As the first quarter of the 2020-2021 school year winds down, the plan remains per the Prince William County School Board to return to in-person learning for the second quarter. While there has been support for the move, with some parents hosting demonstrations tomorrow at local schools starting at 9:30 am. According to the Facebook group “In-Person Quarter 2,” the participants will be wearing green shirts, bringing signs and wearing a mask. Their purpose is to show support for the School Board’s plan to have in-person learning, but also to address concerns that the plans are not etched in stone.

However, not everyone feels the same way, as teachers across the county have expressed concerns about re-opening the schools pre-maturely. This is in light of the news that COVID-19 cases have continued to increase, and with no vaccine available yet, the concern is the potential for having to experience more exposure to the virus. One of the organizations that is supportive of the teachers’ stance is the Prince William Education Association. Earlier today the PWEA released the following statement:

“The Prince William Education Association strongly believes that in order to provide a safe and equitable working environment for all, it is imperative that the Division maintain virtual instruction for the foreseeable future.

The number of cases in Virginia continue to rise at the same rate as in late June. There is no significant data indicating that returning to school in November will be equitable, let alone safe. Many of our families have barriers to voiding their choice in how children attend school, and the division’s decision to make that choice for them if they do not respond is reprehensible and will lead to our economically disadvantaged, minority and English Language Learner (ELL) students to be disproportionately sent into harm’s way. This is unacceptable.

The faculty, staff and students have performed a Herculean task adapting to the start of school, and they have done so with great success. To ensure equity and continuity for all learners, it is crucial that proven effective learning routines are supported, not upended. As the mental health of all is the great concern, it would be foolish to capsize a process that we have worked so hard to make successful.

It is our utmost importance that the division’s leadership keep to their word – that the safety of our children is the highest priority.”

Below is the caravan event that the PWEA will be hosting on Wednesday.