- Chandler Unified School District
- Governing Board Meeting Comments (redirect to current)
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Comments for 1/4/2020 Governing Board Meeting, by Topic
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NOTES:
- For easier reading, public comments submitted have been grouped by topic.
- Each comment submitted could relate to more than just one topic.
- Scroll down and expand the topic names below to see all comments submitted, by topic
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School Health & Safety, Mitigation
Submitted by: Adrianne H
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep In-Person Learning
Comment: I feel like I'm a record player... keep schools open... my kids are thriving in-person and weren't online... I'm not blind as to what is happening, I watch the numbers. You've heard it from me for months. We can see that the students aren't priority as the news of an emergency meeting developed after teachers threatened to sick-out. I won't go into how selfish that is, especially when families have continued to follow precautions during the break. Let's take a moment to think of the support staff - the bus drivers, cafeteria workers, office staff, paraprofessionals, custodial, etc. Growing up, my mom drove bus for MPS. It was one of her 3 jobs. If schools shut down, she would have been unable to support her 6 kids. I imagine there are many support staff who can't afford to go another two plus weeks without a paycheck. If we can't keep schools open for the kids, keep them open for financial reasons. Other businesses are open, with precautions. Schools should stay open, with precautions.Submitted by: Adrianne H
School: Rice Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep In-Person Learning
Comment: I feel like I'm a record player... keep schools open... my kids are thriving in-person and weren't online... I'm not blind as to what is happening, I watch the numbers. You've heard it from me for months. We can see that the students aren't priority as the news of an emergency meeting developed after teachers threatened to sick-out. I won't go into how selfish that is, especially when families have continued to follow precautions during the break. Let's take a moment to think of the support staff - the bus drivers, cafeteria workers, office staff, paraprofessionals, custodial, etc. Growing up, my mom drove bus for MPS. It was one of her 3 jobs. If schools shut down, she would have been unable to support her 6 kids. I imagine there are many support staff who can't afford to go another two plus weeks without a paycheck. If we can't keep schools open for the kids, keep them open for financial reasons. Other businesses are open, with precautions. Schools should stay open, with precautions.Submitted by: Alfred T
School: NONE OF THE ABOVE Organization: South Mountain High School
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Board's refusal to return to virtual learning
Comment: My wife is a 30-year veteran teacher for CUSD, and I teach for Phoenix Union. I'm furious that you place so little value on her life and the lives of her coworkers. My district saw the COVID threat and immediately made sure that teachers and students were safe. Your district, in the meantime, is being pressured by parents and Gov. Ducey to stay in-person. Why do you not have the courage to follow the metrics?Submitted by: Alissa S
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: 7th Grader hoping to remain 'In Person'
Comment: Our son, Ryan is really hoping to be able to stay 'in person' this year. He feels safe at school and is enjoying the year despite the craziness.Submitted by: Allison
School: Patterson Elementary Organization: CUSD
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Virtual learning
Comment: Please support our teachers and students and our need for safety and health! We need to be virtual learning for at least two weeks to slow the spread. Having us return in person right now with the positivity rate at nearly 30% is very dangerous for us teachers and students. Please please think of safety and health first and foremost!! Thank you!Submitted by: Alma N
School: Hill Learning Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person learning.
Comment: As someone who has contracted COVID-19 virus while taking all precautions and following protocols suggested, I believe it is important to keep our children learning from home for a time. A CDC recommendation is groups of 10 with social distancing. This is nearly impossible in classes of 10+ not including the teachers. While the best learning environment is in the classroom the safest is staying home.Submitted by: Amanda S
School: Auxier Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to virtual learning
Comment: My child thrives during virtual instruction at the beginning of this academic year. Covid cases are WAY worse right now. Maricopa county is 3rd highest in cases in the country, only behind LA and Chicago. For the safety of our entire community, I strongly urge you to move instruction back to virtual, at least for the first two weeks of this semester. Thank you.Submitted by: Amy
School: Auxier Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: I am a teacher, a parent, a voter. Keep schools open
Comment: I teach for Cusd. I have 3 kids in cusd schools. There is no reason to be shutting the schools. The decision to close schools on a site by site basis is a good one. The numbers of cases at school show closure is not needed. Elementary students stay in their cohorts. They are safe. There are no active cases. Keep the schools open.Submitted by: Amy D
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Thank you for consider all aspects of this situation
Comment: Thank you for consider all aspects of this situation. Although our daughter does better with in person learning and most students I service perform better in this environment, it is not safe to go back. My husband and I both contracted Covid-19 near the end of the last quarter and although we're past our length of quarantine, I continue to feel the affects of this virus. Many of my students were quarantined as a result of my proximity to them. I'm concerned this will continue to be the case as aresult of our states numbers. If a good portion of our teachers fall I'll, how will our schools be able to ensure students will receive the education we have promised them? Thank you for your time.Submitted by: ANDREA L
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep schools open
Comment: Please focus on continued mitigation strategies, not closing schools. Chandler's new COVID cases are decreasing for the 2nd week in a row dropping to 476 positive reports per 100,000 or .04%. You can find this information from the Chandler City Council's latest report. The COVID virus will be with us for some time yet as are other viruses we have dealt with and continue to manage as a society. Hiding kids in their bedroom is not going to make any difference to a virus. Mitigation strategies aro The CDC and Dr. Fauci have stated that COVID doesn't require schools to be closed as they are not a high place of transmission. The CUSD dashboard numbers have born this out. Listen to the scientists. They tell us to focus on mitigation strategies, not closing."""Submitted by: ANDREA L
School: Knox Gifted Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep schools open
Comment: We need to focus on enhancing mitigation strategies, not closing on a whim again. Look at the CUSD dashboard of COVID cases from last quarter. I followed this as a parent and was please to see that, generally, the numbers were very low. In elementary schools and even junior highs, you generally wouldn't see more than 1-2 cases in a school at a time. Even in high schools (with one exception), you would generally see no more than a handful of cases at a time. In light of the size of our high schools, that is impressive. CUSD's mitigation strategies largely worked. Let's focus on making those better where we can, not sending kids back home for no reason. The CDC and Dr. Fauci have stated that COVID doesn't require schools to be closed as they are not a high place of transmission. The CUSD dashboard numbers have born this out. Listen to the scientists. They tell us to focus on mitigation strategies, not closing.Submitted by: ANDREA L
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep schools open
Comment: There is no legitimate reason to close schools right before the spring semester begins. I am a careful parent who has closely monitored the CUSD Covid dashboard throughout last semester and the fact is that the mitigation strategies employed by the district are largely working and cases have been quite low in schools. I have an honors student who has unequivocally told me that the online learning was a joke. He would finish school 2-3 hours early each day and still got A's in all honors classes. He didn't get a good experience until returning in person. If you close schools when there is no reason to do so, you will lose even more students to private and charter schools and make the budget shortfall worse. This virus is here to stay with us. Locking up kids in bedrooms isn't the answer. Employing better mitigation strategies is. Let's focus on that for our students. Please don't fall victim to a vocal minority who already has the option to keep their kids at home to learn.Submitted by: Andrea S
School: Haley Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person school
Comment: It is important for our elementary school students to stay with in person school. If you check your own dashboard, you will see that the elementary school aged children are not at risk and are not spreading the virus. A universal shut down of our schools is unwarranted. These kids hardly see their peers outside of school. Pulling them out of in person school will cause many developmental problems. They need the social interaction they are provided at school. It is impossible for a elementary teacher to gauge her students levels online. It is unfair to make them adapt and teach this way. We were given a choice to attend online or in person. Please don't take that choice away from us. I know my child teacher wants to be at school. I know my child wants to be at school. Please keep us there. Thank you.Submitted by: Anita M
School: Chandler High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to teaching virtually until the 3 metrics are in the green.
Comment: Please return to 100% virtual learning until the 3 metrics are in the green again. Also support the teachers and staff who are asking for a safe work environment. They need your public support. Please say it out load and publicly denounce those in the community bullying them and threatening them. Start messaging the CUSD community with reminders that school can't be in person as long as community members are not following public health guidance that leads to the metrics being in the yellow andred.Submitted by: Ann M
School: Riggs Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: I support in person learning for my students
Comment: With proper mitigation strategies in place, Elementary schools have not been places of spread. Please support our students with in person learning. Respect the parents and students of CUSD that would like to make the choice for their family. These kids need in person school. Virtual school is not even close to the real thing. I am a substitute and will do my part to support in person school.Submitted by: Anne B
School: Chandler High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual learning for start of Semester 2
Comment: Please make the safest decision which is to start semester 2 virtually until Maricopa County does not have all 3 areas in the red and there is adequate hospital space to handle the pandemic. It is irresponsible and against everything we know about science to ignore current numbers. Short term pain for long term gain!Submitted by: anonymous
School: Chandler High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Rules and regulations are not being enforced and it is NOT SAFE
Comment: Kids are openly walking through hallways and around school with masks off/or worn improperly (not covering their mouths and noses). Security is doing nothing, admin is doing nothing - when all they would have to do is patrol the hallways and send these kids home and show they are serious and mean business. Throw in that half the teachers are Trump supporting covid deniers and it makes a recipe for more death and illness. Do not make the mistake, any deaths or illnesses are DIRECTLY your responsibility for not dealing with things and being cautious. You should be ashamed of yourself for putting yourselves in virtual/distanced mode while teachers are in rooms with upwards of 40 kids for 2.5 hours where they can't even social distance and nobody seems to be taking it seriously. Teachers were lied to and have no choices/options. Many are at risk or have someone at risk at home.Submitted by: Ardeshir N
School: Hill Learning Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: I am against in-person learning at this time because of safety concerns for students and admin
Comment: The board should postpone in-person classroom learning till COVID is under control. There is a great risk for students, staff, and families they represent. Please be socially responsible!!!!!Submitted by: Ashland V
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Unsafe return to school
Comment: I believe for these next two weeks, schools should go online to protect the teachers, staff, and students from rapid spreading of this virus. I get to some this virus hits most with little to no symptoms, but there are many like myself who have underlying conditions. I have been taking precautions to keep my family safe, and while others have the choice not to, I respect that. My mentality this time around is for the people have stayed home over break and missed out on activities, they are returning to school with those who made the selfish decision not to, exposing themselves and others. Now, these same people will be the ones who come to school, expose others because they chose not to follow the guidelines, and then my child/children will be quarantined anyways missing out on their education that they unselfishly chose to protect. So, how is it fair my kids miss out on their time in the classroom because of someone else's bad choices?Submitted by: Ashley A
School: Fulton Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Stay in Person
Comment: We have a Kindergartner and 5th grader at Fulton and feel confident in the teachers and staff keeping our kids safe. Not only will going virtual create havoc in their already very different life, it will not benefit them to lose one more thing in their life. They LOVE school and learning and were not happy online. We understand HS students have NOT been making wise choices with social distancing, and feel as though they should be looked at and considered as a different entity entirely. The samegoes with families that choose to travel during these breaks. This is an entirely new scenario, so create a new response. Require quarantine and virtual for those families that choose to live a lifestyle that is not recommended at the moment. My Kindergartner and 5th grader deserve to be in the classroom where they are happiest because we choose to have them there and follow the recommended rules of this ever changing environment. I am tired of my students being punished for others decisionsSubmitted by: Ashley G
School: Hull Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: School reopening after break
Comment: Thank you for moving the board meeting up to Monday, before students return. I am writing as a concerned parent and staff member of CUSD. The numbers for Coronavirus are out of control right now and I believe it would be safest for the district to go virtual for at least the first two weeks back from break. This would give time for students and staff to stay at home and decrease the spread of the virus following the holidays. It is frustrating to me that our district chooses to be reactive rather than proactive. The board could have voted to go virtual for the first two weeks back from break at the last board meeting and provided proactive leadership and given parents, staff, and students time to plan and prepare. Now, the district and teachers are in a no-win situation.Every teacher I know, myself included, would rather teach in person. We know it's better for students and staff to be in person. But, it needs to be done safely, and it cannot with the current community infection rate.Submitted by: Athen F
School: Knox Gifted Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Schools open for in person learning
Comment: As a licensed marriage and family therapist and expert in mental health of children and adults, I strongly believe continuing to offer both in-person and online options is essential for families and children in the CUSD. While case numbers are high and I am aware of the health situation, the numbers and data on actual CUSD schools (especially elementary schools) has shown that schools are not a significant contributor to the spread of COVID-19 and mitigation efforts in place are working. We have to look at the impact on a child's well-being and overall health- mental, physical, emotional and psychological- and the importance for many children and families of staying in school is essential to all of these. School is not only key for education and learning so that our future- our YOUTH- is bright and equipped for success - it is often the only safe place for some children to go. We know there are multiple risk factors (depression, abuse) that far outweigh the risk of COVID to a child.Submitted by: Audrey C
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep students in person
Comment: Students, especially those on IEP's, need to be in person learning. Masks and distancing from students has worked so far to keep teachers safe. What they do in their spare time however is where the threat comes from.Submitted by: Audrey C
School: Santan Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep students in person
Comment: The schools my children are at have been wonderful about keeping everyone safe while allowing in person learning. I have confidence they can continue this. Students need to learn in person.Submitted by: Austin P
School: Navarrete Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: School is the safest place
Comment: I work as a substitute teacher in the Chandler school district and five of my children go to elementary, junior, and high schools in the Chandler school district. I see firsthand how safe the schools are. The principals and other school staff work very hard to make the schools a safe place. The students wear their masks, stay in their groups and wash their hands as instructed. When a child falls ill or has been exposed to COVID-19, they schools act quickly to isolate that exposure. Our childrenare safe in the CUSD schools!Submitted by: Babara E
School: Casteel High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Listen to Your Teachers
Comment: Of all the school board members, only Lara replied to this email. You are newly elected and serve our community and student now. This is the email I sent before winter break. Since this email, things have only gotten more out of control. We are doubling up rooms in the hospitals and we do not have enough staff to meet the needs of all the patients. I am not spreading fear, this is the truth of what is happening. So far CUSD has been a disappointment as has the superintendent and governor.I hope you will help guide the superintendent to do what is best at this time, which is implement online learning except for students with special circumstances and or needs. You have lost teachers by forcing them to make literal life and death decisions. Those who have walked away are not wrong, however, forcing more students in each classroom and demanding teachers risk getting sick or worse, is. I am a nurse at Chandler and Mercy Gilbert hospitals, and a mom of a HS junior at Casteel. ISubmitted by: Becky
School: Santan Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: I SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS!!
Comment: Our teachers deserve to be heard, ALL OF THEM! I support their sick out! Nearly 7,000 positive cases of covid today alone! 9.1% is our CLI! Metrics have been in red nearly 6 weeks. Please hold an emergency meeting a d go virtual at least the first 2 weeks in January. You have grades 7-12 a choice, what about the elementary kids?? This is not a fair option for all!Submitted by: Bev b
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep schools closed. It is not safe for our community.
Comment: I'm pleading with you all to do the right thing and keep schools closed. I was 41 year old, very active runner with no underlying health issues prior to my Covid infection in March of 2019. It is 9 months later and I am still I'll. While I have lung damage, my husband (a healthy 44 year old) had heart damage appear months after our infection. The long term effects of this virus should not be ignored. Please reach out to me for more information. I spend at least an hour a day reading medical journals, reviewing studies, reading what others in my same condition ( with Long Covid) are going through. This is very common and affects any and all age groups. If you care about the CUSD staff and students, you will do the right thing here...at the very least do your homework prior to making your decision. Research Long Covid, Post Covid, Covid Long Haulers. You have lives on the line here, do your research prior to any decisions.Submitted by: Brandon H
School: Haley Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Stay open!
Comment: We need to stay open for our children's health and wellness. The mitigation strategies are working! Stay open and Lee our kids developing.Submitted by: Brianna W
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Health and Safety Concerns for students and teachers as COVID metrics increase
Comment: Students, parents, and teachers were informed in October that if one of three metrics turned red that we would return to remote learning in order to protect the lives and safety of students and teachers. Two of the three metrics turned red last month and nothing was done. We are now moving into three of three metrics turning red. The district continues to move the 'goal post' and not follow through with their promises. We are dealing with people's safety and lives. I believe that the district should move to remote learning for grades 9 through 12, possibly even 6-12. These students move Multiple times throughout the day at school into multiple classrooms. This increases the chance of spread. I understand that this is not ideal. I myself do not prefer remote teaching as it is more time-consuming to plan, but we are getting closer to getting a vaccine to teachers, students, and the general population. I believe that peoples lives and safety should be our top priority.Submitted by: Bridgett H
School: Hancock Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep our teachers and support staff safe!
Comment: Please do NOT bring these kids back to in person learning right now. Or if you do, give every teacher the option FIRST as to whether they want to be working. I am a support staff and I need my job for the health care but it's terrible that I have to put myself at such risk just to try to protect myself a little bit.Submitted by: Brittney N
School: Patterson Elementary Organization: simplybcreations
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person learning
Comment: Recently the board decided it was right to more closely follow CDC guidelines regarding masks. They will no longer allow face shields without a medical exemption and since school districts are reporting doctors to the medical board for writing such exemptions my asthmatic son cannot obtain one. If the board is going to follow CDC guidelines the CDC also says kids are safer at school. The community is safer having kids at school. You do not get to pick and choose what fits your political agenda.Kids need to be in school. These teachers terrified and calling in sick better be looking for online jobs or new careers for next year. These should also be the first teachers to go when the budget as to be cut next year due to the massive loss of students. The board voted on a school by school metric system for shutting down schools and need to stick to it. Do not continue to use our children for pawns in your political games. The have the right to a proper education and COA/Online is not thatSubmitted by: C I
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please consider going virtual the rest of the year to keep our kids safe!!
Comment: Please consider going virtual the rest of the year to keep our kids safe!!!! If you will not go all virtual please at least offer a viable virtual option so I can keep my kid safe!! COA IS NOT A GOOD OPTION for our kids!!!Submitted by: Carrie B
School: Basha Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In Person Learning is Essential
Comment: Thank you for continuing to offer options for families. For those that do not wish to send their kids for in person learning, COA exists, as well as the google classroom arrangement (like what is used when kids are sent home to quarantine). For those of us that feel it is imperative to our child's health and wellbeing, the in person with proper mitigation strategies option is a viable and wise choice. I understand your position is difficult. However, you have provided options that can meetmost if not all families highest priorities. For some, this may be keeping their family in a bubble in the home (online schooling). For others, this is as close to normal as possible in person learning safely. Both options meet different priorities, as families have different needs and priorities at this time. For our family, online hasn't been effective. My students are behind, frustrated and they are suffering when forced into online. please keep kids in person.Submitted by: Carrie B
School: Payne Junior High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In Person is best for kids
Comment: The CDC, Dr Fauci, esteemed medical experts agree that kids need to be in school. Schools are no super spreaders. Schools are, and have always been a safe space for kids. They are essential for the holistic wellbeing of children and families. Consider the statistics of children who have had to seek mental health services in the last 10 months vs. the number of children who have died from C19. The choice is clear: schools are vital. Children need to be in classrooms.Submitted by: Charles S
School: NONE OF THE ABOVE Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Put Student, Faculty & Community Safety First
Comment: Unfortunately you as Governing Board members have been put in a tough spot by our state's leadership. They know how bad our public health crisis is and that strict controls and limitations on public activities is needed to get this pandemic under control. They also know that the right decisions are going to be difficult for a lot of people and come with a lot of backlash. But what we need as a community almost as badly as we need a vaccine for everyone, is for you all to take up this unenviablechallenge and put the community first. That means closing down all in-person learning until Maricopa County is all in the green. Let's not endanger our grandparents, our vulnerable, our educators, our students, or anyone else just to get children into classrooms. Deaths have been piling up across the country, the state, and the county. Let's not leave these children to face the trauma that their school days killed loved ones, people they respected, or others indirectly connected to CUSD. Thanks.Submitted by: Cheryl M
School: CTA Freedom Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Thank you!
Comment: I know everyone has worked SO hard to keep students and staff safe. So this comment is just a thank you and an acknowledgment of how hard that must have been. If you choose to do virtual to keep staff and students safer I understand and support it. If you don't I support it as well since I know everyone is doing their best to keep everyone safe. Thank you again!Submitted by: Chris C
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Return to Class in January
Comment: To the Board Members of The Chandler Unified School District, I believe it is in the best interests of the children, faculty, staff and community that CUSD look again at its intended plan to return to in-school instruction following the winter break. There is not one piece of recent evidence that suggests it is in the best interest of anybody to return. The metrics for the district have all been in the red for the past three weeks. As a teacher in the district, I don't believe our well-being hasbeen considered at all, and we are the most vulnerable group. Please reconsider and at the very least, use the two-week virtual model of return and then make decisions based on the information going forward. I want kids back in the classroom, for that is what I have done for 27+ years. But it should not be until it is safe for everyone to return. There is no such thing as acceptable losses, this is not a war.Submitted by: Chris H
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Returning to school
Comment: There should be no discussion about returning to in-person schooling for at least two weeks. You would be endangering all students and staff by returning to classes with a surge in COVID-19 cases. Please consider the safety of this community in your decision.Submitted by: Christine D
School: Willis Junior High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to virtual learning until metrics are safe
Comment: CUSD needs to return to virtual learning to give the hospitals a break from overflowing numbers and to ensure staff and students are safe in person. Last quarter many students were in 10 day quarantines (some multiple times) and this is not best in person learning. CUSD needs to be responsible for the health, safety and well being of the community as a whole. Covid is real. Long term side effects are real.Submitted by: Christopher C
School: Casteel High Organization: studend
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Follow the metrics
Comment: follow the signs its not safe too many kids in classrooms hallways lunch online for all students keep schools onlineSubmitted by: Constance L
School: Chandler High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: School Safety
Comment: Please, make brick and mortar schools virtual until Covid metrics improve. My 16 year old Can Not do COA. He needs teacher led instruction. A teacher has died, 2 booster parents, some grandparents, a volleyball teammate suffers with arthritic like pain caused by Covid long term effects (several Doctors diagnosed this), the community situation told in the news my son is extremely worried and stressed about returning to school January 19th. We believed in the school boards when they said they would follow the metrics.. CUSD, has been so disappointing in how they handle this pandemic. MYP and IB classes are not on COA, we need to ensure teacher led instruction for kids that need an academically challenged environment in the safest possible environment for ALL involved, Please.Submitted by: COURTNEY
School: Auxier Elementary Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please please please do not shut down again.
Comment: Please do not shut down. Allow parents the freedom of choice between COA and in person. My children need to be in person for numerous reasons and we believe the precautions in place are doing their job. The data shows it is not being spread at schools. We have 2 months of solid data. Please be strong and stay open. For the sake of our kids who really need this.Submitted by: Dannette H
School: Basha High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Covid metrics/ virtual learning
Comment: The metrics are clear. Everyone needs to do what they can to reduce the spread. CUSD should go virtual at least for 7-12 until this comes down. Or you need to offer live virtual for students that are trying to be safe but that COA is not an option. Please, just don't sit on your hands and do nothing because of funding. Lives are at risk here!! Please!Submitted by: David A
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: CUSD Parent
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Close schools until it's safe!
Comment: You have an obligation to keep students and teachers safe and thus far, you have failed. DO THE RIGHT THING. Close schools until it is safe.Submitted by: David D
School: Casteel High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Covid operations
Comment: Given that casteel has been completely ineffective at enforcing masks or social distancing, and given that the covid numbers are spreading at an unprecedented rate (likely in no small part to schools opening without precautions) please shut down and go remote until.things have calmed down.Submitted by: Denise H
School: CTA Freedom Organization: Special Education Teachers
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Postpone in person until metrics deem appropriate
Comment: Postpone in person until metrics deem appropriate . I will not teach in these conditions . I am a special needs preschool teacher with a autistic son with diabetes.Submitted by: Devon C
School: Chandler High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: CLOSE OUR SCHOOLS
Comment: Dr Casteel & Members of the Board, My daughter attends Chandler High School and with the record breaking number of COVID positive cases in our communities it is prudent to close our secondary schools and go online for a minimum of two weeks. We have already lost multiple district employees and family members. When is enough enough? Support our teachers, support our students, support our families. A lot of people are shouting to stay open, that school is the best place for kids, and that healthwise being home is arduous. My own daughter has struggled immensely being online, but now is not the time to push everyone back into the classrooms. Teachers are quitting, getting sick, not eating, and to what end are you supporting them? Please close schools until the holiday season COVID cases manifest so those people aren't on our secondary campuses with those we all want to keep safe, healthy, and alive. Please do what is right.Submitted by: Elementary T
School: NONE OF THE ABOVE Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual
Comment: Please follow the original benchmarks and metrics for the safety of students and staff. As we ended the 2nd quarter, I had 25 students in my classroom. It's IMPOSSIBLE to keep the students socially distanced and safe in an overcrowded classroom. Classroom teachers are doing their best to keep students safe, but with cases exploding in our area, we are scared. Scared for our students, our colleagues, our families, and ourselves. I implore you to follow the benchmarks and recommendations of Superintendent Hoffman.Submitted by: Emily P
School: San Marcos Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual until safe
Comment: Simple: school should be conducted virtual until our metrics decline for all age levels not just secondary. Shame on you for denying children with IEPs entrance to COA. That is wrong! Do better. Abide by science and suggestions of health. Protect staff, teachers and community. Virtual until safe.Submitted by: Eric
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Decisions concerning in person vs remote learning
Comment: While observing the most recent board meeting I was struck by two things that seemed to be used to justify current CUSD policy. The first being the belief that high schools are following proper social distancing, and the out of context use of the CDC description that children are safer in school. Review of schools show students that's cannot social distance due to classroom size and population. And the CDC recommendation is clearly only true when the local infection rate is low and proper precautions are taken. Currently our community is at a high infection rate, and our students can't follow precautions. CUSD should establish real hybrid schooling akin to other schools, and should delay reopening after winter break to insure isolation until the impact of family travel can be mitigated.Submitted by: Erika
School: Perry High Organization: Educators
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Returning to in-person learning is concerning
Comment: I am very concerned about returning to in-person learning following winter break. Many of my own students shared they were traveling in addition to those who spent time with friends and family in large groups without adhering to mask and social-distancing recommendations. The large NYE party that was widely publicized is just one example of the gatherings that high school students participated in. Their actions can affect their classmates and school staff upon return. Rather than offering only students the option of going virtual the first two weeks of second semester, it seems necessary to require a return to virtual for everyone at the secondary level. This is not necessarily the best solution for elementary and middle grades. Each level should have a solution that best fits their needs and safety.Submitted by: Erika K
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: Tarwater Elementary
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Close the schools
Comment: Kathy Hoffman sounded the warning bells. Do the right and safe thing and close the schools.Submitted by: Erin M
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person school
Comment: My daughter is a senior at Casteel and is currently sick and tested positive for COVID. I believe that going back to school in person is incredibly dangerous at this time. I teach 80 sixth graders and I'm terrified of one of my students getting the virus. I'm also terrified for myself and my husband, both cancer survivors. My daughter has never been this sick in her life.Submitted by: Esther K
School: Carlson Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Delay opening of in person lessons in January
Comment: I urge the board to follow the metrics on the county's school reopening dashboard and return to virtual learning for all CUSD schools until the metrics improve. As you know, there is a 12 day delay before data is reflected in the school reopening dashboard for the 'current week.' The dashboard currently advises virtual learning with on-campus support for our district, and I'm sure the actual metrics are far worse today than when this data was captured. It would be irresponsible to endanger students, teachers, staff, and their families via in-person learning at a time when some local hospitals are already at 120% of their intended capacity and the post-Christmas and post-New Year's Eve surges are approaching. Please put safety first for our community!Submitted by: Farah L
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N,/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Continuing in school education
Comment: Thank you for taking comments. I have a 5th grader at CTA Freedom. The school and wonderful principal have been doing a great job with Covid 19 mitigation strategy. Mandating the masks and cohorting is working. I as a pediatrician understand the risk and unprecedented mess we are in because of the Coronavirus. However studies show and personal experience show that children are not catching Covid at school, they are catching it at home or outside of school when families are not being careful. They are also catching it on sports teams. The mental health of my child and multiple other children I as see as patients is on the brink. There lives revolve around their peers and social interaction and I believe they are at less risk for suicide or depression if they are in school among their peers. I believe CTA Freedom is doing a good job, and this should be looked at on a school by school basis, but overall the schools in the region I am in are doing fairly well.Submitted by: Frank M
School: Bogle Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Go virtual
Comment: You need to do what you promised parents, students, teachers, and staff and go back to virtual like the metrics show we should. It's only going to get worse. Stop putting the lives of our community in danger and do something that shows you care the slightest in our health and safety.Submitted by: Ginga M
School: Hamilton High Organization: Steward Health Care - Mountain Vista Medical Center and Tempe St. Luke's Medical Center
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: TO BE READ AT THE MTG MONDAY PLEASE: Covid response from CUSD to improve safety and equitable education
Comment: Hello :) and Thank you for taking the time to read my comments. I have left many comments and emailed members of the board and district admin regularly. The short story is - you are not listening to science, the medical community and the data, and I need (WE need) you to start now please!. I know that the voices of those who want the schools open and learning to be in person no matter what are very loud. The bodies that show up in person will for sure outnumber those who disagree because ..... showing up in person is dangerous right now. I know that there are articles that say.. paraphrasing... Kids are safe in school! But those articles also say that they are safe only when the community spread is low and when all mitigation strategies are maintained. The east valley community spread is very high. Mitigation strategies are NOT being maintained-there aren't enough qualified teachers to help maintain them; classrooms are full. You MUST delay the start of in person learning!Submitted by: Heather D
School: Chandler High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: COVID safety
Comment: I believe it is irresponsible to allow 2 days of in-person instruction to occur before our new school board meets to make decisions about our steps to facilitate a safe and effective learning environment. We have all seen the data and statistics about the massive increase in the number of cases and the spread of COVID in our state recently and we can reasonably predict that due to gatherings over the holidays, those numbers are going to continue to increase. I am BEGGING our leadership to make the right decision and implement on-line learning for the first 2 weeks of this quarter, just as many other districts in our state have done. This way, students and families can quarantine at home and still be able to learn from home. I hope and pray you will all make the right decision for our community. Thank you, Heather D.Submitted by: Herbert D
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keeping learning online is the ONLY way to safeguard the safety of our teachers during this terrible pandemic!
Comment: PLEASE put the safety of our TEACHERS FIRST ! My daughter teaches at Casteel.Submitted by: J B
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual for AT LEAST two weeks
Comment: Please move to virtual learning! I am in favor of in-person learning but with the community spread, incomplete CUSD dashboard tracing, the inability to social distance in grades 7-12, students not following guidelines outside of school, etc, it does not make sense to go back to in-person school. The health and safety of teachers, students and staff (and the families they go home to) need to be priority and a temporary shift to virtual learning is necessary until the community spread is in yellow and on an downward trend. Community metrics show all three in red and since the virus does not stop at the school gates, students should not be on campus until they are improved. Thank you.Submitted by: Jamie D
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Safety for All
Comment: I am a teacher and parent of a student who attends a CUSD school. I am asking for the board to protect the health and safety of our teachers, staff and students by allowing for two weeks of online instruction to proceed in person instruction, following this winter break. Please allow time for people to show symptoms of at home, before exposing others to the virus. As a teacher who's whole family got Covid before the break, it is not easy to recover from and took time away from our jobs and we still are not 100% back to health. This is not just the flu. There is no formula to how and to who gets it. The impacts long term are still unknown. Please respect us and our families enough to provide a safe return to learning.Submitted by: Jane D
School: NONE OF THE ABOVE Organization: All schools at CUSD
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: COVID complacency and neglect of staff/student safety
Comment: The way that the CUSD dashboard was created was to ensure that we would not receive the necessary information about COVID cases that we deserve. I, along with many other employees at multiple sites, know of numerous positive cases in which those individuals (students and staff) were on campus during their infectious period, but because they didn't contract it on campus, it is not reported. Giving Dr. Casteel the ultimate power to make outrageous changes to the way we view metrics has made ourschools unsafe. It feels as if she is making decisions based on money and appearance, not on safety. Our schools are filled with absent teachers and the abundance of substitutes that Dr. Casteel promised are nowhere to be found. My class had to be taught by school administrators or merged with other classes when I was out. Mask and hand washing protocols have gone from the utmost importance to not being important at all.Submitted by: Janelle G
School: Basha High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Close in person go virtual
Comment: Stick to the original metrics! 3 weeks triple red, yet you are sending kids back for 2 days until board meets to review the results of a review committee- you are causing unnecessary exposure. There are families and kids playing unmasked in parks in groups of 7 or more kids. Everyone meeting from Xmas are just becoming eligible to show as a positive case. Anyone from New Years will return to school asymptotic and then show up in a week. Virtual option for high school was great but that still doesn't protect if you don't allow siblings the same privilege- where is the equality cusd is known for? This is an absolute shame and mockery of the scientific standards set by dept of public health. Stop putting our kids and teachers in jeopardy!Submitted by: Jennifer
School: Elite Performance Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Return to virtual
Comment: There is a surge of Covid cases, record cases, hospitals nearing capacity and we haven't hit the peak. Contact tracing and isolating cases and potential spread is very difficult. I am following CUSD guidance for calling out when I have symptoms and am running out of sick leave. 6 days ago, I tested for Covid and am still waiting on a result. There are many others in my shoes. The school dashboard is useless if we cannot get timely data.. It is too risky to be open. Return to virtual to protect our educators and students. Return to virtual to protect our vulnerable populations. Return to virtual to protect our healthcare system. Return to virtual to protect our entire community. It is too risky.Submitted by: Jennifer
School: Elite Performance Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Return to virtual
Comment: There is a record surge of Covid cases, hospitals nearing capacity and we have yet to hit a peak. Contact tracing, isolating cases and minimizing spread is near impossible. I am following CUSD guidance for calling out when I have symptoms and am running out of sick leave. 6 days ago, I tested for Covid and am still waiting on a result. There are many others in my shoes. The school dashboard is useless if we cannot get timely data. Return to virtual to protect our educators and students. Return to virtual to protect our vulnerable populations. Return to virtual to protect our healthcare system. Return to virtual to protect our entire community. Status quo is too risky.Submitted by: Jennifer
School: Elite Performance Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Follow the metrics
Comment: CUSD must follow the science and use measurable, objective criteria for decisions related to in-person and virtual instruction. All the stake-holders have an agenda. Administration, the executive board, teachers, and parents each have their own personal and professional reasons for desiring virtual or in-person instruction. And they are each valid. But it is not a debate or competition. Everyone understands in-person learning is usually the best environment to learn. However, this isn't aboutlearning settings. It is about handling a public health crisis. We should not be working against one another. If we adhere to the commitment to follow the recommendations of experts (which none of the mentioned stakeholders are), we can end the discussion and have a clear path forward.Submitted by: Jennifer J
School: Conley Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Requesting options for elementary
Comment: Please provide options for virtual instruction at the elementary level at their neighborhood school instead of ONLY COA. COA has not been a successful option nor is it for short-term choices. Please invest in consultants and other resources to improve the quality of virtual instruction so that parents have a choice that is not going to be harmful for their children. I am a single parent through adoption without support or resources so I understand the draw of in-person learning. BUT I do notfeel it is safe to return in-person after seeing the latest data, watching the community make choices that impact exposure risks, and considering the health histories of myself and my children. However, I am told by my administration that I have only two choices: COA for the whole quarter (which also means losing teachers we love and spots in classes/school that we also love) or truancy. These are not choices I can make responsibly. I have also reviewed pictures, videos, and so on from my daughSubmitted by: Jennifer L
School: Carlson Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Delay opening of school for in person learning
Comment: With the alarming numbers of positive covid cases, it would be a good idea to delay the opening of school for in person learning at least 2 weeks to make sure students attending school Do Not have Covid. With symptoms that take time to incubate and manifest, we should get ahead of the spread instead of playing catch-up. We've learned from previous months the benefits of getting ahead of the spread. We shouldn't make the same mistakes.Submitted by: Jenny C
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Covid
Comment: I'd like to voice that I strongly agree with keeping our elementary aged kiddos in the classroom. With the wonderful job schools are doing with the mitigation strategies, I do feel they can go back. Each school site based on age of kids, zip code community spread, etc should be able to determine if their school site stays open or closed. Thank you for listening!Submitted by: Jenny D
School: Rice Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep In Person Schooling
Comment: I have 3 children in elementary school in CUSD. I am writing to ask that you please keep in person schooling. Besides the fact that virtual is an ineffective learning model especially for elementary age, there are other reasons to continue in person. This virus is not going away or decreasing when schools are closed. Look at other areas of the country with high cases, their schools have been closed! Instead of closing, please use your time to come up with mitigation strategies. Unfortunately, we have to find away to coexist with this virus, not hide from it. I am also extremely concerned in what closing would do to the district financially. You will have a mass exodus of students if you go back to virtual. I have also heard an idea of doing virtual for 2 weeks to combat a holiday spike. Sounds like a good idea but that only works if those staying home teachers included quarantine the entire time which will not happen. Please make the right decision and keep in person going.Submitted by: Jessica F
School: Knox Gifted Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In Person Schooling
Comment: Thank you for your time and service to the community, its students, its parents, and the broader population. I have a simple request - please allow scientific recommendations that reflect the current health state to guide your decisions. We need to follow the recommendations that will result in the greatest level of safety for our community while we work to eradicate this virus. The landscape will continue to change and thus so will the required mitigation procedures, but since the current scene is dire with far too many hospitalizations and deaths, please make the best decisions to resolve the life/death issues at hand. I support teachers and I support science and for greater good of our larger community, I support the actions needed to save lives and reduce the spread. Thank you, again... the position you are in is unfathomable and I'm grateful for your service.Submitted by: Jessica N
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person school
Comment: Our students deserve to be taught in school. They are suffering academically and mentally, and this is causing more harm than the risk of the virus. As a nurse, working in the hospitals, I know there are risks but with the precautions in place in schools the risk is very low. As an essential worker, teachers need to be in school doing their jobs. I could not just not go to work because I am scared. I would lose my job, and teachers are essential worker's and should be required the same. Let parent''s decided what is best for their children.Submitted by: Jessica N
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to virtual learning until metrics improve
Comment: I urge the board to follow the metrics on the county's school reopening dashboard and return to virtual learning for all CUSD schools until the metrics improve. As you know, there is a 12 day delay before data is reflected in the school reopening dashboard for the 'current week.' The dashboard currently advises virtual learning with on-campus support for our district, and I'm sure the actual metrics are far worse today than when this data was captured. It would be irresponsible to endanger students, teachers, staff, and their families via in-person learning at a time when some local hospitals are already at 120% of their intended capacity and the post-Christmas and post-New Year's Eve surges are approaching. Please put safety first for our community!Submitted by: Jill R
School: CTA Independence Organization: Parents
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: CUSD Monday Meeting - COVID Meeting
Comment: I believe Chandler School District is doing the RIGHT thing by keep the schools open for in-person AND at the same time putting in place increased safety measures to ensure staff and schools are safe at all. Please DO NOT SHUT DOWN THE SCHOOLS again. This spread is NOT occurring in school. Look at the scientific evidence. Please don't cave to the threats of the teachers as they are holding us parents hostage . Deal with the hot spots and lets the kids learn. I am proud CUSD has not thrownthe baby out with the bath water YET.Submitted by: Jim B
School: Santan Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep the in person as an option
Comment: Please please keep the option for in person education. The city option was tremendously difficult for my grand daughters. They have been so much happier and more successful in their classes being in person. it appears that CUSDs mitigation practices are working. Thank you!!Submitted by: JoAnn E
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: On line learning is the only way to keep our teachers safe from Covid 19.
Comment: Please keep our teachers safe!Submitted by: Joe K
School: Patterson Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: COVID 19 Response
Comment: I am writing to you share with you my utter disappointment in the district and governing board. Since March of 2020 this district has moved slowly and ineffectively while trying to balance student safely, learning, and teacher/safety. I tune in to your board meetings and listen to you all ramble on and try to sound intelligent and caring. In the end you just enjoy hearing your own voices and you have an agenda. You show no commitment to your teachers and staff. You ignore the state and county metrics. You pander to a vocal minority or same political views, and do not give science and expert opinion its due. Shame on all of you who are supposed to be leading our educational community. Additionally, there is no surprise to our current state of health and you have had two plus weeks to come up with an adequate response. Instead your collective heads have been in the sand and you only act when your teachers and staff threaten your operation of schools. I hope you all look to do better.Submitted by: Jonalyn I
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please consider going virtual the rest of the year to keep our kids safe!!!!
Comment: Please consider going virtual the rest of the year to keep our kids safe!!!! If you will not go all virtual please at least offer a viable virtual option so I can keep my kid safe!! COA IS NOT A GOOD OPTION for our kids!!!Submitted by: Justin
School: Casteel High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: On line DOES NOT WORK!!! You proved that last year!!!!!
Comment: Stay in school. On line DOES NOT WORK!!! You proved that last year!!!!! Teachers need to teach. They also need to ENFORCE the masks.Submitted by: K D
School: Navarrete Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Virtual Until Safe
Comment: Today, 17,234 new Covid cases were reported in Arizona. Our hospitals are full and our community is in a crisis situation, and it is getting worse each day. Staff, parents and students are afraid for their safety; working in an unsafe environment is not conducive to learning. It is impossible to learn adequately under such stress and fear. We need to slow the accelerating spread of the virus; ignoring county health recommendations will only cause the current crisis to get worse. I know manystaff members who have to feed their families so they cannot afford to quit their jobs, but they are worried as many have significant health conditions that put them at risk. As a school counselor, I know many of the unique and diverse needs of parents, staff, and students. I listen to them daily and their anxiety and fear are at heightened levels. Our families have lost loved ones to the virus, and are worried that more will get sick and die. I know grandparents having to raise their young gSubmitted by: Kacie R
School: Elite Performance Academy Organization: CUSD
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Schools
Comment: I am a teacher in CUSD and I do not feel safe at work. I appreciate the efforts towards mitigation strategies within the school to prevent COVID-19 however, it is not and never will be perfect. I do not feel safe at work. It is important to me that decisions are made based on the benchmarks and based on science. I love being in my classroom with my students, but this is a pandemic and we have to treat it as such and follow the science. There is a light at the end of this dark and vast tunnel. People are getting vaccinated now. We're going to get through this. I personally believe we will see things ease up around March. Until then, we need to think of the community, the school employees, and most importantly, the healthcare workers who selflessly give of themselves everyday despite the lack of community support here in Arizona.Submitted by: Kat M
School: Willis Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Final Exams
Comment: Please consider an emergency session (if needed) to suspend finals for all students this term. My student does not feel safe in the building, and I do not want to send my student in to take finals. If taking them virtually is not an option, please consider suspending them altogether. WE KNOW BETTER than to do this to kids. Pushing forward with finals is an inappropriate use of the summative assessment process. Please do not penalize and traumatize students unnecessarily.Submitted by: Kate P
School: Ryan Elementary Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: STAY in-person for ELEMENTARY
Comment: Dear Board, Please consider remaining in-person for elementary-aged students. This needs to be considered for multiple reasons. 1) Research shows that developing learning gaps during these critical years can be irreversible and have life-long negative impacts. 2) Elementary-aged children cannot be left alone. If parents of secondary children have to work, those kids can still access virtual learning independently. Elementary-aged students cannot. 3) The mitigation strategies in elementary schools are clearly working based on the data the district has provided. At my own daughter's elementary schools, there have only been 7 cases since opening in September. This data does not warrant closures for this age group. Please take my thoughts into consideration. We have to make decisions based on data....not fear.Submitted by: Katherine K
School: Chandler High Organization: CEA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Return to Virtual Learning for the safety and sanity of your staff
Comment: Enough people are speaking to the safety of us being in school. I want to address the added stress this is causing on your teaching staff. Our mental well being is in way worse shape than the risk to our physical well being recently. We are being stretched TOO THIN. We are continuously being asked to do more and more with less and less, and we keep doing it. We are all ready to snap. I have had almost 30 of my 110 students quarantined since the middle of October. 2 of them have tested positive for Covid-19. Every single class period I have to deal with anywhere from 1-3 kids that are quarantined, another 2-4 that are staying home with symptoms, and then the other 15-20 that are trying to learn in person. I am teaching Live on Meets while also trying to meet the needs of students in my classroom. I am spending my entire prep hour each day emailing and calling parents of students who are out to make sure they are getting the materials they need. I am responding to student emailSubmitted by: Katherine K
School: Chandler High Organization: CEA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Return to Virtual Learning for the safety and sanity of your staff (Continued...)
Comment: (continued from previous comment...) I am responding to student emails and Remind messages literally around the clock. And then I come back and do it again and again, day in and day out. I'm trying to revamp my curriculum to accommodate for students who are not in person while also trying to make it as engaging as possible for students that ARE present. It is a never ending battle with a revolving classroom door. I have never seen morale so low in my 19 years as an educator. We have already had several staff members resign and several retire early (that I know of) and dozens more are close to breaking and walking out the door. We all love our kids, and we love our job, but this is just not sustainable. We're working 60+ hours Monday-Friday alone to try to accommodate for all these setbacks and we just can't do it anymore. You have asked and asked and asked… and we have stepped up and we have done it. But we literally cannot do it any longer.Submitted by: Kayla G
School: Bogle Junior High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Request to remain virtual until safe
Comment: At this time I believe it is imperative that the board not only considers going virtual for all schools in CUSD, but that they make the decision to do so sooner rather than later. The case count in Arizona continues to climb, as we all know, and many teachers, myself included, are concerned and scared about returning this week. The CEA has been in communication with the board as well and made their demands known, yet they are not being met. A meeting on Wednesday night is too late to be having this discussion. Schools will have been open for two days at that point with thousands exposed. I know many of my students were planning on traveling over break and do not have the intention of quarantining after their travels. I have seen colleagues get covid and are still dealing with the effects weeks after their quarantine time. I am someone who has had medically important things come up this past month and I cannot get sick with covid for fear of the outcome. Please move to virtual learning.Submitted by: KD
School: Bogle Junior High Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Follow the agreed upon health benchmarks
Comment: When I decided to let my student return to Bogle it was with the understanding that CUSD would be following the public health guidance provided in the county schools COVID-19 Dashboard. CUSD should be making plans to temporarily return to all virtual learning with onsite support. Yes, we all agree that IN School is absolutely the best option for our kids but we are in the middle of a pandemic and can not ignore this. I do appreciate that we have a 'two week' virtual option for Jr High and High School students for the first two weeks back, however, this is not a solution to the surge that we are seeing and may be worse after the winter break. Please do not assume that the parents who chose in-person want their students in school when public health guidance is clearly indicating that it is unsafe. Please help us navigate this latest surge with teacher, staff, student, and community safety being the highest priority.Submitted by: Kelly K
School: Bogle Junior High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual first two weeks
Comment: Please meet immediately to discuss current metrics. AZ is reporting 10,000 cases a day, hospitals are full, and vaccines are not close. As a parent and teacher, I am requesting a meeting before students arrive on campus Tuesday morning. The hospitals are too full to care for those of us who become infected and we are terrified.Submitted by: Kendra D
School: Navarrete Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Virtual Until Safe
Comment: Today, 17,234 new Covid cases were reported in Arizona. Our hospitals are full and our community is in a crisis situation, and it is getting worse each day. Staff, parents and students are afraid for their safety; working in an unsafe environment is not conducive to learning. It is impossible to learn adequately under such stress and fear. We need to slow the accelerating sprea d of the virus; ignoring county health recommendations will only cause the current crisis to get worse. .Some worrythat our children will suffer academically if taught virtually for a few weeks, but they are also learning an important life lesson; how to survive a pandemic while keeping their loved ones safe. Life struggles can be the most powerful lessons learned while at the same time helping our students to develop character and resilience during difficult times. All who survive the pandemic will heal in time, but those who die will not get that chance. Please help to keep our vulnerable citizens safe.Submitted by: Kendra D
School: Chandler High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to Remote Learning
Comment: Community spread of Covid-19 is far too high for safe in-person learning. The county benchmarks that you agreed to let guide you have been red for weeks. For the safety of our students, teachers, and the community, please return to remote learning for 2-4 weeks. Large gatherings are not safe. Why are we asking teachers to host them daily?Submitted by: Kimberly G
School: Riggs Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Maintain In-person Learning
Comment: As the mother of a kindergartener whose first experience at real school has been anything but normal, I'm asking you to please keep school, at least elementary, in-person. I understand there are concerns with rising cases in AZ, but many experts including the CDC director himself have said children are best served and safest in-person school. My son, just 6 years old, has repeatedly expressed to me how he loves school and never wants to go back to computer (virtual) school. This year will have a huge impact on how he and his classmates will view school for the next 12 years. Please continue to manage on a school by school basis and don't make drastic district-wide decisions that are all or nothing. This Covid situation is not black and white. Many schools, my son's included, have had very minimal cases so mitigation efforts are working. Just look at your own dashboard to see the proof. Please, keep our kids in school!Submitted by: Kimberly L
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Safety of staff and students
Comment: As the numbers increase with COVID cases I find myself getting extremely anxious. I know many young and old people whom have been impacted. I realize it is not an easy decision to make and no matter what, one part of the population will be angry. However, I would rather the district air on the side of caution then put lives at risk. For me, one life is too many. This has impacted me personally this year and the decisions around the pandemic in our district have made me more anxious. I can only hope that decisions are made by our district and making safety a concern over everything else. Thank you.Submitted by: Kristin S
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual
Comment: Cases are at an all time high, hospitals are running out of room, massive parties are being thrown with no regard for others health- schools need to be virtual the first few weeks of January at least. we were told that when matrices went red, we would be virtual. Why can't the board keep its word?Submitted by: Kristine B
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Reopening of schools
Comment: Hello, I do not understand and am quite alarmed the schools are staying opening for in person with the recent rate of increase of the coronavirus spread. We closed last year when there was much less risk, and now there is a new variant that children are getting and showing symptoms. The UK now has wards dedicated to sick CHILDREN with COVID. Please don't let this be us. Our hospitals are already reaching full capacity with adults. There's no room for children. Please be responsible and go virtual.Submitted by: Laura
School: Chandler High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to Virtual Learning
Comment: Right now based on the county metrics we should be 100% virtual learning with on site supports. Going back full in person on January 5th, 2021 does not follow the guidelines set by the state. In Arizona we are seeing a large number of daily covid-19 cases. It is not just about our students, but the families they go home to. Many of our families live in multigenerational households and by being in person we are putting all of these families at risk. We also know that many families and even stafftraveled and spent the holiday break with people outside their household. We need to start virtual and follow the metrics and not return to full in person until the metrics allow. When we went back to school in October 2020 we were promised that we would follow the metrics. At this time we are not doing that. It feels like what we were told would happen and what is happening are two different things. I agree that students need to be in school, but not at the cost of life. Virtual until its safe.Submitted by: Lauren A
School: ACP Oakland Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Until Safe and a True Virtual Option when it is Safe to Return
Comment: Dear Superintendents and Members of the Board, Please close the schools until the community spread of covid is under control. Most companies are asking their employees to stay home when possible and work virtually, if able. This includes the State College I work for. The fact that many large companies and colleges do not deem it an acceptable risk for people to work in person, even if I can be more productive at work, is very telling. We must offer the same opportunities for teachers. How onearth can CUSD justify 20-35 children in a classroom when businesses won't even allow 5?? Even the businesses that are open are trying to reduce numbers, do social distancing, and offer virtual options. I agree that students learn better in person, no argument there. My children have been in COA this year and it is not been a positive experience for them. I am a high school teacher with a Master's Degree in Education and I know COA is a shameful cop-out, as an offer to have students do onlineSubmitted by: Lauren N
School: Haley Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In Person Learning
Comment: When did children become the last priority in CUSD? Starting in March 2020 Chandler Unified has made it clear children are their last concern when it comes to education. You closed schools I spring with little support for parents and assumed every household had a stay at home parent fully capable of teaching their children full time. During that time, when asking for teaching support from their teachers we were told 'the district informed us we are not allowed to teach'. Now, 9 months later youcontinue to struggle putting children first. Experts and leaders across the nation have presented and spoken about how the safest place for students is in class when proper mitigation procedures are used. Chandler Unified has show they have these in place based on the limited number of COVID cases and exposures over last semester. You have provided options for parents who are not comfortable sending their kids to school. Keep those options in place but continue to support students who need to goSubmitted by: Linda
School: Bogle Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Go Virtual NOW
Comment: The law I of planning by this district is appalling. The metrics have been red for three weeks and we haven't even seen the Christmas/ NYE stats yet. The teachers no longer are covered by the Cares Act if they get Covid and have high deductible policies. The admin and board need to protect the staff. The new strain will be here quickly and that one is more susceptible to children. Virtual until safe.Submitted by: Lindsay M
School: Patterson Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keeping Schools Open
Comment: The district has put in many different types of virus safety measures to insure our teachers are safe: Plexiglas shields for their desks, cleaning items, smaller class sizes, no volunteers in the building, social distancing the kids including at recess, not being allowed to play on the play structures or balls, plus masking up everyone all day except for when they eat (I'm sure there are other things but since I'm not allowed in the building I don't see them). Both schools my children attend school case numbers aren't high nor have they ever been and I feel that the board making all the district children go virtual again will only cause the children harm. I chose in person learning since the beginning of the year because I know my children and they learn best in the classroom. All my children struggled during virtual learning. I don't want to see my children upset and frustrated again so please keep the schools open. It's not fair to have the kids in the district always in limbo!Submitted by: Lindsay S
School: Hull Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person classes are necessary!
Comment: Please allow our children to remain in an in person school format. The percentage of cases in schools is extremely low. The administrators, teachers, and kids all all following mitigation procedures that have kept the cases low. They should continue these strategies and adopt new ones, if necessary, but allow the schools to remain open. Our kids are the ones who suffer when they cannot attend school in person. They are not only missing out on direct interaction with their teachers but missingout on interaction with peers. They are missing out on hands on learning, real PE activities, real music activites (especially band and orchestra). They don't get to have lunch/recess with their friends where they can unwind. They don't have the option of getting extra help, right away, from the teacher. Additionally, the virtual environment is hard on our teachers. They have to modify their lesson plans, activities, and teaching style for virtual learning. They deserve more too!Submitted by: Lori C
School: CTA Freedom Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Plea for virtual instruction
Comment: Please hear us teachers. Kids ARE coming to school sick. It is putting us teachers and our families at risk. I am 7 months pregnant and there are too many unknowns to subject my health and the health of my baby to these risks. I have always felt valued as a teacher in CUSD until this year. 70% of teachers did not feel comfortable returning in person before break and that was completely disregarded. We are asked for our opinion and concerns but I fear it will be pushed aside for fear of losing parent satisfaction. I am saddened but our districts current priorities. Please allow us to return to online learning so teachers and students can be safe. Thank you for taking time to read my concerns.Submitted by: Mark N
School: Haley Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person learning
Comment: I strongly encourage the board to continue to offer in-person education. Shutting down schools for two or more weeks will accomplish nothing to reduce community spread while the state fails to impose a mask mandate and allows people to pack bars, restaurants, and gyms. The fact is that CUSD's mitigation measures have been extremely successful, based on the minimal number of COVID cases compared to the rate of community spread. As organizational leaders, please don't confuse your obligation to mitigate risk with the impossible task of risk elimination. My children did not thrive during virtual learning, and I guarantee an indefinite pause to in-person will result in adding my two children to the growing tally of students being pulled from the district.Submitted by: Mary p
School: Perry High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Help
Comment: We have to stop with in person or not in person arguments. We need to speak in the way of what do we do with teachers and families who feel they will not survive if they get COVID? The at RIsk community wants to send kids to school but they also want to be there when they get home. Why not send kids to school to 1 classroom- that's right, 1 classroom where you bring your own lunch and they learn English math and science then leave (not on bus) but the same way each day with own transportation?Submitted by: MaryJo L
School: NONE OF THE ABOVE Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Covid Numbers
Comment: Please consider virtual learning while the Covid numbers are so high, for the health and safety of students and staff! BSubmitted by: Maureen C
School: Willis Junior High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Go virtual
Comment: Way more Covid positive cases than when school started....almost 19k in two days!! You need to go virtual again until it's safe. Teachers are creative but doing in person and virtual seems a bit much. I'm not sure how that is giving the best to students. Arizona is the second state in the country with the highest number of cases. I thought we have been asked to be safe and smart. Having kids in and out is neither safe or smart. With the new strain that spreads even faster there's more risk of numbers skyrocketing. This will put an even greater strain not only in our schools but on the medical field which we all have need for care. Please do the smart thing. Go back to virtual like when school started until it's safe!!Submitted by: Maureen T
School: Chandler High Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Visit to Chandler High
Comment: I've read a great number of the comments posted on this site, and people are making good points, both for in-person learning and for overhauling the online option. Please consider spending a 1/2 day actually at school. Sit down in a classroom at Chandler High, then go eat lunch in the courtyard. See for yourself what this is like and how crowded it is. Listen to what the insightful students have to say, and please listen to the dedicated, hard-working teachers. Also, a Zoom call with COAstudents would be enlightening. Please move past the noise and learn first hand what students and teachers are experiencing in CUSD during this pandemic. I think you will be surprised. Overall, trust is broken, but the board and CUSD Administration could improve things a lot through compassionate listening and communicating. We appreciate Ms. Love and Mrs. Bruner's humanity, and we can tell they get it.Submitted by: Maxana G
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Reconsider School Opening Plans
Comment: Dear Barb Mozdzen, Lindsay Love, Joel Wirth, Jason Olive: Please revise school reopening plans to virtual instruction until the county metrics deem it is safe to return to live instruction. Arizona is setting records with case numbers and hospitals are filling up while people in the community continue to attend large gatherings and refuse to follow mitigation strategies. Our numbers will continue to rise over the next few weeks due to holiday celebrations and a complete disregard for mitigationstrategies. Please have the Chandler Unified School District follow the original plan (as was promised to staff and students) and have the district switch to virtual instruction for the first two weeks following winter break for ALL STUDENTS. This will give the district time to review the data and make a safe decision for how to proceed after those two weeks. Please follow the science and help slow the spread in our community.Submitted by: Megan
School: Rice Elementary Organization: Staff
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual learning for the next two weeks, if not more
Comment: I am a teacher at Rice elementary. I teach an upper level grade, and I will tell you firsthand we are not socially distanced. I will say however that the staff and students are doing their best to keep things sanitized and safe, it is absolutely not attainable with this many people in one building. I do not feel safe. I am also finding it extremely difficult teaching hybrid. We have overcome so much in the past year professionally. And we have been willing to jump through countless hoops. However, this is absolutely ridiculous to expect us to continue to be face-to-face and hybrid. I am suffering emotionally, mentally and physically, and it hurts to see some of the publics views and unsupportive feedback and actions, on teachers during this time. I truly believe that the children will be fine, and everyone will be fine, as long as we follow CDC guidelines, and start shutting everything down again.Submitted by: Michael C
School: Auxier Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Current State of Affairs
Comment: Currently our entire district is in the red per the metrics set forth by the Department of Health Services, but we have yet to see any action by the board or district to follow these recommendations. It is time that we look past the dollar's and cents of this situation, and make a logical decision regarding staff safety and student safety.Submitted by: Michael D
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Safe School Reopening
Comment: As you are well aware, the COVID-19 numbers in Arizona and especially Maricopa County are skyrocketing. We've seen a surge from Christmas and now we need to be prepared for another surge following New Year's Eve celebrations and people returning from vacations. The benchmark numbers in Maricopa County are in the red for all three metrics. My school's zip code (85142) has some of the highest numbers in the state. It is simply not safe for teachers, staff, and students to return to in-person instruction. If we do, this decision will be the literal and metaphorical nail in the coffin. Students might not exhibit serious COVID-19 symptoms - although research is still sketchy about younger people - but they will transmit the virus to their peers and to their teachers. The CUSD Board needs to stop kowtowing to the vocal minority that believe coronavirus is a hoax, masks don't save lives, and the low mortality is acceptable. The CUSD Board needs to listen to the silent trench workers.Submitted by: Mina L
School: Willis Junior High Organization: CUSD
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual and in-person discussion item tonight @7:15pm
Comment: Hello. Thank you for all your hard work. Tonight, the board listened to parents writing/calling and added virtual instruction as an agenda item. Please don't ignore us and have no action yet again. I don't have much hope the right, safe thing will be done given the odd our Covid dashboard is right! political stance, despite parent reports of infected Covid students to the contrary. School may not be a super spreader (yet) but cases are definitely climbing. Good luck to us all.Submitted by: Mistelle A
School: Payne Junior High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep kids in person
Comment: Please keel kids in person for school. The matrix and the covid numbers were so low at schools prior to break. The plans executed were working and keeping teachers and children safe. Virtual learning can be available to parents concerned and not forced upon everyone.Submitted by: Nancy H
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Covid-19 and virtual learning.
Comment: I am the mother and mother-in-law of teachers in CUSD80. Both are high risk because of health issues. I am asking the board to strongly consider virtual learning for all students for at least a minimum of 2 weeks. Today AZ had the highest rate of Covid-19 reported ever, over 17,000 cases. In the last 3 days that total is over 36,000 cases. Theses statistics are staggering! We need to assure the health and safety for our students, their teachers, and ancillary staff. This not only affectsthe school system but our entire Chandler Community. Please use your authority to follow all the guidelines set forth to protect all of us until the case load and ongoing health situations can be evaluated and return to virtual learning for all students. Thank you..Submitted by: Natalie K
School: CTA Freedom Organization: Parents
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: COVID-19
Comment: I am very pleased with the way the school and teachers have handled Covid-19. I feel at ease knowing all the proper precautions are being taken to ensure the safety of our children, staff, and parents.Submitted by: Noah R
School: Chandler High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: COVID 19 Scare
Comment: PLEASE KEEP OUR CHILDREN OUT OF SCHOOL AND KEEP THEM SAFE DURING THIS PANDEMIC. WE LOST OUR SWIM COACH AND BOTH PARENTS OF A STUDENT ON THE SWIM TEAM!! Please!Submitted by: Patricia G
School: Chandler High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: COVID-19
Comment: Students have been amazing at following the mask rules. I believe schools should stay open so education can continue. I love the plan we have in place for 7-12 and as a Math teacher I fee fully prepared to help my students through this time. Please stay open. Our kids need to be in the classroom.Submitted by: Patti S
School: CTA Humphrey Organization: Parents for Education Equity
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Until it's Safe
Comment: Hello CUSD Board Members, This healthcare emergency is incredibly personal to my family as a CUSD parent, Aunt, Sister to a 20+ year CUSD educator and friend to many who work so hard for and alongside our kids. I am imploring you to please represent our community's best interest by following the science & what clear evidence continues to demonstrate:cases continue to rise with 35% of recorded cases coming in Dec 2020 alone, a new strain of COVID-19 that appears to be more contagious is coming orhere and the holiday break will result in another surge (case in point, Dec coming off the heels of Thanksgiving break). I ask that you please act in the best interest of all of us: our educators who put themselves at risk daily while in the classroom, our staff, our children, our families and effectively our communities that inevitably span across neighboring cities. This means we return to virtual learning minimally the first 2 weeks back from Winter break. Let's save lives & stresses.Submitted by: Paula F
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual School in January
Comment: Please make schools virtual until the teachers can get immunized. It is not safe to have students in schools after the holidays.Submitted by: Pauline E
School: Hancock Elementary Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Teachers Asking for Proactive Planning and Leadership
Comment: I am a longtime CUSD employee, and have had children attend CUSD schools. I am requesting that the CUSD board ask District personnel to formulate proactive plans for different scenarios based on changing metrics, and then stick to the plan. It is very frustrating and risky for staff and families when plans are made and then changed, and plans are not followed. I also think it is important that the board and the community understand that 2 grade levels at the non-CTA elementary mix every day for block specials classes, they are not limited to their co-hort classes. Class sizes in the elementary schools need to be reviewed, the initial plan when elementary schools reopened made it seem like the class sizes would be smaller than a typical year. I think it would be very beneficial for all board members to visit multiple CUSD sites, at multiple grades, on multiple days, to get a true picture of what instruction looks like now and what teachers and staff are being required to do.Submitted by: Rachel P
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Online school
Comment: We had Covid over break. My Junior tested positive on 12/20 with no symptoms. The only symptom he had was loss of smell. Had we not had Covid in the home I would not have tested him and we would have not noticed the lack of smell. He would have been at school exposing all the teachers staff and other students. You say kids are safer at school but I think you are missing the big picture. There are hundreds of staff being exposed and that lies in your hands. Why not go online for two weeks oruntil metrics fall into the safe limits? I feel CUSD has not been prudent in the handling of this pandemic and am frankly embarrassed. Rather then thinking of safety of the CUSD it feels decisions are fiscally driven. There are other districts handling this so much better and I thought CUSD was an example but not in this pandemic. It feels like the experts you gather are only those who support your side. Please be more objective and I ask as a parent you go back online for community safety.Submitted by: Renee S
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Return to in-person teaching on January 5
Comment: I have taught in the Chandler Unified School District for the last 20 years (this is my 30th year teaching), and I have never felt more undervalued or disrespected than I do now. Why does the Board continue to ignore the metrics (that were arbitrarily changed)? I understand that in-person learning is ideal, but it's not ideal to have 3500 students in a building potentially spreading a deadly virus to each other, to their teachers, and to their loved ones. Have any of you seen the video of theteen party in Gilbert? If you have, you know that teens tend to ignore social distancing rules and that, even if they wear a mask, there is still a chance they will spread the virus. With our hospitals begging people to be socially responsible, why is the Board ignoring the metrics and providing the opportunity for even more people to be exposed to the virus? Meeting on Wednesday will be too late--hundreds more people might be exposed to the virus by then.Submitted by: Rhian R
School: Basha High Organization: Parent of High Schoolers
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In Person School is necessary and safe for my children
Comment: I am writing to request you continue in person schooling for the children who request it. Personally my children need to be in person for so many reasons but the last quarter's grades versus the first quarter do speak volumes to that. They are unable to teach themselves. I am a medical professional. I see first hand how children are affected by COVID and it is more psychologically than physically. I would like to highlight that this virus is not leaving any time soon. Therefore mitigation strategies such as those you have already implemented are the way to work around the virus as opposed to go 100% virtual. A second factor would be financial and feel the district cannot lose anymore funding than they have already lost. Blanket shut downs do not contain the spread of the virus, mitigation strategies do! Thank you for your consideration.Submitted by: Rita R
School: Carlson Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Covid Protocal
Comment: When teachers/staff get sick with Covid from being exposed at school, why isn't this being considered as worker's compensation when loss of time and medical treatment is required? ?Submitted by: Robert F
School: Rice Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Do the Right Thing...Don't close our schools
Comment: Please keep our schools open. If you close, we will be forced to look closely at other districts, charter schools down the street, or the private school in our neighborhood. We are champions of public school (my wife was one). While we have the resources and ability to jump ship, we haven't. Our kids school is doing an excellent job. She is also normally sick a few times in the semester by now, but clearly the mitigation efforts are working bc she hasn't been sick at all. Also, she had a major medical procedure this past year, is on a 504 plan and is loving school, the routine, the bit of normalcy it lends, the challenges academically, etc. We are also a foster family and are taking a placement next week. Kids need to be seen and be in school. Please do the right thing. Thank you.Submitted by: Robin F
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Virtual learning
Comment: The metrics we were promised would indicate a need for virtual leaning have all crossed into the red. Regardless of politics, funding, or a minority of vociferous parents who ignore science, the need for safeguarding public health must take priority. Spending January virtually can mitigate the spike in COVID cases caused by family and other gatherings and not further exacerbate then stress on the public health system. Again, we were promised this would be the scenario, given the current metricsSubmitted by: Ron H
School: Casteel High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep our kids in person for their mental health.
Comment: Our schools are doing amazing. Kids are not spreading the virus in school. These kids need to be in school. I am really worried about my son who has anxiety if he comes back home. He was not doing well sitting in his room doing school work. He started getting more and more depressed. That scares me more than a virus that is not hurting out kids. But, I promise you depression is...Please keep them at school and families that prefer to stay home have the option to log onto google classroom.Submitted by: Ryan J
School: Rice Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Stay the course - keep schools open
Comment: Yup the metrics say that CUSD should move back to virtual instruction. However, past experience with this model coupled with data from the past semester with it being half virtual, half in person speaks volumes. First, CUSD safety and mitigation strategies were proven successful. Students, staff were quarantined and infections didn't soar. Second, after the Thanksgiving break, there wasn't a large spike in number of infections despite the belief that they would after students, staff held familygatherings. Third, students' performance greatly improved with in person learning. I understand that there are teachers who are concerned, who are upset, and would like to go back to virtual learning. Did these teachers not go shopping during the holiday break? Did they abstain from gathering with family, friends outside of their home? Did they abstain from traveling by plane? Have they not gone out to eat or gotten take out? Please be wise, be prudent, keep schools openSubmitted by: Sara W
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: 2nd Semester Covid Precautions
Comment: Thank you for considering the thoughts of the community. I am asking that you follow the metrics recommended by the health department to guide the basis of in-person learning. I chose the in-person option for my two Casteel children trusting that CUSD would follow the metrics and safety guidelines put in place. I want my children in-person, but only when it is safe for them, and their teachers, to do so.Submitted by: Scott I
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please consider going virtual the rest of the year to keep our kids safe!!
Comment: Please consider going virtual the rest of the year to keep our kids safe!!!! If you will not go all virtual please at least offer a viable virtual option so I can keep my kid safe!! COA IS NOT A GOOD OPTION for our kids!!!Submitted by: Shari S
School: Basha High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Schoolbus accident with no hospital beds
Comment: I was just wondering what the plan is in the event of a schoolbus accident? There are less than 130 icu beds and 630 hospital bed available in all of Arizona. Has this been considered in your plan? Or, is it part of the do nothing and wait for everything to be better wish?Submitted by: Shona C
School: CTA Independence Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Kids first!! Keep in person school.
Comment: First, let me say that I understand there is no good answer & no one size fits all option.Therefore, I'm requesting that you maintain the choice that was promised to us & look at the school closures on a school by school basis.I believe that school is not the problem & the students (esp at the elementary level) should not be removed from school.It's the safest & best place for them to be.I certainly do NOT agree with the position the teachers union is taking by holding these kids hostage to tryto get their way.If they don't want to do their job in the classroom (or can't for some reason) then remove them like any other essential worker or employer would. If they cannot be in the classroom than I hope they aren't going out anywhere else in the community. I hope they understand that they'll be first hit when the insane cuts are required next year due to the masses of lost revenue/budget. My kids love CTA & I don't want to move them, but if it's best for their education we'll be forced.Submitted by: Stefanie C
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Covid Concerns
Comment: I implore you to make the right choice and move CUSD schools to virtual learning until it is safe based on the original metrics established by the board when the district returned to in person learning. I also ask that the voices of your district's teachers and staff be included in your decision making as related to education models for the remainder of the pandemic. The Maricopa county school dashboard indicates that schools should be fully online due to high levels of COVID. Additionally, Arizona as a state has hit substantial spread levels. Unfortunately people have ignored the pleas of government officials and medical professionals to stay home; some parents in the Chandler Unified school district are even hosting 500 person parties for their kids and local businesses are going ahead with their large New Year's Eve events. This has left us with no choice but to close schools in order to protect students, staff, and the community at large.Submitted by: Stephanie B
School: Chandler High Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: COVID and virtual instruction
Comment: Please consider virtual instruction while the community spread of the virus is so high. This virus is still new, and the full understanding of the damage to the body is not fully understood. I really do not want my teenage children to start their adult lives with possibly irreversible damage because they were given no choice, but to attend in person school. The CDC says to follow state health department guidelines. The state guidelines say it is best to have all virtual instruction while metrics are in the red. It just makes common sense! I would not want to sit in a classroom with 30 plus kids for 2 hours at a time. It is obviously a high risk choice, if you do not want to get sick. Teenagers spread this virus just like adults. Sometimes, we have to make sacrifices for safety.Submitted by: Stephanie M
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Instructional models
Comment: CUSD originally promised we could select our instructional model each quarter but we're forced to decide for the whole semester. Numbers are sky high due to holiday gatherings. We must support and protect our teachers. Yea it's true transmission is low among children... let's protect the teachers and staff. Start the semester virtual and bring everyone together after the holiday on the 18th. CUSD is implementing good mitigation strategies, but we are kidding ourselves calling the model hybrid.Two weeks to show our teachers that we support them and care about their health and safety is a reasonable ask.Submitted by: Stormy R
School: Willis Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Need for virtual instruction
Comment: It has been two days into the new year of 2021 and the number of cases of COVID-19 is at 18,951 in Arizona. The community spread is extremely high. Hospitals are over capacity. There was just a huge party that was hosted by a Perry High School student, and attended by hundreds of students, most who go to CUSD schools. Although getting a COVID committee is a step in the right direction, having them meet the day before students return and then having a board meeting two days after students returnto decide a mode of instruction is not acceptable. It will be too late because staff and students will be exposed to the virus already. Parents and teachers need time to plan regarding modes of instruction and having these meetings so late is counterproductive. Please consider the health and well being of all involved, especially the teachers and school staff, when making a decision. Please choose to go virtual at least the first two weeks of the third quarter.Submitted by: Susan L
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Return to virtual learning
Comment: For the safety of our students, staff, and their families, please return to virtual learning until the metrics and health authorities deem it safe to return in personSubmitted by: Susan S
School: Basha High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: I support in person instruction to continue. I appreciate the positivity rate in community is going up but believe in person masked instruction i
Comment: Please continue to allow in person instruction. Wearing masks has proven effective snd schools should not shutdown because of community #s.Submitted by: Tammy N
School: Hamilton High Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Reconsider School Opening Plans
Comment: Dear Barb Mozdzen, Lindsay Love, Joel Wirth, Jason Olive: My godmother is a teacher at Hamilton. Please revise school reopening plans to virtual instruction until the county metrics deem it is safe to return to live instruction. Arizona is setting records with case numbers and hospitals are filling up while people in the community continue to attend large gatherings and refuse to follow mitigation strategies. Our numbers will continue to rise over the next few weeks due to holiday celebrations and a complete disregard for mitigation strategies. Please have the Chandler Unified School District follow the original plan (as was promised to staff and students) and have the district switch to virtual instruction for the first two weeks following winter break for ALL STUDENTS. This will give the district time to review the data and make a safe decision for how to proceed after those two weeks. Please follow the science and help slow the spread in our community.Submitted by: Tanya
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Covid
Comment: As we get closer to the beginning of the second semester I get more concerned with in person school. I am a nurse and our hospitals are overflowing, low on resources, low on staff, and we haven't even hit our peak yet! I believe going back to in person school would be very irresponsible whether you believe there is spread of covid in school or not. And 2 weeks of optional virtual school is not enough!Submitted by: Taylor P
School: Ryan Elementary Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: keep elementary schools in-person
Comment: Dear Board, Please consider remaining in-person for elementary-aged students. This needs to be considered for multiple reasons. 1) Research shows that developing learning gaps during these critical years can be irreversible and have life-long negative impacts. 2) Elementary-aged children cannot be left alone. If parents of secondary children have to work, those kids can still access virtual learning independently. Elementary-aged students cannot. 3) The mitigation strategies in elementary schools are clearly working based on the data the district has provided. At my own daughter's elementary schools, there have only been 7 cases since opening in September. This data does not warrant closures for this age group. Please take my thoughts into consideration. We have to make decisions based on data.Submitted by: Terri A
School: Perry High Organization: Support Staff
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Support Staff returning in person
Comment: I am the SPED cleak at PHS. I am writing in concern with going back in person on 1-5-2021. I haven't been one to get involved with issues as this, but I am concerned with the return of staff/students due to the recent COVID numbers being higher now then they were when we shut down back in March 2020. I am lucky enough to have my own office, however, I have MANY staff members that come in my office on a regular basis that do not follow safe protocols, which concern me greatly. I have asked for plexiglass around my desk and was denied. It was proven back in Q4 of 2020 I am able to work from home. I do not understand that in these times, why this option is not given to the support staff who do not NEED to be in person every day to perform their job duties. I feel that even if we are able to let some people work from home, that is less people at risk to contract and/or contaminate others. Even a handful less people on campus will help the spread.Submitted by: Terri A
School: Perry High Organization: Support Staff
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Support Staff returning in person
Comment: Continued: I am very thankful and blessed to have the position I have at PHS and hold it very dear. In my specific position, I do not interact face to face with public/families it is all done email/phone. Personally, I also have a senior at PHS and a self-contained student at BHS. As much as my senior would MUCH rather be at home, safe doing virtual learning long term. However, my self contained student needs an in person option. But I still feel, the less people/students we have on campus, helps that much more to contain the spread until vaccines are readily available. PLEASE, PLEASE consider a more case by case basis for support staff/students when considering working from home and virtual learning more long term (Q3)Submitted by: TODD K
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In-Person Class vs Virtual
Comment: I have a 3rd grader and 1st grader attending Tarwater Elementary. In light of the growing pressure to return to virtual classes, I wanted to say I fully support the current policy where each school is monitored separately based on its own metrics and not on the metrics of other schools or overall county metrics. It is fairly clear that spread in elementary schools such as Tarwater has been extremely minimal in comparison to other metrics. The policies that have been put in place for social distancing and wearing masks are working at Tarwater and most parents, teachers, and students are fully invested in making it work. It would be unfair to penalize all elementary school students by closing schools again because of higher cases in high schools or outside of the school setting. Virtual learning does not provide an adequate learning or social environment for elementary students, and it puts undue hardship on working parents. Please keep the current policy in effect for 2021. ThanksSubmitted by: Tom F
School: Chandler High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Safety
Comment: I am a former teacher at Chandler HS. I am writing to urge the board and Superintendent to choose online only education to prevent further spread of COVID infection and sickness and death . The lack of adequate personal protective equipment available for teachers staff and students, combined with the ina bilirubin to keep a safe social distance between teachers,staff, and students during the school day and during extra curricular and sports activities and the lack of improved air filtration in class rooms has created a dangerous situation for any person on campus. The guidelines for safe person to person teaching have not been attained and forcing employees and students together against the advice of public health guidelines is not only poor judgement it appears to be criminallly neglectful behavior. Please do not continue with face to face learning until the infection rates are reduced to a safe level. Lives are at stake. It would be unconscionable to require faculty to risk theirSubmitted by: Tracie P
School: ACP Erie Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Follow the county guidelines
Comment: High school students cannot social distance. They are crammed into classrooms with masks only, lunch time is crammed as well but there is no room to social distance and masks are removed to eat. My kids are terrified of bringing covid home to me! My senior daughters year is a bust with no modifications for how semester exams impact their grades. So disappointed and disgusted in how CUSD has been handling Covid in the high school setting.Submitted by: Val a
School: Knox Gifted Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Follow the science, keep schools open
Comment: If CUSD decide to close schools, we will have to disenroll 3 of our children since virtual learning are not for them. Also, several researches showed that schools are not spreading COVID-19. Here is one; https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/11/20/covid-19-schools-data-reopening-safety/?arc404=trueSubmitted by: Wanda G
School: Navarrete Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Back to School
Comment: I don't see how you can call students and employees back to school and not have in the back of your minds, lawsuits . If not for negligence, for wrongful death suits, if anyone going back to school acquires Covid then passes away? We are so close to being vaccinated. Why not hold off until vaccines get distributed.I am a grandma of children that were enrolled in your district. They are now in on-line learning.Submitted by: Wendy S
School: Chandler High Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: covid- virtual learning
Comment: 12,314 new cases posted today. How is in-person school okay?Submitted by: Yvette a
School: Patterson Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Why is CUSD not taking action on the extreme uptick in COVID-19 cases in the state of AZ? Are the numbers correct?
