DRAFT

SCHOOL BOARD SPECIAL MEETING July 20, 2020 at 6 p.m. PUBLIC MEETING ROOM

PRESENT: Ann C. Coker, Bermuda District; Ryan M. Harter, Matoaca District; Kathryn S. ​ Haines, Midlothian District; Dorothy L. Heffron, Vice Chair, Clover Hill District; Debbie G. Bailey, Chair, Dale District; Mervin B. Daugherty, Ed.D., Superintendent; Dr. Thomas Taylor, Deputy Superintendent; Dr. Sharon Pope, Chief Academic Officer; Dr. Lisa High, Chief of Schools; Bob Meister, Chief Financial Officer; Wendell Roberts, School Board Attorney; Stephanie Frick, Assistant School Board Attorney; Dr. Joseph Tylus, Executive Director of Constituent Services; Tim Bullis, Executive Director of Communications and Community Engagement; Brian Jones, Executive Director of Technology; Nick Oyler, Student Health Services Coordinator; and, Robert McDaniel, School Board Clerk.

A. CLOSED SESSION

At 6 p.m., Mr. McDaniel announced that the Board would enter into a closed session in ​ ​ accordance with §2.2-3711.A of the Code of Virginia, the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, and specifically under subsection:

(8) consultation with legal counsel regarding specific legal matters.

Mr. Harter moved to enter into closed session. Upon a second from Mrs. Coker, Mr. ​ ​ ​ ​ McDaniel called the roll on the motion. ​

Vote: AYE - Coker, Harter, Haines, Heffron, Bailey NAY - None

The motion was approved, and the School Board entered into closed session at 6:01 p.m.

At 6:32 p.m., upon motion of Mrs. Coker, seconded by Mr. Harter, the Board reconvened in ​ ​ ​ ​ open session.

Mr. McDaniel read the resolution certifying the closed session. ​

Mr. Harter moved to adopt the resolution. Upon a second from Mrs. Coker, Mr. McDaniel ​ ​ ​ ​ called the roll on the motion.

Vote: AYE - Coker, Harter, Haines, Heffron, Bailey NAY - None

The motion was approved.

B. MEETING OPENING

Mrs. Bailey called the meeting to order at 6:33 p.m. ​

Mrs. Haines discussed why the Board began its meetings with an invocation, then she provided ​ the invocation.

Mr. Harter led the pledge of allegiance. ​

C. CONSENT AGENDA

● Agenda Adoption ● Memo #078-20: Identification of New Title I Community Eligibility Program Schools ● Memo #079-20: Acceptance of the Claude Moore Scholars Grant Award for Meadowbrook High School ● Memo #080-20: Approval of ARGS Additional Budget Appropriation for FY2021 ● Memo #081-20: Recommended Personnel Actions

Mrs. Heffron moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented, and the motion was seconded ​ by Mrs. Haines. ​ ​

Mr. McDaniel called the roll on the motion. ​

Vote: AYE - Coker, Harter, Haines, Heffron, Bailey NAY - None

The motion was approved.

D. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

2 1. Risk Management Update

Dave Johnson, Chesterfield County Director of Risk Management, presented the Board with a ​ number of health and safety considerations as they related to in-person instruction in the fall.

Discussion topics included: situational fluidity; the challenges inherent in instituting proper ​ social distancing measures during a full return to school; and, the amended statement released by the American Academy of Pediatrics (“AAP”).

In response to a question from Mrs. Heffron regarding risk-mitigation strategies for ​ ​ virtual-learning scenarios, Mr. Johnson stated that Risk Management focused on physical ​ ​ spaces and that he did not feel confident answering the question.

Further discussion centered around prior dialogues between CCPS staff and Risk Management ​ ​ regarding best practices, as well as social-distancing guidelines.

In response to a question from Mrs. Bailey, Mr. Johnson stated that he would support a 100% ​ ​ ​ ​ return of students to in-person instruction. He also discussed the difference in risk between a 100% return and a 50% return.

Additional discussion centered around HVAC readiness and the opening of county libraries. ​ ​

Mrs. Haines requested to know how many students could fit in a classroom at 150 square feet ​ per child. Dr. Daugherty responded that under CDC guidelines, each classroom could hold 7-11 ​ ​ students.

In response to a question from Mrs. Heffron, Mr. Johnson stated that it was recommended that ​ ​ ​ ​ schools evaluate HVAC readiness and that his department would not be able to assess the division’s HVAC systems from a mechanical standpoint.

2. Health Management Update

Mr. Oyler presented to the Board. Highlights included: ​ ● An overview of the Virginia Department of Health’s data dashboard. ● CDC and VDH guidance. ● Challenges related to contact tracing and symptom management. ● Staffing needs. ● Next steps.

3 Discussion topics included: PPE availability and stock levels; the geographical makeup of the ​ Central Health Region; the frequency of updates from the Superintendent’s Health Committee; quarantine guidelines; the school-nurse training timeline; contact tracing protocols; and, the procedures regarding staff and student exposure.

3. Virginia Department of Health Update

Dr. Alex Samuel, VDH Health Director for the Chesterfield Health District, presented to the ​ Board. Highlights included: ● The metrics and modeling used by the VDH to assess community transmission. ● The Central Region’s transmission status as of July 18, 2020. ● Considerations and mitigation approaches related to COVID-19 transmission among children and adults.

Initial discussion topics included: recommended school opening and closing metrics; the current ​ ​ infection trends in Chesterfield County; the effectiveness of wearing masks; the importance of flu vaccinations; and, data related to vaccine delinquency among the Chesterfield community.

Mrs. Haines asked Dr. Samuel what resources he could use to most effectively fight the spread ​ of COVID-19. Dr. Samuel stated that he was in need of five contact tracers and a staff member ​ ​ dedicated to assisting in coordinating the reopening of schools. He added that it would be helpful to have staff available to assist families in navigating the quarantine process.

Additional discussion topics included: the benefits of creating infection heat maps; steps that ​ ​ could be taken by the Chesterfield community to reduce infection rates; a ranking of the importance of different metrics in determining when it is safe to reopen schools; the typical length of flu season vs. when COVID-19 began to be tracked in the U.S.; Chesterfield-specific data; projected increases in COVID-19 infection rates; and, VDH response protocols for positive cases in a school building.

Mr. Harter asked what the data would need to show in order to bring students back into school ​ buildings. Dr. Samuel responded that multiple metrics should be used. ​ ​

Mrs. Bailey asked about the possibility of creating a “risk level indicator” that would correspond ​ to current infection risks and would provide for clear guidance regarding school openings or closures. Dr. Samuel stated that he was not involved in creating the VDH dashboards. ​ ​

Further discussion topics included: COVID-19 testing availability; testing reporting practices; ​ ​ and, transmission by asymptomatic carriers.

4

In response to a question from Mrs. Bailey, Dr. Samuel stated that testing students and teachers ​ ​ ​ ​ prior to returning to school buildings would not be extremely helpful since it would only test for that moment in time. He added that it was not recommended by the CDC.

Mrs. Bailey asked if the projected increase in cases took into account the reopening of schools, ​ to which Dr. Samuel responded that he didn’t know. ​ ​

Additional discussion topics included: the infection rate in children; the long-term effects of the ​ ​ virus on children; viral transmission between children and adults; and, the possibility of random testing.

E. PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, citizens were given the opportunity to submit their comments via an online form. 1,151 comments were received and distributed to the School Board prior to the start of the special meeting. These comments are attached as Appendix A.

Citizens were also given the opportunity to address the Board in person. The following speakers did so:

● Karen Westervelt spoke in support of in-person instruction. ​

● Dan Rucker, a retired educator, spoke in support of in-person instruction. ​

● Christine Melendez, a CCPS teacher, spoke in support of a virtual start to the school ​ year.

● Carla Collins, a Chesterfield parent, spoke in support of in-person instruction. ​

● Jonathan Darden, a Chesterfield parent, spoke in support in-person instruction. ​

● Brian Midock, a Chesterfield parent, spoke in support of in-person instruction. ​

● Emily Klein, a Chesterfield parent, spoke in support of in-person instruction. ​

● Stephen Bishop, a Chesterfield parent, spoke in support of in-person instruction. ​

● A Chesterfield student spoke in support of in-person instruction. ​ 5

● Meg Haring, a Chesterfield parent, shared her concerns that teachers in support of a ​ return to in-person instruction were being bullied and harassed by the Chesterfield Education Association. She also spoke in support of in-person instruction.

● Cristina Lucas, a Chesterfield parent, spoke in support of in-person instruction. ​

● Gordon Rawls, a Chesterfield teacher and parent, spoke in support of in-person ​ instruction.

● Emily Peterson, a CCPS student, spoke in support of in-person instruction. ​

● Ashley Abplanalp spoke in support of in-person instruction. ​

● Dori Burger, a Chesterfield parent, spoke in support of in-person instruction. ​

● Julie Sabiston, a CCPS teacher, spoke in support of a virtual start to the school year. ​

● Kate Evers, a Chesterfield parent, spoke in support of in-person instruction. ​

● Latane Campbell spoke in support of in-person instruction. ​

● Carolyn Ferraro, a Chesterfield parent, spoke in support of in-person instruction. ​

● Lindsey Dougherty, a Chesterfield parent, spoke in support of a virtual start to the ​ school year.

● Melinda Aileo, a CCPS teacher and parent, spoke in support of a virtual start to the ​ school year.

● Kate Lipka, an educator, spoke in support of in-person instruction. ​

● Sonia Smith, President of the Chesterfield Education Association (“CEA”), stated that ​ the CEA would work with the School Board to implement whichever return to learning option the Board approved.

F. ACTION ITEMS

1. Memo #083-20: Opening of Schools

6

Mr. Bullis presented Memo #083-20, recommending that the School Board adopt School ​ Reopening Option #6 -- a fully-virtual start to the fall semester tied to the Governor’s Phase III ​ reopening plan -- for the opening of the 2020-21 school year, until further metrics and guidance from regulatory agencies could be provided.

Mrs. Heffron moved to adopt Memo #083-20 as presented, and the motion was seconded by ​ Mrs. Coker. ​

Each member of the School Board shared their thoughts on the current situation and explained the reasoning behind their vote.

Mr. McDaniel called the roll on the motion. ​

Vote: AYE - Coker, Haines, Heffron, Bailey NAY - Harter

The motion was approved.

G. SUPERINTENDENT’S REMARKS

Dr. Daugherty stated that the school division’s goal was getting to Option #1: in-person ​ instruction for all students five days a week. He added that CCPS staff would provide a comprehensive update to the Board at its Aug. 11 meeting and that virtual learning in the fall would look very different from the previous spring.

He thanked Mr. Oyler, Mr. Johnson, and Dr. Samuel for their partnership. He acknowledged that people wouldn’t be happy with the decision to start the school year in a virtual setting but reiterated that the division would work toward bringing students back as quickly and as safely as possible.

He thanked the Board members for their hard work and addressed the parents and students, letting them know that CCPS staff would be doing everything possible to get students back in the buildings.

H. ANNOUNCEMENTS, COMMUNICATIONS, AND SCHOOL BOARD COMMENTS

7 Mrs. Bailey announced that the School Board would hold its annual retreat at 12 p.m. on Aug. ​ 11, adding that it would be followed by a business meeting at 6:30 p.m.

I. ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, Mr. Harter moved to adjourn the meeting. ​ ​

Mr. McDaniel called the roll on the motion. ​

Vote: AYE - Coker, Harter, Haines, Heffron, Bailey NAY - None

The meeting was adjourned at 10:29 p.m.

______Debbie G. Bailey, Chair

______Robert W. McDaniel, Clerk

8 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

Clerk’s Note: Names and email addresses have been redacted. Comments are presented in full and as-written.

Timestamp MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT COMMENTS

2020/07/16 9:45:30 AM AST Matoaca Dear Superintendent, School Board, and Board of Supervisors of Chesterfield County,

Since the 12th of March 2020, the world has changed. Every one of us has had to live in the new world of this pandemic while mourning the world that we had. We have lost our innocence, our illusion of safety, our confidence and our plans for these times. Camps missed, tickets useless, trips cancelled. We have lost loved ones. We have also lost the community and camaraderie of our schools and classrooms. Despite this loss, we must understand that the risk is real. The threat is real. No act of pure will is going to make COVID-19 go away. We cannot force ourselves back into a normal routine until the threat of this pandemic is resolved. Until that time, we must live in this new world, and we must adapt to this world.

I ask that Chesterfield county refrain from In-Person instruction unless and until the items outlined by the Virginia Education Partners are all addressed and all schools follow the May 29th CDC Guidelines.

2020/07/16 9:50:21 AM AST Clover Hill As a parent and a teacher, I have sat quietly by as social media has become a war between opposing sides about returning to school. I have listened and I have read more about this issue but felt like I couldn’t comment in fear of angering parents and/or fellow teachers. Here is my chance to at least voice my opinion to you. I think we should return to school. I would be in favor with option 1 if that was still on the table. But at the very least let us do a hybrid model. Parents should have the option for 100 percent virtual and frankly teachers should as well so they can be the teachers of those students who choose online. Let me teach the children whose family made the decision to send them with masks and social distancing guidelines. My own middle schooler has floundered with virtual learning both in the spring and now in the recovery of learning summer program. She needs the relationships and direct instruction with the teachers. We are currently setting up tours with local private schools that have openings. There aren’t many openings left in middle schools as parents are desperate to have their child back in school. We have also considered putting our house on the market and moving to Hanover or Goochland in hopes of some instructional time in front of an actual teacher. I want my child in Chesterfield schools but I feel like I need to investigate other options if 100 percent virtual is the decision. I know this isn’t an easy decision but please consider giving teachers and families the choice to return to in-person learning. Our children deserve the chance to return to school with the teachers who are comfortable being there with them.

2020/07/16 9:59:26 AM AST Clover Hill Please vote option 6 for the safety of our community.

2020/07/16 10:02:22 AM AST Clover Hill As a student, virtual learning has been challenging in my high school. My teachers did an amazing job hosting Google Meets twice a week and posting assignments, but at the same time the motivation to complete the task was not there. In person school provided more motivation and pushed me to reach my goals. Towards the end of the school year, I felt like it became a burden on my mental health because it was stressful as well. I have also developed migraines from too much screen time. I now have prescriptions for those headaches.

Starting virtual this coming school year will be a nightmare for parents and students, but teachers as well. The virtual learning is so much extra stress and pressure that can be avoided by returning to school in person.

In Hartford, Connecticut schools will return on time. Students will wear masks, desks will be separated and facing the wall. The cafeteria will be closed and lunch will be eaten in the classroom. The middle and high schools may start block schedules with math being taught for two days, English for two, then the other core subjects for two days each.

I have a different viewpoint as well because I have a parent who is an teacher. I see firsthand the issues virtual learning caused. The pressure on teachers is mounting up because virtual learning is new and they have not been provided adequate training. Parents rely on teachers to keep their child learning during online school, but teachers rely on parents to have their student do the work given to them. In conclusion, teachers have struggled with online school as well as students because it’s stressful.

Finally, on behalf of all the pro- in school learning students, parents, and teachers, please don’t look past starting in-school this year.

2020/07/16 10:02:34 AM AST Midlothian With cases on the rise, it would be unwise to open schools. Virtually is the only way and I would like to focus on how we can make that work for everyone’s schedule instead of wasting time debating something science has decided for us...focus on the solution to the problem which is teaching these kids in a virtual setting and also focusing on how we as a community can help the less fortunate who rely on school for food/care/whatever it may be...how can we tend to the needs of those who need it...that should be the priority.

2020/07/16 10:13:16 AM AST Matoaca If returning in person in any capacity, the question is not if children and teachers will die, it’s how many. What is the county’s plan to handle student/teacher deaths? Also, as we know, COVID-19 can cause terrible stress on the body which (for some) is causing lasting effects. What is the plan to handle this if a teacher needs to be out for weeks? If we are in person to any degree (expecting to report to buildings, seeing children, etc.), will the county provide PPE for teachers? Or is that and cleaning supplies expected to come out of the teacher’s pocket? What if, like myself, a teacher is unable to get my hands on wipes at any grocery store? Will there be punitive measures for teachers who don’t clean effectively? Will we be trained in that? For the school board members voting for in person, will they be required to visit school in person with us for entire days to actually see what is happening within the building? How is lunch supposed to be handled? Kids cannot eat lunch with masks on and it’s proven that droplets travel further than the estimated 6 feet. Is the teacher expected to be with them while they do not have masks on and eat with them? It has been said that only people who have been near a child without a mask on will be contacted if they are exposed. Wouldn’t that be every day because of lunch? It’s also coming out that AC vents are actually making it more likely that droplets will pass and infect others. For schools that don’t have working windows (my room at my school didn’t), how do you suggest they mitigate that risk? Will you 100% require masks for ALL students? Thank you.

2020/07/16 10:35:23 AM AST Matoaca If schools reopen under any options 1-5, what is the plan for when a teacher or student tests positive for COVID? The county has yet to really answer this question. You already have teachers who don’t feel safe returning. Do you really think that we will have subs who want to return and risk their health?

2020/07/16 10:35:46 AM AST Midlothian Why, in any scenario, are you considering sending our kids into a Petri dish? No way on Earth the kids should be anywhere near schools until it's safe.

2020/07/16 11:00:48 AM AST Midlothian I urge you to vote option 6, fully virtual school. We closed schools is March for safety concerns. Those risks are higher now, so there is no reason we should be opening schools. Teachers, students, school staff, parents, and the community will be exposing themselves and putting an entire community at risk. There is not enough known about the long term effects of COVID to not err on the safe side! Please choose people and safety over everything!!

2020/07/16 11:35:31 AM AST Clover Hill Chesterfield is made up of 63k students and 7k employees. COVID 19 has a 0.05% mortality rate so this equates to potentially 3150 students and 350 employees dead from rushing an unsafe reopening. Spread over 62 schools that's 51 students and 6 teachers per school. That's 6000 parents.

The governor stated that reopening must be done safely. But how can it be safe in this situation? Local pediatricians have come forward they are seeing an uptick in cases between 2 and 20. This is exactly who will be in the schools. And there are reports that there is a new PPE shortage happening. So how can you prove that we will be safe? How can you demonstrate that you have our community's best interests in mind? Vote Option 6. Because my children cannot learn if they are dead. I cannot teach if I'm dead.

2020/07/16 11:38:24 AM AST Matoaca I do not envy you all this decision, and I appreciate your service to our community. I believe that science and data need to guide you, not feelings and desires. Your job is to ensure a safe and healthy environment for the students, teachers and staff. It is not your job to worry about the economic impact. Please let the data and science guide you to start the school year 100% virtual. The long term health affects on children are not yet known. The unknown risk to them and the known risk to the teachers and staff is to great. Who care if someone is educated if they have no quality of life or worse, are dead. Again, thank you for your service.

2020/07/16 11:43:30 AM AST Clover Hill My 1st grader will struggle if you do virtually. She loves school! I have seen baseball fields packed parks packed! Please put kids in schools. Also the CEA have been attacking people who speak out against them! I’m a school employee who wants to be back with their kids. The only way for us to get back to normal is by letting this run it’s course. Please know the CEA that is fighting for virtually have said that they expect to be at home teaching! My tax paying money is not going to support that. I know several parents who will pull their kids out of school and do private and are even talking about moving! Please look out for this county to thrive! Thank you for your time and good luck

2020/07/16 12:02:42 PM AST Bermuda Hello and thank you for your time. I know this will not be an easy decision but I am certain that you, our elected officials, will make the right one, the safe one, the one that will GUARANTEE to keep all of your staff and students alive- that is option 6 to begin the school year with virtual learning. All of the other options put somebody at risk of hospitalization and/ or death. I know that is not something that this forward thinking school board would do.

If we do go back to school and a hybrid plan is chosen I have some questions that have not been answered and I worry that we will be “pushed along” until school beings in the hopes of “figuring it out as we go.” My concern is when people are putting their lives on the line that mentality of being flexible and “figuring it out as we go” cannot and will not fly we need answers, and that start with you all.

What kind of PPE will be in place as well as what kind of vigorous cleaning schedule will be implemented? Will everyone be required to wear a mask?

If I get the virus or somebody in my class of 5 year olds gets the virus the CDC recommends to quarantine for 2 weeks but lets say I am out of sick days how do I get paid? How do I pay my rent? What is that happens twice, how are we going to handle our sick leave? Who will cover my class?

These are not questions that we can “figure out as we go” we need answers if we are going to get paid after out “2 weeks of quarantine”

Will accommodations be made to work from home? How will this be addressed?

Thank you for your time, and for listening. We are a progressive and forward-thinking county and I, a teacher of this amazing county, expect to be protected by my place of work.

- A very scared Kindergarten Teacher

2020/07/16 12:03:25 PM AST Dale When I emailed the school board about my concerns that staff was being drowned out, I was told that 120k parents in the county also had to be taken into consideration. I am also a parent and I know I want Option 6 so I can't believe that every other parent wants the in-person options. But it also got me thinking. There are 7k staff members in CCPS. I'm going to guess that an average length of time with the county and/or teaching would be around 10 years. So collectively, staff members have about 70k years of experience in the school setting, and have an idea of what our county can and cannot accomplish to keep our staff and students safe. Are you really going to put the arguments of a group of people who most of which haven't seen the inside of a classroom and are unaware of the uphill challenges we face over those who are in the schools every day showing up for our students in every way?

This county - who last year had to create a Facebook movement to "Clear the Lists" where random Community members had to buy basic school supplies from teacher wish lists to stock our classrooms - is supposed to be able to keep us stocked with PPE and cleaning supplies? I mean, just at Bird we went almost an entire year without a working unit - and this was not even Legionnaire's related. Your staff members deserve better. Vote Option 6 for the safety of ALL students and staff.

2020/07/16 12:08:37 PM AST Bermuda The county said previously that they would offer virtual learning for parents who do not feel comfortable or that it is safe enough for in person learning this year. If the school board decides to start back in person this fall, will the county also accommodate those teachers who do not feel comfortable or safe enough to return? Or those educators/staff who have children/family that have underlying health issues?

If CCPS goes back to in person learning this fall, will they be providing the PPE and cleaning supplies for the staff that is required to stay during this pandemic?

What will the protocol be if/when a teacher has to quarantine and there are not enough substitutes to cover his/her class?

Will the faculty and staff of CCPS be given additional paid sick leave for multiple weeks of quarentine or will they have to quarentine with unpaid leave after they use all of their sick days?

Does CCPS have a plan for the potential teacher shortage if they choose to go back to in person learning before their staff feel safe enough to go back?

2020/07/16 12:49:28 PM AST Midlothian I am in support of the children going back to school, especially K-5. Virtual learning has been a struggle for our family and it impacting all of our mental health. My rising 1st grader is having so much trouble focusing on her Google Meets during Recovery of Learning. These are crucial years and I worry she's going to fell behind. My husband and I are fortunate enough to work from home, but I worry about the kids who do not have a worse situation. I urge the school board to think of creative ways to get the children back in school safely like outdoor classrooms. Let's also provide the teachers with extra leave for COVID-19 since I understand that this is a concern. Let's really try to think of a better solution than 100% all of virtual. There is so much data that children to adult COVID-19 transmission is low. Chesterfield prides itself on being innovative, let's prove it. The kids are going to fall behind the counties that are in person like Hanover and Goochland.

2020/07/16 12:52:26 PM AST Clover Hill As a parent of a student in the county and with high risk family members I feel that Option 6 is the only safe option for reopening in fall 2020. I prefer reviewing options again as more data becomes available in fall with a goal of in person instruction beginning in January 2021 if case levels lower and outbreak risk becomes diminished. I feel like right now we are looking at options that go against CDC and VDH guidelines which will backfire and prove more disruptive when schools get shutdown again when outbreaks pop up over the county. We should not risk student, teacher, staff, and family health when we all know opening in person goes against scientific consensus and recommendations.

2020/07/16 1:02:27 PM AST Midlothian As you consider your vote, I implore you to think about the people you were elected to represent and put your personal agendas to the side. We all know this is partially political. But the bottom line is kids NEED to be in school and they need you to vote to get them there. Please vote on at least 1 option that allows kids, AT MINIMUM K-3, back into the classroom this fall. Please don’t follow suit of surrounding districts that were too lazy to come up with innovative ideas and decided on fully virtual as a simple cop out. Parents WANT their kids in school, not for childcare purposes, but because their FUTURES ARE RIDING ON IT. Perhaps you don’t have young kids that this is so negatively affecting so you can’t put yourself in our shoes - but please vote with these kids in mind who NEED face to face instruction. Thank you.

2020/07/16 1:05:20 PM AST Matoaca I do not envy you all this decision, and I appreciate your service to our community. I believe that science and data need to guide you, not feelings and desires. Your job is to ensure a safe and healthy environment for the students, teachers and staff. It is not your job to worry about the economic impact. Please let the data and science guide you to start the school year 100% virtual. The long term health affects on children are not yet known. The unknown risk to them and the known risk to the teachers and staff is to great. Who care if someone is educated if they have no quality of life or worse, are dead. Again, thank you for your service.

2020/07/16 1:27:25 PM AST Clover Hill As a parent of a student in the county and with high risk family members I feel that Option 6 is the only safe option for reopening in fall 2020. I prefer reviewing options again as more data becomes available in fall with a goal of in person instruction beginning in January 2021 if case levels lower and outbreak risk becomes diminished. I feel like right now we are looking at options that go against CDC and VDH guidelines which will backfire and prove more disruptive when schools get shutdown again when outbreaks pop up over the county. We should not risk student, teacher, staff, and family health when we all know opening in person goes against scientific consensus and recommendations.

2020/07/16 1:52:32 PM AST Matoaca Of people aged under-20, RPS has a fewer number and a fewer percentage of their total cases. Chesterfield County also has over 1000 more cases than the city of Richmond. Following the data and facts leads us to believe we should start the school year virtually and evaluate our standing every month or 9-weeks. It is better to be safe than sorry (like that terrible hurricane we got two years ago that turned into a little rain and wind).

1 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/16 2:38:06 PM AST Midlothian I have concerns about the reopening of schools. I understand well that the best thing for student, and even teacher, mental health is to be back to normal, but that normal simply won’t exist this year. Teachers will not be able to hug their students, kids will not get to play together or share materials. This is not going to be a fun year from that stand point. And even so, I’m not sure that risking physical health is worth it when there are other ways we can help students with their mental health. As covid case number continue to rise, and chesterfield remains one of the worst hit counties, I don’t think this is safe. What will we do when a teacher does because we were sent back? What will we do when a student dies because we were sent back? How will we handle fire drills and active shooter drills? In addition, I know that if we go virtual this fall it will be vastly improved from this spring when teachers were given a days notice of the shut down. Teachers have been participating in so many professional development opportunities and are ready to provide students a high quality education virtually.

2020/07/16 2:47:25 PM AST Dale Greetings members of the CCPS School Board. I am an employee of CCPS and I currently work at Meadowbrook High School. I strongly urge the board to consider option 6 - the fully virtual option for at least the first semester. The reasons for my request are basically for the health and safety of myself, my colleagues and our students. As we have seen over the past few weeks, since Virginia has entered into Phase 3, we have seen a increase in cases throughout the Commonwealth as well as the Nation at hand. We do not have a handle on how the virus will affect students nor does the data suggest that students won't transmit COVID-19 to other people, whether they sit 3 or 6 feet away, even with masks on. I feel that using option 6 will allow us to consider opening in the second semester where we have more information about what is going on with the data and also how flu season will impact illness rates / hospitalization rates along with COVID. I really would like to be back in the classroom and I bet most of my colleagues would as well, however, let's play this safely and incrementally. If a neighboring school district can do full virtual learning live, so can we. I implore you to strongly consider option 6, the fully virtual option. Thank you for your time.

2020/07/16 2:58:57 PM AST Unsure Thank you for all your hard work in planning back to school for our students. I can't even imagine how complicated it must be considering so many components. I trust in whatever your decisions are and know you all have health and safety of students, staff and families as a main priority. I am anxious to hear what the plans are. Please tell us soon!

2020/07/16 4:46:46 PM AST Matoaca We need our children to be back in the school buildings 5days a week. In their learning environment not learning on computers. We are creating a new normal where children become accustomed to be at home away from the routine of school and our children are the ones who will suffer now and long term. This situation is very difficult and never been something any generation has seen before please don't let our children suffer. They NEED in person education

2020/07/16 4:51:55 PM AST Matoaca I am concerned our children will not receive the social interaction with virtual learning. They need to be in the school building and receive education in person. We are concerned for the mental health of our children and also their developmental health. The AAP suggests children NEED to be in school.

2020/07/16 4:55:53 PM AST Midlothian With the news of school districts across the state making their decisions and seemingly Chesterfield being one of the last to make the decision, parents and teachers alike are advocating for a full return to school OPTION for all k-12 students. Teachers that are pro-return to school are fully aware than many students cannot be taught solely virtually and many (including myself) fear for the mental and physical health of students state-wide.

I hold a position on a Chesterfield athletic association board and I personally have seen the detriment that not socializing these children has taken on the physical and mental status of these children. Not to mention, many of these small children are being left in the care of older yet still elementary aged children and not eating proper meals if any, at all. Childhood obesity is still a problem in this country, now add that these children have been home since March 12, many have done not much more than sit in front of a TV for hours. No physical activity and little motivation to do more.

If parents are willing to allow their child to return to school as well as teachers being willing to return to their positions in class, why is this a difficult decision?

Please follow Hanover School districts and allow this to be a decision made in the HOMES of both TEACHERS and STUDENT FAMILIES. Middle and high school teachers in my district are dying to get back in their classrooms and back to their students, let them. The AEC does not speak for ALL teachers. Please hear their voices.

Every single day we awaken, we are at risk of SOMETHING. Whether it be flu, common cold, car accidents, robbery and so much more.. The only thing for certain is this moment right now. Life is absolutely nothing more than a series of risks.

I understand you are in a difficult position, an unenviable position, however, the best decision for everyone in this case is choice. A choice to have our teachers and children back in school is they choose, a choice to have a virtual alternative for those who do not choose to return. County taxpayers should have a choice. Our future leader's education is in your hands. Vote for choice.

If pediatricians are advocating for a return, why is it being ignored? https://services.aap.org/en/news-room/news-releases/aap/2020/pediatricians-educators-and-superintendents-urge-a-safe-return-to-school-this-fall/

2020/07/16 4:57:22 PM AST Matoaca Please keep students and staff safe. That needs to be a priority. Anything above a 5 percent 14 day positive rate is not safe. Cuomo is allowing schools to open if the area has a 5 percent positive rate or below. Once it is 9 percent of higher, schools will close. This is a good plan.

2020/07/16 5:09:02 PM AST Bermuda Asking the school board to vote to reopen the schools 5 days a week on campus for learning. Students need to be back in the classroom. On line remote learning is not nearly as effective and our students are being left behind. The American Academy of Pediatrics has stated that it is safe for students to return to school as long as safety precautions are put into place. With masks, you no longer need the 6 feet of social distancing but 3 feet is adequate. An option for remote on line classes should be offered to parents who do not want their students to return to class. Many parents drive their students to and from school now, and I am sure more would be willing to do so if possible to ease the difficulties with transportation. Our students have missed enough and it is time to be back in the classroom with their teachers and peers. Most people under the age of 30 do not get Covid 19. Other counties in Virginia are headed back into the classroom and it is time for Chesterfield to do it as well. If necessary, parents can sign a waiver for their students to attend school on campus. We sign waivers for field trips so this should not be a problem. Please do not vote for all virtual learning. If does not work for all students and makes school very stressful for our students.

2020/07/16 5:09:06 PM AST Bermuda I am a working parent and have two CCPS students. My son is 6 years old and going into first grade. My daughter is 8 years old and is going into 3rd grade. These are pivotal years for younger children in their learning journey. I am very concerned for them and all children regarding the possibility of having to continue remote online learning this year at home. I do not want our children stuck behind a screen learning the building blocks and foundations of their education.

There is growing evidence that has been presented by local healthcare Pediatric physicians at VCU Health System that indicate in person school is imperative. The focus should not be on whether we should have in person school but how to do this safely. I believe two options should be available for choice by parents and staff: all remote learning or all in person learning. Please don’t leave the children behind in this upcoming year. They deserve more than online screen time learning. Thank you for your time.

2020/07/16 5:13:17 PM AST Midlothian Please let our schools open for in person teaching for 5 days a week. Our children are desperate for a normal school week that offers excellent teaching, healthy meals, opportunities for socializing with peers. Our children’s mental well being depends on your decision. The science does not support closures of schools due to Covid 19. Please let the schools open. Thank you, Concerned Parent

2020/07/16 5:17:29 PM AST Matoaca I fully believe all would benefit from a hybrid model to start the fall school year. It provides the best of both worlds. We are able to meet with our students while also maintaining a safer environment than if we all attended every day. As a K teacher I have never met my students so some face to face is so important.

2020/07/16 5:18:28 PM AST Midlothian Please make in class an option. Virtual only will not work for me and I will have to explore online schools with flexibility as I will not be able to ensure my children attend the virtual sessions.

2020/07/16 5:18:40 PM AST Midlothian Children need to be in school. They learn so much more than just academics. It breaks my heart that my thirteen year old eight grade son wants to go to school but can’t.

2020/07/16 5:19:49 PM AST Midlothian As a taxpayer and a voter I deserve a choice. CCPS should allow families to decide on either 5 day in person instruction or all virtual. My junior in high school at Math/Sci will not be able to succeed on line. He will lose opportunities to compete in college admissions against students in surrounding counties ( Hanover at the time of this writing) and states who are allowing families a CHOICE. The only equitable solution is choice.

2020/07/16 5:22:15 PM AST Clover Hill Please opt for full virtual in the fall so we can kick this thing for good! The more time we try and do things in phases, the longer COVID will be around. I'm also disappointed that we were told special needs kids were a top priority, yet they have seemed to be left out of the conversations. We shouldn't wait until a plan is put in place and then decide what to do with special needs. The final plan should be made around those with special needs. I know it's a tough decision and there's no easy answer, but let's opt to keep everyone safe. Thank you!

2020/07/16 5:25:06 PM AST Matoaca Elementary aged kids NEED to go back to school. Right or wrong, parent depend on school as child care. If school are not in, kids are going to be sent to day care. Day cares do not to social distancing, so by not going back to school, these kids are going to a germ ridden place with no control of your own. They are then, bringing those exact germs back to school. Even if school are only meeting 2 days a week, they are still bringing those germs to school to be spread. I know the next comment will be, Elearning, or does not work for younger kids. We all know this. Which is the reason the governor's guildlines even state in phase 2 K-3 kids can go back. Everyone agreed, kids this age, do not learn virtually. Please come up with a solution to get younger kids back in school and phase in the older, if they do not return.

2020/07/16 5:27:32 PM AST Unsure I, and my kids, WANT to go back. I WANT them to see their friends. I WANT them to spend time face to face, getting to know their teachers. I WANT them to sit at desks and touch manipulatives, and interact just like they always have. I, and they WANT our normalcy back.

But more than that? I desperately want to keep the health of my kids, their friends, their teachers, and their school community in mind. I fear we don't know enough about how to keep COVID at bay in a classroom setting that keeps health and education both at top priority. I fear if classroom instruction is face to face, its either health... or education as the number one priority and it can't be both.

Thank you for constantly searching for community responses. I know this is a difficult decision to make and I appreciate the effort to keep the community involved and informed.

2020/07/16 5:27:35 PM AST Matoaca We need to figure out a way for Elementary aged kids to get back into school 5 days a week. Utilize SR and JR high classrooms if needed.

2020/07/16 5:36:07 PM AST Bermuda Cases are creeping back up and I think if you open schools even in a hybrid format that in just a few weeks after school starts you'll have to go all virtual learning. We really don't know how kids transmit the virus- kid to kid or kid to adult because they have been out of school and not doing their normal activities and routine. Opening the schools up is asking for a COVID19 experiment involving all the kids.

2020/07/16 5:40:00 PM AST Dale Will I be offered a work from home position if the board finds that the hybrid model is for chesterfield?

2020/07/16 5:49:06 PM AST Matoaca Please follow Hanover’s decision and allow students to attend 5 days with option for virtual alternative. Not only would it be easier logistically, students need peer interaction and face to face classes for better instruction and communication with other students.

2020/07/16 5:52:22 PM AST Midlothian As you consider options for the coming school year I urge you to consider the cross exposure that would be created by having kids in school only 1-2days a week. Those kids will be in daycare on the “off” days bringing more risk of exposure back into the classroom. I believe a 5 day in person option actually provides a better solution for teachers with their own school aged kids as well as limiting the exposure. Allowing parents to choose in person fully or virtual fully should provide hopefully small enough classroom sizes to adhere to physical distancing guidelines. Please also listen to individual teachers and not the union which does not represent the voice of the whole and has been intimidating teachers supporting in person education. A finally, please make a decision one way or another on July 20 as schools and parents desperately need to plan.

2020/07/16 5:53:59 PM AST Midlothian Open school 100% in person

2020/07/16 5:57:01 PM AST Clover Hill A one size approach does not fit all as we are discussing school reopening. Virtual learning fits my family temporarily but I think it’s necessary to make sure that those who require additional resources are able to have initial access to physical space and/or increased virtual support. This allows for the children who need it the most to get the resources that are critical while creating a safer environment supportive of true CDC guidelines to keep ALL of families safe. We must protect the teachers and their families as they have cared for and protected our children over their years of service to our communities. We must be mindful that the debate over wearing masks and social distancing puts us all at risk as we think about our community with it’s divided view points about this virus coming together under the same roof in these outdated facilities with poor ventilation and limited resources. Everyone’s opinion in this ecosystem matters and all concerns should taken seriously. I believe that choice for families and faculty is the answer. Thank you for your service to our community. I do not envy your position in these times.

2020/07/16 6:14:51 PM AST Midlothian I am writing to express my opinion about schools reopening this fall. I realize that there isn't a perfect solution, any decision has risk. To me, kids not going back to school in the fall has more of a negative impact / risk then the current situation around the virus. I have seen with my own kids the negative impact of being out of school, away from their peers, the lack of social interaction, the missing of in person support of teachers & administrators. At the same time I realize that this virus is real & has real potential consequences. With that said my vote is for schools reopening this fall in person, at minimum with some sort of hybrid schedule. 100% online learning this fall isn't acceptable nor justified from a medical perspective. I get where some teachers, staff, etc, are concerned about their safety. We all are, but I don't understand how teachers, staff etc can use their safety as the sole metrics to make this critical decision. In my opinion, teachers, staff etc are essential workers. The rest of us that have to go to work each day also face the real possibility of the potential exposure. We too have a decision, go to work to provide for our families or not but we cant dictate to our employer to shut down our company and work remotely. Just doesn't work that way. This is about balancing our kids education and collective welfare of the kids along with those teaching our kids, thus the decision shouldn't be dictated by one side of the equation. I would also suggest that a hybrid approach and / or 100% online would more negatively impact poorer communities. A lot of them don't have the household infrastructure nor the financial means to address the issues that either of the above options present to the family unit. So as our country struggles with this virus we are also challenged with this economic divide. You as the school board making a decision to have anything but 100% in school learning are making a conscious decision to expand this divide, both short term and long term. My comments above address the short term. There is also long term impact on the county and ultimately poorer communities even further. Specifically a decision to not reopen means more will start attending private schools and even move out of the County. That exodus will have a negative impact on schools, tax revenues, etc, which ultimately trickle down. In closing, I support reopening our schools 100% in class this fall.

2020/07/16 6:24:55 PM AST Matoaca I am 100% in favor of in person instruction for the fall. My son will be starting kindergarten and this is his first experience with school. It will be impossible to hold a kindergarten year virtually. I strongly feel it will cause more damage than good if the school year is done virtually. There is so much that a child takes away from the school year being in the classroom, not to mention their first year transitioning into school. My son is very social and we’ve already been spending months inside that I worry for what will come of his health should he not be able to experience life inside a classroom. Please don’t take his opportunity of being a kid away. This will set the tone for the rest of his years to come in school. I write this whole heartedly and hope you consider the damage that can be done to children not having an in person education. Thank you!

2020/07/16 6:25:53 PM AST Midlothian I am a parent of a college age student, high schooler and an elementary age child. Also, I am a CCPS middle school teacher. I want our students to have face to face instruction 5 days per week. Virtual learning can be an option for parents who want their child at home.

2020/07/16 6:27:19 PM AST Midlothian Please give parents the option of face to face school time. Virtual learning does not work for everyone. Do not do all virtual

2020/07/16 6:31:49 PM AST Matoaca I feel we should let the parents choose how often their kids go to school. I am lucky enough to be able to home school my kids if public schools don’t take their education seriously. Many parents don’t have that ability. If we don’t allow the kids to go back full time we will Set our kids back for the rest of their education. They will constantly struggle to keep up. My kids didn’t learn anything from the I line learning that we had in the spring. It also hurts them emotionally and socially. My kids have forgotten how to socialize with other kids and have become more introverted. Teachers are also kids front line for abuse and neglect in the home. How will working parents teach their kids and work at the same time. From an economic standpoint we increase the wage gap when we keep kids from learning.

2 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/16 6:59:37 PM AST Midlothian As an elementary school counselor who has a revolving door of seeing at least about 50 students individually a day, I am very concerned with going into school. I do not feel it is safe for myself, faculty, or students to be in school with the rise of COVID-19. A local pediatrician's office stated today the following: "Our little office is seeing a steep increase in the numbers of COVID positive kids ranging from toddlers to early 20’s. Patients symptoms have ranged from a little nasal congestion to 14 days of fever with sore throat. I would anticipate Virginia’s numbers to increase significantly over the next few weeks."- Dr. Iwashyna. There is no feasible way to take the proper cleaning precautions with the amount of students we see every day (regardless if some students would come on alternating days). While I understand some parents' concerns about their children's education and certain needs that need to be met, I believe we an do this fully virtual to start and put safety first. Right now, safety needs to be the utmost importance. I feel I am risking my life if I am told I need to go into school every day. As much as I want to see my students face-to-face, it unfortunately is not safe right now. I would rather be safe and see my students' faces virtual than have to hear a student or staff member is sick and someone's life is in danger due to not putting our safety first. If we go back to school and someone in the building develops COVID-19, what will happen? There is no way the building can remain open. It is not school's responsibility to please parents' behavior concerns fo their child...there are a lot of resources and ways for parents to help their children through other opportunities. Being in a school just because their child's schedule is way off and is difficult for the parent does not give any reason to open the schools. We are talking about saving lives and being fully virtual to make sure our sacred and precious lives are safe. Thank you.

2020/07/16 7:31:07 PM AST Matoaca please consider offering in person school with the option to "opt" out to virtual based on parent preference. There is a lot of good data showing the poor impact of virtual learning on children, including lack of socialization, patience, motor skills and overall academic learning. I placed all 3 of my children in recovery of learning this summer and have experienced technical difficulties each day. We have yet to have a interaction that started on time or added value. Its disappointing that our school system would be bullied into a poor decision to use resources that are detrimental to our children and to cause even further lack of education. I am in favor of sending my children to school and will provide transportation if need be.

2020/07/16 7:37:03 PM AST Matoaca I would like to know if the kids are going to be taught virtually, how is that going to work with my CBG kid who is also in double accelerated math? I cannot teach her, and I know being online is not going to give her what she needs. She is starting middle school and this would be awful for her to try and learn. Also, my 7th grader has IEP and in the Summit program. She did not do well these few months online. My 5th grader has ADHD and he did awful with virtual learning. I also have a 10th grader starting AP class and honors in everything else. She needs a teacher in school. Please please consider putting them back in school. Their mental health has also been affected. They need in person to person instruction.

2020/07/16 7:38:09 PM AST Unsure We have FOUR boys in elementary, middle AND high school. Both parents work full-time in supervisory positions and cannot stay on top of the boys virtually. The last semester was a complete flop without resources and assistance and no motivation for the boys. I have worked with teens for 18 years and many deal with depression and anxiety that is not helped by staying home. They need interaction and social stimulation. Parents are not equipped with working AND teaching/assisting kids. It doesn't work. Give parents the option. If masks work so well, have teachers wear them. And if you do go virtual I don't expect all teachers to stay employed in those positions, as virtual teaching could incorporate automated testing also. We cannot live in a society of FEAR and spread it to our children. Please send our children back to school and give parents the option.

2020/07/16 7:46:25 PM AST Matoaca Please put our kids back in school 5 days a week. I am a single full-time dad and I work to provide for my kids. I need our teachers help, in person, to allow my kids to succeed.

2020/07/16 7:53:04 PM AST Dale As a teacher in this district, I am firmly against in person learning in the fall at any capacity. I do not believe that putting anyone, especially children at any amount of risk is right. There are too many “what-if” scenarios that could cause catastrophe including even one child or staff member getting sick. It is inhumane to have so many children and adults in such close quarters in buildings with terrible ventilation when cases are rising every day in our area. This is not a political debate. This is a scientific fact. If we allow our students to see that we are prioritizing our economy over their lives, what will they think? They will not learn empathy and love, but instead greed and selfishness. I believe that CCPS is better than this and will do what is SAFEST for us all. We have the resources to make sure all students are cared for and there is no reason not to start the year virtually and return to school when it is safe. Thank you.

2020/07/16 7:58:35 PM AST Unsure Lives before economy

2020/07/16 7:59:50 PM AST Dale I believe opening up schools to in person teachings is not only irresponsible but will put the lives of our students and teachers at risk.

2020/07/16 8:04:06 PM AST Midlothian Please follow the science, not the politics and keep our children safe. They need to be home right now. Option 6!! Our child will stay home either way, but we would prefer that she stays home because the school board decided it was best to keep the students safe and voted option 6. Thank you.

2020/07/16 8:16:14 PM AST Bermuda Please consider children of essential working families where both parents are working out of the home. While we understand that school can not be “normal” the spring virtual learning did not work for our family. While we would prefer all in school learning we understand that is not possible in the current conditions. We would like our children in school as much as possible. Our teenage daughter has been home by herself while both parents work and the lack of human connection is a risk factor for mental health struggles. Our son has to go to daycare during the day while we work and while they are doing their best they are not licensed teachers. It is very difficult for essential families where no parent is home during the day to work all day and then be a full time teacher in the evening. The spring semester of virtual learning consisted of minimal live conference and mostly just busy work assignments. The virtual learning should be a sufficient amount of live teaching vs pre recorded videos or worksheet assignments.

2020/07/16 8:19:39 PM AST Midlothian There is so much unknown about COVID but what is known is incredibly dangerous and scary, with long-term effects seeming to be more likely. Please err on the side of caution and humanity and buy some time. Better to be proven too careful than regretful.

2020/07/16 8:23:32 PM AST Matoaca Greetings School Board Members, Thank you for taking the time to read my concerns. I am a Masters-level public health nurse with a rising third grader at Woolridge Elementary. When I initially completed the survey a month ago, I voted for the hybrid option as my first choice, 100% virtual second, with 100% face to face last. However, in the last month, a lot has changed. If I were able to complete the survey today, I would select 100% virtual. My reasons for this are the following: - Increased knowledge of COVID-19 impact on younger populations - Documented spread at summer camps, pools, and daycares with gatherings of younger populations - Unknown lifelong, chronic impact of potential damage to multiple bodily systems from contracting COVID-19 - Inability for younger children to adequately recognize seriousness of contagion and appropriate safeguards, including but not limited to wearing masks and washing hands - Emotional impact of children returning to an environment that is much different from last year The cases in Virginia, including Chesterfield County, are increasing and will likely continue to increase through the summer. Some of the community has become desensitized to the potential severity of the virus to themselves and others, coupled with travel has created a melting pot of unknown vectors ready to ignite. As a parent and a public health nurse, I cannot make the decision for my child to potentially be exposed for 6 hours a day. I do not believe that our county can afford the liability to take the risk and potentially shorten the lifespan of our youngest citizens. Now is the time to invest in training and building platforms for a 100% virtual approach for the beginning of the school year. If the environment improves, then reassessment is reasonable; however, at this time there are too many uncertainties. I have spoken with many other parents who also would choose 100% virtual at this time, when they may have had a different viewpoint when completing the survey.

Thank you for your time, Christen Crews, MSN, RN

2020/07/16 8:26:13 PM AST Matoaca With the current fluidity of the COVID-19 situation, highly recommend erring on the side of caution and going to 100% virtual learning for the first nine of weeks of the 2020-21 session. I have no doubt that within two weeks of in-school, there will be one case and within three weeks, several more. Staying home will assist in driving down this virus. Also, making these decisions should not be made 6 six weeks out or take a wait and see approach. Schools are not the only party affected by your decisions. Families need ample time to plan and coordinate for children being home, ensuring transportation is worked out (assuming buses are a major hurdle this year), adult supervision, etc. Thanks.

2020/07/16 8:26:37 PM AST Matoaca I urge the board to please give parents a CHOICE of receiving full time instruction (5 days a week in person) this school year. Please vote as Hanover did- with the ability for all parents and teachers to select 100% virtual OR 100% in person.

2020/07/16 8:29:03 PM AST Matoaca Please vote for kids to go back 5 days a week!

2020/07/16 8:33:48 PM AST Bermuda Please consider 100% virtual for the fall. We still do not know how transmission among children is. And the percent positivy has gone up over the last week. It will only continue to grow and schools will most likely have to go to all virtual soon after schools starts.

2020/07/16 8:35:25 PM AST Clover Hill At the time the survey was sent to parents last month, I felt safer sending my children to school in a hybrid model. With the increase in cases in Chesterfield and throughout the Commonwealth, if given the survey to take again today, I would change my answer. Our family no longer feels that attending school in person is a safe choice.

2020/07/16 8:36:35 PM AST Midlothian I am asking the board to make the health and safety of our students, staff, and community members a top priority and to vote for Option 6, a full virtual return, at least for the first semester.

I know the survey seems to indicate that the community wants in person instruction to resume in September, but I ask the board to be cautious about interpreting these results. It has been widely reported that these survey links were shared outside of Chesterfield and were able to be taken multiple times by the same respondent. It should also be considered that the majority of respondents on the parent survey self identified as residents of western Chesterfield, with the eastern portion of the county being largely underrepresented in the results. The results of this survey leave out a significant portion of the district's population and therefore should not be considered an accurate sample of the community.

Additionally, the surveys went out a month ago, and the questions were vaguely worded. A lot has changed in this last month. I originally responded that I preferred Option 4, but the more I learn about the transmission of the virus, and the more I see our country's mismanagement of the situation spiral out of control, the less confident I feel in our ability to maintain safe social distancing practices in schools.

From an instructional perspective, a hybrid model offers the least robust educational opportunity to our students. If students come to school two days a week, the other three days that are virtual will not be able to be held in a robust, live, and interactive way since teachers will be spending those days with the other cohort of in-person students. With an all virtual option, the students could receive 5 days of live interactive instruction.

Additionally, with a hybrid model, many students will spend half the week in school and half the week in daycare, increasing the level of exposure for each family. I do understand that some students will have to attend daycare with an all virtual option, but at least students would not be bouncing back and forth between two facilities, causing a higher risk of transmission for their families and the community at large.

Finally, regardless of if, when, or how we return to school, it is absolutely imperative that all students, staff, and visitors to any building be mandated to wear a mask at all times.

Thank you for your time and careful consideration in making this difficult decision.

2020/07/16 8:40:59 PM AST Matoaca I feel that schools need to reopen in the fall. It is ridiculous that we are treating this virus any differently than the flu. If restaurants, grocery stores and pretty much all other businesses can be open then so can the schools. My son is supposed to start preschool and if they open I will most definitely be sending him. It is ludicrous to think that kids should wear masks to school or have to practice social distancing. If teachers aren’t comfortable going back to school then they can make the choice to quit or retire. Please don’t punish our children any longer and deny them their right to have an education in the classroom setting!!

2020/07/16 8:42:32 PM AST Dale I truly believe that there should be the option for students to be back in the classroom in the fall. It’s not in every student or families best interest necessarily but it should be an option. Those of us that are first responders/ essential workers have been and will be sending our children to daycare so we can work. That won’t change in the fall of course. I would much rather give my child the option of learning during the day over regular childcare that doesn’t advance his education. Regardless he won’t be home with me during the day. Please make this an option with parents having a deadline to let the school system know prior to the fall term.

2020/07/16 8:43:15 PM AST Midlothian Why are we not focusing on moving forward with a 5-day, in-person option? Ms. Haines, our district rep recently posted 14 requests with regards to public health decisions. Why now? Where were these questions when CCPS distance learning failed our children? Interestingly enough, Ms. Haines and Heffron received endorsements from the Chesterfield Education Association (CEA) when they were running. CEA is "calling for a virtual return to respective school systems in September, despite local doctors and health officials saying it’s safe for children to return to the classroom during COVID-19." My rising 9th grader has been inundated with ROL, Edgenuity, and AP summer assignments. Why? To prepare him for "the skills needed before entering school this fall". These town halls are a façade. You've decided what you are going to do yet you mislead us to think you want to hear what we know is best for our children – in school learning. CCPS “distance learning” was a total disaster this spring. Teachers checked out. Now parents have zero confidence in a virtual platform. Because of how RMS handled the distance learning, my son is inundated with classwork that SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED. Not to mention the devastating impact virtual learning has on a child’s physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being. YOU failed our children. Schools have had since March to wrap their heads around this crisis and develop a plan. Our children MUST return to school. The CDC says that the greater risk to our society is to keep schools closed to in-person instruction this fall. Commissioner Robert R. Redfield, MD, Director for the CDC is quoted as saying, “Nothing would cause me greater sadness than to see any school district or school use our guidelines as a reason not to reopen.” The AAP and VDH statistics for Chesterfield county also support a full return (5 days) to in-person instruction. What exactly is “risk management” looking at? What data are they using to support anything but a full return in the fall? Stop making it about politics, they have no place in this decision. I have voiced my option on @chesterfieldschools only to have my posts deleted – why do you refuse to accept and respect the data? Do what we hired and elected you to do and act in the best interest of our children. If a parent has concerns about sending their child(ren) to school, then give THEM the OPTION to keep them HOME. It appears that factual data is being ignored for the fears of a few.

2020/07/16 8:48:29 PM AST Matoaca I strongly urge the board to choose all virtual option 6. While we all want to return to normal as soon as possible, our numbers in Virginia are still rising and Chesterfield's infection rates are higher than the surrounding counties. I feel very unsafe sending my two children back to school in these conditions. If schools reopen at this time, I expect they will have to shut back down in short order, and valuable time preparing our children to learn virtually will have been lost, and we will find ourselves in the same situation as we were in the spring, except with the addition of sick and even dead children and teachers. This is not a risk I am willing to take for my children or my household. I urge you to make a thoughtful decision based not on popular opinion but on science. Our children and our teacher's lives are not something we should gamble with. Thank you.

2020/07/16 8:48:51 PM AST Unsure I probably won’t word this as eloquently as some other parents. I just think that we should not be reopening schools, not for in person learning at least. We should be offering virtual learning for all students.

The risks of sending my child to school should not be this extreme. I know many parents feel as I do, that if Chesterfield does decide to reopen. My child will be homeschooled instead. I feel that if that is the case (schools return to in person learning) that the school systems should be offering advice on how to go about alternative learning.

It is simply not worth my child’s, my family’s, nor anyone else’s life just to get kids back in school. Until there is a vaccine or the numbers drop dramatically I personally feel that it is just not worth the risk.

Thank you.

2020/07/16 8:50:57 PM AST Midlothian As I enter my twenty first year as a teacher and coach for Chesterfield County Public Schools, I am very concerned for the students of our county. I am a product of CCPS and remember when the county was a leader in education and community. The expectation was to be the BEST in everything we did as students, teachers, and coaches, and we celebrated our successes proudly because we knew our successes and victories were ours due to our hard work, dedication, and perseverance, as well as our willingness to be bold and take educated risks. I ask you as a parent and employee to be bold and reset the expectations for our students and make our community proud of CCPS! Offer 5 days a week in class instruction, while offering an option of virtual school for those families who need this option at this time. The science supports our return to a normal, in person school day. Pediatricians support a normal school day! Do the right thing based on the facts, not fear! Offering the opportunity to return to school in full capacity while providing the option for virtual learning shows our Community, Region, and State that we understand how important it is to provide the highest quality education, no matter the circumstance, and that we are prepared to be the model for other school districts to follow. Keeping us out sends the message to our entire State that we are just like everyone else. It sends the message to our kids that this place isn’t something special. It teaches them to stay on the sideline and to make excuses. Instead, take this opportunity to teach our children to be circumstance proof. Yes, we may have to make a few “ pre game” and “in game” adjustments, but we should not opt to stand on the sideline in fear. We will most definitely lose the trust of our citizens, and our foot hold as a leader in education for The State of Virginia. COMPETE for our KIDS and our COUNTY! Thank you for your time.

Chris Roarty

2020/07/16 8:52:07 PM AST Matoaca I am a parent of a child with cystic fibrosis. He is not of school age yet. But his siblings are. A COVID-19 outbreak or diagnosis would devastate our family. As time progresses, this illness seems to be more prevalent. There isn’t enough data to support what would happen if all children are back in school full time. In person learning is always the first choice for everyone. Please consider a 100% virtual or hybrid school model to reduce exposure. Our children are worth it. Even if you don’t think a healthy child would have severe consequences from this illness. Please consider those who also have immediate family members that would be deeply effected.

3 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/16 8:52:08 PM AST Unsure Please remember that even in phase 2, pre-k to 2nd should be in school. I have a rising kindergartener- he needs in school instruction. My 5th grader will do fine either way, although I would like him in school too. Whatever you decide, the younger kids need to be in school. Any parent uncomfortable with this can choose to keep their child home.

2020/07/16 8:53:30 PM AST Clover Hill Please open with two options- full time school for those who want it and virtual for those who don’t. If numbers get bad again, you can change to virtual, but I think that kids need to be in school.

2020/07/16 8:55:29 PM AST Midlothian My child needs to attend 5 days a week. He hates the virtual learning. He thought it was going to be so much fun doing school from home...nope was done after the 1st week. This is a 16 yr and he wants to come back to school. He is scheduled to attend the tech ctr this fall and it's a hands on course. How can he learn if he can't be there?

2020/07/16 8:56:21 PM AST Midlothian In favor of 50% in person, 50% virtual

2020/07/16 8:59:01 PM AST Bermuda Follow richmond and do the first semester online. Or alternate AA/BB

As a parent I am concerned that your asking teachers to sacrifice their health for very low wages.

2020/07/16 9:01:28 PM AST Clover Hill Open schools back up. FULLY!

2020/07/16 9:01:52 PM AST Midlothian Please explain the difference between daycares, most of which in the area seem to have continued to operate during all or most of the pandemic, and schools as far as risk. My understanding is that daycares currently are permitted to have 10-22 children per classroom, depending on the age. Children are generally not required to wear masks and, clearly, social distancing is not possible in most circumstances during the day. For the younger ages, there is no doubt that they are frequently (constantly??) touching each other, coughing and sneezing without covering their mouths, touching and sharing toys, etc. Teachers are holding, feeding, carrying, and otherwise caring for babies and young toddlers and having close contact with the pre-school and school age children, as well. Yet, we have not heard anything about any outbreaks in or spike in infection rates of daycare children, parents, or staff. Data from daycares may not translate well to high school age kids, but it should certainly be analyzed/considered with regard to reopening elementary, and possibly middle, schools. It's also important to note that many daycare classrooms have more children than likely will be present in regular school classrooms. There will be nowhere near 22 children in a classroom with the current options under consideration.

Have you reviewed data and guidance from local pediatricians?

2020/07/16 9:04:54 PM AST Midlothian You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems. -

Our family is option agnostic. Our decision will be based on the preventative and detective controls installed and how you choose to enforce them.

Social media tribes are focusing on outcomes. We are “politically homeless” and hope that rational judgement will be the controlling factor. We need to focus on process, controls, and transparency - not political power plays.

Masks should be required for all ages. This can’t be a “guideline”, it must be strict policy. Walt Disney World requires mask for ages two and over, as the union prescribed. The transmission rate with masks reduces the risk - that is indisputable. There are other reasons as well (bullying, economic, visual reminder)Masks reduce risk significantly as you can see from the author of “The Black Swan” (Medium - The Mask Masquerade). We can’t live in a world where we don’t act until we eliminate risk, but we should strive to eradicate unnecessary risk. We run the risk of a car accident every time we drive - we lower the impact of that risk with seat belts. Controls that serve the greater good, should be installed to preserve our collective liberty.

A- and pre- symptomatic COVID are the achilles heel of this pandemic www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejme2009758 The reporting latency reported by the VPAP, coupled w/ the presymptomatic incubation period, compared to influenza like we are used to, creates this phenomena. (Source: vpap.org and informationisbeautiful.net)

Preventative/ detective controls doesn’t limit our challenges, it challenges our limits. This includes mandatory flu vaccines.

Parents and teachers (and their unions) should insist on transparent Key Risk Indicators and rightfully so. The community is more likely to the necessary actions to ensure that schools are postured for better operational readiness if they know the rules.

While some will say that a 100% virtual decision forces children to act like adults, I would argue that adults had to act like children and not wear a mask is our current reality.

England went to go to school while being bombed by the Germans. As a veteran, I now question the sincerity of everyone that “thanks” me for my service, but they refuse to wear a mask for our country. If we can get 12 children out of a cave in Thailand, we can figure this out.

If you are not willing to sacrifice for what you want, what you want becomes the sacrifice.

2020/07/16 9:16:06 PM AST Clover Hill Virtual learning for ccps

2020/07/16 9:17:25 PM AST Matoaca As a teacher I want to go back to school I need my students probably as much as they need me. Students need to be in school. I am confident Chesterfield County public schools will take the proper precautions and allow students and teachers to come to school.

My question is, if for some reason I get sick and am diagnosed with COVID-19 does my entire class have to quarantine for 14 days?

While I am in quarantine am I still getting paid? Thanks

2020/07/16 9:18:00 PM AST Unsure I strongly feel my elementary school age students should return to in person instruction. They need socialization. They need structure and routine. I feel safe sending my children and I by no means could ever stay home and teach them. It’s not possible in any scenario. Please consider all those who aren’t privileged enough to keep their kids home.

2020/07/16 9:18:02 PM AST Dale Why is there any discussion about what teachers, parents, or students want? It should be about what health experts and science proves. It is too dangerous to begin the school year in person.

2020/07/16 9:34:53 PM AST Midlothian Classes should be held VIRTUALLY ONLY until at least winter break to reevaluate!! It’s safer for everyone!

2020/07/16 9:35:14 PM AST Clover Hill Studies in California say kids are suffering with the virtual learning. Give us an option to learn virtually or in school.

2020/07/16 9:36:09 PM AST Matoaca Please hear our voices! The surveys aren’t an accurate representation of how we feel. Not only were they widely shared outside the county in groups aimed to open schools full time, but the situation has changed DRASTICALLY since we submitted. I know of numerous families like myself who previously voted for opening or the two day option now feel that 100% VIRTUAL IS THE ONLY SAFE CHOICE. Coronavirus is spreading like wildfire through our neighborhoods, pools, daycares, etc. This is the beginning of what is about to get much worse. It is infecting children at rates far higher than previously reported. Pediatric offices are inundated and stunned at the number of children falling ill and transmitting this deadly disease. There WILL be deaths if we open—student and staff deaths that are 100% preventable based on your vote today. Hear our pleas and vote for a safe environment for our children—a virtual school year, or at the very least first semester. Thank you.

2020/07/16 9:52:20 PM AST Unsure Give parents a choice...if we want 5 days in person we should be allowed to choose that. If parents want virtual then they can. Kids NEED TO BE IN SCHOOL. Virtual summer school has been an absolute failure. Kids are bored, distracted and 1/3 of the time the teachers can't even get the class started due to issues. ITS NOT WORKING!

2020/07/16 9:56:40 PM AST Midlothian Open schools for face-to-face instruction. Have all sports per normal schedule.

2020/07/16 9:57:08 PM AST Clover Hill First off I’d like to applaud each of you as you navigate the 2020-2021 school year. Regardless of the decision, it won’t be easy and one that won’t be taken lightly. Thank you for your commitment to considering all choices that are best for our children, the teachers/staff members , bus drivers, and our community. I feel that initially school should be virtually and before the end of each quarter decide if it’s safe to send our children to school.

2020/07/16 10:02:37 PM AST Dale I don’t feel safe sending my child to school in the fall. I’m concerned about the kids wearing masks all day with no break and I’m concerned about them being in an enclosed space when most have been in quarantine since school was closed. I’m concerned that since most haven’t been exposed at all being in an enclosed space will make them more at risk. And children are much more susceptible. Their immune systems are severely weakened at this point due to not being exposed to any germs.

2020/07/16 10:08:24 PM AST Midlothian Requesting that families are given the choice to between sending kids to school during this pandemic, or not. Many people want their kids to go to school in person, but many of us prefer not to risk our families health. Those that feel inclined to send kids to school should play at their own risk. Teachers should also be given a choice on this as well. Their health and families health should be considered. Quality of education for those of us opting for the virtual option should be a focus. School county leaders need to focus on providing the best possible education considering the challenges we are facing.

2020/07/16 10:13:41 PM AST Clover Hill Thank you for taking the time to read my concerns. I am a Masters-level public health nurse with a rising third grader at Woolridge Elementary. When I initially completed the survey a month ago, I voted for the hybrid option as my first choice, 100% virtual second, with 100% face to face last. However, in the last month, a lot has changed. If I were able to complete the survey today, I would select 100% virtual. My reasons for this are the following: - Increased knowledge of COVID-19 impact on younger populations - Documented spread at summer camps, pools, and daycares with gatherings of younger populations - Unknown lifelong, chronic impact of potential damage to multiple bodily systems from contracting COVID-19 - Inability for younger children to adequately recognize seriousness of contagion and appropriate safeguards, including but not limited to wearing masks and washing hands - Emotional impact of children returning to an environment that is much different from last year The cases in Virginia, including Chesterfield County, are increasing and will likely continue to increase through the summer. Some of the community has become desensitized to the potential severity of the virus to themselves and others, coupled with travel has created a melting pot of unknown vectors ready to ignite. As a parent, I cannot make the decision for my child to potentially be exposed for 6 hours a day. I do not believe that our county can afford the liability to take the risk and potentially shorten the lifespan of our youngest citizens. Now is the time to invest in training and building platforms for a 100% virtual approach for the beginning of the school year. If the environment improves, then reassessment is reasonable; however, at this time there are too many uncertainties. I have spoken with many other parents who also would choose 100% virtual at this time, when they may have had a different viewpoint when completing the survey.

2020/07/16 10:14:13 PM AST Clover Hill Thank you for taking the time to read my concerns. I am a Masters-level public health nurse with a rising third grader at Woolridge Elementary. When I initially completed the survey a month ago, I voted for the hybrid option as my first choice, 100% virtual second, with 100% face to face last. However, in the last month, a lot has changed. If I were able to complete the survey today, I would select 100% virtual. My reasons for this are the following: - Increased knowledge of COVID-19 impact on younger populations - Documented spread at summer camps, pools, and daycares with gatherings of younger populations - Unknown lifelong, chronic impact of potential damage to multiple bodily systems from contracting COVID-19 - Inability for younger children to adequately recognize seriousness of contagion and appropriate safeguards, including but not limited to wearing masks and washing hands - Emotional impact of children returning to an environment that is much different from last year The cases in Virginia, including Chesterfield County, are increasing and will likely continue to increase through the summer. Some of the community has become desensitized to the potential severity of the virus to themselves and others, coupled with travel has created a melting pot of unknown vectors ready to ignite. As a parent and a public health nurse, I cannot make the decision for my child to potentially be exposed for 6 hours a day. I do not believe that our county can afford the liability to take the risk and potentially shorten the lifespan of our youngest citizens. Now is the time to invest in training and building platforms for a 100% virtual approach for the beginning of the school year. If the environment improves, then reassessment is reasonable; however, at this time there are too many uncertainties. I have spoken with many other parents who also would choose 100% virtual at this time, when they may have had a different viewpoint when completing the survey.

2020/07/16 10:23:34 PM AST Matoaca My husband and I have just purchased a home in the Matoaca district. We have two elementary school-age children. As a teacher for CCPS and a resident, I am for 100% virtual learning for the first semester. With the recent uprising in cases of COVID-19, it is the necessary choice. There are too many safety precautions that CCPS cannot logistically meet to ensure the safety of everyone. As the largest district, CCPS needs to set an example and show us that the students’ lives matter, and that the school employees lives matter.

2020/07/16 10:25:51 PM AST Matoaca Please give the children, teachers, parents, and grandparents the respect and care to NOT open school buildings in the fall. We do not feel safe enough to leave our homes for meetings, such as meetings of the school board, please do not endanger our teachers and kids by sending them back before there is a vaccine. I am happy to continue homeschooling. Thank you.

2020/07/16 10:29:14 PM AST Midlothian I know there are children who need to be in school. Their parents work, they don’t have access to wifi, they don’t have access to food. I would like to see an option for the kids who have no other choice to be able to return. I will gladly have my kids stay home and take classes online in order to make schools less crowded for those who need it most.

2020/07/16 10:38:26 PM AST Midlothian Please consider all virtual until at least the end of the first 9wks and we see where we are. As a healthcare worker, as a mother to 4 kids, 3 in CCPS, 3 in different schools, elementary, middle and high, 1 with autism, 2 with IEPs, and 1 with a 504, I need my kids in school but I need it done correctly and in a manner that will keep the staff and students safe. The kids are not the only ones that have to go back, and we need to think about the adults that are affected too. I need my kids in school, but not at the cost of someone else’s life or their lives and with the continued increase in cases and the continued mask and social distances non-compliance, now is not the time to send everyone back into the trenches. Let’s see where we are in November and re-evaluate then.

2020/07/16 10:40:53 PM AST Clover Hill The schools need to open back up and the teachers and children need to get back to school. Keeping children away from school will have a negative impact that will ripple across the state and country.

2020/07/16 10:41:17 PM AST Midlothian Please give parents the option of face to face school time. Virtual learning does not work for everyone. Do not do all virtual

2020/07/16 10:50:11 PM AST Midlothian My husband and I both work full time and have struggled to balance educating our 3 children, working full time, and maintaining their mental health. We are torn between work and sacrificing it to make up for the lack of educational resources provided as the structured learning time/activities this Spring was minimal and relied too heavily on the parents to cover the material. It felt like it was 95% on the parents. Both boys are participating in the ROL and while the daily small group meetings are better than once per week, the “work” is a reading/math video game. This format does not allow for collaborative learning and reduces all learning to the lowest level. We have also observed that the teaching attention is addressing the minority of children that are unable to stay on mute or those that are distracting. Virtual learning only supplements formal education and doesn’t address many necessary growth opportunities that in person and social interaction affords as identified by the AAP. We have observed significant changes in our children's well-being and ability to interact in social settings since virtual learning began. Given many extracurricular activities provided within the county such as athletics / service oriented programs follow the guidelines of the schools, we have been unable to supplement the social needs of our children in other programs because of county decisions. My oldest son was selected to begin the CBG program, and my concern for him beginning this program was removing him from his existing social circle. I was confident that the opportunity afforded to him a higher level of formal education that outweighed the cost of removing him from his existing relationships. Without in person learning, I am worried that this opportunity will be more detrimental to his development than keeping him in a class that won’t stretch his cognitive abilities. Many other districts and organizations have been able to balance health/safety with adolescent growth concerns. I don't understand how my children are able to attend daycare/camp 5 days per week but unable to attend school. I appreciate that some people are not ready to send their children back and believe that each family should be able to make the best decision for their situation. Therefore, I believe that Chesterfield should follow the plans put forth by Hanover/Goochland which allow the parents to decide what they feel is best by offering both full time in-person and virtual options.

4 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/16 10:51:03 PM AST Dale Send kids to school once it is safe. I am concerned for the safety of the kids, teachers and staff. I like the idea of staggered times with one day to clean and plan, however, the teachers and staff are still putting themselves in danger. What happens to the rest of the class and school when a teacher or student tests positive? Will the teachers have to use their sick pay if they are forced to quarantine? What about students? If they are forced to quarantine, how does it effect their attendance? I support a hybrid schedule and know that my sixth grader does well virtually, but my kindergartener, as with other lower grades, needs face to face time with the teacher. Thank you for doing your best to keep us safe.

2020/07/16 10:56:57 PM AST Midlothian When I took the survey about my kindergartener entering school at BAE this coming year, I chose the 2 day option. With the new information available about Covid and rising numbers, I would have chosen 100% virtual if I took the survey today or homeschool.

2020/07/16 11:02:25 PM AST Midlothian My twin teens are coming from a small private school as 9th graders at Midlothian HS. They do not know hardly anyone at their HS and have spent March - summer isolated. The result of virtual learning has been negative. They need to be interacting with their peers. They just learned that no matter how hard you work, you will still get a participation certificate. Socialism doesn’t work. Its obvious we are being pressed for a big change in the school system and using covid as a tool to do it. I’ve brought up that pediatrics, cardiologist pediatricians, family practice physicians all agree the best place for our kids is in school. But suddenly they are not considered experts??? Now, a small teachers union gets to decide my child’s fate. Teens need to grow. Bad enough I’m hearing they don’t stand a chance to meet peers through volleyball in HS maybe if the run cross county or play golf which my kids don’t do. The bottom line is that if daycares have been working out just fine full of kids similar to a school setting since March and now gyms are open to give your child a school setting, why can’t kids be in school?

2020/07/16 11:04:23 PM AST Midlothian There must be an option for in person schooling. Without our this option, what choice do working single parents have?they must choose to work or teach their children. This also holds true for families where both parents have to work.

2020/07/16 11:12:38 PM AST Bermuda Is it truly safe to have students in the buildings with the virus numbers going up?

2020/07/17 12:03:46 AM AST Midlothian

I am a parent of a rising sophomore at James River High School. I wanted to reach out to discuss my concerns for in person class in the Fall. I do not feel that this is safe for anyone involved. I feel that if meetings to “discuss what is best” are continuing to be held virtually, why on Earth would it be safe to send children to school?! I absolutely do not intend to send my child to school in September. I am concerned that if all children are not given the same opportunity, the children who choose to learn virtually, will be left behind and not learn at the same level as the children in school. The easiest, most equitable, and safest way is for everyone to do virtual. Having virtual school for everyone until January would give the county time to prepare for a safe return. If everyone does online learning, no one will be left behind. I do realize there may need to be a different plan for Special Education students.

As a parent, I must speak up for my child and all of these children because people are going to die! One child or one teacher dying from something that could be prevented from staying home a bit longer is too many! Our children’s health SHOULD NOT BE POLITICAL. We are not trending downward. Chesterfield has the highest rate of infection in the region, and that’s without kids in school.

Please do the right thing and keep these children safe!

Thank you!

2020/07/17 12:11:55 AM AST Dale With the near inevitability of cases rising, isn't it a wiser decision to do virtual for the first nine weeks rather than having to once again shut down and scramble to turn on a dime? Is it not smarter to thoughtfully and cautiously protect the lives of students and staff, rather than taking risks that can lead to irreplaceable damage?

2020/07/17 2:22:14 AM AST Dale Hello! I'm a homeowner in the Dale District, parent of a CCPS rising first grader, and a teacher at Bensley Elementary in the Bermuda District. Thank you for all of the fortitude, inclusiveness and guidance you all have displayed as you led our district during a global pandemic and education as we knew it drastically shifted. As you decide what a reopening will look like in September, my plea is that you open your mind and heart to the concerns of parents and educators like myself.

If my soon-to-be six-year old daughter had it her way, she would've marched back into her classroom before Spring break. She's a social butterfly who loves to learn without limits. However, it wasn't safe for her to return to school then, and as we are on the brink of a second wave of COVID-19, it won't be safe for her to return in the fall. I can't expect her to keep a mask on all school day. Neither should you. I can't guarantee every surface will be sanitized properly or sick kids will stay home. Neither can you. I don't know how I would comfort her if one of her friends or teachers succumbed to the suffocating grip of this virus. Neither do you.

While some see a face-to-face reopening as a return to normal, it could be a death sentence for me. In February, I learned that at age 37 my lungs were functioning at 68% due to damage caused by severe environmental allergies. I am on a steroid inhaler twice a day, take 2 additional medications daily and receive allergy shots twice a week. I also have asthma. My hope is that when I return to the doctor in September, I am healthier. But the thought of being expected to return to school, and put myself at a higher risk of contracting COVID, is a setback - or worse - in my eyes.

The only option that guarantees we all remain safe is a 100% virtual reopening. No, it's not ideal. Yes, it will have its challenges. I think we all can agree that CCPS is equipped to meet those challenges to ensure that the blood of students and staff is not on the hands of you - our trusted leaders. CCPS has already planned for the recovery of learning....COVID-19-related hospital bills and funeral expenses aren't listed as line items. I urge you to vote for a full virtual reopening so our illustrious school district is not held liable for the lives that could forever be altered if this virus is marked present in our schools.

Thank you for your time, Angela Finch

2020/07/17 2:45:04 AM AST Midlothian Please go back full time. My Kids need it back normal! This has not been good for them. We could even go ahead and start year round school( more shorter breaks but not as long in between)

2020/07/17 5:45:12 AM AST Matoaca We’ve learned a lot about Covid in the last few weeks and that it is actively infecting children. The community spread that is already increasing in the typically more socially distant time of summer will be made much worse if we send kids back full time face to face. For the health of our kids and entire community, please consider improved virtual learning first and hybrid with masks 2nd.

2020/07/17 6:02:07 AM AST Matoaca I have 2 children in elementary school and they need to get back to the classroom. There is SO much evidence about how detrimental this is to their mental heath and wellbeing and I don’t understand how you can ignore that. They have been in a daycare facility every single day since schools shut down in March and there have been NO issues! I think it is completely ridiculous that daycares are allowed to be open with younger children who have NO concept of social distancing, yet there is a possibility that school won’t be in person!

2020/07/17 6:09:22 AM AST Matoaca I hope the school board will strongly consider sending our children back to school 5 days per week for in-person instruction. Pediatricians across the country are advocating for this. I am a pediatric nurse practitioner in one of the largest, busiest practices in Richmond with 1 office in midlothian, 1 in the west end and 1 in Richmond. Since March, we have had less than 15 positive covid patients. Those patients all recovered well within a few days and the majority were between 19-21 years old. Dr Douglas Allen, a well respected pediatric cardiologist in Richmond, wrote a letter to the Henrico school board urging them to open for in-person instruction as the severity of disease in children does not justify keeping our children out of school. As you may know, Hanover county is giving parents an option to send children either full time or virtually. I wish chesterfield would consider this option. My husband and I are both front line workers. He is a firefighter/ paramedic in the county. Neither of us can work from home and financially cannot afford for one of us to leave our job. We also have not budgeted for childcare for our 3 children nor do I want a childcare provider teaching my children because I have to work. We have a kindergartener, 3rd and 4th grader. I especially worry about my kindergartener. Five year olds cannot learn virtually. They need to be in the classroom with their teachers. My older 2 are good students, but were very frustrated in the spring, therefore very little work got done at home. I fear they will continue to fall behind. My husband and I moved to chesterfield 7 years ago from my small hometown in southern VA mainly for the wonderful school system. The children from my hometown are preparing to go back to our local private school 5 days per week in August. It brings me to tears thinking that I should have stayed back home so my children could receive a proper education as well. I know this is a difficult decision, but it is going to be impossible for my family, and many others, to keep their children at home. Please look at the data regarding children and covid. The data does not support parents having to leave their jobs in order to teach their children.

2020/07/17 6:16:04 AM AST Midlothian Our kids need to be in school! Please consider at the least having them go part time . This is critical for their development and learning.

2020/07/17 6:28:48 AM AST Bermuda The coronavirus is making everybody rethink how we do things. As to school this fall, we need to remember that the coronavirus is not going away anytime soon. I don't know think the old model will work. Everyone is coming from a different perspective - children's learning needs are different, their homelife is different, etc. I believe the "hydrid" needs to be offered for the fall semester.

Not every parent can supervise distance learning to the extent needed for children to learn. A "hybrid" model provides some distance learning and some in class learning. I think it allows a smaller number of students to ride the bus, attend classes, etc. so that the social distance rules can be followed. 1. It is sustainable as the situation evolves. It is "safer" for all. Some teachers want to go back to the actual classroom. Some students want to go back to the classroom as they realize it is how they learn best and addresses the students with special needs. 2. Everyone can wear a mask. My granddaughter in Japan wore a mask everyday in preschool in the winter. That is the culture and there is no reason that it can't be adopted here.

2020/07/17 6:40:04 AM AST Midlothian Thank you all for your caring approach to these big decisions!

If we go back with any face to face instruction while also providing an optional 100% virtual learning opportunity: teachers cannot be expected to do BOTH in person instruction AND virtual instruction....these are two full time jobs. I am suggesting the county as a whole provide an online academy for students whose families pick 100% virtual. Then, the workload of teachers might be manageable.

Also, if I were the teacher providing online learning I should NOT be required to show up to school in person. Teachers who teach virtually must be given a choice as to where this instruction happens. Some teachers see this as a life or death situation because they are putting themselves and their families at risk.

2020/07/17 7:02:40 AM AST Matoaca Will a high school virtual learner have the ability to view their classes in real time?

2020/07/17 7:08:53 AM AST Clover Hill I am the parent of two children at CCPS and I believe it is in our children’s best interest to return to school in-person, even if only 2 days a week. The virtual learning environment is not going to be the best way to educate our kids, and I believe we know enough about COVID to take the risk of at least trying to send them back to school. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends it. I will support the school any way I can to make this happen, including getting my kids to and from school. I think 100% virtual school would be completely disastrous and should only be an option after we give in-person school a try.

2020/07/17 7:10:25 AM AST Matoaca Please choose all virtual for first semester. My extremely social rising sophomore is so eager to be with her friends, but she is hoping for virtual learning . She is scared to go back into the building. Keep our families safe.

2020/07/17 7:21:57 AM AST Dale I want to know how you are going to protect our bus drivers. If a child in the bus gets covid will you send the entire bus home for 2 weeks? What about the bus driver? What if a child that is supposed to wear a mask isn’t wearing one?

2020/07/17 7:23:57 AM AST Midlothian 1. I believe that CCPS should do everything in their power to attempt to return the students to school. I recognize that it may not be a traditional schedule, but the school system should TRY 2. If we go back, ALL students and employees should have to submit a daily body temp and symptom questionnaire. This does not need to be complicated - it could be a google doc that is sent to the students homeroom teacher daily 3. Sports should be played! If not their “season” then at some point during the year 4. if we are doing a “remote” learning platform- TEACHERS SHOULD HAVE TO REPORT TO THEIR SCHOOLS TO TEACH AND SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO TEACH FROM THIER HOMES - the risk of distractions occurring during live online lessons is too great if the lessons are happening in an uncontrolled environment. Example : my child should not have to deal with a teachers dog barking or the doorbell ringing etc... Learning like this will be hard enough, with out dealing with distractions! Teachers are essential workers and CAN REPORT TO WORK!

2020/07/17 7:26:36 AM AST Matoaca I’d like to ask for agenda item F at the July 20th special meeting, that you please follow Hanover and Goochland County’s precedent to allow parents to choose between full time virtual or full time in-person instruction.The low likely of transmission in children is well documented and the ramifications of not going back in person far outweigh the fear of infection. Please make your decision based on data and not fear, with a focus on what’s best for the kids, not the teachers who may be resisting going back to work in person. Most of us in the private sector do not have the option of not going back to work to do the job for which we were hired and are being paid to do. I believe the mass amounts of parents who will choose alternative measures such as private and homeschool should you decide not to reopen in September would have long term financial implications on the school system, and the “have versus have not” divide would only widen at a time when diversity and inclusion are paramount. Catering to the unreasonable demands of the CEA only empowers them for future demands. For all of these reasons, as a working parent, I implore you to give us the option to send our kids back face to face, just as the high risk population is being given the option for virtual learning. I will send my kids in a mask, pack their lunch, sign a waiver and drive them there myself if needed. Just please, let them go back to desperately needed live human interaction for their emotional well being as well as their academic success! Sincerely, Alison Conners

2020/07/17 7:39:30 AM AST Midlothian I have a rising 3rd grader in CCPS, and the only scenario that is moral at this point is virtual only school. Best case scenario (assuming only a 1% transmission rate and .65% fatality rate), in-person school in the fall will results in a 50% chance of 1 staff member (7,500 staff x 1% infection rate x 0.65% fatality rate = 0.49 deaths) and 8 dead parents and/or grandparents or other family members (as studies have shown that students are just as likely to be carriers/transmitters of COVID (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/05/health/coronavirus-children-transmission-school.html), 1/3 children tested for COVID in Florida are positive (https://www.sun- sentinel.com/coronavirus/fl-ne-pbc-health-director-covid-children-20200714-xcdall2tsrd4riim2nwokvmsxm-story.html), and assuming no children die but they bring it back to their families (130,000 family members (assuming 65,000 students have 2 parents per household and no other family members, a low estimate) x 1% infection rate x .65% fatality rate = 8.45 dead family members). This of course is just a guess based on the figures that are available, but I think it's safe to assume that this is a best case scenario, and doesn't take into account hospitalizations, and it makes the huge assumption that no children will be sick (the mortality rate of 5-14 year olds from COVID is 1/1000, but that still means a chance that a student would die). If you are fine with dealing with the fallout of a dead staff member (like this beloved teacher in AZ, https://www.cnn.com/ 2020/07/12/us/arizona-teachers-coronavirus/index.html) and 8 dead parents, then re-open schools in the fall. Note, too, that a hybrid reopening will only increase the pool of potentially infected community members, as parents will have to find childcare for the times students are not in school, increasing exposure rate to extended family, and other children and staff at daycares. The infection and death rates of COVID in Virginia are rising, and re-opening schools will only increase that rate exponentially.

2020/07/17 7:50:47 AM AST Bermuda I favor the option 4B. Having all virtual for many students, including my incoming K student, is not feasible. How would a first-time student really grasp what school and education is all about from maybe a few minute video session with a teacher he has never met and then a pile of worksheets to do? Additionally, I would implore the board to add temperature taking at the school as a mandate. It can be done. We cannot rely on families to do this. We cannot rely on the same parents that send their kids sick to school all year long in a normal year. We cannot rely on homes that have no or faulty thermometers. A fever isn't the end all, but it will help reduce risk and even remove risk of other virus outbreaks. I, like so many parents, am facing a decision to take my child to homeschool or private school if there is no in-person option.

2020/07/17 7:57:28 AM AST Midlothian Parents are being so ugly to the teachers who feel it isn’t safe to go back to school. I’ve seen parents say they will refuse to have their child wear a mask in school. Teachers are “vile” for not wanting to reopen schools. So, as a teacher, what happens if I unknowingly spread covid to a student and that student dies. How vile will I be then? What protection and rights will I have? If we have to have a consent form sent home to parents that if their child gets covid they can’t sue- then we are not ready to open schools!!! We should follow in the footsteps of Richmond. Virtual for the first 9, and then reevaluate the situation. I know that it is an inconvenience for parents, but death would be a bigger inconvenience don’t you think?

