We believe EVERY CHILD should have access to the school playground EVERY SCHOOL DAY. The physical and developmental benefits of daily playground use for students far outweigh the risks of commingling classes at recess. Therefore, we request that the CCSD Board of Trustees allow classes and cohorts to commingle on outdoor playgrounds.  
 
First, the risks to students are minimal if the Board allows classes to commingle at recess.
 
According to the CDC, the risk of exposure to COVID-19 is significantly less for outdoor settings than indoor settings. The sun, temperature, wind, and air help to reduce the spread of airborne viruses. National, state, and local COVID-19 policies distinguish between indoor and outdoor settings. Schools should too.
 
Next, according to CCSD’s own definition "a close contact is defined as someone within six feet of a contagious individual for a total of 15 minutes within a 24-hour period." If recess only lasts 15 minutes, and it takes 1 minute to walk out to the playground and 1 minute to line up to go back inside, then it's physically impossible for 2 students from different classes to have "close contact" during recess. 
 
Second, the physical and developmental benefits of daily playground use outweigh the risks.
 
Children need “brain breaks.” Movement decreases stress, increases focus, and improves overall physical health, which translates into improved student performance in the classroom. Children move and play more easily on a playground than an open field with little or no equipment. Furthermore, some children do not have access to public playgrounds or after-school activities. Increasing access to playgrounds at school would help narrow this socio-economic gap. Next, integrating classes would allow students to expand their peer group beyond their classmates. Lastly, denying students access to playgrounds and equipment effectively denies students recess, which schools are required by law to provide. 
 
Because the benefits of daily playground use far outweigh the risks, we respectfully request that the Board of Trustees allow classes and cohorts to commingle on outdoor playgrounds, or alternatively, expand the definition of “cohorts” to include multiple classes.

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Please sign and share this petition. CCSD leadership is currently revising COVID-19 mitigation guidelines, we need playgrounds to be top of their list! No donations please.

What to do more? Please call or email the following individuals:  

Superintendent Dr. Jesus Jara: jarajf@nv.ccsd.net - 305.710-0956

Deputy Superintendent Brenda Larsen-Mitchell: blarsebk@nv.ccsd.net - 702.799.1236

Trustee Irene Cepeda: cepedia@nv.ccsd.net - 702.281.0133

Trustee Lola Brooks: brookla@nv.ccsd.net - 702.321.9117

Trustee Danielle Ford: forddl@nv.ccsd.net - 702.251.1387

Trustee Linda Cavazos: cavazlp@nv.ccsd.net - 702.573.9977

Trustee Evelyn Garcia Morales: garcie12@nv.ccsd.net - 702.799.1072

Trustee Lisa Guzman: guzmalm@nv.ccsd.net - 702.964.4982

Trustee Katie Williams: willikj3@nv.ccsd.net - 309.267.9508

Chief Director of Health and Student Services Division Dr. Monica Cortez: cortemj@nv.ccsd.net - 702.799-5471

Director of Health Services Dr. Diane Lewis: lewisdm@nv.ccsd.net - 702-799-0812

Chief Nurse Sheri McPartlin: mcparsa@nv.ccsd.net - 702.799.7443