Comment: While our kids are thriving being in person schooling, we are extremely concerned with the numbers CUSD posted last week. They don't seem to add up. We have a niece that attends Hamilton High school that tested positive for COVID, and when her mother called the school Nurse the Nurse reported that all she does all day is call students for contact tracing, and several of the parents are saying My kid has it too . While she thought she was the first on the cheerleading squad to test positive she came to find out that at least half of the squad had tested positive as well they just aren't telling anyone because they are embarrassed. Class sizes are shrinking everyday. When you a teacher at San Tan Jr High that had 35 positive cases between all her classes, and other that had 9. That was over 3 weeks ago, yet the report of recorded didn't seem to jive. Please know that we in the community talk. And most of us are not believing the numbers being reported by CUSD. Please be honest.Submitted by: Yvette M
School: Patterson Elementary Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Vaccine
Comment: Please work on getting teachers and school admin vaccines ASAP. Thank you. -
COVID Dashboard, Metrics
Submitted by: A B
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Stay home/virtual learning
Comment: Seeing the daily positive Covid cases and knowing how many students at my school don't care about any of it and still go to parties and don't wear masks, I really hope that the district and board decide to keep us online until things improve. So many kids who are exposed to Covid don't get tested, come to school when they are supposed to be quarantined and since we can't be socially distanced in our classes it makes no sense to be on campus when cases are higher than ever.Submitted by: Adam S
School: Basha Elementary Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: virtual until safe
Comment: Over 17,000 cases today and yet our children are set to go back to school on Tuesday. I beg of you to please reconsider this decision. For the sake of students, staff, teachers, and the community please keep our schools virtual until we meet the originally agreed upon benchmarks.Submitted by: Adrianne H
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep In-person Learning
Comment: The CDC recommends that children continue to learn in-person. Although numbers in the community are on the rise, the CUSD Dashboard proves that they are not on the rise within schools. Please continue to provide students and parents OPTIONS and give them the choice to learn online or in-person. Thank you!Submitted by: Alan L
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Be patient in the fire
Comment: I would hope our school board would give the highest consideration to delaying the start of physical classes the first 2 or 3 weeks out of winter break. While our children (2 HS ers) enjoy and want physical classroom both have indicated serious concern about rushing back into the ckassroom with such extremely high covid rates in the State. As their father i caught Covid on Dec. 17 and am just now starting to recover. It would seem for everyone's safety that 2 or 3 weeks wonline would be a smallprice to pay for the teachers, administrations, students, and families at home to dodge this miserable virus. I have been one of the lucky ones not to be hospitalized. But i have had a miserable two weeks battling this virus which just flattens you. Please give consideration to our family's wishes. We all want our kids back in normal school when the numbers and rate of infection are within State Health Guidelines.Submitted by: Alfred T
School: NONE OF THE ABOVE Organization: South Mountain High School
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Board's refusal to return to virtual learning
Comment: My wife is a 30-year veteran teacher for CUSD, and I teach for Phoenix Union. I'm furious that you place so little value on her life and the lives of her coworkers. My district saw the COVID threat and immediately made sure that teachers and students were safe. Your district, in the meantime, is being pressured by parents and Gov. Ducey to stay in-person. Why do you not have the courage to follow the metrics?Submitted by: Alyssa P
School: Casteel High Organization: Casteel HS
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep Students & Teachers Safe
Comment: First, please consider moving the board meeting to Monday prior to students arriving back on campus so that we can make a decision before the semester starts. Students, parents, and teachers are concerned about being back on campus after the holidays. All of our metrics are in the red, many families vacationed for Christmas, and a lot of our students went to NYE parties. Please consider going virtual for the first two weeks so that we do not add to community spread and overwhelm our hospitals. Not to mention, this will indicate to staff that the district truly cares about our safety and health. We appreciate all that you do. Thank you!Submitted by: Amanda
School: Santan Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep Schools Open
Comment: Keep schools open. Local metrics for Chandler is showing a decrease. Also, COA is available for families who don't want to go back.Submitted by: Amy D
School: Chandler Online Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Return to Virtual Instruction
Comment: Please, please, based on the surge in Covid cases now, and the inevitable furter surge after the holidays, return my in-person colleagues to virtual instruction until metrics return to green. My in person colleagues are terrified by the rising cases and lack of cooperation from the community on large gatherings. I feel awful hearing of their fear and feelings of abandonment because the district went back on it's word to keep them safe while I was afforded the opportunity to teach at COA. Pleasekeep them and the rest of the community safe by returning to virtual instruction. This is a 100 year pandemic and we all must work together to act unusually in these unusual circumstances. This is temporary! We must allowth case count to subside and vaccinations to be received, before returning to school! There are NO hospital beds nor medical staff left, and as an institution, CUSD should NOT be contributing to community spread. Please protect my in person colleagues as you have me! Thank you!Submitted by: Amy K
School: Patterson Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Yes to distance learning - safety first
Comment: As a medical professional AND parent, I understand that parents want their kids back in school, however, I think that teachers and support staff and the children deserve to do so in a safe environment. We are at the height of the pandemic, mostly due to the inability of our leaders and community to come together to mitigate its spread. At this point, we are at a point where we are in the red in terms of the metrics set forth by this very district, which are now being ignored, mostly because ofthe pressure put forth by angry parents. Since when do angry parents desires trump scientific evidence and the true facts of the current crisis (just ask any hospital system in the Valley, as they are all maxed to and above their current limits). We as a district do not need to add ONE more patient to their counts - plain and simple. I do not like the fact that my children have to do distance learning, as I have to concurrently try to work, but it is necessary right now to protect all.Submitted by: Amy M
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep our schools OPEN
Comment: You MUST do the right thing for our kids and KEEP THEM IN PERSON FOR SCHOOL! Closing schools for 2 more weeks will not do anything to prevent any spread of Covid. The dashboard numbers set by this board were all well within the limits prior to winter break and there is no evidence to suggest that will change. County health numbers are not the end all be all and our numbers in Chandler have actually decreased. It is proven that kids are not the spreaders and in fact they clear the virus faster than adults do. Closing school over a miniscule number is absurd. For the teachers who are afraid , this virus has been here a year now and will not be going away anytime soon and it can not be controlled, If you are that afraid, join up with the scared parents and figure out a good virtual option, but for those of us who are reasonable, do not close our schools! This is an obsession and enough is enough.yYou can't wait until the 11th hour and give parents and kids no time to prepare for a closueSubmitted by: Andrea S
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Remaining in person for school
Comment: As a parent of a high school child, I can only speak for him. Please, please, please let us remain in person school. Check your own numbers on your dashboard. These kids are not getting COVID in school. The risks to their mental health far outweigh the risks of COVID. Yes, COVID is scary. Depression, Anxiety and Suicide are far scarier in my opinion. We have a 99% survival rate for COVID. If even one child commits suicide, that's one too many. There are options in place for those who don't wantto return. We have already taken so much from our children. For some school is the only safe place they have. When you remove their choice, you are teaching our children that their opinions don't matter. Please be a voice for our children.Submitted by: Ann J
School: Rice Elementary Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual school
Comment: I find it extremely irresponsible for the district to have children K-6 return to school prior to the board meeting scheduled for 1/6.With benchmarks all indicating that all schools in the district should be at virtual learningSubmitted by: Anne B
School: Chandler High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual learning for start of Semester 2
Comment: Please make the safest decision which is to start semester 2 virtually until Maricopa County does not have all 3 areas in the red and there is adequate hospital space to handle the pandemic. It is irresponsible and against everything we know about science to ignore current numbers. Short term pain for long term gain!Submitted by: Anne P
School: ACP Erie Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Until It's Safe
Comment: COVID numbers are higher than they have ever been. Hospital and healthcare workers are overwhelmed. And in the midst of this, community members are not complying with Dr. Casteel's plea to make responsible choices outside of school walls. The Board does not have a choice at this point: to keep our students and staff safe and to help mitigate the spread of the virus, CUSD needs to take the responsible action and return the district to full virtual learning for at least the month of January.The science does not lie. Please do the right thing.Submitted by: Annie P
School: Perry High Organization: Concerned Parent representing my Children
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please continue to keep our schools in-person and open for the majority who need and want to be there! Keep virtual option for those who don't.
Comment: Thank you for all your time and effort in making choices in the best interest of our children and families. Moving up the board meeting raises major concern to our community for a last minute potential change that could impact our district's families so negatively. Please consider ALL aspects to in-person learning, including actual cases within our individual school, the rise of suicide in these age of kids, mental health significant decline, lack of supervision and availability for most families to facilitate a SAFE at-home learning environment, the stress it adds to working parents already facing extremely difficult financial circumstances, etc. Educate yourself on more than just the local number of positive cases. Deaths are not rising! Consider our own CUSD data, which is incredibly low per school and the infection rate of kids forced to be quarantined due to close contact (positivity rate .005) and staff 0%. KEEP OUR SCHOOLS OPEN FOR IN PERSON LEARNING for the majority.Submitted by: Anonymous
School: NONE OF THE ABOVE Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Virtual Instruction Only
Comment: When the board voted to return to in person instruction, it was based on the state metrics as presented at that time. Teachers were assured that if those metrics returned to red for two weeks, we would return to virtual. We are not doing that. We aren't even following the updated metrics which also recommend virtual instruction. We are using a dashboard that was self-created by the district, not scientists. That dashboard is highly dependent on the community to take a test when quarantined and report the results of those tests. That is not happening. I understand that virtual instruction is extremely difficult for most involved, but health has to come first. I implore the district to return to virtual instruction for at least two weeks; and longer if the CURRENT or PREVIOUS county metrics continue to recommend it. My students and their family, and me and my family's lives are at stake!Submitted by: Anonymous
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Close in person learning - Use Original Metrics - Move to Virtual Learning (Not COA)
Comment: My request is to close at the very least the high school level in person until COVID numbers in our community comes down. Chandler COVID cases are extremely high. We have asymptomatic high school kids that are spreading COVID to the community. This is my concern! The COVID dashboard does not report all the cases and certainly does not count the kids walking around with no symptoms at all. As such, this is the wrong tool to use to make decisions. Use the original metrics that you promised you would use when we made our decision to come back to in person learningSubmitted by: Anonymous
School: Hamilton High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual
Comment: I ask the board to follow the metrics on the county's school reopening dashboard and return to virtual learning for all CUSD schools until the metrics improve. We made our decision to go with in person learning because 1. coa is not a good option for our kids 2. We were told that the metrics would be followed and would move back to virtual if needed, those metrics have been met for weeks now. Please do the safe and right thing for our kids, teachers and communitySubmitted by: Atash N
School: Santan Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Refrain from in-person attendance in CUSD
Comment: Hello. I'm a parent of a CUSD student and also have family who are teachers. With the increasing rates of COVID-19 in Arizona I am writing to express my concern with in-person attendance after winter break. For the sake of public health and the safety of our community, please refrain from mandating in-person attendance for our students and staff. Any other decision is gross negligence of a community you are supposed to be guardians of. Please consider the data and make the right choice. Thank you.Submitted by: Babara E
School: Casteel High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Listen to Your Teachers
Comment: Of all the school board members, only Lara replied to this email. You are newly elected and serve our community and student now. This is the email I sent before winter break. Since this email, things have only gotten more out of control. We are doubling up rooms in the hospitals and we do not have enough staff to meet the needs of all the patients. I am not spreading fear, this is the truth of what is happening. So far CUSD has been a disappointment as has the superintendent and governor.I hope you will help guide the superintendent to do what is best at this time, which is implement online learning except for students with special circumstances and or needs. You have lost teachers by forcing them to make literal life and death decisions. Those who have walked away are not wrong, however, forcing more students in each classroom and demanding teachers risk getting sick or worse, is. I am a nurse at Chandler and Mercy Gilbert hospitals, and a mom of a HS junior at Casteel. ISubmitted by: Becky
School: Santan Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: I SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS!!
Comment: Our teachers deserve to be heard, ALL OF THEM! I support their sick out! Nearly 7,000 positive cases of covid today alone! 9.1% is our CLI! Metrics have been in red nearly 6 weeks. Please hold an emergency meeting a d go virtual at least the first 2 weeks in January. You have grades 7-12 a choice, what about the elementary kids?? This is not a fair option for all!Submitted by: Becky
School: Santan Elementary Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: CLOSE THE SCHOOLS
Comment: It's time to close the schools! I sent my son back with the trust that CUSD would be following the metrics and return to virtual when the community spread got bad. Well, it's beyond bad! 6 weeks with at least one metric in red and 3 now with all 3. Over 17,000 cases today. Our hospitals are full. Please return to virtual for the sake of our whole community.Submitted by: Becky T
School: Santan Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: CLOSE THE SCHOOLS
Comment: Please hold an emergency meeting and return to the benchmarks issued and promised to parents and staff that would be followed. All three metrics are in red. Our zip code is all in red. Please keep ALL kids virtual after Christmas break for the safety of all! Put health before money!Submitted by: BENOIT J
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Its time (again) to invoke Remote Learning to protect the safety of our community
Comment: By any viable measure the spread of COVID-19 disease is OUT OF CONTROL. Infection and death rates are frightening and our our healthcare system is overwhelmed. There are too many teachers, staff, students and family members who are catching the disease, further contributing to community spread. It is time (again) to invoke remote learning for a while to help contain disease spread. Thank you for considering.Submitted by: Beth S
School: Basha Elementary Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual until Safe
Comment: We are in a dire situation in our state and seeing the amount of parties that have happened over the past few days scares me. CUSD has always been a premier district of choice and the lack of action taken by the board thus far is making my family think twice about where are children will continue their education. As a reminder from my previous emails, I have a couple of requests that I am hoping you will consider: #1 That you use the metrics provided by the county/state when making decisions about school options going further. All 3 metrics are in red which means we should be in virtual learning after the break. #2 When you are making decisions you actually take the time to survey the community (parents, teachers and staff) on where they stand. A survey should have been already sent to families before break. #3 Also, the contact tracing and notification is completely a joke. We received an email the Wed before break letting us know there was exposure to one of our children.Submitted by: Bianca B
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Learning ONLY
Comment: I have three children in CUSD and attending three different schools. I'm choosing to have my children do virtual learning since I feel in person currently is dangerous for students and staff. I vote for virtual learning only until the metrics have improved. I formally taught in the district for 17 years and feel it's always been a top district for students and teaching. I really hope the board sees the importance of postponing in-person until it's safe for ALL!Submitted by: Blane A
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Elementary needs virtual
Comment: I am worried about the current benchmark levels and lack of following guidelines. Being in the red for all 3 benchmarks for over 3 weeks is unacceptable and unsafe. All schools, elementary as well, should be virtual! Keep everyone safe and save livesSubmitted by: Brad m
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Covid plan and safety
Comment: Please develop an actual plan with metrics for how you will address covid and when you will make a decision to go back to virtual or create another optionSubmitted by: Brianna W
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Health and Safety Concerns for students and teachers as COVID metrics increase
Comment: Students, parents, and teachers were informed in October that if one of three metrics turned red that we would return to remote learning in order to protect the lives and safety of students and teachers. Two of the three metrics turned red last month and nothing was done. We are now moving into three of three metrics turning red. The district continues to move the 'goal post' and not follow through with their promises. We are dealing with people's safety and lives. I believe that the district should move to remote learning for grades 9 through 12, possibly even 6-12. These students move Multiple times throughout the day at school into multiple classrooms. This increases the chance of spread. I understand that this is not ideal. I myself do not prefer remote teaching as it is more time-consuming to plan, but we are getting closer to getting a vaccine to teachers, students, and the general population. I believe that peoples lives and safety should be our top priority.Submitted by: Brock Z
School: Rice Elementary Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Schools should be virtual
Comment: Based on the current situation, all schools should be virtual! Follow the metrics provided by the state and Superintendent Hoffman. This is for ALL schools, especially elementary.Submitted by: Buffy P
School: Weinberg Gifted Academy Organization: Chandler Unified School District
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual school is imperative at this time!
Comment: Virtual school is imperative at this time. As a parent and a teacher this is 100% needed. Metrics must be usedSubmitted by: C G
School: Perry High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Safe to open? Not in the least!
Comment: Masks ☑ï¸, proper social distancing in classrooms/campuses 🚫, community spread under control 🧨 = virtual school (check your metrics...all red = NO GOSubmitted by: Cari
School: Casteel High Organization: Parent
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please Virtual Learning for All
Comment: Board Members, As a parent of two boys are Casteel and as a teacher I am pleading with our board to vote for an all virtual option for all until we arevout of the red metrics. It is too risky for students, teachers, and our community. PLEASESubmitted by: Cari R
School: Rice Elementary Organization: CEA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Pleading for virtual
Comment: With AZ covid numbers higher than ever i am begging for our district to make a call for virtual learning until Maricopa County is out of the red. I am pleading as a parent in Cusd, a teacher and a member of the community. I am scared to be in the classroom with more than 20 and I'm petrified for my children to be in high school classes with more than 30. Please listen. Things are not ok.Submitted by: Carla T
School: Hamilton High Organization: Teacher and parent
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Go virtual until we get the numbers down.
Comment: is consistently breaking records for COVID cases, and our CUSD zip codes are all red according to the state metrics. Putting students and staff in full classrooms is a recipe for disaster. We cannot socially distance our kids. We have no windows to open to allow fresh air. Our only defense is a spray bottle of cleaner and a rag. Our students need effective VIRTUAL live instruction to keep them and us safe until we get this virus under control. The vaccine is rolling out; we are almost there. Why are you jeopardizing lives now when we can rmmmmmwithSubmitted by: Carly
School: CTA Humphrey Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual until community spread improves
Comment: I have two children who attend elementary school in CUSD. Sending them to school at this time is incredibly unsafe. Class sizes are not small enough to safely social distance. My children love their school, teachers, and thrive with in-person learning. A temporary return to virtual learning is what's best for EVERYONE at this time of substantial community spread.Submitted by: Carly
School: San Marcos Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual until vaccinated
Comment: I want nothing more than to be in-person, teaching my students. We are now at a point with public health where it is not safe for us to be in large gatherings, even in a school setting with mitigation procedures in place. Prior to winter break, I was averaging 50%-75% attendance in my classroom. The level of inconsistency for the students I service is frustrating to say the least, especially since it is my school is used as a reason kids should be in-person (achievement gap). Children do get covid. Students in my school do not have access to testing. Staff have gotten covid. There is spread in schools, no matter what is communicated from administrators not in school settings. At this point, the district is walking a fine line with staff health and safety, and to what end? Budget? How many teachers need to resign before the district does the right thing?Submitted by: Carol W
School: Andersen Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual
Comment: Dear Board Member, Please call an Emergency Board Meeting before school returns in-person. Arizona is setting records with case numbers and hospitals are filling up while people in the community continue to attend large gatherings and refuse to follow mitigation strategies. Our numbers will continue to rise over the next few weeks due to holiday celebrations. Please have the Chandler Unified School District follow the original plan (as was promised to staff and students) and have the district switch to virtual instruction for the first two weeks following winter break for ALL STUDENTS. This will give the district time to review the data and make a safe decision for how to proceed after those two weeks. Please follow the science and help slow the spread in our community.'Submitted by: Carrie M
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual instruction
Comment: We support our teachers 100%. CUSD should follow the original metrics and original promises made about responding to the spread of Covid-19. All students should be virtual until the metrics indicate there is no longer uncontrolled community spread. Follow the science. Why did you have MCDPH direct you if you were going to ignore them.Submitted by: Carrie M
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Until Safe
Comment: Please for the sake of our community, teachers, staff, and students please consider the SCIENCE of infectious disease and controlling epidemics. Please follow the metrics originally approved in the fall. We have widespread uncontrolled Covid in our community. Our hospitals are overwhelmed. People are suffering and dying. We trusted the CUSD board to follow the metrics approved so we sent our children in person for fall. You have BROKEN our trust by not returning to virtual when the metricsstarted going red. Now we are being told we have to be wait listed to get our children into COA. This is NOT acceptable. CUSD needs to be virtual for all until the original metrics that were approved after careful consideration of the science, indicate it is safe to return. We do not want to leave CUSD but I fear that may be the only choice left for parents who believe science over politics.Submitted by: Charise D
School: Patterson Elementary Organization: CEA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Virtual until Safe
Comment: We have exceeded 3/3 metrics. It is recommended that we go virtual for at least 2 weeks. Stand true to your promises, CUSD!Submitted by: Chelle D
School: Perry High Organization: na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: covid
Comment: Please follow the metrics that ALL of the rest of the state are using. Follow CDC guidelines. CUSD should be closed until the spread - the Rnaught - is much more reasonable. My friends son caught covid at a CUSD school. A month later he still has symptoms. HIs most recent hospital trip was spent entirely in the hallway because there was no room anywhere else. He will be fine, but until then he will be miserable. He is in gradeschool. You are a political body and it shows. It is so disappointing because I always thought CUSD was above that. The children are learning the lessons you are teaching though. Ignore Science, put yourself first, shirk responsibility, and that the schools have no responsibility to keeping the community safe.Submitted by: Chris C
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Return to Class in January
Comment: To the Board Members of The Chandler Unified School District, I believe it is in the best interests of the children, faculty, staff and community that CUSD look again at its intended plan to return to in-school instruction following the winter break. There is not one piece of recent evidence that suggests it is in the best interest of anybody to return. The metrics for the district have all been in the red for the past three weeks. As a teacher in the district, I don't believe our well-being hasbeen considered at all, and we are the most vulnerable group. Please reconsider and at the very least, use the two-week virtual model of return and then make decisions based on the information going forward. I want kids back in the classroom, for that is what I have done for 27+ years. But it should not be until it is safe for everyone to return. There is no such thing as acceptable losses, this is not a war.Submitted by: Chris L
School: Chandler Online Academy Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to Remote Learning
Comment: I strongly support the return to remote learning until the metrics provided by the County—the same metrics you previously agreed to follow—return to a safe range. I support the return to remote learning for the health and safety of our entire community, and especially the students, teachers, staff, and families who are directly impacted by opening schools at a time when the community spread of COVID-19 is at is rapidly increasing. As I write this, the State reports 17,226 new COVID-19 infections. This is a new record and far exceeds the numbers we saw during the summer when the Board voted to start the school year remotely. Our students deserve a healthy learning experience. Our teachers and staff deserve safe working conditions. At a time of extremely high community spread, the right thing to do and the best thing to do are the same; return to remote learning until the metrics demonstrate that it's safe to return to in-person learning.Submitted by: Christi R
School: Chandler High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual until State Metrics are met
Comment: You put guiding principles in place for the safety of our students, teachers and community. We used that information to make an educated decision to return to in person. How can we trust the district if the district routinely changes the guidelines for our safety, and even when the changed guidelines are exceeded you still take little to no action.Submitted by: Christopher C
School: Casteel High Organization: studend
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Follow the metrics
Comment: follow the signs its not safe too many kids in classrooms hallways lunch online for all students keep schools onlineSubmitted by: Concerned P
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Close In Person Learning - Follow Original Metrics - Move to Virtual Platform (Not COA)
Comment: Please ask yourself why the numbers keep going up and the CUSD Covid Dashboard magically stays low. It is grossly inaccurate! You tried it, it isn't working. We have asymptomatic kids that are spreading Covid to our community and teachers. You have a responsibility to our community to do more. Follow the original metrics, follow the science, not a made up Covid Dashboard that may or may not show a case based on what? Its time! I just don't understand how you can live with yourselves makinga decision that goes against state guidelines. You are putting our community in danger and our teachers in danger! State guidelines recommend all 9 should be in virtual learning with on-site support. At some point a lawyer will bring a case against the school board. This year its the year of the pandemic! Next year it will be the year of the law suits! S Follow the original metrics that you promised parents when we made the decision to go back to in person learning.Submitted by: Concerned T
School: Rice Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Return to virtual learning
Comment: Teachers want nothing more than to be in their classrooms with their students teaching and learning in-person. However we are in the middle of the largest health crisis most of us have experienced in our lives. Covid is spreading rapidly through our communities, hospitals are overwhelmed, and our state government is not taking the necessary steps to protect the health and safety of our communities. Now is the time to temporarily close schools and/or return to virtual learning. The county benchmarks were designed to help governing boards make informed decisions about the mode of learning, and with all areas red the action required is a return to virtual learning. It is not forever, but will help slow the spread and keep our communities safe so that we can return to in-person learning soon.Submitted by: Cristine V
School: CTA Independence Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Students should not return to in person learning for at least two weeks.
Comment: Our children should not be returning to in person learning for at least two weeks so we can see if the cases and hospitalization improve. Cases are surging and we've hit every benchmark to close our schools but insist on sending our teachers and children to the classroom? This isn't forever and we can choose to keep our community safe.Submitted by: Crystal M
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Two week quarantine
Comment: Please consider actually sticking with the metrics and knowing that many in our community are not wise and spent Christmas with people outside of their homes, and allow for a two week remote learning start of the semesterSubmitted by: Deb M
School: Chandler High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Covid
Comment: Dear Board Member, With our COVID cases continuing to rise and hospitals filling up, please have the Chandler Unified School District follow the original plan (as was promised to staff and students) and have the district switch to virtual instruction for the first two weeks following winter break for ALL STUDENTS. This will give the district time to review the data and make a safe decision for how to proceed after those first two weeks. Please follow the science and help slow the spread in ourcommunity.Submitted by: Diane M
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual return
Comment: Virtual Until Safe: As part of the CUSD community who works in a high school and has two students attending high school, I implore the governing board reconsider an only virtual attendance option for the third quarter until County Metrics deem it is safe to return to in person instruction. We all know too well that the data from the dashboard is flawed and cannot possibly be kept up do date when testing results are not being returned or reported in a timely manner. High School behaviors affectcommunity behaviors which add to the increase of risk factors. Families who do not have the technology will be taken care of like they were the first quarter.Submitted by: Dorothy
School: Basha High Organization: Concerned parent
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Follow the original metrics for school opening/closing and return to virtual learning
Comment: Please look at the skyrocketing numbers for infection rates, deaths and number of school age children that are positive for COVID. Our healthcare workers are exhausted, our hospitals are on the verge or being overwhelmed and our community COVID metrics are all worse than they were during our summer surge. It's time to come together as a community and all do our part to get through this pandemic. All the data indicates that schools should be back to virtual for the safety of our students, ourteachers and our entire community!Submitted by: Elementary T
School: NONE OF THE ABOVE Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual
Comment: Please follow the original benchmarks and metrics for the safety of students and staff. As we ended the 2nd quarter, I had 25 students in my classroom. It's IMPOSSIBLE to keep the students socially distanced and safe in an overcrowded classroom. Classroom teachers are doing their best to keep students safe, but with cases exploding in our area, we are scared. Scared for our students, our colleagues, our families, and ourselves. I implore you to follow the benchmarks and recommendations of Superintendent Hoffman.Submitted by: Elizabeth R
School: Patterson Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Close schools until the metrics prove its safe
Comment: While I can understand that closing schools is a grave decision that may come with a lot of community pushback, it is necessary in order to protect our teachers including those at the elementary level as well as the students and their families. The board has been put in place by the community to act in favor of the community, not in favor of parents who do not believe in science or the metrics. While the majority of the fight has been to protect high school teachers, the mere fact is that all teachers should be protected. The metrics currently posted on the website or not an accurate reflection of the current pandemic. many parents have chosen not to report in an effort to avoid closure. In addition, The state has done a poor job at handling the crisis as made a parrot by the current metrics. Regardless of the difficult decision, I ask that the board act in favor of the community, educators and students and close schools until the metrics prove it is safe.Submitted by: Emily P
School: San Marcos Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual until safe
Comment: Simple: school should be conducted virtual until our metrics decline for all age levels not just secondary. Shame on you for denying children with IEPs entrance to COA. That is wrong! Do better. Abide by science and suggestions of health. Protect staff, teachers and community. Virtual until safe.Submitted by: Erin B
School: Auxier Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please follow the county metrics for the safety of the community
Comment: I have also emailed my concerns in detail. My 4th grader contracted COVID at school despite everyone's best efforts. We had her tested as soon as she became sick. It's spreading at schools. I think it's going to be difficult for teachers to teach both in-person and virtual (and it's not even an option for elementary) . Please plan 2 weeks of 100% remote instruction and then a true hybrid to enable distancing in the classrooms.Submitted by: Esther K
School: Carlson Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Delay opening of in person lessons in January
Comment: I urge the board to follow the metrics on the county's school reopening dashboard and return to virtual learning for all CUSD schools until the metrics improve. As you know, there is a 12 day delay before data is reflected in the school reopening dashboard for the 'current week.' The dashboard currently advises virtual learning with on-campus support for our district, and I'm sure the actual metrics are far worse today than when this data was captured. It would be irresponsible to endanger students, teachers, staff, and their families via in-person learning at a time when some local hospitals are already at 120% of their intended capacity and the post-Christmas and post-New Year's Eve surges are approaching. Please put safety first for our community!Submitted by: Gary B
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: CUSD should be virtual
Comment: CUSD should be virtual based on current conditions. This is the only way to keep our community safe. Board members should research the long term complications that often arise after infection (even mild cases). Personally I had a very mild case (was sick for 2 days) but later developed a pericardial effusion/severe heart inflammation. There is so much focus on death rate and not enough focus on the long term issues this virus causes.Submitted by: Geoff G
School: ACP Oakland Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Close in Person - Go to Virtual - Original Metrics is Red - Use Original Metrics!!!! - Part 1
Comment: Close in-person learning, use original metrics as committed to until CUSD is meeting the original metrics that allow schools to re-open safely for in-person learning. We are putting students, teachers and other CUSD faculty at risk for no logical reason. Essentially all other school districts in the area have supported the correct, data driven, approach of whether or not in person or virtually learning is appropriate. It appears that most of the CUSD board members do not have teaching background/experience and are following the guidance of district leadership that also do not have teaching background/experience and cannot fully understand the risk they are asking faculty and students to be exposed to. It is not clear what makes CUSD unique that CUSD can stay open, while other districts are closing or modifying? We are being somewhat forced into putting our students and teachers at risk. Students may be able to recover safely, however if a teacher becomes sick, in essence all of thatSubmitted by: Geoff G
School: ACP Oakland Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Close in Person - Go to Virtual - Original Metrics is Red - Use Original Metrics!!!! - Part 2
Comment: teacher's students are put at risk as well as the teacher's, also their families, health. Not to mention CUSD has no backup plan for teacher that is out for COVID. In-person learning is the best educational experience for both teacher and student, but in-person leaning should not be considered at this time until CUSD and the health of our community meets the appropriate metrics.Submitted by: Gina
School: Haley Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual learning
Comment: I feel it would be safe for the community right now given the high numbers and famalies that have not adhered to cdc guidelines of keeping covid from spreading . I understand children aren't as high as a risk , but the teachers are at risk it would be great for everyone to do 2 weeks of virtual to because of the holiday gatherings and traveling on airplanes . Thank you .Submitted by: Heather B
School: CTA Freedom Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep Schools Open
Comment: Please, I urge the board to keep schools opening. Look at the dashboard and see that there has been little to no cases in the elementary schools. Online/virtual learning is not an option to children that are just learning to read and cannot navigate through all the classrooms, manipulate slides and type responses that online requires. This is hurting my IEP child as well that does not receive the interventions and services needed to not fall anymore behind. Please stay open!!!Submitted by: Heather M
School: Chandler High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Go back to virtual learning
Comment: Please do the right thing and move to virtual learning for at least the next few weeks until our state can get this virus back under control. Don't force our teachers to work in these unsafe conditions. When I selected in person for my son it was because the district said they will follow the state metrics. You essentially lied to your staff and families. Please do the right thing now.Submitted by: I'd r
School: Weinberg Gifted Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Safety of the Staff and Students
Comment: Please protect the staff by sticking with the original promise of following the metrics. Community spread is extensive at this time and school should be virtual for the first 2 weeks after winter break.Submitted by: J
School: Rice Elementary Organization: Chandler Unified School District
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please Go to Virtual for the Next 2+ Weeks
Comment: Please follow the science and the recommendations of the MCHD and State Superintendent, Kathy Hoffman. Only 6/58 MCSDistricts are remaining fully open at this time. It is not safe to have students and teachers in-person. Our case numbers, deaths, and hospitalizations are at an all time high. Hospitals in Gilbert are housing patients in tents due to a lack of space. Please start to be proactive about your decisions during this pandemic. We need to be a model of compassion, critical thinking, and responsibility for our students and our community. We can be critical thinkers by finding a creative solution for this unique year that will service our students as best as possible. We can be responsible by following mitigation strategies and showing the community why this is important and how our actions affect the greater community. We can be compassionate for the overwhelmed healthcare workers and families with loved ones at high risk. Please go virtual for the next 2+ weeks.Submitted by: J B
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual for AT LEAST two weeks
Comment: Please move to virtual learning! I am in favor of in-person learning but with the community spread, incomplete CUSD dashboard tracing, the inability to social distance in grades 7-12, students not following guidelines outside of school, etc, it does not make sense to go back to in-person school. The health and safety of teachers, students and staff (and the families they go home to) need to be priority and a temporary shift to virtual learning is necessary until the community spread is in yellow and on an downward trend. Community metrics show all three in red and since the virus does not stop at the school gates, students should not be on campus until they are improved. Thank you.Submitted by: Jacqui F
School: Casteel High Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: keep schools closed
Comment: Stick to what you said about the metrics. Keep students and teachers safe and stay closedSubmitted by: Jane D
School: NONE OF THE ABOVE Organization: All schools at CUSD
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: COVID complacency and neglect of staff/student safety
Comment: The way that the CUSD dashboard was created was to ensure that we would not receive the necessary information about COVID cases that we deserve. I, along with many other employees at multiple sites, know of numerous positive cases in which those individuals (students and staff) were on campus during their infectious period, but because they didn't contract it on campus, it is not reported. Giving Dr. Casteel the ultimate power to make outrageous changes to the way we view metrics has made ourschools unsafe. It feels as if she is making decisions based on money and appearance, not on safety. Our schools are filled with absent teachers and the abundance of substitutes that Dr. Casteel promised are nowhere to be found. My class had to be taught by school administrators or merged with other classes when I was out. Mask and hand washing protocols have gone from the utmost importance to not being important at all.Submitted by: Janelle G
School: Basha High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Close in person go virtual
Comment: Stick to the original metrics! 3 weeks triple red, yet you are sending kids back for 2 days until board meets to review the results of a review committee- you are causing unnecessary exposure. There are families and kids playing unmasked in parks in groups of 7 or more kids. Everyone meeting from Xmas are just becoming eligible to show as a positive case. Anyone from New Years will return to school asymptotic and then show up in a week. Virtual option for high school was great but that still doesn't protect if you don't allow siblings the same privilege- where is the equality cusd is known for? This is an absolute shame and mockery of the scientific standards set by dept of public health. Stop putting our kids and teachers in jeopardy!Submitted by: Jason R
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual for 2 weeks
Comment: School should be virtual until community spread is reduced and hospitals no longer are on the brink of being overwhelmed. Please follow the County metrics.Submitted by: Jennifer
School: Elite Performance Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Follow the metrics
Comment: CUSD must follow the science and use measurable, objective criteria for decisions related to in-person and virtual instruction. All the stake-holders have an agenda. Administration, the executive board, teachers, and parents each have their own personal and professional reasons for desiring virtual or in-person instruction. And they are each valid. But it is not a debate or competition. Everyone understands in-person learning is usually the best environment to learn. However, this isn't aboutlearning settings. It is about handling a public health crisis. We should not be working against one another. If we adhere to the commitment to follow the recommendations of experts (which none of the mentioned stakeholders are), we can end the discussion and have a clear path forward.Submitted by: Jennifer
School: Elite Performance Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Return to virtual
Comment: There is a surge of Covid cases, record cases, hospitals nearing capacity and we haven't hit the peak. Contact tracing and isolating cases and potential spread is very difficult. I am following CUSD guidance for calling out when I have symptoms and am running out of sick leave. 6 days ago, I tested for Covid and am still waiting on a result. There are many others in my shoes. The school dashboard is useless if we cannot get timely data.. It is too risky to be open. Return to virtual to protect our educators and students. Return to virtual to protect our vulnerable populations. Return to virtual to protect our healthcare system. Return to virtual to protect our entire community. It is too risky.Submitted by: Jennifer
School: Elite Performance Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Return to virtual
Comment: There is a record surge of Covid cases, hospitals nearing capacity and we have yet to hit a peak. Contact tracing, isolating cases and minimizing spread is near impossible. I am following CUSD guidance for calling out when I have symptoms and am running out of sick leave. 6 days ago, I tested for Covid and am still waiting on a result. There are many others in my shoes. The school dashboard is useless if we cannot get timely data. Return to virtual to protect our educators and students. Return to virtual to protect our vulnerable populations. Return to virtual to protect our healthcare system. Return to virtual to protect our entire community. Status quo is too risky.Submitted by: Jennifer M
School: Santan Junior High Organization: Also Basha Elementary
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please return to virtual learning
Comment: Please use the benchmarks as agreed to at the beginning of this school year to make decisions for in person schooling. According to current data, schools should have reverted back to virtual learning long ago. Please make decisions that keep our children and their teachers safe.Submitted by: Jessica N
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to virtual learning until metrics improve
Comment: I urge the board to follow the metrics on the county's school reopening dashboard and return to virtual learning for all CUSD schools until the metrics improve. As you know, there is a 12 day delay before data is reflected in the school reopening dashboard for the 'current week.' The dashboard currently advises virtual learning with on-campus support for our district, and I'm sure the actual metrics are far worse today than when this data was captured. It would be irresponsible to endanger students, teachers, staff, and their families via in-person learning at a time when some local hospitals are already at 120% of their intended capacity and the post-Christmas and post-New Year's Eve surges are approaching. Please put safety first for our community!Submitted by: Jianbo W
School: Hamilton High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: COVID-19 concern
Comment: Based on the recent COVID-19 data, it's dangerous to go to school.Submitted by: Jill m
School: Perry High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Move schools to fully online
Comment: With the covid numbers so high and the knowledge that they will only go higher I'd like the board to have perry move to fully online until the numbers go down. Asking the teachers to teach both online and in Person while giving preference to those in person is asking too much if the teachers and our kids will suffer. I want my 2 girls to be online but know they will beat a disadvantage as the teachers will not pay as much attention to them.Submitted by: Jill S
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Just 2 Weeks!!
Comment: Since you refuse to follow the benchmarks set for Az schools to close, perhaps you will follow the CDC guidelines that say you should quarantine for 2 weeks after traveling. Since you have NO idea where these children were over break, 2 weeks makes complete sense in order to slow the spread of Covid-19, so schools can stay open in the long run. Not to mention that the new strain of Covid-19 is affecting young children & there are long term effects. Do what's right! JUST TWO WEEKS!!Submitted by: Jocelyn R
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Temporary virtual
Comment: I want kids to be in the classroom, but feel that it is not safe to do so at this time due to community spread and overwhelmed hospitals. Following only school metrics does not give an accurate picture. I am almost certain my son caught Covid at school, but he had no known exposure (noone else in the family had it and he only attended school and did not go anywhere else). Please return to virtual until there is lower community spread (per Maricopa County guidelines) and then reopen as soon aspossible. The virtual option available for 2 weeks is insufficient as teachers are not required to engage the students in any way.Submitted by: John
School: NONE OF THE ABOVE Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Remote Learning
Comment: It's time to keep your politics to yourself and act in the best interest of our children and thier families. The Covid-19 numbers are worse than ever and the metrics used to send our kids back to school now support a return to remote learning. Our teachers staff and children need to be the priority.Submitted by: Jonah D
School: Chandler High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to virtual school until metrics are safe
Comment: With numbers increasing and hospitals filling up please follow the original board decision to return to in person learning only when metrics are safe for ALL students and staff.Submitted by: Joseph C
School: Casteel High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: COVID-19 Concerns
Comment: Your efforts to have parents and students follow your COVID-19 protocol have failed. Medical professionals have projected COVID cases to surge to unprecedented levels, (1/3/2021- 17,234 cases reported). Close CUSD schools to protect students, faculty, and the community at large!Submitted by: Karileah K
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Hybrid
Comment: Please listen to the Drs, nurses and arizona superintendent suggestions to create a safe environment for our teachers and students! Stick to the metrics you agreed to.Submitted by: Katherine K
School: Chandler High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: All schools need to be virtual the first two weeks of Q3
Comment: Dear Board Member, With our COVID cases continuing to rise and hospitals filling up, please have the Chandler Unified School District follow the original plan (as was promised to staff and students) and have the district switch to virtual instruction for the first two weeks following winter break for ALL STUDENTS. This will give the district time to review the data and make a safe decision for how to proceed after those first two weeks. Please follow the science and help slow the spread in ourcommunity.Submitted by: Kelsey O
School: Weinberg Gifted Academy Organization: Parent
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Go Virtual
Comment: Please follow the health metrics abs guidelines and put chandler 100% virtual. You are putting all our students and staff all at risk by refusing to go 100% virtual. You are adding to the community spread which is making our hospitals dangerously full. CUSD must follow the science and the guidelines and go to 100% virtual as the numbers dictate. Thank you.Submitted by: Kerri Z
School: Chandler Online Academy Organization: Parent of a Perry High School Freshman
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Instruction Should Be Implemented
Comment: As a teacher and a parent of CUSD, I am outraged and disappointed in the actions of the District in not following the County metrics, ignoring the medical community and lack of transparency. To wit: 1) The spread of COVID-19 in the community is at an all time high, and the county metrics indicate all learning should be virtual. As a community leader, the District should take a stand to help flatten the curve and slow community spread by putting all students back in virtual learning. Our hospitals are already overwhelmed, and with the discovery of the new, more contagious variant of COVID in Arizona, the reality is lives will be lost due to a lack of resources and staff in our hospitals. My husband is a hospital doctor here in the Valley and they are already having to ration care. Returning to virtual learning is not only about keeping our teachers and students safe, it is about the District doing their part for the community at large.Submitted by: Kim P
School: Hamilton High Organization: In Person Teachers at the secondary level
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: In person learning post Winter Break and vaccinations
Comment: I request the the CUSD School Board: 1. Follow the original promise to teachers to return to virtual learning when the metrics became red, which they are. 2. Return schools,especially secondary schools, to virtual learning for at least a quarantine period of two weeks. 3. Contact the governor to apply pressure to get vaccine promised to school personnel ASAP and make a plan for distribution now so we can be ready when the time comes.Submitted by: Kimberly G
School: Riggs Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Maintain In-person Learning
Comment: As the mother of a kindergartener whose first experience at real school has been anything but normal, I'm asking you to please keep school, at least elementary, in-person. I understand there are concerns with rising cases in AZ, but many experts including the CDC director himself have said children are best served and safest in-person school. My son, just 6 years old, has repeatedly expressed to me how he loves school and never wants to go back to computer (virtual) school. This year will have a huge impact on how he and his classmates will view school for the next 12 years. Please continue to manage on a school by school basis and don't make drastic district-wide decisions that are all or nothing. This Covid situation is not black and white. Many schools, my son's included, have had very minimal cases so mitigation efforts are working. Just look at your own dashboard to see the proof. Please, keep our kids in school!Submitted by: Kortney A
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please delay
Comment: We parents are begging you to do the right thing for the children of our district. The schools need to go virtual. We know of several who have it, some who have died, several in the ICU and I can tell you personally that parents who are getting notified that their kids are exposed at outside events, clubs, sports and working places are STILL sending their children to school since school isn't the one who told them so they don't know. This is NOT okay. We moved to Arizona and to Chandler based onCUSDs reputation for their dedication to their students. Please, please go virtual and help with the stop. This should not even be a debate. Other districts are doing the right thing. Please follow suit.Submitted by: Kris
School: Perry High Organization: Students in CUSD schools
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please move virtual
Comment: Thank you for your efforts during an impossibly difficult set of circumstances. Our hospitals are full, our metrics are in red. High schoolers are having super spreader New Year's parties. Please honor your commitment to parents and teachers to honor the metrics. Please move virtual until the metrics improve.Submitted by: Krista M
School: Knox Gifted Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Covid response
Comment: Please follow the original maricopa county metrics that are currently all flaming red and close the schools until community covid spread is under control. This action needs to be taken for the health and safety of our students, teachers, staff and community members. Please I beg you, take the action that the governor won't.Submitted by: Kristen S
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to Virtual Learning
Comment: Please return to virtual learning now until the original reopening benchmarks are met: less than 10 cases/100k; less than 5% positivity rate; and less than 5% CLI. Look at the current data for CUSD! The community spread of Covid-19 is completely unchecked, and it will only get worse for the next several weeks.Submitted by: Kristin W
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Benchmarks
Comment: Based on the number of positive COVID-19 cases, positivity rate and benchmarks, it is not safe to return to in-person learning at this time. Being in person puts everyone at higher risk. The teachers (all staff-including administration, custodians, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, etc), students, and family members of all.Submitted by: Kristy R
School: Bogle Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Raging Pandemic
Comment: I was a public school teacher for 20 years and am now an ICU nurse. I am also helping to facilitate my niece and nephew with their online learning. While I know that in person learning is the optimal situation for most kids, I do not believe that is feasible or safe at this point. We have expanded our ICU space by 100% to facilitate all of our COVID patients. We are losing several people every day and the beds never stay empty for long. I have personally lost patients as young as 19 years old with no last medical history. To put our children and teachers and staff in danger is irresponsible and should not be an option at this time. Educators asked for metrics and recommendations from the state and those should be followed.Submitted by: Laura
School: Chandler High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to Virtual Learning
Comment: Right now based on the county metrics we should be 100% virtual learning with on site supports. Going back full in person on January 5th, 2021 does not follow the guidelines set by the state. In Arizona we are seeing a large number of daily covid-19 cases. It is not just about our students, but the families they go home to. Many of our families live in multigenerational households and by being in person we are putting all of these families at risk. We also know that many families and even stafftraveled and spent the holiday break with people outside their household. We need to start virtual and follow the metrics and not return to full in person until the metrics allow. When we went back to school in October 2020 we were promised that we would follow the metrics. At this time we are not doing that. It feels like what we were told would happen and what is happening are two different things. I agree that students need to be in school, but not at the cost of life. Virtual until its safe.Submitted by: Laura P
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Instruction Needed
Comment: Percent positivity is ridiculously high. Hospitals are full. We need to protect the community and have school virtual until metrics are better..Submitted by: Leah L
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual learning
Comment: Please look at the guidelines from the state that you said you would follow and move all students to virtual learning until not all three metrics are in RED. It is the responsible thing to do. Thank you for your time.Submitted by: Lee K
School: ACP Oakland Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Commitment to follow through the 3 metrics for learning modality
Comment: The board needs to follow through the 3 metrics and their learning modality set in Aug 2020. We made the decisions for our kids to return to in-person with the assumption that the board would follow the metrics and guidelines. Currently, the board neglected the guidelines and we had no other options for online learning.Submitted by: Linda
School: Bogle Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Go Virtual NOW
Comment: The law I of planning by this district is appalling. The metrics have been red for three weeks and we haven't even seen the Christmas/ NYE stats yet. The teachers no longer are covered by the Cares Act if they get Covid and have high deductible policies. The admin and board need to protect the staff. The new strain will be here quickly and that one is more susceptible to children. Virtual until safe.Submitted by: Lisa C
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: School safety during Covid
Comment: I urge you to make the right choice and move CUSD schools to virtual learning until it is safe based on the original metrics established by the board when the district returned to in person learning. I also ask that the voices of your district's teachers and staff be included in your decision making as related to education models for the remainder of the pandemic. The Maricopa county school dashboard indicates that schools should be fully online due to high levels of COVID. Additionally, Arizonaas a state has hit substantial spread levels. State Superintendent Kathy Hoffman expressed her support for a two week shift to all virtual learning in accordance with scientific recommendations based on the current positivity rate and the fact that many students will have engaged in gatherings over break.Submitted by: LS
School: Haley Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual until safe
Comment: Please!! As a parent and teacher I am begging the board have ALL schools go virtual for two weeks the slow the spread. We have had all 3 metrics red for 3 weeks. Plenty of data to show community spread is great. I have seen families from around the district not put safety first over the holiday. Now we are sending them back into the classroom to increase the spread. Data shows more and more kids are getting sick. 'Young' healthy people are being admitted to the hospitals. How many teachers, staff and students have to get sick and possibly die before we take action. Please put safety and data first! #virtualuntilsafeSubmitted by: Lyle B
School: ACP Erie Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: COVID
Comment: I am begging you to follow the healthy metrics established for safe learning. We should not be in person right now and as parents, YOU HAVE PROVIDED NO OPTIONS! COA is full and you won't allow us to join.Submitted by: Marisa N
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Virtual Learning
Comment: Please consider returning to a virtual format for AT LEAST two weeks, though preferably until the metrics have returned back to yellow/green. This was the original plan, and you have reneged on it. I am concerned for the safety of myself, my friends, and my family while we are still doing in person learning and the rate of infection and numbers being what they are. This is forcing me to choose between the health and wellness of a household with several individuals with prior health conditions and being able to provide for my medically fragile daughter. Being told by the community to either shut up or quit is affecting my mental health, and I no longer feel safe teaching in a CUSD classroom.Submitted by: Mark B
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Distance learning ASAP
Comment: As a concerned parent with a spouse in classrooms, I strongly ask that the board vote to return to distance learning when returning from break for at least two weeks. We have seen the irresponsible choices of students this break and with the Covid numbers in the community as high as they are, students WILL bring the virus into schools! High schools are the most at-risk because they can not socially distance and the parties and gatherings they attend are more frequent. Since COA is not a viableoption for most students and we have no other virtual option with live teaching, many are forced to choose between in-person learning (which is not safe for anyone) and leaving the district, which we do not want to do as we moved specifically to be in the CUSD boundaries for the quality education. Please make the temporary decision for at least the high schools to move to virtual until the community metrics (not the CUSD dashboard) are steadily trending down to green and are out of the red.Submitted by: Marla
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Close in person learning - Use Original Metrics - Move to Virtual Learning (Not COA) High School
Comment: My request is to close at the very least the high school level in person until COVID numbers in our community comes down. Chandler COVID cases are extremely high. We have asymptomatic high school kids that are spreading COVID to the community. This is my concern! The COVID dashboard does not report all the cases and certainly does not count the kids walking around with no symptoms at all. As such, this is absolutely the wrong tool to use to make decisions for our kids and the community. Use the original metrics that you promised you would use when we made our decision to come back to in person learning. All other districts have closed. You decisions impact our kids AND the community spread. Please base your decisions on data from the experts in their field!Submitted by: Marsheila R
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Remote schooling/virtual option
Comment: I've had @ least 1 kid in district for 15+ years & I have never seen such mismanagement & duplicity before now. You wonder why enrollment is plummeting & teachers are rebelling? B/c cases are skyrocketing & you're not following the metrics you told us you would follow. Close the schools & offer a teacher-led virtual option for 7-12 instead of the disaster known as COA.Submitted by: Marsheila R
School: Ryan Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Remote schooling/teacher-led virtual option
Comment: I've had @ least 1 kid in district for 15+ years & I have never seen such mismanagement & duplicity before now. You wonder why enrollment is plummeting & teachers are rebelling? B/c cases are skyrocketing & you're not following the metrics you told us you would follow. Close the schools & offer a teacher-led virtual option for 7-12 instead of the disaster known as COA.Submitted by: Martha V
School: ACP Erie Organization: Husband at Hamilton and kids at Hamilton, Bogle and Fulton
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: GO virtual and follow metrics
Comment: Based on the incredible increase in COVD cases because of the holidays, I am strongly urging you to mandate all schools go virtual for a minimum of 2-3 weeks. Also, perhaps we can follow what the AZ Dept of Health recommends or do a hybrid where some students are in person half of the week and the other half the other days. I do not want more people to die and I would like to do what's right for both sides of the argument so the hybrid model seems to be a good solution that many districts aroundthe country are using. Thanks for listening and considering the health and safety of all.Submitted by: Maxana G
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Reconsider School Opening Plans
Comment: Dear Barb Mozdzen, Lindsay Love, Joel Wirth, Jason Olive: Please revise school reopening plans to virtual instruction until the county metrics deem it is safe to return to live instruction. Arizona is setting records with case numbers and hospitals are filling up while people in the community continue to attend large gatherings and refuse to follow mitigation strategies. Our numbers will continue to rise over the next few weeks due to holiday celebrations and a complete disregard for mitigationstrategies. Please have the Chandler Unified School District follow the original plan (as was promised to staff and students) and have the district switch to virtual instruction for the first two weeks following winter break for ALL STUDENTS. This will give the district time to review the data and make a safe decision for how to proceed after those two weeks. Please follow the science and help slow the spread in our community.Submitted by: Melissa
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: District-Wide Virtual Learning
Comment: It was stated in September that when one of the metrics was in the red for two consecutive weeks, the district would return to virtual learning. Then It was changed to all three metrics. We have been in the red for over two weeks with conditions only getting worse. Over 17,000 new cases were reported yesterday. Two weeks after Christmas. Coincidence? What will it be next week? The number of students testing positive and quarantining due to exposure may be higher in the junior highs and high schools, but it is affecting elementary schools as well. My grade level has 24 students per class. That is too many to keep everyone safe after so much exposure has happened over break. Please implement a DISTRICT-WIDE return to virtual learning for at least the next two weeks so we can keep students, teachers, and all other staff safe.Submitted by: Melissa
School: NONE OF THE ABOVE Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Learning
Comment: It was stated in September that when the three metrics were in the red for two consecutive weeks, the district would return to virtual learning. We have been in the red for over two weeks with conditions only getting worse. Please implement a district-wide return to virtual learning for at least the next two weeks so we can keep students, teachers, and all other staff safe.Submitted by: Merri C
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Support for Virtual Learning in Elementary School
Comment: I respectfully ask that the CUSD board return elementary schools to virtual learning, for at least the next two weeks. Our state has quickly lost control of our ability to control Covid-19. Case numbers today are over 17,000, the highest single day recorded for AZ. Our hospitals are over-crowded and will soon have to determine who they can care for and who they can't. I am frustrated that teachers and families went back to in-person learning, with the understanding we would go virtual when it was no longer safe (metrics in red). We now have all 3 metrics in red and are still continuing to teach in-person. This is not safe for our students, staff or families. The next two weeks are vital in limiting exposure after holiday gatherings that occurred in our community. I am asking the board to please respect the health and safety of our CUSD community and do our part to control the spread of this virus.Submitted by: Michael C
School: Auxier Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Current State of Affairs
Comment: Currently our entire district is in the red per the metrics set forth by the Department of Health Services, but we have yet to see any action by the board or district to follow these recommendations. It is time that we look past the dollar's and cents of this situation, and make a logical decision regarding staff safety and student safety.Submitted by: Michael D
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Safe School Reopening
Comment: As you are well aware, the COVID-19 numbers in Arizona and especially Maricopa County are skyrocketing. We've seen a surge from Christmas and now we need to be prepared for another surge following New Year's Eve celebrations and people returning from vacations. The benchmark numbers in Maricopa County are in the red for all three metrics. My school's zip code (85142) has some of the highest numbers in the state. It is simply not safe for teachers, staff, and students to return to in-person instruction. If we do, this decision will be the literal and metaphorical nail in the coffin. Students might not exhibit serious COVID-19 symptoms - although research is still sketchy about younger people - but they will transmit the virus to their peers and to their teachers. The CUSD Board needs to stop kowtowing to the vocal minority that believe coronavirus is a hoax, masks don't save lives, and the low mortality is acceptable. The CUSD Board needs to listen to the silent trench workers.Submitted by: Michael l
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Follow the metrics
Comment: There were benchmarks and metrics set up when School was allowed to be done in person. To abandon them when metrics are the worst they've been is irresponsible to the community as well as the teachers and staff. Go 100% virtual until numbers decrease and schools can can fix the dashboard transparency.Submitted by: Michelle B
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: COVID
Comment: I ask the board to hold to their word and follow the original county guidelines and benchmarks for when to move to virtual learning. While helpful, the information on the district's dashboard is self reported making it inadequate. The only reliable data is reported by the county and should be considered the gold standard. I ask that the board not forget about the health and safety of our Elementary K-6 students and staff when considering COVID. They are being treated differently and left out ofthe conversation. Whether children spread the disease is up to scientific study, but there are plenty of adults on campuses who the issue applies to. We must support our K-6 schools and leave all focus on 7-12.Submitted by: Michelle C
School: Basha High Organization: Parent
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Follow the Metrics
Comment: In order to return to school safely we need to follow the science. We need to follow the guidelines that were first established when schools re-opened last fall. My son is not able to be in school virtual or in person because he is a child with autism and lives with two people who are at high risk. His choice was taken away from him. It's up to the community to come together and get Covid under control so that ALL students can return to school and not just some.Submitted by: Michelle D
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Remote learning
Comment: We need to make sure our community and especially our teachers have a safe and healthy environment to teach and learn in. Keep learning remote until the numbers come down. Thank you.Submitted by: Mike
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keeping kids in school
Comment: Thank you for keeping in person school open. Reading the comments, almost all the parents in favor of keeping the schools open state it is what is best for their children. Those advocating to close schools do not mention what is best for the children in their comments nearly as much. When discussing whether or not to keep schools open, shouldn't what is best for the kids really be the determining factor? And the experts say keeping schools open is best for children. Follow the science, not somemetrics number that is virtually impossible to achieve.Submitted by: Mindi M
School: Chandler High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Our community's safety
Comment: Dear Board Member, With our COVID cases continuing to rise and hospitals filling up, please have the Chandler Unified School District follow the original plan (as was promised to staff and students) and have the district switch to virtual instruction for the first two weeks following winter break for ALL STUDENTS. This will give the district time to review the data and make a safe decision for how to proceed after those first two weeks. Please follow the science and help slow the spread in ourcommunity. Missed education can be made up. We cannot replace lossed lives.Submitted by: MT
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Close in Person - Go to Virtual (NOT COA) - Original Metrics is Red
Comment: All three metrics are in the RED. You can't use an inacurate dashboard to base your decisions for our schools. Your decision also impacts our community! Move to a virtual platform (not coa) until numbers begin to go down.Submitted by: MT
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: All Original Metric in Red - Close In Person Learning
Comment: Please ask yourself why the numbers keep going up and the CUSD Covid Dashboard magically stays low. It is grossly inaccurate! You tried it, it isn't working. We have asymptomatic kids that are spreading Covid to our community. You have a responsibility to our community to do more. Follow the original metrics, follow the science, not a made up Covid Dashboard that may or may not show a case based on what? Its time!Submitted by: MT
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Close in Person - Use Original Metrics - Move to Virtual (Not COA)
Comment: Close in person learning! Use the original metrics you promised when parents made the decision to send their kids back to school. The dashboard is inaccurate and lacks any transparency. There are too many restrictions and rules that come with the dashboard. Asymptomatic kids are spreading the virus to our teachers and community.Submitted by: Niki R
School: Casteel High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: No In-person Learning.
Comment: I have emailed the Board directly on several occasions. My position remains the same: in-person learning is not appropriate at this time due to community spread of COVID. Make the health and safety of your staff, students and their families your top priority. Discontinue in-person learning until the community returns to the benchmarks originally set by the County Health Dept.Submitted by: Nikole
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Transparency
Comment: I'm not looking to debate whether we're in-person or virtual. Yes, virtual sounds nice looking at all the cases, but after doing both and seeing growth in the students when we're at school thatl oversees virtual in my opinion. What I'm looking for from the board and the district is transparency. Keep staff and teachers included in cases throughout the district, keep our best interests and safety in mind, please stop changing the benchmarks and going back on your word. It doesn't look good nor represent the quality of CUSD.Submitted by: Olivia S
School: Basha High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Feeling forced to send my child to school
Comment: When my family decided to allow our children to attend in person it was with the understanding that the district would follow metrics. My sophomore son had to quarantine two times last quarter. He ended up missing 4 weeks of in person instruction. He was allowed to return the very last day of the quarter meaning he was not able to complete all of his finals because options were not given except to make them up after return to school. We want to keep him home because he has severe asthma and hasbeen hospitalized for it. However, the way it is written, if he does not do his finals by the 15th he will receive an F. Not to mention it will be a month past when he should have originally done his finals. Now, as a parent who is concerned about the health and safety of my child, my family needs to decide if we send him to school just to do finals or keep him home for his health. I'm angry that options of online issuance of finals was not an option. Please, follow the metrics!Submitted by: Pat r
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please do the right thing!Have you seen the numbers?
Comment: I think it's time to move to online learning. I feel like CUSD is letting so many people down! I would gladly move my son to COA but it has a horrible reputation.Submitted by: Patrick C
School: Auxier Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: 2 week online learning
Comment: We appreciate the transparency and how you are dealing with COVID and the dashboard. This is why we chose to change our children from QCUSD. My wife has congenital heart disease and we need to be safe. We entrust you will make the right decision to keep people safe. We would support an additional 2 weeks of online learnig as the new quarter starts. We feel this is the safest option for all students and teachers. Thank you for all you do.Submitted by: Pauline E
School: Hancock Elementary Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Teachers Asking for Proactive Planning and Leadership
Comment: I am a longtime CUSD employee, and have had children attend CUSD schools. I am requesting that the CUSD board ask District personnel to formulate proactive plans for different scenarios based on changing metrics, and then stick to the plan. It is very frustrating and risky for staff and families when plans are made and then changed, and plans are not followed. I also think it is important that the board and the community understand that 2 grade levels at the non-CTA elementary mix every day for block specials classes, they are not limited to their co-hort classes. Class sizes in the elementary schools need to be reviewed, the initial plan when elementary schools reopened made it seem like the class sizes would be smaller than a typical year. I think it would be very beneficial for all board members to visit multiple CUSD sites, at multiple grades, on multiple days, to get a true picture of what instruction looks like now and what teachers and staff are being required to do.Submitted by: Rebecca C
School: Auxier Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: current crisis situation
Comment: To whom it may concern; I am writing to implore you to reflect on your reasoning as to why you chose to be a part of the school board. Were you committed to assisting CUSD in becoming a premier district in AZ or fueling your own personal agenda? Due to the current COVID spread and metrics per the health department, the recommendation is that we be virtual until spread is decreased. While guidelines are not law, the newest trend is showing that the virus is beginning to impact younger children and is more transmissible. By refusing to follow these guidelines you are complicit in the spread that is occurring and will occur at school. Virtual learning is not ideal, but school safety has always been the primary focus anyways. Again I ask you to reflect on why you chose to run for the seat you have been elected to. If you are truly there to benefit CUSD please look at data and leave your personal opinions and beliefs at the door.Submitted by: Renee S
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Return to in-person teaching on January 5
Comment: I have taught in the Chandler Unified School District for the last 20 years (this is my 30th year teaching), and I have never felt more undervalued or disrespected than I do now. Why does the Board continue to ignore the metrics (that were arbitrarily changed)? I understand that in-person learning is ideal, but it's not ideal to have 3500 students in a building potentially spreading a deadly virus to each other, to their teachers, and to their loved ones. Have any of you seen the video of theteen party in Gilbert? If you have, you know that teens tend to ignore social distancing rules and that, even if they wear a mask, there is still a chance they will spread the virus. With our hospitals begging people to be socially responsible, why is the Board ignoring the metrics and providing the opportunity for even more people to be exposed to the virus? Meeting on Wednesday will be too late--hundreds more people might be exposed to the virus by then.Submitted by: Rosaura M
School: Perry High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Pleas go Virtual teaching until metric are lower
Comment: I am pleading you consider going back to virtual until metric are back to desired. Give it 2 to 4 weeks and reevaluate if safe to go back. I want kids to be in person but not safe right now. I have an aunt with Covid that had to wait a long time for ICU bed. So many infected people please let's be smart and protect not only kids but teachers, staff, bus drivers, and parentsSubmitted by: Ryan B
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please wait to open schools
Comment: Please for the safety of everyone wait to reopen in person. The hospitals are full and this virus is spreading really fast. Protect the staff and the students of CUSD. Virtual school is better than attending a funeral or a memorial. Students are getting this, teachers are getting tithes. The metrics are horrible. There is no easy decision but I feel that the staff and support teachers need remembered too!Submitted by: Ryan B
School: Basha Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Two Week Virtual Model
Comment: I am concerned with the current plan put in place for resuming classes on January 5th during the COVID-19 pandemic. The well-being of my students and their families, as well as myself and my family, is potentially being put at risk. Many families chose to travel and hold large gatherings over break. This has resulted in an increase of an already alarming spread of Covid-19 in our state. On January 1st and January 2nd, the state reported a combined total of 18,951 new cases. On Sunday, January3rd the state reported 17,234 new cases. The positivity rate in CUSD is skyrocketing. This is a real problem, and it is likely only going to get worse. We must follow the health recommendations put forth by the Maricopa County Health Department. Therefore, I am writing today to make a request: That you to modify our school schedule for a two-week virtual model to allow for families who travelled and had large gatherings to quarantine to allow for a safe return to in-person learning.Submitted by: Ryan J
School: Rice Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Stay the course - keep schools open
Comment: Yup the metrics say that CUSD should move back to virtual instruction. However, past experience with this model coupled with data from the past semester with it being half virtual, half in person speaks volumes. First, CUSD safety and mitigation strategies were proven successful. Students, staff were quarantined and infections didn't soar. Second, after the Thanksgiving break, there wasn't a large spike in number of infections despite the belief that they would after students, staff held familygatherings. Third, students' performance greatly improved with in person learning. I understand that there are teachers who are concerned, who are upset, and would like to go back to virtual learning. Did these teachers not go shopping during the holiday break? Did they abstain from gathering with family, friends outside of their home? Did they abstain from traveling by plane? Have they not gone out to eat or gotten take out? Please be wise, be prudent, keep schools openSubmitted by: Ryan R
School: Elite Performance Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Schooling
Comment: As someone with a small child and spouse in CUSD, I would like to address the board to share my concerns regarding the well-being of my loved ones. My message is simple, just follow the science and honor the benchmarks that were reasonably set up at the outset of all this. I urge you to be leaders in this moment and do the right thing by taking our teachers and children out of harms way and into the safety of virtual learning.Submitted by: S.R.
School: Weinberg Gifted Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Follow benchmarks provided
Comment: Please follow the benchmarks provided by the county! Ms. Bruner spoke up last meeting (Dec 9th) and reminded you that many parents and teachers transitioned back to in person learning with the understanding that the board and district would be working with department of health and following the recommended benchmarks. This is what made me feel safe sending my son back to school. I was under the impression that would listen to health professionals when making these decisions not the parents who are screaming the loudest to keep schools open so life can be normal. Unfortunately we are continuing COVID spreading and numbers rising significantly. We have many individuals in our own communities not doing their part to try and slow the curve. Many of refusing to report sick children, not getting tested for covid, and gathering unsafely in large groups continuing to spread the virus. Please keep your word and go back to following guidelines and benchmarks.Submitted by: Sadie T
School: Casteel High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Covid
Comment: Follow the metrics that the CUSD set upSubmitted by: Samantha C
School: ACP Erie Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual instruction
Comment: Given the metrics (remember, you promised to follow those metrics in the beginning - numbers collected by data professionals - not a school dashboard that is missing mountains of information), please move us to virtual instruction. Many parents are extremely hesitant to sign their kids up for the voluntary virtual option because they are put at a disadvantage since the main focus is on in-person learning. If everyone were virtual, it would be a level playing field. The last thing we need to do is add additional stress for the kids who want to protect themselves and their families. You are forcing families to choose between physical and mental health. When EVERYONE is home and learning virtually, it is not nearly as difficult. The teachers are also not stretched in two different directions. Learning virtually is not ideal but it can be done well for short periods. Put us in virtual mode for 2 weeks!Submitted by: Sara N
School: ACP Oakland Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Learning for at least the first two weeks for all for Q3
Comment: How unfair of CUSD to demand the teachers cater to both in-person and virtual students for two weeks and put the decision on parents whether to send students Jan 5-15. The reasonable solution should be the same for all students--remote learning. We don't understand CUSD's desire to be one of, if not the only, EV district to be in-person. Unacceptable. With news of 600+ teachers planning a sickout Tuesday, CUSD knows how teachers feel, and we are certainly not the only parents who feel this way.Please start Q3 with remote learning for all until our COVID numbers are on a steady decline. This situration is dire. Please restore our family's faith in CUSD by making at least the first two weeks of Q3 remote learning for all.Submitted by: Sara W
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: 2nd Semester Covid Precautions
Comment: Thank you for considering the thoughts of the community. I am asking that you follow the metrics recommended by the health department to guide the basis of in-person learning. I chose the in-person option for my two Casteel children trusting that CUSD would follow the metrics and safety guidelines put in place. I want my children in-person, but only when it is safe for them, and their teachers, to do so.Submitted by: Sarah F
School: Casteel High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Return to virtual while metrics are red
Comment: The county superintendent has recommended a return to virtual. This really should be the end of the discussion.Submitted by: Savanna S
School: Casteel High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Concerns for in-person learning.
Comment: The board should reconsider in-person instruction for this upcoming quarter. Many districts in the surrounding area have already made shifts to virtual learning and Chandler's dismissal of these prospects ultimately shows a lack of concern for student and staff safety. With a new strain of COVID discovered in Colorado and California it is likely that we will see the mutation very soon. Unfortunately, we cannot trust our students and the community at large with the responsibility to behave in a way that keeps schools open. With no mask mandates, travel or gathering restrictions we cannot trust that the community has done it's part to curb the spread. Things are much worse now state wide than they were in March or in June. You must reconsider the decision that you made in mid-December as it reflects only one perspective of this issue. Let's stand up and say that enough is enough. We must draw a line for the people that you are elected to serve. Do what's right.Submitted by: Scott C
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: Parent
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: CUSD needs to honor its own commitment and suspend in-person instruction until COVID metrics improve
Comment: I do not appreciate CUSD's failure to follow through on its own promise to close in-person instruction in favor of online learning if any one category was red. All THREE categories are red, yet your current plan is to maintain in-person instruction. Teachers and students were asked to make a choice about whether to come back to in-person at the end of the 1st quarter, and they made that decision based on CUSD's assurance that in-person instruction would be stopped if the COVID situation worsened. The COVID situation has not only worsened, but is now worse than it ever was back in the spring/summer. I am asking CUSD to please honor its commitment to temporarily eliminate in-person instruction until the COVID metrics indicate that it is safe to resume.Submitted by: Scott L
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: COVID Response
Comment: My wife and I are both teacher and support public education. We have watched over the past eight months as the CUSD administration has bungled, botched and blown their response to the pandemic. Numbers/metrics have been changed, lies have been told, and transparency has been ignored. A meeting to decide what would happen with the re-opening of schools was schedule for Thursday, when schools were to open on Tuesday. After three weeks of what would seem like a simple decision, the board meetingwas moved up to Monday, and yet we are still supposed to made a decision on our children's attendance without first knowing what the Governing Board decides. Students and teachers are unable to prepare and are stuck in limbo with little information. I expected there to be differences of opinion on this issue, but what I did not expect was for the decision making process to lack basic common sense. Frankly, CUSD has handled this worse than any district in the Valley.Submitted by: Sharon
School: ACP Oakland Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: CUSD metrics are green
Comment: I understand the county COVID numbers as a whole have gone red and initially following them was important since it was all the data we had. Now we have 3+ months of actual CUSD data from when we returned to in-person in September/October and the numbers have stayed low so I beg you to stay with the 1-2% case limit before changing to all on-line. That is real data that should be more valuable than the overall county numbers.Submitted by: Sharon T
School: Rice Elementary Organization: Parent
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Close the elementary sites or provide virtual instruction
Comment: There is too much comunity spread and the district needs to stick to the original metrics and promises you made your stakeholders when we agreed to try in-person after quarter 2.Submitted by: Shelley K
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Shift to virtual due to COVID surge
Comment: Our Governor CLOSED our schools for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year when the cases were way lower. Now cases are astronomical and we aren't moving to virtual? This makes no sense. Please do what is in the best interest of our TEACHERS AND STUDENTS and move to virtual only until cases are decreasing consistently. Give the vaccines a chance to be effective! Our teachers are NOT expendable!Submitted by: Sherri
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Until Safe
Comment: Prior to the beginning of the 2020-21 school year, CUSD took a survey of staff members. Based on the results of that survey, CUSD assured staff that if we returned to work that CUSD would be following the state and county metrics. That was a lie. Instead, CUSD adopted their own metrics which can be manipulated so that we will never meet them. Meanwhile, ALL state and county metrics are currently in the red. The state and county recommendation is for education to be provided virtually. Prior to this, the recommendation was for CUSD to be in a hybrid model. We have never been hybrid. Having classrooms with 30+ students in them every day is not a hybrid model. It is business as usual. Walk into any secondary classroom and you would not know that we are in the midst of a global pandemic except for the fact that the students and teachers are wearing masks.Vote to go virtual until the state and county metrics improve. While we are virtual, come up with a plan for a TRUE hybrid model.Submitted by: Stacy B
School: Casteel High Organization: Parent
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to Virtual Learning
Comment: As per the CDC, state, and county guidance: CUSD should be in a virtual learning platform until community spread is no longer substantial. The level of spread in our community does not allow for a safe in-person learning environment. Teachers and students need to be learning online, safely. This is not about what group of parents are loudest; it is about using Science and data to form decisions and guide planning. While virtual, please work as a team with district admin to establish equitablevirtual learning platforms so that when in quarantine or by choice; secondary students can learn via online instruction with a CUSD teacher. Teachers, students and parents trusted that CUSD would follow the original health benchmarks as voted upon; please uphold that decision and guide our community into a safe, virtual learning model. Thank you.Submitted by: Stefanie C
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Covid Concerns
Comment: I implore you to make the right choice and move CUSD schools to virtual learning until it is safe based on the original metrics established by the board when the district returned to in person learning. I also ask that the voices of your district's teachers and staff be included in your decision making as related to education models for the remainder of the pandemic. The Maricopa county school dashboard indicates that schools should be fully online due to high levels of COVID. Additionally, Arizona as a state has hit substantial spread levels. Unfortunately people have ignored the pleas of government officials and medical professionals to stay home; some parents in the Chandler Unified school district are even hosting 500 person parties for their kids and local businesses are going ahead with their large New Year's Eve events. This has left us with no choice but to close schools in order to protect students, staff, and the community at large.Submitted by: Stephanie L
School: Chandler High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Covid
Comment: With our COVID cases continuing to rise and hospitals filling up, please have the Chandler Unified School District follow the original plan (as was promised to staff and students) and have the district switch to virtual instruction for the first two weeks following winter break for ALL STUDENTS. This will give the district time to review the data and make a safe decision for how to proceed after those first two weeks. Please follow the science and help slow the spread in our community.Submitted by: Stephanie S
School: Basha Elementary Organization: Parent of students
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to school dashboard numbers
Comment: I'm extremely disappointed in the lack of clear and good options available to all. We are beyond 9 months into this situation. The metrics agreed upon need to be held. Even with all the accounting changes the metrics are out of control. Why is this important? Well, the hospitals are at capacity and beyond. Critically ill patients are being treated and left in the hallway with minimal monitoring because there just isn't enough staff or room. Immunocompromised people are being infected putting increasing pressure on the medical system, the families, and the community at large. Stop this madness! Make appropriate online options available immediately. Decisively. Move forward with confidence and stop this wavering!!!!Submitted by: Stephanie S
School: Payne Junior High Organization: Parent of student
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Covid metrics and return to school
Comment: I'm extremely disappointed in the lack of clear and good options available to all. We are beyond 9 months into this situation. The metrics agreed upon need to be held. Even with all the accounting changes the metrics are out of control. Why is this important? Well, the hospitals are at capacity and beyond. Critically ill patients are being treated and left in the hallway with minimal monitoring because there just isn't enough staff or room. Immunocompromised people are being infected putting increasing pressure on the medical system, the families, and the community at large. Stop this madness! Make appropriate online options available immediately. Decisively. Move forward with confidence and stop this wavering!!!!Submitted by: Swati A
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual until safe
Comment: The entire Phoenix area is red for all three school metrics, this will not change before school is scheduled to start again after winter break. We should all be virtual, we need to protect all our teachers, staff and students. A voluntary 2 week shift to online will do nothing to keep community spread out of the classrooms.Submitted by: Tamara H
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Safer Together. Virtual.