2020/07/17 8:02:26 AM AST Midlothian I do not support remote school for the 2020-2021 academic year. I believe that the students need to be in school at least part time for a successful education. I do not believe that the county is equipped to successfully teach remotely. I am very concerned about the future of our children falling behind and lot being prepared for college.

2020/07/17 8:13:25 AM AST Midlothian Please provide parents the option of five days in person for students (with safety precautions). No one disagrees that there should be a 100% virtual option. However, please allow families to make the choice that best suits them. Many of our children are struggling from an educational and social/emotional perspective and need to be in school. Equity is not possible through virtual learning. Please go in the same direction as Hanover and allow families to choose whether they prefer all virtual or all in person learning.

2020/07/17 8:14:01 AM AST Dale Please allow students to return to the classrooms. My son is going into 3rd grade. He needs direct instruction from a teacher and social interaction with peers. The reading and writing skills of the children will likely fall behind if they are not taught and practiced in school. It is hard to maintain structure and have the same high expectations for standards of work when working from home. Parents are returning to work and may not have time to give their children the necessary one on one attention needed to complete online learning successfully.

5 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/17 8:19:03 AM AST Midlothian First, I want to thank you all so much for shouldering the burden and responsibility of this incredible decision. I feel that the federal government has abandoned our local leaders. However, I want to plead with you to PLEASE allow some form of in-person learning for our students. (I have a rising K and rising 2nd grader at Bon Air ES and I was a high school teacher in RPS a few years ago. My husband is an ICU nurse, so I have perspective on the seriousness of this virus as well). I would support 5 days a week, but know that may not be possible and am just pleading for any level! Our children need it developmentally, for their mental health, for their educational attainments and to mitigate the social and economic costs of the pandemic. I believe that suffering will greatly increase from the pandemic if schools remained closed. I feel that social justice demands that schools remain open in my opinion for all students, but at the very least for English language learners and special needs students. For special needs students, I worry that if they miss a year of OT, PT and speech, some of their critical development window will close and they will have lifelong impacts to their potential. (My 21 month old had a stroke, has mild CP and hearing loss, so this is close to my heart, though early intervention has continued luckily.) Let's not delude ourselves into believing that high needs special education students can receive their services virtually. There is a true hysteria about safety right now that may lead us into overestimating the efficacy of virtual options. Furthermore, school reopening is backed by AAP and the American Academy of Sciences who both argue that there will be greater negative effects from the pandemic if schools remain closed. As far as the budget goes, where there is a will, there is a way. To me, it would be shameful to keep schools closed due to the budget. Children have a right to an education and I believe we can find the money to do this safely. We should start with planning to give our children (so vulnerable and powerless and easy to toss aside) what they are entitled to, then finding the money to do so safely so teachers can trust and be confident that they are protected, with plexiglass, social distancing, masks, outdoor classrooms, HVAC upgrades, etc. I pray for the congressional bailout, but if that doesn't come through, Edweek had some guidance in "Four Ways States can Stave Off K-12 Budgets so Schools can Reopen."

2020/07/17 8:22:18 AM AST Midlothian Unfortunately, schools should not reopen yet. It’s too much of a risk for our children, families, and teachers/staff. However, if 100% virtual is not possible, I believe that parents should be given an option to keep their kids home and do virtual learning if they choose.

2020/07/17 8:35:36 AM AST Matoaca The virtual learning is not working! Just this week my son was unable to get on the site with his teacher because The site itself was having issues. This happened every morning this week, he had a major meltdown, crying and very frustrated because he thought it was his fault. As a working parent I too am frustrated, sad for him, and feel guilty because I’m Not there to help him. Meanwhile Had a patient just YESTERDAY who was a CCPS school counselor who hasn’t been working and smokes marijuana “several times a day”. This while my tax dollars are going toward their salary, benefits, and retirement. This is why I didn’t want to share my name. Thank you and let’s please get these kids back. As a healthcare professional, that is my humble opinion.

2020/07/17 8:50:48 AM AST Matoaca Dear School Board members, I wanted to provide public comment in regards to the best modality for opening schools this fall. Last month, when given the CCPS survey Virginia's cases were down, we were entering Phase III, we believed the COVID situation was contained. But we have seen since then is what we have seen most of 2020, things change. Since many of us voted we have seen the following: *Increased knowledge of COVID-19's impact on younger populations *Documented spread at summer camps, pools, and daycares with gatherings of younger populations *Record number of cases in neighboring states with incidences of high positivity rate among children *Increased confusion among citizens on proper safety protocols, regulations, and current recommendations. In short, things have changed and will only change more in the next 6 weeks. If you ask any parent do they want their child to return to in-person school, we of course would all say yes. We also don't want our children, teachers, administrators, staff members and community at risk when there is an option to plan, strategize, and mitigate loss of life.

Therefore, if given the survey today I would vote for 100% virtual to give our community time to respond and plan accordingly to provide the best situation for our most vulnerable learners. You have a heavy task ahead of you with this vote, many of you are parents, I do not envy your choice. But know the survey results given to seem moot given the rapidly changing situation we are in. Public opinion is that - opinion. Please leverage the science and public health policy when making your decision.Thank you for your time.

2020/07/17 8:51:15 AM AST Midlothian Please send the children back to the classroom! They need to learn in a classroom with their peers and an in person teacher. Online is going to devastate the education for so many.

2020/07/17 8:58:38 AM AST Clover Hill I am a teacher and a parent at Manchester High School. As a parent, I understand how difficult this time has been for our kids, missing their friends and teachers, sometimes struggling with new material, or struggling with having no set schedule. I know we all want to get back to normal.

However, as a teacher with 21 years of experience, I can assure you that normal is impossible this year. I want to my classroom last month to see how many desks would fit in there at the supposedly safe distance of 6 feet apart. It was 8. That is less than 1/3 of my usual class size, not 50%. When I think ahead to what the classroom experience will look like, and how there can be no working in small groups, no walking up to individual desks to help a student with a question about their assignment, just standing in front of the room lecturing or monitoring, I am saddened by how little that looks like good teaching. I’m good at my job and if we must have in-person classes, I’ll do the best I can with it, but I know I could be a much better teacher during this pandemic with virtual learning, thanks to the Chromebooks and Canvas.

In the Spring, my Dual Enrollment still had to complete their semesters for college credit, so we kept going strong. I learned new features on Canvas so we could have video conferences and class discussions. I learned how to upload videos so I could record some of my lessons so that students could see me even when they couldn’t attend class meetings. I coordinated with our school librarian to have step-by-step research and technology guides for the students. I arranged one-on-one conferences with students who were struggling. Students completed group projects with shared Google Docs, discussing things over Facetime.

My daughter was in 8th grade, and she worked every day, usually working through material with her school friends over the phone. She had that socialization that parents worry about. Every week her core teachers held a meeting for students to ask questions.

Virtual learning is not as good as what we are used to. But whatever in-person learning happens this year, it won’t remotely be like it used to be. To have any modicum of safety, teachers will have to abandon most of what we know about good teaching. But most of what we know about good teaching, we can do online—and then we don’t have to risk the lives of our students and faculty and staff to do so.

2020/07/17 8:58:59 AM AST Midlothian Please consider the children and their mental health when making your decision. My daughter and many others are craving time wine their friends and teachers. For many of us the virtual option just doesn’t work. My daughter needs the interaction with her peers and direct instruction from her teachers. I am a teacher and a mom and I am so ready to return to the classroom. We NEED in person school! Please consider an in person option.

2020/07/17 9:05:28 AM AST Midlothian Chesterfield County and its leadership has always based its decisions in a student centric way and I have faith they will continue to do so. We are all anxious to "get back to normal"; I would like to note there is no longer such thing as normal. The only tool we have effective in combating this global pandemic is isolating. No one likes it and it removes many social norms that are incredibly healthy for our children like socialization and routine, but I would like to err on the side of safety. There is no reason to experiment with our children's lives by counting on numbers which don't necessarily apply in the current situation and clinging to social norms which do not exist. That said, I would suggest something like organized sports or clubs might be a way for those students willing and interested in socializing and establishing normalcy to ease back into groups of students without overwhelming numbers. Thank you for all your hard work and tough decisions in an impossible situation.

2020/07/17 9:07:44 AM AST Clover Hill Please vote for full 5 days back to school with the option for those who would like to do virtual may do so for the grading period as Hanover schools has done. Give teachers that are at high risk the opportunity to teach the virtual students. Reports has shown it is in the best interest for children to go back. Less than 1% of Virginia’s have been effected by Covid. The impact to the children of losing even a part of the school year, will only hurt them further. How do you expect parents to be able to support being home when they have to work? Hasn’t we caused enough pain and suffering to families both mentally and financially? I agree that there are risks, but give that options to the individual parents and students to make a choice for themselves. CCPS has an opportunity to give the tax payers the choice to choose between what works for them. Don’t put everyone in the same box as it will cause more harm than good. Ask yourself, how many people are really fully quarantined along with their children? Do you not think children haven’t been socializing with friends already? They have been out and socializing, so then they should be able to go to school.

2020/07/17 9:19:35 AM AST Dale As teacher and parent in CCPS, i am deeply concerned about returning to the classroom for me and my students and own children. In my house we will be subject to 3 petri dishes of possible infections. When one of us is exposed, we are all exposed, thus meaning all 3 schools we attend on a daily basis will be infected. When one of us is sick or exposed, then we will all need to quarantine. My classroom is small but mighty. If i were to try to follow CDC guidelines, i may be able to fit a maximum of 15-20 kids, if some of them stand. My classes are and hour and a half long. My biggest concern would be the supply of ppe and materials neccesary to dissinfect my room. My room has never been fully funded with those sort of " extra" supplies and i usuallu purchase my own. Will I still be expected to supply those materials during a global pandemic? Where will the county draw funds to supply the materials needed and how will we ensure we have enough to go around?

2020/07/17 9:21:38 AM AST Bermuda I believe that we should have a hybrid of options for students. Where those who want i school class can go and those who want virtual 100% can have that option.

2020/07/17 9:22:21 AM AST Midlothian We need to have a structured set up if we’re virtual in smaller sessions or utilizing breakout groups via zoom. Students need 1:1 time with teachers 15-30 mins a week.

2020/07/17 9:23:12 AM AST Matoaca 100% virtual learning

2020/07/17 9:24:16 AM AST Bermuda The survey asked what people WANTED. People want their life back and that can't happen. A hybrid return allows for people to not lose jobs and there be a meet in the middle.

2020/07/17 9:26:29 AM AST Clover Hill Is the board taking into consideration the rise of juvenile/pediatric positive CoVid results? We have kept our kids safe since March. Now that people are going out more, sending kids to camps, etc, kids are more exposed than before and thus, contracting it more.

Is the county taking into consideration that out of 95 counties in Virginia, Chesterfield county is number 3 for most positive CoVid cases? Given that fact, we should be one of the most cautious counties in the state when thinking about what school looks like in the fall.

2020/07/17 9:28:53 AM AST Midlothian I write to support full in-school education for our County's public school students. Though I have strong political views, I have never in my life been called upon to directly petition any elected representatives about a specific issue until now. This issue is both personal to me (I have two elementary age students) and a matter of national importance. As to the personal, I firmly believe that my children must be part of an in-school academic environment. Anything less is insufficient. The County's attempt at virtual instruction during the Spring of 2020 was an obvious failure for all, despite the good intentions of many. There is simply no competent way to educate students over the computer, and this is especially true of elementary school students. The benefits of hands on education and social interaction are not up for debate. But I believe this is a bigger issue for our country. We need to get our kids back to school for the sake of our society and its future. Never in our history have we even contemplated what some are advocating now. Not during war or prior pandemics. Notwithstanding most scientific studies that have concluded that students can return to school safely, I am not blind to the risks. But we are Americans. Every day, we take risks -- big and small -- so our families, our communities and our countrymen can have a better life. There may never be a cure for COVID-19 and we should not be willing to continue sacrificing our children’s futures out of fear. If we can go to restaurants, bookstores and grocery stores, our kids can go to school. If our law enforcement, our doctors and nurses can care for the sick, our teachers can return to school with proper safeguards to protect their health. I urge you to make the bold decision that the City of Richmond cowered from and give our children the education they are legally and morally entitled to. We will all be the better for it. God bless you in your consideration of this important issue.

2020/07/17 9:32:53 AM AST Midlothian There are a myriad of reasons why we need to start school virtually 100%. I won’t go into all those reasons here as I’m sure you have been bombarded with science. I will say that even in a non-Covid year my priority for my students is safety first then we can learn. Please make the right decision. Please let CCPS start 100% virtual learning.

2020/07/17 9:38:29 AM AST Matoaca Please open school! My son requires special education and needs to be taught in person. Virtual schooling/homeschooling does not work for him. I work full time and cannot be his teacher. Finishing the last school year virtually was awful. He could not focus on the computer tasks and needed his 1:1 instruction that he usually gets from school. Working full time in the home means that I cannot provide him the 1:1 instruction he needs as I simply do not have the time. It's not fair to students like him who cannot learn virtually. So while his same age peers without disabilities may be able to learn virtually, he cannot. He has already regressed greatly and shouldn't have to lose more in the fall. Please choose an option that allows parents who are comfortable sending their children back to school to do so. I cannot be a full time working adult, a full time parent, and a full time special education teacher. The mental and physical drain over the last four months, and continuing through the summer is not sustainable. Parents are suffering and so are our children. My oldest is missing his friends greatly, this is affecting our children's mental health as well. If sports, dance, and other activities are open, then school should be open. I'm shocked that our kid's academics and mental health is being thrown to the side. When is enough, enough? When will the numbers be low enough? When will it be "safe"? This is a terrible slippery slope of decision making that will have drastic long term effects on our children. Please open school!

2020/07/17 9:39:08 AM AST Matoaca For the safety of teachers and students, the virtual training should be expanded and robust for this school year. If the county cannot commit to the full school year, at least take it one semester at a time. Provide teachers with the tools and resources they need to be successful--why are you requiring them to be in the building if they're going to teach virtually? This defeats the purpose. The teacher and bus driver shortage don't make for safe distancing for anyone. The virus is worse NOW than when schools closed in March, I'd like to understand any reasoning the county has for attempting to provide in-person teaching (it's not like the socialization aspect is going to be normal--nothing is normal). Obviously I would love to send my child in person, but the reality of Kindergartners wearing masks, distancing and teachers being able to help them learn in that environment seems worse.

2020/07/17 9:46:42 AM AST Matoaca Good afternoon. I am a teacher here in the county for several years. I love teaching and have taught many students from elementary through secondary. Thank you for your time and your consideration during this terrible time for our nation/our world.

I am asking the school board to vote to begin the school year virtually. Our physical plants are woefully Unprepared to accept students in a safe manner during this pandemic. HVAC air handling issues; lack of consistent running water; windows that do not open; rooms that are overcrowded; lack of mask wearing mandate; liability issues should anyone become ill/die from Covid-19 are all valid and real concerns for my students as well as for me. We will make virtual learning work. This time is unprecedented and calls for unprecedented decision-making.

2020/07/17 9:48:56 AM AST Clover Hill Please give teachers a choice in how they will be able to safely return back to work. For me personally, I have an autoimmune disorder, my sister is pregnant (also a teacher) and we are caretakers for my both of my parents who have serious medical conditions. I would be horrified if I brought anything home to them. I know I am not unique in this circumstance. We all want to go back. I want to go back so badly. I feel like I don’t have a purpose not being in front of my kids day to day. However, we are being told that essentially we can take FMLA or apply for an ADA waiver if we want to teach virtually due to circumstances like mine. None of my doctors are ethically able to write a note, even with my circumstances, because I am not physically unable to work as stated in the guidelines. I’m hearing this from friends with similar issues. I believe in choice as well, for students/ parents AND teachers. The county isn’t coming out and saying we as teachers have a choice or giving us a realistic option to teach virtually for health reasons—this is where the frustration lies. We know sanitation has always been an issue. I love my kids, I love my job, I love my school but I love my life and my family more and won’t feel selfish for saying that. We just want options as teachers. We have been left in the dark during this decision making process. It is shameful and not right. Please communicate and work with us. We all want what is best. We have to be smart.

2020/07/17 9:59:43 AM AST Midlothian Please allow our children to go back to school in person in the fall. The likelihood of our children contracting covid and or spreading it to the faculty is so small given the overall spread of the disease in our county. Everyone has become so scared of making the politically incorrect decisions and it is going to severely negatively impact our children. The only way I see online learning being even slightly effective is by having students log in to each particular class that is tought by video by the teacher. I do not believe our county has the capacity to do that. Our kids are going to have a severe learning deficit if they do not go back in person. Please do not do that to them.

2020/07/17 10:00:43 AM AST Dale I think half virtual half in school the first 9 weeks then take it from there for the safety of students and children. This will help if we jump in cases and on top have a bad flu season.

6 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/17 10:15:17 AM AST Clover Hill A month ago on voted on the survey for the 2 day option, but in the past month there has been more information come to light. For that reason, I am now asking for 100% virtual. Not only have we seen increasing numbers in many states, our own included, but we now know more about the impact on younger populations. There has been spread in camps, pools, and daycares. The reason the transmission rate had been so low is because kids were the first and perhaps one of the most strictly quarantined groups, and rightly so. We cannot ignore WHY they were quarantined and the cause for that action. Simply based on that, NO ONE can accurately predict if kids will be safe because they have not been together in this great number since COVID began.

Also, I have a 6 year old. He has shown to be incapable of fully distancing himself, and I fully question whether he will be diligent in mask-wearing and hand washing. My 8 year old, on the other hand, is great at distancing but will get very anxious when others don’t. I do not want to put him in an environment that spikes his anxiety, as it WILL affect his ability to learn.

We also do not know what the lifelong implications there may be from COVID. We need TIME for exploration and study of this virus before we bring our children and teachers/staff back together.

We are seeing increased numbers in Chesterfield. I am not at all comfortable with exposing my children for 7+ hours/day, even for only 2 days. Also, we have concerns for teachers and staff as well, as they take on a risk that they shouldn’t have to.

I ask that you vote for 100% for virtual through AT LEAST the remainder of 2020, and revisit and remain flexible as we know more about this virus over the next 6 months. Having a fixed mindset in this situation will cost lives. I implore you to use a growth mindset, grow and adapt as we learn about COVID-19. We are fixed if we think we know enough about this virus to put kids back in school.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

2020/07/17 10:21:01 AM AST Clover Hill Please choose starting school under Option 6 as it is the safest. We can always switch gears at 9 weeks or semester. As you stated you use the CDC for guidance,the following is from their website cdc.gov:

Guiding Principles to Keep in Mind The more people a student or staff member interacts with, and the longer that interaction, the higher the risk of COVID-19 spread. The risk of COVID-19 spread increases in school settings as follows:

Lowest Risk: Students and teachers engage in virtual-only classes, activities, and events.

More Risk: Small, in-person classes, activities, and events. Groups of students stay together and with the same teacher throughout/across school days and groups do not mix. Students remain at least 6 feet apart and do not share objects (e.g., hybrid virtual and in-person class structures, or staggered/rotated scheduling to accommodate smaller class sizes).

Highest Risk: Full sized, in-person classes, activities, and events. Students are not spaced apart, share classroom materials or supplies, and mix between classes and activities.

2020/07/17 10:22:30 AM AST Clover Hill Dr. Fauci:

This virus is not to be taken lightly, even with kids. Children can and are getting very sick.

We need 6 months to maybe a year or more before we can see if there are long lasting health effects for survivors.

With heart, lung, and brain damage showing up in healthy adults around the world, there is no way we can expose kids to this right now. It is not safe. You need to protect them.

My granddaughter will be in K, there is no way she can attend with these unknowns.

Teachers and children will be violently sick and some will die. Are you ready to have that on your hands?

Improvements have been made in virtual instruction. Kids will learn and will improve. They will be safe. There is no other choice than totally virtual.

2020/07/17 10:23:20 AM AST Midlothian Please consider the changes that have occurred since the completion of the survey one month ago. Our state has seen an increase in numbers and that especially in children. My response one month ago vastly differs to my response now. Please open 100% virtual for the first quarter.

2020/07/17 10:26:11 AM AST Midlothian Distance only for the first 9 weeks

2020/07/17 10:30:54 AM AST Midlothian I want my child learning in person , in school. Virtual learning does not work!!

2020/07/17 10:33:27 AM AST Bermuda Children would not be safe in schools @ 100% capacity with this virus. Please do not choose that option for the first semester of this school year. 50% capacity at the most would be safest.

2020/07/17 10:38:05 AM AST Bermuda Our children should not be put at risk to attend in-person instruction at 100% capacity. At most in-person instruction should be 50% with rotating days for all to attend. The teachers and staff should not be put at risk.

2020/07/17 10:45:34 AM AST Midlothian Our kids need to be in school! Please consider at the least having them go part time . This is critical for their development and learning.

2020/07/17 10:49:19 AM AST Matoaca Please vote to allow virtual instruction for those that want it, and regular, in-person instruction for the rest. This will reduce the number of children in school (to allow social distancing) and will meet the needs of most families.

2020/07/17 10:50:10 AM AST Clover Hill I request that the survey results from the parent surveys be released to the public. It is my understanding that 82% of parents replied that they wish to have the children to return to school in person this fall. I request, as a tax paying citizen, that the complete results from this survey be released publicly to all Chesterfield parents. If in fact the 82 % is correct, I would find it very upsetting if they school board votes against in-person school as it is desired by an overwhelming majority. Despite the hesitancy of the teachers, it is imperative for our children's mental stability to return to school 5 days this fall. Anything less could have far more reaching ramifications than the virus will cause.

Please provide this much needed transparency at this time by publishing the survey results ASAP.

2020/07/17 10:51:55 AM AST Clover Hill I am concerned that we are worse off than we were in March, and we are being asked to go back into the buildings. What has changed from when Dr. Daughtery closed the schools in March to protect us, to where we are today?

2020/07/17 11:02:02 AM AST Matoaca Please send the kids back to school with the option for virtual learning for those who don't feel safe. If cost is becoming a problem, then ask the community for support (i.e. PPE) You will get the support because kids need to be in school!

2020/07/17 11:09:16 AM AST Midlothian Clearly in school learning is the recommend route for learning - especially for younger children. Pediatricians agree that this is the preferred route. In the board survey 82% of parents chose this route. With in school and virtual learning children and parents have a choice. With only 100% virtual learning there is no choice and it goes directly against the will of your constituents, recommendations by pediatricians and how other counties and private schools are doing it. Please listen to your own survey and don’t undervalue in classroom learning.

2020/07/17 11:18:40 AM AST Clover Hill I write in response to the frenzy that is being created by the teachers union. Have the teachers been polled to see how many would like to return to in-person school this fall? I have read that in Henrico, a poll was conducted and the majority of teachers want to return to school. My concern is that a small, but loud group of teachers is leading the charge for all virtual school this fall. I understand their concern, but the needs of my child are important too. I have watched her mental health decline since March and worry about her social isolation. My wife works in preschool/daycare and these schools have been open in come cases for months. And the teachers are safe as many protocols have been put in place. My next door neighbor teaches in a private school and will return to school in a few weeks. Why should Public School teachers not have to return to their classrooms like all the other educators in the country?

2020/07/17 11:20:55 AM AST Midlothian I have one question for each member of the board to think about: our government has stated that ABC stores are essential and must stay open throughout this pandemic. Do you think that schools and our children’s futures are not essential? Social interaction and in person learning are the pillars of grade school and your answer to this question above should indicate whether you have our children’s best interest in mind.

2020/07/17 11:34:38 AM AST Midlothian I am NOT in support of 100% virtual learning. The mental health component far outweighs the risk of covid complications. Truly, I believe that it is in the best interest of our students to be physically at school with absolute wearing of face masks. If needed, diverting school buses to areas where they are needed more in the county seems reasonable, so that parents will be responsible for getting their children to school. Maybe having waves of students arrive and depart would help address the arrival/departure issue.

2020/07/17 11:35:17 AM AST Clover Hill How is CCPS working to create a multi sensory, hands on, non media, based curriculum for k-3 learners to use during the virtual schooling?

2020/07/17 11:36:48 AM AST Matoaca School 5 days a week in person

2020/07/17 11:38:44 AM AST Midlothian How will we manage school fees? My parents mostly do not have a way to pay online. They pay with cash. And usually require change. Our fees nights are shoulder to shoulder with teachers/staff/parents/student. How can we manage this safely? I am at FCMS.

2020/07/17 11:45:59 AM AST Midlothian I do not have a child in special education. SPED and other high risk groups are my top priority for in school instruction. This is not easy for any family, but different groups are more adversely affected than others. If prioritizing certain groups for in-person instruction, the children who are most likely to have significant deficits/regression need to come first. (Also, one child has an IEP for speech. I would not include her in a high priority group. Some IEPs are more difficult than others to accomplish online, and the risk of regression with some IEPs is more severe than others.)

2020/07/17 11:46:41 AM AST Midlothian I believe education is the great equalizer! I believe education is important! I moved into Chesterfield County to raise my children because of the level of excellence in education. If we truly believe it, we need to act on that belief and give our students the best education we can give them. And online is NOT the best we have to offer.

DO NOT take the choice away from YOUR constituents! I hope we can count on you to do what's best for ALL our students.

2020/07/17 11:56:51 AM AST Midlothian My hope is this discussion and decision remain bipartisan. Our children need in school learning and accountability- even if it’s only 2 days per week. 100% online schooling is NOT acceptable.

2020/07/17 12:07:49 PM AST Matoaca Please make a 5-day in-person option a choice for families. I have two children in CCPS schools. My rising 9th graded worked incredibly hard to get accepted into Monacan’s HPT program. This is a program meant to be completed in person. A hands-on program can not be completed well online. Please look at the research in Europe. Sending children back to school did not results in covid spikes. Additionally, research coming out this week emphasizes that the most likely way to transmit the virus is the fecal-oral route, not respiratory. This requires washing hands, not masks. Please allow our children a sense of normalcy in their schools. Send them back with a 5-day option. Without it, you will be responsible for leaving an entire generation of children behind.

2020/07/17 12:10:14 PM AST Dale I am an ESL teacher at Falling Creek Middle School, where I have taught since 2002. I would like to comment on a consideration for the opening of schools that is related to English learners, and that impacts the safety all students and school personnel.

During the spring semester, three of the ESL students who I was teaching in three of my virtual classrooms contracted COVID-19, along with their parents and siblings. Falling Creek Middle is located in the 23234 zip code, which has among the highest numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state, according to the Virginia Department of Health. The other schools located in the 23234 zip code are Falling Creek Elementary, Hening Elementary, Hopkins Elementary, and Meadowbrook High School. Each of these schools serves hundreds of ELs, and together the schools have a combined enrollment of 1,315 ELs in levels 1 - 4, according to the most recent VDOE reports.

When I wrote to express my concern that we don’t have adequate resources or space to safely teach our large number of ELs in levels 1 - 4 five days a week as proposed in the hybrid options, in part because classrooms will already be occupied by socially distanced groups of students who will fill the building on alternating days, school board member Kathryn Haines responded, “If we do have some in person instruction for our most vulnerable, it would need to be done in a way that ensured social distancing. This would include using multiple schools if a school had a larger ESL population.”

Sending ELs from the larger ESL-population schools in 23234 into multiple schools in the division would likely mean bringing students from high-incidence COVID-19 communities into schools in neighborhoods where infection numbers are currently relatively low. This solution to the problem of insufficient space could have terrible, tragic consequences.

Earlier this month, the American Academy of Pediatrics released a statement urging a safe return to school this fall, which says: "schools in areas with high levels of COVID-19 community spread should not be compelled to reopen..."

Until it is possible to fully ensure a safe return to in-person instruction, in consideration of the safety of my English learners, as well as all students and school personnel, I urge you to adopt Option 6.

2020/07/17 12:10:27 PM AST Dale I am concerned about inequities with either reopening plan. We need to be thoughtful of our underprivileged and SPED students.

2020/07/17 12:17:10 PM AST Midlothian I ask that you consider an Option 7 for returning to school - Five days in person instruction. If you will not do this, then please let us know why? We also need to get the exact criteria you are using for your vote on returning to school. If there are reports and/or guidelines you are using, I think you should make them public. If you have already done this, then please send a message to parents with links to your voting criteria. Thank you!

2020/07/17 12:27:46 PM AST Midlothian I strongly request that you consider 5 days in school with all virtual option for those that can not safely come to school. Most children are at a huge disadvantage with just virtual learning, and need to be in school. The mental impact this is having is incredibly sad to see. Let alone children who rely on school as their safe space and to eat. We are letting our children down and making decisions by fear. 82% of chesterfield parents support their children being back in school full time, please listen to your constituents.

Science supports this. Children (under the age of 19) do not suffer significant illness from this virus. ZERO pediatric deaths in the Commonwealth of Virginia and at most 30 deaths in children nationwide. Moreover, children do not transmit this virus to other children or adults. The medical literature has dozens of peer reviewed published studies which document the essentially zero risk schools pose in spreading this illness to teachers, parents, or other adults in the school setting. The American Academy of Pediatrics has endorsed children returning to school in person for full attendance.

Teachers are essential workers and we are doing our children a great disservice by not strongly considering 5 day school. Why can clerks work at grocery stores non stop since March and daycare workers manage for months too but teachers can’t?

Also if we for whatever reason can not get all children back in school 5 days then we need to prioritize the most vulnerable of our students SPED/IEP/504. The lack of services these students have received since mid march is appalling.

CCPS we need to do better.

2020/07/17 12:31:22 PM AST Midlothian I am a mom to two elementary age children this year. I am in favor of a return to school with a modified schedule to accommodate for safety of students, teachers and staff - while allowing those in high-risk home situations to opt for remote learning/teaching. The medical community has clearly stated that safely returning to school is not only possible but encouraged. Our community needs to lean toward expert recommendation over political agenda. We have put our trust in you all to vote the same.

7 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/17 12:31:55 PM AST Clover Hill Greetings to you- First of all, let me say, we as a family have been praying for our leaders within in our community and education systems regarding the difficult decisions you will be making for in person education this school year. Difficult decisions lie ahead for you all as you navigate a season of “what-ifs” and unknowns. We will continue to pray for you all, regardless of the decisions made that we agree or disagree with. That being said, our daughter participates with the Special education program at Grange Hall Elementary School and quite frankly, virtual learning will not be beneficial and advantageous for her and so many of her classmates. Please consider the evidence that suggests that while COVID-19 can be a serious illness for some, the vast majority, especially children, are effected mildly or not at all. Also, consider that for those that acquire this virus, it is a largely recoverable illness. We personally know two people that had Covid 19, each with several co-morbidities and according to some sources, shouldn’t have recovered. They both are doing well and have made complete recoveries. We understand that none of us truly understand how this illness operates but we also understand that there are risks to everything we each participate with in our lives. Safety is important but if safety becomes the primary impetus for every activity, our children will live in isolation and never experience life. I allow my children to ride in cars, knowing there may be a possibility of being struck by a driver driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. I instruct my kids to wear seatbelts, drive the speed limit, be watchful of others driving erratically but I still allow them to ride/drive in vehicles, despite the understanding that they could be injured or killed by someone else’s or even their own negligence. Please allow our children to resume 5 day in person instruction, with the understanding to use good hand washing techniques, covering coughs/sneezes, mask wearing if appropriate, increased cleaning protocols, and common sense. Thank you for your time and willingness to listen.

2020/07/17 12:35:09 PM AST Midlothian A teacher told me that the information that children learn in school can be taught in approximately 2-4 hours without the “filler” throughout the day. I am concerned that my son Will get behind if left to be self taught. I am a single mom, work full time and my son will be in child care on the days that he’s not in school. I would prefer that he go to school M-F for 2-4 hours a day (whether morning or afternoon) and actually get his education by being taught by a teacher that so he can ask questions and get the socialization that comes along with school. Going to child care multiple times a week keeps him equally exposed but minus the education. I would prefer that he go to school daily even if it is for a shorter time period.

2020/07/17 12:35:38 PM AST Matoaca School should remain 100% virtual until there is proven and effective treatment for this pandemic. My employer isn't letting us go back to the office until 2021 but school districts are pandering the idea of sending our kids to school with others? You cannot control what others do outside of your school walls and that kids (parents) will adhere to state safety guidelines while not in school. Therefore, the risk has not been mitigated, no matter how much cleaning and mask wearing you attempt to enforce. As such, you cannot guarantee my childrens safety at school. I am will not play viral roulette with the lives our our children and nor should Chesterfield County.

2020/07/17 12:36:52 PM AST Midlothian I'd like to see CCPS make the thought decision based on COVID cases rising across the country. This would mean virtual learning for at least the first semester (not first 9 weeks).

This would give time for numbers to decline and keep everyone safe.

2020/07/17 12:59:16 PM AST Matoaca I thank the School Board Members for their work. I urge the School Board to vote for 100% virtual instruction for the start of the 2020-2021 School year. The decision will impact the health and safety for not only students and staff, but also the entire Chesterfield Community as these students and staff go home to their families. Ms Haines posed a question this week asking why School Board members are making decisions which have such an impact on Public Health when they have not received sufficient information. This is a valid question and recognizes that the school board has not been provided with enough information to know if it is possible to keep students and staff safe in an in person format. Given this fact, the best and safest decision is to select 100 % virtual instruction.

I am a school nurse with CCPS and a mother of two children who attend CCPS. I am speaking up urging the School Board to select Option 6 because I believe it is my professional obligation to advocate for the safety of our community. According to information from VDH, Chesterfield cases of COVID are currently higher than other areas in Virginia. There are numerous scientific, peer-reviewed journal articles that have recently been published detailing the long term health affects that have occurred following COVID infections, some documenting serious neurological and cardiac problems for children. Over 295 children in the United States have been diagnosed with MIS-C (Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome Associated with COVID) since May, during a time when most children have been at home. New information about COVID is being released daily. As a community, we must not only be concerned with potential deaths to students and staff, but also effects on long term health that may occur with bringing children and staff back into buildings at this time.

Learning can be effective in a virtual format. The CCPS Summer Recovery of Learning program is different than virtual instruction offered last Spring. Many districts in our region and nation have already voted for a 100% virtual format to start the school year. In 1937 in Chicago and other cities, children received instruction via radio to protect them from polio outbreaks. There are precedents for virtual instruction. Please give our community the gift of safety and time to better address the concerns that are present related to in-person instruction. Vote for 100% virtual instruction. Thank you.

2020/07/17 1:09:33 PM AST Unsure Please consider the fact that if schools are closed then most children will be sent to daycare full time where I feel it will be even harder to social distance. I also seriously doubt that the daycares are set up to assist kids with virtual learning. So now they are still at risk of Covid with fewer chances to learn. I feel that the hybrid option would make the problem worse with children spreading germs from school, daycare and home. The best choices are 100% virtual or 100% face to face.

2020/07/17 1:12:33 PM AST Matoaca As you consider your decision on Monday I ask you to consider the fact that children are extremely low risk regarding contracting and passing along the virus. The mental impacts of not being in school far outweigh the physical risk of COVID contraction. Science is on the side of allowing children to be in school. I ask that you allow for children to be in school 5 days a week and give the option for virtual school to those who are uncomfortable sending their kids in to the buildings each day. Thank you for your consideration. I am hopeful that you will make the decision that 82% of what the Chesterfield County parents voted for from one of your recent surveys, to have out children in the classroom. Please do not bow to the political masses in the CEA, NEA, BLM our governor’s office and other liberal movements.

2020/07/17 1:14:40 PM AST Dale While I really want my kids back to school, I only want it done in a safe manner. One of my children has asthma and I worry about him. My daughter has been doing a great job with virtual school but I know my son needs more in person. I feel it is necessary to use a lot of common sense and it is nearly impossible to make sure everyone is following the same common sense. Common sense to me is wash your hands consistently, maintain distancing, if you or someone in your household is sick with a fever or any symptoms of COVID then the whole family stays home. Teachers still should be able to help the kids with their things, they just need to clean hands before and after touching the child's property. While I do feel it is feasible to apply this common sense and have kids back in school full time, I do not feel it is feasible to have this happen within the whole county the way it is set up now. I would be very pro the kids in school if classroom sizes are 12 and under. If class room sizes can be kept small and the kids will stay home if themselves or family members are sick then I'm ok with in person 100%. But I also don't believe this is possible so I want the hybrid model. I also want a way for my kids to do virtual work if they have to stay home sick. When my son gets a cold he sounds like he has croup for a week which is partly his asthma. When this happens I want him to stay home but I also want him to be able to keep learning because he isn't stuck to his bed type of sick. I hope Chesterfield votes for the hybrid model of 2 days at school and 3 days home. This is my number one pick. Then if it comes down to full time in school vs. full time virtual I want virtual over full time.

2020/07/17 1:15:44 PM AST Clover Hill Hi, please consider an all virtual approach for at least the first semester. Our family consists of two daycare professionals and a highly asthmatic child, plus our soon to be kindergartener, so the risk would be high that my son or one of us would accidentally expose our daughter. At least with virtual learning we’d be able to limit the exposure to just our jobs and not the 5 year olds I know to be less than hygienic. Thanks!

2020/07/17 1:25:31 PM AST Matoaca The virtual learning is not working! Just this week my son was unable to get on the site with his teacher because The site itself was having issues. This happened every morning this week, he had a major meltdown, crying and very frustrated because he thought it was his fault. As a working parent I too am frustrated, sad for him, and feel guilty because I’m Not there to help him. Meanwhile Had a patient just YESTERDAY who was a CCPS school counselor who hasn’t been working and smokes marijuana “several times a day”. This while my tax dollars are going toward their salary, benefits, and retirement. This is why I didn’t want to share my name. Thank you and let’s please get these kids back. As a healthcare professional, that is my humble opinion.

2020/07/17 1:25:50 PM AST Matoaca Please DO NOT consider sending our children and educational staff back into the school until there are safety measures in place for all.

2020/07/17 1:29:03 PM AST Midlothian The time has come for our students to be back in the classroom daily! Maybe CCPS should consider being the confident county that led the state in being most concerned about our children. We have already had one child commit suicide, opioid use is through the roof and child abuse reports are at a record low. Record low is NOT a good thing! Our teachers and administrators are the ones who could see and report abuse on a daily basis. Where is the concern for our most vulnerable population? Let’s discuss equity since that’s a big word being used lately. The equity gap is going to grow exponentially if we cannot get the students in the classroom with the teachers who are trained to teach! Complete virtual learning is a non starter. Are classes going to be held via internet on a daily basis at the time they would be held in person? Have teachers been training all summer for this possibility? What are our teachers supposed to do with their own children while they are supposed to be teaching hundreds of other children, as that is the job they are being paid to perform? Teachers and students are simply not prepared for online learning. What is the “acceptable loss” number that has been set by risk management for the students who will be completely left behind in this educational fiasco in which we find ourselves? Covid 19 has become a political play thing that is being used to handicap our children! Stand up, be strong and confident, get our children in the classroom!

2020/07/17 1:53:04 PM AST Midlothian I wanted to respectfully reach out to the board to advocate for special education needs for our children that have IEPs. My son is scheduled to be a rising kindergartener this year. He has made tremendous progress through the work he has done with SPED through preschool along with OT and other therapies. We have had nothing but excellent experiences with the CCPS SPED team throughout the process of evaluation, getting an IEP and then starting services in the fall of 2019.My concern is that once the switch was made to virtual, the services that worked for my son were essentially lost and his progress has quickly regressed, even with a tremendous amount of effort at home. He is unable to effectively participate in Zoom calls and email links and worksheets are largely unhelpful for his learning.

I mainly wanted to stress that because my son only has Level 1 SPED services, I understand his needs and challenges may not be as apparent but it has taken years of continued therapies, special education services, medication trials, doctor's visits, etc to help get to this point and ready for kindergarten. With whatever decision is made (with either 2 days a week or 100% virtual sounding the most likely) the gap in abilities will widen between neurotypical children and children with special education needs. Even at a SPED Level 1, without a real enhanced level of service from the regular curriculum, he and students like him will regress further and more quickly than their peers.

It would be great once whatever decision is made, that a survey or task force of parents with children with IEP's could be started to help teachers and parents communicate about the challenges and work collaboratively for creative solutions.This would be especially helpful for the pre-k-3rd grade students who really struggle with virtual learning. Thanks again for your consideration and work at the board level.

As a school RN, I understand the complex safety measures needed to help keep our teachers and children healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic and respect all the work the board is doing to help ensure the safety for everyone in following the CDC, VDH and Governor's Guidelines. It doesn't feel like there is a right decision in the midst of this difficult disease. Thank you for everything you are doing and taking the needs of all of our students into consideration.

2020/07/17 1:53:33 PM AST Matoaca Send our kids back to school full time in person!

2020/07/17 1:55:43 PM AST Midlothian I am a middle school teacher in Chesterfield County. As I've listened to the Q&A sessions, read ACT minutes, and reviewed safe practices per the Governor of Virginia I can come to only one conclusion about the fall of 2020. We need to return to school in an 100% virtual manner. Safety is the only criteria that should be reviewed and at this point in time there is not a safe mechanism in place for teachers and students. The Governor, on July 15th, adopted workplace safety rules to protect Virginia workers. He states "Workers should not have to sacrifice their health and safety to earn a living, especially during an ongoing global pandemic." One standard is employees are required to socially distance and wear mask. In a classroom, at even half capacity, I will have between 12 and 15 students, and three classes worth (I teach Algebra 1). My space is approximately 20ft x 30ft. Masks will need to be required as 6 feet apart will not be realistic. Then the typical classroom atmosphere of group work, collaboration, one-on-one assistance cannot take place and maintain these safety standards. In a virtual environment I can offer all of that and more. I have spent my summer training for 100% virtual so that I can provide the robust, engaging learning children deserve. However, if I am forced into the classroom, I will have no other choice but to keep students at a distance from me and one another. Their learning environment will not look like it did a year ago. And they do deserve more. I know there is a lot of push to put children back in the classroom, but we must, as a society, look at the bigger picture. We can educate virtually. There is no reason to put anyone's lives at risk to make this happen. Thank you for your time.

2020/07/17 1:57:34 PM AST Midlothian My family and I filled out the CCPS survey several weeks ago, but since then it feels like the situation has changed, and we would strongly prefer that school resume in an all-virtual format. With COVID-19 cases rapidly increasing across the country and in our county, this feels like the safest option for our students, teachers, administration, and ancillary staff. Our pediatrician's office sent out a message yesterday warning that they have seen a sudden and dramatic increase in positive coronavirus tests in children, toddlers through 21year olds. They also stated that they expect the virus to spread rapidly in our locality over the next few weeks. All virtual education is the most prudent option at this time. Thank you.

2020/07/17 1:57:38 PM AST Midlothian I have already filled out all the surveys, sent letters to my board member, and signed petitions. I have no further comment beyond asking that as a courtesy and respect for the parents and teachers of this community who have some difficult plans and decisions to make before the beginning of the school year, please only vote for an option that you are CERTAIN you will be able to sustain regardless of what happens or is likely to happen with the coronavirus situation in the next 7 weeks.

As a community of parents and teachers, this has been a very stressful several months. Please don't vote in a way that may require your plans for school reopening to change at the last minute because, ultimately, the plan you select tonight, simply can't be sustained.

2020/07/17 2:05:10 PM AST Bermuda I want to comment on the Action Item "Opening of Schools." I am a CCPS teacher who has worked for the last six years at Harrowgate Elementary. I listened to several town halls and have read through the FAQs (thank you for taking the time to answer and share those with us) and I appreciate the attention the school system has given to the research and evidence. I know I join many Chesterfield educators in thanking you for your thoughtful answer to question three (on pages 2/3). It is clear that you understand that children could be at risk of contracting the virus if we reopen schools and could also then transmit the virus to adult school staff as well as their families. I never stop thinking about how many of my students live with their grandparents as their primary guardians. I know that, more often than not, these students have already experienced the trauma of custody battles or losing one or more guardians and the idea that they might bring the virus at home to their high-risk guardians haunts me. I thank you for your energy spent reviewing guidance from the CDC and the VDH, as well I'm sure as the numbers coming out of day care centers and summer camps across the US. I know that a hard decision is upon you; I do not envy you the responsibility nor the backlash you will receive regardless of your choice. I trust that you can see that children all across our country and around the world have been getting sick, spreading the virus to the community, and even dying after returning to school, day care, and summer camps in recent months. I hope that you will make the best decision for what Dr. Taylor says is our #1 responsibility: the safety of our students; and choose Option #6 for the first Nine Weeks or first Semester until we can assess that the state of transmission is improved or a vaccine can become available.

2020/07/17 2:16:18 PM AST Midlothian Attend school five days a week

2020/07/17 2:49:01 PM AST Midlothian Hello, I would like the board to strongly consider a hybrid model of at least two days a week of in person school for elementary aged students. This model will allow for safety as well as an enriched eductional and social school year. In my opinion it is detrimental to students and parents if the only option is 100% virtual. You are essentially leaving behind those children of first responders and other parents who must work outside of the home. It is an extreme financial burden as well that would be placed on these families. I ask you to please vote for a hybrid model for back to school.

2020/07/17 2:57:00 PM AST Midlothian I am a mom to two elementary age children this year. I am in favor of a return to school with a modified schedule to accommodate for safety of students, teachers and staff - while allowing those in high-risk home situations to opt for remote learning/teaching. The medical community has clearly stated that safely returning to school is not only possible but encouraged. Our community needs to lean toward expert recommendation over political agenda. We have put our trust in you all to vote the same.

2020/07/17 2:57:21 PM AST Matoaca As a CCPS Matoaca district teacher (19 yrs CCPS/33 yrs overall), a parent of 2 Cosby HS graduates and a resident of the Matoaca district - I would like to say that as much as I want to be in the classroom with my students (I originally thought option 4 modified was best), I have come to realize that the best option for both safety and educational learning is option 6 fully virtual. In a hybrid situation as a HS math teacher, I would only see my students in person once a week and the rest of the time they would be virtual without me as I would be with other students in person the other 3 days. I can accomplish more with my students and be more available to my students fully virtual. Also, in a hybrid the kids that choose to be fully virtual are no longer fully mine. They will work virtually with a different teacher and program and not have my expertise and input. I want to be responsible for ALL of my students. Thank You

2020/07/17 3:00:31 PM AST Matoaca As a teacher I am gravely concerned for our at risk, low income, disadvantaged students, as well as the thousands of working families in our county that can’t stop working to virtually teach. PLEASE give parents the choice to send their children back to school. 82% of parents surveyed chose that option. Science and medical experts support sending students back. I, as a teacher, am willing and able to do what I signed a contract to do, teach.

8 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/17 3:14:46 PM AST Midlothian I originally said that I wanted my children (K and 4) to be in school as much as possible, but I have since changed my position. Both of my children will definitely be doing 100% virtual, and I hope that the whole county will. With the singular choice of virtual education, we can provide our students a positive learning environment and our teachers and staff a safe working environment. The majority of the adult workforce is being told to stay home because it is not safe to be in the office, so how is it safe to send our children and teachers/staff back into a school building? I know there is no answer that makes everyone happy or safe, but this is truly the only way we can do our best to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Please work with that YMCA and/or others to help parents have access to child care, if it is needed. County money should be spent investing in education for the teachers to provide a more robust, engaging online learning environment where our children can thrive safely. Once our country can contain this virus without schools being open, we can consider reopening our doors to in person education, but until then we should all wear our masks, practice physical distancing, and wash our hands. I hope that the School Board will see that this is the only option that will truly work for Chesterfield County Public Schools.

2020/07/17 3:17:49 PM AST Midlothian I urge the board to strongly consider including in-person instruction in the return to school plan for fall 2020. Virtual learning has not been proven to be effective on it's own. If the board chooses to engage in a virtual only model the standard to which students, staff and administrators need to be held should be significantly higher than it was during the spring of 2020. I think there should be expanded curriculum for students in the coming year to make up for the profound gap that spring 2020 has introduced in their learning.

2020/07/17 3:18:59 PM AST Clover Hill I would ask that the board look at the science and the data and use only this in making your decision about what schools look like in the fall. Currently in Virginia, and Chesterfield, cases are still going up. They are still increasing so much that Governor Northam had to hold a press conference to reiterate the importance of wearing masks. Now is not the time to send students and staff back into school buildings where this virus would spread rapidly.

I favor a school year that starts virtual in the fall with the ability to pivot to in person learning as soon as it is safe to do so. We are hearing encouraging results from the vaccines that are being developed. One recently moved from phase 1 onto the next phase and if that proves successful the vaccine may be on the market by early 2021.

We have seen the dangers of opening our communities up to fast. Look at what is happening in Arizona, Texas, and Florida-the new global epicenter of the pandemic. If we return to school too soon students and staff will contract this virus and some will perish. Safety has always been the top priority for CCPS, it is time to once again make that commitment.

This is not an easy decision but I hope we are brave enough to make the correct one. Let’s start virtual only in the fall and move back to in person only when it is completely safe to do so. Thank you.

2020/07/17 3:22:33 PM AST Clover Hill Until every school has been cleaned to meet CDC standards you should not consider reopening. Until the country has procured hand sanitizer and cleaning wipes for every classroom (more than one per kid per day) for at least the first 2 nine weeks (18 weeks total) you should not consider reopening. Until custodial staff can prove they are able to clean and perform “mock” cleaning functions as were laid out in what is going to be expected of them and have each inspected and PROVE what you’ve put on paper is possible (I don’t think it is) you should not consider reopening. If our children’s best interest is a priority - not politics - you should not reopen.

2020/07/17 3:23:23 PM AST Matoaca I have 4 children in CCPS. One in elementary, two in middle and one in high school. If possible, I hope that you approve some form of educational plan that allows them the opportunity to be in the school and interacting with their peers at least twice a week. For my family, it's not about work issues or child care issues. It's about the social interaction and benefit of face-to-face learning. I know there is a lot to figure out and consider and it is not an easy decision...but I hope you keep the importance of that social interaction and the face-to-face learning in mind. Thank you for your time.

2020/07/17 3:25:09 PM AST Midlothian We love our schools and our teachers and as parents are ready to step up and help get our kids back in the classroom - if that means a hybrid, we're willing to do the work just to get them back, even part time. Thank you for including us in the conversation and taking the time to listen and please know we are in this with you all. Together, for the kids (and the teachers!)

2020/07/17 3:28:22 PM AST Midlothian I appreciate that the Board is in a no win situation. Someone is going to be upset with your decision. From what I understand over 80% of parents would like a full return to school. That should tell you what your constituents want and what you should do. Give those that don’t want to return to school the option to go online. Let parents make an informed decision what is best for their child. Open up and let parents decide. Thank you.

2020/07/17 3:31:26 PM AST Matoaca I am kindergarten teacher in the county. Originally I voted for the mon/Tues Thur/Friday return to school. As virus cases are increasing and changing on a daily basis I do not feel comfortable returning to school at all. I am actually terrified. The argument that children do not contract this virus is useless when you consider the thousands of adults that work in the county. Even if I become positive for covid 19 and overcome it, the lasting results from the virus can be devasting. I am not willing to take that risk. Nor should anyone. I am tired of parents that only think of themselves and not the adults that are caring for their children. I will gladly make my own children learn virtually for a year to save their lives, my own life, and other lives that we may come in contact with. I am not a babysitter. I am a teacher.

2020/07/17 3:37:00 PM AST Midlothian We are two working in healthcare parents, with a desperate need for our child to go to school. Finding alternative arrangements for virtual education is a luxury not many can afford. We value and need face to face social interaction and the presence, authority, and skill of a teacher, in a classroom. Please refer to the CDC recommendations. We wear droplet masks unless performing an aerosolizing procedure in the hospital. It is unknown how long this pandemic will last. Please consider working with it, without continuing to physically isolate our children. Have everyone wear droplet masks with the option for teachers to wear a N95 mask. Thank you for your consideration.

2020/07/17 3:38:16 PM AST Midlothian Please get kids back to in-class schooling as planned. Teachers are essential. Do not allow anyone to hold education hostage. Do not follow someone else’s lead. Base your decision on science, facts, logic, expert opinion and academics.

2020/07/17 3:47:06 PM AST Midlothian The parents/kid need the option to go back to school if they chose too.

2020/07/17 4:09:53 PM AST Dale As a parent of a CCPS student, and an employee of CCPS who cares greatly about all students and staff, I implore you to put safety first. Please vote for an all virtual opening for the first 9 weeks, and then re-evaluate. This vote should not be about politics or about making people happy...this vote should be about safety. There’s so much we still don’t know about this virus, and numbers are going up in Chesterfield (and state and nationwide). Attending school in-person this fall would be an experiment, a gamble. Please don’t experiment with anyone’s life.

2020/07/17 4:11:46 PM AST Dale It is still unsafe for the kids to return due to the uncertainty of the virus. Online learning would be best to start the year.

2020/07/17 4:15:08 PM AST Midlothian We would like students to return to school.

2020/07/17 4:15:25 PM AST Dale I am very concerned with virtual learning. I personally believe teachers in Chesterfield are not prepared for virtual learning at this time. We did not have a good experience with what was done in the Spring at all. We had teachers miss scheduled meetings they set up, teachers not knowing how to do things on Canvas, and students were given just a bunch of busy work with no real instruction. I don’t understand how we can virtually do education when not every teacher can even manage how to work Canvas or even basic stuff or a computer. I know this does not include all teachers as some worked extremely hard at making virtual work in the Spring, but it’s not fair to the students who get the ones who don’t try.

2020/07/17 4:20:03 PM AST Midlothian I appreciate that the Board is in a no win situation. Someone is going to be upset with your decision. From what I understand over 80% of parents would like a full return to school. That should tell you what your constituents want and what you should do. Give those that don’t want to return to school the option to go online. Let parents make an informed decision what is best for their child. Open up and let parents decide. Thank you.

2020/07/17 4:20:57 PM AST Matoaca First I would like to say THANK YOU! No matter your decision, people will be upset. I just hope everyone realizes how much time and discussions went into your decision. My husband and I are both teachers and we have a son who will be a junior. I have been watching Chesterfield's numbers on the VDH website.We all feel safe returning to school. We just would like some extra measures: Bathrooms cleaned and always have soap (unfortunately this is not true during normal times), hand sanitizer stations around the building, etc. If there are students who do not feel safe returning then they should be allowed to attend virtually. Another idea I had was to pair up teachers. One could handle the face to face while the other handled the online demand. Especially if you choose one of the hybrid options.

2020/07/17 4:30:15 PM AST Matoaca I would like to urge the board to consider the recent COVID numbers, warnings, and research when determining the best plan of action for the 2020-2021 school year. This summer, COVID has been documented in daycares, summer camps, summer schools, community pools, etc., and pediatric offices have reported an increase in COVID numbers. In lieu of this new information, I fear that some of the initial survey preferences (from weeks ago) may have changed. Many people filled out the questionnaire thinking the numbers were going to go down. They also weren’t aware of the long-lasting side effects of which COVID sufferers have been afflicted— including, but not limited to organ failure. It is indisputable that the number of COVID-19 cases has increased, and the numbers will continue to increase exponentially this fall. As such, it would be incredibly reckless to ask students, teachers, and staff to return to school at this time. I wholeheartedly believe that face to face instruction is best. However, at this moment, it simply isn’t safe. If you vote to send our children back to school, there WILL be sickness, and heaven forbid, maybe even death. And if someone does die because of COVID, you, as board members, will be responsible. You alone. You hold the cards in determining the SAFEST option right now--which goes without saying, is 100% virtual learning. It may not be the option everyone likes, but this decision is not a popularity contest. It is a vote to keep the students, teachers, and staff in Chesterfield County schools safe. So please remember that lives could be at stake, and we look to you to protect those lives. One final thought: I know people argue that a child’s mental health may suffer if they can’t “return to normal” and go to school. But let’s be real, returning to school will NOT be “normal.” Students will eat lunch alone, they will not be allowed to socialize as they remember, they will be masked for seven hours a day, they won’t get a high five or hug from their teacher, etc. One could argue that returning them to such cold and unfamiliar version of school is what may be more detrimental to their psyche, not safely remaining at home with their family.

2020/07/17 4:30:37 PM AST Dale I want my children in school!!!! PERIOD!!!! The virtual learning program that was implemented in the spring did NOT work for my children. They need hands on, face to face schooling. How will kids recover from being out of school for a whole year (if these kids do not return until 2nd semester)???? We need answers in regards to our children's education. Please do NOT let our children's mental health be pushed aside.

2020/07/17 4:32:35 PM AST Matoaca I implore you to please consider all virtual learning at the most 25% capacity for the upcoming beginning of school year. I know this is impossible position you are in, but as a person in your staff with my communities best interest in mind it is completely unethical to open up our schools for in person again. Each decision will be met with anger, difficulty, and sacrifice, but one decision puts the lives of your communities in danger. Studies have shown that those who contract COVID 19 whether they are met with severe side effects or not will suffer irreparable damage that can affect them their entire lives. My first thought is not myself but my father with cancer, my best friend who works in GCPS with a chronic heart condition, or my neighbor with chronic respiratory failure who has children going to swift creek middle. Is virtual harder? YES, would my job be easier is I could demonstrate and talk to my kiddos everyday in person? YES. But is it fair to open school and put me in the position where I am choosing what best for the health of myself and my loved ones over being perceived that I don’t care about the kids I have devoted my career into helping and teaching? Will I be provided supplies and the services to protect myself and my students? Or will it be the same when I have to ask over and over to have soap refilled in my classroom?Protect me, protect my kids, protect our community.

2020/07/17 4:43:03 PM AST Dale As a father of two early learners in the Chesterfield School district, I am writing to express the importance of parent choice in education for this coming school year. I do not envy your position and understand that there are and will continue to be many challenges with the education of our children for this coming school year. It is vitally important that we keep at the forefront of our decision the fact that the education of our children is an essential piece of our community. During these challenging times, we must leave no child behind and ensure that each child is receiving the education that they deserve. I will not inject my views of our current environment upon the school board, but I believe it is the responsibility of the school board to follow the community’s needs regarding the education of our children. For my children, as early learners I strongly believe that in-person learning is essential for their current education. For others, they may feel that virtual learning is essential for this coming school year. This was the purpose of surveying the community, as you have, for their input of in-person, hybrid, and virtual learning. The data received provides the scope of how many children will be in-person and how many will be virtual so that the planning can continue to achieve a successful school year. The only way to achieve a unified education system for this coming school year is for parents to have the choice of whether they wish to send their children for in-person learning or whether they wish for their children to learn virtually throughout the year. There are many arguments on either side of the issue, but the bottom line is that no child should be left behind and for some children (especially the early learners) virtual learning will leave them behind. The challenge is on us as a community to support each other to achieve both a safe learning environment for our in-person learners and a strong virtual program for our virtual learners. The safety of our children and teachers is vitally important for our in-school learners. There are many factors that weigh into a safe environment and many real concerns. But we must face these concerns and challenges and come up with solutions so that our children get the essential and necessary education that they deserve. The future generation of our community rest on how we act today, and we must act in their best interest. As a community we can and will work together to create a safe environment.

2020/07/17 4:43:37 PM AST Midlothian Kindergarten cannot start online only. That is far from developmentally appropriate and a terrible tone to set for an introduction to the next 13 years of school. They need at least 50% in classroom instruction, with time to bond with their teacher and (classmates) to yield any degree of interest on the virtual days.

2020/07/17 4:58:03 PM AST Unsure I desperately want my children to go back to school this school year. They need the interaction, different teachers, and different settings that they are familiar with to thrive. BUT, my wish for things to be different will not have me sending my children physically to school. The amount of time and resources it will take to safely have the students back even one day a week seems too large for an already stretched to the limit school system. I would rather schools take the time that is left to come up with a good plan for how students can learn virtually and equitably. The spring's virtual learning was very difficult for us, but given time I believe they can come up with a better way to do this. I refuse to be the reason that someone in our community gets sick or dies from this virus. My wish for things to be different should not burden the teachers, staff, and administration. Families should not be afraid of when or if they will get sick because they have to teach. We know too little about this, and I would rather come up with something now than struggle later if we are sent home to do virtual school with little to no notice. Thank you.

2020/07/17 5:05:05 PM AST Midlothian I believe education is the great equalizer! I believe education is important! I moved into Chesterfield County to raise my children because of the level of excellence in education. If we truly believe it, we need to act on that belief and give our students the best education we can give them. And online is NOT the best we have to offer.

DO NOT take the choice away from YOUR constituents! I hope we can count on you to do what's best for ALL our students.

2020/07/17 5:21:46 PM AST Midlothian As a parent of four elementary-aged children, I strongly advocate for the 100% virtual option. My husband and I are both full-time employees and will be greatly affected by the need to have a parent at home. However, our childrens' health is our main priority, and we will take any means necessary to keep them safe.

With the growing number of summer camps, daycares, etc. that are experiencing increased Coronavirus rates, it makes absolutely no sense to believe that opening schools is a safe option. We are still learning of the physical effects on children, and scientists still haven't definitively determined how the virus spreads. Social distancing on school buses will be a disaster. Our children will not be safe, and our teachers and staff will not be safe. We can recoup missed education opportunities, but we cannot recoup our childrens' lives. Keep them home.

2020/07/17 5:23:18 PM AST Matoaca I'm a parent of two children in Chesterfield. My daughter is an 8th grader, and my son just graduated from Cosby. I teach 6th grade at BBMS. I would love for my teen and I to get back in the classroom, and get back to normal. However, I don't imagine that can be done safely, per CDC guidelines. How will my child be transported safely, and timely to school on the bus? Have additional busses, as well as competent drivers been added to our district? Have the teacher/student ratios been addressed? I usually have 26-33 students in each of my six classes. What about air filtration in the classrooms? I don't have a window in my classroom. I'm not convinced the HVAC is up to par. What about effective cleaning supplies? In my 13 years with CCPS, I've had to buy my own cleaning supplies, or rely on parent donations. What about masks? My students may not have one. I'm not buying them masks, as it's not in my budget. What about the students who will require extra support so they can handle the expectations in the classroom after living without structure for 6 months? Will we have additional counselors to help them, so that I can focus on teaching? Please share with me your plan that addresses the concerns I've listed above.

2020/07/17 5:23:24 PM AST Clover Hill As the daughter of a CCPS teacher, I want to voice my support for virtual learning during the fall semester. My mother’s age puts her at greater risk of suffering a more severe case of the coronavirus should she become infected. The idea that people would be grouped inside schools during a pandemic is scary to every educator I’ve spoken with, including my mom. Some people have suggested that observing how summer camps have fared against the virus can give us an idea of how schools would do; if that’s the case, we could have safety protocols in place and do everything “right” but still have massive outbreaks. For example, Kanakuk Camp in Missouri took every precaution possible, including new air filtration systems for every cabin, rigorous daily cleaning, limitations on vendors and other non-campers, etc. The camp still had to shut down after over 80 campers, counselors and staff tested positive for covid in less than a week. We are in a far worse spot now than we were when schools closed initially; it doesn’t make sense to send everyone back when the virus is more prevalent than ever. I don’t think people are as afraid of this virus as they were in the beginning, because we’ve been living with it for a while, but that doesn’t mean it has stopped spreading or killing. Please remember how contagious, how dangerous, and how debilitating the coronavirus is. It brought the entire world to a halt. We need to continue to take it seriously and prioritize people’s lives over convenience and normalcy. Thank you for your time.

9 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/17 5:29:50 PM AST Bermuda Dear CCPS Board, et al, You all find yourselves in a similar situation to one I lived through several years ago as an Army officer leading Soldiers in combat in Iraq. You see, you are leaders with a mission (to deliver education to the children of our county) while facing a deadly enemy. Each day in Iraq, I bore the burden of making decisions that could ultimately lead to my Soldiers not coming home alive at the end of our tour. While you face a similar dilemma, you have more choices in courses of action than I did. If you decide to open schools, even with the numerous cautionary measures already laid out, you are helping the enemy before us all by increasing social interaction and exposure.

In Mosul, none of us knew if the next bullet or rocket was marked for us, we simply did our jobs, because that was why we were sent there. In Iraq, we all faced the same risks together each day. That is not the case here today with COVID. Our county, like much of our country is a land of extremes in wealth disparity. On the lower end, most economically strapped parents must send their children to school and get to their jobs each day, or they risk not eating, not paying their bills or not having a roof over their heads. The poor have already shouldered an increased risk of infection and death from COVID because their jobs expose them more often. They then also expose their families at a higher rate. On the other end, the well-off can often work from home and afford alternatives to in-school instruction, and have seen much less infection and death from COVID by using their wealth to limit their family's exposure.

As an Army officer, I knew I would make tough, life-or-death decisions as part of my job. You probably never dreamed you'd be making tough, life-or-death decisions as part of your job, but here you are. Make the right call to start school in the fall using 100% virtual instruction. Your decision will save lives and still accomplish the mission!

P.s. I'm the father of three children enrolled in CCPS.

2020/07/17 5:30:23 PM AST Unsure I have a rising 9th grader and I would love to see him back in school 2 days a week. I think it would be a great idea to look at how daycares have operated in the area throughout the region and take cues from them. Some have operated since the beginning of the quarantine and some have recently opened. My 15 is old enough to understand the necessity of wearing a mask and keeping distance and he desperately needs to be back in a structured setting.

2020/07/17 5:41:40 PM AST Midlothian As you consider your vote, I implore you to think about the people you were elected to represent and put your personal agendas to the side. We all know this is partially political. But the bottom line is kids NEED to be in school and they need you to vote to get them there. Please vote on at least 1 option that allows kids, AT MINIMUM K-3, back into the classroom this fall. Please don’t follow suit of surrounding districts that were too lazy to come up with innovative ideas and decided on fully virtual as a simple cop out. Parents WANT their kids in school, not for childcare purposes, but because their FUTURES ARE RIDING ON IT. Perhaps you don’t have young kids that this is so negatively affecting so you can’t put yourself in our shoes - but please vote with these kids in mind who NEED face to face instruction. Thank you.

2020/07/17 6:06:07 PM AST Midlothian I hope that our Board will take the time to decipher through all available data and put politics aside when making one of the most important decisions of our children’s lives. One thing is clear, the medical profession supports in-person learning this fall. See, for example, the position of the American Academy of Pediatrics: https://services.aap.org/en/pages/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-infections/clinical-guidance/covid-19- planning-considerations-return-to-in-person-education-in-schools/. As a former reading specialist, I know the negative effects of not being in school. Virtual learning is not only hurting students mentally and academically but also making the divide between economical classes even wider. Please allow us a choice for virtual or in-person learning.

2020/07/17 6:35:23 PM AST Midlothian There is only one safe choice for all stakeholders tonight.

2020/07/17 6:36:21 PM AST Midlothian 100% virtual would be the safest way for both teachers and children.

2020/07/17 6:47:02 PM AST Midlothian Dear Chesterfield County School Board, I’m coming to you as a concerned mom of a soon to be second grader. You see when my son started 1st grade, I started getting notes home on class work that said Joshua was having difficulty focusing on work. As a child I myself was diagnosed with ADD, I immediately wanted to start testing for ADHD. I was told to get testing through school was difficult and I should go about it privately. I started with the pediatrician. The results came back inconclusive and he would then need to see a child psychologist. It would take a few months to get an appointment with the child psychologist, and would be very costly. By this point my sons first report card had come out and while his other grades were average he was showing a significant weakness in reading and writing. I again pleaded for testing through the school but was told reading groups with a reading specialist needed to be done for another 6 weeks at least to see if there was any improvement. So we kept our appointment with the child psychologist since it didn’t seem like we would get any help. Finally we met with the psychologist and found that my son was not only ADHD but showed signs of dyslexia and dysgraphia. We were told while he would need lots of help to catch up, it was totally possible that with the right help he would be ok. I took all the testing to the school and guess what! They now needed to do their own testS. It would pretty much be the end of the year before he would get any help. Then COVID happened. He is now sitting in limbo with no plan in place to help him. This is such a crucial time period for my little 7 year old to try and catch up so that he doesn’t have to repeat a grade. Which would be totally unfair to do to a child that possibly has a disability. Not all kids learn virtually, and to expect that all kids need to do this for their own safety is maddening. He will still have to go to daycare so he will still be exposed to everything you are claiming you are trying to protect him and his peers from. He needs in person education. He needs his testing completed. He needs a plan put in place to help him continue his education. The sooner he gets help, the more likely he can start learning and catching up in reading and writing. Also he has an IEP for speech and has regressed significantly due to not regularly seeing his speech teacher at his school. There has to be options for children like him! Please consider this when deciding!

2020/07/17 6:53:46 PM AST Clover Hill 100% open up schools fully.

No 50-50 or any type of hybrid.

2020/07/17 6:57:06 PM AST Dale I believe virtual distance learning is the safest option starting school for all students and staff. I have an elementary student and have a lot of concerns with how quickly illnesses can spread in school settings no matter how much of an effort we all put into avoiding this. With all of the unknowns for the upcoming fall and winter seasons, I am not willing to risk my child’s health and safety and would feel most comfortable with virtual support. I know that there are pros and cons with every option and this will be a difficult decision to cover all angles, but I am thankful for the leadership in this district and know whatever choice is made will be the best weighed option.

2020/07/17 7:03:51 PM AST Matoaca We prefer the students to go back to school at least 2-3 days per week. They need socialization. All teachers need jobs. Let them wear masks if need be. If they can go hang out at the local bewesters icecream shop, they can go to school and wear a mask. Too many single parents, too many households were both parents work. Students under 18 are not ready to learn virtually five days a week.

2020/07/17 7:04:17 PM AST Dale How can the school board send the children and staff back into schools when it is almost a mathematical certainty that doing so will cause deaths?

2020/07/17 7:09:40 PM AST Matoaca Good afternoon. I am a teacher here in the county for several years. I love teaching and have taught many students from elementary through secondary. Thank you for your time and your consideration during this terrible time for our nation/our world.

I am asking the school board to vote to begin the school year virtually. Our physical plants are woefully Unprepared to accept students in a safe manner during this pandemic. HVAC air handling issues; lack of consistent running water; windows that do not open; rooms that are overcrowded; lack of mask wearing mandate; liability issues should anyone become ill/die from Covid-19 are all valid and real concerns for my students as well as for me. We will make virtual learning work. This time is unprecedented and calls for unprecedented decision-making.

2020/07/17 7:18:13 PM AST Midlothian We realize that the Board is facing a life and death decision in deciding whether to delay in-person schooling for at least the first nine-week period. Our entire family is begging you to ignore the political pressure and do the right thing. You must delay re-opening. Chesterfield has the 4th largest case count in the State of Va., more than Henrico and Hanover combined. Opening schools will cause illness and death. It’s unavoidable. Stop the spread. We may have a vaccine by the end of the year. PLEASE WAIT.

2020/07/17 7:22:16 PM AST Bermuda Hello! If CCPS votes to be 100% virtual will ALL students be placed in courses on Edgenuity?

2020/07/17 7:35:11 PM AST Midlothian How can we go back to school when we know that someone will definitely die? Look around at school systems erring on the side of safety. Begin virtual. You can always change later. But you cannot revive a soul list to stupidity and data. Are we not data driven?????

2020/07/17 7:35:27 PM AST Matoaca Find a way to go back to school- this is our kids’ future we are messing with. They won’t get this time back and it could drastically effect their futures in a negative way!

2020/07/17 7:42:42 PM AST Midlothian I want virtual learning for my son because not only am I immunocompromised but we live with my parents who are also at high risk for complications from the coronavirus. Please consider virtual learning for our students. Thank you

2020/07/17 7:44:52 PM AST Bermuda If you can not guarantee me 100% that my children, 3 to be exact, will NOT contract COVID-19. The answer is NO. They will not step foot in a school. Moreover, I am not that selfish that I would want my children's teachers (human beings) in harms way either. It is unbelievable that we are not utilizing common sense. However, I should not be surprised. Teacher have been undervalued for so long, you all are numb to it. They are the most valuable folks on the planet, working for pennies for years, to babysit and except orders from folks making 6 figures who don't have a clue or refuse to have a clue. Unfortunately, their roles have been viewed as child care providers instead of educators. Thus we are willing to put their lives at risk for the sake of parents who want to, "get their kids back to school." Get your kids back to school at what cost? It is absolutely not an excuse, that your child is incapable of learning online. If that is the safest way, it is not the schools/teachers job to ensure your child adjust accordingly, it is yours. I work full-time too and have to make some dreaded, inconvenient adjustments, but that's my responsibility as a parent. I have to protect my kids at all cost. This backwards view has watered down the educational system. Schools/Teacher are not responsible for feeding, disciplining, child care services, transportation, etc. Schools/Teacher are responsible for EDUCATING period. If your child has issues, that is your problem to deal with and ensure appropriate services are rendered, accordingly. For heaven sakes they are your children, your responsibility. Until we can properly align who is responsible for what. We are going to continue to chase our behinds on common sense issues. Safety first. My kids will not be an experiment for no one. Period S/N: The next thing you all need to research is how the SOL's improve our children's educational quality of life. If you hire teacher's you should trust them to test children, accordingly. I hope this test is not factored in decision making of returning back to school. If parents are involved they will know if their child needs to be challenged more. The educational system needs an overhaul. We are so far behind the curve, it embarrassing. One wise man once said, when you know better you should do better.

2020/07/17 7:46:53 PM AST Matoaca I would love to see two options like Hanover is talking about. Full time school and virtual school. This would allow families and teachers to choose what is best for them. Older teacher who has preexisting conditions or a child whose parents have pre existing conditions could stay home and those who are comfortable teaching and sending their kids to school can do so. The lack of social interaction has truly detrimentally affected my children and one in particular does not work well in a virtual world. Thank you for your time.

2020/07/17 7:50:33 PM AST Midlothian I would just like to say I think the children need to be able to return to school safely. The world has been turned upside down and they do not really understand what has been happening. They need to return to some kind of normalcy. I hope this is all being taken into consideration.

2020/07/17 7:50:39 PM AST Midlothian I would just like to say I think the children need to be able to return to school safely. The world has been turned upside down and they do not really understand what has been happening. They need to return to some kind of normalcy. I hope this is all being taken into consideration.

2020/07/17 8:40:38 PM AST Bermuda If you can not guarantee me 100% that my children, 3 to be exact, will NOT contract COVID-19. The answer is NO. They will not step foot in a school. Moreover, I am not that selfish that I would want my children's teachers (human beings) in harm's way either. It is unbelievable that we are not utilizing common sense. However, I should not be surprised. Teachers have been undervalued for so long, you all are numb to it. They are the most valuable folks on the planet, working for pennies for years, to babysit and accept orders from folks making 6 figures who don't have a clue or refuse to have a clue. Unfortunately, their roles have been viewed as child care providers instead of educators. Thus we are willing to put their lives at risk for the sake of parents who want to, "get their kids back to school." Get your kids back to school at what cost? It is absolutely not an excuse, that your child is incapable of learning online. If that is the safest way, it is not the schools/teachers job to ensure your child adjust accordingly, it is yours. I work full-time too and have to make some dreaded, inconvenient adjustments, but that's my responsibility as a parent. I have to protect my kids at all cost. This backwards view has watered down the educational system. Schools/Teachers are not responsible for feeding, disciplining, child care services, transportation, etc. Schools/Teachers are responsible for EDUCATING period. If your child has issues, that is your problem to deal with and ensure appropriate services are rendered, accordingly. For heaven sakes they are your children, your responsibility. Until we can properly align who is responsible for what. We are going to continue to chase our behinds on common sense issues. Safety first. My kids will not be an experiment for no one. Period S/N: The next thing you all need to research is how the SOL's improve our children's educational quality of life. If you hire teacher's you should trust them to test children, accordingly. I hope this test is not factored in decision making of returning back to school. If parents are involved they will know if their child needs to be challenged more. The educational system needs an overhaul. We are so far behind the curve, it's embarrassing. One wise man once said, when you know better you should do better.

2020/07/17 9:02:45 PM AST Midlothian As a teacher for Chesterfield County, I support a partial return to school ONLY IF/WHEN Chesterfield can guarantee and put in place STRICT mitigation strategies to keep BOTH staff AND students safe. Those mitigation strategies should be made public weeks before school starts. Masks should be mandated for every child that is physically able to wear one. If families cannot comply with these actions to keep everyone staff, they should get 3 strikes and moved to virtual learning. We continue to compare teachers to front line workers in the healthcare settings, but what we aren’t discussing is how the healthcare setting has mitigation strategies in place to protect them from the patients they are caring for. Do we? While I understand some families can keep their children home and continue to provide education, others cannot. This isn’t an easy and one size fits all decision.

2020/07/17 9:13:04 PM AST Midlothian Please allow the option to have kids go to school in person. For those parents who don’t want to send them, they can do online. I am a social worker and nurse practitioner and see how imperative it is for these kids to get to school...I worry for those in less than ideal living situations! Please...don’t let the rich kids in private schools have the upper hand!

2020/07/17 9:24:49 PM AST Matoaca As a CCPS teacher, and soon to be parent, I wanted to share my perspective on opening this fall because I am greatly concerned about the notion of how best to facilitate education in CCPS at the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year. I live in the Matoaca district and both my wife and I have taught our entire careers as part of CCPS. Beyond preparing for the upcoming school year we are also expecting a baby during the first week of August. For this reason, since the school day ended on Friday, March 13th we have been in a state of quarantine for the protection of my pregnant wife and our unborn child. In three weeks, once my daughter is born, that heightened state of quarantine will still be present. In fact, during the pandemic, doctors have been telling parents of newborns to not allow anyone-including family-to interact with a newborn for a month so that their immune system can grow stronger. With my daughter due August 8th, that means exactly one month later she will finally meet her grandparents on the same day you would be asking me to return to the classroom in- person. As a teacher, I would be willing to die to protect my students and I make this clear to every student in my classroom at the start of the year along with anytime we have an active shooter drill. My concern with COVID-19 is that my newborn and her grandparents aren’t able to make that same decision and yet their lives would be at risk through their interactions with me. The evidence on children and the virus is currently scarce compared to the amount of data we have on how adults handle it; however, even if we assume that students will not get deathly ill it is speculated that 25% of teachers are at increased risk and that doesn’t even count our families or the families of students. If we open up schools this September there is no way to guarantee that we won’t be creating a superspreader situation with kids at the center. With recent headlines talking about a teacher in Arizona passing away due to COVID-19 after working in June, several counties in Virginia deciding to begin the fall virtually, and Australian and Israeli schools sparking increased spreading of the virus in their respective regions the only logical takeaway is that in-person school is currently dangerous. We need your leadership right now, please vote for option 6 so that we can prevent the unnecessary loss of life and increased spread of COVID-19 that would surely come with schools opening back up.

2020/07/17 9:39:57 PM AST Matoaca Please rethink the full 5 day face to face option for CCPS. We are in a worse place than we where when school was cancelled in March. Please think of how this affects students and teachers; it seems the only consideration is the economic view which puts everyone at risk. Please consider following the district in Maryland which is virtual until Jan 31 with options to go further. It would be better to go slower than go full out and have to retreat when it all goes to shit.

Think like a teacher...is it worth their lives? What happens if a student/teacher/staff gets sick? Does the whole school close down???

2020/07/17 10:12:33 PM AST Matoaca Please stay online for the fall. It’s too dangerous for the kids and families to send them back especially since the schools didn’t provide soap before the pandemic.

2020/07/17 10:17:09 PM AST Midlothian Virtual for the 1st semester please

2020/07/17 10:21:54 PM AST Matoaca I think we should have a 100% virtual start to the school year. There are so many unknowns about the spread of this virus and the uncertainty of how we can keep children and the adults in the building safe. It will be more disruptive to children for them to start in person and possibly need to have schools closed due to outbreaks than if we just start virtually and wait to open up in person learning until we know it is safe. I do not feel comfortable sending my kids in person. And don’t feel it is safe for the school personnel.

10 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/17 10:24:44 PM AST Midlothian Go back to school. Condense says rotate schedule. Or something similar to Hanover. Once you know the choices made it will be easier to plan for those coming to school. Essential workers need kids to be in school. Kids need to be in school the mental harm that the lack of socialization has on the is detrimental beyond what we can imagine.

2020/07/17 10:35:43 PM AST Bermuda The younger children absolutely need to be in school every day- at least through 4th grade. Preferably, everyone can get back, but at least PK-4 to start. Then, I would say all students in other grades who are struggling, even if they are not on an IEP also need to go daily. I know this sounds strange, but I think all others should go once a week possibly having 5th graders at the middle schools since middle schools would have an extra day empty with everyone attending all classes in shorter periods on their day or possibly doing 4 classes per semester instead of 6 or 7.

2020/07/17 10:44:18 PM AST Midlothian Please make a decision where you can ensure the safety of students and staff returning this fall. Businesses and corporations are choosing to work from home until well into 2021 because they cannot guarantee safety. Please keep the children safe.

2020/07/17 11:00:15 PM AST Matoaca Chesterfield must protect its community by choosing a virtual return. We recognize the hardships this will present, but the risk of disease poses a greater threat to our community. We and our colleagues can concentrate our efforts when planning to deliver our services through a single, all-virtual model. Very few professions involve an understood risk to one's health or life, and teaching is not one of them. Many educators and/or their families have serious underlying health concerns. Requiring them to return to work in person is essentially forcing them to resign, as they make the choice that should be obvious to our leadership: life and health must be the first priority. This is an unconscionable and possibly legally actionable situation. It is clear from the community town hall conversations (which were ironically held virtually) that there will be zero support for staff who become sick. At minimum it should be a workers' compensation case. During the Matoaca virtual town hall, a question was posed about options for teachers to work virtually under the in-person models. There was painful silence for nearly 20 seconds before Dr. High finally responded that no such option will exist, teachers will be expected to report in person, and if they should exhibit symptoms, they will have to use leave. No protections have been described for teachers to keep their jobs if they exhaust their leave. If in-person instruction is part of the plan for reopening CCPS, central admin must support school level staff in enforcing mask mandates for students. A few emboldened, maskless adolescents will lead to nearly all of them going maskless. To create even a minimally safe environment, CCPS must empower building administrators to remove non-compliant students from school. Unfortunately, actions by CCPS central administration make us feel unsafe to attach our names to our opinions. We worry that our career growth might be threatened if our opinions don't match those of upper administration. This culture of suppression, disregard for the professional expertise of "lowly" teachers, decision-making driven by fear of lawsuits and angry phone calls, and rigid hierarchy is a crisis in itself. It is reinforced by individuals, yet also seems to have taken on a life of its own. We hope our school board members can reflect seriously upon this issue as well and consider taking action to remedy it. Finally: is capitulating to appease the community worth endangering our public health?

2020/07/17 11:24:37 PM AST Clover Hill please open schools

2020/07/17 11:50:33 PM AST Midlothian As the Board considers whether or not to reopen schools in the fall (Agenda item F.1), I would encourage members to view the decision through an equity lens. Some students have the technology, the parental supervision, and the prior scaffolding to learn through a virtual platform. Others, who may not have similar support, will struggle. In addition when both parents work outside the home, as is necessary for many lower socio-economic families, these students may fall even further behind. While I do not underestimate the additional burden returning to school during COVID-compliance places on our educators and school officials, I believe it is the best choice for our society and our children, from both an economic and a mental health perspective. I would encourage CCPS to lead the region in adopting a hybrid f2f and virtual learning environment. I support Options 2, 3 or 4. Thank you for the thoughtful and detailed plans and options that have been presented to the community and for all that CCPS is doing to address the best scenario for our students to learn and our teachers to teach, in a safe environment.

2020/07/18 12:47:10 AM AST Dale A month ago when I took the survey, I was in favor of part time school. Cases have been trending upwards and I have since learned that the elementary schools will not have a mask mandate. This is not fair to the teachers, the staff, the students or their families. My vote has changed and we will be opting for 100% virtual this school year.

2020/07/18 6:16:07 AM AST Midlothian Send the kids back to school. Most are living fairly normal lives now.

2020/07/18 6:29:48 AM AST Matoaca I know you face a difficult decision. It seems that unless COVID is controlled in the community then going back to school puts staff and students in unnecessary risk. The virus is not controlled right now in Chesterfield. Trust that teacher will do everything in their power to make the learning experience effective and engaging online. Trust that the federal government and state government will think creatively to support citizens who are unable to work with students at home. America will pull together this Fall. School needs to be online until it is safe to return to the building. We all have the same goal, so let’s take the safe path to that goal. Claim option 6 now and I know CCPS staff will get us ready for a good start to 2020-2021 school year.

2020/07/18 8:13:39 AM AST Midlothian 1) Please use science to make your decision. I can only imagine how difficult it must be to hear so many opinions so forcefully, but this is not a political or opinion-based issue. As you know, your job is to keep us safe. Please focus on that. 2) Please do anything possible to provide support and resources for our families who need it, especially BIPOC families. Even though you might be hearing more from those who have the time, money, and resources to ensure their voices are heard, I implore you to be certain you are serving our most vulnerable community members. They have not been the priority in CCPS and we need to change that. If you need evidence, follow black@ccps on Instagram. It is eye opening and heart wrenching. 3) THANK YOU for your service to our students, staff, and community. I do not envy your position and I am grateful for all you are doing.

2020/07/18 8:30:03 AM AST Unsure Please have in person school options. We are full time working parents and we can not afford to stop working or pay a sitter everyday. My children’s education and mental well being is extremely important.

2020/07/18 8:33:41 AM AST Midlothian One of the goals of an educator and of the county should be to provide a safe environment for the students in which they are able to learn and express themselves. I would love nothing more than to be back in the classroom with my students. The county laid out many options for the fall and I am glad that they thought so much about what to do but I can only see one viable option that maintains the safety of our students. Option 6 has us going back virtually and while it will be hard on the students, parents, and staff, it is the only option that protects the students, parents, and staff.

2020/07/18 8:35:51 AM AST Matoaca 3402 cases and only 64 deaths in chesterfield a population of over 340,000. No children deaths none hospitalized. Our children are suffering and are emotionally and mentally exhausted. Schools are essential! Teachers are essential! Allow those who want to return back. Read the American Assoc. of Pediatrics statement! https://services.aap.org/en/news-room/news-releases/aap/2020/pediatricians-educators-and-superintendents-urge-a- safe-return-to-school-this-fall/. If we do not many parents will begin homeschooling and $ will be lost due to attendance. Take a vote from the parents. We should be deciding what’s best for our children

2020/07/18 9:02:50 AM AST Clover Hill I feel it is just so unsafe for these kids to return back to school at this time. It’s still so much that’s unknown. A lot of information and speculation not exactly proven facts. I know the kids need to have an education and not put that on hold but at what expense?Their health and safety comes first. They should most definitely consider giving households the option to choose what’s best for their children. Going to school virtually should be an option until we get a hold of Covid. For those who feel they want their child in the classroom they should have the option as well. Which I feel is a unsafe option being the current state that we’re in but that’s up to the individual to decide. We don’t need to put any more people at risk. The numbers in the US shows we are at 3 million for Covid. Nothing has changed the same reason the kids stop going to school is still going on right now so this really makes no sense to me. Just my opinion. Thanks.

