Letter to Editor about Back to School Plan
Dear Editor and Botetourt County Residents,
I attended the Botetourt County School Board meeting on 9 July. As a parent of two boys in the Botetourt public schools (a rising third grader and a rising nineth grader), I felt it important to attend. The school board had finally received guidelines from the state on how to reopen, had gathered data from parents in the form of an on-line survey, received guidance from the VDOH, and had put together a plan. Now that the plan was revealed, there would obviously be people happy with the plan, and those that felt it was inappropriate. It is important to be an informed citizen and take part in our community. Therefore I attended to hear public comment on what appeared to be a proposed plan. For me, listening to others was more important than speaking any opinions I have. Needless to say, I do have an opinion, and feel the best way to express this is to implore Botetourt County residents to pause and rethink WHY the School Board has proposed Botetourt County only open two days per week for in-person instruction.
While I agree, we do need in-person instruction as much as possible for our students, especially our kids in PreK-3rd as well as those with IEPs, special needs, etc. I also agree this cannot happen as normal, there needs to be changes to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 within our community. While I am very impressed with the way citizens of Botetourt County conducted and expressed themselves at the School Board meeting, my confidence in the School Board has continued to deteriorate.
I was surprised when the meeting opened and the chair of the board, Mrs. Crook, said they were deviating from normal protocol and allowing public comment on an issue already voted on. She also commented that the board would have appreciated public comment prior to their announcement of 29 June of this plan. Immediately, my lack of confidence in the Botetourt School Board increased. People have commented on re-opening. I, as over 90% of Botetourt county parents, responded to the survey the board put out about re-opening. Personally I would have liked perhaps a second survey with more in depth questions, but there was none. For me, the announced proposal WAS the School Board’s way of conveying a plan, and as a parent of children in the Botetourt County schools as well as a citizen of Botetourt, it was now my responsibility to comment on it. Unlike other area schools very little communication has occurred from the School Board during this process.
So I ask, when the School Board is unwilling to communicate their thoughts and ideas, how are people suppose to comment? Having a School Board meeting at 8:30 AM on 29 June does not allow the vast majority of people to attend a meeting and be proactive citizens. My understanding of tonight’s meeting was, now that a plan had been created we will listen to public opinion of it. Afterall, that is what governing bodies are suppose to do in a democracy such as ours. What I heard from the school as well as the community at large was interesting and passionate: regardless of what side of the table you are on. What I heard and saw from the School Board left a bad taste in my mouth and leaves me with serious doubt as to their ability to govern. But first, let me introduce myself.
My husband’s career allows him to work 90% of the time from home. I am self-employed which allows me a pretty flexible schedule as well as bring one or both of my sons along with me. We live in the southern part of the county, so while our internet service is not great, we do have it and we are able to get whatever work/education is required completed on-line. We are also able to hire and provide tutors for our children as needed. I realize for many in our county this is not the case, and that is part of the problem.
I was very impressed with our community as they took turns speaking. Everyone there was respectful, the speakers were passionate, yet thoughtful, and there were many good points made-on both sides of the table. Many people are concerned about how they will not only find, but also afford childcare for children when both parents work fulltime jobs and children will only be attending in-person classes for two days per week. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Botetourt was in desperate need of quality, affordable childcare. Now with kids only attending school two days per week, the need for dependable, safe, and affordable childcare is astronomical. People asked the School Board, with kids going to different childcare facilities, what does this mean to exposure to COVID-19? How are we lessening exposure with this type of solution? Other people expressed their concern for how students’ with needs such as IEPs, special needs, and others will fare attending in-person school only two days per week. There is no doubt that children (especially younger children) benefit greatly from in-person instruction. How will our young students fair with reading and writing, learning basic number sense and math when they only see their teacher in-person twice per week. There is also great concern for the social development and well-being of our kids. Humans are social creatures. If we have learned anything through quarantine, it is that we crave person-to-person contact. The younger we are, the more important it is.
