Arizona is one of the current epicenters of the Covid-19 pandemic in America. Many Arizona school districts are currently formulating and announcing plans to return to schools in person next month. Districts such as Amphitheater Public School District have already decided that they will be sending teachers to school despite the exponentially rising cases in Arizona. Forcing teachers to go to work in person will only contribute to the rising number of cases and deaths. Foothills teachers are expected to be on campus in person in early August. The purpose of this petition is to encourage the Catalina Foothills School District to take the lives of their staff seriously and consider the dangers of sending teachers back to school in person before it is safe.

We were inspired to create this petition after seeing a social media post from a teacher at our school. They were upset that all teachers have to return in early August in person despite the fact that it is still unsafe to gather with Arizona’s transmission being so high. Students are being given the choice of online only which most of us will choose because of how unsafe it is right now. Why should teachers not have the same option? There are many concerns for teens' mental health which is part of why some people are pushing to reopen schools but it will have a worse effect for teens to watch their teachers get sick and die. 

Your signature will show the administration that students care more about protecting the lives of their teachers than returning to school in person in August. A huge part of the curriculum at Foothills involves interpreting facts and reasoning based on scientific data. The district should listen to scientific studies and the facts. We know a lot more now about the transmission of the virus than we did a few months ago and we should use that knowledge. There are plenty of new studies showing that the virus is aerosolized and could be spread more easily indoors with air conditioning. By signing the petition you are showing the district that students respect and care for the teachers and the district needs to do the same.

If this does not change we are worried that our teachers will get sick and possibly die. Recently a summer school teacher already died from Covid-19 in Arizona. Kimberley Chavez Lopez Byrd was teaching summer school virtually in a room with 2 other teachers. Even though they all were wearing masks and social distancing they all caught the virus from each other and she died. You can find out more about this here. This happened with 3 people. Imagine the effect this could have on our community as a whole if hundreds of people are gathered together daily at school.

Image By Mallika Sunder

Update: We now have a website where you can find out more info that can be accessed here.