2020/07/18 9:04:14 AM AST Midlothian Please err on the side of caution and follow the science. Economies may be rebuilt, our children's health may not be.

In the interest of equality, please also consider any on-site options that allow children of color, those facing food insecurities, and at-risk children to be educated on site if it is safe and feasible. While most of my middle- class neighbors have the education and financial access to help their children (whether we want to or not), there are others that will face huge disadvantages if have few to no options.

2020/07/18 9:07:58 AM AST Midlothian You need to offer a five day in person learning opportunity for students. Many students will opt for online. That will reduce class size. Many students CANNOT learn virtually. You are under no obligation to provide transportation. Scale back curriculum to core only in person. Have safety protocols like masks. Mandate students get flu shot. You need to offer a five day in person education opportunity, we cannot just throw away these students education. Make it work. Find a way. Think creatively. Go to year round hybrid if necessary.

2020/07/18 9:26:52 AM AST Clover Hill I am a parent concerned about the spread of COVID in my community because it is deadly and we don’t know what kind of long term health effects will remain with our children and citizens for the rest of their lives. While I understand Chesterfield will offer a virtual option, having school buildings open at all will help spread the virus and bring the virus to my street if other children’s parents feel pressure to have their children attend due to work commitments. Please do not give families the choice off spreading COVID so irresponsibly. Please keep your students and staff safe by choosing an all virtual opening. If you are concerned about how this impacts parents my work, perhaps consider partnerships with day cares or just the fact that this is NOT the mandate of public schools and the government must step in to help solve this problem. It is your job to keep families and staff safe and learning, not throwing is all into more chaos with this global health crisis. Please choose to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. Choose an all virtual option for the health of our community. Thank you for your consideration.

2020/07/18 9:36:40 AM AST Midlothian PLEASE, give us options for the children who cannot be taught at home in any capacity. Waivers, exceptions, something. There are families that have to work or do not hve the ability to support home learning. Our children will suffer, so many children will suffer.

Please please please, make this decision for the children, not for the teachers who just don’t want to work. :(

2020/07/18 9:46:57 AM AST Midlothian With regards to opening the schools, I hope we will follow the science for advice. With so many states rushing to open, we have clear evidence that immediately returning to normal puts our communities and our economy at risk. This virus is not going away without a vaccine. I want our schools open as soon as its safe to, I do not want to rush this decision.

When looking at the data, please be considerate of all the other impacts other than a death rate. While this is low, Covid-19 has the potential of lasting impacts on the respiratory system, cardiovascular system, and more. We have the potential to do much more lasting damage to our community by opening too soon. Economies can rebound, our health and lives cannot.

Please ensure your decisions also help those who are most in need. Those with limited access to high speed internet, meal insecurities, etc. While this may mean opening schools, as this may be the only way to help in the short term, we need to limit capacity. However, what will we do if some of our teachers decide to retire, or even worse get sick during this time. We can't replace these professionals with ease.

I know this is not an easy decision, but please, above all else, put the health of our community first.

2020/07/18 10:02:19 AM AST Midlothian Please offer virtual learning option for parents who would like to have their child learn in a safe environment during this pandemic verses in school instruction. Thank you.

2020/07/18 10:04:41 AM AST Matoaca The decision to reopen schools should be based on science. We don’t know the long term affects of the coronavirus but history has shown that the economy always recovers. We also need to improve the air ventilation and filtration in schools. It was poor to begin with, but now it needs to be upgraded to ensure the infection doesn’t spread as easily. Mask usage needs to be mandatory. There should be zero tolerance for anyone who doesn’t comply. At the secondary level, (where possible) we should try to group students together that are taking the same classes and have the teachers move. While this is not possible in all scenarios, it would reduce the exposure.

2020/07/18 10:27:31 AM AST Clover Hill Please chose virtual only (option6) I am worried for the safety of the teachers and staff and children. We don’t know how this virus will affect children or how they spread it bc they have been home since March. With numbers currently rising I don’t feel it safe to seen anyone to school.

2020/07/18 10:42:27 AM AST Matoaca Please open schools full time for all students and offer an online option for those who are not ready to return. Please continue with school sports and activities as normal. Please consider our children's mental health. Humans were created to be social and interact with each other to make eye contact, and smile. We are made to connect with others, to lift up, support , encourage and depend on one another. Social contact helps us to cope with stress and major life changes. Knowing that we are valued by others is an important psychological factor in helping us to forget the negative aspects of our lives, and think more positively, which directly affects our physical health and well being. The enemy wants us alone, isolated, discouraged, afraid, frustrated, bitter, angry and vulnerable. School is the safe place for so many children. Please return to normal.

2020/07/18 10:44:33 AM AST Matoaca I am mom of a rising 3rd grader. During the spring online learning was a total utter failure for my son. My son has a reading disability and we just got him approved for an IEP one week before school shut down. Between May 1st thru June 12 he had a total of three google meets with his reading specialist. It was very hard to hear him and a lot of the times the screen would freeze up and he couldn’t see what he was holding up. This is not acceptable!! Learning from a computer screen is not acceptable! He needs in person instruction from his teacher and from his exceptional education teacher. Please! Please give parents the option on what works best for their children and family!

2020/07/18 11:35:04 AM AST Midlothian Kids need kids for learning to be effective. An all virtual option does not allow for meaningful relationships that lead to a growth in academics. I teach first grade and I want to be back with my students and want my 1st and 3rd grader back in school as well. The virtual model in the spring kept them “busy” but no Learning Targets were met. I have wrapped by head around a hybrid model because I can get that face-to-face time with my students. Starting a new year virtually will NOT work because we don’t know the students and will not be able to get any academic baselines. At the very least, please ALLOW K-3 students to RETURN TO SCHOOL in some capacity. Again, kids need kids for social, emotional and academic awesomeness!

2020/07/18 11:37:48 AM AST Midlothian I trust that you will review all of the data and put politics aside when making your decision. One thing is clear, health experts support in-person learning this fall. As the AAP noted, “we should leave it to health experts to tell us when the time is best to open up school buildings”. Health experts are telling us the time is now. The AAP also “strongly advocates that all policy considerations for the coming school year should start with a goal of having kids physically present in school.” Based on info received to date, this is not the goal. Instead, it appears to be that no kid/teacher get COVID, which while altruistic, is neither reasonable nor practical. Having such a goal goes against how every public policy decision is made. We would save lives by closing every flu season, removing playgrounds, removing busing, having a cop outside every classroom, etc. But why don’t we? Because public policy requires a balancing of ALL risks. If we are going to close based on the near non-existent risk of death to kids from COVID, then we should just close schools permanently (and return our taxes) because risks of injury/death are inevitable. One member told me that add'l resources and direction from the state govt is needed before schools reopen. I am confused about what resources/direction is needed. The statistics are not debatable. The flu is more deadly to students than COVID, yet I have never seen CCPS do anything different or ask the govt for funds for the flu. During flu season, do we take temperatures, test, contact trace, change HVACs, etc.? No, because public policy dictates that it is unwarranted based on the nearly non-existent risk of death to kids. Why then would we take these measures for COVID, which is less deadly to kids than the flu, in light of the very real and medically substantiated impacts of virtual schooling? If CCPS was running elderly care facilities I would support these measures, but it's not. At the very least, in-person school should be an option to those who want to follow the science and want the best for their kids educationally. If parents wants their kids to learn virtually, then that option should be available as well. There should be no strain on resources since teachers can be assigned classes (either virtual or in-person) based on the options selected. To not even provide an option for the vast majority of parents (82%) who want in person is unacceptable. We are better than this, and our kids deserve better. Reopen now!

2020/07/18 12:31:39 PM AST Matoaca Only when it is safe, please

2020/07/18 12:57:01 PM AST Unsure Please vote for a virtual return to school for the health and safety of teachers and children. Thank you.

2020/07/18 1:03:41 PM AST Midlothian No school is risk for child

2020/07/18 1:30:43 PM AST Midlothian The people in Chesterfield County have voted for the school board and they need to hear us. Virtual learning is not why I voted for you or why I am paying school taxes. The disastrous effects of not being in school and receiving an education face to face with teachers are unlimited. These children deserve to be in school receiving the education you promised them. Give us the option of returning to school.

2020/07/18 1:35:52 PM AST Midlothian We need in person school as an option for families to decide what is best for them. All virtual school is not effective.

2020/07/18 1:38:36 PM AST Clover Hill I have tremendous concerns about students and staff being back in the building in the midst of this pandemic. In essence nothing has really changed since March but the cases and deaths continue to increase. If anything our situation is worse now than it was in March when schools closed. As of Friday, July 17th our state positive rate is now up to 7.4% (7.6% as of Saturday, July 18th) and the numbers in Chesterfield continue to climb each day. In fact we have the highest numbers in the central Virginia area. Our governor still maintains that teleworking is best in our current phase and teachers should be able to instruct from home this fall. Although everyone WANTS to be back in the classroom right now the current data does not permit it. I trust that the county will carefully weigh all options during this unprecedented time and choose what is most safe for all. Option 6 is the best choice by far. Sadly without reliable treatments or a vaccine, there is no such thing as safe reopening at this point. Choose option 6 for the first semester and focus all efforts on virtual learning and safety for all. Thank you!

2020/07/18 1:42:15 PM AST Clover Hill No school until Coronavirus disappeared, is risk for my child To go School

2020/07/18 1:55:28 PM AST Midlothian How can we go back to school when we know that someone will definitely die? Look around at school systems erring on the side of safety. Begin virtual. You can always change later. But you cannot revive a soul list to stupidity and data. Are we not data driven?????

11 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/18 2:06:38 PM AST Clover Hill Option 6 is the only option with the current state of this pandemic. The parent survey (which by the way is outdated a month later... many have changed their opinions with the current data) just shows that 82% want in person instruction. We all want that but this is not about our wants. This is about what we need to do to protect lives. We need to go with option 6 for the first semester and then reevaluate and truly determine a plan for when students and staff do return. We will need more than two day porters in each school to properly clean and disinfect throughout the day. PPE including masks and scrubs will need to be provided by CCPS. Hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes and proper antibacterial soap will be necessary and there must be an adequate supply for all classrooms. Currently these things are hard to obtain, much less in the quantity that will be needed for CCPS. Since the school board has said that safety is their first priority I trust that they will vote for option 6. Thank you again!

2020/07/18 2:10:53 PM AST Bermuda As a teacher, I hope the school board votes for option 6 (virtual learning) for the fall semester. There is too much uncertainty and danger for our students, staff, and families to considering opening again in less than two months. Virginia needs time to get the virus under control, and we as a school division need time to come up with a solid and safe plan for in-person learning. Please don't ask teachers, staff, and our families to risk our health and our lives when we can avoid danger.

2020/07/18 2:18:46 PM AST Midlothian (edited for brev.)Our family appreciates your work. Hopefully you have spoken to schools who did online. My 7th grader attended private school that went virtual a week after the COVID closure. With dyslexia and ADHD, attending zoom classes rather than being with his class caused a big slowdown to his education. Being attached to a computer rather than able to move did not work well even though he got on class and tried every day from March until June. Because of the schedule (SS and science 1x a week) sometimes we forgot classes. Something about zoom and a class of 8-12 students was difficult to focus on. Just like any zoom business meeting children are watching Netflix, playing games on their phone and checking Instagram during class because there is no in person supervision. Pacing and curriculum content will need to be adjusted. Students cannot be responsible for teaching themselves content. For students who are teens, SPED or a given personality, we can’t always get our children to do work at home. We can’t bribe, cajole or threaten our students every day and many parents won’t be present. Focus on the basics of education that will enable them to be successful in life to get on in society. Agendas/calendars/organization will need to be set up and monitored. Neither of my children have ever had a full set of teachers use the same communication tool for communicating work (paper, websites, google cal, emails, CANVAS and more used). This is a disaster in planning learning for students and parents. Imagine if you had to check 6 different sites to know what to do every day. This is my students’ experience yearly. All emails need to have the grade and school so parents know which child is to be attended to with that email.Limits of Online learning: webcams and internet cause exhaustion of the eyes and brain. Watch the news and see how different it is to go from the anchor to a web cam commentator. Professional grade video is easy to watch and the other induces headaches and fatigue. Classes will need to be as engaging as video games and tik tok. Whole school morning meetings do not work with this format.Mental Health: This will be primary this year. A focus on nutrition, exercise, stress relief, depression, anxiety, safety and developing health habits, must be a part of education. When we did the survey we were hopeful for in person learning, but I don’t see that as a possibility right now.

2020/07/18 2:19:04 PM AST Bermuda Virtual learning proved to be a failure for our most vulnerable students and I wish to speak on their behalf. The Governor's plan for school reopening acknowledges that our youngest learners, our ESL learners, and our students with special needs were not well served in the distance learning that occurred this spring. It is critical that our learners with exceptional circumstances are given an in-school option. For years now, educators have championed the need for differentiated instruction that meets a variety of learning styles and modalities. It is unacceptable to now revert to a system of learning that does not meet the needs of our students.

For our students who face economic challenges, housing insecurity, abuse, and neglect, the continuation of all virtual learning will be devastating to not only their education but to their health and safety. Overcoming the hurdle of reliable internet access and devices is not enough. ER rooms have seen an uptick in child abuse and domestic abuse cases since the shut downs. I wish every child was safe and supported at home, but we know they are not. We know the difference teachers make in children's lives. Teachers are essential to our youth. We need teachers and students back in the classroom.

If we must be virtual, I ask that we move beyond the model of only providing instruction during "working hours." I suggest creating the option of classes that meet in early evening and on Saturdays to accommodate parents who must work. Have the specialists such as the SLPs hold sessions on weekends and in early evenings. We must provide live access to lessons for families who can not support virtual learning while they are at work.

As a former Chesterfield County teacher and a parent of a student in CCPS, I support a hybrid approach with family choice.

Finally, I am outraged by the CEA's tactic of requesting members call EAP on July 14 to request mental health services as a means of putting pressure on this board to vote for all virtual learning. Mental Health is a serious issue and one that should be left out of politics. My heart breaks for the individuals who truly need support, who now have their genuine request thrown in with false calls. Please do not allow this tactic to influence your vote tonight.

2020/07/18 3:15:17 PM AST Midlothian I have two boys that thrive off structure and support from other adults. I am lucky that they are healthy and would benefit from going back to school wearing a mask versus virtual learning. We know this can’t be easy but the fall out from not having school could be worse, let’s take the chance!! Thank you for all you do.

2020/07/18 3:16:05 PM AST Clover Hill I have concerns that our testing issues keep us from truly understanding the impact on whether or not we have potentially thousands of young people in our area carrying coronavirus. Think about all those children that are being raised by one parent or a grandparent.. The impact on single parent households could be seriously tragic if we develop a huge community spread. We could have children without parent or their grandparent to count on, if we have a large community spread due to opening when the county is not ready Also I have concerns about screening young people when mini will not present a fever! There is also potential for people to medicate fevers. I do believe other symptoms would be visible. Funding and cleaning supplies and availability of said cleaning supplies How are the schools going to handle noncompliance of things like mask. I’m sure that there is staff out there that do not wanna get sick because of those that did not comply to wearing a mask Or distancing.

2020/07/18 3:21:06 PM AST Dale Schools should remain virtual. COVID numbers are rising throughout the country and we need to be extra cautious when it comes to our staff and students. There’s also the question of cleaning supplies there aren’t enough. Teachers should not be expected to supply their own.

2020/07/18 3:33:22 PM AST Clover Hill It’s interesting, because as much as I would like my children to go back to school I have noticed that since they have been out of school (Gordon elementary school) my son has been calmer, more polite, more loving, and obviously less influenced by peers. This makes me very happy. The educational aspect has adulterer but he is overall emotionally healthier. I would love for him to go to a private school that teaches values about God, values about how to treat others, a staff that is polite, and teachers who are there for him emotionally. This is semi-off-topic but hear me out. Public schools are an extension of the government and the agendas pushed by liberals are quite apparent. I am infuriated that I do not have a choice in regard to the money I spend in personal taxes. Socialism at its finest! Public schools propagate socialist agendas and are become increasingly anti- American. The COVID-19 situation has really made me think twice about wanting my children in public school. My ULTIMATE Goal as a parent is to have school choice which entails funding given to parents to decide where our children go to school. That would also create competition and hopefully make Chesterfield County Schools strive to be better. As far as arguing anything about Covid I’m exhausted. I have reached out to the Cloverhill representative and she seemed very overwhelmed and under qualified to make any sort of decision. At the end of the day, I am responsible for my child’s education. I just wish I financially could have other options than sending them to public school.

2020/07/18 3:40:24 PM AST Midlothian Dear Board Members,

While I understand and share the desire to have students back in school, socializing and monitored by caring teaching professionals, I speak as one of those caring teachers when I say that right now we must put a concern for the very lives of those students and those who care for them above all else. You need only look at the example of what happened in Israel when they reopened schools or look at the states that gave in to public pressure to reopen to see that those decisions were a deadly mistake.

If you are giving any ear to emotional pleas, then please put great weight on the emotions of the like that are shared with me when I chat with my colleagues. With tears in our eyes we talk of how we couldn't live with ourselves if one of our students got sick or brought home something to a fragile guardian..."If only I had wiped that doorknob one more time...if only I had noticed sooner when that student had lowered their mask...what if I were the asymptomatic spreader?..." I can tell you that as hard as I am trying to be ready, it is very hard to stay focused on the learning part when planning how not to cause your students to die is now the most central part of the lesson plan in a school with no windows to open and teachers with existing conditions already suffering regularly due to a poor HVAC system.

I personally have been devoting my summer to preparing to create as engaging, enriching and socially supportive an environment as I can virtually. I even gathered family and friends for a virtual class twice a week so I and fellow teachers could practice new techniques and be ready to go virtual in a new way. With the addition of the training CCPS is providing, attendance requirements, a schedule and grades, the fall learning experience online will be very different from the spring. With social distancing measures and the inability to let students use classroom materials or move around or work closely in groups being a part of in-school instruction, I actually feel that I can create a more socially vibrant and engaging lesson online than I would in the classroom.

Please give full virtual a chance to be done right. Please give our students and our community a chance to stay alive and well.

Thank you.

2020/07/18 3:41:20 PM AST Midlothian https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/13/german-study-covid-19-infection-rate-schools-saxony

2020/07/18 3:50:43 PM AST Unsure Thank you for hearing these comments today. I have emailed all of you twice already to express my belief that a return to in-person schooling in any capacity is unsafe, using facts, data, and logic to back up my assertions. All of those things remain true: children CAN spread and contract coronavirus (just ask the parents of the 85 babies who were diagnosed in one Texas county this week), we don’t have the infrastructure to practice safe social distancing and cleaning in our schools, students will receive more instructional time from their teachers on a virtual plan than they would in any of the hybrid options, and we also need to think of our minority communities and how they are disproportionately affected by this virus, and are often cared for by older adults and grandparents who are especially at risk. There are many more facts and figures I could cite to you from the science to prove why we should begin this year virtually, but I find I no longer have the energy after all of the advocacy I have felt compelled to do over these last few weeks for my own life and that of my eight month old baby. Instead, I am simply going to beg you to please, please not send teachers and students back into the classrooms that are poorly ventilated and too small to practice any effect social distancing. Please, please, do not ask me to risk my baby’s life by working in these conditions. This is my worst nightmare as a mother, and I am powerless to do anything about it except pray that you, the decision makers, are wise, compassionate, and focused on the facts. Please, let the teachers prove to you that we can make virtual instruction work.

2020/07/18 4:02:41 PM AST Clover Hill I strongly feel CCPS should start the 2020-21 school year virtually for the first semester and reevaluate the virus situation again in December to determine the second semester - for all of the same reasons that you are hearing from many other CCPS employees. Thank you for all that you do!

2020/07/18 4:15:43 PM AST Matoaca In making plans for the fall, I hope that the county takes in consideration ALL matters of safety for both children and staff. Presently I have three families suffering with an immediate family member with COVID. One family ... it’s the students. I would hate for our schools to be the place that fosters the spread of this virus.

2020/07/18 4:44:28 PM AST Matoaca It is very important for my child, a middle school honors student, to participate in some form of physical classroom in the next year. The drive, care and interest during the last virtual learning was almost gone. If CCPS proceeds with total virtual learning they must have a better support system for students to use. Canvas was almost unusable and and required far too much intervention for it to work.

2020/07/18 5:31:39 PM AST Midlothian Though this novel coronavirus, which has cost thousands of lives across our country, is serious and not fully understood; there are a few things we have come to know without doubt. Children (under the age of 19) do not suffer significant illness from this virus. ZERO pediatric deaths in the Commonwealth of Virginia and at most 30 deaths in children nationwide. Moreover, children do not transmit this virus to other children or adults. The medical literature has dozens of peer reviewed published studies which document the essentially zero risk schools pose in spreading this illness to teachers, parents, or other adults in the school setting. The American Academy of Pediatrics has endorsed children returning to school in person for full attendance. Local pediatric experts have testified before school boards encouraging a return to school. The science and data are clear - our children can return to school without risk to the students or the teachers. Please do not rely on so-called “public health officials” for your information. Make the effort to read the scientific literature before you decide on a plan for our kids.

The damage being done to our students being kept from school is immeasurable. Sadly, for too many children, their school is the safest place they spend time during their day, their school is the source of their best meal of their day, and their school is the one place they receive the attention of caring adults who have the time and resources to invest in their well being. Depriving these disadvantaged children their access to school is bordering on child neglect.

Unfortunately, sensational and dishonest media reports have created an environment in which many parents, and far too many teachers, believe returning to school carries some significant, or at least unknown, risk to students, teachers, staff, and family members at home. This is simply not true. And the science and data do not support such fears. Even a cursory review of the medical literature will convince you that my position is in the best interest of our students, teachers, and staffs. Certainly some special accommodations may be warranted. Students at particularly high risk may wish to stay home. Teachers or staff with extraordinary risk factors may wish to work from a distance. But punishing the vast majority of students who should be in our schools this fall, is not a reasonable choice. Thank you for your time and consideration of this most important matter.

2020/07/18 5:34:02 PM AST Matoaca I don't think we should be doing split schedules for schools. Its either safe for children to return to school or not. I do appreciate the recent decision by Hanover County to open schools 5 days a week for those wanting/ needing to send kids to school and a virtual option for those who wish to remain at home. This is an option that let's parents decide what is best for their families.

2020/07/18 5:46:09 PM AST Midlothian Please vote for 100% virtual learning. Please don't undo the months of sacrifices we have made to lower Virginia's covid count. Please don't create more chaos by choosing an unstable school reopening plan.

2020/07/18 5:46:51 PM AST Bermuda Option 6 is the necessary, safest plan for students, families, and teachers. Distance learning will look different from Spring - teachers have more time to plan and execute interactive, rigorous lesson plans. Education is NOT childcare. If parents must work during the day, look to your community for mutual aid and childcare. Do not take it out on teachers who don't want to bring COVID-19 into their homes and among their families. The return to physical classrooms is not worth the inevitable sickness and death. I hear many parents who believe their child can only get a quality education if it is in-person. With the necessary measures of social distancing & masks, there is limited one-to-one contact with teachers and group work, the places where ideas foster. As a simultaneous instructor and student myself, I know that I both teach and learn in a more planned, focused, direct way by doing so virtually. I fear for our students, especially the students within special education programs, who may not comprehend or be able to abide by the necessary safety measures in place by the CDC and Governor Northam. In fact, at my retail job, it is a constant struggle for adults to keep their masks on in public space. These are adults! Even with a condensed schedule, students will not receive as comprehensive of an education in-person as they could at home, throughout the week, virtually: - teachers can schedule personal or small group check-ins with students without having to worry about social distancing guidelines; - students can interact with their classmates in Google Hangouts; - students can receive clear instruction from their teachers without the impediment of a mask covering their mouths or muffling their speech. - we can avoid the very real trauma of students experiencing their teachers, friends, or family becoming sick with Covid-19 from in-person interaction.

I urge you and the rest of the CCPS Board to follow the path of RPS and make this upcoming school year completely virtual. I am currently planning for a chosen virtual return to VCU, and I already see and value my colleagues who are creating robust online lesson plans despite the constraints of the pandemic.

I know Thomas Dale HS and other CCPS students will be upset --- but the school they would be returning to in August is NOT the vibrant, bustling Thomas Dale that they know and love.

Safety is our number one concern. Someday, we will eventually be within classroom walls again; now is not the time.

12 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/18 6:17:02 PM AST Clover Hill Please vote for Option 6

As a CCPS teacher and parent of 2 CCPS students, I am asking you to vote for option 6 to ensure the safety of all the students and staff. When the surveys were issued I submitted one as a parent and on as a teacher and at that time I chose returning to school with a split schedule. However, I want to change my vote to fully virtual based on what has happen since the survey was issued. COVID cases are rising! The data shows that having children together for summer camps has resulted in the the children and camp staff becoming infected. I know that loss of academics & social interactions with peers is important but lives are more important!

I teach Kindergarten and I know its going to be hard to teach them virtually but it's the only safe option at this time. One of my daughters receives Spec Ed and I know her best learning option is in person, BUT I'm not willing to risk her health for it. I know that CCPS teachers can make it work for our students virtually until it is safe to return. Thank you for all your hard work and commitment.

2020/07/18 6:36:35 PM AST Midlothian My name is Kate Flinn and I live in the Midlo district. I started to make my comment about the changes CCPS is making to the autism & intellectual disability programs, and CCPS’s non-transparent tactics to dilute them include: telling parents no changes will occur until the 2021SY, a vote by the School Board was bypassed by calling this change operational instead of policy, and, perhaps worst of all, introducing these changes less than a month after schools were closed by executive order due to a global pandemic as a bullet point item-one of several-for board review.

Instead, I will comment on how an in person return to school will impact students with special needs. As I told my SB rep, there have been documented spreads of Covid at summer camps, swimming pools, & daycares. Richmond area pediatricians’ offices are reporting steep increases in Covid positive cases & anticipate this trend to continue. According to the Va Dept of Health Covid dashboard, as of July 18, Va’s 7-day COVID positive rate was at 7.6%.

There are 2 diploma tracks for Special Ed students-ASOL and SOL. Most ASOL students (& some SOL) have a poor understanding or control of personal hygiene. They will frequently lick, taste, & smell items and people to “discover” their world and are generally unaware of sanitary practices unless prompted, modeled, and helped. Many ASOL students require toileting and feeding assistance. These students, their teachers and aides will require extreme measures to be in place & strictly maintained in order to return to safe in-person instruction.

Special needs students on an SOL diploma track are even MORE difficult to return to in person instruction. Many of these students are in collaborative & general education classes. Many don’t want to be “outed” to their peers. Student privacy concerns must be followed. MANY students in both populations, regardless of age, will refuse to wear a mask, use hand sanitizer, or are capable of recognizing social distancing lengths. There are 1000s of these students in CCPS schools.

In addition to the expense of purchasing the amount of N95 masks, hazard suits, face shields, hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies needed DAILY, as well as Plexiglas partitions, lidded bins to keep student supplies separate from each other, etc, CCPS will need to hire more nurses, counselors, social workers, & homebound instructors (for students who opt not return to his/her school) to ensure student physical & psychological health.

2020/07/18 7:07:21 PM AST Midlothian Nothing is different from March when schools closed, except now we know that a certain segment of the population thinks it’s all a hoax and will do nothing to protect other from their germs. Teachers and staff deserve to not be forced to choose between doing the jobs they love and staying healthy/alive. They can teach virtually for now and students and the community don’t have to suffer watching beloved teachers get ill, die, or have to resign. We have enough of a teacher and staff shortage and the county is completely unprepared for the transportation of the students and the substitute teachers who will be needed. Make the smart choice. Make the logical choice.

2020/07/18 7:11:14 PM AST Matoaca I have to be honest, I am terrified. I have a 6-month old baby that we tried for a really long time to be able to have. She is wonderful. And though we don't know tbe risk for young kids, this is partially due to them being in quarantine for the last 4 months. We also take care of my husband's grandma who is at the most risk due to her breathing issues. I am a school counselor and want, more than anything, to be back with my students and to work with them face-to-face. I know that's not what is best. I want to return when it is safe. I know this decision is difficult and not one I would want to make. But option 6 - virtual, is the only safe option right now.

2020/07/18 7:48:16 PM AST Dale I am a CCPS teacher AND parent of two current CCPS students. I do not want our county to go with Option 6. I am an immunocompromised teacher, but I have also seen the VDH data. The real, empirical data is not as scary as the news reports are making it sound. One percent of the population in the Chesterfield Health District have contracted the virus. 0.0005% have been hospitalized. Our neighboring districts have almost identical percentages to ours. I know we want to slow the spread of this virus threat, and we have done that. I plead with you, on behalf of the students at my Title 1 school, where I teach reading in small groups to those that need it the most, to vote for anything but Option 6. I understand the fear of the unknown that many people have, but from what I understand, those that want Option 6 would still be allowed a Virtual Learning environment using Options 1-5. The teachers and parents who want one of the other options that includes in-person instruction (which is way more efficient for younger and disadvantaged populations) will have had little to no voice if we vote as a county for Option 6.

2020/07/18 8:12:10 PM AST Matoaca I am a county teacher and have 2 students of my own in CCPS. I think the kids are in MUCH more danger not being in school (mentally, physically, socially, and more) CPS reports are down a ton due to kids not being in school and there have been ZERO deaths in VA of people 0-20 years of age. Life is not “safe” it is all a risk. We risk driving to school every day and the death rate is not much different. My own kids do not do like virtual learning and miss their friends. I fully support us returning to school full 5 days a week.

2020/07/18 8:25:22 PM AST Midlothian Please think about expanding to outdoor classrooms, you can increase your physical distancing while maintaining numbers in person. Outdoor coverings for shade and weather would be a small investment and class sizes could be larger. You might need a parent to assist every class to bring little ones to and from bathrooms but otherwise could solve many issues. Get them to thanksgiving in person.

2020/07/18 8:48:00 PM AST Unsure Our children need structure, consistency, movement, interaction, and hands-on learning. Sitting in front of a computer all day is NOT going to work for my child. If you do every other day, many children will spend the “other” day in daycare thus exposing themselves and everyone they come in contact with to TWO pools of germs. Give the option of in-person or online. About 50% will choose online, which will cut in-person population in half, allowing for more social distancing in the classroom. In-person school is possible!

2020/07/18 9:24:33 PM AST Midlothian K-3 students need to be in a classroom! Virtual learning is not realistic at this age.

2020/07/18 9:32:13 PM AST Midlothian I know that you all are in a difficult situation and have been bombarded with advice, demands, and some lunacy, I'm sure. I do not envy the position you are in but I just want you all to vote from your heart. Don't listen to the politicized version of all of this, don't listen to the parents who are telling you to open schools because they need their kids out of the house, just listen to the truth that you have in you. There are a lot of people who are at risk if we go back to school; teachers, staff, students are the immediate concern but what about the families and friends of those teachers, staff, and students? Why risk it? Go virtual for my sake and for yours. Thank you.

2020/07/18 9:57:41 PM AST Midlothian • If a teacher tests positive for COVID-19 are they required to quarantine for 2-3 weeks? Is their sick leave covered, paid? • If that teacher has 5 classes a day with 30 students each, do all 150 of those students need to then stay home and quarantine for 14 days? • Do all 150 of those students now have to get tested? Who pays for those tests? Are they happening at school? How are the parents being notified? Does everyone in each of those kids' families need to get tested? Who pays for that? • What if someone who lives in the same house as some who works in the schools tests positive? Does that teacher now need to take 14 days off of work to quarantine? Is that time off covered? Paid? • Where is the district going to find a substitute teacher who will work in a classroom under current conditions? • What if a student in your kid's class tests positive? What if your kid tests positive? Does every other student and teacher they have been around quarantine? * Do we all get notified who is infected and when? Or because of HIPAA regulations are parents and teachers just going to get mysterious “may have been in contact” emails all year long? • What is this stress going to do to our teachers? How does it affect their health and well-being? How does it affect their ability to teach? How does it affect the quality of education they are able to provide? What is it going to do to our kids? What are the long-term effects of consistently being stressed out? • How will it affect students and faculty when the first teacher in their school dies from this? The first parent of a student who brought it home? The first kid? • What type of PPE is going to be provided to personnel who work directly with students? Have we explored options of classrooms outside? Have you looked at what other states / countries are doing to provide a safe environment? Ventilations is a key issue and that is a problem in many schools. Have CCPS made improvements?

2020/07/18 10:10:59 PM AST Midlothian Kids go to school normally ( open school)

2020/07/18 10:19:28 PM AST Midlothian K-3 students need to be in a classroom! Virtual learning is not realistic at this age.

2020/07/18 10:55:04 PM AST Midlothian I am writing on behalf of my entire family, residing in Chesterfield County. We respectfully request that you NOT open schools yet to in-person classes. We know that you are being pressured by politicians and business leaders to reopen the schools, but please, surely you must agree that the health and safety of our children and teachers must come first. What the business leaders and politicians don't seem to realize is that opening the schools too soon could indeed, backfire on them and destroy economic recovery efforts. Medical experts agree that opening schools will most assuredly lead to increased spread of the disease. We're just not ready in this country. Testing is scarce, and even when you can get tested, it can take five to seven days or more to get the results. By then, the virus has spread to countless others. The State of Virginia is surrounded by states with rising numbers of cases. Inevitably, our totals are going to get worse. By delaying the reopening, this will give all schools more time to prepare, and hopefully, by that time, we will have more therapeutic medications and a vaccine by the end of the year. By waiting to reopen, you will save lives. So many States are suffering huge outbreaks right now because they reopened too early. Don't make the same mistake they did. Other school systems in Virginia and around the entire country are not reopening. Please follow their lead. Please do the right thing. Don't endanger the lives of our children and teachers. Imagine the trauma a child would suffer if by going to school, he brought home the virus that killed a family member. Give our scientists just a bit longer to find a vaccine. Thank you.

2020/07/18 11:05:09 PM AST Unsure The children need to go back to school. The children are not being able to learn and retain information from online learning alone. Also, many families are financially unable to homeschool because our jobs are not work from home. Please allow the students to back full time or at least part time. Thanks.

2020/07/19 12:13:36 AM AST Matoaca We previously voted for the hybrid model but now would change our vote to 100% virtual. The risks are much to high to send children and staff back to school, especially to an overcrowded school. We are currently enrolled in the Recovery of Learning program and feel it has been wonderful for our child. We feel comfortable doing virtual learning now that we have actually participated in it and see that it can work. As long as children with IEPs can receive support needed to fulfill their IEPs, I think progress can be made there as well. CCPS should focus their efforts on building a 100% virtual program.

2020/07/19 12:29:45 AM AST Midlothian K-3 students need to be in a classroom! Virtual learning is not realistic at this age.

2020/07/19 12:56:05 AM AST Matoaca We previously voted for the hybrid model but now would change our vote to 100% virtual. The risks are much to high to send children and staff back to school, especially to an overcrowded school. We are currently enrolled in the Recovery of Learning program and feel it has been wonderful for our child. We feel comfortable doing virtual learning now that we have actually participated in it and see that it can work. As long as children with IEPs can receive support needed to fulfill their IEPs, I think progress can be made there as well. CCPS should focus their efforts on building a 100% virtual program.

2020/07/19 1:17:12 AM AST Matoaca We previously voted for the hybrid model but now would change our vote to 100% virtual. The risks are much to high to send children and staff back to school, especially to an overcrowded school. We are currently enrolled in the Recovery of Learning program and feel it has been wonderful for our child. We feel comfortable doing virtual learning now that we have actually participated in it and see that it can work. As long as children with IEPs can receive support needed to fulfill their IEPs, I think progress can be made there as well. CCPS should focus their efforts on building a 100% virtual program.

2020/07/19 2:22:31 AM AST Bermuda I'm writing as a concerned community stakeholder. Given the challenges posed by our current situation, the number and weight of the variables, and current scientific data, I urge you to choose Option 6 for the following reasons: -Documented pediatric, teen, and adult cases of COVID-19 on the rise in VA. -Increased knowledge of COVID-19’s impact on younger populations. -Documented spread at summer camps, pools, and daycares with gatherings of younger populations. -The full spectrum of symptoms and lifelong, chronic health effects are only just beginning to be cataloged, much less understood. -School buildings meet all 3 of WHO’s “Three Cs to Avoid”: crowded places, close-contact settings, and confined and enclosed places with poor ventilation. -CCPS has historically struggled to provide hot water for hand-washing; sufficiently stock soap and paper towels, as well as adequately clean buildings under normal circumstances. -School buildings don't have adequate airflow, ventilation, or air quality control. -Minority groups are more likely to contract COVID-19 due to equity issues. Hispanic or Latino persons have a rate approximately 4 times that of non-Hispanic white persons. Non-Hispanic black persons have a rate approximately 5 times that of non-Hispanic white persons. It's inequitable to return face-to-face under these circumstances. -Young children are incapable of adequately recognizing seriousness of contagion and appropriate safeguards. -Negative emotional impact of children returning to an environment that is much different than they're accustomed to. Additionally, it is irresponsible to choose anything other than Option 6 given the lack of policies and procedures addressing issues such as: -Supplying staff with adequate PPE, cleaning supplies, and facilities. -Reliable custodial staff for each building. -Extended paid and approved leave for staff. Specific guidelines to address the lack of available substitutes. -Mandatory wearing of masks for all students and staff – no exceptions. -Clear expectations and enforcement of consequences for those who do not follow mask wearing or social distancing guidelines. -Require temperature checks, mandatory quarantine, and enforce consequences for parents who send sick students. -Require prompt notification of positive COVID-19 cases within a classroom – in line with HIPAA.

The only option that guarantees our community will remain safe is a 100% virtual reopening. I urge you to vote for a full virtual reopening.

2020/07/19 2:41:35 AM AST Matoaca We previously voted for the hybrid model but now would change our vote to 100% virtual. The risks are much to high to send children and staff back to school, especially to an overcrowded school. We are currently enrolled in the Recovery of Learning program and feel it has been wonderful for our child. We feel comfortable doing virtual learning now that we have actually participated in it and see that it can work. As long as children with IEPs can receive support needed to fulfill their IEPs, I think progress can be made there as well. CCPS should focus their efforts on building a 100% virtual program.

2020/07/19 6:35:21 AM AST Midlothian My name is Kate Flinn and I live in the Midlo district. I started to make my comment about the changes CCPS is making to the autism & intellectual disability programs, and CCPS’s non-transparent tactics to dilute them include: telling parents no changes will occur until the 2021SY, a vote by the School Board was bypassed by calling this change operational instead of policy, and, perhaps worst of all, introducing these changes less than a month after schools were closed by executive order due to a global pandemic as a bullet point item-one of several-for board review.

Instead, I will comment on how an in person return to school will impact students with special needs. As I told my SB rep, there have been documented spreads of Covid at summer camps, swimming pools, & daycares. Richmond area pediatricians’ offices are reporting steep increases in Covid positive cases & anticipate this trend to continue. According to the Va Dept of Health Covid dashboard, as of July 18, Va’s 7-day COVID positive rate was at 7.6%.

There are 2 diploma tracks for Special Ed students-ASOL and SOL. Most ASOL students (& some SOL) have a poor understanding or control of personal hygiene. They will frequently lick, taste, & smell items and people to “discover” their world and are generally unaware of sanitary practices unless prompted, modeled, and helped. Many ASOL students require toileting and feeding assistance. These students, their teachers and aides will require extreme measures to be in place & strictly maintained in order to return to safe in-person instruction.

Special needs students on an SOL diploma track are even MORE difficult to return to in person instruction. Many of these students are in collaborative & general education classes. Many don’t want to be “outed” to their peers. Student privacy concerns must be followed. MANY students in both populations, regardless of age, will refuse to wear a mask, use hand sanitizer, or are capable of recognizing social distancing lengths. There are 1000s of these students in CCPS schools.

In addition to the expense of purchasing the amount of N95 masks, hazard suits, face shields, hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies needed DAILY, as well as Plexiglas partitions, lidded bins to keep student supplies separate from each other, etc, CCPS will need to hire more nurses, counselors, social workers, & homebound instructors (for students who opt not return to his/her school) to ensure student physical & psychological health.

13 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/19 7:41:27 AM AST Midlothian Just learning that our school board representative, Mrs. Kathryn Haines, stated in a letter that it isn’t fair that most black and brown students don’t have the healthcare, therefore it wouldn’t be FAIR for students who have to pay for Covid testing to be in that situation. So her vote is to keep kids home so more parents can’t work and not have healthcare. She has been responding to my questions with, “I wish all kids can go back to school”. But she is obviously against it. Is she using Covid to get what the school has been asking for all these years which they didn’t have the money for and this is their only way to get it? Same with Sonia Smith, her group using Covid to make demands on the changes she wants. Who is fighting for these kids to be back in school when 80% of parents and teachers voted for kids to be in school? We now have groups threatening and bully teacher who want to go back to school because they disagree with them. There are many cases where Covid isn’t having an affect on people at all, mainly in our youth. Students don’t need to be tested everyday. If they feel sick one day, they go to the nurse. Mrs. Haines said that we can’t open until we have AC units in all schools, Hepa filters in all rooms(doesn’t cost much). nurse in every school) I don’t know why this wasn’t done before). And the money for Covid testing and contact tracking( is this a demand from our governor that every school must have this?) or is it unnecessary? I agree every school should have these but is the funds for Covid testing will most likely go somewhere else? So if Midlothian HS has working AC units, hepa filters, and a school nurse.... 1600 can’t go to school because another school in the county doesn’t have these?

2020/07/19 8:52:06 AM AST Midlothian I am an Urgent Care physician & a parent of 2 CCPS students. I encourage you to follow the science & support the full re-opening of CCPS. No one doubts COVID has been a terrible disease, but we now know more about the virus & this should be examined & weighed against the serious & terrible consequences of not reopening our schools. Children under 19 don’t suffer significant illness from this virus & children do not readily transmit this virus to other children or adults. We also know the damage done by keeping children out of school is immense. If nothing else, the statement from American Academy of Pediatrics should leave no doubt in your minds that physically opening the schools should be the only choice. Not doing so would suggest that your decision is not being made on the basis of science, medicine and what is best for children, but on political pressure & fear. People are scared, In the spring, I was afraid, but I took precautions, & still went in every shift & helped everyone who came in sick, anxious & afraid. I was not the only one. EMTs put fear aside to help those in need; clerks at the grocery stores put fear aside to keep food on your table; small business owners put fear aside & said “OK, for the greater good, I will close up my shop, risk loosing my livelihood (& many did), to help flatten the curve; & to this day, despite horrific treatment, our great police put fear (not only of the virus, but now of being defunded or ambushed by those they try to protect) aside every day to protect us all. We have heard that folks are essential and others non-essential, all people are essential. None more so than schools & especially our great teachers. We know you are afraid, but it’s now your time to step up, put your fears aside & do what’s right for our children/your students. Please do not follow the decision of the City of Richmond, RCPS should be ashamed as they are letting down parents & teachers & sacrificing the futures of thousands of children. What would have happened if every doctor, farmer, sanitation worker, store clerk, nurse, daycare worker, truck driver, etc had said “I’m too afraid, I’m staying home”? We are Americans, we don’t sit out the fight, we can’t cower to fear. We study a problem, we act on what we learn & we overcome. Taking precautions, schools can be fully opened safely this fall, and they should be. It is now your time to do the right thing & again I ask you look at the facts as you make your decision. Brett M. Law MD

2020/07/19 8:52:17 AM AST Midlothian My daughter is immunocompromised and high risk for complications should she contract the virus. She also has Down syndrome so she has an IEP. I realize that her services can’t look like they would if she is in the building but she still is covered by an IEP and needs services. The county needs to be planning for how to effectively deliver services to my daughter and others like her.

2020/07/19 8:52:43 AM AST Midlothian I am an Urgent Care physician & a parent of 2 CCPS students. I encourage you to follow the science & support the full re-opening of CCPS. No one doubts COVID has been a terrible disease, but we now know more about the virus & this should be examined & weighed against the serious & terrible consequences of not reopening our schools. Children under 19 don’t suffer significant illness from this virus & children do not readily transmit this virus to other children or adults. We also know the damage done by keeping children out of school is immense. If nothing else, the statement from American Academy of Pediatrics should leave no doubt in your minds that physically opening the schools should be the only choice. Not doing so would suggest that your decision is not being made on the basis of science, medicine and what is best for children, but on political pressure & fear. People are scared, In the spring, I was afraid, but I took precautions, & still went in every shift & helped everyone who came in sick, anxious & afraid. I was not the only one. EMTs put fear aside to help those in need; clerks at the grocery stores put fear aside to keep food on your table; small business owners put fear aside & said “OK, for the greater good, I will close up my shop, risk loosing my livelihood (& many did), to help flatten the curve; & to this day, despite horrific treatment, our great police put fear (not only of the virus, but now of being defunded or ambushed by those they try to protect) aside every day to protect us all. We have heard that folks are essential and others non-essential, all people are essential. None more so than schools & especially our great teachers. We know you are afraid, but it’s now your time to step up, put your fears aside & do what’s right for our children/your students. Please do not follow the decision of the City of Richmond, RCPS should be ashamed as they are letting down parents & teachers & sacrificing the futures of thousands of children. What would have happened if every doctor, farmer, sanitation worker, store clerk, nurse, daycare worker, truck driver, etc had said “I’m too afraid, I’m staying home”? We are Americans, we don’t sit out the fight, we can’t cower to fear. We study a problem, we act on what we learn & we overcome. Taking precautions, schools can be fully opened safely this fall, and they should be. It is now your time to do the right thing & again I ask you look at the facts as you make your decision. Brett M. Law MD

2020/07/19 9:14:30 AM AST Unsure We are in the bon air school district. I am praying for your decision regarding our kids. I don’t know the right answer but the lack of social interaction is having a significant impact on the mental health of our kids. For our family I have been having my son practice wearing a mask for long periods of time. We will not be using the school bus system and will be taking him to and from school. My suggestion would be four days a week with half days for half of the class or if we can spread the kids out enough then the whole class. This includes temperature screenings every day on every student. The expectation is all children will wear a mask. If they cannot comply they must Go home. I worry about that long term impacts on this generation as this has significantly impacted their critical formative years. I initially was on the path of - they are kids- they are fine! They are resilient.

Yes they are but I have watched my happy go lucky child become extremely emotional, sad, and not himself. We have reached out for help and are doing that instructions as guided by his doctor- and have seen mild improvement with adequate sleep and lots of exercise.

Please don’t misunderstand me- I’m terrified of the pandemic. I’m terrified that one of my family members could become a victim. I don’t know the right answer but will be praying for God to lead you to the best decision for the system.

2020/07/19 9:50:42 AM AST Bermuda I am a 30 year veteran teacher in CCPS and I am advocating that you vote for a fully virtual opening to the school year this fall.

There are three things I would like to draw your attention to. The first is that, while numerous studies show that C-19 is not as severe in youth, they also suggest that this makes it all the more possible for them to spread the illness to other students as well as the adults working with them because the illness often goes unrecognized.

Second, I often hear those in favor of returning to school fully in the fall suggest that those families who are concerned about their high risk children or adults in the family who may be susceptible to spread from their children have the option to allow their children the fully virtual option. What is often neglected is that this will not be an option for staff. It is often overlooked as well that, even if a hybrid option is chosen reducing the number of students in the building on any given day, staff will be exposed to large groups of students at least 4 days a week, and ultimately be exposed to the entire student population.

Finally, we don’t have to wonder what is likely to occur if we open before C-19 is declining in our area or if we open without rigorous safety precautions in place. Situations like that in Israel provide a strong reminder what is likely to occur if our plans are based on aspiration and not the available science and data.

I appreciate the difficult decision you are faced with! I hope that your vote reflects a deep concern with the safety of students, staff, and the citizens of Chesterfield County and that this must come first if any meaningful learning is to take place!

Children must Maslow before they can Bloom!!

2020/07/19 10:11:05 AM AST Unsure What is the decision on teacher leave if school resumes and they contract the virus? Will they have to take personal leave or will the county cover it? What supplies are being provided to each teacher and will we be test/will there be a requirement of testing?

2020/07/19 10:25:19 AM AST Midlothian I am an Urgent Care physician & a parent of 2 CCPS students. I encourage you to follow the science & support the full re-opening of CCPS. No one doubts COVID has been a terrible disease, but we now know more about the virus & this should be examined & weighed against the serious & terrible consequences of not reopening our schools. Children under 19 don’t suffer significant illness from this virus & children do not readily transmit this virus to other children or adults. We also know the damage done by keeping children out of school is immense. If nothing else, the statement from American Academy of Pediatrics should leave no doubt in your minds that physically opening the schools should be the only choice. Not doing so would suggest that your decision is not being made on the basis of science, medicine and what is best for children, but on political pressure & fear. People are scared, In the spring, I was afraid, but I took precautions, & still went in every shift & helped everyone who came in sick, anxious & afraid. I was not the only one. EMTs put fear aside to help those in need; clerks at the grocery stores put fear aside to keep food on your table; small business owners put fear aside & said “OK, for the greater good, I will close up my shop, risk loosing my livelihood (& many did), to help flatten the curve; & to this day, despite horrific treatment, our great police put fear (not only of the virus, but now of being defunded or ambushed by those they try to protect) aside every day to protect us all. We have heard that folks are essential and others non-essential, all people are essential. None more so than schools & especially our great teachers. We know you are afraid, but it’s now your time to step up, put your fears aside & do what’s right for our children/your students. Please do not follow the decision of the City of Richmond, RCPS should be ashamed as they are letting down parents & teachers & sacrificing the futures of thousands of children. What would have happened if every doctor, farmer, sanitation worker, store clerk, nurse, daycare worker, truck driver, etc had said “I’m too afraid, I’m staying home”? We are Americans, we don’t sit out the fight, we can’t cower to fear. We study a problem, we act on what we learn & we overcome. Taking precautions, schools can be fully opened safely this fall, and they should be. It is now your time to do the right thing & again I ask you look at the facts as you make your decision. Brett M. Law MD

2020/07/19 10:42:27 AM AST Dale In regards to the opening of schools for the 2020-2021 school year, I choose option 6. I realize that the choice is truly in your hands and I will accept your decision and report to teach this year either in person or in virtual form. I am sure you have seen and heard much on this topic, from opinion to science, so I give you a bit of the Word that spoke to me this week; Mark 12:31 "The second is this, You will love your neighbor as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these." My life and livelihood are in your hands, please love this neighbor as you do yourself and ask yourself "would I be comfortable risking the lives of even a few when there is a safer choice available?" It is for my neighbor that I wear a mask in public and try to stay home as much as possible until this virus is done running it's course. Therefore, I ask you to choose option 6 to the start of the school year 2020-2021 until this virus is done running its course.

2020/07/19 10:56:57 AM AST Midlothian I'm a single working parent (guardian of 2 grandchildren) and I completely understand the issue of "what do I do about my job if schools don't open". I mean it. I get it. But schools are not day care centers and it is NOT a solution to provide an easy answer that jeopardizes of the health of the very children we're trying to care for. If schools open, then children will come back and some of them will die. I think the latest trends and discoveries make that very clear. The very opening of schools lulls parents into thinking it is safe solution, but it's not. HVAC systems are old and inefficient. There is not time to retrofit rooms designed for 25-30 to accommodate 1/2 that number with appropriate distancing. There isn't much we know yet about transmission among children, but the newest information is disheartening. The more we learn about this horrible virus, the more we understand just how much we don't know. I'm DESPERATE for my children to resume their education, but we're doing it on line. I have no idea how we'll work around my job, but I do know that's my problem to solve, not CCPS's. I want the focus to be on how to develop an adequate distance learning curriculum that maximizes learning and minimizes access challenges. There's a lot of work to do to be up & running on-line by September 8. Let's get started.

2020/07/19 10:58:19 AM AST Midlothian As much as I'm not sure it's safe, I feel we need to have the option of some in person education. I know it won't last long, but kids need socialization as they grow and develop. I'm concerned about the long term effects closing schools for a long time will have on kids. My kids don't learn as well with virtual.

Has CCPS upped their bandwidth and infrastructure to be able to handle all students on at the same time? Or even the majority of students at once?

If 1 teacher gets it, then teacher, their kids, and any kids/teachers that teacher and/or their kids comes into contact with will be out for at least 2 weeks. It also means, how far out from the infected do you quarantine people?

Say that teacher has 20 students in per class, 5 classes s/he teaches. That means all 5 of their classes, those kids quarantine for 2 weeks? That's 100 students right off, out for 14 days.

But those 100 stufents have 4+ other classes. Do the teachers and students in those other 4+ classes then have to quarantine for 14 days? I'm sure you get the point.

What about those student's siblings - do they quarantine?

Unless students are lumped together and all have the same schedule the ripple effects will be far reaching. If they end up having in person it might be better to lump students into groups, and each group has the exact same schedule. To minimize the ripples, should 1 student/staff test positive. Even lumped together, 1 positive test will take out (for quarantine)large groups of students and staff.

Is there a way teavhers could have something, like a plexiglass divider, to offer them more protection?

However, I'm greatly concerned about more people dying, and potential long term effects of COVID. We all know *some* parents will knowingly send their sick kids to school. I just don't see how we can safely have in person school, even though my kids have been begging for it.

This is a huge decision, with so many facets and unknowns. I absolutely would not want to be the one making the decision, and give credit to those that have to make these decisions.

2020/07/19 11:02:49 AM AST Clover Hill Kids and teachers safety should be taken more seriously. Children and staff should NOT return to public instruction this fall. It is not safe to do so effectively at this time. Please keep our community safe and do the right thing for the children, our future, and give them the opportunity to stay home, stay educated, stay safe, and grow into adults.

2020/07/19 11:47:06 AM AST Matoaca It’s important that the kids return to in class learning WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO. We don’t know how this virus will react in the school setting cause we shut down schools before the virus was really present in our communities. I would like for the virtual option to be more structured then it was this spring. I understand that we were not prepared or ready for the shut down this past spring. It would be great if the virtual kids could hear from and talk to teachers everyday. Almost like a regular school day only virtually at home.

2020/07/19 11:48:25 AM AST Clover Hill I’m 100% for in person learning

2020/07/19 12:01:27 PM AST Midlothian Members of the CCPS school board, I realize you are in an extremely difficult spot as you have an important decision to make tonight that will significantly impact the well-being and education of our children. It is not an easy choice. However, I am extremely concerned for the sake of our children, and I implore you to offer a hybrid option for the start of the school year. The percentage of children getting COVID-19 is very small. With PPD, routine health checks and strict cleaning protocols, there is also a small risk of teachers contracting COVID-19. I am not trying to minimize COVID-19, and I certainly do not want any more deaths. However, education is essential, and teachers are critical to the future of our children.It is scientifically proven that in-person learning is much more effective than virtual learning. Virtual instruction in the spring was not successful. My children did not learn much at all, and they became extremely frustrated. In addition, I was completely stressed out, and I felt like a complete failure as a mother. Every single parent I talked to experienced a very similar situation. My husband and I both work full time. I did my best getting everything organized each day for them, trying to check in between conference calls, and support them in any way I could. One of our daughters experienced unbelievable anxiety due to virtual school, which led to putting her on medication. My other daughter has ADHD. If we go to 100% virtual instruction, I will have to quit my job, which will be a significant hardship on my family financially. However, our children come first. If other states and counties in VA are figuring out options outside of 100% virtual, why can't Chesterfield county? Even taking multiple breaks, children cannot pay attention on the computer for long periods of time. How will a teacher handle a disruptive child virtually? This will all fall on the parents. So many children will not have ample support because their parents have to go to work or they simply don’t have the skills to teach their children at the level they need to be. How is it fair to hold the parents mainly accountable for the instruction and grades that will count? If we end up with 100% virtual instruction, so many people will completely lose faith in the CCPS school system. Whatever happens, we will have to figure it out, but 100% virtual instruction vs. the compromise of hybrid education is simply detrimental. Thank you for your consideration.

14 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/19 12:06:19 PM AST Bermuda Thank you for reviewing the CURRENT statistical data with respect to covid19 and returning to learning.

As a CCPS employee of ten years, I know that we have the talent to return our students to learning. Our teachers are eager to do so! Our students are beyond ready to see friends and be back in the building. However, SAFETY has dictated what we must do to protect our students and staff. With increasing Covid numbers, we must delay physically returning to the building. I had out patient surgery this past Thursday; before entering the building, both myself and my husband were required to go through a screening process. I appreciate that. As the screening person said to me “if you go to your family doctor with Covid symptoms, you are tested in the parking lot; l personally wish we could test every surgery patient as well; things are not improving”. That in itself makes one stop to think: doctors who have protective equipment, will NOT ALLOW YOU INSIDE FOR YOUR TESTING. Why? Clearly, they don’t want to expose other patients or even their staff that have on full PPE. THAT tells us the gravity of this virus. So I would ask each School Board Member: if physicians do not have potential Covid cases come inside their office, how do we open school doors, there are potential cases in the population, both staff and students. Given that doctors and scientists have yet to determine a documented “spreading specific time”, we cannot risk opening the doors now. Some doctors have stated it may be more dangerous now than when schools closed in March.

I am asking that the School Board move to a virtual learning environment for the first 9 weeks at a minimum: * numbers and trending can be reassessed * therapeutics and clinical trials will be more readily available * processes can be planned thoroughly (versus hastily) for safe face to face instruction. This would allow for contract negotiations for PPE, sanitizing wipes, face masks/shields etc. * guidelines need to be established: legalities for staff regarding paid leave, (specific to Covid), legal language with respect to infecting others * time to recruit subs/support staff, there will certainly be increased absences with quarantines. (current shortage of subs and bus drivers)

This crisis can be used for good, for Americans to come together ~ to rethink and bolster the nation’s public school system.

At this time, that must be done virtually.

2020/07/19 12:08:29 PM AST Matoaca I have been of the mindset that we would go along with whatever back to school model was presented to our family for this upcoming fall - thankful that I, personally, haven't been a decision maker in this pandemic. Our family has been socially distancing, wearing masks, avoiding unnecessary outings, and bring careful. However, on Friday we had to get our 11 year old tested for COVID-19 after she developed a fever and chest tightness a few days prior. Now we are waiting 4-6 days to receive the results. And our entire family (6 of us total) is under quarantine, even though there is only one person with symptoms. We understand that if her test is positive, we will also all need to be tested. How do you propose to handle these types of situations for your students if there is in school instruction? If one student tests positive, does the entire class then need to be tested because of known exposure? If a student is out because of symptoms, will you ensure that the students' siblings also stay home? According to our pediatrician, the rapid tests available in Virginia are only 80% accurate, and are resulting in a lot of false negatives. This makes for a lot of wait time for families to quarantine necessarily or unnecessarily. I know that my family is fortunate because we are able to limit our outside contacts, and we have the resources to make sure virtual learning would be successful for our children (rising 6th, rising 4th, rising K, and rising private pre-K). This is not an easy decision, but it would seem prudent to keep children and teachers safe by using a virtual environment as much as possible. Thank you.

2020/07/19 12:28:35 PM AST Midlothian If the school board votes to deny educational choice to parents, will the county government be issuing any tax credits or vouchers to the taxpayers? By denying our children the educational opportunities they deserve, many parents will be forced to send their children to private schools or hire private tutors. With buildings being closed, auxillary staff at a minimum and buses going unused, where will that budgeted money go? How can members of both boards ask residents to risk their safety to go to work everyday and pay taxes for the salaries of teachers who are refusing to provide in person instruction? Education is essential, and now more than ever parents and teachers should be working together to put the needs of our children first, not pursuing political agendas on either side of the aisle.

2020/07/19 12:32:10 PM AST Midlothian If Option is approved, how can schools and teachers guarantee that students will not be cheating on their graded assignments, given that many children will be spending their days together in day cares , community centers and homes across the county?

2020/07/19 1:45:55 PM AST Clover Hill I am writing to you to encourage you to support a full re-opening option for Chesterfield County Public Schools this fall. I am a parent of a CCPS student in both elementary and middle and a local healthcare worker who cares for children in our community with some of the most complex medical issues one can imagine. I am very well versed in the scope of medical literature regarding the novel coronavirus, particularly as it pertains to children and their role in spreading the disease. And I fully support a return to 5-day per week, in-person school instruction.

Though this novel coronavirus, which has cost thousands of lives across our country, is serious and not fully understood; there are a few things we have come to know without doubt. Children (under the age of 19) do not suffer significant illness from this virus. ZERO pediatric deaths in the Commonwealth of Virginia and at most 30 deaths in children nationwide. Moreover, children do not transmit this virus to other children or adults. The medical literature has dozens of peer reviewed published studies which document the essentially zero risk schools pose in spreading this illness to teachers, parents, or other adults in the school setting. The American Academy of Pediatrics has endorsed children returning to school in person for full attendance. Local pediatric experts have testified before school boards encouraging a return to school.

The damage being done to our students being kept from school is immeasurable. Sadly, for too many children, their school is the safest place they spend time during their day, their school is the source of their best meal of their day, and their school is the one place they receive the attention of caring adults who have the time and resources to invest in their well being. Depriving these disadvantaged children their access to school is bordering on child neglect. Children need the in person instruction to continue to find value and motivation and clarity to their daily educational instruction.

Students at particularly high risk may wish to stay home. Teachers or staff with extraordinary risk factors may wish to work from a distance. But punishing the vast majority of students who should be in our schools this fall, is not a reasonable choice. Please consider giving families the choice of in person instruction vs virtual learning. Thank you for your time and consideration of this most important matter.

Leslie Armstrong

2020/07/19 2:30:09 PM AST Clover Hill 100% virtual learning. The White House is closed, prisoners were released early from prisons, other facilities are still closed. Are we really going to sacrifice our children and teachers yet let prisoners out? I feel this is a no brainer. No yearbook needs an "In Memoriam" page.

2020/07/19 2:37:02 PM AST Midlothian The School Board should base its decision on science and the advice of public health experts, not weeks-old polls. There is simply no way that schools can open safely in September. To open schools would advance the already-occuring community spread of coronavirus, which would lead to further illness and death in Chesterfield County and surrounding areas. Option 6 is the only way to go.

2020/07/19 2:48:17 PM AST Clover Hill Science has proven that our kids should be back in school. Dozens of other countries have successfully had their kids go back. My children are already behind and will fall even more behind. Especially since other states are going back and having sports return also. The online does not work. We had such a bad experience in the spring. Teachers actually refused to help my kids. We were told to have them to watch YouTube videos to figure it out. I am not confident it will be much better in the fall. If our county decides to do virtual in the fall we are likely to remove our children from the public education system. I know it is a difficult decision for you to make but I hope you look at the facts.

2020/07/19 2:53:04 PM AST Midlothian To the extent the board will be relying on the parent survey about re-opening that was circulated earlier this summer, as a respondent I'd like to rescind my support for in-person options. It now seems that 100% virtual is the only responsible option for our two CCPS middle schoolers. When I completed the survey, I hoped our schools would receive substantial support, financial and advisory, from various government sources. I hoped we would see reassuring infection trends in our community. I hoped that CCPS would implement strong policies to protect school staff and to screen and track illness. But instead, I've seen so-called "leaders" at every level of government content to push most of the risk of the pandemic onto teachers. I've seen opposition to basic mitigation measures in the community, which will make classrooms even less safe. And I haven't heard nearly enough about how CCPS will help staff manage the health risks that in-person education poses to them and their families, or how schools will respond to symptoms and positive tests. Meanwhile, new science continues to emerge about how the virus thrives in poor ventilation and how children older than 10 transmit the virus at rates similar to adults. Under these circumstances, our family can't in good conscience add two more bodies into the mix, putting themselves and others at unacceptable risk. I sympathize deeply with families who depend more than we do on in-person education, and for their sake I hope that CCPS will have appropriate plans in the event that more outbreaks require another total shutdown -- an outcome that looks more and more likely every day.

2020/07/19 3:09:28 PM AST Matoaca I love our kids, our families, and our CCPS- they are my family. Please select Option 6- because family is my life.

2020/07/19 3:10:57 PM AST Midlothian Virtual learning is hurting our children.

2020/07/19 3:15:31 PM AST Midlothian Kids go to school normally ( open school)

2020/07/19 3:36:06 PM AST Matoaca Allow me to start by expressing my respect for the School Board, the superintendent, the Board of Supervisors, and all those working on how and when to open schools.

We are in the middle of unprecedented times and are facing a pandemic of historic proportions that as of the time I write this, has killed 143,157 Americans and infected 3,865,582 Americans in just 6 months. The scary part is that for much of those 6 months, we have been staying home and limiting who we see and where we go. What happens if 60,000 people suddenly start going out in Chesterfield County and come together in our schools?

This virus scares me. I'm scared about the long term affects, that scientists around the world are just learning about, on people who have recovered. I'm scared about how many more people are going to die. I'm scared of going to work and catching this virus and unknowingly bringing it home to my immune compromised wife or my 17 year old daughter, and either causing their deaths or lifelong complications. I'm scared of unknowingly bringing it into my classroom and giving it to a student and it being a danger to them and their family. I'm scared of what it would do to a child if he/she knew that they gave the virus to someone who suffers greatly or dies from this virus. I don't think we can say that kids don't catch this virus or spread it. There are more and more examples of this happening every day. As an example, since Israel opened their schools, according the the Wall Street Journal, "at least 1,335 students and 691 faculty members have been infected. This scares me.

Chesterfield County, I am sure, is doing all it can to prepare schools for an opening, but through no fault of yours, we simply are not ready to resume in person learning. This is not the flu. This is so much more dangerous. We do not have this under control. We are not even close to having this under control.

I don't want to die. I want to see my son and daughter get married. I want to play with my grandchildren. I want them to have a healthy life. Please don't risk our lives and their lives this fall. Wait. Be safe. Play it conservative. Put the safety of your staff and our students before anything else. It's not worth it right now. Don't risk our futures, the futures of our family members and friends, or the futures of our students and their families. No one wants to look back in October and say, "We shouldn't have opened schools."

Thank you for your time.

2020/07/19 3:41:15 PM AST Matoaca Until school bus issues are resolved, I see no way kids can safely return to school! Kids were three to four to a seat last year, this wasn't safe then and most certainly isn't safe now with Covid. Even if that can get resolved, it's still a lot to expect them to not mess with their mask and then contaminate stuff. I really hope virtual learning is an option for 2020-2021 school year!

2020/07/19 3:43:45 PM AST Dale Children, barely wash their hands now. How can you guarantee my child will not contract the virus? Richmond has decided that all class will be virtual, why is that not the plan for Chesterfield as well?

2020/07/19 3:47:01 PM AST Midlothian My comments relate to "Opening of Schools." As a parent & teacher I have struggled with how we return to school. I want my son & my students to get the education they deserve while protecting their safety & the safety of all CCPS employees. Even 2 weeks ago my response was different; I felt in-class learning was worth dealing with masks, face shields, social distancing, & constant cleaning. However I now believe option 6 is our safest & most responsible option. As people have re-emerged infection rates have spiked. Many are not willing to take the necessary precautions, including self-isolating & wearing a mask, to keep others safe. Opening school buildings = many more interactions each day: bus stops & rides, moving around school, day care, etc. Each contact point is another risk of exposure.

The fact is, we don't know enough about COVID-19 to know what this fall & winter will look like. We think it doesn't affect children the same way as adults, but we really don't know & there is growing evidence many early assumptions about COVID are wrong. As a teacher, I am not excited about distance learning. I WANT to see my kids every day, to talk with them & smile & give hugs. Distance teaching isn't easier; we can’t create the same connections; our days are much longer & each lesson requires much more work to present online. However, I believe it is worth it to avoid the potential risks. If we cannot hold meetings in person & major employers are working from home, how can it be safe to send thousands of people into crowded schools & buses with extended contact every day?

We do not have to stay online all year. If the virus is controlled & infection rates decline, then we go back to schools. But if we plan for in-school learning then go home a few weeks later, the year is far more disrupted. Let teachers & parents begin planning for distance learning, with the understanding that if we are seeing positive trends or find effective ways to keep our schools safe, we will return to campuses.

Please make the responsible choice - Option 6 - even if you believe it is not the popular choice. I do not believe the parent survey accurately represents the views of CCPS stake holders since one could respond more than once, a fact widely circulated on social media. We elected you to represent our best interests. No one solution will make every constituent happy, so please choose the Option 6 for our children, our teachers & staff, the District, & our community. Thank you.

2020/07/19 4:00:35 PM AST Midlothian A few weeks ago, when my Monacan junior and I completed the reopening survey, COVID-19 cases were declining, and we expressed strong interest in face-to-face learning. Recent science and virus rates have completely changed my perspective. As a VCU professor, I have spent my career immersed in health data. However, my most important role is that of mom to two children (16 and 14). One suffered a severe respiratory virus as an infant, was on a ventilator for 18 days, and has chronic complications as a result. I bring up this deeply personal experience to emphasize that mortality is not the only outcome to consider. Numerous terrible outcomes are possible from this virus. Many people not even sick enough to require hospitalization report debilitating fatigue, neurological complications, and other challenges long after initial “recovery.”

Most children age 10 spread COVID-19 at rates similar to adults. Also, teens appear more susceptible than younger children both to getting COVID-19, and experiencing severe symptoms. Further, they are generally better at online learning than younger students. Perhaps different reopening strategies for older and younger children could be considered, as was done in other countries. Also, no country has opened schools when the virus was at the rate it currently is in Virginia.

Further, as teacher, I cannot imagine instructing both online and in-person simultaneously. Moreover, even if we begin the year in-person, we will likely have to pivot to an exclusively online approach as cases rise, and/or influenza complicates COVID tracing. Perhaps if teachers could plan now to be online, they could focus their energies?

Moreover, this meeting is virtual, as in-person, indoor group meetings are considered unsafe. Yet this is exactly what we are considering for CCPS students and employees. My family can choose a virtual option, but I remain concerned for employees who do not deserve to add fears about succumbing to the virus, or bringing it home to their families, onto their already overfilled plates.

I hope the Board considers a flexible, data-informed approach to reopening, once virus rates have declined to recommended levels.

15 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/19 4:13:58 PM AST Dale As a parent and educator, I am not comfortable returning to school. My husband also works in a school, and my younger two attend public school preschool. Our home attends four different schools, and I am terrified of the risk each of us pose in bringing the virus home each day.

I am not confident that my 6 year will wear his mask and wash his hands like he is supposed to, and I am uncomfortable with the movement restrictions that will be placed on young children. My son is nervous about the virus already, and I am worried That his anxiety will only build if he has to return to school in person. We had a great virtual learning experience, and I appreciate all that my son’s teacher did to engage her students.

I am also worried about school staff. Can you guarantee there’s no risk to staff to return to school? Are staff going to be tested before returning? How will you screen substitutes for staff who choose not to return? And if you lose one staff member (or student) because you voted to reopen schools, would it have been worth it? I think not; the thought of my child losing his teacher or a classmate mid-year is traumatizing.

We are in a public health crisis; I acknowledge we will have to return at some point, but let’s vote to return safely. As I’m watching the COVID cases climb, Virginia is NOT ready to reopen.

SHOULD you vote to reopen, school board members and central office staff should commit to working daily in schools to support and admin and staff with the extra cleaning and screening that will be required. If that makes you uneasy, then we aren’t ready to reopen.

Thank you for your time.

2020/07/19 4:35:25 PM AST Dale Protect our students and our staff. One death is too many.

2020/07/19 4:36:07 PM AST Midlothian I implore the school board to choose 100% online until it is truly safe for in-person school to resume. There are too many uncertainties and unknowns about this disease to risk it. Give our children the gift of time. If even one death is prevented (student or staff,) then it is worth it. Does the school board truly want even 1% of our student/teacher/staff to die because of rushing back into an unsafe opening? If we're looking at a group of 70,000 (students, teachers, staff,) that is 700 deaths. Seven hundred. And that is just deaths. What about long term side effects for those who survive exposure? We don't know nearly enough about this virus. Are we willing to risk debilitating side-effects for THOUSANDS of students and staff who will contract the virus if they return to the school environment in September? Schedule 100% virtual through the first semester, then re-evaluate the situation. Give the gift if time. Children are resilient. They can survive an extended virtual education (please DO IT WELL)...they may not survive this illness. Do you really want even one death on your hands? Good luck-- I know this is a difficult decision to make.

2020/07/19 4:36:26 PM AST Matoaca I support 100% Virtual Learning in the fall. My husband was tested for COVID-19 at the beginning of July, after a 1 1/2 hour outdoors meeting with 8 co-workers. He started experiencing symptoms within 2 days of the meeting. After 7 days of waiting, his test was negative, even though he had checked several of the boxes for COVID-19. His doctor recommended we treat him like a COVID-19 positive person in case it was a false negative. I can’t even describe the stress this put on my 11 and 13 year old and myself. If school was in session, my children would’ve missed at least 14 days of school while quarantining, and we would’ve had to notify the school of the possible exposure. I also substitute teacher... that’s another whole set of exposures. I shudder to think how many I exposures could have happened. I know how awful we would feel if we were the exposure base. It’s that simple to spread...one person can infect many without even knowing it.

The data supports that social distancing has worked... hence, the curve flattened. The COVID-19 numbers are now increasing because a vast amount of people are no longer social distancing. If your child, or my child or a teacher, administrator, food service or custodial staff got sick or died, it’s just not acceptable. This has not been a great year... but this is what we are dealing with. Parents should not be allowed to make a choice of this magnitude that could gravely affect others and is based solely on their need for childcare. Let’s give the scientists and medical professionals more time to figure this out... I do believe an effective treatment option will happen. I do believe a vaccine will be available in the future. This COVID-19 virus is still in its baby state and a lot of people have died or been affected by this. Why rush back in on the “hope factor” with fingers crossed? One death is one too many.... let’s not risk it!! Thanks

2020/07/19 5:03:30 PM AST Clover Hill I write today to urge you to approve a virtual-only option for the 2020-2021 school year. While I recognize the benefits of in-class instruction, the current national health crisis requires every government agency, every company, every business and organization to put the physical health of every employee, "client," and customer first.

We have all become health companies, in many respects, with our schools forced to choose among difficult options for the coming school year. Recent news on transmissabilty of the virus among children should give everyone pause with regard to school reopening for in-person instruction. Protection of our teachers and staff members must be a priority, as well. Sadly, I find it unlikely that our underfunded schools will successfully make the necessary adjustments or implement cleaning and safety protocols that protect students, teachers, and staff. Let's be safe! Let's choose the virtual-only option for the coming school year and protect our children, our teachers and staff, and our communities.

2020/07/19 5:04:21 PM AST Matoaca As a parent and teacher, I encourage you to vote for Option 6, virtual learning. We are not in a position with our numbers of the virus to open school for in person instruction. I encourage you to start virtually for at least the first 9 weeks to then transition to in-person instruction if our cases fall. Thank you for your leadership.

2020/07/19 5:06:47 PM AST Midlothian Please give parents a choice. Most students need in person learning and support

2020/07/19 5:07:13 PM AST Midlothian Please when u vote put forth an honest effort to represent all the voices in your district those that want some form of live, some form of virtual those teachers who want to teach and those who want to be virtual If u cannot then please let the virtual option be a live zoom of the teacher teaching the class just as if they were at the school that is the only way u will not leave our children behind the virtual or last spring or the virtual of the ROL is not virtual it doesn’t teach our kids and our kids will fall behind the districts in the state that do find a way for live instruction

2020/07/19 5:08:10 PM AST Bermuda I am a teacher with asthma and very conserved with returning to school. I originally had voted for a hybrid but am changing my mind to virtual. My husband is a type 1 diabetic and we only go out when necessary.with a mask. We do not visit family and have not vacationed. We are taking this very seriously

2020/07/19 5:10:37 PM AST Clover Hill Kindly do the right thing for all of your constituents by giving families a choice and students the chance to succeed. Neither teacher education programs not public education in Chesterfield County were designed to optimally deliver virtual education. By all means, the immunocompromised and über fearful should pursue a virtual option. 82% of those surveyed prefer in-person education. We families gave virtual a chance in the spring, quarantined as requested and have honed our social distancing skills over the last four months. We did our jobs and expect the school board to do the same.

2020/07/19 5:11:16 PM AST Midlothian The long lasting physical and mental condition S of these children are at risk. Please follow Hanover schools and all both teachers and student an in-person return option for those that WANT it. If teachers want to return, and students want to return--all us to make the choice best for our families.

2020/07/19 5:11:50 PM AST Bermuda We need to have back to school in person 5 days a week. The American Academy of Pediatrics says that it is safe to have students return to school. They need to be able to be in classes with their peers and teachers. Our high school students definitely need to have their activities back as well. Parents who do not want their students to return to school to the classroom should be given the option for an on-line virtual classroom. A different option could also be offered to elementary students.

2020/07/19 5:13:17 PM AST Bermuda As a working single parent, I would love for the children to be back in school as long as it possible for it to continue to be a safe environment.

2020/07/19 5:13:59 PM AST Midlothian I support 5 day in person learning for my children at Midlothian High school. I feel that the science proves that this is feasible. There are zero deaths of children in our state and children are not spreading the disease. Like myself, teachers should consider themselves as essential workers!

2020/07/19 5:14:03 PM AST Matoaca Our family asks that the CCPS Board gives us parents an option to send out kids back to school for in person learning. I have a ninth grader and an eleventh grader... honor roll students! They Need in school learning, academically, emotionally, and socially!!! Please do not quit on students like them. Please vote for an option for in school learning! If retailers, restaurants, and doctors can be resilient and adjust to the COVID change.... so can our education system!! Virtual learning was an epic fail this spring. Our kids, our future deserves much better!! Thank you!!

2020/07/19 5:16:42 PM AST Bermuda I beg you to allow our children to return to school in September, preferably 5 days a week, but at least in some capacity. It is vital for my children’s health to get an in-person education. Virtual learning was a complete failure in the spring, my kids did not learn anything new and encountered so many issues with meetings and programs not working. My daughter is sad all the time because she has not seen her friends in months and thinks she no longer has any friends. I literally see my children’s physical, mental, and emotional health as well as their futures deteriorating with a lack of in-person education. Multiple studies have shown that children rarely get this virus and when they do, spreading it among children is rare. Please, please give our children what they need and allow them to return to school. Despite what a few very vocal teachers are saying, the majority of teachers want to be in school teaching their students like they are supposed to. Don’t make our kids suffer because of the minority of teachers who don’t want to do their job and are using our children as bargaining tools to try to fit their political agenda. Please listen to the parents and students and vote to re-open schools in September!

2020/07/19 5:17:13 PM AST Bermuda As part of your considerations of reopening schools, one of the sources you are looking to is the CDC. As I was searching for the CDC’s considerations to open schools, I found that they stated that the lowest risk to all involved is to be fully virtual. I ask, using the CDC’s guidelines, choose the lowest risk for our students, faculty and families. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/schools.html

2020/07/19 5:17:56 PM AST Midlothian Where is Chesterfield County going to find the money needed for the lawsuits that will arise when children with IEPs are illegally denied the right to a free appropriate public education? Alternatively, is the CCPS Operating Budget prepared for the dramatic rise of special ed students requiring private placement if there is no in person option for them? How do you justify denying children with disabilities critical services mandated by federal law and required to address their needs? How does a child who cannot read, is largely non verbal, who engages in aggression and self injury, who has a BIP, and who literally cannot attend to virtual school learn? Are you prepared to justify your decision making process with respect to these children in court?

2020/07/19 5:18:32 PM AST Matoaca Back to school in person please! I have a rising 10th grader and a rising 7th grader. Both miss in school instruction. Both need the social portion and interaction. My 12 year old did horribly with "distance learning". He is struggling with ROL. The programs are fine, but he is in need of real teachers and asisgnments.

2020/07/19 5:19:46 PM AST Matoaca I want the children to go back to school. My elementary school daughter is not learning through a computer well at all. She will be going into 1st grade. She needs an actual teacher, classmates and friends. My son is going into 8th grade he hates his school and would prefer to stay home. He is highly intelligent has ADHD, Anxiety and borderline autism. His 504 was approved, our final meeting was canceled the day of the "walk out" we have not heard from anyone at his school regarding his learning plans. I would think we could come up with a good comprise with a mixture of in school students as well as virtual students for those who do not feel ready for in class school. Teachers and students alike.

2020/07/19 5:19:46 PM AST Bermuda Please support giving parents the option of sending kids 5 days a week. This will ensure students will remain on the same learning level regardless of the home situation they’re in. My husband and I are both essential personnel (hospital and bank) and we don’t have the option of not going to work. Allowing us to choose will also care for the mental health of the kids that this decision impacts. There are kids that don’t have the support at home to ensure a successful leaning journey. I plead that you support giving us the option of sending our kids to school

2020/07/19 5:23:05 PM AST Midlothian We think the right thing for our community is to offer BOTH full time in person school and a full virtual option. It makes no sense to have the 2 days/week option because then kids of working parents will be all going to different daycare centers on the days they are not in school and exposed to much more than they would had they just been in class for five days- they will also expose the teacher and classmates to more groups. Parents know where kids are mentally and physically and if they have health issues. They should have the option to choose what is best for their children. Teachers will pre existing conditions should also have a virtual option in the fall.

2020/07/19 5:23:42 PM AST Matoaca As a Mom to 3 school age children in Chesterfield County I am hoping and praying that the schools can open when it is SAFE for the children to return. The school buses were already having overcrowding issues for my middle schooler last year. She often had to sit in the floor on the 15+ minute ride from Magnolia Green to Tomahawk Creek Middle. Many days the school bus was so late to pick up children in Magnolia Green that my daughter missed the entire first block of school. This is very upsetting and this continued to happen into the winter months. How can Chesterfield County expect the bus drivers to have time to sanitize the buses between pickups (elementary, middle, high) when they are already running late and off schedule?

I hope that Chesterfield County can add more janitors to their schools IF the children do return to the buildings because surely the 2 janitors at my children's elementary school can not be expected to do their regular cleaning plus additional deep cleaning of each classroom. They are already overworked as it is. Often times the soap and paper towels would run out and not be refilled for days because the janitors were just too busy.

I feel it is important for children to be back in school, but not at the risk of their health and safety.

2020/07/19 5:24:07 PM AST Matoaca Please for the mental health and educational instruction for my 2 children please start school in person come September. Please look at the data without emotion. The one point that stands out is I am not hearing all that can be done to even try to have in person school. We have a lot of creative people in chesterfield county. Surely there is a way!

2020/07/19 5:24:11 PM AST Midlothian I am the mother of a rising 2nd grader at Old Hundred Elementary School. I am also a Spanish teacher at Bailey Bridge Middle School. This will be my 13th year in CCPS and my 15th year teaching overall.

I have written to the School Board multiple times to share my thoughts on phase 3 plans for CCPS. I am disheartened as a CEA member to see them so actively advocating for schools to be closed. Do they know something the CDC does not know? Several teachers have told me first hand that it is science driving their opinion that schools stay closed throughout the pandemic. Yet, the CDC made guidelines meant to keep people safe in schools. Just recently, they re-evaluated and kept those same guidelines. They have already determined that that is how to safely return to school buildings. Gov. Northam proposed guidelines for Virginia schools for phase 3 that followed CDC and WHO guidelines.

The hybrid plan proposed by CCPS already carefully follows the guidelines created by the CDC and WHO. That is the science. Teachers not feeling safe has nothing to do with science. It has to do with their feelings and opinions.

The public education system exists for the benefit of the public. All options beside option 6 allow for families to choose what best meets the needs of their children. Option 6 mandates what all must do. I implore you to find a way to offer teachers some choice in the matter. Not all of us want to teach virtually, just like not all of us want to teach in person. Now is the time to get creative! Find a way to make this work and offer options to ALL - both students and staff.

I hope you will remember that, as elected officials, you represent the constituents of your magisterial districts. I hope you will do what is right for everyone in our community.

2020/07/19 5:26:12 PM AST Bermuda I strongly urge you to allow parents and teachers multiple options for schooling for the upcoming academic year. Parents should be able to select all-virtual, part-time, or full-time options for their students. Teachers at high risk for bad outcomes from coronavirus should be given the option to teach the virtual cohort. Schools should adhere to strict social-distancing, cleaning procedures, and masking of adults in order to maximize the safety of all students and staff who opt for in-person schooling.

2020/07/19 5:26:20 PM AST Midlothian I have 2 very different children, 1 a rising senior, 1 a rising 8th grader, both excellent students; however, an all virtual learning approach, if selected, would not be the best option for either of them. With both entering important years in school with strenuous course loads, some form of in person instruction is really going to be necessary to help them maintain the level of education they have become accustomed to. That, along with the human interaction they are desperately missing, leads me to believe they should be back in the classroom at least part time. I do not envy those of you making this decision but am hopeful that you will do so with our students, their teachers and administrators best interest at heart.

2020/07/19 5:26:37 PM AST Dale Please sent kids back to school full time.

2020/07/19 5:27:11 PM AST Bermuda I feel like the schools should be open while taking safety precautions. This should be a option for the parents that want their kids back in school. Some children can’t learn virtually and not parents have to work. You say take them to daycares? What’s the difference in safety, if safety is really what it’s all about. Not opening the school will create triple the problems than the fear of Covid19. There also hasn’t been any confirmed cases in chesterfield under the age of 18, right? This is past ridiculous. Staff is afraid of catching I’ve heard of the schools open? Yet the majority of those staff members or socializing just fine. Open the schools.

16 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/19 5:27:22 PM AST Unsure My son goes to specialty program so I was unsure how to answer the district question—- but ... as an “essential” household (both myself and my husband have both averaged at least 50 hours per week throughout this pandemic), we have served our community, our businesses, and our patients as expected. The teachers union has spent decades demanding teachers be recognized for the ESSENTIAL employees that they are I am NOT in disagreement. But they need to accept that designation as they have demanded and go back to work. They cannot just demand to be considered ESSENTIAL when it is convenient for them. Imagine if our medical community did the same. Furthermore, the reason many people moved to Chesterfield to raise their families was for the good public school system. I can assure you, I know multiple people who have already withdrawn their children and elected for private school due to the uncertainty. The only reason that I am not among this group is that my youngest is entering 10th grade and doesn’t want to leave his school, his friends, and his sports team. If he was younger or a weaker student, I would not give him a choice, but I have conceded and I hope Chesterfield will not let us down. We can all agree that there will NEVER be agreement before the start of the school year what is best for all children and all parents... it is common sense that parents should be able to choose virtual vs in person. Have us sign waivers if needed for in-person. We’ve been doing that all summer for baseball and other sports. Zoom out the classroom for those who choose to stay at home. Utilize the High school kids who need community service hours for extra cleaning before and after school along with their teachers. Those of us in essential roles have been doing this for months... it is NOT HARD. And it has been very effective. The CHOICE is essential for our children and the teachers need to accept their ESSENTIAL designation they have fought so hard for. They need to teach the children of Chesterfield County.

