Cincinnati Public Schools children return to in-person learning in the fall
- Target:
- Cincinnati Public Schools Board
- Region:
- United States of America
The CPS Board, along with experts from Cincinnati Childrens Hospital, voted on a safe return-to-school plan. We believe they need to adhere to this hybrid plan, or more days in school, despite pressure from the teachers union to move to remote-only. The data in Ohio, also nationally and worldwide, supports children returning to school safely.
The effects of keeping children isolated at home while trying to learn, will have devastating long-lasting effects. Other countries that have handled their outbreaks far more successfully than the U.S., with zero cases of child-to-teacher transmission, have proven that we can safely reopen schools. We must learn to manage around the virus.
EFFECTS OF NOT RETURNING TO SCHOOL
Child abuse and neglect – over 7,600 reports of child abuse in Hamilton County in 2018. This will go unreported if these children are alone with no one to confide in, no one to see the signs.
Lack of support for children with special needs - children with special needs and/or IEP have historically not succeeded with at home, remote learning.
Socioeconomic Impact - parents who need to return to work and cannot afford childcare
Educational disadvantage - this will put kids at a regional, national, and global disadvantage as schools worldwide have successfully opened with no negative health impacts to their communities.
Children's physical health – staying at home negatively impacts diet, sleep, and physical activity which can result in diabetes and other health issues.
Mental health – Teen suicides in Ohio increased 56% over ten years. It is THE leading cause of death among 10-14 year olds. Without social interaction and the relationship of peers and teachers, who will be there to see the warning signs?
Walnut Hills High School had 2 children commit suicide in less than 2 years. Do we want to make that awful statistic worse?
DATA SUPPORTS A SAFE RETURN TO SCHOOL
Hamilton County New Case Increase Indicator – DOWN 73 % since July 8
Hamilton County Hospital Admissions Indicator – DOWN 71% since July 8
Hamilton County Outpatient Visits Indicator – DOWN 37% since July 8
Hamilton County New Cases per Capita is 1/10th of 1%
Hamilton County positivity rate 5% and falling; Ohio 6.1% and falling. 3rd best in the country
Worldwide - zero cases of child-teacher transmission in schools around the world that have been open for months
CDC and recommends opening of schools as critical to childrens wellbeing and overall health
American Academy of Pediatrics urges safe return to in-person learning - stating science, not politics should be the driving decision-maker
Greg Kasterman, Hamilton County Commissioner, July 29, 2020:
"I’ve seen several indicators looking very positive from masking to the data that we’re looking at when we’re tracking COVID 19."
"The Epicurve generally speaking the trend in the number of cases is on the decline. That’s very positive. In addition hospitalizations continue to decline which is another great sign."
"We have maintained (rate of transmission) for about 5 weeks now under 1.0. As you may recall if we’re above 1 we continue to see the outbreak expand. If we fall below 1 we continue to see the outbreak contract. Today we’re at 0.84 for Hamilton County and when you look at the 14 county region we’re at 0.91. These are both very positive indicators that we’re doing some things right here in Hamilton County."
The idea of not opening until a vaccine arrives, or no cases in the county, should not be the guiding public policy. A suitable vaccine may never come, and other countries that handled their outbreaks far more successfully than the U.S., with zero cases of child-to-teacher transmission, have proven that we can safely reopen schools. We must learn to manage around the virus. Our children must have "normal" returned to them; they need to be back in schools.
Please sign the petition to present to the CPS Board to show support for getting kids back into the classroom.
