The district finally confirmed the return to full time in-person learning for our elementary students. Watching my own children struggle with isolation was heart-wrenching and I am so grateful to all of you who pushed for this change alongside me. We will keep watching to ensure this transition happens smoothly.
February 19, 2021
Final supporters
From March of 2020, the Whitefish Bay school district has struggled to continue to provide a high level of education to its students amidst almost daily changes due to COVID-19. The information used to make important decisions regarding operations has been inconsistent and ever changing. The knowledge we now have has stressed the heavy importance of the mental health of our children, stating that the risk to their mental health is higher than that of any COVID transmission. “The nation’s top infectious disease expert [Anthony Fauci] just urged schools to reopen. We hope school officials in Madison and across Wisconsin were listening — those who have kept most of their students at home for online learning during the pandemic. School officials should be ready to open for the second semester in late January, at least for elementary school students.” (https://madison.com/wsj/opinion/editorial/dr-anthony-fauci-sends-a-message-to-wisconsin-schools/article_dc9da817-0631-5e68-9137-fb12a90087e4.html)
“COVID-19 has uprooted lives and regular routines, making life more difficult practically, financially and emotionally for many families, and it also has taught us much about community. School leaders have observed and monitored how individual and collective actions have impacted the health and safety of everyone.” A letter from Area Superintendents, Oct. 19, 2020.
We, as parents, cannot sit by to watch our children miss out on crucial educational, developmental, and social needs. It has been stated that “within the Whitefish Bay School District, whole child development has always been paramount for our students. Increasing student connectedness, belonging, and engagement is a top priority in our learning community.” Mr. Justin Nies WFB letter, Dec. 7 2020. We, as parents, petition the Whitefish Bay School Board to immediately reopen the elementary schools to provide Full time school, while still providing a full virtual option for parents who choose to opt out.
- Children under the age of 12 are not proven to transmit COVID-19. The spread of COVID-19 “among children and from children is not really very big at all, not like one would have suspected,” Fauci said. “So let’s try to get the kids back.” [to school]. (https://madison.com/wsj/opinion/editorial/dr-anthony-fauci-sends-a-message-to-wisconsin-schools/article_dc9da817-0631-5e68-9137-fb12a90087e4.html)
- North Shore COVID numbers are very low.
- As of Dec. 30 2020, in all of the North Shore, less than 11 children ages <12 have COVID
- As of Dec. 30 2020, in all of the North Shore only 0.56% of the population has COVID.
- As of Dec. 30 2020, there are only 36 active COVID cases.
- Our teachers will not be at an increased risk in returning to teach our children.
- Our children need to be in school interacting with students, and learning from face-to-face teaching.
- We love our teachers and want them to feel safe and supported. We truly believe they can both teach face-to-face, and remain safe.
- Schools remain open worldwide even amongst heavy lockdowns.
- France is under strict lockdowns, but has prioritized schools to remain open.
- Mental Health of our children is a main priority
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/08/10/remote-school-toxic-stress/
- https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/covid-19-unicef-warns-continued-damage-learning-and-well-being-number-children
- https://www.edweek.org/leadership/childrens-mental-health-emergencies-skyrocketed-after-covid-19-hit-what-schools-can-do/2020/11
- Holy Family, Dominican, and Santa Monica are successfully running full time classes, proving that it is possible within this population and community.
- We need to lower the threshold for sending our kids back to school full time/in person. The metrics are too high, and not realistic.
- We, as parents, have observed that the virtual teaching program is ineffective, and creates unnecessary added stress for both teachers and students (and parents).
- Students with special needs are not having their needs met.
- Essential therapies have been at least cut in half.
- It is very difficult for both teachers and students to switch between modalities. This creates severe inconsistencies and confusion amongst the students and teachers.
- We do continue to support the option of full virtual school for those who opt out.
Updates
January 3, 2021
I have been spending my nights reading through the many stories you share here and they are a constant reminder of why my own kids need to be back in their classrooms. The silence from the district remains deafening but your persistence gives me the energy to keep pushing for the normalcy our families deserve.
January 3, 2021
Seeing this kind of momentum feels like a weight lifting off my shoulders because I know exactly how much my kids have struggled in this isolation. Reading your stories confirms that I am not fighting for this alone.
