When Hurricane Helene swept through McDowell County, North Carolina, in late September, it crushed homes and sent mud pouring through the halls of an elementary school. It also flooded the factory of Baxter International, a company that produces most of the nation’s intravenous fluid.
Almost immediately, the county school system stepped in to become the only source of fuel for emergency vehicles and generators in the area, distributing thousands of gallons from its reserves. For weeks after the storm, its bus drivers transported Baxter employees to work.
And the school district managed to resume classes a little over a week later, providing child care for parents and routine for students in a community dealing with enormous destruction, Hechinger’s Ariel Gilreath reports.
From Kentucky, Hechinger’s Javeria Salman brings us another hopeful tale: This fall students from four universities in the state — a mix of secular, religious, urban and rural institutions — came together to discuss their differences as part of a course on developing ways to communicate with people of different backgrounds. Salman shares participants’ experiences and notes how fragile gatherings like these are at a time of growing backlash against diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
Finally, our early childhood reporter Jackie Mader has an exhaustively reported look at how states are loosening their child care rules to cut costs — and the safety risks that poses to kids.
Liz Willen, Editor
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