HomeMy WebLinkAbout03242021_Penhallegon_School OpeningFrom:Katie Penhallegon
To:jtaylor@ptschools.org; Cwelch@ptschools.org; jjwilson@ptschools.org; dross@ptschools.org;nohara@ptschools.org; lcondran@ptschools.org; Board of Health; sgessner@ptschools.org;tcampbell@ptschools.org; cehrhardt@ptschools.org
Subject:Fall 2021 School Reopening
Date:Wednesday, March 24, 2021 6:52:11 PM
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I would like to start with a big thank you to our school board members, health department,
principals, and all others involved in making decisions to keep our children, teachers, andcommunity safe during this last year. I can only imagine the pressure of making decisions
during this time and have felt very grateful to be part of this community.
That being said, I have concerns about fall. I elected to have my 7 year old son participate in100% distance learning for fall 2020, which has turned into a full year commitment. I work
full time at the hospital in Port Townsend and my partner works full timeat OMC in Sequim in Cardiac Services and per diem in the Emergency Department. This has
been an incredibly difficult feat for our family. My son spends his days doing zoom meetingsat daycare and begins homework when we get home from 7-9pm. Not only has it been an
incredible struggle considering the less than ideal circumstances but heartbreaking knowinghis first year education has been sub par. No child should have to do this at all and certainly
not for another school year.
Our family's experience is of course just one of many. Every family I know has beenstruggling to get through distance learning with their students between elementary and high
school. All of which have struggled to find childcare or have had to make the incrediblydifficult decision to leave work, or leave their teenage children at home, unaccompanied,
bored, struggling with mental illness, and failing classes in order to participate as essentialworkers and keep a roof over their families heads.
Our children deserve better. The CDC and WHO have stated that 3 feet physical
distance is now the guideline for spacing between children in classrooms. Our
teachers have been vaccinated. Many parents, and increasingly more, have been
vaccinated. Our county is opening up bars and restaurants, casinos are open for
business, and essential businesses are running at full capacity. Please, make a plan
for our students to go back to full time, in person learning. Our children and families
are struggling. I am all for keeping our community safe but our children's social andemotional health and education are essential and being neglected. We are failing
them if we do not get them back to school in the fall. And failing the families of our
community. I have every confidence in the wonderful group of people who have been looking out for ourchildren and teachers this year, that they will take to heart the needs of our Port Townsendchildren and parents. We are a unique group of creative, motivated, dynamic and highlycapable people. We can make a plan to get our children into school, if not now, at the veryleast in the Fall. Full time. In person.
Thank you for your consideration and willingness to hear the concerns of our community.
Katie Penhallegon