Reached 100 supporters
January 3, 2021
33 Comments
What we are doing is not following facts and our kids are suffering. All non political facts point to kids being better off in person. If you want to still offer virtual as an option, that is fine but let our kids get back to school. They are still mingling outside of school. Makes zero sense!
Imperative to get kids back to school full time in person. The science around spread at school is not debatable. It’s clear that transmission is a non event. As others have pointed out , it’s also embarrassing to see all the neighborhood districts run 5d in person while students and their parents suffer with this BS of 2/5 days in school. Please take the sensible road and allow in person school to resume 5 days a week
1. This petition is just ONE indicator that the decision-makers of WFB are losing the confidence of parents. 2. Parents are feeling frustrated that their voice is ignored when balanced with other stakeholders 3. Losing parental support will lead to losing overall taxpayer support, which has long-term implications for the school district, WFB, and our kids!
I have children in 3rd & 4th grade. Their social well being and the quality of education has been sacrificed too long. There are enough safety measures that can be in place to keep them healthy (masks, hand washing, distance) & still return to school in person full time.
Leaving faculty members out of this vote is quite honestly shameful. I am not opposed to reopening elementary schools; I am FOR ensuring that all stakeholders, most especially the teachers, be heard. Continuing to offer the virtual option is nice, but has anyone asked the teachers, whose workload at minimum doubles? Using France and England as examples does not support this claim because yes, they are on a strict lockdown, leading to better outcomes in the schools. We are not on any such lockdown, so I don't understand this logic.
https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/2020/11/05/wisconsin-schools-in-person-hybrid-virtual-coronavirus-pandemic/6165097002/
Have 4 kids that attend WFB schools. Need to be in school. All these other schools can do it. Basic infection control and school-based mitigation strategies reduce the risk of COVID-19 in that environment. Minimal risk. Really disappointed in this district and its staff.
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The district finally confirmed the return to full time in-person learning for our elementary students. Watching my own children struggle with isolation was heart-wrenching and I am so grateful to all of you who pushed for this change alongside me. We will keep watching to ensure this transition happens smoothly.
February 19, 2021
Final supporters
From March of 2020, the Whitefish Bay school district has struggled to continue to provide a high level of education to its students amidst almost daily changes due to COVID-19. The information used to make important decisions regarding operations has been inconsistent and ever changing. The knowledge we now have has stressed the heavy importance of the mental health of our children, stating that the risk to their mental health is higher than that of any COVID transmission. “The nation’s top infectious disease expert [Anthony Fauci] just urged schools to reopen. We hope school officials in Madison and across Wisconsin were listening — those who have kept most of their students at home for online learning during the pandemic. School officials should be ready to open for the second semester in late January, at least for elementary school students.” (https://madison.com/wsj/opinion/editorial/dr-anthony-fauci-sends-a-message-to-wisconsin-schools/article_dc9da817-0631-5e68-9137-fb12a90087e4.html)
“COVID-19 has uprooted lives and regular routines, making life more difficult practically, financially and emotionally for many families, and it also has taught us much about community. School leaders have observed and monitored how individual and collective actions have impacted the health and safety of everyone.” A letter from Area Superintendents, Oct. 19, 2020.
We, as parents, cannot sit by to watch our children miss out on crucial educational, developmental, and social needs. It has been stated that “within the Whitefish Bay School District, whole child development has always been paramount for our students. Increasing student connectedness, belonging, and engagement is a top priority in our learning community.” Mr. Justin Nies WFB letter, Dec. 7 2020. We, as parents, petition the Whitefish Bay School Board to immediately reopen the elementary schools to provide Full time school, while still providing a full virtual option for parents who choose to opt out.
- Children under the age of 12 are not proven to transmit COVID-19. The spread of COVID-19 “among children and from children is not really very big at all, not like one would have suspected,” Fauci said. “So let’s try to get the kids back.” [to school]. (https://madison.com/wsj/opinion/editorial/dr-anthony-fauci-sends-a-message-to-wisconsin-schools/article_dc9da817-0631-5e68-9137-fb12a90087e4.html)
- North Shore COVID numbers are very low.
