The Volusia County School Board will hear an update from the state Department of Health next week about the coronavirus pandemic in advance of students returning to school. As the delta variant circulates in the U.S., the number of hospitalizations from COVID rise and vaccination rates slow, state officials and health officials continue to contradict each other in their messages. That means that once again, local leaders will bear the burden of balancing medical advice with political pressure during the upcoming school year. School begins again in three weeks, and there are still dozens of unanswered questions about what type of safety protocols will be in place again. Will social distancing be enforced? Will students who are exposed to COVID be required to quarantine? With the end of remote learning, how will those who are quarantined participate in schooling?