!!!CALL TO ACTION!!! SB1303 (mandatory in-person school option)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just so everyone knows, I'm a teacher and I don't agree with the union, and I don't think most of us do. As soon as I get my full vaccine, I'm good to go. I agree that kids are struggling. They need to be in school. I'm glad parents are uniting. I think this is the only way because the unions are too powerful.

Thank you for your perspective.

[Anonymous]

Here's contact information of northern VA state senators for those who want it:

Adam P. Ebbin (APS, ACPS, FCPS): [e-mail], [phone]
Barbara A. Favola (APS, FCPS, LCPS): [e-mail], [phone]
Janet D. Howell (APS, FCPS): [e-mail], [phone]
Richard L. Saslaw (ACPS, FCCPS, FCPS): [e-mail], [phone]
Richard H. Stuart (PWCPS): [e-mail], [phone]
Jeremy S. McPike (PWCPS and Manassas City): [e-mail], [phone]
George L. Barker (ACPS, FCPS, PWCPS): [e-mail], [phone]
Jennifer B. Boysko (FCPS, LCPS): [e-mail], [phone]
J. Chapman Petersen (FCPS): [e-mail], [phone]
Scott A. Surovell (FCPS, PWCPS): [e-mail], [phone]
David W. Marsden (FCPS): [e-mail], [phone]
John J. Bell (LCPS, PWCPS): [e-mail], [phone]
Jill Holtzman Vogel (LCPS): [e-mail], [phone]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just so everyone knows, I'm a teacher and I don't agree with the union, and I don't think most of us do. As soon as I get my full vaccine, I'm good to go. I agree that kids are struggling. They need to be in school. I'm glad parents are uniting. I think this is the only way because the unions are too powerful.

Thank PP. I appreciate efforts of teachers to do their best with DL. I want my kids to be able to go in and I also value teacher saftey so we committ to wearing masks, quarantining seriously, etc. We just feel the risks of school are worth it if balanced by eliminating other risks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just so everyone knows, I'm a teacher and I don't agree with the union, and I don't think most of us do. As soon as I get my full vaccine, I'm good to go. I agree that kids are struggling. They need to be in school. I'm glad parents are uniting. I think this is the only way because the unions are too powerful.

Thank PP. I appreciate efforts of teachers to do their best with DL. I want my kids to be able to go in and I also value teacher saftey so we committ to wearing masks, quarantining seriously, etc. We just feel the risks of school are worth it if balanced by eliminating other risks.

+1000. My family will mitigate to the best of our ability (as we have been) to keep our beloved teachers safe. I also know that at least one of my kids' teachers will be fully vaxxed (assuming her second dose appointment is kept) before she's in the classroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Want a letter to use? Here's an option.

Good morning <SENATOR NAME>,
My name is <YOUR NAME> and I live in <ZIP CODE>. SB1303, a bill from Senator Dunnavant that would require schools in VA to provide an in-person option, has passed the Education Committee and will be headed to the Senate Floor next week--probably on Tuesday. I IMPLORE YOU to support this legislation when it comes up for a vote.

I am not asking for families to be forced to return to in-person education. I am asking for families to be allowed the choice for their children to attend school in-person. This should not be an outrageous request.

The reality is that the Commonwealth government got us into this mess when it shuttered schools in March, 2020. Some school districts have proven to be inept at handling the issue, and because of that kids are struggling mentally and academically. As a society we have an obligation to help our children before we help ourselves. The state government has an obligation to put its foot down to rectify this situation. Please set a baseline standard, as described in Article VIII of our Commonwealth constitution for what is expected from school districts in exchange for the billions of taxpayer dollars they receive and the trust they are provided to shepherd the education of our children. Please support SB1303 to ensure school districts reopen.

Thank you for giving consideration to my views.
Sincerely,
<YOUR NAME>

Thank you. Wrote a similar letter to my senator.

[Anonymous]

THIS IS AMAZING. Thank you for sharing. This is what it is going to take at this point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's contact information of northern VA state senators for those who want it:

Adam P. Ebbin (APS, ACPS, FCPS): [e-mail], [phone]
Barbara A. Favola (APS, FCPS, LCPS): [e-mail], [phone]
Janet D. Howell (APS, FCPS): [e-mail], [phone]
Richard L. Saslaw (ACPS, FCCPS, FCPS): [e-mail], [phone]
Richard H. Stuart (PWCPS): [e-mail], [phone]
Jeremy S. McPike (PWCPS and Manassas City): [e-mail], [phone]
George L. Barker (ACPS, FCPS, PWCPS): [e-mail], [phone]
Jennifer B. Boysko (FCPS, LCPS): [e-mail], [phone]
J. Chapman Petersen (FCPS): [e-mail], [phone]
Scott A. Surovell (FCPS, PWCPS): [e-mail], [phone]
David W. Marsden (FCPS): [e-mail], [phone]
John J. Bell (LCPS, PWCPS): [e-mail], [phone]
Jill Holtzman Vogel (LCPS): [e-mail], [phone]

Also from this list, Chap Petersen was the only one to support the bill in committee (not all of these senators are on the committee, but Howell, Saslaw, and Barker are), so there's a LOT of advocating we need to do here, parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just so everyone knows, I'm a teacher and I don't agree with the union, and I don't think most of us do. As soon as I get my full vaccine, I'm good to go. I agree that kids are struggling. They need to be in school. I'm glad parents are uniting. I think this is the only way because the unions are too powerful.