2020/07/19 5:29:22 PM AST Bermuda There is no perfect answer to what is the best thing to do when it comes to the topic of returning to school. And each family has their own reasons for doing what they believe to be best. However, I do struggle with the possibility of essentially being forced to homeschool my children. Many people do not have the skills to teach, no matter how great of a parent they are which is why the state is required to provide public education to ensure all children are receiving the education they deserve and need. Our teachers are required to have degrees and certifications to teach our children but the state and counties just expect parents who have a full time job to just jump right in and do it. That is just unrealistic. Children need parents and teacher and that person being both is not always the best decision. Parents should be the person a child comes to for comfort when school becomes too much to handle, but what happens when the parents become the teacher, that line of providing essential nurturing has been blurred. And I believe being my children’s parent is more important than being their teacher. Although, I do understand COVID-19 is serious and I take proper precautions for my family but I also know my children have attended school with children who aren’t vaccinated for things we have vaccines for. So regardless of when and/or how, there was and will always be a risk and I believe each family should be able to make the best decision for themselves. I honestly believe if we looked at the numbers, it is probably about 50/50 who want to do virtual vs in school and if that is the case they could allow both options and still maintain proper social distancing and cleaning. If in school instruction is not providing for those working families who need it, many children will simply not receive the proper education they are required and deserve to receive.

2020/07/19 5:31:13 PM AST Unsure J. G. Hening - will virtual learning need to be accessed/completed at certain days and times, or by the end of the week etc. for flexibility?

2020/07/19 5:31:24 PM AST Midlothian Families should have the option to send their children to school or take advantage of live instruction from home based on family needs. Many kids need school for more reasons to list here, including for meals, safety, and well being. In many cases the risks of students missing school are more dangerous to the child than risk of Illness from COVID-19. Please consider a hybrid option for in-person school mixed with virtual learning including smaller numbers in the classroom. This will allow families to chose based on their needs, while keeping out children safe. In addition it will reduce needs for outside day care thereby risking more spread of illness.

2020/07/19 5:32:24 PM AST Bermuda My name is Sarah Keener and I am a resident of your district, residing in the South bend Community. I am and a parent of students at Elizabeth Scott (4th and K). I am also a nurse and am very concerned about the future education for my children.

Virtual learning is a daily struggle in our house. We are lucky to get our oldest to complete 1 hour of work a day. She desperately needs structure and socialization of in person instruction. She has trouble logging in and connecting to her virtual meetings regularly which makes it a struggle for all involved.

Regarding the rising kindergartener, I can’t imagine virtual learning. Isn’t kindergarten suppose to be all about socialization, enjoying recess, starting to read and making sometimes life long friends? How can you do that virtually?

We rely on grandparents and a friend to watch our girls as my husband and I are both essential workers in healthcare without an option to work from home. We are currently discussing private school options if needed.

Parents and students should have a choice between in-person and virtual options and not be mandated into a one-size-fits-all program. I would be willing to sign a waiver to send my kids to school 5 days a week.

Please vote for 5 days a week in-person school for our students on July 21. The best science available shows that children rarely transmit COVID-19 between one another and adults. Please make every effort to ensure that our students are back learning in the classroom this fall.

Sincerely, Sarah Keener [email protected]

2020/07/19 5:32:43 PM AST Matoaca I think for kids not to be back in school full time in the fall will be hurting their education. Some kids do not learn well in a virtual setting. In addition I as a parent did not sign up to homeschool my 3 kids. I have a job to go to just like these teachers do. Exactly 2 teachers out my kids total of 11 teachers actually did any virtual learning after Mid March last school year. These kids are going to be extremely behind if they are not in school learning on a full time basis. Then you have opportunities like tech schools that need that hands on learning that can’t be taught virtually. Are we telling our students they can’t have these opportunities this year? Please do the right thing and vote to send our kids back to school 5 days a week this fall. To do anything else would be devastating to their future. Some of these juniors and seniors especially can’t afford for you to jeopardize their college opportunities by making a decision such as supporting virtual learning.

Thank you, Denise Walters

2020/07/19 5:34:08 PM AST Bermuda I want to see our students back in tbe building 5 days a week with parents given the option for virtual learning. I am a teacher with CCPS and teach severely physically and intellectually disabled children at Matoaca. My students do not have the ability to access virtual learning and my student's parents were not receptive to work during the Spring shut down. They need face to face instruction.

2020/07/19 5:34:34 PM AST Midlothian Please place your focus on balancing education & safety for the students & teachers. With therapeutic/vaccine near, this is likely a short issue so let’s be wise & patient. I am concerned a return to school FT/PT will be risky & create distractions in learning (e.g.,what happens when teachers quit, COVID cases occur in schools, strain on safety/janitorial staff, etc.??). My request for your consideration is CCPD diverting 100% focus/attention/ resources on how CCPS can deliver an exceptional virtual learning program to students in Fall with hopes to return to brick & mortar in the Spring. Lean in to other Public & Private School Systems that demonstrated agility & innovation in the Spring (i.e., Powhatan, St Edwards, etc) to aid development of a virtual program that will serve CCPS students, teachers & parents well. Take lessons learned from the Spring to avoid insanity.

2020/07/19 5:37:33 PM AST Bermuda I strongly feel our students need to be back in school FULL TIME! Our kids are suffering due to virtual learning only in so many ways... mentally, educationally and socially. Please do the right thing and allow the students who's parents want them to go back to the classroom full time. If parents arent comfortable, allow them to have at home, online learning. Thank you.

2020/07/19 5:38:59 PM AST Matoaca Can you please consider having teachers stream their class so kids can be in class but participating virtually.

2020/07/19 5:39:30 PM AST Midlothian If there is a return to school would want to ensure social distancing is possible ( with reduced capacity). Otherwise remote education would be ideal.

2020/07/19 5:41:48 PM AST Midlothian Open Schools with safeguards!!!! The virus will be here for a while and we need to learn to live with it. If there’s A shortage of teachers leaving because of this, there are a lot of teachers waiting and trying to get jobs that are willing to work.

2020/07/19 5:44:24 PM AST Midlothian schools need to be open with no remote learning, i have 4 children in school and my wife and I both work full time, we can not home school them and keep jobs. If this can't be done please refund my taxes paid to the county for schooling and we will go to private school. If we are worried about teachers have them remote in to classroom, if a child has an underlying health condition take steps. Facts is the numbers of cases and deaths are so distorted no one can believe them. I know only 1 person who has had it. Get our kids back in school.

2020/07/19 5:44:25 PM AST Matoaca Please follow the lead of Hanover County Schools. Give families (and teachers) a choice - either all in (in person 5 days a week) or all out (fully virtual). Not only will this provide the consistency the students need, but will also make teachers lives a little bit easier, especially given the “guidelines” they are being required to follow. Virtual learning simply did not and will not work for some families - either the child has special needs or both parents work and are not in a position to homeschool on top of that. Personally, I do not think sitting in front of a Chromebook all day is best for my 1st grader. Not to mention the emotional well-being of the children. Studies are coming out every day revealing that going back to in-person instruction IS SAFE for students and teachers as long as proper precautions are taken. Please don’t sacrifice the well-being of our children for your political agenda. You risk ruining the public school system Chesterfield is known for.....

2020/07/19 5:44:29 PM AST Clover Hill This should be about #1 getting students back to school. #2 How? This can be done. Colleges and Universities are doing this; One example is by providing face shields and microphones for teachers. The data supports that students and teachers can be safe. Other professions have been working, and continue to work safely, each and every day. There is no reason why CCPS can not do the same. There has to be options. Virtual learning is not a solution for all kids. We have to look at the bigger picture; the mental health aspect is just one of these. The consequences of not providing an in person learning option far out way the option for 100% virtual. Nothing is 100% safe. If not now, then when is safe? Risk management has not ruled out any option, so let's make it work! I respectfully ask for your vote tonight for an in person learning option. Thank you.

2020/07/19 5:45:04 PM AST Midlothian Please give families the option of in person school!

2020/07/19 5:47:23 PM AST Matoaca I am writing in regards to opening schools up for 5 days for families as a option for parents to choose. I feel strongly, since I have a 11th grader, that my child needs to be in a classroom with a teacher teaching him. This year is very important for him in regards to submitting grades for college applications next year. He is signed up for several AP and DE, and honors classes. He had a very hard time the end of school teaching himself and trying to focus on doing the work. He needs to be in a classroom having a teacher teach him, where there is no distractions and where there is structure with a schedule! Students need the social interactions also! Please consider giving us parents the option to have 5 days in class. We are taxpayers and we deserve to have a option!!!! Thank you.

2020/07/19 5:49:47 PM AST Midlothian As an ICU nurse and nurse manager of the medical respiratory icu at vcu health (location of most of our covid patients) I strongly urge you to begin with 100% virtual schooling. Reports out of Texas, Florida, and other hot spots indicate that children of all ages are becoming infected and are capable of transmitting the virus, likely as much as adults. In the hospital setting, the nation is struggling with obtaining adequate PPE, cleaning supplies, and keeping truly essential workers healthy. All indicators support that the safest course of action is 100% virtual instruction, perhaps with in person instruction for very few at risk children (special education, underprivileged, etc.) Unless ccps is able to follow guidance similar to what vcu is doing (36 square feet per student in classrooms, universal masking, ongoing testing, etc) I would urge you to remain virtual.

2020/07/19 5:49:53 PM AST Dale I am concerned about our schools being prepared for students. My children talk about bathrooms without soap during a regular school year. I send in hand sanitizer during a normal school year because it is not provided by the school system. Many parents also send in disinfectant wipes for teachers to clean classes during flu season. Can you guarantee that these classrooms and halls will be cleaned for students and staff?

My children have had classes that are 30+ over the last couple of years. Will classes be reduced to a safer standard?

These are just a few of my many questions if we return.

2020/07/19 5:50:30 PM AST Matoaca COVID does not exist in a vacuum. We must also address the mental health of our students. I am concerned about COVID, but I am also concerned about depression, post traumatic stress disorder, child abuse, domestic violence, suicide... Our children should be given the opportunity to be in school, with their peers, on a daily basis. The harsh reality is that COVID is here, and there may never be a safe and effective vaccine. We take risks everyday, and our children are worth the minimal risk of reopening schools for face to face instruction. I keep hearing the argument that teachers are not babysitters, and I agree wholeheartedly. Teachers are essential and vital! Public schools are essential and vital! Please allow our students back in the classroom where they belong.

2020/07/19 5:54:31 PM AST Matoaca I think it would have a negative impact on the county’s youth if you didn’t reopen schools. We need to be in school. I am a rising sophomore at Cosby High School and I cannot learn over the computer. It isn’t practical for everybody if we wanted to do online school our parents would sign us up for online school.

2020/07/19 5:55:00 PM AST Midlothian Are we going to let selfish people make the decision for everyone? We need a CHOICE - allow those that want in school to do in school and those that want virtual to do it. Hanover and private schools are doing in school learning. Also don’t let teachers who aren’t dedicated to their craft decide. Allow health waivers and let some do 100% virtual.

2020/07/19 5:56:53 PM AST Matoaca As a parent and an educator I wanted to express my concern about returning to school during the 2020-2021 school year. My children are 13, 8, and 5 and attend two different schools. Although they may be interested in seeing old friends and meeting new people, the concern for their safety is paramount. Since March, we have developed a schedule to keep them on track as well as possible and would appreciate to continue the same tasks through at least the first semester of the new school year. This would allow an opportunity for deeper exploration of education solutions that would continue to maintain safety for all employees as well as students.

2020/07/19 5:57:49 PM AST Midlothian Please vote for a Virtual Start to the 2020-21 school year for typical students. Exceptional students (IEP/ ESL) would most likely be better accommodated in person, with more available social distancing- with typical students at home. If the Covid19 numbers in VA decrease to a very safe level, changes can be made in regards to students attending in person. I had originally voted for 2 day, but after reading more information in this fluid situation, I’m changing my position and support to Virtual. Thank you.

2020/07/19 5:58:46 PM AST Dale I want to see the kids in school and ensure that teachers are compensated for their extra efforts that this is going to require.

2020/07/19 5:59:40 PM AST Matoaca Full return to school - we have opted for private school for our rising K, and are hoping for the best after a tremendous failure for a special ed rising 5th grader

2020/07/19 6:00:12 PM AST Dale Please discuss hybrid classes that would be part in person and part from home as an option for some families.

2020/07/19 6:00:37 PM AST Bermuda I know this decision will be a difficult one, and there is no right or wrong answer. I am not writing tonight to persuade you for one option over the other. However, I would like to address my concerns/thoughts regarding virtual learning.

With four children in two different schools, we saw many things that slightly worked in the spring, and a lot of things that did not work at all. In order for any sort of virtual learning to work, it must be consistent across ALL schools. The platform cannot vary from teacher to teacher, school to school. In the spring, I had some teachers who met every day at set times with their students, others who met once or twice a week, and still others who never even checked in unless it was a "good job" comment on canvas assignments -- not one class meeting or lecture. The situation was new and I do not blame the teachers at all. But if this is how we will be starting school in September, it cannot continue that way. I highly urge you to allow teachers in the classroom to teach virtually to their students. Google/canvas chats (or for heavens sake, figure out how we can legally use ZOOM!!) from the classroom at set times every day, with students logging on to watch live, or checking in to watch a recording when they are able to access the internet, seems to be the most ideal situation. Teachers who have their own children could take their kids with them to the classrooms, and the need for daycare or babysitters would be limited to parent's of infants and toddlers, as many of the kids would be attending their own classes virtually and could do so in their parents' classroom. Me sitting at the kitchen table with own job, and having my child next to me making sure he's watching "videos" that "teach" him the material he learns will be absolutely unacceptable.

Online, actual classes, would also give kids a schedule for schoolwork - they would know that at specific times, they are online learning with their teacher, or at least be able to access recorded lectures/classes. Also, having books would make this 100% better. However, this was something I said pre-pandemic. The idea that textbooks are no longer a part of our education system is a fundamental failure to our students. Each child should be taught the same curriculum, regardless of whether they go to Ettrick or Watkins, and when you don't have a textbook to guide a teacher, the teacher is left finding curriculum online they can purchase or download and it is not equitable.

2020/07/19 6:01:00 PM AST Midlothian 5 days of in person school

2020/07/19 6:01:35 PM AST Midlothian Regarding agenda item F Memo #083-20: Opening of Schools:

I urge the board to consider the health and well being of teachers and to pay attention to the rising rates of infection across the US and in Virginia as it looks to next year. My employer has closed its offices through the end of the year (at least) except to provide a location for people to “work remotely from work”. Individuals entering this space must be masked and subject to temperature / health checks daily. I’d urge the board to follow similar practice and provide and encourage a full remote education option for all students who want it.

17 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/19 6:04:32 PM AST Midlothian The state of CO has decided to operate 100% of the time. Families have the option for 100% classroom or online education. They will not be able to change mid semester. Because Richmond has a much lower percentage of outbreak and population, I am hoping the school board will consider following suit.

2020/07/19 6:04:48 PM AST Matoaca PLEASE do not put our teachers, administrators, staff and students at unnecessary risk by caving to pressure from the vocal majority. OWe should only return to in-person instruction when it is SAFE. The data from the parent survey must not be cited as a reason for returning, as the data was admittedly skewed. (See cover page on CCPS website) The survey link was shared widely among non-CCPS parents. Unfortunately it was shared in a very vocal "Reopen Virginia" Facebook group, where members bragged about taking the survey multiple times. Returning to in-person instruction during a global pandemic when Virginia's numbers are on a major uptick (pediatric cases included!) is horribly irresponsible. CCPS employees are NOT responsible for fixing the economy at the expense of the health of them and their families.

2020/07/19 6:04:59 PM AST Midlothian I will drive my children, would feel comfortable with moderate controls (temp checks, 3 feet apart, masks within 3 ft, eating lunch in classroom) but would absolutely encourage 5 days per week of in-person school. I would be willing to donate/raise money to provide ppe for our educators & administrators.

2020/07/19 6:07:58 PM AST Matoaca May we discuss the option both families and teachers having the choice of full time in school and full time virtual school. Running in school program and virtual program simultaneously. So that both the teachers and students could pick the option that is best for them. I appreciate that some families and teachers are comfortable returning to school full time. Yet others may not or may have pre existing conditions. With this option above all can feel more comfortable. Thank you for your time.

2020/07/19 6:10:15 PM AST Midlothian Please consider voting for an in-person learning environment for this coming school year. An in-person learning environment is the only way our special needs children and lower income families will have an opportunity to give their children the education they deserve. Lower income families may not be able to afford to stay home and oversee the virtual learning or pay for additional childcare. Parents with special needs children are not equipped to provide their children with the proper support for the education they need. Our teachers are the only ones trained to do this. By not offering virtual, those children may be left behind furthering the divide in this country. Our teachers are essential workers. They are as important as the frontline healthcare workers and should be treated as such with proper PPE and precautions. Many families will be forced to pull their kids for private school and homeschool if virtual learning is our only option. We don’t want to see this happen to the wonderful public school system we have here in Chesterfield County. Please vote based on the scientific data and guidance from the AAP. Children need to have the option to have face to face learning. The families that are not comfortable have a choice and can choose virtual. Thank you!

2020/07/19 6:11:02 PM AST Midlothian I am encouraging Back 2 school 5 days a week

2020/07/19 6:11:20 PM AST Matoaca I think it would have a negative impact on the county’s youth if you didn’t reopen schools. We need to be in school. I am a rising sophomore at Cosby High School and I cannot learn over the computer. It isn’t practical for everybody if we wanted to do online school our parents would sign us up for online school.

2020/07/19 6:12:10 PM AST Midlothian A few weeks ago, when my Monacan junior and I completed the reopening survey, COVID-19 cases were declining, and we expressed strong interest in face-to-face learning. Recent science and virus rates have completely changed my perspective. As a VCU professor, I have spent my career immersed in health data. However, my most important role is that of mom to two children (16 and 14). One suffered a severe respiratory virus as an infant, was on a ventilator for 18 days, and has chronic complications as a result. I bring up this deeply personal experience to emphasize that mortality is not the only outcome to consider. Numerous terrible outcomes are possible from this virus. Many people not even sick enough to require hospitalization report debilitating fatigue, neurological complications, and other challenges long after initial “recovery.”

Most children age 10 spread COVID-19 at rates similar to adults. Also, teens appear more susceptible than younger children both to getting COVID-19, and experiencing severe symptoms. Further, they are generally better at online learning than younger students. Perhaps different reopening strategies for older and younger children could be considered, as was done in other countries. Also, no country has opened schools when the virus was at the rate it currently is in Virginia.

Further, as teacher, I cannot imagine instructing online and in-person simultaneously. Also, as a mother of a junior with several AP classes in a Specialty Center she loves, I know she wants to be taught by Monacan teachers, not a generic online platform. Even if we begin the year in-person, we will likely have to pivot to an exclusively online approach as cases rise, and/or influenza complicates COVID tracing. Perhaps if teachers could plan now to be online, they could focus their energies?

In sum, I know my family can choose a virtual option, but I remain concerned for employees who do not deserve to add fears about succumbing to the virus, or bringing it home to their families, onto their already overfilled plates.

I hope the Board considers a flexible, data-informed approach to reopening, once virus rates have declined to recommended levels.

2020/07/19 6:12:16 PM AST Matoaca The students need face to face instruction. The school board is comprised of intelligent people who can read and understand medical literature. Children are the safest and least ill from COVID and it appears, at this time, they are the least likely to transmit to others... adults and children. Their mental and academic health is dependent on returning to schoo.. in a building.

2020/07/19 6:14:00 PM AST Midlothian I would like to express my support of reopening full time for Chesterfield County Schools this fall. As a parent who volunteered frequently in her child’s classroom last year, I noticed an unsettling truth when the class went virtual in the spring. Children who needed the most help were missing from these virtual classroom gatherings. My primary concern if the outcome is virtual is that these children who cannot thrive in a virtual learning environment will be left behind. The effects of this decision could be felt for years to come. Please consider these children.

2020/07/19 6:14:15 PM AST Clover Hill Parents deserve the right to choose! Teachers are essential - and just like every other essential position they need to return to work. Imagine if nurses or postal workers , or amazon workers declared no return to work. Every profession is facing these same obstacles, yet are returning to work. Our kids don’t need more screen time, they need teachers in front of them. Prolonging the opening of schools will only make reopening harder.

2020/07/19 6:16:54 PM AST Midlothian Our children need to resume life. They are falling behind during critical development years. Virtual schooling is only going to pro-long those effects socially and mentally. Please give parents the option of sending their children back to school.

2020/07/19 6:18:04 PM AST Matoaca Hello. I know we are all anxious for our children to return to the classroom and have face to face time with their wonderful teachers. However, during this uncertain time with a pandemic touching all aspects of our lives, I do not feel it is safe to send any of our children to school for any amount of time. I hope Chesterfield County will put our children’s health and safety first and decide on a 100% virtual education. How many children’s deaths are too many to return to school?

2020/07/19 6:18:05 PM AST Clover Hill The survey sent out was flawed and did offer an opportunity to accurately capture school return.

2020/07/19 6:18:12 PM AST Midlothian We need a nurse in every school and a reliable way to contact trace before we should even consider sending students into the building.

2020/07/19 6:19:32 PM AST Clover Hill The survey sent out was flawed and did offer an opportunity to accurately capture school return.

2020/07/19 6:20:49 PM AST Matoaca The Chesterfield County return to school survey overwhelmingly showed that parents want their kids to go to school in person. Over 48% want that to be five days a week. That was the largest 1st option choice. I believe you should give parents and teachers the choice of either five days in person or all virtual. We have the right to send our children to school for in person learning. The virtual did not work for us and I watched my 8 year old’s mental state deteriorate drastically during the end of last year. A choice is the only way to go as virtual will fail most students. We cannot continue to fail our children. Figuring out a way to have everyone return full time should be the only goal during this time. While that is being worked out, parents and teachers deserve to have a choice for in person learning. After all, this is America and we should always have the freedom to choose!

2020/07/19 6:22:31 PM AST Unsure Sending kids part time to school only increases community infections because the kids will have to go to daycares, camps, babysitters, and family members during the days they aren’t at school. It will also create a financial burden to families. Kids need to be in school full time to ensure the opportunities, friendships, mentorship, and education they need! Thank you.

2020/07/19 6:23:22 PM AST Bermuda Please support giving the option of back to school 5 days a week or virtual. I have 2 daughters one in 7th grade who is considered gifted and one who is in 3rd grade. My 3rd header has a 504 plan and virtual is very challenging. I believe virtual would be detrimental to her future. We have been doing virtual for summer school and her father and I who are essential workers have had to provide face to face support for up to 3.5 hours daily. She is not able to stay on task, learn the material efficiently, or work on her own without constant supervision. My 7th grazer I believe would be fine. Please do not put all the children in a one size fits all box. Please support the choice of 5 days a week.

Thank you, Jason and Ashley Kemnitz

2020/07/19 6:23:30 PM AST Matoaca I feel there need to be options for families and students that include at least partial in person instruction. I have two students in high school this year and feel their education will be severely compromised with a fully virtual schedule. I was very unimpressed with the content and accountability of students and teachers once we switched to virtual learning in the spring. In person instruction and testing is an essential part of the education process.

2020/07/19 6:24:42 PM AST Clover Hill As parents, we should have a choice to send our kids back.

2020/07/19 6:27:10 PM AST Dale Our family 100% supports a full return to school without masks, without distancing, without chaos. The numbers for COVID are not accurate and haven’t been from the start. If a person is tested 10 times, we count it as 10 cases, that’s illogical and a bad way to handle data. Deaths are allowed to be classified “from COVID” even if a test was never done and “they think” it could have been COVID. These are not logical reasons to shut down our community.

I have a rising 9th grader and a 7th grader. They have had more mental distress over these changes than any medical conditions. This age group is not affected by COVID. Please vote to give them normalcy. They have spent months dealing with the world around them going crazy, please give them back their school schedules, daily routines, friends and experiences. They need to end 2020 on a positive note. We as parents need then to end 2020 “normally”, it’s impossible to teach my IEP kids while I work from home full time- which I do all year every year- and they need face to face, multiple learning strategies, and the ability to communicate openly with their teachers. They need to not wear face masks where people can speak under their breath, and fights get started because middle and high schooler are not mature enough to handle these “precautions” that only provide a blockade for true interaction, and lots of room for misunderstandings.

We need normal. Our kids, our homes, our society, our country. Please vote to give us back our community.

Mel

2020/07/19 6:27:11 PM AST Midlothian Are we going to let selfish people make the decision for everyone? We need a CHOICE - allow those that want in school to do in school and those that want virtual to do it. Hanover and private schools are doing in school learning. Also don’t let teachers who aren’t dedicated to their craft decide. Allow health waivers and let some do 100% virtual.

2020/07/19 6:27:46 PM AST Midlothian Children need to go back to school. Child care centers can have 22 in a school age classroom without having to wear masks, so there is no reason why kids can’t be in a school setting. I have had conversations with Pediatricians who have stated that children are not getting the virus nor are they passing it on to others. We are only hurting the children by not having them in school. If teachers are complaining about returning then maybe their salaries need to be cut since the parents/child care providers are having to do most of the work.

2020/07/19 6:32:13 PM AST Clover Hill I recommend a virtual start to the school year. We will figure it out. It is not worth risking lives to go into the classroom.

2020/07/19 6:32:26 PM AST Matoaca Thank you all for the time and energy you’ve poured into preparing for the decision regarding the return to school in fall, 2020. While I’m sure there are families that are comfortable with a full return to in-person instruction, as a teacher myself, and on behalf of my family, we will not entertain the thought of returning to school if the choice is full-time, in-person instruction at full capacity. We sincerely hope that the district has taken seriously the guidelines set forth on the basis of sound science, given that our district is a very large one. We’re optimistic that our district can see that even a very small percentage of casualties associated with the pandemic amongst children would mean a devastating blow to our school populations. Even one casualty that could have been avoided is unacceptable to us. We respectfully await the decision you make, and hope we’ll be able to remain a CCPS family in the upcoming school year.

2020/07/19 6:32:38 PM AST Dale These kids need to be back in school! They need education, socialization, friends and they need to be back to a routine. Not to mention the kids who live with 2 working parents, or the child who lives with a single mom trying to work and make ends meet. These kids will have no one to be home with them to virtually learn!

2020/07/19 6:33:15 PM AST Bermuda How are you going to guarantee the safety of teachers and students if we return in person? If you are not going to require masks, and are not going to enforce 6 feet of social distancing, what will you do to ensure that NO ONE gets sick?

2020/07/19 6:33:38 PM AST Clover Hill Please give us the opportunity to send our kids back to the classroom. Other countries have proven it can work. The mental health implications are being experienced first hand by our children

2020/07/19 6:34:53 PM AST Matoaca My family needs to have the option for in school instruction. I have a 2nd grader with and IEP that needs his instruction face to face with his mandatory speech therapy in person. I have a 8th grader with Autism and an IEP would needs his social interaction, in person learning and mandatory speech therapy in person. My 9th grader needs his social interaction. He is getting depressed and I am worried about future mental health. I work and their father works full time out of town which makes all education fall on me completely. We need to be able to have the education that they are entitled to Thank you for hearing us!

2020/07/19 6:34:59 PM AST Clover Hill Please consider virtual only!

2020/07/19 6:35:37 PM AST Clover Hill I don't envy any of you on this day as we head into a momentous decision that will cause rippling effects for years, if not decades, to come. I am offering my perspective through the eyes of a mother, a healthcare provider, and the wife of a United States Public Health Service officer.

There is no doubt that we need to fight Covid-19 with our full arsenal of resources. With that said, we are ABLE to fight Covid-19 because the experts that we now RELY on to solve this problem are the same children and young adults we had EDUCATED to do such tasks years ago. As a healthcare provider, we are taught to evaluate risk vs. benefit. There is no scenario where 100% allocates to either. Yes, opening in-person schooling may increase Covid cases. If and to what extent this will happen we do not know, therefore the risk is UNKNOWN. We also have CONTROL of this risk through proven risk mitigation strategies that can be implemented centrally at the school level. The benefit of in-person education we DO know. We DO also know that there are children who will put in precarious situations ranging from neglect, abuse, depression, and poverty if they are deprived of in-person education. The schools have very limited risk mitigation strategies for these scenarios. Lastly, the PERCEIVED benefit of virtual learning is likely greater than the actual benefit. In addition to parents working out of the home and thus potentially exposing their families to the virus, many children will need to attend private daycare, thus negating a good portion of the expected benefit of virtual instruction.

2020/07/19 6:38:22 PM AST Unsure My kids go to Manchester High. I am not comfortable with them going 5 days a week. Hybrid or virtual is the safest right now

2020/07/19 6:38:37 PM AST Midlothian 2 working parents with children who do not thrive with virtual learning. Please, please allow our children to go to school!

2020/07/19 6:40:08 PM AST Dale Please allow for the virtual learning option for all families.

2020/07/19 6:40:39 PM AST Matoaca I previously submitted a comment in support of a return to face to face instruction in September. I would like to follow-up by saying I have submitted a substitute teacher application for CCPS. I am asking our teachers to return to the classroom, and I am willing to join them. Our children are worth the minimal risk or reopening our schools.

2020/07/19 6:41:00 PM AST Midlothian Very concerned about our kids not being IN school FULL-TIME Please don’t take this away from them. working parents here! We don’t have the option.

2020/07/19 6:42:11 PM AST Matoaca Please give the option of in person or online.

2020/07/19 6:44:07 PM AST Matoaca Please think of the safety of students, teachers, and our community. All virtual is the safest now.

18 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/19 6:44:18 PM AST Matoaca Hi, I have 3 children who should be attending schools this fall. I decided due to the uncertainty of school to hold my up coming Kindergartner back and do an additional year of preschool with hopes that next year we can have a normal Kindergarten year. Next is my upcoming 3rd grader. Who loves school and who will be in the gifted class this year. She has hoped for this since 1st grade. The fact that it has a possibility of being virtual has crushed her soul. Next is my upcoming 8th grader who I am most concerned about. She has a 504 plan for Vision, ADHD, Anxiety and OCD. Trying to get her to do anything Virtual was a nightmare. She had extreme anxiety about it even before we were doing it. She knew it would be hard for her. She needs someone in front of her teaching the material. She needs to be around peers. Since the schools have closed we have had to up her medications. She needs structure and normalcy in her life. She is not cut out for online learning. Me and my husband are both essential workers and it has been extremely hard with zero help from family. I’m terrified she will fall behind not only in academics but with her mental health as well. This is a child who needs a play by play of everyday or she looses it. With so much being unknown it has her up in arms. Please not only think about these children’s physical health but their mental health as well.

2020/07/19 6:45:23 PM AST Matoaca I know that recently, CEA sent a letter saying that they represent the teachers of the county and that we want all virtual learning. I want to say that they do not speak for me. My son, who will be a ninth grader at Matoaca High this fall, has a 504 for severe ADHD. Online learning was very difficult for him. He absolutely needs some sort of in person instruction this fall to be successful. He is obviously too old for daycare, but can't manage his own schooling while I work. I am assuming I will be asked to report to my building each day. My other son, a student at ARGS, did very well in the spring with virtual learning and is a self starter; he will be fine. One size fits all will not work for my family. I respectfully ask that families be given the option to choose virtual or in person learning. I believe CCPS can take precautions to make this possible in a safe way.

I also hope that electives (like band) will be able to continue in some way. My son marched in the HS band last year and becoming a full member of Mr. Davis' band program is the one thing exciting him about school this year.

Thank you for listening to my concerns. I know this is not an easy decision.

Respectfully, Catherine Kotalo Matoaca HS Parent Enon ES Instructional Designer

2020/07/19 6:45:32 PM AST Matoaca Why send children to in person classes when our Covid number are rising? My request is for students to be taught virtually by the teachers.

2020/07/19 6:45:35 PM AST Midlothian In regard to fall opening plans, I hope you will consider a hybrid option to address the broad concerns and diverse needs of your school population. For the general masses I advocate *online learning* until we know we can safely ensure an opening with protection protocols in place, but I hope you will also offer building level services for SPED/speech/ED learners and other populations in need of in-person services.

2020/07/19 6:46:02 PM AST Bermuda I want my kids to go back to school.

2020/07/19 6:48:43 PM AST Matoaca I am in favor of full time in person school. Masks can be worn to increase safety for students and staff. Working parents cannot afford to teach their own children and hold their jobs.

The virtual learning platforms provided have been a joke for our family and have not utilized actual teachers to teach material. Just busy work (worksheets, videos). We can and need to do better!

2020/07/19 6:49:17 PM AST Clover Hill As a mother of rising kindergartener, a rising first grader AND a full time registered nurse, I have been able to see this virus on the front lines with patients and my children. Make no mistake, the virus is serious (for vulnerable populations) BUT the MENTAL and emotional toll this has taken on our children and families is much worse than the risk the virus poses. Many schools around the US have gone back to school Full time 100% in person. Please, PLEASE if you cannot do this for All of our Chesterfield community Kids then PLEASE do this for our young , grade school aged children. The foundation for our kids is built on K-3 education. Unfortunately, I am a nurse and not a teacher, so I’m not good at teaching them to read and write. If you get nothing Else out of my comment, PLEASE At least send our K-3 kids back to school face to face full time!!! Thank you for taking this into consideration.

Erin Day

2020/07/19 6:49:45 PM AST Clover Hill As the parent of a child that loves school, this has been hard to watch the disappointment when discussing virtual learning. She is in the Math Science program at Clover Hill and is concerned about being able to get a quality education! They have a rigorous course load and move at a rapid pace. She is also worried about her spot in Cavalier 21 , she is a dedicated student that misses her friends and teachers! Parents and teachers want what is best for all students! Chesterfield county is know for Academic Excellence! Our children can not achieve Academic Excellence at home! Please help every child in Chesterfield County learn to the best of their ability, in a safe and effective manner!

2020/07/19 6:50:54 PM AST Clover Hill First off, I do not envy the County for the decisions and processes that you must think through and implement. You will never make 100% of people happy; however, you CAN make 100% of the people properly informed. Parents need real, straightforward, science-driven metrics to back up whatever decisions are made. We the public are not receiving strong guidance from our governor and authorities, so we ask that you be the communicator. Politics aside, this is a video Governor Cuomo made about reopening New York schools. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIkQpHpMElg It makes sense. It's something that people can understand. Decisions are clearly made on scientific parameters. Virtual, in-person, or a hybrid, we need clear-cut metrics, and a plan for how things may have to pivot based on future outbreaks. Thank you.

2020/07/19 6:53:31 PM AST Clover Hill First off I do not envy any of you the decisions that lay ahead. I am retired from CCPS and during my 20+ years I worked with all K to 5 regular and special education students. I think we are all in agreement in person school is the best. That being said the parents that want their children to stay home and learn virtually should have that choice as should those who want their child in school should also be allowed that. We can also agree that the spring did not benefit the children and greatly frustrated those of us trying to teach children at home. There has to be consistency if this is what is done and the teachers and the students have to be accountable. Parents that have to work during the day need to have virtual classes available for their students in the evenings. We have to think out of the box and we have to work together. This is for the children.

2020/07/19 6:55:33 PM AST Unsure I go to a school in Bermuda district for specialty center but my home school is Manchester

2020/07/19 6:57:10 PM AST Unsure 100% Virtual is not plausible for all families. Please keep this in mind when making decisions. There is a major financial impact on families if school is 100% virtual learning.

2020/07/19 7:02:36 PM AST Midlothian Hi. I'm a working mom in the Midlothian district and am begging you to give parents an option to return to school. This can be done safely if the parents partner with you to enable the right solutions to protect teachers and staff. Virtual was a total disaster. Also, if the only option is virtual I'll elect to pull my kids and homeschool in a pod, since I don't believe K or 2nd grade can be effectively taught on a laptop. Please consider your constituents, this is an opportunity to lead and be creative.

2020/07/19 7:02:46 PM AST Bermuda Ultimately, no matter what decision is made people aren’t going to be happy. I would just like to advocate for temperature checks. It will not solve the problem at hand, but it will help prevent spreading. It can also help with the spread of other illness too. Thank you and good luck!

2020/07/19 7:06:02 PM AST Clover Hill As much as I (and he) would like my son to go back to school in person, I am very concerned about recent findings of Covid in younger children. I am also concerned that the schools do not have the budget to do everything they need to do to properly protect our students and teachers from getting sick and worse. We are in a crisis. And that means everything cannot go back to being normal. I would like to suggest that we do 100% virtual learning for the FIRST 1/2 of the school year and use that time to PROPERLY plan returning in person in January. There is no way CCPS could have every detail worked out to keep the students safe in this short amount of time. By having he students do virtual learning for 3.5 months, CCPS will have the time to construct a proper and safe “return in person” plan for January. We may even have a vaccine by then! Please do not put my son and your teachers in harms way by sending them in-person for ANY length of time. I would hate to see teachers falling ill or students bringing home the virus to their parents or other family members. When this happens (yes, I said WHEN, because it certainly will!) schools will end up closing again anyway. Another interruption in the students educational process. With 100% virtual learning, they may not be getting the optimum education, but they will be getting something and it gives CCPS the time to plan a COMPLETELY safe return in person in January and not some “fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants” plan that is in place now. I have many friends that are teachers at CCPS and they are TERRIFIED of returning in person. Please. The Covid numbers are rising and will only get worse if kids are in those buildings. Please do the safe thing. That is what your priority should be. The safest choice. Thank you for allowing me to voice my opinion.

2020/07/19 7:06:50 PM AST Matoaca I know that these past months have been increasingly stressful and decisions have not and will not be made lightly. However, as a parent of 3 children in the Chesterfield County Public schools, I strongly urge that our children’s education not be stalled or hindered any further. The virtual learning in the spring was a DISASTER, plain and simple. Continuing down this path will only cause further harm to our kids long term education and mental health. By keeping them out of the classrooms, you are dooming most to failure before the new year even begins. Our kids NEED FACE TO FACE LEARNING. No other options are viable. Our kids deserve the best education possible and we as parents deserve to see that our tax dollars are being put towards what we are paying for.

2020/07/19 7:06:56 PM AST Midlothian I think the schools need to prepare to go hybrid online and in classroom settings. Chesterfield County is 75 bus drivers short so I do not see how children can space out on busses that were all ready over crowded. Doing double backs for bus drivers will not allow time for cleaning the buses. I need for the work online to count and be fully accredited as I have 2 high schoolers at Monacan. These are critical years for making grades for college. I need to hear of what the preparations are. I am looking for quality education online options and getting the kids to school safely I will seriously consider putting them in private school at a sacrificial cost to our family. That is how serious I feel and need to hear a plan to get them to school and help them space appropriately.

2020/07/19 7:08:53 PM AST Unsure As a teacher in Chesterfield County Pyblic Schools I ask that the board seriously consider Option 6. I ask the board to put the health and safety of the children, families and staff first! We are fortunate enough to be able to provide the students the necessary technology needed to provide a rich virtual learning environment to the children. I think it could also do damage to our children by having to be in school when the situation is so stressful and different from what they are used to. Again, please consider Option 6 virtual teaching only.

2020/07/19 7:10:52 PM AST Midlothian I am in favor of the hybrid schedule if and only if teachers and students are required to wear masks. I am a parent of an 8th and 10th grader as well as a middle school teacher in the county. I want this mandate for the health of my own children and myself as well as everyone else who will be in school buildings. Science shows that wearing masks helps stops the spread and that children are many times asymptomatic, which could in turn spread this virus to staff and people/families the children interact with outside of school. Please make wearing masks required by teachers AND anyone who steps foot in the school. Thank you for all you have done. I’m sure this is. It an easy decision.

2020/07/19 7:16:01 PM AST Matoaca My children currently attend Grange Hall Elementary School going into 2nd and 4th grade. I need my children in school 5 days a week since we both work full time and can't work from home. Virtual education Is a joke, especially for Elementary kids since they don't pay attention and need the structure and discipline of being in school. If you decide for them to go virtual and not 5 days then I would like the federal funding sent to schools to be given to the working parents that will need to pay big bucks to put them in a daycare to not learn anything! These teachers get paid all year regardless if their teaching in school so of course they would pick virtual learning over being in school! Teachers are essential for our kids education and if medical workers, grocery store workers, dentists and daycare teachers can go to work then there is no excuse for teachers! No kids are dying from this and there's a 99 survival rate so schools need to be open. Schools never closed for the regular flu or SARS! Parents should be given the choice with sending their kids 5 days or staying home if they decide for their family to do virtual Petra McFadden

2020/07/19 7:16:10 PM AST Midlothian I just wanted to express my heart to the CCPS board. I have a 6-year old, Ezra, who just finished kindergarten at Old Hundred Elementary School. It was an amazing year for him. Mrs. Michelle Moon is a blessed gift to humanity and a wonderful teacher, to say the least. OHES was extremely well-prepared, very professional, and outstanding in all of their achievements for this year. We couldn't have asked for a better introductory school for our beloved son or a better staff at OHES! We even nominated Mrs. Moon for TEACHER OF THE YEAR!

It was heartbreaking to have the year cut short as we were in awe and wonder at how much our son and his classmates were learning in such a short time. When Ezra would come home and show us his activities for the day while singing the songs that he was learning, and talking in amazing detail about his new friends, it was such a wonderful experience for us. Having that end so abruptly was very difficult as well.

It really didn't strike me how much we lost through this experience until the day that we did a parade for Mrs. Moon in front of her house. While preparing for the parade, we gathered at a local high school in her neighborhood. Seeing the kids interacting and playing together again persuaded me that a total shutdown like we experienced was not a healthy alternative for the county schools. I understand that it must have been difficult to decide to do so, but I really believe that wisdom was vindicated by her deeds.

I would like to submit to the CCPS board and encourage a total reopening of the schools in our county. I really believe that with appropriate hygiene, proper cleaning of the school and the classrooms, and our parental assistance with whatever needs arise, reopening will prove to be the best choice we can make. Please consider this request on behalf of many of us parents in our OHES neighborhood.

Thank you for your time and I look forward to continuing our conversation.

Kind regards, Michael J Kurland "Ezra's dad"

2020/07/19 7:18:41 PM AST Midlothian My daughter has special needs. While she does ok in a classroom environment, she does no thrive in a virtual one. There are too many distractions at home, if she could even be at home. My husband and I are both essential workers with full time jobs. Is my children are not able to go to in person classes, I fear she will fall behind as she won’t be able to attend virtually in daycare. She is a twin, and it will be extremely difficult to provide instruction to them both in the 90 minutes our family has each evening for instruction. While I agree schools are not daycare, I worry also for others in similar situations that may not have the time or education to provide adequate instruction to their children. Thank you.

2020/07/19 7:20:50 PM AST Midlothian Please send kids back to school!

2020/07/19 7:24:38 PM AST Midlothian I am writing today in regards to the back to school options. My son will be going into kindergarden and has an IEP due to extreme ADHD. He is unable to sit in front of a computer to learn. The only way he will be able to truly lean is in person classroom learning. I feel many kids are in this predicament. Science shows that kids have low viral loads and don't transfer much to others and they are the least to be very ill. I hope you all will follow the science and vote to teach our kids in the classroom! Thanks for listening.

2020/07/19 7:29:28 PM AST Unsure What happens if and when my child’s teacher or classmate (s) catch Covid? Will my child be required to quarantine? Will I need to quarantine as well as other members in my family? How will my children returning to school who are in different schools be affected? Why aren’t we opening school in phases starting all virtual for the first quarter?

2020/07/19 7:31:28 PM AST Matoaca I know that these past months have been increasingly stressful and decisions have not and will not be made lightly. However, as a parent of 3 children in the Chesterfield County Public schools, I strongly urge that our children’s education not be stalled or hindered any further. The virtual learning in the spring was a DISASTER, plain and simple. Continuing down this path will only cause further harm to our kids long term education and mental health. By keeping them out of the classrooms, you are dooming most to failure before the new year even begins. Our kids NEED FACE TO FACE LEARNING. No other options are viable. Our kids deserve the best education possible and we as parents deserve to see that our tax dollars are being put towards what we are paying for.

2020/07/19 7:31:40 PM AST Matoaca Why can't we meet the needs of every family. (1)Offer virtual learning( can be done anytime of the day or week), (2)in person learning(same as previous studies but with social distancing and masks used by all) This would also include training for students, staff/teachers/faculty and parents as to new rules and regulations for this ahead of time for those opting in. (Teaching children the importance of measures taken.) and/or (3) cctv of class where student can watch in real-time from home(private schools do this via webex).

2020/07/19 7:31:40 PM AST Bermuda Please choose option 6, virtual to keep my grand kids safe.

2020/07/19 7:32:24 PM AST Bermuda Please vote virtual for my grand kids.

2020/07/19 7:34:37 PM AST Bermuda Please do not allow the students to return to school in-person until it is safe for the students AND teachers. It is much better to wait until at least spring to see how this virus develops during the fall to ensure the safety of everyone. Classrooms and buses are prime breeding ground for this highly contagious virus. Please choose safety above all else. Thank you.

19 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/19 7:34:38 PM AST Dale There should be a choice by the parents on whether to send their children back to school for in-person instruction or to stay at home virtually. I have 3 children in school which 2 are in elementary and 1 in high school . My high schooler may be able to accommodate to virtual but not my younger 2. One of my children NEEDS in person instruction as he has an IEP and a 504 plan. He needs to attend his speech therapy during school. He is also on medication for anxiety and virtual schooling has sent him overboard! These children are already so far behind in more ways than we can say. Everything has been ripped from them and they need stability back and IN PERSON INSTRUCTION to thrive and continue to move up. We NEED our teachers!!!

2020/07/19 7:35:31 PM AST Dale Please support giving parents the choice of full time in school learning. The research and data shows that children are not as affected and if they are, symptoms are mild. Have staff wear a mask . Increase sanitizing and frequent hand washing . Our child learn best in a classroom. They also need it for their mental and social well-being . I am an essential worker and don’t have a choice to stay home , therefore my Child’s first grade education will be greatly impacted where literacy is established. My child’s education will suffer because I can’t be there to help her navigate through a computer or have the time and energy to give her 100%. This weighs on me emotionally and mentally . Safety is important but I believe with the right PLAN it can happen with 100% in school. My children have been in daycare for the summer and there has not been one case or issue. If schools don’t open your now going to have fuller daycares with Parents relying on workers to provide different levels of education . As of now, There are two teachers to the “ School age room,” how are they going to make this happen with ages 6-12 years . Again , still dealing with COVID but now under a different roof because the schools can’t handle it.

2020/07/19 7:39:56 PM AST Matoaca At this point in our country’s standing, I can only see one choice. The choice of Option 6, full time virtual learning, is the only one that protects our children, teachers , and staff of our schools completely. It is also the only one that gives our children more than one or two days with their teachers. If the teachers are able to focus on being virtual with every child and not have to split their time between two modes of education our children will benefit. I think that most don’t understand that virtual learning is not what we saw in the Spring. What we saw in the Spring was our teachers and administration trying to keep our children focused on school and still checking in on their well being. They weren’t allowed to grade or hold our children accountable. I am a mother of two rising fifth graders. They did their weekly work and went to almost every class meeting. They missed seeing many of their classmates’ faces during these meetings. We must look to ourselves during this time as well as our educators. I see a way through this. We as community to need form pods within our neighborhoods. This would help our working parents, and allow our children to focus on their work with their teachers. We need to look towards the science and numbers. Once the greater Chesterfield and Richmond areas have seen no new cases for two weeks, we can take a look at how to open our schools safely, but as of now we aren’t there. Our children only being in the school buildings one or two days a week will only cause more logistical havoc for families, and will put them and the adults around them at major risk. I implore you to choose Option 6 and keep us all safe. It is the right and moral choice.

2020/07/19 7:42:22 PM AST Bermuda We have two kids with immune disorders. How will that be addressed with the school plans?

2020/07/19 7:43:30 PM AST Midlothian Please consider a hybrid model for our high school kids. Protect our teachers and kids - if it means plexi for the teachers and masks and spacing for all, whatever you decide we will do. Our kids need to practice life this way and see others. I don’t know if you rotate by alphabet or course schedule or even athletic teams to minimize exposure but any rotation that serves all. Perhaps only electives are online classes so those that require more support can be in person. And I think it’s time to rethink our learning plan completely- let’s lose SOL’s and save the weeks spent on regurgitation. Let’s focus on thinking and projects that can be done at home after the teaching happens in person. Maybe this can lead us to a better version of education.

2020/07/19 7:45:18 PM AST Bermuda School needs to be open fully to all students! It’s important that our children learn in the classroom! Covid 19 hasn’t effected kids to warrant them being out of the classroom. Please listen to parents! Our kids need and deserve this!! If by chance the parents don’t win this battle teachers need to be in classroom everyday and be available during reg school hours to teach these kids online the entire time not just an hour a day!!! Appointments should be able to be made for in person help as well!!

2020/07/19 7:45:48 PM AST Bermuda I am in favor of returning to 5 day in class school.

2020/07/19 7:45:53 PM AST Clover Hill It is obvious that there is no safe way for school to begin as normal, as if nothing has happened. A hybrid schedule does allow for less students in the classroom, but why should we risk the health of our community when teachers have become adept at online teaching for now. It's not ideal. It is quite sad, really, but the complaints I have heard against a virtual beginning (socialization, falling behind) are the same all over the world and are not necessarily true. Our teachers can teach effectively via all the electronic resources at our disposal. I hate it, but it will work.

2020/07/19 7:47:47 PM AST Midlothian My husband and I feel it is critical for the children to have some form of in person learning during the fall of 2020. Our children are both entering into the first year of middle school and high school and we are incredibly concerned about their continued educational growth and how far behind they might be compared to other kids their age throughout the state and country who are receiving an in person education. In addition to the educational portion, our concerns over social interactions and overall mental health weigh on us heavily in this environment. These kids have been home since March with limited interaction.

We understand that safety of the children, teachers and other faculty are very important but ask that you consider a comprise that will allow children to be taught safely, in the school. Thanks.

Jeff and Rachel Labrecque

2020/07/19 7:48:25 PM AST Midlothian I am writing this email as a concerned parent wanting the best education for my son. I am urging you to consider and vote for in person full time education. Distance learning is not a realistic mode of education for my family and my rising 3rd grader. My husband and I both work full time. My husband is military and I am speech therapist in a hospital. I do not use school as daycare. I use school as a mode to educate my child. I do use daycare as before and after school care because our hours are not 9:30-3:45. Unfortunately, our days consist of leaving the house at 6:30am and arriving back at 6:00pm. My son would be starting his school day after dinner and bath at 7 pm. This works for homework and continuing skills learned in school. This does not work as a time to start learning for the day. Daycare is not equipped to educate my child as these workers do not have the education and experience to make this work in an environment of multiple grades, multiple schools, and different teachers. I think it is wonderful to offer families that want distance learning as an option. However this option is not right for everyone. I am sad at how our children are negatively impacted by this virus. We now have people going on vacations, out to eat, to church, to many other events but our children cannot return to school. Distance learning will only widen the gap of between kids that have the resources and parents that are home from those that lack resources and parents that both work full time. The distance learning experience was sub par and my child did not learn anything, only maintained his skills. I can testify that using the proper PPE and guidance from the CDC is effective protection from COVID-19. I work daily with the sickest of COVID patients just weaning from the ventilator, with tracheostomies, and a host of other comorbidities and we are safe. I know there are logistical challenges but I believe our kids deserve better than distance learning. I want the very best for my son and that includes learning in a rich environment with multiple modalities to foster a life long love of learning. Thank you for taking the time to hear my point of view. Thank you, Lauren Fleharty M.S., M.Ed., CCC-SLP

2020/07/19 7:50:06 PM AST Clover Hill Please give parents the option to send their children to school (or not). I understand some are still scared to send their kids and that’s fine, they can stay home. But PLEASE open schools for those who want/choose to send their kids. My children need to be in the classroom with a teacher. Their education will suffer if they are at home “distance learning”

2020/07/19 7:51:01 PM AST Dale Protect our students and our staff. One death is too many.

2020/07/19 7:51:16 PM AST Matoaca If we shut schools down with not even 3000 cases around the country. Why would we even consider opening them with millions of cases and with numbers that are still climbing? Why risk our kids? Our teachers and staff? One death in our county is one too many.

2020/07/19 7:54:07 PM AST Bermuda Please allow the kids to come back to school. My son is going into 2nd grade and being out of school has made him fall behind in his writing skills. The DL school is OKAY temporarily but this cannot be permanent. I have to work and my kids deserve an education by those who are education practitioners! Please just follow CDC guidelines but let them go back to the classroom.

2020/07/19 7:54:57 PM AST Midlothian I just recently applied to be a permanent substitute for CCPS so obviously I feel it is safe to reopen schools for this school year or at least give parents a choice like Colonial Heights has. We moved to Va specifically Chesterfield County because of the awesome schools. This decision should speak to that not against it. Secondly I have an upcoming Kindergartener that I am very concerned how she can achieve a strong foundation in school if she is staring at a screen. Thirdly my third grader desperately needs to be with his peers. His tears almost daily are very upsetting. Please open the school doors for in person instruction 100% or give parents the choice of 100% in person or 100% virtual. Research and doctors are stating daily the need for in person school...let's not live in fear but instead rally together for this upcoming generation in our public schools.

2020/07/19 7:55:43 PM AST Midlothian The hybrid option of 2 days in school and 2 days virtual as well as a 100% online option is the best choice to allow parents to make a choice based on their family circumstances. There should be a plan to increase the number of school days after each 9 weeks to full time in-person (with the same 100% virtual option for those who need/want that) based on the COVID numbers. We should skip SOLs for the 2020-2021 school year, just as we did for last school year given the special situation we are in & instead of teaching kids to pass a test, create a program that actually engages them to learn and think critically while they are forced to educate from home.

2020/07/19 7:55:43 PM AST Matoaca My name is Pat McFadden, and I'm the father of two kids currently enrolled at Grange Hall Elementary. I am a firm believer that schools should be open full time, five days a week based on the following facts. 1)Both I and my wife, work full time. If the schools do not open we will be forced to put our kids into an expensive daycare, or a private school. 2) Kids DO NOT learn in a virtual world, they need face to face interaction, not staring at a computer screen. Young children, like mine, will not learn this way. 3) Given the facts on Corona Virus, young people are the least susceptible to contract the virus, and I don't believe any reasoning why a teacher should be afraid. Why cant the teachers wear masks ? Other essential workers wear masks and go to work full time, like daycare workers, nurses, doctors, Dentists, etc. I, myself wear a mask at work.

2020/07/19 7:57:03 PM AST Bermuda As a parent with 2 children in CCPS schools, I urge you to consider providing families with the option of returning to in person classes. An all virtual option is against what is currently recommended by the VDH and would be doing our children a disservice.

2020/07/19 7:59:34 PM AST Dale In person teaching is needed

2020/07/19 8:00:36 PM AST Clover Hill If virtual learning is to be a part of the curriculum moving forward what is to be done for those who do not live in an area with access to high-speed internet and/or the monetary capability to obtain it.

2020/07/19 8:02:11 PM AST Dale I hope this correspondence finds everyone safe and well. It is with tremendous concern that I express my angst in returning to school face to Face in ANY capacity. If meetings are being held via zoom, it should let us see that we are in no way, shape, or form ready to return as it will be detrimental to everyone’s health. I believe more time will be sent on safety precautions rather than instruction. Students will be anxious as well as parents, and teachers. There is no true way to practice social distancing with fidelity and I am almost certain that students will not wear masks for the duration of the school day. We have no idea who our students or colleagues have come in contact with and will not have any means to keep our selves or our students safe. Parents send students to school sick on a regular basis and this will be no different. The buses will be a cesspool of germs even with “1 child per every other seat.” That alone will pose a problem considering the fact that there is already a shortage of bus drivers and it will take a long time for buses to bring approximately 20 kids to school at a time. How are we supposed to provide on line and face to face instruction? Has anyone considered teacher burnout and what we are supposed to do with our children as well? The numbers continue to rise and there should not be gatherings of more than 250 so I am not sure why we would risk opening schools with no decline in the virus. Please consider the best option to keep EVERYONE safe and in my opinion, that would be complete on line instruction. Thank you and be safe.

2020/07/19 8:03:11 PM AST Bermuda I am a Bermuda District resident and the grandmother of 2 precious Curtis Elementary students, a rising 5th grader (Cadence) and a rising 1st grader (Cameron), as well as a rising 8th grader at Matoaca Middle School (Kara).

I am very fortunate to have retired January 1, 2020, after serving for many years as Clerk to the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors. Although it was not exactly how I envisioned retirement, I have had the pleasure of assisting with the education of my two youngest grandchildren since the schools closed abruptly due to COVID concerns, as my daughter and son-in-law both have full-time jobs that require their physical presence. However, I am definitely not an educator, and they would be much better taught by those who have the education, skills and experience to do so.

My daughter purchased age-appropriate reading comprehension and math materials for Cadence to work on throughout the summer because she did not feel the work that was distributed by the school after closing for COVID was sufficient to prepare her for 5th grade.

Cameron participates in daily virtually learning though the various programs available to him through CCPS. Many times, he encounters “an error has occurred” pop-up box, which then takes him back to the beginning of the lesson he was working on. This is very frustrating for him.

I have observed that the kids’ motivation to learn has continually decreased over time and I believe it has a lot to do with the lack of classroom structure. In my opinion, learning in a classroom setting with a teacher and other students present is imperative for the educational and social/emotional growth of Chesterfield County’s youth. Also, I am confident that a quality school system like CCPS can effectively determine protocols that would allow for the safety of its students and employees, and it appears that federal funding will be available to assist with this.

I would sincerely appreciate your support for re-opening the schools for the students who desperately need this type of environment to thrive.

2020/07/19 8:06:01 PM AST Unsure I think school and all offices should be virtual through the fall. If its unsafe for kids to return then its unsafe for offices to be open and staff return.

2020/07/19 8:06:12 PM AST Bermuda How will the school system support the working parents who’s children are not yet self sufficient enough to complete their school work or operate a computer safely on their own during the day in order to still receive their education like the rest of the students who have parents or someone else to provide this support to their children during the day? Daycares do not have enough staff. My child did not sign up for night school and shouldn’t be asked to consider this as an acceptable alternative.

2020/07/19 8:07:32 PM AST Matoaca Balancing the health, economic, and social aspects of COVID is truly a challenge. This is particularly true of schooling in a pandemic environment. It is my belief that the effective education of high school kids was not achieved earlier this year. They lost more than a quarter of schooling essential to their future success. This is not the fault of anyone. Shifting to a new ed environment is a hard with the time and resources to make it happen. Those were not available. Losing another quarter or semester this year means kids reach college almost a year behind where they should be. That will not work for their long term success. Health risks for kids seems minimizable with masks and cleaning. Risks for teachers are higher but other professionals are working in riskier environments. Build an environment that is reasonably safe- it will never be perfectly safe. Recommend full time school. If there are fewer teaching days, extend the school year. Get the kids in school!

2020/07/19 8:08:24 PM AST Midlothian Whatever you end up deciding on please make it for the first semester only so everything can be re-evaluated prior to the second semester.

2020/07/19 8:09:01 PM AST Midlothian My daughter does better in the classroom than she does with online classes. This is her senior year and grades matter. I would like to see a normal school year with classroom instruction.

2020/07/19 8:09:56 PM AST Unsure I am commenting in concerns to the upcoming decision to open school. I have a 5 year old son whom needs in classroom instruction along with a lot of other kids who do not do well at home. He was in public preschool last year due to being speech delayed and if wont for the teachers last year my son would not be where he is now. When school closed and they did 2 weekly meetings it was impossible for my son. He would scream and cry and refuse to participate. I am the only one he has to advocate for him and i feel as if not giving the parents a choice to decide is a poor decision beings they are the ones who know their children. Some children just do not learn virtually and absolutely refuse to learn at home! I did not go to college to be a teacher. I do teach as you can tell by my email but i at a technical center for adult continuing education program and i myself am comfortable enough to go back to school and teach these adults to set them up for a better future. With that being said I know if i feel that way there is several other teachers whom feel the same way. So why not give us parents the right to choose what is best for our children. Going 100% virtual will set a lot of kids up to fail. And is not taking into consideration how its effecting families who need 2 incomes to survive if you all do like Richmond where they have to sign in during the day. Please think about these students who need the in person care for a virus that has a very high survival chance. We do not shut down during flu season where we have a vaccine and still 80,000+ a year die. Teachers are essential employees just like nurses and doctors! They should still have to work even if its taking measures to try and make it safer. Like only opening 2 days a week. Or 4 days a week. Or allowing parents to choose so the ones whom are uncomfortable can keep their kids home and the ones like myself who are not scared and yet more worried about my sons future to let them go to school! While i understand some older students may learn well at home like middle and highschool elementary school students and ones with IEP will not learn at home. Why not an option to allow elementary and iep students to spread out between elementary, middle and high schools to insure proper social distancing is in place. I am sure there is enough teachers to cover elementary and IEP students divided. Thank you for taking time and hopefully considering what i am trying to say.

2020/07/19 8:11:56 PM AST Matoaca Kids can be back in the classroom & still an take the proper precautions

20 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/19 8:12:00 PM AST Clover Hill As a rising senior who is taking 4 AP classes, being in school is essential. The in person instruction cant even compare to the virtual AP reviews we did this spring. Many students need the credits for college from the test to help pay for tuition, and all virtual schooling would ruin their chances for that. Please allow us to go to school this fall to receive the education we need.

2020/07/19 8:15:18 PM AST Matoaca I implore all of you to consider the safety and well being of all students, teachers, staff and support staff. This is NOT a time to be returning to a brick and mortar school situation. Even a day or two a week will not accomplish the goals of socializing children ( regardless of risk). It is , virtually, impossible to expect children to come to school healthy, remain healthy all day, follow new rules, learn, and be sure that they have not been exposed to covid-19. As much as I realize that school is a “safe place” for so many children, going back to school with accommodations during an uncontrolled pandemic is assuring an unsafe place for those very children AND their classmates, teachers , and others. Children with parents who BOTH work outside of the home? Yes, there will be added expenses, but all worth the life of a child . Parents will figure it out. And if they cannot manage this year of virtual learning or otherwise, then at least they will have their child. That option is much better than losing a child. A year of zero learning does not kill. This virus does. If a teacher DOES happen to become ill with ANYTHING, try getting coverage for that teacher. I doubt the 78 bucks a day is going to have subs chomping at the bit for a position. As an aside, my children are grown and in their late 20’s and early 30’s . If they were school age? They would not be attending school inside of a building until a reliable vaccine has been developed and is available.

2020/07/19 8:17:50 PM AST Matoaca My daughter is supposed to start kindergarten this year. Early childhood education is extremely important and kindergarten is the foundation in which the rest of her education will be built upon. If she doesn’t go to school she will fall behind, as will all but a few children. I have two other younger children so the chances of her having quality “virtual” learning are slim to none.

The chances of children of contracting COVID and having long term reactions are slim to none. Chances of them falling behind are high and many children will. Especially children in lower income households. Let children return to school. Allow for parent to have an option do virtual learning for there children if they are worried about COVID. Homeschooling has always been an option and parent have that choice.

2020/07/19 8:22:26 PM AST Matoaca I think going back full time or not going back at all is not the answer. We need to find an option somewhere in the middle and I believe that to be 2 days a week with half the students Mon/Tues no school on Wed to give teachers a break ( tensions for some seem to be high) and get cleaning) and then the other half of the students will be Thurs/Fri. Lets do this the first 9 weeks and see what is happening with this virus. We arent going to stop the virus and its going no where but it will continue to help slow the spread. It eases parents, teachers and students into the real world again. and then after the 1st 9 weeks we can re-evaluate, I love our teachers but for the ones that are being vocal about being put at risk by going back to school.... I am sorry but the rest of the world is working and has been. I read the teacher comments acting so afraid to go back and I ask myself how they don't realize the rest of the world has had to continue to work. Why do teachers feel like they are any different? We will all continue to take precautions to protect teachers, staff and the children. I love the idea of temp checks at school too.

2020/07/19 8:29:13 PM AST Bermuda I think hybrid to start is the best option, maintaining the option for full-time virtual at parents discretion. Hybrid will allow for best of both worlds and keeping teachers jobs.

2020/07/19 8:32:09 PM AST Matoaca While I would prefer to teach my students in person and feel that is what is best for them I don't feel the school division has or is in a position to implement all the suggested safety precautions to keep students and staff safe. Unfortunately I feel virtual learning, while not ideal until all safety measures can be put into place. No matter what is decided I hope a detailed plan for any course is spelled out with more then just vague ideas. Things like consequences for not wearing or removing masks. What to do for leave for staff that have to quarantine. Guidance of expectations if we go all virtual and constant support and lots of grace for teachers needing to adapt. I don't envy you your position and having to make the choice. Thank you.

2020/07/19 8:34:02 PM AST Midlothian At first I was hesitant to send my son to physical school (If that was an option) because of his underlying medical condition. We traveled to see his cardiologist at UVA children’s hospital, a doctor that has seen him since he was born and on life support for his heart issues. To my surprise when I asked what his concerns about in person school was he said “absolutely none, in fact he would benefit greatly with in person Instruction and being around other children” he basically gave him no restrictions, and encouraged being in school. This doctor has in the past been very conservative with my sons care. Never hesitating to say “your child might not recover” or “a heart transplant is a serious option” when things got tough and scary. So I trust his advice and suggestions always.

Later that day I saw a post from another pediatric cardiologist actually in our area that noted that kids should go back to in person. And suggestions that studies indicate kids do not transmit the illness to other kids and adults. I have not fact checked that, but If what these doctors are saying are true, we should listen to them and be back to school in person, with the option for virtual school for those who are more anxious and want their children to stay home.

Although I have the means to adapt to virtual or in person I worry about the families that do not have the ability to homeschool due to various unfortunate circumstances. Those children need a place to go to learn and have a sense of normalcy. I worry about the outcome a year from now when we evaluate the effects of virtual learning on those that may not have the means to pay for tutors and nanny’s to support learning.

Please consider both sides and offer an option that fits the needs of both families that need in school instruction and families that prefer virtual.

Thank you

2020/07/19 8:36:24 PM AST Matoaca My biggest concern is that schools are reopening in person too soon. Trust me, I want my 6th grader back at school. I do believe in person teaching is best for him. But I do not believe it is safe for him and us right now. My 69 year old mother-in-law lives with us. We also have a family member that is fighting cancer that needs family support. I also worry about the safety of teachers and other school staff. My hope is that the board votes to do virtual learning for at least the first 9 weeks.

2020/07/19 8:37:50 PM AST Dale Open school full time on time

2020/07/19 8:37:59 PM AST Unsure As a county teacher and parent of 2 elementary age students (C. C. Wells Elementary), I would like the option for my children and students to return to the schools physically. My children’s education has suffered greatly since March 12 as we attempted to navigate the school closure while both parents were working full time from home. I am proud of the education my children are receiving through CCPS, but virtual learning is not a replacement for face to face instruction and social interactions. I cannot fathom how difficult this could be for my ECSE Students if they were expected to learn virtually! They cannot read and have difficulty sustaining attention. I also feel there needs to be a plan for teachers with children. It is wrong to expect me to put my children in a daycare setting if it is considered “unsafe” for them to be in school. It would also mean that they would likely not have access to an education during the typical school day because no daycare center would be able to teach or even facilitate virtual learning. I am simply asking for a choice. My children are entitled to quality education. My students are entitled to FAPE. Virtual only options do NOT provide that!

2020/07/19 8:38:04 PM AST Matoaca Please give us and our kids a choice to go back to school this fall. Thank you!!

2020/07/19 8:38:06 PM AST Midlothian Based on all of the current guidelines from VDH, VDOE, and your own Risk Management department presentation, an “all-virtual only” option should no longer be a consideration. Families deserve the CHOICE to send their children to school. I am already seeing the mental health of my high schoolers and many of their peers sliding downward, and that scares me more than Covid.

2020/07/19 8:38:20 PM AST Midlothian There should be some type of in person schooling, if not a full schedule at least a partial schedule with the option for parents to choose virtual learning. I feel children need that in person interaction to learn. I understand some teachers do not want to go back into the schools, but that is their job. They have shown that virtual learning does not work. I would imagine that grocery store workers would rather not have to deal with the public on a daily basis, but they are the true heroes along with hospital staff. Please, open our schools.

2020/07/19 8:38:37 PM AST Matoaca While reports are encouraging as to the outcomes of younger children who contract COVID-19, these reports are limited in scope. In actuality, we do not know long term effects on children, and their level of contagion. This is largely due to the fact that they have not been in school. Resources for digital learning have been around for at least two decades, and now we have technology that matches that. Our education system and faculty have the perfect opportunity to bring public schools into the 21st century. I myself have worked virtually for the past 12 years for a Fortune 100 company. I can say with certainty that it will be a requirement that our children be able to participate in the new face of the world economy. Teachers and staff will be challenged to meet these new parameters, but they can do this safely. Much of our faculty and staff are in the high risk demographic for COVID-19- whether they are retirement aged workers, or younger staff caring for older parents or young children of their own. Of course we all want our children back in school, but the worry is that if we do not take the health of teachers, staff, and students seriously, we will be back to square one with a surge in cases much like other states that have reopened much too quickly. Do we want to throw away the sacrifices we have made since March? The world's medical researchers are working diligently on a cure/vaccine and we need to act wisely and give them time to do this without putting lives at risk. Many cite the economy as their main concern for sending kids back to school this fall. To this I say the danger of increased spread of the virus will do far more lasting damage to our state and federal economy than sticking it out through this worldwide pause. I must ask that the school board see the gray between the black and white of this argument and find a creative solution with 100% distance learning this fall. We have a great opportunity to turn this crisis into a springboard to start better utilizing technology and out of the box thinkers. Thank you for your time.

2020/07/19 8:38:39 PM AST Midlothian I am writing this email as a concerned parent wanting the best education for my son. I am urging you to consider and vote for in person full time education. Distance learning is not a realistic mode of education for my family and my rising 3rd grader. My husband and I both work full time. My husband is military and I am speech therapist in a hospital. I do not use school as daycare. I use school as a mode to educate my child. I do use daycare as before and after school care because our hours are not 9:30-3:45. Unfortunately, our days consist of leaving the house at 6:30am and arriving back at 6:00pm. My son would be starting his school day after dinner and bath at 7 pm. This works for homework and continuing skills learned in school. This does not work as a time to start learning for the day. Daycare is not equipped to educate my child as these workers do not have the education and experience to make this work in an environment of multiple grades, multiple schools, and different teachers. I think it is wonderful to offer families that want distance learning as an option. However this option is not right for everyone. I am sad at how our children are negatively impacted by this virus. We now have people going on vacations, out to eat, to church, to many other events but our children cannot return to school. Distance learning will only widen the gap of between kids that have the resources and parents that are home from those that lack resources and parents that both work full time. The distance learning experience was sub par and my child did not learn anything, only maintained his skills. I can testify that using the proper PPE and guidance from the CDC is effective protection from COVID-19. I work daily with the sickest of COVID patients just weaning from the ventilator, with tracheostomies, and a host of other comorbidities and we are safe. I know there are logistical challenges but I believe our kids deserve better than distance learning. I want the very best for my son and that includes learning in a rich environment with multiple modalities to foster a life long love of learning. Thank you for taking the time to hear my point of view. Thank you, Lauren Fleharty M.S., M.Ed., CCC-SLP

2020/07/19 8:40:15 PM AST Unsure Let the parents send them five days if they want or let them do it virtually . Parents decision!

2020/07/19 8:43:19 PM AST Midlothian I'd like to voice my opinion on the opening of a schools during the pandemic. As a grandparent who is raising two children in Chestetfield public school system I stand on the side of virtual learning. The children may be immune but there is a high likelihood that with contact with other children they will bring disease into our home. I'm also very concerned for the health of our teachers both young and those nearing retirement. Being professionals they already give more of themselves than their salary reflects. Is the school system able to supply qualified coverage for teachers and staff who contract the virus? Can the system provide paid quantine housing for those infected while serving our children. Faculty and staff will need prolonged time to recuperate. Will paid sick leave be provided? Teachers should not be required to teach face to face until the school board feels it's safe enough for the board meetings to be held in a public forum. Yours is a very difficult task but it should be one that is made based on a scientific evidence not political concerns. Thank you for taking your responsibility ability as the life and death issue that it is.

2020/07/19 8:43:47 PM AST Dale With regards to Memo 083-20, please DO NOT force our children to endure “virtual school” this fall. With less than 1% incidence of COVID-19 in our county, these children can SAFELY be taught as they are supposed to be. IF you can’t find it in yourselves to send our kids back to school, then EVERY TEACHER AND ADMINISTRATOR SHOUKD HAVE TO REPORT TO THEIR RESPECTIVE SCHOOLS DURING ALL SCHOOL HOURS. It’s time to STOP QUARANTINING THE HEALTHY!!!!

2020/07/19 8:46:23 PM AST Clover Hill You will never please everyone with your decision so please give parents the choice to send their kids in-person or keep them home with virtual learning. Then it's their decision and they can't blame anyone else. Hanover parents truly appreciated the freedom of choice.

2020/07/19 8:47:21 PM AST Midlothian Thank you. Parents need to have a choice.

2020/07/19 8:47:36 PM AST Matoaca Unfortunately, it has become clear that the school district is sadly NOT prioritizing instruction as their number one mission for the upcoming year. Assuming "virtual education" is some component of the plan for the 2020 school year, has the school district taken into account that K-3 students that don't have the same ability to manipulate technology as older students? (Virtual sessions for kindergartners in the spring were a mess and a total waste of time for parents and children). Because of the the attention span of a K-3 student, as well as their inability to fully read / write, and type, virtual learning will be ineffective - at the most critical time in their development. All student, but in particular K-3 students, need to be in-school five days as week or risk getting left behind.

2020/07/19 8:48:28 PM AST Midlothian I am very worried about the possibility of 5 days a week learning in schools. I do not believe we have enough information about the potential risks to our children if they are all in the classroom. I prefer the 2 day a week schedule for elementary school students if possible or all virtual if necessary. As hard as it is to continue to keep kids at home, I believe the safety of kids and students is most important.

2020/07/19 8:54:41 PM AST Bermuda Please allow the kids to come back to school. My son is going into 2nd grade and being out of school has made him fall behind in his writing skills. The DL school is OKAY temporarily but this cannot be permanent. I have to work and my kids deserve an education by those who are education practitioners! Please just follow CDC guidelines but let them go back to the classroom.

2020/07/19 8:57:52 PM AST Matoaca I understand that the amount of burden you all carry to make this decision is huge, and I don’t think I would like the responsibility of it. Regardless, it’s part of what you were elected to do, and I hope you listen to those who elected you and their desires.

In my personal opinion, as schools all over America are making these decisions, I believe that giving parents a choice is the best option. Open schools for partial capacity, even potentially giving them a hybrid school accommodation. Also give people the opportunity to choose virtual learning, where all learning is facilitated through computer meetings and online resources. Some families will be able to handle virtual learning without any issues. Other families, forced to do virtual learning, will struggle greatly. Essential worker families will find themselves doing school at night or weekends, kids being counted absent during the day. Single parents will be forced into financial struggle due to finding childcare. Children’s educations will be affected by this decision. I hope you make a choice that will allow parents figure out what will work best for their family. Louisa County is doing this and over 21% of their student body decided to do virtual. > 40% of students going to school 2 days, while the other >40% goes another two days will help families maneuver through this difficult time.

I am praying for y’all as you make this decision. Please be wise as you decide.

2020/07/19 8:58:01 PM AST Matoaca QUESTIONS FOR SCHOOL OPENINGS:

• If a teacher tests positive for COVID-19 are they required to quarantine for 2-3 weeks? Is their sick leave covered, paid? • If that teacher has 5 classes a day with 15 students each, do all 75 of those students need to then stay home and quarantine for 14 days? • Do all 75 of those students now have to get tested? Who pays for those tests? Are they happening at school? How are the parents being notified? Does everyone in each of those kids' families need to get tested? • What if someone who lives in the same house as a teacher tests positive? Does that teacher now need to take 14 days off of work to quarantine? Is that time off covered? Paid? • Where is the district going to find a substitute teacher who will work in a classroom full of exposed, possibly infected students for substitute pay? • Substitutes teach in multiple schools. What if they are diagnosed with COVID-19? Do all the kids in each school now have to quarantine and get tested? • What if a student in your kid's class tests positive? What if your kid tests positive? Does every other student and teacher they have been around quarantine? Do we all get notified who is infected and when? Or because of HIPAA regulations are parents and teachers just going to get those mysterious “may have been in contact” emails all year long? • What is this stress going to do to our teachers? How does it affect their health and well-being? How does it affect their ability to teach? How does it affect the quality of education they are able to provide? What is it going to do to our kids? What are the long-term effects of consistently being stressed out? • How will it affect students and faculty when the first teacher in their school dies from this? The first parent of a student who brought it home dies from this? Sadly, the first kid dies from this? • How many more people are going to die, that otherwise would not have if we had stayed home longer? Why are we choosing to put our teachers AND STUDENTS in danger.

2020/07/19 8:58:45 PM AST Midlothian Please send us back to school. As an educator, I am ready and willing to return to the classroom, it is time to move forward.

21 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/19 9:06:30 PM AST Matoaca This should not be a battle between parents who want their kids to have in-person instruction and those that wish to have 100% virtual. Parents should be given the choice between the two. We as parents have the information and know the most about our personal family situations. It is our choice, not the choice of elected officials and certainly not the choice of the far left-wing Chesterfield Education Association. Hanover has passed an excellent plan and I think Chesterfield should pass one similar.

2020/07/19 9:09:31 PM AST Matoaca Please send kids back to school FULL time with no restrictions. It is in the best interest of all students’ future. At the very least, offer parents both options of going full time or online. The flexibility caters to all sides. Rotating days is a pointless option

2020/07/19 9:09:31 PM AST Matoaca Please vote against a 100% virtual option. Even if school can only be attended two days a week it is better than nothing. Special needs students cannot learn via online learning. They need teachers, not a machine. I'm an essential worker. I did not sign up to work in a pandemic. I'm scared too. I still go to work everyday. My son has already repeated a grade. I fear 100% virtual learning will push him back farther. Possibly keeping him in elementary years longer.

2020/07/19 9:10:46 PM AST Bermuda I feel virtual will be the safest way for the children. Thank you for thinking of their safety!

2020/07/19 9:11:02 PM AST Matoaca All children should have the opportunity to learn, and in an environment that works for them and their family. Schools, the CDC and the Education Departments are required to make learning available, and happen in a safe manner. They all need consistency too. The families should be allowed to have the ability to choose for their own families, and what manner is best for them in the pandemic situation. Forcing everyone to do be in school or everyone to be virtual will create an atmosphere that is not only not conducive to learning for anyone, but more stressful than what is already taxing everyone. It will force families who can not afford to, to put children with sitters or in daycares in order to work. Especially if it is scattered days. Two days in, two days virtual will create chaos in the schools and out of the schools as far as staying on tasks- and making full time employment even harder to do.Parents are not equipped to teach full time, or to monitor online environments. Children CANNOT stay behind a computer all day and expect to retain information. I believe, that Hanover has it right. Open 5 days in school, give option for 5 days virtual. This will put the families the ability to choose what is right for them, it will also automatically reduce class sizes. Teachers should be allowed to commit to 5 days in, or 5 days virtual teaching- not doing a combination of both. Not all personalities are good for online learning. Teachers in schools should take extra learning on keeping everyone safe and on task. Virtual teachers need to take schooling on how to teach 100% virtual (IT IS NOT THE SAME). Buses- parents should drive and carpool, or have a central location like camps (the Y does a great job for camp. If parents can not supply rides, they should APPLY for bussing, just like applying for reduced lunch. Again, placing it on parents. Split days will add to the issue of inconsistency, getting teachers to commit, and other issues. All virtual will be a battle of affording daycares/sitters/computers- it will also create "pocket pop-up" or homeschools, which will create the same "health" issues.

2020/07/19 9:11:52 PM AST Bermuda Whether a child returns to school is the responsibility of the parent. A virtual option is going to be available for students and staff who choose not to return. The children need to get back to normal. The statistics have proven that children are mildly affected and rarely if ever transmit to adults. Numerous countries have reopened their schools and other states are reopening their schools as well. Our children will be put at a distinct disadvantage if we do not return to a proper educational setting. We have endured breakouts of measles, mumps, chicken pox, H1N1, polio, flu, and stomach viruses. The mumps, flu and H1N1 were more deadly to children then this coronavirus. And we have never shuttered the doors on our childrens education. Our children should not be held prisoners because adults are fearful of the unknown.

2020/07/19 9:11:53 PM AST Matoaca I would love to have a senior year. I have waited my whole life to graduate and walk across the stage.

2020/07/19 9:14:56 PM AST Midlothian Please, let's work together as a community and find a way to get our children back in school. We can come together to get this done! I have 4 children - 2 in 5th, 1 in 3rd and 1 starting Kindergarten. At a minimum, please focus on getting the littlest ones and those with special needs back in school. As the governor stated, those groups can attend school even in phase 2. K-3 are the foundational years. Since we have already experienced K-3 with our 2 oldest, we know how critical this time is for them. How is my Kindergartner going to learn to read via Google meetings? I know space is hard getting all K-5 in school, but with k-3 you can spread out through the rest of the elementary school - or for that matter put the 3rd graders in the middle schools.

Virtual learning during the spring and now in the summer has just let to tears, frustrations and being more disconnected from learning then ever before. The lack of teacher involvement is inexcusable and disappointing. If summer was supposed to be a test and better the what happened in the spring, this it is huge failure. My kids have learned nothing new this summer and have just been more frustrated with this experience then anything else.

Please please, let's be creative together and find a way to get our children back in school safely!!

2020/07/19 9:17:04 PM AST Midlothian First off, I know you all have a hard decision ahead of you but I would encourage you to consider the facts and science. The data shows that virtual learning does not work, and I think most teachers all agree that in person learning is far superior to virtual. In addition, the doctors and health professionals are all saying it is safe for the children to return to school (of course, with precautions in place). Given that, there should be no other decision than the children returning to in-person school in the fall (maybe starting with hybrid first, but some form of in-person education).

I think the resistance with returning to school is coming from the teacher's labor union and a vocal group of teachers. My question to the labor union and this vocal group of teachers, are they quarantining at home and not taking any risk in their personal life? I would expect them not be doing any traveling or trips and not eating inside at any restaurants. Unfortunately, this is a time everyone is being asked to step and do their part to keep our country running. I am in healthcare, and it was so scary going into the hospital in March/April when we knew so little about the virus. But, we had a job to do just like the grocery store workers and delivery drivers and so on. So, I hope that the teacher's labor union officers and the vocal teachers resisting going back are not taking any risk in their personal life if they are saying they will not take any risk in their professional life at a time when we need teachers the most.

If the children return to school, I feel the teachers are going to find so much more support from the parents than if they are doing all virtual. I do believe parents will rally around the teachers to support them if they return. If money is needed for PPE, I think parents will raise money. If you need parents to help drive their kids to school to avoid crowding on the bus, I think many parents will be willing to do that. With mask wearing, kids as young as 5 and 6 years old are being asked to wear mask all day in Europe and Asia, and they are doing it. I think we can expect that from our kids, too.

2020/07/19 9:21:22 PM AST Unsure I feel the parents should have a choice; all virtual learning or part time in school.

2020/07/19 9:21:43 PM AST Unsure I think schools should be opened year round. The kids can go in different tracks. It won’t be crowded and safety measures will be easier to implement. If year round isn’t an option, schools should be opened to kids that want to attend. Parents would need to sign waivers. The younger teachers without health conditions should teach and get hazard pay. The older teachers and teachers with health conditions can teach online. The long term affects of not going to school is going to be detrimental to kids mentally, physically, and socially. There are single parents that need to work. They don’t have the luxury of staying home. Covid is not going anywhere and we all have to learn to live with it. We can’t shut everything down forever. Everything in life is a risk.

2020/07/19 9:21:46 PM AST Matoaca Our twin daughters that are rising 11th graders need to have some in person instruction. This is their busiest year with 3 AP's and 1 dual enrollment and need the guidance on how to succeed in these courses and so that they are prepared for college. It is said that the Junior year is the most important when planning for college. They are willing to wear masks or whatever it takes. Please make this happen!! Thank you, The McDermott Family

2020/07/19 9:25:52 PM AST Dale I would prefer to see middle and high school students return to school for two days per week at most with a deep clean between each group. Virus numbers are increasing and the CDC is predicting a vicious fall/winter. I’d like to see elementary fully virtual. The students are harder to social distance. If virtual is the option or choice I need to know specifics of programs that will be available and details of how meetings and attendance will work. Telling parents of elementary students there will be game like apps is not sufficient for us to make a decision on how or where we want our children to learn. Dreambox, myon, and lexia are fine for reinforcement but are not an adequate substitute for teaching. Having students eat in classrooms is a major issue for kids with life threatening allergies. Allergen crumbs can get on floors, carpets, desks, pencil sharpeners etc. removing the allergy affected child from the room does not work when allergens are in the room. Cleaning is a big issue. Tables are routinely not properly wiped down, allergy tables are left dirty, the same rag that wipes the allergy table also wipes the other tables. Soap and paper towels are routinely empty in restrooms and urine is on the floors. My point in telling you all this is to advise you that there is a real lack of training and accountability in our county schools when it comes to health, safety, and hygiene. Professionals need to be brought in for pandemic to train and provide proper oversight if you want children back in person. Teachers need to be trained properly on virtual instruction and they need to implement meaningful zoom sessions and grading. Oversight is important for accountability. Business as usual can not occur at this time. It’s not safe for health if the children, families or staff. Proper distancing and cleaning protocols need to be in place with proper oversight and funding. If we cannot enter stores without masks we cannot enter schools without them. If our government is releasing inmates how can you in good conscience say it’s ok for children to return. I can only imagine the work and time that goes into difficult situations such as this unprecedented one. I hope that you will all have the courage to do the right thing.

2020/07/19 9:26:51 PM AST Midlothian You have a very big decision to make regarding the fall and there is no solution that will work for all. You are all in a very tough place and I know you are putting a lot of thought into the decision. Since all parents will have an opportunity to take virtual learning as an option, I would like the board to consider having student start in person instruction in the fall. Let parents have a choice as to send students into a school building or keep them home. As the wife of a doctor working in the ICU, I do understand the severity of COVID but I also understand that our children need social interaction and they need an education. It could be quite a while before a vaccine is found and administered to the masses. How long as we willing to keep kids out of school? If student are only brought into the building for 2-3 days a week, please keep those days back-to-back and consistent from one week to the next. From the medical standpoint, the days need to be back-to-back so that it allows children a chunk of time out of the school setting if they start to develop symptoms. Consistency of days will be very important for working parents and for all in general to remember which days to send kids to school.

