Reopening public schools for in-person instruction poses a huge risk to the health and safety of our community, especially given that the COVID-19 situation in the country is still not contained. We request the superintendent of the board of education, to consider continuing the online instruction, until the COVID-19 situation is well under control.   Premature opening of schools for in person instruction, increases the risk of starting a new wave of COVID infections in our town, especially given that top scientists are still struggling to identify the nature of the spread of the virus, repeat infections, asymptomatic spread etc. To make matters worse, there neither is a vaccine nor a cure for this virus that spreads so fast. Last thing we want is to lose lives due to hasty policy decisions.

We greatly appreciate the decision of BOE  for transitioning to online classes early on and keeping the community safe.
 
We would like to emphasize that in a township like Edison, overcrowding within our public schools is a well known problem. This problem of overcrowding within our schools makes it especially dangerous to open up schools in the fall for in person instruction because people have no choice but to remain within close proximity of one another and there is no possibility of social distancing.

In person instruction not only poses a risk to students and staff members within the buildings, but also their families they go home to daily as well as anyone else that members of these families might interact with regularly. For this reason, it is very important to consider conducting a fully online option for students in the Fall. Please sign this petition to and circulate it to your friends and family members.