District 52 administrators made the decision to regress back to the AB/hybrid schedule starting 11/19 due to increased COVID 19 cases in Greenwood County. This decision is detrimental to our students’ educational needs, to their mental health, and to their overall safety and wellbeing. Please, sign this petition, and be the voice for these children.

1) Students are entitled to quality instruction; fall MAP testing scores and current lower grades across the board are indicators that there is a significant amount of work to be done to bridge the instructional/educational gap from the 10-12 weeks students missed from mid March to the end of last school year. While teachers did the best they could, being thrown into virtual learning with no notice proved detrimental to students’ education. While we had no control over that; we do have control over this. The AB/hybrid schedule is currently failing our students. 5 day instruction is the way to ensure a quality education for these children. Continuing the AB/hybrid schedule will not allow for teachers and students to make up these educational deficits; 5 day instruction is key.

2) Students’ mental health is being affected by the AB/hybrid schedule, and for many students school serves as their safe place.

3) If a large district like Greenwood District 50 can offer 5 day instruction safely, so can a smaller district like 52. District 50 is not regressing or changing their schedule. In fact, district 50 has offered a 5 day instructional option since the first day of school. In addition, district 50 is currently bringing back AB/hybrid students to the 5 day schedule and will not offer the AB/hybrid option after the break. Other districts in surrounding counties are also offering 5 day instruction.

4) Students and parents who feel safer at home have already been given the option to learn virtually. That is their right. Students and parents whose children desperately need 5 day instruction deserve the same right, which is what is best for them—5 day instruction.

5) COVID 19 cases were always expected to increase over the end of fall/beginning of spring term. However, symptoms and severity of such have significantly decreased for the majority of people overall. Additionally, hospitalization is down across the state. What we do know about the virus is that children in general tend to be significantly more resilient and less impacted than most. Again, students and parents who feel safer at home were afforded the decision that was best for their families; we deserve the same decision, the choice for 5 day instruction.

6) If anyone should be considered a frontline worker or essential employee, it should be a teacher. We’re all champions for K12 education and for the backbone of this education, which is the teacher. Our students need teachers more now than ever. Teachers and students can be cautious, wear masks, wash hands, distance the best they can—but our students’ futures are dependent on what decisions are made now and moving forward. 5 day instruction is key to our students’ success.

Please, be a champion for our district 52 students, and sign the petition. Let your voice be heard.