The COVID-19 situation in Victoria ISD has been worsening by the day. It has only been a little over a week since schools have opened up and approximately 667 cases have been reported with many more possibly going unreported. The number of cases are increasing and there is no option for Virtual Learning.  Classrooms and hallways are extremely crowded. We as students, parents and family are concerned about our health and that of those we care about as the risk gets higher every day. Given the severity of COVID-19 and the rise of numerous variants, we believe more should be done by the district in order to ensure the safety of students and staff, as well as parents and family members at home.

Contract tracing is no longer being conducted, there is no mask mandate in place, and no social distancing is occurring, which would be difficult to do regardless because of the number of students on each campus and the fact that students often have to walk shoulder to shoulder between classes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends “universal indoor masking by all students (age 2 and older), staff, teachers, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status,” and stresses the importance of screening testing, ventilation, hand washing, respiratory etiquette, contact tracing, quarantine and isolation, and cleaning and disinfection as prevention strategies (CDC).

A letter sent to VISD parents on August 31, 2021 Titled " COVID-19 Update for Victoria ISD as of Aug. 31, 2021" states:

During the 2021-22 school year, while experiencing COVID-19, Victoria ISD took eight school
days to reach 541 positive COVID-19 student cases. This number of positive student cases
surpasses the total positive cases for students in the last academic year 2020-2021. In August
2021, VISD totaled 126 staff positive COVID-19 cases. During 2020-2021, academic year staff
totaled 251 positive COVID-19 cases."

To view a copy of the letter sent to parents from VISD can be viewed at the link listed below:

" https://www.visd.net/o/covid "

It is proven that wearing a mask reduces the number of COVID cases. Action must be taken to protect our Staff, Students, their Families and the Community in general.

The following are the preferred measures that we believe should be taken by VISD:

Reinstate and enforce a mask mandate for students and staff in all Victoria ISD schools from K-12 including special program centers such as the CTI and Head Start.
Reinstate contact tracing to ensure that proper precautions can be taken by students and their parents.
Require, or at least encourage all students to sanitize their hands with hand sanitizer upon entering class.
Promote and educate students on respiratory etiquette.

VISD should offer the choice of Virtual Learning due to the increase of COVID-19 positive cases within our schools and community. With the increase in positive cases, the potential for staff members to contract the virus will increase causing lack of educators. This in turn creates larger classes. 

This petition along with our requests will be presented to the school board at their general meeting on September 16th, 2021 at the Victoria Independent School District Administration Building at 6:00pm

ALL PARENTS, STUDENTS, AND FACULTY MEMBERS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO COME TO THE MEETING. Our voice is more powerful with more supporters present!!

We understand that Gov. Abbott has placed several orders that restrict the precautions and mandates school districts can enforce. However, the safety of our students, staff, and community members should be the top priority, and going against the state on this matter would be in the best interest. 

Sincerely, 

Maranda Blank(VISD Student)

Wendy Blank(Mother)