They actually did it and chose distance learning for now so I am honestly just sitting here staring at the screen in pure disbelief. I really did not think they would pivot this late in the game but I guess staying loud about our safety actually pushed the needle where …
September 24, 2020
Final supporters
Dear Walnut Creek District School Board,
We realize that much time and effort has been put into how to start this upcoming school year in the safest way possible. Thank you for all that you have done to prepare and listen in these uncertain times.
As a group of concerned WCSD teachers and parents, we respectfully ask that the school district provide only 100% distance learning until the COVID-19 cases in the county fall into compliance with CTA recommendations. Currently, the county is experiencing a sustained and pronounced increase in positive cases. Contra Costa County Health announced on July 11th that the percentage of positive tests has now exceeded 8%. The pattern statewide is showing that the virus is spreading, as 26 Counties are moving to rescind previous orders and enforce stricter guidelines.
The recent uptick in case numbers causes us to be increasingly concerned for the future health of the entire Walnut Creek community. Our concerns are as follows:
First, we are concerned about the possible long term exposure in a confined area and appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for both students and teachers. All of the science about the virus confirms that exposure to the Covid-19 virus in a confined area should be avoided. The safest and best way to mitigate this is to 100% deliver online instruction.
Second, we have a concern that the guidelines and distancing rules will have a significant instructional and disciplinary impact. It is a false comfort for parents to think that all children on campus will be wearing correct PPE throughout the school day, washing their hands properly at all times, and be safe while eating together with their classmates. We don’t want students to be punished for not wearing their PPE properly throughout the day, and yet teachers will inevitably spend many of their instructional minutes reminding students to put on their mask at all times and waiting for cohorts of students to wash their hands for 20 seconds each throughout the day. Distance Learning is not ideal for teachers, but it does allow for them to spend their time efficiently by delivering content online and covering more grade level standards. If the current order from the county restricts the opening of all dine-in restaurants, how is that any different from a cohort of students eating lunch in the same room, even if spaced 6 feet apart?
Third, we have a concern in regards to the impact of returning to a classroom with multiple cohorts and how that will affect the health of teachers and district personnel. In the public debate, the focus so far has been on getting children back into school and how this virus does not seem to affect children as negatively as it does adults. The teachers and district personnel need to be included in this discussion. While children may fare better, a large number of the teachers and personnel within the District likely fall into at least one high risk category for Covid.
When the conditions in the county are safe to reopen and in compliance with the CTA
recommendations, the following criteria must be met at the district level:
● The school district must have appropriate amounts of PPE for students and teachers.
● The District must have a vendor that can ensure continued supplies of PPE if the
pandemic worsens.
● The district must have a plan for no-cost testing for students, teachers, and District
personnel.
● An educational program needs to be developed by the District to educate parents on
the risks and dangers to their cohort if they are not following the same masking and
distancing guidelines in all of their interactions outside of school.
We agree that it is essential for a plan to be in place when students return to school, but August 12th is too soon. Teachers are essential to learning, but can effectively deliver those essential services online during this time of high risk. They should not have to choose between staying healthy or losing their job. Teachers love their students and miss them terribly. Parents love and appreciate the teachers who give countless hours of their time providing an engaging learning experience for their children. Because of this mutual love and respect for each other, we are asking that you help to keep us and our families healthy during this unprecedented time by delaying the return to classroom instruction until it is safe to do so.
Sincerely,
Concerned Stakeholders of Walnut Creek
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
July 15, 2020
July 14, 2020
The numbers are really starting to climb and I just keep refreshing my screen because I can see we are heading toward that 250 marker which feels like such a huge milestone for us. If everyone reading this just sends the link to one or two people who might care we could hit that goal before the next board meeting even starts.
Reached 100 supporters
July 13, 2020
57 Comments
I should not have to choose between my health and the health of my family, or losing my job. In addition, returning to school is not safe for students.
It is far too risky to have our children spend time in an indoor environment that allows for conditions that increases the length of floating time of dangerous airborne particles. Mask or no mask, this is not an idea that I would ever consider for my child in school.
Of course the ideal situation would be to send students and teachers back to school full time, but we are not living in ideal circumstances. In these circumstances we must prioritize the health and safety of teachers, school staff, and students. My children will not return to the classroom until the safety of all people on campus is considered and protected.
The safety of staff members and their families should be just as important as student safety. There should be a firm plan in place before physically going back to school happens, especially if we have to trust that other families are taking this pandemic seriously, because some definitely are not.
It is also reasonable to be concerned about the challenge to provide substitutes for teachers, custodians and other critical staff during this time. I urge a vote on the side of caution. Thank you.
It would be irresponsible to ask parents to chose between education and their families health and safety. distance learning is not optimal for our kids or our teachers, but we have to put their health first. Fuel education doesn’t work for all kids. A big part of school, esp for the younger kids is the social-emotional learning, fuel education forces them in front of computer with learning through slideshows without any interaction with their classmates. Keeping kids apart from classmates is not healthy for them. Hybrid model is ideal but with numbers rising isn’t safe to send teachers and students into the classrooms. All we are asking is to keep hybrid distant learning as an option for parents that are looking for quality and equal education while we are keeping our family safe during this difficult times. Their should be a 3rd option!!!! It is safe for a teacher to teach in a empty classroom and kids learning by watching a live teaching via zoom. It is possible and should be considered.
My biggest concerns include inability to test and contact trace, wasted time on compliance reminders. Outdoor pe/socializing activities should be put in place in lieu of return to school.
