Marin parents grapple with school closure complications

Marin IJ News Article by: Matthew Pera

School closures across Marin have sent some parents scrambling to find child care, or to rearrange their schedules so they can watch over kids at home.

The ramifications of school closures have the potential to hit low-income families the hardest, said Omar Carrera, executive director of Canal Alliance.

He said that many parents in San Rafael’s Canal neighborhood are service industry workers who don’t have paid time off. Parents who must miss work to stay at home and supervise children will lose out on wages, which can crush their ability to pay rent and other bills.

Some Canal neighborhood residents lack high-speed internet connectivity. Carrera said that can be a major burden for students who are asked to complete schoolwork at home during the closures.

Carrera said it’s critical for nonprofit organizations like the Canal Alliance to step up and meet the needs of low-income residents who are struggling during the coronavirus crisis.

“At this moment, we need to think outside the box,” he said. Read rest of this article on Marin IJ.