Comment: After the holidays, the numbers are quite bad. Hospitals are inundated. Right now it is critical that we all do something to help bring our community numbers down. This means laying low and virtual for several weeks for the safety of our teachers, staff, students, families, and community.Submitted by: Tammy N
School: Hamilton High Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Reconsider School Opening Plans
Comment: Dear Barb Mozdzen, Lindsay Love, Joel Wirth, Jason Olive: My godmother is a teacher at Hamilton. Please revise school reopening plans to virtual instruction until the county metrics deem it is safe to return to live instruction. Arizona is setting records with case numbers and hospitals are filling up while people in the community continue to attend large gatherings and refuse to follow mitigation strategies. Our numbers will continue to rise over the next few weeks due to holiday celebrations and a complete disregard for mitigation strategies. Please have the Chandler Unified School District follow the original plan (as was promised to staff and students) and have the district switch to virtual instruction for the first two weeks following winter break for ALL STUDENTS. This will give the district time to review the data and make a safe decision for how to proceed after those two weeks. Please follow the science and help slow the spread in our community.Submitted by: Taylor E
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Do what right please!
Comment: When I agreed to send my child back to in-person instruction it was under the pretense that the board would follow specific guidelines to when it was necessary to go back to virtual in order to keep our students, staff, and teachers safe. You blatantly disregarded your own parameters AND those set by the county to do so. Shame on you! The Covid numbers are higher than they have ever been and you are making us send our children out into the world every day to possibly be exposed to that. Do you not hear the hospitals crying out that they are at 90% capacity? Do you not hear that Covid causes long term side effects even when the activists infection is over? Listen to the parents, the students, the government, the community, the families and do what's right. It's about time you do something worthwhile.Submitted by: TB
School: Casteel High Organization: Student
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Back to Virtual learning
Comment: As a freshman, I do not feel safe learning in person with full classes right now. My teachers work hard to make virtual learning the best it can be. Please keep us all safe and learning virtually until the benchmarks are back to green. Thanks.Submitted by: Teresa M
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Board Mtg- School & COVID
Comment: The community location of the HS my child attends is in the red in all 3 metrics. CUSD needs to provide hybrid or full time virtual leaning until metrics go down. CUSD needs to ensure all children have equitable access to learning- technology, books, teacher access, etc. It is important to do our part in decreasing the spread. CUSD needs to always ensuring everyone is wearing a mask, physically distancing, and has access to sanitizer or hand washing to decrease spread while on CUSD premises.Submitted by: Tina M
School: Navarrete Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Until Safe
Comment: I am writing as a concerned and disappointed parent of a junior high and elementary student and as an elementary teacher in the district. It is not safe for students and teachers to return to in-person learning! As much as I agree that in-person learning is what's best, now is not the time. First, I implore you to follow the metrics we agreed on and immediately move to virtual instruction until the community spread drastically improves. Students and teachers reporting to the classroom on Tuesday is unacceptable and reckless! Secondly, I implore you to move Wednesday's meeting to Monday evening . Having a meeting after students return is not safe. Finally, I implore you to meet CEA's requests and do what's right for the students and staff of CUSD.Submitted by: Tina T
School: Perry High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Viable virtual option
Comment: All while I appreciate the complex situation you are in I cannot accept CUSD has not come up with an appropriate virtual option. I have written multiple times on how disruptive going in person has become for my child. This school district needs a plan. How can I believe the positivity rate of COVID is 27% in the community but some how magically at Perry it is less than 1%. I implore you to come up with a plan.Submitted by: TODD K
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In-Person Class vs Virtual
Comment: I have a 3rd grader and 1st grader attending Tarwater Elementary. In light of the growing pressure to return to virtual classes, I wanted to say I fully support the current policy where each school is monitored separately based on its own metrics and not on the metrics of other schools or overall county metrics. It is fairly clear that spread in elementary schools such as Tarwater has been extremely minimal in comparison to other metrics. The policies that have been put in place for social distancing and wearing masks are working at Tarwater and most parents, teachers, and students are fully invested in making it work. It would be unfair to penalize all elementary school students by closing schools again because of higher cases in high schools or outside of the school setting. Virtual learning does not provide an adequate learning or social environment for elementary students, and it puts undue hardship on working parents. Please keep the current policy in effect for 2021. ThanksSubmitted by: Ty B
School: Casteel High Organization: Parent
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Learning Until Benchmarks In Green
Comment: CDC, state, and local health guidelines stress that in-person learning is only safe when community spread is moderate or below. CUSD, according to their own board vote; should be virtual. I sent my freshman back to school with the understanding CUSD would follow public health guidelines. Please get our kids and teachers on a virtual learning model until the community spread is back to green. We can not stay in a district that does not put teacher and student safety as a priority. We ask that youwork as a team with admin to create a virtual learning option that is equitable and accessible moving forward. To give these HS kids COA as their only other option is not acceptable. Thank you for putting safety first and working together for our students and teachers.Submitted by: WT
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Follow Original Metrics - Move to Virtual Platform (Not COA)
Comment: Are you just totally ignoring everything now? All the numbers? We have already established that the COVID dashboard is inaccurate and not transparent at all. I don't know how you can do this when every other school district almost has gone virtual? It is becoming gross negligence in my opinion. Now my son is home quarantined and he has to take finals in the first two weeks he is back from school after break? What if he chooses the virtual option, which I am going to choose? How is he going to take his finals in person? Are you going to force him to go in person? He is an AP student with all A's and just got a 1446 on his PSATs. This kid is a high achiever and the undue stress of his finals is unfair on top of everything else he is dealing with these days. This is just terrible! You need to do something more then nothing. I have lost all faith in CUSD, and I held CUSD in such high regard. Close in person learning until COVID numbers come down. Provide on site support for those in need.Submitted by: Yvette a
School: Patterson Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Why is CUSD not taking action on the extreme uptick in COVID-19 cases in the state of AZ? Are the numbers correct?
Comment: While our kids are thriving being in person schooling, we are extremely concerned with the numbers CUSD posted last week. They don't seem to add up. We have a niece that attends Hamilton High school that tested positive for COVID, and when her mother called the school Nurse the Nurse reported that all she does all day is call students for contact tracing, and several of the parents are saying My kid has it too . While she thought she was the first on the cheerleading squad to test positive she came to find out that at least half of the squad had tested positive as well they just aren't telling anyone because they are embarrassed. Class sizes are shrinking everyday. When you a teacher at San Tan Jr High that had 35 positive cases between all her classes, and other that had 9. That was over 3 weeks ago, yet the report of recorded didn't seem to jive. Please know that we in the community talk. And most of us are not believing the numbers being reported by CUSD. Please be honest. -
Social, Mental Health
Submitted by: Adonna C
School: Knox Gifted Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keeping schools open
Comment: Our children need to go to school for their future & mental health.Submitted by: Adrienne L
School: Perry High Organization: Parents
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Do not close the schools.
Comment: My daughter struggled with on line learning. Her grades and anxiety and depression were at their worst. She needs to be in school. Teachers need to do their jobs. Covid is not being spread in the schools, with the safety measurements that have been enacted. Please do not close the schools. My daughters chances of college will be severely limited. We need to help theses students succeed instead of catering to the teachers union who have their own agenda. Their job is to teach, to be astability in a time of uncertainty.Submitted by: Alisha K
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please please don't close our schools
Comment: I watch my child go into depression without school!!!Submitted by: Amie P
School: Auxier Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person learning essential
Comment: Please keep in person learning regardless of current COVID-19 cases. Data shows that kids don't spread it. Suicide rates are going up among youth which is much more devastating than cases of COVID. Virtual learning for my 2nd and 6th grader went very poorly. If the board votes to go back to in person please know I will take my kids out of CUSD and enroll them elsewhere.Submitted by: Andrea F
School: Basha High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Continue in person school
Comment: I know you are faced with pressure from outside sources, SOME teachers and SOME community members to have school be on line. Please keep in in person as we are managing it well. The kids NEED their education, the extra curriclart activity to survive. It's mentally necessary. Education is required- not optional. Most want in person- other were able to choose on line. Everyone in this country has to continue to move forward... imagine if our cops and doctors opted to walk out. Stay strong.Submitted by: Andrea H
School: Carlson Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: In-person learning
Comment: Students need to be in person for not only their academic growth, but their mental health as well. I have been an elementary teacher in CUSD for 23 years and do not want to go back online.Submitted by: Angela O
School: Rice Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: DO NOT CLOSE THE SCHOOLS
Comment: Well, here we are again submitting comments asking the board members who are supposed to be advocating FOR our kids to not close the schools. You have been elected to advocate for our kids and now are choosing to do the opposite. Let me ask you this, have you asked the any students how THEY feel about virtual learning? My guess is no, because you don't want to hear what they truly have to say. I told my 2nd grader and kindergartner that the board members are deciding if they want the students toreturn to virtual learning, they were so upset and asked me Do they not want us to learn and be happy ? Please answer that question for these young learners. My students thrive in school not in virtual learning, the emotional and mental trauma you are wanting to put them through again is unacceptable. If YOU choose to continue to hurt these kids mental and emotional state you will lose children to charter schools. I will not allow my children to think less of themselves because of you!Submitted by: Annie P
School: Perry High Organization: Concerned Parent representing my Children
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please continue to keep our schools in-person and open for the majority who need and want to be there! Keep virtual option for those who don't.
Comment: Thank you for all your time and effort in making choices in the best interest of our children and families. Moving up the board meeting raises major concern to our community for a last minute potential change that could impact our district's families so negatively. Please consider ALL aspects to in-person learning, including actual cases within our individual school, the rise of suicide in these age of kids, mental health significant decline, lack of supervision and availability for most families to facilitate a SAFE at-home learning environment, the stress it adds to working parents already facing extremely difficult financial circumstances, etc. Educate yourself on more than just the local number of positive cases. Deaths are not rising! Consider our own CUSD data, which is incredibly low per school and the infection rate of kids forced to be quarantined due to close contact (positivity rate .005) and staff 0%. KEEP OUR SCHOOLS OPEN FOR IN PERSON LEARNING for the majority.Submitted by: April l
School: Santan Elementary Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Board meeting and potential school closure
Comment: I am writing to let the school board of Chandler school district that this writer and a parent of a 3rd grader at San tan elementary school completely disagrees with school closure or delays. There has been many studies done that school aged children do not spread covid-19. Many physician have stated that schools do not need to be closed. School closure does more harm then good and these children need to be in a classroom setting with their teachers and peers. You as a school board are doing harm to my child and his education as well as his social and physical health. School has been in session since August and there have been very few cases if any cases. These cases also can not be proven that those individuals contracted covid from students. Many other parents disagree with school closure or delays. I will seek legal counsel against the school for mental and physical health decline due to the school Board making inappropriate decisions for my child that is causing harm.Submitted by: Armando S
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep Schools Open
Comment: We often make quick decisions because of fear, but when people are scared, there becomes a great temptation for leaders to take actions that give the appearance of doing something without actually doing anything to mitigate the danger. We are constantly being reminded to trust the science and the science is clear on this that schools safely opened and practicing good mitigation strategies, are not a reason for community spread of the coronavirus. On the other hand, there is growing evidence that taking our kids out of school can have serious, long-term negative effects such as huge spikes in childhood depression, anxiety and even suicides. There is also an important fact that kids do not learn as well remotely. I employ the members of the board to look at states & districts that have closed schools and identify whether or not that is working for them....it's clearly not from my research. Our community is depending on this decision, it is what is best for all.Submitted by: Ashley W
School: Casteel High Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep schools open and also fire teachers who doxxed Perry students and parents
Comment: The safest place for students academically, physically, socially, emotionally and mentally is in school with their peers and a teacher in front of them. The virtual model is ineffective, and as I'm sure the board is aware, teenagers at home are going to congregate maskless even more and be out in the community. There has already been irreparable damage done to students and their futures. Let's not continue to harm them.Submitted by: Ashley W
School: Haley Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep Our Kids In School! THEY NEED THIS!
Comment: Please keep our children in school. Cases in schools have not been the issue. Our kids NEED in person learning for their mental health and education. Please keep the choice of in person learning available, especially for our elementary and IEP students. Both my children cannot learn virtually effectively and do not thrive in a virtual setting. Please stick to your school by school plan and stop playing games with the students, parents, and teachers! This is getting to be ridiculous.Submitted by: Athen F
School: Knox Gifted Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Schools open for in person learning
Comment: As a licensed marriage and family therapist and expert in mental health of children and adults, I strongly believe continuing to offer both in-person and online options is essential for families and children in the CUSD. While case numbers are high and I am aware of the health situation, the numbers and data on actual CUSD schools (especially elementary schools) has shown that schools are not a significant contributor to the spread of COVID-19 and mitigation efforts in place are working. We have to look at the impact on a child's well-being and overall health- mental, physical, emotional and psychological- and the importance for many children and families of staying in school is essential to all of these. School is not only key for education and learning so that our future- our YOUTH- is bright and equipped for success - it is often the only safe place for some children to go. We know there are multiple risk factors (depression, abuse) that far outweigh the risk of COVID to a child.Submitted by: Bart M
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In-Person Learning
Comment: Board - We have children in three Chandler schools. We understand and have accepted the risks of in-person learning. I am asking you to keep in-person learning available. It is unfathomable that we - or you - would ask our youth to bear the burden of this disease, which statistically poses very low risks to them. Virtual learning creates developmental, psychological and even physical risks that cannot be ignored. Thank you for making the sound decision and keeping in-person learning open, which is the best solution for their overall health.Submitted by: Beth W
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please allow in-person school
Comment: My Jr at Basha High (who has grown up in CATS, has a 4.0+ GPA) was made to feel stupid and incapable when virtual learning proved to be ineffective and detrimental to his education. He spent a quarter getting further behind and failing in Calc BC. He has never experienced this in-person. When he finally got the in-person support he needed, he was able to simultaneously relearn the 1st quarter concepts while learning 2nd quarter concepts through hard work and daily tutoring from his teacher afterschool. He has spent countless hours studying to get out of this hole. I am pleading with you not to push him back in. I fought daily with my kindergartener (Navarrete) to the point that I was near pulling him out and homeschooling. He is just not meant to be in front of a screen for that amount of time. It is not effective. Please do not sacrifice the efficacy of our children's education when there have not been significant outbreaks within our schools. The virus is not spreading in the class.Submitted by: Bonnie R
School: Casteel High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Mental health in person IN school
Comment: For kid's mental health this is beyond important that they remain in school have you looked at suicide rates?up 67% pinal county!Submitted by: Carie P
School: Santan Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep schools open
Comment: Please keep schools up! Give us a choice for our kids. Our youth NEEDS to be in school. They need the in person instruction, the community, the friendships, the memories and everything else that goes along with in person. If ones don't feel comfortable they too can choose to do virtual. This virus is not going anywhere and we are going to need to learn as a society to pivot and adapt like many of us have already done. We've pivoted our businesses each and every day but remained open to serve ourmembers. Kids need an education and in the classroom is where it needs to happen. Please don't go back to virtualSubmitted by: CC
School: Payne Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep schools open/follow the science
Comment: I hope you will consider keeping the schools open. So far based on studies and experience it does NOT seem to be a risk for students AND teachers to be in person at school. Teacher seem to have one of the most covid safe jobs. Why hurt the acedemic progress and the mental health of all our students by closing the schools. Studies show there is not high rates of spread at schools, and the data tracking the real life experience we are having in our school district supports that. Its also clear that having kids at home puts them at so much more adverse problems on top of higher risk of covid exposure. Please make the right choice for our families, please dont force parent to chose between working and being able to pay bills and taking care of their kids who are no longer in school. Please don't put kids at risk of being around abusers, by keeping them home. Please don't take away food stability by keeping them home. Please don't isolate them hurting their mental health by keeping them homSubmitted by: Chelsea S
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please do not close schools
Comment: The first time schools were closed, the change in my teenagers mood was quite apparent. Please do not close schools. The damage done to mental health is unmatched.Submitted by: Christine C
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keeping Schools Open and In Person
Comment: Please consider the science. Kids are better off in school than virtual. The kids are excited to go back and do do much better when they are able to be in school both mentally and physically! Thank you!Submitted by: Christine J
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep kids in person learning
Comment: It has been a hard holiday season as I have had to help my children walk through the loss of their aunt who took her own life just before Christmas. When my kids did online school managing their mental health was almost impossible. My sister in law couldn't handle the isolation and political unrest in our country. Being able to go back to school will be so good for my boys to be learning and to be around peers. My boys are barely hanging on and having them online again would be detrimental. Please consider the well being of our children in their education and mental health.Submitted by: Christine N
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep our schools open!
Comment: I write to you as a parent of 3 highschool students in CUSD to tell you we can't take much more of this! My highschool aged children's mental health is suffering greatly because of all the last minute changes that the board subjects us to. I sincerely hope that the board stays the course and DOES NOT make any changes to in person learning. I am losing patience with teachers who are pushing to have schools closed for in person learning. Teachers are essential workers and ifthey don't feel safe doing their job they need to find a new job! My kids have a right to receive an in person education!. Since March the only real learning they have been provided has been the last 9 weeks of in person learning. PLEASE do not make any changes. Allow those students to be in person that want to be in person. Allow those parents who make the choice to send their children for in person learning to have that choice. I have stayed the course in remaining with the districSubmitted by: Chrystie C
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep our school open for in-person learning for 2021
Comment: Please allow kids to continue in-person learning through this 2020-21 school year! Some parents are concerned COVID numbers are high and therefore schools should close. Offer a virtual option for those families, but don't take away in-person for those that want and need this option. As a frontline worker, I can attest to the fact that COVID cases are high and many people are hospitalized. However, I don't feel our schools are the source of super spread. Events outside of school, group/family gatherings, and parties are contributing to this spike. My children are doing so much better academically and emotionally being back in the classroom. As a frontline worker, I need the schools to stay open to provide that face-to-face learning they need to succeed. I can't be home with them to manage tech issues, ensure they stay engaged in Google Meets sessions, and stay accountable to doing classwork they would otherwise be doing in the classroom under supervision of a teacher. Thank you.Submitted by: Dan G
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Board Meeting for January 4th
Comment: Our family appreciates our district and educators very much. We currently have seven children enrolled in the district. We understand the concern and want our teachers and children to be safe. As a first responder I tried to cautiously avoid COVID-19 for months before I finally contracted it in November. Unfortunately, my family also contracted the virus and we quarantined at home for almost three weeks before we felt safe to bring them back to school. CUSD was supportive during this process. Mychildren's educational and emotional health suffered during this time. They are now healthy and motivated to be successful at school and are prepared to be back on Tuesday. We follow CDC and CUSD policy recommendations to keep our family and others safe. Please honor the commitment to our students to keep them in school. Thank you. Dan GSubmitted by: Diane
School: Perry High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please stay open!
Comment: I will be short. I don't think my senior daughter will emotionally survive schools being shut down again. The data does not support the assumption that schools are spreading Covid. Please don't let this become political and do what is best for the children of this district. They need in person options!Submitted by: Diane S
School: Carlson Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: School closing
Comment: Hope the board is following the science regarding the low risk of COViD to children and their low potential to be spreaders. In addition the damage being done to our children when they are not in school. The green,yellow, red is outdated criteria and should no longer be used to close schoolsSubmitted by: Elice W
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep Schools Open
Comment: Please keep our schools open. My kids need to be able to go to school to learn as well as for their mental health.Submitted by: Eric S
School: Patterson Elementary Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: stay in person
Comment: Please do not take away the choice for in person education for our kids. My children are finally thriving after the fiasco that was google classroom in 2020. I had finally got my children enjoying school and have the anxiety under control. Please dont take away my daughters choice to go in person. They need to be in person for their mental wellbeing. We finally got one child with an IEP set up because she is at least a year behind from the lack of instruction in 2020. I have spend hundreds ofdollars for private tutors to get her caught up just from what she missed when the teachers at her school decided 30 min per day of instruction was appropriate for a 1st grader. It is NOT. Let the parents who want to stay online, but give parents the CHOICE.Submitted by: Garrett G
School: Basha Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep our schools open
Comment: I have a daughter in 1st grade and being in in person school most of this year has been exactly what she needed in these crazy times. It's something she looks forward to every day. The social isolation of remote learning is difficult for most kids and being together in person is a better educational experience. Yes, there are risk to in person learning but they out weight the long term negative effects of extended remote learning. I understand this is not an easy decision but I whole heartedly believe in person schooling is what is best for our kids. Thank you for your time.Submitted by: In p
School: Casteel High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Stay open
Comment: Do not let the bully parents that want virtual dictate or sway in anyway. If they want virtual so bad then they can enroll their children in virtual and leave everyone else alone. If the teachers are not wanting to work then why should our tax dollars be paying for them to stay at home. Teachers keep saying their essential workers however essential workers are GOING to work not complaining and staging sick outs. Unfortunately right now it seems like the people that are loudest are the only ones getting heard. Many of us are not complaining because we are happy with the schools, the administration and the teachers that actually are doing their jobs. I am so tired of the Karens that have nothing else better to do than complain and try to push their ideas onto others. We don't tell you how to live why can't they leave the people who want to stay in school alone. Last time I check this was a free country. If we really cared about the kids we would be more worried about teen suicideSubmitted by: Jada M
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep kids in School
Comment: Statistically kids are safest in school. Especially for their mental state.Submitted by: Jaime V
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep Kids In Person Learning
Comment: Please keep kids in person learning, you promised options and gave kids options all year. Those that are worried can stay home, it's an option. Teacher who didn't want to be in person also where given options too and those who wanted chose COA. Now isn't the time to disrupt our kids again. They have suffered so much and they cannot take another change. Kids do best with in person learning models and consistency. My children for one can't take another shift to online, you will loose many familiesand start to put CUSD in a dire financial deficit if you keep loosing families. Honor the boards prior vote and keep kids with options to learn in person, at all grade levels too.Submitted by: Jay
School: Riggs Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep Kids in School
Comment: For their physical and mental health, kids must be in school. Experts have said kids are safest in school. Mitigation strategies are working. Virtual learning was an epic failure to our students. Keep them in school.Submitted by: Jayme P
School: Navarrete Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In Person Instruction
Comment: While I understand the concern for the severity of the current COVID situation, it is now more than ever our students need consistency for their mental health. I am a mother who has had a child that has contemplated suicide this year. We removed him from CUSD as we didn't believe the administration at his school were supportive and Covid definitely took its toll on his mental health. That being said, we still have a 9yo and a 15yo in CUSD. We have tried to be patient, but are tired of our children being used as pawns. Teachers are essential workers, our students deserve to be in person, and we as parents deserve to have our choices made for our children respected. There was an option to be online and no student was forced to return. I hope that the CUSD school board respects our choice for our children to be in person. I will say, should the Board decide to revert to distance learning, we most certainly will be looking to alternative options.Submitted by: Jennifer A
School: Ryan Elementary Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep school In person
Comment: Please keep all CUSD schools in person. Elementary and Secondary schools ALL need to stay in person. These kids need to be in the schools, it is detrimental to the children's mental health.Submitted by: Jennifer G
School: Andersen Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep our kids in school
Comment: I am the reading specialist at Andersen Elementary. I work with the students that need the most support in reading. All of my students score below benchmark on reading assessments. After being in school for an entire quarter, I was celebrating with the teachers about the progress that we were finally seeing in the students. But the progress took the entire quarter of in-person learning. My students need to be in school, and they need extra support every day. I have met with a number of parents about how difficult it was for their children to do school virtually, and listened to how thankful they were that we were in-person so their children would be getting the help they need on a daily basis. Please keep our children in school. They need the social interaction with their peers. They need instruction from their teachers in-person so they can ask questions and get immediate help. We also need to support our families so they are able to return to work. Thank you for your consideration.Submitted by: Jennifer H
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep schools open continued
Comment: "7. How do we identify and report mental health issues in our students that have been struggling over break and now will still be alone at home instead of returning to school due to this sudden change? 8. Will winter sports hold practice, or will they be postponed until in-person resumes? 9. How will staff ensure special needs student's IEPs are being adjusted and their needs being met while online, then changed back when they return to in-person? The flip-flopping and inconsistent forms of learning are not good for many SPED students, especially those with autism that require consistency (including my own child). 10. Would ALL classified staff still work and get paid? 11. Can this two-week delay of returning in-person be guaranteed that it is just for two weeks?"Submitted by: Jenny N
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep the in-person option
Comment: I am pleading with the school board to keep the in person option in tact with our kids going back on Jan 5. I have 2 children who were very depressed and struggling with online school. Since the have returned to school, I have begun to see them returning to their old selfs. Please don't force them to go back to online. It is detrimental to their mental health. The schools are not where the virus is spreading. My kids, and their friends, where masks for the entire day at school. They are doing their part. Please don't punish the children and families whose lives depend on the children being in the classroom. My children have been so happy since they were able to return to class. Please let our kids keep their return date of Jan 5, and stick to the plan set forth at a previous board meeting where each school would be looked at individually. Thank you!Submitted by: Jessica B
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep school open
Comment: Throughout these past 10 months, the people most disregarded have been children. Schools were closed without much thought of the negative consequences of such an action. Generally, virtual learning is not very effective for most kids. I think most would agree with that. But it's more than that. What about kids who come from abusive homes and only find respite at school? What about kids who suffer from mental illness, particularly depression, who feel isolated without school? What about kids whodon't have reliable internet or supportive caretakers at home who can help them be successful? What about kids who still can't read and kids who are typically A/B students who are find themselves with D's & F's on HS transcripts? The most important people the Board serves are the children of this district, and those children need to be in school for their physical, social, mental, emotional, and academic well-being.Submitted by: Jessica N
School: Chandler Online Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Include COA families in communications from the governing board or the district
Comment: Families of students currently enrolled in Chandler Online Academy were excluded from recent communications about the governing board's upcoming meeting and related activities to determine the best course of action during the current COVID-19 surge. Those of us who selected COA for our children are still a part of CUSD. Please include us in any future communications from the governing board or district. Also, it would be helpful if the district could provide some opportunities for COA students to connect with their peers in virtual extracurricular activities or groups.Submitted by: Jessica N
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person school
Comment: Our students deserve to be taught in school. They are suffering academically and mentally, and this is causing more harm than the risk of the virus. As a nurse, working in the hospitals, I know there are risks but with the precautions in place in schools the risk is very low. As an essential worker, teachers need to be in school doing their jobs. I could not just not go to work because I am scared. I would lose my job, and teachers are essential worker's and should be required the same. Let parent''s decided what is best for their children.Submitted by: Jessica P
School: CTA Liberty Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Schools should remain open!
Comment: CTA Liberty has not had a single case of COVID. There are many elementary schools that still have not had one case. It's obvious that COVID is not being spread in schools. The CTA schools are rigorous, advanced, and have high standards. It's impossible to keep up w the demand of the high passed curriculum while doing distance learning. My son suffers. Anxiety and depression were his constant companion during distance learning in the fall. You will lose more students if you go back to distance learning. In school education should be the priority.Submitted by: Jessica s
School: Fulton Elementary Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: The necessity for in person learning is crucial to children, especially the younger ages that get so much more from structure and social in a classroo
Comment: Leverage our school precaution efforts in place and ensure IN Person learning remains, especially for young students. Everyone can still be safe, in person structure from teachers is essential. So much missed for these children not in classroom interaction and environment. My daughter cried almost every day when we first started online only. Since being able to go in person, she hasn't cried and actually talks about loving school. We are doing the right things to stay in person learning.Submitted by: Julie
School: Carlson Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Request for In Person after 2 week virtual
Comment: Please, please, please, if you are going to return to virtual, PLEASE consider returning to in person after a 2 week period. My triplet Kinders NEED to be at school in person. They NEED the experience of Kinder with peers, a classroom, a teacher, support staff, and the experience of school. They have learned SO MUCH during since September. It took my son until AFTER Thanksgiving to become adjusted to school. He experienced SO MUCH anxiety after not starting until September. He is so looking forward to returning and seeing his friends and teachers. I'm begging you to let the kids he kids and teachers be teachers after a 2 week break extension to help us flatten the curve.Submitted by: Julie C
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person
Comment: As a 28 year veteran of CUSD and a parent of a junior at Perry, please please please keep schools open. I am willing to work and I am not afraid of the virus I am more afraid of the mental health of my son and the numerous students I teach. There is a huge difference between virtual and in person I saw my students blossom in person please allow those of us that chose in person to remain in person.Submitted by: Julie J
School: Carlson Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In Person
Comment: My kindergarten triplets need to continue to attend school in person. It has taken one of my children until after the Thanksgiving holiday to finally adjust to being away from me. Please, please, please, the kids need the time at school for their social/emotional development as well as a proper education.Submitted by: K.W.
School: CTA Freedom Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Continue in person learning
Comment: Please continue giving the parents the right to choose what option is best for their children. In person learning for my elementary aged child is the most effective way for her to learn and flourish. Virtual learning was not beneficial academically or socially. Please continue to allow in person learning.Submitted by: Karen C
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person school IS ESSENTIAL!!!
Comment: Please allow thd kids to remain in person, the mental damage I have witnessed first hand in the hospital is real. These kids need quality education, and after 2 quarters of online, my kids need in person .Submitted by: Karl
School: Auxier Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep schools open
Comment: My son's mental health is in your hands. He was in very bad shape during virtual instruction. Upon returning to in-person, his mental health drastically improved. In our case, his mental health is priority right now because that can do far more damage to him than covid. We will have to leave the district if you shut schools down again. We love CUSD but we need to do what is best for our child which is staying in school.Submitted by: Katherine K
School: Chandler High Organization: CEA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Return to Virtual Learning for the safety and sanity of your staff
Comment: Enough people are speaking to the safety of us being in school. I want to address the added stress this is causing on your teaching staff. Our mental well being is in way worse shape than the risk to our physical well being recently. We are being stretched TOO THIN. We are continuously being asked to do more and more with less and less, and we keep doing it. We are all ready to snap. I have had almost 30 of my 110 students quarantined since the middle of October. 2 of them have tested positive for Covid-19. Every single class period I have to deal with anywhere from 1-3 kids that are quarantined, another 2-4 that are staying home with symptoms, and then the other 15-20 that are trying to learn in person. I am teaching Live on Meets while also trying to meet the needs of students in my classroom. I am spending my entire prep hour each day emailing and calling parents of students who are out to make sure they are getting the materials they need. I am responding to student emailSubmitted by: Katherine K
School: Chandler High Organization: CEA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Return to Virtual Learning for the safety and sanity of your staff (Continued...)
Comment: (continued from previous comment...) I am responding to student emails and Remind messages literally around the clock. And then I come back and do it again and again, day in and day out. I'm trying to revamp my curriculum to accommodate for students who are not in person while also trying to make it as engaging as possible for students that ARE present. It is a never ending battle with a revolving classroom door. I have never seen morale so low in my 19 years as an educator. We have already had several staff members resign and several retire early (that I know of) and dozens more are close to breaking and walking out the door. We all love our kids, and we love our job, but this is just not sustainable. We're working 60+ hours Monday-Friday alone to try to accommodate for all these setbacks and we just can't do it anymore. You have asked and asked and asked… and we have stepped up and we have done it. But we literally cannot do it any longer.Submitted by: Kathy S
School: Casteel High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person learning
Comment: Please please please keep the schools in person. My daughter is already struggling so much and failing and forcing her to do virtual will guarantee her more failure. She is not cut out for virtual. Her spirits and metal health have been better than they have in so long. She was not ok mentally and this is why i can't even think what this will do to her. So please keep these kids in person. Thank youSubmitted by: Katie S
School: Payne Junior High Organization: n/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: stay in person
Comment: Please do not take away the choice for in person education for our kids. My children are finally thriving after the fiasco that was google classroom in 2020. I had finally got my children enjoying school and have the anxiety under control. Please dont take away my daughters choice to go in person. She needs to be in person for her mental wellbeing. Let the parents who want to stay online, but give parents the CHOICE.Submitted by: Kayla
School: Haley Elementary Organization: Haley Elementary
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep in person school open
Comment: Evidence and science shows that young kids are not super spreaders. Our numbers have stayed low and we all know the importance of children being in person at school. Their mental health is crucial and in person needs to stay an option. People have the option for online school and they can choose that. There's just as many people, If not more, that are comfortable with in person school and see the importance of it. Please keep in person as an option.Submitted by: KC
School: Ryan Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep in school learning an option
Comment: I hope that you will keep everyone in the community in mind when deciding to keep schools open, and think about all the other health risks and not just the covid risks. There are so many more health risks physical and mental that certain board members seem to be overlooking and are only concerned with Covid risks. Please for physical and mental well being of our kids and families please keep in school learning an option. Please don't force parents to have to quit jobs that allow them to providefood and other necessities for their families because someone has to stay home with their kids. Please don't make parents chose between making needed money and supervising their kids. Between better food security and less being away from school. Please weigh all the options and all the risks and not just one, when making your choice to keep kids in school or at home.Submitted by: Kelly D
School: Carlson Elementary Organization: N-a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Support for in person learning
Comment: Please continue in person learning for the children's mental health especially when the spread is not happening at schools as much as in person gatherings. Elementary school seem to be even safer than junior high and high school's. I would love to see an option that would support both sides of this argument. Parents who would like to send their child in Person, or change them to virtual w their current teacherSubmitted by: Kim R
School: Basha High Organization: Parent
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep school open
Comment: Keep kids in person school. Those that are afraid let them have the choice to stay home my sons mental health is so important.Submitted by: kimberly g
School: Auxier Elementary Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: in person schooling
Comment: please keep out kids in schools. CDC has comfirmed and recommended kids stay in person. The numbers in our school district back this up. also, the numbers of depression, students not learning well, and teen and tween suicided need to be factored in. COVID is not a death sentence. Our school community should be separated from the general population. We can't control what happens outside of our homes, but we have obviously done our part by being smart about where we go and who we visit with.Submitted by: Kimberly L
School: Hull Elementary Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep in school learning
Comment: Our children's mental health is at stake keeping them from socializing at school and see friends and teachersSubmitted by: Kimberly P
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to in person learning
Comment: My child's education and mental health has suffered since this whole thing started! When they are on virtual learning there's very little accountability on all sides! There is a small population of students that can learn virtually but for the vast majority they are a combination of kinesthetic, visual and auditory learners and they are suffering because so many people are living in fear of a virus that has a 99% survival rate. We cannot keep living our lives 2 weeks at a time or in the what if's this mental game is far worse for our children! We love our educators and appreciate everything they do for our children! Our family as the majority of the parents out there we are not teachers nor do we claim to be and we cannot provide a proper education to these students via distant learning! Too much screen time has done so much damage to our society and our children and now we want them to spend more time in front of a screen?! Please consider the impact on our children's curreducationSubmitted by: Kirsten S
School: Basha High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Maintain options for in person school
Comment: My child's mental health has already been affected and his grades, social and athletics have been altered in a way that will most certainly influence his post high school life. He is immune to covid as my family had it months ago. For kids that are comfortable should be offered live school. No outbreak has been caused by kids at dchool.Submitted by: Kleas
School: Hull Elementary Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep Schools Open
Comment: The mental health of our children are at risk if they are kept away from their friends and the teachers they love. There are protocols in place and if needed can be adapted. A majority of us have been doing our part by wearing masks and practicing social distancing to keep everyone safe. My child does not do well with virtual learning. She became depressed and had anxiety when she was forced to stay home. She loves going to school as it is her happy place. Do not take that away from her again.Submitted by: Kristin S
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep kids in school!
Comment: My daughter has been attending Casteel since 6th grade (for math) and now a Freshmen this year in AP and all honors classes. She went into a severe depression during virtual learning first quarter, but still was able to keep her grades up. Going virtual again will be detrimental to her mental health and we will have no choice but to move her out of district, which we already did for our 2 elementary kids during first quarter this year. Please do what is best for everyone and what the majorityof parent, teachers and kids want...not just the extremely vocal minority of people wanting things virtual! Look at the studies of higher suicidal rates with virtual learning! Those rates are higher than anyone contracting this virus while in in-person learning...Submitted by: Kristina M
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep schools open.
Comment: Please, please keep schools open. My kids are thriving and doing so much better being in school. They love their teachers and have enjoyed making new friends. My kids need their teachers to teach them and help them because they butt heads with me when I try to help. Also I felt a lot of the teachers weren't teaching and taking the easy way out for online teaching. I had 1 teacher driving while they were teaching. Kids do so much better in school. I have seen suicide rate go up since the shuttingdown of schools. Please stay open and if teachers walk out etc then that tells you they don't want their job.Submitted by: Kristina M
School: Riggs Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep schools open.
Comment: Please, please keep schools open. My kids are thriving and doing so much better being in school. They love their teachers and have enjoyed making new friends. My kids need their teachers to teach them and help them because they butt heads with me when I try to help. Also I felt a lot of the teachers weren't teaching and taking the easy way out for online teaching. I had 1 teacher driving while they were teaching. Kids do so much better in school. I have seen suicide rate go up since the shuttingdown of schools. Please stay open and if teachers walk out etc then that tells you they don't want their job.Submitted by: Lauren F
School: Santan Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Students need to return to school
Comment: Our children need to return to school for their mental well being. Parents and teachers were given a choice (multiple times)to go online or in person, now we need to follow through with those. You can't listen to those that want to change their minds now. My 7th grade son was in tears by the end of his virtual schooling because he was sitting in front of a computer all day, had no interaction with his peers, and had difficulty with the learning style. It was to the point that we need to take himto a counselor. Going back to virtual learning isn't fair to our children. Please allow our kids to return to school, it is what is best for their health.Submitted by: Lauren F
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to in-person school
Comment: Please keep our children in school. We've picked in person school for our children for a reason. Those that didn't wish to do that, had that choice. This was our choice and our voices should also be heard. Teachers that didn't want to return to in person school , were also given that choice. I've worked the entire pandemic, as have many other parents. If I told my employer I didn't want to work, I would be fired. As for the students, my freshman at Perry is so concerned about her grades if theyreturn to virtual learning. Her teachers did a good job during virtual learning and we are grateful for them, but it isn't for every student. My daughter has anxiety and very type A, with virtual learning she can be in control and is a very difficult style for her to learn. As a parent, I had to see my daughter cry every day because it didn't work for her. As a freshman, she is concerned that now her grades matter for college. She is already stressed they might return home. :(Submitted by: Linda W
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: Parent
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: CUSD BOARD MTG FOR JAN 4, 2021
Comment: Our child needs to remain in person for their education. The structure continues the balance of better learning, socialization, behavior and environment variety. The previous eight months of self quarantine significantly and negatively impacted our daughters neurological tic disorder causing physical and behavioral changes not to her benefit.Her mental and spiritual mindset has improved with being in school with friends and a teacher she truly loves for fifth grade. Please vote to have our children return to school for in person learning January 5, 2021.Submitted by: Logan M
School: Chandler High Organization: Student
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Please keep schools open
Comment: Please keep schools open. My mental health has been so much better from starting in person. Got to love Mr. Rother for his dedcation to the students here at Chandler High School. Keep it going. Don't quitSubmitted by: Marisa E
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person learning
Comment: We have got to consider what remote learning is doing to our kids. The suicide rate is skyrocketing among teenagers. I have 3 kids that attend Casteel. They are 13,15 and 18. Each of them are struggling mentally. I can only imagine how hard this is on the teachers. They are incredible! Thank you for taking the time to read my comments.Submitted by: Marisa N
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Virtual Learning
Comment: Please consider returning to a virtual format for AT LEAST two weeks, though preferably until the metrics have returned back to yellow/green. This was the original plan, and you have reneged on it. I am concerned for the safety of myself, my friends, and my family while we are still doing in person learning and the rate of infection and numbers being what they are. This is forcing me to choose between the health and wellness of a household with several individuals with prior health conditions and being able to provide for my medically fragile daughter. Being told by the community to either shut up or quit is affecting my mental health, and I no longer feel safe teaching in a CUSD classroom.Submitted by: Marisol F
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Kids need to go to school in person
Comment: Kids need to go to school in person. We are asking too much of them to sit in front of a screen for 6-8 hours a day. Please take their mental well-being into accountSubmitted by: Marlee Y
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keeping In-Person Learning
Comment: Please consider the mental health of students before sending us back to online learning. Every single one of my classmates that I talked with all agree that online learning was difficult on our mental health. I have seen depression, alcohol use, and drug use rise among my peers. Online learning was more dangerous for my mental health than in-person learning has ever been for my physical health. Please don't take my senior year away. I only get this once in my life.Submitted by: Megan
School: Carlson Elementary Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep in person learning
Comment: Please keep in person learning both my boys for depressed during online learning. My eldest son who is on the spectrum had multiple anxiety attacks during the period of online learning. He is unable to online and learns best in person.Submitted by: Megan J
School: Santan Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please stay in person
Comment: I'm writing to ask that we please keep the option for in person education. The virtual learning was such a challenge for both of my girls, academically, emotionally and mentally. They have been thriving in person and I believe that CUSDs mitigation practices are working. Thank you l!!Submitted by: Melissa
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Cancel finals for ALL schools, not just COA
Comment: Please acknowledge that our students have had an incredibly difficult year and have learning gaps. You can't deny that. High School students are stressing over Finals - 1) cramming and how they will affect their grade and 2) what if I'm quarantined/get Covid right before and have a ZERO until I can re-take it. Kids have been through ENOUGH - give them a break and just cancel finals. They need this for their own mental health!Submitted by: Melissa D
School: CTA Independence Organization: Parents
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Covid-19
Comment: My husband and I are both doctors. We are seeing firsthand how overwhelmed our hospital is with COVID-19 patients right now. Community spread of the virus is out of control the schools have a responsibility to keep teachers and students safe. They also have to do their part to reduce community spread of the virus. I urge you to keep the kids virtual until this pandemic subsides and transmission within our community is at a lower level. It is your responsibility to make the best decisions for ourchildren. Their mental health will be injured if they or their loved ones get sick.Submitted by: Melony L
School: Bogle Junior High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep in person an option
Comment: For the mental well being of my child, I ask you please continue both options for school. In person and COA for those not wanting in person.Submitted by: Merrilee M
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep schools open
Comment: Why do we, as parents of students in CUSD, have to continue fighting against the fear and personal agendas of board members who don't work in or have children in the district in order for our kids to go to school in person? We are losing WAY more youth to suicide than this virus. The experts are saying kids need to be in school in person. Please keep your promise to your constituents to allow for in person learning.Submitted by: Michael W
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: The need for inperson learning during COVID-19
Comment: To whom it may concern, My name is Michael W. I am writing this as a students parent asking for CUSD to consider the need of their students during this pandemic. As a parent of a first grade student, I believe that it is so important for children of all ages to be thought in person but especially for those students at a younger age level. In person learning is more than just academics. It teaches children how to communicate effectively, how to share and socialize with others, and helps in lessons to become a contributing member of society later on in life. I thank all teachers and school staff that have made in person learning a success thus far and ask that the school district continues in person learning for the betterment of these kids. Thank you.Submitted by: Michele H
School: Perry High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep schools open
Comment: Please keep schools open. There are options already in place for those who want to stay home. My senior desperately needs to stay in person to be able to graduate. His mental health and desire to finish high school it at an all time low. I feel chandler has done a good job of creating options for families to choose what is best for them. Please don't take away the option that best fits our family and so many others. My sons teachers all want to be in person and finish this year strong.Submitted by: Niceli B
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Back to school in person
Comment: My kids are in second and forth grade and both are worried if they will not be going back to school in person, in person school for us is great, they need to socialize, they love to go to the school and have activities, see their friends. We are all in for in person school.Submitted by: Nichole B
School: Auxier Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person learning
Comment: Our children need to remain in person for their safety and mental health. Suicide, depression, and anxiety are on the rise and virtual learning plays a huge role in the isolation leading to these events. The world around us is changing so much. Let school be one of the foundations our kids can count on.Submitted by: Nicole
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please do not send the kids back yet Please
Comment: My son suffers from anxiety and he is so stressed out over all of the talk Please let the numbers get back down first Don't sacrifice our children to make a pointSubmitted by: Nicole A
School: Auxier Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Children need schools open!
Comment: While I am sure all the kids and teachers alike enjoyed their break. I know my children are excited to go back to school...why? Because children need schools to be open for mental health, for learning stability, and social interaction. I am personally very tired of every month having to plea the case that children are better off learning in classes vs virtually. The schools and children can not deal with another shut down set back mentally, emotionally and educationally. We talk about howour children are the future but we are failing them when we shut down and go virtually. Stay open!!!Submitted by: Nicole H
School: Casteel High Organization: Nicole Hare
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep our kids in person.
Comment: Our schools are doing amazing. Kids are not spreading the virus in school. These kids need to be in school. I am really worried about my son who has anxiety if he comes back home. He was not doing well sitting in his room doing school work. He started getting more and more depressed. That scares me more than a virus that is not hurting out kids. But, I promise you depression is...Please keep them at school and families that prefer to stay home have the option to log onto google classroom.Submitted by: Rachel S
School: Patterson Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: If there are Changes to schooling / all students stay home
Comment: I have two elementary daughters. One, online was HORRIBLE. She lost all joy and was a shell of herself, and her grades plummeted. She needs a classroom, engagement around her, and the normalcy the classroom brings. I hope there is a way to keep kids in person. Secondly, if the district chooses to move it all online, our other daughter just switch from COA to in person solely because it was a semester commitment instead of quarterly commitment- this was a very hard choice for her: if you choose to force all student online- please give some the option for COA- she knows this platform and was thriving on it. I would hope for ease to transition she would be allowed to switch.Submitted by: Rhian R
School: Basha High Organization: Parent of High Schoolers
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In Person School is necessary and safe for my children
Comment: I am writing to request you continue in person schooling for the children who request it. Personally my children need to be in person for so many reasons but the last quarter's grades versus the first quarter do speak volumes to that. They are unable to teach themselves. I am a medical professional. I see first hand how children are affected by COVID and it is more psychologically than physically. I would like to highlight that this virus is not leaving any time soon. Therefore mitigation strategies such as those you have already implemented are the way to work around the virus as opposed to go 100% virtual. A second factor would be financial and feel the district cannot lose anymore funding than they have already lost. Blanket shut downs do not contain the spread of the virus, mitigation strategies do! Thank you for your consideration.Submitted by: Richard J
School: NONE OF THE ABOVE Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: COVID respite
Comment: Dear CUSD Board Member, Please consider suspending all Chandler school operations at least full calendar 10 days before Christmas Day so that there is adequate time for most active, infectious, subclinical or preclinical cases of COVID-19 in children and teachers to be identified and isolated, or to elapse, so that families can gather for the holidays safely. This pandemic is causing so much psychological and spiritual trauma to our children, teachers, and others, that a safe holiday gatheringfor family fellowship is critical. If you dismiss classes a full 10 days before December 25th, and if everyone self-isolates during this time, children and their families may actually gain some respite from the terrible plague. The few days of school lost in doing so will be more than made up for by the beneficial effects of this interventions. Thank you for seriously considering this proposal. Sincerely, Richard D. J., M.D. Chandler, ArizonaSubmitted by: Robin H
School: Auxier Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep schools open
Comment: I have a daughter at Casteel and a daughter at Auxier. Please, please keep the schools open. Online is not effective and they suffer academically as well as mentally and emotionally. Please continue to give parents a choice. Should you decide that online is what is best for our community then please look at the standards and expectations for the students. It is too much.Submitted by: Ron H
School: Casteel High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep our kids in person for their mental health.
Comment: Our schools are doing amazing. Kids are not spreading the virus in school. These kids need to be in school. I am really worried about my son who has anxiety if he comes back home. He was not doing well sitting in his room doing school work. He started getting more and more depressed. That scares me more than a virus that is not hurting out kids. But, I promise you depression is...Please keep them at school and families that prefer to stay home have the option to log onto google classroom.Submitted by: Sam L
School: Basha Elementary Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Listen to parents not out of state or district
Comment: Keep our choice to be in person. you have options and they work. not all kids can do remote. even with counts higher, the risk is far less than our kids killing them selves or long term mental health.Submitted by: Stacey A
School: Casteel High Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person learning
Comment: I am begging you as a parent gravelly concerned about the lasting affects of my kids mental health with the lack of social and educational interactions this pandemic has caused. I dont care if my kids are 50 to a teacher in person is essential for the well being of my child. As a district mental a health should be just as important as physical health.Submitted by: Stefanie R
School: Carlson Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: In-Person Learning
Comment: It is imperative that we keep teaching in-person for out students. They NEED to be with their classmates in a safe and secure classroom (which it is with all the cleaning, sanitizing, and protocols we follow)! I have been teaching in CUSD for 14 years. I do not want to go back to virtual teaching, the kids suffer and so do the teachers. Please keep in-personLearning. Thank you for your time.Submitted by: Steven J
School: Basha High Organization: 5.29306E+15
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Mental Health of my Daughter is at risk if we move to on-line learning
Comment: Since March my daughter and a group of her friends talk about mental health openly. She has been in counseling, the kids are suffering. The Counselors and Psychiatrists are just inundated with calls and new patients. Please consider those kids that school is their safe place, home life can be a nightmare for some and school is their only escape. We must offer a choice for the health and well being of all kids. Please offer in person learning or parents will leave because nothing is moreimportant than our children and we need them to live. This is the reality parents are dealing with.Submitted by: Suzette H
School: Ryan Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Kids should continue to attend school in person
Comment: To whom it may concern, as a parent of 2 children at Ryan Elementary I feel the need to voice my displeasure of the conversation surrounding the idea of going back to virtual schooling. My kids, like many others in our country, thrive when they are given the opportunity to learn from and socialize with kids and teachers in person. While I understand the severity of COVID, I believe the effect that this disease will have and has already had on the mental health of all people, and specifically kids will be far worse than what we're seeing today. Please consider that our children are in a very vulnerable place in their development and allow them to have their schooling be in person and as normal as possible. Thank you, Suzette HonasSubmitted by: Suzette H
School: Ryan Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please let my kids continue in person school
Comment: I have 2 children, grades 5 and 3. My kids need to be in school, in person. My oldest has anxiety and has already been in tears at the thought of having to go back to virtual learning. I understand if teachers are worried about getting COVID, but if so they should be allowed to stay home, just like I can do at my job. If I choose not to do my job, I'm fired. My customers aren't told to stay home because I'm worried. I also understand that the number of cases in Arizona is on the rise, but it'salso proven that schools (especially elementary schools) are not causing outbreaks. There is already an option for virtual learning, I ask that you don't take away the option for in person for those kids that need it.Submitted by: Tiffany M
School: Basha High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Thank you and keeping in person-board meeting
Comment: I just wanted to say thank you for having in person learning it is helped my daughter educationally her grades have improved immensely and mentally she is doing way better! her anxiety and depression has gone down immensely by being in person! Please, please, keep in person learning for those that choose to be in person which we would continue to do! Mentally, emotionally, and physically my child needs to be in person! Thank you for listening!Submitted by: TODD K
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In-Person Class vs Virtual
Comment: I have a 3rd grader and 1st grader attending Tarwater Elementary. In light of the growing pressure to return to virtual classes, I wanted to say I fully support the current policy where each school is monitored separately based on its own metrics and not on the metrics of other schools or overall county metrics. It is fairly clear that spread in elementary schools such as Tarwater has been extremely minimal in comparison to other metrics. The policies that have been put in place for social distancing and wearing masks are working at Tarwater and most parents, teachers, and students are fully invested in making it work. It would be unfair to penalize all elementary school students by closing schools again because of higher cases in high schools or outside of the school setting. Virtual learning does not provide an adequate learning or social environment for elementary students, and it puts undue hardship on working parents. Please keep the current policy in effect for 2021. ThanksSubmitted by: Tracy D
School: Carlson Elementary Organization: I teach at Carlson
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: This teacher wants to stay in person
Comment: I am a teacher wanting to stay in person. Our kids need us in person. The classrooms are safe. The kids are safe. The teachers are safe. Suicides are exponentially higher than student covid deaths. Do not let our kids or teachers down.Submitted by: Tristan R
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person learning
Comment: Please continue with in person learning for our students. I have 2 highschool students in the district and I teach at Carlson. It is what is best for kids in all aspects. Please consider the mental health impact that so many students are facing during this pandemic. We have the ability to offer stability and normalcy in a safe environment. Let's continue to do so.Submitted by: Victoria A
School: Bogle Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: They need to go IN PERSON!!! It is crucial to their MENTAL HEALTH!!!
Comment: Depression and suicide are on the rise amongst our children. PLEASE help PREVENT mental health issues.Submitted by: WT
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Follow Original Metrics - Move to Virtual Platform (Not COA)
Comment: Are you just totally ignoring everything now? All the numbers? We have already established that the COVID dashboard is inaccurate and not transparent at all. I don't know how you can do this when every other school district almost has gone virtual? It is becoming gross negligence in my opinion. Now my son is home quarantined and he has to take finals in the first two weeks he is back from school after break? What if he chooses the virtual option, which I am going to choose? How is he going to take his finals in person? Are you going to force him to go in person? He is an AP student with all A's and just got a 1446 on his PSATs. This kid is a high achiever and the undue stress of his finals is unfair on top of everything else he is dealing with these days. This is just terrible! You need to do something more then nothing. I have lost all faith in CUSD, and I held CUSD in such high regard. Close in person learning until COVID numbers come down. Provide on site support for those in need. -
Close Schools
Submitted by: A B
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: We should not be at school
Comment: I am a student and am really hoping that the district and board don't make us go back to in person next week. I am anxious and don't want to have to choose between feeling safe at school and learning. COA doesn't work for me for most of my classes and the 2 weeks of being able to stay home just won't be the same if it's anything like it was for the quarantine kids. The number of positive cases are so high around us and there are so many kids who still feel it's fake so they don't care outside ofschool and won't test because they don't want to be quarantined and then come to school the next day! I don't want to miss out or get behind by staying home and want to just make everyone go virtual for like a month or so until the cases go down Thank youSubmitted by: Anonymous
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Close in person learning - Use Original Metrics - Move to Virtual Learning (Not COA)
Comment: My request is to close at the very least the high school level in person until COVID numbers in our community comes down. Chandler COVID cases are extremely high. We have asymptomatic high school kids that are spreading COVID to the community. This is my concern! The COVID dashboard does not report all the cases and certainly does not count the kids walking around with no symptoms at all. As such, this is the wrong tool to use to make decisions. Use the original metrics that you promised you would use when we made our decision to come back to in person learningSubmitted by: Ardeshir N
School: Hill Learning Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: I am against in-person learning at this time because of safety concerns for students and admin
Comment: The board should postpone in-person classroom learning till COVID is under control. There is a great risk for students, staff, and families they represent. Please be socially responsible!!!!!Submitted by: Ardy N
School: Santan Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: I object to in-class learning
Comment: In-class learning should be postponed and I strongly object to it. We don't need to spread the COVID!!!!Submitted by: Atash N
School: Santan Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Refrain from in-person attendance in CUSD
Comment: Hello. I'm a parent of a CUSD student and also have family who are teachers. With the increasing rates of COVID-19 in Arizona I am writing to express my concern with in-person attendance after winter break. For the sake of public health and the safety of our community, please refrain from mandating in-person attendance for our students and staff. Any other decision is gross negligence of a community you are supposed to be guardians of. Please consider the data and make the right choice. Thank you.Submitted by: Becky
School: Santan Elementary Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: CLOSE THE SCHOOLS
Comment: It's time to close the schools! I sent my son back with the trust that CUSD would be following the metrics and return to virtual when the community spread got bad. Well, it's beyond bad! 6 weeks with at least one metric in red and 3 now with all 3. Over 17,000 cases today. Our hospitals are full. Please return to virtual for the sake of our whole community.Submitted by: Becky T
School: Santan Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: CLOSE THE SCHOOLS
Comment: Please hold an emergency meeting and return to the benchmarks issued and promised to parents and staff that would be followed. All three metrics are in red. Our zip code is all in red. Please keep ALL kids virtual after Christmas break for the safety of all! Put health before money!Submitted by: Bev b
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep schools closed. It is not safe for our community.
Comment: I'm pleading with you all to do the right thing and keep schools closed. I was 41 year old, very active runner with no underlying health issues prior to my Covid infection in March of 2019. It is 9 months later and I am still I'll. While I have lung damage, my husband (a healthy 44 year old) had heart damage appear months after our infection. The long term effects of this virus should not be ignored. Please reach out to me for more information. I spend at least an hour a day reading medical journals, reviewing studies, reading what others in my same condition ( with Long Covid) are going through. This is very common and affects any and all age groups. If you care about the CUSD staff and students, you will do the right thing here...at the very least do your homework prior to making your decision. Research Long Covid, Post Covid, Covid Long Haulers. You have lives on the line here, do your research prior to any decisions.Submitted by: Charles S
School: NONE OF THE ABOVE Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Put Student, Faculty & Community Safety First
Comment: Unfortunately you as Governing Board members have been put in a tough spot by our state's leadership. They know how bad our public health crisis is and that strict controls and limitations on public activities is needed to get this pandemic under control. They also know that the right decisions are going to be difficult for a lot of people and come with a lot of backlash. But what we need as a community almost as badly as we need a vaccine for everyone, is for you all to take up this unenviablechallenge and put the community first. That means closing down all in-person learning until Maricopa County is all in the green. Let's not endanger our grandparents, our vulnerable, our educators, our students, or anyone else just to get children into classrooms. Deaths have been piling up across the country, the state, and the county. Let's not leave these children to face the trauma that their school days killed loved ones, people they respected, or others indirectly connected to CUSD. Thanks.Submitted by: Concerned P
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Close In Person Learning - Follow Original Metrics - Move to Virtual Platform (Not COA)
Comment: Please ask yourself why the numbers keep going up and the CUSD Covid Dashboard magically stays low. It is grossly inaccurate! You tried it, it isn't working. We have asymptomatic kids that are spreading Covid to our community and teachers. You have a responsibility to our community to do more. Follow the original metrics, follow the science, not a made up Covid Dashboard that may or may not show a case based on what? Its time! I just don't understand how you can live with yourselves makinga decision that goes against state guidelines. You are putting our community in danger and our teachers in danger! State guidelines recommend all 9 should be in virtual learning with on-site support. At some point a lawyer will bring a case against the school board. This year its the year of the pandemic! Next year it will be the year of the law suits! S Follow the original metrics that you promised parents when we made the decision to go back to in person learning.Submitted by: Concerned p
School: Santan Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please go virtual
Comment: CUSD should close for in person learning. The original metrics have been met with no end in sight. Arizona is now leading in hospitalization. Our teachers and support staff are not disposable. CUSD is not a viable option for my immunocompromised children. We enrolled them into school with the understanding that CUSD would close with substantial spread. Now CUSD has changed the metrics we were counting on. It would be increasingly stressful for our kids to switch teachers to COA mid year. This year has been stressful enough for these kids. Please go virtual.Submitted by: Crystal M
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Two week quarantine
Comment: Please consider actually sticking with the metrics and knowing that many in our community are not wise and spent Christmas with people outside of their homes, and allow for a two week remote learning start of the semesterSubmitted by: David A
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: CUSD Parent
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Close schools until it's safe!
Comment: You have an obligation to keep students and teachers safe and thus far, you have failed. DO THE RIGHT THING. Close schools until it is safe.Submitted by: Devon C
School: Chandler High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: CLOSE OUR SCHOOLS
Comment: Dr Casteel & Members of the Board, My daughter attends Chandler High School and with the record breaking number of COVID positive cases in our communities it is prudent to close our secondary schools and go online for a minimum of two weeks. We have already lost multiple district employees and family members. When is enough enough? Support our teachers, support our students, support our families. A lot of people are shouting to stay open, that school is the best place for kids, and that healthwise being home is arduous. My own daughter has struggled immensely being online, but now is not the time to push everyone back into the classrooms. Teachers are quitting, getting sick, not eating, and to what end are you supporting them? Please close schools until the holiday season COVID cases manifest so those people aren't on our secondary campuses with those we all want to keep safe, healthy, and alive. Please do what is right.Submitted by: Elizabeth L
School: Shumway Leadership Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: School closures
Comment: Please listen to the data and keep all schools closed until the district is in yellow/green for 2 consecutive weeks. That is what teachers were told, and what they signed up for. As a Chandler resident, I watch the numbers closely and am counting on our school district to do the right thing and go virtual to limit community spread. Thank you.Submitted by: Elizabeth R
School: Patterson Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Close schools until the metrics prove its safe
Comment: While I can understand that closing schools is a grave decision that may come with a lot of community pushback, it is necessary in order to protect our teachers including those at the elementary level as well as the students and their families. The board has been put in place by the community to act in favor of the community, not in favor of parents who do not believe in science or the metrics. While the majority of the fight has been to protect high school teachers, the mere fact is that all teachers should be protected. The metrics currently posted on the website or not an accurate reflection of the current pandemic. many parents have chosen not to report in an effort to avoid closure. In addition, The state has done a poor job at handling the crisis as made a parrot by the current metrics. Regardless of the difficult decision, I ask that the board act in favor of the community, educators and students and close schools until the metrics prove it is safe.Submitted by: Erika K
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: Tarwater Elementary
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Close the schools
Comment: Kathy Hoffman sounded the warning bells. Do the right and safe thing and close the schools.Submitted by: Geoff G
School: ACP Oakland Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Close in Person - Go to Virtual - Original Metrics is Red - Use Original Metrics!!!! - Part 1
Comment: Close in-person learning, use original metrics as committed to until CUSD is meeting the original metrics that allow schools to re-open safely for in-person learning. We are putting students, teachers and other CUSD faculty at risk for no logical reason. Essentially all other school districts in the area have supported the correct, data driven, approach of whether or not in person or virtually learning is appropriate. It appears that most of the CUSD board members do not have teaching background/experience and are following the guidance of district leadership that also do not have teaching background/experience and cannot fully understand the risk they are asking faculty and students to be exposed to. It is not clear what makes CUSD unique that CUSD can stay open, while other districts are closing or modifying? We are being somewhat forced into putting our students and teachers at risk. Students may be able to recover safely, however if a teacher becomes sick, in essence all of thatSubmitted by: Geoff G
School: ACP Oakland Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Close in Person - Go to Virtual - Original Metrics is Red - Use Original Metrics!!!! - Part 2
Comment: teacher's students are put at risk as well as the teacher's, also their families, health. Not to mention CUSD has no backup plan for teacher that is out for COVID. In-person learning is the best educational experience for both teacher and student, but in-person leaning should not be considered at this time until CUSD and the health of our community meets the appropriate metrics.Submitted by: Jacqui F
School: Casteel High Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: keep schools closed
Comment: Stick to what you said about the metrics. Keep students and teachers safe and stay closedSubmitted by: Janelle G
School: Basha High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Close in person go virtual
Comment: Stick to the original metrics! 3 weeks triple red, yet you are sending kids back for 2 days until board meets to review the results of a review committee- you are causing unnecessary exposure. There are families and kids playing unmasked in parks in groups of 7 or more kids. Everyone meeting from Xmas are just becoming eligible to show as a positive case. Anyone from New Years will return to school asymptotic and then show up in a week. Virtual option for high school was great but that still doesn't protect if you don't allow siblings the same privilege- where is the equality cusd is known for? This is an absolute shame and mockery of the scientific standards set by dept of public health. Stop putting our kids and teachers in jeopardy!Submitted by: Jennifer H
School: Patterson Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Covid-19
Comment: Please move all school to online for at least two weeks. Inasmuch as our children need to be with their peers, until we have established all families have been quarantined, we have to keep our children healthy. Please take care of your staff and teachers - go online until after MLK Jr Day.Submitted by: Jianbo W
School: Hamilton High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: COVID-19 concern
Comment: Based on the recent COVID-19 data, it's dangerous to go to school.Submitted by: Jianfeng C
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Close in-person school
Comment: for the safety of teachers and community, please switch to online school, and close in-person lessons for now.Submitted by: Jon M
School: Willis Junior High Organization: Steward Health Care - Mountain Vista Medical Center and Tempe St. Luke's Medical Center
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please help reduce the number of hospitalized covid patients.
Comment: My wife and I both work face to face with Covid patients in a busy hospital. We are tired, exhausted really... and completely emotionally drained. Here are a few stories I'd like to share* because the community spread is dangerously high and we need your help by closing in person learning now!!(*HIPPA safe). Our ICU is full of covid pts(ie: patients). Most of them are on vents. Many were made at a car factory and aren't very good. Most of my pts are dying. Most of my pts are the age range of 20-55, which is the age of many parents of our kids in school. Most of my pts start of seemingly fine, but need oxygen. All of my pts cannot have visitors to sooth them. I have NEVER seen so much death! WE NEED YOUR HELP! PLEASE NO IN-PERSON LEARNING UNTIL THE RATES ARE IN A SAFE ZONE OR YOU CAN PROVIDE EQUITABLE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS FOR ALL IN A SAFE WAY! I understand the dangers of too many kids at home. But with the loss of so many of our community members, I really need you to listen!Submitted by: Kelley N
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: COVID
Comment: Don't Open The Schools Until It's SafeSubmitted by: Kristin W
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Benchmarks
Comment: Based on the number of positive COVID-19 cases, positivity rate and benchmarks, it is not safe to return to in-person learning at this time. Being in person puts everyone at higher risk. The teachers (all staff-including administration, custodians, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, etc), students, and family members of all.Submitted by: Lavanya A
School: ACP Erie Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: DO NOT OPEN SCHOOLS IN Q3 and Keep In-Person Virtual Option for Remainder of School Year
Comment: The increasing numbers of COVID positive cases is hugely concerning and the estimations for the next few months is definitely not worth taking risk with schools operating in almost full capacity. I'd definitely like to propose a virtual learning model in addition to the in-person for those who aren't comfortable sending their kids to the school for whatever reasons they may have. The online option provided through COA is DEFINITELY NOT A VIABLE OPTION especially for high schoolers who have to deal with rigorous AP course work with little to no live instruction. This makes it even more stressful for the kids. I'm hoping our voices would be heard and the request would be accommodated. Thanks!Submitted by: Lewis H
School: Patterson Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: School closure
Comment: Protect your teachers and children and close the schools! AZ's numbers and positivity rate are up and they're dismal. You've never been fully transparent with the parents and your metrics are skewed and have never show a true representation of infections. When we have vaccinations for staff then we can revisit the subject.Submitted by: Lindsey H
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep Students at Home
Comment: Members of the Board, While I understand and value the importance of learning in the classroom, CUSD's model of in-person learning is not working. My name is Lindsey Harrison, I'm a junior at Perry High School in the STEM Scholar program. By forcing the teachers to simultaneously teach to at-home and in-person students the quality of lessons is degraded (on both sides), we end up learning the same way we were first quarter. Why should we bother going to school and therefore risk exposure if we can get the same quality of education from home? This is not the fault of the teachers (who are doing their absolute best given the circumstances) but the fault of the district for expecting them to 'just do one more thing' until they burnout or quit. It is ridiculous that our quality of learning depends on the actions of other students. I do not trust my peers. The fact that one kid attending a party or flouting mask regulations results in dozens of dedicated, safe students being sent homeSubmitted by: Lynne H
School: Bogle Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Resuming In-person School Should Pause
Comment: I respectfully request that the board follow the guidance of Superintendent Hoffman and resume virtual learning for two weeks or until AZDHS benchmarks are met.Submitted by: Marla
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Close in person learning - Use Original Metrics - Move to Virtual Learning (Not COA) High School
Comment: My request is to close at the very least the high school level in person until COVID numbers in our community comes down. Chandler COVID cases are extremely high. We have asymptomatic high school kids that are spreading COVID to the community. This is my concern! The COVID dashboard does not report all the cases and certainly does not count the kids walking around with no symptoms at all. As such, this is absolutely the wrong tool to use to make decisions for our kids and the community. Use the original metrics that you promised you would use when we made our decision to come back to in person learning. All other districts have closed. You decisions impact our kids AND the community spread. Please base your decisions on data from the experts in their field!Submitted by: Marsheila R
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Remote schooling/virtual option
Comment: I've had @ least 1 kid in district for 15+ years & I have never seen such mismanagement & duplicity before now. You wonder why enrollment is plummeting & teachers are rebelling? B/c cases are skyrocketing & you're not following the metrics you told us you would follow. Close the schools & offer a teacher-led virtual option for 7-12 instead of the disaster known as COA.Submitted by: Marsheila R
School: Ryan Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Remote schooling/teacher-led virtual option
Comment: I've had @ least 1 kid in district for 15+ years & I have never seen such mismanagement & duplicity before now. You wonder why enrollment is plummeting & teachers are rebelling? B/c cases are skyrocketing & you're not following the metrics you told us you would follow. Close the schools & offer a teacher-led virtual option for 7-12 instead of the disaster known as COA.Submitted by: Mel H
School: Chandler High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: CLOSE SCHOOLS
Comment: Stop patronizing the base and stop the spread to our kids and workers!!!Submitted by: Melissa
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Cancel finals for ALL schools, not just COA
Comment: Please acknowledge that our students have had an incredibly difficult year and have learning gaps. You can't deny that. High School students are stressing over Finals - 1) cramming and how they will affect their grade and 2) what if I'm quarantined/get Covid right before and have a ZERO until I can re-take it. Kids have been through ENOUGH - give them a break and just cancel finals. They need this for their own mental health!Submitted by: Michael D
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Safe School Reopening
Comment: As you are well aware, the COVID-19 numbers in Arizona and especially Maricopa County are skyrocketing. We've seen a surge from Christmas and now we need to be prepared for another surge following New Year's Eve celebrations and people returning from vacations. The benchmark numbers in Maricopa County are in the red for all three metrics. My school's zip code (85142) has some of the highest numbers in the state. It is simply not safe for teachers, staff, and students to return to in-person instruction. If we do, this decision will be the literal and metaphorical nail in the coffin. Students might not exhibit serious COVID-19 symptoms - although research is still sketchy about younger people - but they will transmit the virus to their peers and to their teachers. The CUSD Board needs to stop kowtowing to the vocal minority that believe coronavirus is a hoax, masks don't save lives, and the low mortality is acceptable. The CUSD Board needs to listen to the silent trench workers.Submitted by: MT
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Close in Person - Go to Virtual (NOT COA) - Original Metrics is Red
Comment: All three metrics are in the RED. You can't use an inacurate dashboard to base your decisions for our schools. Your decision also impacts our community! Move to a virtual platform (not coa) until numbers begin to go down.Submitted by: MT
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: All Original Metric in Red - Close In Person Learning
Comment: Please ask yourself why the numbers keep going up and the CUSD Covid Dashboard magically stays low. It is grossly inaccurate! You tried it, it isn't working. We have asymptomatic kids that are spreading Covid to our community. You have a responsibility to our community to do more. Follow the original metrics, follow the science, not a made up Covid Dashboard that may or may not show a case based on what? Its time!Submitted by: MT
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Close in Person - Use Original Metrics - Move to Virtual (Not COA)
Comment: Close in person learning! Use the original metrics you promised when parents made the decision to send their kids back to school. The dashboard is inaccurate and lacks any transparency. There are too many restrictions and rules that come with the dashboard. Asymptomatic kids are spreading the virus to our teachers and community.Submitted by: Nicole
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please do not send the kids back yet Please
Comment: My son suffers from anxiety and he is so stressed out over all of the talk Please let the numbers get back down first Don't sacrifice our children to make a pointSubmitted by: Nicole
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Do not send them back
Comment: Please don't send the kids back. For the safety of all involved. You have to think of the staff and the students. Please don't send them backSubmitted by: Niki R
School: Casteel High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: No In-person Learning.