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They actually did it and chose distance learning for now so I am honestly just sitting here staring at the screen in pure disbelief. I really did not think they would pivot this late in the game but I guess staying loud about our safety actually pushed the needle where …
September 24, 2020
Final supporters
Dear Walnut Creek District School Board,
We realize that much time and effort has been put into how to start this upcoming school year in the safest way possible. Thank you for all that you have done to prepare and listen in these uncertain times.
As a group of concerned WCSD teachers and parents, we respectfully ask that the school district provide only 100% distance learning until the COVID-19 cases in the county fall into compliance with CTA recommendations. Currently, the county is experiencing a sustained and pronounced increase in positive cases. Contra Costa County Health announced on July 11th that the percentage of positive tests has now exceeded 8%. The pattern statewide is showing that the virus is spreading, as 26 Counties are moving to rescind previous orders and enforce stricter guidelines.
The recent uptick in case numbers causes us to be increasingly concerned for the future health of the entire Walnut Creek community. Our concerns are as follows:
First, we are concerned about the possible long term exposure in a confined area and appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for both students and teachers. All of the science about the virus confirms that exposure to the Covid-19 virus in a confined area should be avoided. The safest and best way to mitigate this is to 100% deliver online instruction.
Second, we have a concern that the guidelines and distancing rules will have a significant instructional and disciplinary impact. It is a false comfort for parents to think that all children on campus will be wearing correct PPE throughout the school day, washing their hands properly at all times, and be safe while eating together with their classmates. We don’t want students to be punished for not wearing their PPE properly throughout the day, and yet teachers will inevitably spend many of their instructional minutes reminding students to put on their mask at all times and waiting for cohorts of students to wash their hands for 20 seconds each throughout the day. Distance Learning is not ideal for teachers, but it does allow for them to spend their time efficiently by delivering content online and covering more grade level standards. If the current order from the county restricts the opening of all dine-in restaurants, how is that any different from a cohort of students eating lunch in the same room, even if spaced 6 feet apart?
Third, we have a concern in regards to the impact of returning to a classroom with multiple cohorts and how that will affect the health of teachers and district personnel. In the public debate, the focus so far has been on getting children back into school and how this virus does not seem to affect children as negatively as it does adults. The teachers and district personnel need to be included in this discussion. While children may fare better, a large number of the teachers and personnel within the District likely fall into at least one high risk category for Covid.
When the conditions in the county are safe to reopen and in compliance with the CTA
recommendations, the following criteria must be met at the district level:
● The school district must have appropriate amounts of PPE for students and teachers.
● The District must have a vendor that can ensure continued supplies of PPE if the
pandemic worsens.
● The district must have a plan for no-cost testing for students, teachers, and District
personnel.
● An educational program needs to be developed by the District to educate parents on
the risks and dangers to their cohort if they are not following the same masking and
distancing guidelines in all of their interactions outside of school.
We agree that it is essential for a plan to be in place when students return to school, but August 12th is too soon. Teachers are essential to learning, but can effectively deliver those essential services online during this time of high risk. They should not have to choose between staying healthy or losing their job. Teachers love their students and miss them terribly. Parents love and appreciate the teachers who give countless hours of their time providing an engaging learning experience for their children. Because of this mutual love and respect for each other, we are asking that you help to keep us and our families healthy during this unprecedented time by delaying the return to classroom instruction until it is safe to do so.
Sincerely,
Concerned Stakeholders of Walnut Creek
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
July 15, 2020
July 14, 2020
The numbers are really starting to climb and I just keep refreshing my screen because I can see we are heading toward that 250 marker which feels like such a huge milestone for us. If everyone reading this just sends the link to one or two people who might care we could hit that goal before the next board meeting even starts.
Reached 100 supporters
July 13, 2020
57 Comments
It is important to survive this year . Being an ICU physician I see the worst of this disease .children will be ok but parents and grand parents may die if they bring covid disease home . Safe distance may not be possible for young ones . So please think again . It is ok for remote education .
I should not have to choose between my health and the health of my family, or losing my job. In addition, returning to school is not safe for students.
It is far too risky to have our children spend time in an indoor environment that allows for conditions that increases the length of floating time of dangerous airborne particles. Mask or no mask, this is not an idea that I would ever consider for my child in school.
Of course the ideal situation would be to send students and teachers back to school full time, but we are not living in ideal circumstances. In these circumstances we must prioritize the health and safety of teachers, school staff, and students. My children will not return to the classroom until the safety of all people on campus is considered and protected.
The safety of staff members and their families should be just as important as student safety. There should be a firm plan in place before physically going back to school happens, especially if we have to trust that other families are taking this pandemic seriously, because some definitely are not.
It is also reasonable to be concerned about the challenge to provide substitutes for teachers, custodians and other critical staff during this time. I urge a vote on the side of caution. Thank you.
It would be irresponsible to ask parents to chose between education and their families health and safety. distance learning is not optimal for our kids or our teachers, but we have to put their health first. Fuel education doesn’t work for all kids. A big part of school, esp for the younger kids is the social-emotional learning, fuel education forces them in front of computer with learning through slideshows without any interaction with their classmates. Keeping kids apart from classmates is not healthy for them. Hybrid model is ideal but with numbers rising isn’t safe to send teachers and students into the classrooms. All we are asking is to keep hybrid distant learning as an option for parents that are looking for quality and equal education while we are keeping our family safe during this difficult times. Their should be a 3rd option!!!! It is safe for a teacher to teach in a empty classroom and kids learning by watching a live teaching via zoom. It is possible and should be considered.
My biggest concerns include inability to test and contact trace, wasted time on compliance reminders. Outdoor pe/socializing activities should be put in place in lieu of return to school.
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It is important to survive this year . Being an ICU physician I see the worst of this disease .children will be ok but parents and grand parents may die if they bring covid disease home . Safe distance may not be possible for young ones . So please think again . It is ok for remote education .