Back-to-school season is an exciting time. Students are looking forward to seeing their friends, making new ones and building on what they learned in the previous school year. For some, it might be a bit scary or intimidating, but school staff will be there to help them get through it. For educators, we are eager to do what we do best — create a learning environment in which students want to come to school and do well.

But this year we have to face the very real challenges surrounding us. We must take proactive measures so our students can learn and thrive and so educators can teach to the best of our abilities. Public education is a democratic good, yet some disturbing issues are confronting us — both outside and inside our school doors — that can upend the very existence of our public s

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