The doors of the school should not be opening back up on August 11, 2021 due to the increase cases of COVID-19, especially for the Delta variant. Everyone should start off virtual until the numbers go down. The MCPSS had an “emergency" meeting on August 6, 2021 with different CEO's and management from local hospitals and physicians from the MCHD explaining how the COVID cases have increased and how the Delta variant is highly contagious and hitting the pediatric population hard. Hospital staff are saying it's worse than last year. So you set back the start of school last school but not this school year and it's worse. The end results from the meeting was to wear masks. A lot of people are wearing masks and vaccinated and still testing positive for COVID. There is no way with all the kids going back to school every student will be social distancing. From the recent posts from teacher classrooms the desks are not social distancing. They have already had to close schools due to the teachers and kids testing positive for COVID. It saddens me that the MCPSS would rather all students and staff return to school on August 11 2021 and everyone pass around COVID and become ill, some possibly hospitalized and some cases fatal than be proactive and get a start on things and pushing back the start of this school year until the numbers go down. The Delta variant is supposedly going to hit harder as it becomes cooler and colder. We expect the MCPSS to do what is best especially health wise for all the students and staff. MCPSS Contact # 221-4394 to address any concerns you may have.