While school closures made sense at the beginning of the pandemic in March, the continuance of remote and hybrid educational models at the present time is not necessary. K-12 schols are an essential service and should be treated that way. Districts, elected and public health authorities should make every effort to return our children to in-person schooling as soon as possible, given that:

-- Schools have been consistently shown to be safe places, with lower rates of transmission than the general community. https://www.whec.com/back-to-school-rochester/schools-in-monroe-county-yellow-zone-release-covid-19-testing-results/5927366/?cat=13082

-- The inadequacy of online or hybrid models in educating children is well known. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/06/nyregion/nyc-remote-learning.html

-- The American Academy of Pediatrics and other health organizations have said that a 6-foot distance between students is not necessary to keep them safe. https://services.aap.org/en/pages/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-infections/clinical-guidance/covid-19-planning-considerations-return-to-in-person-education-in-schools/

-- Schools in many European nations have remained open in spite of much higher rates of community infection than are currently seen in Monroe County. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/29/world/europe/schools-coronavirus-europe-lockdowns.html

-- SARS-CoV-2 is far less dangerous than seasonal flu to those under 19 years of age. https://www.acsh.org/news/2020/11/18/covid-infection-fatality-rates-sex-and-age-15163 

Our leaders should return children to in-person schooling as soon as possible, taking every necessary action, including removing impractical and scientifically-unfounded requirements that are standing in the way of school districts returning to full-time in-person schooling.