As the parents of children in the South Kitsap School District, we are concerned by the decision made by the South Kitsap School Board on August 5th, 2020. The Kitsap County Health Board sent out a recommendation that Kitsap Schools start with Remote Learning and no sports. Contrary to these recommendations, the South Kitsap School Board has decided that Port Orchard Schools should not be included in this recommendation. They think parents should have a choice to send their kids back regardless of the health risk and safety concerns.

These individuals are not healthcare professionals. They are acting against the recommendations of the governor’s office as well as the Kitsap County Health Board. Our students are not “safe” just because we live in Port Orchard and the case count for Port Orchard has been low up to this point. The added stress of trying to obtain a COVID test and wait for the results is not something our students and families need to go through while trying to learn. Moreover, the ability to actually obtain a COVID test is extremely hard especially if the student is not exhibiting every symptom.  This is an unnecessary risk to the students and families in the South Kitsap Community.

Additionally, the School Board’s decision has not considered how this decision will impact the large group of parents and students who are affected by court-mandated parenting plans. Some parents do not have a choice about whether to send their kids back or not due to mandated parenting plans which would include court costs and additional stress to fight the decision.

We as parents of children in the South Kitsap School District, therefore, demand the following actions be taken by the South Kitsap School Board:

·         Remote learning must be instituted as mandatory for the first 9 weeks of school at which time health risk can be reassessed following the Kitsap County Health Board recommendations for reopening.

·         The school district must provide and require the wearing of masks for all educators, staff and students on school premises (if that is what the CDC, state and local health officials still recommend at that time).

·         A stakeholder process must be implemented for re-opening and determining safety protocols that include public health experts, classroom teachers, administrators, frontline staff, parents or primary caregivers and students across a wide racial and socioeconomic spectrum.

·         Future decision-making about reopening schools must be informed by public health best practices, including but not limited to the CDC, state and local health experts.

·         Safety protocols and protections, including mandatory temperature checks, as well as increased mental health supports for all school district students, families, teachers and staff, must be in place before re-opening can occur.

·         Ongoing transparency and open communication with the district's community must be implemented immediately with these groups: students, educators, staff, parents/primary caregivers, and various other stakeholders.

·         All sports should be canceled until the safety threat to our children, families, and staff is eliminated.

·         If the decision is made to resume in-person classes, bus transportation needs to be canceled or cut to ensure proper social distancing on the buses. Masks will also be mandatory and temperature checks will be enforced or the student will not be allowed on the bus.

We all want our students to return to school and normalcy but not at the risk of their health. Please join me in signing this petition to send to the South Kitsap School Board to help ensure the school board makes a safe decision with this upcoming school year. We all want the best for our children but safety comes first.