The battle with COVID-19 is a public health issue. All attempts to make it political should be rejected. Governor DeSantis needs to stop waffling about opening schools for the remaining two weeks and use his leadership role to continue distance learning and declare all schools closed for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year. We are calling for Gov. DeSantis to put the safety of our children, families and teachers first. Take Action Now. Urge Gov. DeSantis to protect teachers & kids – don’t re-open K-12 public schools this year
If Gov. DeSantis misses this opportunity for leadership, he may find that parents are unwilling to send their children back during this unresolved COVID-19 crisis.
Parents, teachers and students are doing everything they can to make the best of distance learning. It’s disappointing that Gov. DeSantis seemingly doesn’t understand that millions of children returning to school for the last two weeks will spread the virus to each other, teachers and staff who may be at risk, or their grandmas and grandpas when they return home.
Here’s what Gov. DeSantis said at an educators’ meeting to discuss distance learning, “This particular pandemic is one where, I don’t think nationwide there’s been a single fatality under 25. For whatever reason it just doesn’t seem to threaten, you know, kids.”
This is patently untrue. Worse, this is evidence that the Governor is either poorly informed about the infection or has chosen to ignore the facts. What’s the point of pushing STEM education in Florida, if our own politicians do not accept medical facts or follow the advice of the best doctors in the field epidemiology?
Every school district and superintendent should be actively calling for campuses to remain closed. We all know that the fourth quarter in Florida public schools is usually spent on testing and test prep. Returning students to schools for the last two weeks does nothing but put everyone at increased risk for contracting COVID-19. Take action today and tell Gov. DeSantis to close schools for the year – put our teachers and students first.
After you send your letters, call and tweet:
Governor Ron DeSantis | Phone: Gov. DeSantis: 850.488.7146 |Twitter: @GovRonDeSantis
Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran |Phone: 850-245-0505 | Twitter: @RichardCorcoran
Andy Tuck, Chair Florida Board of Education |Twitter: @nutrequik
Tim Weisheyer, President, Florida School Boards Association |Phone: 407-361-0235 |Twitter:@TWeisheyerSchBd
Bill Montford, ED Florida Association of District School Superintendents (FADSS)| Phone: (850) 577-5784 Twitter: @BillMontford
Kurt Browning, Pasco Superintendent of Schools & President of FADSS| Phone: 813-794-2651 Twitter: @KurtSBrowning
Call your own district school superintendent here.
Districts & Organizations advocating/planning for schools to remain closed for the 2019-20 school year:
Volusia County Public Schools, Scott Fritz, Superintendent
Leon County Public Schools, Rocky Hanna, Superintendent
Miami Dade Public Schools, Alberto Carvalho, Superintendent
Sources:
https://www.floridadaily.com/
https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/