Comment: I have emailed the Board directly on several occasions. My position remains the same: in-person learning is not appropriate at this time due to community spread of COVID. Make the health and safety of your staff, students and their families your top priority. Discontinue in-person learning until the community returns to the benchmarks originally set by the County Health Dept.Submitted by: Noah R
School: Chandler High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: COVID 19 Scare
Comment: PLEASE KEEP OUR CHILDREN OUT OF SCHOOL AND KEEP THEM SAFE DURING THIS PANDEMIC. WE LOST OUR SWIM COACH AND BOTH PARENTS OF A STUDENT ON THE SWIM TEAM!! Please!Submitted by: None y
School: Perry High Organization: Parent
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: School closure
Comment: Please close schools until things get betterSubmitted by: Richard J
School: NONE OF THE ABOVE Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: COVID respite
Comment: Dear CUSD Board Member, Please consider suspending all Chandler school operations at least full calendar 10 days before Christmas Day so that there is adequate time for most active, infectious, subclinical or preclinical cases of COVID-19 in children and teachers to be identified and isolated, or to elapse, so that families can gather for the holidays safely. This pandemic is causing so much psychological and spiritual trauma to our children, teachers, and others, that a safe holiday gatheringfor family fellowship is critical. If you dismiss classes a full 10 days before December 25th, and if everyone self-isolates during this time, children and their families may actually gain some respite from the terrible plague. The few days of school lost in doing so will be more than made up for by the beneficial effects of this interventions. Thank you for seriously considering this proposal. Sincerely, Richard D. J., M.D. Chandler, ArizonaSubmitted by: Sharon K
School: Andersen Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Virtual learning
Comment: As a patent of a graduate and former teacher, all schools should be required to be in virtual learning following state recommendations. To do otherwise endangers the health of our community.Submitted by: Sharon T
School: Rice Elementary Organization: Parent
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Close the elementary sites or provide virtual instruction
Comment: There is too much comunity spread and the district needs to stick to the original metrics and promises you made your stakeholders when we agreed to try in-person after quarter 2.Submitted by: Sonakshi S
School: CTA Independence Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Close CUSD To Save Lives, Please
Comment: I urge you to make the right choice and move CUSD schools to virtual learning until it is safe based on the original metrics established by the board when the district returned to in person learning. I also ask that the voices of your district's teachers and staff be included in your decision making as related to education models for the remainder of the pandemic. The Maricopa county school dashboard indicates that schools should be fully online due to high levels of COVID. Additionally, Arizonaas a state has hit substantial spread levels. State Superintendent Kathy Hoffman expressed her support for a two week shift to all virtual learning in accordance with scientific recommendations based on the current positivity rate and the fact that many students will have engaged in gatherings over break.Submitted by: Stacy B
School: Casteel High Organization: Parent
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to Virtual Learning
Comment: As per the CDC, state, and county guidance: CUSD should be in a virtual learning platform until community spread is no longer substantial. The level of spread in our community does not allow for a safe in-person learning environment. Teachers and students need to be learning online, safely. This is not about what group of parents are loudest; it is about using Science and data to form decisions and guide planning. While virtual, please work as a team with district admin to establish equitablevirtual learning platforms so that when in quarantine or by choice; secondary students can learn via online instruction with a CUSD teacher. Teachers, students and parents trusted that CUSD would follow the original health benchmarks as voted upon; please uphold that decision and guide our community into a safe, virtual learning model. Thank you.Submitted by: Stacy T
School: Casteel High Organization: None
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Reopening
Comment: Please consider a two week mandatory shutdown so we can get our numbers in line when returning.Submitted by: Tanya
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Covid
Comment: As we get closer to the beginning of the second semester I get more concerned with in person school. I am a nurse and our hospitals are overflowing, low on resources, low on staff, and we haven't even hit our peak yet! I believe going back to in person school would be very irresponsible whether you believe there is spread of covid in school or not. And 2 weeks of optional virtual school is not enough!Submitted by: Tara G
School: Rice Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: School closure after Christmas break
Comment: If our Covid numbers continue to grow within our school district, I would like to see the schools remain closed for 2 weeks after school break and have the children do a LIGHT school from home schedule for 2 weeks after the break ends. This will hopefully allow for anyone exposed to Covid during the Christmas break to develop symptoms and recover before returning to school to expose others. We have a high risk family member in our household but so much rely on school as the only interaction ourkids receive during the pandemic.Submitted by: Tina M
School: Navarrete Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Until Safe
Comment: I am writing as a concerned and disappointed parent of a junior high and elementary student and as an elementary teacher in the district. It is not safe for students and teachers to return to in-person learning! As much as I agree that in-person learning is what's best, now is not the time. First, I implore you to follow the metrics we agreed on and immediately move to virtual instruction until the community spread drastically improves. Students and teachers reporting to the classroom on Tuesday is unacceptable and reckless! Secondly, I implore you to move Wednesday's meeting to Monday evening . Having a meeting after students return is not safe. Finally, I implore you to meet CEA's requests and do what's right for the students and staff of CUSD.Submitted by: Wanda G
School: Navarrete Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Back to School
Comment: I don't see how you can call students and employees back to school and not have in the back of your minds, lawsuits . If not for negligence, for wrongful death suits, if anyone going back to school acquires Covid then passes away? We are so close to being vaccinated. Why not hold off until vaccines get distributed.I am a grandma of children that were enrolled in your district. They are now in on-line learning.Submitted by: Wendy S
School: Chandler High Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: covid- virtual learning
Comment: 12,314 new cases posted today. How is in-person school okay? -
Keep In-Person Learning
Submitted by: A l
School: Auxier Elementary Organization: 1 of many many chandler Unified teachers saying keep schools open. Stop speaking for us
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: From a Chandler Unified teacher
Comment: The protocols in place are doing what they were designed to. I am one of many many teachers I know personally who is begging you to keep schools open. The EXPERTS say as recently as 1/1/21 that it is safe for kids to be on schools and schools should remain open with the safety protocols in place. The board made a good and fair plan to track and close on a site by site basis. That makes sense. Don't change that.Submitted by: Aaron
School: Haley Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep in person schools open!!
Comment: There's a large percentage of people that are comfortable with in person school. Please keep this as an option! It is so crucial for children to have this option. Vaccines are coming out and elementary Covid cases are extremely low. Please stay open for our children.Submitted by: Adonna C
School: Knox Gifted Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keeping schools open
Comment: Our children need to go to school for their future & mental health.Submitted by: Adrianne H
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep In-person Learning
Comment: The CDC recommends that children continue to learn in-person. Although numbers in the community are on the rise, the CUSD Dashboard proves that they are not on the rise within schools. Please continue to provide students and parents OPTIONS and give them the choice to learn online or in-person. Thank you!Submitted by: Adrianne H
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep In-Person Learning
Comment: I feel like I'm a record player... keep schools open... my kids are thriving in-person and weren't online... I'm not blind as to what is happening, I watch the numbers. You've heard it from me for months. We can see that the students aren't priority as the news of an emergency meeting developed after teachers threatened to sick-out. I won't go into how selfish that is, especially when families have continued to follow precautions during the break. Let's take a moment to think of the support staff - the bus drivers, cafeteria workers, office staff, paraprofessionals, custodial, etc. Growing up, my mom drove bus for MPS. It was one of her 3 jobs. If schools shut down, she would have been unable to support her 6 kids. I imagine there are many support staff who can't afford to go another two plus weeks without a paycheck. If we can't keep schools open for the kids, keep them open for financial reasons. Other businesses are open, with precautions. Schools should stay open, with precautions.Submitted by: Adrianne H
School: Rice Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep In-Person Learning
Comment: I feel like I'm a record player... keep schools open... my kids are thriving in-person and weren't online... I'm not blind as to what is happening, I watch the numbers. You've heard it from me for months. We can see that the students aren't priority as the news of an emergency meeting developed after teachers threatened to sick-out. I won't go into how selfish that is, especially when families have continued to follow precautions during the break. Let's take a moment to think of the support staff - the bus drivers, cafeteria workers, office staff, paraprofessionals, custodial, etc. Growing up, my mom drove bus for MPS. It was one of her 3 jobs. If schools shut down, she would have been unable to support her 6 kids. I imagine there are many support staff who can't afford to go another two plus weeks without a paycheck. If we can't keep schools open for the kids, keep them open for financial reasons. Other businesses are open, with precautions. Schools should stay open, with precautions.Submitted by: Adrienne L
School: Perry High Organization: Parents
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Do not close the schools.
Comment: My daughter struggled with on line learning. Her grades and anxiety and depression were at their worst. She needs to be in school. Teachers need to do their jobs. Covid is not being spread in the schools, with the safety measurements that have been enacted. Please do not close the schools. My daughters chances of college will be severely limited. We need to help theses students succeed instead of catering to the teachers union who have their own agenda. Their job is to teach, to be astability in a time of uncertainty.Submitted by: Alice S
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Schools are safer
Comment: Studies are showing schools across the nation aren't spreading covid. Most children are exposed to covid at home. We're all safer with children at school. The social and mental development that is so critical at this age is stunted when we move school online. Please keep the schools open.Submitted by: Alie
School: Casteel High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep the schools OPEN
Comment: The schools need to stay open. It is what is best for the kids. Kids do not do well online. Kids do not do well isolated. They go into depressions. I bet if you guys were to do a study, you would find you are putting these kids in way more danger closing schools than keeping them open. If teachers do not feel comfortable teaching in person, then they should find another job. There are multiple people that are in the same position. If someone is not comfortable going to work at fry's, guess what?Their only choice would be to get a new job. I'm a dance teacher and work with children. We have been open since mid may with no crazy outbreaks. It has been proven, Dr. Fauci, even said that these kids are not great passers of the virus. You are affecting these children more than you know each time you try and close these schools. Stop being selfish!!!Submitted by: Alisha K
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please please don't close our schools
Comment: I watch my child go into depression without school!!!Submitted by: Alissa S
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: 7th Grader hoping to remain 'In Person'
Comment: Our son, Ryan is really hoping to be able to stay 'in person' this year. He feels safe at school and is enjoying the year despite the craziness.Submitted by: Allison H
School: Santan Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep Schools Open!!
Comment: Please keep schools open!! Kids need to be in school and learning.Submitted by: Allison H
School: Santan Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Kids need to be is person for school!!
Comment: The kids need in person learning! Studies have shown the spread in school is not high. If mitigation efforts are made school is the best and safest place! The learning of virtual school does not compare to in person and will continue to keep kids behind not just this year but years to come!!Submitted by: Alyse C
School: Perry High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person learning
Comment: Please for the sake of our children keep them IN learning. Online is just not a good option and fails students!! Our kids need to be IN school! So much science and evidence show schools are not the problem of spreading and neither are our kids!Submitted by: Amanda
School: Fulton Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep schools open. Local metrics for Chandler is showing a decrease. Also, COA is available for families who don't want to go back.
Comment: Keep Schools OpenSubmitted by: Amanda
School: Santan Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep Schools Open
Comment: Keep schools open. Local metrics for Chandler is showing a decrease. Also, COA is available for families who don't want to go back.Submitted by: Amanda B
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep in-person school open
Comment: Schools must remain open for in-person learning for all grades. We do not get to pick and choose what science we listen to. We must learn to adapt and live with this virus. Our children and their education must remain at the forefront of CUSD's priorities and science has stated it should be in person. Schools are NOT super spreaders. SCHOOLS NOT SCREENS!Submitted by: Amanda C
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to School/January 2021
Comment: As a former CUSD teacher, the wife of a CUSD teacher, and the mom of four CUSD students, please keep our kids in school! Please honor the voices of the parents, families, and teachers who believe that our children need to be in school. Our teachers, custodians, staffs, and site administrators are working so hard to keep them safe and the numbers show that their efforts are working. It is crucial for our kids' education AND for their emotional well-being to go to school! Thank you for continuing to support what is best for our children.Submitted by: Amanda W
School: Basha Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person learning
Comment: I'd like to request school to be kept in person as it would be detremental to these kids to continue to disrupt their lives when the amount of cases in the actual schools is minimal. I'd request that it continue to be a school by school basis on action taken to change from in person learning. This not only affects kids but parents who work and work from home. I have seen so much growth in my daughter since they went to in person school. Virtual and expecting kids to be in front of a computer foralmost 7 hours is not acceptable.Submitted by: Amber B
School: Riggs Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep schools open
Comment: Please keep schools open, you've already agreed to virtual for 2 weeks, as well as, parents have the OCA as an option. Please don't force our kids to be online.Submitted by: Amber L
School: Elite Performance Academy Organization: Also CTA Freedom School
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Remain in in-person school
Comment: Please allow our children to go back to in-person school after the breakSubmitted by: Amber T
School: Ryan Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Stay with in person learning
Comment: There is not a one size fits all solution for k-12. We need to stick with the site based decision that was already approved. Teachers were given many chances to take a leave, retire, or teach online. Those of us who know the importance of in-person learning and are ready and willing to go back and do our jobs should not be denied that because of a survey that was not offered to all district employees. There will not be a true sense of what the majority of CUSD teachers want or how they truly feel until a survey is sent out to every teacher in the district, not just a select group. Stay with in person learning. The students need us and that's what they deserve!Submitted by: Amelia J
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: Kids need to be back in school
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Go back to school
Comment: Kids need to be back in schoolSubmitted by: Amie P
School: Auxier Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person learning essential
Comment: Please keep in person learning regardless of current COVID-19 cases. Data shows that kids don't spread it. Suicide rates are going up among youth which is much more devastating than cases of COVID. Virtual learning for my 2nd and 6th grader went very poorly. If the board votes to go back to in person please know I will take my kids out of CUSD and enroll them elsewhere.Submitted by: Amy
School: Auxier Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: I am a teacher, a parent, a voter. Keep schools open
Comment: I teach for Cusd. I have 3 kids in cusd schools. There is no reason to be shutting the schools. The decision to close schools on a site by site basis is a good one. The numbers of cases at school show closure is not needed. Elementary students stay in their cohorts. They are safe. There are no active cases. Keep the schools open.Submitted by: Amy D
School: Perry High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep our schools open!
Comment: With talk of the upcoming board meeting, I want to voice my concerns with the possibility of closing chandler schools again. I strongly oppose virtual learning. It did not work well at all for my children. My highschooler had mostly F's an Ds at the end of the first quarter, which was not like him at all. I saw my childrens' mental health suffer tremendously. The CDC has stated that science has proven the best and safest place for children is in person learning and recommends to keep schools open. Please follow the science and do not make decisions based on fear and the voices of those who don't understand. We have been through so much this past year. I'm not going to sit back and watch my kids be deprived of their education and community again. If CUSD decides to go all virtual, I will be pulling my 3 students from the district. Thank you.Submitted by: Amy K
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep our kids in school!
Comment: I have 4 kids in CUSD. One in elementary one in Jr. High and two in HS. I also sub in the district and have been in the classroom almost every day this quarter on several campuses. The kids are doing fine. I felt safe. There is plenty of precautions being followed. I think it makes sense to shut down an individual school only if the Covid numbers merit that. The previous decision not to shut down the entire district again makes good logical sense. Thank you.Submitted by: Amy M
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep our schools OPEN
Comment: You MUST do the right thing for our kids and KEEP THEM IN PERSON FOR SCHOOL! Closing schools for 2 more weeks will not do anything to prevent any spread of Covid. The dashboard numbers set by this board were all well within the limits prior to winter break and there is no evidence to suggest that will change. County health numbers are not the end all be all and our numbers in Chandler have actually decreased. It is proven that kids are not the spreaders and in fact they clear the virus faster than adults do. Closing school over a miniscule number is absurd. For the teachers who are afraid , this virus has been here a year now and will not be going away anytime soon and it can not be controlled, If you are that afraid, join up with the scared parents and figure out a good virtual option, but for those of us who are reasonable, do not close our schools! This is an obsession and enough is enough.yYou can't wait until the 11th hour and give parents and kids no time to prepare for a closueSubmitted by: Andrea F
School: Basha High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Continue in person school
Comment: I know you are faced with pressure from outside sources, SOME teachers and SOME community members to have school be on line. Please keep in in person as we are managing it well. The kids NEED their education, the extra curriclart activity to survive. It's mentally necessary. Education is required- not optional. Most want in person- other were able to choose on line. Everyone in this country has to continue to move forward... imagine if our cops and doctors opted to walk out. Stay strong.Submitted by: Andrea H
School: Carlson Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: In-person learning
Comment: Students need to be in person for not only their academic growth, but their mental health as well. I have been an elementary teacher in CUSD for 23 years and do not want to go back online.Submitted by: ANDREA L
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep schools open
Comment: Please focus on continued mitigation strategies, not closing schools. Chandler's new COVID cases are decreasing for the 2nd week in a row dropping to 476 positive reports per 100,000 or .04%. You can find this information from the Chandler City Council's latest report. The COVID virus will be with us for some time yet as are other viruses we have dealt with and continue to manage as a society. Hiding kids in their bedroom is not going to make any difference to a virus. Mitigation strategies aro The CDC and Dr. Fauci have stated that COVID doesn't require schools to be closed as they are not a high place of transmission. The CUSD dashboard numbers have born this out. Listen to the scientists. They tell us to focus on mitigation strategies, not closing."""Submitted by: ANDREA L
School: Knox Gifted Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep schools open
Comment: We need to focus on enhancing mitigation strategies, not closing on a whim again. Look at the CUSD dashboard of COVID cases from last quarter. I followed this as a parent and was please to see that, generally, the numbers were very low. In elementary schools and even junior highs, you generally wouldn't see more than 1-2 cases in a school at a time. Even in high schools (with one exception), you would generally see no more than a handful of cases at a time. In light of the size of our high schools, that is impressive. CUSD's mitigation strategies largely worked. Let's focus on making those better where we can, not sending kids back home for no reason. The CDC and Dr. Fauci have stated that COVID doesn't require schools to be closed as they are not a high place of transmission. The CUSD dashboard numbers have born this out. Listen to the scientists. They tell us to focus on mitigation strategies, not closing.Submitted by: ANDREA L
School: Knox Gifted Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep schools open
Comment: Please do not close schools again. Doing this was a travesty for students during the fall quarter and will be again. The fact is that CUSD did a great job with mitigation strategies during the winter quarter and kept Covid cases very low in schools and it will do so again during the spring semester. The medical community, including CDC and Dr. Fauci, have said that there is no need to close schools as this isn't a large area of transmission. Please don't hurt our students by listening to a vocalminority of parents who already have the option to keep their kids at home. Also, don't use other districts as a litmus test. Those districts, including Scottsdale, closed because they had transmission issues and insufficient number of subs. CUSD doesn't have the same issues and has done a good job with mitigation strategies. Please focus there and keep kids in schools. Everyone knows that the online learning is subpar and our kids deserve better or they will fall behind.Submitted by: ANDREA L
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep schools open
Comment: There is no legitimate reason to close schools right before the spring semester begins. I am a careful parent who has closely monitored the CUSD Covid dashboard throughout last semester and the fact is that the mitigation strategies employed by the district are largely working and cases have been quite low in schools. I have an honors student who has unequivocally told me that the online learning was a joke. He would finish school 2-3 hours early each day and still got A's in all honors classes. He didn't get a good experience until returning in person. If you close schools when there is no reason to do so, you will lose even more students to private and charter schools and make the budget shortfall worse. This virus is here to stay with us. Locking up kids in bedrooms isn't the answer. Employing better mitigation strategies is. Let's focus on that for our students. Please don't fall victim to a vocal minority who already has the option to keep their kids at home to learn.Submitted by: Andrea S
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Remaining in person for school
Comment: As a parent of a high school child, I can only speak for him. Please, please, please let us remain in person school. Check your own numbers on your dashboard. These kids are not getting COVID in school. The risks to their mental health far outweigh the risks of COVID. Yes, COVID is scary. Depression, Anxiety and Suicide are far scarier in my opinion. We have a 99% survival rate for COVID. If even one child commits suicide, that's one too many. There are options in place for those who don't wantto return. We have already taken so much from our children. For some school is the only safe place they have. When you remove their choice, you are teaching our children that their opinions don't matter. Please be a voice for our children.Submitted by: Andrea S
School: Haley Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person school
Comment: It is important for our elementary school students to stay with in person school. If you check your own dashboard, you will see that the elementary school aged children are not at risk and are not spreading the virus. A universal shut down of our schools is unwarranted. These kids hardly see their peers outside of school. Pulling them out of in person school will cause many developmental problems. They need the social interaction they are provided at school. It is impossible for a elementary teacher to gauge her students levels online. It is unfair to make them adapt and teach this way. We were given a choice to attend online or in person. Please don't take that choice away from us. I know my child teacher wants to be at school. I know my child wants to be at school. Please keep us there. Thank you.Submitted by: Andrew W
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep Schools Open. If its about the kids, do whats in the best interest of the kids.
Comment: I have 5 kids in CUSD. Navarrette, WGA, Payne and Basha. CUSD data clearly shows that COVID is NOT spreading through the schools. National data clearly shows that healthy kids 20 and under are risk of little more than getting sick if contracting COVID. The school district has given parents options which is good and kids that may be vunarable are protected. The long term negative impacts of shutting down in person learning are far greater than the minute risk of our kids being sick for a week. Do not hurt the education of good kids because of a few ignorant squeeky wheels. They have options if they don't want to send their kids and they should respect our desires and not be allowed to hurt the rest of the kids in the district because they fear something they don't really understand. I can personally witness that my 5 kids in elementary, junior high and high school did not get the same quality of learning online and while they struggled online they are now thriving in person.Submitted by: Angela O
School: Rice Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: DO NOT CLOSE THE SCHOOLS
Comment: Well, here we are again submitting comments asking the board members who are supposed to be advocating FOR our kids to not close the schools. You have been elected to advocate for our kids and now are choosing to do the opposite. Let me ask you this, have you asked the any students how THEY feel about virtual learning? My guess is no, because you don't want to hear what they truly have to say. I told my 2nd grader and kindergartner that the board members are deciding if they want the students toreturn to virtual learning, they were so upset and asked me Do they not want us to learn and be happy ? Please answer that question for these young learners. My students thrive in school not in virtual learning, the emotional and mental trauma you are wanting to put them through again is unacceptable. If YOU choose to continue to hurt these kids mental and emotional state you will lose children to charter schools. I will not allow my children to think less of themselves because of you!Submitted by: Angie G
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual learning and semester finals
Comment: I would like to you to consider keeping the kids in person. There is no proof that the virus is spreading in the schools. We were given options as families for in person or virtual. It is unfair to have that option removed. Also, if you do decide to go virtual, then what is going to happen to the students who were suppose to take their finals after break secondary to being quarantined? Are you going to make them wait another 2 weeks to take them? This is unacceptable and will not be tolerated by many families who are not willing to let their children's grades be effected while they are being treated so badly.Submitted by: Ann M
School: Riggs Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: I support in person learning for my students
Comment: With proper mitigation strategies in place, Elementary schools have not been places of spread. Please support our students with in person learning. Respect the parents and students of CUSD that would like to make the choice for their family. These kids need in person school. Virtual school is not even close to the real thing. I am a substitute and will do my part to support in person school.Submitted by: Anna A
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual or in person
Comment: I believe my children do best when in person schoolSubmitted by: Annie P
School: Perry High Organization: Concerned Parent representing my Children
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please continue to keep our schools in-person and open for the majority who need and want to be there! Keep virtual option for those who don't.
Comment: Thank you for all your time and effort in making choices in the best interest of our children and families. Moving up the board meeting raises major concern to our community for a last minute potential change that could impact our district's families so negatively. Please consider ALL aspects to in-person learning, including actual cases within our individual school, the rise of suicide in these age of kids, mental health significant decline, lack of supervision and availability for most families to facilitate a SAFE at-home learning environment, the stress it adds to working parents already facing extremely difficult financial circumstances, etc. Educate yourself on more than just the local number of positive cases. Deaths are not rising! Consider our own CUSD data, which is incredibly low per school and the infection rate of kids forced to be quarantined due to close contact (positivity rate .005) and staff 0%. KEEP OUR SCHOOLS OPEN FOR IN PERSON LEARNING for the majority.Submitted by: Anonymous
School: Rice Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please continue in person return
Comment: I am asking you please allow the students to return in person. The bullying of Love, teacher Capriotti and a few others like them should not be allowed to be the voice for many teachers, patents, students that want in person school. We as a district can not afford to loose more students due to their obvious politics. Please put the kids first or patents will go elsewhere.Submitted by: Anonymous
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Listen to Science
Comment: Please listen to the science. Kids are not getting sick from schools. If teachers do not feel safe then they can quit. If doctors and nurses do not feel safe they are given a choice either go to work or quit. These teachers are complaining about not feeling safe yet they are still taking vacations. Some are even getting their nails done while they are supposed to be in class teaching. We as parents have 2 choices if we do not feel that our kids are safe then we can do online. Otherwise please let the ones that feel safe go back to school.Submitted by: Anonymous
School: Casteel High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: KEEP in person school
Comment: Continuing to discuss closing schools is getting very frustrating and old! It's vital for many students to remain in person. Taking that option away will hurt those that so desperately need the interaction mentally. Being in a classroom with other students is no different than shopping at a store or going to the doctor's office. This isn't about not wanting my kids home. I love having my kids home with me. This is about my kids well being. They need to be in a classroom with their peers and teachers because that's what's best for them. The school board should NOT be making decisions that will hurt any kid. If you choose to close the schools again, that's exactly what you'll be doing. You'll be taking my voice away as a parent for my own kids. Please do the right thing and keep in person school open.Submitted by: Antonio J
School: Santan Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep the in person option
Comment: Please keep these kids in person for those that would like the choice. My kids both really struggles with the virtual.Submitted by: April l
School: Santan Elementary Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Board meeting and potential school closure
Comment: I am writing to let the school board of Chandler school district that this writer and a parent of a 3rd grader at San tan elementary school completely disagrees with school closure or delays. There has been many studies done that school aged children do not spread covid-19. Many physician have stated that schools do not need to be closed. School closure does more harm then good and these children need to be in a classroom setting with their teachers and peers. You as a school board are doing harm to my child and his education as well as his social and physical health. School has been in session since August and there have been very few cases if any cases. These cases also can not be proven that those individuals contracted covid from students. Many other parents disagree with school closure or delays. I will seek legal counsel against the school for mental and physical health decline due to the school Board making inappropriate decisions for my child that is causing harm.Submitted by: AR
School: Patterson Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: PLEASE KEEP OUR SCHOOLS OPEN !!!
Comment: I am a parent of five CUSD students and they need to be in school my oldest is a junior and is very organized and self motivated so she would do just fine either way but for her emotional stand point she needs and wants to be in school. My other four absolutely need in person school especially my kindergartener she is literally failing because she did not do so well first quarter with on line and is over it all which is such a disheartening way to start your education. I agree that for those whoare scared need a better option then COA and better options need to be presented for the teachers and parents enough of this back and forth last minute stuff.Submitted by: Ardis L
School: San Marcos Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual
Comment: It's important for the kids to be IN school, not sitting at a computer all day long. In this modern day of technology, we need to start promoting the value of learning how to be social; furthermore, we can't let our teachers control what the district taxpayers may want to see transpire. Virtual learning isn't satisfying the needs of most special needs children who get NOTHING out of virtual learning--they NEED to be in school!Submitted by: Armando S
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep Schools Open
Comment: We often make quick decisions because of fear, but when people are scared, there becomes a great temptation for leaders to take actions that give the appearance of doing something without actually doing anything to mitigate the danger. We are constantly being reminded to trust the science and the science is clear on this that schools safely opened and practicing good mitigation strategies, are not a reason for community spread of the coronavirus. On the other hand, there is growing evidence that taking our kids out of school can have serious, long-term negative effects such as huge spikes in childhood depression, anxiety and even suicides. There is also an important fact that kids do not learn as well remotely. I employ the members of the board to look at states & districts that have closed schools and identify whether or not that is working for them....it's clearly not from my research. Our community is depending on this decision, it is what is best for all.Submitted by: Ashley A
School: Fulton Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Stay in Person
Comment: We have a Kindergartner and 5th grader at Fulton and feel confident in the teachers and staff keeping our kids safe. Not only will going virtual create havoc in their already very different life, it will not benefit them to lose one more thing in their life. They LOVE school and learning and were not happy online. We understand HS students have NOT been making wise choices with social distancing, and feel as though they should be looked at and considered as a different entity entirely. The samegoes with families that choose to travel during these breaks. This is an entirely new scenario, so create a new response. Require quarantine and virtual for those families that choose to live a lifestyle that is not recommended at the moment. My Kindergartner and 5th grader deserve to be in the classroom where they are happiest because we choose to have them there and follow the recommended rules of this ever changing environment. I am tired of my students being punished for others decisionsSubmitted by: Ashley M
School: Carlson Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please don't go online only!
Comment: My first grade is thriving in person, please don't switch to online only! It is going to be terrible for so many that struggle with online learning.Submitted by: Ashley P
School: Patterson Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In-person for elementary
Comment: In-person for elementarySubmitted by: Ashley w
School: Conley Elementary Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person learning
Comment: Please don't take away the option for in person learning our kids need this. Let's follow the plan we already decided on which was to watch the numbers school by school and shut down if and when those numbers reached the percentage we all agreed on. Please! Let's be there for our kids!Submitted by: Ashley W
School: Casteel High Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep schools open and also fire teachers who doxxed Perry students and parents
Comment: The safest place for students academically, physically, socially, emotionally and mentally is in school with their peers and a teacher in front of them. The virtual model is ineffective, and as I'm sure the board is aware, teenagers at home are going to congregate maskless even more and be out in the community. There has already been irreparable damage done to students and their futures. Let's not continue to harm them.Submitted by: Ashley W
School: Haley Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep Our Kids In School! THEY NEED THIS!
Comment: Please keep our children in school. Cases in schools have not been the issue. Our kids NEED in person learning for their mental health and education. Please keep the choice of in person learning available, especially for our elementary and IEP students. Both my children cannot learn virtually effectively and do not thrive in a virtual setting. Please stick to your school by school plan and stop playing games with the students, parents, and teachers! This is getting to be ridiculous.Submitted by: Athen F
School: Knox Gifted Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Schools open for in person learning
Comment: As a licensed marriage and family therapist and expert in mental health of children and adults, I strongly believe continuing to offer both in-person and online options is essential for families and children in the CUSD. While case numbers are high and I am aware of the health situation, the numbers and data on actual CUSD schools (especially elementary schools) has shown that schools are not a significant contributor to the spread of COVID-19 and mitigation efforts in place are working. We have to look at the impact on a child's well-being and overall health- mental, physical, emotional and psychological- and the importance for many children and families of staying in school is essential to all of these. School is not only key for education and learning so that our future- our YOUTH- is bright and equipped for success - it is often the only safe place for some children to go. We know there are multiple risk factors (depression, abuse) that far outweigh the risk of COVID to a child.Submitted by: Audrey C
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep students in person
Comment: Students, especially those on IEP's, need to be in person learning. Masks and distancing from students has worked so far to keep teachers safe. What they do in their spare time however is where the threat comes from.Submitted by: Audrey C
School: Santan Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep students in person
Comment: The schools my children are at have been wonderful about keeping everyone safe while allowing in person learning. I have confidence they can continue this. Students need to learn in person.Submitted by: Avery P
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Stay in school
Comment: It is hard to do finals onlineSubmitted by: Barbara H
School: Ryan Elementary Organization: Patterson Elementary
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person school
Comment: As a teacher in the district, and a parent of two students in the District, I am pleading with you to please keep the schools open for in-person learning. I feel safe in my classroom and there have been no outbreaks related to in person learning. Our students need to be in school. It then the safest place for them. Thank you for advocating for our youth!Submitted by: Bart M
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In-Person Learning
Comment: Board - We have children in three Chandler schools. We understand and have accepted the risks of in-person learning. I am asking you to keep in-person learning available. It is unfathomable that we - or you - would ask our youth to bear the burden of this disease, which statistically poses very low risks to them. Virtual learning creates developmental, psychological and even physical risks that cannot be ignored. Thank you for making the sound decision and keeping in-person learning open, which is the best solution for their overall health.Submitted by: Bassam H
School: Hull Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep schools open.
Comment: Keep schools open, give option for teachers to get vaccine when available for them.Submitted by: Ben G
School: Basha High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep our schools open
Comment: Keep our schools open! There is no need to close in person learning. An in person education is what my kids need. Stability is what my kids need. Parental choice is what I need. Do not rob us of these things. We have suffered so much. Dada does not support closing schools. We have mitigation in place and it is working. We should not be having an emergency board meeting because teachers are crying. If they don't want to work they need to get a new job! They should be fired if they don't come to work. We will leave the district if schools close again! CUSD is losing big money and it is going to get substantially worse if you close schools again!Submitted by: Berk K
School: Patterson Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person learning
Comment: Requesting to keep our elementary school open for in person learning. We have three resolved cases since beginning of the school year I don't feel that warrants closing. My two students suffered emotionally and cognitively while at home at the start of the school year.Submitted by: Beth
School: Santan Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep our schools open
Comment: I have four kids in CUSD. It is in the best interest of our students, teachers and the district's financial stability to keep our schools open for in-person learning. Parents can still opt for online learning with COA, so why not give parents the choice. Keep our schools open!!!!!Submitted by: Beth B
School: Patterson Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Opening schools
Comment: I implore you to open the schools. I understand the 2 week quarantine period because of the holidays, but anything more than that will do more damage to the district's future and to students' well being. Also, if a school has high numbers, it should only affect that school. Please put in a stipulation with a focus on site by site basis for school closures for the rest of the school year.Submitted by: Beth W
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please allow in-person school
Comment: My Jr at Basha High (who has grown up in CATS, has a 4.0+ GPA) was made to feel stupid and incapable when virtual learning proved to be ineffective and detrimental to his education. He spent a quarter getting further behind and failing in Calc BC. He has never experienced this in-person. When he finally got the in-person support he needed, he was able to simultaneously relearn the 1st quarter concepts while learning 2nd quarter concepts through hard work and daily tutoring from his teacher afterschool. He has spent countless hours studying to get out of this hole. I am pleading with you not to push him back in. I fought daily with my kindergartener (Navarrete) to the point that I was near pulling him out and homeschooling. He is just not meant to be in front of a screen for that amount of time. It is not effective. Please do not sacrifice the efficacy of our children's education when there have not been significant outbreaks within our schools. The virus is not spreading in the class.Submitted by: Bonnie R
School: Casteel High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Mental health in person IN school
Comment: For kid's mental health this is beyond important that they remain in school have you looked at suicide rates?up 67% pinal county!Submitted by: Brad L
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep our schools open for in person instruction.
Comment: Please keep our schools open for in person instruction.Submitted by: Brandon C
School: Patterson Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In Person Learning
Comment: I have kids 3 kids in CUSD (2nd, 5th, 8th) I am begging the board to stay the course with the guidance that has been outlined by the administration. If we truly feel the vaccine is the end all then we need to keep following our administration decisions. We have to believe we have reached the peak of this second spike and the vaccine will start to lower those numbers, NO ONE has said that a vaccine will cause another spike. So we have come this far we need to continue going down this path andhaving kids in Person. I have seen my children make drastic improvement in all areas since they have been back in person learning. I even had 1 child that got caught up in the quarantine (close contact) protocols and instantly fell behind in a 10 educational days. So in PERSON works and is the best option for our children's future. Stay strong and don't give in to a teachers union that will always STRIKE when they feel they need more MONEYSubmitted by: Brandon H
School: Haley Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Stay open!
Comment: We need to stay open for our children's health and wellness. The mitigation strategies are working! Stay open and Lee our kids developing.Submitted by: Brandon R
School: Knox Gifted Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep Schools Open and Stop Irresponsible Rhetoric
Comment: I have three children attending CUSD. Please keep our children's school open and please stop the irresponsible rhetoric that encourages division in our community. Minority factions are seizing on the waffling, irresponsible rhetoric of board members to advance their private agendas. We need a clear message of support for our administrators, principals, teachers and students who are teaching and learning despite the pandemic.Submitted by: Brandy L
School: CTA Freedom Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep kids in school
Comment: Please allow our students to return to school. They're wearing masks, limited playground usage,handwashing, social distancing in class... what more fo you want from our kids and parents. If these teachers are going to groceey store, out to dinners, and out on vacation... Get back to your ESSENTIAL JOB..Submitted by: Brenda
School: CTA Liberty Organization: Not applicable
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: The board made a promise and commitment to give parents a choice. Honor that commitment
Comment: We, along with many others, will be leaving CUSD if you close the schools. My children require in person in order to thrive. MS LOVE and MS BRUNER have no business imposing their political views on the rest of us. MS LOVE is very disrespectful and it is disgusting. the board made a commitment. The board made a plan. A good plan. Honor that.Submitted by: Brent H
School: Hull Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In school learning
Comment: Please remember us parents choose to put our kids in school when the option was given in the beginning of the year. That's our decision and not be be voted on with your feelings . Hull elementary has a great protocol with shown minimal risk. Our kids want to stay in school! Listen to the community you are serving. I fear another huge miss from the board members and expect another 5 hour circus tomorrow. Give options and let parents decide for in person or home.Submitted by: Brienna S
School: Ryan Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In-person School
Comment: Maricopa Health Dept just recently stated they are an advocate for having elementary aged children in school, that the spread and exposure is minimal at this level. I beg of you to please continue in-person school for elementary. Both of you teachers (1st and 2nd) want to have in-person school as our children have suffered so greatly this far with virtual learning. My one son has an IEP and it's imperative he doesn't miss any more in-person instruction. If you abruptly move to virtual tomorrow,you will leave many working families in awful situations trying to find care for their children where they are able to do remote learning. And the kids express option was not working for younger children. And lastly, our family as many of others have already had covid. We are not a risk- please leave us with options as you do with other families.Submitted by: Brittany B
School: Basha Elementary Organization: Parent
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In school attendance
Comment: Our children should remain in the classroom.Submitted by: Brooke B
School: CTA Liberty Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In school closure
Comment: Please keep these kids in school. Our son almost failed first quarter due to it being online and he has been pretty much a straight A student his entire school career. These kids need the structure of in person schooling. Online doesn't work for these kids. Their grades have risen since they've been back in person. Going back online now will just set them back to square one. Please keep them in school. Thank you, Brooke BrownSubmitted by: CAMERON G
School: Perry High Organization: Parent
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep Schools Open
Comment: Dear Board Members, I am writing to request that you vote to keep Chandler schools open. My daughter is a sophomore at Perry. Online school during the last fall semester was detrimental to my daughter's academic success, as well as damaging to her emotional well being. Her grades plummeted from As and Bs to Ds and Fs. Out of her 6 classes, only one teacher noticed she was struggling. That one teacher reached out and tried to help her, but the online format was not conducive to my daughter's learning style. My daughter was putting in effort, she was making it to all the online meets, but the information was not being taught or sinking in for her, and the online format precluded teachers from helping her. As a result, her confidence in her ability to succeed in school has plummeted, and I am worried that her grades will impact her ability to attend college in the future. She also struggled with anxiety and depression because she was not able to be with friends. While I understand thaSubmitted by: Carey k
School: Haley Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Our kids need to be IN school
Comment: I am once again advocating for my children to stay in school. As the parent of a second grader and kindergartner- home schooling is near impossible for a working family. They are unable to login and participate with out constant supervision and help. The quality of education online is less than due to their attention span, need for social skills/movement, need of help, and lack of computer skills and reading ability (kinder) the metrics do NOT and have never shown their school or another elementary school with anywhere even close to 1% of the population having covid. Please do what is right for all these children and let them remain in school where they are safely learning!Submitted by: Carie P
School: Santan Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep schools open
Comment: Please keep schools up! Give us a choice for our kids. Our youth NEEDS to be in school. They need the in person instruction, the community, the friendships, the memories and everything else that goes along with in person. If ones don't feel comfortable they too can choose to do virtual. This virus is not going anywhere and we are going to need to learn as a society to pivot and adapt like many of us have already done. We've pivoted our businesses each and every day but remained open to serve ourmembers. Kids need an education and in the classroom is where it needs to happen. Please don't go back to virtualSubmitted by: Carl
School: Patterson Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person learning
Comment: Our children deserve to be in school learning. Closing the schools at this point will only do more harm than good.Submitted by: Carl
School: Frye Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual is NOT an option
Comment: Do not close the schools. This board has done enough damage to these children with this up and down game of who is more scared. We pay our hard earned tax dollars to ensure our children get a good education. This does not include watching a few prerecorded videos abs making them fend for themselves. Kids need to be IN SCHOOL being taught by a teacher. Quit putting our kids through this. Hopefully the new board members don't make irritations decisions based on a fear that isn't happening in the schools.Submitted by: Carol A
School: Casteel High Organization: parent
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Our kids need to be in school
Comment: There are already options for virtual learning. If it's about the teachers then have them paired with virtual classes. Our kids not being in school is a disservice. Stop making excuses! Have our teachers be front line workers for vaccine if that's the issueSubmitted by: Carolyn Y
School: Hamilton High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keeping schools open
Comment: My daughter is a senior at Hamilton High. Since school went back in person, she is thriving in school again. She takes all AP classes and while online she struggled to learn, was up to 3am trying to figure concepts and completely stress. Since in person her grades and attitude towards school and learning has returned to positive. As a parent and student the continuous flip flop from the board and having to fight for my child's right to an education has been exhausting. We have pulled our youngerkids out to a carter school. They have been in since the end of August with no threats of closing unless it's necessary due to the government or a break out. The difference in my children in astonishing. The fact my younger kids teacher are supporting and caring during this difficult time had helped them feel secure. I understand this is a scary time. I'm a hairdresser and cut people hair, bangs , beards and shampoo all day. I'm in multiple people faces all day long. If I don'twork, I don't getSubmitted by: Carrie B
School: Basha Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In Person Learning is Essential
Comment: Thank you for continuing to offer options for families. For those that do not wish to send their kids for in person learning, COA exists, as well as the google classroom arrangement (like what is used when kids are sent home to quarantine). For those of us that feel it is imperative to our child's health and wellbeing, the in person with proper mitigation strategies option is a viable and wise choice. I understand your position is difficult. However, you have provided options that can meetmost if not all families highest priorities. For some, this may be keeping their family in a bubble in the home (online schooling). For others, this is as close to normal as possible in person learning safely. Both options meet different priorities, as families have different needs and priorities at this time. For our family, online hasn't been effective. My students are behind, frustrated and they are suffering when forced into online. please keep kids in person.Submitted by: Carrie B
School: Payne Junior High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In Person is best for kids
Comment: The CDC, Dr Fauci, esteemed medical experts agree that kids need to be in school. Schools are no super spreaders. Schools are, and have always been a safe space for kids. They are essential for the holistic wellbeing of children and families. Consider the statistics of children who have had to seek mental health services in the last 10 months vs. the number of children who have died from C19. The choice is clear: schools are vital. Children need to be in classrooms.Submitted by: Carrie W
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Open schools on January 5, 2021 as planned
Comment: Pls open school as planned. We have bee. given online options the first 2 weeks and people that wanted that already chose that. The others want in person. We the parents make the best choices for our kids & students!Submitted by: CC
School: Payne Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep schools open/follow the science
Comment: I hope you will consider keeping the schools open. So far based on studies and experience it does NOT seem to be a risk for students AND teachers to be in person at school. Teacher seem to have one of the most covid safe jobs. Why hurt the acedemic progress and the mental health of all our students by closing the schools. Studies show there is not high rates of spread at schools, and the data tracking the real life experience we are having in our school district supports that. Its also clear that having kids at home puts them at so much more adverse problems on top of higher risk of covid exposure. Please make the right choice for our families, please dont force parent to chose between working and being able to pay bills and taking care of their kids who are no longer in school. Please don't put kids at risk of being around abusers, by keeping them home. Please don't take away food stability by keeping them home. Please don't isolate them hurting their mental health by keeping them homSubmitted by: Charley B
School: Fulton Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Staying in person for learning
Comment: Please do not make our children return to virtual school. As a parent of a 5th grade and a kindergartener our children really struggled while at home. I will never understand why we were able to pay for our children to attend kids express, while paying a fee, yet attending school was not an option. What was the difference? Our children need the ability to socialize with their peers as this is vital to their well being and development.Submitted by: Charo B
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In Person Learning
Comment: We support in person learning. CTA Freedom is doing a great job keeping their students, teachers and staff safe.Submitted by: Chelsea S
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please do not close schools
Comment: The first time schools were closed, the change in my teenagers mood was quite apparent. Please do not close schools. The damage done to mental health is unmatched.Submitted by: Chris H
School: Haley Elementary Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep our kids in school
Comment: Keep our kids in schoolSubmitted by: Christina A
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person learning
Comment: Keep the kids in person learning!!!!! This is so important for the children - their development, their mental health, their education, their well being. NO MORE ONLINE LEARNING!Submitted by: Christina S
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Covid
Comment: Keep our kid's in school!! It's crucial they have proper learning and not distance learning. You have already given parents the opportunity to hold kids back for two weeks if they wish. Make that accommodation for Elementry as well. My children can not mental afford to go back to online learningSubmitted by: Christina Z
School: Navarrete Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual learning
Comment: Please do NOT make our kids go back to virtual learning. My kids did not fare well last time and I don't want to move them to ALa again.Submitted by: Christine C
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keeping Schools Open and In Person
Comment: Please consider the science. Kids are better off in school than virtual. The kids are excited to go back and do do much better when they are able to be in school both mentally and physically! Thank you!Submitted by: Christine C
School: Rice Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep our schools OPEN
Comment: Please follow the advice of those who know what is best for kids- keep our schools OPEN!Submitted by: Christine J
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep kids in person learning
Comment: It has been a hard holiday season as I have had to help my children walk through the loss of their aunt who took her own life just before Christmas. When my kids did online school managing their mental health was almost impossible. My sister in law couldn't handle the isolation and political unrest in our country. Being able to go back to school will be so good for my boys to be learning and to be around peers. My boys are barely hanging on and having them online again would be detrimental. Please consider the well being of our children in their education and mental health.Submitted by: Christine J
School: CTA Freedom Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please Keep Our Schools Open!
Comment: Our teachers, staff, principals and students have worked so hard to follow all protocols that have been given to them. And it has worked! Spread in our schools has been very minimal. Please allow our kids to be in a safe learning environment, enjoy the time with their friends, connect with teachers, and be able to complete their assigned school work. Online learning was so hard on these kids, we watched them slip into bad grades and depression. Please let them be where their teachers can teach them best. Keep schools open!Submitted by: Christine N
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep our schools open!
Comment: I write to you as a parent of 3 highschool students in CUSD to tell you we can't take much more of this! My highschool aged children's mental health is suffering greatly because of all the last minute changes that the board subjects us to. I sincerely hope that the board stays the course and DOES NOT make any changes to in person learning. I am losing patience with teachers who are pushing to have schools closed for in person learning. Teachers are essential workers and ifthey don't feel safe doing their job they need to find a new job! My kids have a right to receive an in person education!. Since March the only real learning they have been provided has been the last 9 weeks of in person learning. PLEASE do not make any changes. Allow those students to be in person that want to be in person. Allow those parents who make the choice to send their children for in person learning to have that choice. I have stayed the course in remaining with the districSubmitted by: Christy M
School: ACP Oakland Organization: Also, ACP Erie and Chandler High School
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep our children in person
Comment: Our kids have been doing what they need to do to keep going to school in person. In fact, I believe that COVID rates are lower in the schools than in the surrounding areas. Those families that travelled over the break knew that they had the ability to keep their children home, but those of us that did not travel and stayed home over the break were expecting to be able to go back in person. We all know that online only learning was unsuccessful for most in the first quarter of the school year,and many of our kids had to work extra hard second quarter to make up for the time lost. Please learn from that situation, and keep our kids learning in person.Submitted by: Chrystie C
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep our schools open for in-person learning!
Comment: I am writing again to voice my support for keeping our CUSD schools open with kids benefiting from in-person learning! I know there is a contingent of parents and some teachers that would like to convince the school board to close the schools again so they and /or their kids can move back to virtual learning. I'm sorry that they feel they or their kids are at risk, however, I have to wonder why they didn't choose or stay with COA instead? I also realize there are parents who are frustrated thatthe hybrid option offered was not live virtual / in-person instruction, but was instead COA/ in-person. Here is my perspective. I am a frontline worker. If all of the frontline workers walked off the job or insisted on being able to 'work from home' where would our patients who need us go to get the care they need? The community would be in uproar. And, no, not all healthcare workers are receiving adequate personal protection equipment unless they buy it themselves. And, no, not all healthcareSubmitted by: Chrystie C
School: ACP Oakland Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep our schools open for in-person learning!
Comment: I am writing again to voice my support for keeping our CUSD schools open with kids benefiting from in-person learning! I know there is a contingent of parents and some teachers that would like to convince the school board to close the schools again so they and /or their kids can move back to virtual learning. I'm sorry that they feel they or their kids are at risk, however, I have to wonder why they didn't choose or stay with COA instead? I also realize there are parents who are frustrated thatthe hybrid option offered was not live virtual / in-person instruction, but was instead COA/ in-person. Here is my perspective. I am a frontline worker. If all of the frontline workers walked off the job or insisted on being able to 'work from home' where would our patients who need us go to get the care they need? The community would be in uproar. And, no, not all healthcare workers are receiving adequate personal protection equipment unless they buy it themselves. And, no, not all healthcareSubmitted by: Chrystie C
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep our school open for in-person learning for 2021
Comment: Please allow kids to continue in-person learning through this 2020-21 school year! Some parents are concerned COVID numbers are high and therefore schools should close. Offer a virtual option for those families, but don't take away in-person for those that want and need this option. As a frontline worker, I can attest to the fact that COVID cases are high and many people are hospitalized. However, I don't feel our schools are the source of super spread. Events outside of school, group/family gatherings, and parties are contributing to this spike. My children are doing so much better academically and emotionally being back in the classroom. As a frontline worker, I need the schools to stay open to provide that face-to-face learning they need to succeed. I can't be home with them to manage tech issues, ensure they stay engaged in Google Meets sessions, and stay accountable to doing classwork they would otherwise be doing in the classroom under supervision of a teacher. Thank you.Submitted by: Claudia
School: NONE OF THE ABOVE Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Stop being lazy, kids want in person school.
Comment: There is not facts nor proof that support your fears. Let the kids be back to school .Submitted by: Codi H
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In Person School
Comment: Please, please- continue to keep the schools open. My kids and I are in tears thinking of virtual school again. It was so extremely stressful and my children suffered academically as well as socially, emotionally and mentally. Please help our kids and keep the schools open.Submitted by: Codi H
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In Person School
Comment: Please keep the schools open for our children! We are so stressed thinking about virtual school again. It was not good for my kids. Especially my Casteel child. He has always received A's and B's, but virtually, he was failing all his classes. I have also never seen him so despondent. Once he went back to school in person, his grades shot back up and he would actually smile when he talked about his day and interacting with his fellow classmates and teachers. Please. Virtual school hurts my kidsand doesn't help them.Submitted by: Cody G
School: Casteel High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to school
Comment: As a parent of 2 children attending CUSD I would like to state the absolute importance of children attending in person learning. Speaking as a parent, taxpayer, and Union member in public safety, I am throughly disgusted with those teachers who are supporting/demanding the closure of in person learning for our children. The actions these teachers are choosing to do are nothing less than a 3-year-old temper tantrum. Their actions demonstrate the true disconnect from what we as parents and taxpayers expect from teachers. As a Union member I understand the importance of building and maintaining relationships with your employer as well as your taxpayers. The actions of this Union and it's members, the teachers, truly demonstrate the self serving of the teachers. As a public safety servant of 18 years we never once plan a sick out to leave the public to fend for themselves. Teachers you have lost the support of this taxpayer. And don't ever refer to or call yourselves heroes.DisgracefulSubmitted by: Cody W
School: Haley Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep Schools Open
Comment: Our kids need to be in school. Please keep the option of in person learning available to those who need and want it. My two kids do not thrive with virtual school and need to be in the classroom.Submitted by: Colleen W
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to school
Comment: Please keep our children in school. They have already endured so much this year and last year. It is what is best for them. They are safer in school then out. At least have it be by school basis and not as a district. If our school has had zero cases there is no reason why they should not be able to attend. Homeschool for parents with children that are younger then grade school age is near impossible. It's not fair to the teachers or the children to not be able to attend.Submitted by: Corey J
School: Casteel High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person school
Comment: Please do not take away in person school. My children among countless others have selected in person school because it is what's best for our children. We all know there is an online option and have still decided that in person is best. My children do not thrive in an online environment and their education suffers for it. The world must continue to rotate and we need this generation of children to have the education they need and deserve to be able to succeed when the corona virus pandemichas subsided. We choose not to live in a world of fear and chose to continue as closely as possible to the live we have lived and will need to live again. We can all be responsible and take all precautions at every available chance. Everyone has a part to play. Children are not the demographic that is in the high risk category. If they happen to be in another high risk category this parents need to decide to do online school. But 99% shouldn't be penalized for the protection of the 1%.Submitted by: COURTNEY
School: Auxier Elementary Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please please please do not shut down again.
Comment: Please do not shut down. Allow parents the freedom of choice between COA and in person. My children need to be in person for numerous reasons and we believe the precautions in place are doing their job. The data shows it is not being spread at schools. We have 2 months of solid data. Please be strong and stay open. For the sake of our kids who really need this.Submitted by: Crystal C
School: Santan Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep schools open
Comment: I'm again writing in hopes that you will still provide an option for in person school. I have 3 children in CUSD all with IEP's, 2 that receive resource. The quality of education received online is not even close to that of in person. I am again asking that you consider those students who need additional help in school, who struggle without having in person instruction, who have IEP's that are difficult to meet in an online setting. Thank you.Submitted by: Crystal E
School: Fulton Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep Schools Open
Comment: Dear Board Members, I recognize that the role you have is not an easy one. However, I would like to thank you for keeping our schools open, listening to the dashboard, and putting in place a contingency plan that makes sense. School districts from coast to coast have reported the number of students failing classes has risen by as many as two or three times with English language learners and disabled and disadvantaged students suffering the most. CUSD has a reputation of quality education, and Ithink we can all agree we do not want to see our children fail. There are so many factors that come into play when children have to learn from home. Teachers are seeing: Students learning from home skip assignments or school altogether. Internet access is limited or inconsistent, making it difficult to complete and upload assignments. In addition, teachers who don't see their students in person have fewer ways to pick up on who is falling behind, especially with many keeping their cameras off orSubmitted by: CUSD p
School: Hull Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Kids need to be in person and stay there
Comment: Why is the board meeting again to discuss what has already been discussed? Decisions have been made and the mitigation policies are working well. Until an individual school goes above the threshold, there is no need for further discussions. Do you ever hear much from QCUSD? Nope. They took a position and have stuck to it. Maybe follow their example instead of waffling and trying to please the woke crowd that can't ever be pleased.Submitted by: CUSD t
School: Casteel High Organization: 47 CUSD teachers
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: I AM ONE OF DOZENS OF TEACHERS NOT BEING HEARD
Comment: Please when will this stop? I am part of a group of 47 CUSD teachers from multiple schools. All 47 of us agree we do not want the schools to close. We are tired of people speaking for us. We are tired of Lindsey Love trying to make a point at the cost of us as teachers. We are tired of hearing Lara and Lindsey say the majority of teachers want schools closed when that is simply NOT TRUE. You have a LOUD MINORITY, not a majority, of people wanting schools closed. I am a CUSD parent AND teacher. If people want their kids to stay home, keep them home. If teachers want to stay home, we were all offered opportunities to teach online. I respect those people who make those choice to but only Barb and the former board members respect our choice to show up to teach and send our kids. Stop this political craziness. Let's respect each others choices. And Lindsey Love needs to stop portraying that she is speaking for a majority when it is clearly a minority if you wanted to take an actual samplingSubmitted by: Dalton L
School: Hartford Sylvia Encinas Elementary Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Pending Closure
Comment: I am once again frustrated having to be faced with another pending closure. The parents have spoken that they WANT their children in school, hence the majority of children are IN school and not doing voluntary online education. It must be accepted that schools and education are a societal essential function. Schools allow people to work, contribute to commerce, and continue the emotional development of their children. If a decision to close AGAIN is made there MUST be a line drawn to allow children that need daycare and the most social development to be allowed to attend in person.Submitted by: Dan G
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Board Meeting for January 4th
Comment: Our family appreciates our district and educators very much. We currently have seven children enrolled in the district. We understand the concern and want our teachers and children to be safe. As a first responder I tried to cautiously avoid COVID-19 for months before I finally contracted it in November. Unfortunately, my family also contracted the virus and we quarantined at home for almost three weeks before we felt safe to bring them back to school. CUSD was supportive during this process. Mychildren's educational and emotional health suffered during this time. They are now healthy and motivated to be successful at school and are prepared to be back on Tuesday. We follow CDC and CUSD policy recommendations to keep our family and others safe. Please honor the commitment to our students to keep them in school. Thank you. Dan GSubmitted by: Danielle h
School: Casteel High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person learning
Comment: Please consider keeping our kids IN person to learn!! The majority of parents and teachers want this! My kids DO NOT do well online. Frankly I'm tired of this board being wishy washy and having to frequently do these emergency meetings that stress out the parents and kids! Keep kids in person learning please... even the CDC states that kids should be in school and that schools aren't where covid is being spread. Thank you for considering the mental well being of ALL our kids (elementary and secondary) and pushing for in person learning.Submitted by: David W
School: Rice Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: School opening status
Comment: I am apparent with four kids in the Chandler School district. I believe that in the fall steps were made to help ensure School staff and student safety. I believe schools can remain open. Thank you for all the hard work being done. We really do appreciate all the staff and faculty and cusdSubmitted by: Dawn C
School: Fulton Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Stay in person
Comment: Our kids need to be in person at school. Online learning sets us back—the protocols for healthy interactions are working.Submitted by: Denise H
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Board Meeting 01-04-21 - In Person Decision
Comment: I am a parent of a Junior and she wants to be in person, I support this and encourage this. I know it is hard to please everyone with the current situation. Again I want her to be in school, in person, with her teachers. However, if a decision is made to go to remote learning, we were one of the many that were forced to quarantine due to exposure and she missed her finals as well as she missed picture day. Please come up with a solid plan for those impacted if you decide remote to take theirfinals so we can get grades current. The students are so stressed over this and it is not a good feeling as a parent when they continue to be let down by the school they enjoy so much. We have in the next 2 weeks – final make ups and picture retakes. Not everything will please everyone, so hopefully a good decision will come from this meeting to help our students move forward.Submitted by: Denise H
School: Hamilton High Organization: nA
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep our kids in school
Comment: Our kids need to be in school.Submitted by: Diane
School: Perry High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please stay open!
Comment: I will be short. I don't think my senior daughter will emotionally survive schools being shut down again. The data does not support the assumption that schools are spreading Covid. Please don't let this become political and do what is best for the children of this district. They need in person options!Submitted by: Diane S
School: Carlson Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: School closing
Comment: Hope the board is following the science regarding the low risk of COViD to children and their low potential to be spreaders. In addition the damage being done to our children when they are not in school. The green,yellow, red is outdated criteria and should no longer be used to close schoolsSubmitted by: Dianne
School: Basha High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person
Comment: As parents we should continue to be given the option of IN-PERSON learning. The other side is given the option for stay-at-home. Do NOT take this away from us. You can see the children's grade improvement from online v. In person. That should be ENOUGH. If teachers are too scared to go back- maybe they need to look into different job options for themselves. I am SICK of this- we are ALL sick of this. If the media & hospitals did not lie to us in the beginning- maybe there would be more trust about this virus- Not the case. We need to keep this option available!!Submitted by: Doug p
School: Payne Junior High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return the kids to school January 5th
Comment: My child missed three weeks of school before he could take his finals because all final need to take it in person. It is very difficult when you have a child who keeps having to delay his final for something that is major in his world and in the real world for colleges. The quarantine has not helped the children with their learning and they still have very low numbers in the school. It affects their grades, as well as the ability to learn. I want my kids back in school returned to high school so they know how to study and learn for when they get to college. NONE of his teachers were on open mic during the lessons being learned like was told would happen. They did not get the same teaching as being in school!Submitted by: Doug p
School: Basha High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return the children to school on January 5th
Comment: My child missed three weeks of school before he could take his finals because all final need to take it in person. It is very difficult when you have a child who keeps having to delay his final for something that is major in his world and in the real world for colleges. The quarantine has not helped the children with their learning and they still have very low numbers in the school. It affects their grades, as well as the ability to learn. I want my kids back in school returned to high school so they know how to study and learn for when they get to college. NONE of his teachers were on open mic during the lessons being learned like was told would happen. They did not get the same teaching as being in school!Submitted by: Elaine L
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep the school open
Comment: Kids have more other problem to have the online class than the covid19. It has been a success semester since Oct. for in person class.Submitted by: Elice W
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep Schools Open
Comment: Please keep our schools open. My kids need to be able to go to school to learn as well as for their mental health.Submitted by: Elizabeth G
School: CTA Freedom Organization: STUDENTS
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Honor your original decision to give families a choice after winter break
Comment: If the teachers are using their sick time to push a political agenda, they are holding everyone hostage. A sick out is not an emergency. If my firefighter husband used sick time for anything other than being sick, he would be formally reprimanded. Hoffman shared her opinion and gave districts the right to choose. We love our teachers and WE LOVE OUR STUDENTS. Please honor your original decision and allow parents the right to choose what is best for our kids. COA and remote learning are both nightmares. Both are inflexible. COA is especially damaging with their policy which automatically fails a student with 4 missing assignments. That policy MUST be changed if our kids are going to stand a chance at passing under the circumstances.Submitted by: Elizabeth G
School: Casteel High Organization: STUDENTS
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: CUSD Board, please honor your previous decision to allow students to return in person Jan 5th as planned.
Comment: If the teachers are using their sick time to push a political agenda, they are holding everyone hostage. A sick out is not an emergency. If my firefighter husband used sick time for anything other than being sick, he would be formally reprimanded. Hoffman shared her opinion and gave districts the right to choose. We love our teachers and WE LOVE OUR STUDENTS. Please honor your original decision and allow parents the right to choose what is best for our kids. COA and remote learning are both nightmares. Both are inflexible. COA is especially damaging with their policy which automatically fails a student with 4 missing assignments. That policy MUST be changed if our kids are going to stand a chance at passing under the circumstances.Submitted by: Elizabeth W
School: Riggs Elementary Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person learning is vital for our children
Comment: As a business owner, taxpayer, and parent of 3 CUSD elementary aged children, we need to have the choice to be able to send our children to in-person learning. It is vital for their mental health, and the metrics have shown that the masks and procedures already put into place are working. Please don't take this choice away from us.Submitted by: Elizabeth W
School: Weinberg Gifted Academy Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In-Person learning
Comment: As a parent, business owner and taxpayer it is vital that our schools are kept open and we are given the choice to continue in-person learning. The mental health of our children must be taken into consideration and the benchmarks show that the procedures put into place have been working. Please don't take this choice away from us!Submitted by: Elizabeth W
School: Casteel High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to school
Comment: Already a year with this ' pandemic' every store, restaurant, etc remains to be opened. These workers make minimum wage to serve the general public. Teachers should not be exempt from going in person to teach our kids from a distance, wear mask, sanitize. Funny how I see ' teachers' complain about return to school, yet doing what they wish with you they wish, yet continue to say ' unsafe.' Again, teachers teach from a distance. If those teachers want to remain as ONLINE EDUCATORS, then do so. Leave the cusd, apply for online school and make room for those who wish to get up and go into work like these waitress that will serve ' these' teachers for minimum wage. These workers touch your cup, utensils, food, and plates and these ' teachers' will eat from them but don't want to go back educating from a distance with mask on. I I understand health risk, and wish no ill into others, but frustrating when people see what really goes on. I hope school remains in session for our kids.Submitted by: Elle G
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep our kids in school!
Comment: Please keep our kids in school! This cannot be an all or nothing situation. Those who do not want to send their kids back should have the choice of adequate virtual education without forcing those kids and parents in favor of in person education to stay home. The mob mentality needs to end. Please do the right thing! Our kids deserve better!Submitted by: Emily H
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep our schools open!
Comment: Parents need to have an in person option for our children. Virtual learning is far inferior and takes a huge toll on families. COA is a great option for families who don't feel safe- but it should be a choice. My children are both in elementary school (K & 3rd), and they need to be in their classroom! My kindergartener suffered greatly during our virtual instruction and my 3rd grader is behind in math for the first time ever. Our young kids need to be in school! CTA Freedom has had 4 total cases...it is crazy to even discuss closing! Kids are safest at school. Please keep our elementary schools OPEN!Submitted by: Emma P
School: CTA Liberty Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep schools open
Comment: My first grader regressed immensely when schools abruptly closed in 2020. CTA is a school where they teach above the grade level and she is finally doing well again and has caught up to where she needs to be. The teachers do amazing at school and they tried so hard when we were virtual but there's only so much you can do virtually. If parents want their children to be virtual, I support them and they need to sign up for COA.Submitted by: Emma P
School: San Marcos Elementary Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep schools open
Comment: My preschooler has an IEP and is in the bridge program. He absolutely cannot do preschool and speech therapy virtually. He has improved so much since school opened to in person. This is his last year in preschool and I'm concerned he will not be ready for kindergarten if schools close again and he starts to regress like he did when school closed in 2020. Please don't forget about our children with IEPs and special needs! They thrive on a schedule and routine!Submitted by: Eric S
School: Patterson Elementary Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: stay in person
Comment: Please do not take away the choice for in person education for our kids. My children are finally thriving after the fiasco that was google classroom in 2020. I had finally got my children enjoying school and have the anxiety under control. Please dont take away my daughters choice to go in person. They need to be in person for their mental wellbeing. We finally got one child with an IEP set up because she is at least a year behind from the lack of instruction in 2020. I have spend hundreds ofdollars for private tutors to get her caught up just from what she missed when the teachers at her school decided 30 min per day of instruction was appropriate for a 1st grader. It is NOT. Let the parents who want to stay online, but give parents the CHOICE.Submitted by: Erin E
School: Casteel High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to in person
Comment: Hello board members. I understand the pressure you feel from all sides of the issue of in person versus virtual. Please honor the choice that we were given to come back in person after Christmas break. Those feeling unsafe can stay home for 2 weeks and quarantine. We need choices for our kids. Kids are suffering with the virtual option. Mine need socialization and do NOT do as well online. Please be a board that will honor those parents on both sides. We don't need decisions made for us. Pleasekeep an open mind and not be bullied into closing. My one daughter is a Junior and her grades have declined due to the virtual learning. These last years of high school are critics and can effect any scholarship she may go after. It's such a BIG deal for those kids in HS. Thank you.Submitted by: Erin F
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to school semester 2, 2021
Comment: I have 3 boys in CUSD. 1 of which is a 10th grader with adhd on a 504 plan. He failed 2 classes semester 1 because he can not learn virtually and does not get the help he desperately needs and is entitled to. It was a horrible experience for our enture family. We cant let him go through this again. He can not have another semester with Fs and not get the help he needs.Submitted by: Erin J
School: Santan Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please . . .Do not Close CUSD Schools
Comment: In person learning was chosen by parents because we believe in it. If we didn't want our children in schools, if we were truly scared of this virus that has a 98% Survival rate, we would have chosen online learning for our kids. Do not take OUR ONLY CHOICE away. Parents of online learning have many choices to choose from, not just COA but other online learning avenues as well, offered to them by the public school system in our nation. We that want in person learning for our kids only have 1 option and that is LEARNING IN PERSON AT SCHOOL! CUSD has put a mitigation plan in place and a threshold plan of their own that IS WORKING! Not one of the schools in the district ever met their percentage. Please do not vote to shut down the schools in CUSD, Please keep them open. This is all the consistency these kids have left. Stick with the 2 week OPTIONAL quarantine that was voted on in the last meeting.Submitted by: Erin N
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Open schools
Comment: Please keep our schools open. There are options for those that want to be online, but for those that want in person, the only option is for schools to be open.Submitted by: Fawn T
School: Perry High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please do NOT close schools!!!
Comment: Please, please, please do NOT close our schools! This is a matter of life or death for at least one of my five children. During the last shut down my 15-year-old became so stressed he began cutting himself. My 6th grade daughter also became so distraught that she daily, sometimes hourly, had meltdowns saying things like, 'I don't want to live anymore'. Suicide has a much higher death rate than this virus does. The suicide rate in teens has increased dramatically since schools originally got shut down. Please do not contribute to this problem. Please keep the lives of our children in mind. Thank you for your consideration in this matter!Submitted by: Fed u
School: Riggs Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Sick out
Comment: Thank you for making the decision to remain open. It is so important to our kids that the schools stay open. The antics of LL and the rest of few teachers has already cost our district dearly. If the teachers walk out on these kids enrollment will drop again. Parents are fed up and exhausted. Many of us have jobs in healthcare and can not leave work to pick up the slack for these childish tantrums. I am asking that it be known to these teachers and board member who encourages this that this behavior will not be tolerated. Ultimately if parents stop supporting CUSD it will fail.Submitted by: Garrett G
School: Basha Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep our schools open
Comment: I have a daughter in 1st grade and being in in person school most of this year has been exactly what she needed in these crazy times. It's something she looks forward to every day. The social isolation of remote learning is difficult for most kids and being together in person is a better educational experience. Yes, there are risk to in person learning but they out weight the long term negative effects of extended remote learning. I understand this is not an easy decision but I whole heartedly believe in person schooling is what is best for our kids. Thank you for your time.Submitted by: Gloria A
School: Knox Gifted Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Students
Comment: Not necessary to close schools!Submitted by: Heather A
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In-person Learning
Comment: Please allow our children to stay in-person here on January 5th. Both parents and teachers were given the choice at the beginning of the year to choose between online and in-person. We need to be able to choose what we want to do that's why there was a choice.Submitted by: Heather B
School: CTA Freedom Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep Schools Open
Comment: Please, I urge the board to keep schools opening. Look at the dashboard and see that there has been little to no cases in the elementary schools. Online/virtual learning is not an option to children that are just learning to read and cannot navigate through all the classrooms, manipulate slides and type responses that online requires. This is hurting my IEP child as well that does not receive the interventions and services needed to not fall anymore behind. Please stay open!!!Submitted by: Heather S
School: Santan Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep schools open
Comment: Keep Jr High and High Schools Open. Benefits outweigh the risks.Submitted by: Heidi G
School: Frye Elementary Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep schools In person
Comment: Please keep our elementary schools open. Our children need to be at school. There are many teachers who are ready and willing to be at school and teach. Thank you.Submitted by: Heidi T
School: CTA Freedom Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Plea for staying in person
Comment: I support staying in person for learning for my elementary age children. My son is struggling to learn to read and needs extra interventions from his amzifirst grade teacher or he will continue to fall farther behind. As a secondary teacher I will gladly stay in person with my students. I do NOT want to teach virtually AND in person at the same time if we can avoid it.Submitted by: In p
School: Casteel High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Stay open
Comment: Do not let the bully parents that want virtual dictate or sway in anyway. If they want virtual so bad then they can enroll their children in virtual and leave everyone else alone. If the teachers are not wanting to work then why should our tax dollars be paying for them to stay at home. Teachers keep saying their essential workers however essential workers are GOING to work not complaining and staging sick outs. Unfortunately right now it seems like the people that are loudest are the only ones getting heard. Many of us are not complaining because we are happy with the schools, the administration and the teachers that actually are doing their jobs. I am so tired of the Karens that have nothing else better to do than complain and try to push their ideas onto others. We don't tell you how to live why can't they leave the people who want to stay in school alone. Last time I check this was a free country. If we really cared about the kids we would be more worried about teen suicideSubmitted by: J. P
School: Patterson Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Kids in school
Comment: The safest place for our kids is in school.Submitted by: Jacki K
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep in person learning
Comment: Please keep our schools open for the in person learning option. The board has set in place positivity percentages to close individual schools which was done before the Winter Break. We need to stop limiting those who have chosen in person as the best learning option for our kids. We should be allowed to evaluate the risks and choose what is best for our children's learning. Our kids are not thriving when they have to continue to flip back and forth between in person and virtual when they have chosen in person. Many medical professionals have recommended that school is the safest place for our children in these times. We need to continue to move forward and learn how to continue to educate our children with the virus present. It is not going away. The cases are going to peak and then drop as they have been doing in other states. Once they peak, they drop significantly. We need to keep in person as an option for our kids with the measures that have already been put in place.Submitted by: Jackie M
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person instruction
Comment: Please allow for in person instruction on January 5 as scheduled. My children have been quarantined a total of 4 times - one 3 times. You are making a decision that impacts their future. Both of my kids are Juniors.Submitted by: Jada M
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep kids in School
Comment: Statistically kids are safest in school. Especially for their mental state.Submitted by: Jaime C
School: Basha High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person learning
Comment: Please keep in person learning an option for secondary students. There are thousands of students in CUSD and we are not a one size fits all district. Keep virtual as an option as well as in person. I know many of my kids teachers that would prefer to teach IN PERSON. Kids are meant to learn in a classroom where there is open communication going on. Currently I feel like this school year is such a wash. So many things changing and no consistency. I get it, everything is fluid and constantly moving without states metrics and numbers. Please don't take away our options for our kids. For the parents that want their kids learning virtual, give that to them. For the parents that want their kids to learn in person, let them have it. CUSD needs to plan better. Getting emails with information and then 24 hours later things changed. Chandler is suppose to be the district of choice!!! Don't take away our choices! My kids need to be in person learning. Please hear my voice!Submitted by: Jaime V
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep Kids In Person Learning
Comment: Please keep kids in person learning, you promised options and gave kids options all year. Those that are worried can stay home, it's an option. Teacher who didn't want to be in person also where given options too and those who wanted chose COA. Now isn't the time to disrupt our kids again. They have suffered so much and they cannot take another change. Kids do best with in person learning models and consistency. My children for one can't take another shift to online, you will loose many familiesand start to put CUSD in a dire financial deficit if you keep loosing families. Honor the boards prior vote and keep kids with options to learn in person, at all grade levels too.Submitted by: James N
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep schools open with in-person learning
Comment: I know the positive case numbers of Covid-19 in the state have been on a rise over the past month plus, but we can't look at those alone. We need to focus on the numbers in the schools, which have been surprisingly low in comparison. Please look at the FACTS and listen to the medical guidance, leave your personal agendas at home!Submitted by: James R
School: Ryan Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep schools open!
Comment: My first grader who is adhd and already significantly behind from nearly half a school year missed desperately needs in person instruction. Not a computer screen. We will move him out of the district immediately if you close. I hear Ala and legacy are wonderful schools and are building new schools all over. Cusd will lose lots of students, funding and teachers will lose jobs. Our kids need school!Submitted by: Jamie S
School: Andersen Junior High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: KEEP US OPEN!
Comment: Simple. Education is essential. Kids were DEVASTATED 1st quarter. They are finally getting their grove back. Putting them back online hurts them now... destroying the CUSD budget for next year, hurts them later! KEEP SCHOOLS OPEN!Submitted by: Janelle M
School: Hull Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: COVID-19 Update from CUSD
Comment: Thank you for meeting on January 5th to review current covid mitigation strategies and discuss the return of in-person school instruction. I believe all families should have choices. Please give us the choice of returning to in-person instruction by voting in favor of in-person instruction. Families will then have the option of selecting the choice that is best for their children and families: online or in-person. I am a mother of 5 small children, and my 6-year-old CANNOT learn without additional help. He is repeating Kindergarten this year and needs additional resources, his therapists and his special education team. He is currently not getting access to any of that, and so he is regressing. PLEASE keep the schools open so our special education children will not be neglected. PLEASE take into consideration our smallest learners, who cannot learn with just a laptop. Please keep our schools open!! Thank you so much, Janelle MonroeSubmitted by: Jasmine T
School: Basha High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep in person learning
Comment: There is a drastic difference in the quality of education my children receive when in person vs online. They are not thriving, quality of learning is low and their mental health is sacrificed when they are not online. I urge you to keep in person an option. Thank youSubmitted by: Jay
School: Riggs Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep Kids in School
Comment: For their physical and mental health, kids must be in school. Experts have said kids are safest in school. Mitigation strategies are working. Virtual learning was an epic failure to our students. Keep them in school.Submitted by: Jayme P
School: Navarrete Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In Person Instruction
Comment: While I understand the concern for the severity of the current COVID situation, it is now more than ever our students need consistency for their mental health. I am a mother who has had a child that has contemplated suicide this year. We removed him from CUSD as we didn't believe the administration at his school were supportive and Covid definitely took its toll on his mental health. That being said, we still have a 9yo and a 15yo in CUSD. We have tried to be patient, but are tired of our children being used as pawns. Teachers are essential workers, our students deserve to be in person, and we as parents deserve to have our choices made for our children respected. There was an option to be online and no student was forced to return. I hope that the CUSD school board respects our choice for our children to be in person. I will say, should the Board decide to revert to distance learning, we most certainly will be looking to alternative options.Submitted by: Jeff
School: Carlson Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Schools must stay open
Comment: Regardless of the community spread it is not spreading in the schools. Keep them open school by school basis. The new board members need to support our kids and not cave to the fear of other board members.Submitted by: Jennifer
School: Hull Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Schools must stay open
Comment: It has been proven time and time again the kids are safer in school. You can not close them now. There is a vaccine, let our kids learn. You can not close schools based on the fear of 2 board members.Submitted by: Jennifer A
School: Payne Junior High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keeping school in person
Comment: Please keep all CUSD schools in person. Elementary and Secondary schools ALL need to stay in person. These kids need to be in the schools, it is detrimental to the children's mental health.Submitted by: Jennifer A
School: Ryan Elementary Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep school In person
Comment: Please keep all CUSD schools in person. Elementary and Secondary schools ALL need to stay in person. These kids need to be in the schools, it is detrimental to the children's mental health.Submitted by: Jennifer B
School: Santan Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep schools open
Comment: Please keep the schools open! As a working mom and son with anxiety, the BEST place for my child is at school. I have been teaching in-person since August. It can be done safely.Submitted by: Jennifer D
School: Haley Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep in person learning
Comment: Please keep the in person option for those parents who are comfortable sending their children. We have been in person for months with no outbreaks and students have been following all mitigation strategies. Our children have been thriving being with friends and an in person educator. Those that are not comfortable in person already have the option for virtual learning. Do not take our in person learning away because others did not chose the right path they were comfortable with. I have a kindergartener and virtual learning was awful. She was not motivated and hated school. Please do not ruin the process we have made. The dashboard was created to show where there may be an issue and to date no school has needed to close due to an outbreak. Please follow that dashboard and keep us in person.Submitted by: Jennifer D
School: Haley Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep our schools open!
