The decision not to start the education system on the part of some of the local councils in the face of the exit from the Corona crisis is an outrageous decision - not only does it smell of unwillingness to lead change, it significantly harms parents, the Israeli economy, and national security. Friends, you missed. And it's not too late to decide otherwise.

For the past two weeks, education and health systems have been conducting a continuous debate about bringing the education system back into action, when it is clear to all of us that the process must be gradual - given the concern that we have not yet decided the Corona virus. However, morbidity data clearly indicate that Israeli society can go a step further, both because of proper behavior and because the virus is likely to spread differently in our region than in Europe or America.

For more than a week we have been told that the lower grades will probably be returned first, and we have reported that a few days ago the school management and logistics teams were assigned to prepare the learning institutions for the process. In recent days, we understand that education and health systems are coming to final summaries, and from the beginning of last night the picture has become clearer to the decision today that grades 1-3 are returning to study as well as grades 11 and 12.

These weighty decisions are the result of a rigorous and multi-system evaluation, while minimizing the risks - this is not a decision made by the sleeve. It takes into account the great responsibility that these decisions have. Of course we are all psychologically affected by heavy concerns. It turns out that leaving the houses is no less complex than entering the quarantine. Getting out is not easy - neither for parents nor for educators.

And here's when the decision is made with clear guidelines on hygiene constraints we are told that there are heads of authorities who will not comply with the policy. The reasons are different, the problem with which they all solve at the terrain level. The decision to start the education system is in the national view to enable parents to make a living and to advance, to advance the economic crisis, all under very clear data on the decline of the virus. Why is local leadership not harnessed?

It is difficult to understand the decision rationale of those mayors. We know them - it's clear to all of us that Ron Huldai with the systems at his disposal would have been harnessed - the systems in Tel Aviv-Jaffa would have worked immediately. Their capabilities to address the built-in gaps - for sure. And the same in other places. Why go against the effort is so important, to resist, and to create distrust at such a time.

The decision of those mayors in this case is the opposite of leadership - it transmits slack. Obviously there are constraints, and obviously there are difficulties. There is no dispute about that. But given such skillful systems at the level of the cities and their heads, everything is solvable. Mayors and organizations are expected to be problem solvers these days and not to be part of the problems. The impression created by their opposition to open schools is that they are detrimental to a national effort, not least.

On Sunday, most first and third graders will return to study - guess where - the answer is mainly in the periphery. There, it is clear that the move is committed, that there is no choice, and that we need to get started. This is going to happen and it is good. This whole event again illustrates the differences between the periphery and the social center, and there may even be a political issue here, probably in the situation that exists a minute before the establishment of a unity government. 

Mayors - Your resistance is out of place. Go back to school, start and get out of this crisis, apply your skills, join the national effort, give solutions and get going. It is impossible to take effort in this situation - we are still in an emergency and trying to get out of it - and there are quite a few psychological aspects here that your behavior only exacerbates - such as anxiety and stress. This is exactly your time to lead forward, and not delay behind - be leaders!

It is impossible not to take the decision not to return the genes to action. The rationale can be understood, but again, a correct and graded format can be determined. There is no reason to bring preschool back in schools without putting preschool in kindergartens, even if only preschools.

At this time it is right to return everything possible, start systems and get started. The rankings are true, but over-exaggeration affects families' confidence in taking their children out. The hesitation in this case does not do justice. There are security margins to these decisions because the health system is in place.

Another delay brings us to mid-May. And if at the beginning of June they intend to return to full format, at least according to the statements, then what will be the contribution of a school month? And that, too, should be taken into account.

The education system should give school principals flexibility, let them do the right grading - in the face of drawing boundaries and red lines, the principals are the ones who must repay the students. Less grade or more grade, less layer or more layer. First of all, start. To do it right, and to restore trust - of the public in the systems, and of the public in the general situation - we can certainly afford to go a step further. Not too fast, but probably not slowly and with great fear. We are not Italy.

The writer is a former IDF Brigade Commander, currently leading a program to empower teachers' leadership in the education system