The coronavirus (COVID-19), especially the highly contagious Delta variant, is spreading rapidly in most of the states in the United States. There have been many cases of the virus in Texas too. HISD recently shared its Ready, Set, Go! 2021-2022 Back to School plan which mentions the following protocols:

1. 100% in person learning 

2. No temperature screening at entry point 

3. No mask mandates for kids and teachers. 

During previous school year:

1. There was an option for the kids to opt for in person or virtual classes (Hybrid learning mode) and hence the schools were not operating in full capacity. So social distancing measures were effective. With the current plan, with all the students returning to in person classes this fall, it will be difficult to maintain social distancing. If the hybrid model is implemented, there will be possibility of practicing social distancing effectively just like last school year.

2. The Delta variant was not detected in the US till late April 2021. Currently, there are multiple variants like Delta and Lambda which have shown increased health risk towards the unvaccinated population. Because of the high transmission rate of the Delta variant, CDC and WHO currently has recommended that everyone, even the ones who are vaccinated should wear a mask and has clearly communicated that people with no vaccination are at an increased risk of fatal infection. ( See article: https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2021-07-30/cdc-document-paints-more-dire-picture-of-threat-posed-by-delta-variant). With families travelling through the summer break and returning to in person classes, there is a high possibility of infection spreading faster among the unvaccinated kids as these variants especially the Delta variant is 60% more transmissible than the Alpha variant. As per CDC data, the current transmission rate in Texas is at high level.

Read more about Delta Variant here:

https://www.houstonmethodist.org/blog/articles/2021/jul/3-things-to-know-about-the-covid-19-delta-variant/

3. Last year the Covid cases in children were not severe. But statistics show that currently maximum hospitalization cases are unvaccinated individuals and kids.( See article : https://www.khou.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/number-of-children-hospitalized-covid-19-houston-rising/)

With just about 42% of the Texas state adults being fully vaccinated and with no vaccine for our kids under 12 and no mask mandates, everyone including the teachers, other school staff and communities remain at a serious risk of getting infected and starting the next brutal wave. 

So we feel that in the current situation, asking our kids, especially elementary and middle schoolers (under the age of 12) who are not yet vaccinated to attend in person school starting from August is a serious health and safety risk and will jeopardize the life of our kids. We understand that online learning takes a toll on the kids mental, social and physical health. But sending the kids to school without vaccination also brings a heavy emotional stress not just on the kids but to the parents as well.( See Article :https://abc13.com/virtual-learning-back-to-school-texas-year-mask-requirements/10921263/ ) Especially when we do not know the long term effects of Covid infection and the effect of Covid hospitalizations on the kids, it would not be fair to ask the kids who cannot get vaccinated to go back to school where masks are no longer mandatory. The current situation with the coronavirus spreading is causing many unvaccinated kids to be scared to go to school . This is not just the flu. This is a PANDEMIC. Although the risk for kids to die is low, the current statistics show that major hospitalization cases in Texas are the unvaccinated kids. ( See Article : https://www.fox26houston.com/news/texas-childrens-hospital-reports-increase-in-covid-19-hospitalizations-due-to-delta-variant)

I agree that it is not possible for most parents to support online learning , but I would like to request all Texas schools including HISD to continue the plan as in the previous year with partial virtual and in person classes (Hybrid mode).

Kids who are not able to cope with online classes can shift to in person class, but for the kids who can manage virtual classes, please let them attend school virtually at least till they get vaccinated. Also once the kids are vaccinated, they will be stress free and will feel more confident and safe to attend in person classes.

This is a humble request to all legislators and school districts to revisit their decision of not allowing remote / virtual learning. Kindly allow hybrid mode of learning till vaccinations are available for the vulnerable kid population.

Please help us to keep our kids, school staff, our communities and the state safe and healthy while we all fight this deadly pandemic.

Please sign and Share this petition with your friends. Please let us all work together to fight Covid and to keep our children safe and healthy.