I appreciate the unprecedented burden that Oak Park Unified School District leaders have been tasked with. Leading a school district during a global pandemic is challenging in so many ways. I trust that our students’ best interest is always top of mind.
I am concerned about the start date of Jan. 5, 2021, for DK-5 grade students that has been proposed in the revised memorandum of understanding between the OPUSD and Oak Park Teachers Association.
Currently, Ventura County has met reopening requirements for California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy, some of the strictest reopening guidelines in the nation.
Both Moorpark and Conejo Valley unified school districts are opening classes for grades K-5 in the next two weeks.
Many health authorities, including the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and the American Academy of Pediatrics, advocate for getting young children back into the classroom as soon as possible.
My children and many others thrive in the classroom. I plead with Dr. Tony Knight, the school board and the OPTA to please reconsider the start date of the hybrid model for TK-5 students.
Please consider opening the lower grades within the next few weeks. The county has met the requirements to open safely, and safety measures are in place to control viral spread.
Movie theaters, indoor seating in restaurants and gyms are now opening. It should be a top priority to open our lower grades.
Michelle Garcia
Oak Park