In light of the DOE's decision to keep NYC public schools in-person following the winter recess, this petition demands that students and staff members should have the option to attend school remotely due to the highly contagious Omicron variant.

While such a format did have its drawbacks, both academically and otherwise, last year's relative success did prove it to be a viable possibility. At this moment, these are the sacrifices we must make to keep our community safe. 

The Omicron variant of COVID-19 has dramatically increased infection rates in this city over the past few weeks, rendering the administration's decision to keep schools in-person unreasonable and, above all, irresponsible. Physically attending school places students and staff members at increased risk of contracting this highly transmissible strain, either in the building or on public transit, risking not only their lives but needlessly contributing to the spread of the disease. 

Right now, students, like myself, are facing an impossible decision: either attend school despite the rising case rates or risk our education and academic standing by choosing to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe. Therefore, I ask the NYC DOE to allow for remote learning because this is not a decision we should have to make.