FCPS Leadership & School Board Members

Subject: Option for Virtual Schooling

August 4th, 2021

Dear Sir, Madam,

This petition is a request for FCPS to provide an option for Virtual Schooling. 

With schools opening in less than 3 weeks, there is tremendous concern about how things will be handled when kids go back to school, especially since the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are still not available to children under 12 and vaccinated kids can carry as much viral load, as the unvaccinated, if infected.

With the original variant, students were less likely to be seriously impacted, but in the case of the Delta variant, children’s hospitals across the country have seen a surge in symptomatic infections and based on recent CDC comments, children can easily contract the virus & carry it home to younger or older family members, which in-turn is potentially a matter of life and death.

While we understand that in-person schooling is the best option for our kids to learn and grow, safeguarding our kids during a pandemic is equally important to their wellbeing. Based on the latest information from Pfizer, their plan is to submit clinical trial data by September with a hope to get an EUA for younger kids within a matter of weeks. Once children are vaccinated, it gives their bodies a chance to deal with this virus and reduces the chances of major outbreaks.

We are requesting a hybrid model - i.e. virtual option along with in-person. 

Kind Regards,