The debate over how to manage the COVID crisis has surfaced two highly dissimilar perspectives:

• Some argue that we must follow the guidance of scientists to minimize deaths.
• Others say the greater threat is to close down the economy.

The current focus of this debate is whether and how to open schools. Instead of viewing this dilemma as “us vs. them,” concerned citizens should frame the debate as a tension between two key drivers. When these drivers are arrayed on a 2×2 matrix, four scenarios can be constructed that better represent what choices are available to find an optimal resolution to the problem.