PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION TO DEMAND THAT MILL VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL MAINTAIN ITS CURRENT DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAM UNTIL JANUARY 2021 AND PROVIDE : 

1) An In-Person Hybrid Model That Matches Current Live Instructional Minutes Across All Subject Areas Each Week, AND

2) An Extended Distance Learning Model That Offers The Same Live Instructional Minutes And Subject Areas As The Hybrid Model 

On October 29, 2020, the Mill Valley School District/Superintendent Kimberly Berman presented plans to return students to in-person instruction on November 30, 2020. Both options presented by the District are unacceptable. 

The 3x3 Hybrid Option Offers Half Of The Current Live Instructional Minutes With Only Three Academic Courses, Requires Teacher Reassignments, And Replaces Lost Live Instructional Minutes With Full Days Of Asynchronous Learning

The 3x3 hybrid is a step down in educational quality from the current distance learning model created by our teachers, who have worked hard to develop rigorous, interactive and differentiated instruction for our children. In the current distance learning program, students receive 180 minutes of live teaching every day, five days per week, covering all six core and elective subjects each week. The 3x3 hybrid imposes increased safety risks while offering only half the daily live instructional minutes, in half the academic courses at a time (three courses every 6 weeks, instead of six courses every week); and an increase in independent work time on screens at home.  

The Alternative “EDL” Option Is An Off-the-Shelf Online Independent Study Platform That Denies Students Access To Daily Live Instruction From Credentialed Teachers

The District is not offering daily live instruction by credentialed teachers to students who do not  return due to health concerns. These students will be removed from all of their currently assigned courses, teachers and classmates. The District is solely offering these students an “off-the-shelf” online learning platform, yet to be specified. Students will be placed in Zoom breakout sessions that are periodically “facilitated” by a credentialed teacher, with up to 10 other students who are working individually. This is inequitable, punitive, and unacceptable for any of our children. Daily live instruction with credentialed teachers is a basic minimum expectation for all of our children. Families who prefer to return to an in-person hybrid program also demand that the children of friends and community members receive better.   

Presenting better choices for a universal return does not preclude the District from offering or expanding current in-person options to students at risk of significant attrition in educational attainment.

Please Sign This Petition And Consider Boycotting The “Commitment Form” To Let The District Know That These Choices Are Not Fair To Our Children