children from the south are welcome to move in with relatives and they will be accepted in schools in those districts. This includes the Carmel Coast, Golan Heights, Haifa, Kiryat Ata, Kiryat Bialik, Akko, Maalot and Kfar Veradim Councils.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)