Since the WDP school district released its metrics and updated COVID-19 dashboard, this petition is being updated to address the community concerns regarding these metrics. The update is listed below. Signatures and any necessary signature withdrawals for the update will be accepted through 11/13/2020.

To the School Board of West De Pere and Superintendent Dennis Krueger,

We would first like to thank you for listening to the many concerns of parents and staff in the district and creating metrics that communicate the criteria used when determining whether schools can remain open.

That being said, there are many details and safety issues that these metrics and the updated dashboard do not address. Below is a summarized list of the concerns that parents and community members have regarding these metrics. We are asking for a timely response to each item.

1. What is the operational definition of the “5 key mitigation strategies” that are listed as a criterion on the dashboard? How are each of these strategies measured, and what is the exact threshold for considering these items as being met?

2. How is non-compliance with social distancing being addressed amongst the district?

3. How is non-compliance with PPE (poorly fitting masks, masks worn below the nose, etc) being remedied?

4. Why is West De Pere School District not participating with the team of districts (Green Bay, De Pere, Howard-Suamico, Ashwaubenon etc.) that are collaborating on metrics and Covid19 plans? Why are we only partnering with Wrightstown whose school district is quite different than ours?

5. Why are remote learning students included in the percentage of positive students? These students do not attend school in-person or share materials with in-person students. Therefore, including them in the total student population skews the average students absent percentage that you are indicating as a determinant of maintaining an in-person learning environment. How will this discrepancy be addressed?

6. What is being done to support the staff, specifically the teachers in the district? By remaining in-person with such a large number of students quarantined, staff are now balancing virtual and in-person learning environments. What is being done to address the well-being of staff? How is the district supporting staff and mitigating the risk that the current environment has which could cause high quality staff to leave the district? There are teachers that are scared, overwhelmed, and barely keeping their heads above water.  The district has failed to listen to their concerns. Some teachers fear speaking up. What does this say about the current West De Pere School District? Teachers’ mental, physical, and emotional health are equally as important.

7. What is the process for updating the district’s covid-19 dashboard? What procedures are in place to guarantee that the information is accurate? What criteria determine how long a positive case is active for? We are requesting that a “recovered” tally be added for student and staff positive cases.

We love our district.  We love our teachers. We truly care about the well-being of students, staff, and community members. The community spread of Covid-19 has only significantly gotten worse since opening back up.  Our numbers are worse now than when we originally switched to virtual. We want our children in school. They belong in school. However, don’t we owe it to our staff and students to do everything we can to keep them safe? They deserve answers to these questions.  Our teachers need and deserve support. Let’s work together so that West De Pere School District can continue being the amazing School District that it is and always has been.

Updated Saturday 11/7/2020 2:50pm

Thank you to all who have supported the original petition to call upon the district to develop metrics. The initial petition’s information is listed below.
We are calling upon the West De Pere School District to immediately update its COVID-19 operating protocols and procedures.  In support of the West De Pere Education Association we recognize:
1. The best learning happens in person.
2. Students, teachers, and staff deserve safe schools.
3. The West De Pere School District must create and clearly communicate COVID-19 health metrics and gating criteria that will guide movement between learning scenarios.
4. It is imperative to collaborate with and follow recommendations from local health departments, local health officials, and local medical experts when developing and implementing COVID-19 protocols.