SM County Petition for full-time school in the fall

Thank you for this very important petition. I am the Executive Director of Footsteps Child Care, a non-profit organization. The current choices for school re-opening will make it close to impossible for working parents to work. The economy relies on families being able to work; those who work need to ensure their kids are taken care of when families are away from home. Schools need to take families child care needs into account.

Regular school no restrictions

I feel strongly that it is safe for kids to attend school. Willing to accept some changes. Kids need school and distance learning won’t work effectively.

Judy Huang

Please have a distance learning option for those who know their kids can't keep masks on or social distance.

Parent of incoming 5th grade twins and 8th grader. Please reopen schools

I fully support this

From what I’ve read, kids are at low risk, distance learning has been ineffective, and the experience of other countries returning to full time school has not been problematic. In addition, we know many parents can’t work from home and/or can’t afford daycare to be home half time with their kids for the entire school year. So there is enormous cost to half time reopening against what seem to be smaller benefits. If we’re going to do half time school, I would appreciate if Dr. Morrow or the school district could clearly articulate what facts w/r/t transmission and harm to kids show that full reopening would be more costly than the enormous costs of taking away half of the year’s worth of classroom instruction. The rate of COVID spread in San Mateo county is under control and healthcare facilities have plenty of capacity. To my knowledge, there is adequate testing capacity. What else needs to happen in order for schools to fully reopen? There may never be a vaccine so the answer can’t be “wait for a vaccine.”

Mother to incoming TK student.

Our children cannot continue to stay at home, they need in class learning and socialization. Parents cannot continue to be at home instructors.

6 years ago Featured

There needs to be both a full time in-school and distance learning options. The hybrid model compromises too much (academics, social emotional wellbeing, logistical/financial hardship for families) while confering little/no added "protection."

This is a very challenging situation and decision but it should be made in a manner that allows parents to be the ones to balance their own kids’ needs and the needs of other potentially at-risk adults in their households. Please find a way to give parents a choice between full on campus learning, half/half, and full homeschooling. That way, families can balance the potential risk/benefit themselves taking into account the particular risks and circumstances of their families.

I am signing because it is time to reopen schools

Please consider offering online alternatives for at risk families.

Thank you for this! I have worried for months over whether my kids will be able to go back to school. We have two essential working parents who cannot be in the home. My child in TK has basically been out of school since March because even her teacher knows those young children can't do distance learning and didn't even bother with it. Kids need socialization for their healthy development. Why are we saying school and healthy social development in young children isn't essential? What are parents supposed to do if they can't work at home? I'll just send my kids to 4 different care options because I don't have a choice, but others may not have that option and how now they are faced with putting food on the table or leaving their 5 year old home alone. Distance learning can be great for older kids, but you need to be flexible and have full time in person options for families who want and need them.

Parent of rising 3rd grader and incoming Kindergartner in San Mateo

Kids should go back to school full time! It’s has been a struggle for them and for us!

Full time school.

Thank you for saying what many of us are feeling. We as parents need to come together on this because our children’s futures are at stake and it’s unacceptable!

reopnen the school for full-time please!