This petition exists to show the Freedom Area School Board that their decision to do online learning is supported by community members and to ensure that Freedom  students are not sent back to school in the fall of 2020. There are still many uncertainties surrounding the Corona Virus Disease, and many experts recommend being overly cautious rather than the alternative. 

Sending students to school in the fall can put students and teachers at risk. Additionally, in-person education would necessitate all students and teachers to wear masks while in the building. Many younger students will likely struggle to pay attention and keep a mask on for long durations. Furthermore, many older students (and adults) refuse to wear masks at all. It is highly unlikely that everyone will be compliant with a mask policy of any kind. Although online learning is suboptimal, it can still be used in effective ways and is far safer than in-person classes.

In the current state of the pandemic, teaching will be difficult regardless of whether or not students are in school. While providing a productive learning environment is a high priority of the school district, the students' safety should absolutely be the board's first concern.

If you share these same concerns, please take a moment to sign this petition and share it. Thank you,

Josiah Dubovi