The students of Brattleboro Union High School are urging BUHS to shut down in order to slow the spread of COVID-19. We need to close the school in order to participate in the recommendations set forth by the CDC of social distancing. This will decrease the rate of spread of the virus. The high school has over 820 students and an additional 140 staff. Many of them have family members that are at severe risk if they were to get COVID-19. About 15%-20% of patients need hospitalization, according to Bringham and Women's hospital and Statnews. We need to slow the spreading of the virus to allow our hospital to give proper treatment to the patients who need it and not become overwhelmed with patients suffering from COVID-19. We, the students, are disappointed in the leadership of the state of Vermont for not considering schools in their efforts to increase social distancing. Vermont needs to be proactive and slow the spreading which allows local hospitals to properly deal with the potentially deadly virus. We need to follow other states lead in closing schools, including New Hampshire district SAU 29, which includes Keene, Chesterfield, Harrisville, Marlborough, Marlow, Nelson, and Westmoreland. Please sign this petition to close BUHS now for the appropriate amount of time in order to reduce the spread of this dangerous virus in the Brattleboro community.