Comment: Our children are thriving with in person learning. So many people are struggling and keeping the schools open help give children stability! We have not had any issues with outbreaks especially at the elementary level. Even though COVID numbers have been increasing school numbers have not. Teachers, children, parents all want to be in school so please let them! This past year has been crazy let's start 2022 with stability in education!Submitted by: Jennifer G
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Follow the Science
Comment: Our children NEED to be in person for school! If teachers are truly essential they will be in the classroom like our healthcare workers, retail and food workers. There are many amazing teachers in CUSD and they want to be doing what they do best... teaching in person. Science is telling us that schools are not super spreaders. Science is telling us that students need to be in the classroom! Science is telling us that kids and teachers are more apt to contracting the virus while not in school because they will still be in the community or out with friends. Yes... even the teachers! we know they were vacationing over break while responsible parents opted to stay home so that their kids could return to school and further their education. I would like to kindly remind any teacher that participated in a sick out that they signed a contract and have responsibilities they are beholden to. Thank God our healthcare workers haven't taken this same mentality! Our kids NEED to be in schooSubmitted by: Jennifer G
School: Andersen Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep our kids in school
Comment: I am the reading specialist at Andersen Elementary. I work with the students that need the most support in reading. All of my students score below benchmark on reading assessments. After being in school for an entire quarter, I was celebrating with the teachers about the progress that we were finally seeing in the students. But the progress took the entire quarter of in-person learning. My students need to be in school, and they need extra support every day. I have met with a number of parents about how difficult it was for their children to do school virtually, and listened to how thankful they were that we were in-person so their children would be getting the help they need on a daily basis. Please keep our children in school. They need the social interaction with their peers. They need instruction from their teachers in-person so they can ask questions and get immediate help. We also need to support our families so they are able to return to work. Thank you for your consideration.Submitted by: Jennifer H
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep schools open
Comment: "There are many concerns from myself and other teachers and parents when it comes to starting the semester virtual instead of in-person as was planned. Holding a board meeting the night before school starts to make this change is too short of notice. I have compiled a list of questions and concerns to discuss for the meeting Monday: 1. What are we doing for students that already returned their computers when we went back in-person and no longer have their access to technology? 2. How will food be distributed to low-income students on such short notice? 3. Will teachers be required to teach from their classrooms, or can they work from home? 4. If elementary is affected, will children be approved to come to school with their teacher/parents again? 5. What are students that missed finals due to mandatory quarantine going to do to make up their tests if they need to take them in-person? 6. How do we reach our low-income and minority students that won't participate in online learning? TheSubmitted by: Jennifer H
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep schools open continued
Comment: "7. How do we identify and report mental health issues in our students that have been struggling over break and now will still be alone at home instead of returning to school due to this sudden change? 8. Will winter sports hold practice, or will they be postponed until in-person resumes? 9. How will staff ensure special needs student's IEPs are being adjusted and their needs being met while online, then changed back when they return to in-person? The flip-flopping and inconsistent forms of learning are not good for many SPED students, especially those with autism that require consistency (including my own child). 10. Would ALL classified staff still work and get paid? 11. Can this two-week delay of returning in-person be guaranteed that it is just for two weeks?"Submitted by: Jennifer H
School: Basha Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep schools open
Comment: I have a child in kindergarten and an autistic son in 3rd grade at Basha elementary. Online learning was in effective for students this young and those with IEPs. Elementary schools can keep kids in cohorts and Avoid large groups. The difference in-person learning makes is substantial. I also teach at Hamilton High and am in favor of in-person learning. My students that were not successful online were thriving once we switched to in-person.Submitted by: Jennifer J
School: Auxier Elementary Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep Schools Open
Comment: Please, keep our schools open for the parents/students that want to be in person. My kindergarten son has thrived with in person learning. Virtual learning was frustrating (for my son) and just sad to witness the disconnection of his teacher and fellows classmates.Submitted by: Jennifer J
School: Casteel High Organization: Parent
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please go back to school
Comment: Please let the kids go back to school! My sophomore son who has always done very well in class did very poorly in some of his classes while at home. My 8th grader who nevertheless before had any anxiety was barely able to function and needs to be able to participate in his sports at school. I feel being the reprecussions of being out of school are far worse. Please let the kids go to school!Submitted by: Jennifer K
School: CTA Independence Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please Keep Schools Open
Comment: Please keep schools open. I have children in 1st, 8th, and 10th and have seen the difference between virtual and in person. There have only been 3 cases at our elementary school. I do not see this as a reason to close. The benefits far out weigh. Thank you.Submitted by: Jennifer R
School: Ryan Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep schools open!
Comment: Please follow the strategy you put forth and look at each individual schools numbers. Please do. It close schools with minimal cases. I will no doubt remove my children from cusd if another closure takes place. Flow science. Think of our children who are the ones who are suffering. Absolutely ridiculous to close schools and have our children miss out on even more education that our tax dollars pay for!Submitted by: Jennifer S
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person school
Comment: I am OK with schools going virtual for the first 2 weeks, as long as it is just those first 2 weeks. Kids need to be in school.Submitted by: Jennifer S
School: Perry High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Leave schools open
Comment: Please keep the schools open. Covid is not spreading in the schools. Students are more at risk in the community. Schools are safe and the best educational environment. Thanks.Submitted by: Jenny C
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Covid
Comment: I'd like to voice that I strongly agree with keeping our elementary aged kiddos in the classroom. With the wonderful job schools are doing with the mitigation strategies, I do feel they can go back. Each school site based on age of kids, zip code community spread, etc should be able to determine if their school site stays open or closed. Thank you for listening!Submitted by: Jenny D
School: Rice Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep In Person Schooling
Comment: I have 3 children in elementary school in CUSD. I am writing to ask that you please keep in person schooling. Besides the fact that virtual is an ineffective learning model especially for elementary age, there are other reasons to continue in person. This virus is not going away or decreasing when schools are closed. Look at other areas of the country with high cases, their schools have been closed! Instead of closing, please use your time to come up with mitigation strategies. Unfortunately, we have to find away to coexist with this virus, not hide from it. I am also extremely concerned in what closing would do to the district financially. You will have a mass exodus of students if you go back to virtual. I have also heard an idea of doing virtual for 2 weeks to combat a holiday spike. Sounds like a good idea but that only works if those staying home teachers included quarantine the entire time which will not happen. Please make the right decision and keep in person going.Submitted by: Jenny I
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual vs in person
Comment: I understand the concer of in person after break. Please allow parents the option to stay home for 2 weeks or go back. Allow parents to make the choice.Submitted by: Jenny N
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep the in-person option
Comment: I am pleading with the school board to keep the in person option in tact with our kids going back on Jan 5. I have 2 children who were very depressed and struggling with online school. Since the have returned to school, I have begun to see them returning to their old selfs. Please don't force them to go back to online. It is detrimental to their mental health. The schools are not where the virus is spreading. My kids, and their friends, where masks for the entire day at school. They are doing their part. Please don't punish the children and families whose lives depend on the children being in the classroom. My children have been so happy since they were able to return to class. Please let our kids keep their return date of Jan 5, and stick to the plan set forth at a previous board meeting where each school would be looked at individually. Thank you!Submitted by: Jenny S
School: Perry High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Covid
Comment: Please have all options virtual for first 2 weeks after break( including inperson)Submitted by: Jeremy M
School: Riggs Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Schools remaining open
Comment: Please respect the choice of parents and teachers that want to attend and work. Mandating closures for those people who want to remain in a classroom environment is an affront to our freedom and choice.Submitted by: Jeremy P
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: Child
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep them in on-site school
Comment: Keep them in on-site schoolSubmitted by: Jessica
School: Santan Elementary Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep inperson learning
Comment: Please keep options open for those kids who need to be in the classroom! Those other have options. My option would be taken away! I have 3 kids in CUSD and non of them thrived online! Infact 2 of them struggled! Please look at the science, this is not being spread in the schools.Submitted by: Jessica
School: Perry High Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep inperson learning
Comment: Please keep options open for those kids who need to be in the classroom! Those other have options. My option would be taken away! I have 3 kids in CUSD and non of them thrived online! Infact 2 of them struggled! Please look at the science, this is not being spread in the schools.Submitted by: Jessica B
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep school open
Comment: Throughout these past 10 months, the people most disregarded have been children. Schools were closed without much thought of the negative consequences of such an action. Generally, virtual learning is not very effective for most kids. I think most would agree with that. But it's more than that. What about kids who come from abusive homes and only find respite at school? What about kids who suffer from mental illness, particularly depression, who feel isolated without school? What about kids whodon't have reliable internet or supportive caretakers at home who can help them be successful? What about kids who still can't read and kids who are typically A/B students who are find themselves with D's & F's on HS transcripts? The most important people the Board serves are the children of this district, and those children need to be in school for their physical, social, mental, emotional, and academic well-being.Submitted by: Jessica K
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to in person
Comment: I have been fighting for in person for months. I know the best way for kids to learn is in person. But our numbers are out of control right now. The hospitals are packed. 70% of patients in icu with covid are on ventilators. I feel that 2 weeks of virtual learning is the best thing to keep everyone safe and help the health care workers. No matter how much i dislike virtual, do we really have another choice? I don't want to contribute to our hospitals having to triage patients and decide who gets care and who doesn't. I also don't want to contribute to anyone getting this virus. 2 weeks isn't forever and having a set return to in person date will hopefully keep everyone happy while also helping to slow the spread of holiday infections.Submitted by: Jessica N
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person school
Comment: Our students deserve to be taught in school. They are suffering academically and mentally, and this is causing more harm than the risk of the virus. As a nurse, working in the hospitals, I know there are risks but with the precautions in place in schools the risk is very low. As an essential worker, teachers need to be in school doing their jobs. I could not just not go to work because I am scared. I would lose my job, and teachers are essential worker's and should be required the same. Let parent''s decided what is best for their children.Submitted by: Jessica P
School: CTA Liberty Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Schools should remain open!
Comment: CTA Liberty has not had a single case of COVID. There are many elementary schools that still have not had one case. It's obvious that COVID is not being spread in schools. The CTA schools are rigorous, advanced, and have high standards. It's impossible to keep up w the demand of the high passed curriculum while doing distance learning. My son suffers. Anxiety and depression were his constant companion during distance learning in the fall. You will lose more students if you go back to distance learning. In school education should be the priority.Submitted by: Jessica R
School: Knox Gifted Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep schools open
Comment: Please keep my childrens' school open for on-campus, in-person learning. Closing the schools fails to meet the needs of students, who are children. You are already facing a funding shortfall from the state for failing to open the schools on August 18, 2020. An additional closure would and should exacerbate the financial stress on the district, both in the reduced funding from the state and lost funding due to another drop in enrollment. Extraordinary efforts have gone into providing an in-personoption and years of hard work have made the district a premier choice for students and families. Voting to discontinue in-person learning at this time would erode that work to the long-term detriment of district.Submitted by: Jessica s
School: Fulton Elementary Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: The necessity for in person learning is crucial to children, especially the younger ages that get so much more from structure and social in a classroo
Comment: Leverage our school precaution efforts in place and ensure IN Person learning remains, especially for young students. Everyone can still be safe, in person structure from teachers is essential. So much missed for these children not in classroom interaction and environment. My daughter cried almost every day when we first started online only. Since being able to go in person, she hasn't cried and actually talks about loving school. We are doing the right things to stay in person learning.Submitted by: Jill R
School: CTA Independence Organization: Parents
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: CUSD Monday Meeting - COVID Meeting
Comment: I believe Chandler School District is doing the RIGHT thing by keep the schools open for in-person AND at the same time putting in place increased safety measures to ensure staff and schools are safe at all. Please DO NOT SHUT DOWN THE SCHOOLS again. This spread is NOT occurring in school. Look at the scientific evidence. Please don't cave to the threats of the teachers as they are holding us parents hostage . Deal with the hot spots and lets the kids learn. I am proud CUSD has not thrownthe baby out with the bath water YET.Submitted by: Jim B
School: Santan Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep the in person as an option
Comment: Please please keep the option for in person education. The city option was tremendously difficult for my grand daughters. They have been so much happier and more successful in their classes being in person. it appears that CUSDs mitigation practices are working. Thank you!!Submitted by: Joanna L
School: Hartford Sylvia Encinas Elementary Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In Person Learning
Comment: Please continue to consider the lack of spread at the elementary schools compared to junior high and high schools. In-person vs virtual learning decisions should not be a 'one size fits all' for the district and should allow for elementary students to continue learning in person, even if it that is not what is decided for secondary schools.Submitted by: Jocelyn D
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person school
Comment: Our students need to be in school; it is the safest place for them. If the state is not locked down neither should the schools be. The kids will head to movies, etc. if we are online—more exposed and exposing more people than they would be at school. My students (junior high age) struggled mightily with lockdown and online school; they are not at a developmental stage that 'works' with isolation. 12 year olds should not be suicidal. Please do NOT send us back online. If anything come up with a hybrid model, so that kids can be in school at least a couple days a week. Thank you.Submitted by: Jody L
School: Santan Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In school learning
Comment: Please keep our kids in personSubmitted by: John M
School: Riggs Elementary Organization: East Valley Family Healthcare
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep kids in school
Comment: It makes no statistical sense to keep kids out of school. It doesn't make sense to base in person attendance on community metrics alone. Children are at less risk of serious reactions to this virus than they are to other viruses. If you want to base in person attendance on community metrics, you should base it on the numbers of kids infected that are seriously ill, not over 65 year olds. This is my opinion based on the numbers I've seen and the patients I've seen in my practice.Submitted by: John O
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep Schools Open
Comment: Please keep Chandler schools open for those children, parents and staff that are comfortable being in person. CUSD has done a great job with the dashboard and it clearly shows that covid is not rampant or spreading in the schools. This back and forth of virtual and in person is hard for all those involved. Please keep schools open for those that are thriving in person. Parents and children who do not want to be in person have a choice. Don't take our choice away.Submitted by: Julia E
School: CTA Independence Organization: Teachers
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Keep schools Open
Comment: I am a first grade teacher and need to be in class with my students. These students are behind academically and struggling to keep up. Please consider the needs of these students.Submitted by: Julie
School: Carlson Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Request for In Person after 2 week virtual
Comment: Please, please, please, if you are going to return to virtual, PLEASE consider returning to in person after a 2 week period. My triplet Kinders NEED to be at school in person. They NEED the experience of Kinder with peers, a classroom, a teacher, support staff, and the experience of school. They have learned SO MUCH during since September. It took my son until AFTER Thanksgiving to become adjusted to school. He experienced SO MUCH anxiety after not starting until September. He is so looking forward to returning and seeing his friends and teachers. I'm begging you to let the kids he kids and teachers be teachers after a 2 week break extension to help us flatten the curve.Submitted by: Julie C
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person
Comment: As a 28 year veteran of CUSD and a parent of a junior at Perry, please please please keep schools open. I am willing to work and I am not afraid of the virus I am more afraid of the mental health of my son and the numerous students I teach. There is a huge difference between virtual and in person I saw my students blossom in person please allow those of us that chose in person to remain in person.Submitted by: Julie F
School: Rice Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please Keep Schools Open
Comment: Board Members, I am requesting that you keep our kids in school and refrain from enforcing another school closure. I have a first grader who is thriving in person, despite the difficult rules and lack of warm connections, and a child who should be a kindergartner, but due to the lack of stability and his autism diagnosis, is not in a CUSD school this year. Closing our schools would be devastating to mental health, not to mention, a major disruption to the education of our children. Please trustthe school staff to continue to mitigate risk, let our kids be kids in the limited ways they are getting to be now, and PLEASE give parents a choice. Please let public education be a pillar and let each family decide for themselves. If they feel they are unsafe sending their kids to school, then let them choose. But please don't remove the choice from the rest of us. We have the resources for private education, but we choose public school until your closure forces us to move. Thank you.Submitted by: Julie G
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep schools oldn
Comment: Please continue to keep our schools open for our children to be able to learn in person. I realize that some teachers are nervous and don't want to be in the classroom but there is no other profession that allows their employees that much power. Stop holding the education of our children hostage and using the kids as pawns in a political game. They need to be in school. School is not where transmission is happening. We have to learn to live with this. We can't keep avoiding life. Teachers arecritical to our children's education. I appreciate every teacher that is teaching in the classroom making things as normal as possible. Our kids need this like never before!Submitted by: Justin
School: Casteel High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: On line DOES NOT WORK!!! You proved that last year!!!!!
Comment: Stay in school. On line DOES NOT WORK!!! You proved that last year!!!!! Teachers need to teach. They also need to ENFORCE the masks.Submitted by: Justin S
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: Rezamp Lending, LLC
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep the kids in school for I'm person learning, they are not the ones getting sick and spreading covid!
Comment: Keep the kids in school for I'm person learning, they are not the ones getting sick and spreading covid!Submitted by: K.W.
School: CTA Freedom Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Continue in person learning
Comment: Please continue giving the parents the right to choose what option is best for their children. In person learning for my elementary aged child is the most effective way for her to learn and flourish. Virtual learning was not beneficial academically or socially. Please continue to allow in person learning.Submitted by: K.W.
School: Casteel High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please honor parent choice for in person learning
Comment: I would ask the board to please honor parent choice to continue in person learning. Virtual learning was not beneficial for my children. I watched my straight A children become C students and lose all motivation and excitement for school. Please continue to allow parents to make the choice for what is in their children's best interest. We love our teachers and value them so much. But please look at the recommendations of the WHO that children are best off in school.Submitted by: Kai
School: CTA Independence Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep my school open
Comment: I am a student and I bet you to keep our choice to be in person. We are good responsible kids and we need to be at school. Please don't take it away again.Submitted by: Kaitlin M
School: CTA Freedom Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to school!!!!
Comment: These kids and teachers need in person learning!Submitted by: Kamin H
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In-Person Learning
Comment: Please keep these kids in school. They are safer in school since schools already have the mitigation practices in place. Teachers need to realize that they are essential. If not, then they need to find new job. Keeping kids out of school only increases risk as they gather when not in school. Keep the In-person choice so each chick can learn the way that is more advantages for them.Submitted by: Karen C
School: Bogle Junior High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person school IS ESSENTIAL!!!
Comment: Please allow thd kids to remain in person, the mental damage I have witnessed first hand in the hospital is real. These kids need quality education, and after 2 quarters of online, my kids need in person .Submitted by: Karen C
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person school IS ESSENTIAL!!!
Comment: Please allow thd kids to remain in person, the mental damage I have witnessed first hand in the hospital is real. These kids need quality education, and after 2 quarters of online, my kids need in person .Submitted by: Karen K
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep Students In School
Comment: Governing Board, there is NO reason to close the schools, as the numbers the District is reporting are extremley low. Students need to be in the classrooms for their best learning opportunities. If we are following science, Dr. Fauci says it is best to keep the kids in school. The protocols put in place are obvioulsy working, since the number are so low per school. In addition, now that the teachers are close to receiving the vaccine, there should be no resason to keep the kids home.Thank you for keeping the in-person learning available.Submitted by: Karianne J
School: Casteel High Organization: Auxier Elementary
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep schools OPEN
Comment: I am one of those parents urging you to please keep our students in the classroom where they belong as it is what is best for them and their futures. We made a choice last summer to keep them in while others chose to keep their kids at home. However, our voices were not heard. I understand that we all have differing opinions regarding the pandemic right now, but those who wish to stay home have that option, while the rest of us were told we have an option yet it keeps getting taken away from us. Our children are not meant to be pawns! We as their parents have the right to choose what is best for them! Personally my two boys (one in elementary and one in secondary) did NOT thrive at all during virtual learning. In fact, my two straight A students had quite the battle trying to school from home. They are both finally thriving again being in the classroom and it took them all 2nd quarter of being IN school to get their grades back up. Keep the students in the classroom!!Submitted by: Karl
School: Auxier Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep schools open
Comment: My son's mental health is in your hands. He was in very bad shape during virtual instruction. Upon returning to in-person, his mental health drastically improved. In our case, his mental health is priority right now because that can do far more damage to him than covid. We will have to leave the district if you shut schools down again. We love CUSD but we need to do what is best for our child which is staying in school.Submitted by: Kate P
School: Ryan Elementary Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: STAY in-person for ELEMENTARY
Comment: Dear Board, Please consider remaining in-person for elementary-aged students. This needs to be considered for multiple reasons. 1) Research shows that developing learning gaps during these critical years can be irreversible and have life-long negative impacts. 2) Elementary-aged children cannot be left alone. If parents of secondary children have to work, those kids can still access virtual learning independently. Elementary-aged students cannot. 3) The mitigation strategies in elementary schools are clearly working based on the data the district has provided. At my own daughter's elementary schools, there have only been 7 cases since opening in September. This data does not warrant closures for this age group. Please take my thoughts into consideration. We have to make decisions based on data....not fear.Submitted by: Kate S
School: Haley Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep schools OPEN!
Comment: Please please keep the schools open for the sake of our children. They will be devastated to go back online.Submitted by: Kathleen M
School: Santan Junior High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep our children in person!
Comment: Our children belong in school, not virtual. We must realize that the spike didn't increase the numbers in person at the school level. If you choose to lose so much money. Parents are fed up with the thought that schools may close. Future of these kids are in your hands, please do the right thing. Please keep them in school with the option to log in virtually as planned in December.Submitted by: Kathleen M
School: Hamilton High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep our children in person!
Comment: Our children belong in school, not virtual. We must realize that the spike didn't increase the numbers in person at the school level. If you choose to lose so much money. Parents are fed up with the thought that schools may close. Future of these kids are in your hands, please do the right thing. Please keep them in school with the option to log in virtually as planned in December.Submitted by: Kathy D
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: No to remote learning!!!
Comment: These kids do much better in school! Do not go remote!Submitted by: Kathy S
School: Casteel High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person learning
Comment: Please please please keep the schools in person. My daughter is already struggling so much and failing and forcing her to do virtual will guarantee her more failure. She is not cut out for virtual. Her spirits and metal health have been better than they have in so long. She was not ok mentally and this is why i can't even think what this will do to her. So please keep these kids in person. Thank youSubmitted by: Katie D
School: Basha High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep In person learning
Comment: I have three daughters in cusd schools - an 8th grader at Payne, 10th grader at Basha and a Senior at Basha. All three want to be in person. Each have stated they learn more, get questions answered, and do better in class when in person. I am very concerned with the long term effects of reduced learning on our children and society as a whole. We need our kids the classroom learning.Submitted by: Katie D
School: Auxier Elementary Organization: Parent
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep kids in school
Comment: Please keep the option for kids to have in person learningSubmitted by: Katie S
School: Payne Junior High Organization: n/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: stay in person
Comment: Please do not take away the choice for in person education for our kids. My children are finally thriving after the fiasco that was google classroom in 2020. I had finally got my children enjoying school and have the anxiety under control. Please dont take away my daughters choice to go in person. She needs to be in person for her mental wellbeing. Let the parents who want to stay online, but give parents the CHOICE.Submitted by: Kayla
School: Haley Elementary Organization: Haley Elementary
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep in person school open
Comment: Evidence and science shows that young kids are not super spreaders. Our numbers have stayed low and we all know the importance of children being in person at school. Their mental health is crucial and in person needs to stay an option. People have the option for online school and they can choose that. There's just as many people, If not more, that are comfortable with in person school and see the importance of it. Please keep in person as an option.Submitted by: KC
School: Ryan Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep in school learning an option
Comment: I hope that you will keep everyone in the community in mind when deciding to keep schools open, and think about all the other health risks and not just the covid risks. There are so many more health risks physical and mental that certain board members seem to be overlooking and are only concerned with Covid risks. Please for physical and mental well being of our kids and families please keep in school learning an option. Please don't force parents to have to quit jobs that allow them to providefood and other necessities for their families because someone has to stay home with their kids. Please don't make parents chose between making needed money and supervising their kids. Between better food security and less being away from school. Please weigh all the options and all the risks and not just one, when making your choice to keep kids in school or at home.Submitted by: Keith B
School: Riggs Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep schools open
Comment: Keep schools open, don't close due to pressure from others.Submitted by: Kelly D
School: Carlson Elementary Organization: N-a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Support for in person learning
Comment: Please continue in person learning for the children's mental health especially when the spread is not happening at schools as much as in person gatherings. Elementary school seem to be even safer than junior high and high school's. I would love to see an option that would support both sides of this argument. Parents who would like to send their child in Person, or change them to virtual w their current teacherSubmitted by: Kerri F
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Returning to school
Comment: Please allow our children to return to school in person on January 5th. These children need the interaction with their peers for emotional stability. Moreover, those children with learning difficulties such as ADHD and are on IEP's or 504's, truly suffer learning in this virtual capacity. In addition, these poor teachers can't even engage with the children enough to know of what they are teaching them is sinking in or of a child is struggling. It is imperative that these children get back to inperson learning.Submitted by: Kevin A
School: Knox Gifted Academy Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: School closings
Comment: Schools should not close. Why? What are the proven facts to close it! Absolutely no reason to close. It's the teacher union. Totally wrong.Submitted by: Kevin H
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep Our Schools OPEN
Comment: Please keep our schools open for in person learning. Our two elementary school children have been thriving being back in person and enjoy attending. We have seen the difference between in person and online this school year and there is no comparison; online learning is not effective at the elementary level.Submitted by: Kim
School: Andersen Elementary Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep schools open for kids
Comment: Kids are safer in school, covid is not spreading in the schools.Submitted by: Kim D
School: Basha High Organization: N\A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep them in person !
Comment: Dear board members, I know this can't be an easy time for you, but please let the children continue to have in person learning. My daughter is a senior, and virtual learning has not been ideal for her. There is no science to back the fact that Cove it is spread in schools. I know more people that have had it and recovered from it down people who've actually gotten seriously ill. Please, for our kids.Submitted by: Kim D
School: Casteel High Organization: Parent
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Casteel HS on-line for next 2 weeks
Comment: I believe K through six should go in person if possible. I believe seven through 12th grade should spend the first two weeks of the third-quarter online and review after that before going back in person. I would like to see all sports suspended and only focus on academics and getting these kids their educationSubmitted by: Kim R
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep in person classes a CHOICE
Comment: Even Dr. Fauci says now to keep schools open as kids are not spreaders and their risk is low. Please board members do not allow Lindsay Love and Bruner to continue to be the only vocal ones in the meetings and in the media. We elected you to be the voice of the parents. All of the parents. Not just the ones that agree with you. We just want a CHOICE just like everyone else. Let those go to school that want to and let the others stay home. Even the teachers are all over social media begging to not close schools. Some of the teachers are saying opening schools are deadly yet they are out vacationing and traveling. The logic is missing. Keep the schools open. Stop hurting the kids.Submitted by: Kim R
School: Basha High Organization: Parent
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep school open
Comment: Keep kids in person school. Those that are afraid let them have the choice to stay home my sons mental health is so important.Submitted by: Kimberley a
School: Knox Gifted Academy Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: School needs to stay open!
Comment: Please keep the schools open. The research is clear on this and the negative affects of closing the schools far out weigh any positives.Submitted by: Kimberly G
School: Riggs Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Maintain In-person Learning
Comment: As the mother of a kindergartener whose first experience at real school has been anything but normal, I'm asking you to please keep school, at least elementary, in-person. I understand there are concerns with rising cases in AZ, but many experts including the CDC director himself have said children are best served and safest in-person school. My son, just 6 years old, has repeatedly expressed to me how he loves school and never wants to go back to computer (virtual) school. This year will have a huge impact on how he and his classmates will view school for the next 12 years. Please continue to manage on a school by school basis and don't make drastic district-wide decisions that are all or nothing. This Covid situation is not black and white. Many schools, my son's included, have had very minimal cases so mitigation efforts are working. Just look at your own dashboard to see the proof. Please, keep our kids in school!Submitted by: kimberly g
School: Auxier Elementary Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: in person schooling
Comment: please keep out kids in schools. CDC has comfirmed and recommended kids stay in person. The numbers in our school district back this up. also, the numbers of depression, students not learning well, and teen and tween suicided need to be factored in. COVID is not a death sentence. Our school community should be separated from the general population. We can't control what happens outside of our homes, but we have obviously done our part by being smart about where we go and who we visit with.Submitted by: Kimberly P
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to in person learning
Comment: My child's education and mental health has suffered since this whole thing started! When they are on virtual learning there's very little accountability on all sides! There is a small population of students that can learn virtually but for the vast majority they are a combination of kinesthetic, visual and auditory learners and they are suffering because so many people are living in fear of a virus that has a 99% survival rate. We cannot keep living our lives 2 weeks at a time or in the what if's this mental game is far worse for our children! We love our educators and appreciate everything they do for our children! Our family as the majority of the parents out there we are not teachers nor do we claim to be and we cannot provide a proper education to these students via distant learning! Too much screen time has done so much damage to our society and our children and now we want them to spend more time in front of a screen?! Please consider the impact on our children's curreducationSubmitted by: Kirsten S
School: Basha High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Maintain options for in person school
Comment: My child's mental health has already been affected and his grades, social and athletics have been altered in a way that will most certainly influence his post high school life. He is immune to covid as my family had it months ago. For kids that are comfortable should be offered live school. No outbreak has been caused by kids at dchool.Submitted by: KK
School: Payne Junior High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Unfair learning disadvantages
Comment: With all this talk of having ALL students return this semester in an online format online, I want to remind those that want this, that the district has students who returned to in person learning return their borrowed devices. This would put a large group of students with no access to online learning at a huge disadvantage. This is not providing our students an education. Quit harming our students by other means under the guise of protecting them from Covid. Parents need more time than the day before to make arrangements for someone to be home or with their kids supervising. You are putting parents jobs at risk and kids safety at risk. Please come up with a better plan.Submitted by: Kleas
School: Hull Elementary Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep Schools Open
Comment: The mental health of our children are at risk if they are kept away from their friends and the teachers they love. There are protocols in place and if needed can be adapted. A majority of us have been doing our part by wearing masks and practicing social distancing to keep everyone safe. My child does not do well with virtual learning. She became depressed and had anxiety when she was forced to stay home. She loves going to school as it is her happy place. Do not take that away from her again.Submitted by: Kris L
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep the school open
Comment: quality of education, social skillSubmitted by: Krista
School: Knox Gifted Academy Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep elementary open.
Comment: Please keep elementary schools open.Submitted by: Kristi W
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Stay in person
Comment: It is ridiculous that the board is continuing to kowtow to a vocal minority of parents and teachers, and would wait until the day before school is to return after the holidays. There was already an option for parents to keep their students home for two weeks. For those parents who have to continue leaving their home for work, they must no scramble if there is no in person option. The teachers have continued to state to listen to the science and the doctors and experts have stated unequivocally that school is not a super spreader. It's ridiculous that a small group of teachers continue to be the only profession that tout how dangerous their job is, when experts have also said those under 65 are at no higher risk than any of profession. Additionally, the elementary schools have had little spread, so a blanket closure is not the answer. Many families already returned their devices to the district, and to force a virtual option at the last minute is asinine.Submitted by: Kristin B
School: Basha High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person learning
Comment: My son is dyslexic and virtual learning was extremely difficult with his learning disability. I hope the board takes into consideration the studies and past reports that show COVID has not been spreading at the schools. Students need to be in person to get the best education as possible.Submitted by: Kristin E
School: Haley Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: School Closures
Comment: Please keep the schools open. There has not been massive spread of COVID linked to the classrooms and my first grader needs the in person instruction. Before going back into the classrooms we had many tears about how much he hated online. He is super smart and was not receiving challenging enough work, was bored and I fear falling behind where he would be if the schools remained open. My husband is a first responder and has been serving the community and saving lives during this pandemic, if hecan go to work please let our child go to school. Thank you. KristinSubmitted by: Kristin S
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep kids in school!
Comment: My daughter has been attending Casteel since 6th grade (for math) and now a Freshmen this year in AP and all honors classes. She went into a severe depression during virtual learning first quarter, but still was able to keep her grades up. Going virtual again will be detrimental to her mental health and we will have no choice but to move her out of district, which we already did for our 2 elementary kids during first quarter this year. Please do what is best for everyone and what the majorityof parent, teachers and kids want...not just the extremely vocal minority of people wanting things virtual! Look at the studies of higher suicidal rates with virtual learning! Those rates are higher than anyone contracting this virus while in in-person learning...Submitted by: Kristina D
School: Rice Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep kids in school
Comment: Please consider keeping the kids in person. I have a first grader who is thriving being back in person. On line was a struggle for him.Submitted by: Kristina M
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep schools open.
Comment: Please, please keep schools open. My kids are thriving and doing so much better being in school. They love their teachers and have enjoyed making new friends. My kids need their teachers to teach them and help them because they butt heads with me when I try to help. Also I felt a lot of the teachers weren't teaching and taking the easy way out for online teaching. I had 1 teacher driving while they were teaching. Kids do so much better in school. I have seen suicide rate go up since the shuttingdown of schools. Please stay open and if teachers walk out etc then that tells you they don't want their job.Submitted by: Kristina M
School: Riggs Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep schools open.
Comment: Please, please keep schools open. My kids are thriving and doing so much better being in school. They love their teachers and have enjoyed making new friends. My kids need their teachers to teach them and help them because they butt heads with me when I try to help. Also I felt a lot of the teachers weren't teaching and taking the easy way out for online teaching. I had 1 teacher driving while they were teaching. Kids do so much better in school. I have seen suicide rate go up since the shuttingdown of schools. Please stay open and if teachers walk out etc then that tells you they don't want their job.Submitted by: Kristina S
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep Kids In Person Please
Comment: Please keep kids in person the remainder of the school year. They have done everything asked of them to continue some semblance of normalcy in their lives through this pandemic. And do not deserve to have their right to attend in person school taken away from them. Please keep the two option system available. Scared people stay home, all others go to school in person. My son has succeeded academically under both formats but once he heard we would possibly be going virtual again he was very upset. Please protect these kids mental spirits and keep schools open, please!Submitted by: Kristine H
School: Casteel High Organization: Acdec
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep schools open
Comment: Please keep schools open, Love our teachers our staff and our kids but for a mental well-being and actual learning our kids need to be in classSubmitted by: Kurt D
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Attend in person good
Comment: Attend liveSubmitted by: Kymberlee W
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep In-person learning
Comment: At home learning is not a good fit for every child. My freshman is on medication for depression and when forced to stay home last year, his ability to learn and to function as a human was severely impacted. Those people who believe it's all or nothing are being incredibly selfish. Give everyone a choice but don't step in my right to choose what is right for my child.Submitted by: l
School: Hull Elementary Organization: Lynsey Schmidt
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep our kids in school
Comment: We have 2 kids at Hull Elementary School and we chose the in person option. We were given a choice and believe that while we don't all agree on what is the best thing to do, our numbers in the schools are showing that CUSD has been able to keepmpur staff and students safe especially in Elementary schools. Our 7 year old cannot sit at a computer at home all day and learn anything....my husband is working from home, but is working all day, and I am an essential healthcare worker and cannot take anymore time off to teach my children at home. For our kids mental health and education they need the in school environment. If others choose to stay home please do, but please don't force those of us making this choice to keep kids and teachers in school where they thrive and belong!they belongSubmitted by: Laura B
School: Rice Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep the children in the schools to learn.
Comment: The risk is just not that big for our students and our healthy community.Submitted by: Laura H
School: Hamilton High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In school learning
Comment: Please continue in person learning at school! If you keep taking that option away from my child, we will be moving out of district.Submitted by: Lauren F
School: Santan Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Students need to return to school
Comment: Our children need to return to school for their mental well being. Parents and teachers were given a choice (multiple times)to go online or in person, now we need to follow through with those. You can't listen to those that want to change their minds now. My 7th grade son was in tears by the end of his virtual schooling because he was sitting in front of a computer all day, had no interaction with his peers, and had difficulty with the learning style. It was to the point that we need to take himto a counselor. Going back to virtual learning isn't fair to our children. Please allow our kids to return to school, it is what is best for their health.Submitted by: Lauren F
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to in-person school
Comment: Please keep our children in school. We've picked in person school for our children for a reason. Those that didn't wish to do that, had that choice. This was our choice and our voices should also be heard. Teachers that didn't want to return to in person school , were also given that choice. I've worked the entire pandemic, as have many other parents. If I told my employer I didn't want to work, I would be fired. As for the students, my freshman at Perry is so concerned about her grades if theyreturn to virtual learning. Her teachers did a good job during virtual learning and we are grateful for them, but it isn't for every student. My daughter has anxiety and very type A, with virtual learning she can be in control and is a very difficult style for her to learn. As a parent, I had to see my daughter cry every day because it didn't work for her. As a freshman, she is concerned that now her grades matter for college. She is already stressed they might return home. :(Submitted by: Lauren N
School: Haley Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In Person Learning
Comment: When did children become the last priority in CUSD? Starting in March 2020 Chandler Unified has made it clear children are their last concern when it comes to education. You closed schools I spring with little support for parents and assumed every household had a stay at home parent fully capable of teaching their children full time. During that time, when asking for teaching support from their teachers we were told 'the district informed us we are not allowed to teach'. Now, 9 months later youcontinue to struggle putting children first. Experts and leaders across the nation have presented and spoken about how the safest place for students is in class when proper mitigation procedures are used. Chandler Unified has show they have these in place based on the limited number of COVID cases and exposures over last semester. You have provided options for parents who are not comfortable sending their kids to school. Keep those options in place but continue to support students who need to goSubmitted by: Lauren N
School: Haley Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep in person school open for on a school by school basis
Comment: I want to thank you for your decision to return to in person schooling in September. I cannot fully explain how being in class learning face to face with their teachers and side by side with their peers has positively impacted my 1st and 4th graders. I ask that you continue to follow science and evaluate the return to virtual learning on a school by school basis. My children's school has had 1 case in the last 3 months which resulted in 0 infections. This data supports the argument the in personschool can be safe and your mitigation steps are working. For those parents and teachers who are not comfortable being in person, they had/have the option for COA. As parents, we know our children best and know what's best for them. We choose in person for a reason and the leadership at CUSD has done a great job ensuring the safety of our students and staff.Submitted by: Lauren P
School: Rice Elementary Organization: The Paffrath household
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Continued in person learning
Comment: Please continue in person leaning for our kids. Although it may seem the world around us is coming down. This constant for the children is a necessary must. We have had very few cases at our school. Call it luck or that the precautions are working. Either way our numbers in our school support in school learning.Submitted by: Lawana M
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep junior high and high schools open
Comment: Honored school board members... as you meet to consider a possible change in the current CUSD plan for 2nd semester, I implore you to continue with the current plan put in place by CUSD. That has absolutely been one of the strengths of the district, making a plan and then working the plan. At this time, people are seriously in need of consistency. Even my children, when I explained that the board was meeting to again revisit the decision of in person learning, their response was one of exasperation for the inconsistencies they continue to face each day. Please be the voice of consistency and reason for our children who aren't being heard at this point. I feel like this issue is a constant tug of war between those special interest groups as well as the AEU. My children (3 who attend Casteel JH and HS) have all had their mental health affected due to the past school closures. Please account for this in your decision this week.Submitted by: Lee A
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep the schools open
Comment: I have a senior at Basha and it's heart wrenching that kids can't enjoy normal high school. My daughter has thieved since returning to school and has had some normalcy. I understand the concerns that teachers have for their safety but let's take the students well being into consideration. I was so disappointed with the online learning especially since Chandler is suppose to be a A school district. Why can't our students do a hybrid learning with at least two days in class? Completelyonline should be the very last option.Submitted by: Leigh B
School: Auxier Elementary Organization: Parent
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep Students In Person
Comment: With the last minute change to the upcoming date/time for the January Board meeting, I wanted to be sure to again contact you requesting that you continue to offer in person learning for all students. I have students in Elementary and Jr High and they are thriving in person. While I understand the small risk of in person instruction for all, there is also evidence to suggest that virtual learning (and the isolation that comes with it) is just as (if not more) harmful. I appreciate that CUSD has provided a choice to families that are concerned about sending their student to school (COA) and expect that those that want in person are also offered the same opportunity to make a choice. While there are some loud objections to this opinion, there are also very many others who agree that in person is a necessary option that CUSD needs to continue to offer!!Submitted by: Leslie H
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person learning
Comment: In person learning is essential. The academic ramifications has a huge impact on the future of so many students. The online curriculum is ineffective and inconsistent.Submitted by: Linda K
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: A serous need of school reform children
Comment: Please keep our schools open. So much damage will be done to the children if you do not.Submitted by: Linda W
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: Parent
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: CUSD BOARD MTG FOR JAN 4, 2021
Comment: Our child needs to remain in person for their education. The structure continues the balance of better learning, socialization, behavior and environment variety. The previous eight months of self quarantine significantly and negatively impacted our daughters neurological tic disorder causing physical and behavioral changes not to her benefit.Her mental and spiritual mindset has improved with being in school with friends and a teacher she truly loves for fifth grade. Please vote to have our children return to school for in person learning January 5, 2021.Submitted by: Lindsay G
School: Hartford Sylvia Encinas Elementary Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Schools should remain open
Comment: As a parents of three elementary students, I strongly believe the schools should remain open. The mitigation strategies have been proven to work as seen through the low level of virus spread on each campus.Submitted by: Lindsay M
School: Patterson Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keeping Schools Open
Comment: The district has put in many different types of virus safety measures to insure our teachers are safe: Plexiglas shields for their desks, cleaning items, smaller class sizes, no volunteers in the building, social distancing the kids including at recess, not being allowed to play on the play structures or balls, plus masking up everyone all day except for when they eat (I'm sure there are other things but since I'm not allowed in the building I don't see them). Both schools my children attend school case numbers aren't high nor have they ever been and I feel that the board making all the district children go virtual again will only cause the children harm. I chose in person learning since the beginning of the year because I know my children and they learn best in the classroom. All my children struggled during virtual learning. I don't want to see my children upset and frustrated again so please keep the schools open. It's not fair to have the kids in the district always in limbo!Submitted by: Lindsay S
School: Hull Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person classes are necessary!
Comment: Please allow our children to remain in an in person school format. The percentage of cases in schools is extremely low. The administrators, teachers, and kids all all following mitigation procedures that have kept the cases low. They should continue these strategies and adopt new ones, if necessary, but allow the schools to remain open. Our kids are the ones who suffer when they cannot attend school in person. They are not only missing out on direct interaction with their teachers but missingout on interaction with peers. They are missing out on hands on learning, real PE activities, real music activites (especially band and orchestra). They don't get to have lunch/recess with their friends where they can unwind. They don't have the option of getting extra help, right away, from the teacher. Additionally, the virtual environment is hard on our teachers. They have to modify their lesson plans, activities, and teaching style for virtual learning. They deserve more too!Submitted by: Logan M
School: Chandler High Organization: Student
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Please keep schools open
Comment: Please keep schools open. My mental health has been so much better from starting in person. Got to love Mr. Rother for his dedcation to the students here at Chandler High School. Keep it going. Don't quitSubmitted by: Loretta N
School: Basha High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep kids in school, in person, where they belong.
Comment: Why, why, why do we continue to let the fear of a few control the many. Everyone has been given viable options (teachers, parents, students) We have reviewed, planned and achieved success. District protocols have kept the kids safe in school, kept teachers and support staff safe in school. Why would we consider shutting schools down when our schools dashboard has nort come close to reaching any sort of active measure to close and clean. Why would we close when nearby county statistics have shown a rise in suicide deaths by 67% in 2020 in 11-17 year old students due to quarantine and isolation. Why when a large portion of our families require two incomes and don't have the means to have students at home online, or have adequate technology to be online. Why when Q1 of the year proved that at least in some topics (math, foreign language, science) that students don't learn as well online. Some teachers are not capable of teaching with effect online. Why would you allow his perm gpaSubmitted by: Lyndsey M
School: Ryan Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep kids in school
Comment: Please look at how low case numbers have been in schools (especially elementary). My kids are in 2nd and 4th grade and they have told me that they are willing to do whatever they need to to stay in school. I am a nurse so I am well aware how serious COVID is but I also follow the case numbers closely and the schools seem to be ok.Submitted by: Marcus G
School: CTA Freedom Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Do not close our kids schools. This virus has 99.8%survival rate.
Comment: Our kids are 99.9% not in lethal danger neither are their parents. We have to use common sense this is taking a mental toll on children their educations and their families. Sick of this bullshit! Hire teachers that want to be there! Replace the ones that don't. Common f***ing sense.Submitted by: Marisa E
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person learning
Comment: We have got to consider what remote learning is doing to our kids. The suicide rate is skyrocketing among teenagers. I have 3 kids that attend Casteel. They are 13,15 and 18. Each of them are struggling mentally. I can only imagine how hard this is on the teachers. They are incredible! Thank you for taking the time to read my comments.Submitted by: Marisol F
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Kids need to go to school in person
Comment: Kids need to go to school in person. We are asking too much of them to sit in front of a screen for 6-8 hours a day. Please take their mental well-being into accountSubmitted by: Marissa B
School: CTA Freedom Organization: None
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: HONOR THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE
Comment: I ask the board to honor the right to choose. TWO education options have been offered for a reason. Our teachers WANT to be in the classroom just as much as our students. Those who have elected to stay home have that right, do not take the right to choose away from families who want to be IN school on campus.Submitted by: Marissa S
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to in-person learning
Comment: I strongly encourage the board to continue with plans for our students to return to in-person learning on Tuesday, January 5th. Thank you!Submitted by: Mark N
School: Haley Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person learning
Comment: I strongly encourage the board to continue to offer in-person education. Shutting down schools for two or more weeks will accomplish nothing to reduce community spread while the state fails to impose a mask mandate and allows people to pack bars, restaurants, and gyms. The fact is that CUSD's mitigation measures have been extremely successful, based on the minimal number of COVID cases compared to the rate of community spread. As organizational leaders, please don't confuse your obligation to mitigate risk with the impossible task of risk elimination. My children did not thrive during virtual learning, and I guarantee an indefinite pause to in-person will result in adding my two children to the growing tally of students being pulled from the district.Submitted by: Marlee Y
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keeping In-Person Learning
Comment: Please consider the mental health of students before sending us back to online learning. Every single one of my classmates that I talked with all agree that online learning was difficult on our mental health. I have seen depression, alcohol use, and drug use rise among my peers. Online learning was more dangerous for my mental health than in-person learning has ever been for my physical health. Please don't take my senior year away. I only get this once in my life.Submitted by: Marlene O
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep our schools open!
Comment: Hello - Here we are in a New Year begging you to do right thing and vote to keep our schools open! It's been a year since COVID this bio terrorism was unleashed on our country in effort to control us and over throw an election! Nice try but we're still here living with it and surviving. We have therapeutics and a vaccine now to win the battle against this intentional virus. My children are not ok with online school! They are not getting the full education they need and deserve! If there are teachers that are living in fear of the China virus then they may want to find a new job! Our frontline workers haven't quit they keep on trying never giving up! I will not put my children thru another online debacle! I'm sure everyone has enjoyed there winter break traveling, shopping and celebrating there holidays but by no means let's close the schools again over fear! Stop the madness! And keep our schools open!Submitted by: Matt K
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In school learning
Comment: Keep the kids in school.Submitted by: Matthew H
School: Hamilton High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Maintain in person school option
Comment: Dear CUSD Board, I am writing to urge you to maintain the option for in person school. We are recent transplants from Beaverton School District in Oregon. It has gotten so dire here my family have chosen to leave Oregon to move to a school district that has proven to manage the risk on many fronts very well. Due to the damages caused by school shut downs, we purchased a home in Arizona, packed up and moved our family with the hopes of getting our girls back in school. Our schools have been shut down since March of 2020 and our children have been suffering ever since. We have witnessed first hand the destruction on their lives and we cannot sit back anymore. Lack of social interaction and physical activity has led to behavioral changes leading to depression. We also have friend's kids who have gone down the paths of drugs, suicide ( I know more children that committed suicide than contracted covid-19), and even eating disorders. My children are constantly online as it is the only ouSubmitted by: Maureen S
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep in-person learning option
Comment: Once again I am reaching out to implore the board to continue to allow our children to have the option for in-person education. The evidence is clear that the incidence of COVID is no higher among students and teachers involved in in-person learning as compared to those on-line. Per the districts own data not a single school has even a 1% positivity rate. Experts have been clear, classrooms are safe and refusing to allow children to attend in-person learning is dangerous (depression, loss of learning, anxiety, suicide, etc). On-line learning is not a viable option for many students/families (I am certain many teachers dread the idea of returning to online as well). Please continue with the current plan and allow our children to go to school where they belong.Submitted by: Megan
School: Carlson Elementary Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep in person learning
Comment: Please keep in person learning both my boys for depressed during online learning. My eldest son who is on the spectrum had multiple anxiety attacks during the period of online learning. He is unable to online and learns best in person.Submitted by: Megan J
School: Santan Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please stay in person
Comment: I'm writing to ask that we please keep the option for in person education. The virtual learning was such a challenge for both of my girls, academically, emotionally and mentally. They have been thriving in person and I believe that CUSDs mitigation practices are working. Thank you l!!Submitted by: Melanie H
School: Casteel High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: January 2021 return to school
Comment: I support choice and when the district asked us last year to choose in person or COA, we chose in person. Let's allow students and staff who want to learn in person, to continue to do so. Also, please make decisions on a school by school basis, not district wide, as every school has different positivity rates.Submitted by: Melanie M
School: ACP Erie Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keeping schools open
Comment: Thank you for taking the time to read my comments. I am in support of keeping the schools open. Not only do I have two high-schoolers at ACP who need to be in person for their best learning, I have every confidence in their safety while they are in school. I say this not only because of the confidence that they have being in school, and the lack of evidence of any transmission happening in the schools, but also because I have been substitute teaching over the last few months. I have been teaching from Kinder through HS, and I have felt nothing but comfortable in my safety as the teacher, as well as comfortable with the safety of the students. My own experiences in the classrooms around CUSD have made me feel more, not less, safe with my children being in school, and with the safety of the teachers. Please continue to provide our students with the option of being in person. My own experience makes me feel that the teachers are in no greater danger than other professions. Thank you.Submitted by: Melissa M
School: Weinberg Gifted Academy Organization: n\a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: School closures
Comment: I would like to voice my opinion to keep our schools open-I have a kid in kinder and a kid at Perry-they love school and I ask that you at least let the elementary go and just close the HS to in person for 2 weeks,.Submitted by: Melissa R
School: Navarrete Elementary Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Thank you
Comment: Please know that I appreciate all you are doing. I think the louder argument is to return to virtual and not enough are requesting to continue in person - especially elementary. I have a hard time listening to reason when there are so many kids taken out of school for 'vacation' and I hear parents travelling but yet they want kids to be remote learning. It's never an easy discussion -- but please know our school has done fantastic with the rules in place and would hate to see us go back tovirtual - they don't learn anything at home at this crucial age. Thank you for listening.Submitted by: Melissa S
School: Carlson Elementary Organization: N\A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep our kids in school and keep schools open
Comment: I urge you as a concerned parent to not hurt our kids anymore and keep our schools open. Dr. Fauci and the CDC both say the best and safest place for kids is in school. Yes metrics are up but our kids can be safe in school with masks and social distancing. My husband is a healthcare worker and has been treating COVID patients for the last 9 months and with proper precautions kept himself and our family safe. If he can do that Interacting with positive patients every day teachers can handle keeping themselves and kids safe in the classroom. Please don't put your personal agendas ahead of our kids. This isn't political this is about our kids they need to be in school.Submitted by: Melony L
School: Bogle Junior High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep in person an option
Comment: For the mental well being of my child, I ask you please continue both options for school. In person and COA for those not wanting in person.Submitted by: Merrilee M
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep schools open
Comment: Why do we, as parents of students in CUSD, have to continue fighting against the fear and personal agendas of board members who don't work in or have children in the district in order for our kids to go to school in person? We are losing WAY more youth to suicide than this virus. The experts are saying kids need to be in school in person. Please keep your promise to your constituents to allow for in person learning.Submitted by: Michael W
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep current guidelines - they provide adequate safety
Comment: Please keep with the current guidelines of keeping a school open unless 1/1.5/2% are infected. This keeps the students in school unless there is a risk of a significant outbreak. The students should not be punished for trends in the non-school community, and the 1% guideline protects the students and teachers in the event of spread in the school community.Submitted by: Michael W
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: The need for inperson learning during COVID-19
Comment: To whom it may concern, My name is Michael W. I am writing this as a students parent asking for CUSD to consider the need of their students during this pandemic. As a parent of a first grade student, I believe that it is so important for children of all ages to be thought in person but especially for those students at a younger age level. In person learning is more than just academics. It teaches children how to communicate effectively, how to share and socialize with others, and helps in lessons to become a contributing member of society later on in life. I thank all teachers and school staff that have made in person learning a success thus far and ask that the school district continues in person learning for the betterment of these kids. Thank you.Submitted by: Michele H
School: Perry High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep schools open
Comment: Please keep schools open. There are options already in place for those who want to stay home. My senior desperately needs to stay in person to be able to graduate. His mental health and desire to finish high school it at an all time low. I feel chandler has done a good job of creating options for families to choose what is best for them. Please don't take away the option that best fits our family and so many others. My sons teachers all want to be in person and finish this year strong.Submitted by: Michelle
School: Carlson Elementary Organization: CUSD teacher
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Teachers voices should matter !!!
Comment: Please look at the numbers. The numbers of parents, certified staff, support staff that want to remain in-person is far greater than those demanding schools be closed. That is a fact. We trusted the board to listen and represent us. The last board had 3 people who listened to us. Mr Evans came out to speak to is and ask our feedback. He followed what we asked for. Others are using the position entrusted to them for their own motivations. The majority of your constituents have clearly said to keep schools open. Just because a minority group is causing quite a stir, that still doesnt make them the majority. The numbers currently show 23 percent want schools shut and 77 percent want to remain in person. That speaks volumes. Allow us to make our choice and be respected. If a school needs to be closed then that is fair. That is why the previous board made a solid plan. Do not throw that out the window.Submitted by: Michelle M
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep students in school
Comment: I am a parent and a teacher and it is so important that these children stay in school! Virtual learning is not effective. Not just the young ones but even high school as their academics are even more importantSubmitted by: Michelle S
School: Carlson Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: School closure
Comment: I pray that this board it listening to the science and will never keep our children out of school again. The devastation to them has been very serious. Children are not spreaders and rarely get very sick. Teachers are essential workers and need to be doing the job we are paying them to do in the classroom - not on a computerSubmitted by: Mike
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keeping kids in school
Comment: Thank you for keeping in person school open. Reading the comments, almost all the parents in favor of keeping the schools open state it is what is best for their children. Those advocating to close schools do not mention what is best for the children in their comments nearly as much. When discussing whether or not to keep schools open, shouldn't what is best for the kids really be the determining factor? And the experts say keeping schools open is best for children. Follow the science, not somemetrics number that is virtually impossible to achieve.Submitted by: Mike S
School: Basha High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person school
Comment: COVID UPDATE 12/30/2020 Summary of the report: - Chandler's new cases are decreasing for the 2nd week in a row dropping to 476 positive reports per 100,000 or .04%. - Covid transmission has dropped below the 1.00 R-Naught rate. - Many first responders and healthcare workers are being vaccinated. https://www.azdhs.gov/preparedness/epidemiology-disease-control/infectious-disease-epidemiology/covid-https://phdata.maricopa.gov/Dashboard/e10a16d8-921f-4aac-b921-26d95e638a45?e=false&vo=viewonlySubmitted by: Mindy S
School: ACP Oakland Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Children returning to school after Christmas Break
Comment: Children absolutely need to be in person learning, this has been covered time and time again how important this is to the mental and social development. Given that the COVID mortality rate is 1% there is no reason children should be forced to learn online.Submitted by: Mistelle A
School: Payne Junior High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep kids in person
Comment: Please keel kids in person for school. The matrix and the covid numbers were so low at schools prior to break. The plans executed were working and keeping teachers and children safe. Virtual learning can be available to parents concerned and not forced upon everyone.Submitted by: Natalie M
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In Person Learning
Comment: Thank you for continuing to allow our children the opportunity to learn in person. The benefits of them being in a classroom are so great. Their mental health, their attitudes, and their ability to comprehend the information presented are improving as they return to classrooms. Our teachers are amazing and essential. The school dashboard accurately reflects that mitigation is working in our classrooms. Keeping kids in classrooms seems to make the most sense right now. I respect the right foreveryone to choose what is best for their own families. COA is still available for those who need or want to reduce their contact outside the home. Thank you for also giving us a choice to return to classrooms.Submitted by: Nathaniel C
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep kids in School
Comment: Don't close the schools back down. Schools are showing to not be a super spreader . The policies and safety precautions are working. There is online and in person options. Let parents and kids decide what they want. If a teacher does not want to teach in person because they are afraid then get them an online class.Submitted by: Neil B
School: Bogle Junior High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Sick Out
Comment: I will not be participating in the sick out, and I do not want to do virtual learning if we can avoid it.Submitted by: Niceli B
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Back to school in person
Comment: My kids are in second and forth grade and both are worried if they will not be going back to school in person, in person school for us is great, they need to socialize, they love to go to the school and have activities, see their friends. We are all in for in person school.Submitted by: Nichole B
School: Auxier Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person learning
Comment: Our children need to remain in person for their safety and mental health. Suicide, depression, and anxiety are on the rise and virtual learning plays a huge role in the isolation leading to these events. The world around us is changing so much. Let school be one of the foundations our kids can count on.Submitted by: Nicki
School: Santan Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep them IN school!!!
Comment: Dear Board members, we are beginning you to keep our kids in school we have one at SanTan Jr High and the other at the Chandler San Tan Elementary. The mental state of our kids suffer more than you can imagine when they are at home. The schools DO NOT teach them properly when they are at home at all! Yes numbers for this virus will go up and it's only because more people are getting tested. This is getting out of control only because of what the media is telling you. We have several people who work in the hospitals and they all say the news never tells it right. It's ridiculous. This is nothing more than the flu according to them. Not to mention the survival rate is soooo high that they all recommend along with every parent we talk to, to have them stay IN school. I beg you to vote to keep them in and turn off your tv. Thank you so much for your time.Submitted by: Nicole
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep our schools open for in-person learning
Comment: The data shows without a doubt that the best place for students to be during the day is at school. End the politics and focus on educating students.Submitted by: Nicole
School: CTA Independence Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep schools open, we have choices
Comment: Parents and teachers that want to be in person learning are being played. We want our kids and teachers safe and in school is best. Do not take our choices away. The loss of education, jobs, students, etc is staggering if you shut down again. Our children are not pawns. They are being used and they know it.Submitted by: Nicole A
School: Auxier Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Children need schools open!
Comment: While I am sure all the kids and teachers alike enjoyed their break. I know my children are excited to go back to school...why? Because children need schools to be open for mental health, for learning stability, and social interaction. I am personally very tired of every month having to plea the case that children are better off learning in classes vs virtually. The schools and children can not deal with another shut down set back mentally, emotionally and educationally. We talk about howour children are the future but we are failing them when we shut down and go virtually. Stay open!!!Submitted by: Nicole C
School: Casteel High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep our kids in school
Comment: Parents who want online have that option, please let our kids go back on Tuesday. Think about the long term effects on these kids and show us the science/data that proves the virus is spreading in schools and show us where and how it benefits kids to be at home instead of in school.Submitted by: Nicole H
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep kids IN SCHOOL
Comment: As a parent of 3 CUSD students I beg you to keep schools open. There is no reason to close schools. The science does not support it. Even Governor Ducey says that students need to be in school. Giving into the fear of some is not reason enough to close schools. I hope as a board you'll listen. CUSD can't afford to lose more students.Submitted by: Nicole H
School: Casteel High Organization: Nicole Hare
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep our kids in person.
Comment: Our schools are doing amazing. Kids are not spreading the virus in school. These kids need to be in school. I am really worried about my son who has anxiety if he comes back home. He was not doing well sitting in his room doing school work. He started getting more and more depressed. That scares me more than a virus that is not hurting out kids. But, I promise you depression is...Please keep them at school and families that prefer to stay home have the option to log onto google classroom.Submitted by: Nicole O
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: KEEP SCHOOLS OPEN
Comment: It is disappointing that we are once again in this place to have to fight for our children to be in person school. The statistics have proven that COVID has not spread through the schools and the mitigation strategies are working within the Chandler schools. Not one school has reached the percent positive that the board decided to use to determine closing a particular school. Our children have suffered enough this past year. Parents and children have the CHOICE to stay online. Keep the CHOICE for parents and students who are comfortable in person with the mitigation strategies that are working.Submitted by: Pati W
School: Casteel High Organization: Parent
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person learning
Comment: Thank you for in person learning. This is the platform that most students resonate with, that most students respond to best, and which allows those fringe students to not get forgotten. The students that get their best meals from school. The students that have IEPs, 504's, social and learning issues. Students that may not have help at home. Students that may face abuse or neglect but have a teacher to come to, or to notice that something isn't right. I understand that things aren't alwaysa 1 size fits all easy solution or decision. However today, more than ever, having a choice is imperative. The online option (COA) has been an option for those who want this type of instruction prior to the pandemic. All we parents are asking is to have what used to be the standard (in person learning) be a choice as well. My elderly parents live with us, we understand the risks that may be incurred, and yet still fell that in person is the best option for our student. Let us have the choiceSubmitted by: Patricia G
School: Chandler High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: COVID-19
Comment: Students have been amazing at following the mask rules. I believe schools should stay open so education can continue. I love the plan we have in place for 7-12 and as a Math teacher I fee fully prepared to help my students through this time. Please stay open. Our kids need to be in the classroom.Submitted by: Payton B
School: Santan Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep in-person school open
Comment: I am an 8th grader at SJHS. Please keep me in the classroom. I need to be with my teachers. Please don't take this away from those of us that need in-person are are ok with being in-person. Everything else is open. School should be too.Submitted by: Phil H
School: Hamilton High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep the schools open.
Comment: Why are you letting these teachers control the decisions this board makes? The students need to be in person. My kids cannot especially my Senior cannot do online again. She was not successful and harmed her future. It is shameful you don't think of the students who want to be in class. You continue to fail the students with your ridiculous decisions. Hold the teachers to their contracts if they call out for no reason then they shouldn't be teaching and show they don't care about the students. As someone who works in education I want to be in person with my students at all times as I know the importance of in person learning. This is supposed to be about the students not the teachers who want a different agenda. Keep the schools OPEN! If parents want virtual then let them, but my kids want and need in person learning. Don't screw with my senior's future anymore.Submitted by: Rachel S
School: Patterson Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: If there are Changes to schooling / all students stay home
Comment: I have two elementary daughters. One, online was HORRIBLE. She lost all joy and was a shell of herself, and her grades plummeted. She needs a classroom, engagement around her, and the normalcy the classroom brings. I hope there is a way to keep kids in person. Secondly, if the district chooses to move it all online, our other daughter just switch from COA to in person solely because it was a semester commitment instead of quarterly commitment- this was a very hard choice for her: if you choose to force all student online- please give some the option for COA- she knows this platform and was thriving on it. I would hope for ease to transition she would be allowed to switch.Submitted by: Rafee O
School: Santan Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep in person learning!
Comment: Please keep in person learning for elementary school kids! There is no evidence of widespread transmission at CUSD schools and depriving children at a critical stage in their social/cognitive development is frankly going to cost us all in the future. Pretending that a kindergartner can sit still in front of an iPad or chromebook for 6 hours a day is unrealistic and also an unhealthy amount of screen time. As an essential worker, I don't have the luxury to sit there and supervise their learning for that time period and affording a private tutor is unreasonable for most people.Submitted by: Razmik B
School: Casteel High Organization: Patent
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep In Person Learning
Comment: Please continue to offer In Person learning. If you offer those that are concerned about sending their students to school a choice, then those that do want in person should also be offered a choice. Studies have consistently shown (and the CDC agrees) that schools are not super spreading. Children are suffering. Please don't continue to perpetuate that and bend to a small but vocal group of people who already have a choice to keep their students home if they want. Even Fauci says kids should be in achool. Do the right thing and KEEP SCHOOLS OPEN!!!Submitted by: Rene K
School: Patterson Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: PLEASE keep schools open for in person learning
Comment: PLEASE keep schools open for in person learningSubmitted by: Rhian R
School: Basha High Organization: Parent of High Schoolers
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In Person School is necessary and safe for my children
Comment: I am writing to request you continue in person schooling for the children who request it. Personally my children need to be in person for so many reasons but the last quarter's grades versus the first quarter do speak volumes to that. They are unable to teach themselves. I am a medical professional. I see first hand how children are affected by COVID and it is more psychologically than physically. I would like to highlight that this virus is not leaving any time soon. Therefore mitigation strategies such as those you have already implemented are the way to work around the virus as opposed to go 100% virtual. A second factor would be financial and feel the district cannot lose anymore funding than they have already lost. Blanket shut downs do not contain the spread of the virus, mitigation strategies do! Thank you for your consideration.Submitted by: Richelle M
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Desire to Stay in the Classroom
Comment: I currently teach 2nd grade at CTA Freedom. I strongly desire to stay in the classroom with my 25 students. This is my 23rd year of teaching and my 15th year in the Chandler district. I live in a multigenerational home - 71-year old mother, I am 47 years old, and I have a 20-year old niece. I am more concerned about the mental health of these children than I am of this virus. I do not believe that going online will benefit anyone. We are currently in a flu and cold season which happens every year. Are we going to close down every year from now on? Please keep our schools open. Our children need this.Submitted by: Riley P
School: Payne Junior High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: I want to go back on January 5th
Comment: I want to go back to in person schooling. I struggle to learn on line and do much better in person. I do not have the same grades and understanding that I get with the teachers in person. I cannot test online so my grades are in the bottom instead of a's that I normally would have.Submitted by: Robert F
School: Rice Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Do the Right Thing...Don't close our schools
Comment: Please keep our schools open. If you close, we will be forced to look closely at other districts, charter schools down the street, or the private school in our neighborhood. We are champions of public school (my wife was one). While we have the resources and ability to jump ship, we haven't. Our kids school is doing an excellent job. She is also normally sick a few times in the semester by now, but clearly the mitigation efforts are working bc she hasn't been sick at all. Also, she had a major medical procedure this past year, is on a 504 plan and is loving school, the routine, the bit of normalcy it lends, the challenges academically, etc. We are also a foster family and are taking a placement next week. Kids need to be seen and be in school. Please do the right thing. Thank you.Submitted by: Robin H
School: Auxier Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep schools open
Comment: I have a daughter at Casteel and a daughter at Auxier. Please, please keep the schools open. Online is not effective and they suffer academically as well as mentally and emotionally. Please continue to give parents a choice. Should you decide that online is what is best for our community then please look at the standards and expectations for the students. It is too much.Submitted by: Ron H
School: Casteel High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep our kids in person for their mental health.
Comment: Our schools are doing amazing. Kids are not spreading the virus in school. These kids need to be in school. I am really worried about my son who has anxiety if he comes back home. He was not doing well sitting in his room doing school work. He started getting more and more depressed. That scares me more than a virus that is not hurting out kids. But, I promise you depression is...Please keep them at school and families that prefer to stay home have the option to log onto google classroom.Submitted by: Rorie V
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person learning is necessary
Comment: Please let the students continue to have the opportunity for in person learning,Submitted by: Rosa F
School: Patterson Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep Schools Open
Comment: Please keep the schools open! I have a 4th grader and 1st grader who are thriving in person. At home was a disaster for us!Submitted by: Ryan D
School: Casteel High Organization: Parent
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep kids in school
Comment: Please continue to keep schools openSubmitted by: Ryan J
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Consider the students - keep schools open
Comment: I'm guessing this emergency board meeting is being called due to pressure from some board members and CUSD faculty. It's shameful to reconsider a decision made about 3 weeks ago on account of a few dissenting voices. The board should weigh their decision carefully. CUSD lost thousands of students during the last shutdown. More will likely come if the same happens. Take confidence that after Thanksgiving there wasn't a large spike. Take confidence that safety, mitigation measures are working - that while the community metrics may be soaring, student/staff numbers are significantly lower. CUSD is rated highly b/c of student performance, student performance is better in person. Don't give in to the few...represent the many, represent the students. Stay in person.Submitted by: Ryan J
School: Rice Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Stay the course - keep schools open
Comment: Yup the metrics say that CUSD should move back to virtual instruction. However, past experience with this model coupled with data from the past semester with it being half virtual, half in person speaks volumes. First, CUSD safety and mitigation strategies were proven successful. Students, staff were quarantined and infections didn't soar. Second, after the Thanksgiving break, there wasn't a large spike in number of infections despite the belief that they would after students, staff held familygatherings. Third, students' performance greatly improved with in person learning. I understand that there are teachers who are concerned, who are upset, and would like to go back to virtual learning. Did these teachers not go shopping during the holiday break? Did they abstain from gathering with family, friends outside of their home? Did they abstain from traveling by plane? Have they not gone out to eat or gotten take out? Please be wise, be prudent, keep schools openSubmitted by: Sam L
School: Basha Elementary Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Listen to parents not out of state or district
Comment: Keep our choice to be in person. you have options and they work. not all kids can do remote. even with counts higher, the risk is far less than our kids killing them selves or long term mental health.Submitted by: Sandra R
School: Basha High Organization: parent
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep the Schools Open
Comment: Hello. Thank you for all that you are doing and for your dedication - much appreciated. PLEASE keep the schools open. The kids are so much better off in the schools. They need the stability, normalcy and structure. PLEASE do not close the schools. thank you.Submitted by: Sandra R
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep Our Schools Open
Comment: Last quarter went just fine. We want in person, for our kids to be taught by teachers in person who want to be there! If they don't feel safe or want to teach in person have them go virtual or find another career. Our kids need them, they need our kids!Submitted by: Sara S
School: Hull Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Pro In-person
Comment: We are a two parent working household. We have not had a faulter in going to work since the pandemic started. My children suffered during online in the spring AND in the fall. How is an active 9 year old supposed to stay in his seat for hours? How is a 5 year old who cannot read, supposed to learn online without direct supervision? My children (5 & 9) deserve to be in school, so they can continue to get the best education, which is in person. I do not give other 'parents' permission to make decisions for my children. There are other options for those parents- COA. My children work hard every school day to follow the safety rules so they can go to in-person. Please consider this a plea for what is best for the majority. Thank you.Submitted by: Sara W
School: Casteel High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Cusd teacher and parent saying I want schools to stay open
Comment: I teach for cusd at elementary level and have a senior at high school. I am confident in the safety measures and the board decision to close schools only on a site by site basis. Just because many of us are not screaming about it and calling up media and planning sick outs and protests doesn't mean we aren't passionate. Please do not succumb to pressure from those making demands. All students have the option of staying home. Do not take away the option to continue in person for the rest of us.To the new board members, please follow the plans already in place and respect that previous board members actually talked to many of us to arrive at that decision.Submitted by: Sarah H
School: Perry High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In Person Learning
Comment: Good Evening- I really hope this meeting is about continuing to educate on Covid and not to close the schools again. These kids have had so many twists and turned thrown at them already this year. They need consistency. They deserve consistency. The older kids need the interactions or you're never going to get rid of this. They will continue to see each other out of school if they can't do it I. Person. It's also important that teachers not take being back in person out on the kids going. As we've already seen what's been going around with some disgraceful teachers. Do the right thing and what's right for the kids. Keep them in school!Submitted by: Sharon S
School: ACP Oakland Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep in-person instruction on Jan 5th
Comment: I have 3 kids who were enrolled in in-person for 1st semester, and I would like to request that schools be kept open for 2nd semester. So far there has been little if any transmission of COVID-19 on campuses and there has been no discussion of closing other businesses eventhough the positivity rate started to increase in early November. I believe it is important for our children to continue to attend in person school. I believe there are many other businesses that should close prior to schoolsto reduce the spread of the virus. Gyms, bars, in-person dining seem less important than schools and I would prefer they close first. My largest concern is the logistical nightmare of deciding to switch to on-line at the last minute. We borrowed 2 chromebooks for the online portion of 1st quarter and those were returned in November. When will device distribution occur? Please stay the course and open schools on Jan 5th.Submitted by: Sharon S
School: CTA Independence Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep in-person instruction on Jan 5th
Comment: I have 3 kids who were enrolled in in-person for 1st semester, and I would like to request that schools be kept open for 2nd semester. So far there has been little if any transmission of COVID-19 on campuses and there has been no discussion of closing other businesses eventhough the positivity rate started to increase in early November. I believe it is important for our children to continue to attend in person school. I believe there are many other businesses that should close prior to schoolsto reduce the spread of the virus. Gyms, bars, in-person dining seem less important than schools and I would prefer they close first. My largest concern is the logistical nightmare of deciding to switch to on-line at the last minute. We borrowed 2 chromebooks for the online portion of 1st quarter and those were returned in November. When will device distribution occur? Will it be before classes start on Jan 5? Please stay the course and open schools for the health and wellbeing of our kids.Submitted by: Shauna G
School: Fulton Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In-Person Learning
Comment: I am a parent in support of continued in-person education. Data suggests and healthcare professionals believe that children, especially elementary age, need to be in school. We must continue to press forward through this virus for the sake of our children. Please follow the science and not emotions of teachers, staff, and parents.Submitted by: Shawn P
School: Basha Elementary Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Returning to school January 5th
Comment: My child missed three weeks of school before he could take his finals because all final need to take it in person. It is very difficult when you have a child who keeps having to delay his final for something that is major in his world and in the real world for colleges. The quarantine has not helped the children with their learning and they still have very low numbers in the school. It affects their grades, as well as the ability to learn. I want my kids back in school returned to high school so they know how to study and learn for when they get to college. NONE of his teachers were on open mic during the lessons being learned like was told would happen. They did not get the same teaching as being in school!Submitted by: Shawn p
School: Payne Junior High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return the children to school January 5th
Comment: My child missed three weeks of school before he could take his finals because all final need to take it in person. It is very difficult when you have a child who keeps having to delay his final for something that is major in his world and in the real world for colleges. The quarantine has not helped the children with their learning and they still have very low numbers in the school. It affects their grades, as well as the ability to learn. I want my kids back in school returned to high school so they know how to study and learn for when they get to college. NONE of his teachers were on open mic during the lessons being learned like was told would happen. They did not get the same teaching as being in school!Submitted by: Sheena B
School: Bogle Junior High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In-Person learning
Comment: I truly believe that our kids need to be in-person. Chandler has seen a decrease in cases the last two weeks. I feel it's a constant battle to keep fighting this battle of keeping our kids in-person. I know it can't be an easy task to please everyone. But coming up with solutions to appease both sides of the argument can be done. CUSD has been able to do this by making it optional to be online or in- person with safety measures in place and it is working. Having metrics on a school to school basis is brilliant on so many levels. Deviating away from this and even considering shutting us all down if that is the case here isn't fair to the students or the staff I know many teachers who want to be in-person and have gone above and beyond in their classrooms to contribute to keep our kids safe. I'm not a bad parent. I love our teachers. I hate that I have to continually fight for something I think is good for my child. I'm exhausted.Submitted by: Sherri E
School: Bogle Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person learning
Comment: We have not been around anyone during break so my son could confidently return to school and learn. One of his classes only has 10 kids in it on a good day, so not full classrooms like others.Submitted by: Shona C
School: CTA Independence Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Kids first!! Keep in person school.
