We are Downingtown area community members (Join our Facebook group here!) who feel strongly that schools should NOT be attempting in-person instruction right now. The intersection of pandemic fatigue, cold weather, and the flu, cold and holiday seasons are creating the perfect storm of conditions for us to lose our tenuous hold on viral spread. People are not wearing masks as they should be, stay home rules after exposures and even positive tests are ignored, and hybrid learning is NOT working well enough to make the risks worth it.

We would like to see the brick and mortar hybrid students return to a consistent, sustainable virtual program, one where all students get equal opportunities to interact with their peers and teachers every day. Instead of bouncing our kids back and forth as COVID hops from school to school, we would like to see the school district focus their resources to support all families in navigating virtual learning until warm weather and/or lower numbers return. Some programs which could use improvements:

• Virtual and/or small group tutoring and childcare programs for children whose families are struggling at home
• Increasing virtual social interactions between students
• Bringing awareness to virtual mental health programs and food programs to support at-risk children and families
• Ways to empower parents to support/connect with each other and create small, safe learning pods and virtual study groups

We know that not everyone can bear the load of childcare, careers, and managing our children’s educations from home. We realize that virtual is not an easy learning model for everyone. But we also understand that children are known to be primarily silent spreaders and the only indicator that we should be looking at are rising community numbers. While our schools remain open, community spread of the virus will continue to soar, and having half of our students go in person for two days a week at a time is just not worth it.

The guidelines from the state and county are clear. Learning should be virtual once community numbers are above 80/100,000.

Please sign this petition and let our leaders know that there is a large following of parents who understand the value of following the Department of Health’s recommendation to shut down in-person learning.