Our goal is to present the issues as we see them and to offer some concrete solutions. Our group of parents is called P.R.E.S.S. (Parents for the Restoration of Extra-curriculars, Sports, and School).  It was formed 2 weeks ago as a Facebook group primarily from parents who were very distressed when Greenville County suspended summer practice and academic intervention programs because of the increase in Covid 19 cases in Greenville County. In just 2 weeks over the July 4th holiday and a high time for vacations among our families, we have grown this group to close to 4000 parents. We approve more than 200 daily so you can see this is an important issue for parents who do see this as THE most important issue currently facing them.  These are a wide-range of parents, students, and teachers who want school back in session as normally as possible.

PRESS has 3 goals:

1)    To be an advocate for kids who are unable to advocate for themselves and to work with local board officials and state officials to find a workable solution for all interested parties.

2)    To provide the information parents need to let their voices be heard to elected officials from school board to state level. We have emphasized the importance of respect and concrete suggestions and solutions.

3)    To provide a network of parents (primarily working moms and dads) that need to find other parents to assist with the convoluted scheduled that Greenville County Schools is suggesting.

Some Possible Real Solutions Going Forward:

a.    Kindly ask the local school boards to work with and not against concerned parents:  Many of us do not blame the school district, we are mostly just disappointed. They represent us. They should be partnering with parents to offer choices to us and let us help advocate their position. We truly want what is best for our students and I believe we can all get there if we could simply be given a seat at the table.

b.    Offer parents a choice and let the money follow the student: I’ve suggested for some time to offer virtual and in-person with a waiver to both students and teachers. Assign the assets accordingly and that’s the decision for at least the first academic semester of the year. Instead, we were told that they would let us know if they needed our input and produced a confusing schedule that confuses rather than clarifies. Younger parents that can afford to do so are simply moving their kids elsewhere. CCES and St Joe’s are open and will operate normally.

c.     Provide clarity to schools on how to reopen safely by reigning in DHEC: The bulk of the students in GCSD will not know from week-to-week whether they are attending 1, 2, 3 or 5 days of in-person instruction. I certainly hope this was NOT by design, Many of you have told me that we as parents are in a “box”  because the state budget was approved and started July 1, that there is little if any recourse. It does beg the question, did districts wait until after July 1 to present these schedules to parents so as to protect their per-student allocation? It might have afforded many of you as legislators to add a proviso to the budget addressing in-person funding vs virtual learning. To the defense of any school district board of trustees, DHEC and the Governor have not provided the guidance and clarity needed to make decisions. Most school boards are risk adverse. Without clarity, they will simply choose the least risky option. Unfortunately, if we go to a virtual learning environment, it will result in a lost school year for students of all ages most especially those without adult guidance.

d.    Pass an exemption for all state employers that protects them from worker’s comp claims or lawsuits related to covid-19: I am sure the district is as equally concerned about the safety of their teachers as they are the students. Concerns over liability will always come first and foremost to any employer under these circumstances. The State General Assembly should pass a covid-19 specific bill that addresses such concerns. Do as soon as possible and make it retroactive to March 1 or May 1, 2020 if possible. No employer should worry over this.

e.     Declare schools critical businesses: If our more than 3000 licensed daycares can be open and operating during this pandemic, then so should our schools. The are a vital part of our community and our economy. As of this date, DHEC had reported only 59 positive cases from daycares since March!

f.     Teachers must be considered essential workers: For those with compromised health they can teach virtually, for those that are simply in fear, they can choose another profession. That may sound harsh, but I am certain that doctors, nurses and first responders all feel the same fear. School is s promise we make to our communities just as law enforcement and emergency medical care. Not deeming teachers in the same category breaks that promise to our kids and their parents and will have a tremendous economic effect. I am aware that the SC Teachers Association is demanding virtual learning. Sorry folks, but a promise is a promise. I’m sure nurses would have loved to declare themselves virtual as well during the height of the pandemic.