Comment: First, let me say that I understand there is no good answer & no one size fits all option.Therefore, I'm requesting that you maintain the choice that was promised to us & look at the school closures on a school by school basis.I believe that school is not the problem & the students (esp at the elementary level) should not be removed from school.It's the safest & best place for them to be.I certainly do NOT agree with the position the teachers union is taking by holding these kids hostage to tryto get their way.If they don't want to do their job in the classroom (or can't for some reason) then remove them like any other essential worker or employer would. If they cannot be in the classroom than I hope they aren't going out anywhere else in the community. I hope they understand that they'll be first hit when the insane cuts are required next year due to the masses of lost revenue/budget. My kids love CTA & I don't want to move them, but if it's best for their education we'll be forced.Submitted by: Stacey A
School: Casteel High Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person learning
Comment: I am begging you as a parent gravelly concerned about the lasting affects of my kids mental health with the lack of social and educational interactions this pandemic has caused. I dont care if my kids are 50 to a teacher in person is essential for the well being of my child. As a district mental a health should be just as important as physical health.Submitted by: Stefanie R
School: Carlson Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: In-Person Learning
Comment: It is imperative that we keep teaching in-person for out students. They NEED to be with their classmates in a safe and secure classroom (which it is with all the cleaning, sanitizing, and protocols we follow)! I have been teaching in CUSD for 14 years. I do not want to go back to virtual teaching, the kids suffer and so do the teachers. Please keep in-personLearning. Thank you for your time.Submitted by: Stephani s
School: CTA Independence Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep elementary school open
Comment: Keep elementary school openSubmitted by: Stephanie H
School: San Marcos Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep in person learning an option
Comment: There are many students who virtual learning does not work for and I'm concerned about what happens to these children (like my daughter with special needs) if the in person option is removed. Will the district be offering a summer program to make up for missed time for students who are not able to participate in virtual learning? What about all the students who have left the district (like my son)? How does the district intent to attract some of these students to return in future years if they cannot deliver a consistent and acceptable plan to educate our children? The failure to supply a steady and consistent method of education is going to become a district budgeting nightmare for years into the future with the loss of students who are able to afford and be accepted into private/charter options, depriving so many of Chandler's children from the educational opportunities they deserve.Submitted by: Stephanie T
School: Rice Elementary Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: keep schools open for those who want/need it
Comment: I think the current CUSD policy regarding closing schools is great! We are a very large and diverse district. If the students/staff are not spreading the virus, then there is no need to shut schools down. Please don't put our children through the ups and downs again. We all know it won't be just for 2 weeks .Submitted by: Steven J
School: Basha High Organization: 5.29306E+15
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Mental Health of my Daughter is at risk if we move to on-line learning
Comment: Since March my daughter and a group of her friends talk about mental health openly. She has been in counseling, the kids are suffering. The Counselors and Psychiatrists are just inundated with calls and new patients. Please consider those kids that school is their safe place, home life can be a nightmare for some and school is their only escape. We must offer a choice for the health and well being of all kids. Please offer in person learning or parents will leave because nothing is moreimportant than our children and we need them to live. This is the reality parents are dealing with.Submitted by: Summer M
School: Patterson Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In Person Schooling is ESSENTIAL
Comment: I am so sad that we parents have to keep fighting to keep our kids in school. A service that we as homeowners keep paying for. There is no debate, the science states that COVID is not being spread through schools. Science says kids mentally, emotionally and physically are better off in school. Please stop playing political roulette with our children. I chose the Chandler district because it's reputation to be the best. I am thinking that I may have to pull out to another district or charter as Iam not seeing the best interest of the students being taken any longer.Submitted by: Susan S
School: Basha High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: I support in person instruction to continue. I appreciate the positivity rate in community is going up but believe in person masked instruction i
Comment: Please continue to allow in person instruction. Wearing masks has proven effective snd schools should not shutdown because of community #s.Submitted by: Suzette H
School: Ryan Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Kids should continue to attend school in person
Comment: To whom it may concern, as a parent of 2 children at Ryan Elementary I feel the need to voice my displeasure of the conversation surrounding the idea of going back to virtual schooling. My kids, like many others in our country, thrive when they are given the opportunity to learn from and socialize with kids and teachers in person. While I understand the severity of COVID, I believe the effect that this disease will have and has already had on the mental health of all people, and specifically kids will be far worse than what we're seeing today. Please consider that our children are in a very vulnerable place in their development and allow them to have their schooling be in person and as normal as possible. Thank you, Suzette HonasSubmitted by: Suzette H
School: Ryan Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please let my kids continue in person school
Comment: I have 2 children, grades 5 and 3. My kids need to be in school, in person. My oldest has anxiety and has already been in tears at the thought of having to go back to virtual learning. I understand if teachers are worried about getting COVID, but if so they should be allowed to stay home, just like I can do at my job. If I choose not to do my job, I'm fired. My customers aren't told to stay home because I'm worried. I also understand that the number of cases in Arizona is on the rise, but it'salso proven that schools (especially elementary schools) are not causing outbreaks. There is already an option for virtual learning, I ask that you don't take away the option for in person for those kids that need it.Submitted by: Tami
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In school learning
Comment: I have a son that is a senior this year and heavily involved in the shop classes. He plans to pursue a career in the welding field after school. Online learning is impossible for these types classes. Please keep in school learning open - mainly for kids like mine. He struggled greatly when school was virtualSubmitted by: Tamsen P
School: Weinberg Gifted Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please Keep Schools Open In-Person
Comment: Thank you for your service on the school board. We appreciate all the efforts made to keep Chandler School District safe, as well as excellent! We have lived in CUSD boundaries for 11 years and have four children enrolled in school (one at Hamilton High School, one at Santan Jr High, one at Fulton Elementary, and one at Weinberg Elementary). Our youngest is in kindergarten at Weinberg and we feel it is so crucial for his development to be taught in person and be around peers. In addition, twoof our older children struggled learning online during Fall Quarter. We saw a drop in grades with online school, and gratefully grades went up Second Quarter when they were back in person. We are so pleased with the efforts our teachers and other school officials have made to keep the schools safe. We kept our children home when they were experiencing any Covid-type symptoms and will continue to do our part to be part of the solution. Please keep schools open! Thank youSubmitted by: Tara G
School: Casteel High Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Stay in-person learning
Comment: School is the safest place for our children for a myriad of reasons. CUSD gave us the option for in-person and needs to honor it for those of us that chose it. They need to be learning in-person not just so they don't fail and fall behind again, but for their mental health, too. Teen suicides have more than doubled since 2019. It is our responsibility to these kids to give them the education and stability they need, crave, and deserve.Submitted by: Tara L
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep schools OPEN for our children!
Comment: Please keep schools OPEN for our kids! It was done safely in the Q2 and can be done in Q3.Submitted by: Tara M
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: My 3rd grader needs to be in school
Comment: Lots of kids need in person to learn.Submitted by: Tarah I
School: Casteel High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person learning. Virtual does NOT work foe ADHD students!!!
Comment: My student cannot and should not have to deal with another move back to virtual learning . He has ADHD and is unable to sit in front of a computer screen, unengaged for the period of lessons required to keep his grades up. His first year in middle school has been a disaster for him and so many others we know. I fear I will have to take him from CUSD to a district that cares for keeping students actively engaged if CUSD decides to force virtual on its students again.Submitted by: Taylor B
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep in-person school open
Comment: I am a Junior at PHS. I do not understand why I have to wonder every month if I am going to be able to get the education that I must have to succeed with the excellent grades necessary for college scholarships. Please stop this back and forth about in-person and virtual. There are two choices. Please do not take mine away. My ability to obtain college scholarships is based on this academic school year. Thank you.Submitted by: Taylor P
School: Ryan Elementary Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: keep elementary schools in-person
Comment: Dear Board, Please consider remaining in-person for elementary-aged students. This needs to be considered for multiple reasons. 1) Research shows that developing learning gaps during these critical years can be irreversible and have life-long negative impacts. 2) Elementary-aged children cannot be left alone. If parents of secondary children have to work, those kids can still access virtual learning independently. Elementary-aged students cannot. 3) The mitigation strategies in elementary schools are clearly working based on the data the district has provided. At my own daughter's elementary schools, there have only been 7 cases since opening in September. This data does not warrant closures for this age group. Please take my thoughts into consideration. We have to make decisions based on data.Submitted by: Teresa D
School: Rice Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep in-person option!
Comment: I have 2 daughters that attend Rice Elementary and both have fared better emotionally, behaviorally and academically better once in-person schooling resumed. As a healthcare worker, it was extremely difficult to continue to perform my job treating patients while being expected to ensure that my children were online and learning effectively. If my mother and mother-in-law had not stepped in to help out while schools closed down, I am not sure how we would have made it. My children NEED to be in school in person. Please keep this an option for those of us who need this choice.Submitted by: Terra W
School: CTA Liberty Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In-person school is essential!
Comment: Please do not mandate all students return to online learning. My children love and need in-person school and are thriving. My kinder is getting the best instruction in school and is learning to read and spell! The new dashboard is so helpful, most schools are still doing great, including ours. With so many businesses back to work now, kids forced to stay home could possibly be placed with older relatives, putting the at-risk population more at risk! There is already an online option for those who don't want to return to in-person. Please let us keep our choice of in-person or online. Keep both options available - and keep our choice!Submitted by: Terry R
School: CTA Independence Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual school
Comment: As a parent of children enrolled in CUSD, I want to express my disappointment that the teachers and certain board members are advocating for teacher sick outs and a return to the virtual learning. I understand that Covid is increasing but the protocols that have been put in place have proven to be effective in minimizing the spread with the case rate remaining below 1% for almost every school. The virtual learning was not productive for our child who struggled when she typically was an all A grade student. She had Ds and Fs during the first part of the school year and it was very time consuming on us at the same time. Our particular situation is that we have a child in CUSD, our youngest daughter is a special needs low function child who requires around the clock care and my wife is currently undergoing chemo treatments for a recent diagnosis. All of this and then this pending return to virtual learning is just taking its burden on us both from a personal but also a financial impaSubmitted by: Tiffany M
School: Basha High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Thank you and keeping in person-board meeting
Comment: I just wanted to say thank you for having in person learning it is helped my daughter educationally her grades have improved immensely and mentally she is doing way better! her anxiety and depression has gone down immensely by being in person! Please, please, keep in person learning for those that choose to be in person which we would continue to do! Mentally, emotionally, and physically my child needs to be in person! Thank you for listening!Submitted by: Tiffany W
School: Frye Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Learning
Comment: I hope if you decide to close schools for 2 weeks you follow Mesa's lead and allow self contained special ed to attend full time in person. While my son's teacher is amazing and did her best with virtual Learning these students truly need day to day in person instruction and structure. Please don't forget these students in your decision.Submitted by: TODD K
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In-Person Class vs Virtual
Comment: I have a 3rd grader and 1st grader attending Tarwater Elementary. In light of the growing pressure to return to virtual classes, I wanted to say I fully support the current policy where each school is monitored separately based on its own metrics and not on the metrics of other schools or overall county metrics. It is fairly clear that spread in elementary schools such as Tarwater has been extremely minimal in comparison to other metrics. The policies that have been put in place for social distancing and wearing masks are working at Tarwater and most parents, teachers, and students are fully invested in making it work. It would be unfair to penalize all elementary school students by closing schools again because of higher cases in high schools or outside of the school setting. Virtual learning does not provide an adequate learning or social environment for elementary students, and it puts undue hardship on working parents. Please keep the current policy in effect for 2021. ThanksSubmitted by: Todd Z
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Schools
Comment: Stay openSubmitted by: Tonia R
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep Schools Open
Comment: Please do not force our children back into online schooling for those of us who have chosen to keep them in school. 2020 needs to be left alone and a new outlook in 2021, such as freedom of choice, choice that many of us made back in July. Just because some do not like the choice they made does nothing constitute rearranging in person learning to fit their needs. Kids need to be in school, learning in person. It has been found over the course of the last 9 months that the virus is not spreadamong children and we have also seen that our teachers (the majority of them) want to be in the classroom. Our schools in Chandler have done an amazing job of keeping everyone in our schools safe and there is no reason to mess with what is working because of fear. Living with the mindset of 'what if' has never served anyone well. Leave our kids in school.Submitted by: Tracy
School: Haley Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep kids in school
Comment: Stop threatening to take away my choice to send my kids in person. If you send us back to virtual you will have made a mockery of what standards you have set for our students. My kids are not your pawns to play with, now stop! If people want to go virtual they have that frickin option! Why do you mess with my option?!?! If the teacher doesn't want to be there then show them the door. They aren't focused on our students at all at this point! Stick to your dashboard and the plan you set out for dealing with this. Stop treating us like we are expendable!Submitted by: Tracy
School: Perry High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep kids in school
Comment: Stop threatening to take away my choice to send my kids in person. If you send us back to virtual you will have made a mockery of what standards you have set for our students. My kids are not your pawns to play with, now stop! If people want to go virtual they have that frickin option! Why do you mess with my option?!?! If the teacher doesn't want to be there then show them the door. They aren't focused on our students at all at this point! Stick to your dashboard and the plan you set out for dealing with this. Stop treating us like we are expendable!Submitted by: Tracy
School: Haley Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep kids in the classroom
Comment: If the almighty mask protects people then it is safe to be in the classroom for both students and teachers. It's safe, they say only when it's safe, well guess what it's safe!!Submitted by: Tracy
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep kids in the classroom
Comment: PERIOD!Submitted by: Tracy D
School: Carlson Elementary Organization: I teach at Carlson
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: This teacher wants to stay in person
Comment: I am a teacher wanting to stay in person. Our kids need us in person. The classrooms are safe. The kids are safe. The teachers are safe. Suicides are exponentially higher than student covid deaths. Do not let our kids or teachers down.Submitted by: Tracy d
School: Basha High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep kids in school
Comment: As a teacher and parent in the district I feel school is the best place for them. Parents have a choice of going virtual for 2 weeks, why is that not enough. As a teacher I need to be in the classroom with my students to be most effective. My children need to be in a classroom to learn and have social interaction and be motivated. I believe students and teachers are safer in school than many other environments.Submitted by: Tracy G
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Consider a different model for elementary vs secondary schools
Comment: Board Members, as most follow the science...both medical and psychological, we know that comparing risk among elementary kids is entirely different than in adolescents. Please consider different models as their risk and ability to learn in a virtual environment are significantly different. Elementary schools clearly can be safely at school. The risk is significantly higher for both students and staff in high schools. I teach 17/18 year olds all day long. They are nearly adults and have the samecompacting to spread as adults. They also spend a significant more time out of the home interacting with friends outside the home. Please consider in person for elementary and virtual for 7-12. Thank you.Submitted by: Tricia L
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep Schools Open
Comment: First, I want to thank the board members who are fighting to keep the schools open. It is clear that what is in the best interest of our children is to have them learn in school. Virtual learning was a nightmare for both of my children. Parents had a choice at the beginning of the year to choose online or in person. If you close the schools you are showing a complete disregard for what the majority of parents want. The number of cases are so minimal at each school. 5-15 cases at a school that has 3300 kids is nothing. Lets be realistic about the risk of this virus in comparison to all the negative side effects that come from closing schools.Submitted by: Tristan R
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person learning
Comment: Please continue with in person learning for our students. I have 2 highschool students in the district and I teach at Carlson. It is what is best for kids in all aspects. Please consider the mental health impact that so many students are facing during this pandemic. We have the ability to offer stability and normalcy in a safe environment. Let's continue to do so.Submitted by: Val a
School: Knox Gifted Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Follow the science, keep schools open
Comment: If CUSD decide to close schools, we will have to disenroll 3 of our children since virtual learning are not for them. Also, several researches showed that schools are not spreading COVID-19. Here is one; https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/11/20/covid-19-schools-data-reopening-safety/?arc404=trueSubmitted by: Vanessa B
School: Chandler High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person learning
Comment: I am writing to emphasize the importance of in person learning. My son is a freshman at Chandler High. He was an A/B student until this year. He failed his classes first quarter. He had to work all of second corner to overcome what online learning did. He won't be eligible for the same scholarship money my daughter received because of his first quarter of his first year in high school.Submitted by: Vanessa M
School: Patterson Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Children should remain in person
Comment: The death rate of this virus continues to be low. Shutting down our schools is not justified. Our children have the right to be in person and learning. We never shut, or tracked, any illness like covid. Our children are exposed to illness and germs every day, including covid, and in the past have continued their education. This should be treated the same. Adults or teachers who have different beliefs have been given other options. Please make the best choice for our children. We have elected youto do so. This isn't about anybody else but our kids. Thank you for your time.Submitted by: Victoria A
School: Bogle Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: They need to go IN PERSON!!! It is crucial to their MENTAL HEALTH!!!
Comment: Depression and suicide are on the rise amongst our children. PLEASE help PREVENT mental health issues.Submitted by: Wes K
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep the schools open!
Comment: CUSD has done a great job of offering a COA option for those who are in the at-risk population, and allowing the 2-week grace period at the start of this semester. Anyone else should be allowed to return to school as normal. There is also zero evidence of assymptomatic spread of COVID from students to teachers, so the staff should have no additional concern about returning to work. Full virtual instruction DOES NOT WORK. Please keep the schools open. Also, please consider eliminating mask requirements for healthy kids or, at a minimum, anyone that has overcome COVID.Submitted by: Zorena H
School: Ryan Elementary Organization: CUSD
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: What the students deserve.
Comment: There is never going to be a 'right' way to go about the situation that we are in and have been for this school year. Teachers and educators were given the choice to teach online, take a leave, retire or to continue with in-person. If a decision is going to be made from a survey that is sent out, then that surgery needs to be sent to every single teacher in the district, not just a select group. These kids need a sense of normal in their lives and that means staying in person. Most of our CUSD families chose to have their kids come to school in person and that needs to be heavily taken into consideration as well. Our kids and our families deserve to be in school learning in-person. -
Academics, Finals Concerns
Submitted by: A B
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: We should not be at school
Comment: I am a student and am really hoping that the district and board don't make us go back to in person next week. I am anxious and don't want to have to choose between feeling safe at school and learning. COA doesn't work for me for most of my classes and the 2 weeks of being able to stay home just won't be the same if it's anything like it was for the quarantine kids. The number of positive cases are so high around us and there are so many kids who still feel it's fake so they don't care outside ofschool and won't test because they don't want to be quarantined and then come to school the next day! I don't want to miss out or get behind by staying home and want to just make everyone go virtual for like a month or so until the cases go down Thank youSubmitted by: Ammie
School: ACP Erie Organization: Hamilton High
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Final Exam Concerns
Comment: It came to my attention yesterday that COA is not doing finals. I feel that this is actually a good thing as finals are in my opinion an unnecessary stress for students, teachers and parents in light of the pandemic spike. I spoke with someone at the secondary education number for the district on Monday with this very concern who INSISTED that the governing board required finals and it would not be changed. I know you will agree that required finals for some students and not others is highly unfair and runs the risk of negatively impacting grade point averages unfairly. Â With so many students quarantined, this would be a great opportunity for CUSD to alleviate much of the stress and pressure to students and teachers regarding finals. Once quarantined students return, teachers will be bombarded with make-up tests, homework, learning gaps and stressed out students. It is already hard enough for them to keep up with quarantined students and missed work right now.Submitted by: Andrea H
School: Carlson Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: In-person learning
Comment: Students need to be in person for not only their academic growth, but their mental health as well. I have been an elementary teacher in CUSD for 23 years and do not want to go back online.Submitted by: ANDREA L
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep schools open
Comment: There is no legitimate reason to close schools right before the spring semester begins. I am a careful parent who has closely monitored the CUSD Covid dashboard throughout last semester and the fact is that the mitigation strategies employed by the district are largely working and cases have been quite low in schools. I have an honors student who has unequivocally told me that the online learning was a joke. He would finish school 2-3 hours early each day and still got A's in all honors classes. He didn't get a good experience until returning in person. If you close schools when there is no reason to do so, you will lose even more students to private and charter schools and make the budget shortfall worse. This virus is here to stay with us. Locking up kids in bedrooms isn't the answer. Employing better mitigation strategies is. Let's focus on that for our students. Please don't fall victim to a vocal minority who already has the option to keep their kids at home to learn.Submitted by: ANDREA L
School: Knox Gifted Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep schools open
Comment: Please do not close schools again. Doing this was a travesty for students during the fall quarter and will be again. The fact is that CUSD did a great job with mitigation strategies during the winter quarter and kept Covid cases very low in schools and it will do so again during the spring semester. The medical community, including CDC and Dr. Fauci, have said that there is no need to close schools as this isn't a large area of transmission. Please don't hurt our students by listening to a vocalminority of parents who already have the option to keep their kids at home. Also, don't use other districts as a litmus test. Those districts, including Scottsdale, closed because they had transmission issues and insufficient number of subs. CUSD doesn't have the same issues and has done a good job with mitigation strategies. Please focus there and keep kids in schools. Everyone knows that the online learning is subpar and our kids deserve better or they will fall behind.Submitted by: Angela G
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: District Finals
Comment: With the rising numbers of high school students being quarantined, my guess is that at this time there are 100s between all the high schools, I have concerns about the students having to take district finals. My concerns lies with the students who are currently missing in person learning for the last week of school and then are being forced to wait until after break to take the finals. These students are already being negatively impacted and now they are being asked to study over their break to stay prepared for a final test that will effect 20% of their grade. It is unfair and unrealistic to expect this of these students. They shoulder either be allowed to take the finals during finals week in a virtual setting or not take the finals at all without that negatively impacting their grades. There has to be a better option for these students beside expecting them to just wait 2-4 weeks to take a final that is so heavily weighted on their grades.Submitted by: Angie G
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual learning and semester finals
Comment: I would like to you to consider keeping the kids in person. There is no proof that the virus is spreading in the schools. We were given options as families for in person or virtual. It is unfair to have that option removed. Also, if you do decide to go virtual, then what is going to happen to the students who were suppose to take their finals after break secondary to being quarantined? Are you going to make them wait another 2 weeks to take them? This is unacceptable and will not be tolerated by many families who are not willing to let their children's grades be effected while they are being treated so badly.Submitted by: Anonymous
School: Hamilton High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual
Comment: I ask the board to follow the metrics on the county's school reopening dashboard and return to virtual learning for all CUSD schools until the metrics improve. We made our decision to go with in person learning because 1. coa is not a good option for our kids 2. We were told that the metrics would be followed and would move back to virtual if needed, those metrics have been met for weeks now. Please do the safe and right thing for our kids, teachers and communitySubmitted by: Arnav V
School: Hamilton High Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Instructional learning - google meets/classroom with teacher - as an option for 2020-2021 grade 9-12
Comment: Please offer Virtual Instructional learning - google meets/classroom with CUSD teacher - as an option for 2020-2021 grade 9-12. It's not equitable to ask kids who prefer safety to self learn. Please provide Equitable Education for all secondary students.Submitted by: Ashley W
School: Haley Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep Our Kids In School! THEY NEED THIS!
Comment: Please keep our children in school. Cases in schools have not been the issue. Our kids NEED in person learning for their mental health and education. Please keep the choice of in person learning available, especially for our elementary and IEP students. Both my children cannot learn virtually effectively and do not thrive in a virtual setting. Please stick to your school by school plan and stop playing games with the students, parents, and teachers! This is getting to be ridiculous.Submitted by: Ashley W
School: Casteel High Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep schools open and also fire teachers who doxxed Perry students and parents
Comment: The safest place for students academically, physically, socially, emotionally and mentally is in school with their peers and a teacher in front of them. The virtual model is ineffective, and as I'm sure the board is aware, teenagers at home are going to congregate maskless even more and be out in the community. There has already been irreparable damage done to students and their futures. Let's not continue to harm them.Submitted by: Avery P
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Stay in school
Comment: It is hard to do finals onlineSubmitted by: Beth W
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please allow in-person school
Comment: My Jr at Basha High (who has grown up in CATS, has a 4.0+ GPA) was made to feel stupid and incapable when virtual learning proved to be ineffective and detrimental to his education. He spent a quarter getting further behind and failing in Calc BC. He has never experienced this in-person. When he finally got the in-person support he needed, he was able to simultaneously relearn the 1st quarter concepts while learning 2nd quarter concepts through hard work and daily tutoring from his teacher afterschool. He has spent countless hours studying to get out of this hole. I am pleading with you not to push him back in. I fought daily with my kindergartener (Navarrete) to the point that I was near pulling him out and homeschooling. He is just not meant to be in front of a screen for that amount of time. It is not effective. Please do not sacrifice the efficacy of our children's education when there have not been significant outbreaks within our schools. The virus is not spreading in the class.Submitted by: Brandon C
School: Patterson Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In Person Learning
Comment: I have kids 3 kids in CUSD (2nd, 5th, 8th) I am begging the board to stay the course with the guidance that has been outlined by the administration. If we truly feel the vaccine is the end all then we need to keep following our administration decisions. We have to believe we have reached the peak of this second spike and the vaccine will start to lower those numbers, NO ONE has said that a vaccine will cause another spike. So we have come this far we need to continue going down this path andhaving kids in Person. I have seen my children make drastic improvement in all areas since they have been back in person learning. I even had 1 child that got caught up in the quarantine (close contact) protocols and instantly fell behind in a 10 educational days. So in PERSON works and is the best option for our children's future. Stay strong and don't give in to a teachers union that will always STRIKE when they feel they need more MONEYSubmitted by: Brooke B
School: CTA Liberty Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In school closure
Comment: Please keep these kids in school. Our son almost failed first quarter due to it being online and he has been pretty much a straight A student his entire school career. These kids need the structure of in person schooling. Online doesn't work for these kids. Their grades have risen since they've been back in person. Going back online now will just set them back to square one. Please keep them in school. Thank you, Brooke BrownSubmitted by: CAMERON G
School: Perry High Organization: Parent
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep Schools Open
Comment: Dear Board Members, I am writing to request that you vote to keep Chandler schools open. My daughter is a sophomore at Perry. Online school during the last fall semester was detrimental to my daughter's academic success, as well as damaging to her emotional well being. Her grades plummeted from As and Bs to Ds and Fs. Out of her 6 classes, only one teacher noticed she was struggling. That one teacher reached out and tried to help her, but the online format was not conducive to my daughter's learning style. My daughter was putting in effort, she was making it to all the online meets, but the information was not being taught or sinking in for her, and the online format precluded teachers from helping her. As a result, her confidence in her ability to succeed in school has plummeted, and I am worried that her grades will impact her ability to attend college in the future. She also struggled with anxiety and depression because she was not able to be with friends. While I understand thaSubmitted by: Carolyn Y
School: Hamilton High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keeping schools open
Comment: My daughter is a senior at Hamilton High. Since school went back in person, she is thriving in school again. She takes all AP classes and while online she struggled to learn, was up to 3am trying to figure concepts and completely stress. Since in person her grades and attitude towards school and learning has returned to positive. As a parent and student the continuous flip flop from the board and having to fight for my child's right to an education has been exhausting. We have pulled our youngerkids out to a carter school. They have been in since the end of August with no threats of closing unless it's necessary due to the government or a break out. The difference in my children in astonishing. The fact my younger kids teacher are supporting and caring during this difficult time had helped them feel secure. I understand this is a scary time. I'm a hairdresser and cut people hair, bangs , beards and shampoo all day. I'm in multiple people faces all day long. If I don'twork, I don't getSubmitted by: Constance L
School: Chandler High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: School Safety
Comment: Please, make brick and mortar schools virtual until Covid metrics improve. My 16 year old Can Not do COA. He needs teacher led instruction. A teacher has died, 2 booster parents, some grandparents, a volleyball teammate suffers with arthritic like pain caused by Covid long term effects (several Doctors diagnosed this), the community situation told in the news my son is extremely worried and stressed about returning to school January 19th. We believed in the school boards when they said they would follow the metrics.. CUSD, has been so disappointing in how they handle this pandemic. MYP and IB classes are not on COA, we need to ensure teacher led instruction for kids that need an academically challenged environment in the safest possible environment for ALL involved, Please.Submitted by: Crystal C
School: Santan Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep schools open
Comment: I'm again writing in hopes that you will still provide an option for in person school. I have 3 children in CUSD all with IEP's, 2 that receive resource. The quality of education received online is not even close to that of in person. I am again asking that you consider those students who need additional help in school, who struggle without having in person instruction, who have IEP's that are difficult to meet in an online setting. Thank you.Submitted by: Crystal E
School: Fulton Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep Schools Open
Comment: Dear Board Members, I recognize that the role you have is not an easy one. However, I would like to thank you for keeping our schools open, listening to the dashboard, and putting in place a contingency plan that makes sense. School districts from coast to coast have reported the number of students failing classes has risen by as many as two or three times with English language learners and disabled and disadvantaged students suffering the most. CUSD has a reputation of quality education, and Ithink we can all agree we do not want to see our children fail. There are so many factors that come into play when children have to learn from home. Teachers are seeing: Students learning from home skip assignments or school altogether. Internet access is limited or inconsistent, making it difficult to complete and upload assignments. In addition, teachers who don't see their students in person have fewer ways to pick up on who is falling behind, especially with many keeping their cameras off orSubmitted by: Denise H
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Board Meeting 01-04-21 - In Person Decision
Comment: I am a parent of a Junior and she wants to be in person, I support this and encourage this. I know it is hard to please everyone with the current situation. Again I want her to be in school, in person, with her teachers. However, if a decision is made to go to remote learning, we were one of the many that were forced to quarantine due to exposure and she missed her finals as well as she missed picture day. Please come up with a solid plan for those impacted if you decide remote to take theirfinals so we can get grades current. The students are so stressed over this and it is not a good feeling as a parent when they continue to be let down by the school they enjoy so much. We have in the next 2 weeks – final make ups and picture retakes. Not everything will please everyone, so hopefully a good decision will come from this meeting to help our students move forward.Submitted by: Doug p
School: Basha High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return the children to school on January 5th
Comment: My child missed three weeks of school before he could take his finals because all final need to take it in person. It is very difficult when you have a child who keeps having to delay his final for something that is major in his world and in the real world for colleges. The quarantine has not helped the children with their learning and they still have very low numbers in the school. It affects their grades, as well as the ability to learn. I want my kids back in school returned to high school so they know how to study and learn for when they get to college. NONE of his teachers were on open mic during the lessons being learned like was told would happen. They did not get the same teaching as being in school!Submitted by: Doug p
School: Payne Junior High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return the kids to school January 5th
Comment: My child missed three weeks of school before he could take his finals because all final need to take it in person. It is very difficult when you have a child who keeps having to delay his final for something that is major in his world and in the real world for colleges. The quarantine has not helped the children with their learning and they still have very low numbers in the school. It affects their grades, as well as the ability to learn. I want my kids back in school returned to high school so they know how to study and learn for when they get to college. NONE of his teachers were on open mic during the lessons being learned like was told would happen. They did not get the same teaching as being in school!Submitted by: Elizabeth G
School: CTA Freedom Organization: STUDENTS
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Honor your original decision to give families a choice after winter break
Comment: If the teachers are using their sick time to push a political agenda, they are holding everyone hostage. A sick out is not an emergency. If my firefighter husband used sick time for anything other than being sick, he would be formally reprimanded. Hoffman shared her opinion and gave districts the right to choose. We love our teachers and WE LOVE OUR STUDENTS. Please honor your original decision and allow parents the right to choose what is best for our kids. COA and remote learning are both nightmares. Both are inflexible. COA is especially damaging with their policy which automatically fails a student with 4 missing assignments. That policy MUST be changed if our kids are going to stand a chance at passing under the circumstances.Submitted by: Elizabeth G
School: Casteel High Organization: STUDENTS
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: CUSD Board, please honor your previous decision to allow students to return in person Jan 5th as planned.
Comment: If the teachers are using their sick time to push a political agenda, they are holding everyone hostage. A sick out is not an emergency. If my firefighter husband used sick time for anything other than being sick, he would be formally reprimanded. Hoffman shared her opinion and gave districts the right to choose. We love our teachers and WE LOVE OUR STUDENTS. Please honor your original decision and allow parents the right to choose what is best for our kids. COA and remote learning are both nightmares. Both are inflexible. COA is especially damaging with their policy which automatically fails a student with 4 missing assignments. That policy MUST be changed if our kids are going to stand a chance at passing under the circumstances.Submitted by: Emma P
School: CTA Liberty Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep schools open
Comment: My first grader regressed immensely when schools abruptly closed in 2020. CTA is a school where they teach above the grade level and she is finally doing well again and has caught up to where she needs to be. The teachers do amazing at school and they tried so hard when we were virtual but there's only so much you can do virtually. If parents want their children to be virtual, I support them and they need to sign up for COA.Submitted by: Emma P
School: San Marcos Elementary Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep schools open
Comment: My preschooler has an IEP and is in the bridge program. He absolutely cannot do preschool and speech therapy virtually. He has improved so much since school opened to in person. This is his last year in preschool and I'm concerned he will not be ready for kindergarten if schools close again and he starts to regress like he did when school closed in 2020. Please don't forget about our children with IEPs and special needs! They thrive on a schedule and routine!Submitted by: Eric S
School: Patterson Elementary Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: stay in person
Comment: Please do not take away the choice for in person education for our kids. My children are finally thriving after the fiasco that was google classroom in 2020. I had finally got my children enjoying school and have the anxiety under control. Please dont take away my daughters choice to go in person. They need to be in person for their mental wellbeing. We finally got one child with an IEP set up because she is at least a year behind from the lack of instruction in 2020. I have spend hundreds ofdollars for private tutors to get her caught up just from what she missed when the teachers at her school decided 30 min per day of instruction was appropriate for a 1st grader. It is NOT. Let the parents who want to stay online, but give parents the CHOICE.Submitted by: Erin E
School: Casteel High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to in person
Comment: Hello board members. I understand the pressure you feel from all sides of the issue of in person versus virtual. Please honor the choice that we were given to come back in person after Christmas break. Those feeling unsafe can stay home for 2 weeks and quarantine. We need choices for our kids. Kids are suffering with the virtual option. Mine need socialization and do NOT do as well online. Please be a board that will honor those parents on both sides. We don't need decisions made for us. Pleasekeep an open mind and not be bullied into closing. My one daughter is a Junior and her grades have declined due to the virtual learning. These last years of high school are critics and can effect any scholarship she may go after. It's such a BIG deal for those kids in HS. Thank you.Submitted by: Erin F
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to school semester 2, 2021
Comment: I have 3 boys in CUSD. 1 of which is a 10th grader with adhd on a 504 plan. He failed 2 classes semester 1 because he can not learn virtually and does not get the help he desperately needs and is entitled to. It was a horrible experience for our enture family. We cant let him go through this again. He can not have another semester with Fs and not get the help he needs.Submitted by: GF
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: School Virtual Option
Comment: Hello, requesting that virtual be an ongoing option for the high school level for longer than just the first 2 weeks. I believe it should an option for the entire third quarter. All the metrics are showing very high levels of cases and hospitalizations. There is a significant risk level for high school students to catch the virus and to pass it on to others such as family members and others in the community. A student may or may not have symptoms, get sick or be asymptomatic but still pass it onto others who are significantly affected. The second quarter did not go well with going back to school. Our child had to quarantine twice and missed three weeks of school,and we were constantly worried about him catching covid. His grades were also greatly affected as school did not work well with students in class and the quarantined students trying to learn at the same time online. The first quarter was actually much smoother and went much better than the second quarter.Submitted by: James R
School: Ryan Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep schools open!
Comment: My first grader who is adhd and already significantly behind from nearly half a school year missed desperately needs in person instruction. Not a computer screen. We will move him out of the district immediately if you close. I hear Ala and legacy are wonderful schools and are building new schools all over. Cusd will lose lots of students, funding and teachers will lose jobs. Our kids need school!Submitted by: Janelle M
School: Hull Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: COVID-19 Update from CUSD
Comment: Thank you for meeting on January 5th to review current covid mitigation strategies and discuss the return of in-person school instruction. I believe all families should have choices. Please give us the choice of returning to in-person instruction by voting in favor of in-person instruction. Families will then have the option of selecting the choice that is best for their children and families: online or in-person. I am a mother of 5 small children, and my 6-year-old CANNOT learn without additional help. He is repeating Kindergarten this year and needs additional resources, his therapists and his special education team. He is currently not getting access to any of that, and so he is regressing. PLEASE keep the schools open so our special education children will not be neglected. PLEASE take into consideration our smallest learners, who cannot learn with just a laptop. Please keep our schools open!! Thank you so much, Janelle MonroeSubmitted by: Jennifer H
School: Basha Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep schools open
Comment: I have a child in kindergarten and an autistic son in 3rd grade at Basha elementary. Online learning was in effective for students this young and those with IEPs. Elementary schools can keep kids in cohorts and Avoid large groups. The difference in-person learning makes is substantial. I also teach at Hamilton High and am in favor of in-person learning. My students that were not successful online were thriving once we switched to in-person.Submitted by: Jennifer H
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep schools open
Comment: "There are many concerns from myself and other teachers and parents when it comes to starting the semester virtual instead of in-person as was planned. Holding a board meeting the night before school starts to make this change is too short of notice. I have compiled a list of questions and concerns to discuss for the meeting Monday: 1. What are we doing for students that already returned their computers when we went back in-person and no longer have their access to technology? 2. How will food be distributed to low-income students on such short notice? 3. Will teachers be required to teach from their classrooms, or can they work from home? 4. If elementary is affected, will children be approved to come to school with their teacher/parents again? 5. What are students that missed finals due to mandatory quarantine going to do to make up their tests if they need to take them in-person? 6. How do we reach our low-income and minority students that won't participate in online learning? TheSubmitted by: Jennifer H
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep schools open continued
Comment: "7. How do we identify and report mental health issues in our students that have been struggling over break and now will still be alone at home instead of returning to school due to this sudden change? 8. Will winter sports hold practice, or will they be postponed until in-person resumes? 9. How will staff ensure special needs student's IEPs are being adjusted and their needs being met while online, then changed back when they return to in-person? The flip-flopping and inconsistent forms of learning are not good for many SPED students, especially those with autism that require consistency (including my own child). 10. Would ALL classified staff still work and get paid? 11. Can this two-week delay of returning in-person be guaranteed that it is just for two weeks?"Submitted by: Jennifer J
School: Conley Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Requesting options for elementary
Comment: Please provide options for virtual instruction at the elementary level at their neighborhood school instead of ONLY COA. COA has not been a successful option nor is it for short-term choices. Please invest in consultants and other resources to improve the quality of virtual instruction so that parents have a choice that is not going to be harmful for their children. I am a single parent through adoption without support or resources so I understand the draw of in-person learning. BUT I do notfeel it is safe to return in-person after seeing the latest data, watching the community make choices that impact exposure risks, and considering the health histories of myself and my children. However, I am told by my administration that I have only two choices: COA for the whole quarter (which also means losing teachers we love and spots in classes/school that we also love) or truancy. These are not choices I can make responsibly. I have also reviewed pictures, videos, and so on from my daughSubmitted by: Jessica B
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep school open
Comment: Throughout these past 10 months, the people most disregarded have been children. Schools were closed without much thought of the negative consequences of such an action. Generally, virtual learning is not very effective for most kids. I think most would agree with that. But it's more than that. What about kids who come from abusive homes and only find respite at school? What about kids who suffer from mental illness, particularly depression, who feel isolated without school? What about kids whodon't have reliable internet or supportive caretakers at home who can help them be successful? What about kids who still can't read and kids who are typically A/B students who are find themselves with D's & F's on HS transcripts? The most important people the Board serves are the children of this district, and those children need to be in school for their physical, social, mental, emotional, and academic well-being.Submitted by: Julie F
School: Chandler High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In-person vs. virtual
Comment: These poor kids are getting yanked this way and that. I understand that there are a lot of unknowns, but through this whole pandemic, I have felt like the board has stuck their head in the sand and hope it all works out. This has resulted in many figure it out as you go which is too reactionary. Pick a plan and stick with it. Virtual is an option, no, it's required, nope, it back to optional, but only for core plus language. Oh, but wait, some teachers are doing it, some aren't. Whatever the policy is decided upon, it needs to be clearly communicated to the teachers and ensure that they follow it. My son was on quarantine because of a positive exposure at school. They told us that his teachers would send him links for the Google meets. Then, it turns out it was just core + language, but even that didn't happen. He heard NOTHING from his Spanish teacher the whole two weeks and then he came back and was completely lost. His grades suffered across the board and also his learning.Submitted by: Julie F
School: Rice Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please Keep Schools Open
Comment: Board Members, I am requesting that you keep our kids in school and refrain from enforcing another school closure. I have a first grader who is thriving in person, despite the difficult rules and lack of warm connections, and a child who should be a kindergartner, but due to the lack of stability and his autism diagnosis, is not in a CUSD school this year. Closing our schools would be devastating to mental health, not to mention, a major disruption to the education of our children. Please trustthe school staff to continue to mitigate risk, let our kids be kids in the limited ways they are getting to be now, and PLEASE give parents a choice. Please let public education be a pillar and let each family decide for themselves. If they feel they are unsafe sending their kids to school, then let them choose. But please don't remove the choice from the rest of us. We have the resources for private education, but we choose public school until your closure forces us to move. Thank you.Submitted by: K.W.
School: Casteel High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please honor parent choice for in person learning
Comment: I would ask the board to please honor parent choice to continue in person learning. Virtual learning was not beneficial for my children. I watched my straight A children become C students and lose all motivation and excitement for school. Please continue to allow parents to make the choice for what is in their children's best interest. We love our teachers and value them so much. But please look at the recommendations of the WHO that children are best off in school.Submitted by: Karen Z
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: High school final exams from 1st semester
Comment: Whatever you decided as far as how the students will begin 2021, I would ask that if you choose to go the virtual route, you would then excuse those students who were quarantined for exams in December from taking their finals. They have worried all break, and now potentially they will have to continue to stress even further if they are not allowed to go back to the classroom in person for the unforeseeable future. This is fair and reasonable. Thank you.Submitted by: Karianne J
School: Casteel High Organization: Auxier Elementary
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep schools OPEN
Comment: I am one of those parents urging you to please keep our students in the classroom where they belong as it is what is best for them and their futures. We made a choice last summer to keep them in while others chose to keep their kids at home. However, our voices were not heard. I understand that we all have differing opinions regarding the pandemic right now, but those who wish to stay home have that option, while the rest of us were told we have an option yet it keeps getting taken away from us. Our children are not meant to be pawns! We as their parents have the right to choose what is best for them! Personally my two boys (one in elementary and one in secondary) did NOT thrive at all during virtual learning. In fact, my two straight A students had quite the battle trying to school from home. They are both finally thriving again being in the classroom and it took them all 2nd quarter of being IN school to get their grades back up. Keep the students in the classroom!!Submitted by: Kat M
School: Willis Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Final Exams
Comment: Please consider an emergency session (if needed) to suspend finals for all students this term. My student does not feel safe in the building, and I do not want to send my student in to take finals. If taking them virtually is not an option, please consider suspending them altogether. WE KNOW BETTER than to do this to kids. Pushing forward with finals is an inappropriate use of the summative assessment process. Please do not penalize and traumatize students unnecessarily.Submitted by: Kate P
School: Ryan Elementary Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: STAY in-person for ELEMENTARY
Comment: Dear Board, Please consider remaining in-person for elementary-aged students. This needs to be considered for multiple reasons. 1) Research shows that developing learning gaps during these critical years can be irreversible and have life-long negative impacts. 2) Elementary-aged children cannot be left alone. If parents of secondary children have to work, those kids can still access virtual learning independently. Elementary-aged students cannot. 3) The mitigation strategies in elementary schools are clearly working based on the data the district has provided. At my own daughter's elementary schools, there have only been 7 cases since opening in September. This data does not warrant closures for this age group. Please take my thoughts into consideration. We have to make decisions based on data....not fear.Submitted by: Katie D
School: Basha High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep In person learning
Comment: I have three daughters in cusd schools - an 8th grader at Payne, 10th grader at Basha and a Senior at Basha. All three want to be in person. Each have stated they learn more, get questions answered, and do better in class when in person. I am very concerned with the long term effects of reduced learning on our children and society as a whole. We need our kids the classroom learning.Submitted by: Kerri F
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Returning to school
Comment: Please allow our children to return to school in person on January 5th. These children need the interaction with their peers for emotional stability. Moreover, those children with learning difficulties such as ADHD and are on IEP's or 504's, truly suffer learning in this virtual capacity. In addition, these poor teachers can't even engage with the children enough to know of what they are teaching them is sinking in or of a child is struggling. It is imperative that these children get back to inperson learning.Submitted by: Kirsten S
School: Basha High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Maintain options for in person school
Comment: My child's mental health has already been affected and his grades, social and athletics have been altered in a way that will most certainly influence his post high school life. He is immune to covid as my family had it months ago. For kids that are comfortable should be offered live school. No outbreak has been caused by kids at dchool.Submitted by: KK
School: Payne Junior High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Unfair learning disadvantages
Comment: With all this talk of having ALL students return this semester in an online format online, I want to remind those that want this, that the district has students who returned to in person learning return their borrowed devices. This would put a large group of students with no access to online learning at a huge disadvantage. This is not providing our students an education. Quit harming our students by other means under the guise of protecting them from Covid. Parents need more time than the day before to make arrangements for someone to be home or with their kids supervising. You are putting parents jobs at risk and kids safety at risk. Please come up with a better plan.Submitted by: Lauren A
School: ACP Oakland Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Until Safe and a True Virtual Option when it is Safe to Return
Comment: Dear Superintendents and Members of the Board, Please close the schools until the community spread of covid is under control. Most companies are asking their employees to stay home when possible and work virtually, if able. This includes the State College I work for. The fact that many large companies and colleges do not deem it an acceptable risk for people to work in person, even if I can be more productive at work, is very telling. We must offer the same opportunities for teachers. How onearth can CUSD justify 20-35 children in a classroom when businesses won't even allow 5?? Even the businesses that are open are trying to reduce numbers, do social distancing, and offer virtual options. I agree that students learn better in person, no argument there. My children have been in COA this year and it is not been a positive experience for them. I am a high school teacher with a Master's Degree in Education and I know COA is a shameful cop-out, as an offer to have students do onlineSubmitted by: Lindsay S
School: Hull Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person classes are necessary!
Comment: Please allow our children to remain in an in person school format. The percentage of cases in schools is extremely low. The administrators, teachers, and kids all all following mitigation procedures that have kept the cases low. They should continue these strategies and adopt new ones, if necessary, but allow the schools to remain open. Our kids are the ones who suffer when they cannot attend school in person. They are not only missing out on direct interaction with their teachers but missingout on interaction with peers. They are missing out on hands on learning, real PE activities, real music activites (especially band and orchestra). They don't get to have lunch/recess with their friends where they can unwind. They don't have the option of getting extra help, right away, from the teacher. Additionally, the virtual environment is hard on our teachers. They have to modify their lesson plans, activities, and teaching style for virtual learning. They deserve more too!Submitted by: Maureen T
School: Chandler High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: No in-person yet!
Comment: If you have reliable data which show students really are 'better off in the classroom' while hospitals are near capacity and Covid numbers are so very high, please share it. Otherwise, 'better off in the classroom' is just a dangerous taking point. Also, the 'options' for AP and IB students are not options. You either have to go in person to crowded classrooms and crowded, maskless lunch tables or you have to leave the program. You're sticking it to the very students that make CUSD look good.Submitted by: Melissa
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Cancel finals for ALL schools, not just COA
Comment: Please acknowledge that our students have had an incredibly difficult year and have learning gaps. You can't deny that. High School students are stressing over Finals - 1) cramming and how they will affect their grade and 2) what if I'm quarantined/get Covid right before and have a ZERO until I can re-take it. Kids have been through ENOUGH - give them a break and just cancel finals. They need this for their own mental health!Submitted by: Michelle M
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep students in school
Comment: I am a parent and a teacher and it is so important that these children stay in school! Virtual learning is not effective. Not just the young ones but even high school as their academics are even more importantSubmitted by: Olivia S
School: Basha High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Feeling forced to send my child to school
Comment: When my family decided to allow our children to attend in person it was with the understanding that the district would follow metrics. My sophomore son had to quarantine two times last quarter. He ended up missing 4 weeks of in person instruction. He was allowed to return the very last day of the quarter meaning he was not able to complete all of his finals because options were not given except to make them up after return to school. We want to keep him home because he has severe asthma and hasbeen hospitalized for it. However, the way it is written, if he does not do his finals by the 15th he will receive an F. Not to mention it will be a month past when he should have originally done his finals. Now, as a parent who is concerned about the health and safety of my child, my family needs to decide if we send him to school just to do finals or keep him home for his health. I'm angry that options of online issuance of finals was not an option. Please, follow the metrics!Submitted by: Parthiv V
School: Hamilton High Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Instructional learning - google meets/classroom with teacher - as an option for 2020-2021 grade 9-12
Comment: Please offer Virtual Instructional learning - google meets/classroom with CUSD teacher - as an option for 2020-2021 grade 9-12. It's not equitable to ask kids who prefer safety to self learn. Please provide Equitable Education for all secondary students.Submitted by: Payal V
School: Hamilton High Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Instructional learning - google meets/classroom with teacher - as an option for 2020-2021 grade 9-12
Comment: Please offer Virtual Instructional learning - google meets/classroom with CUSD teacher - as an option for 2020-2021 grade 9-12. It's not equitable to ask kids who prefer safety to self learn. Please provide Equitable Education for all secondary students.Submitted by: Phil H
School: Hamilton High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep the schools open.
Comment: Why are you letting these teachers control the decisions this board makes? The students need to be in person. My kids cannot especially my Senior cannot do online again. She was not successful and harmed her future. It is shameful you don't think of the students who want to be in class. You continue to fail the students with your ridiculous decisions. Hold the teachers to their contracts if they call out for no reason then they shouldn't be teaching and show they don't care about the students. As someone who works in education I want to be in person with my students at all times as I know the importance of in person learning. This is supposed to be about the students not the teachers who want a different agenda. Keep the schools OPEN! If parents want virtual then let them, but my kids want and need in person learning. Don't screw with my senior's future anymore.Submitted by: Rachel S
School: Patterson Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: If there are Changes to schooling / all students stay home
Comment: I have two elementary daughters. One, online was HORRIBLE. She lost all joy and was a shell of herself, and her grades plummeted. She needs a classroom, engagement around her, and the normalcy the classroom brings. I hope there is a way to keep kids in person. Secondly, if the district chooses to move it all online, our other daughter just switch from COA to in person solely because it was a semester commitment instead of quarterly commitment- this was a very hard choice for her: if you choose to force all student online- please give some the option for COA- she knows this platform and was thriving on it. I would hope for ease to transition she would be allowed to switch.Submitted by: Riley P
School: Payne Junior High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: I want to go back on January 5th
Comment: I want to go back to in person schooling. I struggle to learn on line and do much better in person. I do not have the same grades and understanding that I get with the teachers in person. I cannot test online so my grades are in the bottom instead of a's that I normally would have.Submitted by: Sara N
School: ACP Erie Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Learning for at least the first two weeks for all for Q3
Comment: Our local COVID situation is the worst it has been, yet CUSD is irresponsibly flying in the face of the State's recommendations. Your decisions in March and July continued my faith in CUSD, but with infection rates increasing, hospitals filling, and deaths rising, CUSD should implement remote learning again. There is an online option, but this version is not on par with the rigorous curriculum provided by ACP, where both my children attend. We want our children to attend ACP, yet we also want them and their teachers to remain healthy.Submitted by: Sara S
School: Hull Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Pro In-person
Comment: We are a two parent working household. We have not had a faulter in going to work since the pandemic started. My children suffered during online in the spring AND in the fall. How is an active 9 year old supposed to stay in his seat for hours? How is a 5 year old who cannot read, supposed to learn online without direct supervision? My children (5 & 9) deserve to be in school, so they can continue to get the best education, which is in person. I do not give other 'parents' permission to make decisions for my children. There are other options for those parents- COA. My children work hard every school day to follow the safety rules so they can go to in-person. Please consider this a plea for what is best for the majority. Thank you.Submitted by: Shawn p
School: Payne Junior High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return the children to school January 5th
Comment: My child missed three weeks of school before he could take his finals because all final need to take it in person. It is very difficult when you have a child who keeps having to delay his final for something that is major in his world and in the real world for colleges. The quarantine has not helped the children with their learning and they still have very low numbers in the school. It affects their grades, as well as the ability to learn. I want my kids back in school returned to high school so they know how to study and learn for when they get to college. NONE of his teachers were on open mic during the lessons being learned like was told would happen. They did not get the same teaching as being in school!Submitted by: Shawn P
School: Basha Elementary Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Returning to school January 5th
Comment: My child missed three weeks of school before he could take his finals because all final need to take it in person. It is very difficult when you have a child who keeps having to delay his final for something that is major in his world and in the real world for colleges. The quarantine has not helped the children with their learning and they still have very low numbers in the school. It affects their grades, as well as the ability to learn. I want my kids back in school returned to high school so they know how to study and learn for when they get to college. NONE of his teachers were on open mic during the lessons being learned like was told would happen. They did not get the same teaching as being in school!Submitted by: Tami
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In school learning
Comment: I have a son that is a senior this year and heavily involved in the shop classes. He plans to pursue a career in the welding field after school. Online learning is impossible for these types classes. Please keep in school learning open - mainly for kids like mine. He struggled greatly when school was virtualSubmitted by: Tara G
School: Casteel High Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Stay in-person learning
Comment: School is the safest place for our children for a myriad of reasons. CUSD gave us the option for in-person and needs to honor it for those of us that chose it. They need to be learning in-person not just so they don't fail and fall behind again, but for their mental health, too. Teen suicides have more than doubled since 2019. It is our responsibility to these kids to give them the education and stability they need, crave, and deserve.Submitted by: Tarah I
School: Casteel High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person learning. Virtual does NOT work foe ADHD students!!!
Comment: My student cannot and should not have to deal with another move back to virtual learning . He has ADHD and is unable to sit in front of a computer screen, unengaged for the period of lessons required to keep his grades up. His first year in middle school has been a disaster for him and so many others we know. I fear I will have to take him from CUSD to a district that cares for keeping students actively engaged if CUSD decides to force virtual on its students again.Submitted by: Taylor B
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep in-person school open
Comment: I am a Junior at PHS. I do not understand why I have to wonder every month if I am going to be able to get the education that I must have to succeed with the excellent grades necessary for college scholarships. Please stop this back and forth about in-person and virtual. There are two choices. Please do not take mine away. My ability to obtain college scholarships is based on this academic school year. Thank you.Submitted by: Taylor P
School: Ryan Elementary Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: keep elementary schools in-person
Comment: Dear Board, Please consider remaining in-person for elementary-aged students. This needs to be considered for multiple reasons. 1) Research shows that developing learning gaps during these critical years can be irreversible and have life-long negative impacts. 2) Elementary-aged children cannot be left alone. If parents of secondary children have to work, those kids can still access virtual learning independently. Elementary-aged students cannot. 3) The mitigation strategies in elementary schools are clearly working based on the data the district has provided. At my own daughter's elementary schools, there have only been 7 cases since opening in September. This data does not warrant closures for this age group. Please take my thoughts into consideration. We have to make decisions based on data.Submitted by: The H
School: Casteel High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Learning through school
Comment: My 2 children, an 8th grader and 11th grader, attended Chandler Online Academy, this past fall semester. We made this choice because we felt it was safer to do so. We didn't want them exposed to Covid-19 and potentially bring it into our household. We don't know how each of us would react to having this deadly virus. With my children being at COA, I felt their education has declined. There was no teacher-student interaction, just read the lessons and do the assignments. No real teaching and learning happening. Because we felt this type of education has not helped our children in any way at all, we made the difficult decision to send our kids back to Casteel High School for the spring semester. The anxiety is felt daily by us and our children as they can be potentially exposed to the virus. Casteel has had one of the largest number of cases. I don't understand why CUSD can not have a real live virtual option for the students like other surrounding school districts. A modernized virtualSubmitted by: Tiffany W
School: Frye Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Learning
Comment: I hope if you decide to close schools for 2 weeks you follow Mesa's lead and allow self contained special ed to attend full time in person. While my son's teacher is amazing and did her best with virtual Learning these students truly need day to day in person instruction and structure. Please don't forget these students in your decision.Submitted by: Tracie P
School: ACP Erie Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Follow the county guidelines
Comment: High school students cannot social distance. They are crammed into classrooms with masks only, lunch time is crammed as well but there is no room to social distance and masks are removed to eat. My kids are terrified of bringing covid home to me! My senior daughters year is a bust with no modifications for how semester exams impact their grades. So disappointed and disgusted in how CUSD has been handling Covid in the high school setting.Submitted by: Tracie P
School: ACP Erie Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Online and hybrid options
Comment: CUSD was the only district I had ever considered until this school year. The way the board and superintendent have managed covid is ridiculous. You have offered one thing and then changed the way covid metrics were measured. You gave COA as an option quarterly but then decided it had to be for a semester. You have not given an option for parents who are concerned about the metrics when the rose significantly after thanksgiving. You required finals and counted them the same regardless if kidshad been quarantined and missed significant parts of the curriculum. You haven't come up with a hybrid option when other large districts across this country have figured it out. Yes covid sucks, yes we want our kids in school but we want it done safely and measured and monitored accurately! Come up with options keep our high school kids safe!Submitted by: Vanessa B
School: Chandler High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person learning
Comment: I am writing to emphasize the importance of in person learning. My son is a freshman at Chandler High. He was an A/B student until this year. He failed his classes first quarter. He had to work all of second corner to overcome what online learning did. He won't be eligible for the same scholarship money my daughter received because of his first quarter of his first year in high school.Submitted by: WT
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Follow Original Metrics - Move to Virtual Platform (Not COA)
Comment: Are you just totally ignoring everything now? All the numbers? We have already established that the COVID dashboard is inaccurate and not transparent at all. I don't know how you can do this when every other school district almost has gone virtual? It is becoming gross negligence in my opinion. Now my son is home quarantined and he has to take finals in the first two weeks he is back from school after break? What if he chooses the virtual option, which I am going to choose? How is he going to take his finals in person? Are you going to force him to go in person? He is an AP student with all A's and just got a 1446 on his PSATs. This kid is a high achiever and the undue stress of his finals is unfair on top of everything else he is dealing with these days. This is just terrible! You need to do something more then nothing. I have lost all faith in CUSD, and I held CUSD in such high regard. Close in person learning until COVID numbers come down. Provide on site support for those in need. -
Offer, Move to Virtual Learning
Submitted by: A B
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Stay home/virtual learning
Comment: Seeing the daily positive Covid cases and knowing how many students at my school don't care about any of it and still go to parties and don't wear masks, I really hope that the district and board decide to keep us online until things improve. So many kids who are exposed to Covid don't get tested, come to school when they are supposed to be quarantined and since we can't be socially distanced in our classes it makes no sense to be on campus when cases are higher than ever.Submitted by: a p
School: CTA Goodman Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual learning
Comment: We are forced to send our kid to school when the Covid numbers are 12000.please return to virtual learning or provide us with an option to learn virtually from home.please help. There are less immune people at home.Submitted by: Adam S
School: Basha Elementary Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: virtual until safe
Comment: Over 17,000 cases today and yet our children are set to go back to school on Tuesday. I beg of you to please reconsider this decision. For the sake of students, staff, teachers, and the community please keep our schools virtual until we meet the originally agreed upon benchmarks.Submitted by: Alan L
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Be patient in the fire
Comment: I would hope our school board would give the highest consideration to delaying the start of physical classes the first 2 or 3 weeks out of winter break. While our children (2 HS ers) enjoy and want physical classroom both have indicated serious concern about rushing back into the ckassroom with such extremely high covid rates in the State. As their father i caught Covid on Dec. 17 and am just now starting to recover. It would seem for everyone's safety that 2 or 3 weeks wonline would be a smallprice to pay for the teachers, administrations, students, and families at home to dodge this miserable virus. I have been one of the lucky ones not to be hospitalized. But i have had a miserable two weeks battling this virus which just flattens you. Please give consideration to our family's wishes. We all want our kids back in normal school when the numbers and rate of infection are within State Health Guidelines.Submitted by: Alfred T
School: NONE OF THE ABOVE Organization: South Mountain High School
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Board's refusal to return to virtual learning
Comment: My wife is a 30-year veteran teacher for CUSD, and I teach for Phoenix Union. I'm furious that you place so little value on her life and the lives of her coworkers. My district saw the COVID threat and immediately made sure that teachers and students were safe. Your district, in the meantime, is being pressured by parents and Gov. Ducey to stay in-person. Why do you not have the courage to follow the metrics?Submitted by: Alisa D
School: Chandler Online Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Listen to the metrics & Hoffman
Comment: Before Winter Break started we had reached the point where our netrucs said to keep kids home. Our hospitals were burgeoning on full capacity. Then break starts. Kids are hanging out in the neighborhoods and shopping centers. Friends & families are having gatherings. People are traveling across the valley, across the state & across the country. Teens are throwing large parties The numbers are getting worse by the day. More people are dying than ever before. The vaccine is not being rolled out properly. Protect our kids, our teachers and staff! At bare minimum I beg of you to go virtual for 2 weeks.Submitted by: Alison O
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to School
Comment: Please reconsider your stance regarding students returning to in-person school on January 5th. There has been much discussion at the Junior High and High School levels but not at the Elementary level. With 17,000 COVID-19 cases and increasing daily, this needs to be addressed immediately. If quarantining helps with slowing the spread, virtual learning is another significant factor to that. Please consider at least a 2 week virtual learning option for elementary students as well.Submitted by: Allison
School: Patterson Elementary Organization: CUSD
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Virtual learning
Comment: Please support our teachers and students and our need for safety and health! We need to be virtual learning for at least two weeks to slow the spread. Having us return in person right now with the positivity rate at nearly 30% is very dangerous for us teachers and students. Please please think of safety and health first and foremost!! Thank you!Submitted by: Alma N
School: Hill Learning Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person learning.
Comment: As someone who has contracted COVID-19 virus while taking all precautions and following protocols suggested, I believe it is important to keep our children learning from home for a time. A CDC recommendation is groups of 10 with social distancing. This is nearly impossible in classes of 10+ not including the teachers. While the best learning environment is in the classroom the safest is staying home.Submitted by: Alyssa P
School: Casteel High Organization: Casteel HS
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep Students & Teachers Safe
Comment: First, please consider moving the board meeting to Monday prior to students arriving back on campus so that we can make a decision before the semester starts. Students, parents, and teachers are concerned about being back on campus after the holidays. All of our metrics are in the red, many families vacationed for Christmas, and a lot of our students went to NYE parties. Please consider going virtual for the first two weeks so that we do not add to community spread and overwhelm our hospitals. Not to mention, this will indicate to staff that the district truly cares about our safety and health. We appreciate all that you do. Thank you!Submitted by: Amanda F
School: CTA Freedom Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Opening of schools
Comment: I am shocked and outraged that it is even a possibility for the schools to reopen. I understand accommodating working parents or families in different situations than ours such as low income with no internet, special needs, etc. But to open for parents like me, who can be home with their children is selfish and irresponsible. This meeting will decide my children's future within CUSD. If we see that CUSD only views the students as dollar signs, we will live the district to go to an area more empathetic to their staff during a GLOBAL PANDEMIC.Submitted by: Amanda S
School: Auxier Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to virtual learning
Comment: My child thrives during virtual instruction at the beginning of this academic year. Covid cases are WAY worse right now. Maricopa county is 3rd highest in cases in the country, only behind LA and Chicago. For the safety of our entire community, I strongly urge you to move instruction back to virtual, at least for the first two weeks of this semester. Thank you.Submitted by: Amy D
School: Chandler Online Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Return to Virtual Instruction
Comment: Please, please, based on the surge in Covid cases now, and the inevitable furter surge after the holidays, return my in-person colleagues to virtual instruction until metrics return to green. My in person colleagues are terrified by the rising cases and lack of cooperation from the community on large gatherings. I feel awful hearing of their fear and feelings of abandonment because the district went back on it's word to keep them safe while I was afforded the opportunity to teach at COA. Pleasekeep them and the rest of the community safe by returning to virtual instruction. This is a 100 year pandemic and we all must work together to act unusually in these unusual circumstances. This is temporary! We must allowth case count to subside and vaccinations to be received, before returning to school! There are NO hospital beds nor medical staff left, and as an institution, CUSD should NOT be contributing to community spread. Please protect my in person colleagues as you have me! Thank you!Submitted by: Amy K
School: Patterson Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Yes to distance learning - safety first
Comment: As a medical professional AND parent, I understand that parents want their kids back in school, however, I think that teachers and support staff and the children deserve to do so in a safe environment. We are at the height of the pandemic, mostly due to the inability of our leaders and community to come together to mitigate its spread. At this point, we are at a point where we are in the red in terms of the metrics set forth by this very district, which are now being ignored, mostly because ofthe pressure put forth by angry parents. Since when do angry parents desires trump scientific evidence and the true facts of the current crisis (just ask any hospital system in the Valley, as they are all maxed to and above their current limits). We as a district do not need to add ONE more patient to their counts - plain and simple. I do not like the fact that my children have to do distance learning, as I have to concurrently try to work, but it is necessary right now to protect all.Submitted by: Anita M
School: Chandler High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to teaching virtually until the 3 metrics are in the green.
Comment: Please return to 100% virtual learning until the 3 metrics are in the green again. Also support the teachers and staff who are asking for a safe work environment. They need your public support. Please say it out load and publicly denounce those in the community bullying them and threatening them. Start messaging the CUSD community with reminders that school can't be in person as long as community members are not following public health guidance that leads to the metrics being in the yellow andred.Submitted by: Ann J
School: Rice Elementary Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual school
Comment: I find it extremely irresponsible for the district to have children K-6 return to school prior to the board meeting scheduled for 1/6.With benchmarks all indicating that all schools in the district should be at virtual learningSubmitted by: Anne B
School: Chandler High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual learning for start of Semester 2
Comment: Please make the safest decision which is to start semester 2 virtually until Maricopa County does not have all 3 areas in the red and there is adequate hospital space to handle the pandemic. It is irresponsible and against everything we know about science to ignore current numbers. Short term pain for long term gain!Submitted by: Anne M
School: Hamilton High Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Keep teachers safe!
Comment: As a cancer patient and child of a teacher, I implore you to keep teachers safe and go all online. 17,000+ cases reported today alone. Stay at home until vaccinations!!Submitted by: Anne P
School: ACP Erie Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Until It's Safe
Comment: COVID numbers are higher than they have ever been. Hospital and healthcare workers are overwhelmed. And in the midst of this, community members are not complying with Dr. Casteel's plea to make responsible choices outside of school walls. The Board does not have a choice at this point: to keep our students and staff safe and to help mitigate the spread of the virus, CUSD needs to take the responsible action and return the district to full virtual learning for at least the month of January.The science does not lie. Please do the right thing.Submitted by: Anonymous
School: Hamilton High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual
Comment: I ask the board to follow the metrics on the county's school reopening dashboard and return to virtual learning for all CUSD schools until the metrics improve. We made our decision to go with in person learning because 1. coa is not a good option for our kids 2. We were told that the metrics would be followed and would move back to virtual if needed, those metrics have been met for weeks now. Please do the safe and right thing for our kids, teachers and communitySubmitted by: Anonymous
School: NONE OF THE ABOVE Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Virtual Instruction Only
Comment: When the board voted to return to in person instruction, it was based on the state metrics as presented at that time. Teachers were assured that if those metrics returned to red for two weeks, we would return to virtual. We are not doing that. We aren't even following the updated metrics which also recommend virtual instruction. We are using a dashboard that was self-created by the district, not scientists. That dashboard is highly dependent on the community to take a test when quarantined and report the results of those tests. That is not happening. I understand that virtual instruction is extremely difficult for most involved, but health has to come first. I implore the district to return to virtual instruction for at least two weeks; and longer if the CURRENT or PREVIOUS county metrics continue to recommend it. My students and their family, and me and my family's lives are at stake!Submitted by: anonymous
School: Chandler High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Rules and regulations are not being enforced and it is NOT SAFE
Comment: Kids are openly walking through hallways and around school with masks off/or worn improperly (not covering their mouths and noses). Security is doing nothing, admin is doing nothing - when all they would have to do is patrol the hallways and send these kids home and show they are serious and mean business. Throw in that half the teachers are Trump supporting covid deniers and it makes a recipe for more death and illness. Do not make the mistake, any deaths or illnesses are DIRECTLY your responsibility for not dealing with things and being cautious. You should be ashamed of yourself for putting yourselves in virtual/distanced mode while teachers are in rooms with upwards of 40 kids for 2.5 hours where they can't even social distance and nobody seems to be taking it seriously. Teachers were lied to and have no choices/options. Many are at risk or have someone at risk at home.Submitted by: Arnav V
School: Hamilton High Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Instructional learning - google meets/classroom with teacher - as an option for 2020-2021 grade 9-12
Comment: Please offer Virtual Instructional learning - google meets/classroom with CUSD teacher - as an option for 2020-2021 grade 9-12. It's not equitable to ask kids who prefer safety to self learn. Please provide Equitable Education for all secondary students.Submitted by: Ashland V
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Unsafe return to school
Comment: I believe for these next two weeks, schools should go online to protect the teachers, staff, and students from rapid spreading of this virus. I get to some this virus hits most with little to no symptoms, but there are many like myself who have underlying conditions. I have been taking precautions to keep my family safe, and while others have the choice not to, I respect that. My mentality this time around is for the people have stayed home over break and missed out on activities, they are returning to school with those who made the selfish decision not to, exposing themselves and others. Now, these same people will be the ones who come to school, expose others because they chose not to follow the guidelines, and then my child/children will be quarantined anyways missing out on their education that they unselfishly chose to protect. So, how is it fair my kids miss out on their time in the classroom because of someone else's bad choices?Submitted by: Ashley G
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Support of two week virtual learning after Winter Break
Comment: As a parent of a special needs pre-k student, I want nothing more than my student to be in person with his amazing Priority Pre-K teachers and support staff to receive services. However, the numbers of Covid cases are outrageous and we need to protect those amazing teachers and support staff. To me, it is a no brainer that we take two weeks of virtual instruction to slow the spread.Submitted by: Ashley G
School: Hull Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: School reopening after break
Comment: Thank you for moving the board meeting up to Monday, before students return. I am writing as a concerned parent and staff member of CUSD. The numbers for Coronavirus are out of control right now and I believe it would be safest for the district to go virtual for at least the first two weeks back from break. This would give time for students and staff to stay at home and decrease the spread of the virus following the holidays. It is frustrating to me that our district chooses to be reactive rather than proactive. The board could have voted to go virtual for the first two weeks back from break at the last board meeting and provided proactive leadership and given parents, staff, and students time to plan and prepare. Now, the district and teachers are in a no-win situation.Every teacher I know, myself included, would rather teach in person. We know it's better for students and staff to be in person. But, it needs to be done safely, and it cannot with the current community infection rate.Submitted by: Ashley P
School: Perry High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Covid numbers
Comment: Please consider a move to distance learningSubmitted by: Becky
School: Santan Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: I SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS!!
Comment: Our teachers deserve to be heard, ALL OF THEM! I support their sick out! Nearly 7,000 positive cases of covid today alone! 9.1% is our CLI! Metrics have been in red nearly 6 weeks. Please hold an emergency meeting a d go virtual at least the first 2 weeks in January. You have grades 7-12 a choice, what about the elementary kids?? This is not a fair option for all!Submitted by: BENOIT J
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Its time (again) to invoke Remote Learning to protect the safety of our community
Comment: By any viable measure the spread of COVID-19 disease is OUT OF CONTROL. Infection and death rates are frightening and our our healthcare system is overwhelmed. There are too many teachers, staff, students and family members who are catching the disease, further contributing to community spread. It is time (again) to invoke remote learning for a while to help contain disease spread. Thank you for considering.Submitted by: Beth S
School: Basha Elementary Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual until Safe
Comment: We are in a dire situation in our state and seeing the amount of parties that have happened over the past few days scares me. CUSD has always been a premier district of choice and the lack of action taken by the board thus far is making my family think twice about where are children will continue their education. As a reminder from my previous emails, I have a couple of requests that I am hoping you will consider: #1 That you use the metrics provided by the county/state when making decisions about school options going further. All 3 metrics are in red which means we should be in virtual learning after the break. #2 When you are making decisions you actually take the time to survey the community (parents, teachers and staff) on where they stand. A survey should have been already sent to families before break. #3 Also, the contact tracing and notification is completely a joke. We received an email the Wed before break letting us know there was exposure to one of our children.Submitted by: Bianca B
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Learning ONLY
Comment: I have three children in CUSD and attending three different schools. I'm choosing to have my children do virtual learning since I feel in person currently is dangerous for students and staff. I vote for virtual learning only until the metrics have improved. I formally taught in the district for 17 years and feel it's always been a top district for students and teaching. I really hope the board sees the importance of postponing in-person until it's safe for ALL!Submitted by: Blane A
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Elementary needs virtual
Comment: I am worried about the current benchmark levels and lack of following guidelines. Being in the red for all 3 benchmarks for over 3 weeks is unacceptable and unsafe. All schools, elementary as well, should be virtual! Keep everyone safe and save livesSubmitted by: Bob K
School: Andersen Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: online until safe
Comment: My grandchildren attend multiple schools in Chandler District. I want to keep them all safe as well as myself. Please do the right thing and put the kids virtual for the first two weeks of schoolSubmitted by: Brianna W
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Health and Safety Concerns for students and teachers as COVID metrics increase
Comment: Students, parents, and teachers were informed in October that if one of three metrics turned red that we would return to remote learning in order to protect the lives and safety of students and teachers. Two of the three metrics turned red last month and nothing was done. We are now moving into three of three metrics turning red. The district continues to move the 'goal post' and not follow through with their promises. We are dealing with people's safety and lives. I believe that the district should move to remote learning for grades 9 through 12, possibly even 6-12. These students move Multiple times throughout the day at school into multiple classrooms. This increases the chance of spread. I understand that this is not ideal. I myself do not prefer remote teaching as it is more time-consuming to plan, but we are getting closer to getting a vaccine to teachers, students, and the general population. I believe that peoples lives and safety should be our top priority.Submitted by: Bridgett H
School: Hancock Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep our teachers and support staff safe!
Comment: Please do NOT bring these kids back to in person learning right now. Or if you do, give every teacher the option FIRST as to whether they want to be working. I am a support staff and I need my job for the health care but it's terrible that I have to put myself at such risk just to try to protect myself a little bit.Submitted by: Brock Z
School: Rice Elementary Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Schools should be virtual
Comment: Based on the current situation, all schools should be virtual! Follow the metrics provided by the state and Superintendent Hoffman. This is for ALL schools, especially elementary.Submitted by: Buffy P
School: Weinberg Gifted Academy Organization: Chandler Unified School District
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual school is imperative at this time!
Comment: Virtual school is imperative at this time. As a parent and a teacher this is 100% needed. Metrics must be usedSubmitted by: C G
School: Perry High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Safe to open? Not in the least!
Comment: Masks ☑ï¸, proper social distancing in classrooms/campuses 🚫, community spread under control 🧨 = virtual school (check your metrics...all red = NO GOSubmitted by: C I
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please consider going virtual the rest of the year to keep our kids safe!!
