Currently, Poudre School District is in Phase 1, which is fully remote. This is affecting them in so many ways. 

*PSD was recently informed of the new plan for next semester. All students will be fully remote until Jan 19. At that time, K-5 will go to Phase 4, where they are in person full time, 5 days a week. At that time, Middle School will begin Phase 3, which is Hybrid. While, High School student will begin Phase 2, where the A/B groups go in person 1 day per week. 

THERE ARE SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS:

1 - there is very little learning on the off days and there is no teacher support on those days.

2 - a lot of students have a hard time doing the work on the off days or just choose to not do it at all. Personally, my son does great at school, but them at home he gets frustrated, doesn't remember how to do the work, etc. This leads to crying and saying how dumb he is every off day. That is affecting his mental state very much. It is hard for a parent to see that. 

3 - a lot of parents cannot stay home with their kids on the off days to make sure they do the work and/or give them extra work to do. 

4 - kids are already falling behind tremendously and if we keep going this way, it will just get worse.. Teachers have already agreed that kids are going to be behind. I know kids in older grades are failing classes already and it is hard to come back from that. 

5 - only seeing teachers 1 or 2 days a week does not provide enough focused learning. Subjects are being taught at a faster pace while in person, to try to get extra learning in, but some students cannot learn this way.

6 - kids need social interaction with their peers. 

7 - kids are going to be more traumatized by the constant switching of phases than they are from the actual virus. It is hard for kids to understand. 

8- it's not just the kids who are struggling! Teachers are having a very hard time as well. It is hard for teachers to see kids struggling. They know kids learn in all different ways and when they can't help them, it hurts. Teachers have expressed to me (in tears) how hard it is teaching online.

REASONS TO SUPPORT ALL STUDENTS GOING IN PERSON FULL TIME:

1 - other districts surrounding were going full time in person and didn't have many problems. 

2 - other schools within our district were going full time in person and didn't have many problems. This being charter and private schools.

3 - the testing capability is so much higher now and contract tracing works.

4 - kids are less susceptible and the transmission from student to student and student to staff is low. 

5 - while the state's positivity rate is increasing, the rate in Larimer County is low. 

6 - the Governor has said himself that Colorado has the medical capabilities to handle the increase in cases and we will not be making a change to lock down status. 

7 - the Governor's task force has come out with a road map to assist districts with reopening, including rapid tests for schools, supplies, PPE and financial assistance.

8 - the CDC, the president-elect, the WHO, Unicef, several other countries, the Governor and many many more agree that students and teachers are safer in schools where the environment can be controlled.

It is time for parents to decide how they want their children to learn. We all had to make a decision before school started, to go virtual (with PSDV) or stay at our schools hoping we get to go in person. For those of us that chose to stay at our schools, we should get to be at our schools. Those that don't want to send their kid to school in person, stay virtual. Parents should be allowed to make the decision to take the risk or not.

Same goes for the teachers and administrators. Before school started, the teachers and administrators that didn't feel comfortable going in person, switched and went to teach at PSDV. 

The teachers union plays a big part of the decision process, but the union is not a good representation of the teachers in the district. I have been told you have to pay to belong so many teachers do not belong. A decision being made for the whole by using the opinions of a few is not right. 

This virus is going to be detrimental for years to come (for the entire population), since we can help alleviate this for the children, we should! Children are the main priority and are the future for our world. Life is hard enough, so we need to give them every opportunity to be successful. School is that opportunity. We have adopted the phrase "no child left behind." Well in this format...Middle and High School children (in PSD) are being left behind. 

Everyone can sign this petition: parents, teachers, administrators, students, community members, etc.