The district has confirmed that schools will return to a full-time schedule for all students. I appreciate the commitment shown by the 2,286 people who endorsed this objective. We will monitor the implementation process to ensure that the transition remains successful for our families.
September 20, 2020
Final supporters
We, as parents, teachers and residents of Lee’s Summit, want the option to have the schools in LSR7 open full-time (five days a week) for our children, K-12. We support mask-wearing and other precautions to be implemented, as well as distance learning options for immunocompromised students and teachers. We would like to see the district make public its inclusion of expert opinion including the Jackson County Health Department, in addition to experts in other fields of study relevant to administering a community based public education institution. The risks from Covid-19 are but one source of risk facing our community at this time.
Dr. Redfield, Director of the CDC, has publicly warned of the very significant public health consequences of continued school closures. According to Dr. Redfield, over 7 million children in the United States receive both their mental health services and nutritional services from the public school system. Additionally, our country is seeing alarming increases in youth suicides and youth overdose deaths that can only logically be tied to prolonged closure of school and youth activity. While COVID itself may present less statistical risk to children than influenza, prolonged school closures are likely to result in death, mental health deterioration, and substantial educational gaps. The long term consequences of prolonged school closures will not be known for some time, but we do know that right now some children are at risk due to the Jackson County HD decision to focus exclusively on Covid risks. We know that right now some children are suffering alone in abusive environments with no lifeline. We know that many children are being left behind educationally as their parents haven’t the financial resources for private schools or tutors. We know that some children are going without proper nutrition that they would usually receive from their public school. And as parents, we know that the mental health of our children is deteriorating every day they are prevented from accessing their schools and activities.
In light of the June survey in which 79% of parents selected to send their children back to school full-time for the 2020-21 school year, we would like the LSR7 School Board to support and represent this number by giving us the option of sending our children back to school full-time. The district should make public the most recent declarations as well in the interest of transparency.
While we as parents and teachers are completely aware of any inherent risks of Covid-19 on our children and staff, our children’s health—their mental and physical health as a whole being—is our top priority. We want there to be an option for staff and children K-12 to return to school five days a week based on a balance of the factors described in this petition, plus any other the district feels are relevant. The decision to go back to school full time, learn distantly or otherwise should be made by each individual family on a case by case basis. We urge the LSR7 School Board to revise their plan and represent the majority of parents in LSR7. Finally, we request that any further communication to the community include a cost benefit analysis that compares the risks of COVID to the risks from NOT returning to school.
Updates
August 13, 2020
The petition has reached the milestone of one hundred signatures. This level of interest confirms the importance of addressing the current status of our schools.
Reached 1,000 supporters
August 11, 2020
Reached 100 supporters
August 10, 2020
August 8, 2020
The momentum behind this petition is substantial as we approach our next significant milestone. Please direct this link to your personal networks so we can reach our target and present a unified message to the district leaders.
224 Comments
It is imperative our children go back to school for their overall well being emotionally mentally and physically. All other districts surrounding us are opening as well as private schools and daycares. Why is LSR7 the exception? Our kids deserve to go back.
Kids need school, why can malls be open and restaurants but the future of our world can't go to school?! Not all kids have the resources to do school at home like internet or parents to stay with them.
Please consider 5 days/week for these students! The majority of us are willing to sign a waiver and do what it takes for our children’s mental health. I watch the University of Kansas update each morning & those physicians as well my own pediatrician are recommending it. We can do this LSR-7!
For the sake of my granddaughter’s and their friends mental health, we need to get these kids in the classroom. The underprivileged children of our community are going to be left even further behind if LSR7 moves forward virtual only.
My special needs son does not learn online. He has already lost so much time without having that classroom structure, without having speech therapy, without having that 1:1 support that is outlined in his IEP.
My ex husband can’t keep a job. I can’t be expected to watch his crotchfruit all day. Get back to work teachers
Someone please start this petition in Liberty as well!
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The district has confirmed that schools will return to a full-time schedule for all students. I appreciate the commitment shown by the 2,286 people who endorsed this objective. We will monitor the implementation process to ensure that the transition remains successful for our families.