2020/07/19 9:26:51 PM AST Matoaca I have a rising 6th grader (an only child) who was going to begin the Summit Program at Bailey Bridge Middle School. He was so excited about it. He is the kind of kid who thrives at school, did well academically, and had friends that he enjoyed connecting with during school. He became very bored and frustrated during the virtual learning at the end of last school year. Additionally, he lost the connection with his friends. This disconnection from teachers and students has been very hard on him. It would be catastrophic to endure this for another year.

I urge you to allow parents the choice to place their children into a 5 day in person learning environment or 5 day virtual education this Fall. Not force a one size fits all.

The science and data support choices and it allows parents to weigh the nuances for their families and their children. Other counties have modeled these implementation plans and other countries have successfully reopened schools in person.

The well being of our of children and the equity of providing education to our Chesterfield students depends on this choice to be in person or virtual.

Teachers are essential workers and like all businesses of essential workers, they have put plans in place to support their staff and allow business operations to continue. I trust Chesterfield County operations teams to do the same.

I urge you to make the best decision for Chesterfield — for our children to have the choice to return to 5 day in-person or 5 day virtual learning. Choosing virtual only would severely hold our children back as it’s simply not viable or effective for all children. If an in person option is not made available, I will be seeking education outside of CCPS for the emotional & mental well-being of my son as well as ensuring he has a more reliable/suitable education.

2020/07/19 9:26:52 PM AST Matoaca Open schools full time! Give families the opportunity/option to choose to go back full time. It’s in the best interest of the students!

2020/07/19 9:26:58 PM AST Midlothian Please follow Hanover County's plan for parents choice of 5 days in school or all virtual. Put children who are already friends in classes together (the younger elementary) so that they can keep their social bubble smaller. If children go to school in person 2 or 3 days per week they will be sharing day care germs from other communities with school germs and vice versa. Many children will have to go to day care if they are not in school and exposing themselves and adults in those settings. Additionally virtual learning will not work for my rising kindergartener. We tried virtual preschool in the spring, and he could barley focus on the class for 30 minutes (with monitoring from myself) while his younger sibling distracted him. This is not a quality education.

2020/07/19 9:28:53 PM AST Clover Hill Our children need to have the option to be in school - 5 days/week. Give those who can't an option for on line learning. Follow the recommendation of the American Association of Pediatrics. It's what is best for our kids.

2020/07/19 9:32:12 PM AST Clover Hill The vast majority of Chesterfield students need to be back in school. For those who can't, online options should be provided. The American Association of Pediatrics recommends students return to the classroom. TY teachers are essential workers and should be more than willing to return to teach our kids. Vote for a return to school.

2020/07/19 9:33:58 PM AST Clover Hill You have no idea what is going on inside every home in your district. The people who live there do know. These people need to be able to make their own choice about school whether they are parents, or teachers, or both. They need to decide what is right for each child. We need our elected officials to listen to us when we tell you this. You also need to protect children who have no voice by getting them into school. I have a special needs child who will be in 5 different general ed classrooms with two teachers and an instructional assistant. She will not get the support she needs at home. There are no waivers of IDEA or FAPE due to C-19. I will not sign an IEP amendment and will hold the school accountable to fulfill the entire IEP. Voting for in person school is imperative and I urge you to do so. Those who want virtual should be able to do that as well. It’s all about choice. You will be the hero and helping so many people. Thank you.

2020/07/19 9:34:01 PM AST Midlothian I do not understand why we are even contemplating opening schools with all that we know/don’t know about this virus. This virus kills. This virus has the capability to do lasting damage to almost every organ/tissue there is in the human body. Yet, we want to send kids into an environment shown to be the best at transmitting this virus? This action would endanger kids, their families, and the entire community. This is absurd. My children will not be attending school in person until there is a vaccine or a complete strategy of identification and contact tracing upon a drastic decrease in active cases. We all knew this several months ago. We have wasted so much valuable time. We could have spent the last few months researching and developing workable online programs to help every student and strategies to get critical support to all who need it. Instead of being leaders and making decisions in the best interest of the community, it seems we have punted the question to the individual families. This is a cowardly act. It is not even an act. It is nothing. Let’s take care of each other and put the health, safety, and welfare of our community first.

2020/07/19 9:34:32 PM AST Midlothian To the CC School Board- I know the last few weeks and months have been extremely challenging and I appreciate your efforts in listening to all stakeholders in CCPS. We have a rising 3rd grader who would greatly benefit from attending school in person. While some students thrived during virtual learning, our son did not. We also have a rising kind. who should be in CCPS; however, we have already enrolled her in private kind at her current daycare where she will receive 5-days of in-person learning. Additionally, we are awaiting a decision as to whether our 3rd grader will also be attending private school in the fall where they will also be able to provide 5-days of in-person learning. Our daughter went back to daycare on June 15 and our son has been in camp since then as well. Our family is willing and able to take that risk. I understand all families are not; however, that is the benefit of giving CCPS families a choice between in-person and virtual. As the results of your surveys show, many families will choose a fully virtual approach, thereby decreasing the in-person numbers. Additionally, many families, including ours, are willing to drive their children to school on a daily basis so the county can focus on providing transportation to those families that need it. Teachers are essential workers. Since the beginning of the pandemic businesses that employ essential workers have put plans in place to support their staff and allow business operations to continue. My husband and I own an essential business in the medical field that has operated in-person since March 13th. All of our employees have worked through the pandemic in our office and in medical facilities around the state. We drafted and implemented a plan to protect and support our employees and CCPS can do the same. 100% virtual is not the only way to protect them. As our School Board, you are the leaders and the decision makers in paving the path for Chesterfield to return to school. I urge you to make the right decision for our children - to have the CHOICE to return to in-person or virtual learning. Choosing 100% virtual is not viable or effective for all children and many from low income families will have no support at home as parents will be forced to choose between educating and feeding their children. That is a choice that no family should be forced to make. You are the voice of these children. Don't let that voice be silenced. Thank you.

2020/07/19 9:35:19 PM AST Matoaca Please allow the kids to go back to school 100% in person. Those who have risk factors or parents who are not comfortable should be allowed to do virtual learning. As a mental health provider for more than 22 years, I am seeing a significant decline in emotional well being and social skills development in the past 5 months. This is equally detrimental and even deadly as the Virus with has a very small fatality rate. The kids need to be in school AND allowed to have sports ASAP.

2020/07/19 9:37:00 PM AST Dale Can I have my two children in grades 5 and 2 attend school on the same days?

2020/07/19 9:37:11 PM AST Matoaca I am a parent of a 7th grade middle schooler, 5th grade, and Kindergartener (with a speech IEP). I am BEGGING YOU PLEASE give parents the option to be at school Full time. My Kindergartener (who I sent to JK last year because of his speech delay), has an IEP and HAS to be in a full time 5 day program. He doesn’t know his letters because he can’t get out all of the sounds of letters due to his delay. He needs structure with in person face to face learning. I am A parent who also is medically compromised, but my children’s educational learning in school 5 days a week is BY FAR more important to me than the odds that I could get Covid. I’m more worried about the Flu than I am Covid. My middle schooler is in all advanced classes and has tested to be highly gifted. He NEEDS TO BE CHALLENGED In the classroom 5 days a week with his gifted teachers. I can Not be a teacher to a child who has an IEP and is beginning to learn to read with delays, a teacher to a 7th grade gifted child who needs to be challenged, and a 5th grader in her last year of crucial learning in Elementary school. It will not work, and my kids are paying the price! Give us a choice!! If you need substitute teachers, please sign me up! I will gladly offer my time for these kids to be in school!!

22 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/19 9:42:51 PM AST Midlothian If you’re willing to cut teachers salary by 90% so that our taxes are reduced so that we can afford private tutors GREAT! But if teachers won’t agree to a pay cut they’ll need to get back to work and be armed with proper gear to fight germs. You are out of your EVER LIVING MIND to survey the daycare centers and offer them training of UNLICENSED teachers to make sure our kids can progress in their learning? Generally daycare employees are college dropouts because if they’d gotten their 4 year degree they’d be licensed and teaching in our schools. The day cares can have 22 kids to one daycare employee but CCPS only allows 12 students per teacher In the classroom. Shame on you chesterfield school board - you are setting a TERRIBLE example and precedent for the future!

2020/07/19 9:43:08 PM AST Matoaca Hello,

I would like to address the information put out by the American Academy of Pediatrics encouraging schools to open for children, as well as the present data that is showing minimal pediatric cases. It is very important for there to be choices available to all families for the well being of the children. 100% virtual schooling should be an option for those that are high risk, otherwise a hybrid model or 5 days a week needs to be offered for everyone else. The social emotional aspect for growing children is extremely important and will not be met by sitting in front of a computer 5 days a week. Our children deserve a quality education and it can be done safely with social distancing just as surrounding counties are putting into place. If many parents choose not to send their children to in person schooling then our classrooms can accommodate the remaining children and staff safely with small class sizes. If more than 50-60% want in person schooling then a hybrid option may have to be put in place until we can reevaluate after the first semester. Based off of science/data/American Academy of Pediatrics it makes no sense to not offer in person teaching for our youth in some form, may it be 2 days a week or 5, it is crucial for their development.

2020/07/19 9:45:00 PM AST Clover Hill please vote no to reopen schools. We have no idea what the long term health impact of this disease is for children who get it, ie chicken pox/shingles. Please keep our children and teachers safe.

2020/07/19 9:46:30 PM AST Dale Virtual schooling is going to be detrimental to children like mine who have special needs and RELY on in person and hands on learning. My child started kindergarten last year after 3 years of special ed preK and will be doing another year of kindergarten. She has CHARGE syndrome and extremely hard of hearing. In the few months in the Gates program she flourished, my girl shined. Since school let out we haven't been able to do any of her virtual classes, as a single mom who lives below poverty its just not always practical that my lack of education or low income is going to be able to teach my child in my home. We do our best, she is happy and loved but she is in danger of being left behind. "No child left behind" unless you have special needs or no access to the virtual class. We need IN PERSON instruction for our childrens development. Their health is important but our future generation of leaders are coming from these students and their educations are ALL in danger.

2020/07/19 9:47:54 PM AST Matoaca As a parent of four children in Chesterfield County Public Schools, I am pleading with you to allow students and teachers a choice of either in-person or virtual instruction. I fear that if you adopt all-virtual instruction, there will be no end point in sight and many children will suffer needlessly, not only in their education but in their mental health. All-virtual instruction simply is not effective for a large percentage of children.

It is imperative that you rise above the media-driven culture of panic and paranoia to view this situation logically. This virus could be with us for years and as with the incalculable number of other risks we all encounter on a daily basis, we need to learn how to live with it using common-sense safety measures. The number of cases, hospitalizations and deaths from the virus in Chesterfield County are VERY low and represent a tiny fraction of the population. Moreover, study after study has determined that not only is it extremely rare for children to be severely affected by the virus but they are not efficient in transmitting it to adults.

Your goal since the moment schools closed in March should have been to figure out how to safely get kids back in school this fall. You have had months to work on this issue, and you have time to continue working on it. You can absolutely get kids back in school where they need to be. We parents will lobby whomever we need to lobby to secure funding for any necessary safety measures and support you and our teachers in any way we can.

2020/07/19 9:52:37 PM AST Midlothian We would like our children to go back to school full time in person. Thanks for your consideration.

2020/07/19 9:53:02 PM AST Matoaca It is so important for our kids to return to school. I encourage the same policy as Hanover and allow parents to choose if they want their kids to return to the classroom. Those who want to keep their kids at home to virtually learn can have the option to do so (and teachers who want to stay at home and teach virtually can be assigned to these students). Those who want to send their kids to school (and are forced to because both parents work full-time in an office) can have the option to send their kids to be taught by the teachers who want to return to the classroom. It will most likely result in classrooms half occupied. Thanks for listening.

2020/07/19 9:56:13 PM AST Midlothian Please allow families to make their own personal choice to return in person vs virtual.

2020/07/19 9:58:20 PM AST Midlothian Is there going to be any sort of preview/outline of how virtual learning will work prior to August 15 homeschooling form deadline? It has been mentioned that there would be graded work & teacher involvement; What does that look like?

2020/07/19 10:05:30 PM AST Midlothian I would like to start school virtually for the first 9-weeks. I would like us to have more data on how the virus behaves in U.S. schools. Our country had treated the virus differently than most other countries and I don’t think that studies of their populations can necessarily be applied to our schools. The country, and Virginia, is headed upward in the number of Covid 19 cases, especially for younger populations, and looking forward to the fall we know that viruses flourish in the fall/winter.

I understand that some parents want their child to learn in the physical school , but I don’t think it’s fair to ask our teachers to put their health on the line when they are able to educate our students virtually.

Although the school is planning many safety precautions, I noticed you are not planning on implementing new custodial staff or contact tracers. I question if those already on staff can handle these additional, very important tasks. I also question how eating lunch can be safe. Teachers and students will have their masks off eating together in an enclosed space. This is a huge risk and major hole in the safety protocol.

I would like you to consider if teachers will be paid for days off needed for quarantine, waiting for test results, or if they actually do get ill. What about the medical bills of being hospitalized, and ongoing complications?

I ask that we keep students out of the buildings as the CDC guidance for the public are 1. Avoid crowded places 2. Avoid close contact and 3. Avoid enclosed spaces. Schools are all of these things!! Let’s keep our general classes learning online, and use our buildings for Special Education and Special Needs children so that we can really space these kids and teachers out and make it safe for them to get the services they need.

2020/07/19 10:05:56 PM AST Clover Hill I am concerned about the options for children with IEPs. What will the plan be as virtual learning has been extremely difficult to accomplish.

2020/07/19 10:10:08 PM AST Matoaca Good evening, I first want to thank you for all of your hard work you are doing for us all and our children. I first want to start by saying I understand the hard decisions that you will be having to make. But I want to you to understand that not every child has the capabilities to receive their education virtually. Our son will be a freshman this fall at Manchester high school. He has an IEP and has been diagnosed with ADD. He was born at 24 weeks and has had to beat the odds in everything he has had to do. He currently reads on a third grade level and struggles is all parts of his school work. One of his accommodations listed on his IEP is having things read to him especially test and quizzes. I am a Captain in the fire department here in Chesterfield and my wife is a nurse. My wife and I spend hours on work at home that should only take 30 min to and hour due to my son’s struggles. We witnessed him have tremendous trouble this past spring trying to do the school work virtually. This lead to frustration and a lot of anxiety for him. I say this to ask that there has to be an option for students like my son. We have all heard the statement “no child left behind” and I can tell you that virtual school we cause several students to be left behind. Thank you for your time. If I can help please let me know.

Thank you Joe Harvey

2020/07/19 10:10:37 PM AST Midlothian Our family supports a fully virtual option for returning to school for the 2020-2021 school year. There is no option that suits every family, but we support a plan that considers the safety of all children, teachers, staff, and families. There is so much conflicting information out there...it’s hard to know what to trust. I have been very impressed with the “Recovery of Learning” that the teachers, staff, and CCPS have put together for my children at OHES. It has been engaging and a great opportunity to review material my children might not have fully grasped in the spring. I know we can all pull together as a county and community to make an all Virtual option work for our children to ensure the safety of all!

2020/07/19 10:10:53 PM AST Matoaca Your decision is a tough one to make. None of us at this time are truly qualified to know what is right and what is wrong. However, Numbers that have been given to to country are not a true indication of what is going on with this disease. Yes many people get very ill but the vast majority does not. At what point to we Say that that those lives are more Precious than the lives of many who are stuffing from not being in school. I have seen 1st hand how this quarantine with children not having a safe place to go has been detrimental. Families are breaking . We closed down fast in March and flattened the curve. Can we not try again and close down fast if we start to see a spike? Maybe have a back up plan or give parents and teachers the option to do 100% virtual or 100% back to school. The numbers should balance out...thank you and good luck!

2020/07/19 10:11:47 PM AST Midlothian I support Option 6, and do so because we need a plan that removes as much uncertainty as possible. Our kids need predictability and a routine, and I see this as our best chance to provide it. A back-in-school plan would have to consider the high likelihood that we’ll see cases in our schools and will lead to the shutdown of those schools — that will disrupt their student experience yet again.

Further, our teachers need to have a solid plan to be ready to follow and begin preparing as soon as possible. Trying to make a hybrid plan work or to split efforts between multiple plans will only dilute everyone’s efforts.

Finally, our teachers deserve our consideration for two reasons 1) we need to be considerate of their safety because it’s the right thing to do, and 2) if we’re not, we’re going to see the (already disturbing) loss of talent accelerate. Those who have the means to leave the workforce might do so and those that have ‘safer’ opportunities will pursue those.

2020/07/19 10:12:43 PM AST Unsure 82% of parents in Chesterfield County want their children in school. Families should have the options of in-school learning or virtual learning and then be able to decide what is right for their family. The School Board should not take that choice away!

An all virtual option for returning to school does not suffice for quality education as stated in our own state of Virginia Constitution, Article Vlll. We cannot simply “wait and see” what happens with regards to the virus and vaccines. There are no doubt many protocols that will need to be discussed in regards to safety for returning to school but restricting education to an all virtual system will destroy the public school system.

Many children rely on the CCPS for more than just education. They find the walls of the schools their safe place; their mental and physical health are fed in these places and it is not comparable to gain these necessary rights for every child by limiting them to a virtual classroom. Research has shown that children are at far greater less risk at contracting the virus and spreading it to others. This paired with calculated risk factors that we face going into each school year we must find a balance, we are suppose to be “in this together.” We can find the middle ground and still teach and reach the students in our county.

Respectfully Chesterfield County resident Chesterfield County taxpayer Chesterfield County parent Class of 2020, 2025

2020/07/19 10:17:06 PM AST Dale Would like to see my kids go to school at part-time and virtual the remainder in order to keep the dense down.

2020/07/19 10:18:52 PM AST Bermuda If in person, what will be the protocol for a classroom outbreak? How will quarantine be required? Just the class or the whole school?

2020/07/19 10:20:21 PM AST Bermuda Why would temperature checks not be done at the school by teachers? Some parents will still send their kids to schools with fevers because they have to work. Shouldn't a daycare protocol be followed? Morning, noon, afternoon temp checks?

2020/07/19 10:21:16 PM AST Bermuda If we choose the virtual option for our child can the student live stream onto class or zoom into in person lectures?

2020/07/19 10:23:37 PM AST Matoaca The fact that all of these meetings to decide if we send over 60,000 students plus thousands of staff back to school in person are being held virtually due to public safety concerns should be giving everyone pause. The vast majority of jobs that can be done remotely are being done remotely. There are too many questions the county has not answered about how they will ensure health and safety of the CHILDREN and the adults that must be there in person to educate them. Who will be the ones sanitizing everything between classes or bus runs? Who will be providing those sanitation products? Who will be providing PPE for staff, students, and bus drivers? How will the already struggling transportation division possibly be able to follow the new guidelines? What will happen when (not if because it will happen) a student or staff member tests positive for the virus? Who pays the medical costs of students or staff that end up in the hospital after contracting the virus at school? Who provides the counseling to the students and school and the funeral arrangements when a student or staff member dies from complications from the virus? Are staff members going to be given the option to teach virtually or will they all be required to be physically in the school? These and many many more have yet to be answered by the county. When there is data continuing to come out that shows we still know very little about this virus but that numbers are growing, we should not be going back to school in person in September.

2020/07/19 10:24:53 PM AST Unsure Please, strongly consider the option of a combo of virtual and in person learning. I understand the challenges here, but I can already see the impacts on our children’s mental health not being in school.

2020/07/19 10:27:47 PM AST Unsure It is so important for our kids to return to school. I encourage the same policy as Hanover and allow parents to choose if they want their kids to return to the classroom. Those who want to keep their kids at home to virtually learn can have the option to do so (and teachers who want to stay at home and teach virtually can be assigned to these students). Those who want to send their kids to school (and are forced to because both parents work full-time in an office) can have the option to send their kids to be taught by the teachers who want to return to the classroom. It will most likely result in classrooms half occupied, which will encourage social distancing �

2020/07/19 10:27:53 PM AST Clover Hill I previously stated I would send my children to school. Now I'm uncertain. I, like you, don't have all the answers. I'm concerned and don't think it's realistic for kids to be wearing masks all day, but they should if in public. What is the plan for when someone is sick? What happens when you don't have teachers or subs because of potential exposure, or are unwell? I have a child that is ASD, but currently does not recieve any services. He'll likely need some in order to be virtual, or partially virtual. This is something you need to consider in which ever options are decided. Thank you for doing your best for most!

2020/07/19 10:28:03 PM AST Dale Give us an option. Those that want to do virtual should be able to and those that want to go to school should be able to.

2020/07/19 10:33:40 PM AST Matoaca I would like to not worry about getting Covid and passing it to my family. If my friends are going to school I am afraid I will feel left out when my parents choose virtual learning. I hope the schools choose for everyone to be online so we can all do this together.

2020/07/19 10:35:12 PM AST Matoaca Online classes only is what I would like to see. Safety is first and putting us in schools is not safe.

2020/07/19 10:35:58 PM AST Dale As a proud CCPS teacher, county alum, and county resident, I beg you to trust the science. Please put the health and safety of our students and staff first in your decision today, according to the data and advice from public health professionals, rather than polls and surveys of residents. Vote with the sober understanding that the virus is still very much in control and LIVES DEPEND ON THE DECISION YOU MAKE TODAY. People from our school communities will die from this virus if you make the wrong choice for all the wrong reasons. Our goal should be educating our students in a way that ensures that we all make it to the post pandemic era ALIVE. Who cares if they stay on track to pass all their SOLs if they lose their life or a family member before the vaccine comes? How many CCPS educators, students, family members, and staff are you willing to sacrifice in the process of getting back to normal before it's actually safe to do so?

2020/07/19 10:37:13 PM AST Matoaca Virtual learning should be the only way for the start of the school year. Flu season is around the corner and adding Covid with flu will be a disaster waiting to happen. Keep the kids learning online to keep everyone healthy as possible.

2020/07/19 10:37:38 PM AST Midlothian Allow families to choose between in school and virtual. Give the students a chance at the education / socialization they need & deserve. Do the right thing for the children.

2020/07/19 10:38:18 PM AST Clover Hill Educating student FOR LIFE is on the official logo.

2020/07/19 10:38:36 PM AST Matoaca I am in support of the 5 day option with ability to learn from home as needed. I would like to see testing every 3-5 weeks if school is remote and teachers should be available from the classroom during the entire school day.

2020/07/19 10:39:03 PM AST Matoaca Teachers should not have to choose between what makes them feel safe and their jobs. In the case where schools open, will teachers have the option to be fully virtual or will they have to quit their jobs if they feel unsafe going back into the schools (i.e. are immuno compromised etc)?

23 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/19 10:40:31 PM AST Midlothian With 2 children in the CCPS school system, our vote is for regular in-person classroom time, combined with optimized virtual learning, for the 2020-2021 academic year during the pandemic. Staggered scheduling (e.g. 3 days in, 3 days virtual) to enable adequate social distancing in the classrooms is vital. Open windows and doors to enable ventilation as much as possible. Outdoor classes is another creative option to keep children safe, weather permitting. Mask wearing should be required as much as possible.

Virtual learning alone has largely proven to be ineffective when it is self-guided. Virtual learning must have a classroom setting with a teacher guiding the lesson, rather than leaving the lesson entirely to the timing and guidance of the parent/guardian. We are aware of more virtual learning success in other parts of the country where the student “attends class” at the normal time for the normal length, facing the live-streamed teacher who is teaching the lesson, providing examples, and answering questions. With today’s technology and resources, this must be possible for CCPS.

Other concerns that we share with our fellow parents relate to the socialization aspect of in-school learning. We are seeing first-hand the negative impact of this pandemic on social skills and mental health, driven by quarantining and isolation. Developing children need and thrive on interaction with their friends and peers, and for many, school is the primary source for this interaction.

We understand the required balance between public health and our children’s education. We acknowledge the difficulty you face in making these decisions. A combination of regular in-person learning, together with optimized virtual learning as described, is our desired direction for CCPS’ 2020-2021 academic year.

Thank you for your attention and consideration.

Mike and Terry Judge

2020/07/19 10:43:28 PM AST Midlothian As a working mom of a rising Kindergartener, 2nd grader and 3rd grader, I strongly believe that children should be in school having in-person education for 5 days a week. Facts support that virtual/distance learning doesn’t work especially with elementary age students. In my opinion and in the opinion of many fellow parents, educators and pediatricians, there are negative effects on children not being in school and this irreversible damage can be more harmful than the potential risk of catching COVID-19. I do believe each parent and educator should have his/her own choice of whether they choose to be in a school environment or not. This is not a one size fits all nor does it need to be. Open the doors and welcome those students and educators choosing to walk thru them and for those who are not comfortable in doing so, then support that decision and provide them with the resources necessary to educate and be educated from home. For those of us choosing an in-person 5 day week school environment, support our decision as well and let’s get students back to the classroom where learning was meant to be and where it is most effective. Thank you!

2020/07/19 10:43:52 PM AST Midlothian I am in favor of virtual schooling this year at least until such time as community spread of the virus is under control. I am concerned about several things including sick leave for faculty and staff, notifications for parents / teachers, and exposure during lunch periods.

First, sick leave for faculty and staff. Teachers would be expected to stay home if undergoing any of several common COVID symptoms. They would be expected to be tested thereafter for the virus. Covid symptoms share commonalities with many other illnesses which are especially common during the fall. The time off required to distance every time a teacher experiences one of these symptoms would add up very quickly. Furthermore, the tests can take a week or more to yield results. I want to make my point clear that asking teachers to put themselves in a high risk position and asking them to take off for any developing COVID symptom means that the school district MUST NOT apply a teacher’s sick or personal leave time to these absences.

Second, I would like to see the district if having in person classes, notify the entire class of a particular student who tests positive for Covid 19 as well as any teacher that student has seen. Limiting the notification to only those in “close contact” could allow the virus to spread rather than erring on the side of caution and giving all the students and teachers in those classes the knowledge that they may have been exposed.

Third, I have heard that students would be eating in their classrooms. Obviously this would entail removing masks. Students would be talking and eating in an enclosed space where being seated 6 feet apart will not be sufficient. This also puts the teacher at great risk as well as students. I would suggest instead seating students in large open areas spread out with reduced student numbers at each lunch period.

In closing, there are many reasons to have school at least begin virtually this year. There are so many logistical and safety concerns with Covid continuing to spread that it seems imprudent to open schools at this time. I urge you to opt for a full virtual opening this year until the climate is truly safe for students, staff, and faculty to attend.

2020/07/19 10:46:15 PM AST Bermuda Please allow both students and teachers to have a choice to have in classroom education this fall. Our children have a right to high quality education as outlined and required by Article VIII of the Constitution of VA. An all virtual option is far inferior to in classroom education. As a medical professional, we are aware that this virus is not disappearing anytime soon, so waiting until it is deemed "safe" could be months or years. Keeping children out of school for that long will affect them negatively for decades to come. We all routinely accept a certain level of risk of illness by having schools in the first place and up to this point, teachers and students alike have been willing to accept this risk. To date, we have had 0 deaths in children due to COVID-19 in our state and multiple studies show that children are not transmitting the virus to others. This is in stark contrast to other viral illnesses like the flu or norovirus. Multiple doctors are speaking out, along with the AAP on the importance of kids returning to in person education.

This decision needs to be based on science and facts and not fear and politics. Above all, this is about CHOICE. Parents should have the choice. Students should have the choice. Teachers should have the choice. Please don't take away our freedom to choose.

2020/07/19 10:49:29 PM AST Midlothian Please do not open schools! Our kids need to be protected and safe at home! The cases are rising and Covid is effecting our children! Please think about the teachers who can get it from the students. You are putting way too many lives at risk if you open school! Also, more than likely there will be closures shortly after opening, so think about how structure will be messed up. Stick with virtual from day one! Plan virtual better! Keep our community safe please!!!!

2020/07/19 10:52:19 PM AST Matoaca There is no disagreement among public school parents that a return to “normal” in-person school is what is best for children. However, as we have all become quick to note, nothing about these times is normal. Chesterfield needs to focus on funneling its already limited resources and efforts into creating the best virtual learning experience for teachers and students. Chesterfield County’s consistent underfunding of the school budget shows that in fact education is not a priority. These long-running deficits leave the school system underprepared to meet the moment of returning students to school. The school system is regularly unable to meet logistical challenges, even those as simple as providing reliable bus transportation. The school system has already deferred too long in decision-making and planning for a return to in-person school and I sincerely doubt its ability to produce the funding and innovation needed to make that goal a reality. I was horrified by County Supervisor Leslie Haley’s public comments this weekend that reopening schools is “one of the easiest decisions ever.” Her argument that it is worth the risk of children and teachers contracting and even dying of COVID to alleviate potential mental health concerns is one of the grossest false equivalencies and simplification of facts I have ever heard. No version of a return to school would be good for children’s mental well-being. Kids would be expected to obey rigid and developmentally inappropriate behavioral restrictions for hours; they would have to participate in cleaning rituals that keep anxiety constantly elevated; they would be unable to receive age-appropriate comfort from teachers; they would lack any predictability as the virus takes teachers and friends away for weeks at a time with no warning. When schools reopen and teachers die, we will surely hear people say things like “that teacher was a hero, she gave her life…” We must reject this narrative of teachers and students as “heroes.” The government has abdicated responsibility and failed at all levels to provide an environment in which it is safe for schools to reopen. The burden of that failure must not fall upon teachers and students.

2020/07/19 10:56:29 PM AST Dale Schools should resume full time with no face masks. If face masks are required during school, this family chooses to homeschool. School is stressful enough without compromising oxygen intake and little social interaction via 6’ distancing.

2020/07/19 10:56:52 PM AST Midlothian The issue of school reopening has weighed heavily on my mind lately. I believe that schools should open 5 days in person. Virtual learning has proven to be unsuccessful in my household. Both my children, who are rising 6th and 3rd graders, are high academic achievers and have expressed that learning is better in school. My husband and I both have full-time jobs and are unable to “supervise or teach”. We will sadly have to put our children in private school if CCPS goes all virtual.

2020/07/19 10:58:25 PM AST Matoaca I bed you to find a way to make virtual work from day one! Plan to achieve the route rather than opening and possibly closing over and over again as cases rise. You are putting our teachers and children at risk and it’s not worth it! Follow science not politics!

2020/07/19 11:00:04 PM AST Matoaca Please allow parents to choose. Mandated 100% virtual school will not work for my child. It is very detrimental to her educational, physical and emotional state. If virtual is the only option we will consider leaving the public school system and entering a private school. I am a former public school teacher who has always supported public school.

2020/07/19 11:04:42 PM AST Clover Hill We have showed very poor participation even with knowing what's at risk to take precaution as adults not sure who agrees that kids can maintain the required instructions of distancing. We can't control what every household does or been expose too. I can only speak from what I have experience. As an essential worker mother of 4 kids (2) elementary,(1)middle and (1)high school it has been quite a challenge but slow adaptability for all of us. It definetly should not be mandatory.Give us the right since everyone's opinions are very different the option how each household decide if they send or choose to distant learn their kids. They're should be a set of distant learning available and in school learning with a adaptable schedule that does not consist of risk of exposure to all to whom choose to.Keep in mind this is not a permanent expectation but more do to adapt to its current environment we face today at the best for all parties until we make a confirmed progress of health and vaccine proven effective. Thank you for your time and opportunity to provide my feedback. Stay safe

2020/07/19 11:08:07 PM AST Matoaca Based on rising cases and the uncertainty of not knowing what long term effects this virus could have on people. I would prefer to have the option of full time remote learning for my kids. The safety and well being of the kids, teachers, and their families should be a priority.

2020/07/19 11:10:01 PM AST Clover Hill I am a parent of two elementary students and one rising middle schooler. Please vote to send our children to school in person for the fall. My children struggled with the virtual options in the spring and it is detrimental to their mental health to continue to be away from their peers. They need in person instruction from trained teachers. Further, children are at an extremely low risk for this virus. Please give parents the choice to send our children in person and offer a choice to continue the virtual option for those who choose that route. Thank you.

2020/07/19 11:11:17 PM AST Midlothian Hanover County Schools have provided the parents and students with two options. One option is for 100 % Virtual learning and the other option is for In-school learning. Chesterfield County Schools should adopt a solution such as this which provides a form of In-school construction and Virtual instruction. Personally, I see no benefit to Virtual learning and feel that it's a waste of money, however, some families feel that this is the best option. By providing families a choice, Chesterfield County Schools will provide the best solution possible.

2020/07/19 11:12:03 PM AST Clover Hill With the health and safety of students and staff in mind, reopening schools would have many positive benefits, especially for children like our two, both with IEPs. Failure to provide in school education would rob them, and many others, of the requirements provided in their respective IEPs. Having virtual education would also diminish the quality of the education. As with ourselves, we know many other parents who are both still working with no support structure to fall back on. This would make it nearly impossible for the parents to do what is required for our children’s education. But beyond this there is still the matter of the social benefits of in school instruction.

We truly believe it is possible to provide a safe, healthy environment for the students AND faculty (in some form or another) to make in school instruction happen. We understand certain pre cautions would need to be made, and I’m sure already are, to make this happen. We already see these being made with great success at other facilities.

While understanding other parents may not feel this way and may feel strongly the other way, I do not believe they should be put in a position to be required to send their kids if they weren’t comfortable.

2020/07/19 11:13:41 PM AST Matoaca My fear is my daughter who struggles with school already will not get the foundation she needs Yes the teacher will work just as hard via virtual school but the attention and the learning process in person isn’t the same as from a computer screen. She is a freshman. My son has already struggled with health issues this past year. He has been through hell and back fighting for his life with cancer. He missed most of his junior year. He desperately wants to go back to school. He is not scared. We are not scared. We learned he is a fabulous 3.9 student in person but struggles bat home. His doctors have even said it is ok to go back to school.

Ultimately it should be the parents choice. Let those not comfortable sending kid back have the virtual option. That will allow for less kids at school and naturally smaller classes will develop.

I teach preschool. I get the teachers fears but many other jobs are requiring their employees at work why are teachers protected more?

Send kids back to school.

2020/07/19 11:19:55 PM AST Bermuda Members of the School Board: I am respectfully requesting that you vote to provide some form of in person instruction when school begins in the fall. An all virtual return would be detrimental to my children’s education. My children were lucky enough to have incredible teachers who went above and beyond to support their educational needs in the spring, but the reality is that a virtual learning environment is not a good fit for them. They are both identified as gifted and thrive from being challenged in the classroom setting. The virtual platform was not able to provide comparable academic challenges. They quickly became bored and frustrated with trying to learn in the virtual environment. They need some in-person instruction to support their academic needs. I recognize that the plan may change and be fluid throughout the year as the state may have to adjust the Phases based on outbreak data. I hope that the school board will follow the guidelines issued by VDOE which only recommend all virtual instruction if we are at Phase 1 or on a stay home order. There are a number of districts in the state that are offering 5 days of in person instruction and others that are offering a hybrid plan. Full-time in person instruction seems unlikely given the size of CCPS, but based on data and guidelines from the AAP, VDOH, VDOE, and the presentation from Risk Management at tonight’s meeting, there is no reason that an all virtual plan should be chosen at this time. I appreciate all of the time and effort you are putting into making sure CCPS is able to meet the educational needs of the students. Thank you.

2020/07/19 11:22:31 PM AST Bermuda In the Q & A from the ACTs meeting someone asked a question regarding students that refuse to wear masks or don't wear the masks because of behavioral issues. The answer given did not seem sufficient. If a child refuses to wear a mask the issue is beyond behavior management. So what is the exact protocol that will be taken in such a situation-particularly with students that have physical behavioral issues and may require close contact? And are there other safety precautions that can be suggested? Thank you!

2020/07/19 11:24:06 PM AST Midlothian My high school son has an IEP and attends Midlo. He has been in a horrible state of mind since school went virtual in March. He needs the schedule that he has learned to depend on. He can/will wear a mask. I can/will supply all transportation for him. He CANNOT work within a virtual world. His IEP cannot be met in a virtual world.

2020/07/19 11:27:37 PM AST Midlothian Hoping for a safe and effective way to resume school in the fall for all students but particularly worried about my rising kindergartner and how missing the last three months of pre-k and possibly missing more is going to affect these little guys! My son definitely needs the structure and socializing. We need to try our best to get these kids back to some sense of normalcy for their mental health and well being. I don’t see how a 5 year old is going to be able to complete kindergarten virtually. They need in person teaching especially the smaller kids!

2020/07/19 11:33:05 PM AST Midlothian We are in no position to send our students, teachers, and staff back to school in-person. Access to testing and timely results is diminishing, making it extremely difficult to contain the spread of this virus. We should be as fearful of this as we were in March.

2020/07/19 11:41:44 PM AST Dale Please consider our students & teachers wellbeing in the huge decision you have at hand and implement Option 6 Virtual Learning for the start of the 20/21 school year. Thank you in advance.

2020/07/19 11:44:55 PM AST Midlothian What we are facing is a scenario where we are weighing the risk of losing human lives over a return to "normalcy" and the fear of falling behind. Keeping schools closed means preventing the infection and death of thousands of students, staff, and their family members due to factors we simply can not control. If you put that many bodies in a closed environment, with an invisible, highly contagious, air-borne virus, EVEN with proposed measures in place (which will be near impossible to enforce), there WILL be lives lost because of it. If the concern is truly for the health and well-being of our students & staff, physical re-opening should NOT be considered for the start of the fall 2020 school year.

This of course brings up a multitude of issues with virtual learning that would need to be addressed. How are we guaranteeing that every student has access to adequate technology? How are we expecting our youngest students to learn fundamentals from behind a screen? Are we going to finally get rid of antiquated testing like the SOLs, and find better ways to assess students knowledge and growth? How will teachers be compensated for the amount of time they will be inevitably adding to their already over-worked schedule to create brand new lesson plans and digital content for their classes? What will be the plan for taking care of students who are not in a safe home environment, or who rely on school as their only source of food for the day?

If these discussions take weeks or months to come to a safe compromise, than we should consider a delayed start to the school year. It is worth the short term inconvenience, for a long term solution of survival.

24 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/19 11:49:40 PM AST Matoaca I support choice between 5 day in person and virtual learning. A child's education is essential and evidence shows that in class teaching can be done safely. Countless essential workers have provided services, including daycare centers and grocery stores, where large numbers of people have safely interacted on a daily basis. Our children should be a top priority. Virtual learning is not equivalent and should be used only when there are no other options. Children need in person interaction and time to ask questions. Leaving them to work on a computer is stressful for them and doesn't give the quality provided in person. Please give our kids a chance by implementing safety measures so that they can learn in school, while having a back up plan in case it becomes unsafe or if they are high risk and need to learn from home. I value the lives of teachers. Just as I value the lives of doctors, nurses, medical professionals, daycare workers, grocery store and supply chain workers, and all essential workers. Teachers are of equal value and importance. The in person value to our children should be valued as it shapes their future and ours Thank you for your consideration

2020/07/19 11:50:10 PM AST Unsure I understand the desire to open schools and have the children back. I know there are many good reasons for children to learn in the schools (socializing being a major one). But I want to point out the anxiety these children already have about school (starting a new year, new schools, new grade levels, new teachers, etc) to which you are trying to ADD more anxiety. How can students concentrate and learn when they are worried about catching a serious virus and becoming ill? Or spreading a virus to their parents and grandparents? Do we want to have that weight placed on our childrens' shoulders? Don't they have enough to worry about as they grow? Please reconsider and add a virtual option (or just do a full virtual option for the fall at least). Disappointment in not seeing friends for a bit sure beats getting sick and dying. In addition to the added anxiety placed on the students, I have serious practical concerns about opening school up with any of the current three options. Coronavirus cases continue to rise here and throughout the country and I can not understand how the school environment can provide a safe location for our children, teachers, staff, and all of their families, given the current CDC guidelines for reopening. First, how can you possibly have enough social distancing and cleanliness on students' bus rides to and from school? Second, how are wearing masks and keeping social distance going to be regulated? If a student or students do not follow the guidelines, disciplining them will not do anything to stop them from possibly spreading the virus to everyone else. With this in mind, every student is potentially wielding a dangerous weapon (the virus). If the school knew a student might bring in a weapon of any sort, you would take measures to keep all the other students safe. In this scenario, EVERY student is this potentially dangerous student. Finally, what if a teacher or a student is infected with the coronavirus? Is that teacher or student forced to quarantine at home for 2 weeks? What about every one they interacted with? Their classes and students? Other teachers they were around? What about students then moving classrooms and possibly contaminating other areas of the school? Does everyone in those other locations have to be quarantined also? All of these questions and more are simply unanswerable right now and it is unfair to risk our children until they can be, especially since a virtual option should be available.

2020/07/20 12:00:23 AM AST Midlothian All Virtual is the safest option even though it isn’t the best option for all involved, not even myself. I am a nurse on a covid unit. Children are at risk for this virus, their infected numbers are starting to rise some and there will be bad outcomes here in Virginia....even if it’s as little as 3 bad cases, that’s 3 too many when it comes to a child. An infectious disease do Orr told me on Friday kids numbers are so low because they have been quarantined the most. Parents will send their kids to school sick. A spread in a school will be inevitable...it’s too risky. This is not the flu. It affects our lungs differently and it shows no mercy and the doctors do not know why it affects some and not others. That’s scary for all involved...especially the teachers and staff. It’s just not safe for anyone right now!

2020/07/20 12:05:36 AM AST Dale The best and safest option for our school children is to have 1/2 attend Monday and Tuesday, have Wednesday off for all for deep cleaning and sanitizing and the remaining 1/2 attend Thursday and Friday. With this option, it will allow for the vital in person instruction that is vital and keep everyone as safe as possible. When using this option, each week should be alternated so those that go for in person instruction on Monday and Tuesday week 1, they attend Thursday and Friday on week 2 and continue to alternate. Thank you in advance for your time and consideration for this option as both myself and my children feel this is the best and one most will feel comfortable with. Thank you again for your time.

2020/07/20 12:06:12 AM AST Dale My question is about my concern for my daughter, as well as many other CCPS students: how is it justifiable to only offer in-school opportunities to “healthy” children? My daughter, who has a heart condition but is otherwise healthy, shouldn’t only have the option to attend school online to keep her safe. She should be able to be safe at school!

2020/07/20 12:25:24 AM AST Midlothian I want my children to be able to have the CHOICE to attend school in person. There are so many children who receive services that they can only get in person at school. It's not good for children to have to stare at a computer all day and not be able to interact with their peers in person. We were made for relationships and it's hard to have real relationships when you can't be with people in person. Children need to be able to see their teacher's face in person and feel their warm and care. Children need relationships in order to learn and those relationships are best cultivated in person. a lot of children also have parents who both work full-time and if they're not at school they'll be at daycare which will expose them to weigh more germs than being at school in one classroom.

2020/07/20 12:55:04 AM AST Midlothian I am a part of a Child Care team that has provided care for families since March 30th, after the virus started. We started our summer day camp June 1st w/around 40 children, and now up to 100+ children. We have a structured schedule in place and special guidelines we follow to keep all safe and healthy. I understand the worry for our children and our teachers. I also understand if children only have the option to do online learning, child care facilities will still be open with multiple groups of children, similar to what school would be. The Childcare Staff will be doing their best helping with the teaching aspect. This is a uncertain times and we have many different kinds of children that will be affected one way or the other. I know my daughter will be one that will struggle with 100% online learning, especially since we work fulltime and she will be in childcare most of the time, like she is now. My son will be fine, having a different mindset as his sister. People have been in this situation before when the flu first had its outbreak and there was no vaccine. People learned and became strong in knowledge during those times, and we can do that again. There's so much that can be said on what we can do, but I don't feel I have space/time to share, and I know I am missing the knowledge on some things. I believe with the right precautions, and structure that we could still have children go to school... even for a half day and still be safe, still have lunches provided as well. I understand the difficult decisions that have to be made for our community, and the different opinions that we all have, and it is not easy to come to a conclusion. Whichever decision our community comes up with, it needs stay in place until after the Christmas holiday or until the end the school year. I would love it if there was an option parents could choose... to do online school or send their child to school. How most teachers felt about this? How many Teachers are willing to go in and teach a class? Our Counselor are doing it now. As long as adults believe we'll be okay and do what we need to, children will be okay and will be able to adapt to the change. My prayers are sent to all during this difficult decision. Thank you for your time and effort put into this.

2020/07/20 1:05:00 AM AST Matoaca I stand with the 82% of parents who want to have a choice to return to school. As a pediatric RN, I see the consequences of kids struggling and missing human interaction. Many don’t have good internet, or parents capable of teaching them, and they are falling hopelessly behind. Adolescent suicide attempts are rising exponentially. Hanover county is leading the way by offering options for families and teachers, and I thing we should too! 20 other countries have resumed in person school and are doing well. Daycares across the commonwealth never closed and we see minimal impact from Covid. Teachers are essential workers- and I understand it may be hard, but I believe with ingenuity and effort, it can be done safely. This virus is now endemic to the population-and a vaccine may never come. When will it be considered “safe”? When there are no cases? People die of influenza every year, and many more kids have died from flu than Covid-and we keep going, and many don’t even get the vaccine offered for it. Please don’t cave to the radical angry agenda of the CEA. They don’t even speak for a majority of your teachers, and they certainly don’t speak for the taxpayers, kids, and families of Chesterfield County who elected you.

2020/07/20 1:14:16 AM AST Midlothian Reopening in any in-person format threatens the health of staff, students, their families, and our entire community. Opening online for the majority of the student population can allow the District to offer personal instruction to our most vulnerable students. I believe that our District has the creativity and innovation to find ways to reimagine education during COVID-19.

I am very concerned about recent research showing that children between the ages of 10 and 19 can spread the virus at least as well as adults do. As reported in the New York Times article on 7/18/2020, the study on 65,000 people in South Korea suggests that school reopenings will trigger more outbreaks.

I am concerned that earlier data show children do not get nor spread COVID-19 was the result of children being underrepresented in studies. Around the world, since March children were home or more isolated than normal. Plus, we should be cautious in comparing our student/community population to those of countries who had the virus under better control when they reopened schools and who also have better community mitigation practices than the USA and Virginia. The absence of evidence does not equal evidence of absence.

While currently Virginia does not appear to be as high as other states, like CA, FL, and TX, it seems that some of that may be attributed to more population density in those states. Virginia will likely see similar increases. Many states are seeing surges 4-6 weeks after reopening and Virginia is just about to enter that time period. Because of the virus, we will always be 2 weeks behind it and there are signs of asymptomatic community spread.

The WHO recommended that state positivity percentages should be 5% or less in order to reopen. According to Johns Hopkins, Virginia has not met that criteria yet. As of July 19, Virginia is at 6.4% and has been increasing. Virginia's current reproduction rate is above 1.0 and dangerously rising.

Committing to distance learning now allows faculty and admin to best prepare to succeed with distance learning, which will likely have to be pivoted to throughout the fall. I have faith that our District can rise to the challenge of educating children during this time WHILE keeping our community safe. And yes, learning outcomes may need to be adjusted. We cannot expect the same learning outcomes during the middle of a global pandemic. Health and safety must be our priority.

2020/07/20 1:14:56 AM AST Dale I wasn’t going to say anymore. I have already emailed the school board and engaged with numerous school officials, parents, and educators in the county. But as I lay here at 1 am trying to fall asleep, I am sick to my stomach with anxiety. Anxiety about the safety of so many members of the Chesterfield community. Anxiety for my students. Anxiety for their families. Anxiety for the teachers. Anxiety for the whole county of Chesterfield. It’s no secret our cases are trending upwards. News outlets are sharing information of new outbreaks almost daily, sometimes twice a day. Teachers in countries (and some counties in the US) that have returned to school are contracting COVID-19 and dying. Pediatrician’s offices are posting Facebook warnings to stay home, cases of COVID-19 are on the rise, even in children. Daycares and other child care facilities that reopened are having to close due to outbreaks. As I think about our minority students in Chesterfield, I am incredibly nervous. These students are most drastically impacted by this horrid virus. Many of our lower income students live in multigenerational house holds, their grandparents are at an incredible risk. It’s not fair to these families and students to risk their health and lives. Summer ROL programs have proven that virtual learning is working and can be done well. With time and the correct PD we can deliver quality and equitable instruction to our students. And most importantly keep them and their teachers safe. Their families would be safe as well. I ask you to highly consider a virtual start to the school year. This could be a virtual start for 1 month, 9 weeks, or the first semester in order to monitor the situation. Right now our cases are headed up, and until we can get them down, it isn’t worth the risk. It just isn’t. People’s lives (literally their lives) are at stake here. A virtual start, for any amount of time, would allow county officials to monitor cases and allow students to return when cases are trending downward and we can be certain that they will be safe coming into schools. I ask you to follow the lead of RPS and choose a start that will keep our students and staff healthy, learning, and most importantly, alive. Vote option 6.

2020/07/20 1:33:46 AM AST Midlothian I would like parents to have an option to send their children to school some or all days of the week. Mostly, if virtual instruction is mandated, I would like to know that the kids will have teacher-curated instruction and one- to-one daily personal interaction with their teacher and a virtual platform that will support continuous learning supported for all grade levels. I’m not sure how to qualify a teacher salary if, as a parent, I am their teacher. I understand that this situation is not within normal control and guidelines. That said, if virtual school is the choice, that leaves parents or other caregivers as the teachers; thus, negating school instructor and administrative salaries.

2020/07/20 1:43:06 AM AST Clover Hill As an alumni of the Chesterfield County Public School system, I insist that the board vote to reduce in-person teaching completely. The evidenced risks of spreading COVID-19 are not as you state in the Risk Management Update by the Superintendent, manageable. "All Options Have Some Degree of Associated Risk But This Risk Can Be Managed". No. The risk of catching COVID-19 is too high to be managed. I understand that you have explored a variety of options to potentially reduce transmission, but if in-person teaching is expected for the upcoming two 9-weeks, it is not a question of IF any students or teachers will catch COVID-19, but WHEN. Hospitalization is a reality. If those who are hospitalized with COVID-19 survive, they will not survive without heavy injuries to their immunosystem, damage to their lungs, lung infections, strokes, blood clotting, etc. In order to ensure teachers and students do not catch COVID-19 due to exposure at school, I beg you all to vote to maintain virtual learning for at least until winter break.

2020/07/20 2:17:05 AM AST Clover Hill My name is James Wilson. I am a teacher at Midlothian High as is my wife; I have taught for twenty years. Even though my daughter is entering Midlothian High this fall and I know that she will not receive nearly as strong an education if we have full virtual education, I beg you not to consider an in-person format this fall.

Even a hybrid model would create a super-super spreader event within days with students mixing and remixing throughout the day. Students of any age cannot be compelled to maintain social distancing. We have already seen adults fail at this throughout the country; thinking that children and adolescents will succeed is a fantasy. I urge you to look up Georgia Tech’s Covid exposure risk model online. It makes it clear that gatherings of any size in Chesterfield specifically would spread the virus quickly.

I have heard from the Board that Chesterfield currently has a low Covid density. I will point out that that was previously the argument of Southern governors, where the virus currently is killing thousands. Further, we could not turn on a dime once the first cases arose with school closures; the spread would already have started and be out of control. One need only look at Israel, previously with low levels, where the reopening of schools let loose an out-of-control spread that could not be reversed.

I have also heard defenses of opening schools out of concern for student mental health. This line of thought justifies opening schools on hypothetical discomfort over the documented, deadly risks of Covid. What would the mental health damage be to students who knew themselves responsible for having killed family members? In buildings in which we do fire drills, hurricane drills, and even earthquake drills, it is unbelievable to me that anyone would consider purposely putting children on the front lines of a deadly pandemic.

This issue goes beyond the story of my wife who has a suppressed immune system and whom I could lose if she contracted Covid. This goes beyond the lives of teachers, one in four of whom are over fifty. This is a story of the whole community, the students and their families. I know you are receiving political pressure from parents who are asking for schools to reopen. I do not blame them; they are not in a professional context that has a commitment to the overall public good. But we are. I am as a teacher and you all are as elected representatives. I beg you to listen to science and reason and put lives first.

2020/07/20 2:17:07 AM AST Midlothian I am hoping that students on an IEP are given the option for in school instruction as they are already at a disadvantage with their learning disabilities and not all of them are virtual learners.

2020/07/20 2:33:21 AM AST Midlothian It's 2 am on July 20th, and last night was another one of the countless sleepless nights I have spent worrying about the decision your Board will be making later today. I can imagine all of you have gone through many similar days and nights. But for me and my family, this decision is especially impactful. Our son has been a dedicated Chesterfield County Teacher for many years, and our Granddaughter is a student in Chesterfield. We are absolutely terrified of schools reopening. We ask that you please consider the following facts: We have all witnessed the horrific outbreaks that have occurred in neighboring states that reopened too early. We have to stop this spread, or we may all find ourselves in the middle of a pandemic that can't be stopped, no matter what we do. School systems around the country are delaying their reopening in-person classes for at least the first nine weeks. Please do the same. This nine week period could be so critical, for many reasons. We would have more time to develop helpful medications and the quantities needed of those medications. We would be so much closer to a vaccine. We could stockpile all the PPE our students and teachers need to be kept safe. We would have more time to prepare our schools and do any renovations necessary. We could acquire more of the testing equipment and agents for processing the tests that we need. The fact that it takes days to get test results does not work to stop the spread. We know that you are under political pressure to open schools, just like the states were under political pressure to reopen too early. That action of reopening too early has caused a devastating spike that is spreading across our country. There is little doubt that these cases will spread to Va. and we will see our numbers increase. We can't make the mistake of reopening too early with our schools. Your first priority has to be the safety of our students and teachers. Please do not re- open in September. Please.

2020/07/20 3:49:46 AM AST Clover Hill Please consider a full time option for kids to return to school. With the mounting evidence that children have a low transmission rate there seems to be more risk for depression, suicide, lack of nutrition and failure of quality education in a no- return option. Knowledge about the virus and ways to contain the spread can be effectively implemented for all adults operating within the system- this has been demonstrated repeatedly by healthcare workers and first responders who effectively stop the spread across fellow workers. CCPS has failed to show that they can produce a distance learning curriculum that meets the Virginia code standard. The end of 2020 school year was critically lacking in so many areas that the ability now to deliver learning of the caliber expected by CCPS students is not realistic. Offering both in person and distance learning options provides each CCPS family the ability to assess their children and home situations to determine the best solution for each individual need. I would strongly urge the board to consider this option as other in the commonwealth have adopted. Returning to school only on select days seems to meet none of the needs - still creates risk of exposure with little/no educational benefit. As a tax paying CCPS member, I will be forced to consider removing my children from the school systems and consider private or a paid homeschool curriculum. Neither option represents one of the many reasons we moved to chesterfield known for educational excellence. This is a financially possible option for my family but is not for so many others that will be forced with decisions to leave their children at home unsupervised and unsupported as parents must also return to the workplace. The decision of only virtual in so many ways puts our children at risk - please weigh that risk against the strong tide of data that suggest the pediatric spread is minimal. We have no defined time that COVID will stop being an opportunistic virus essentially meaning there is no end date to when whatever option we put into place could be altered. Please remember that the reason for closing the schools in the first place was to ensure we did not overwhelm the healthcare system - we have met that goal. Returning to school with strict social distancing and mask requiring guidance will meet the need to slow the spread while providing our children the education they desperately need.

2020/07/20 3:55:27 AM AST Clover Hill Please use Science. Please keep in mind kids and staff well being. This is a special time and should be treated as one. Students have a lifetime to learn. With health we can all move on but without health we are doomed. We have a right to work and learn in a safe environment.

25 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/20 5:35:19 AM AST Matoaca PLEASE PUT SIBLINGS ON THE SAME SCHEDULE for ease of transportation & childcare. Thank you!

2020/07/20 6:10:39 AM AST Clover Hill As a parent of a future first grader, I would like the consideration of having Kindergarteners through 3rd Grade receive in person instruction. This is such a crucial time in their academic career where they are learning how to read, write and do basic math skills. These skills are not taught best in a home environment. In person instruction for this age group will dramatically impact them for their future. These skills drive their academics forever more and I think there should be an option for students of this age range to have some sort of in person instruction. I ask that you please take this into consideration for the fall.

2020/07/20 6:15:12 AM AST Bermuda Children of all school ages need to be back in the classroom learning. Not every child learns best through 100% virtual learning. There needs to be a parent choice. Those comfortable sending their children back should be allowed to do so and those that want virtual should be able to choose that option. It’s not fair to our to children to keep them home again. They need the education as well as the socialization. We could be waiting on a vaccine for covid forever. There is a flu vaccine every year and not everybody receives that so not everyone will get the vaccine for covid if there ever is one.

2020/07/20 6:25:05 AM AST Matoaca Can we please adopt something easy and "to the point" for reopening school, like Henrico did?

2020/07/20 6:27:33 AM AST Clover Hill The survey sent out was flawed and did offer an opportunity to accurately capture school return.

2020/07/20 6:27:35 AM AST Unsure As a parent of high risk how do I go about getting my children home-schooled?

Do the schools really think that by sending the kids back to school early with restrictions in place that not only the younger kids will play with the masks but the older kids will as well?

2020/07/20 6:27:41 AM AST Clover Hill The survey sent out was flawed and did offer an opportunity to accurately capture school return.

2020/07/20 6:32:19 AM AST Clover Hill This week alone we have seen a huge spike in children testing positive for Covid-19 across America. Please dont send our children back to school just yet

2020/07/20 6:41:03 AM AST Clover Hill We were at far less numbers when schools closed, it doesn’t make sense for schools to go back to fully open with the continued increase in cases.

2020/07/20 6:42:55 AM AST Clover Hill We have greatly enjoyed the recovery learning program the past few weeks at Grange Hall. We think this is a great option for starting the new school year.

2020/07/20 6:43:13 AM AST Clover Hill Please don’t forget about the autistic and special needs kids- you issued us a chrome book and my son won’t go near it. There is NO way to do virtual learning with a 6 year old that’s scared of a computer. He needs to be at school with his aide and teacher, his IEP and the Americans with Disabilities Act make it illegal to not give him an education.

2020/07/20 6:55:57 AM AST Clover Hill Children must return to school. Hand washing and distancing like any other Illness.

2020/07/20 7:02:51 AM AST Unsure If the board isn’t absolutely 100% positive that they can provide for the safety of students, staff and faculty in schools based on CDC guidelines, as well as protect the above based on Governor Northam’s newly passed workplace guidelines, you absolutely cannot send all the people we love back into schools. #onlinethefirstnine

2020/07/20 7:08:11 AM AST Clover Hill My understanding from survey results is that parents overwhelmingly have asked to have an option for their kids to return to school in some capacity this fall. We have examples from other schools in other countries and other states as well as daycares that have opened safely with very little evidence of transmission of the virus among students and to teachers. There are ways of ensuring the safety of all in options 1-5. The benefits outweigh the risks for our students and families who would have to make very challenging arrangements to help educate their students at home while working or having to go to work and figure out how to have their kids learn from home with some form of chaperoning. This debate is completely unnecessary given the data we have on opening schools safely. Colleges and private schools are taking measures to ensure the safety of teachers, students, and staff, and there is no reason we can't do the same in Chesterfield. Please give families a choice for returning to school this fall. Our students learning and general well-being depends on it.

2020/07/20 7:08:24 AM AST Bermuda I strongly feel that students should return to school this fall. I feel that online learning at the end of last school year was a complete fail. The teachers need to “teach” our children and not expect it to be self-taught. The virtual meeting were nothing more than time for students to say hello to each other and introduce their pets. There was absolutely no instruction.

2020/07/20 7:17:18 AM AST Matoaca I'd like to add my thoughts to the discussion around school reopening. With case numbers going up, and seeing that many people are having a hard time finding tests, I don't feel like it is a good time to open up schools without very limited number of students/staff in the buildings.

I support fully digital for the vast majority of students. This would allow the buildings to be a safer environment for the students who truly need to be there and their teachers and necessary staff. For instance, K-2, English learners, those with IEPs where their team feels digital is nowhere near helpful. And older elementary when the parents truly can't support their families without it. We provide free lunches to kids by having parents apply for it - maybe have an application process to find the kids who truly need to be in the building instead of having hundreds of kids there for whom it would just be helpful.

This approach would also help teachers to safely use their classrooms as they teach remotely. If there are kids in all the classrooms everyday, how are the digital teachers going to access what they need to teach well?

This approach could also allow for small group help when needed. Maybe kids who are struggling with a certain subject could come in for an hour or two once a week, by appointment. Have 5 kids spread out in a classroom for less time just to get the help they truly need in person, without such a high risk of catching the virus. Maybe science labs could be done in this manner as well. I have a child taking biology this year - dissections could be something they go into the building for while the regular teaching is done digitally.

This approach would limit the number of people in the buildings to provide more space and fewer contacts to quarantine when someone gets sick. I have two kids who have each been on Homebound instruction multiple times. Digital learning will be an improvement for them. From that experience, I really think most kids will do fine with it once they adjust. I do think it would be incredibly helpful, though, to have some options to get some face-to-face instruction occasionally for things where digital just doesn't work.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and thank you for what you are doing. I know this decision is incredibly hard, and we all appreciate how much work and consideration the board is putting into finding a good balance between physical health, mental health, and education.

2020/07/20 7:20:50 AM AST Bermuda First of all, I'd like to commend you all for the hard work you've already put in as a new board. Now you are faced with a daunting task of deciding what the return to school should look like in the middle of a worldwide pandemic. I honestly wouldn't want to be in your shoes.

My husband and I are both teachers in the county for over 20 years each but we are also parents. While our oldest two are in college, our youngest is a rising 6th grader in the new CBG program at Elizabeth Davis Middle School. A few weeks ago we were sent surveys to complete and I chose 4b. However, since then they have had multiple town hall meetings where I learned some very important things that were disheartening to me as a teacher and as a mom. First of all, I learned they weren't mandating masks for all students (regardless of age). As a Kindergarten teacher, I know the mask thing will be difficult (especially initially) but I was willing to take that on as a critical piece in safely reopening schools. Secondly, I learned that even though our principal initially told us that temperature checks would be done every day, the county backtracked and decided that was too much of an expense and inconvenience. Instead, they decided to entrust that task with parents who have historically been known to send sick children to school. Finally, I learned that we would not necessarily be notified of positive cases within our classes and parents wouldn't be notified that there were positive cases within their child's class. In addition to all of this, I've also been made aware that the county truly isn't prepared with PPE, soap, hand sanitizer, hot water (or even hot water faucets in some schools), etc. in the amounts necessary to safely reopen the buildings to students and staff.

Considering all of the above information and the recent growth in Covid cases in our county (many of which are children), my opinion has completely changed. I do not feel like our community has this virus under control at this point and feel that the only safe option right now is a virtual opening. I would like to see a plan that shows virtual learning initially (while our rate of positivity is growing) with a gradual move towards a hybrid model as the community seems to get the virus more under control. It is not ideal but it protects our staff and students and that should be our number 1 priority! Please base your decisions on science and data, not politics.

2020/07/20 7:21:20 AM AST Bermuda Please do what is right and give parents the opportunity to make the correct decision for their child’s/children’s education. Please do not force us all into one model. As a homehealth physical therapist who has not stopped working since this pandemic started I am well aware of the dangers and risks associated with the virus. I know we are all trying to do what we perceive as best in this time. In my own home I have one child who I would be okay with leaving virtually 100% and another who I truly do not believe would get what she needs from the model. I understand the anxiety and fear of teachers but it is not anything that every other working individual who cannot work from the comfort of their own home feels. It is a roller coaster to say the least but as tax paying citizens we deserve the opportunity to make the best decision for own children. I do believe this can be done safely with a 2 day a week model. This model would give us a chance to slowly and safely work our way towards more time in the classroom if it proves to be successful. Thank you for your time and for strongly considering to vote in favor of a model that allows at least 2 days a week in the classroom.

2020/07/20 7:23:51 AM AST Bermuda As a mom of 5 I have 4 that are enrolled in CCPS. My Childrens ages range from 10 years old to 1 years old. I signed my children up for the summer refresher because I have 2 children with IEPs and thought they would benefit from it. It has caused so much stress not just on me but on them. One of those children is my 3 year old who will receive speech therapy when school starts. I am unsure how he will receive the proper speech therapy if his teacher is virtual or required to wear a mask. Having my children doing virtual calls is a huge challenge. My 3 year old needs my attention, my rising 1st grader needs my attention, my rising 3rd grader needs my attention and my rising 5th grader needs my attention all while chasing after a toddler. I cannot imagine being a working full time parent attempting to do virtual learning. I stay home and find it near impossible to make sure my children are getting the education and attention they deserve and need. My children love school, their teachers and their friends. Not only has this affected their education but being pulled from their normal life is affecting them mentally. My children who once loved reading and writing are now withdrawing themselves, having meltdowns and becoming disengaged no matter how much “fun” I try to make it. I understand there are very cautious people out there and we need to consider people’s health, however, children are not contracting the virus. If someone gets COVID there is a 99% recovery rate. My husband is a kidney transplant and is immune suppressed and if anyone should be worried we should be but we aren’t. I believe with everything in me that these children should be back in school 100% capacity and 5 days a week. They need that one on one interaction with teachers that’s on a personal level not through a computer screen.

2020/07/20 7:24:34 AM AST Matoaca The return to school materials remain unclear and confusing as to whether virtual learning will be an available choice for parents regardless of the option chosen by the board. Please update the document options to clarify that point and that choice, if indeed that remains the intention. Please address this point clearly in the meeting.

2020/07/20 7:25:21 AM AST Bermuda I wish for all kids to return to school as normal. Full classroom

2020/07/20 7:33:53 AM AST Clover Hill I acknowledge the complexity and difficulty of the decision of how to reopen schools. I'm asking for consideration on how to preserve sports and activities. Specifically, my son participates in marching band and show choir. These activities can be adapted to safely give the students access to the activities that they love. I am a mental health professional and am aware of the emotional challenges it may create to ask our children to remain disconnected from the people and activities that give them structure, confidence, friendship, and life skills. I encourage the board to develop a plan to allow all activities and sports to continue.

2020/07/20 7:37:50 AM AST Bermuda What date will we learn about IEPs? Also how will it work with Dylsexic & speech children utilizing masks. The teacher is unable to see the way words that are being formed through a mask. Also the options purposed show teachers utilizing the school buildings. How does that work when they will all be in the same building same common areas and lounges with the spread? As it has been stated it spreads more through adults than children. Lastly, how will children especially elementary learn from a video without interaction. As it seems the lesson will be through recorded video not live where questions can be answered. The poor children that have to wait to do their school work when the parents get home tired from work. Or the students that have parents that are unable to assist with the lessons. Most home schooled children have an educated 100% stay at home parent

2020/07/20 7:41:30 AM AST Unsure Should our children “fall behind” with learning . Will they be held accountable for this. Example... not passing their grade level. Will there be more lenientcy for this. Especially for families of full time working parents.? Thank you I know these are tough decisions! � Grange Hall Bulldog proud!

2020/07/20 7:43:21 AM AST Dale As a parent and nurse who has been working on the front lines during this pandemic, I feel parents should have an option to go to school this fall. My 2 girls can not learn like that. They had a hard enough time finishing up this year without learning new material to get stuff done. But if they are learning new stuff they need a teacher in front of them teaching, just on zoom will not work for them. I feel they will suffer educationally and also mentally. A lot of kids are depressed and feeling lonely without being at school not only because of their friends but the teachers. Some kids might only have support from teachers. Please have an option of virtual for parents that don’t feel comfortable and also for in school for parents that do feel comfortable. That option should also be for the teachers. The way Hanover is doing it would be great for the teachers. Thank you

2020/07/20 7:44:43 AM AST Midlothian As a child with three children one in each level of school I strongly encourage you to vote for parent choice. There will be parents who want to choose virtual and parents who choose to send their kids five days and I think giving families the option and teachers the option is the best. Following Hanover’s lead in Hanover’s guidance to work together to find a way to have kids at home who wish to be at home and kids in school who wish to be at school Virtual learning for some children was a disaster. One of my daughters was fine the other two were very anxious, stressed and had a very difficult time negotiating sole computer learning. There are students that have to be in school, in person, asking teacher questions to learn appropriately and we need to encourage that and give parents the choice to send or not.

2020/07/20 7:46:16 AM AST Unsure On behalf of the students, their families, and the teachers, I beg you to vote to "go virtual" for the opening of the 2020 school year. This deadly, debilitating virus is too contagious and even on the best day, it will be impossible to control the spread. It just takes one infected student! We need to remember that keeping the buildings closed for a few more months is just temporary. We teachers are ready to do everything we can to help the students learn and grow.

2020/07/20 7:48:57 AM AST Dale I don’t feel comfortable letting my child go back to school. We don’t have the proper tool for him to learn at home (laptop & etc) I was doing the best I could with what we had.

2020/07/20 7:50:07 AM AST Midlothian There are rumors circulating on Facebook that the Board is going to vote on a motion to postpone the back-to-school decision until a later date. As a parent, a teacher, and a scientist I am pleading with you not to make this choice at the meeting tonight. While information about Covid-19 continues to change, and it will keep doing so, postponing a vote is a logistical nightmare for parents and teachers. From a science standpoint, the virus is not simply going to go away or a vaccine/treatment be implemented before school starts. In reality, the data coming in from other countries that have reopened will help the US adapt their school plans for a later date, but not likely before September.

As you might also be aware, parents in the greater Richmond area are organizing online to form virtual learning pods. Asking them to continue to hold off on making their plans does nothing other than add fuel to the fire of stress. Daycares and other childcare providers also need to be able to make concrete plans. While it is likely that information about Covid-19 and schools will continue to evolve, the idea that waiting might allow more students to have a return to a normal school day is a fallacy at this point in time.

I am also aware that Governor Northam is addressing the Commonwealth again Tuesday about the overall rise in positive cases. However, he has continued to be clear that school decisions are left up to local school boards and he will not be pushing for a one-size fits-all plan. Postponing the vote tonight completely ignores what he has reiterated time and again. He has also said that a return to Phase 2 would be done on a regional level, not state-wide. Let Hampton Roads deal with their rising numbers and how that will affect their school plans, and please make the best decision possible for Chesterfield. It's time to rip off the Band Aid and start working together as a community of educators and parents to prepare for virtual learning this fall.

26 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/20 7:54:00 AM AST Matoaca Good evening. This comment is related to the reopening of schools item on the agenda. My name is Kristina Chilian, and I am a resident, parent, and educator in Chesterfield County. I completed the survey recently in favor of a partial return to school, Options 2-5. At the time, and even after losing a close family member to COVID-19, I felt that we would be able to provide students and staff with a safe place to work for a shortened period of time, moving much of our instruction to a virtual space while still being able to support students in person. This would take a lot of planning and new policies and procedures, but it seemed the best compromise for all involved. Since then, however, I have watched a significant portion of our community not wear masks in public and gather in groups without social distancing. These actions demonstrate a general lack of concern over the severity of the pandemic, and this lack of taking basic safety precautions is currently leading to an increase in cases in Virginia and across the country. As Virginia's case and hospitalization numbers are back on the rise and as the public cannot be trusted to follow even basic safety guidelines, I no longer believe that even a partial opening would be safe for at least the first 9 weeks. Let’s play out the worst case scenario of students at home vs. students at school, even part time. Option 6 would result in a lack of learning, a widening of the learning gap, mental distress on students wanting to return to school, and hardships for parents needing to work. Options 1-5 would result in student, family, and staff illnesses, student, family, and staff deaths, quarantining, PLUS all of the consequences of Options 1-5. In addition, students and staff would be working under the constant threat of getting sick or dying or watching their teachers or classmates get sick or die, causing significant mental distress. Sending kids back into our school buildings even part time has much more dire consequences than 100% virtual learning. I am therefore asking you tonight for a minimum of 9 weeks of 100% virtual instruction to allow everyone time to fully assess the new surge in cases, to gain more understanding of how the virus affects children, and to keep the virus from spreading and harming more people in our county. Thank you for all of your hard work and for your sober consideration of all the factors involved.

2020/07/20 7:55:56 AM AST Midlothian It is my understanding that 82% of CCPS parents want their children to return to school. I know that some parents don't feel comfortable doing so, and I respect that - however, they should have the option to keep their children home without holding back the children of the other 82%. They only want to keep the other 82% home so they don't create a gap between their children and others. What they are not thinking about is the gap that will inevitably be created for the underprivileged students who don't have the same resources for distance learning and need to be in school. Also, I have heard from many parents and friends that are filling out private school applications pending the results of this decision - proud public school supporters who are having to turn to other avenues in order to find the in person education that every kid in CCPS deserves.

2020/07/20 8:04:48 AM AST Midlothian Topic One: I understand that this is a very challenging time, and any decision will make many people very upset. I only ask that the decision made takes into account that just because the children are not physically in school, does not mean they are staying socially distant. A good number of elementary kids will be put into day care with other children, so the problem just moves. Some day cares will be equipped to modify their programs better than others to support virtual learning. My fear is that kids from families who cannot work from home and are already living pay check to pay check may not have the means to support virtual learning from- either from getting their kids to the hot spot or just giving them the time during the day to learn vs. just having someone watch them. Our tax dollars are going to use for some many public buildings in the area. Why can't we use those buildings to support kids who are virtually learning? Have teachers there and set up technology to support streaming multiple devices at once. Parents who cannot support their kids from home can send them to a local "virtual learning base". We cannot leave these kids at home! My family is blessed so that we can adapt to any decision made, but my 3rd grader definitely WANTS to go back to school. She just wants to get out of the house. But, is there not a way to offer families to make a decision that is best for them? I realize 5 days per week might not be realistic, but 100% virtual might be the other extreme, especially for healthy kids who are already behind, or the ESL or Special Ed kids.

Topic Two: Virtual Training!!! Teachers cannot just adapt to virtual learning. It is a totally different way of teaching. In order to have engaged kids- especially the younger ones, CCPS has to make sure the teachers are trained on ways to engage these kids, and they need to know the things that might disengage a class (talking too much at the kids and not "calling" on the every kid).

Thanks for listening!!!

2020/07/20 8:06:37 AM AST Matoaca Please consider an option like "Parents Choice" (Hanover County)!

Despite the County risk management groups opinion - keep in mind that the CCPS survey shows that 82% of parents would feel comfortable sending kids to school if in person 5 days a week was an option.

The acknowledgements slide outlining the options for reopening states "It is clear everyone will not be happy depending on the decision made". I strongly believe that if you offer the Parents Choice option, like Hanover County, you will make the maximum amount of people happy. This option would obviously allow at risk teachers to be the virtual teachers, and additional teachers optional as the demand requires... the remaining teachers in my opinion should be considered essential employees.

2020/07/20 8:07:20 AM AST Matoaca PUT THE STUDENTS BACK INTO THE SCHOOLS! Please do not forsake the education of our county’s students. Masks will provide more than adequate protection for everyone. Virtual learning is not a good substitute for in-class instruction. Period.

2020/07/20 8:08:28 AM AST Midlothian In favor of 5 days in person learning but if some parents aren’t comfortable, give them the option of virtual. I also think 5 half days of school is best 2nd option. Half of students attend morning and other half attend afternoons. You’ve had since March to figure this out, do not let our children down. They NEED in person learning. The virtual attempt in March-May was fine then but completely unacceptable moving forward. My children are both at Robious Elementary School - 1st and 4th.

2020/07/20 8:11:11 AM AST Midlothian Please support your students, teachers parents and community by voting for in person learning. Smaller class sizes, spreading desks 3ft apart, masks, and temperature checks make a difference. We can make the 2020-2021 school year a success with a little ingenuity and flexibility. Voting for an in person learning option gives students who struggled with virtual learning the ability to learn from their teachers. Please, do not fail these students.

2020/07/20 8:13:03 AM AST Bermuda I am 100% for opening schools. I think parents should have a choice to send their kids to school. I understand the concerns, however I believe keeping kids out of school is detrimental to their health. Please give parents a choice!!

2020/07/20 8:13:41 AM AST Clover Hill We have greatly enjoyed the recovery learning program the past few weeks at Grange Hall. We think this is a great option for starting the new school year.

2020/07/20 8:15:26 AM AST Matoaca Schools need to open regularly. I work in law enforcement and my wife is an ER nurse and we haven’t had a break since February. To add to it we are now schooling our 6 year old 1st grader to be. We have a child due any day now and the thoughts of how we are going to manage childcare are a burden. We cannot afford two children in childcare and cannot quit our jobs or telework. The fact that teachers would refuse to come to work should be grounds for termination as it would be with our careers. If schools don’t open then I demand my 54% of my property taxes back so I can get my child a real education elsewhere. This distance learning is not helping my child and I really worry for her future.

2020/07/20 8:16:15 AM AST Midlothian I do not have a set choice for school reopening yet because of a lack of understanding on how each would be executed. However, I would like to share some of my concerns and thoughts about both, in-person and online teaching.

In-person teaching would be ideal as this is how children learn best - with their peers. After our experience in the spring, I have doubts how content can be successfully relayed online.

At the same time I worry that too many teachers will choose to switch to “safer options” (i.e. teaching small groups of students while working as a nanny), leaving the school system with too few talented teachers to adequately teach the remaining students.

I also worry about the level of continuity a hybrid model can offer. Will the teacher be prepared to switch to all online teaching if a student in the class is ill? What happens to the class if the teacher is sick?

Another concern about the hybrid model is that only providing the students with two days of teacher support per week while leaving them to independent learning on the other three days is not enough. Children need a better routine and daily teacher support.

2020/07/20 8:16:21 AM AST Midlothian Children should be in school! AAP supports this! Allow parents a CHOICE to send them with an in person and all virtual option to begin school year. Do not make this about legalities.

2020/07/20 8:17:37 AM AST Clover Hill I have 2 rising 6th graders and 1 rising 10th grader. Virtual learning has not worked. My special ed child was lucky to get 2 small group virtual meetings per week from his amazing special ed teacher but that was it. He lost speech therapy and occupational therapy. His speech has gone down hill. There really needs to be in person choice With 8.5 million people in VA the risk of getting a highly survivable virus is less than 1 percent. Let parents make the choice to send kids to school. My oldest has suffered emotionally not being with peers and teachers. He loves school. He has done NO work virtually, he just does not learn this way. He has adhd. I also have a daughter who has suffered but not as much. It has affected my 3 kids differently. I would just like to note that I want my kids back in person school even if just a few days a week and we will drive them back and forth if needed and they are fine wearing masks. Thank you.

2020/07/20 8:24:14 AM AST Clover Hill Dear Board Members, As a parent to three elementary school students, I urge you to reopen schools in a physical capacity. Schools are fundamental to child and adolescent development and well-being and provide our children with academic instruction, social and emotional skills, safety, reliable nutrition, physical/speech and mental health therapy, and opportunities for physical activity, among other benefits. Due to these reasons above, the American Academy of Pediatrics strongly advocates that all policy considerations for the coming school year should start with a goal of having students physically present in school. The negative impacts of continued isolation are detrimental and already manifesting in our children across the county, city and country. Please do your civic duty and protect our future by allowing our children to physically return to school.

2020/07/20 8:26:56 AM AST Midlothian This pandemic provided an opportunity to change and improve the education system, not only in Chesterfield, but across the state and country. Instead, discussions have solely been focused on how many kids can we fit on a bus, in a classroom, what days, how long, etc. This has highlighted one major reason our education system is falling behind others, and that is because the school system is seen and used more as a daycare facility rather than a place for children to grow and develop. Everyone says kids need to get back into the classroom for socialization. As if the socialization today, with desks 3-6 feet apart, masks wearing, eating in a classroom, washing hands every 20 minutes, no high fives or pats on the back, no hugs, little to no playground time, etc - will be the same as socializing in a classroom in the fall. But who cares right - the discussion is not about that, its about how long can you watch our kids so we can work or just get a break from them. This was an opportunity to change that perception. To move the needle just a little bit and remind families its not the school's responsibility to raise your child. But instead, time was spent coming up with scenarios to try and follow impossible and unrealistic rules and guidelines. I want my child back in the classroom like everyone else, but I can't with good conscience, given the unknowns of this disease and the disorganization that will likely begin if you let children back into school, send my child into that building. The focus should be making virtual learning as good as it can be and just maybe, it is something that used in other situations once this pandemic is over.

2020/07/20 8:29:32 AM AST Midlothian There is no way to express how important it is in our children's lives to have hope. I have watched my kids, three who have all been in Chesterfield Schools, with a combined GPA of 4.74, atrophy as the stay-at-home system in the spring let to a less than challenging learning space. Worse, their interactions and new normal is counterproductive to social connections that are so critical to their development. Teens will NOT learn well with a virtual only model and Chesterfield Schools will lose its standing as a quality school system if that is the decision made.

Further, depression, bullying, suicide, abuse, neglect, and other significant social disorders are on their way as this forced distancing continues. We can not watch all other indicators of health skyrocket while focusing only on COVID-19 infection rates. It is insanity to do so and we will be seeing very grim stories in the future if we stay on the virtual only path.

PLEASE CHOOSE A HYBRID LEARNING WITH BOTH IN PERSON AND VIRTUAL OPTIONS! It is a difficult job to pull off but we are all being asked to do extraordinary things these days. Please do this for the children's well being in this county.

Thank you, Dave Anderson

2020/07/20 8:30:05 AM AST Dale I don’t feel comfortable letting my child go back to school. We don’t have the proper tool for him to learn at home (laptop & etc) I was doing the best I could with what we had.

2020/07/20 8:32:48 AM AST Midlothian I believe parents should decide what is best for their children. Offer in person, 5 day school week with an option for online learning for the families that chose to not send their kids

2020/07/20 8:32:54 AM AST Midlothian You will get many comments stating reasons for or against in person learning. I will boil my comments down to this. I believe a choice for families is the only way to balance the risks, so I am advocating for a 4 or 5 day in person option, with a choice for families to elect 100% virtual if desired. The bottom line is that there are risks of the virus but there are risks of mental health decline, physical decline, nutritional deficit, special needs risk, ESL risk, abuse and neglect, and most obviously the lack of ability to adequately educate 100% virtually for all students. In my opinion, these risks outweigh the risks of the virus for most students and teachers, and for those, we can provide a virtual option. We cannot make risk decisions based on our fewest numbers. Thank you for your thoughtful consideration.

2020/07/20 8:34:22 AM AST Midlothian I am a 5th grader at Old Hundred Elementary School, I think we should go back to school because you make lots of new friends at school, you can't get the same experience of meeting someone new.

2020/07/20 8:35:40 AM AST Dale I don’t feel comfortable letting my child go back to school. We don’t have the proper tool for him to learn at home (laptop & etc) I was doing the best I could with what we had.

2020/07/20 8:38:40 AM AST Dale When making the decision on schooling for the upcoming year please take into consideration parents who are still going to work and do not have the capability to assist their children in the online learning process. The demographic for students in Chesterfield County is very diverse and includes students with special needs that may not have the ability to navigate the internet independently. We all want our students to be successful but this upcoming school year has the potential to create a huge learning gap between children of all races, sexes, and ages.

2020/07/20 8:40:46 AM AST Midlothian I have many concerns about the reopening of schools in the fall. My main concern is that my child who is going to be a freshman this year is an asthmatic. So my husband and I would like to do all virtual with him. However he has an active IEP in place and I am wondering if he would still to the need support.

2020/07/20 8:41:23 AM AST Unsure Not sure of district because kids go to specialty school. Kids should go to school. Or, at the very least give families the option of sending kids to school or keeping them at home.

27 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/20 8:42:25 AM AST Clover Hill We prefer fully virtual learning. But, we understand that all students may not have the resources to make that work. We appreciate that there are no good solutions.

When deciding, the board can consider the likelihood that schools will shut down again sometime in the fall. The current COVID-situation does not seem that different than what it was in March. And, cases are rising. The CDC director recently said that the upcoming fall and winter “probably going to be one of the most difficult times that we have experience in American public health.” Choosing a completely virtual option now will allow everyone to focus on that (including to further decrease resource gaps among students) at the outset.

Separately from the option chosen, here are suggestions for virtual learning for younger elementary students.

1. A teacher should not be required to plan for in-person and virtual learning. Instead, teachers should be dedicated solely to in-person learning or solely to virtual learning.

2. One aspect of any virtual meetings should be structured time for each student to talk. OHES’s summer program, led by Mr. Godschalk, has done a great job with this. During each session, each student has multiple opportunities to talk: they can say something after he calls on them or they can raise their hand to answer a question. The teacher must control when the students talk, just like they would in-person. Speaking among peers cannot be replicated by parents at home.

3. Small groups are crucial for making virtual meetings work. OHES’s summer program has one 15 min and one 30 min session with 10 students each. That works far better than having 25+ students in one meeting. The focus should be quality over quantity.

4. We suggest that focus be on reading, writing, and math, particularly at the beginning of virtual learning. Falling behind in those makes the next grade much tougher. Of course, there are benefits in a rounded education that includes science, social studies, and resource classes. But, adjustments should be considered during these extraordinary times. Once teachers master virtual learning, schools can revisit adding other subjects.

5. We suggest creating any virtual program from scratch and not building on the spring experience. We understand that is a large amount of work. Even if school starts later to give teachers extra time to improve virtual learning, that would likely be worth it.

2020/07/20 8:43:11 AM AST Midlothian Parents and teachers should be given the CHOICE of virtual learning or classroom learning. Please listen to our Pediatricians and the majority of parents in the Chesterfield school district! The risks of kids not being in the classroom are far greater then the risk of covid-19! Depression, suicide, anxiety, online bullying/sexually risky behaviors, child abuse, malnutrition, emotional abuse, isolation, etc..... are serious problems. The burden of working parents to now find and pay for day-care for elementary children (which does not keep them socially distanced) is a serious issue but the bigger issue is kids who will be left at home alone without supervision from parents. Listen to our voices!

2020/07/20 8:44:36 AM AST Bermuda As a mom of 5 boys, 3 of which will be attending CCPS as a Kindergartener, a First Grader, and a Sixth Grader, I am terrified of an all virtual start. I have tried my best but have watched my children completely be unengaged, unwilling, and failing at the all virtual model. Everyday was a struggle once it was implemented in the Spring and I couldn't even get them to go the 20 minutes for summer "school". My oldest has a 504 for PANDAS, OCD, Defiance and Anxiety and needs the structure of school, there he thrives, my incoming first grader needs to be in a classroom away from the stress and distraction of his brothers, he is so smart but falling behind since we have one computer and spotty internet, lastly my incoming Kindergartener will just fail, he needs human interaction and to see things being taught in person. You will be setting up an entire generation to fail, be depressed, feel alone, and be left behind. It is important that we are trusted as Parents that we know what is best for our children. My husband and I both work for the County, him as a fire firefighter/paramedic(and Navy Corpsman) and has been on the "front lines" of this since day one....he has seen empty ERs, we know parts of hospitals being shut down because there are no patients. I am a substitute teacher amd the CE Curtis PTA President and let me tell you, I would have no issue being in the schools, I've spent time in and out since this has all started trying to help where we can alongside other parents. Please don't fail our children, please give us the option and trust us as parents to do what's right, the 30% teacher union does not speak for them all and should be punished for trying to instill fear across this county. Please please do what is right!