Thank you for speaking up. Would you be willing to write to your senator, if you haven't already, and let them know that you're a teacher who supports the schools reopening? I think this issue often gets portrayed as a parents versus teacher thing, which of course many of us know is not the case at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just so everyone knows, I'm a teacher and I don't agree with the union, and I don't think most of us do. As soon as I get my full vaccine, I'm good to go. I agree that kids are struggling. They need to be in school. I'm glad parents are uniting. I think this is the only way because the unions are too powerful.

Thank you for your perspective.

Agree. The union is overplaying their hand. While the concerns may have been reasonable before, the situation and knowledge have progressed to the point where their concerns are irrational. We can't let them do this to our kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just so everyone knows, I'm a teacher and I don't agree with the union, and I don't think most of us do. As soon as I get my full vaccine, I'm good to go. I agree that kids are struggling. They need to be in school. I'm glad parents are uniting. I think this is the only way because the unions are too powerful.

Curious (and not trying to be snarky), but why aren't you and your collegues speak up? Or at least start to distance yourself, even a bit, from the federation. Clearly, they're not representing your views (at least not anymore, right?).

I guess it's yet another case in vocal minority & quiet majority.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I want schools to open now and I wanted them to open in August. But this bill seems to be a stunt. If they were serious about it, they would include something about this bill applying to the coronavirus.

What if in 3 yrs there is a new emergency -- like a war on our shores or another virus or some other threat? This bill seems to take away the governor or school superintendent's ability to shut down schools for any period of time to assess the situation.

This bill is a political stunt. Not a sensible effort. And it’s not going to pass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just so everyone knows, I'm a teacher and I don't agree with the union, and I don't think most of us do. As soon as I get my full vaccine, I'm good to go. I agree that kids are struggling. They need to be in school. I'm glad parents are uniting. I think this is the only way because the unions are too powerful.

Curious (and not trying to be snarky), but why aren't you and your collegues speak up? Or at least start to distance yourself, even a bit, from the federation. Clearly, they're not representing your views (at least not anymore, right?).

I guess it's yet another case in vocal minority & quiet majority.

I'm not the PP teacher, but I am a teacher, and I feel pressure to go along with the voiced sentiment. I'm not really sure why. Maybe fear of shunning or retribution? I know I should be stronger, but people lose jobs or privileges so easily nowadays for speaking out, and I'm really not in a position to suffer consequences right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just so everyone knows, I'm a teacher and I don't agree with the union, and I don't think most of us do. As soon as I get my full vaccine, I'm good to go. I agree that kids are struggling. They need to be in school. I'm glad parents are uniting. I think this is the only way because the unions are too powerful.

Curious (and not trying to be snarky), but why aren't you and your collegues speak up? Or at least start to distance yourself, even a bit, from the federation. Clearly, they're not representing your views (at least not anymore, right?).

I guess it's yet another case in vocal minority & quiet majority.

I'm not the PP teacher, but I am a teacher, and I feel pressure to go along with the voiced sentiment. I'm not really sure why. Maybe fear of shunning or retribution? I know I should be stronger, but people lose jobs or privileges so easily nowadays for speaking out, and I'm really not in a position to suffer consequences right now.

You could still quietly advocate with the school board and state senators/delegates for whatever you personally want. I know many teachers have said they want to be vaccinated and then go back 5 days in person. That's not my own personal position as a parent, but I would be 100% happy if a whole group of teachers said that, at least, over what Kimberly Adams is saying. No need to tweet it or anything ridiculous, just drop a phone call or email asking for schools to open the way YOU think is best for students. As a teacher, you know kids well and have an idea of what's best - we'd love your advocacy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I want schools to open now and I wanted them to open in August. But this bill seems to be a stunt. If they were serious about it, they would include something about this bill applying to the coronavirus.

What if in 3 yrs there is a new emergency -- like a war on our shores or another virus or some other threat? This bill seems to take away the governor or school superintendent's ability to shut down schools for any period of time to assess the situation.

This bill is a political stunt. Not a sensible effort. And it’s not going to pass.

Senate has 1 vacancy, 18 Republicans, and 21 Democrats. If the 2 who crossed over in committee cross over and all Republicans vote for the bill, it'll be a vote of 20 Y, 19 N in the senate.

The house, with 55 Democrats to 45 Republicans, would need much more cross over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:While you are calling/emailing, Chap Petersen has a budget amendment offered which requires schools to offer in-person learning in order to get funding for SY 2021-2022. Consider voicing your support for that one too.

Excellent!

No school = No paycheck