I do not envy our (or ANY U.S.) School Board their position, nor the quagmire that our new superintendent, Dr. Russ has waded into, however I also find their approach questionable and disingenuous at best. Mrs. Crook claimed that social distancing and mask wearing needed to be adhered too when speaking, yet did NOTHING when several community members that spoke did not have a mask. Signs on the door when entering CAMS asked people to wear a mask. Many people did not. Mrs. Crook, if you are to be believed that your first priority is the safety of our children and teachers, then why did you allow people to sit together, not wear masks, and not stand up for your own rule of no speaking unless you have a mask on? You failed miserably in instilling any sense of confidence in your ability to lead. Dr. Russ was introduced as our new superintendent. Again, I have very little faith in a person who, as he is first introducing himself to a community he is suppose to help lead says how excited he is to be here, but in the very next breath says he and his wife are not even sure what their six your old will be doing for returning to school as her school district has not made any decisions yet. So what I gather is Dr. Russ is good enough for our school district, but our school district is not good enough for his daughter.
Many people are upset that our School Board has chosen to do a Monday/Thursday, Tuesday/Friday schedule with everyone learning virtually on Wednesdays. Only one person that spoke asked why extra teachers/aides are not being hired and trailers brought in to increase space so kids can go to school five days while still being able to adhere to the CDC’s guidelines. I agree, with this sentiment. The only way to get (at least PreK-3rd) back to school full time is with more teachers/aides and more classrooms. However this costs money (and here is the next big strike against our School Board). At no time did anyone on our School Board say “in order to follow guidelines we were issued, we either must go to this 2 day in-person schedule or hire more teachers/aides and bring in trailers for classrooms. This takes money, money that we do not have because the Board of Supervisors tells us how much money we get, and they CUT our budget.”
Many community members expressed their outrage at the School Board’s decisions, however, I say it is partially misdirected. I am outraged that our School Board has done very little in the way of keeping people informed on the thought process and reasonings behind these types of decisions. They have not advocated for our children in the least-the job they were voted in to perform. However, the Board of Supervisors cut the county school budget, they did this knowing that a) many in our county do not have internet and/or computers in order to complete on-line education b) most families, not only in our area, but in the nation, have both parents working in order to make ends meet c) cut the school budget knowing that we were in the middle of a pandemic that was going to go on for a long time and we would need to continue social distancing and mask wearing to keep the virus spread mitigated d) they also reduced spending by $2.7 million AND gave residents “unprecedented” tax relief through a one time change in how real estate taxes are assessed. I also find the lack of attendance of any Board of Supervisor at such an important county meeting very telling. They clearly lack empathy and understanding for our working families, and have little respect for education or our teachers.
While I agree reducing spending at a time like this is imperative, I find the Board of Supervisor’s tax relief plan short sighted and irresponsible. The responsible thing to do would have been to say, we know everyone is having a hard time, however our school system NEEDS money in order to properly educate ALL of our children in-person as soon as possible (and allow families to get back to work). We are going to earmark this “extra” real estate tax money from the reassessment of real estate in our county and add it to the school budget for this year, we are also going to cut spending in other areas and put the saved money into the school budget. I also ask, why has the School Board not put pressure on the Board of Supervisors on getting ALL of Botetourt on-line? I am assuming some of this is happening in closed door sessions and out of the public eye, and yes, that is where these things should start. But now it is time for the School Board to step up and fulfill the contract they have with our teachers and students. Why do you continue to cow down to an unnecessary and seriously detrimental budget cut? You were voted in by county residents to speak on behalf of the children of Botetourt. To make sure ALL students receive a quality education. Your unwillingness to go to bat for our children is disheartening and gives me great pause as to your ability to function in the best interest of our children and students. Part of the job as the School Board is to communicate with the general public. While I feel this last year, your attempts at communication have improved, it has a lot further to go. One suggestion was more of a Town Hall style meeting where we, your constituents, ask questions, and you, our representatives, need to give answers. I had, wrongly, assumed that is what part of School Board meetings were about. It is time to not only answer how and why you have come to the decisions you have, but also what you need for those decisions to change. I hope you will orchestrate a Town Hall style meeting where county residents can ask the School Board, as well as the Board of Supervisors, questions pertaining to the re-opening of schools in Botetourt County.
Stacey Collins
Fincastle, VA
