2020-06-09 21:15:04 -0400
To: HENDERSON COUNTY SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION & BOARD:
We want NORMAL - NOT "new normal"!
“We want to strengthen our relationships between our parents, and our families, and our schools” –
Marganna Stanley, HCS End of Week Message Special Summer Edition, June 5, 2020
PARENTS want a voice in what happens with return to sports and school. WE are the experts on our children and OUR CONCERNS need to be heard. NO ONE has a greater investment in our children’s welfare than US and yet, we are being left out of the discussion while decisions are being made, that will impact – and HARM - OUR children!
It is illogical to think we can eliminate all risks to our children. A certain level of risk is unavoidable, so the task becomes determining what level of risk is acceptable and whether the cost of avoiding a particular risk, is too high.
In this case, the “solutions” being presented, are worse than the problem. The cost is too high. So high, in fact, that numerous families that have never before even considered sending their kids to another school, or home-schooling their kids – are now feeling forced to consider those options.
In addition, while we have not been informed as to what our school district actually has to abide by, we have observed that the information provided by the KDE is entitled, "Reopening Guidance" and says things like "KDE has prepared a framework to guide the reopening conversation." Repeatedly throughout the document, the word "guidance" along with words like "recommends" and "encourages" are used. Therefore, we implore our school administration and school board to listen to what PARENTS believe is best for our children.
We want our kids to go back to school and sports/activities, NORMALLY. NTI days is NOT an option most of us want.
We want:
• Sports to resume as of June 15th, as approved by the Governor, KHSAA, the CDC, AND our local health department
• A regular, in-person, 5 day a week schedule for everyone
*with an option for any parent that has concerns, to allow their child to attend class virtually (this should be feasible since it’s part of the administration’s current proposal for 50% of students to do on alternate days)
• NO MASKS
*with an option for students to be allowed to wear a mask, if their parent chooses
• No social distancing
• Not eating lunch in their classrooms
• Not restricting their schedules or making them stay in one classroom with the same kids all day
• NOT taking away recess, PE, assemblies, or ANYTHING else.
We want NORMAL – NOT “new normal”. And here’s why:
Marganna Stanley, HCS End of Week Message Special Summer Edition, June 5, 2020
PARENTS want a voice in what happens with return to sports and school. WE are the experts on our children and OUR CONCERNS need to be heard. NO ONE has a greater investment in our children’s welfare than US and yet, we are being left out of the discussion while decisions are being made, that will impact – and HARM - OUR children!
It is illogical to think we can eliminate all risks to our children. A certain level of risk is unavoidable, so the task becomes determining what level of risk is acceptable and whether the cost of avoiding a particular risk, is too high.
In this case, the “solutions” being presented, are worse than the problem. The cost is too high. So high, in fact, that numerous families that have never before even considered sending their kids to another school, or home-schooling their kids – are now feeling forced to consider those options.
In addition, while we have not been informed as to what our school district actually has to abide by, we have observed that the information provided by the KDE is entitled, "Reopening Guidance" and says things like "KDE has prepared a framework to guide the reopening conversation." Repeatedly throughout the document, the word "guidance" along with words like "recommends" and "encourages" are used. Therefore, we implore our school administration and school board to listen to what PARENTS believe is best for our children.
We want our kids to go back to school and sports/activities, NORMALLY. NTI days is NOT an option most of us want.
We want:
• Sports to resume as of June 15th, as approved by the Governor, KHSAA, the CDC, AND our local health department
• A regular, in-person, 5 day a week schedule for everyone
*with an option for any parent that has concerns, to allow their child to attend class virtually (this should be feasible since it’s part of the administration’s current proposal for 50% of students to do on alternate days)
• NO MASKS
*with an option for students to be allowed to wear a mask, if their parent chooses
• No social distancing
• Not eating lunch in their classrooms
• Not restricting their schedules or making them stay in one classroom with the same kids all day
• NOT taking away recess, PE, assemblies, or ANYTHING else.
We want NORMAL – NOT “new normal”. And here’s why:
Why is this important?
Based on current statistics in the United States, kids represent only 3.5% of confirmed cases and only .01% of deaths! In Kentucky, there has been ONE death in the 29 and under category – and that death, of a 6 month old – the one referenced in the June 5th Board meeting - based on admission from our Governor was not directly due to the virus.
“While COVID-19 was not the lead cause of death, Beshear said, it will be counted in the coronavirus death toll, as has been custom.”
https://www.wlky.com/article/coronavirus-contributed-to-death-of-kentucky-9-month-old-governor-says/32759141
Yet, in the effort to ostensibly protect them from this virus that is virtually non-existent in kids, we are instead willing to guarantee long-term damage to 100% of our student body?!
We have “flattened the curve” here in Kentucky – but the reaction to this virus has robbed our kids of a normalcy that is imperative to their OVERALL health.
And now, it is time to stop with these drastic measures that have already caused– and WILL continue to cause - harm to our kids.
Of course we want our children to be safe and healthy!!
Besides their physical health, though, we have to consider what will provide the best opportunity for academic achievement… and we HAVE to consider their social, emotional, and mental health.
• Kids need structure.
• They need adults - in addition to their parents – to help guide them.
• They need socialization and peer interaction.
• They need to be able to see facial expressions and for their facial expressions to be seen.
• They need in-person instruction – they need their teachers!
• They need sports and extra-curriculars – coaches, leaders, teammates, structured physical and recreational activity.
• They need to be IN school, with their friends.
It seems that the decisions being made are fear and liability driven, rather than being data driven or in the best interest of our kids. The data does NOT support the measures being considered and the current proposal does not allow for parent choice. If liability is a big concern, have parents sign a waiver! And allow parents that want their child to wear a mask or want to opt for virtual attendance, to do so. Everybody wins.
Their OVERALL HEALTH should be the consideration of this administration and school board. And WE, as parents, are the ones that have a FRONT ROW SEAT to how all of this is affecting them.
PLEASE LISTEN. WE NEED TO BE HEARD.
“While COVID-19 was not the lead cause of death, Beshear said, it will be counted in the coronavirus death toll, as has been custom.”
https://www.wlky.com/article/coronavirus-contributed-to-death-of-kentucky-9-month-old-governor-says/32759141
Yet, in the effort to ostensibly protect them from this virus that is virtually non-existent in kids, we are instead willing to guarantee long-term damage to 100% of our student body?!
We have “flattened the curve” here in Kentucky – but the reaction to this virus has robbed our kids of a normalcy that is imperative to their OVERALL health.
And now, it is time to stop with these drastic measures that have already caused– and WILL continue to cause - harm to our kids.
Of course we want our children to be safe and healthy!!
Besides their physical health, though, we have to consider what will provide the best opportunity for academic achievement… and we HAVE to consider their social, emotional, and mental health.
• Kids need structure.
• They need adults - in addition to their parents – to help guide them.
• They need socialization and peer interaction.
• They need to be able to see facial expressions and for their facial expressions to be seen.
• They need in-person instruction – they need their teachers!
• They need sports and extra-curriculars – coaches, leaders, teammates, structured physical and recreational activity.
• They need to be IN school, with their friends.
It seems that the decisions being made are fear and liability driven, rather than being data driven or in the best interest of our kids. The data does NOT support the measures being considered and the current proposal does not allow for parent choice. If liability is a big concern, have parents sign a waiver! And allow parents that want their child to wear a mask or want to opt for virtual attendance, to do so. Everybody wins.
Their OVERALL HEALTH should be the consideration of this administration and school board. And WE, as parents, are the ones that have a FRONT ROW SEAT to how all of this is affecting them.
PLEASE LISTEN. WE NEED TO BE HEARD.