Recognizing that the County approved a waiver to safely open CUSD elementary in November, and approximately 50% of CUSD parents (based on a parent created survey, since the district refused to give a survey on need for full time) want a full time return to school;

Further recognizing that the most effective way to educate our children is at-school learning from teachers in-person;

Realizing that many parents confirmed that their children will not learn at home, due to parents needing to work, depression, lack of reliable internet access, multiple siblings or the child’s disposition;

Also realizing below 10% of CUSD families want the hybrid two day option the district created, rather than giving them two options: a full time in-person option and a full time distance learning option, both of which are possible safely following covid guidelines if 50% or 60% want a full time return once we are in purple;  

Considering that local private schools are open to full-time in-person instruction, and numerous private and public elementary schools in Monterey have received waivers to safely open (including CUSD);

Further considering that over 1,390 district tax payers and CUSD caregivers have signed this petition to force the district to recognize they deserve a voice, since it is their school district and their tax money;

Recognizing that by stalling, CUSD is not only taking 60% of property taxes from residents that want their children in school in-person, by not giving them the safe in-person option they need, but also forcing taxpayers to go to local private schools, so their kids no longer suffer. CUSD is therefore forcing tax payers to pay millions in combined private school tuition fees on top of the 60% property taxes they already pay to CUSD. These action will leave the district far less money in years to come, and force us to make budget cuts that threaten teachers and students;

We, taxpayers, parents and caregivers of CUSD, want CUSD elementary to be given the option to start safely full time in person now, to prepare for all our schools to open safely following State and Federal coronavirus guidelines for in-person instruction NOW, and be ready to open safely the day our County moves from Red to the Purple Tier. To think creatively, rather than using OUR money to fight legal battles with us parents, but rather, use OUR money on legal fees to find a way, no matter what our tier is, to give our CUSD seniors a safe in-person cohort option by January 2021.