2020/07/20 8:47:48 AM AST Dale When determining the best course of action for school this fall, please consider the fact that the Covid 19 virus is highly contagious and still has no vaccine. Requiring students to attend class in person has the potential to put both students and faculty as well as their families at risk. In addition, virtual learning needs to become less of a responsibility for parents and more of increased instruction from teachers as most parents are working either at home or away from home and not all children have the ability and independence to complete online instruction alone.

2020/07/20 8:50:14 AM AST Midlothian As residents of Chesterfield County, I urge the publicly elected officials to collaborate with parents and teachers to take the opportunity to move forward with the future of education for our students. It is not the job of the school board to decide what is best for my child, but to offer an opportunity to learn for every child. I expect more out of this great school district. Rather than closing the door for so many students it is time to step up and utilize this opportunity to make changes. Without offering a choice for students, we are reverting to a system that is inequitable leaving many children in the dust. Just the same, we are setting many teachers who excel in an environment that allows them to physically be with their students for failure. Every student needs access to resources and tools that boost them forward educationally, emotionally, and socially. We know that this does not look the same for every family. All children are different and deserve the opportunity to go to school in an environment which fosters individual learning styles. We as a community need to come together as we are truly in this together. Let this pandemic represent the chance to improve rather than regress. I am urging you to give Chesterfield a chance, give our children a chance and have faith in our ability to improve. I expect more. Please don’t close the door.

2020/07/20 8:51:08 AM AST Matoaca Please give families a choice for their kids' educations!! Let those of us that want their kids to resume a 5 day a week, IN PERSON education do so and those that want virtual to stay home. My three children want to return to school. The have all voiced concern and sadness over the prospect of continued virtual learning. My husband and I also work and are very concerned about how to oversee virtual learning for three kids AND work. No amount of virtual learning is any substitute for an in person education. Please do not force them to miss more school, more education, more socialization, more routine, and force more isolation at home. Please give us the choice. Our kids have way more to lose emotionally and educationally by continuing to be forced to stay home and not return to school.

2020/07/20 8:53:48 AM AST Midlothian I would like to see the children return to school once all the limitations and restrictions can be lifted. I hate wearing a mask and cannot for the life of me see sending my child to school where they will be forced to wear one all day. The county was already short buses as my children would be stuck at school an extra hour everyday waiting on a bus to double back for them. So how will this staggering and less students on a bus work?? I don't see how it is possible. I hope the best decision is made for our children. This is affecting their features. I feel as though my children are being held back and have already missed out on so much learning. They will never get out of learning from home what they do in school. Those educations will never be equal. My seven year old was struggling with reading and is now further behind because of all of this.

2020/07/20 8:53:58 AM AST Unsure I am a teacher and I am willing to go into the classroom. Please consider full time, in person as an option. I know the decision is hard. I believe most teachers are only against this because the localities are not providing teachers with enough I information on specifics in the event one of us gets sick. Please consider this.

Thank you!

2020/07/20 8:54:03 AM AST Bermuda Given what we know about most children being asymptomatic AND older children being more likely to spread COVID, I am not comfortable with placing my children in harms way via bus or physically stepping into a school. Not to mention prior to the pandemic parents sent their children to school with cough, fever, and other flu-like symptoms. The pandemic will only make this worse.

2020/07/20 8:54:54 AM AST Bermuda Our family would prefer a full 5 day per week return to school, in person. We do not have internet and having more than one child in school (one who is starting kindergarten and one who is entering middle school) I believe they would both need help in the virtual setting to adjust and I cannot be there to help. I’m honestly confused at how it could be ok for our kids to go to daycare but not return to school.

2020/07/20 8:54:54 AM AST Bermuda I understand you're in a situation where you're making an impossible decision for the upcoming school year. Every single family in the County has different circumstances - home lives, parent work situations, special education needs, medical complexities. And because of this, everyone has a different opinion on what school situation would be best for them. I would ask that you give families a choice - allow us to choose what works best for us, instead of making the decision for us. Please give us an option to either be in person or virtual. I can't imagine the logistical nightmare of a few days on/a few days off, and in the "off" days, if we must send our children to daycare, it's adding in more exposure to the disease than just being in the same classroom for the week. Thank you for all of your hard work in keeping everyone safe and educated.

2020/07/20 8:55:51 AM AST Matoaca I believe with the right precautions, we should start school in the fall. I have two daughters still in Chesterfield schools (1 at Bailey Bridge Middle, 1 at Manchester HS). Consider what a Kansas school district is doing. School on M, T, Th and F. Wednesday is remote learning and cleaning day. K-5th is each day, while 6-12 is half students M/Th and half on T/F. Elem kids face mask is TBD, while 6-12 is face mask required. Here’s a link to that school district site: usd266.com/T4TReopeningPlan

Good luck, as this won’t be easy or make everyone happy. And hopefully you will be able to weed through all of the fake comments you get submitted and can focus on only the comments coming from parents of Chesterfield County students. Thank you for your time. -Derek Thoman

2020/07/20 8:59:52 AM AST Matoaca I writing to request that you consider the medical guidance and data which supports re-opening schools to in-person instruction to at least some extent. CCPS places great emphasis on data with regards to testing, etc and I am asking that you place this same emphasis on data when making the current decision. A decision based on evidence-based practice would be the most responsible approach and the medical and scientific guidance indicates that schools should re-open to at least some extent. Also, CCPS has made a great effort to offer surveys for opinions recently, but made no attempt to get official decisions from parents regarding family plans and comfort level for returning to school. In the past, surveys have been the CCPS way of making families feel like they are participating in decisions yet the decisions have not considered the results or the options offered in the surveys were biased toward what options were being considered. Other jurisdictions have made considerable efforts to ask families to commit to virtual versus in person instruction and this has revealed many wishing to remain virtual; thus cutting down the number to plan for in person. Such jurisdictions have sought answers from families in person who did not respond to online questionnaires. Please consider actually getting commitments from families to determine the numbers you are working with before mandating all virtual. It may reveal a more reasonable number to manage in person. I appreciate your efforts and realize the difficult decision you are considering.

2020/07/20 9:08:32 AM AST Midlothian Please ensure that all buildings can be ready in time for the start of school. This means good air and good plan for social distancing. If it can’t be done in time, school start in person should be pushed back. We can start virtually and see how building up fitting goes.

2020/07/20 9:09:16 AM AST Unsure My child attends Curtis Elementary and I am a parent working full time. I support returning to school full time with the appropriate safety measures. Young child learn best from trained educators. Parents working full time are unable to provide the same support and education to children during the school day that the school can provide.

2020/07/20 9:12:21 AM AST Dale My children require in school instruction. Making out school year all virtual would greatly impact my children is massively negative ways. Furthermore- children with working parents are going to require somewhere for their children to go. If CCPS doesn’t reopen, those children will have to go to daycares making them overcrowded.

2020/07/20 9:13:06 AM AST Matoaca Please give parents an option- Back in the classroom & virtual learning. Team parents & teachers together to fit their choice.

Students need to be back in the classroom!

2020/07/20 9:13:52 AM AST Bermuda I urge you all to think of working parents that virtual learning has been extremely difficult for. I also urge you all to encourage schools to consolidate the amount of online applications used for virtual learning. Yes, it is nice that so many options are available but it is too much for elementary school students and parents to know which tool to use for what. There should be a consolidated system and central repository for assignments.

I’d prefer an all-in set up similar to HCPS with an option for all virtual.

2020/07/20 9:14:53 AM AST Midlothian Most importantly, thank you for reading my comments and for your service. I am asking you please rely on two items as you vote on the future of our schools: 1, the Mission and Vision of CCPS; and 2, the recommendation of the AAP.

Please, let the "Imagine Tomorrow" Strategic Plan guide you. The vision is to "Create a Better Tomorrow" and the mission to "Ignite Passion Through Authentic and Captivating Experiences." Of the several values listed, the one that resonated the most to me was "Equity - Fair and Unbiased Access to ALL Resources and Opportunities." Please, in the spirit of our school system's Mission, Vision, and in the Value of Equity, open our schools. Virtual learning will NOT be creating a "Better Tomorrow," and online learning does NOT ignite passion or give students captivating experiences, and most importantly, keeping doors closed further widens the gap of bias and socioeconomic disparity, the complete opposite of the Value of Equity expressed in the strategic plan.

Ignoring just the headlines, I read the entire report directly from the American Academy of Pediatrics ("AAP") and my heart sank that we cannot seem to rely on this strong, powerful, research-based recommendation from the AAP. I'm begging you to please rely on the data, rely on their recommendation - the AAP keeps children in car seats until they are 8 years old - I feel certain they would not make a recommendation to return to school if they did not believe it was the right thing to do for the children of our great country.

"The AAP strongly advocates that all policy considerations for the coming school year should start with a goal of having students physically present in school. The importance of in-person learning is well-documented, and there is already evidence of the negative impacts on children because of school closures in the spring of 2020."

"The preponderance of evidence indicates that children and adolescents are less likely to be symptomatic and less likely to have severe disease resulting from SARS-CoV-2 infection. In addition, children may be less likely to become infected and to spread infection."

In closing, please 1, follow the Mission, Vision, and Values of Chesterfield County Schools; and 2, please rely on the experts, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and their recommendation to open schools.

Again, thank you for your consideration and service.

2020/07/20 9:19:10 AM AST Midlothian I fully support face to face time for my students. I understand there will be challenges, but our children need to be IN SCHOOL, not taught via programs on a computer. If had wanted to homeschool my children, I would have made that decision when they were first going to school. I know I cannot educate them at home on my own, I want them in the school building. My middle school daughter thrives from structure and the support of friends and teachers. She is in the band, and could not practice her craft alone during the spring. She is losing interest in the instrument and she was FIRST CHAIR!

My son is entering his senior year. He has ADHD and also needs to be in a structured classroom setting. He cannot be depended on getting his work done at his own pace. He did online PE a few years ago and it was a disaster. This spring was equally as challenging for him. He is taking studio fine arts classes this year. How in the world are they supposed to be taught virtually? He is applying to VCU for Graphic Design and needs the support of his teacher to build his portfolio for a fall application. I don't have confidence in that being done well via a virtual platform.

Please think of our children whose parents want to be able to make the choice to have them educated. The message will be clear if you support 100% virtual, and that message is that education is not important.I know what happened this spring with virtual instruction, and I am hearing equally negative things about the virtual Recovery of Learning. I think if parents want the choice to educate their children at home and virtually, they should have that choice, just as parents should have the choice to send their children to school.

Chesterfield was a premier county for education when I went to school here. We decided to reside where we grew up for this reason. Due to the chaos of the spring and the potential for this school year, I am questioning my choices. Please make the right decision and support your families and constituents who want a choice.

thank you!

2020/07/20 9:19:21 AM AST Matoaca Please send the kids back to school in person full time! Seriously. Otherwise, please return my tax dollars so I can send them to a school that will actually teach them!

2020/07/20 9:20:51 AM AST Clover Hill I want to encourage option 6 with a modification. We should be working with each student with extensive support needs within their IEP teams. Pay their teachers to engage in a conversation about what they need and make a plan. Many of our Level 2 kids need in-person services, but their assigned teachers may not be able to work in-person. Use this time now to engage all the stakeholders for that student and make a functional plan. Education has to be individualized for our neediest populations. Pay teachers to engage families NOW to make virtual plans for the majority of students.

28 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/20 9:24:43 AM AST Unsure Dear Board, As someone who does not have a child in school but has a 4 day old baby, it is our job as adults, parents, teachers, etc.... to do whatever it takes to protect our children. While most everyone with common sense realizes that it is NOT ideal for children to not be in the school building, we have an obligation as I stated. Most children have mild or no symptoms to COVID-19 but can easily spread it to their family and others who may not have such an easy time with the virus. It is time that we ADULTS put politics aside and do what is right! It is not ok to expose our children! We will get back to normal life eventually but now is NOT the time. Teachers and children should not have to worry about getting sick and spreading to their loved ones. Thank you for your time and consideration into my thoughts on this very important matter. Regards, Justin Phibbs

2020/07/20 9:25:34 AM AST Bermuda My kids crave the in person setting of a classroom. It will be 6 months since they've head that for my rising 2nd grader and 4th grader. I worry about their socialization. I also worry about my 4th grader who is not a great "online learner". Please get them bank into school even if it is just part time (full time is preferred). Can't you take an official survey of the amount of children that want 100% virtual/ homeschooling and maybe they will make up the percentage of kids that would allow all in person for the rest of the kids?? Send plea to the parents to drive their kids too and the bus situation will be resolved as well I would think. Good luck to today! Think of our children's education PLEASE!

2020/07/20 9:30:59 AM AST Midlothian As a parent of two CCPS elementary students, I'd like to express my encouragement for students to physically be present in the upcoming school year. As you're already aware, the American Academy of Pediatrics "strongly advocates that all policy considerations for the coming school year should start with a goal of having students physically present in school." There is well documented evidence of the negative impacts of them not being in person.

Additionally, the AAP states there's mounting evidence regarding COVID-19 in children and adolescents, including the role they may play in transmission of the infection. SARS-CoV-2 appears to behave differently in children and adolescents than other common respiratory viruses, such as influenza, on which much of the current guidance regarding school closures is based. As the AAP indicates children and adolescents play a major role in amplifying influenza outbreaks, to date, this does not appear to be the case with SARS-CoV-2. Although it states many questions remain, the preponderance of evidence indicates that children and adolescents are less likely to be symptomatic and less likely to have severe disease resulting from SARS-CoV-2 infection. In addition, children may be less likely to become infected and to spread infection.

Again, I support for the goal of having students physically present at school.

2020/07/20 9:32:44 AM AST Unsure I am a teacher and a parent of a kindergarten student beginning this fall. I can respect and understand the urge to reopen schools. Initially, I was for the idea of returning, but as has come to light; what we will return to will not be any form of education fit for our students or teachers. I do not want my daughter to be locked in a room, spaced from the students around her. We cannot call them friends because she will likely not be allowed to interact with them as she would have if COVID did not exist and therefore she will likely not make friends until some solution is reached that allows us to truly safely return to school. She will likely not be allowed to play on a playground, go to stations and explore, hug her teacher. She loves school now but cannot return to the school she loves and I would hate for this to be the first impression of public education moving forward.

As a teacher myself, I question my personal safety. I will interact with more students as a secondary electives teacher and risk exposure to my family. What will happen if something happens to me? What will happen to my children if I am exposed and fall ill? Yes, these are life what ifs, but right now that what if is something that could be controlled. Offering a teacher a hotel room to quarantine away from their families is not a suitable option. I want to return to work when it is safe for me, my family and my students.

We can be surrounded (in closer proximity) by those we care about (friends, teachers/students) but we cannot truly interact. I want to build a positive relationship with my students and I am not sure that can be done effectively 6 feet a apart with masks on.

While the mortality rate may be low for children, it is not worth finding out IF it will remain as low. My children deserve to have me come home safe and I deserve to have my children safe as well. Any deaths caused because we rushed to lead by example (and prove it can be done) is too many.

2020/07/20 9:33:21 AM AST Clover Hill Children get fevers, how can we determine if it’s CV related or regular illness?

2020/07/20 9:38:01 AM AST Clover Hill Please provide supports for in school only for students that require additional support. Please provide remote learning to students for parents concerns about the health of their children, families and community at least through the end of this year.

2020/07/20 9:39:10 AM AST Midlothian Please consider a five day in person option for school this fall. Giving parents the choice to decide what is best for their family and not adopting a one size fits all solution addresses the diverse needs of the CCPS population.

My children are fortunate to have a stay at home parent to help with schoolwork; this spring, e-learning was a disaster for our family. My CCPS children are both identified as gifted and are craving in person teacher interaction. They are able to do assignments on their own, to focus and listen and the spring session had no benefit to our family. Between connectivity issues (with top speed internet), lack of personal interaction and comparable mundane assignments, we chose not to pursue the extra screen time as a means of educating our children.

While I understand every family is different, I’m simply asking for a choice to allow parents and teachers to decide what is best for their family during this unprecedented time.

2020/07/20 9:40:38 AM AST Clover Hill Good morning to all, If progress was showed in all areas with health and our community I would agree to allow our kids back to school. However the fact speak for it self. Everyone has not been on board on taking precaution from the beginning and as time goes by it tends to worsen with people still gathering and exposing other around. I don't believe its safe to return at this moment. Please allow parents like myself the option to choose wether or not each household send their kids to school. For teachers who feel at risk or don't feel safe to return should be given the opportunity to be the ones to provide distant learning and those who want schools to open To do in school learning.

2020/07/20 9:41:08 AM AST Bermuda in class teaching is necessary for many of these children to learn. if a student due to health or a parents request wants to attend virtual they should; but allow students who do not have health concerns and want to attend face to face to attend.

2020/07/20 9:42:53 AM AST Clover Hill I emailed this morning but am reposting here in case it didn't reach you in time.

I am originally from Wisconsin where my family and friends still reside. As I was catching up with a few of them this weekend, I learned that the Milwaukee School Board passed a plan that seemed to appease both sides of the argument: 100% virtual VS re-opening. I talked with my sister who wished for a 100% virtual opening. She was happy that the schools decided to start safely and slowly. I also talked with a friend who wanted a hybrid plan. She too was happy that the goal was laid out to have an in-person return. I thought I would share this plan with you as I thought the phased opening was amazingly well thought out and really showed support to everyone in the community. Perhaps you could consider such a plan?

From CBS58-Milwaukee Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) board members, on Thursday, July 16, unanimously approved the three-phase plan to reopen schools. The approach begins with full virtual learning (Phase 1), a transition into hybrid learning (Phase 2), and then face-to-face learning with virtual option (Phase 3). MPS released its 200+ page report, the "Roadmap to Readiness" detailing the $90 million proposal, on Monday, July 13. In a Thursday news release the district wrote: "MPS will start the school year with virtual learning for all students. As the spread of COVID-19 decreases, students will return to schools for two days each week for face-to- face learning and virtual three days each week. Phase three will allow all students to return to the classroom five days a week, when conditions are healthy to return. MPS will monitor public health conditions to determine movement between each phase. “To help preserve the health and well-being of our students and staff, we believe virtual learning is the best scenario at this time," MPS Superintendent Dr. Keith P. Posley said. “This was a difficult decision but a necessary one as we work diligently to provide the best education for our students. We look forward to returning to in-class instruction but only when we can do so safely.”… The Milwaukee Teachers' Education Association (MTEA) is part of a coalition of Milwaukee organizations that support beginning with virtual learning. "It's the only safe measure that can be taken right now. We've seen a failure of government from federal, state, and locally to take action to get this virus under control," said MTEA President Amy Mizialko.

Thank you!

2020/07/20 9:43:04 AM AST Unsure Virtual learning, though it presents challenges, is the only safe option for our students, teachers and administrators. We have a high school student at Monacan and there is absolutely no way to enforce high school students social distancing when they’re together. There is still so much unknown about the transmission and long term effects of this virus - at this point we don’t even know what we truly don’t know.

2020/07/20 9:44:45 AM AST Bermuda Flatly: it is not reasonable to ask/expect our teachers and staff to risk their lives to open schools just because it's politically fashionable. Our schools are already woefully underfunded- where on earth would money for PPE for teachers, staff and students come from? Where would money/time/manpower for extra cleaning come from? As a teacher who has buried 3 colleagues and a student in the last 5 years, I beg of you not to choose to put our children and our teachers in the position of reconciling the death of their teacher or classmates. We can do this online- we can get it right. As much as I don't want my rising 6th and 3rd grader to miss the beginning of middle school and the start of third grade, I also really don't want them to miss the rest of their lives, their mother or their father even more.

2020/07/20 9:46:22 AM AST Matoaca Will N95 masks and face shields be provided to teachers? Will students be required to wear masks? I don't feel comfortable going back if everyone (including students) are not required to wear a mask.

2020/07/20 9:46:24 AM AST Bermuda My children are suffering bad mentally without school. Please give parents the choice

2020/07/20 9:46:55 AM AST Midlothian hi, I do not think schools should open. I think it should be put off until after Christmas. I do not think kids will be able to properly learn nor understand with virtual learning either. As my son is autistic and needs hands on. I am very sick with no immune system and can't risk them going to school and bring covid home. Sure kids don't get it as easily but they do carry it which could be deadly for myself. I actually pulled my kids a week before schools sut down this year because of my fear. But im not sure how they can learn over the internet either therefore schools should be year long and just post posed until after Christmas. It is too much of a risk for everyone involved. Thank you

2020/07/20 9:47:19 AM AST Matoaca What options will be made available to teachers with health concerns? Will they still be able to teach their own students at their own school virtually if we are in a hybrid or in-person model? Should these teachers be concerned about losing their job?

2020/07/20 9:47:30 AM AST Clover Hill Send the kids to school they must have some sort of schedule and normalcy in their lives. If you should do the virtual schooling grades 1-5 do virtual and grades 6-12 do in person and have some sort of alternating for buses and kids also.

2020/07/20 9:48:27 AM AST Dale I am in support of fully virtual classes at least until the pandemic is under control. I have two students in Chesterfield County Public Schools and I would be very irate if my children were exposed to such a deadly virus.

2020/07/20 9:48:52 AM AST Midlothian I think that students should start out virtually learning in the fall. Being that cases are now going up and now they are seeing a lot of cases within children; putting staff and children at risk should not be on the table. Kids go home everyday and not knowing what other family members are doing on the daily basis, puts me and my family feeling uneasy about my child going to school. I have a 5 year old and to have her wearing a mask for 8 hours out of the day is crazy. I want her to attend school but not during unfortunate circumstances. Please do the right thing and protect our kids and staff.

2020/07/20 9:49:13 AM AST Matoaca Who will be responsible for classroom changes in middle school? How will students stay separated in the hallway? Will there be extended transition time? Will students be monitored to not hug or touch?

2020/07/20 9:49:34 AM AST Matoaca I am the parent of a rising kindergarten and a rising second grade student at Winterpock Elementary School and support and would appreciate a full (5 days per week), in-person re-opening of the schools. The negative impacts of missing school on our children - both academically and emotionally - far outweigh risk of the virus. For the average child, the risk is nearly not existent, and even for teachers, the risk is extremely minimal.

Our rising 2nd grade daughter participated in the recovery of learning summer program, and while the teacher did the best she could, the program was an example of why virtual learning does not work, particularly for a younger age group. There was no connection or engagement between the students or between the students and the teacher. Even with small groups set up, our daughter's specific academic level was not addressed. Her progress report was based on work she completed in an app, which was also not set up to her specific level. Even lexia that was supposed to adjust, did not adjust appropriately.

Anything other than full time in person instruction would pose a significant financial hardship to our family. My salary has already been reduced significantly due to economic impacts of covid-19. My husband is actually a principal of a neighboring school district, therefore has no flexibility in his schedule. I could not effectively work from home while teaching my children at home and could not take a leave of absence without losing my job permanently.

2020/07/20 9:50:06 AM AST Midlothian I do not have a set choice for school reopening yet because of a lack of understanding on how each would be executed. However, I would like to share some of my concerns and thoughts about both, in-person and online teaching.

In-person teaching would be ideal as this is how children learn best - with their peers. After our experience in the spring, I have doubts how content can be successfully relayed online.

At the same time I worry that too many teachers will choose to switch to “safer options” (i.e. teaching small groups of students while working as a nanny), leaving the school system with too few talented teachers to adequately teach the remaining students.

I also worry about the level of continuity a hybrid model can offer. Will the teacher be prepared to switch to all online teaching if a student in the class is ill? What happens to the class if the teacher is sick?

Another concern about the hybrid model is that only providing the students with two days of teacher support per week while leaving them to independent learning on the other three days is not enough. Children need a better routine and daily teacher support.

2020/07/20 9:50:20 AM AST Matoaca Will teachers be provided with cleaning supplies in order to clean in between classes? How much time will be extended to teachers to go to the bathroom, clean their classrooms, and fill up their water bottles in between classes? All while dodging students in the hallway?

2020/07/20 9:51:27 AM AST Midlothian My name is Reagan McAdams and I am a rising sophomore at Midlothian High School. I understand that in the near future, a decision regarding reopening schools is to be made. I feel that we should return to school in some shape or form in the fall. I feel like there are many precautions that can be put into place in the return to school to help protect staff and students. In this scenario, the downsides of being home have far out-weighted the positives. In conversation with peers, being home for this long has taken a toll on myself as well as others mentally. We as a student body have done all of the understanding necessary. We understand that it is a dangerous virus, we understand the precautions needed to be taken, but I also understand that some students rely on school everyday as an outlet, the staff at school is their way to receive counseling and help, by not going back to school it has taken away from that. Student's parents rely on their children going to school so they can work and provide for their families. I understand all of the dangers of the virus, but there are just as many dangers and downsides for student's not going back to school in the fall. I hope you take my opinion into consideration when making your decision. Thank you.

2020/07/20 9:54:39 AM AST Midlothian Should you decide on any type in in-person instruction, please outline for us what the protocol will be should any student or teacher later test positive for the virus. Will the entire class then have to be quarantined (and move to virtual learning for at least that period)? If it is a student that rides the bus, what about any students that he came in contact with on the bus and those students' classes?

Speaking of buses, given that we have already been understaffed with buses, sitting 3 to a seat and still needing double-backs, what is the plan for proper distancing on the bus, while also getting students to school in a time-efficient manner (ie: not having multiple double-backs). And how will this be enforced; surely, we cannon expect a bus driver to safely drive a bus while also having to monitor children's seating arrangements, touching, mask-wearing, etc?

2020/07/20 9:54:49 AM AST Midlothian I support a 5 day per week in-person option for return to school.

29 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/20 9:55:03 AM AST Dale The school district has been unable to satisfactorily manage even transportation effectively, poor management has led to poor morale, Covid19 is only going to make it even more difficult when trying to force people into a building they don't feel comfortable occupying with so many people. I believe if you require in-school attendance, you will see increased morale issues, and many school employees will either quit, or not show up for work. Distance learning will become the requirement, even if it doesn't start that way, planning to open schools will be a waste of time and money in the long run, focus should be on distance learning now.

2020/07/20 9:57:06 AM AST Bermuda Recent data shows children under 10 are less likely to spread Covid-19. Why has CCPS not considered a different solution for elementary school children? One solution across the board doesn't make sense. Virtual for older children is different than for our elementary school children and I'm disappointed in CCPS.

2020/07/20 10:00:38 AM AST Dale I am a parent of a child that requires instructional time in a classroom setting. Virtual learning has a low accountability factor for students. I would respectfully request a vote for option 4B. I think this option has a feature to keep students and staff safe and give those students who require in person learning the best solution at these uncertain times.

2020/07/20 10:00:41 AM AST Midlothian Hello, please vote to give parents a choice to send our kids to school. I am sick over the thought of 100% virtual. This decision will be so damaging to our children and the entire family. 100% virtual does not work. We have high speed internet and between everyone working from home, it was impossible for my kids to download anything on their chrome books. Not to mention the mental toll it take on everyone by being home constantly. We are in complete support of 100% in person learning (5 days a week). Please vote for in person school. This will ruin chesterfield county if we lose our wonderful school system. Please give the parents a choice! Thank you for your hard work and time. Louanne Tatum James River High School Robious Middle School

2020/07/20 10:00:51 AM AST Matoaca I support a full, in-person 5 day per week re-opening of schools. As an elementary school principal in a neighboring county, as well as a parent of a kindergartner and second grader, one of whom participated in the recovery of learning summer program, I can say virtual learning absolutely does not work for this age group.

The negative impacts of students not being in school far outweigh the minuscule risk to the average child or adult from this virus. Not only will students be behind academically, their mental, emotional, and social well-being is in jeopardy.

Additionally, my children not being in school has caused significant mental and financial strain on my family. I have little to no job flexibility, and my wife could not effectively do her job while parenting and managing virtual learning. Additionally, we've already experienced a covid-related salary reduction.

Though my children live in a stable household, I would be remiss not to mention the many students in chesterfield county whose only safe place is school and whose only meals come from school. (The provided meal service still requires someone to drive to pick up the meals). These students are already at such a disadvantage, and eliminating in person school leaves them even further behind.

2020/07/20 10:01:06 AM AST Clover Hill Virtual learning is the only safe option! January is when schools should reopen to in person teaching if there is a vaccine, numbers are drastically reduced for positive tests, and schools actually have a plan in place for cleaning, bathroom breaks, eating, and teaching students in a safe manner without having to worry about all of the complications Covid presents to all of us daily!

2020/07/20 10:01:10 AM AST Clover Hill Dear School board, My wife Is medical professional We both have a large amount of concerns! I work on a Covid 19 unit, Most importantly I would request that a free virtual option be added to give all families a choice. If we are to be sent into the building it is important that six feet be maintained at all times, no matter what. When I look at all the things needed for safety I find it hard to believe students will be successful. Face coverings will most likely be removed and used as a toy which will take instructional time from the other students, It is unlikely that we will have enough bus space to maintain a physical distance, and it is highly dangerous to send teachers over 55 into the building. While the death rate is low, please pay attention to the research: Covid is leaving long term effects on children and adults including diminished lung capacity, heart diseases and neurological disorders . This virus is to dangerous to children and teachers at risk who must go home to older adults. Please make the right decision, lives depend on it.

2020/07/20 10:01:31 AM AST Midlothian I am on day 8 of my wait for Covid-19 test results. Apparently 10 or more days is now common in the area. I do not understand how in-person education will work with teachers in quarantine for this long after fevers or coughs or any of the other covid symptoms. I know we have a shortage of teachers after all so I cannot see how, even if you ignore illness and insist on teachers coming in with fevers or coughs, a closure in fall may be avoided. Some will be too sick to work after all. Continuity is important . I think starting virtually - with teachers given the time to plan for it - may be better than the chaos of pandemic in the classroom. A virtual start may give us the best chance of opening later to in person instruction as well.

2020/07/20 10:02:06 AM AST Unsure It is better to have one year of virtual learning and struggle then to risk one year of sick or deceased kids, family members, and teachers.

2020/07/20 10:02:54 AM AST Midlothian My first concern as a parent is the health of my children. I know they need an education and to be with other children, but if that cannot be done safely then I would rather have them home to do online classes. I am sure some parents want their children to go full time but I would be scared and just could not live with myself if something were to happen to them. Until this virus is under control and the number of cases are under 10 a day. I just do not feel comfortable sending my children to full time school. I know they may not want that but their health is my priority.

2020/07/20 10:03:53 AM AST Matoaca Can you please consider having teachers stream their class so kids can be in class but participating virtually.

2020/07/20 10:04:12 AM AST Unsure It is better to have one year of virtual learning and struggle then to risk one year of sick or deceased kids, family members, and teachers.

2020/07/20 10:05:25 AM AST Midlothian Please go virtual the first 9 weeks. There is not sufficient data to make an informed decision if the children and staff are safe in large groups. I work in residential services for Medicaid and have seen group homes and residential placements explode with covid cases, with children and teens passing to one another. They are NOT immune to doing so and their adult staff will be at risk. We all want our children back at school but only when it’s safe.

2020/07/20 10:05:34 AM AST Bermuda Virtual only

2020/07/20 10:06:28 AM AST Midlothian It seems that the teachers’ biggest argument for not wanting to go back is fear of proper sanitation on the school’s part, not of operating under cdc guidelines. After all, many of us have returned to high risk workplaces and use personal precautions.

Simply make a plan for all cdc guidelines to be met at our schools. Let’s do this!

My children cannot be on screens for 100% of their learning. It’s unhealthy a and we can do better. I want our tax dollars can be used for in person instruction in some form.

Thank you

2020/07/20 10:07:27 AM AST Matoaca We support a hybrid instructional model where students attend even if it just 1 day per week. 1 day of in-person instruction will benefit students more than fully virtual/remote instruction. Parents of students who attend school in-person could sign an assumption of risk form.

If students are to start the school year in a fully remote/virtual setting, please consider the following: 1. Ensure that the established grading practices will be in place for students to hold them accountable. I have high schoolers who will not take remote/virtual instruction seriously if grades are not given.

2. Please do not make a decision now that will be in place for the entire school year. Please re-evaluate the situation as we move towards hybrid after the first quarter. Students in general have suffered so much, especially high schoolers. They need a return to as normal a school experience as possible. Depression among teenagers is a huge concern. Please ensure that no student "gets lost" and have teachers check in with students on a weekly if not daily basis.

Thank you for your consideration, Zane and Cindy Reasoner

2020/07/20 10:08:15 AM AST Clover Hill I am the mother of 2 Chesterfield students. Rising 5th and 7th CBG. Last year I was thrilled with the way the year was going. The teachers were amazing and I could not say enough about them. Then spring hit and they went virtual. Their hands were tied and the education became a joke. The teachers were as frustrated as the kids and since there was no accountability, the work was busy at best. I mention doing virtual to my 5th grader and her anxiety goes up, she starts crying and says she wants to go back to school. My 7th grader just wants to go back. The virtual did not work. It was a joke. There will be nothing different in the fall from the spring if you do virtual. I know this. I have lived in Chesterfield my entire life. Spring will be a repeat and my kids and all kids will learn minimal. I understand there are parents who want virtual. This should be a parents options and decision not a political decision which it will be. Give the option to parents.

2020/07/20 10:08:29 AM AST Midlothian Please only return to school live when we know it is safe. The science indicates that we are not at that point. Let’s make the first 9 weeks virtual and save lives.

2020/07/20 10:08:47 AM AST Midlothian PLEASE keep our kids virtual for at least the first quarter! Special needs kids should be allowed to return if the parents feel it's necessary but the that's plenty of exposure at this point. Hybrid and all in/all out options create a HUGE issue for parents with joint legal custody and varying vulnerabilities! Please consider the legal and logistical implications for this population as well!

2020/07/20 10:10:12 AM AST Dale As a working parent to a special needs student in 5th grade and a special needs student in Kindergarten- virtual learning is NOT feasible. Our children do NOT focus well on learning at home and do NOT succeed with it, no matter what strategies we use. Chesterfield should consider their youngest learners and their special education students- successful learning isn't done from home for these children. Look at Bedford County for a model that will work. If parents want their kids in school and transportation is a concern- only provide it for the special education children.

2020/07/20 10:12:06 AM AST Clover Hill While I know my child would love to be in school full time in the fall, I recognize that this may not be the safest option to allow for social distancing and school cleaning. I am writing to request that if online learning is a part of the plans for school re-opening, that additional training be provided to teachers to improve the quality of the online learning experience. The quality of the online learning experience has been disappointing and from speaking with other parents, not consistent throughout the district. I understand that this is new to most teachers, and I hope CCPS is helping improve the online learning experience through teacher training. I encourage CCPS to provide textbooks to help parents facilitate helping their students which is difficult when all instruction is through hours of online videos without any written material provided. I intend to keep my children enrolled in CCPS because I understand the potential loss in funding for the district, but will be supplementing through homeschooling programs especially for my son who will be a kindergartner. I encourage all parents who are considering homeschooling to think about the implications of a reduced student population on CCPS funding and keep their students enrolled while supplementing with the homeschooling.

I will have two children at two different elementary schools (one attends CBG). If alternating school days is the plan, will parents have input on which days the students attend school? It would be difficult for us the pick up from two different elementary schools at the same time as I do not intend on having the children ride the bus because of safety concerns. I am sure there are many parents who will have varying requests like this which will make returning to school difficult. Thank you for taking your time to read my comments and carefully consider how to best safely re-open schools.

2020/07/20 10:13:04 AM AST Matoaca Whatever decision the school board make please consider most classroom windows don't open. Would it be possible to have them open? Please consider having HEPA air purifier for each classroom and a dedicated cleaning person for each grade level to clean during the day. And have PPE available if staff need it. I'm concerned about the teachers and staff members. If they get sick we are back at square one. Thanks

2020/07/20 10:14:35 AM AST Matoaca Good evening. I am a working mother of two boys—a rising kindergartener and rising 2nd grader. I wish to share with you our experience with the ROL program this summer and why parents must be given a choice as to how their children receive an education during this time. My husband and I both work full time (nurse and police officer). Our children have been in a care setting since March. Neither care setting they have been in has had the ability to work with our oldest and facilitate virtual learning class meetings/sessions. The program this summer has been less than meaningful. Lexia and Dreambox are in no way meant to substitute for in-person instruction. They are meant to supplement the very instruction that my child has been unable to participate in due to my job. As a result, and at no fault of his own, he has fallen substantially behind his peers who have been afforded the ability to have a parent at home to facilitate this. We cannot ignore the plight of children whose parents work outside the home. Let’s call virtual education what it really is: virtually no education. As the risk management slides point out, we CAN open schools in a safe manner if we choose to make this a priority. Please consider all children and teachers and vote for a hybrid plan that allows for a compromise solution and allows parents to decide how their children receive an education.

2020/07/20 10:14:45 AM AST Matoaca Virtual learning is not in the best interest of all the students. It may work for some but definitely not for all. In person school not only benefits them academically but socially as well. I am a Registered Nurse and realize how tough a decision this is. PLEASE let the parents decide what is best for their children and family.

2020/07/20 10:15:34 AM AST Matoaca As a former student and teacher in CCPS, now a stay at home mom with 3 children in 3 different schools in CCPS, I understand the decision about the upcoming school year is not an easy one. There are so many things to consider in regards to the current data for our area, social distancing for our students, teachers, children who need special education services, meals, a safe place to go to each day, buses, etc. I appreciate the county prioritizing keeping our students and teachers safe. Based on the current data for our area, it is my hope that students can return to school in person in September either full time or part time with an option for virtual learning for those not comfortable sending their children back to school in person. I understand that some teachers are not comfortable returning to school in person due to caring for older parents or being a person who may be considered high risk. My concern is, if we wait until a vaccine is available before returning to school, it could be indefinite. Many professions have had to continue to work due to being essential (doctors, nurses, police officers, grocery store cashiers, etc). Our teachers are essential. At some point, our society has to learn to navigate life with this virus since it's not going away anytime soon using the proper precautions. A hybrid model of in person and virtual learning would be a great place to start for the first semester and reevaluate as necessary. I know that whatever decision the school board comes to will not make everyone happy and will not work for everyone, but we will continue to support CCPS no matter what. It's an impossible position to be in and unprecedented.

2020/07/20 10:16:59 AM AST Matoaca Virtual is the safe way for our children and staff. It is your responsibility to care for our community and do what is best. As the spouse of a teacher, parent of students and a healthcare professional I strongly feel it would be negligent to send them back at this point. Those stating ‘teachers are lazy’, I don’t think realize teaching virtually is actually more work for them. I also feel this complete virtual option will not require time for cleaning and ultimately will provide students more instruction time every day. Those arguing the data/cases aren’t affecting children as much, are selfish and don’t think of the staff who will be teaching and caring for the children OR the adults they could all carry it home to from a school building including the grandparents their family may be caring for. When there are positive COVID-19 cases in schools, as we have been assured there will be...will the whole class, bus drivers and teacher be quarantined for 14 days? If so, do you have substitutes lined up for teachers and bus drivers? It could be a domino effect leading to ultimate virtual again but causing harm along the way, choose the safe choice. Start virtual and lower the number of our CCPS family that will have COVID-19.

2020/07/20 10:17:51 AM AST Midlothian We must have our kids go to school in person to get a proper education and to prepare them for college. I understand that it will have to be different due to COVID-19. Other districts and states are doing in person instruction at least part of the time. My husband and I work full time jobs, so we are not able to teach our children at home. The work they completed in the spring showed us that it would be impossible. The technology is confusing and we were not able to figure out what work they were supposed to complete. Even before that, I had to hire a tutor (who was a teacher at school) to help my son understand Canvas. After paying hundreds of dollars, he still was confused and could not figure out where his homework was or what materials he needed to study. My son has ADHD and there is no way we can work full time jobs and make sure he is getting his work completed. It is also imperative that kids have social interactions. My daughter became very depressed when in-person school was cancelled. What are you planning to do when our children are having mental health issues because of the isolation?

Instead of full time online learning, they should at least go to school in small groups for several days a week or weeks on and off. Many counties in Virginia and North Carolina are implementing this method. Please listen to your constituents and the results from the survey sent out by the county to help make your decision. The majority want in-person learning and we can do it safely if we set up a hybrid schedule. Thank you.

30 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/20 10:19:04 AM AST Matoaca There is a school board decision tonight about what schools will look like in the fall. I had been for some sort of hybrid schedule so that my son could have some sort of normal senior year, I of course know it's not all about my child. I want to do what is best for the greater good. I feel like as a parent I was not informed well enough by the county exactly what these options would look like in practice. I think in a normal world kids belong in school and I fully believe in public education. My kids have received an excellent education by Chesterfield County by extraordinary teachers who invested in them individually. What did not work for us was the way school was conducted at the end of last year, but I have many friends in education and have learned that a hybrid model will look MORE like the end of last year rather than looking more like a normal year. A totally virtual experience will allow the student to be in front of their teacher for every class with the whole class and will actually be MORE like a normal year than a hybrid model. Once I had more accurate information, I have changed my mind on this issue. If we have completely virtual for this semester we are far more likely to be able to have a normal second semester. A hybrid model will have our kids even further behind than they already are. They will likely not have a teacher on the days at home because the teacher will be with her in school class, they cannot teach themselves, a virtual model puts a teacher in front of students everyday. As far as social interaction, let's be real, todays kids are totally fine having virtual social interactions... a few more months won't hurt their social development. Everyone has their own circumstances, we have ours with schedules and special considerations but I can say once I had better information I have changed my mind. I think a virtual experience is better for the students, community and teachers and gives us a greater chance of returning to normal for the second semester.

2020/07/20 10:20:56 AM AST Clover Hill I fully support virtual for a semester

2020/07/20 10:22:27 AM AST Clover Hill I think for the safety of not only the children, but also for the teachers and other staff as well, Chesterfield Schools should remained closed. Virtual learning seems to be the safest option for all involved for the upcoming school year. Expecting children to wear masks 6+ hours a day and keeping distant from their friends seems like an impossibility. What about children with disabilities? Asthma? Autism? These children will have a much harder time. I understand it will be hard for parents, but these are not normal times. We don't know the long term effects of Covid. I would not feel safe sending my child off to school even if there were safety measures in place.

2020/07/20 10:22:37 AM AST Midlothian If a hybrid schedule is happening, it is important that both my kids have the same schedule. One is in elementary and the other in middle. If it’s every other day, every other week, half day... whatever is chosen... I can’t have my kids on opposite schedules. Please try and keep all families on the same schedule.

2020/07/20 10:23:45 AM AST Midlothian We are opposed to 100% virtual classes. It is not healthy or effective for the students. Also, working parents will also suffer.

2020/07/20 10:24:13 AM AST Bermuda I feel very torn about the decision of whether to open our schools in September and I do not envy your position right now. I have two children in Chesterfield schools. I am grateful that you all are willing to take on this huge responsibility and I am hopeful that you will do the very best you can to make a safe decision for our community based on the most solid information possible. I know that parents who cannot work from home would benefit from having schools open and that the children probably would benefit emotionally from that option. I know that in person instruction would be much better for my children from a strictly academic perspective. However, I am also very aware of the risk that creates for the children, the teachers, and staff. Any deaths or serious long term health outcomes from COVID are too many. My concern is that it does not appear that we have the resources to take the measures we would need to take in order to reopen safely. We already had a shortage of bus drivers and problems with transportation; staggered start times would only be possible with more buses and drivers. Increasing distance between students desks will create a need for more classrooms, more buildings, more teachers - we don't have that. We can't create those resources quickly, and from what I understand, we don't have the money to pay for those things. Increased sanitizing requires more custodial staff and resources. A solution that alternates days requires our teachers to develop, implement, and monitor both in person and online instruction. That is asking a lot from our wonderful teachers. I believe that they would do everything they could to make it work, but I am not sure it is fair of us to ask that of them on top of the health risk we are asking of them and their families. I don't know what the right answer is, but I want you to know that I support the hard work you are doing to try to figure it out. Please prioritize the health and safety of our students, teachers and staff.

2020/07/20 10:24:18 AM AST Unsure Give us a choice. Students should be able to attend school this school year.

2020/07/20 10:25:28 AM AST Matoaca What about the single mothers who are the only suppliers of income to sustain their household? How are we supposed to devote enough time to help teach our children virtually but also sustain a job? BOTH OF THESE ARE A JOB! What about the students who have IEP plans and depend on these services to “not leave them behind”

2020/07/20 10:26:00 AM AST Unsure Going back to school would be more beneficial as students can ask teachers about any questions they may have about work and cause less confusion than online

2020/07/20 10:26:31 AM AST Matoaca You have all heard from me many times over the last few weeks. I am asking for a choice to send my children to school 5 days a week while offering a choice of 100% virtual for others. Just as Hanover County has done. I sent VDH data to you all this morning through 7/18. That data supports a choice to return to school. The positivity rate has continued to decline in VA even as we have gone into Phase 3. The hospitals are under control. All things we were asked to do when we shut schools in March. We have heard from doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals that children need to be in school. We have heard from risk management that a return to the schools can happen while we still mitigate Covid's risk. If we have science to support re-opening schools why are we fighting so hard to just have a choice? We have to look at all of the information to make an informed decision we can't listen to some and ignore others. We also cannot say the disease is going to kill one child and not consider the countless other things that might kill a child if they don't return to school. How is one child more important than another? The scientist have been very vocal about that. I have heard the term "only when it's safe." What does that mean? Where is that line? We take risk everyday. Not one day of our lives is 100% safe. So using that logic we will never return to school. We can access our own risk and make choices. We are educated adults and need to put all other things aside to work together to give a choice of what works best for our children, safely of course. As educated adults we have the responsibility to educate our children in the best way we see fit to ensure they have a prosperous future.

2020/07/20 10:26:47 AM AST Dale Please choose in classrooms, either full or part time.

2020/07/20 10:28:10 AM AST Midlothian Please reopen schools. Please listen to the science and not the fear based teachers union. The great majority of parents (82%) and at least half of teachers wish to return to school. Of the teachers who don’t wish to return, id be willing to wager most would if their pay was at stake.

If a teacher does not feel comfortable returning to school, she can take FMLA or look for another job. This is a free country and everyone has that choice. It is also not fair to citizens who have to work to place the extra burden of keeping their kids at home, missing work themselves, and/or paying more for child care while letting teachers conduct virtual school. I say this as the husband of a teacher in the county.

Reasonable people know that virtual is not even close to a comparable product to in school instruction. In what other line of work can a worker be paid indefinitely for say, 25% of the work product? Why do we need as many teachers if we are doing virtual? We could get away with maybe half the teachers and have the same product. Why should the taxpayers have to Subsidize teachers who choose not to work when the taxpayers have to live In the new reality we are in? Does the teachers union get to define the scope of their members’ employment henceforth?

This is a time for bold leadership. Hanover and Goochland have taken steps to reopen. Please reopen Chesterfield.

Lastly, I know this must be very difficult on a personal level for you to have to make this decision. There are teachers saying you are sending them to their deaths. I would suggest that you are not—not any more so than if we reopen they died in a car accident on the way to work. They can choose to not work. Please listen to your constituents. We will support you. The bottom line is this: The best thing for our kids is to reopen schools!

2020/07/20 10:28:40 AM AST Unsure I am an SPED teacher at Grange Hall Elementary. I am also a parent of a Manchester HS student. I am concerned about the safety of my daughter, my students, and myself. While both my daughter and my students learn better in the classroom, it is not worth risking someone getting sick to meet in person. Please place health and well being above all else when making your decision today. Thank you.

2020/07/20 10:31:13 AM AST Unsure I have a special needs son and Chesterfield County Schools have failed my child. He has regressed further than I knew possible without any services. We work with him on a daily basis. We tried virtual connections with his teacher, but it did not work. His therapists didn't even try to reach out to provide any type of support for my child during the school closing. Also my husband has had to quit his job to help with our son because no day cares are willing to take care of our son during the day and we have to work. We eventually will lose our home and our life as we know it without his income, but we have no other options. The county needs to go back full time. I understand there is risk but precautions can be taken. Our family has already had the virus, so we know how it feels and how hard it is to make it past it. I don't make my statements lightly. Chesterfield County needs to offer a fully in person learning for special needs students. These children are the voiceless and someone needs to be their voice.

2020/07/20 10:35:08 AM AST Matoaca I am a Speech Language Pathologist at CCPS elementary schools. I work with preschoolers as well as many young elementary schoolers. The nature of my job makes it impossible (for the students or me) to wear face masks and stay 6 ft apart. Therefore it would be completely irresponsible to do in-person Speech Language therapy at this time. 100% ”Virtual therapy” or ”teletherapy” is the ONLY safe alternative until we get a Covid-19 vaccine and can safely return to the school environment.

2020/07/20 10:35:35 AM AST Midlothian My husband and I both work to contribute to the community and pay our taxes to the schools. For many reasons that I know you all know very well, schools are an ESSENTIAL community service. I would like to strongly state the decision for in-person or virtual attendance is a decision for individual families, NOT the school board.

People all across this state have returned to jobs everyday despite the virus. In fact, my husband and my jobs required IN PERSON attendance throughout this pandemic (and no, neither of us have had COVID). The public education system is always quick to tout their importance to society but how this is all being handled makes me wonder. It's disheartening to see teachers complaining all over social media about the prospect of going to school to perform their job. They should be lucky that they were paid for March-June when MANY others were furloughed or laid off.

Is there any clear evidence that it is unsafe to go back to school in-person? To the contrary, there IS a growing base of evidence that it is SAFE to go back in-person. Any decision by the school board is irrational and not based on anything but fear and threats of CEA. I will be very disappointed in that that we have put into leadership positions.

2020/07/20 10:36:38 AM AST Midlothian Chesterfield has failed to adequately educate students during this time of COVID-19. My teenage son needs to return to school in some capacity in the fall because AP and dual enrollment classes cannot be taught remotely.

2020/07/20 10:38:52 AM AST Dale Virtual will not work for Elementary students. They are too young to be attentive at home. This is a disaster and will not educate them sufficiently. They need a teacher to guide them. I have 3 grandchildren all under age 8. How can you expect the family to help teach them. We are not teachers.

2020/07/20 10:40:53 AM AST Matoaca How will specialty schools be successful if taught virtually? Mainly the technical tracks. And how will the buses maintain social distancing?

2020/07/20 10:41:59 AM AST Midlothian Thanks for all you do though our family feels that the choice to send our children to school should be left up to us. Please don't take that option away from our families. A core function of government is to provide educational services to its citizens though we need to have the option. What's the win/win? Thanks.

2020/07/20 10:42:15 AM AST Midlothian At what point do we realize if the kids dont go back we are doing the kids a disservice for their future. They deserve more.

2020/07/20 10:42:20 AM AST Midlothian (Excerpts from https://medium.com/poponhops/rockin-the-boat-8e7214de519d)

It's time to think about real, workable solutions that balance a healthy concern for our children’s future, a manageable family dynamic, and the well-being of our schools’ workforce. That begins with all of us talking about what’s at stake. And not trading sassy social media memes that invite return fire instead of healthy dialogue.

We need more than ideas born from stifling Excel spreadsheets or flung around by SurveyMonkey results. Instead, we need to brainstorm & channel the type of raw ideation where the union of two terrible ideas can make one game-changing, 11th-hour fix.

For example, what if we take the top down — treating schools like a convertible Chrysler LeBaron on a sunny day. We all had that cool high school teacher who smelled like patchouli and would occasionally bring the classroom to the shady spot below a couple of oak trees while he meditated, right? With the science showing that gathering outside is far safer than congregating inside, why not carve out a few dozen outdoor learning locations on school campuses? I get it. Sometimes it rains, and eventually, it gets cold. Not having a desk or electricity can be an inconvenience. But even with social distance, masks & a dog barking in the background, occasional outdoor learning has to be better than staring at fuzzy, dime-sized pictures of classmates all day.

Or let’s say we go 100-percent virtual. Let’s rethink how we’re virtually teaching from the ground up. We have plenty of Product and IT whizzes working in Silicon Valley start-ups and companies in our own backyard. How about we create some incentives for the private sector to channel their collective brainpower to bang out some really intuitive platforms for students.

Perhaps we simply need to delay any school for a few weeks or months just to be sure we’re approaching reopening in the most thoughtful way possible.

The more ideas we can generate, the better. Soon the good ones mesh together, the bad ones fade away. And we’re on our way to something that works better than the current menu of polarizing options.

There’s a chance there is no magic bullet. But at least we will have tried. And that act of purging every pent-up emotion might just bring us closer together — but still within CDC guidelines. It might be enough to ensure that this generation of kids will one day look back and believe that we did our best. Because we will, right?

2020/07/20 10:42:23 AM AST Clover Hill Our kids need to be in school! We have a 5th grader. Virtual learning may work for high school students, but at the elementary level, they are not getting instruction. They are getting assignments. I am not a teacher. I would hope that I am less qualified to teach my child than our teachers are. An hour here or there on a zoom call, and some posted assignments, does not replace in person instruction. In addition, every study so far has shown that Covid is less dangerous than the flu for people under the age of 40. Several studies have shown that children do not shed the virus enough to infect adults. The science is clear that this is not a major safety risk for children. Perhaps we could send the children to school with young student teacher proxy's in the classroom, and let the teachers zoom in if they are at risk. That way kids can get socialization, and not fall behind. I am very concerned that our daughter will end up at least a year behind in social and academic development versus her peers in schools that are opening. If the decision is made to keep schools closed or partially closed, I am expecting a significant tax savings this year. Is the county considering the cost savings of not opening buildings full time, and will that cost savings be returned to the taxpayers? I haven't heard of that. So, if that is the case, are we expected to fund the schools as if they were open, while not benefiting from the in person instruction we are paying for?

2020/07/20 10:43:01 AM AST Bermuda As you make this difficult decision, my concerns are for the children whose parents work two or three jobs and will not be able to provide support or supervision. The children who come from trauma-filled homes, that if given the choice, they would risk coming to school. They would take the chance to be in a place where they feel the safest and most loved and cared for. Education is one of the few things that allow any person, no matter what class or race, to have the opportunity to be successful in life. Schools teach children that hard work and a positive attitude will be rewarded. In a world where computers and electronic devices already monopolize our children's time, schools give our students the necessary break to continue to develop social relationships with adults and peers, to problem solve with others, and develop bonds that cannot exist as easily through virtual learning. In a world that has been turned upside down, our children and students need some normalcy and routine in their lives again. Thank you for your consideration.

2020/07/20 10:43:09 AM AST Matoaca I believe that due to the Covid pandemic that it is too risky for both students and faculty inside buildings. Most teachers have been in quarantine since March, attempting to stay as safe as possible by limiting time spent in doors. All virtual learning is the safest possible course without furthering this epidemic anymore. Yesterday, the positivity rate was 7.6 and that will increase with school opening!

2020/07/20 10:46:17 AM AST Dale In 2016, the school I taught at received a series of threats of gun violence. They told us what day they would be at our school and what weapons they would use. My mother asked me if I should take the day off work, if it was worth putting myself in danger. I responded, "if my students are unsafe, I have to be with them now more than ever." And I went to work.

Today, our schools are faced with a new threat. This threat won't tell us what day it will show up. This threat is invisible, unknown, and as of yet unstoppable.

While I have come to terms with the possibility of blocking my students from a bullet, I know that I am entirely unarmed against COVID-19. Even the sacrifice of my own life will do nothing to protect my students, their families, or our community. I cannot shield my students from the physical trauma of being sick, or the emotional trauma of watching a relative or loved one get sick and potentially die.

Today, I face the reality that the only way to ensure my students' physical and emotional safety is to not be with them in-person. This is a reality that breaks my heart. I miss my students. I miss high fives and hugs. I miss normal. But regardless of the option the board chooses, we won't get normal. We won't get fist bumps and handshakes. We won't get small groups and lunch bunches. The only positive option we have is the option that provides us our highest chance of safety so that when we finally get back to normal, we're all still here to do so.

Please, for the sake of normal, vote for option 6.

31 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/20 10:47:22 AM AST Clover Hill Two key points that are still of great concern. There seems to be a big push for virtual learning however this completely discounts the notion that parents will also be home to oversee and support this type of learning. Many, if not the majority of parents are returning to their brick and mortar places of employment on some level and some like myself, are in healthcare or considered essential and never worked from home during this entire pandemic. Therefore the solution for me would be to put my child in daycare and I suspect many other working parents will find themselves in the same situation. How is a daycare any better for a child than a school setting? Additionally, I would like to see a some type of “letter of intent” from parents as to who is ACTUALLY sending their child to school this fall because until you’re working with real numbers with regards to number of students attending I feel it is difficult to make necessary arrangements for returning students. I am 100% in favor of 4 -day in person learning for students with Wednesday as a remote learning and super cleaning day for custodians. There are countless reasons why it is imperative for these children to be in the classroom and it can be done in a safe manner. As educators, I can’t imagine anyone feels this is a good solution to educate in a virtual and remote setting. While I appreciate the efforts of all teachers and staff, this simply is not a good alternative to learning. I’d like to see face shields suggested for children rather than masks as I think they’ll have a much higher compliance rate and ease for teachers as well to assist and not risk cross contamination. Additionally I truly believe the responsibility needs to be placed on the parents to ensure their child is healthy and should be done by parents taking their child’s temperature and submitting an affidavit EACH with such information. I realize these are difficult times and difficult decisions need to be reached but it is my hope that sound reasoning and judgement will be utilized as these decisions are being made and that we as a county will not just follow the herd of many others and confirm to what the majority are doing “just because”.

2020/07/20 10:48:26 AM AST Matoaca My child attempted virtual learning this summer through the ROL program. On paper, it may seem that it's working well and she's doing great. However, my child is falling apart. These programs are meant as a supplement to education, they are by no means a replacement for real teachers in a real school setting. Early education involves skills that can not be replicated through a computer screen. My daughter has ADHD and anxiety and cannot learn properly through in a virtual setting. Please allow us a CHOICE for in person education. If you vote for virtual-only, you leave behind children like mine... what happened to "No Child Left Behind"? A virtual-only vote will mean we have no option but to withdraw my child from CCPS, which is not something we want to do. But I can't let my daughter get left behind. Your constituents have spoken! 82% want our kids in school! Many teachers want to return as well, but they have been silenced by the loud minority. Please speak for your constituents! We want a choice! Our children -- our choice!

2020/07/20 10:48:56 AM AST Unsure 100% online learning

2020/07/20 10:49:26 AM AST Matoaca Schools need to open regularly. I work in law enforcement and my wife is an ER nurse and we haven’t had a break since February. To add to it we are now schooling our 6 year old 1st grader to be. We have a child due any day now and the thoughts of how we are going to manage childcare are a burden. We cannot afford two children in childcare and cannot quit our jobs or telework. The fact that teachers would refuse to come to work should be grounds for termination as it would be with our careers. If schools don’t open then I demand my 54% of my property taxes back so I can get my child a real education elsewhere. This distance learning is not helping my child and I really worry for her future.

2020/07/20 10:49:28 AM AST Matoaca It truly is disheartening to read comments, see arguments that are fear mongering falsehoods. The science and professiona'ls advice is clear on children's need to return in person. The push to manipulate numbers in a political pissing match using our children as collateral damage is truly deplorable. A choice like Hanover where children can go 5 days per week or stay home 5 days per week makes sense. You're afraid...keep them home, but do not push that fear on others. The 2 week original shut down was to flatten a curve, not control the lives of citizens for months. The damage to forgotten children will be irreparable. Sports and school keep children off of the streets. Abuse cases go noticed. These decisions will literally change some children's life course and it is unfair. There are viruses. Bacterial infections, fatal illnesses everywhere. Give the teachers necessary cleaning supplies, let those in high risk categories choose to stay home. But foster our children's growth with in person school

2020/07/20 10:49:56 AM AST Matoaca FULL VIRTUAL LEARNING

2020/07/20 10:50:18 AM AST Matoaca When we should send our children to school is a very difficult decision. We can only imagine how challenging and difficult this is for school staff. We greatly appreciate all your time and hard work that goes into making this difficult decision. For our family, making this decision depends a lot on what our kids' school day will look like and where we are as a community and country with this pandemic. It would be extremely helpful to know the details of our child’s day and what is going to be done to keep them as safe as possible from catching and spreading this virus. I know these details can not be provided right away. I would like to know what will each of my child’s day look like...how many kids will be in their class, will there be enough room to social distance in each classroom, how many teachers/students will they interact with, will someone be able to help the children maintain social distancing/personal hygiene (i.e. handwashing-especially before meals, after wiping their nose, going to the bathroom). What specifically will the school be doing daily to clean & sanitize? Will teachers be able to disinfect surfaces throughout the day? How often will bathrooms be cleaned? Our school is an old school, the building's condition does not lend well to ventilation, etc. this is concerning. Will bathroom faucets and soap dispensers be fixed and checked daily? Please provide protocol for if a child/staff gets sick. What if another child/staff member travels to a covid hotspot? Will that person be allowed back to school right way?

With virtual learning, please provide some details on what this will look like. How long will children be working online and at the computer? Please provide activities that do not require screen time. Please provide hands on activities as an additional option. How will (& how often will) communications be provided to parents on what students are learning. Please provide information on what teaching methods are being used (i.e. what methods are they being taught to add/subtract), so that parents can help their children when they are struggling. How often will they have interactions with a teacher and have a teacher available to answer questions/help when needed? With virtual learning, will their teachers be teachers from their school? If we choose virtual, could we switch to in-person when we are comfortable? Many thanks to our teachers for all their hard work with virtual learning

2020/07/20 10:50:35 AM AST Matoaca What if a student in your kid's class tests positive? What if your kid tests positive? Does every other student and teacher they have been around quarantine? Do we all get notified who is infected and when? Or because of HIPAA regulations are parents and teachers just going to get mysterious “may have been in contact” emails all year long?

How will it affect students and faculty when the first teacher in their school dies from this? The first parent of a student who brought it home? The first kid? How many more people are going to die, that otherwise would not have if we had stayed home longer?

2020/07/20 10:51:38 AM AST Unsure i personally believe that going fully online would NOT provide a good educational year for students. Allow families to choose whether they want their students to go to school or do virtual. Majority of students are comfortable going to back to school part time.

2020/07/20 10:52:31 AM AST Matoaca As a parent of a rising 4th grader at Winterpock and a rising 6th grader at Swift Creek Middle, I feel students should NOT return to in person learning at this time. Based on rising cases in Chesterfield, I have changed my mind on in person versus virtual learning since the survey was distributed to parents ( I had previously voted for 2 day in person learning days). Even if only 50% of the student population return a day to Winterpock, that is over 600 Students in a building with known HVAC issues and I would definitely not want my child in a learning cottage due to the poor air quality and ventilation in the learning cottages. Middle school students need to change classes and therefore would come into contact with too many individuals to be safe. Please vote to keep our children at home for at least the first semester of this school year. Thank you

2020/07/20 10:53:00 AM AST Unsure I am all for virtual learning, however, something needs to be done for parents whom work full time to be able to stay home and assist their children with education without being penalized.

2020/07/20 10:54:45 AM AST Clover Hill Dear School Board Members,

There is no doubt you are facing a difficult decision whether to return to school and at what capacity or a virtual education.

I would like to offer my thoughts as a mom of four children in CCPS.

1. I am very concerned for the safety of our teachers, administration and students. It seems there are statistics related to children and Covid. But, what are the statistics related to children in a small classroom that is not well ventilated, does not provide hot water, for 6 1/2 hours? We must compare apples to apples when looking at research. 2. What is the plan for in person learning when there has been an exposure to Covid? Who will teach the class? A substitute teacher who has been exposed to various buildings and people? Where will the students go? Will the students now stay home for 14 days? How is that handled with all the exposure possibilities in middle and high school? 3. I am concerned about the restrictions of not leaving the classroom in elementary, trying to connect with a teacher wearing a mask, being prompted over and over to stay 6 feet apart. We would require our children to wear a mask at school, I get concerned if they will feel accepted by their peers and yet another expectation they must met. 4. If a hybrid situation is selected, on the days they do not attend school will they have virtual learning taught by a teacher? 5. If we select year long virtual learning how often will they meet with a teacher? Also, will they be taught each subject everyday? Or meet with a teacher 1/x per day and only cover 1 subject/day?

Thank you for your time and hard work trying to serve our students the best possible way.

2020/07/20 10:55:21 AM AST Midlothian As you make your decision, and whatever that may be, please make sure to establish guidelines to keep the staff and students safe.

Employees at McDonalds and Walmart get screened, temperatures taken, masks required, and cashiers are protected by screens from customers who refuse to wear masks.

As you make your decision, please make sure that my wife, who is a teacher, is at least protected as much as a McDonalds or a Walmart employee is.

2020/07/20 10:55:44 AM AST Dale As a mother of three chesterfield county school students I would prefer my children be given an all virtual class. My kids have not even had a cold since classes ended in March. Between the three someone always seems to come home from school with a cold. If a simple cold can be contacted so easily then the spread of COVID in our schools seems inevitable. Please consider the safety of our future and Keep our children at home for the 20-21 school year!

2020/07/20 10:56:09 AM AST Matoaca Please consider opening school this fall. These children need the structure and face to face learning that being in school provides. I understand the concern with covid but also understand the difficulties working parents will have to face. What happens for those children whose parents are not able to work from home? I’d like to see the Board implement a plan similar to Hanover. Give the option to choose in school or virtual learning, limiting transportation for students, staggered lunch times with students eating lunch in the classroom, masks being worn, social distancing, etc. We cannot allow students to fall further behind and that is what will happen with students having to learn virtually. Virtual learning isn’t the same. I can see the difference with my children already having to learn virtually the last nine weeks of this past school year. Thank you for your time.

2020/07/20 10:56:14 AM AST Midlothian I’m sorry that we’re all being put in this position. To have to make basically potentially life altering decisions. The environment or, “outside” isn’t any less hazardous today than it was in the spring when schools closed. And maybe you can reign in older students like the high school age to balance one small subset of in person class room learning one day with online learning the rest. I feel for parents of younger learners. I have a child myself scheduled to enter kindergarten this year (as well as a high school senior). There are still so many unknowns of this virus. I sure don’t have the right answer but I am wary of classrooms....closed in spaces. I pray for our county. For our teachers, students and administration. Praying for a collective wisdom for safety and wellness for all.

2020/07/20 10:56:23 AM AST Midlothian If the school board doesn’t have children’s education as #1 priority, who does? Meet the guidelines, this isn’t your decision.

2020/07/20 10:57:19 AM AST Dale Please allow all virtual learning for the first semester. I respectfully request that this issue be revisited at a later date to review to current numbers for COVID-19.

2020/07/20 10:58:28 AM AST Midlothian Has anyone addressed ventilation of the schools? How much return air( already breathed air) is recirculated by room air boxes and in older schools how much return air is not exhausted but returned with outside air back thru the main HVAC units into the rooms.

2020/07/20 10:58:46 AM AST Midlothian I look forward to the school board’s thoughtful approach to school in the fall. Not simply an all-or-nothing mindset. Understandingly, bussing will be difficult, however there should be creative solutions, ability to opt-in to children to walking or being dropped off for example. If we are subject to “remote” schooling for our children however, I look forward to more progressive and invested lesson plans with an entire summer to prepare. Teachers interacting with students throughout EACH day, not simply coordinating self-study and jumping on a call once per week.

2020/07/20 10:59:29 AM AST Matoaca As a mother of two elementary school aged children currently doing the Recovery for Learning, I feel an obligation to say that 100% virtual learning is in no way conducive to learning for these children. Besides the lack of social development and the implications mentally of not being in a school setting with other kids your age, these children will also lose so much academically if 100% virtual learning is chosen. These children have suffered enough, please don't let the situation become worse for these children. In addition, full time working parents are suffering as well. We do not have the child care options (daycare or grandparents) available to us and trying to work full time and facilate home school learning results in undo stress on the parent and child. For the sake of our children's development socially and academically, please let in person learning be an option.

2020/07/20 10:59:31 AM AST Midlothian I do not support in person learning during covid

2020/07/20 11:00:12 AM AST Midlothian I am a concerned citizen (a wife, mother, grandmother, neighbor, friend, clergy member of this community) who stands with the Chesterfield Education Association in their statement that any kind of in-person learning is too dangerous since research shows that COVid-19 is highly contagious -- especially indoors. I support their view that 100% virtual learning is the only appropriate solution to keep us all safe at this time. I understand the complexity of the decision and the hardships that any choice will create; however, we must follow the science to help keep everyone safe and to slow the spread of the virus so that eventually in-person learning can resume. Thank you for your consideration.

2020/07/20 11:01:29 AM AST Matoaca I urge our Board Members to postpone the opening of our buildings until we know more about the risks. Personally, my family is considered to be at high risk. My husband and I are both teachers in CCPS and my daughter attends elementary school in Chesterfield. I have an autoimmune disease and am on an immunosuppressant. After speaking to my specialty pharmacist and doctor, both have recommended that no one in my household returns to in person learning due to the threat of disease transmission and the risk that poses to me. There are many families and faculty members who are in the same high risk category as myself. Many of these families also depend on schools to act as child care while they work. By opening schools, I fear that many of these families will be tempted to opt for in-person education for financial reasons, ignoring the health risks, and further spreading the virus, thereby endangering their family’s wellbeing. Furthermore, we don’t know enough about the virus to ensure all students and faculty will be safe. Please keep CCPS CLOSED for any type of in-person learning until we know more. Everyday we are finding out more regarding the spread of Covid-19 in children. The links below are just a few examples of information that has emerged in the past few days. Korean study -65,000 children. Children 10 years – 18 years can spread the disease and may be more likely to spread the disease than adults. - https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/18/health/coronavirus-children-schools.html Texas – 85 children under the age of 2 have tested positive for Covid-19 in one County - https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-texas-85-infants-test-positive/ California – 1,000 new cases of Covid-19 in daycare systems. - https://www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/nearly-a-thousand-covid-19-cases-reported-in-california-daycares/2326813/ Loudoun County, VA – over 100 high school students tested positive after returning from beach week. - https://wtop.com/loudoun-county/2020/06/loudoun-county-concerned-about-recent-coronavirus-cases-among-young-people/ Every teacher that I know would much rather be in the classroom with students than teaching online. However, risking the lives of both the young and the old in Chesterfield County is not worth the risk. Our world is experiencing a Pandemic that is relatively new and the dangers are still unknown. Now is not the time to experiment with opening schools and risking the health of any Chesterfield County resident.

32 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/20 11:02:09 AM AST Bermuda You are faced with a very difficult decision, with no safe or exciting options. Thank you for the intense effort you have made to listen to all points of view, and my prayer is that you will use data and facts to offer the best option for our children, teachers and community. My children are desperately anxious to go back to school as much as possible and that is my leaning as well, though I can understand the hesitancy of some teachers in this situation. I don't see how a hybrid model will limit exposure to the virus any more than a 5 day model, as teachers will be exposed to the same number of students and children will inevitably be around more people on days off. Therefore, my preferences are as follows: 1. full return to school, 2. a week on /week off hybrid model and 3. Two day per week (mon/tue and thur/fri). But whichever option you decide, you must freely admit that there will be some negative consequences, some anticipated and some unintended. So for this reason, many parents are already researching and considering homeschool as an option. The reasoning for many is that there is less uncertainty, and if I choose the wrong curriculum, I have the right to change part way through the year. I personally don't want to give up on public school, but if the experience ends up very poor for whatever reason as we get into the school year, I fear I may feel stuck with no options. For examples: I can choose homeschool up to August 15, but after? Or school returns to buildings but there's another outbreak forcing us all back home? Or my child's teacher gets sick and struggling to thrive with a sub? Or say Virtual virginia is failing my child and I need to look elsewhere for curriculum? When the announcement is made after your vote, please also provide parents with clear instructions of our options, both now and in the middle of the school year. Again, I'm sure even as you vote, you can't know 100% that the resulting decision will produce the best (or even acceptable) scenario for our children. You are just doing the best you can with the information you have. Therefore, please communicate what our responsibilities and choices are as parents. Fight for our right to learn and decide as we go, just as you are doing. It's the only way you'll gain confidence from families to give public school a try in these uncertain times. Parent of 4, 3 in CCPS

2020/07/20 11:02:24 AM AST Matoaca Based on rising cases and the uncertainty of not knowing what long term effects this virus could have on people. I would prefer to have the option of full time remote learning for my kids. The safety and well being of the kids, teachers, and their families should be a priority.

2020/07/20 11:05:05 AM AST Midlothian Mental health for our children is very important. Please let them go to school. At least a few days a week. COVID has already claimed children from suicide and over dose. Please don't isolate them home with 100% virtual.

2020/07/20 11:05:15 AM AST Dale The schools need to reopen and have options where it is the parents choice to send them or keep them home for viral studies. Schools are funded by taxpayers dollars and should be left up to the tax payers of what they would feel comfortable doing with their own children

2020/07/20 11:05:35 AM AST Matoaca I fully support 100% virtual learning

2020/07/20 11:05:36 AM AST Dale I am wondering how school will look virtually for my kindergartener and if preschool will have a virtual option if my daughter is accepted to preschool. I am also wondering if a decision is being voted on with things like speech therapy because my kindergartener needs to continue his. Thank you

2020/07/20 11:05:52 AM AST Midlothian Our children need to be in school. Please vote for an in school option. Based on all of the current guidelines from VDH, VDOE, and your own Risk Management department presentation, there’s no reason for you to choose an all virtual option. It can be done safely for our students and staff. My daughter goes to a Title 1 school and so many of those students do not have the support and resources at home they need. They need to be in school to succeed. Virtual learning will only push these students farther and farther behind. Medical professionals are supporting students returning in person, please look at the evidence and follow those suggestions. Thank you.

2020/07/20 11:06:11 AM AST Clover Hill All families should be allowed to exercise a “virtual only” option to protect the health and safety of their members. Additionally, no matter what other plans the county pursues, a virtual “back up” plan needs to be ready prior to school starting.

I find it impossible to understand how the county believes that they can keep schools clean and safe when they are currently overcrowded, the air handlers have issues causing Legionnaire’s disease, the teachers have to ask for donations of hand sanitizer and cleaning products every year, and the bathrooms never have soap in them. You are not in a position to manage this effectively, and you need to acknowledge this.

2020/07/20 11:07:58 AM AST Bermuda Having a child with a 504 it is IMPERATIVE that we have the option to go to school 5 days a week. She struggled tremendously with online and needs the one on one interaction with her teachers. I am BEGGING you, please don’t fail these kids with the fear of a virus.

2020/07/20 11:09:08 AM AST Midlothian I realize that making the decision to send kids back to school during the pandemic is a tough one. I wanted to bring up one thought for you all before you make that decision. I am a wife of a retired military veteran who has deployed to war zones several times. I am 100% in favor of kids going back to school five days a week. For the teachers who are worried about the risk of going back to school With the pandemic, I think they have to also think about the essential workers who work at hospitals, doctors offices, grocery stores, etc. These people chose their field of work but didn’t have a choice whether or not to go back to work due to the pandemic. Military folks didn’t have the choice not to go back to work because we were in war, they had to and that was their job. Their lives were at risk too. It’s no different for teachers and school workers. They need to get back to work and be in school to teach our children. Even if it’s a couple days a week. Not virtually 100% of the time. Please please vote on sending our kids back to school.

2020/07/20 11:09:34 AM AST Dale For the safety and we'll being of all the children I think online learning would be a better option until such a time that it is completely safe for them to return to school. The children are not going to keep masks on all day no matter how old they are.

2020/07/20 11:09:45 AM AST Midlothian I would support full in-school education. My husband and I both work full time and do not have the ability to monitor the daily online work of our 2 children. Also, during the 2019-2020 school year both of my kids did online assignments, but did not learn well that way. I would prefer an option for parents to choose full in-school or a full virtual options should they choose to do so.

2020/07/20 11:10:04 AM AST Matoaca Really worried about the kids safety as well as their mental health and I want them to go back but when it’s safe again. Feeling really torn about whether or not to send them. I’ve been so careful since this whole thing started to limit where my kids go, sending them without me there and knowing if all guidelines are being followed is just leaving me feeling very unsettled. I think “first 9, online” and revisit at the end of the year.

2020/07/20 11:10:11 AM AST Midlothian My kids are begging to be back at school with their teachers and friends. Virtual learning is not working.

2020/07/20 11:12:51 AM AST Matoaca After discussing this with my rising 9th grader this morning, he is not comfortable being in person even on a rotating/part time schedule. I fully support 100% virtual to start the year. If that is not feasible, then I think parents/ students should also have the option to be 100% virtual in addition to whatever is ultimately selected. Thank you.

2020/07/20 11:15:00 AM AST Matoaca Please consider 100% virtual for the first semester. The safety of staff and students are more important. 1 staff member dying or 1 student dying is too much. The possibility of a student or staff member carrying the virus back home any potentially passing it on to a vulnerable family member is not worth the risk.

2020/07/20 11:15:11 AM AST Matoaca Please allow students to return to the classrooms this coming school year, even if it is just 2-3 days a week. Although, 5 days would be ideally for these students. Or like Goochland, allow each family to choose for themselves if in-person or virtual learning is better for their student. Thank you.

2020/07/20 11:15:59 AM AST Midlothian For the safety of everyone involved, we support a fully virtual return to school in the fall.

2020/07/20 11:16:19 AM AST Dale How will students in trailers have access to restrooms and sinks for hand washing?

2020/07/20 11:17:17 AM AST Matoaca Good Morning,

I am a mother and registered nurse in Chesterfield County. When the CCPS survey first came out, I choose the hybrid option. Since that time however, things have continued to change. COVID -19 has continued spread and infect even the youngest of children. No one is immune from contracting this virus. Children do not understand the etiology of this virus and the importance of social distancing and wearing a mask. They do not understand good hand hygiene and how often it should be done throughout the day. Teachers cannot teach and enforce all of the rules that are crucially needed. This would be exhausting and nearly impossible. It could easily lead to compromising teacher’s immune systems and aid in their contraction of the virus. Due to these reasons, I now vote to have schools be � percent virtual in the fall WITH virtual teacher instruction and chrome books provided. This would give students the resources they need to learn successfully, while being as safe and protected as possible. Please take this email into consideration. No one wants ANY of our children to get sick and potentially loose their life trying to obtain an education. The risks are present! Please do not put our students into that situation. The teacher virtual instruction and chrome books are key for the virtual learning being a success! Thank you for taking the time to read and consider this email!

Sincerely, Lisa Kuper, RN Chesterfield county resident Mother of three

2020/07/20 11:17:55 AM AST Midlothian I realize the county did their best in a difficult situation in the Fall, but virtual-only learning should not even be considered given the lackluster attempt last Spring. There must be a choice. Too many children will be woefully behind due to an inability of their parents to provide assistance in their education. Plenty of people have managed to keep working and stay safe. There is no reason teachers and students cannot learn to operate in a safer way. If some teachers are afraid to go to work then replace them with teachers who are not and let the ones who need to stay home teach online to kids who need/want to stay home. My child has now graduated, but I will give you my personal example of how a gap like this can affect a young learner. We moved several times before we got here. There are 3 gaps in my daughter's education due to moving from one state to another - the solar system, fractions and cursive writing. Thankfully she had a wonderful science teacher at JRHS who filled the solar system gap that occurred when we moved from Texas (just about to start the solar system) to Virginia (just finished the solar system). Cursive writing never "took" in spite of my best efforts. Texas had just begun connecting letters but Virginia had finished the cursive curriculum. She still only prints - thank heavens for computers. The fractions issue happened after we moved to Virginia. Her records from Texas were incomplete and she was placed in the wrong math class. It took 4 weeks to realize it and when she was moved into the correct class she had missed 4 foundational weeks of fractions. She got her first F (actually her first grade below a B) and totally lost confidence in herself. We spent a lot of money on a tutor that year and the next to get her caught up and back to "normal". Thankfully she learned to never give up and to ask for help when she needs it, but it could have gone very badly and had a long-lasting impact on her life. My daughter is fortunate to have college educated, highly involved parents who did everything they could to help her fill those gaps. Not every child is so fortunate. Now imagine these and similar scenarios happening across the board. The long term impact of virtual-only learning for public school children who are not prepared for that kind of education can't be calculated, but it will be felt for years to come. Please do the right thing for the children and let them learn in a classroom if that is what is best for them. Thank you.

2020/07/20 11:17:57 AM AST Matoaca Students have not been together for 6 months. This is probably why we are not seeing a great spread among children. Currently, there is an uptick in Virginia amount children and it has been reported this weekend babies and children in daycares, preschools, and camps are getting COVID as they are congregating. How can you protect students in CCPS? How will you protect teachers? Is there enough money to do so properly? Our immune systems are all different since being apart so long. If students go back, it’s a great risk. It’s a science experiment that no one has performed yet. The numbers in VA are rising. By September, they very well will be in the double digits for positivity. The heat did not kill it like some thought. It only got worse.

2020/07/20 11:18:13 AM AST Clover Hill I am very concerned about the implementation of a 100% virtual school option. My daughter(rising 7th grader) has been participating in the Recovery of Learning session for the last 2 weeks. My daughter has had only 1 interaction with the teachers . That was the first day of ROL to introduce them to Eugenity. The students are expected to learn on their own. If the students have any questions, the students are expected to reach out to the teachers 1 hour per day. This is ridiculous. While Eugenity has guided notes (positive) if I wanted to include this as part of her learning, I was expected to print the notes myself. I have been printing on average 40-50 pages per lesson. The school refused to assist in that manner. During the time when schools first shut down, my daughter was only expected to interact with 1 teacher/1 course per day. Again this is ridiculous. How will teachers interact with students during the school year? I am also concerned about how the school will protect teachers and students. While I know the situation is hard, I am hoping for more actual teaching and interaction that what we have experienced thus far with this virtual learning.

2020/07/20 11:19:14 AM AST Bermuda I truly appreciate you taking the time to read this. As a teacher, I am so ready to get back in the classroom and see my students. I want to be able to help them further their reading careers, become better mathematicians, be in a safe environment, but also help them grow into amazing, kind students. With COVID-19 virus out there, it makes me stop to think twice if my classroom can be a safe environment for my students. One for some it is the safest place they have, but second it would not be safe from the crazy virus that is out there if we let the students in there without social distancing and more answers to safety questions. I want to be able to go back SAFELY.

I have a few questions that need to be addressed before any other option besides 6 is picked.

1. Will there be enough PPE for teachers to have in their own classroom? Will hand sanitizer be provided for every classroom? 2. If students do not have facial mask, will there be one provided for the students? 3. How will you find a sub to cover if a teacher is out for 10-14 days of quarantine because students in their class are exposed? Will a sub want to cover? How many quarantines will CCPS allow and still get paid? 4. How will situations be handled for those students that refuse to wear facial mask in the classroom of a high risk teacher? 5. Will CCPS cover every time we have to be quarantined without using sick time? 6. What protocol will be used for students coming to school with a cough or sore throat and their parents can’t pick them up because they are working? 7. I am a person that gets 5-6 sinus infections a year, per the checklist I would have to stay at home because of these symptoms where normally I’d come to school. How is it fair to continue to let teachers use sick days for things we normally come to school for? 8. Sometimes it would take days for our bathroom to get soap. How many times a day will the bathrooms the students//teachers use be cleaned?

School is going to look different any of the options you choose. I know you have a tough decision to make. One way or another you can’t please everyone. Can you do one thing? Make sure ALL safety is looked at for students, teachers, cafeteria works, janitors, principals, counselors, and secretaries.

2020/07/20 11:19:51 AM AST Midlothian It is was to risky for students and teachers and way to much burden on the teachers to try and protect and keep children safe virtual schooling

2020/07/20 11:20:10 AM AST Unsure It’s not safe to open the school up for our children. As parent we are advocates for our children and this isn’t the best plan. Chesterfield should offer virtual learning to children. As a mother of six I don’t feel comfortable with sending my children to school and I won’t if the requirement for them doesn’t change. I’ll have to unenroll my children and home schooled them all. As we see states opening back up the case number are rising so I don’t understand why we would send our children to school. States are having to shut back down because of this COVID-19. I work as a nurse and everyday I go to work I fear for my life just as well as my children. I’m not sending my children to school knowing that we all are not safe at. There is no way you can social distance children. So please for the sake of our children let’s do right by them

2020/07/20 11:20:15 AM AST Midlothian An all virtual option is completely insufficient for Chesterfield, and it will cause definite harm to our children. Conditions have improved in Chesterfield in recent weeks, with the key metric of 7 day positivity rate steadily declining. Parents overwhelmingly expressed their desire for a return to in-person education with 82% stating that they would send their children to school, and answers indicating that more in person time is better. Decisions like this will never be without risk and parents understand this. The risk we can’t tolerate is subjecting our children to more ineffective, experimental, virtual education with no personal interaction. This does our kid a grave disservice, especially younger elementary age kids and students with special needs. I cannot fathom how a full virtual option could be selected based on data. Risk Management is prepared to do their job. Things will look and feel different in the classrooms, but we will be dealing with COVID 19 for the foreseeable future so we can’t delay figuring out how to cope with it in schools. The teacher groups are currently very vocal in their fears because they haven’t moved through the change curve. They are stuck in denial and need help moving forward to more productive thoughts. The rest of the working world has already moved through this curve as many essential workers didn’t have a choice. Fear is a real, normal emotion. It helps us reason through risks so we don’t get hurt. Fearful parents are often accused of hovering too much and needing to let go. Now the shoe is on the other foot, and our state and local officials are hovering and preventing forward motion when they need to be figuring out now to most safely reopen schools. Reopening schools is not without risk, but few things in life are. As the Risk Management presentation indicates those risks can be mitigated, and those that still don’t feel comfortable can opt for virtual. Winston Churchill said, “Fear is a reaction, courage is a decision.” Chesterfield has the opportunity to display courage, not fear, and lead by example and show the rest of the state how to do an outstanding job opening schools. Caving in to unfounded fear is not leadership. Our children deserve better than that.

33 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/20 11:20:23 AM AST Midlothian An all virtual option is completely insufficient for Chesterfield, and it will cause definite harm to our children. Conditions have improved in Chesterfield in recent weeks, with the key metric of 7 day positivity rate steadily declining. Parents overwhelmingly expressed their desire for a return to in-person education with 82% stating that they would send their children to school, and answers indicating that more in person time is better. Decisions like this will never be without risk and parents understand this. The risk we can’t tolerate is subjecting our children to more ineffective, experimental, virtual education with no personal interaction. This does our kid a grave disservice, especially younger elementary age kids and students with special needs. I cannot fathom how a full virtual option could be selected based on data. Risk Management is prepared to do their job. Things will look and feel different in the classrooms, but we will be dealing with COVID 19 for the foreseeable future so we can’t delay figuring out how to cope with it in schools. The teacher groups are currently very vocal in their fears because they haven’t moved through the change curve. They are stuck in denial and need help moving forward to more productive thoughts. The rest of the working world has already moved through this curve as many essential workers didn’t have a choice. Fear is a real, normal emotion. It helps us reason through risks so we don’t get hurt. Fearful parents are often accused of hovering too much and needing to let go. Now the shoe is on the other foot, and our state and local officials are hovering and preventing forward motion when they need to be figuring out now to most safely reopen schools. Reopening schools is not without risk, but few things in life are. As the Risk Management presentation indicates those risks can be mitigated, and those that still don’t feel comfortable can opt for virtual. Winston Churchill said, “Fear is a reaction, courage is a decision.” Chesterfield has the opportunity to display courage, not fear, and lead by example and show the rest of the state how to do an outstanding job opening schools. Caving in to unfounded fear is not leadership. Our children deserve better than that.

