We believe the decision to reopen schools was made without sufficient concern and empathy for our most important asset: our teachers. We ask that the Board please use their own standards of truth, beauty, and goodness and reevaluate the decision to open campuses with teachers in the classroom before health standards are officially met. This decision was based on what we believe was a flawed process in evaluating, interpreting and reacting to Arizona Department of Health Services (AZDHS) data, and just as important, a lack of respect for teachers across our school community.  

The Truth is that while the data currently does appear to be trending the right way, the data used by Great Hearts is not reliable enough based on AZDHS’s standards. The main benchmark dashboard does not show that Maricopa County has met the three benchmarks for even moderate transmission - which Great Hearts said they would meet prior to in-person learning. Great Hearts is already disregarding AZDHS recommendations by extrapolating data themselves. The slide shown at the presentation clearly states that the data is extrapolated, even though the presenters themselves assured everyone that it is not. How can our Great Hearts community be assured that proper AZDHS protocol for handling positive cases in school will be followed if the AZDHS protocol for opening schools is being set aside? We need honesty and faith that safety is the number one priority. 

Beauty can be seen in data and charts, and the ability to interpret them many different ways.  Unfortunately in this case, the Board is interpreting the data to justify a more aggressive reopening than AZDHS recommends. The AZDHS dashboard reports three different benchmarks (accessible here), filterable by county, to guide school re-opening decisions. There is also a full download of AZDHS guidelines and benchmarks available here. The state data includes an intentional lag period to allow for the majority of tests results to be sent, received and processed.  Using extrapolated data not found on the dashboard opens the door to making decisions based on inaccurate data. 

Great Hearts previously committed to meeting the state benchmarks before opening. The Board’s new approach - extrapolating data and effectively creating its own benchmarks - deviates from that commitment and from AZDHS guidance. This reversal has created a loss of confidence in leadership, and quite honestly, it makes us look bad. Charter schools have been under attack in Arizona, let’s not give them further reason to vilify us.

Moreover, even the Board’s extrapolated data does not support a full return to in-person learning.   Positive test numbers of 6.2% and 5.6% would put Maricopa County in the yellow or “moderate” zone. According to AZDHS, moderate levels mean: “Sustained transmission with high likelihood or confirmed exposure within communal settings and potential for rapid increase in cases.”  A 5-7% positivity rate allows for hybrid learning. True hybrid learning as intended by the ADHS means that only a subset of students can be on campus at the same time. This would be accomplished with staggered schedules.  In the Great Hearts reopening plan, all students are welcome back on campus the full day, every day. This ignores the important distinction between “moderate” and “minimal” transmission. 

Goodness is there to be found in our teachers. They are the most direct examples of goodness to our students. In the board meeting, (Full video here) many teachers showed a great amount of courage by standing up and voice their discomfort and fear in returning to school too quickly. Unfortunately, they were met with some very disrespectful comments from members of the community that did not represent the whole and the goodness of Great Hearts. After outright bullying from several angry parents, teacher’s fears were further disregarded with the final board vote to open classes. We owe it to teachers now to take a step back and reevaluate. We can now show teachers respect and goodness by clearly demonstrating that we have met all benchmarks by simply waiting a few more weeks for the official dashboards to show that we have met or exceeded all benchmarks before we ask them to return.  

We all value education and believe that our school is integral to the development of our children. We want school to open, but we want it to be safe for teachers to return. In all likelihood, opening before the metrics are met means there will be community spread and the schools will ultimately need to close again. We are forcing teachers to return to the classroom while knowing there is a high risk of exposure and being unable to ensure social distancing. Our teachers deserve better than this. Reevaluating the start date not only opens the opportunity to maintain stability, but it also shows the teachers that they are valued and appreciated. 

This is our chance to demonstrate our virtue of citizenship and show that we are not only committed to the health and safety of our teachers and students, but to the health and safety of our communities. Opening before AZDHS states that all metrics have been satisfactorily met will send the opposite message. Indeed, at the time of this petition, teachers at campuses across the Great Hearts network have tendered their resignation and many more are considering it. This is not because they don’t love students or education - they very much do. Instead, it is a matter of personal safety and ethics.   

By signing this petition, we request that the Board of Directors reconsider its decision and wait until the official dashboard shows Maricopa County clearly meets all benchmarks. Following AZDHS guidance would likely delay reopening by mere weeks.  We further request that the Board commit to following prevailing guidance for hybrid learning while Maricopa County remains in “moderate” transmission. In doing so, Great Hearts will show a greater respect for teachers, who need our support during such a critical time.

So much of our country is deeply divided right now. Please help us unite our Great Hearts community in using the metrics and declarations from our local health experts properly and as intended. Let’s use data that no one can argue. 

If you sign this, we recommend you add your role within the Great Hearts network.  That could mean that you're a first-year parent at Anthem, the PSO President at Glendale, or a teacher for the last 5 years at Veritas.  That information may be helpful to those that see this petition.