Comment: Please consider going virtual the rest of the year to keep our kids safe!!!! If you will not go all virtual please at least offer a viable virtual option so I can keep my kid safe!! COA IS NOT A GOOD OPTION for our kids!!!Submitted by: Candace O
School: Shumway Leadership Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual until safe
Comment: Virtual until safeSubmitted by: Cari
School: Casteel High Organization: Parent
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please Virtual Learning for All
Comment: Board Members, As a parent of two boys are Casteel and as a teacher I am pleading with our board to vote for an all virtual option for all until we arevout of the red metrics. It is too risky for students, teachers, and our community. PLEASESubmitted by: Cari R
School: Rice Elementary Organization: CEA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Pleading for virtual
Comment: With AZ covid numbers higher than ever i am begging for our district to make a call for virtual learning until Maricopa County is out of the red. I am pleading as a parent in Cusd, a teacher and a member of the community. I am scared to be in the classroom with more than 20 and I'm petrified for my children to be in high school classes with more than 30. Please listen. Things are not ok.Submitted by: Carla T
School: Hamilton High Organization: Teacher and parent
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Go virtual until we get the numbers down.
Comment: is consistently breaking records for COVID cases, and our CUSD zip codes are all red according to the state metrics. Putting students and staff in full classrooms is a recipe for disaster. We cannot socially distance our kids. We have no windows to open to allow fresh air. Our only defense is a spray bottle of cleaner and a rag. Our students need effective VIRTUAL live instruction to keep them and us safe until we get this virus under control. The vaccine is rolling out; we are almost there. Why are you jeopardizing lives now when we can rmmmmmwithSubmitted by: Carly
School: CTA Humphrey Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual until community spread improves
Comment: I have two children who attend elementary school in CUSD. Sending them to school at this time is incredibly unsafe. Class sizes are not small enough to safely social distance. My children love their school, teachers, and thrive with in-person learning. A temporary return to virtual learning is what's best for EVERYONE at this time of substantial community spread.Submitted by: Carly
School: San Marcos Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual until vaccinated
Comment: I want nothing more than to be in-person, teaching my students. We are now at a point with public health where it is not safe for us to be in large gatherings, even in a school setting with mitigation procedures in place. Prior to winter break, I was averaging 50%-75% attendance in my classroom. The level of inconsistency for the students I service is frustrating to say the least, especially since it is my school is used as a reason kids should be in-person (achievement gap). Children do get covid. Students in my school do not have access to testing. Staff have gotten covid. There is spread in schools, no matter what is communicated from administrators not in school settings. At this point, the district is walking a fine line with staff health and safety, and to what end? Budget? How many teachers need to resign before the district does the right thing?Submitted by: Carol W
School: Andersen Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual
Comment: Dear Board Member, Please call an Emergency Board Meeting before school returns in-person. Arizona is setting records with case numbers and hospitals are filling up while people in the community continue to attend large gatherings and refuse to follow mitigation strategies. Our numbers will continue to rise over the next few weeks due to holiday celebrations. Please have the Chandler Unified School District follow the original plan (as was promised to staff and students) and have the district switch to virtual instruction for the first two weeks following winter break for ALL STUDENTS. This will give the district time to review the data and make a safe decision for how to proceed after those two weeks. Please follow the science and help slow the spread in our community.'Submitted by: Caroline R
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Learning
Comment: I implore you to move to a virtual learning model for the foreseeable future. Please do this for our children, our teachers, our overtaxed healthcare workers and the community at large. I thank you for your service and time.Submitted by: Caroline S
School: Chandler Online Academy Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: In-person Learning at the Height of the Pandemic
Comment: The vaccine for COVID-19 will be available in the near future. It makes perfect sense to tolerate virtual learning until teachers, staff, students, and families can be protected. The Chandler High School family has already experienced four tragic high-profile deaths. There's no way to know how many other CHS families have suffered the loss of a loved one due to Covid-19. We all agree that in-person learning is preferable, but how many lives is it worth? If waiting to return to in-person saves one life, it's worth the wait. CUSD appears to disagree. We are all entitled to a reasonably safe workplace. Failing to follow County guidelines and putting staff at risk is reckless and grossly negligent.Submitted by: Carrie M
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Until Safe
Comment: Please for the sake of our community, teachers, staff, and students please consider the SCIENCE of infectious disease and controlling epidemics. Please follow the metrics originally approved in the fall. We have widespread uncontrolled Covid in our community. Our hospitals are overwhelmed. People are suffering and dying. We trusted the CUSD board to follow the metrics approved so we sent our children in person for fall. You have BROKEN our trust by not returning to virtual when the metricsstarted going red. Now we are being told we have to be wait listed to get our children into COA. This is NOT acceptable. CUSD needs to be virtual for all until the original metrics that were approved after careful consideration of the science, indicate it is safe to return. We do not want to leave CUSD but I fear that may be the only choice left for parents who believe science over politics.Submitted by: Carrie M
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual instruction
Comment: We support our teachers 100%. CUSD should follow the original metrics and original promises made about responding to the spread of Covid-19. All students should be virtual until the metrics indicate there is no longer uncontrolled community spread. Follow the science. Why did you have MCDPH direct you if you were going to ignore them.Submitted by: Charise D
School: Patterson Elementary Organization: CEA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Virtual until Safe
Comment: We have exceeded 3/3 metrics. It is recommended that we go virtual for at least 2 weeks. Stand true to your promises, CUSD!Submitted by: Chelle D
School: Perry High Organization: na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: covid
Comment: Please follow the metrics that ALL of the rest of the state are using. Follow CDC guidelines. CUSD should be closed until the spread - the Rnaught - is much more reasonable. My friends son caught covid at a CUSD school. A month later he still has symptoms. HIs most recent hospital trip was spent entirely in the hallway because there was no room anywhere else. He will be fine, but until then he will be miserable. He is in gradeschool. You are a political body and it shows. It is so disappointing because I always thought CUSD was above that. The children are learning the lessons you are teaching though. Ignore Science, put yourself first, shirk responsibility, and that the schools have no responsibility to keeping the community safe.Submitted by: Chris C
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Return to Class in January
Comment: To the Board Members of The Chandler Unified School District, I believe it is in the best interests of the children, faculty, staff and community that CUSD look again at its intended plan to return to in-school instruction following the winter break. There is not one piece of recent evidence that suggests it is in the best interest of anybody to return. The metrics for the district have all been in the red for the past three weeks. As a teacher in the district, I don't believe our well-being hasbeen considered at all, and we are the most vulnerable group. Please reconsider and at the very least, use the two-week virtual model of return and then make decisions based on the information going forward. I want kids back in the classroom, for that is what I have done for 27+ years. But it should not be until it is safe for everyone to return. There is no such thing as acceptable losses, this is not a war.Submitted by: Chris H
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Returning to school
Comment: There should be no discussion about returning to in-person schooling for at least two weeks. You would be endangering all students and staff by returning to classes with a surge in COVID-19 cases. Please consider the safety of this community in your decision.Submitted by: Chris L
School: Chandler Online Academy Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to Remote Learning
Comment: I strongly support the return to remote learning until the metrics provided by the County—the same metrics you previously agreed to follow—return to a safe range. I support the return to remote learning for the health and safety of our entire community, and especially the students, teachers, staff, and families who are directly impacted by opening schools at a time when the community spread of COVID-19 is at is rapidly increasing. As I write this, the State reports 17,226 new COVID-19 infections. This is a new record and far exceeds the numbers we saw during the summer when the Board voted to start the school year remotely. Our students deserve a healthy learning experience. Our teachers and staff deserve safe working conditions. At a time of extremely high community spread, the right thing to do and the best thing to do are the same; return to remote learning until the metrics demonstrate that it's safe to return to in-person learning.Submitted by: Christi R
School: Chandler High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual until State Metrics are met
Comment: You put guiding principles in place for the safety of our students, teachers and community. We used that information to make an educated decision to return to in person. How can we trust the district if the district routinely changes the guidelines for our safety, and even when the changed guidelines are exceeded you still take little to no action.Submitted by: Christine D
School: Willis Junior High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to virtual learning until metrics are safe
Comment: CUSD needs to return to virtual learning to give the hospitals a break from overflowing numbers and to ensure staff and students are safe in person. Last quarter many students were in 10 day quarantines (some multiple times) and this is not best in person learning. CUSD needs to be responsible for the health, safety and well being of the community as a whole. Covid is real. Long term side effects are real.Submitted by: Christine F
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Schools delaying opening
Comment: I'm all for schools being open, I have 3 children in cusd. However, the safest and smartest procedure currently is to go virtual for two weeks. It just makes the most logical sense. Having one of my children already contracting the virus in November and getting her father very ill was very difficult on our family. Luckily my two older children and myself avoided the virus. I would hate to go through that all over again. For the safety of our teachers and families, the best decision is to be in virtual right now. I have a senior at Hamilton and want nothing more for him to have a normal graduation!Submitted by: Chrystie C
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep our school open for in-person learning for 2021
Comment: Please allow kids to continue in-person learning through this 2020-21 school year! Some parents are concerned COVID numbers are high and therefore schools should close. Offer a virtual option for those families, but don't take away in-person for those that want and need this option. As a frontline worker, I can attest to the fact that COVID cases are high and many people are hospitalized. However, I don't feel our schools are the source of super spread. Events outside of school, group/family gatherings, and parties are contributing to this spike. My children are doing so much better academically and emotionally being back in the classroom. As a frontline worker, I need the schools to stay open to provide that face-to-face learning they need to succeed. I can't be home with them to manage tech issues, ensure they stay engaged in Google Meets sessions, and stay accountable to doing classwork they would otherwise be doing in the classroom under supervision of a teacher. Thank you.Submitted by: Cindy D
School: Carlson Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: School Closures
Comment: Given the astronomical numbers, I am urging that the board vote to go virtual for at least two weeks for the safety of all staff and students. Virtual learning is not optimal, but the virus is out of control, and sure to get worse with all the recent holiday gatherings where people unfortunately did not heed CDC protocols. Thank you for your consideration.Submitted by: Colleen S
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Online classes
Comment: I believe teacher should be allowed to decide if classes are virtual. They are the ones there all day. They need a say.Submitted by: Collin P
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: 2 Weeks
Comment: I have been saying this since before break, that I think we need to be virtual for the first two weeks after break. I am ALL for being in-person but people gathered over the holidays, no doubt about it. Why not take two weeks that hopefully families will do their part and not go to big public gatherings and take that time to see what happens. We are going to go back Tuesday and numbers will continue to climb, you will receive more scrutiny for not taking any actions and people will start to panic again. It is not ideal for anyone but let's remember, it is just two weeks. I will go ahead and assume parents will be far less critical of this compared to if we end up going virtual down the road for multiple weeks. Again, I want to be in-person and am all for it but I think it is time to take teachers opinions into consideration, as well. Teaching is already hard enough this year and yet, we are constantly short staff and having to cover for multiple people. Thanks for taking time to read.Submitted by: Concerned P
School: CTA Humphrey Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: COVID concerns
Comment: The board needs to consider having all schools go to virtual. We already have too many people who do not care about others and now want to put our children in danger just because they want the teachers to raise their kids and want them out of the house. The parents who are fighting against virtual do not care about their own kids, they only care about the fact they are now responsible for raising their own kids.Submitted by: Concerned P
School: Haley Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Temporary Virtual Instruction Post Holiday Break
Comment: Please consider a temporary virtual instruction after the holiday break to keep our children safe. With many families traveling during the holiday period, a two week virtual instruction would help slow community spread. With the metrics heading in the wrong direction, we need to do everything we can to minimize risk. We truly believe in person instruction is the best technique, but only when it is safe enough to do so.Submitted by: Concerned p
School: Bogle Junior High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Need to go virtual
Comment: I want my kids in person, however, with the hospitals out of capacity, we need to stay home. Preventing just a few cases will allow room in a hospital for your parent, child, friend to be treated when needed. We need to support our community.Submitted by: Concerned P
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Close In Person Learning - Follow Original Metrics - Move to Virtual Platform (Not COA)
Comment: Please ask yourself why the numbers keep going up and the CUSD Covid Dashboard magically stays low. It is grossly inaccurate! You tried it, it isn't working. We have asymptomatic kids that are spreading Covid to our community and teachers. You have a responsibility to our community to do more. Follow the original metrics, follow the science, not a made up Covid Dashboard that may or may not show a case based on what? Its time! I just don't understand how you can live with yourselves makinga decision that goes against state guidelines. You are putting our community in danger and our teachers in danger! State guidelines recommend all 9 should be in virtual learning with on-site support. At some point a lawyer will bring a case against the school board. This year its the year of the pandemic! Next year it will be the year of the law suits! S Follow the original metrics that you promised parents when we made the decision to go back to in person learning.Submitted by: Concerned p
School: Santan Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please go virtual
Comment: CUSD should close for in person learning. The original metrics have been met with no end in sight. Arizona is now leading in hospitalization. Our teachers and support staff are not disposable. CUSD is not a viable option for my immunocompromised children. We enrolled them into school with the understanding that CUSD would close with substantial spread. Now CUSD has changed the metrics we were counting on. It would be increasingly stressful for our kids to switch teachers to COA mid year. This year has been stressful enough for these kids. Please go virtual.Submitted by: Concerned T
School: Rice Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Return to virtual learning
Comment: Teachers want nothing more than to be in their classrooms with their students teaching and learning in-person. However we are in the middle of the largest health crisis most of us have experienced in our lives. Covid is spreading rapidly through our communities, hospitals are overwhelmed, and our state government is not taking the necessary steps to protect the health and safety of our communities. Now is the time to temporarily close schools and/or return to virtual learning. The county benchmarks were designed to help governing boards make informed decisions about the mode of learning, and with all areas red the action required is a return to virtual learning. It is not forever, but will help slow the spread and keep our communities safe so that we can return to in-person learning soon.Submitted by: Constance L
School: Chandler High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: School Safety
Comment: Please, make brick and mortar schools virtual until Covid metrics improve. My 16 year old Can Not do COA. He needs teacher led instruction. A teacher has died, 2 booster parents, some grandparents, a volleyball teammate suffers with arthritic like pain caused by Covid long term effects (several Doctors diagnosed this), the community situation told in the news my son is extremely worried and stressed about returning to school January 19th. We believed in the school boards when they said they would follow the metrics.. CUSD, has been so disappointing in how they handle this pandemic. MYP and IB classes are not on COA, we need to ensure teacher led instruction for kids that need an academically challenged environment in the safest possible environment for ALL involved, Please.Submitted by: Corinne K
School: Carlson Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual learning
Comment: Dear Board Members: Please consider leaving the decision on temporary virtual learning up the each individual school. I deeply believe in Mr Morgan's ability to keep our children, staff and parents safe. This should be determined in a school by school basis not an over arching decision for the entire district. Thank you for your consideration of my comment. Stay safe and healthy. Corinne Kirkendall- parent of 2 students at Carlson.Submitted by: Cristine V
School: CTA Independence Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Students should not return to in person learning for at least two weeks.
Comment: Our children should not be returning to in person learning for at least two weeks so we can see if the cases and hospitalization improve. Cases are surging and we've hit every benchmark to close our schools but insist on sending our teachers and children to the classroom? This isn't forever and we can choose to keep our community safe.Submitted by: CUSD t
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual for two weeks
Comment: I'll keep this brief. Our schools have no business being open for the next two weeks. You all saw that party - several of my students attended that thing. Our community is not being responsible, so please do not put my children and myself at risk (I teach in the district and my children attend CUSD schools).Submitted by: Cynthia W
School: Santan Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: please move all kids to virtual school until after spring break. This will allow time for vaccination of teachers and numbers to come down.
Comment: While I 100 percent agree the kids need to be in school, with the increase in covid numbers it's clear more teachers and kids will end up on quarantine. This will be very disruptive to the kids learning and it's best all kids go to virtual school until after spring break to allow time for teacher vaccination and the numbers to come down after the holidays.Submitted by: Dannette H
School: Basha High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Covid metrics/ virtual learning
Comment: The metrics are clear. Everyone needs to do what they can to reduce the spread. CUSD should go virtual at least for 7-12 until this comes down. Or you need to offer live virtual for students that are trying to be safe but that COA is not an option. Please, just don't sit on your hands and do nothing because of funding. Lives are at risk here!! Please!Submitted by: Darlene G
School: Carlson Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual vs In person
Comment: I feel since the numbers are astronomical, the highest ever, there's a massive health risk to school personnel as well as students. I feel schools should be virtual until the numbers decrease and more are vaccinated.Submitted by: David D
School: Casteel High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Covid operations
Comment: Given that casteel has been completely ineffective at enforcing masks or social distancing, and given that the covid numbers are spreading at an unprecedented rate (likely in no small part to schools opening without precautions) please shut down and go remote until.things have calmed down.Submitted by: Davide O
School: Weinberg Gifted Academy Organization: Parent
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please go 100% virtual
Comment: 'Dear Board Member, Please call an Emergency Board Meeting before school returns in-person. Arizona is setting records with case numbers and hospitals are filling up while people in the community continue to attend large gatherings and refuse to follow mitigation strategies. Our numbers will continue to rise over the next few weeks due to holiday celebrations. Please have the Chandler Unified School District follow the original plan (as was promised to staff and students) and have the district switch to virtual instruction for the first two weeks following winter break for ALL STUDENTS. This will give the district time to review the data and make a safe decision for how to proceed after those two weeks. Please follow the science and help slow the spread in our community.'Submitted by: Deanna
School: Santan Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please move to remote learning
Comment: Please consider moving to 100% remote learning for the safety of your teachers and students.Submitted by: Deb M
School: Chandler High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Covid
Comment: Dear Board Member, With our COVID cases continuing to rise and hospitals filling up, please have the Chandler Unified School District follow the original plan (as was promised to staff and students) and have the district switch to virtual instruction for the first two weeks following winter break for ALL STUDENTS. This will give the district time to review the data and make a safe decision for how to proceed after those first two weeks. Please follow the science and help slow the spread in ourcommunity.Submitted by: Deb V
School: Hamilton High Organization: I'm a parent
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please go to full time virtual
Comment: Please go to full time virtualSubmitted by: Denise H
School: CTA Freedom Organization: Special Education Teachers
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Postpone in person until metrics deem appropriate
Comment: Postpone in person until metrics deem appropriate . I will not teach in these conditions . I am a special needs preschool teacher with a autistic son with diabetes.Submitted by: Desiree I
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return To Virtual
Comment: Return to virtual instruction until it's safe. Please stop manipulating the metrics. Act in integrity and adhere to the guidelines don't placate to parents demanding a return when the metrics say it isn't safe to return. Our kids are beginning to see they are just numbers to you. Do better for our kids.Submitted by: Diane M
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual return
Comment: Virtual Until Safe: As part of the CUSD community who works in a high school and has two students attending high school, I implore the governing board reconsider an only virtual attendance option for the third quarter until County Metrics deem it is safe to return to in person instruction. We all know too well that the data from the dashboard is flawed and cannot possibly be kept up do date when testing results are not being returned or reported in a timely manner. High School behaviors affectcommunity behaviors which add to the increase of risk factors. Families who do not have the technology will be taken care of like they were the first quarter.Submitted by: Donna H
School: Shumway Leadership Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Return to in person learning
Comment: Please consider having ALL CUSD schools return virtually for the first two weeks of January. This will give time for families to quarantine after travel and family gatherings.Submitted by: Dorothy
School: Basha High Organization: Concerned parent
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Follow the original metrics for school opening/closing and return to virtual learning
Comment: Please look at the skyrocketing numbers for infection rates, deaths and number of school age children that are positive for COVID. Our healthcare workers are exhausted, our hospitals are on the verge or being overwhelmed and our community COVID metrics are all worse than they were during our summer surge. It's time to come together as a community and all do our part to get through this pandemic. All the data indicates that schools should be back to virtual for the safety of our students, ourteachers and our entire community!Submitted by: Douglas M
School: Hancock Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Suspend in person classes
Comment: I strongly urge the school board to go to a virtual learning environment for at least two weeks beginning on January 5th. Continuing the practice of in school learning, especially following a holiday break when families and friends gathered will exacerbate the issue and cause further spread of the virus. Please listen to the science behind the numbers and close the schools for in person attendance for at least two weeks. Thank you.Submitted by: Dr. J
School: Perry High Organization: Parent of Perry HS
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person learning
Comment: As a physician, father of our 4th CUSD student and spouse to CUSD teacher, I am compelled to voice my concern. As a community leader, CUSD needs to support the hospitals that are on the brink of failure. Your students are watching your moves. The community will remember when it comes to budget overrides. Please do the right thing. Give us just a few weeks.Submitted by: Elementary T
School: NONE OF THE ABOVE Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual
Comment: Please follow the original benchmarks and metrics for the safety of students and staff. As we ended the 2nd quarter, I had 25 students in my classroom. It's IMPOSSIBLE to keep the students socially distanced and safe in an overcrowded classroom. Classroom teachers are doing their best to keep students safe, but with cases exploding in our area, we are scared. Scared for our students, our colleagues, our families, and ourselves. I implore you to follow the benchmarks and recommendations of Superintendent Hoffman.Submitted by: Elizabeth
School: Ryan Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please return schools to virtual learning
Comment: My child attends Ryan Elementary and has benefited greatly from in person learning. Despite this, I urge the board to consider returning students to virtual learning. The COVID-19 case count in Arizona continues to increase and seems unsustainable. Although this virus thankfully doesn't seem to make children very sick, they can pass the illness on to other, more vulnerable people, including their teachers and other support staff at their schools, as well as their families. We all have to work together to be good citizens and protect our neighbors and our healthcare system until vaccination becomes more widespread.Submitted by: Elizabeth L
School: Shumway Leadership Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: School closures
Comment: Please listen to the data and keep all schools closed until the district is in yellow/green for 2 consecutive weeks. That is what teachers were told, and what they signed up for. As a Chandler resident, I watch the numbers closely and am counting on our school district to do the right thing and go virtual to limit community spread. Thank you.Submitted by: Emily K
School: Andersen Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please do not force in person learning for two weeks
Comment: Given the state of the virus spreading in the country and our state—I believe my grandchildren who attend CUSD schools as well as my adult daughter who works in the district deserve two weeks of distance learning before returning to in person. I do not want them exposed to family members who may have chosen to unadvisedly travel during break.Submitted by: Emily P
School: San Marcos Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Elementary needs to be virtual!
Comment: The whole district, pre-k through 12th grade, should be virtual. Our city and county infection rate and other metrics indicate that it is not safe at school. I fear for our teachers, health care workers, and vulnerable community members.Submitted by: Emily P
School: San Marcos Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual until safe
Comment: Simple: school should be conducted virtual until our metrics decline for all age levels not just secondary. Shame on you for denying children with IEPs entrance to COA. That is wrong! Do better. Abide by science and suggestions of health. Protect staff, teachers and community. Virtual until safe.Submitted by: Eric
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Decisions concerning in person vs remote learning
Comment: While observing the most recent board meeting I was struck by two things that seemed to be used to justify current CUSD policy. The first being the belief that high schools are following proper social distancing, and the out of context use of the CDC description that children are safer in school. Review of schools show students that's cannot social distance due to classroom size and population. And the CDC recommendation is clearly only true when the local infection rate is low and proper precautions are taken. Currently our community is at a high infection rate, and our students can't follow precautions. CUSD should establish real hybrid schooling akin to other schools, and should delay reopening after winter break to insure isolation until the impact of family travel can be mitigated.Submitted by: Erika
School: Perry High Organization: Educators
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Returning to in-person learning is concerning
Comment: I am very concerned about returning to in-person learning following winter break. Many of my own students shared they were traveling in addition to those who spent time with friends and family in large groups without adhering to mask and social-distancing recommendations. The large NYE party that was widely publicized is just one example of the gatherings that high school students participated in. Their actions can affect their classmates and school staff upon return. Rather than offering only students the option of going virtual the first two weeks of second semester, it seems necessary to require a return to virtual for everyone at the secondary level. This is not necessarily the best solution for elementary and middle grades. Each level should have a solution that best fits their needs and safety.Submitted by: Erin
School: Navarrete Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Emergency Meeting
Comment: Please hold an emergency meeting before teachers and students report back in person. I have 3 in elementary and will not send them back in person until you address the increase in Covid cases. Please give parents and teachers options for virtual learning again. I only agreed for my children to be in person when the Board originally set guidelines I felt comfortable with and supported. You have since moved them twice and I no longer feel comfortable with them being in person. Thank you.Submitted by: Erin B
School: Auxier Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please follow the county metrics for the safety of the community
Comment: I have also emailed my concerns in detail. My 4th grader contracted COVID at school despite everyone's best efforts. We had her tested as soon as she became sick. It's spreading at schools. I think it's going to be difficult for teachers to teach both in-person and virtual (and it's not even an option for elementary) . Please plan 2 weeks of 100% remote instruction and then a true hybrid to enable distancing in the classrooms.Submitted by: Erin M
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person school
Comment: My daughter is a senior at Casteel and is currently sick and tested positive for COVID. I believe that going back to school in person is incredibly dangerous at this time. I teach 80 sixth graders and I'm terrified of one of my students getting the virus. I'm also terrified for myself and my husband, both cancer survivors. My daughter has never been this sick in her life.Submitted by: Esther K
School: Carlson Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Delay opening of in person lessons in January
Comment: I urge the board to follow the metrics on the county's school reopening dashboard and return to virtual learning for all CUSD schools until the metrics improve. As you know, there is a 12 day delay before data is reflected in the school reopening dashboard for the 'current week.' The dashboard currently advises virtual learning with on-campus support for our district, and I'm sure the actual metrics are far worse today than when this data was captured. It would be irresponsible to endanger students, teachers, staff, and their families via in-person learning at a time when some local hospitals are already at 120% of their intended capacity and the post-Christmas and post-New Year's Eve surges are approaching. Please put safety first for our community!Submitted by: Frank M
School: Bogle Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Go virtual
Comment: You need to do what you promised parents, students, teachers, and staff and go back to virtual like the metrics show we should. It's only going to get worse. Stop putting the lives of our community in danger and do something that shows you care the slightest in our health and safety.Submitted by: Gabriela Q
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Covid -19
Comment: Given the current numbers in the state of Covid here in Arizona we should start school for the first two weeks virtually at a minimum.Submitted by: Gary B
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: CUSD should be virtual
Comment: CUSD should be virtual based on current conditions. This is the only way to keep our community safe. Board members should research the long term complications that often arise after infection (even mild cases). Personally I had a very mild case (was sick for 2 days) but later developed a pericardial effusion/severe heart inflammation. There is so much focus on death rate and not enough focus on the long term issues this virus causes.Submitted by: Geneva A
School: Chandler High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Online/ virtual learning
Comment: Recommend virtual teaching 100% until it's safe and there is data to support and mitigate risk of in person learning.Submitted by: Geoff G
School: ACP Oakland Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Close in Person - Go to Virtual - Original Metrics is Red - Use Original Metrics!!!! - Part 1
Comment: Close in-person learning, use original metrics as committed to until CUSD is meeting the original metrics that allow schools to re-open safely for in-person learning. We are putting students, teachers and other CUSD faculty at risk for no logical reason. Essentially all other school districts in the area have supported the correct, data driven, approach of whether or not in person or virtually learning is appropriate. It appears that most of the CUSD board members do not have teaching background/experience and are following the guidance of district leadership that also do not have teaching background/experience and cannot fully understand the risk they are asking faculty and students to be exposed to. It is not clear what makes CUSD unique that CUSD can stay open, while other districts are closing or modifying? We are being somewhat forced into putting our students and teachers at risk. Students may be able to recover safely, however if a teacher becomes sick, in essence all of thatSubmitted by: Geoff G
School: ACP Oakland Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Close in Person - Go to Virtual - Original Metrics is Red - Use Original Metrics!!!! - Part 2
Comment: teacher's students are put at risk as well as the teacher's, also their families, health. Not to mention CUSD has no backup plan for teacher that is out for COVID. In-person learning is the best educational experience for both teacher and student, but in-person leaning should not be considered at this time until CUSD and the health of our community meets the appropriate metrics.Submitted by: Gerrit B
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: Self
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual learning
Comment: As a concerned grandparent, we support virtual learning.Submitted by: GF
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: School Virtual Option
Comment: Hello, requesting that virtual be an ongoing option for the high school level for longer than just the first 2 weeks. I believe it should an option for the entire third quarter. All the metrics are showing very high levels of cases and hospitalizations. There is a significant risk level for high school students to catch the virus and to pass it on to others such as family members and others in the community. A student may or may not have symptoms, get sick or be asymptomatic but still pass it onto others who are significantly affected. The second quarter did not go well with going back to school. Our child had to quarantine twice and missed three weeks of school,and we were constantly worried about him catching covid. His grades were also greatly affected as school did not work well with students in class and the quarantined students trying to learn at the same time online. The first quarter was actually much smoother and went much better than the second quarter.Submitted by: Gina
School: Haley Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual learning
Comment: I feel it would be safe for the community right now given the high numbers and famalies that have not adhered to cdc guidelines of keeping covid from spreading . I understand children aren't as high as a risk , but the teachers are at risk it would be great for everyone to do 2 weeks of virtual to because of the holiday gatherings and traveling on airplanes . Thank you .Submitted by: Gina G
School: Hamilton High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Consider Mandatory 2 week virtual
Comment: I don't envy any of you and realize what a difficult position you're in right now. I accepted the optional 2 week quarantine for the start of Q3 however I think the covid numbers have continued to rise and so the plan should change. I recommend a mandatory 2 week quarantine with virtual learning during that time. Thank you for your time. GinaSubmitted by: Ginga M
School: Hamilton High Organization: Steward Health Care - Mountain Vista Medical Center and Tempe St. Luke's Medical Center
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: TO BE READ AT THE MTG MONDAY PLEASE: Covid response from CUSD to improve safety and equitable education
Comment: Hello :) and Thank you for taking the time to read my comments. I have left many comments and emailed members of the board and district admin regularly. The short story is - you are not listening to science, the medical community and the data, and I need (WE need) you to start now please!. I know that the voices of those who want the schools open and learning to be in person no matter what are very loud. The bodies that show up in person will for sure outnumber those who disagree because ..... showing up in person is dangerous right now. I know that there are articles that say.. paraphrasing... Kids are safe in school! But those articles also say that they are safe only when the community spread is low and when all mitigation strategies are maintained. The east valley community spread is very high. Mitigation strategies are NOT being maintained-there aren't enough qualified teachers to help maintain them; classrooms are full. You MUST delay the start of in person learning!Submitted by: Hayley Q
School: CTA Goodman Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Spring semester
Comment: Given the states current situation with regards to COVID numbers and hospitals having to stop elective surgeries. Please move to a virtual model for all. The current situation affects the entire community. While we have opted to keep our kids in COA due to our family's risk, we are still at the mercy of the community to keep the numbers low so that we can safety go to specialists, get blood work done and at a higher risk for needed services that may not be available or at the same quality with our hospital system being overwhelmed. No one wants to go virtual and it's a shame the community has gotten us to this point but given our current state it's necessary.Submitted by: Heather D
School: Chandler High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: COVID safety
Comment: I believe it is irresponsible to allow 2 days of in-person instruction to occur before our new school board meets to make decisions about our steps to facilitate a safe and effective learning environment. We have all seen the data and statistics about the massive increase in the number of cases and the spread of COVID in our state recently and we can reasonably predict that due to gatherings over the holidays, those numbers are going to continue to increase. I am BEGGING our leadership to make the right decision and implement on-line learning for the first 2 weeks of this quarter, just as many other districts in our state have done. This way, students and families can quarantine at home and still be able to learn from home. I hope and pray you will all make the right decision for our community. Thank you, Heather D.Submitted by: Heather M
School: Chandler High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Go back to virtual learning
Comment: Please do the right thing and move to virtual learning for at least the next few weeks until our state can get this virus back under control. Don't force our teachers to work in these unsafe conditions. When I selected in person for my son it was because the district said they will follow the state metrics. You essentially lied to your staff and families. Please do the right thing now.Submitted by: Heide K
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Learning after Christmas break
Comment: My children did not thrived in the 2 quarters they spent at home learning virtually especially my senior. My kids went back to school this last quarter and it was night and day. I don't have the perfect answer, but the safety levels in place at San Tan Jr High and Basha High school have been working. My kids will follow any instruction & have no problem w masks, distancing etc as long as it keeps them in school. Not only do they need in school instruction, they need to be around peers even if limited. I am sure teachers are concerned and I appreciate all they do and have done. We take great care in our home to keep our family safe so we in turn can keep everyone else safe. These are crazy times, but locking our kids down again does not seem to be the answer. My senior is missing a lot and has not complained, please don't send them back to virtual. Increase rapid testing, be honest about what is going on, big let's find a way to keep our kids in school. Thank you.Submitted by: Herbert D
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keeping learning online is the ONLY way to safeguard the safety of our teachers during this terrible pandemic!
Comment: PLEASE put the safety of our TEACHERS FIRST ! My daughter teaches at Casteel.Submitted by: I'd r
School: Weinberg Gifted Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Safety of the Staff and Students
Comment: Please protect the staff by sticking with the original promise of following the metrics. Community spread is extensive at this time and school should be virtual for the first 2 weeks after winter break.Submitted by: J
School: Rice Elementary Organization: Chandler Unified School District
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please Go to Virtual for the Next 2+ Weeks
Comment: Please follow the science and the recommendations of the MCHD and State Superintendent, Kathy Hoffman. Only 6/58 MCSDistricts are remaining fully open at this time. It is not safe to have students and teachers in-person. Our case numbers, deaths, and hospitalizations are at an all time high. Hospitals in Gilbert are housing patients in tents due to a lack of space. Please start to be proactive about your decisions during this pandemic. We need to be a model of compassion, critical thinking, and responsibility for our students and our community. We can be critical thinkers by finding a creative solution for this unique year that will service our students as best as possible. We can be responsible by following mitigation strategies and showing the community why this is important and how our actions affect the greater community. We can be compassionate for the overwhelmed healthcare workers and families with loved ones at high risk. Please go virtual for the next 2+ weeks.Submitted by: J B
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual for AT LEAST two weeks
Comment: Please move to virtual learning! I am in favor of in-person learning but with the community spread, incomplete CUSD dashboard tracing, the inability to social distance in grades 7-12, students not following guidelines outside of school, etc, it does not make sense to go back to in-person school. The health and safety of teachers, students and staff (and the families they go home to) need to be priority and a temporary shift to virtual learning is necessary until the community spread is in yellow and on an downward trend. Community metrics show all three in red and since the virus does not stop at the school gates, students should not be on campus until they are improved. Thank you.Submitted by: Jamie D
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Safety for All
Comment: I am a teacher and parent of a student who attends a CUSD school. I am asking for the board to protect the health and safety of our teachers, staff and students by allowing for two weeks of online instruction to proceed in person instruction, following this winter break. Please allow time for people to show symptoms of at home, before exposing others to the virus. As a teacher who's whole family got Covid before the break, it is not easy to recover from and took time away from our jobs and we still are not 100% back to health. This is not just the flu. There is no formula to how and to who gets it. The impacts long term are still unknown. Please respect us and our families enough to provide a safe return to learning.Submitted by: Janelle G
School: Basha High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Close in person go virtual
Comment: Stick to the original metrics! 3 weeks triple red, yet you are sending kids back for 2 days until board meets to review the results of a review committee- you are causing unnecessary exposure. There are families and kids playing unmasked in parks in groups of 7 or more kids. Everyone meeting from Xmas are just becoming eligible to show as a positive case. Anyone from New Years will return to school asymptotic and then show up in a week. Virtual option for high school was great but that still doesn't protect if you don't allow siblings the same privilege- where is the equality cusd is known for? This is an absolute shame and mockery of the scientific standards set by dept of public health. Stop putting our kids and teachers in jeopardy!Submitted by: January B
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Covid concerns/move to virtual
Comment: Please look at all the uncontrollable variables and rising cases in the community and temporarily move to virtual learning for at least the junior high and high schools! The behaviors outside of school we are seeing and hearing about is irresponsible. If schools are to be open, everyone needs to take precautions because the virus doesn't stop on the school grounds and is shared with peers, teachers, staff and the families they go home to, whether they know it or not! Thank you for your time and Happy New Year.Submitted by: Jason R
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual for 2 weeks
Comment: School should be virtual until community spread is reduced and hospitals no longer are on the brink of being overwhelmed. Please follow the County metrics.Submitted by: Jen K
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Live Virtual Learning After Winter Break
Comment: I would like to go on the record that I would prefer safe live virtual learning for students at least 10 days (2 full school weeks) after this winter break. My hope is that teachers/school personnel and students return to in person learning immediately after this 2 week quarantine period.Submitted by: Jenelle H
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In Person Learning
Comment: Please revert to on line learning until the positivity numbers return to a safer level.Submitted by: Jenna Q
School: Hamilton High Organization: Parent
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: GO VIRTUAL UNTIL SAFE
Comment: It is absolutely insane for you to expect your teachers to do BOTH in person and virtual learning. Go virtual and let them focus on that. I'm so tired of parents who complain loudly AND IGNORE SCIENCE being given priority. Go virtual now.Submitted by: Jennalynn F
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual learning
Comment: I urge you to make the right choice and move CUSD schools to virtual learning until it is safe based on the original metrics established by the board when the district returned to in person learning. I also ask that the voices of your district's teachers and staff be included in your decision making as related to education models for the remainder of the pandemic. The Maricopa county school dashboard indicates that schools should be fully online due to high levels of COVID. Additionally, Arizonaas a state has hit substantial spread levels. State Superintendent Kathy Hoffman expressed her support for a two week shift to all virtual learning in accordance with scientific recommendations based on the current positivity rate and the fact that many students will have engaged in gatherings over break.Submitted by: Jennifer
School: Elite Performance Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Return to virtual
Comment: There is a surge of Covid cases, record cases, hospitals nearing capacity and we haven't hit the peak. Contact tracing and isolating cases and potential spread is very difficult. I am following CUSD guidance for calling out when I have symptoms and am running out of sick leave. 6 days ago, I tested for Covid and am still waiting on a result. There are many others in my shoes. The school dashboard is useless if we cannot get timely data.. It is too risky to be open. Return to virtual to protect our educators and students. Return to virtual to protect our vulnerable populations. Return to virtual to protect our healthcare system. Return to virtual to protect our entire community. It is too risky.Submitted by: Jennifer
School: Elite Performance Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Return to virtual
Comment: There is a record surge of Covid cases, hospitals nearing capacity and we have yet to hit a peak. Contact tracing, isolating cases and minimizing spread is near impossible. I am following CUSD guidance for calling out when I have symptoms and am running out of sick leave. 6 days ago, I tested for Covid and am still waiting on a result. There are many others in my shoes. The school dashboard is useless if we cannot get timely data. Return to virtual to protect our educators and students. Return to virtual to protect our vulnerable populations. Return to virtual to protect our healthcare system. Return to virtual to protect our entire community. Status quo is too risky.Submitted by: Jennifer H
School: Conley Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Requesting options for elementary
Comment: Please provide options for virtual instruction at the elementary level at their neighborhood school instead of ONLY COA. COA has not been a successful option nor is it for short-term choices. Please invest in consultants and other resources to improve the quality of virtual instruction so that parents have a choice that is not going to be harmful for their children. PLEASE!Submitted by: Jennifer H
School: Patterson Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Covid-19
Comment: Please move all school to online for at least two weeks. Inasmuch as our children need to be with their peers, until we have established all families have been quarantined, we have to keep our children healthy. Please take care of your staff and teachers - go online until after MLK Jr Day.Submitted by: Jennifer J
School: Conley Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Requesting options for elementary
Comment: Please provide options for virtual instruction at the elementary level at their neighborhood school instead of ONLY COA. COA has not been a successful option nor is it for short-term choices. Please invest in consultants and other resources to improve the quality of virtual instruction so that parents have a choice that is not going to be harmful for their children. I am a single parent through adoption without support or resources so I understand the draw of in-person learning. BUT I do notfeel it is safe to return in-person after seeing the latest data, watching the community make choices that impact exposure risks, and considering the health histories of myself and my children. However, I am told by my administration that I have only two choices: COA for the whole quarter (which also means losing teachers we love and spots in classes/school that we also love) or truancy. These are not choices I can make responsibly. I have also reviewed pictures, videos, and so on from my daughSubmitted by: Jennifer K
School: Rice Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: virtual until safe
Comment: Please go virtual for the first two weeks. Our hospitals are full, our numbers are high, our community needs to quarantine form their choices made over break. It is not safe for anyone, elementary or secondary, to be in person right now.Submitted by: Jennifer L
School: Carlson Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Delay opening of school for in person learning
Comment: With the alarming numbers of positive covid cases, it would be a good idea to delay the opening of school for in person learning at least 2 weeks to make sure students attending school Do Not have Covid. With symptoms that take time to incubate and manifest, we should get ahead of the spread instead of playing catch-up. We've learned from previous months the benefits of getting ahead of the spread. We shouldn't make the same mistakes.Submitted by: Jennifer M
School: Santan Junior High Organization: Also Basha Elementary
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please return to virtual learning
Comment: Please use the benchmarks as agreed to at the beginning of this school year to make decisions for in person schooling. According to current data, schools should have reverted back to virtual learning long ago. Please make decisions that keep our children and their teachers safe.Submitted by: Jennifer S
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person school
Comment: I am OK with schools going virtual for the first 2 weeks, as long as it is just those first 2 weeks. Kids need to be in school.Submitted by: Jenny I
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual vs in person
Comment: I understand the concer of in person after break. Please allow parents the option to stay home for 2 weeks or go back. Allow parents to make the choice.Submitted by: Jenny S
School: Perry High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Covid
Comment: Please have all options virtual for first 2 weeks after break( including inperson)Submitted by: Jessica K
School: NONE OF THE ABOVE Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: 2 Week Closure
Comment: Although I do not currently work for CUSD or have children attending the schools, I spent my entire education in the district and taught there before staying home to raise my (currently 2 year old) son. I recognize how difficult this decision must be for the board, and I know that there is no easy answer. Ideally, our government leaders would be providing stronger leadership to keep our teachers and children safe. But they are not. There are parents out there who may wish adamantly to keep theirchildren in the safety of their homes, but cannot make that decision due to work restraints, or other obligations, until it is REQUIRED because of a school shutdown. They may very well be grateful for the closure that could spare their family's lives. There are teachers who began the year trying to teach in the classroom because they wanted to be there for their students, but are now terrified of the deaths they are seeing. They would be grateful for a shutdown. Please return to distance learniSubmitted by: Jessica N
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to virtual learning until metrics improve
Comment: I urge the board to follow the metrics on the county's school reopening dashboard and return to virtual learning for all CUSD schools until the metrics improve. As you know, there is a 12 day delay before data is reflected in the school reopening dashboard for the 'current week.' The dashboard currently advises virtual learning with on-campus support for our district, and I'm sure the actual metrics are far worse today than when this data was captured. It would be irresponsible to endanger students, teachers, staff, and their families via in-person learning at a time when some local hospitals are already at 120% of their intended capacity and the post-Christmas and post-New Year's Eve surges are approaching. Please put safety first for our community!Submitted by: Jianfeng C
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Close in-person school
Comment: for the safety of teachers and community, please switch to online school, and close in-person lessons for now.Submitted by: Jill m
School: Perry High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Move schools to fully online
Comment: With the covid numbers so high and the knowledge that they will only go higher I'd like the board to have perry move to fully online until the numbers go down. Asking the teachers to teach both online and in Person while giving preference to those in person is asking too much if the teachers and our kids will suffer. I want my 2 girls to be online but know they will beat a disadvantage as the teachers will not pay as much attention to them.Submitted by: Jill S
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Just 2 Weeks!!
Comment: Since you refuse to follow the benchmarks set for Az schools to close, perhaps you will follow the CDC guidelines that say you should quarantine for 2 weeks after traveling. Since you have NO idea where these children were over break, 2 weeks makes complete sense in order to slow the spread of Covid-19, so schools can stay open in the long run. Not to mention that the new strain of Covid-19 is affecting young children & there are long term effects. Do what's right! JUST TWO WEEKS!!Submitted by: JoAnn E
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: On line learning is the only way to keep our teachers safe from Covid 19.
Comment: Please keep our teachers safe!Submitted by: Joanne
School: Hamilton High Organization: Parents
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Go back to virtual for the entire 3rd quarter
Comment: I recommend to allow students to back to virtual for the 3rd quarter to keep students, teachers, and student's family safeSubmitted by: Joanne
School: ACP Oakland Organization: Parents
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Go back to virtual for the entire 3rd quarter
Comment: I recommend to allow students to back to virtual for the 3rd quarter to keep students, teachers, and student's family safeSubmitted by: Jocelyn R
School: Santan Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual until numbers go down
Comment: Schools should have been open in the fall when Covid spread was minimal, but also needs to return to virtual at times where community spread is out of control. We need to balance the need to be in school (and there is a real need) with the realities of the pandemic. Our hospitalization numbers are higher than they were in July (when we were the worst in the country and were able to pull resources from other states) and we cannot proceed as normal. The fact that 500 local teens attended a NYEparty (and many parents are justifying it) is terrifyingSubmitted by: Jocelyn R
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Temporary virtual
Comment: I want kids to be in the classroom, but feel that it is not safe to do so at this time due to community spread and overwhelmed hospitals. Following only school metrics does not give an accurate picture. I am almost certain my son caught Covid at school, but he had no known exposure (noone else in the family had it and he only attended school and did not go anywhere else). Please return to virtual until there is lower community spread (per Maricopa County guidelines) and then reopen as soon aspossible. The virtual option available for 2 weeks is insufficient as teachers are not required to engage the students in any way.Submitted by: John
School: NONE OF THE ABOVE Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Remote Learning
Comment: It's time to keep your politics to yourself and act in the best interest of our children and thier families. The Covid-19 numbers are worse than ever and the metrics used to send our kids back to school now support a return to remote learning. Our teachers staff and children need to be the priority.Submitted by: John F
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: COVID
Comment: With 17,000 cases today, it is clear the spread of COVID will cost more lives. We must do everything we can to protect the public which includes returning to virtual learning.Submitted by: Johnathan D
School: Patterson Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Covid safety
Comment: With the case counts on the rise, and a recent holiday for many students including travel it makes sense to do distance learning to ease back into school for the protection of students, parents, faculty and staff. We know cases will balloon after the holiday, it makes sense to at very least wait a couple of weeks for the Christmas case surge to calm before returning to in person instruction.Submitted by: Jon M
School: Willis Junior High Organization: Steward Health Care - Mountain Vista Medical Center and Tempe St. Luke's Medical Center
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please help reduce the number of hospitalized covid patients.
Comment: My wife and I both work face to face with Covid patients in a busy hospital. We are tired, exhausted really... and completely emotionally drained. Here are a few stories I'd like to share* because the community spread is dangerously high and we need your help by closing in person learning now!!(*HIPPA safe). Our ICU is full of covid pts(ie: patients). Most of them are on vents. Many were made at a car factory and aren't very good. Most of my pts are dying. Most of my pts are the age range of 20-55, which is the age of many parents of our kids in school. Most of my pts start of seemingly fine, but need oxygen. All of my pts cannot have visitors to sooth them. I have NEVER seen so much death! WE NEED YOUR HELP! PLEASE NO IN-PERSON LEARNING UNTIL THE RATES ARE IN A SAFE ZONE OR YOU CAN PROVIDE EQUITABLE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS FOR ALL IN A SAFE WAY! I understand the dangers of too many kids at home. But with the loss of so many of our community members, I really need you to listen!Submitted by: Jonah D
School: Chandler High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to virtual school until metrics are safe
Comment: With numbers increasing and hospitals filling up please follow the original board decision to return to in person learning only when metrics are safe for ALL students and staff.Submitted by: Jonalyn I
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please offer a viable virtual option for our kids THAT IS NOT COA
Comment: Please offer a viable virtual option for our kids THAT IS NOT COA, IT IS NOT A GOOD OPTIONSubmitted by: Jonalyn I
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please consider going virtual the rest of the year to keep our kids safe!!!!
Comment: Please consider going virtual the rest of the year to keep our kids safe!!!! If you will not go all virtual please at least offer a viable virtual option so I can keep my kid safe!! COA IS NOT A GOOD OPTION for our kids!!!Submitted by: Joseph C
School: Casteel High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: COVID-19 Concerns
Comment: Your efforts to have parents and students follow your COVID-19 protocol have failed. Medical professionals have projected COVID cases to surge to unprecedented levels, (1/3/2021- 17,234 cases reported). Close CUSD schools to protect students, faculty, and the community at large!Submitted by: Julie
School: Carlson Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Request for In Person after 2 week virtual
Comment: Please, please, please, if you are going to return to virtual, PLEASE consider returning to in person after a 2 week period. My triplet Kinders NEED to be at school in person. They NEED the experience of Kinder with peers, a classroom, a teacher, support staff, and the experience of school. They have learned SO MUCH during since September. It took my son until AFTER Thanksgiving to become adjusted to school. He experienced SO MUCH anxiety after not starting until September. He is so looking forward to returning and seeing his friends and teachers. I'm begging you to let the kids he kids and teachers be teachers after a 2 week break extension to help us flatten the curve.Submitted by: JW
School: Payne Junior High Organization: parent
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Move online
Comment: Please move classes online. Please don't contribute to overwhelmed hospitals and put our kids and their teachers at risk. We agreed to send our kids in person when you assured us that when cases rose, hybrid or virtual options would be available. To change those guidelines without providing additional options to parents, teachers, and kids is disheartening and misleading. Two of our three children have been exposed at school so far this year.Submitted by: K D
School: Navarrete Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Virtual Until Safe
Comment: Today, 17,234 new Covid cases were reported in Arizona. Our hospitals are full and our community is in a crisis situation, and it is getting worse each day. Staff, parents and students are afraid for their safety; working in an unsafe environment is not conducive to learning. It is impossible to learn adequately under such stress and fear. We need to slow the accelerating spread of the virus; ignoring county health recommendations will only cause the current crisis to get worse. I know manystaff members who have to feed their families so they cannot afford to quit their jobs, but they are worried as many have significant health conditions that put them at risk. As a school counselor, I know many of the unique and diverse needs of parents, staff, and students. I listen to them daily and their anxiety and fear are at heightened levels. Our families have lost loved ones to the virus, and are worried that more will get sick and die. I know grandparents having to raise their young gSubmitted by: K S
School: Chandler High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual learning
Comment: The number of cases of COVID19 are currently too high for students to be doing in person learning. If there were restrictions in other parts of society or if a majority of people were doing the right things we would be able to keep schools open. Unfortunately, businesses will remain open (per Dr. Christ) and people are not making good choices (large parties, gatherings, travel). While giving the option of virtual learning for the first 2 weeks is good for kids, it does not help teachers. The schools would not run without teachers. Teacher tenetion is essential to your success and also to retaining students. Please consider a return to virtual instruction until teachers can get vaccinate and feel safe returning. It is up to the school district, once again, to keep the community safe. Keep the services open for kids who have specific needs and close the rest. Thank you for making the hard choice.Submitted by: Kat M
School: Willis Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Final Exams
Comment: Please consider an emergency session (if needed) to suspend finals for all students this term. My student does not feel safe in the building, and I do not want to send my student in to take finals. If taking them virtually is not an option, please consider suspending them altogether. WE KNOW BETTER than to do this to kids. Pushing forward with finals is an inappropriate use of the summative assessment process. Please do not penalize and traumatize students unnecessarily.Submitted by: Katherine K
School: Chandler High Organization: CEA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Return to Virtual Learning for the safety and sanity of your staff
Comment: Enough people are speaking to the safety of us being in school. I want to address the added stress this is causing on your teaching staff. Our mental well being is in way worse shape than the risk to our physical well being recently. We are being stretched TOO THIN. We are continuously being asked to do more and more with less and less, and we keep doing it. We are all ready to snap. I have had almost 30 of my 110 students quarantined since the middle of October. 2 of them have tested positive for Covid-19. Every single class period I have to deal with anywhere from 1-3 kids that are quarantined, another 2-4 that are staying home with symptoms, and then the other 15-20 that are trying to learn in person. I am teaching Live on Meets while also trying to meet the needs of students in my classroom. I am spending my entire prep hour each day emailing and calling parents of students who are out to make sure they are getting the materials they need. I am responding to student emailSubmitted by: Katherine K
School: Chandler High Organization: CEA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Return to Virtual Learning for the safety and sanity of your staff (Continued...)
Comment: (continued from previous comment...) I am responding to student emails and Remind messages literally around the clock. And then I come back and do it again and again, day in and day out. I'm trying to revamp my curriculum to accommodate for students who are not in person while also trying to make it as engaging as possible for students that ARE present. It is a never ending battle with a revolving classroom door. I have never seen morale so low in my 19 years as an educator. We have already had several staff members resign and several retire early (that I know of) and dozens more are close to breaking and walking out the door. We all love our kids, and we love our job, but this is just not sustainable. We're working 60+ hours Monday-Friday alone to try to accommodate for all these setbacks and we just can't do it anymore. You have asked and asked and asked… and we have stepped up and we have done it. But we literally cannot do it any longer.Submitted by: Katherine K
School: Chandler High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: All schools need to be virtual the first two weeks of Q3
Comment: Dear Board Member, With our COVID cases continuing to rise and hospitals filling up, please have the Chandler Unified School District follow the original plan (as was promised to staff and students) and have the district switch to virtual instruction for the first two weeks following winter break for ALL STUDENTS. This will give the district time to review the data and make a safe decision for how to proceed after those first two weeks. Please follow the science and help slow the spread in ourcommunity.Submitted by: Katie
School: Hull Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to virtual learning
Comment: I feel like I am in the movie, The Impossible,and the tsunami wave is inching closer and closer to me and it's just a matter of time before the wave hits (Covid-19). Teachers are selfless and this is why we do what we do. Remember, we also have families and our own health to think about and we are not invincible. A pandemic has occurred, which rarely occurs in anyone's lifetime. I don't want to call this situation special, but it is! Covid 19 is the villain, not teachers! Our job is to guide children to success, to assume we would want anything less is offensive and manipulative. Please do what's right for our health as teachers, staff , students, and community and return to virtual learning until it's safe.Submitted by: Katie G
School: Payne Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual learning is the safest for now
Comment: As an employee and a parent in CUSD, I feel that going virtual for at least 4 weeks or longer is the safest way to help decrease community spread. Numbers are at an all time high ans it is impossible to social distance at all grade levels. I fear we will start to see severe illness and death within the district if something is not done immediately. We were given metrics to follow and assured the district to follow suit , but CUSD did not keep up their end of the bargain.Submitted by: Katy Y
School: Patterson Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual for 2 weeks
Comment: I want my children and children's teachers to be safe. Please consider going virtual to mitigate the exposure from the holidays.Submitted by: Kayla G
School: Bogle Junior High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Request to remain virtual until safe
Comment: At this time I believe it is imperative that the board not only considers going virtual for all schools in CUSD, but that they make the decision to do so sooner rather than later. The case count in Arizona continues to climb, as we all know, and many teachers, myself included, are concerned and scared about returning this week. The CEA has been in communication with the board as well and made their demands known, yet they are not being met. A meeting on Wednesday night is too late to be having this discussion. Schools will have been open for two days at that point with thousands exposed. I know many of my students were planning on traveling over break and do not have the intention of quarantining after their travels. I have seen colleagues get covid and are still dealing with the effects weeks after their quarantine time. I am someone who has had medically important things come up this past month and I cannot get sick with covid for fear of the outcome. Please move to virtual learning.Submitted by: KD
School: Bogle Junior High Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Follow the agreed upon health benchmarks
Comment: When I decided to let my student return to Bogle it was with the understanding that CUSD would be following the public health guidance provided in the county schools COVID-19 Dashboard. CUSD should be making plans to temporarily return to all virtual learning with onsite support. Yes, we all agree that IN School is absolutely the best option for our kids but we are in the middle of a pandemic and can not ignore this. I do appreciate that we have a 'two week' virtual option for Jr High and High School students for the first two weeks back, however, this is not a solution to the surge that we are seeing and may be worse after the winter break. Please do not assume that the parents who chose in-person want their students in school when public health guidance is clearly indicating that it is unsafe. Please help us navigate this latest surge with teacher, staff, student, and community safety being the highest priority.Submitted by: Ke F
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual class
Comment: High school should be virtual at least the 1st 2 weeks of the coming semester due to COVID situationSubmitted by: Kelly B
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Option for 2 Weeks Post Winter Break
Comment: Hi, my son is in 5th grade at Tarwater Elementary. Being that so many families gather around the holiday season, can we have an online option for the first 2 weeks of school after Winter Break as is being offered to grades 7-12?Submitted by: Kelly K
School: Bogle Junior High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual first two weeks
Comment: Please meet immediately to discuss current metrics. AZ is reporting 10,000 cases a day, hospitals are full, and vaccines are not close. As a parent and teacher, I am requesting a meeting before students arrive on campus Tuesday morning. The hospitals are too full to care for those of us who become infected and we are terrified.Submitted by: Kelsey O
School: Weinberg Gifted Academy Organization: Parent
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Go Virtual
Comment: Please follow the health metrics abs guidelines and put chandler 100% virtual. You are putting all our students and staff all at risk by refusing to go 100% virtual. You are adding to the community spread which is making our hospitals dangerously full. CUSD must follow the science and the guidelines and go to 100% virtual as the numbers dictate. Thank you.Submitted by: Kendra D
School: Navarrete Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Virtual Until Safe
Comment: Today, 17,234 new Covid cases were reported in Arizona. Our hospitals are full and our community is in a crisis situation, and it is getting worse each day. Staff, parents and students are afraid for their safety; working in an unsafe environment is not conducive to learning. It is impossible to learn adequately under such stress and fear. We need to slow the accelerating sprea d of the virus; ignoring county health recommendations will only cause the current crisis to get worse. .Some worrythat our children will suffer academically if taught virtually for a few weeks, but they are also learning an important life lesson; how to survive a pandemic while keeping their loved ones safe. Life struggles can be the most powerful lessons learned while at the same time helping our students to develop character and resilience during difficult times. All who survive the pandemic will heal in time, but those who die will not get that chance. Please help to keep our vulnerable citizens safe.Submitted by: Kendra D
School: Chandler High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to Remote Learning
Comment: Community spread of Covid-19 is far too high for safe in-person learning. The county benchmarks that you agreed to let guide you have been red for weeks. For the safety of our students, teachers, and the community, please return to remote learning for 2-4 weeks. Large gatherings are not safe. Why are we asking teachers to host them daily?Submitted by: Kerri Z
School: Chandler Online Academy Organization: Parent of a Perry High School Freshman
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Instruction Should Be Implemented
Comment: As a teacher and a parent of CUSD, I am outraged and disappointed in the actions of the District in not following the County metrics, ignoring the medical community and lack of transparency. To wit: 1) The spread of COVID-19 in the community is at an all time high, and the county metrics indicate all learning should be virtual. As a community leader, the District should take a stand to help flatten the curve and slow community spread by putting all students back in virtual learning. Our hospitals are already overwhelmed, and with the discovery of the new, more contagious variant of COVID in Arizona, the reality is lives will be lost due to a lack of resources and staff in our hospitals. My husband is a hospital doctor here in the Valley and they are already having to ration care. Returning to virtual learning is not only about keeping our teachers and students safe, it is about the District doing their part for the community at large.Submitted by: Kerri Z
School: Chandler Online Academy Organization: Parent of a Perry High School Freshman
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Instruction Should Be Implemented
Comment: To continue to my previous comment: 2) It is outrageous that the District verbally indicated at the last Board meeting and in a follow-up email that if students choose the optional two week model parents must be aware that the focus will be on in-person instruction. That is ridiculous. All students are entitled to quality instruction. By having ALL students in a virtual model, teachers can implement quality instruction for ALL students. By admitting up front that the quality of instruction for virtual students will be substandard due to teachers having to teach in two modalities is making kids suffer the consequences of parents trying to keep them safe, rather than the District doing the right thing for ALL kids. My child should not have to suffer poor quality instruction because we follow the science and the medical experts and keep him home for his safety and our safety. The message being sent is clear - all students are not entitled to quality education in CUSD.Submitted by: Kerri Z
School: Chandler Online Academy Organization: Parent of a Perry High School Freshman
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Instruction Should Be Implemented
Comment: Continued comments: 3) A return to virtual instructions does NOT mean school is closing. Teachers are working harder than ever trying do the best for students. We are in the middle of a pandemic. Stop asking more and more of teachers. Give them the support they need to be successful. Virtual learning is not perfect, but our teachers are amazing & if they can focus their attention on all their students in a virtual platform, they will be able to do amazing things. CUSD touts that they have the best teachers in Az. If that is truly believed by the District, then listen to what the teachers are saying and support them.Submitted by: Kerri Z
School: Chandler Online Academy Organization: Parent of a Perry High School Freshman
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Instruction Should Be Implemented
Comment: Continued comments: 4) I have been a CUSD parent for over 20 years and a teacher in the District off and on for over 13 years. I have never been more disappointed, outraged and disillusioned by the the Board and the District. I have been fearful of reprisals for speaking out, but as a parent I am also a stakeholder. I pay my taxes. My voice counts and should be heard. CUSD needs to step up and be the community leader it claims to be. Virtual learning will not be forever, but it can make a HUGE difference for so many lives. Human life is worth more than the abhorrent 1% survive mantra being spouted. CUSD has suffered the deaths of staff and families. It is time for CUSD to lead and do the right thing.Submitted by: Kim P
School: Hamilton High Organization: In Person Teachers at the secondary level
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: In person learning post Winter Break and vaccinations
Comment: I request the the CUSD School Board: 1. Follow the original promise to teachers to return to virtual learning when the metrics became red, which they are. 2. Return schools,especially secondary schools, to virtual learning for at least a quarantine period of two weeks. 3. Contact the governor to apply pressure to get vaccine promised to school personnel ASAP and make a plan for distribution now so we can be ready when the time comes.Submitted by: Kimberley J
School: Rice Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: In Person vs virtual learning
Comment: I would like the district and the board to please consider elementary for at least the same two weeks of virtual learning that 7-12 is doing in order to lessen the rise in cases in our community.Submitted by: Kortney A
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please delay
Comment: We parents are begging you to do the right thing for the children of our district. The schools need to go virtual. We know of several who have it, some who have died, several in the ICU and I can tell you personally that parents who are getting notified that their kids are exposed at outside events, clubs, sports and working places are STILL sending their children to school since school isn't the one who told them so they don't know. This is NOT okay. We moved to Arizona and to Chandler based onCUSDs reputation for their dedication to their students. Please, please go virtual and help with the stop. This should not even be a debate. Other districts are doing the right thing. Please follow suit.Submitted by: Kris
School: Perry High Organization: Students in CUSD schools
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please move virtual
Comment: Thank you for your efforts during an impossibly difficult set of circumstances. Our hospitals are full, our metrics are in red. High schoolers are having super spreader New Year's parties. Please honor your commitment to parents and teachers to honor the metrics. Please move virtual until the metrics improve.Submitted by: Kristen S
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to Virtual Learning
Comment: Please return to virtual learning now until the original reopening benchmarks are met: less than 10 cases/100k; less than 5% positivity rate; and less than 5% CLI. Look at the current data for CUSD! The community spread of Covid-19 is completely unchecked, and it will only get worse for the next several weeks.Submitted by: Kristin S
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual
Comment: Cases are at an all time high, hospitals are running out of room, massive parties are being thrown with no regard for others health- schools need to be virtual the first few weeks of January at least. we were told that when matrices went red, we would be virtual. Why can't the board keep its word?Submitted by: Kristine B
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Reopening of schools
Comment: Hello, I do not understand and am quite alarmed the schools are staying opening for in person with the recent rate of increase of the coronavirus spread. We closed last year when there was much less risk, and now there is a new variant that children are getting and showing symptoms. The UK now has wards dedicated to sick CHILDREN with COVID. Please don't let this be us. Our hospitals are already reaching full capacity with adults. There's no room for children. Please be responsible and go virtual.Submitted by: Kristy R
School: Bogle Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Raging Pandemic
Comment: I was a public school teacher for 20 years and am now an ICU nurse. I am also helping to facilitate my niece and nephew with their online learning. While I know that in person learning is the optimal situation for most kids, I do not believe that is feasible or safe at this point. We have expanded our ICU space by 100% to facilitate all of our COVID patients. We are losing several people every day and the beds never stay empty for long. I have personally lost patients as young as 19 years old with no last medical history. To put our children and teachers and staff in danger is irresponsible and should not be an option at this time. Educators asked for metrics and recommendations from the state and those should be followed.Submitted by: Lacie W
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Due to the influx of rising cases, schools should be closed and go back to online learning.
Comment: Due to the influx of rising cases, schools should be closed and go back to online learning.Submitted by: Laura
School: Chandler High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to Virtual Learning
Comment: Right now based on the county metrics we should be 100% virtual learning with on site supports. Going back full in person on January 5th, 2021 does not follow the guidelines set by the state. In Arizona we are seeing a large number of daily covid-19 cases. It is not just about our students, but the families they go home to. Many of our families live in multigenerational households and by being in person we are putting all of these families at risk. We also know that many families and even stafftraveled and spent the holiday break with people outside their household. We need to start virtual and follow the metrics and not return to full in person until the metrics allow. When we went back to school in October 2020 we were promised that we would follow the metrics. At this time we are not doing that. It feels like what we were told would happen and what is happening are two different things. I agree that students need to be in school, but not at the cost of life. Virtual until its safe.Submitted by: Laura P
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Instruction Needed
Comment: Percent positivity is ridiculously high. Hospitals are full. We need to protect the community and have school virtual until metrics are better..Submitted by: Laura T
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: School Safety
Comment: I am requesting that the board consider at a minimum a 2 week online period for all schools. We are seeing incredibly high infection rates and need to keep our students, teachers, and families safe.Submitted by: Lauren A
School: ACP Oakland Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Until Safe and a True Virtual Option when it is Safe to Return
Comment: Dear Superintendents and Members of the Board, Please close the schools until the community spread of covid is under control. Most companies are asking their employees to stay home when possible and work virtually, if able. This includes the State College I work for. The fact that many large companies and colleges do not deem it an acceptable risk for people to work in person, even if I can be more productive at work, is very telling. We must offer the same opportunities for teachers. How onearth can CUSD justify 20-35 children in a classroom when businesses won't even allow 5?? Even the businesses that are open are trying to reduce numbers, do social distancing, and offer virtual options. I agree that students learn better in person, no argument there. My children have been in COA this year and it is not been a positive experience for them. I am a high school teacher with a Master's Degree in Education and I know COA is a shameful cop-out, as an offer to have students do onlineSubmitted by: Lauri R
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Jan 04 CUSD Governing Board meeting: All Arizona schools should be Virtual, not in-person.
Comment: I sent an email with full comments. I expect CUSD to return to virtual schooling immediately, strictly follow the AZDHS Covid-19 School Benchmarks, and return to school with a hybrid model when it is deemed safe to return in-person. AZDHS indicates that all three of the COVID-19 School Benchmarks metrics are in the red and all schools should now be VIRTUAL for the recommended school delivery model. Arizona schools' Superintendent Kathy Hoffman called for Gov. Ducey to order all schoolsto remain in distance learning for two weeks after winter break. If it were up to me, my daughter would be doing online school this year, but I have 50/50 custody with her father and he will not allow it. When CUSD reopened schools in person it was under the pretense of strict Covid mitigation rules, the guarantee of everyone's safety, and a set of benchmarks followed. At some point without telling anyone, CUSD changed their benchmark policy about going back to virtual, allowing schools to stSubmitted by: Laurie A
School: Weinberg Gifted Academy Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please go to online live instruction!!
Comment: Thank you for considering the current situation and the current overwhelming amount of Covid spreading in our area. This is not a safe situation for the students, teachers or other people associated with keeping the schools open for in person learning. With the amount of travel and the case count so high, I believe it would be the only rational option at this point. Please do what is right in regards to keeping everyone safe. With the teacher led online instruction this goal will be accomplished. Thank you.Submitted by: Lavanya A
School: ACP Erie Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: DO NOT OPEN SCHOOLS IN Q3 and Keep In-Person Virtual Option for Remainder of School Year
Comment: The increasing numbers of COVID positive cases is hugely concerning and the estimations for the next few months is definitely not worth taking risk with schools operating in almost full capacity. I'd definitely like to propose a virtual learning model in addition to the in-person for those who aren't comfortable sending their kids to the school for whatever reasons they may have. The online option provided through COA is DEFINITELY NOT A VIABLE OPTION especially for high schoolers who have to deal with rigorous AP course work with little to no live instruction. This makes it even more stressful for the kids. I'm hoping our voices would be heard and the request would be accommodated. Thanks!Submitted by: Leah L
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual learning
Comment: Please look at the guidelines from the state that you said you would follow and move all students to virtual learning until not all three metrics are in RED. It is the responsible thing to do. Thank you for your time.Submitted by: Linda
School: Bogle Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Go Virtual NOW
Comment: The law I of planning by this district is appalling. The metrics have been red for three weeks and we haven't even seen the Christmas/ NYE stats yet. The teachers no longer are covered by the Cares Act if they get Covid and have high deductible policies. The admin and board need to protect the staff. The new strain will be here quickly and that one is more susceptible to children. Virtual until safe.Submitted by: Linda L
School: ACP Erie Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Distance Learning
Comment: Please extend the distance learning until the COVID statistics decline. AZ is a hotbed of Illness and death. You KNOW this. Please act responsibly.Submitted by: Lisa C
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: School safety during Covid
Comment: I urge you to make the right choice and move CUSD schools to virtual learning until it is safe based on the original metrics established by the board when the district returned to in person learning. I also ask that the voices of your district's teachers and staff be included in your decision making as related to education models for the remainder of the pandemic. The Maricopa county school dashboard indicates that schools should be fully online due to high levels of COVID. Additionally, Arizonaas a state has hit substantial spread levels. State Superintendent Kathy Hoffman expressed her support for a two week shift to all virtual learning in accordance with scientific recommendations based on the current positivity rate and the fact that many students will have engaged in gatherings over break.Submitted by: Lori C
School: CTA Freedom Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Plea for virtual instruction
Comment: Please hear us teachers. Kids ARE coming to school sick. It is putting us teachers and our families at risk. I am 7 months pregnant and there are too many unknowns to subject my health and the health of my baby to these risks. I have always felt valued as a teacher in CUSD until this year. 70% of teachers did not feel comfortable returning in person before break and that was completely disregarded. We are asked for our opinion and concerns but I fear it will be pushed aside for fear of losing parent satisfaction. I am saddened but our districts current priorities. Please allow us to return to online learning so teachers and students can be safe. Thank you for taking time to read my concerns.Submitted by: Lori R
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Until Safe
Comment: I implore the Board to vote for all schools to go virtual for at least the first two weeks and then re-asses based on community spread as recommended by the AZDHS to avoid unnecessary risk for students, teachers, and all families.Submitted by: LS
School: Haley Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual until safe
Comment: Please!! As a parent and teacher I am begging the board have ALL schools go virtual for two weeks the slow the spread. We have had all 3 metrics red for 3 weeks. Plenty of data to show community spread is great. I have seen families from around the district not put safety first over the holiday. Now we are sending them back into the classroom to increase the spread. Data shows more and more kids are getting sick. 'Young' healthy people are being admitted to the hospitals. How many teachers, staff and students have to get sick and possibly die before we take action. Please put safety and data first! #virtualuntilsafeSubmitted by: Lyle B
School: ACP Erie Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: COVID
Comment: I am begging you to follow the healthy metrics established for safe learning. We should not be in person right now and as parents, YOU HAVE PROVIDED NO OPTIONS! COA is full and you won't allow us to join.Submitted by: Lynda B
School: NONE OF THE ABOVE Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Work remotely
Comment: I lost a co- worker ( a teacher) from Covid. Teachers and their families as well as your students need to remain safe. As a teacher with Lupus, I am so thankful for my school board for understanding the dangers of in person learning. Please keep your teachers, students, staff and community safe.Submitted by: Lynetta J
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Covid
Comment: Virtual learning is the safest way right now for both our grandchildren and our teachers. This could help slow down the number of positive tests. Plus it allows more time to get the shots out to people. If we do nothing the number of cases and deaths is only going to go up. Please do our part for just a little longer.re time toSubmitted by: Lynne H
School: Bogle Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Resuming In-person School Should Pause
Comment: I respectfully request that the board follow the guidance of Superintendent Hoffman and resume virtual learning for two weeks or until AZDHS benchmarks are met.Submitted by: Madonna N
School: Jacobson Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: ICU is full. Keep kids home.
Comment: Keep kids home until ICU overload is over. We can't afford to have kids get sick or hurt right now when there's no room for them in the hospitals.Submitted by: Marisa N
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Virtual Learning
Comment: Please consider returning to a virtual format for AT LEAST two weeks, though preferably until the metrics have returned back to yellow/green. This was the original plan, and you have reneged on it. I am concerned for the safety of myself, my friends, and my family while we are still doing in person learning and the rate of infection and numbers being what they are. This is forcing me to choose between the health and wellness of a household with several individuals with prior health conditions and being able to provide for my medically fragile daughter. Being told by the community to either shut up or quit is affecting my mental health, and I no longer feel safe teaching in a CUSD classroom.Submitted by: Mark B
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Distance learning ASAP
Comment: As a concerned parent with a spouse in classrooms, I strongly ask that the board vote to return to distance learning when returning from break for at least two weeks. We have seen the irresponsible choices of students this break and with the Covid numbers in the community as high as they are, students WILL bring the virus into schools! High schools are the most at-risk because they can not socially distance and the parties and gatherings they attend are more frequent. Since COA is not a viableoption for most students and we have no other virtual option with live teaching, many are forced to choose between in-person learning (which is not safe for anyone) and leaving the district, which we do not want to do as we moved specifically to be in the CUSD boundaries for the quality education. Please make the temporary decision for at least the high schools to move to virtual until the community metrics (not the CUSD dashboard) are steadily trending down to green and are out of the red.Submitted by: Mark B
School: NONE OF THE ABOVE Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Go Virtual!
Comment: I am the proud parent of two elementary teachers here in the Chandler Unified School District. I have decided that I need to speak out as a parent and medical provider. We've given the on-line, hybrid and in person learning a go. Now is the time to decide which boat will get us across these viral floodwaters to safety on the other shore. The effort needed to keep our children safe and learning is on- line until enough vaccinations and falling positivity rates determine when it is safe to returnto in-person classroom learning. Family members who are at risk need to be protected. We are responsible to them and for them. Hope for a 'year from now things will be better', should remain the focus of our prayers and our actions. Thank you all for all that you do to make so many lives matter.Submitted by: Marla
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Close in person learning - Use Original Metrics - Move to Virtual Learning (Not COA) High School
Comment: My request is to close at the very least the high school level in person until COVID numbers in our community comes down. Chandler COVID cases are extremely high. We have asymptomatic high school kids that are spreading COVID to the community. This is my concern! The COVID dashboard does not report all the cases and certainly does not count the kids walking around with no symptoms at all. As such, this is absolutely the wrong tool to use to make decisions for our kids and the community. Use the original metrics that you promised you would use when we made our decision to come back to in person learning. All other districts have closed. You decisions impact our kids AND the community spread. Please base your decisions on data from the experts in their field!Submitted by: Marsheila R
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Remote schooling/virtual option
Comment: I've had @ least 1 kid in district for 15+ years & I have never seen such mismanagement & duplicity before now. You wonder why enrollment is plummeting & teachers are rebelling? B/c cases are skyrocketing & you're not following the metrics you told us you would follow. Close the schools & offer a teacher-led virtual option for 7-12 instead of the disaster known as COA.Submitted by: Marsheila R
School: Ryan Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Remote schooling/teacher-led virtual option
Comment: I've had @ least 1 kid in district for 15+ years & I have never seen such mismanagement & duplicity before now. You wonder why enrollment is plummeting & teachers are rebelling? B/c cases are skyrocketing & you're not following the metrics you told us you would follow. Close the schools & offer a teacher-led virtual option for 7-12 instead of the disaster known as COA.Submitted by: Martha V
School: ACP Erie Organization: Husband at Hamilton and kids at Hamilton, Bogle and Fulton
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: GO virtual and follow metrics
Comment: Based on the incredible increase in COVD cases because of the holidays, I am strongly urging you to mandate all schools go virtual for a minimum of 2-3 weeks. Also, perhaps we can follow what the AZ Dept of Health recommends or do a hybrid where some students are in person half of the week and the other half the other days. I do not want more people to die and I would like to do what's right for both sides of the argument so the hybrid model seems to be a good solution that many districts aroundthe country are using. Thanks for listening and considering the health and safety of all.Submitted by: Mary H
School: Hamilton High Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Go back to virtual learning
Comment: The under 20 year old positivity numbers are increasing dramatically. Its time we go back to virtual learning until our teachers can be vaccinated and the numbers start to decrease. Lets put all of our students on the same learning curve instead of some in school and some in Google Classroom. Let the High School students that missed finals arrange with their teachers to come in to school on a specific day and time to make up those tests. It's time we keep our teachers and students safe so that no one gets this virus or brings it home to family members.Submitted by: MaryJo L
School: NONE OF THE ABOVE Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Covid Numbers
Comment: Please consider virtual learning while the Covid numbers are so high, for the health and safety of students and staff! BSubmitted by: Maureen C
School: Willis Junior High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Go virtual
Comment: Way more Covid positive cases than when school started....almost 19k in two days!! You need to go virtual again until it's safe. Teachers are creative but doing in person and virtual seems a bit much. I'm not sure how that is giving the best to students. Arizona is the second state in the country with the highest number of cases. I thought we have been asked to be safe and smart. Having kids in and out is neither safe or smart. With the new strain that spreads even faster there's more risk of numbers skyrocketing. This will put an even greater strain not only in our schools but on the medical field which we all have need for care. Please do the smart thing. Go back to virtual like when school started until it's safe!!Submitted by: Maureen T
School: Chandler High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: No in-person yet!
