As the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, rapidly spread across the globe in Spring
2020, one of the most widely implemented risk reduction measures utilized was to physically
close all school buildings. Reopening America’s public schools for site-based instruction safely
amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic (without a vaccine) is remarkably complicated and hotly
debated. Operating healthy school buildings is a necessity for doing so. However, the important
urgency of having school facilities in good repair is missing from the national debate on school
reopening. This brief argues that it will be more difficult for schools with poor condition facilities
to effectively implement the SARS-CoV-2 mitigation measures. As a result, students and staff
attending these schools will face greater health risks.