To Superintendent Dr. McKnight:

COVID-19 is surging. Cases are higher than they have been at any other point so far in this pandemic. As of January 3rd, we've had 14,251 cases and almost 200 hospitalizations in the last 24 hours in Maryland. There are 2,746 Marylanders in the hospital and 43 of them are kids. 31 people in Montgomery County have died in the last two weeks. Our hospitals are overwhelmed, and we're one of the worst COVID-19 hotspots.

We are MCPS parents and students, and we're telling you that it's time to go virtual until this surge is over.

We welcome other students, staff members, and parents in the MCPSS community to sign and share this petition.

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For some the Virtual Academy wasn't a viable option and with the subpar results of the previous year at home it wasn't a consideration. You all promised to keep our children safe it's not happening. In our school system alone we have 5680 cases on the rise.

Students should not be forced to get sick, even when it is 'mild'. And in many cases, it's not.

Tell the student who is immunocompromised and gets hospitalized that the effects are mild.

Tell the student who spreads COVID-19 to a loved one who passes away that the effects are mild.

Tell the student who faces long-term effects of COVID-19, including neurological, organ, and vascular damage and fatigue, muscle weakness, and memory problems, that it's all mild.

It's time to go virtual until this surge is over.

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Prince George's County announced virtual learning from January 3 to January 14. Students in D.C. must show proof of a negative COVID test before returning to school from winter break.

Just like HCPSS, MCPSS is doing nothing. In fact, they're facilitating the spread by reducing the quarantine period for students who test positive from 10 days to 5 days. 

Dr. McKnight thinks control is closing induvial schools with an infected population of more than 5%? Did she consider homes with multiple ages with children that go to different schools? What happens when the High School aged child has to attend in-person and the Grade Schooler is required to go virtual? Did Dr. McKnight consider the disruption she is causing? Why is she completely ignoring the fact that we have our own authority, the same authority that PGCPS exercised?

It's time to go virtual until this surge is over.

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Don't let the Board of Education get away with deferring responsibility to Dr. McKnight either. They have the authority to overturn her decisions and move us to virtual learning, just like MCPSS Board did last year.

It's time to go virtual until this surge is over.

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In the message we received on January 4, MCPSS  wrote, "As the number of COVID-19 cases increases across our county, state and the nation, we want to assure you that we are committed to a safe learning and working environment for students and staff."

Think about that for a second. MCPSS wants to assure us that they are committed to keeping student and staff safe. How? By sending us into danger while monitoring us daily? Dr. McKnight what is your TOP PRIORITY?

It's time to go virtual until this surge is over.

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So you think we aren't representative of the student population? Check again.

Dr. McKnight and members of the Board of Education: If even a single student in MCPSS ends up in the hospital, faces long-term effects of COVID-19 for months or years, spreads COVID-19 to a vulnerable loved one, or dies: it'll be your fault.

We are MCPSS students, and we're telling you that it's time to go virtual until this surge is over.

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If you sign this petition and want to take a step further, send emails to the Board of Education (ASKMCPS@mcpsmd.org) and Dr. McKnight(Monifa_B_Mcknight@mcpsmd.org). If you want give her a call 240-740-3020