Anonymous wrote:SB1303, which mandates an in-person school option, passed the Education Committee in the Senate on 1/28 (YAY!). But it still has a ways to go to become law. WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!

The bill will go before the full VA Senate next week (wk of 2/1). Please contact your VA State Senator right away and share your opinion!
You can find his/her contact info here: https://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/

If it passes the full senate vote, then it will go before the House of Delegates the week after (wk of 2/8). Please contact your VA Delegate and share your opinion!
You can find his/her contact info here: https://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/

If it passes the House of Delegates, then it will go before Governor Northam. Please contact Governor Northam and share your opinion! You can do that here: https://www.governor.virginia.gov/constituent-services/communicating-with-the-governors-office/


I know there are tentative plans to bring kids back into the classroom in March, but we can’t rely on that given the teachers unions’ bully pulpit, especially w/r/t next school year. There needs to be someone/something that PUTS OUR CHILDREN FIRST!

Go take a nap. You sound hysterical.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I was the poster on the other thread that asked someone to create a separate "call to action" thread. You rock! Thank you.

Yup! I took your suggestion and posted this thread!!! I wish I knew how to delete my first thread.

I think there's a way to ask the moderator to lock it down, but probably no need. Thank you again!!

Just wrote an email to my state senator. Thank you again for organizing this!

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for doing this. We parents really need to rally together. I really have had empathy for teachers all along and have supported them, but it's really getting to the point of being ridiculous, irrational and against science and official guidance. Given what I've seen come out of the union reps' mouths, I can seriously imagine never going back in-person.

+1000

Anonymous wrote:OP, I was the poster on the other thread that asked someone to create a separate "call to action" thread. You rock! Thank you.

Yup! I took your suggestion and posted this thread!!! I wish I knew how to delete my first thread.

I hope this bill gets media attention, all over Virginia.

Done. Thanks for the template. I added the bit about 5 days per week.

Anonymous wrote:You need to specify 5 days full time in person option. I have credible inside information that, even if there is in person next year, it won't be full time. The wording of this bill is so vague that 1hour of classroom time per month could satisfy it

Feel 100% free to add this to the wording when you talk to your senator.

At this point if something isn't done, nothing will continue to be done. Forward motion is better than the spinning around we have right now.

OP, I was the poster on the other thread that asked someone to create a separate "call to action" thread. You rock! Thank you.

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.

Then include that in your message of general support for the idea. The bill is in draft and likely to be amended and influenced as it continues through the process of becoming a law.

You need to specify 5 days full time in person option. I have credible inside information that, even if there is in person next year, it won't be full time. The wording of this bill is so vague that 1hour of classroom time per month could satisfy it

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.

Done. Thank you for the template!

Anonymous wrote:

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! Could you provide a template for the Chap Peterson Bill too?

My concern is the in-person option might end being kids in classrooms and teachers over zoom. Funding is imperative here.

Money is what talks and is what makes things happen unfortunately.

Here's one for both at once. You can probably mod it to take out references to SB 1303 if you've already sent that off.

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 also asking for support for Chap Petersen's budget amendment requiring school districts to offer an in-person option to all families who request it for the next budget cycle.

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. Please ensure that schools provide the highest quality and most equitable form of education, in-person instruction, in order to receive state funding unless our Commonwealth's health department deems in-person instruction unsafe.

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

Note that I don't think either bill gets rid of the classroom monitors/teachers on Zoom thing (but theoretically mass vaccination does that, right? And school districts may tire of the expense of monitors). Budget amendment text is here:
https://budget.lis.virginia.gov/amendment/2021/1/SB1100/Introduced/MR/145/3s/

You mean puts the virus first.

This is a deadly mistake.