Twin Ports DSA Members and Associates:
Fellow member Rich Updegrove has asked that we contact school district administrators and school board members to encourage them to keep our schools closed for now. This fits with DSA's "Demand Safe Schools" campaign that is ongoing during the COVID pandemic. Message pasted below, with links and contact numbers.
In solidarity,
John Krumm
TPDSA Secretary
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This Is A Local Call To Action (Please Share) As we are setting single-day records for Covid deaths and a more contagious strain has been identified in Minnesota, Duluth Public Schools has decided to return to full in-person schooling for Kindergarten to 2nd Grade on January 25th and 3rd to 5th Grade on February 8th. The district will then go on a week-long winter break on February 15th. Considering that teachers may be vaccinated by the middle of February, the school district should stop this plan now before we contribute to an additional spike in cases.
I know of teachers who planned on retiring at the end of the school year who are taking a cut in benefits and will retire at the end of next week rather than risk their lives and the lives of their families. I know of other teachers who are considering using the Family and Medical Leave Act to protect themselves and their families. Others plan on using up all of their sick days rather than putting lives at risk.
According to the original state guidelines, we should not be returning to full in-person schooling at the elementary level until our 14-Day case rate drops below 20. Yesterday that rate was at 46. Although the state has allowed districts to disregard those numbers, doing so would be irresponsible. If the district moves forward with this plan, we will increase the possibility of seeing a local spike in infections, hospitalizations, and most tragically additional deaths here in Duluth.
If you would like to help prevent this, please contact John Magas and Anthony Bond, the superintendent and the assistant superintendent, and the school board. A simple email and/or a brief phone message could have a major impact. [email protected] [email protected] Administrative Office: 218-336-8752 School Board Members: https://www.isd709.org/district/contact-the-board
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