September 20, 2020
Final supporters
We, as parents, teachers and residents of Lee’s Summit, want the option to have the schools in LSR7 open full-time (five days a week) for our children, K-12. We support mask-wearing and other precautions to be implemented, as well as distance learning options for immunocompromised students and teachers. We would like to see the district make public its inclusion of expert opinion including the Jackson County Health Department, in addition to experts in other fields of study relevant to administering a community based public education institution. The risks from Covid-19 are but one source of risk facing our community at this time.
Dr. Redfield, Director of the CDC, has publicly warned of the very significant public health consequences of continued school closures. According to Dr. Redfield, over 7 million children in the United States receive both their mental health services and nutritional services from the public school system. Additionally, our country is seeing alarming increases in youth suicides and youth overdose deaths that can only logically be tied to prolonged closure of school and youth activity. While COVID itself may present less statistical risk to children than influenza, prolonged school closures are likely to result in death, mental health deterioration, and substantial educational gaps. The long term consequences of prolonged school closures will not be known for some time, but we do know that right now some children are at risk due to the Jackson County HD decision to focus exclusively on Covid risks. We know that right now some children are suffering alone in abusive environments with no lifeline. We know that many children are being left behind educationally as their parents haven’t the financial resources for private schools or tutors. We know that some children are going without proper nutrition that they would usually receive from their public school. And as parents, we know that the mental health of our children is deteriorating every day they are prevented from accessing their schools and activities.
In light of the June survey in which 79% of parents selected to send their children back to school full-time for the 2020-21 school year, we would like the LSR7 School Board to support and represent this number by giving us the option of sending our children back to school full-time. The district should make public the most recent declarations as well in the interest of transparency.
While we as parents and teachers are completely aware of any inherent risks of Covid-19 on our children and staff, our children’s health—their mental and physical health as a whole being—is our top priority. We want there to be an option for staff and children K-12 to return to school five days a week based on a balance of the factors described in this petition, plus any other the district feels are relevant. The decision to go back to school full time, learn distantly or otherwise should be made by each individual family on a case by case basis. We urge the LSR7 School Board to revise their plan and represent the majority of parents in LSR7. Finally, we request that any further communication to the community include a cost benefit analysis that compares the risks of COVID to the risks from NOT returning to school.
Updates
August 13, 2020
The petition has reached the milestone of one hundred signatures. This level of interest confirms the importance of addressing the current status of our schools.
Reached 1,000 supporters
August 11, 2020
Reached 100 supporters
August 10, 2020
August 8, 2020
The momentum behind this petition is substantial as we approach our next significant milestone. Please direct this link to your personal networks so we can reach our target and present a unified message to the district leaders.
224 Comments
My 1st and 5th grader HAVE to attend in-person school. They are suffering from lack of social interaction and even have bouts of depression. In person schooling is irreplaceable in so many ways, parents can’t even begin to make the impact that teachers can.
It is imperative our children go back to school for their overall well being emotionally mentally and physically. All other districts surrounding us are opening as well as private schools and daycares. Why is LSR7 the exception? Our kids deserve to go back.
Kids need school, why can malls be open and restaurants but the future of our world can't go to school?! Not all kids have the resources to do school at home like internet or parents to stay with them.
Please consider 5 days/week for these students! The majority of us are willing to sign a waiver and do what it takes for our children’s mental health. I watch the University of Kansas update each morning & those physicians as well my own pediatrician are recommending it. We can do this LSR-7!
For the sake of my granddaughter’s and their friends mental health, we need to get these kids in the classroom. The underprivileged children of our community are going to be left even further behind if LSR7 moves forward virtual only.
My special needs son does not learn online. He has already lost so much time without having that classroom structure, without having speech therapy, without having that 1:1 support that is outlined in his IEP.
My ex husband can’t keep a job. I can’t be expected to watch his crotchfruit all day. Get back to work teachers
Someone please start this petition in Liberty as well!
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My 1st and 5th grader HAVE to attend in-person school. They are suffering from lack of social interaction and even have bouts of depression. In person schooling is irreplaceable in so many ways, parents can’t even begin to make the impact that teachers can.