Manchester, NH - Victoria Sullivan, a former New Hampshire State Representative and Assistant Majority Leader who served two terms on the House Education Committee, issued the following statement on school reopening in Manchester after the COVID-19 social distancing lockdowns:
"Governor Sununu has mandated all New Hampshire schools return to full-time in-person learning by April 19th. This isn't a step that the Governor should have had to take. The Manchester school district should have had a process in place to fully reopen well before now.
"According to the CDC: "Given the crucial services schools offer and the benefits of in-person learning, it is critical for K–12 schools to open and remain open for in-person instruction, as safely and as soon as possible. Schools should be the last settings to close because of COVID-19 and the first to reopen when they can do so safely. Working together, school leaders and community members can take actions to keep schools open for in-person learning by protecting students, teachers, and school staff where they live, work, learn, and play."
"Three studies have supported the findings that schools show a low COVID-19 risk for in-person school. If the CDC guidelines are followed and plans are in place to curb infection there isn't a reason that children and teachers cannot return to the classroom safely.
"No Manchester family has come through this pandemic unscathed. I understand the serious concerns, however, students are suffering from the isolation of being away from their peers as well as suffering academically in many cases.
"Manchester should offer an online or hybrid option for families that have either the need or desire to continue remote learning. But the schools should be open and available to those who require an in-person education.
"As the Chair of the School Board, Mayor Craig should have taken the initiative in working with our community, teachers, and administration to open our schools. It is an embarrassment that this had to be mandated by the Governor."
ABOUT VICTORIA SULLIVAN
Victoria Sullivan understands what hardworking middle-class Manchester families need out of City Hall because she is one of them. As a wife and stay-at-home mother of two, Victoria and her husband are proud to be raising their two sons on Manchester's south end. Her commitment has always been and will continue to be based on making our communities a better place for our families and for future generations who will call the Queen City home.
As a former New Hampshire State Representative and Assistant Majority Leader who served two terms on the House Education Committee, fighting for Manchester families is at the core of Victoria's journey in public service. She worked hard in Concord to keep spending low, while also ensuring that citizens received the quality services their hard-earned tax dollars pay for. One of her proudest accomplishments was her work on legislation that gave parents a stronger voice in their children's education. Through bi-partisan support, Victoria got play-based kindergarten passed into law. That law has been enthusiastically embraced by the early education educators across New Hampshire and used as an example for other states throughout our nation.
Victoria truly has a history of commitment to our city. She started a volunteer-run drama club at her children's elementary school, has coached and volunteered for South Soccer, South Little League, and Highland Goffe's-Falls Basketball. She served as the PTA president for her children's elementary school, which in turn lead to her service on the New Hampshire PTA executive board. As a testament to her concern about our children's future, she has spent countless hours volunteering for Manchester schools as a teacher's helper and as a substitute teacher at a charter school. In addition to running for mayor of Manchester in 2019, Victoria has also served as Selectman for Ward 9 and on the Manchester Heritage Commission, where she focused on preserving our city's past, while also seeking to prepare it for the future.
