Keep Union County Safe - Sign this petition in favor of Plan C for Union County Schools.

We ALL wish we could return to a semblance of normal. A large part of that would be returning to in-person school. 

However, our first priority must be the safety of our students, staff, families, and community. We must not ignore the science and the data. Public health experts anticipate the pandemic crisis to worsen as we approach fall and winter, yet some of the school board wants to continue with re-opening our schools on-campus.

Until the cases decrease in Union County and North Carolina, we must use the data and keep our county, our students, staff, families, and community safe. Our current county percent positive rate is 10%.  While 0% is ideal, 5% or lower should be the minimum indicator that it's safe to re-open schools. 

Instead of wishing and hoping that no one gets sick - we must do what ensures the best outcome for all - enhance and fully invest in Virtual Learning. We must invest the time and resources to create more robust learning. We must ensure devices and the internet are available for every child, and train all staff in best practices for online learning. We must continue to creatively partner with community organizations to ensure continued food services and resources for families.

We know that enclosed, indoor spaces for hours at a time are incredibly dangerous. The data also show this pandemic impacts Black and Latinx communities at a disproportionate rate, and we must recognize the impact schools have in interrupting or perpetuating this pandemic’s inequity. We must interrupt the rising trends in North Carolina, overcome this pandemic, and keep our community safe. 

The "Plan B" the school board is proposing, would leave educators at school locations for an entire school day, being exposed to all students as they alternate days throughout the week. This ultimately would accelerate the spread and lead to longer "stay safer at home" orders thus pushing back our time to an actual re-opening.

While we all want to get back to something like normal, we cannot afford to do so at the expense of our humanity. We must not accept even one student, teacher, staff, or family member getting sick as collateral. 

Our county has already been afflicted with COVID clusters affiliated with the Marvin Ridge graduation ceremony, as well as East Union Middle School. One cluster is still active. Enough is enough, we must stand up for the safety of all in Union County as well as our rights as citizens, for a safe place for educators to work and our students to learn.

Please sign this petition in favor of Plan C.