Emails also help:
Jenny.Kilgore@education.ohio.gov
Contact@governor.ohio.gov
Laura.Kohler@education.ohio.gov
superintendent@education.ohio.gov
davisph@cpsboe.k12.oh.us
JonesCa@cpsboe.k12.oh.us
MesserR@cpsboe.k12.oh.us
Batesme@cpsboe.k12.oh.us
Boltone@cpsboe.k12.oh.us
BowersP@cpsboe.k12.oh.us
LindyBe@cpsboe.k12.oh.us
MoroskM@cpsboe.k12.oh.us
Mitchec@cpsboe.k12.oh.us
Amattia@cpsboe.k12.oh.us
Buntesu@cpsboe.k12.oh.us
Trimbls@cpsboe.k12.oh.us
SOURCES:
https://www.facebook.com/tracy.hoeg/posts/10219475853940261
http://ncirs.org.au/sites/default/files/2020-04/NCIRS%20NSW%20Schools%20COVID_Summary_FINAL%20public_26%20April%202020.pdf
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/children-may-not-be-super-spreaders-afterall-new-research-suggests-1.5552099?fbclid=IwAR2q5u8OVZ4T9mxXtGYFBp1zU2Me_d56qZNCO8ZpW_i5lP3tI5gm9yf_fYg
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7219423/
https://www.rivm.nl/en/novel-coronavirus-covid-19/children-and-covid-19?fbclid=IwAR1IVGXXhnAvrhHil-w5CXl99GRHSa_QoWgXRIfNqIkPejryrXU-GYVQbZo
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200603194444.htm?fbclid=IwAR18-4ADGMoNRvGJCHgKnKSzkwVubzch87Jkwd8dxgOtauVPy6tMCGWI7ts
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/reopening-schools.html
https://services.aap.org/en/news-room/news-releases/aap/2020/pediatricians-educators-and-superintendents-urge-a-safe-return-to-school-this-fall/
We, the undersigned, call on The Cincinnati Public School Board to adhere to their previously voted-on plan, and not deviate to a remote-only learning option. The data in Ohio, also nationally and worldwide, supports children returning to school safely.
The effects of keeping children isolated at home while trying to learn, will have devastating long-lasting effects. Other countries that have handled their outbreaks far more successfully than the U.S., with 0 cases of child-to-teacher transmission, have proven that we can safely reopen schools. We must learn to manage around the virus.
EFFECTS OF NOT RETURNING TO SCHOOL
Child abuse and neglect – over 7,600 reports of child abuse in Hamilton County in 2018. This will go unreported if these children are alone with no one to confide in, no one to see the signs.Lack of support for children with special needs
Educational disadvantage - this will put kids at a global disadvantage as schools worldwide have successfully opened with no negative health impacts to their communities.
Children's physical health – staying at home negatively impacts diet, sleep, and physical activity which can result in diabetes and other health issues.Mental health – Teen suicides in Ohio increased 56% over ten years. It is THE leading cause of death among 10-14 year olds. Without social interaction and the relationship of peers and teachers, who will be there to see the warning signs?
Walnut Hills High School had 2 children commit suicide in less than 2 years. Do we want to make that awful statistic worse?
DATA SUPPORTS A SAFE RETURN TO SCHOOL
Hamilton County New Case Increase Indicator – DOWN 73 % since July 8
Hamilton County Hospital Admissions Indicator – DOWN 71% since July 8
Hamilton County Outpatient Visits Indicator – DOWN 37% since July 8
Hamilton County New Cases per Capita is 1/10th of 1%
Hamilton County positivity rate 5% and falling; Ohio 6.1% and falling. 3rd best in the country
Worldwide - zero cases of child-teacher transmission in schools around the world that have been open for months
CDC and recommends opening of schools as critical to childrens wellbeing and overall health
American Academy of Pediatrics urges safe return to in-person learning - stating science, not politics should be the driving decision-maker
Greg Kasterman, Hamilton County Commissioner, July 29, 2020:
"I’ve seen several indicators looking very positive from masking to the data that we’re looking at when we’re tracking COVID 19."
"The Epicurve generally speaking the trend in the number of cases is on the decline. That’s very positive. In addition hospitalizations continue to decline which is another great sign."
"We have maintained (rate of transmission) for about 5 weeks now under 1.0. As you may recall if we’re above 1 we continue to see the outbreak expand. If we fall below 1 we continue to see the outbreak contract. Today we’re at 0.84 for Hamilton County and when you look at the 14 county region we’re at 0.91. These are both very positive indicators that we’re doing some things right here in Hamilton County."
The idea of not opening until a vaccine arrives, or no cases in the county, should not be the guiding public policy. A suitable vaccine may never come, and other countries that handled their outbreaks far more successfully than the U.S., with zero cases of child-to-teacher transmission, have proven that we can safely reopen schools. We must learn to manage around the virus. Our children must have "normal" returned to them; they need to be back in schools.
This petition is presented to the CPS Board to show support for getting our children back into the classroom.
You can further help this campaign by sponsoring it