2020/07/20 11:20:31 AM AST Matoaca Good morning! I’m a mother of 2 girls that attend Cosby highschool. I would like to see all the schools in chesterfield county open as normal with a M-F schedule with hands on learning, no plexiglass and masks optional for students or teachers. Leave that decision up to them. A parent has the right to make the decision as to whether or not they would like to send their child to school or is more comfortable having their child stay home and do online learning. Teachers are essential workers for the health and well being of our children who need socialization, structure and academics. The Academy of Pediatrics who are the ones dealing with the COVID cases, 18 years old and under, and they’re stating the low COVID numbers don’t warrant children being mandated to take online classes. Some children NEED school for a safe place/to get away from abuse, for their daily meals, and for love and guidance that is missing at home. Leave this decision up to the parents. If teachers are not comfortable going back that is their right to end their employment with CCPS. I’m sure there will be another teacher happy to teach that class in person. I look forward to a positive vote which enables are children to RETURN to school. Thank you.

2020/07/20 11:20:36 AM AST Unsure I’m all for the safety of the students and if at home learning is chosen, I really hope they make some contingency for students with special needs. My autistic daughter can not learn at home doing virtual meetings. She is currently doing the Recovery of Learning, but she will not be still longer then 15 minutes tops for class session.

2020/07/20 11:20:41 AM AST Dale I feel the best for my children is 5 days a week school. They have suffered these months and are not having to do recovery of learning which is really not any better. My youngest is learning stuff that she learned years ago and not in 5th grade. They need to see a teacher in person everyday so questions can be asked etc. Parents and teachers should be able to make a choice for what’s beat for them. Please give all of us that choice.

2020/07/20 11:20:48 AM AST Midlothian I have written individually to each of you regarding the needs of children in special education programs in the county. I believe that a "one size fits all" decision regarding school reopening - especially one that calls for 100% virtual learning - fails to take into consideration the unique needs of children with special needs. Many children with IEPs need some form of in-person or 1:1 instruction in order to reach their educational goals. In- person instruction can take many forms: a socially-distanced classroom setting, small group work for set periods of time in the school setting, at-home instruction, etc. With some face-to-face instruction, teachers will even be able to introduce virtual platforms to their students, and help them develop skills in accessing these platforms to improve their potential for successful online learning

The federal mandate, under the IDEA, is that children with disabilities must "have available to them a free APPROPRIATE public education that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs." There is no evidence to suggest that virtual learning is an "appropriate" educational approach for children with certain forms of disabilities. In their recent guidance regarding school reopening, the American Academy of Pediatrics noted that "(s)tudents receiving special education services may be more negatively affected by distance-learning and may be disproportionately impacted by interruptions in regular education. (https://services.aap.org/en/pages/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-infections/clinical-guidance/covid-19-planning-considerations-return-to-in-person-education-in-schools/)."

Please consider allowing children with special education needs receive some form of face-to-face or 1:1 instruction this fall. Thank you very much for your time and dedication.

2020/07/20 11:20:57 AM AST Matoaca Hello! I’m the parent of an upcoming 3rd grader in the Mataoca district, and also in my last semester of graduate school at VCU’s School of Education. I have submitted this question periodically throughout your virtual school board meetings, but have yet to have it recognized or answered.

I understand this is for comment submission, and my comment looks much more like a question. So, I’m hoping my questions will be taken into consideration when trying to form the safest plan for Chesterfield’s students.

My son’s school, as well as many other schools in the county, is at over capacity. His class had 29 students in it last year. Under your potential phase plans, splitting schools at over capacity into two groups will still have 14-15 students per class. (Which is close to the size of classes in general that I have taught in Richmond and Henrico that are not at over capacity.) How will schools at over capacity fall into the phase plan? Will they be split into more than two groups, or will more rooms/teachers be available for these schools at over capacity?

Also, during a virtual meeting in a previous week, it was mentioned that the clinic would be split in half, and children who have potential COVID symptoms will go to one side, and everyone else would go to the other. Children with diabetes and asthma are at high risk for COVID, and many must go to the clinic everyday to receive routine medicine (including my asthmatic son). Also, children with asthma are unable to wear masks. Having these high-risk children in the same room as potential COVID cases, and interacting with the same nurse seems very risky to their health.

Lastly, I am thankful that you all have a great cohort of people with the goal of keeping our students and children safe. I recognize that this is not normal, and is a tough decision to vote on. Thank you for all that you do.

2020/07/20 11:21:00 AM AST Dale If in person school is decided will parents still have the option to choose virtual learning?

2020/07/20 11:22:35 AM AST Midlothian No in class should be held....not worth the risk of getting children sick

2020/07/20 11:23:06 AM AST Matoaca I would like to see both my children, and all children attend school in person this fall

2020/07/20 11:23:38 AM AST Clover Hill I ask that you send the kids back virtually the first 9 weeks and re-evaluate for hybrid opportunities. Our county has the highest cases around and can’t be compared to somewhere like Goochland. I am a county employee who will not risk bringing anything home to my family. We do not know the long terms effects from this disease. The kids will be fine in the end as long as they are kept safe. My son needs the TDap vaccine to come to 7th grade but can come during a pandemic? It doesn’t make sense. Parents send sick kids to school every single day. The exposure will be great. We must protect our community. My husband is work from home until at least January. His company talks about how they won’t risk employee health or their families. Please tell me that a company doesn’t care more about our safety than the school district. We must keep our community safe and proceed with caution. We do not have the substitutes or supplies to do this correctly and the impact of that would likely be deadly. Thank you for your time.

2020/07/20 11:23:47 AM AST Clover Hill Option 1 with students back full time. Question: What happens with families that both parents have to work, the added cost for child care, and not able to teach there kids?

2020/07/20 11:24:11 AM AST Clover Hill I could not attend this evening as I am torn between responsibilities to my preemie baby in the VCU NICU and my pre adoptive teen. I love my students, to the point that I often put my job before everything else, especially my immune compromised health. But I can’t do that now. To advocate for a return to face to face would be to put my family, and myself, at risk. I say this as the only Dual Enrollment English teacher for CHHS. I know I would have to return if it were voted as such - not just for the money or the fact that I wouldn’t have health insurance with my Crohn’s Disease, but because I cannot imagine having to give up this dream job. Please don’t put teachers like me in this position. If we go back face to face, I will be wearing a mask every time I am near my premature daughter. I won’t be able to kiss her while I hold her- my IVF miracle. Please consider the facts that our country does not have this under control, and that we will see a rise in cases in children if they are put back into classrooms. We haven’t seen high pediatric numbers because children haven’t been interacting with each other like they would in school. A six month old died in Texas just last week. We do not yet truly understand how it will affect kids. Even countries who have had it under control saw a spike after going back to school. What will it be like here, where numbers increase every day across the nation? We have no means to have students wear masks. We have no means to guarantee cleanliness in the buildings. We are not prepared for this. Please do as teachers do and use the data to make the decision that keeps us ALL safe: virtual only.

2020/07/20 11:24:29 AM AST Dale Parents need to be given the choice whether to send their children in person 5 days a week or do virtual learning 5 days a week. Hanover county got it right with their decision. Two days in person and two days virtual does not work, you will be bringing more germs into the school from children who have to go to daycare on their "home" days. Parents are willing to help with transportation. Hanover is making parents opt-in for transportation without guarantees. Children need to be in school for social interactions. Virtual learning was inadequate this spring. There was such a disconnect in what was being taught/presented between different schools. We even had a huge variety between grade levels. Unless their is a set curriculum across schools, it won't work. Give the children textbooks/workbooks. All the work cannot be online. It is not the way that young children need to learn. We do not want our kids sitting in front of an electronic device for hours a day. We are a family that limits screen time. Please give parents the choice to make the right decision for their family. Parents are willing to sign waivers to get their children in school. More virtual learning will lead to more lost learning time. The kids deserve better. I understand that some teachers are concerned, but there are many who are ready to go back to in person learning. Regardless of the choice, teachers must be required to teach from the school building where students can see their teachers fully and not just a small screen in their home. Children need to be able to see a full white board where things can be presented. Learning off of videos where teachers are teaching off of tiny dry erase boards is not effective. Please give parents the option to choose 5 day in person or 5 day virtual. Our children need to be in school.

2020/07/20 11:25:51 AM AST Midlothian Thank you for considering all of the options for a return to school and education in the fall. Your vote and decision is one of the toughest ever. I have seen both sides of the argument and I firmly believe that a return to school can be safe. I have no qualms about sending my rising 10th grader back to James River. I implore the board to give parents options. Let us have choices like Goochland and Hanover. For those of us that are OK with sending them back, let us. For those who are terrified, give them the option of on-line learning. More information that not that I have seen shows that infection rates among children are minuscule as is the child to adult transfer rate. Allow teachers who are not comfortable returning to the classroom be the ones who man the online learning. Let the ones who want to get back in front of their students be in the classroom.

We have returned to travel baseball safely. We have returned to our neighborhood pool. We have safely shopped in stores. We have worn our masks and washed our hands. My 15 year old desperately wants to be back in a classroom. On-line learning was a disaster for him. You know something is wrong when a teenage boy willingly wants to go to school.

I hope and pray that my student as well as any other student that wants to be back in a classroom has that ability this fall, as do any teachers who want to be back in the building. I don’t think a one or the other solution is one that works for our vast and diverse county. Students that need services and face to face instruction should be allowed to have that if their family feels safe doing so. Students and parents who know that they are not equipped to manage an on-line only learning experience should have the option to send their student. Don’t punish the families that are ok with being in the school buildings by allowing those who are terrified dictate what everyone should do. Give us choices. Even if those choices are between a modified schedule in the building with some learning partially at home (instead of 5 days back in a building) and a totally on-line experience. All one way or the other is not serving of the families in Chesterfield County.

2020/07/20 11:25:57 AM AST Matoaca As a parent, I implore you to actually follow the science and allow our children to return to in classroom learning full time. The American academy of Pediatrics made it abundantly clear that our kids need to be in school. There is also a plethora of data from many other countries that have children in school showing it is safe. Many kids rely on schools for meals, and safety from abuse or issues at home. These kids need sports and gym and things to keep them active. They need social interaction for growth and their mental health. Think of all the kids with any learning disabilities, even slight, they will not be able to achieve the same level with virtual learning. If you truly care about the kids, you will allow them to attend school in person to help them maximize their potential. This should not be made political using our childres as pawns, that would be disgraceful. The teachers are essential workers and should be treated as such and return to work as millions of others have. Please do the right thing and fully open our schools. Thank you for your concern

2020/07/20 11:26:05 AM AST Unsure Being a single mother that works 40 hours per week both from home and in the office, it will be extremely difficult to handle full time remote learning. It will be hard enough having to remote learn a few days a week, but expecting parents to work AND school their children is absolutely ridiculous. I can not afford to pay someone to care for my child or assist with their schooling while I’m trying to maintain my job. Please strongly reconsider that children need to be physically in school, and parents cannot be expected to work and school their children successfully.

2020/07/20 11:26:56 AM AST Unsure I would like for children to go every other day with children who have IEP’s going everyday to make sure they get the help they need. Children split by last names go every other day.

2020/07/20 11:27:34 AM AST Dale With knowing how contagious Covid 19 why would Chesterfield county schools risk putting any student or teacher at risk with in person classes? You will put our community at further risk if you have in person classes.

2020/07/20 11:30:07 AM AST Midlothian I am requesting that you choose option 6. I regretfully see this as the only safe way to return. We only have one chance to get it right the first time. Opening with virtual learning gives us more time to assess the current local virus trends and wait for levels of the virus to flatten. Also, we do not live in a bubble. People are travelling to hot spots and mingling. This will almost certainly cause a spike in the coming weeks as it has in other states. We need choose the option that keeps kids, families and school personnel safe.

2020/07/20 11:30:39 AM AST Matoaca Virtual is the safe way for our children and staff. It is your responsibility to care for our community and do what is best. As the spouse of a teacher, parent of students and a healthcare professional I strongly feel it would be negligent to send them back at this point. Those stating ‘teachers are lazy’, I don’t think realize teaching virtually is actually more work for them. I also feel this complete virtual option will not require time for cleaning and ultimately will provide students more instruction time every day. Those arguing the data/cases aren’t affecting children as much, are selfish and don’t think of the staff who will be teaching and caring for the children OR the adults they could all carry it home to from a school building including the grandparents their family may be caring for. When there are positive COVID-19 cases in schools, as we have been assured there will be...will the whole class, bus drivers and teacher be quarantined for 14 days? If so, do you have substitutes lined up for teachers and bus drivers? It could be a domino effect leading to ultimate virtual again but causing harm along the way, choose the safe choice. Start virtual and lower the number of our CCPS family that will have COVID-19.

2020/07/20 11:31:31 AM AST Midlothian I strongly feel that as a special needs parent that schools should NOT reopen in the fall. Students especially special needs children WILL NOT wear a mask or practice social distancing. Exposing the children like that will be fatal especially to the children with underlying health issues like my son who has seizures. When he spikes a fever his seizures are more frequent even with him taking his seizure meds twice a day. Please don't put our children or Teachers in harms way by reopening schools because it doesn't just affect the staff and students it's affects whole families it a child or staff member brings the virus home

2020/07/20 11:31:48 AM AST Bermuda I think schools should open exactly as they have in the past! Normally!

2020/07/20 11:32:32 AM AST Clover Hill I have 3 children attending CCPS (1 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high school). They desperately want to return to school and return to "normal". As a parent, I desperately want them to return to school and "normal". But not now. Not until they can do so safely. I worry even more desperately about the spread of covid. I worry about kids getting sick. I worry about the teachers, principals and staff at their schools getting sick or dying. Even with staggered schedules and cleaning.. I don't see how we can ensure safety of buses and school buildings right now. As a family, we are currently only spending time at home or outside. If we need something, we go quickly to a store with masks on and quickly leave. We don't spend significant time indoors with people and haven't for months. I can' t imagine sending them to school in September for a full day indoors. I also understand there is a risk also in keeping them out of school (learning, socialization, mental health). My kids have cried over missing "normal" and school. They are grieving experiences they were looking forward to and are missing. It's all heart breaking. There is no easy or right decision. But, please use caution and science in your decision-making. Please err on the side of public health. Thank you.

2020/07/20 11:33:44 AM AST Dale Many teachers, myself included would LOVE to be back in the classroom. I miss my students, my coworkers, & my classroom. However, I only want to be back if I know that EVERYONE will be safe returning to school. If we choose to return, bus drivers will not be safe, school nurse & students who take daily medicine will not be safe (we don't have enough room in our school to house all of our students- a whole grade level AND 6 CBG classes are outside, let alone a separate area for COVID symptom students), teachers will not be safe, especially those who are immunocompromised. Students will not be safe. Students learn best in person, in small groups where they can interact with others, bounce ideas off each other & collaborate. They work best with manipulatives & hands on activities. None of that will be possibly if we return at this time. There is a concern for student mental health & social interaction, if returning to school, there will be zero social interaction. How do we interact & comfort a student struggle with their emotions if we must remain 6ft apart. How will we cope with the emotional toll it will take on everyone if a staff member/student passes away? With online learning, students are able to talk with their classmates & work together. They're gaining socialization, just not in the sense that we've been used to. Online learning for the upcoming school year will be VASTLY different from what it was in the Spring. As many have said, we were having to build the plane as we were trying to fly it. No one had every had to go from in person to virtual in 24 hours. But we managed the best we could. I am currently teaching ROL & it's so much better than the spring, & will only continue to get better as we better ourselves in this concept with PDs. CCPS is doing a great thing by providing devices & internet for those who need it- that wasn't the case in the Spring. Students WILL log in. I have 39 students for ROL, 38 have logged in & work with me. It's possible, & teachers will work their hardest (harder than they have EVER worked) to ensure that every student is getting exactly what they need to be successful. I want to be with my students, however I DO NOT want to live in fear of possibly catching this disease & passing it to my family, or having students pass it to each other & bring it home to their families. For everyone's safety, we should begin 100% virtually. This isn't about giving people choice, it's about safety.

2020/07/20 11:34:15 AM AST Matoaca I think our kids need to be back in schools. Any conversation about returning to school is not based on kid safety as a multitude of studies show COVID to be no more dangerous to children than traditional public health threats (ex: flu). While I understand the greater risk to the staff, I think with reasonable safety precautions (ex: enterprise cleaning schedules, local ad hoc classroom cleaning, hand sanitizers, alternative seating arrangements, and masks (if necessary)) the benefit and protection of the children outweighs the risk to staff.

34 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/20 11:35:45 AM AST Bermuda I teach 5th grade at Curtis Elementary. I am very concerned with bringing students back to the classroom to be stuck in their desks all day. It will be virtually impossible if they have to be socially distanced walking through the halls, eating lunch, and at recess . I would like to see an option similar to 4B but where half the class comes in the morning twice a week to receive intense, targeted instruction in math, reading, and SEL. They could be sent home with a bag lunch. The afternoon would be used to check in with the other half of the class on the assignments they were to complete at home that day. With this model I would be checking in with ALL of my students almost daily and not just twice a week. Wednesday could still be used for planning, grading, and checking in with our most needy students or those we are concerned about the most.

2020/07/20 11:36:13 AM AST Midlothian I am an essential worker and I have been working in a public-facing throughout the whole pandemic. There was even a time when I was not allowed to wear a mask for fear of scaring customers. Things have changed for the better. Masks are commonplace, face shields and other PPE are available, cleaning procedures have improved, and adults and children alike understand what we can do to manage risks. The small group of teachers currently speaking out to keep schools closed do not live in the real world. In the real world life goes on, you figure out how to do things a little differently. Essential workers had simple choices - keep working and support your family or quit. It is horrifying to me that this small subset of teachers feels such a need to bully their way through a very solvable problem. The data clearly shows that the positivity rate in Chesterfield continues to decline. We are in a better place than we were even a month ago when the School Board first discussed options. The parent survey shows that parents overwhelmingly support a return to in person education. Virtual is the preference of very few, and let's not forget that this very small population will have this option regardless. Do not take away a meaningful in- person educational opportunity from the rest of us based on the fears of a few. We deserve choices, and our children deserve an education that works. Virtual flat out does not work for all kids. I have watched my elementary age kids suffer through the spring and summer virtual offerings and I can't stand to see it any longer. Lexia and Dreambox are good supplements, but they don't provide instruction. The spring instruction was inconsistent, even within the same grade level at the same school. I beg you, do not cave in to hypothetical possibilities and fears. Stick to the facts of the ever-improving conditions in Chesterfield and the overwhelming support for in-person education for parents. You asked, we spoke, now it's time to show leadership and make an informed choice, not cave in to fear.

2020/07/20 11:36:22 AM AST Dale I am a rising 11th grader in SCDC specialty center and I want to go back full time because academically it is much harder for me to learn over a computer and not with a teacher in front of me. When school was cancelled I was very hurt mentally and academically because I feel like I did not learn anything new after it was canceled. Next year I feel will be a little harder for me because I have missed to much. I was hurt mentally because I did not get to finish out my year in SCDC. I missed an entire dance concert that I worked very hard for and so did the choreographers. I was only able to share my senior showcase for 1 night that we have been working for since November. I worked very hard to get in to SCDC and I would like for all that hard work to pay off. My mom is a nurse and I feel safe going back to school and so does she.

2020/07/20 11:37:03 AM AST Matoaca I do not support fully in class learning due to COVID-19. I am concerned for my child. I could support one or two days with limited interactions and social distancing. If the schools cant do that I would support virtual learning as long as teachers are trained properly and actually interact with the students regularly. Virtual last year only 1 teacher had regular interactions and the other checked out only doing the minimum posting to get a paycheck. This is unacceptable for students education.

2020/07/20 11:37:23 AM AST Matoaca We support in person or virtual school as long as teachers are teaching and it’s not “here’s work, complete it” because that did not work for us. (Middle/High school age kids here) They need accountability. Also, PLEASE go back to ALL deliverables being put in ParentVUE - BEFORE THEY ARE DUE. Even our older kids need parent help and I cannot help what I cannot see. Thank you.

2020/07/20 11:37:27 AM AST Unsure Please, please, please think of safety first. Yes, it would be ideal if schools could reopen, but it is simply too dangerous. The proposed safety measures would not be enough based on the scientific evidence, let alone the lack of resources available to make them possible in the first place. The US is in so much worse a place than when we chose safety first last March, so why should we feel comfortable going back to school now? Of course we would all like things to go back to normal, but please do not let a desire for normalcy overpower reason. Please look to scientific data and think of the children, teachers, and staff you would be sending into a fatally dangerous situation, and the life-changing decisions that families of teachers and staff who take the virus seriously will be forced to make. Do any of the pros honestly outweigh the cons? Is any of the risk really worth the reward?

2020/07/20 11:37:38 AM AST Unsure No I do not want all my kids to go to school if we r on the rise with Covid 19.

2020/07/20 11:39:09 AM AST Bermuda SPED students that are not main streamed should attend school following Option 4B.....other regular ed students should follow the virtual learning option. I am a 36 year veteran Special Needs Bus Driver....if I am equiped with a thermal thermometer I could scan the students forehead in the stairwell of the bus and if they are running a fever hand them back to their parent which usually accompany them to the bus anyway. SPED programs usually have very small class sizes and usually small bus loads. Thank You.

2020/07/20 11:40:55 AM AST Matoaca Please put a plan in place for schools to take advantage of outdoor space for instruction throughout the day. Large shade tents and outdoor fans should be available right now since large events have been cancelled for the most part. There is a general consensus that outdoor transmission is lower than indoor transmission. This would undoubtedly mitigate at least some of the risk for teachers and staff working with students who cannot wear a mask properly (ex. many within our special education population). No solution is going to solve everybody's problems but pushing people back together into indoor spaces for long periods of time will be stressful for many and not as necessary when outdoor space is being used. With some planning, we could turn what seems negative and unfamiliar into fun, outdoor learning.

2020/07/20 11:41:04 AM AST Matoaca Children of healthcare workers have continued to go to daycare and stay well along with the workers. Bars, gyms and restaurants are open schools should be too. If this is the “new normal “ we need to figure out how to get our kids back into the classroom. Hand washing and mask will keep our teachers safe. Virtual learning is a challenge for some college students we can’t expect this to work for our school age children. My daughter’s teacher literally sent out an assignment once a week in the spring and that was it. She learned nothing! Please consider 5 days a week option.

2020/07/20 11:41:10 AM AST Clover Hill I am a teacher writing in support of voting for option 6. I could present the same scientific and safety focused arguments that my colleagues have already sent, but at this point either you believe the science or you don't. I'm asking not to be back in a school with a vocally anti-mask nurse. I'm asking not to have to agonize over the risk I'm putting my immunocompromised roommate at. I'm asking that you all do what we all know we'll end up doing after the inevitable outbreaks in schools and start virtual. You've made it clear we won't have the resources to truly protect people, and even if we did I don't think many would have the backbone to enforce them. Please. Let the teachers plan for virtual so we can give the best lessons possible in the format we all know we'll be thrown back into before the 9 weeks is over.

2020/07/20 11:42:31 AM AST Clover Hill I am a nurse and have seen first hand how dangerous this disease is. We still unfortunately don’t have enough information on this disease and are seeing how now it is effecting our kids. I don’t think there is a way for schools to open safely right now to prevent this spread to the teachers and other students. We are headed for a second wave of this disease and if schools open back up they will just end up shutting down again. That will cause everyone to scramble to figure out what to do with childcare and getting kids issued computers for at home learning. So instead of that happening we should get virtual all figured out now! I feel strongly that it should be 100% all virtual till these numbers can go down for awhile! Also why are we sending our kids back when most companies for adults are telling employees that can work from home to not come back till next year...Please do what’s right for our kids!

2020/07/20 11:43:24 AM AST Dale In reference to slide 13 "Most Viable Options", I think the county is trying to do it's best to provide a solution that is best for the majority, but failing to realize the economic impact of children not going to school full time. Parents need to work to provide for their families. Not all parents are able to work from home and provide child care to their children when they are not in school. How many child care centers are capable of accepting new enrollment? How many child care centers can afford to hire new, credentialed, employees to instruct children on their school work? How many families can afford the additional cost of child care? It is proven that wearing masks, social distancing and washing hands is adequate enough to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Choosing any option other than children returning to school is detrimental. There are many families who are already struggling to make ends meet, and many children who rely on the school system for their daily meals. The county is going to realize a lot more struggling families if children aren't able to return to school full time. The only way to avoid more financial stress on families, if a different option is picked, is for Chesterfield County or the State of Virginia to provide stimulus monies for the additional childcare costs incurred, and grants to institutions to make necessary adjustments to fulfill the capacity and employee needs.

2020/07/20 11:44:35 AM AST Matoaca I have a middle school sped student who needs to be back in the classroom. His class is focused on life skills and academics, and he does not do well in a home setting without his classmates and teachers. With 2 full time working parents, I would be at a loss as to what do with him if there is no school, and is not capable of sitting and learning in a virtual classroom. For the families with working parents, I feel that not having face to face school would be huge detriment, with kids either staying at home alone or with an older sibling (who is also trying to do virtual school), or in a daycare setting, with other children - so in terms of COVID, how is a daycare setting different from a classroom setting? Families that want to keep their children at home and are able to, should have that option, but those that cannot, or whose children need to be in the classroom, should also have that option.

2020/07/20 11:44:36 AM AST Dale When making your decisions about reopening please remember some schools have over 75% ESL! The air quality is not good in the schools either! Teachers are really nervous about returning! Please keep us in mind!

2020/07/20 11:44:55 AM AST Clover Hill Please make sure your decision is based on the health of our county's children, not politics or convenience. Please keep our kids at home until it is safe for them to be back in school.

2020/07/20 11:45:48 AM AST Midlothian If the school board doesn’t have children’s education as #1 priority, who does? Meet the guidelines, this isn’t your decision.

2020/07/20 11:46:11 AM AST Midlothian Opening schools in person will be a deadly mistake until our community spread is under control. I heard a former teacher, now ER doctor interviewed over the weekend. He was asked if he would feel comfortable going back into the physical classroom now- his comment was- he feels safer working in ER because he has layers of protection. Shield, N95, gown, shoe coverings, gloves. Spoke volumes!

2020/07/20 11:48:55 AM AST Matoaca ALL VIRTUAL LEARNING

2020/07/20 11:49:47 AM AST Midlothian You have been tasked with an impossible decision as I can see both sides to the argument of kids returning vs. virtual learning. You have been asked to try and value education over that of human health of not only the students, but the local community. My question for you is the following - if you do decide to let students return to the classroom in the fall, what threshold are you willing to accept for COVID infections, hospitalizations, and potentially even deaths of students, teachers, and staff. The question is not IF a person within a school will get infected, but rather when and how many. And if you threshold is that 1 person is too many - then you can't open. But if you willing to live with an acceptable number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths - I think those thresholds should be shared with the community so we can know when making our decisions what is your base line.

2020/07/20 11:51:55 AM AST Matoaca I do not support fully virtual. This is not an option that is feasible for my child and I. Please provide in class options for those who need and want to attend. Make it optional to choose virtual or in person.

2020/07/20 11:53:17 AM AST Midlothian I know as a teacher, we always put children first when making decisions. I do this in my classroom & in everyday life. With that being said, for once it would be nice for our employeer to take care of its employees. Put their needs & safety first. Young or old, we don't have enough education about the virus to make an informed decision on whether risking everyone's health is worth it. Many viruses stay in the body for a lifetime, herpes, chickenpox etc. & flare up later in life. These students and young teacher that are supposedly unaffected could have serious health conditions down the road. In addition let us be realistic about what our county has been able to effectively do with cleaning and transportation up until now. I know my school isn't the only one facing serious deficits everyday. I can't realistically envision these issues being solved while faced with more challenging problems. Teaching this year will be drastically different anyway. I am aware and can be prepared for that. I would appreciate the consistency of 100% virtual without the additional confusion of the hybrid schedule.

2020/07/20 11:53:56 AM AST Matoaca In this unprecedented time we are faced with many uncertainties, although in this time one of the things that we do have are the results that we are physically seeing. A very contagious pandemic is raging and we do have access to virtual teaching and learning, this would keep our children and teachers safe. As we consider reopening school there is no one size fits all but what should be a one size is the safety of the children and the teachers! if technology has any purpose, let this be the instance. Yes, you can move back to in school, most things are permissible but are they beneficial? We would not be alone with virtual schooling and remember there are many other lives that deserve protecting as well. The magnitude of what your loss could possibly be is undoubtedly not a necessary chance anyone should have to take, technology has afforded us an alternative, Lets use it.

2020/07/20 11:58:13 AM AST Bermuda The positivity rate for COVID-19 is continuing to rise in Virginia. The classroom presents an unhealthy environment for our students and teachers! Virtual instruction, at least for the half of the year, will provide safety for students and teachers.

2020/07/20 11:58:50 AM AST Matoaca Shouldn’t we go back full time if the alternative is that If they are not in school then they are in daycare. How could virtual education be made possible for working parents of elementary age children? I hear teachers saying they do not feel “safe” returning to school to work, what makes teachers different from healthcare workers, gas station attendants and all other essential workers, isn’t our children’s education the most essential thing to their future and our future as a nation?!?

2020/07/20 11:58:53 AM AST Midlothian Schools need to reopen in the fall. Online learning did not go well with my child he learns much better in the classroom.

2020/07/20 11:59:37 AM AST Matoaca If a hybrid model is to be used, cameras should be installed in all classrooms so that students learning remotely can be actively involved in the same classroom experiences, including student & teacher discussions and interactions. This will also be beneficial if a student must quarantine due to covid exposure or infection - they can continue to learn from same teacher/classroom, just remotely. This will also keep students on same clock schedule, as they will need to log into the remote learning live each day they are not in class.

2020/07/20 12:00:14 PM AST Matoaca Fully virtual option is not feasible for parents who have to go to work. Virtual only learning would only hurt the youth of Chesterfield.

2020/07/20 12:00:25 PM AST Midlothian Please take in consideration the increasing number of cases that are now being seen among children, that may not show "bad" enough symptoms because they are more resilient but are still contagious. Consider the low number of teachers in certain schools and substitutes available if one or two need to isolate it puts a strain on others as well. I truly believe we are in control of this pandemic and should continue to keep children safe by not rushing for all to return to school and follow in RPS footsteps by committing to the first semester to be virtual and later assessing where the country stands as far as cases and overall pandemic.

2020/07/20 12:01:29 PM AST Midlothian ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Previously I completed the survey voting for in-person but I now think that virtual is safest. That said: If many families can 'opt' for virtual and keep their children at home I think that there should be an in-school option for families that will truly suffer from the hardship of virtual school.

YOU GUYS HAVING THE TOUGHEST JOB RIGHT NOW. WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE: YOU DID THE RIGHT THING!

2020/07/20 12:02:01 PM AST Midlothian First, let me just say thank you to everyone who is working so hard to find the best and most prudent outcomes for all. We participated in a PTA meeting with our principal last week via Zoom and my heart aches for you, our administration, and educators. At this time, it's very apparent that there are many complexities and accommodations which must be planned for. In order to make things manageable, as much as I do not want to and believe in returning to in class education, there's just too many logistics, safety concerns for both kids and teachers, etc. involved. My strong preference is for virtual schooling until we know more, can better protect everyone involved, and have access to the proper protective resources. Id also be open to doing everything outdoors as a solution, but have yet to hear that being considered. Thank you!

2020/07/20 12:02:33 PM AST Dale Good morning, I am writing you today regarding the daunting task you and our county faces regarding the reopening of schools. I fully support a reopening of schools with in school learning but understand that not everyone is in the same position. Therefore, it becomes fairly easy in my mind that the answer is to provide a hybrid solution that allows not only myself but all parents the right to choose. An in school return with a virtual option provides and allows parents, students, and teachers the ability to chose which option suits their needs. Data shows that individuals under the age of 19 make up approximately 10% of Va's Covid cases with 0 deaths. Conversely those over age 70 also make up 10% of the states cases but include 75% of the states deaths. Auto accidents are the leading cause of death for young adults yet we don't hear anyone lobbying to stop driving cars. Suicide is the #2 killer of young adults and I am fearful of the mental health aspects resulting from a virtual only option. My 15 year old son struggles to learn virtually and has indicated his strong desire to return to school. I also saw first hand in the spring the lack of participation in the virtual learning setting. My son would participate in virtual setting consisting of himself, 1 other student, and the teacher. While it may not affect my family directly as we will be diligent in assisting my son to help him succeed, others may not and I believe our community will suffer as a whole if kids are forced into a virtual learning environment. While some may lobby that we must wait until it is 'safe' to return, that day may never come. We all mitigate risk daily and make choices on how to do so. Please allow us ton continue to make that choice by offering an in person learning option which is not only important today but in the future of our public school system. Thank you all for your time, service, and commitment to our community and our kids! Respectfully,

Franklin Butler

2020/07/20 12:02:48 PM AST Matoaca Full virtual option must be available for fall for the safety of the kids and family members!

35 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/20 12:03:26 PM AST Matoaca I am writing as a very concerned healthcare worker, grandparent and mother of a CCPS school teacher. The only safe/responsible way for our children, teachers, bus drivers and all CCPS employees to begin the fall semester is the 100% virtual plan. As I'm sure you are aware, the COVID-19 cases have been steadily rising and we have been under threat of returning to phase 2 after only reaching phase 3 on 7/1/20. This is all before we reach the second wave this fall. Per the UVA model for COVID-19, even though fall statistics have not been finalized, the fall rebound scenario for Richmond is 28,945 NEW CASES PER DAY. Johns Hopkins reported 7/14/20 that the total global number of COVID-19 cases had increased by 1 million in just five days. In addition, currently 10 health departments in Virginia are experiencing a surge of COVID-19 cases due to lack of social distancing, lack of hand hygiene and lack of appropriate face coverings. These numbers validate the need to continue preventative measures including, but not limited to, hand hygiene, face coverings and social distancing of at least 6 feet. The United States is leading the world in covid-19 cases. It is the responsibility of the people we have elected to protect our children, teachers and as a result our entire county. We are looking to you to make the safest choice. I do not envy your job, and I empathize that it must be extremely difficult with so many strong feelings on each side. I implore you to please vote for a 100% virtual plan. There are just too many lives at stake to do anything other than the safest option. Being in healthcare I can assure you that it is an extremely difficult task to ensure that adults follow proper precautions as mentioned above. Many adults do not wear their masks correctly (under nose, etc.)and do not follow guidelines for social distancing. Having said that, I do not know how children/adolescents can be expected to follow those guidelines. I expect COVID-19 compliance may even be a more difficult task at the middle and high school levels. If you start any of the other plans, I believe you will undoubtedly be forced into 100% virtual which would be much more of a disruption to the academic school year. Starting 100% virtual with a set time to attempt to return to school buildings in 2021 allows you the opportunity to evaluate the second wave which will be impacted by the flu season and adjust the time-line if necessary.

2020/07/20 12:03:36 PM AST Clover Hill Please consider the health and safety of students, faculty, staff- including bus drivers, custodians, and all who work in our schools when voting tonight. You have all been entrusted with the responsibility to lead with integrity and with the best interest (health and safety) of students and CCPS employees guiding your decisions. Please do not sway or bend to politics. This is not a decision that should be based on numbers of emails, parent surveys, or CEA/PTA/ advocacy group desires. This decision should be based on current medical data for our county and state and the guidelines from the VA Department of Health. My children and I ask you to vote for Option 6 for the first nine weeks.

2020/07/20 12:05:00 PM AST Matoaca I think the kids shouldn't attempted school because everybody hygiene is not the same and right now this is a critical time in our kids life I think virtual learning is in the best interests of the children til this pandemic is at bay

2020/07/20 12:05:12 PM AST Matoaca Please please please consider an option that will get our kids back in school at least a couple days each week. With masks and proper cleaning, we can make it safe for students and teachers. The mental, emotional, and social health of our children is just as important as their physical health.

2020/07/20 12:05:28 PM AST Clover Hill In regards to schools reopening in the fall, I am VERY concerned. We are still in the height of a pandemic, and the opening of schools also coincides with the flu season on top of the coronavirus which we are still battling. To send our children, and our teachers and staff back into that is foolhardy at best and grossly negligent at its worst. I understand parent's desires to get their kids back in school - I have four children in the district as well, including one who has been excited to start Kindergarten. But it's crazy to believe that children of any age will adhere to any kind of social distancing and be able or willing to keep masks on all day. Teaching is hard enough under normal circumstances - teachers are heroes every day, but we should not ask them to be martyrs. Children are very susceptible to catching viruses anyway, and if they pass this on to teachers, or our vulnerable family members at home, we are absolutely looking at another Florida here in Virginia. We, as a local community, need to look out for our own and keep our community members safe - and unfortunately, until our country can pull it together it's going to be up to us as local communities to mitigate the risk in any way we can - and if keeping schools closed this fall is one way to do that, then I believe that is what we need to do. Let's protect our community.

2020/07/20 12:07:10 PM AST Midlothian Our kids are not doing well with virtual learning. Working full time & teaching kids at home is nearly impossible. Working parents are really overwhelmed.

Many parents I know want other options. School Tax exemption or vouchers from opting out of virtual learning for other options. Charter schools, private schools, etc. we need more options.

Daycares are offering school options & parents are thankful they are trying. Parents & everyone else are going back to work, if they don’t show up they get fired. We have to work to keep food on the table & roof over our heads. Kids are doing well with virtual school.

2020/07/20 12:07:38 PM AST Midlothian In favor of 5 days in person learning but if some parents aren’t comfortable, give them the option of virtual. I also think 5 half days of school is best 2nd option. Half of students attend morning and other half attend afternoons. You’ve had since March to figure this out, do not let our children down. They NEED in person learning. The virtual attempt in March-May was fine then but completely unacceptable moving forward. My children are both at Robious Elementary School - 1st and 4th.

2020/07/20 12:07:48 PM AST Clover Hill Has there been analysis done on the percentage of Elementary School students who will be going to Daycare during their virtual days? For example, if 80% of parents need childcare on virtual days, and daycare is more crowded, what is the difference when it comes to student and society safety.

Society and student risk may remain the same with 50% in person, while learning suffers severely.

2020/07/20 12:07:50 PM AST Bermuda I support fully virtual learning. With the uncertainty of this virus it will put students, staff and families at risk to have any in person learning.

2020/07/20 12:09:03 PM AST Unsure Virtual

2020/07/20 12:10:05 PM AST Matoaca Dear Chesterfield School Board Members,

I realize you have before you an enormous decision regarding schools reopening. This is a heavy burden. I’m sure none of you ever imagined such a dilemma when you signed up to serve your community.

As a parent to four children, two current CCPS students, I know my decision regarding school for this fall and winter. I’m a former pediatric ER nurse, and through medical outlets I became aware of the virus in early January. Coronavirus (COVID-19) has deftly skipped around continents, leaving behind such devastation. And clearly, it is not done with us. In fact, I fear it’s just getting started. Hence, I feel safest keeping my children home to learn virtually while maintaining strict social distancing precautions.

This is not a decision that is taken lightly. My oldest daughter is a rising senior. This is her year to shine. She’s an excellent student and absolutely loves school marching band. But she is also mature and wise, realizing that this virus is out of our hands. That we must do now what is safest to get through to the other side. Alive and well. We cannot give in to what is hoped for or what should be. Wishful thinking or reckless neglect of science will lead to more heartbreak across America.

I’m sure you all watch the news as much as I do, so I’ll not restate our rising percent positivity rate or the belief that this insipidus virus is airborne. What I will say is, Thank you. Thank you for listening to the parents, teachers, and staff. May our collective concerns lead your most difficult decision.

2020/07/20 12:10:27 PM AST Matoaca In School full time

2020/07/20 12:10:32 PM AST Matoaca As a nurse and mother of rising kindergartener and rising freshman in high school I am in support of any option that allows for some in person instruction. While understanding risk of spread it can be safely contained with proper precautions. The emotional/social and educational detriment to especially younger children who cannot attend in person will be enormous and something we cannot ignore.

2020/07/20 12:10:51 PM AST Dale I support option 6 for full virtual to begin the school year. There are still too many unknowns regarding The safety of staff and students as well as the positive numbers in Chesterfield County are continuing to rise

2020/07/20 12:11:58 PM AST Clover Hill My children attended Chesterfield County schools and now my four grandchildren are students in Chesterfield. Chesterfield's high-quality schools have always been a point of pride and have attracted families to the area. I am a senior citizen, considered at high risk for COVID 19. I understand the fear and uncertainty that all of us feel, but I've found ways to mitigate risks and still function in the world. I love my grandchildren dearly and I would never intentionally place them in harm's way. That said, I most wholeheartedly support reopening schools for in-person learning this Fall. The metrics in Chesterfield show that our situation is improving. We most definitely need to proceed with caution and put the right cleaning procedures and safety checks in place. Inside school kids are interacting with the same small groups each day, while outside schools they're mixing in neighborhoods, at pools, parks, and child care centers. time occupied in school seems to make a lot more sense if the concern is healthy kids. I've watched my grandkids, and their parents struggle with online learning. My grandsons are typical young boys who just struggle to sit still and watching them try to work through computer-based lessons is painful. My granddaughters are a little more sedate but I can see the strain that social isolation is having on them and I worry about their emotional well being. I also just can't understand how any kids would be expected to build relationships with brand new teachers as the school year starts. At least in the Spring they already knew their teachers, they'd be dealing with strangers who don't know them and who they don't know and where there would be only sporadic interaction. It sounds like a nightmare to me, and not at all an environment where children can learn and excel. Bottom line, you surveyed the parents and they overwhelmingly said they want school full time and in person. The Chesterfield health metrics continue to improve. These are facts. Decisions this important should be made based on facts. It is a local decision, use these local facts. Elected officials should listen to their constituents and act accordingly. Please, please, listen to the other parents, and this Grandma, when we say that in- person school is what we need.

2020/07/20 12:12:34 PM AST Bermuda Children MUST have in person education. A fully Virtual education is totally UNACCEPTABLE, it is not working now and must NOT continue. Full time in person education is best, but social distancing could be difficult with all students attending full time at the same time. My second option would be Opt. 2 in person every other day. Tax payers have paid for full time in person education for our children. Are Chesterfield County and the State of Virginia going to refund we taxpayers for unused education fees? DO YOUR JOB. Virtual is unacceptable.

2020/07/20 12:12:56 PM AST Matoaca Hello. My name is Erin Ewing and I’m the parent of a rising 4th grader at Spring Run Elementary. I have a few concerns about some things that are addressed in the project restart FAQs. It states that day porters should “Disinfect all touch points and work spaces, and sanitize all eating areas a minimum of four times per day. Restrooms should be completely disinfected from top to bottom (include sweeping and mopping with flat mop) four times per day. Check and restock soap dispensers. These tasks include restrooms and sinks.” It also states that CCPS is not planning on hiring additional day porters. I don’t see how this additional cleaning will be possible on top of their already long list of responsibilities. Another concern I have is about bus transportation. Since CCPS was not able to hire or retain enough bus drivers and substitute drivers last year, which resulted in multiple wave routes and double backs, how will you handle the need for more drivers and more buses when bus capacity is significantly limited? I’m also concerned that there will not be temperature checks upon entering the bus or school. I know buying thermometers is an additional cost, but it is an effective monitoring tool to limit exposure of viruses. Please consider these things before deciding to reopen schools. Thank you for your time.

2020/07/20 12:13:25 PM AST Matoaca As a former teacher I do not believe it is safe at this time for teachers and students to return to the classroom. There is no way that the limited custodial staff can meet the cleaning recommendations.

2020/07/20 12:13:29 PM AST Midlothian I beg of you, KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE!! Schools are already over crowded. Do not put them in danger by sending them back to school. They should be 100% virtual at least for the 1st 9 weeks (extended if needed) to allow for monitoring of the pandemic or until a vaccine is created. If you do decide to send them for in-person instruction, there needs to be an alternative provided for students whose parents do NOT want to put their children or families at risk. People are dying and many persons who get the virus are experiencing damage to their lungs, and other organs. I do NOT want my child or family to be exposed to this at all. Especially when CCPS has an infrastructure that allows for students to be taught virtually. Do the right thing, our lives depend on it.

2020/07/20 12:13:43 PM AST Clover Hill Mrs. Chair, School Board Members, Dr. Daugherty and other Administration and Staff - I and my children are Clover Hill District Residents.

1. You specifically and purposefully failed to support high-risk special needs students as identified by the CARES Act, even WITH specifically earmarked funding and guidance. 2 parties in 'higher positions' within CCPS admitted this recently via e-mail and recorded phone call. The ship has sailed on remedy for this, regardless of myself and others' ongoing and continued advocacy. I believe the lack of appropriate supports will result in volumes of Due Process filings and more. You had EARMARKED (yes, caps) funding to provide services which went repeatedly ignored.

2. What is Recovery of Learning if there is none because necessary and required supports are not provided as legally required by I. D. E. A., F. A. P. T., and IEPs and/or 504 plans?

3. A few 1/2 hour sessions/week, and then 'Good Luck! Learn on your own!' is not in any way a successful learning recovery plan.

4. What further Recovery of Learning is planned for fall if/when schools open, virtually or, in person. In NO capacity should attendance and grades be in any way equivalent to what a 5-day for all return would look like. Unsolicited and un-engaged IEP Amendments were 'offered' yet placed the vast majority of responsibility on students and parents. What is the plan (which also is part of the CARES Act to provide social, emotional, and counseling support to those who have suffered greatly attempting RoL with very limited or no success?

5. There's much more, however, I'd like to finish with some suggestions:

A. Taking the parent survey, I was hopeful the 4-B option would be safe. With more current news and data, I feel that 100% virtual, while very painful for myself and my students, and many others, is the safest route. Plus, think of all the ongoing Millions of $ CCPS will save not providing transportation, and keeping buildings mostly closed. (Where have all those savings gone so far???)

B. Upon return, consider 50% attendance by geographic location, not last name. This will encompasses all students in a home, AND will ease transport logistics and $. Run buses for 1/2 the 'student enrollment pie' for each school, and on other cohort days, the other side, rather than have buses all over each home zone daily. Sp-Ed, Centers, etc. still unique many times.

C. I do not envy the responsibility of your vote, School Board.

2020/07/20 12:14:29 PM AST Midlothian ONLINE ONLY!!!! In this day and age, it shouldnt be that hard. College's do it all the time.

2020/07/20 12:15:41 PM AST Midlothian I am asking that you please do all virtual learning this upcoming school year. It is so important to protect our kids and teachers. As a parent who has high risk health issues, I am not willing to send my son to school (even though he has an IEP and on the spectrum) and put him at risk. I also feel it is so important not to put our teachers, who already work so hard, in such a high risk and health hazardous situation. Be smart, please make the safe choice to protect lives. Set up a good virtual learning system so that all kids can continue to get the best education in a safe environment. Thank you.

2020/07/20 12:15:43 PM AST Dale I know you are about to make an unprecedented decision that will have last longing effects and I hope that you take this decision seriously. My daughter is 7 and has been hospitalized multiple times due to “simple viruses” that would not effect most children. I cannot fathom what might happen to her if she contract CoVID-19. We have taken this seriously and hope you all will too. We support the 100% virtual option. And while I know most parents will not be pushing for that since they have a virtual choice no matter what, I thought you should know that there are plenty of parents who support this. I support this and want this because even if my daughter stays home and others do not, it will still effect her. This will increase the community spread and put my child in danger even if I kept her home. I pray you all make the safest choice. These are LIVES that are depending on you. Thank you!

2020/07/20 12:15:58 PM AST Bermuda Thank you for all you have done to prepare for today. Like you, my thoughts on this situation have continued to evolve as we have moved through the last few weeks. I do think that there is a way to care for our community in a responsible way. Previously I advocated for a fully virtual open. While I still think that may be safest, I would like to add that I feel that it should only be PART of the plan. We can actually serve the variety of learners in our county while still engaging in a mostly to all virtual way. If we cannot procure the quantity of sanitizing supplies and protective gear that will be necessary along with the plan for substitutes and the way that non compliance in the building will be handled, we cannot open normally. However, there is a lot to be said for using our resources to support our community in the virtual learning space. Open schools up as is mentioned in the article below. They lay out suggestions for creating spaces for students to come to access reliable internet and receive supports for their learning if needed. We CAN do this. Let’s do it safely and not be afraid to think outside the box! I also feel that if needed, a virtual open should truly be just a means to the end of allowing for time to put the necessary measures in place to come back into the building. https://www.nytimes.com/ 2020/07/20/opinion/coronavirus-reopen-schools-economy.html

2020/07/20 12:17:01 PM AST Clover Hill Open schools full time or blended with virtual 3 days one week, 2 days another with half the students in each alternating day. Kids need interactions with teachers and other students.

2020/07/20 12:17:19 PM AST Matoaca Please do not open for students to be in school! The numbers have been on a rise for COVID 19 and we don’t see any declining since we have hit phase 3! These kids are going to be kids. They will want to hug and touch all the friends they have missed and this social distancing will not register to them . You have to put in consideration of public buses and the fact that it will be in a closed environment where we know for a fact this is dangerous for this virus!

36 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/20 12:17:38 PM AST Matoaca To the Members of the School Board:

Race and poverty need to factor into your decision today, but you’ve made no consideration of these important demographic elements during any of your deliberations.

If you adopt full in-person or a hybrid model while holding out a virtual model for those who “choose” it, you will be sacrificing our Black and Latinx children and families to appease our wealthy, white parents.

In-person and hybrid instructional models create gross economic and racial inequities. With a virtual option available, parents who have the economic capital to choose it will do so, while lower socioeconomic families have no option but to send their children into harm’s way. In short, the virtual option caters to wealthy, white parents who have more economic and political capital to expend. Families of color disproportionately fall into lower socioeconomic categories, which means our Black and Latinx families only have a Hobson’s Choice (I.e. no choice at all) and will face the greatest danger from Covid-19 because they will be forced to send their children to school out of necessity.

So I ask you today to ignore the highly biased and poorly constructed polls that only have value for issues as insignificant as naming schools or finalizing academic calendars. Your constituents elected you to make hard and unpopular decisions based on the best, most reliable available scientific data. So step up and make those decisions now and don’t count on polls to provide you political cover. Look to the scientific and demographic data. Look to the disproportionate infection and death rates in communities of color. Look around you at your white, privileged fellow board members. And ask yourselves two questions: Will I support a hybrid model knowing that Black and Latinx families will face the greatest risk and WILL suffer and die while wealthy, white families will be protected? Or will I stand behind my commitment to equity and justice in education and protect ALL students and families in Chesterfield County Public Schools?

2020/07/20 12:17:40 PM AST Dale Good afternoon Chairwoman Bailey, Superintendent Daugherty and Members of the Board,

I am requesting that CCPS publish the results of the CCPS Return to Learning Town Halls survey to all parents prior to the school board taking action on reopening.

Secondly, these are unprecedented times and I do not envy the school board or staff. You all have a hard job to do in an ever changing and uncertain environment, but know that we (parents, teachers , students, staff etc.) are all in this together.

As CCPS reconsiders re-opening options, I am requesting that you consider establishing and clearly communicating a health based criteria as to when CCPS; a school; or a class would shut down or return to virtual learning due to COVID-19 infections. In other words it would be prudent to establish and publish a health based threshold of number/rate of infection that would require a class, a school , or the school district to return to virtual learning.

I would also like to request that CCPS publish the number of funded and hired credentialed nurses by school.

Lastly, I am asking that CCPS publish the health communications protocols and restrictions for students, teachers and staff that test positive for COVID-19. In other words how will parents be notified if and when an individual in their child's building has tested positive for COVID-19 and how long will a child, teacher, or staff member be required to stay out of the building before they are permitted to return.

Thank you, -Michael Jackson

2020/07/20 12:18:15 PM AST Unsure I agree that we must continue with 100% virtual classroom learning. I whole heartedly would love the students to go back to classroom learning; however, during this difficult time student must take safe practices. As part of taking safe practices would include virtual classroom learning.

2020/07/20 12:18:55 PM AST Clover Hill We must use science to guide our decision and error on the side of caution. Face to face instruction should only be allowed when it is safe for everyone. The loss of one staff member or one student is too many.

2020/07/20 12:19:22 PM AST Midlothian I strongly support for instruction to be 100% virtual

2020/07/20 12:20:44 PM AST Matoaca I am not in favor of 100% virtual teaching for the school year 2020-2021.

I would like families and teachers to have the option of in - person education.

We need in-person teacher - student interaction to keep our children moving forward. Thank you! Marcia Sugumle

2020/07/20 12:21:37 PM AST Midlothian Good Evening, I have been a CCPS teacher for 12 years, and I am a parent of a rising kindergartener with autism, as well as a toddler who is a future CCPS student. I know that you are all in a difficult position, and I want to thank you for listening and researching so that a thoughtful decision can be made. I am writing to express my support for option 6, virtual learning. Based on the research I have done on my own, I have been thinking about what is best for my students and their families, as well as what is best for my own family. My husband has had several near death experiences due to a hereditary arrhythmia called Brugada Syndrome. My sons have a 50% chance of inheriting this syndrome. This has been very difficult for our family, but it has also taught me a lot about what is important to prioritize in our lives. When you’ve seen the health of your partner failing, you fully comprehend why health and physical safety have to come first. I do not feel comfortable allowing my child to attend school 5 days a week (option 1) during a global pandemic. Due to his age and disability, it is difficult for him to understand proper handwashing, mask wearing, and the importance of keeping his hands away from his face. He may have an underlying health condition that could make the virus more severe for him. My students deserve the same thoughtful care that my son deserves. Therefore, I do not support option 1 for my students either. The various hybrid options will be disruptive to the flow of teaching and learning, and will still allow groups of students to be exposed to each other, as well as school staff. I truly believe that full virtual learning will allow teachers the best chance to effectively educate their students. I am an elementary ESL teacher, and if we teach face to face, mask wearing and physical distancing will make it difficult for me to communicate with my students. I will wear a mask and distance myself at all times if an in person option is chosen. Through videos and virtual class meetings, I will have a much better chance at connecting with my students, especially because we would be able to see each other 4 days in a row each week. I look forward to the time when I can be with them in person, without having to take so many precautions. If we decrease community spread by teaching virtually, that time will come sooner.

Thank you, Cara Pipher

2020/07/20 12:21:38 PM AST Dale unsure

2020/07/20 12:21:46 PM AST Midlothian If opening in person, what is the plan for high risks teachers, staff, and students?

Since law does not requires children 10 and under to wear masks, is it safe to go back in person at the elementary level considering most people in the building will not be wearing masks?

Since kids like to hug, play, high five, fist pump, etc do we actually thing social distancing can and will occur?

Are the classes big enough to apply the social distancing guidelines?

Will student still get recess and resource?

Will kids with disabilities have an in person option for services if a digital option is chosen?

2020/07/20 12:23:00 PM AST Unsure I’m a parent of a Chesterfield student, I do not feel safe with my child returning to school in the fall. The numbers are still increasing and it seems everyday their is new information about covid. No one is still 100% about this virus so until we have answers, students need to remain home! Yes, education is important but our lives, especially our kids lives matter more! Virtual learning should be set in place to minimize the spread and so that everyone, teachers included feels comfortable! Thanks

2020/07/20 12:24:54 PM AST Bermuda School Board Members,

The uncertainty caused by this pandemic has forced us to reevaluate our priorities as educators. Our charge is to foster a safe learning environment. We cannot in good conscience say that we are accomplishing this in the current climate. Without a safe and effective vaccine that is widely available, we cannot send our children back to school in person.

I live in the Midlothian district and I teach in the Bermuda district. This is my eighth year teaching at a Title I school. I teach many minority students who are at a much greater risk for COVID-19, according to the CDC. Many of my students live with multiple generations and many of their parents are considered essential workers. Returning to school too soon could be catastrophic for many of these families, many of whom already struggle making ends meet. Who is going to protect them? I hope you will.

A common flawed argument I often is hear is “But children don’t get coronavirus.” This is simply not true. Juvenile cases of COVID-19 are popping up all throughout the United States, including Central Virginia. The range includes toddlers all the way through college. Local pediatricians are expecting numbers to increase rapidly over the coming weeks, just as we plan for the return to school. Who is going to protect my students? I hope you will.

Many of my co workers have been socially distancing themselves and done everything in their power to “flatten the curve,” as Governor Northam recommended. I am imploring you to consider the safety of my fellow educators. Don't our lives matter? We teachers have asked many questions over the past couple of months and we have received little information about what in person teaching might look like. We have asked about safety procedures, cleaning, covid response guidelines and much more. If we cannot these answers, we are not ready to have our students back in the classroom.

We have the ability to protect children and we have to, as it's OUR RESPONSIBILITY. I am begging you to be the voices for school staff and students by voting for virtual learning.

Thank you for your consideration, Mackinsey Foust, Bellwood Elementary

2020/07/20 12:25:36 PM AST Clover Hill Virtual learning (Laptops needed) home school recommendations please

2020/07/20 12:26:43 PM AST Clover Hill My name is Christy Spence and I have two children in Clover Hill Elementary.

I encourage you to vote for 5 days a week in-person classes for our students this fall. Virtual learning has been a challenge for our students, leaving many of them disconnected and falling behind during the last several months of the school year. The social and emotional well-being of our students has been affected during this time and will continue to suffer if students are forced into more virtual learning in the upcoming school year.

I have not met many parents that feel the virtual learning programs have been successful. We are also doing the summer "Recovery of Learning" program so I believe we have tried all of the options that have been provided to us and can provide perspective. We love the teachers for the summer program and we realize they are doing the best that they can. However, my children are usually very social and heavily participate in class so this virtual learning has really held them back. All of the learning programs (ie. Lexia, Dreambox), zoom meetings, paper packets, one-on-one sessions, small group online services have still failed them. There are always glitches computer/program glitches. They are not engaged and to be honest, after sitting with them through all of it, I completely understand why.

Since virtual learning is available through the Virtual Virginia platform, those students and parents who need it can continue to have it and use it. However, parents and students should have a choice between in-person and virtual options and not be mandated into a one-size-fits-all program.

I have been in healthcare for the past 28 years of my life and have read a lot of information on COVID-19. I feel well equipped to analyze the studies and determine if they are clinically significant. These studies have shown that children and teachers can get back in the classroom safely. The best science available shows that children rarely transmit COVID-19 between one another and adults. The most recent study out of Germany, with a large study group of over 2,000, shows this. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/14/schools-coronavirus-infection-rate-low-german-study-finds.html Physicians support in class learning and so should we.

Please vote for 5 days a week in-person school for our students. Please make every effort to ensure that our students are back learning in the classroom this fall so that they can thrive and succeed.

2020/07/20 12:28:51 PM AST Clover Hill I daughter attending Swift Creek Elementary. I want her to have all virtual learning. She is also ESL Learner. But to require to have face to face learning just because she is a ESL learner to me is not fair. Everyone should have equal choice.

2020/07/20 12:29:19 PM AST Matoaca My son is taking 4 AP classes this year, how is he going to get time to ask questions? The kids need to be in school more than 2 days a week. There need to structured zoom classes at least. What about classes that have multiple grade levels in a class?

2020/07/20 12:30:11 PM AST Matoaca I'm a parent of a student. I think that right now it's too much of a risk for school to reopen. I think virtual would be the best option for now.

2020/07/20 12:31:04 PM AST Bermuda Hi. I support 100% virtual learning. Due to having High risk elderly grandparents who are extremely at risk. We take proper precautions however my child is around his grandmother frequently. I can’t say what other parents are doing. Other parents will send their kids to school sick and all prior to covid so what can we expect with covid.. please 100% virtual learning

37 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/20 12:32:03 PM AST Clover Hill I am a new employee in Chesterfield County schools and I would like nothing better than to go back to work the way it looked back on March 12th but, at this point in time, I do not believe it is safe or appropriate, for either students or staff.

The guidelines being discussed do not seem to be sufficient or take into account the actual, practical, day-to-day experience of children, teachers, or other school staff. Education professionals care deeply about their students and school communities but have significant, valid concerns about the health of their students as well as the impact on themselves and their families. The key to return to in person instruction should be safety. How are we safer now than we were on March 13th?

I have heard the desire to reopen schools for students to socialize but the plans I have seen and COVID-19 numbers as they stand cannot allow for typical student interaction. I worry deeply about the impact these abnormal conditions would have on students’ mental health. However, of primary concern to me in regards to mental health is the effect that the death of a teacher or classmate would have on students. I witnessed in my previous school system how the death of a student by suicide, a student who did not attend either of the two schools I worked in, significantly impacted students across both buildings. The death of a student or staff member from COVID-19 is not an if but a when. The likelihood that a single school will experience multiple deaths is extremely high. Any amount of student or staff loss is too high a price to pay when a virtual start is possible and would dramatically reduce this risk.

When schools were first closed on March 13th, teachers were not prepared for the almost instantaneous transition from in person learning to online learning. Now we have time to prepare. Now is NOT the time to ask school staff and children across the commonwealth to be canaries in the coal mines.

It does not make sense to return to schools at this point when we’re at a much higher level of spread of the virus than we were in March. The best and safest option for ALL stakeholders is online learning for at least the first 9 weeks, if not the first semester. It is not ideal, no school staff member I know prefers the online only option but we all also understand that online only instruction would protect children and staff while better safer measures are developed and hopefully further spread of COVID-19 is mitigated.

2020/07/20 12:32:04 PM AST Clover Hill It's extremely important for our kids to have face to face, 5 days a wee, education. Too many kids are in homes without adequate meals that they normally get through schools. Some do not have internet in their homes. Many have abusive or neglectful homes. Domestic abuse cases have risen to frightening amounts during the current quarantine. They need socialization and routine. They need peer involvement. A lot of kids have a tendency to "roam" when they are online and not stay focused on one task, especially the older kids so addicted to social media. Less screen time is always better. Kids have a very small chance of catching and transmitting illnesses. For those that are immunocompromised, they should have the option for off site classes, but the "regular" students NEED classrooms. Bus drivers and support staff NEED their paychecks. Parents NEED to be able to go to work. This is not about wants, but NEEDING what is best for the kids and employees. Enough damage has been done. It's time to correct this wrong and reopen schools, in person, full schedule.

2020/07/20 12:32:32 PM AST Matoaca Please don't require kids to go back into the classroom. Please set up the teachers to be able to give instruction effectively in a virtual classroom. There are options out there like Florida Virtual School.

2020/07/20 12:32:48 PM AST Matoaca Has to be online because someone will get sick , just when it happens it can be dangerous

2020/07/20 12:32:51 PM AST Matoaca I have been a teacher for over 20 years in Chesterfield County, and I have a 10-year-old daughter who attends Woolridge Elementary. I love teaching, and I absolutely see the advantage of in-person teaching. Nevertheless, I urge you to employ distance learning, rather than in-person instruction, when schools open this fall due to the infectious nature of Covid19 and the lack of data about its impacts on schools.

While school officials have unveiled several “hybrid” plans for online and in-person teachings, officials have not provided sufficient detail about how the options will work in practice, much less in specialized cases. My wife, who is also a teacher and who is immuno-compromised, will have to teach online if any in-person option is chosen, as will I. Together, my wife and I teach about half of the 10th grade history classes at our school. I am the only teacher of AP European History. Will our students who chose in-person instruction be forced into online learning? Will there be a proctor in a classroom who supervises the students while our instruction is brought in remotely? Will these courses be shifted to another teacher who has no experience teaching this content? Very few of the practical details of the hybrid education model have been worked out, and it is wishful thinking to believe that they will be ironed out in just 6 weeks.

Even students, teachers, and support personnel who do not have immune system issues will likely be put at risk if schools are opened in the fall. A recent South Korean study (https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/ 26/10/20-1315_article) indicates that teenagers transmit the disease as readily as adults. Around the United States, reports from early-opening schools and daycares have challenged the notion that young children aren’t transmitters of Covid. Add to this the growing awareness that the virus spreads more readily indoors, and it is clear how unsafe sending over 1000 students and teachers into our high schools, which have such substandard air-handling systems that we experienced an outbreak of Legionnaires Disease, will be in the fall.

The ability of teachers to grade online assignments in the fall will improve the effectiveness of distance learning. While such a system will probably never be as effective as in-person education, it is so clearly safer as to make it the only responsible choice. Please choose online education to ensure the safety of our community.

2020/07/20 12:34:08 PM AST Dale I fully support virtual learning my son has an low immune system!!

2020/07/20 12:34:36 PM AST Clover Hill Please support teachers in Chesterfield. Please vote option 6. It does not appear there are very many teachers who want to take the risk of in-school learning. Will we force them to? Obviously in-school is best for some students and I know CCPS will do their best to accommodate those students without jeopardizing public health. We are all in this unprecedented time together. Option 6 allows CCPS time to come up with a concrete, detailed plan during this first quarter so that a return looks more plausible. It also gives us time to monitor Covid spikes around the country so that we are sure we’re not next.

2020/07/20 12:36:54 PM AST Matoaca As an infectious disease researcher and parent of two students in Chesterfield County Public Schools, I strongly encourage the School Board to adopt 100% remote instruction for all grades this fall.

There is still a great deal that we do not know about COVID-19. Its effects on children and their role in spreading the disease are active areas of research. Just last week, a new paper was presented in which researchers found viral load for infected persons to be the same across all age groups, including children. This suggests that children are just as capable of spreading the virus as adults. It appears that children are also more likely than adults to be asymptomatic, which does not bode well for our ability to detect those infected before they can spread the virus to others.

We all want our children to return to in-person instruction this fall, but we do not sufficiently understand the potential risks to them, to educators, school staff, and our community. It seems reasonable to allow time for this research to be done and the questions to be answered, so that we can confidently reopen our schools. It is not necessary for us to answer these questions ourselves, by performing this risky experiment here in Chesterfield County.

2020/07/20 12:37:42 PM AST Midlothian One argument I have heard for not returning to school in person is inadequate hvac systems in the school buildings. According to a NBC 12 news article CCPS has received over $5.6 million in Covid relief money. How much of this money has been spent to address the hvac issues in our schools?

2020/07/20 12:38:15 PM AST Clover Hill As a mother and a huge fan of the amazing teachers and staff that we have in Chesterfield County, I do not believe that we should be going back until it is 100% safe. We should not be endangering our students and teachers who are high risk when virtual learning is an option. Only when it's safe.

2020/07/20 12:39:39 PM AST Clover Hill For those parents that feel comfortable, the students should have the option to attend in person five days a week. This makes it logistically easier for the teachers and the students. I would expect you would have at least a quarter of the students doing virtual, so this would help with the social distancing in school. I am a parent who would probably choose to drive their children to school rather than the school bus ( most moms I have talked to said they would do this), so I believe a lot of your transportation issues will also be eliminated The actual classes could be filmed for those doing online learning so the teachers would not have to repeat everything twice. 100% virtual should not even be an option. We can do better than that for our children! The science does not support such a harsh measures. Although not ideal, I would take at least part-time in person learning over nothing. Chesterfield is known for its top-notch schools. Let's keep it this way. Diane Harring TCMS and Cosby parent

2020/07/20 12:40:11 PM AST Matoaca I would like to thank the School Board and Dr. Daugherty on their efforts regarding a Return to Learn plan. I know that this has not been an easy decision and don’t envy those having to be the deciding voice. With whatever plan is chosen for reopening in the fall, I would like to ask that the School Board and Superintendent please make it a main point of focus to be consistent in policy and procedure, as well as expectations of students, staff, and parents. While no one was prepared for the closing this past spring, we are now aware of the needs for the fall and beyond. None of these options are ideal, but it would be nice for all schools/grade levels to have the same expectations and standards countywide. This will not only help with collaboration efforts on staff members parts, but will also make any learning taking place at home a smoother transition. It was very frustrating this past spring to know the work that was expected of my student was so much different than that of a family member at a different school in the same grade. It was also much harder to collaborate with my support system as expectations seemed to be determined by Principal Discretion rather than County Expectations. As a school employee and single parent, it was also very frustrating to be told to report to work, arrange childcare, and then be told after I got my child to the sitter that policy had changed and we weren’t able to come in. While some of these things couldn’t be helped, quite a few could have been. Going forward, consistency and appropriate timelines are a must with any of these options.

2020/07/20 12:40:53 PM AST Midlothian We are at a crossroads as a country and a county. One that will determine whether our values compel us to establish protocols that will save lives, or if we will succumb to the worst levels of political influence.

The CDC established safety protocols that are above what the state of Virginia has outlined, and I’ve read in the PCPS return plan that we are asking for exceptions to the standards, in a few key areas:

1. Those in grades pre-k through third will be returning to school full-time. This group will struggle with mask compliance and social distancing. I implore you to mandate the students to wear masks and not allow our teachers and other employees to be martyrs. 2. Those receiving special education services in many cases cannot remove their masks nor control their saliva, adding to the risks. This group contains some of the most medically fragile students, and at the most risk for serious complications (especially the CBI group). 3. There is no effect on community spread of COVID-19 when only staff of an establishment are wearing masks per the Heath Affairs article at the link below.: https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.00818

“Overall, these results indicate no evidence of declines in daily COVID-19 growth rates with the employee-only mandates.”

4. Face mask mandates are only as strong as their enforcement. 5. Asking people to take their own temperatures and other self-reported health policies will not be effective, as we have seen how many people believe this to be a political issue instead of the global pandemic it truly is.

If you care about the lives of students, staff, and families in Chesterfield county, eliminate the full-time back to school option from consideration and ensure students are 6 feet apart wearing masks, as the CDC mandates — not the 3 feet Virginia has recommended — if opting for the hybrid option. I am also strongly advocating for full-time virtual learning as our neighbors in Richmond and Henrico have adopted.

Thanks, and may God bless you as you undertake this difficult task.

2020/07/20 12:41:47 PM AST Dale Thank you for your time and consideration during these difficult times. i support virtual classroooms and feel that due to how contagious this disease is, we should continue to have our children learning in virtual classrooms. chesterfield county should be seen as a leader and an example on remote learning success. unfortunately children do not understand social distancing, do not understand the importance of hygiene, and cannot be expected to refrain from touching/closely interacting with other children. let us please not make this decision political and instead put the safety of our families first when making this decision. Thank you again for your time.

2020/07/20 12:41:51 PM AST Midlothian I think there should be an option. Teacher goes to school everyday and teaches to kids that are physically there and online simultaneously. so the kids online can interact and ask questions in real time also. So kids that can stay home will stay home. And families with kids that just cant stay home, can still go to school. I just know some teachers that aren't happy about having to be around all those kids, and i get that too.

2020/07/20 12:42:13 PM AST Unsure My son will be a freshman at Monacan. I work from home, have internet, and my son is average to above average in grades, so I realize I am in a very fortunate situation. With that said, I would like to see a plan that allows children to go to a physical school at least once a week. I feel this will help solidify that "school is real" and that it is not just online or "optional". I know it is not optional, but middle school and high school kids (in my opinion) need that checkpoint of a physical space/ requirement. A face-to-face (with a mask) touch point would help all of the other online work in my opinion. Thank you!

2020/07/20 12:42:18 PM AST Clover Hill Current scientific evidence indicates that most spread of the coronavirus occurs indoors and is readily spread through ventilation systems. Before our schools can reopen it will be necessary to modify every ventilation system with filters and/or UV lights to trap and kill the virus. Furthermore, recent evidence indicates that children 10 and up can spread the virus just as efficiently as adults. Coupled with the large percentage of infections that have been linked to asymptomatic carriers, I see no way that schools can open safely this fall. I would like to see some accommodation provided for special needs students, but there is no way we can be ready for the return of the general student population by September.

2020/07/20 12:42:26 PM AST Matoaca There was a study from Korea that indicated that schools represent a superspreader situation. Despite what the CDC is saying, the World O Meter indicates numbers are going up, not down. We have a higher infection rate than we did when schools closed in March. Many people are not taking this seriously and are REFUSING to take even the most basic precautions, and will certainly refuse to have their kids take precautions. The CDC recommends that if there is even one COVID case in a building the entire building should close for 2 to 5 days for deep cleaning and evaluation of safety. There are still so many things we don’t know about this virus, and so much misinformation. There are no plans to clean between class changes (which makes no sense to me at all). It’s not worth the risk. Please go virtual for at least the first quarter.

2020/07/20 12:45:28 PM AST Bermuda According to social services and the governor, daycares can be open and operate with up to 22 children in a classroom for ages 4 and older, so how is that any different for a public school setting? I work at a private preschool and we have been in operation this whole time with no cases at our school. Not in the students, teachers or parents. If social services and the governor feel it’s safe to operate a day care, how is it not safe to operate a public school? Either way they are in a classroom! So please let the teachers teach our kids in the classroom. Virtual learning is not effect for all students.

2020/07/20 12:45:31 PM AST Bermuda I think it’s imperative to implement virtual learning at the beginning of the upcoming school year, until COVID-19 cases tremendously subside and the infection rate is under control. The risks are too high for everyone involved. I do not want to expose my children to others and run the risk of them potentially becoming gravely ill and/or passing the virus to the rest of our family or anyone else.

The plan to only have 26 children on a school bus is an ineffective measure. An entire community of students and bus driver can be infected in one trip. Unfortunately, mere social distancing (which I imagine will be difficult to maintain and reinforce at all times) is not 100% successful in preventing the spread of COVID-19.

If the current protocol is that anyone who is within six feet for at least 15minutes of someone who tests positive has to quarantine for two to three weeks, I foresee a total collapse of the in-person instruction model anyway. Also, who’s paying for testing and subsequent medical expenses?

No one expects that COVID-19 will affect them personally…until it does. I’ve watched my parents, relatives, and friends/acquaintances stunned at the loss of their loved ones and mourn its nondiscriminatory wrath.

Please vote for reopening in the fall with virtual learning for all students during this global pandemic. Safety and health should be prioritized – for teachers, administrators, staff, and children.

38 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/20 12:45:34 PM AST Clover Hill Hello, I am writing to you as a concerned citizen, parent, and teacher within Chesterfield County Public Schools. As a teacher, I have changed my mind on prospective school opening for the fall of 2020 in CCPS. Initially I had supported a hybrid model of in person and virtual instruction and since then have changed my opinion to support Option 6, which is the fully virtual start. My reasons for this change are many but mainly focus on the risk of surging virus cases and unchecked community spread to students, teachers, and support staff with CCPS if forced to open in person this fall. I am seeing a lot of people explaining how we in the United States should be opening schools fully amid the pandemic as other nations have done so. The difference is that many of these countries that have reopened schools had dwindling virus numbers and had successfully contained the virus. We are the exact opposite in the United States. Our virus numbers are increasing steadily upward in 40 states currently, and Virginia and Metro Richmond is no exception. Furthermore, guidelines are stating that with proper cleaning and maintenance of facilities we will be able to operate in schools while keep things clean and sanitary day after day. My question is whether the county has secured additional funds already to purchase cleaning supplies and hire additional custodial staff? We know year after year that funds are limited and bathrooms and classrooms often lack hand sanitizer, soap, tissues, etc. and those expenses typically fall to teachers to supply. Lastly, I feel the the survey that was spread throughout the county in May / June regarding reopening this fall was vague, not well monitored (we know it was spread throughout the state by #VAback2school advocates), and not equitable as it did not include many responses from families within Eastern CCPS. The answers within that survey should not be used as evidence for support one way or another because a lot has changed since then and the questions themselves lacked depth and clarity. If a survey is necessary, the county needs to develop a new one and find ways to ensure that it is accessible to all family within the county, especially to our Spanish speaking students and parents.

2020/07/20 12:45:46 PM AST Matoaca Students need the face to face learning experience. Middle and high school can be held accountable to wear masks. Students with an IEP are not going to get the educational assistance they need virtually. The all virtual learning option is going to be detrimental to students where both parents work outside the home. These are all things to keep in mind when making this decision.

2020/07/20 12:46:06 PM AST Clover Hill Out of concern for the safety and health of our community, I believe students should learn from home until CDC guidelines can be met.

2020/07/20 12:46:15 PM AST Clover Hill We should have a virtual return for ALL students back to school. I am currently pregnant and high risk, my husband is a resource (ESL teacher) he is not in one classroom but several per day. Even with precautions taken there is no guarantee that he will not bring home Coronavirus to our family. Pregnant women have a higher risk of being hospitalized and being put on a ventilator after being diagnosed with COVID. With me being high risk we have been VERY diligent about isolating ourselves. It is anxiety inducing and stressful to think that we will now have to worry about my husband bringing home Coronavirus and have to choose between him having a job and us having an income and our health and well being. PLEASE consider an all virtual return to school. DO not put the teachers and students at risk.

2020/07/20 12:47:04 PM AST Clover Hill I want safety and consistency first! I know kids need to be back in schools for better learning and SEL health but what happens if they go back and someone in the class contracts COVID- because I’m sure it will happen- does everyone quarantine? How much ripple effect does that have? What happens to the SEL health of our students who are sent home to quarantine? To the teachers afraid of spreading to their families? If it happens more than once- what about sick personal time for staff? What does the stress and pressure of all these things do to the staff and does that affect the way they interact with the children? If so- (again-I believe for some educators it will make them short tempered- because they’re human) what does that do to the SEL of our children? All that said- thank you for your service and guidance! I appreciate it more than you know!

2020/07/20 12:48:23 PM AST Midlothian After weeks of correspondence with my School Board representative and Dr. Tylus (the hardest working person at CCPS based on the volume of correspondence he is addressing!), viewing town halls, reading town hall comments, completing CCPS and school surveys and educating myself on the science and data about COVID-19 through VDH, the Chesterfield Health Department, and reputable media reporting on scientific studies, I am making a last plea to the School Board to please provide families with a choice of in person learning as part of the 2020-21 school year. Please do not give in to a misinformed, reactionary campaign by a small but organized group, some of whom unfortunately have failed to exhibit decorum as they excoriate those who offer differing opinions. They do not represent the will or needs of the entire school community, and sadly, some do not represent the best CCPS has to offer.

Briefly, the percent positive test results for the Chesterfield Health District have fallen since Governor Northam announced that schools would reopen. This is good news. If it was safe to reopen then, it appears to be even safer now, and hopefully that will continue as we move toward September. Chesterfield’s Risk Management department has made clear that they believe adequate measures can be taken to support reopening for in person instruction. Between CARES money that CCPS has already received and additional funds pledged by the County, plus money and resources already procured by our resourceful COO, there should be enough money to fund implementation of those measures. I am confident that PTAs would chip in more funds, and funds typically directed toward programs that cannot be restarted yet, such as athletics, could be redeployed in this direction as well.

In person instruction is vital to the physical, emotional and educational safety and health of our children and our community. All virtual learning will most damage the already most vulnerable: special education students, those struggling financially, those without access to reliable child care or technology resources. Foisting an unknown virtual learning curriculum on our children makes them experiment subjects. Even our principal, a former teacher and parent, lacks faith in the virtual and her ability to keep her own children moving forward, as she told our PTA meeting that she plans to hire a tutor.

The only viable way forward is choice. The future of CCPS, and Chesterfield, is riding on this.

2020/07/20 12:48:50 PM AST Midlothian Virtual Learning

2020/07/20 12:49:39 PM AST Matoaca I am a school worker and don’t feel safe going into the schools with children that have not been social distancing, many families have not. They think it’s vacation and party time. Keep us safe and make learning virtual for now.

2020/07/20 12:49:48 PM AST Matoaca CCPS has often stated that safety is a priority for its school & community members. Research has shown that our best defense against COVID-19 has been social/physical distancing in absence of a vaccine. Even the SCC with an est. staff of 25 having ample space for distancing will telework thru 2020 for safety. Voting for Option 6, the safest return to teaching/ learning, for Qtr 1 supports our district's belief of "safety first." Anything else is gambling with the health and (quite literally) lives of everyone dedicated to our mission. The cost of even one life or one new chronic health condition stemming from this virus, that could be prevented, is too high a price to pay. Before we can be: Innovative. Engaging. Relevant. We must be alive and healthy. Most wouldn't do what we do pre-pandemic, surely that number skyrockets now. How much liability is reasonable to place on the shoulders of the staff who will bear the brunt of the risk for in-person instruction to take place? And for those who are advocating for in-person instruction, will their students be ready to comply with ALL safety expectations daily, no matter the age? Will there be enough substitutes for when (not if) staff becomes ill and needs to quarantine to support in-person instruction (per each occurrence)? Teachers are taxpayers, too. You have a difficult decision to make. We appreciate all your support for families and staff of CCPS! #VoteOption6

2020/07/20 12:50:38 PM AST Midlothian I truly feel the kids could do both in person and online. I feel part of the kids 1st 2 days of week in person or part of kids online. Clean the classroom wed and then flip the kids. I have a soon to be K and 5th grader in Chesterfield. I work in the medical field. This can be done just have to be smart and the kids will adapt to the "new" normal.

2020/07/20 12:52:03 PM AST Unsure I am in favor of partial days at the school and the other with real time virtual classes with teachers.

2020/07/20 12:52:18 PM AST Midlothian If Chesterfield County failed to keep the Schools clean and maintained during a robust economy (the result being Legionella contamination is many Schools), how in the world are you going to keep students and teachers safe during a pandemic and major economic downturn? You are not, and you know it. People will die and the deaths will be on your hands.

2020/07/20 12:52:24 PM AST Midlothian Please choose in person school for next year. As the parent of a rising Kindergarten there is just no way to virtually teach this age group. This age is all about stations and learning how to learn at school. My child hates zoom classes for subjects like dance that she loves in person. It’s not going to be effective and was basically deemed a disaster in the Spring. Additionally it leaves our most vulnerable students behind. If you cannot choose an in-person option then please allows parents the choice. Virtual is always an option, so why can’t parents that want in-person instruction also have that choice? Parents looking for in-person instruction are not monsters who don’t care if teacher die. They are hard working and involved parents who just want what is best for their children. I just feel that my child learns best in person. As a mother, I know my kids. If choice isn’t available, then vouchers should be provided to send kids to alternate schools that are offering in person instruction. Virtual just isn’t an option for the youngest learners. In my district, 82% of parents voted for a choice of in person instruction. Only 9% chose fully virtual. So it appears that by choosing a fully virtual option the school board would be completely ignoring the will of the parents and students, and determining what is best based on fear of litigation and heavy response from the “teachers associations.” Please consider the will of the parents and students and what is actually best for students when making this decision. Thank you.

2020/07/20 12:52:43 PM AST Unsure How do we make parents feel safe when school staff, all over VA and the nation, are talking about how they have not been feeling well (and how they are responsible for abiding by the honor code to share that when school starts)? Not feeling well can simply mean stressed out, but that is still "not feeling well," and it can hinder people from being fully capable of operating. If staff feel pressured to be truthful in the name of safety for all, then who will feel well enough if they do not (so far)? It is understood that that is a measure to take in order to promote everyone's safety, and knowing this means that a decision needs to be made in advance due to the question of figuring out how to get enough subs to cover in order to keep staff numbers safe.

2020/07/20 12:53:28 PM AST Matoaca First, I am proud to be a teacher in Chesterfield. My colleagues are some of the most inspirational people I have met and worked with. I have taught for 7 years, and have always been somebody who looks forward to going back to work during teacher work week so that I can meet my new students. This year, however, I have significant concerns about what "back to school" means. Going back 100% means putting all of our students, teachers, and their families at risk. Going back with hybrid means putting even more work on teachers when we already work 50-60 hour weeks in a normal year. I believe virtual for the beginning of the year is best, but if y'all go a different direction, here are my concerns: 1) What will the mask policy be for our students and what are the consequences for those who choose not to wear one, including social interactions of students who confront each other over their choice to wear, or not wear, a mask? Without a unified policy it will be difficult to maintain a safe and meaningful learning environment. 2) Similarly, what is the policy for social distancing within the classroom, the hallways, the parking lot? Who will monitor their compliance? What are the consequences going to be for students who do not comply with social distancing ? 3) Has it been verified each school has sufficient physical space for students to socially distance themselves in common spaces and class spaces during & between classes? One directional hallways won't accomplish social distancing, just traffic flow. (Also consider fire drills, tornado drills, and the time before school starts and dismissal). 4) What types of interactions will be allowed in class and how will materials be distributed and shared? Teachers need clear guidance on what is safe within the classroom and to be provided with supplies to accomplish it. This includes increased cleaning supplies, but also everyday items that we’ve been able to share in the past (class copies of items will no longer be safe, extra pencils, markers, paper, etc, will be needed for students who don’t have it). 5) What is the protocol once exposure is known? How will parents and teachers be notified ? Who will be in charge of tracking those in quarantine and their attendance? How will teachers be compensated for mandatory quarantines and possible medical treatment? How will substitutes be used to fill the gaps, and what if there aren't enough? How will we know when it is safe to return?

2020/07/20 12:53:30 PM AST Dale Will all students be required to wear masks all day?

Will teacher receive medical grade masks and gloves?

Will there be air filtration in all buildings?

2020/07/20 12:55:28 PM AST Clover Hill 1. Discard the opinion of the angry mob. Do not confuse loud and insistent with knowledgeable. We elected you for your demonstrated ability to use data, not your record of falling down in front of angry mobs. 2. Examine the logical fallacy at the base of “children will commit suicide if you do not do what the angry mob demands.” 3. Look for data from schools that have been reopened. Did students and teachers really die from COVID? Yes. Yes, they did really die. 4. Announce a virtual fall semester. Thanks!

2020/07/20 12:55:35 PM AST Clover Hill 2 shifts a.m. and p.m. would be great! Like 7 to 12 and 1 to 6 p.m.

2020/07/20 12:56:25 PM AST Midlothian Please allow these kids to go back to school. I know the teachers are worried, but doctors, nurses, grocery store workers, retail, etc are all back to work. We can not lock our kids away and expect them to flourish. My son is suffering from depression and needs face to face interactions with his teachers. Online does not work for a lot of students. If parents don’t want to send their kids, allow them to keep them at home. Let the other students return to their classes, friends, and teachers.

2020/07/20 12:56:45 PM AST Matoaca Please strongly consider a partial or full return in person to school. Scientific evidence shows children rarely carry or transmit the disease and for children and families psychological, emotional and financial well being. Working families have already been placed under an extreme burden for the last 4 months. In order to sustain an open economy parents must have educational options in person for their children. Many can not afford childcare or a daycare center and will not be able to school their children virtually. Please consider in person education for September.

2020/07/20 12:56:50 PM AST Matoaca Please take into account the safety of the children,teachers and their families above partisan politics. My wife works at St. francis and witnesses the effects Covid 19 . Thank you

2020/07/20 12:57:07 PM AST Clover Hill Virtual is the most safe option. Please vote for 100% virtual learning. Most k-12 and higher education institutions have voted for this as well. Our kids, especially little ones, don't understand social distancing. Let's keep them and our teachers safe.

