My granddaughter is one of the students suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning at Covington Middle School. She, like many others, has been forced to attend school in a building that's over 100 years old by the Alleghany Highlands's Public School division, while a newer and safer building from the early 2000's sits empty. This situation took a dire turn when a carbon monoxide leak from faulty equipment in the aging building left students and staff, including my child, suffering from the effects of the poisoning.

Carbon monoxide, known as the 'silent killer', causes approximately 50,000 emergency department visits in the United States annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This harsh reality underscores the urgency to provide a safer learning environment for our children. It is unconscionable that the school district allows their students to continue occupying a building that has proven to be hazardous.

The community demands that the school district take immediate action: relocate the students to the unused building that was constructed less than thirty years ago to ensure the safety of our children. We cannot allow for the health of our children and staff to be compromised further, nor can we wait for another toxic leak to upend lives.

Join us in urging Alleghany Highlands School District to prioritize our children's safety and health above all. Sign this petition today to demand the immediate relocation of the middle school to the safer, newer building.