- As of Dec. 30 2020, in all of the North Shore, less than 11 children ages <12 have COVID
- As of Dec. 30 2020, in all of the North Shore only 0.56% of the population has COVID.
- As of Dec. 30 2020, there are only 36 active COVID cases.
- Our teachers will not be at an increased risk in returning to teach our children.
- Our children need to be in school interacting with students, and learning from face-to-face teaching.
- We love our teachers and want them to feel safe and supported. We truly believe they can both teach face-to-face, and remain safe.
- Schools remain open worldwide even amongst heavy lockdowns.
- France is under strict lockdowns, but has prioritized schools to remain open.
- Mental Health of our children is a main priority
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/08/10/remote-school-toxic-stress/
- https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/covid-19-unicef-warns-continued-damage-learning-and-well-being-number-children
- https://www.edweek.org/leadership/childrens-mental-health-emergencies-skyrocketed-after-covid-19-hit-what-schools-can-do/2020/11
- Holy Family, Dominican, and Santa Monica are successfully running full time classes, proving that it is possible within this population and community.
- We need to lower the threshold for sending our kids back to school full time/in person. The metrics are too high, and not realistic.
- We, as parents, have observed that the virtual teaching program is ineffective, and creates unnecessary added stress for both teachers and students (and parents).
- Students with special needs are not having their needs met.
- Essential therapies have been at least cut in half.
- It is very difficult for both teachers and students to switch between modalities. This creates severe inconsistencies and confusion amongst the students and teachers.
- We do continue to support the option of full virtual school for those who opt out.
Updates
January 3, 2021
I have been spending my nights reading through the many stories you share here and they are a constant reminder of why my own kids need to be back in their classrooms. The silence from the district remains deafening but your persistence gives me the energy to keep pushing for the normalcy our families deserve.
January 3, 2021
Seeing this kind of momentum feels like a weight lifting off my shoulders because I know exactly how much my kids have struggled in this isolation. Reading your stories confirms that I am not fighting for this alone.
Reached 100 supporters
January 3, 2021
33 Comments
As an Emergency Room Physician who has been working full-time during all of this, it is my professional medical opinion that children of all grade levels should be back in school five days a week.
What we are doing is not following facts and our kids are suffering. All non political facts point to kids being better off in person. If you want to still offer virtual as an option, that is fine but let our kids get back to school. They are still mingling outside of school. Makes zero sense!
Imperative to get kids back to school full time in person. The science around spread at school is not debatable. It’s clear that transmission is a non event. As others have pointed out , it’s also embarrassing to see all the neighborhood districts run 5d in person while students and their parents suffer with this BS of 2/5 days in school. Please take the sensible road and allow in person school to resume 5 days a week
1. This petition is just ONE indicator that the decision-makers of WFB are losing the confidence of parents. 2. Parents are feeling frustrated that their voice is ignored when balanced with other stakeholders 3. Losing parental support will lead to losing overall taxpayer support, which has long-term implications for the school district, WFB, and our kids!
I have children in 3rd & 4th grade. Their social well being and the quality of education has been sacrificed too long. There are enough safety measures that can be in place to keep them healthy (masks, hand washing, distance) & still return to school in person full time.
Leaving faculty members out of this vote is quite honestly shameful. I am not opposed to reopening elementary schools; I am FOR ensuring that all stakeholders, most especially the teachers, be heard. Continuing to offer the virtual option is nice, but has anyone asked the teachers, whose workload at minimum doubles? Using France and England as examples does not support this claim because yes, they are on a strict lockdown, leading to better outcomes in the schools. We are not on any such lockdown, so I don't understand this logic.
https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/2020/11/05/wisconsin-schools-in-person-hybrid-virtual-coronavirus-pandemic/6165097002/
Have 4 kids that attend WFB schools. Need to be in school. All these other schools can do it. Basic infection control and school-based mitigation strategies reduce the risk of COVID-19 in that environment. Minimal risk. Really disappointed in this district and its staff.
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As an Emergency Room Physician who has been working full-time during all of this, it is my professional medical opinion that children of all grade levels should be back in school five days a week.