2020/07/20 12:57:12 PM AST Midlothian If it is decided to go with option 4B when schools reopen, WILL SIBLINGS BE ON THE SAME SCHEDULE ( going to school the same days) So as to make the household a little less chaotic?

2020/07/20 12:57:41 PM AST Matoaca I understand this is very difficult decision and no decision will be the good one. I just hoping that Chesterfield Country will let we, the teachers and staffs, the parents have the opportunity to choose what works the best for us, going back to school full time, or online schooling...! Thank you very much for all your caring and your hard work!!!!

2020/07/20 12:58:18 PM AST Midlothian Will temperature checks be done BEFORE children board the bus?

2020/07/20 12:58:21 PM AST Matoaca I'm sure virtual learning is wonderful. Unfortunately, for those of us with NO INTERNET ACCESS, it makes it extremely difficult. If hotspots are provided, then great. However, it seems that the learning gap will inevitably widen between the Haves & the Have Nots. I literally do not know how I am going to facilitate virtual learning, if my kids do not have internet access. It is NOT a reasonable, viable solution to suggest parking in a library/ school parking lot for hours to use the public wifi (as suggested to me previously). We are a family that seems to "make too much" to receive any sort of assistance, but we simply cannot afford to pay an additional bill every month for internet. I imagine that we are not alone in this situation, & I implore the School Board to take the lack of internet access into account as they make their decisions concerning the reopening of our schools. Thank you!

2020/07/20 12:58:24 PM AST Clover Hill PLEASE we have to start with virtual learning. It’s not an option it’s a must. As a parent I do not feel safe letting my daughter come back as she has preexisting medical condition. Are we willing to risk flu season & Covid together? NO LIFE is worth the risk no matter how small some might feel !!! We should not be starting the school year thinking about death numbers. Please vote Option 6

2020/07/20 12:58:37 PM AST Unsure School should be online it’s not safe for teachers or the kids

2020/07/20 12:59:34 PM AST Clover Hill If a teacher is affected by the virus will the entire class or classes have to quarantine for 14 days? How as parents will we be notified for protection of our elderly parents?

2020/07/20 1:00:03 PM AST Clover Hill Please vote for Option SIX. In a matter of 24 hours (with having social distanced and worn a mask everywhere), I have experienced 5 COVID symptoms and my test results won't be available for up to TEN DAYS. Option six is the only viable option to keep EVERYONE safe and ALIVE. I will not risk my health and my family's health to do my job.

2020/07/20 1:00:27 PM AST Midlothian There are many different reasons children should be in school. I do feel for the teachers- but I also want to ask...are they requiring services from their mail carrier, sanitation worker, electric company, grocery store workers, farmers, fire fighters, police officers, online ordering sites, etc, etc, etc. I think the answer is yes. So unless they exist in a bubble, their claims that they will be put at an unfair risk are negligible. In addition, the CCPS survey showed that over 80% of families wanted in school schooling. And finally- if restaurants, shops, gyms are open- then for goodness sake our schools should be. Where are our priorities?? And the School Board should have been planning on how to safely open (meaning getting the schools physically ready) since March.

2020/07/20 1:00:45 PM AST Clover Hill After a recent outbreak at a cheer gym, and kids testing positive with absolutely no symptoms, and 50% of those tested at 1 location, tested positive, I have great concerns about the spreading of this virus when there are no symptoms. As a result, I feel virtual school, with quality video lessons is important. I also have concerns about teacher training to provide quality instruction as if the student was sitting in a classroom. There needs to be video instruction and not just online Alex style testing which provided no instruction, but just continuous test that students had to seek outside YouTube education and tutors to complete the assignment with a high academic outcome. High school students are at a critical point of academic rigor. The results of their performance will affect college opportunities. Quality instruction is vital.

2020/07/20 1:00:50 PM AST Matoaca I support the students returning to school in-person on a hybrid basis

2020/07/20 1:01:18 PM AST Midlothian My husband and I are still working outside of the home, and want our kids back in a structured class-room setting. Virtual learning is not an affective method, even though it may be safer. I know my kids will not participate on-line as they should because of lack of supervision, and will fail. Complete virtual learning could be detrimental to our family, as we are fearful it will only breed more laziness and a couple of drop-outs.

39 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/20 1:01:37 PM AST Dale Who is going to be cleaning the schools? Before Covid, our building wasn’t cleaned adequately at night. (Soap in one of three dispensers, trash with food left in classroom for days at a time, desks and tables not washed)

2020/07/20 1:02:12 PM AST Bermuda I am not a teacher - I am a full-time worker and a single-mother and I do not have the education, time or resources to teach my children what they need to know.I would prefer students go back to school full time. They need to be learning in person at least 2-3 days a week. Also, I have not yet heard anyone mention how the school board plans to take responsibility for the floundering grades of high school students who do not thrive in online learning. These grades will affect their education prospect for years to come. What sort of support will be provided to them?

2020/07/20 1:02:23 PM AST Midlothian Has CCPS defined the goals of their back to school plan? What evidence are they using to evaluate each plan against these goals? How are they balancing these different goals? Is there a hierarchy of goals? (For example, is student safety more important than educational instruction, teacher safety, or social interaction?)

2020/07/20 1:02:45 PM AST Bermuda Option 1 - All students report to school, five days a week I found it to be very stressful to try and teach my child school material while working from home, my 7 year old struggled to pay attention and was not able to learn any new material from me. She participated in online meetings daily/weekly with her amazing teacher who was available to us 24-7 throughout the entire process. Ms. Bowen answered calls, online chat questions and sent me materials when I could not access them online because of glitches in the system. Not every teacher is like this and not every parent will be able to stay home and help their children learn material. Just being able to get dinner on the table, homework done, and 20 minutes of reading on a regular school night is hard enough.

2020/07/20 1:04:23 PM AST Midlothian Please provide an in-school learning option! This is needed for those kids who need the in school experience to learn and working parents

2020/07/20 1:05:09 PM AST Midlothian My son have special need he going to high school this year how will the virtual will work for special needs children some parents don't have internet service if it do virtual

2020/07/20 1:06:26 PM AST Matoaca I am the husband of a Chesterfield County teacher and father of a fifth grader in the county school system. My bottom line is that I want them safe. Schools should not reopen solely to be daycare centers for working parents. I do understand the financial considerations associated with daycare, but hopefully businesses and local government officials can work out solutions. I am a university professsor who has chosen to teach classes in the fall in a way that minimizes person-to-person contact because the specifics of the virus are still being worked through. I believe that in-person classes are best, but only if it is safe. Opening schools prematurely will not return everything to “normal,” as some believe. Students and teachers alike (me included!) will have to adjust to whatever the “new“ normal is. If health is the primary concern, I believe that we should be online for the fall.

2020/07/20 1:07:21 PM AST Matoaca I think it will be impossible to teach Kindergartens virtually. It is imperative at this age to make learning a priority and exciting. I do not know how you can do this in front of a screen. Hanover is going back and there is no reason we can not go back with the proper protocols in place.

2020/07/20 1:07:25 PM AST Bermuda Our students need to be back in school on campus for in person learning in the fall. Parents should be given a choice of they do not want their children to go in person and do virtual from home. The American Academy of Pediatrics has shown that children rarely get Covid 19 and they do not transmit it to others. The education of our students are at risk by not being in school. Virtual learning does not take the place of being in a classroom with a teacher. If it did, why even have public schools! Isolation and depression has been experienced by many high school students. Our specialty center students take a full course load of academics and also take courses in the focus area. These students suffered second semester. In all actuality, second semester was a waste. If it is not Safe to be in school, how can we require our students to go to the gym and other activities to pass the required hours for on line physical education. If parents do not want their children to go to school on campus, then give them the option to stay home. Allow the rest of us to attend school in person in the fall. I am sure most parents would sign a waiver to make the schools happy!

2020/07/20 1:07:45 PM AST Midlothian No matter how few kids you have in school, they will aggregate. That's the nature of kids. I strongly support 100% virtual.

2020/07/20 1:08:43 PM AST Midlothian Please allow parents to decide what's best for their kids. Please consider two options: 5 days in person and 5 days virtual. Everyone gets what they want this way

2020/07/20 1:08:56 PM AST Midlothian I would want to be safe and do 100% virtual and revisit in January.

2020/07/20 1:09:14 PM AST Matoaca I support a full return to school environment with learning options (virtual) to families who may have other serious health conditions that the school system needs to consider. However, if the choice is made to return to school in a virtual learning environment (be 50% or 100%), what will this look like? And, is Chesterfield County Public Schools prepared? The set up during the spring period of 2020 was not sufficient for a child to properly learn new material and to do so without significant parent involvement. I suspect that the majority of the students in CCPS have working parents who cannot stop working multiple times a day.

2020/07/20 1:12:55 PM AST Midlothian One life or illness is not worth starting schools until COVID 19 is under control and not growing. You need more than a couple of weeks to establish a trend. It would be much safer and prudent to start school in a 100% virtual environment. Can you replace the teachers that will resign or retire if in the classroom is how you choose to start school? I ask you to please consider the consequences of starting back to classroom learning too soon.

2020/07/20 1:12:56 PM AST Matoaca As a teacher of high school, I'm extremely worried about the in-person hybrid options which will cohort hundreds of students together in buildings with broken HVAC systems. In-person learning right now will by no means be "back to normal" and in fact, teachers will be extremely limited in what they are instructionally able to do in person while maintaining CDC guidelines. We do not yet have the funding and protocols in place to return to the school building; staff will need cleaning supplies, maintenance on HVACs system, masks & other protective gear, and supplies for children who come to school without. Furthermore, since high school aged students are just as likely to transmit the disease as adults are, teachers will need explicit, clear, and enforced policies for testing and quarantining. A single sick student could result in hundreds of students sick or, in the best case, quarantined at home for days at a time. The logistics for teachers are just as complicated as they may need to be tested and quarantined as well, meaning the county will need to have substitutes at the ready, and if there are not enough, we won't be able to comply with CDC guidelines. This pandemic is providing us with very difficult decisions, however, the priority should be the health of students and staff. While each choice will require careful planning among multiple stakeholders, option 6 is the best option for safe, continued success with our students. By announcing the first quarter as virtual, families, teachers, and caregivers can plan for appropriate, engaging curriculum and supervision. Without a healthy community we can't expect learning to happen. As you know RPS has decided to be 100% virtual for the first few months, Henrico County Superintendent released a statement in support of virtual learning, as did Dr. Daugherty. Please vote option 6 for the first quarter. Thank you for your time and consideration of the safety of your students, families and teachers.

2020/07/20 1:13:09 PM AST Clover Hill 100% virtual for safety!!

2020/07/20 1:13:29 PM AST Bermuda Good afternoon,

I appreciate the opportunity for comment. I’ve been studying the different options offered and while none of them are optimal for initial schooling I’m in favor of full virtual schooling. It is the best way to protect the health of our teachers and students. Study of the virus isn’t quite far enough along to rule out impacts to either parties even if transmission is better understood. I’d also urge looking at further creative options for the second semester schooling. Options such as finding different schooling locations and different teaching styles would be possible now that more time is available. If ideas are necessary I’d suggest soliciting the public for any and all ideas for brainstorming. While it will take some time to go through someone may have some good ideas that are possible. While I feel strongly we have to initially start virtual we don’t have to stay that way if we plan accordingly. We just can’t have the plan as it is today’s which is to put students and staff health and lives at risk even if the risk is limited. I couldn’t handle losing a child or a loved one that is a teacher when we know it could be prevented and we have to accommodate for a short time frame (overall a year or so). Thank you for your time.

Mike W.

2020/07/20 1:14:07 PM AST Bermuda I have a child going to kindergarten this Fall. My child has been in the house for months, and has not been out to stores or other public, indoor spaces. It is my hope that Chesterfield County Public Schools will offer a virtual learning option for children in Fall 2020. I believe this is a safe option for our young people to continue their educational journey. Please consider this parent’s concern.

2020/07/20 1:14:29 PM AST Midlothian We cannot neglect our children’s education any further. Keeping schools closed would be a profound disservice to the community. If we continue to keep our children from their educators, we will suffer the consequences of an uneducated, unsocialized generation in just a few short years.

2020/07/20 1:16:28 PM AST Midlothian 100% in person school with social distancing precautions. I do not know how working families can accommodate virtual learning. The one’s that will be most negatively impacted by this will be those in lower socioeconomic status, those from single parent households, those from working families, and those that rely on school for safety and well-being.

2020/07/20 1:18:04 PM AST Bermuda As someone who works in healthcare as has worked throughout this entire pandemic, including with patients who have suffered with the covid-19 disease, I truly believe and fully support my children going back to public school 5 days a week when school begins in the fall. I know that children are not a high-risk population and they tend not to transmit the disease. I also know that daycares have stayed open throughout the entire pandemic and we haven't heard much if anything about children or daycare workers having issues with the disease. I fully support taking precautions and being safe, including taking children's temperatures upon entering their classroom, using hand sanitizer and hand washing frequently throughout the day, wearing masks in the hall and attempting to socially distance by staying in their classrooms more. I understand there may be some children or staff members who are high-risk or have high-risk family members and accommodations should be made for those people. However, virtual learning is not appropriate for most students and is very difficult to manage with a two-parent working household. I do not believe that the science behind this disease warrant virtual learning for children. This disease is not going away anytime soon and you cannot expect parents to keep their children home and do virtual learning for up to three years or until the environment is considered "safe" again. Please strongly consider sending our children back to school for a normal five-day work week this fall. Thank you.

2020/07/20 1:18:23 PM AST Midlothian I am in support of a virtual return to school or at least parents having the option to have their children do virtual learning for the 20-21 year.

2020/07/20 1:18:32 PM AST Clover Hill there is already a national teacher shortage and who can blame folks for not wanting to join a profession that requires buying your own supplies to do your job effectively or going to work in unsafe conditions with poor air quality during the best of times. forcing teachers to risk their lives and their families lives is asking too much. it's already expected that they would die to save a child during a mass shooting...how much more do you want them to give, and how often? enough is enough.

2020/07/20 1:19:30 PM AST Matoaca I am a teacher in support of students going back to school in person! It is pertinent that young elementary age students receive face-to-face instruction and build relationships with their teacher and their peers. Most of my colleagues I have spoken to agree with me on an in person start. Unfortunately the board has heard from many teachers who are in favor of a full virtual start. I hope the board can keep in mind that many with a different viewpoint haven’t felt comfortable to share their opinion of going back and the board hasn’t gotten the full picture of what the staff as a whole feels. We need to make decisions based on scientific facts and what is best for students. In no way can I connect, motivate and educate my first graders effectively through a screen. My rising first grade daughter who loves to learn has fought me against everything virtual since schools closed. Educators are essential for children to develop appropriately academically socially and emotionally.

2020/07/20 1:19:35 PM AST Unsure My children attend Chesterfield schools. My wife and I both work full time jobs. She is a nurse and I work in utilities. It is not at all acceptable to us for our children not to be going to school full time. We do not have the time to work all day then come home and look at emails from several different teachers and then attempt to force our kids to do schoolwork. It adds stress to an already stressful time. I also have not seen a tax break from the county for homeschooling my children. That would be great! Then I could have the money to send them to a private school that is interested in teaching children and not Interested in politics. Thank You for your time. Andrew Biedler

2020/07/20 1:19:37 PM AST Midlothian Please consider enabling a schedule that allows for those that want to attend school in-person to do so and those that don't, have the option to attend virtually. Other districts around the nation have already adopted this plan and I would hope Chesterfield could do the same. Richmond does NOT speak for Chesterfield families!

2020/07/20 1:19:43 PM AST Midlothian I believe that virtual learning did not work at all and is not very good and I believe that it should be in person and if not then at least half in person.

2020/07/20 1:20:19 PM AST Midlothian When the original survey was released a month ago, I was very optimistic with some trends we were seeing in Virginia. I wanted to see my students in September and pick up where we all left off abruptly in March. In the past month, I have become increasingly discouraged by many things. The scientific evidence is revealing new information about Covid-19 and its impact on all age groups. Things that were once assumed as safe or protected are now considered risky or at-risk. I am concerned to open school and then learn more devastating information after we’ve all been exposed to large groups of people that we (students, parents and teachers) have been trying to minimize interactions with. I am also not confident that appropriate safety protocols will be in place in 6 weeks. What little has been provided to the schools so far in terms of physical protective equipment and policies for 12-month employees is severely lacking. It will be entirely inadequate when hundreds of teachers and students return in September.

While I know that face to face instruction is the best mode of education for all students, we can confidently agree that instruction will have to look drastically different this fall - regardless of the option decided. I don’t think we can confidently say that the risks (known and most importantly unknown) outweigh the benefits of returning to school. In my opinion even the hybrid version carries many of the risks as opening fully in person. Why not allow teachers these 6 weeks to finalize virtual learning prep as we continue to get guidance from the CDC and other scientific studies. I love my students and am not willing to risk one of their lives or the lives of their family to have mediocre face to face instruction with limited protective measures in place. Please give us the time this summer and fall to plan for a comprehensive, virtual learning environment until we can confidently and thoroughly protect all stakeholders in the students’ education.

2020/07/20 1:20:22 PM AST Midlothian Thank you all for your hard work on an impossible task. As I’ve shared in emails, I still have great concerns about funding and how some of these safety measures will be put in place. School funding does not seem to be on the topics for the special session the end of August either. We still need many questions answered and procedures put in place to keep everyone safe. Thank you

2020/07/20 1:20:42 PM AST Clover Hill Good afternoon. As a teacher, no one understands the need for kids to recieve a quality education more than we do. We see them every day and see the impact of classroom learning and socialization. I encourage you to prioritize the health and safety of staff and students alike by going with the 100% virtual option. Requiring anything less places an unneeded risk for both groups. In-person learning would not be a "return to normal." Shared classroom materials, lunch with friends, sports, and clubs would not be part of the school day. The interactive group work, collaboration, and student choice wouldn't be viable in a socially-distanced classroom. Given the resources, teachers can provide a robust learning experience to students through an online platform that requires no risk of lives. At the very least, CCPS should start the year virtually and reassess the data after the first semester. When it comes down to it, if we are "wrong" and COVID does not impact schools, students, and staff, we can say that we were careful and did the best we could to ensure the safety and well-being for those in all our buildings. If, indeed, there's an uptick in numbers and we find that kids do carry COVID with lasting health conditions, we will be mighty glad we made the choice to err on the side of caution. It seems the answer is clear on this one.

2020/07/20 1:20:47 PM AST Midlothian Please schedule the school day to begin no earlier than 8:30 for high school students. I recall reading something about a proposed 7:30 start time for virtual learning. That is too early. Thank you.

2020/07/20 1:22:06 PM AST Matoaca I have two boys in elementary school (rising 1st and 5th). I am an Engineer for Dominion (I travel and am considered an essential worker) and my wife is a Veterinarian and business owner. Quitting one of our jobs is not an option. Both of our boys attend day care. With the options of rotation schedules presented, I'm afraid that we cannot support learning on the "off" days aside from an hour of homework at most. Maybe our daycare will help us with wifi accessbility to allow learning at daycare, but they are waiting to see what decision you come up with first.

Distance learning did not work in the spring (for Elementary). My oldest son is a CBG student and would spend 10-30 minutes per day working on class work (self sufficient). He finished rather quickly, so I question the quality of the assignments. I did not have the time to review his work. My youngest had to have hands-on guidance and hopefully you know that kids don't respond to parents as well as they do teachers, so many work sessions were a struggle. I also felt ill prepared to teach him because I wasn't knowledgeable on what to expect from him at his age.

If I had middle/high schoolers, I would feel much more comfortable with distance learning and letting them stay at home. However, I think a different approach is needed for elementary students. You cannot expect households with two working parents to replace teachers! We do not have the proper education for that. I know many are scared of going back full time, but I don't think COVID is going away anytime soon and Elementary students will suffer the most both in cognitive and behavioral development. We can't run this experiment for a year and hope it will be better. At some point we need to keep moving. I'm more afraid of my youngest not developing reading or writing skills more than catching the virus.

I also suggest the board consider extending the school year through next summer to make up for lost instruction time.

40 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/20 1:22:35 PM AST Clover Hill Please allow school to open. Virtual learning does not work for my rising 5th grader. I work in a nursing home and my husband is an electrician. Neither of us have the ability to stay home and supervise her “virtual learning”.

2020/07/20 1:23:26 PM AST Matoaca Please follow science and not the loudest voices, 100% virtual the first 9 week is the only solution. Thank you.

2020/07/20 1:23:29 PM AST Matoaca I am a grandfather of two children going to Grange Hall - K and 5th. There are two sides to every story and numbers and facts can be spun. I STRONGLY believe that physical attendance at school the very best choice. It seems the children are not at great risk but the adults more so. Bottom line is if i were a teacher i would go to the classroom.

2020/07/20 1:23:39 PM AST Bermuda As a parent of a Chesterfield county school student I am hoping that the school board makes the right and safe decision to start school virtually in the 2020-2021 school year. As we all are aware, there is an uptick in positive COIVD cases within our state and nationally. There are still too many unknowns, no cure, and no vaccine to put our children at risk. Children not only can pass the disease unknowingly, they can experience life threatening symptoms as a result. I am also concerned with the safety of our teachers. To have the responsibility of maintaining social distance standards, wearing masks, proper cleaning and hand washing protocols, etc, rest solely on the shoulders of our teachers and our youth is unrealistic. You may or may not have heard the story of the teachers in another state who were teaching virtual classes while sitting in the same classroom while yet maintaining social distance measures. All three contracted the virus, and one died as a result. Is it worth the risk???

2020/07/20 1:23:52 PM AST Clover Hill Despite the fact that a 100% virtual learning environment is not "convenient" for our two-parent full-time working, essential-personnel (outside of the home) household, I support a 100% virtual learning choice. By not doing 100% virtual, teachers will be forced to split their attentions to both in class and virtual students, and that's not feasible for these heroes (also known as teachers). Assuming that we can provide parents/families with the tools needed (i.e. free wifi for low income families, and working chromebooks), there is no reason not to go to a virtual format. There should obviously be exceptions for those students with special needs. While I am still unsure how we will manage this in our home with a rising 8th grader with an IEP and special needs, a rising 6th grader in the gifted academy, and rising 3rd grader in general ed, I am saying YES to virtual learning. I trust our teachers and our school leaders to make the choices that are best for all. The health of not only our students, but of our teachers and faculty are of the utmost importance. I feel like the virtual learning could be reconsidered after the first semester, and perhaps we could move to a hybrid option later in the year. Thank you for your time and your thoughtful consideration. I cannot imagine how difficult making these decisions are. I will be praying for your guidance. Our kids are adaptable, and if we embrace virtual learning with a positive attitude, our children can grow and soar.

2020/07/20 1:24:17 PM AST Unsure Children should go virtual for now to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to family members who may be at high risk

2020/07/20 1:24:26 PM AST Matoaca I am writing to advocate for choice of in person education this fall. As a parent with 2 elementary children with IEPs, one of them being a 3yr old special education pre k student, virtual does not work! CCPS special education abandoned our children when schools closed. My rising 3rd grader is pulled out for reading and writing and he was just thrown back into general ed with no support or accommodations. I was able to implement my own accommodations since items were not graded and I know how he learns best. Not all parents are cut out to be special education teachers like myself so I worry about all the children who are not learning. We have been paying for speech and OT for both of our children that they are supposed to get in school. (That’s right these services are still continuing in the community so why weren’t they continued in schools?) I hope you are prepared to fund private placements and private therapy for children with IEPs to receive FAPE that they deserve. Virtual is not “appropriate” for all of these children. I am an RN and fully understand health, safety, risk management, and data. If you truly make your decisions based off data then you’d allow for in person choice. If you choose fully virtual then your decision is based off politics, fear, and emotions. As an RN and military spouse with 2 special needs children I know the feeling of fear well....and I overcome it every day because I have a job to do as a mother, wife, and healthcare professional. No one signed up for this virus but we have jobs to do and educating our children is one of them. Education is essential! Virtual is not appropriate for all children! If you are waiting for the virus to disappear you will be waiting forever! On a final note I am disgusted by what I’ve seen from some teachers in response to reopening and how they are bullying other teachers with differing opinions. As well as what has been brought forth as politics from the CEA. They have been grossly unprofessional. Are these the best teachers CCPS can find to teach our children? If you choose virtual you might as well invest in an already existing accredited program and use the money to fund services for our children that need them. YouTube is not education. Where did the cares act money go?

2020/07/20 1:24:34 PM AST Midlothian I am writing this email as a concerned parent wanting the best education for my son. I am urging you to consider and vote for in person full time education. Distance learning is not a realistic mode of education for my family and my rising 3rd grader. My husband and I both work full time. My husband is military and I am speech therapist in a hospital. I do not use school as daycare. I use school as a mode to educate my child. I do use daycare as before and after school care because our hours are not 9:30-3:45. Unfortunately, our days consist of leaving the house at 6:30am and arriving back at 6:00pm. My son would be starting his school day after dinner and bath at 7 pm. This works for homework and continuing skills learned in school. This does not work as a time to start learning for the day. Daycare is not equipped to educate my child as these workers do not have the education and experience to make this work in an environment of multiple grades, multiple schools, and different teachers. I think it is wonderful to offer families that want distance learning as an option. However this option is not right for everyone. I am sad at how our children are negatively impacted by this virus. We now have people going on vacations, out to eat, to church, to many other events but our children cannot return to school. Distance learning will only widen the gap of between kids that have the resources and parents that are home from those that lack resources and parents that both work full time. The distance learning experience was sub par and my child did not learn anything, only maintained his skills. I can testify that using the proper PPE and guidance from the CDC is effective protection from COVID-19. I work daily with the sickest of COVID patients just weaning from the ventilator, with tracheostomies, and a host of other comorbidities and we are safe. I know there are logistical challenges but I believe our kids deserve better than distance learning. I want the very best for my son and that includes learning in a rich environment with multiple modalities to foster a life long love of learning. Thank you for taking the time to hear my point of view. Thank you, Lauren Fleharty M.S., M.Ed., CCC-SLP

2020/07/20 1:24:50 PM AST Clover Hill My son is repeating kindergarten this year and is in special education. Virtual learning is not an option for him. If virtual learning across the board is adopted for the first nine weeks, what supports will be put in place for special needs students? He has been without his supports since March and has regressed already. Safety of students and staff is extremely important and I support that. I just feel that exceptions need to be made for those students that are in great need of support.

2020/07/20 1:25:33 PM AST Clover Hill I strongly support fully virtual school at this time. To force teachers and counselors to be present in schools will endanger their and their family's health and potentially lives. Many schools are already overcrowded and underfunded and lack adequate cleaning supplies - even hand soap! - much less PPE and disinfecting supplies. There has been no money allocated to reconfigure classrooms to allow proper distancing, or to hire the many more teachers you would need to handle smaller classes. The schools don't have a nurse in every school to monitor possible cases. If a combination model is adopted, again, where will the money come from to hire enough teachers to cover both in-person and virtual teaching? Again, please vote for a fully virtual school experience.

2020/07/20 1:26:19 PM AST Midlothian Please allow these kids to go back to school. I know the teachers are worried, but doctors, nurses, grocery store workers, retail, etc are all back to work. We can not lock our kids away and expect them to flourish. My son is suffering from depression and needs face to face interactions with his teachers. Online does not work for a lot of students. If parents don’t want to send their kids, allow them to keep them at home. Let the other students return to their classes, friends, and teachers.

2020/07/20 1:26:52 PM AST Matoaca Please follow science and not the loudest voices, 100% virtual the first 9 week is the only solution. Thank you.

2020/07/20 1:27:27 PM AST Bermuda I have 3 children enrolled within the county. I totally understand not wanting to reopen schools for safety of everyone and only go virtual for the new school year. I have a 5 year old as well as middle schoolers and they are not nearly as engaged or as interested in learning or staying focused/on track. They are all three enrolled in the summer Recovery of Learning program and are not nearly getting the same attention or detail as they would in person--this would be my same fear with the upcoming school year as well.

2020/07/20 1:27:45 PM AST Clover Hill Our children need stability and routine. Parents and Educators need stability so they can plan. 100% distance learning is the ONLY option that provides this. Classrooms or even entire schools opening, closing, opening, closing, etc. based on closure requirements due to virus outbreaks will be ongoing chaos resulting in worse outcome for children, parents, and educators.

2020/07/20 1:27:56 PM AST Clover Hill I would like for the students and staff to be working home through this pandemic because it’s harming our faculty and students!!

2020/07/20 1:28:08 PM AST Midlothian 100 percent fully virtual option to keep everyone safe

2020/07/20 1:28:28 PM AST Midlothian 100 percent fully virtual option to keep everyone safe

2020/07/20 1:28:48 PM AST Midlothian 100 percent fully virtual option to keep everyone safe

2020/07/20 1:29:54 PM AST Midlothian While the decision to close public schools could potentially be isolated to a health concern, I would urge you all to look beyond this surface level dilemma. In light of the American Pediatric Association’s recent study that illustrated the mitigated role children have in spreading the virus, closing schools as some extreme cautionary measure would be detrimental because it would only further the income inequality and racial disparity in our communities. As we’ve seen recently, systemic racism is very much alive, and the place where it most effectively manifests itself is in our schooling system. Only 57% of black children have access to college readiness courses in the United States, and they are disproportionately represented in impoverished communities as a result of years of oppression. Now, if public schools are closed and wealthy - predominantly white - families begin to move their kids to private schools or being home schooling, imagine what that will do to the divide. Those who the system has left defenseless and without resources will suffer as they continue to fall behind in education, amplifying the economic and racial inequalities in our nation. Beyond the racial and economic implications, closing schools will have irreparable effects on the mental health of children. For those who are underserved, school is a safe haven. A community to be trusted that provides meals and unwavering faith in each of the students. To strip children in poorer communities who often have to deal with broken family units will have lasting effects on their mental health and could lead to potentially dangerous decisions. Schools are so much more than a place of education. They’re a sanctuary for many, and to strip them of that, even in the face of this pandemic, would be unwise. There’s definitely lots of nuance in this decision, but I would ask you to look beyond the superficial problem and dive deeper into the economic, social, and racial implications this decision will have.

2020/07/20 1:30:14 PM AST Matoaca I am the mom of a rising first grader at Clover Hill Elementary. When I initially filled out the Return to Instruction survey, I supported whichever option had my son in school for in-person instruction the most frequently. However, in the 32 days that have passed since that time, the outside circumstances of how COVID-19 is developing have changed, and my opinion on the return to learning choice has changed as well. I now support a 100% virtual learning option for all students. I am concerned not only for the safety of the students, but the safety of teachers and staff, many of whom are also parents of young children. Unfortunately, the reality of the situation is that many people are not practicing health measures of masking or social distancing. That is not likely to change. Parents have always sent their children to school with sickness, and that is not likely to change either --- except that now those sick children could potentially infect entire classrooms of kids with a dangerous disease about which much is still unknown.

2020/07/20 1:30:15 PM AST Matoaca Virtual for staff and students

2020/07/20 1:30:27 PM AST Clover Hill Please vote for option 6. Many people are implying that 80% of parents want us to be in-person. I have two comments about that. That may be 80% of survey respondents but that is a very small portion of the county. That survey was also conducted a month ago when the number of cases was lower. Things have changed, and not for the better. My other comment is that sometimes we as parents and teachers have to make unpopular decisions for the best of our children. I would bet that almost 100% of students would vote for no homework and no tests. I know my son would vote for a later bedtime and more video games. This is the time for you as our school board to step up and make the difficult decision for the county. It may not be fair to ask it of you, but that is the position you are in. Please consider the science and the health department data as well as your own common sense. It may not be an easy or popular decision, but Option 6 is the safest for all of us.

2020/07/20 1:30:58 PM AST Midlothian Please consider a virtual start to the school year like RPS. I am fully prepared and will do 100% virtual learning for my son if given the option —in the event of a hybrid schedule. Exposing teachers and children to a disease that is highly contagious is absolutely dangerous. Children may learn better in the classroom (before the pandemic where they do not wear masks all day, have to social distance and the freedom to interact is not diminished), but what learning will take place if teachers and children become ill? Not only is their learning in the classroom compromised, but it could be catastrophic—and that catastrophe could be death. And in my opinion, one death is one death too many. Take care of our teachers and children by putting their health and safety first. We can get through anything if we are healthy enough to do so. Thank you!

2020/07/20 1:30:59 PM AST Clover Hill By considering sending children back to school in just a few weeks, under conditions where we still can’t implement in the US and Virginia the truly basic societal habits and governmental policies and programs able to control the spread, is going to kill many more family members and further harm our economy.

There is no convincing evidence that children can’t be infected and then spread the virus. The latest, largest and study (S Korea; see today’s NPR report) found that children 10 and older are equal to adults in ability to spread CoVId, and younger children are half as dangerous as spreaders.

We need to get serious about ending our “first wave” with masks, distancing, contract tracing, abundant testing, and hospital readiness first; and serious, safe, science-based school plans (including careful ventilation changes) would have to be implemented before sending students, teachers and staff into danger!

2020/07/20 1:33:17 PM AST Clover Hill I see no issue with returning our students to the classrooms. At this time, adults and kids are out to eat, shopping, vacationing, at the pools etc.

I work for a surgical practice and we see 100+ patients a day, including COVID 19 positive patients and have had no employees or providers exposed.

“In school” learning is essential to our students education and our society’s future!

2020/07/20 1:33:18 PM AST Midlothian I know today you make a difficult decision that will weigh heavily on your hearts & conscience. I appreciate the thought that has gone into your decision. While I personally support a hybrid learning model for the first 9 weeks as we remain in Phase 3, I recognize the push in VA to go virtual. In light of this, I ask you to consider the following: Virtual Learning offered this Spring didn’t work. Expectations of teachers & students were inconsistent and confusing. Virtually no live instruction was offered. Links provided by teachers didn’t work on the School Chromebooks. Virtual learning should include live classes, attendance, & graded assignments. We have a generation of students motivated by these factors & if they aren’t offered, they lack the structure to be successful. Require teachers to use ONE platform to include schedule of classes and assignments w/ due dates. Communication, at ALL grade levels, should be required w/ BOTH student and parent. Virtual learning is a partnership between teacher & parent, & responsibilities put on the parent can not be understated. Require teachers to treat parents as a partner in education & ensure we have the tools necessary for our children at home. Providing children with daycare may not be the teachers’ responsibility, but their education is. With proper preparation, there can be a much higher expectation of what is offered this Fall. Groups of parents throughout Chesterfield are creating education “pods”. Parents grouping together to hire teachers/tutors to support children in virtual learning. While a great idea, once again we lose children that have circumstances preventing them from starting at the same line as others. Children have 504 plans & IEP’s for individualized accommodations to provide a more effective learning experience. I have seen virtually nothing from the CCPS to demonstrate that we won't leave these children behind. The same goes for at-risk youth. Parents will have to choose between losing an income or being present to teach their child. In single parent households, children will be left unsupervised, because parents don’t have a choice. Will CCPS ensure these children have the same opportunities as children whose parents can afford a learning pod? Will children w/ special needs get the accommodations & therapies that they typically receive at school? Or will CCPS move forward, knowingly leaving these children behind?

2020/07/20 1:33:42 PM AST Clover Hill I prefer in-person with social distancing, with option for virtual given to families that prefer not to send their kids to in-person school.

2020/07/20 1:33:47 PM AST Midlothian no plan is a good plan, but there is one plan that is safe, whereas the others are not. as much as a want kids in school, safety first

2020/07/20 1:34:04 PM AST Clover Hill I would like to see my kids back in school in September even if it is part time. My oldest has an iep that needs to be implemented. My kids didn't do well with the virtual learning in the spring.

2020/07/20 1:34:16 PM AST Midlothian I am a mother to a rising 6th grader, two rising 4th graders, and a rising 3rd grader in Chesterfield County schools. Overall, the county has done a great job for its students. I encourage the county to take the advice of numerous pediatric health professionals and open schools for maximum in-person learning in September. Understandably, some are concerned with the health impacts of in-person instruction and that's why I believe a hybrid solution similar to what Hanover County has implemented would best serve our students and families. Those who choose to reap the immeasurable benefits of being in a classroom setting can do so and those worried about health risks could mitigate those. Is it possible that the numbers of families who choose all virtual learning could alleviate social distancing constraints within buildings? I would also encourage the county to look into waivers for families choosing in-person. I believe most of us would sign them in a heartbeat as we recognize that Covid is low risk to children and those under age 30 are largely asymptomatic.

Regarding teachers, a hybrid solution could serve to meet the interests of those wanting to return and those who do not. I have seen more than one instance in which elementary classes were taught by a substitute for nearly the entire year. While not ideal, the current situation we are in has many recent college graduates unemployed. They are young, competent, and could effectively teach a county guided curriculum. Virtual learning for our youngest students is better than nothing, but it fails to replicate the discussion, accountability, and socialization that comes with being in a real classroom.

We cannot forget our most vulnerable students. Parents who can afford it will unquestionably get some form of in-person education for their children if public schools severely limit it. They will pay private schools and/or tutors. Those children will likely outperform in 10 years and it will be in no small part due to such restrictions. Meanwhile, at-risk kids fall further behind. While inequities like this have always been with us, it is unconscionable to further exacerbate those by letting our children lose a year of learning when it is not absolutely necessary. Please consider approving a solution that provides the option of maximum in-person learning for our children.

2020/07/20 1:34:16 PM AST Midlothian I can't understand why the school board would even consider, social gathering, by reopening school, coronavirus brings death, the only option at this point is on line classes "Only".

41 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/20 1:34:31 PM AST Clover Hill My son and I are totally uncomfortable with any in person return to school in the September. We hope that the decision will be made for virtual learning as the health of our kids and teachers are most important. COVID-19 numbers are growing and that leaves no room for taking a risk with anyone’s life. This virus is too unpredictable and contagious to take a chance.

2020/07/20 1:35:58 PM AST Clover Hill Please vote to open schools. I am afraid that my children will not receive the education they are required to have through virtual learning.

2020/07/20 1:36:07 PM AST Clover Hill As a mother of child that will be starting Kindergarten this year and sister of a high school teacher I implore you to make decision based on the safety of both our children and the teachers that are asked to educate them. Politics should not be played with the lives of our children and educators. With the recent surge in infection rates and the anticipated increase this fall, We should be working on plans that protect the students and teachers in our communities. Although there is no plan that by itself is 100 percent effective we should not reopen school’s until the necessary resources to protect our children and teachers can be graunteed:PPE, Testing,tracing,adaquet ventilation and cleaning supplies, and things like PPE and cleaning supplies should not be an additional burden placed on our educators. We can not ignore facts and in the knowledge of this reality we should be focused on robust distance learning protocols. I thank you for your time and I appreciate your leadership and effort in meeting this unprecedented challenge.

2020/07/20 1:36:09 PM AST Midlothian I am a nurse and mother to 3 children. My job is to care for people daily and I very much value people’s health and would never wish sickness on anyone. With saying that the education of my children is of upmost importance to me and I am seriously worried about the education they will receive if the board decides on virtual learning. Both my husband and I work full time and are required by our jobs to continue to work. I am not a teacher and while I did my best this past spring, homeschooling was a terrible experience. I have a 14, 13 and 7 year old. While my older two are able to do their work independently, my youngest is not. He also needs extra assistance in reading and writing that he was getting in school that he can not get from me. I can not do my job and teach my child. He will suffer and I will be forced to hold him back which is completely unfair to him. He will have to watch his peers move forward while he is left behind because of something completely out of his control. Children can not learn or thrive in a virtual environment. They need to be in school where they are able to be around their peers and get the in person education that they need. They also need the one on one and special programs that help keep them on track and keep them from falling into the cracks. How will you make sure those children thrive? How will you make sure those children don’t fall into the cracks? How will you help those children catch up when they will not just be behind but severely behind because they are unable to do virtual learning? What the state needs to be working on is safety measures to keep our teachers safe and helping them get back into the schools. The board needs to take into consideration the detriment that virtual learning will do to the education of our children. Our future generation.

2020/07/20 1:36:16 PM AST Clover Hill First, thank you for taking on an impossible task. This is clearly a "no win" situation. With confusing data, political agendas and media swirl, there's no way to uncover the full truth or to know what may be coming next with COVID-19. I'm not affiliated with a political party, and I don't think there is a perfect solution. I just try to approach things with a logical, practical point of view. So I think the best case scenario is the hybrid approach. Since most kids have been in quarantine (and not in any large groups) since March, I think it's inevitable that something is going to come up if schools re-open for in-person learning. It's likely that some CCPS schools will need to close back down for some period of time, if a group of students and teachers test positive for COVID-19. So we'll need a contingency plan when this happens. With the hybrid approach, the virtual learning will already be a part of the re-opening plan. So if we need to switch to full virtual, the hybrid approach makes the transition easier than going from full in-person to full virtual. Also this idea of giving parents a choice (to pick in person or virtual) is not practical or realistic. How can teachers possibly do both in person and virtual? From everything I've read, there's not enough staff to make that feasible. So the hybrid approach seems like the lower risk option... give everyone a little of what they want (no one will be happy anyway) and prepare for the inevitable closings that will come up. If we can't do the hybrid approach, then maybe just try full virtual for the first 9 weeks and plan to re-visit the situation and data at that time. Honestly, it's fine to make a short-term plan and then adjust as you go. Thanks again for your time and commitment to our students, teachers and staff.

2020/07/20 1:37:17 PM AST Clover Hill Please do 2 days in person and 2 days virtual!! Working parents cannot handle 5 days virtual and most kids need face to face teaching to learn.

2020/07/20 1:37:17 PM AST Dale 100% Virtual learning is necessary for the safety of the students and staff. Please consider the evidence of the scientific data when making decisions.

2020/07/20 1:37:18 PM AST Dale I believe its in the best interest of everyone to have virtual learning. This would relieve all the concerns of the teachers, parents and students. Some students will not want a mask on all day to learn and some students who suffer from breathing problems won't be able to keep a mask on for long periods of time. Who would monitor students hand washing and maintaining social distancing? Covid 19 is a very serious disease and some one could die if students are allowed to return to school too soon. Let's do virtual learning until this disease is under control. You could take this virus home to your family and friends and not even know that you are the carrier. Please consider virtual learning for everyone.

2020/07/20 1:37:31 PM AST Clover Hill One 3rd grader, one possible Pre-K student

2020/07/20 1:37:46 PM AST Matoaca schools need to open for in person education. The science supports opening school.

2020/07/20 1:38:18 PM AST Midlothian 100 percent fully virtual option to keep everyone safe

2020/07/20 1:38:29 PM AST Bermuda As the single parent of a rising third grader, who is also an essential hospital worker, I can not stress enough how badly that some children need to be back in school, and have in person instruction. My rising third grade son has had a speech IEP for the past two years, and he greatly struggles with reading and struggles in writing. My child NEEDS the in person instruction from not only certified elementary Ed teachers, but also reading specialists at his school. We have done everything at home this past spring when school was closed, we have done the recovery of learning summer school this summer (which I will get to how much that has helped...as in not at all) we have had a private tutor (but only over FaceTime can only do so much) and my son continues to struggle, get frustrated, his self esteem is suffering. HE is suffering. He misses his friends, his teachers, he NEEDS in person school. Not every child is the same. Not every child is successful with virtual learning only. My child, as well as other children have the constitutional right to an in person public education, they NEED and they surely deserve it. I understand some families and teachers have higher risk factors for contracting COVID than others, and I myself being an RN in the state of VA have seen those complications in person. But EVERY SINGLE FAMILY AND TEACHER NEED THE OPTION OF VIRTUAL OR IN PERSON. One size does absolutely NOT fit all with this. Chesterfield County school board, DO NOT FAIL OUR CHILDREN!

2020/07/20 1:39:12 PM AST Midlothian Fully open school! If that is not possible, then the 50% two days a week.

2020/07/20 1:39:49 PM AST Bermuda CCPS should go ALL VIRTUAL until it’s safe to go back. Do NOT risk lives with in-person instruction.

2020/07/20 1:40:08 PM AST Matoaca I live in the Matoaca district and have a rising 8th grader at Tomahawk Creek.

While I believe in-person school is best for our children’s social and mental well-being, the data and medical science have made it abundantly clear that any level of in-person school would be physically dangerous for students, their family members, all school personnel, and our community at large.

I urge you to vote for 100% virtual learning to start the school year, with a goal of transitioning to in-person learning as soon as it is safe.

Thank you.

2020/07/20 1:40:27 PM AST Midlothian I would like to see a quality virtual program until Christmas break and in-person attendance to begin at the start of 2021 as long as the testing / case data supports it.

2020/07/20 1:40:48 PM AST Dale Good afternoon CCPS School Board, I am a parent of four students currently attending CCPS schools. I have two middle schoolers and two young elementary students. I am writing to encourage you all to continue to think creatively about how to meet the very diverse population in our school district with more options than 100% virtual education. My children have been doing fine emotionally with our quarantine as we have chosen to just focus on reading and writing. These things were fine for a season but I am extremely concerned what a year of this “corona-education” will look like for them. I am a licensed teacher myself and understand that not all teachers can be expected to put their health at risk. But as a teacher myself I and a lot of your CCPS staff also know that my situation is not common. I will be here educating my children, possibly even pull them out and just find a homeschool group that lines up better with our families beliefs and have in person meeting days. Will we come back when CCPS is “safe”? I guess we will see. I am not really concerned about us. We will be fine. I am imploring you to look at your options for the large spanish speaking population in my area. They may not feel comfortable speaking out or not have access to this platform so I am speaking for them and the low income families. You see I headed up two little libraries with Page Tucker under the STAR program in mobile home communities in my area. And I have already seen the older kids that can’t come out and read and get snacks and prizes and tons of free books that we brought every week to their front yard because they were watching their siblings. It is already happing so much and I cannot let you all make this decision without thinking about them! These kids will be required to parent their kids all day. Not just after school for a couple hours. Many teachers at my school already know this. We should not force teachers to feel uncomfortable true, but I know there are many teachers that will feel more uncomfortable thinking about these marginalized kids all fall if we go to 100% virtual. Chesterfield deserves more! Our low income students deserve a safe place and opportunities to be reminded of what is attainable with hard work and good friends. They deserve a future that might include being friends with my kids at CCPS. Please figure out a way to give those families hope. We mean a lot more to them than what they can get online!

2020/07/20 1:41:08 PM AST Midlothian Chesterfield has over 3400 positive cases of COVID, and is getting higher every day. The numbers in VA are on the rise and we're at a 7.7% positivity rate. Children should not be in school until these numbers are decreasing. Putting them in school puts children and their families and teachers/staff and their families at risk. Please keep us all safe and vote for virtual learning in the fall. The situation can be reassessed for Spring.

2020/07/20 1:41:47 PM AST Midlothian Back in June during the virtual town halls, Mr Daughtry said they would be convening a team of medical experts. Why hasn’t this been done and why are you postponing person education in order to create the committee?

2020/07/20 1:42:53 PM AST Midlothian You have heard many viewpoints from many people across our county in the past few weeks including parents and teachers. You have seen articles, research, and heard opinions. I know that you have been inundated with emails, phone calls, and letters, and I want to thank you for taking the time to hear from everyone who wanted their individual voices heard. I am very concerned that the people who are pushing for in-person instruction do not understand how different “school” will look for the students who will not have the socialization opportunities that they are accustomed to having. The anxiety and fear of many teachers and staff is also a concern. Teachers and staff are writing Wills and setting up medical Power of Attorney in anticipation of the coming year. As a teacher and a parent, I am once again asking you to seriously consider full virtual instruction for the beginning of the school year. For the first nine weeks, we can most safely serve our students and families by developing a phased approach to opening schools and continuing instruction. There are simply too many unknown factors to having students and staff in the buildings at this time. By beginning the school year with virtual instruction, we have the opportunity to connect with students, begin teaching the curriculum, and maintain the health and safety of everyone involved. Online instruction will look very different from the Spring. Teachers across the county are participating in online modules geared toward teaching virtually, and we are working hard to set up comprehensive Canvas courses that provide both rigor and relevance while engaging our students. We will be ready to “go live” with rigorous instruction, and the county will be ready to tackle technology equity for all of our students. Thank you again for your time and your attention.

2020/07/20 1:42:57 PM AST Bermuda As parents of a 2020 graduate and upcoming Junior we firmly support FULL TIME IN-PERSON learning effective for Sept. 2020. Virtual learning would be detrimental to my child and will give us no choice but to look elsewhere for in-person education including moving from Chesterfield County. We fully support our teachers/administrators, however they are (as I am) ESSENTIAL EMPLOYEE's.

Sincerely , Davis & Christine Mick

2020/07/20 1:43:01 PM AST Bermuda I 100% believe that from an educational and socialization perspective, that in-person learning is the best option for both my children (rising 4th and 8th graders). And in normal times, the idea of doing anything differently would be ridiculous. These are not normal times though. In the current situation, I 100% support virtual learning for at least the first 9 weeks. Will my children, especially my 4th grader, have a difficult time with virtual learning? Yes. Is it going to cause heartache and headaches, trying to get them to be online, stay online, engage online? Yes. Is it going to be detrimental to my 4th grader's social health, not being in a physical classroom? Yes. Is it going to cause headaches with work schedules for me and my husband? Yes. Until a week or two ago, I would have been in support of a hybrid model- two days in the classroom, two days at home. But at the end of the day, I cannot in good conscience support a decision that would put into jeopardy the physical health of anyone in the school or in our home. In-person schooling is too much of a risk at this time.

2020/07/20 1:43:41 PM AST Unsure For the safety of our students, teachers, staff and community members - please vote for a virtual learning start to the 20-21 school year.

If you do consider a vote for any in-person instruction, please address the following concerns: 1) Who will supply all necessary PPE for all students and staff? (Masks, hand sanitizer) 2) How will the CDC guidelines be adhered to? (desk 6ft apart, plexi glass dividers, masks in all buildings & classrooms) Will students and staff be tested for COVID, and how will that be paid for? 3) What is the protocol when a student tests positive? What about a teacher or staff member? Furthermore, if a teacher has to quarantine, will they still be expected to teach online? Or will they be forced to take PTO time? What if someone in the same house as a teacher tests positive? Will they be forced to quarantine? 4) How will parents be notified if there is a positive case in their students school? 5) Since students are unable to share materials and they need their own, who is providing these? 6) If a hybrid model, will teachers be expected to teach online and in-person at the same time? 7) With remote learning, how will we ensure equitable access for all students?

I understand that there are no simple answers or solutions during this extraordinary times - we all want students & teachers back in the classroom but no persons life is worth the current risk.

2020/07/20 1:44:06 PM AST Midlothian My name is Judy Wolfe, community member in the Midlothian District and grandmother of two in CCPS. Thank you for considering the many communications you are receiving about school reopening. I am writing in favor of Option 6 for reopening our schools. My extended family members and I have been taking precautions by staying home as much as possible, wearing masks when going out, practicing safe distances when outside the home, and washing hands and surfaces. Our actions are based on the information we have read in reliable publications. I have read newspaper articles which indicate that many people do not believe the scientific knowledge about Covid 19 and, therefore, are not taking precautions. This lack of community cohesion and shared understanding of this virus are making it difficult to contain the spread. Until our community does the challenging work needed to contain the virus, it will be too risky to implement the in person options. Increased community spread is a likely result of the in person options. As an example, my husband and I are caregivers for our two school age grandsons when they are not in school. Each of their mothers is a teacher. Should any one of the children or their mothers get the virus, it would put three families at risk and in quarantine. This scenario could be repeated throughout the county. I am also concerned about the unknown, but suspected, long term affects Covid 19 might cause in our children even if they have mild illnesses. The process of testing and tracing contacts when a school employee or a student becomes ill would result in employees and students and their families having absences of many days while they are quarantining and waiting for test results, which can take 5 days or more, as well as absences when they are experiencing symptoms. Not only would this negatively impact the schools, but it would also disrupt Chesterfield businesses whose employees might be sidelined for days waiting for test results after a possible exposure. I would like to see us put our efforts and funding into making the virtual experience effective for every student. I am a retired school counselor, and I know that all school employees, administrators, school counselors, social workers and psychologists, school nurses, as well as teachers want to make this year successful for all students. I am confident that there is the will, the knowledge, and the creativity to make it happen.

2020/07/20 1:44:45 PM AST Clover Hill My wife has a compromised immune system and is at increased risk of serious complications and/or death from the virus. I was told by the benefits office that I do not qualify for any type of paid or unpaid leave, so I would have to return to the classroom.

I want to point out that you are holding virtual town hall meetings to protect yourselves because it's too dangerous for parents and for yourselves to meet in person. You are doing this to discuss whether to send children and teachers into a similar or worse environment.

My question is: if you force me to go back to school and either she or myself dies from the virus, what legal actions can we pursue against the district and the members of the school board as individuals considering that all of you knowingly sent me into harm, while you are protecting yourselves?

2020/07/20 1:45:20 PM AST Matoaca I support Option 6 full virtual start to the school year. While I believe an in person option would be the best for student learning we cannot discount the importance of health & safety for students & staff. Voting to begin virtual will give the schools & depts time to work out answers to many concerns & questions on returning to in person instruction. This would also allow for more time to secure adequate funding to implement many of the needs related to cleaning, transportation, & staff to promote social distancing requirements. Maslow before Blooms. Prayers for all families and community members during this unprecendented time.

2020/07/20 1:45:25 PM AST Matoaca We're new to the area, just moved here from Henrico county. Our son is 5 and he was able to complete Pr-K in Henrico, with a lot of interruption from Covid and unfortunately very little guidance from his previous school. While I do believe in person learning is a scary thing right now I do believe that for the youngest students they need the peer interaction to develop. My son, who is an only child, has struggled with how to act and treat others correctly, particularly with picking up on social cues. I am really worried about his development without peer learning.

Of the options given I lean towards option 4B. I believe having time between different groups of students in the building is important for avoiding things spreading exponentially. The risk is still there too, but at least for Pre- K to 2nd (maybe even 3rd grade) the important life lessons they can't learn virtually out weighs those risks.

42 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/20 1:45:40 PM AST Clover Hill As a prior medical professional and a mother of a son with asthma and a daughter of a parent with cancer, I fully understand the seriousness of COVID. That being said, I also want to be certain that our children’s mental health is being considered when making a decision about in person versus virtual learning. I fully believe that our children need some face to face time with their peers and teachers. Nothing can replace social interaction and hands on learning. Studies have shown how important both are. Please consider recommendations from the Pediatric Association when making your decision. While I support the school board on whichever of these difficult decisions they make, please consider some in person learning for these reasons.

2020/07/20 1:45:46 PM AST Midlothian Kids need other kids; kids need support. My son has already lost a friend to suicide this year. Let them connect; let them heal.

2020/07/20 1:45:59 PM AST Midlothian Thank you for the time and effort you’ve all put into this important decision. Please consider the data. Between July 16 and July 19 Chesterfield had an increase in infections and hospitalizations. We also had one death. Infections of children ages 0-19 also increased. In.just.three.days. Please consider the unknowns. Please also consider Dr. Daughtery’s recommendation. Let’s begin with virtual learning and have a phased re-opening once we know more and once all of the return-to-school metrics have been met. I think we all know deep down, no matter how badly we want to return to “normal,” that it isn’t safe to send our kids and teachers back right now. As a university professor, I would much prefer teaching in my classroom with my students, but I recognize that we’re in the midst of a global pandemic, so I’ll be teaching virtually this fall. "Teaching online sucks. But you know what would suck worse? Every yearbook in the country having a page dedicated to the teachers and students who died of COVID." I know we don't want that to happen in any of our schools. We don't want that to be the most memorable #oneccps story of this school year.

2020/07/20 1:46:25 PM AST Midlothian Please consider opening the schools to children to attend especially for working parents and their kids need an education. Also allow parents that want to homeschool or have their child home 100% virtual learning .. allow them to have that option too!

2020/07/20 1:47:24 PM AST Bermuda Parents set a structure for children's lives and schools support this structure with education. The attitude of parents directly affects children in every way, including their approach to school, and that support is important across socioeconomic status. CCPS has provided access to technology for all students to engage in "Anytime, Anywhere Learning" and that great investment is an important tool for education when parents expect their children to use it for that purpose. As a teacher, I see the same students who are motivated to do well with in-person school instruction are the same students who are motivated with their online instruction. We need parents supporting their children so they want to excel in all the ways educational opportunities are presented; in-person school instruction, field trips, after school activities, volunteering, internships, and online school instruction. Parents have the greatest influence on their children; schools need partnership with families for our students to succeed.

2020/07/20 1:47:49 PM AST Midlothian Please consider the mental health for our children in the future. It is factual that under 19 need social interaction for development. Please look at facts and not the media; please do not make decisions based on the possibility of theoretical situations (legal, political, or other). Please use common sense and allow teachers, staff, and health officials to check and administer medicine to students. The school cannot be held accountable for what happens after school hours, but social development is part of the educational process. Therefore, we fully support a full week of school. A partial week of school is the equivalent of a designated pee are in a pool. :)

2020/07/20 1:48:14 PM AST Clover Hill ?

2020/07/20 1:48:23 PM AST Clover Hill Since you are holding virtual town hall meetings to protect yourselves (because it's too dangerous for parents and for yourselves to meet in person), you are avoiding contracting the virus.

Since you are debating whether to send children and teachers into a similar or worse environment, you are aware that you are considering putting us at risk to contract the virus. If someone in my household or class does get sick and I have to isolate for 14 days, is that part of my own sick leave as we are only provided 10 days a year? If so, am I still required to teach?

2020/07/20 1:48:32 PM AST Midlothian As a new resident of Midlothian with a rising Kindergartner, I am dismayed by the interpretation of recent data that clearly points to a low-infection, low-transmission rate among children under 18 and ESPECIALLY very young children. Yes, cases still happen and some children test positive. But the rate of infection among our county's children is extraordinarily low, less than .7% (the national average hovering around 1.7%), and that is not taking into account how much lower that rate drops in younger children. There is a clear correlation between infection/mortality/transmission rates and age. This is VERY important for everyone to remember when deciding to re-open our schools, especially to our youngest children. We as families should have the option for this essential, public service of education for our children. The idea that we cannot reopen schools until they are "safe" is relative. Everytime we leave our homes, each of us takes a measured risk. Putting children in a car is FAR riskier an endeavor than sending them to school during the COVID-19 pandemic (auto accidents being the #1 cause of death among children). Yet, no one questions whether it is "safe" to put your children in a car because we have "safe" car seats and seatbelts. I have decided it is safe enough for my children to return. I have a 3 and a 5 yo, I work from home, my husband is an essential worker, and this arrangement is unsustainable for me, yet I consider myself lucky enough to have the option to work from home when so many do not. And for the teachers who feel they are willing to take the risk, this option should be available to us and them. Unequivocally. We've flattened the curve. The virus remains, as expected, and now we all need to protect ourselves as we see fit and resume living our lives. Closing schools to only a virtual or even hybrid option leaves lower-income and single parent families in a lurch, often being forced to either stay home to teach their children or go to work and find some way to have their children either supervised or tutored. Or NOT, as many children may be left alone having no other choice. This is just totally unacceptable and I hope the board recognizes the strain virtual learning options place on families that want to return to school, while still giving the families who want virtual learning the option to take it.

2020/07/20 1:48:42 PM AST Bermuda If the complete virtual option or a hybrid option is chosen, will chromebooks be provided for all students?

2020/07/20 1:48:56 PM AST Midlothian If Chesterfield decides to open schools in the fall, then option 4B would be more effective.

2020/07/20 1:49:05 PM AST Clover Hill There is absolutely no way that students can and teachers can go back to in-person school this year. The pandemic is expected to get worse, and there is a way to prevent sickness and death here! It is absurd that this is even up for debate. We are no where near solving this pandemic, and to put teachers and students at risk for an experiment is unethical.

2020/07/20 1:49:47 PM AST Clover Hill I am an English 8 teacher at Tomahawk Creek, and I teach English 9-10 with CCPSOnline. I am extremely appreciative of the superintendent’s recommendation as I have a rising 9th grader with an auto-immune disease. My son also has an IEP and a 504, and he would have significant challenges working entirely independently. As a professional educator for 25 years who is used to working in an online environment, I would certainly appreciate the option to work from home.

2020/07/20 1:50:15 PM AST Midlothian I no longer have children at CCPS, but I have lots of friends who are teachers and therapists at CCPS. I am worried about their safety if children go back to school. I just saw a daycare at Huguenot Park. 24 children sitting at 3 picnic tables with 3 staff members supervising while talking together. If all these children then come to school, they will almost certainly infect the staff. What happens when the teachers get sick or die? That seems like it would be really hard on the children.

2020/07/20 1:50:15 PM AST Dale Please make the right decision for the health and safety of the students, faculty, staff and their families.

2020/07/20 1:50:16 PM AST Clover Hill Since you would knowingly be sending teachers into a life-threatening situation, I am curious about workman's comp. If I get sick at school, regardless of how long I am out of work, would that be covered under workman's comp., considering that the district knew I was in danger?

2020/07/20 1:50:44 PM AST Clover Hill Data shows that Chesterfield’s numbers are getting better. You spent a lot of time on surveys, town hall meetings, etc.Now you need to stand by the the things you said and get the children back into the classroom. 82% of parents who responded to the survey told you that is what they want. 1. Key Hospital Measures https://drive.google.com/file/d/10JiRKJ7byfXGZk7CSqiLcU6bjOJ5vdCl/view?usp=sharing

2. VA and Localities – has cases, hospitalizations and deaths for VA and each locality https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KjOrQl0omjHyBjroGE68NzBtgg1goLbB/view?usp=sharing

3. By Age Group – has cases, hospitalizations and deaths by Age Group for VA, Henrico, Loudoun, and Chesterfield https://drive.google.com/file/d/1h7Br_xMgSF--8qeSuN2RqAh2dx43d2R2/view?usp=sharing

4. Facility Type – has outbreaks and associated deaths by Facility Type for VA, Henrico, Loudoun, and Chesterfield https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_nsXTJbFA4tvaIh9j1DGxSfA1RRse1k7/view?usp=sharing

5. Long Term Care Facilities Outbreaks – Cases and Deaths from Long Term Care Facilities for VA, Henrico, Loudoun, and Chesterfield https://drive.google.com/file/d/1M4C3MBKCAXLGHXDaENbnfXwoPraJ9KQ9/view? usp=sharing

6. By Age Group vs All– Cases, Hospitalizations and Deaths by Age Group vs All Cases, Hospitalizations, and deaths in VA https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QtdSrBlUNW32_jMbxWQ8ohG4imCl5f7m/view?usp=sharing

7. Demographics – Cases, Hospitalizations and Deaths by Demographic for VA, Henrico, Chesterfield, and Loudoun https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bhmTVpj1zTAXSkh2YbwysyDe3zEGXlbk/view?usp=sharing

8. Positivity Rate – for VA, Henrico, Chesterfield and Loudoun https://drive.google.com/file/d/1shgQxwf_iqu8fysV0yC-u79YI8ywQnMd/view?usp=sharing

9. CDC Data by Age Group USA and VA – shows numbers of deaths by age group and calculates the percentage per the population of that age group for USA and VA https://drive.google.com/file/d/ 1CgL_y2hd0arGHUi37QkHZSnlavnOsb5W/view?usp=sharing

2020/07/20 1:51:06 PM AST Midlothian Kids need to be in school. We pay for our children to have an adequate education. Not only will children not pay attention at home for their own parents, but working parents simply can't stay home to help teach. Even if we could work from home, we have to work! I cannot work at home AND try to teach 2nd, 3rd, and 5th grade. I couldn't teach those grades even if I didn't have to work. Are we all supposed to take on the increased cost of bringing in a qualified nanny to teach the kids? How do we afford that? This whole setup is complete crap. Let the parents that want to send their kids to school send them. Stop the nonsense. If you plan to make it so children learn virtually, then it is also your responsibility to figure out how that is a reasonable option for every single family. Regardless of their own financial situation, internet connectivity, available computers, and to keep them focused. Your job is to educate the children. Do not destroy their entire future by dragging this out. I also find it extremely biased that options 1-5 will allow anyone learning the English language to be in school every day. Why should my children be penalized because they speak our native language? Fix this crap.

2020/07/20 1:51:25 PM AST Dale I feel that if we’re doing a 50% capacity they should have different teachers that haven’t taught the other group of kids

2020/07/20 1:51:31 PM AST Midlothian Option 6 for at least the first 9 weeks. We need to keep children and staff safe. That needs to be the priority! There are still so many unknowns about this virus. Younger students will not adhere to all the necessary guidelines. We will be putting everyone in harms way!

2020/07/20 1:51:47 PM AST Dale Kids in old, OLD trailers ...... how do they use the restroom and wash hands? No bathrooms or running water in those old work trailers. Need washing stations added near trailers at all schools.

2020/07/20 1:51:51 PM AST Midlothian Please keep in mind all the parents that are working and how hard it is to do virtual learning of any kind. My kids need structure and in person learning. It’s harder for the parents, teachers and kids to go half the week and other half off or virtual. Please open schools as normal and if some parents don’t feel comfortable please let them do virtual. I don’t want this to affect my children in the long run now is an important time in their lives. Please consider.

2020/07/20 1:52:11 PM AST Midlothian I strongly support the superintendent's recommendation that the school board adopt option 6, 100% virtual learning, for the start of the school year. The guidelines currently being provided to schools by the CDC for safe reopening have not been updated as new science has become available. Three key new advances in scientific knowledge are 1) COVID-19 may be spread by aerosolized particles in indoor settings. 2) Asymptomatic and presymptomatic infected individuals may account for 50% or more of COVID-19 transmission. 3) Children 10 years and older transmit the virus at the same rates as adults. There is also anecdotal evidence that supports the idea that opening schools could result in community spread of the COVID-19 virus. 1) Summer camps in the US have experienced outbreaks. 2) Schools in Israel became viral hotspots and had to be shut down again after reopening. The decision to open schools must be based on science and there is simply not enough information currently available regarding the spread of COVID-19 in a school setting and the information that is available is constantly changing. Until such time as the available scientific evidence clearly supports a safe reopening with guidelines that can be followed with a reasonable chance for success, Chesterfield County Public Schools should exclusively pursue a course of virtual instruction during the 2020-2021 school year. There is no justification for CCPS to opt for an instructional model that risks the health of its students, staff, and the community at large unnecessarily.

2020/07/20 1:52:20 PM AST Midlothian How is CCPS ensuring that any of their plans provides actual education content for students? A lot of being made about attendance (in-person v virtual), but CCPS hasn't released much information about how they'll ensure students are actually learning whether it is in-person or virtual. This spring was NOT educational for my children. How will students be assessed? Will teachers have pre-recorded or live lectures? Will online websites be used? How will assignments be turned in and assessed? How does a student request help? CCPS hasn't been transparent with ANY of these details which are probably more important than the schedule. Similarly, what safety protocols will be in place for students? Physical distancing? What about lunch, PE, music, and recess? Masks? Hallway congestion? Again, CCPS hasn't been transparent with ANY of these details which are probably more important than the schedule.

If students will be learning virtually, has CCPS worked with major daycares to see if they can handle this? They'd need the space for extra kids during the day, internet access, etc.

Next, why isn't CCPS considering different plans depending upon the grade level or subject? A kindergarten student needs more in-person help than a 6th grader. Or Chem lab and vocational school needs more in-person instruction than English or Math in high school.

Finally, did CCPS consider a one-week one, 2-weeks virtual approach? This would only have 1/3 of the students in the building at a time. Since two-weeks is the common quarantine time period, this would give time to identify students or staff that should not return to school.

2020/07/20 1:53:47 PM AST Midlothian I prefer an option that would allow my son to attend Kindergarten in person at Bettie Weaver. He has been attending VCU Family Care Services pre school consistently, and that center has remained open throughout the pandemic. I suggest that there are ways to keep teachers and students safe, and that Chesterfield Schools can learn from the precautions that VCUFCS has taken.

2020/07/20 1:53:51 PM AST Midlothian CEA is taking the position that in person schooling can not occur until there are no COVID cases in Chesterfield or surrounding counties. Scientists have said that the virus will be around for years, how long is the county planning on forcing children to learn virtually?

2020/07/20 1:53:56 PM AST Unsure I would like option 6. I feel like this is better for me and my children this year.

2020/07/20 1:54:01 PM AST Dale I understand parents and teachers are scared as I am scared everyday for my child’s safety no matter where she is, however she is a only child whose only interaction with children is in school. I believe these children having school 100% virtually will put them under more distress as well as parents being as most households are based of two incomes and homeschooling our children will be a job within itself. My child will be in second grade and will require assistance through out the whole day when it comes to school work. I am able to partially work from home however most can not do that. This is going to be a financial, mental, and everyday struggle for most households.

2020/07/20 1:54:58 PM AST Matoaca Dear School Board, I know this is probably the most difficult decision that each of you will have to make in your respective roles as school board members. It is my prayer that you make your individual decisions based on data and expert opinion, and not political pressure. Thank you for serving our community and God Bless.

2020/07/20 1:55:04 PM AST Clover Hill Since you are knowingly forcing us into a situation where my death, the death of faculty, students, or other staff members is a very real outcome, are schools prepared for this? Is the school division prepared to have psychologists available when (not if) a teacher, staff member, or one of their fellow students dies? Will teachers and staff be provided free access to psychologists when (not if) this happens?

2020/07/20 1:56:14 PM AST Bermuda As a high school student at Thomas Dale, speaking on behalf of my peers, many of us cannot focus on learning at home. The school environment is essential for the development of our learning and bodies. Fully virtual learning would have a detrimental affect on our mental and physical health. Many students in surrounding states are given the OPTION to virtual learning vs in-school learning. This seems like the best option for us, too. Many high school students drive to school anyway, leaving no need for bus transportation. Students who don’t have bus transportation can opt for virtual learning. Please consider the needs and abilities of high school students. We do not need the same accommodations of our elementary/middle school peers.

43 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/20 1:56:44 PM AST Clover Hill The decisions being made tonight are quite literally a matter of life and death. For our kids. For their families. For our teachers. For their families. For the staff of every school and every bus. For their families.

The cost of a shift to virtual learning is high...for working parents (including teachers who have their own kids) and for many others. But I would argue that the potential cost of going back into school buildings right away is so much higher. And if we have to pay that price, it’s an expenditure that we will never get back. The lives and health of our students, faculty and staff (and every family that each of these individuals represent) are simply too valuable. They’re irreplaceable.

Let’s take this a step at a time. We don’t have to make a choice in July that will be in effect until June. But we need to make the choice for a safe start, and we need to be realistic at each juncture that follows. We ALL want school back in buildings. I believe that starting the year virtually will actually help us get to long lasting in person learning sooner. Let’s make an investment in quality distance education now rather than going back too soon and being forced into making a last minute plan when things get bad again quickly like they did in March.

If we put the time in for virtual learning now, we will have higher quality distance education and a better chance of a SAFE return to in person learning sooner. Please make a choice to keep all of our families safe.

Option 6.

2020/07/20 1:57:04 PM AST Midlothian When selecting Option 6 (which personally I actually favor) please consider the following items: 1) For any students elementary school and younger, possibly even through middle school, consider that students are not able to self-manage along the lines of a strict timeline/schedule. Most require some sort of supervision, help, motivation. In households where both parents work very likely one would be forced to quit their job to properly support this. Any household with multiple students across different age levels might experience significant issues as is. The management of "fixed" schedules might prove especially challenging. 2) Evaluate carefully how many students would not be able to access online streaming in their household. This will not only be an issue for households who do not have internet at all, but also for household with multiple children and working parents. The infrastructure (internet connectivity) might get tapped out - two parents working from home making zoom calls and 2 - 4 children being online at the same time for their calls can prove impossible to support. 3) Evaluate other infrastructure items. Will all children be provided with a chrome book, including K-4? If not, families may not have enough computers to support the live streaming. 3) Families who have no option, but to rely on child care during these times: My youngest child's care facility will NOT be able to support synchronous/life-stream meetings for their students. Their internet capacity does not even allow them to life stream the occasional movie, much less multiple zoom sessions at the same time for diverse age groups and classes. I imagine this is not a unique issue.

Please strongly consider to provide the option of asynchronous attendance and schedule management. While a strict synchronous schedule might work for some high school students (though I am not even THAT sure about that for my rising high-schooler) and maybe even some middle schoolers, it might be devastating to a large number of households for the aforementioned reasons. Allowing students to work at odd hours or after hours alongside their parents' schedule and accommodating sibling needs might be essential for many parents' capability, sanity and economic livelihood. Allowing students to download materials to a computer, work off- line and upload when able to, might prove essential from the infrastructure and economic perspective. Thank you

2020/07/20 1:57:05 PM AST Bermuda If vitual learning is voted for,, what will be the protocol for students who planned to attend the Career and Technical centers this school year?

2020/07/20 1:57:10 PM AST Clover Hill For online, virtual classes: 1 - please provide a standardized process to teachers for assignments. The mix of canvas and google classroom was rough over the spring. 2 - Live, webcam meetings with the class should be essential. 3 - Special speakers help students learn better when away from the classroom. Our son's middle school history teacher hosted webinars on friday, and it was incredibly successful. 4 - please evaluate chromebook lockdown rules, as at-home learning involves additional challenges. 5 - PLEASE choose a platform to standardize on, Canvas, Google Classroom, or another. For the students, it needs to be consistent.

2020/07/20 1:57:30 PM AST Clover Hill 1 additional note to the letter below: at the time of my writing this today, the Covid positive rate in VA has continued to rise and is now 7.7%. I am a resident of the Clover Hill District and the father of three kids in Chesterfield schools. My sons will be going into 3rd and 5th grades at Swift Creek Elementary, and my daughter is a rising 8th grader in the CBG program at Swift Creek Middle. I watched one of the town hall presentations and have read everything I can regarding the options under consideration for the beginning of the school year. Two weeks ago when the options were presented, I would’ve been tentatively in favor of option 4B: students attending in person 2 consecutive days a week, half at a time, with a day in between for cleaning. However, things are changing quickly and we are not where we were two weeks ago. As cases of COVID-19 have continued to soar around the country, and as cases in Virginia have been rising steadily again over the last several days, I have had to reconsider my opinion. I no longer believe that the benefit of any in person option is safe enough to warrant the risk of the increased exposure that would come with it. When a teacher or student inevitably contracts Covid, will everyone in the class (teachers and students) be sent home to quarantine for 2 weeks? How many cases of Covid would it take before it becomes impractical to continue in person schooling even on a limited basis? If Virginia is forced to move back into phase 1 or 2, will in person schooling be rolled back as well? It seems likely that any in person schooling that starts this fall will be constantly disrupted, and at the same time, all the increased exposure will result in the further spread of the disease among our kids, families, and our community. With all of these things in mind, I believe the best course is to plan for the Fall semester to be entirely virtual learning. Even with all its difficulties and drawbacks, this would allow parents, students, and teachers to plan ahead and know what’s coming; it would allow the schools to focus all their energy into one approach rather than dividing it; and it would provide much needed consistency for all students. Thank you!

2020/07/20 1:57:46 PM AST Midlothian My name is Tabitha Pitts, myself and generations of family members and loved ones have attended or taught in Chesterfield County schools. My understanding from CCPS teachers is the school systems knows there will be deaths with reopening. CCPS has sent an email reminder since the pandemic started that Will preparation is an offered benefit to teachers. Also, for the new school year, Principles have prepared letters to send out for when students and teachers die. So the system is making preparations for deaths, are you?

Twenty years ago I experienced a student death my 9th grade year at Manchester High School and it impacted the whole school. I remember how they brought in a team of counselors to the library and for all the kids who couldn't concentrate or function they could leave class and sit and talk. I remember looking at the other highschoolers who went to the library too and we all just looked shocked, some were crying, some didn’t say a word. I will never forgot the intense emotions, devastation, and life questions I suddenly was forced to face at such a young age. I remember being scared. That is a horrific part of my school experience I will never forget.

Now imagine an 8 year old experiencing a student or teacher death from COVID-19, they will have even less emotional capacity or understanding than my 9th grade self. Another huge difference with a COVID-19 related death is, some students, teachers, community members, and the whole world know this death could have been prevented. We have a choice to protect our loved ones from experiencing this pain, we have a responsibility as adults to protect those more vulnerable than us.

For those that want the school year to return to normal, and don’t think deaths will happen...are you prepared if you are wrong? Are you prepared to know you were among the voices that enable these deaths to happen?

Please consider the harm, death and trauma we could avoid if we delay opening up the school year in person. We are strong, we have the potential to be on the right side of history right now, today. We will all have to make sacrifices, and I’m hoping and praying those sacrifice won’t be people.

2020/07/20 1:57:54 PM AST Bermuda I am speaking tonight as a parent who has a child with specialized educational needs in Chesterfield County and as a member of the Virginia Public Education Partners group. Anyone attending the meeting tonight, or logging in online, knows that there has been extensive conversation around how and when schools should re-open across Virginia.

Parents and educators of Chesterfield County, would like to show our support of teachers and other school staff as our school leaders discuss options for reopening schools. Teachers are the professionals who work with our kids every day. When supplies are not provided, teachers spend their own money. Teachers provide snacks. To ease stress and provide a safe place, our teachers often have to act as counselors and social workers. In a nation that averages a school shooting every 77 days, they do lock down drills and train our students to hide and will shield our children with their very lives. It is unreasonable of us to ask teachers to risk long-term negative health impacts or death in the face of a growing pandemic whose risks we understand more each day. For all that our teachers do, we owe it to them to listen. They have reasonable questions they’d like addressed. Therefore, we are requesting that NO plan move forward unless and until all staff questions and voices are heard and addressed in detail in an equitable plan.

The guidelines set forth by the CDC and WHO should be the benchmarks against which any return to school is measured, regardless of political or economic concern. The CDC provides a K-12 readiness planning tool that CCPS should adopt. CDC guiding principles continue to identify virtual-only classes and events as the lowest risk approach. Recent surges in infection rates in the US, above those seen in April, as well as new data related to indoor airborne transmission support this suggestion. Multiple issues with CCPS facilities not receiving adequate maintenance or cleaning from our private custodian contractors. We are concerned that our more vulnerable students and families could be most impacted by decisions made regarding returning to school. Persons with disabilities, and Black and Brown communities have been hit hard by COVID-19 and compel CCPS to ensure that their actions have protections for these communities in mind.

2020/07/20 1:57:59 PM AST Matoaca At the current time it does not seem feasible to return to school in the brick and mortar format as in the past Too much would need to be accomplished and maintained in too short s time period At the most a hybrid plan combining. In school and virtual If a feasible plan can’t be developed quickly then open virtually and then move forward as soon as possible

2020/07/20 1:58:01 PM AST Midlothian Please have the students go back to school part time/virtual hybrid. As we are learning more about Covid 19, recognizing that even if students get C19 they often do not pass it on and they usually get a lighter case. As a teacher we know how to protect ourselves and I ask that you allow us to teach - in person- so we can do our best for our students. There are too many students (no matter their economic range) that need people and interactions to learn and to be and do their best. Going fully virtual would be detrimental to them and their families.

NO ONE wants anyone to get sick- however, this will not be possible regardless of whether we keep students in their home (many will need to go to daycare- including teachers’ children) or go part time. The goal has never been 0% sick - the goal has been to not overwhelm the doctors/nurses that take care of the sick. The % of deaths is continuing to go down based on more testing - this is great news- and should give more freedom to allow our schools to get back to work together. Let’s allow our medical staff to do their job and allow teachers and students to do their jobs as well. It’s what we’ve trained for- we are capable and ready for the challenge.

2020/07/20 1:58:06 PM AST Midlothian Fully reopen!

2020/07/20 1:58:07 PM AST Clover Hill I am a student at Bailey Bridge Middle, and live in the clover hill district. I have a huge amount of concerns about returning to the classroom, In class all throughout my educational career it has been a struggle to get students to comply with something as small as not sagging their shorts, I find it highly unrealistic that students will comply with social distancing guidance! I am convinced that masks will also be taken off and used as toys which will create a huge distraction for me and my peers! I also wonder how much can we actually learn with mask on and distance between each other. I do not feel I or many others will be academically successful, We will be under much new found stress and confusion! So I ask you, for students like myself and parents like mine...give us an online option.

2020/07/20 1:58:10 PM AST Bermuda I urge you all to think of working parents that virtual learning has been extremely difficult for. I also urge you all to encourage schools to consolidate the amount of online applications used for virtual learning. Yes, it is nice that so many options are available but it is too much for elementary school students and parents to know which tool to use for what. There should be a consolidated system and central repository for assignments.

I’d prefer an all-in set up similar to HCPS with an option for all virtual.

2020/07/20 1:58:13 PM AST Midlothian Please keep our teachers and students safe and let everyone plan. All virtual all the way!

2020/07/20 1:58:47 PM AST Clover Hill Teachers were contracted to teach in person, they should be allowed to choose to do the job as they were hired to do it, it is their legal right. You could hold a lottery to select which students get chosen for in school instruction with the teachers who prefer it. Teachers and students attempted to use Canvas the whole school year and still hadn’t managed to learn how to use it before March, my son e-mailed his teachers and they didn’t know how to answer back. Please don’t commit an entire plan on hoping this program works the way you planned the time change around having enough bus drivers but for two years you haven’t been able to hire enough. You cannot control if the Wifi is strong enough or that Canvas causes the school issued Chromebooks to overheat. The teachers you want us to trust to teach virtually repeatedly assigned students videos on YouTube and the school devices have Youtube blocked (as it should be, my 8 year old has been badly frightened by some of the pop ups on Youtube, if this is your digital learning plan, it will be more of a disaster than transportation.) The fact that the teachers didn’t realize what they assigned was inaccessible/ inappropriate gives me grave concerns. The teachers are afraid because they don’t believe the county will supply them with cleaning supplies to be safe because they already beg parents to donate these items now. The parents are afraid because they witnessed all the frustration students experienced in the Spring with software that is too new, wifi that was very inconsistent, instruction that was inaccessible-can you fix these issues? Risk management believes students can return in person, Please watch the presentation made by Dr. Danny Avula when he presented to Richmond City Schools. They found no evidence that children are vectors for other children or to adults. Ask CCPS teachers or local pediatricians, the virus was in Chesterfield before the shutdown, many students had respiratory infections in February and tested negative for the regular flu during basketball season, which is a rapid transmission sport for germs. Local students in dorms at Longwood have had positive antibody tests, they were here doing student teaching in February as well. If budget constraints or the logistical impossibility of implementing safety precautions in the limited time is why you vote virtual, please be honest about that, because many parents, teachers and doctors support a return to in person instruction.

2020/07/20 1:58:49 PM AST Midlothian Give options for parents whether they want to send their child to school or learn from home. I’m my opinion I rather keep my child safe learning from home. Start the semester slow on school work and homework since we are all trying to adjust to this new way of life. Adjust the standard of learning according to this situation we are all living in. Have two time options for teachers to do google meets with students. Also train teachers to use the different technology tools since this way of learning/teaching is hard for them too. We want safe and healthy students and teachers!

2020/07/20 1:58:54 PM AST Midlothian Thank you for the time and effort you’ve all put into this important decision. Please consider the data. Between July 16 and July 19 Chesterfield had an increase in infections and hospitalizations. We also had one death. Infections of children ages 0-19 also increased. In.just.three.days. Please consider the unknowns. Please also consider Dr. Daughtery’s recommendation.

Let’s begin with virtual learning and have a phased re-opening once we know more and once all of the return-to-school metrics have been met. I think we all know deep down, no matter how badly we want to return to “normal,” that it isn’t safe to send our kids and teachers back right now.

Thank you!

2020/07/20 1:59:02 PM AST Unsure Please start school 100% virtually. I am a healthcare provider here in Chesterfield and my girls have a rare autoimmune disease. The risk is too great and there is too many unknowns about this virus. I don't feel comfortable sending my youngest child to school because if her immune system deficiency. She makes no antibodies when ill and her brain gets inflamed. My other child gets brain inflammation and gets really ill. Please, please hear me!

2020/07/20 2:00:06 PM AST Midlothian I would like the school board to follow RPS and choose Option 6 100% Virtual for the first 9 weeks or till January 2021. We are still rising in COVID cases across the country, people are now doing summer travel and to be honest I haven't witnessed a lot of social distancing or mask wearing in parts of the county. I have great concern for the health and safety of our children and faculty. Transportation is an obstacle that I dont think can be answered in these next 8 weeks. I am already aware that sanitation has been an issue in the schools prior to Covid-19 (lack of soap and paper towels) and the daily cleaning. Plus Midlothian Middle has an extreme air quality issue in the 8th grade wing due to mold and mildew, therefore already creating breathing and allergy issues for those in that area. Thank you for your consideration

44 ADDENDUM A: Online Submissions for Public Comment

2020/07/20 2:00:18 PM AST Matoaca If students return to school buildings in the fall, there are two possible outcomes: 1.Everything goes smoothly. No one gets COVID. No one dies. People like me who are being cautious are labeled as overly cautious. (This outcome seems very unlikely given the data we have about many surrounding states opening back up.) 2.Cases increase. Teachers, staff, and students die or suffer lifelong health consequences. Schools shut down again and we remain in limbo like we were in the spring. Scenario 2 is a very likely scenario given what we know about the virus and the size of our county. Is this a scenario you are prepared to have been responsible for? 1.If the whole county does virtual learning for at least the first 9 weeks, there are other possible outcomes: 2.Students and teachers remain healthy and give doctors more time to develop treatments and vaccines. We are able to return to school mid year and are not mourning the loss of teachers and friends to COVID-19. Students fall a bit behind academically and miss out on social opportunities. Scenario 2 here is likely to happen but is a much better worst case scenario than the one mentioned above. Thank you for your service as a school board member. I do not envy the decision you have to make and the backlash you will face no matter what you decide. Whatever decision is made, my children will be learning from home for at least the first 9 weeks. If other students return to school, I am hopeful that, in hindsight I will be seen as overreacting. I do not want to experience the alternative.

2020/07/20 2:00:18 PM AST Matoaca It is imperative that parents have the option for face to face instruction this coming school year. Many students, mine included, struggle to learn virtually. Students in an IEP will not be able to be accommodated. Because the COVID-19 concerns are valid especially for those at high risk, parents and teachers should have the right to choose what is best for their family. Colonial Heights, while much smaller, has put a plan like this into place. It is a reasonable plan. The options on the table today do not include a teacher/parents choice option. Instead, we will all be forced to abide by an option that may not be right for their family, for a number of different reasons, including employment, food insecurity, inability to have special needs met, medical risk, or even fear and anxiety. Please consider creating a new option to allow family choice and then funding the appropriate resources for cleaning and PPE. Many families and teachers are already putting their own plans into place for in person learning outside of the school’s jurisdiction. Allow us to do this in our own school buildings.

2020/07/20 2:00:25 PM AST Midlothian We are opposed to 100% virtual classes. It is not healthy or effective for the students. Also, working parents will also suffer.

45