No response from the Metropolitan School District of Washington Township (MSDW) School Board or Superintendent on the letter and petition submitted via email on August 31, 2020. A short version of this story will air on WRTV Channel 6 Friday morning September 4, 2020, with a longer length airing that evening. WRTV has emailed and texted the district communications contact, attempting to get a response from the Board, with no response as of September 3, 2020. We hope the story is presented effectively. 

New Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) guidance was released September 2, 2020 by Governor Holcomb. The map rates four levels of spread in each county including minimal, moderate, moderate/high, and high. This new rating system corresponds to new recommendations for schools. Marion County is currently classified as moderate, indicating all grades to continue in person but to increase vigilance in social distancing, hand hygiene, and masks. The map will update each Wednesday based on the number of cases and positivity rate for each county the previous week. It is unknown whether Marion County Department of Health will adopt this new guidance or if this will impact the approved MSDW reopening plan at all.  

The next School Board meeting is Wednesday, September 9. Please continue to share this petition and circulate awareness and attention that the Board revise their current reopening plan to align with the subject matter experts during the next scheduled meeting or call a special meeting to revisit this issue to help get our kids back to in-person learning.