Piedmont parents advocating for full-time in-person school organized a lawn sign drive as part of an ongoing effort to press the school board and PUSD leadership to commit to having all students back in the classroom this fall.
Although elementary school students and 6th graders started returning to school in February, and more middle and upper school students are scheduled to return for limited in-person instruction starting next week (letters confirming the switch to hybrid schedules were sent to parents on Tuesday afternoon), the parent advocates say the hybrid schedule is insufficient and want PUSD to outline a more comprehensive plan for the next school year — and to increase hours this year as conditions allow.
“We define reopening as full-time and in-person — that is what students need and want after being at home in virtual learning for a year, said Rebecca Pelle, one of the organizers of the campaign in a press release. “There has been an extreme emotional, physical, and academic toll on our students and with cases dropping and vaccination availability rising – it’s time to follow the science and get students in classrooms — all day and every day,” said Pelle.
The Piedmont group is part of Open Schools California, a coalition of parent groups across the state pushing for reopening.
Two hours per WEEK is completely inadequate for 6th grade middle school students. I cannot imagine why teachers and school are applauding this.