STUDENT SICK OUT IN SOLIDARITY, OCTOBER 28TH!

Thank you for all of your support, I now have a favor to ask each student and parent in Austin Independent School District. On October 28th I ask that every student possible participate in a Student sick out. Do not go to any of your classes, do not go to zooms, don't email your teachers or log on to blend, (do not do anything that can be used to count attendance). My goal of this sick out is to show the district and TEA (Texas Education Agency) that we students stand in solidarity with our teachers and that we do not accept their current policies regarding schools reopening. AISD/TEA have made no changes to their policies and intend on opening our schools further in the next two weeks. McCallum highschool's Principal sent out an update this morning that starting November 2nd we will return to the model of school that is " think pre-covid high school" and clearly states that "We will not be able to guarantee social distancing". This is per Austin Independent School District policy as the Texas Education Agency has threatened to cut funding if schools do not return to this model of learning.  Austin, Texas is still on an extended stay at home order until December 15th and our cases of covid-19 have started to increase again. Continuing to reopen our schools and not giving our teachers the option to return is complete negligence on the part of AISD and TEA. Lives will be lost due to their disregard for staff and student health. This shows that the district and TEA value money and attendance numbers over public safety. Please join me in this student sick out in solidarity to send a loud message; that the students and parents in this district value the health and safety of our teachers just as much as we value our own, and that we do not not accept their current policies. Changes must be made. We are no longer in a "pre-covid" world and acting as if we are will only make the problem worse.  Our teachers deserve the option to stay home just as students and their families are given. Especially now that students will begin moving between classes. Please join me and hundreds of students on October 28th to show the district/TEA our strength in numbers and our stance in solidarity. Please share with everyone you know. We deserve to have our voices heard, and our teachers deserve so much better.