REQUEST FOR IN-CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION FOR FAIRVIEW STUDENTS

REQUEST FOR IN-CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION FOR FAIRVIEW STUDENTS for the start of the school year, September 1 ,2020.

The purpose of this document is to petition the Fairview School Board to reconsider a modified in-person curriculum option for our children's educational progression, mental health, and overall wellbeing. We, as parents, educators, and voters, strongly urge the members of the school board to reconsider their decision, implement in-person instruction and delay mandatory remote instruction until a time when it may become necessary for the safety of our children and community.

Individuals signing this petition understand there are implementable safety measures that can effectively prevent the spread of COVID-19 in school age children, while still safely allowing for in-classroom instruction. Masking, social distancing, cleaning and disinfecting surfaces as well as screening and sick policies have been proven to provide a high level of prevention.

The basis for this petition is as follows.

1. We strongly feel the school board was not educated on public health statistics prior to the meeting to allow for a more informed deliberation and vote.
2. There was not enough true and educated consideration or discussion of the Board on viable and beneficial back to school in-classroom options.
3. There was inadequate time spent by the Administration presenting on in-school options and the benefits thereof.
4. The administration presented as if the educators were united and supportive of remote learning, however, this was not categorically representative. Many educators in the Fairview School District strongly prefer an in-person option for instruction and are represented within this petition.
5. The harms attributed to closed schools on the emotional, social and behavioral health and academic achievement of children are well known and significant both for the short- and long-term. Any in-person instruction FSD can offer will help to minimize these harms.

As of 7/30/2020, the Local COVID-19 statistics are as follows:

The 16415 zip code has had a total of 19 cases in the past 5 months. The total percent of residents that have contracted COVID in the previous 5 months is 0.14%. Total Pediatric cases account for just 0.03% of the residents in Erie county over the 5 past months. While all children are capable of getting the virus that causes COVID-19, they don't become sick as often as adults. Children also rarely experience severe illness with COVID-19 and there have not been severe cases in children in Erie Country, as well as, ZERO pediatric deaths out of 7,740 pediatric cases of COVID-19 in Pennsylvania (data as of 7/30/2020.)

Academic and Wellness Impact:

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), National Education Association (NEA) and AASA, The School Superintendents Association issued the following statement on July 10th:

"We recognize that children learn best when physically present in the classroom. But children get much more than academics at school. They also learn social and emotional skills at school, get healthy meals and exercise, mental health support and other services that cannot be easily replicated online. Schools also play a critical role in addressing racial and social inequity. Our nation's response to COVID-19 has laid bare inequities and consequences for children that must be addressed. This pandemic is especially hard on families who rely on school lunches, have children with disabilities, or lack access to Internet or health care."

Additionally and importantly, many children from all socioeconomic backgrounds benefit from and depend on in school programs such as the Title I Program to help reinforce classroom learning for additional support. Disparities in educational outcomes caused by school closures and remote learning are a particular concern for children that benefit from those programs, young children that are at the beginning of their school careers, children who are not independent learners along with low-income and minority students and students with disabilities. Additionally, many families do not have the capacity or resources to facilitate distance learning (e.g. limited or no internet access, no parental availability during the school day), and may have to rely on school-based services that support their child's academic success. Persistent achievement gaps that already existed before COVID-19 can worsen and cause serious, hard-to-repair damage to children's education outcomes.

Mental Health Impact:

The CDC reports there is a significant relationship between the length of quarantine and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms. Another review found that post-traumatic stress scores of children and parents in quarantine were four time higher than those not quarantined. According to the CDC, time away from in-person learning can also increase the likelihood that children engage in harmful behaviors. A safe and connected environment, such as school, is linked with lower levels of depression, sexual activity, substance abuse, suicidal ideation, social anxiety, as well as higher levels of self-confidence and better use of free time.

Additionally, the CDC also found that extended school closures deprive children who live in unsafe homes and neighborhoods of an important layer of protection from neglect as well as physical, sexual, and emotional maltreatment and abuse. A 2018 Department of Health and Human Services report found that teachers and other educational staff were responsible for more than one-fifth of all reported child abuse cases—more than any other category of reporter.] During the COVID-19 school closures, however, there has been a sharp decline in reports of suspected maltreatment, but tragically a notable increase in evidence of abuse when children are seen for services.

In Summary:

While the administration represented perceived threat from COVID, and there may be a time when action toward remote learning is required, presently the threat to our children's academic progression and wellbeing should not be overshadowed by premature action to limit in-classroom instruction. We respectfully ask for your reconsideration of remote learning and implementation of essential, modified, safe, effective in-person learning to begin the 2020 school year.

*Sitations available upon request

Petition Sponsored By:

Kristen Jarecki, PD, Former School Psychologist                       

Peter Jarecki

Chris Shears

Emily Shears MPH, CIC, CJCP, Epidemiologist

Brittany Taylor

Paul Taylor

Elizabeth Young

Robert Young