Comment: If you have reliable data which show students really are 'better off in the classroom' while hospitals are near capacity and Covid numbers are so very high, please share it. Otherwise, 'better off in the classroom' is just a dangerous taking point. Also, the 'options' for AP and IB students are not options. You either have to go in person to crowded classrooms and crowded, maskless lunch tables or you have to leave the program. You're sticking it to the very students that make CUSD look good.Submitted by: Maxana G
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Reconsider School Opening Plans
Comment: Dear Barb Mozdzen, Lindsay Love, Joel Wirth, Jason Olive: Please revise school reopening plans to virtual instruction until the county metrics deem it is safe to return to live instruction. Arizona is setting records with case numbers and hospitals are filling up while people in the community continue to attend large gatherings and refuse to follow mitigation strategies. Our numbers will continue to rise over the next few weeks due to holiday celebrations and a complete disregard for mitigationstrategies. Please have the Chandler Unified School District follow the original plan (as was promised to staff and students) and have the district switch to virtual instruction for the first two weeks following winter break for ALL STUDENTS. This will give the district time to review the data and make a safe decision for how to proceed after those two weeks. Please follow the science and help slow the spread in our community.Submitted by: Megan
School: Rice Elementary Organization: Staff
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual learning for the next two weeks, if not more
Comment: I am a teacher at Rice elementary. I teach an upper level grade, and I will tell you firsthand we are not socially distanced. I will say however that the staff and students are doing their best to keep things sanitized and safe, it is absolutely not attainable with this many people in one building. I do not feel safe. I am also finding it extremely difficult teaching hybrid. We have overcome so much in the past year professionally. And we have been willing to jump through countless hoops. However, this is absolutely ridiculous to expect us to continue to be face-to-face and hybrid. I am suffering emotionally, mentally and physically, and it hurts to see some of the publics views and unsupportive feedback and actions, on teachers during this time. I truly believe that the children will be fine, and everyone will be fine, as long as we follow CDC guidelines, and start shutting everything down again.Submitted by: Melissa
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: District-Wide Virtual Learning
Comment: It was stated in September that when one of the metrics was in the red for two consecutive weeks, the district would return to virtual learning. Then It was changed to all three metrics. We have been in the red for over two weeks with conditions only getting worse. Over 17,000 new cases were reported yesterday. Two weeks after Christmas. Coincidence? What will it be next week? The number of students testing positive and quarantining due to exposure may be higher in the junior highs and high schools, but it is affecting elementary schools as well. My grade level has 24 students per class. That is too many to keep everyone safe after so much exposure has happened over break. Please implement a DISTRICT-WIDE return to virtual learning for at least the next two weeks so we can keep students, teachers, and all other staff safe.Submitted by: Melissa
School: NONE OF THE ABOVE Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Learning
Comment: It was stated in September that when the three metrics were in the red for two consecutive weeks, the district would return to virtual learning. We have been in the red for over two weeks with conditions only getting worse. Please implement a district-wide return to virtual learning for at least the next two weeks so we can keep students, teachers, and all other staff safe.Submitted by: Melissa D
School: CTA Independence Organization: Parents
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Covid-19
Comment: My husband and I are both doctors. We are seeing firsthand how overwhelmed our hospital is with COVID-19 patients right now. Community spread of the virus is out of control the schools have a responsibility to keep teachers and students safe. They also have to do their part to reduce community spread of the virus. I urge you to keep the kids virtual until this pandemic subsides and transmission within our community is at a lower level. It is your responsibility to make the best decisions for ourchildren. Their mental health will be injured if they or their loved ones get sick.Submitted by: Melissa H
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep our teachers and Kids safe!
Comment: I believe we need a 2 week Quarantine period for elementary students so that we may feel that students and teachers are safe to return after most people were traveling and visiting with families this winter break. This would slow the spread for our community.please be responsible and have all elementary students virtual learn for first 2 weeks of 3rd quarterSubmitted by: Melissa W
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Go virtual
Comment: COVID cases are out of control. It is not safe for teachers or students to be at school. There is 30% positivity and over 17,000 new cases today. Listen to the benchmarks!!! Keep your staff safe and have a heart!!!Submitted by: Merri C
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Support for Virtual Learning in Elementary School
Comment: I respectfully ask that the CUSD board return elementary schools to virtual learning, for at least the next two weeks. Our state has quickly lost control of our ability to control Covid-19. Case numbers today are over 17,000, the highest single day recorded for AZ. Our hospitals are over-crowded and will soon have to determine who they can care for and who they can't. I am frustrated that teachers and families went back to in-person learning, with the understanding we would go virtual when it was no longer safe (metrics in red). We now have all 3 metrics in red and are still continuing to teach in-person. This is not safe for our students, staff or families. The next two weeks are vital in limiting exposure after holiday gatherings that occurred in our community. I am asking the board to please respect the health and safety of our CUSD community and do our part to control the spread of this virus.Submitted by: Mia B
School: Riggs Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Hybrid Learning for 2 weeks post winter break.
Comment: Hybrid learning for 2 weeks post winter break would be greatly appreciated simply due the rise in number and holiday travel.Submitted by: Michael H
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Coronavirus and Virtual Learning
Comment: As a parent, grandparent, and father-in-law of teachers and students in CUSD #80 , I have serious concerns about returning to in person learning on January 5, 2021. The staggering increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in Maricopa County and statewide should be information enough for the School Board to make the decision not to return to schools at this time. The Christmas get-together numbers are obviously showing up with over 17,000 new cases Sunday. Then we will deal with the New Year'sincreases in cases. It is not safe for teachers, staff, and students to return to school at this time and I ask the Board to show their legitimate concern for everyone at this time. Thank you!oCountySubmitted by: Michael l
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Follow the metrics
Comment: There were benchmarks and metrics set up when School was allowed to be done in person. To abandon them when metrics are the worst they've been is irresponsible to the community as well as the teachers and staff. Go 100% virtual until numbers decrease and schools can can fix the dashboard transparency.Submitted by: Michele B
School: NONE OF THE ABOVE Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Virtual learning January 2021
Comment: For the safety of students, teachers and support staff, ALL schools need to remain virtual until the number of positive cases decreases enough.Submitted by: Michelle D
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Remote learning
Comment: We need to make sure our community and especially our teachers have a safe and healthy environment to teach and learn in. Keep learning remote until the numbers come down. Thank you.Submitted by: Mike W
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Go back to virtual learning
Comment: January 4, 2021 marks the most Corona Virus cases reported in one day and cases are on the rise. Families have spent the last two weeks celebrating holidays and traveling. It is not prudent to go back to in person learning at this time. What happened to one benchmark being in the red to go virtual? All three benchmarks are red and we are scheduled to have students return to in person learning. What side of history do you want to be on. I understand that this is not an easy decision that has beenlaid at your feet, but this is a pandemic, nothing is going to be easy. Please start listening to your teachers who are on the front line. Please go back to virtual learning for at least two weeks.Submitted by: Mindi M
School: Chandler High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Our community's safety
Comment: Dear Board Member, With our COVID cases continuing to rise and hospitals filling up, please have the Chandler Unified School District follow the original plan (as was promised to staff and students) and have the district switch to virtual instruction for the first two weeks following winter break for ALL STUDENTS. This will give the district time to review the data and make a safe decision for how to proceed after those first two weeks. Please follow the science and help slow the spread in ourcommunity. Missed education can be made up. We cannot replace lossed lives.Submitted by: Minny F
School: NONE OF THE ABOVE Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Keep everyone safe.
Comment: On line only with everyones health the top priority as science dictates all mandates should be followed.Submitted by: MT
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Close in Person - Use Original Metrics - Move to Virtual (Not COA)
Comment: Close in person learning! Use the original metrics you promised when parents made the decision to send their kids back to school. The dashboard is inaccurate and lacks any transparency. There are too many restrictions and rules that come with the dashboard. Asymptomatic kids are spreading the virus to our teachers and community.Submitted by: MT
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Close in Person - Go to Virtual (NOT COA) - Original Metrics is Red
Comment: All three metrics are in the RED. You can't use an inacurate dashboard to base your decisions for our schools. Your decision also impacts our community! Move to a virtual platform (not coa) until numbers begin to go down.Submitted by: MT
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: All Original Metric in Red - Close In Person Learning
Comment: Please ask yourself why the numbers keep going up and the CUSD Covid Dashboard magically stays low. It is grossly inaccurate! You tried it, it isn't working. We have asymptomatic kids that are spreading Covid to our community. You have a responsibility to our community to do more. Follow the original metrics, follow the science, not a made up Covid Dashboard that may or may not show a case based on what? Its time!Submitted by: Nancy H
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Covid-19 and virtual learning.
Comment: I am the mother and mother-in-law of teachers in CUSD80. Both are high risk because of health issues. I am asking the board to strongly consider virtual learning for all students for at least a minimum of 2 weeks. Today AZ had the highest rate of Covid-19 reported ever, over 17,000 cases. In the last 3 days that total is over 36,000 cases. Theses statistics are staggering! We need to assure the health and safety for our students, their teachers, and ancillary staff. This not only affectsthe school system but our entire Chandler Community. Please use your authority to follow all the guidelines set forth to protect all of us until the case load and ongoing health situations can be evaluated and return to virtual learning for all students. Thank you..Submitted by: Nate
School: Hull Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Learning
Comment: My son attends CUSD and my wife works for the district. Although in-person would be the option that would be best for students learning, it is the deadliest option. I am appalled that I have to beg the board to keep my son and wife safe. Please make the right decision and go virtual until it is safe. Protect your students AND teachers!Submitted by: Naveen N
School: Hamilton High Organization: CUSD
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Continue Google Class Rooms and give option to parents to opt for google class rooms.
Comment: Please give google class room option for kids who do not want to be in person and who want to study according to school curriculumSubmitted by: Nicole B
School: Patterson Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In-person learning during COVID
Comment: COVID cases are surging and are far worse than they were in March and August. Let's return to remote learning for the first quarter and hope that by the second quarter, numbers will be down and vaccinations will be up.Submitted by: Nicole H
School: Casteel High Organization: Nicole Hare
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep our kids in person.
Comment: Our schools are doing amazing. Kids are not spreading the virus in school. These kids need to be in school. I am really worried about my son who has anxiety if he comes back home. He was not doing well sitting in his room doing school work. He started getting more and more depressed. That scares me more than a virus that is not hurting out kids. But, I promise you depression is...Please keep them at school and families that prefer to stay home have the option to log onto google classroom.Submitted by: Parthiv V
School: Hamilton High Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Instructional learning - google meets/classroom with teacher - as an option for 2020-2021 grade 9-12
Comment: Please offer Virtual Instructional learning - google meets/classroom with CUSD teacher - as an option for 2020-2021 grade 9-12. It's not equitable to ask kids who prefer safety to self learn. Please provide Equitable Education for all secondary students.Submitted by: Pat r
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please do the right thing!Have you seen the numbers?
Comment: I think it's time to move to online learning. I feel like CUSD is letting so many people down! I would gladly move my son to COA but it has a horrible reputation.Submitted by: Patrick C
School: Auxier Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: 2 week online learning
Comment: We appreciate the transparency and how you are dealing with COVID and the dashboard. This is why we chose to change our children from QCUSD. My wife has congenital heart disease and we need to be safe. We entrust you will make the right decision to keep people safe. We would support an additional 2 weeks of online learnig as the new quarter starts. We feel this is the safest option for all students and teachers. Thank you for all you do.Submitted by: Patti S
School: CTA Humphrey Organization: Parents for Education Equity
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Until it's Safe
Comment: Hello CUSD Board Members, This healthcare emergency is incredibly personal to my family as a CUSD parent, Aunt, Sister to a 20+ year CUSD educator and friend to many who work so hard for and alongside our kids. I am imploring you to please represent our community's best interest by following the science & what clear evidence continues to demonstrate:cases continue to rise with 35% of recorded cases coming in Dec 2020 alone, a new strain of COVID-19 that appears to be more contagious is coming orhere and the holiday break will result in another surge (case in point, Dec coming off the heels of Thanksgiving break). I ask that you please act in the best interest of all of us: our educators who put themselves at risk daily while in the classroom, our staff, our children, our families and effectively our communities that inevitably span across neighboring cities. This means we return to virtual learning minimally the first 2 weeks back from Winter break. Let's save lives & stresses.Submitted by: Paula F
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual School in January
Comment: Please make schools virtual until the teachers can get immunized. It is not safe to have students in schools after the holidays.Submitted by: Payal V
School: Hamilton High Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Instructional learning - google meets/classroom with teacher - as an option for 2020-2021 grade 9-12
Comment: Please offer Virtual Instructional learning - google meets/classroom with CUSD teacher - as an option for 2020-2021 grade 9-12. It's not equitable to ask kids who prefer safety to self learn. Please provide Equitable Education for all secondary students.Submitted by: Phil H
School: Hamilton High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep the schools open.
Comment: Why are you letting these teachers control the decisions this board makes? The students need to be in person. My kids cannot especially my Senior cannot do online again. She was not successful and harmed her future. It is shameful you don't think of the students who want to be in class. You continue to fail the students with your ridiculous decisions. Hold the teachers to their contracts if they call out for no reason then they shouldn't be teaching and show they don't care about the students. As someone who works in education I want to be in person with my students at all times as I know the importance of in person learning. This is supposed to be about the students not the teachers who want a different agenda. Keep the schools OPEN! If parents want virtual then let them, but my kids want and need in person learning. Don't screw with my senior's future anymore.Submitted by: Ping S
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: offer virtual learning the whole 3rd quarter
Comment: as whole country and community, we continue to gain more knowledge about the virus and treatment and we continue to take better measurement, but guess what, we are in the worse and worse situation. In short, we continue to be falsely optimistic. COA is not a viable alternative. My two kids have been in COA so far. They pretty much teach themselves. There is NO live teaching! Tempe school district already offered virtual learning for whole 3rd quarter. Why can't we?!Submitted by: Rachael N
School: Andersen Junior High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual until safe
Comment: Virtual until safeSubmitted by: Rachel P
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Online school
Comment: We had Covid over break. My Junior tested positive on 12/20 with no symptoms. The only symptom he had was loss of smell. Had we not had Covid in the home I would not have tested him and we would have not noticed the lack of smell. He would have been at school exposing all the teachers staff and other students. You say kids are safer at school but I think you are missing the big picture. There are hundreds of staff being exposed and that lies in your hands. Why not go online for two weeks oruntil metrics fall into the safe limits? I feel CUSD has not been prudent in the handling of this pandemic and am frankly embarrassed. Rather then thinking of safety of the CUSD it feels decisions are fiscally driven. There are other districts handling this so much better and I thought CUSD was an example but not in this pandemic. It feels like the experts you gather are only those who support your side. Please be more objective and I ask as a parent you go back online for community safety.Submitted by: Randall C
School: Ryan Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please return to remote learning
Comment: Dear Board, Arizona is in crisis. Hospitals are nearly out of beds, thousands of new infections happen each day and the death count continues to rise. Despite precautions, our children continue to be at risk from exposure at school and they are the primary risk point to our entire family. It is our civic duty to stay healthy for the good of the community; we just need your help to enable us to do so. Close the schools.Submitted by: Rebecca C
School: Auxier Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: current crisis situation
Comment: To whom it may concern; I am writing to implore you to reflect on your reasoning as to why you chose to be a part of the school board. Were you committed to assisting CUSD in becoming a premier district in AZ or fueling your own personal agenda? Due to the current COVID spread and metrics per the health department, the recommendation is that we be virtual until spread is decreased. While guidelines are not law, the newest trend is showing that the virus is beginning to impact younger children and is more transmissible. By refusing to follow these guidelines you are complicit in the spread that is occurring and will occur at school. Virtual learning is not ideal, but school safety has always been the primary focus anyways. Again I ask you to reflect on why you chose to run for the seat you have been elected to. If you are truly there to benefit CUSD please look at data and leave your personal opinions and beliefs at the door.Submitted by: Renee H
School: Casteel High Organization: Chandler Unified
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Virtual
Comment: Please go virtual at least the first two weeks.Submitted by: Robert F
School: CTA Humphrey Organization: Parents for Education Equity
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Until it's Safe
Comment: As a CUSD parent and resident, I am asking you to please support us by representing our community's best interest by following the science & what clear evidence continues to demonstrate: cases continue to rise with 35% of recorded cases coming in Dec 2020 alone, a new strain of COVID-19 that appears to be more contagious is coming or here and the holiday break will result in another surge (case in point, Dec coming off the heels of Thanksgiving break). I ask that you please act in the best interest of all of us: our educators who put themselves at risk daily while in the classroom, our staff, our children, our families and effectively our communities that inevitably span across neighboring cities. This means we return to virtual learning minimally the first 2 weeks back from Winter break. With over half of teachers surveyed expressing they don't feel safe, we must listen, stand with them and let them lead as those directly impacted.Submitted by: Robin F
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Virtual learning
Comment: The metrics we were promised would indicate a need for virtual leaning have all crossed into the red. Regardless of politics, funding, or a minority of vociferous parents who ignore science, the need for safeguarding public health must take priority. Spending January virtually can mitigate the spike in COVID cases caused by family and other gatherings and not further exacerbate then stress on the public health system. Again, we were promised this would be the scenario, given the current metricsSubmitted by: Rosaura M
School: Perry High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Pleas go Virtual teaching until metric are lower
Comment: I am pleading you consider going back to virtual until metric are back to desired. Give it 2 to 4 weeks and reevaluate if safe to go back. I want kids to be in person but not safe right now. I have an aunt with Covid that had to wait a long time for ICU bed. So many infected people please let's be smart and protect not only kids but teachers, staff, bus drivers, and parentsSubmitted by: Ryan B
School: Basha Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Two Week Virtual Model
Comment: I am concerned with the current plan put in place for resuming classes on January 5th during the COVID-19 pandemic. The well-being of my students and their families, as well as myself and my family, is potentially being put at risk. Many families chose to travel and hold large gatherings over break. This has resulted in an increase of an already alarming spread of Covid-19 in our state. On January 1st and January 2nd, the state reported a combined total of 18,951 new cases. On Sunday, January3rd the state reported 17,234 new cases. The positivity rate in CUSD is skyrocketing. This is a real problem, and it is likely only going to get worse. We must follow the health recommendations put forth by the Maricopa County Health Department. Therefore, I am writing today to make a request: That you to modify our school schedule for a two-week virtual model to allow for families who travelled and had large gatherings to quarantine to allow for a safe return to in-person learning.Submitted by: Ryan B
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please wait to open schools
Comment: Please for the safety of everyone wait to reopen in person. The hospitals are full and this virus is spreading really fast. Protect the staff and the students of CUSD. Virtual school is better than attending a funeral or a memorial. Students are getting this, teachers are getting tithes. The metrics are horrible. There is no easy decision but I feel that the staff and support teachers need remembered too!Submitted by: Ryan R
School: Elite Performance Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Schooling
Comment: As someone with a small child and spouse in CUSD, I would like to address the board to share my concerns regarding the well-being of my loved ones. My message is simple, just follow the science and honor the benchmarks that were reasonably set up at the outset of all this. I urge you to be leaders in this moment and do the right thing by taking our teachers and children out of harms way and into the safety of virtual learning.Submitted by: Samantha C
School: ACP Erie Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual instruction
Comment: Given the metrics (remember, you promised to follow those metrics in the beginning - numbers collected by data professionals - not a school dashboard that is missing mountains of information), please move us to virtual instruction. Many parents are extremely hesitant to sign their kids up for the voluntary virtual option because they are put at a disadvantage since the main focus is on in-person learning. If everyone were virtual, it would be a level playing field. The last thing we need to do is add additional stress for the kids who want to protect themselves and their families. You are forcing families to choose between physical and mental health. When EVERYONE is home and learning virtually, it is not nearly as difficult. The teachers are also not stretched in two different directions. Learning virtually is not ideal but it can be done well for short periods. Put us in virtual mode for 2 weeks!Submitted by: Sara N
School: ACP Erie Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Learning for at least the first two weeks for all for Q3
Comment: Our local COVID situation is the worst it has been, yet CUSD is irresponsibly flying in the face of the State's recommendations. Your decisions in March and July continued my faith in CUSD, but with infection rates increasing, hospitals filling, and deaths rising, CUSD should implement remote learning again. There is an online option, but this version is not on par with the rigorous curriculum provided by ACP, where both my children attend. We want our children to attend ACP, yet we also want them and their teachers to remain healthy.Submitted by: Sara N
School: ACP Oakland Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Learning for at least the first two weeks for all for Q3
Comment: How unfair of CUSD to demand the teachers cater to both in-person and virtual students for two weeks and put the decision on parents whether to send students Jan 5-15. The reasonable solution should be the same for all students--remote learning. We don't understand CUSD's desire to be one of, if not the only, EV district to be in-person. Unacceptable. With news of 600+ teachers planning a sickout Tuesday, CUSD knows how teachers feel, and we are certainly not the only parents who feel this way.Please start Q3 with remote learning for all until our COVID numbers are on a steady decline. This situration is dire. Please restore our family's faith in CUSD by making at least the first two weeks of Q3 remote learning for all.Submitted by: Sarah F
School: Casteel High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Return to virtual while metrics are red
Comment: The county superintendent has recommended a return to virtual. This really should be the end of the discussion.Submitted by: Sarah F
School: Basha Elementary Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: I support fully virtual for all grades for at least two weeks following winter break.
Comment: I support fully virtual for all grades for at least two weeks following winter break.Submitted by: Savanna S
School: Casteel High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Concerns for in-person learning.
Comment: The board should reconsider in-person instruction for this upcoming quarter. Many districts in the surrounding area have already made shifts to virtual learning and Chandler's dismissal of these prospects ultimately shows a lack of concern for student and staff safety. With a new strain of COVID discovered in Colorado and California it is likely that we will see the mutation very soon. Unfortunately, we cannot trust our students and the community at large with the responsibility to behave in a way that keeps schools open. With no mask mandates, travel or gathering restrictions we cannot trust that the community has done it's part to curb the spread. Things are much worse now state wide than they were in March or in June. You must reconsider the decision that you made in mid-December as it reflects only one perspective of this issue. Let's stand up and say that enough is enough. We must draw a line for the people that you are elected to serve. Do what's right.Submitted by: Scott C
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: Parent
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: CUSD needs to honor its own commitment and suspend in-person instruction until COVID metrics improve
Comment: I do not appreciate CUSD's failure to follow through on its own promise to close in-person instruction in favor of online learning if any one category was red. All THREE categories are red, yet your current plan is to maintain in-person instruction. Teachers and students were asked to make a choice about whether to come back to in-person at the end of the 1st quarter, and they made that decision based on CUSD's assurance that in-person instruction would be stopped if the COVID situation worsened. The COVID situation has not only worsened, but is now worse than it ever was back in the spring/summer. I am asking CUSD to please honor its commitment to temporarily eliminate in-person instruction until the COVID metrics indicate that it is safe to resume.Submitted by: Scott I
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please consider going virtual the rest of the year to keep our kids safe!!
Comment: Please consider going virtual the rest of the year to keep our kids safe!!!! If you will not go all virtual please at least offer a viable virtual option so I can keep my kid safe!! COA IS NOT A GOOD OPTION for our kids!!!Submitted by: Senika T
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Onsite attendance
Comment: Please be cautious of what on site learning impacts will be after winter break. Online learning will be key to keeping all as safe as possible. Please consider moving all classes to online/virtual.Submitted by: Shannon A
School: NONE OF THE ABOVE Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual until safe
Comment: I have 4 nephews and a niece who all attend chandler schools. I know that 2 of them live with immunocompromised adults. Please consider implementing a minimum 2 week virtual return to help prevent further spread and deeper community impact!!Submitted by: Shannon P
School: Basha High Organization: N\A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person learning
Comment: In light of our continued increase in COVID-19 cases, I think it would be beneficial for CUSD to have virtual learning, district wide, for all grades at least for the next 2-3 weeks. This would allow us all to evaluate the statistics further to come up with a better plan for approaching the next several quarters. With the amount of community spread, it is inevitable that the number of positive cases will increase in the school system.Submitted by: Sharon K
School: Andersen Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Virtual learning
Comment: As a patent of a graduate and former teacher, all schools should be required to be in virtual learning following state recommendations. To do otherwise endangers the health of our community.Submitted by: Sharon T
School: Rice Elementary Organization: Parent
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Close the elementary sites or provide virtual instruction
Comment: There is too much comunity spread and the district needs to stick to the original metrics and promises you made your stakeholders when we agreed to try in-person after quarter 2.Submitted by: Shelley K
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Shift to virtual due to COVID surge
Comment: Our Governor CLOSED our schools for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year when the cases were way lower. Now cases are astronomical and we aren't moving to virtual? This makes no sense. Please do what is in the best interest of our TEACHERS AND STUDENTS and move to virtual only until cases are decreasing consistently. Give the vaccines a chance to be effective! Our teachers are NOT expendable!Submitted by: Sherri
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Until Safe
Comment: Prior to the beginning of the 2020-21 school year, CUSD took a survey of staff members. Based on the results of that survey, CUSD assured staff that if we returned to work that CUSD would be following the state and county metrics. That was a lie. Instead, CUSD adopted their own metrics which can be manipulated so that we will never meet them. Meanwhile, ALL state and county metrics are currently in the red. The state and county recommendation is for education to be provided virtually. Prior to this, the recommendation was for CUSD to be in a hybrid model. We have never been hybrid. Having classrooms with 30+ students in them every day is not a hybrid model. It is business as usual. Walk into any secondary classroom and you would not know that we are in the midst of a global pandemic except for the fact that the students and teachers are wearing masks.Vote to go virtual until the state and county metrics improve. While we are virtual, come up with a plan for a TRUE hybrid model.Submitted by: Sherri S
School: Perry High Organization: Parent
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Go online
Comment: I already sent an email to all board members. But I add this to plead with you to go online for at lease the next two weeks (if not longer if needed). Thank you.Submitted by: Sonakshi S
School: CTA Independence Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Close CUSD To Save Lives, Please
Comment: I urge you to make the right choice and move CUSD schools to virtual learning until it is safe based on the original metrics established by the board when the district returned to in person learning. I also ask that the voices of your district's teachers and staff be included in your decision making as related to education models for the remainder of the pandemic. The Maricopa county school dashboard indicates that schools should be fully online due to high levels of COVID. Additionally, Arizonaas a state has hit substantial spread levels. State Superintendent Kathy Hoffman expressed her support for a two week shift to all virtual learning in accordance with scientific recommendations based on the current positivity rate and the fact that many students will have engaged in gatherings over break.Submitted by: Stacy B
School: Casteel High Organization: Parent
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to Virtual Learning
Comment: As per the CDC, state, and county guidance: CUSD should be in a virtual learning platform until community spread is no longer substantial. The level of spread in our community does not allow for a safe in-person learning environment. Teachers and students need to be learning online, safely. This is not about what group of parents are loudest; it is about using Science and data to form decisions and guide planning. While virtual, please work as a team with district admin to establish equitablevirtual learning platforms so that when in quarantine or by choice; secondary students can learn via online instruction with a CUSD teacher. Teachers, students and parents trusted that CUSD would follow the original health benchmarks as voted upon; please uphold that decision and guide our community into a safe, virtual learning model. Thank you.Submitted by: Stefanie C
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Covid Concerns
Comment: I implore you to make the right choice and move CUSD schools to virtual learning until it is safe based on the original metrics established by the board when the district returned to in person learning. I also ask that the voices of your district's teachers and staff be included in your decision making as related to education models for the remainder of the pandemic. The Maricopa county school dashboard indicates that schools should be fully online due to high levels of COVID. Additionally, Arizona as a state has hit substantial spread levels. Unfortunately people have ignored the pleas of government officials and medical professionals to stay home; some parents in the Chandler Unified school district are even hosting 500 person parties for their kids and local businesses are going ahead with their large New Year's Eve events. This has left us with no choice but to close schools in order to protect students, staff, and the community at large.Submitted by: Stephanie B
School: Chandler High Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: COVID and virtual instruction
Comment: Please consider virtual instruction while the community spread of the virus is so high. This virus is still new, and the full understanding of the damage to the body is not fully understood. I really do not want my teenage children to start their adult lives with possibly irreversible damage because they were given no choice, but to attend in person school. The CDC says to follow state health department guidelines. The state guidelines say it is best to have all virtual instruction while metrics are in the red. It just makes common sense! I would not want to sit in a classroom with 30 plus kids for 2 hours at a time. It is obviously a high risk choice, if you do not want to get sick. Teenagers spread this virus just like adults. Sometimes, we have to make sacrifices for safety.Submitted by: Stephanie L
School: Chandler High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Covid
Comment: With our COVID cases continuing to rise and hospitals filling up, please have the Chandler Unified School District follow the original plan (as was promised to staff and students) and have the district switch to virtual instruction for the first two weeks following winter break for ALL STUDENTS. This will give the district time to review the data and make a safe decision for how to proceed after those first two weeks. Please follow the science and help slow the spread in our community.Submitted by: Stephanie M
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Instructional models
Comment: CUSD originally promised we could select our instructional model each quarter but we're forced to decide for the whole semester. Numbers are sky high due to holiday gatherings. We must support and protect our teachers. Yea it's true transmission is low among children... let's protect the teachers and staff. Start the semester virtual and bring everyone together after the holiday on the 18th. CUSD is implementing good mitigation strategies, but we are kidding ourselves calling the model hybrid.Two weeks to show our teachers that we support them and care about their health and safety is a reasonable ask.Submitted by: Stephanie S
School: Basha Elementary Organization: Parent of students
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to school dashboard numbers
Comment: I'm extremely disappointed in the lack of clear and good options available to all. We are beyond 9 months into this situation. The metrics agreed upon need to be held. Even with all the accounting changes the metrics are out of control. Why is this important? Well, the hospitals are at capacity and beyond. Critically ill patients are being treated and left in the hallway with minimal monitoring because there just isn't enough staff or room. Immunocompromised people are being infected putting increasing pressure on the medical system, the families, and the community at large. Stop this madness! Make appropriate online options available immediately. Decisively. Move forward with confidence and stop this wavering!!!!Submitted by: Stormy R
School: Willis Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Need for virtual instruction
Comment: It has been two days into the new year of 2021 and the number of cases of COVID-19 is at 18,951 in Arizona. The community spread is extremely high. Hospitals are over capacity. There was just a huge party that was hosted by a Perry High School student, and attended by hundreds of students, most who go to CUSD schools. Although getting a COVID committee is a step in the right direction, having them meet the day before students return and then having a board meeting two days after students returnto decide a mode of instruction is not acceptable. It will be too late because staff and students will be exposed to the virus already. Parents and teachers need time to plan regarding modes of instruction and having these meetings so late is counterproductive. Please consider the health and well being of all involved, especially the teachers and school staff, when making a decision. Please choose to go virtual at least the first two weeks of the third quarter.Submitted by: Susan L
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Return to virtual learning
Comment: For the safety of our students, staff, and their families, please return to virtual learning until the metrics and health authorities deem it safe to return in personSubmitted by: Swati A
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual until safe
Comment: The entire Phoenix area is red for all three school metrics, this will not change before school is scheduled to start again after winter break. We should all be virtual, we need to protect all our teachers, staff and students. A voluntary 2 week shift to online will do nothing to keep community spread out of the classrooms.Submitted by: Tamara H
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Safer Together. Virtual.
Comment: After the holidays, the numbers are quite bad. Hospitals are inundated. Right now it is critical that we all do something to help bring our community numbers down. This means laying low and virtual for several weeks for the safety of our teachers, staff, students, families, and community.Submitted by: Tammy N
School: Hamilton High Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Reconsider School Opening Plans
Comment: Dear Barb Mozdzen, Lindsay Love, Joel Wirth, Jason Olive: My godmother is a teacher at Hamilton. Please revise school reopening plans to virtual instruction until the county metrics deem it is safe to return to live instruction. Arizona is setting records with case numbers and hospitals are filling up while people in the community continue to attend large gatherings and refuse to follow mitigation strategies. Our numbers will continue to rise over the next few weeks due to holiday celebrations and a complete disregard for mitigation strategies. Please have the Chandler Unified School District follow the original plan (as was promised to staff and students) and have the district switch to virtual instruction for the first two weeks following winter break for ALL STUDENTS. This will give the district time to review the data and make a safe decision for how to proceed after those two weeks. Please follow the science and help slow the spread in our community.Submitted by: Taylor E
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Do what right please!
Comment: When I agreed to send my child back to in-person instruction it was under the pretense that the board would follow specific guidelines to when it was necessary to go back to virtual in order to keep our students, staff, and teachers safe. You blatantly disregarded your own parameters AND those set by the county to do so. Shame on you! The Covid numbers are higher than they have ever been and you are making us send our children out into the world every day to possibly be exposed to that. Do you not hear the hospitals crying out that they are at 90% capacity? Do you not hear that Covid causes long term side effects even when the activists infection is over? Listen to the parents, the students, the government, the community, the families and do what's right. It's about time you do something worthwhile.Submitted by: TB
School: Casteel High Organization: Student
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Back to Virtual learning
Comment: As a freshman, I do not feel safe learning in person with full classes right now. My teachers work hard to make virtual learning the best it can be. Please keep us all safe and learning virtually until the benchmarks are back to green. Thanks.Submitted by: Teacher
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Please Go Virtual For 2 weeks
Comment: I have always been and continue to support in person learning. However, the severity of cases and the strain on the hospitals makes it not safe to return. Please allow us to go virtual so we can educate our students safely.Submitted by: Teacher
School: Rice Elementary Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: 2 weeks virtual for elementary too!
Comment: Elementary is not ok! Please give us 2 weeks to be virtual to let the dust settle from all the parties and holiday celebrations.Submitted by: Teresa M
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Board Mtg- School & COVID
Comment: The community location of the HS my child attends is in the red in all 3 metrics. CUSD needs to provide hybrid or full time virtual leaning until metrics go down. CUSD needs to ensure all children have equitable access to learning- technology, books, teacher access, etc. It is important to do our part in decreasing the spread. CUSD needs to always ensuring everyone is wearing a mask, physically distancing, and has access to sanitizer or hand washing to decrease spread while on CUSD premises.Submitted by: Terri A
School: Perry High Organization: Support Staff
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Support Staff returning in person
Comment: Continued: I am very thankful and blessed to have the position I have at PHS and hold it very dear. In my specific position, I do not interact face to face with public/families it is all done email/phone. Personally, I also have a senior at PHS and a self-contained student at BHS. As much as my senior would MUCH rather be at home, safe doing virtual learning long term. However, my self contained student needs an in person option. But I still feel, the less people/students we have on campus, helps that much more to contain the spread until vaccines are readily available. PLEASE, PLEASE consider a more case by case basis for support staff/students when considering working from home and virtual learning more long term (Q3)Submitted by: The H
School: Casteel High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Learning through school
Comment: My 2 children, an 8th grader and 11th grader, attended Chandler Online Academy, this past fall semester. We made this choice because we felt it was safer to do so. We didn't want them exposed to Covid-19 and potentially bring it into our household. We don't know how each of us would react to having this deadly virus. With my children being at COA, I felt their education has declined. There was no teacher-student interaction, just read the lessons and do the assignments. No real teaching and learning happening. Because we felt this type of education has not helped our children in any way at all, we made the difficult decision to send our kids back to Casteel High School for the spring semester. The anxiety is felt daily by us and our children as they can be potentially exposed to the virus. Casteel has had one of the largest number of cases. I don't understand why CUSD can not have a real live virtual option for the students like other surrounding school districts. A modernized virtualSubmitted by: Tiffany R
School: Haley Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to virtual
Comment: Please put science and common sense above all else and go virtual for all students for at LEAST 2 weeks or until metrics have been metSubmitted by: Tiffany W
School: Frye Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Learning
Comment: I hope if you decide to close schools for 2 weeks you follow Mesa's lead and allow self contained special ed to attend full time in person. While my son's teacher is amazing and did her best with virtual Learning these students truly need day to day in person instruction and structure. Please don't forget these students in your decision.Submitted by: Tim O
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: COVID-19 Response
Comment: With Covid-19 numbers at all-time highs, is the school board protecting our elementary teacher's and students by allowing in-person learning to continue? School famies continue to congregate without masks outside of school and are contributing to the social spread. COVID-19 will be following many kids and teachera into school following the winter break. The board should implement a true hybrid learning option to allow for elementary kids to learn online if the families wish to do so..Submitted by: Tina T
School: Perry High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Viable virtual option
Comment: All while I appreciate the complex situation you are in I cannot accept CUSD has not come up with an appropriate virtual option. I have written multiple times on how disruptive going in person has become for my child. This school district needs a plan. How can I believe the positivity rate of COVID is 27% in the community but some how magically at Perry it is less than 1%. I implore you to come up with a plan.Submitted by: Tom F
School: Chandler High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Safety
Comment: I am a former teacher at Chandler HS. I am writing to urge the board and Superintendent to choose online only education to prevent further spread of COVID infection and sickness and death . The lack of adequate personal protective equipment available for teachers staff and students, combined with the ina bilirubin to keep a safe social distance between teachers,staff, and students during the school day and during extra curricular and sports activities and the lack of improved air filtration in class rooms has created a dangerous situation for any person on campus. The guidelines for safe person to person teaching have not been attained and forcing employees and students together against the advice of public health guidelines is not only poor judgement it appears to be criminallly neglectful behavior. Please do not continue with face to face learning until the infection rates are reduced to a safe level. Lives are at stake. It would be unconscionable to require faculty to risk theirSubmitted by: Tonya
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Covid-19 concerns and needing to quarantine
Comment: Please include elementary schools in the decision to quarantine (virtual learning) for the 2 weeks after break. Our community has had 2 weeks of family gatherings, parties, celebrations, and outings to restaurants, stores, and events. We need to quarantine, so we can contain the spread throughout our community.Submitted by: Tracie P
School: ACP Erie Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Online and hybrid options
Comment: CUSD was the only district I had ever considered until this school year. The way the board and superintendent have managed covid is ridiculous. You have offered one thing and then changed the way covid metrics were measured. You gave COA as an option quarterly but then decided it had to be for a semester. You have not given an option for parents who are concerned about the metrics when the rose significantly after thanksgiving. You required finals and counted them the same regardless if kidshad been quarantined and missed significant parts of the curriculum. You haven't come up with a hybrid option when other large districts across this country have figured it out. Yes covid sucks, yes we want our kids in school but we want it done safely and measured and monitored accurately! Come up with options keep our high school kids safe!Submitted by: Travis S
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Effective leadership in our schools starts with you.
Comment: We need you to step up as the leadership in CUSD and transition to online learning models. This pandemic has gone too far in Arizona. As Arizona we need to make the best choice for the long term solution. Continuing to support the spread by having options is not effective. Kids and families not taki g responsibility are increasing the seriousness and impact. As leaders we need to act now and put more effective controls in place. Online learning is viable.Submitted by: Ty B
School: Casteel High Organization: Parent
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Learning Until Benchmarks In Green
Comment: CDC, state, and local health guidelines stress that in-person learning is only safe when community spread is moderate or below. CUSD, according to their own board vote; should be virtual. I sent my freshman back to school with the understanding CUSD would follow public health guidelines. Please get our kids and teachers on a virtual learning model until the community spread is back to green. We can not stay in a district that does not put teacher and student safety as a priority. We ask that youwork as a team with admin to create a virtual learning option that is equitable and accessible moving forward. To give these HS kids COA as their only other option is not acceptable. Thank you for putting safety first and working together for our students and teachers.Submitted by: Tyler K
School: Rice Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: virtual for K-12 for first two weeks
Comment: My children are in kindergarten and 3rd grade. I do not feel it is safe for them to return to in person learning at this time. The numbers for our state are very high, 17,234 new cases reported today. The superintendent for the state has recommended online for K-12 for two weeks. Please follow her guidance.Submitted by: Wendy S
School: Chandler High Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: covid- virtual learning
Comment: 12,314 new cases posted today. How is in-person school okay?Submitted by: William C
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Two week distance learning
Comment: I am in agreement with the state superintendent's suggestion for having two weeks distance learning to help identify COVID cases before they enter the schools. This may enable staff to stay safer, hopefully protecting them which would result in less disruption to the learning process.Submitted by: WT
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Follow Original Metrics - Move to Virtual Platform (Not COA)
Comment: Are you just totally ignoring everything now? All the numbers? We have already established that the COVID dashboard is inaccurate and not transparent at all. I don't know how you can do this when every other school district almost has gone virtual? It is becoming gross negligence in my opinion. Now my son is home quarantined and he has to take finals in the first two weeks he is back from school after break? What if he chooses the virtual option, which I am going to choose? How is he going to take his finals in person? Are you going to force him to go in person? He is an AP student with all A's and just got a 1446 on his PSATs. This kid is a high achiever and the undue stress of his finals is unfair on top of everything else he is dealing with these days. This is just terrible! You need to do something more then nothing. I have lost all faith in CUSD, and I held CUSD in such high regard. Close in person learning until COVID numbers come down. Provide on site support for those in need.Submitted by: Yi H
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please go back to virtual learning
Comment: As a parent, I understand the importance of in-person learning in school. However, nothing is more important than the safety and health of our students, teachers and staff, and their families. Many families have seniors at home, and they are the high risk population which can have severe consequences once infected by Covid-19. Given the current public health metrics and recommendation from our state and county public health officials, please make the decision to go back to virtual learning. Thank you.Submitted by: Yushi X
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual classes opportunities for high school students
Comment: Please consider to offer virtual classes for high school students at least for the first a few weeks of Jan. 2021 due to the numbers of COVID cases are dramatically increasing daily. -
Thanks
Submitted by: Alyssa P
School: Casteel High Organization: Casteel HS
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep Students & Teachers Safe
Comment: First, please consider moving the board meeting to Monday prior to students arriving back on campus so that we can make a decision before the semester starts. Students, parents, and teachers are concerned about being back on campus after the holidays. All of our metrics are in the red, many families vacationed for Christmas, and a lot of our students went to NYE parties. Please consider going virtual for the first two weeks so that we do not add to community spread and overwhelm our hospitals. Not to mention, this will indicate to staff that the district truly cares about our safety and health. We appreciate all that you do. Thank you!Submitted by: Amy D
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Thank you for consider all aspects of this situation
Comment: Thank you for consider all aspects of this situation. Although our daughter does better with in person learning and most students I service perform better in this environment, it is not safe to go back. My husband and I both contracted Covid-19 near the end of the last quarter and although we're past our length of quarantine, I continue to feel the affects of this virus. Many of my students were quarantined as a result of my proximity to them. I'm concerned this will continue to be the case as aresult of our states numbers. If a good portion of our teachers fall I'll, how will our schools be able to ensure students will receive the education we have promised them? Thank you for your time.Submitted by: Ashley G
School: Hull Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: School reopening after break
Comment: Thank you for moving the board meeting up to Monday, before students return. I am writing as a concerned parent and staff member of CUSD. The numbers for Coronavirus are out of control right now and I believe it would be safest for the district to go virtual for at least the first two weeks back from break. This would give time for students and staff to stay at home and decrease the spread of the virus following the holidays. It is frustrating to me that our district chooses to be reactive rather than proactive. The board could have voted to go virtual for the first two weeks back from break at the last board meeting and provided proactive leadership and given parents, staff, and students time to plan and prepare. Now, the district and teachers are in a no-win situation.Every teacher I know, myself included, would rather teach in person. We know it's better for students and staff to be in person. But, it needs to be done safely, and it cannot with the current community infection rate.Submitted by: Cheryl M
School: CTA Freedom Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Thank you!
Comment: I know everyone has worked SO hard to keep students and staff safe. So this comment is just a thank you and an acknowledgment of how hard that must have been. If you choose to do virtual to keep staff and students safer I understand and support it. If you don't I support it as well since I know everyone is doing their best to keep everyone safe. Thank you again!Submitted by: Crystal E
School: Fulton Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep Schools Open
Comment: Dear Board Members, I recognize that the role you have is not an easy one. However, I would like to thank you for keeping our schools open, listening to the dashboard, and putting in place a contingency plan that makes sense. School districts from coast to coast have reported the number of students failing classes has risen by as many as two or three times with English language learners and disabled and disadvantaged students suffering the most. CUSD has a reputation of quality education, and Ithink we can all agree we do not want to see our children fail. There are so many factors that come into play when children have to learn from home. Teachers are seeing: Students learning from home skip assignments or school altogether. Internet access is limited or inconsistent, making it difficult to complete and upload assignments. In addition, teachers who don't see their students in person have fewer ways to pick up on who is falling behind, especially with many keeping their cameras off orSubmitted by: Dan G
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Board Meeting for January 4th
Comment: Our family appreciates our district and educators very much. We currently have seven children enrolled in the district. We understand the concern and want our teachers and children to be safe. As a first responder I tried to cautiously avoid COVID-19 for months before I finally contracted it in November. Unfortunately, my family also contracted the virus and we quarantined at home for almost three weeks before we felt safe to bring them back to school. CUSD was supportive during this process. Mychildren's educational and emotional health suffered during this time. They are now healthy and motivated to be successful at school and are prepared to be back on Tuesday. We follow CDC and CUSD policy recommendations to keep our family and others safe. Please honor the commitment to our students to keep them in school. Thank you. Dan GSubmitted by: David W
School: Rice Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: School opening status
Comment: I am apparent with four kids in the Chandler School district. I believe that in the fall steps were made to help ensure School staff and student safety. I believe schools can remain open. Thank you for all the hard work being done. We really do appreciate all the staff and faculty and cusdSubmitted by: Farah L
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N,/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Continuing in school education
Comment: Thank you for taking comments. I have a 5th grader at CTA Freedom. The school and wonderful principal have been doing a great job with Covid 19 mitigation strategy. Mandating the masks and cohorting is working. I as a pediatrician understand the risk and unprecedented mess we are in because of the Coronavirus. However studies show and personal experience show that children are not catching Covid at school, they are catching it at home or outside of school when families are not being careful. They are also catching it on sports teams. The mental health of my child and multiple other children I as see as patients is on the brink. There lives revolve around their peers and social interaction and I believe they are at less risk for suicide or depression if they are in school among their peers. I believe CTA Freedom is doing a good job, and this should be looked at on a school by school basis, but overall the schools in the region I am in are doing fairly well.Submitted by: Fed u
School: Riggs Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Sick out
Comment: Thank you for making the decision to remain open. It is so important to our kids that the schools stay open. The antics of LL and the rest of few teachers has already cost our district dearly. If the teachers walk out on these kids enrollment will drop again. Parents are fed up and exhausted. Many of us have jobs in healthcare and can not leave work to pick up the slack for these childish tantrums. I am asking that it be known to these teachers and board member who encourages this that this behavior will not be tolerated. Ultimately if parents stop supporting CUSD it will fail.Submitted by: Ginga M
School: Hamilton High Organization: Steward Health Care - Mountain Vista Medical Center and Tempe St. Luke's Medical Center
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: TO BE READ AT THE MTG MONDAY PLEASE: Covid response from CUSD to improve safety and equitable education
Comment: Hello :) and Thank you for taking the time to read my comments. I have left many comments and emailed members of the board and district admin regularly. The short story is - you are not listening to science, the medical community and the data, and I need (WE need) you to start now please!. I know that the voices of those who want the schools open and learning to be in person no matter what are very loud. The bodies that show up in person will for sure outnumber those who disagree because ..... showing up in person is dangerous right now. I know that there are articles that say.. paraphrasing... Kids are safe in school! But those articles also say that they are safe only when the community spread is low and when all mitigation strategies are maintained. The east valley community spread is very high. Mitigation strategies are NOT being maintained-there aren't enough qualified teachers to help maintain them; classrooms are full. You MUST delay the start of in person learning!Submitted by: Jessica F
School: Knox Gifted Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In Person Schooling
Comment: Thank you for your time and service to the community, its students, its parents, and the broader population. I have a simple request - please allow scientific recommendations that reflect the current health state to guide your decisions. We need to follow the recommendations that will result in the greatest level of safety for our community while we work to eradicate this virus. The landscape will continue to change and thus so will the required mitigation procedures, but since the current scene is dire with far too many hospitalizations and deaths, please make the best decisions to resolve the life/death issues at hand. I support teachers and I support science and for greater good of our larger community, I support the actions needed to save lives and reduce the spread. Thank you, again... the position you are in is unfathomable and I'm grateful for your service.Submitted by: K S
School: Chandler High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual learning
Comment: The number of cases of COVID19 are currently too high for students to be doing in person learning. If there were restrictions in other parts of society or if a majority of people were doing the right things we would be able to keep schools open. Unfortunately, businesses will remain open (per Dr. Christ) and people are not making good choices (large parties, gatherings, travel). While giving the option of virtual learning for the first 2 weeks is good for kids, it does not help teachers. The schools would not run without teachers. Teacher tenetion is essential to your success and also to retaining students. Please consider a return to virtual instruction until teachers can get vaccinate and feel safe returning. It is up to the school district, once again, to keep the community safe. Keep the services open for kids who have specific needs and close the rest. Thank you for making the hard choice.Submitted by: Lauren N
School: Haley Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep in person school open for on a school by school basis
Comment: I want to thank you for your decision to return to in person schooling in September. I cannot fully explain how being in class learning face to face with their teachers and side by side with their peers has positively impacted my 1st and 4th graders. I ask that you continue to follow science and evaluate the return to virtual learning on a school by school basis. My children's school has had 1 case in the last 3 months which resulted in 0 infections. This data supports the argument the in personschool can be safe and your mitigation steps are working. For those parents and teachers who are not comfortable being in person, they had/have the option for COA. As parents, we know our children best and know what's best for them. We choose in person for a reason and the leadership at CUSD has done a great job ensuring the safety of our students and staff.Submitted by: Laurie A
School: Weinberg Gifted Academy Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please go to online live instruction!!
Comment: Thank you for considering the current situation and the current overwhelming amount of Covid spreading in our area. This is not a safe situation for the students, teachers or other people associated with keeping the schools open for in person learning. With the amount of travel and the case count so high, I believe it would be the only rational option at this point. Please do what is right in regards to keeping everyone safe. With the teacher led online instruction this goal will be accomplished. Thank you.Submitted by: Marisa E
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person learning
Comment: We have got to consider what remote learning is doing to our kids. The suicide rate is skyrocketing among teenagers. I have 3 kids that attend Casteel. They are 13,15 and 18. Each of them are struggling mentally. I can only imagine how hard this is on the teachers. They are incredible! Thank you for taking the time to read my comments.Submitted by: Melanie M
School: ACP Erie Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keeping schools open
Comment: Thank you for taking the time to read my comments. I am in support of keeping the schools open. Not only do I have two high-schoolers at ACP who need to be in person for their best learning, I have every confidence in their safety while they are in school. I say this not only because of the confidence that they have being in school, and the lack of evidence of any transmission happening in the schools, but also because I have been substitute teaching over the last few months. I have been teaching from Kinder through HS, and I have felt nothing but comfortable in my safety as the teacher, as well as comfortable with the safety of the students. My own experiences in the classrooms around CUSD have made me feel more, not less, safe with my children being in school, and with the safety of the teachers. Please continue to provide our students with the option of being in person. My own experience makes me feel that the teachers are in no greater danger than other professions. Thank you.Submitted by: Melissa R
School: Navarrete Elementary Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Thank you
Comment: Please know that I appreciate all you are doing. I think the louder argument is to return to virtual and not enough are requesting to continue in person - especially elementary. I have a hard time listening to reason when there are so many kids taken out of school for 'vacation' and I hear parents travelling but yet they want kids to be remote learning. It's never an easy discussion -- but please know our school has done fantastic with the rules in place and would hate to see us go back tovirtual - they don't learn anything at home at this crucial age. Thank you for listening.Submitted by: Mike
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keeping kids in school
Comment: Thank you for keeping in person school open. Reading the comments, almost all the parents in favor of keeping the schools open state it is what is best for their children. Those advocating to close schools do not mention what is best for the children in their comments nearly as much. When discussing whether or not to keep schools open, shouldn't what is best for the kids really be the determining factor? And the experts say keeping schools open is best for children. Follow the science, not somemetrics number that is virtually impossible to achieve.Submitted by: Mina L
School: Willis Junior High Organization: CUSD
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual and in-person discussion item tonight @7:15pm
Comment: Hello. Thank you for all your hard work. Tonight, the board listened to parents writing/calling and added virtual instruction as an agenda item. Please don't ignore us and have no action yet again. I don't have much hope the right, safe thing will be done given the odd our Covid dashboard is right! political stance, despite parent reports of infected Covid students to the contrary. School may not be a super spreader (yet) but cases are definitely climbing. Good luck to us all.Submitted by: Patrick C
School: Auxier Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: 2 week online learning
Comment: We appreciate the transparency and how you are dealing with COVID and the dashboard. This is why we chose to change our children from QCUSD. My wife has congenital heart disease and we need to be safe. We entrust you will make the right decision to keep people safe. We would support an additional 2 weeks of online learnig as the new quarter starts. We feel this is the safest option for all students and teachers. Thank you for all you do.Submitted by: Susan H
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: CUSD Teachers
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Elementary Teacher Input
Comment: First off, thank you for making the hard decisions. I can only imagine how difficult this is for all of you. Secondly, I only have one request. As an elementary teacher of 20 years in the CUSD District, I feel I need to voice my one concern. I feel it is too difficult to do both distance online teaching and in person teaching at the same time. My hope is that will not even be a consideration at the elementary school level.Submitted by: Tiffany M
School: Basha High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Thank you and keeping in person-board meeting
Comment: I just wanted to say thank you for having in person learning it is helped my daughter educationally her grades have improved immensely and mentally she is doing way better! her anxiety and depression has gone down immensely by being in person! Please, please, keep in person learning for those that choose to be in person which we would continue to do! Mentally, emotionally, and physically my child needs to be in person! Thank you for listening!Submitted by: Tricia L
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep Schools Open
Comment: First, I want to thank the board members who are fighting to keep the schools open. It is clear that what is in the best interest of our children is to have them learn in school. Virtual learning was a nightmare for both of my children. Parents had a choice at the beginning of the year to choose online or in person. If you close the schools you are showing a complete disregard for what the majority of parents want. The number of cases are so minimal at each school. 5-15 cases at a school that has 3300 kids is nothing. Lets be realistic about the risk of this virus in comparison to all the negative side effects that come from closing schools. -
Stress on Teachers
Submitted by: Alicia G
School: Hamilton High Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Let us do one thing great instead of 2 things mediocre.
Comment: I am a teacher at Hamilton. I have reported to work every day and made the best of this. I am careful and clean my classroom and social distance our classroom. I am asking to please not have teachers be responsible to teach online and in person. It doesn't allow us to be the best at either.Submitted by: Amanda R
School: Hull Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: CUSD COVID Response
Comment: I am disturbed at the fact that the school board is not putting their teachers first when it comes to the start of school coming back from Winter Break. There should be a phased in way of opening up schools, just like the school district did for 1st quarter. Please put your teachers first and delay the start of in person school and phase students and teachers in. Please do the right thing and show that you care about your teachers. It's the very least you can do, given the fact that the teachersdon't get paid nearly the amount that they deserve.Submitted by: Amy D
School: Chandler Online Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Return to Virtual Instruction
Comment: Please, please, based on the surge in Covid cases now, and the inevitable furter surge after the holidays, return my in-person colleagues to virtual instruction until metrics return to green. My in person colleagues are terrified by the rising cases and lack of cooperation from the community on large gatherings. I feel awful hearing of their fear and feelings of abandonment because the district went back on it's word to keep them safe while I was afforded the opportunity to teach at COA. Pleasekeep them and the rest of the community safe by returning to virtual instruction. This is a 100 year pandemic and we all must work together to act unusually in these unusual circumstances. This is temporary! We must allowth case count to subside and vaccinations to be received, before returning to school! There are NO hospital beds nor medical staff left, and as an institution, CUSD should NOT be contributing to community spread. Please protect my in person colleagues as you have me! Thank you!Submitted by: Anne M
School: Hamilton High Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Keep teachers safe!
Comment: As a cancer patient and child of a teacher, I implore you to keep teachers safe and go all online. 17,000+ cases reported today alone. Stay at home until vaccinations!!Submitted by: Athen F
School: Knox Gifted Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person learning (continued from prior comment)
Comment: I am sensitive to the fears and risk factors teachers may face providing in-person instruction, however teachers are essential workers, like nurses, doctors, grocery store workers, and it is part of their job and obligation to youth to offer unless they have significant risk factors.I can speak to this as I offer both in-person and telehealth therapy services for clients right now and providing both is essential and part of my job and ethics. I also think teachers should be able to be one of thepriority groups for the vaccine and we should support them doing their job safely. We have to prioritize those more vulnerable than we- our children.Submitted by: Becky
School: Santan Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: I SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS!!
Comment: Our teachers deserve to be heard, ALL OF THEM! I support their sick out! Nearly 7,000 positive cases of covid today alone! 9.1% is our CLI! Metrics have been in red nearly 6 weeks. Please hold an emergency meeting a d go virtual at least the first 2 weeks in January. You have grades 7-12 a choice, what about the elementary kids?? This is not a fair option for all!Submitted by: Bell S
School: Casteel High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Do what you say your going to do
Comment: Contracts were signed between you guys and the parents just like Contracts were signed between you guys and the teachers. Teachers are being giving task to complete that are not in their scope of practice. Parents are sending kids to school sick, pending covid test or with covid. No one is being held responsible for what they are doing. Teachers need to feel safe and your promise to them needs to be kept.Submitted by: Dana S
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Everyone deserves a choice and not one group should control the outcome
Comment: The teachers who oppose in school teaching should be able to take a voluntary leave from teaching until they feel safe again. Everyone deserves the right to make a choice whether or not to attend school.Submitted by: Erin B
School: Auxier Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please follow the county metrics for the safety of the community
Comment: I have also emailed my concerns in detail. My 4th grader contracted COVID at school despite everyone's best efforts. We had her tested as soon as she became sick. It's spreading at schools. I think it's going to be difficult for teachers to teach both in-person and virtual (and it's not even an option for elementary) . Please plan 2 weeks of 100% remote instruction and then a true hybrid to enable distancing in the classrooms.Submitted by: Erin M
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person school
Comment: My daughter is a senior at Casteel and is currently sick and tested positive for COVID. I believe that going back to school in person is incredibly dangerous at this time. I teach 80 sixth graders and I'm terrified of one of my students getting the virus. I'm also terrified for myself and my husband, both cancer survivors. My daughter has never been this sick in her life.Submitted by: Geydy B
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: The board must take into account the teachers' fear of going back to classes in person, they also have families to take care of and I think it is not
Comment: The board must take into account the teachers' fear of going back to classes in person, they also have families to take care of and I think it is not correct, that the schools return, the students are very exposed. Not all people attach importance to this disease. Let's think about the welfare of all.Submitted by: Kacie R
School: Elite Performance Academy Organization: CUSD
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Schools
Comment: I am a teacher in CUSD and I do not feel safe at work. I appreciate the efforts towards mitigation strategies within the school to prevent COVID-19 however, it is not and never will be perfect. I do not feel safe at work. It is important to me that decisions are made based on the benchmarks and based on science. I love being in my classroom with my students, but this is a pandemic and we have to treat it as such and follow the science. There is a light at the end of this dark and vast tunnel. People are getting vaccinated now. We're going to get through this. I personally believe we will see things ease up around March. Until then, we need to think of the community, the school employees, and most importantly, the healthcare workers who selflessly give of themselves everyday despite the lack of community support here in Arizona.Submitted by: Katherine K
School: Chandler High Organization: CEA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Return to Virtual Learning for the safety and sanity of your staff
Comment: Enough people are speaking to the safety of us being in school. I want to address the added stress this is causing on your teaching staff. Our mental well being is in way worse shape than the risk to our physical well being recently. We are being stretched TOO THIN. We are continuously being asked to do more and more with less and less, and we keep doing it. We are all ready to snap. I have had almost 30 of my 110 students quarantined since the middle of October. 2 of them have tested positive for Covid-19. Every single class period I have to deal with anywhere from 1-3 kids that are quarantined, another 2-4 that are staying home with symptoms, and then the other 15-20 that are trying to learn in person. I am teaching Live on Meets while also trying to meet the needs of students in my classroom. I am spending my entire prep hour each day emailing and calling parents of students who are out to make sure they are getting the materials they need. I am responding to student emailSubmitted by: Katherine K
School: Chandler High Organization: CEA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Return to Virtual Learning for the safety and sanity of your staff (Continued...)
Comment: (continued from previous comment...) I am responding to student emails and Remind messages literally around the clock. And then I come back and do it again and again, day in and day out. I'm trying to revamp my curriculum to accommodate for students who are not in person while also trying to make it as engaging as possible for students that ARE present. It is a never ending battle with a revolving classroom door. I have never seen morale so low in my 19 years as an educator. We have already had several staff members resign and several retire early (that I know of) and dozens more are close to breaking and walking out the door. We all love our kids, and we love our job, but this is just not sustainable. We're working 60+ hours Monday-Friday alone to try to accommodate for all these setbacks and we just can't do it anymore. You have asked and asked and asked… and we have stepped up and we have done it. But we literally cannot do it any longer.Submitted by: Lindsay S
School: Hull Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person classes are necessary!
Comment: Please allow our children to remain in an in person school format. The percentage of cases in schools is extremely low. The administrators, teachers, and kids all all following mitigation procedures that have kept the cases low. They should continue these strategies and adopt new ones, if necessary, but allow the schools to remain open. Our kids are the ones who suffer when they cannot attend school in person. They are not only missing out on direct interaction with their teachers but missingout on interaction with peers. They are missing out on hands on learning, real PE activities, real music activites (especially band and orchestra). They don't get to have lunch/recess with their friends where they can unwind. They don't have the option of getting extra help, right away, from the teacher. Additionally, the virtual environment is hard on our teachers. They have to modify their lesson plans, activities, and teaching style for virtual learning. They deserve more too!Submitted by: Lindsey H
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep Students at Home
Comment: Members of the Board, While I understand and value the importance of learning in the classroom, CUSD's model of in-person learning is not working. My name is Lindsey Harrison, I'm a junior at Perry High School in the STEM Scholar program. By forcing the teachers to simultaneously teach to at-home and in-person students the quality of lessons is degraded (on both sides), we end up learning the same way we were first quarter. Why should we bother going to school and therefore risk exposure if we can get the same quality of education from home? This is not the fault of the teachers (who are doing their absolute best given the circumstances) but the fault of the district for expecting them to 'just do one more thing' until they burnout or quit. It is ridiculous that our quality of learning depends on the actions of other students. I do not trust my peers. The fact that one kid attending a party or flouting mask regulations results in dozens of dedicated, safe students being sent homeSubmitted by: Lori C
School: CTA Freedom Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Plea for virtual instruction
Comment: Please hear us teachers. Kids ARE coming to school sick. It is putting us teachers and our families at risk. I am 7 months pregnant and there are too many unknowns to subject my health and the health of my baby to these risks. I have always felt valued as a teacher in CUSD until this year. 70% of teachers did not feel comfortable returning in person before break and that was completely disregarded. We are asked for our opinion and concerns but I fear it will be pushed aside for fear of losing parent satisfaction. I am saddened but our districts current priorities. Please allow us to return to online learning so teachers and students can be safe. Thank you for taking time to read my concerns.Submitted by: Maureen C
School: Willis Junior High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Go virtual
Comment: Way more Covid positive cases than when school started....almost 19k in two days!! You need to go virtual again until it's safe. Teachers are creative but doing in person and virtual seems a bit much. I'm not sure how that is giving the best to students. Arizona is the second state in the country with the highest number of cases. I thought we have been asked to be safe and smart. Having kids in and out is neither safe or smart. With the new strain that spreads even faster there's more risk of numbers skyrocketing. This will put an even greater strain not only in our schools but on the medical field which we all have need for care. Please do the smart thing. Go back to virtual like when school started until it's safe!!Submitted by: Megan
School: Rice Elementary Organization: Staff
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual learning for the next two weeks, if not more
Comment: I am a teacher at Rice elementary. I teach an upper level grade, and I will tell you firsthand we are not socially distanced. I will say however that the staff and students are doing their best to keep things sanitized and safe, it is absolutely not attainable with this many people in one building. I do not feel safe. I am also finding it extremely difficult teaching hybrid. We have overcome so much in the past year professionally. And we have been willing to jump through countless hoops. However, this is absolutely ridiculous to expect us to continue to be face-to-face and hybrid. I am suffering emotionally, mentally and physically, and it hurts to see some of the publics views and unsupportive feedback and actions, on teachers during this time. I truly believe that the children will be fine, and everyone will be fine, as long as we follow CDC guidelines, and start shutting everything down again.Submitted by: Pauline E
School: Hancock Elementary Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Teachers Asking for Proactive Planning and Leadership
Comment: I am a longtime CUSD employee, and have had children attend CUSD schools. I am requesting that the CUSD board ask District personnel to formulate proactive plans for different scenarios based on changing metrics, and then stick to the plan. It is very frustrating and risky for staff and families when plans are made and then changed, and plans are not followed. I also think it is important that the board and the community understand that 2 grade levels at the non-CTA elementary mix every day for block specials classes, they are not limited to their co-hort classes. Class sizes in the elementary schools need to be reviewed, the initial plan when elementary schools reopened made it seem like the class sizes would be smaller than a typical year. I think it would be very beneficial for all board members to visit multiple CUSD sites, at multiple grades, on multiple days, to get a true picture of what instruction looks like now and what teachers and staff are being required to do.Submitted by: Renee S
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Return to in-person teaching on January 5
Comment: I have taught in the Chandler Unified School District for the last 20 years (this is my 30th year teaching), and I have never felt more undervalued or disrespected than I do now. Why does the Board continue to ignore the metrics (that were arbitrarily changed)? I understand that in-person learning is ideal, but it's not ideal to have 3500 students in a building potentially spreading a deadly virus to each other, to their teachers, and to their loved ones. Have any of you seen the video of theteen party in Gilbert? If you have, you know that teens tend to ignore social distancing rules and that, even if they wear a mask, there is still a chance they will spread the virus. With our hospitals begging people to be socially responsible, why is the Board ignoring the metrics and providing the opportunity for even more people to be exposed to the virus? Meeting on Wednesday will be too late--hundreds more people might be exposed to the virus by then.Submitted by: Stormy R
School: Willis Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Need for virtual instruction
Comment: It has been two days into the new year of 2021 and the number of cases of COVID-19 is at 18,951 in Arizona. The community spread is extremely high. Hospitals are over capacity. There was just a huge party that was hosted by a Perry High School student, and attended by hundreds of students, most who go to CUSD schools. Although getting a COVID committee is a step in the right direction, having them meet the day before students return and then having a board meeting two days after students returnto decide a mode of instruction is not acceptable. It will be too late because staff and students will be exposed to the virus already. Parents and teachers need time to plan regarding modes of instruction and having these meetings so late is counterproductive. Please consider the health and well being of all involved, especially the teachers and school staff, when making a decision. Please choose to go virtual at least the first two weeks of the third quarter.Submitted by: Susan H
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: CUSD Teachers
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Elementary Teacher Input
Comment: First off, thank you for making the hard decisions. I can only imagine how difficult this is for all of you. Secondly, I only have one request. As an elementary teacher of 20 years in the CUSD District, I feel I need to voice my one concern. I feel it is too difficult to do both distance online teaching and in person teaching at the same time. My hope is that will not even be a consideration at the elementary school level. -
Evaluate on School by School Basis
Submitted by: A l
School: Auxier Elementary Organization: 1 of many many chandler Unified teachers saying keep schools open. Stop speaking for us
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: From a Chandler Unified teacher
Comment: The protocols in place are doing what they were designed to. I am one of many many teachers I know personally who is begging you to keep schools open. The EXPERTS say as recently as 1/1/21 that it is safe for kids to be on schools and schools should remain open with the safety protocols in place. The board made a good and fair plan to track and close on a site by site basis. That makes sense. Don't change that.Submitted by: Amanda W
School: Basha Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person learning
Comment: I'd like to request school to be kept in person as it would be detremental to these kids to continue to disrupt their lives when the amount of cases in the actual schools is minimal. I'd request that it continue to be a school by school basis on action taken to change from in person learning. This not only affects kids but parents who work and work from home. I have seen so much growth in my daughter since they went to in person school. Virtual and expecting kids to be in front of a computer foralmost 7 hours is not acceptable.Submitted by: Amber T
School: Ryan Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Stay with in person learning
Comment: There is not a one size fits all solution for k-12. We need to stick with the site based decision that was already approved. Teachers were given many chances to take a leave, retire, or teach online. Those of us who know the importance of in-person learning and are ready and willing to go back and do our jobs should not be denied that because of a survey that was not offered to all district employees. There will not be a true sense of what the majority of CUSD teachers want or how they truly feel until a survey is sent out to every teacher in the district, not just a select group. Stay with in person learning. The students need us and that's what they deserve!Submitted by: Amy
School: Auxier Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: I am a teacher, a parent, a voter. Keep schools open
Comment: I teach for Cusd. I have 3 kids in cusd schools. There is no reason to be shutting the schools. The decision to close schools on a site by site basis is a good one. The numbers of cases at school show closure is not needed. Elementary students stay in their cohorts. They are safe. There are no active cases. Keep the schools open.Submitted by: Amy K
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep our kids in school!
Comment: I have 4 kids in CUSD. One in elementary one in Jr. High and two in HS. I also sub in the district and have been in the classroom almost every day this quarter on several campuses. The kids are doing fine. I felt safe. There is plenty of precautions being followed. I think it makes sense to shut down an individual school only if the Covid numbers merit that. The previous decision not to shut down the entire district again makes good logical sense. Thank you.Submitted by: Ashley w
School: Conley Elementary Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person learning
Comment: Please don't take away the option for in person learning our kids need this. Let's follow the plan we already decided on which was to watch the numbers school by school and shut down if and when those numbers reached the percentage we all agreed on. Please! Let's be there for our kids!Submitted by: CUSD p
School: Hull Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Kids need to be in person and stay there
Comment: Why is the board meeting again to discuss what has already been discussed? Decisions have been made and the mitigation policies are working well. Until an individual school goes above the threshold, there is no need for further discussions. Do you ever hear much from QCUSD? Nope. They took a position and have stuck to it. Maybe follow their example instead of waffling and trying to please the woke crowd that can't ever be pleased.Submitted by: Farah L
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N,/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Continuing in school education
Comment: Thank you for taking comments. I have a 5th grader at CTA Freedom. The school and wonderful principal have been doing a great job with Covid 19 mitigation strategy. Mandating the masks and cohorting is working. I as a pediatrician understand the risk and unprecedented mess we are in because of the Coronavirus. However studies show and personal experience show that children are not catching Covid at school, they are catching it at home or outside of school when families are not being careful. They are also catching it on sports teams. The mental health of my child and multiple other children I as see as patients is on the brink. There lives revolve around their peers and social interaction and I believe they are at less risk for suicide or depression if they are in school among their peers. I believe CTA Freedom is doing a good job, and this should be looked at on a school by school basis, but overall the schools in the region I am in are doing fairly well.Submitted by: Jeff
School: Carlson Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Schools must stay open
Comment: Regardless of the community spread it is not spreading in the schools. Keep them open school by school basis. The new board members need to support our kids and not cave to the fear of other board members.Submitted by: Jennifer R
School: Ryan Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep schools open!
Comment: Please follow the strategy you put forth and look at each individual schools numbers. Please do. It close schools with minimal cases. I will no doubt remove my children from cusd if another closure takes place. Flow science. Think of our children who are the ones who are suffering. Absolutely ridiculous to close schools and have our children miss out on even more education that our tax dollars pay for!Submitted by: Joanna L
School: Hartford Sylvia Encinas Elementary Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In Person Learning
Comment: Please continue to consider the lack of spread at the elementary schools compared to junior high and high schools. In-person vs virtual learning decisions should not be a 'one size fits all' for the district and should allow for elementary students to continue learning in person, even if it that is not what is decided for secondary schools.Submitted by: Lauren N
School: Haley Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep in person school open for on a school by school basis
Comment: I want to thank you for your decision to return to in person schooling in September. I cannot fully explain how being in class learning face to face with their teachers and side by side with their peers has positively impacted my 1st and 4th graders. I ask that you continue to follow science and evaluate the return to virtual learning on a school by school basis. My children's school has had 1 case in the last 3 months which resulted in 0 infections. This data supports the argument the in personschool can be safe and your mitigation steps are working. For those parents and teachers who are not comfortable being in person, they had/have the option for COA. As parents, we know our children best and know what's best for them. We choose in person for a reason and the leadership at CUSD has done a great job ensuring the safety of our students and staff.Submitted by: Marisa
School: Haley Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Schools and Covid
Comment: I would like the board to consider how well the elementary schools have done with having a small number of cases of Covid this entire time since they started in September when also looking at the metrics. It is crucial for our children's mental health to be considered as well and the importance of in person learning. I would also hope the board would take a school by school approach when considering closing any schools due to Covid. Thank you for all that you do!Submitted by: Melanie H
School: Casteel High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: January 2021 return to school
Comment: I support choice and when the district asked us last year to choose in person or COA, we chose in person. Let's allow students and staff who want to learn in person, to continue to do so. Also, please make decisions on a school by school basis, not district wide, as every school has different positivity rates.Submitted by: Michael W
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep current guidelines - they provide adequate safety
Comment: Please keep with the current guidelines of keeping a school open unless 1/1.5/2% are infected. This keeps the students in school unless there is a risk of a significant outbreak. The students should not be punished for trends in the non-school community, and the 1% guideline protects the students and teachers in the event of spread in the school community.Submitted by: Nicole O
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: KEEP SCHOOLS OPEN
Comment: It is disappointing that we are once again in this place to have to fight for our children to be in person school. The statistics have proven that COVID has not spread through the schools and the mitigation strategies are working within the Chandler schools. Not one school has reached the percent positive that the board decided to use to determine closing a particular school. Our children have suffered enough this past year. Parents and children have the CHOICE to stay online. Keep the CHOICE for parents and students who are comfortable in person with the mitigation strategies that are working.Submitted by: TODD K
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In-Person Class vs Virtual
Comment: I have a 3rd grader and 1st grader attending Tarwater Elementary. In light of the growing pressure to return to virtual classes, I wanted to say I fully support the current policy where each school is monitored separately based on its own metrics and not on the metrics of other schools or overall county metrics. It is fairly clear that spread in elementary schools such as Tarwater has been extremely minimal in comparison to other metrics. The policies that have been put in place for social distancing and wearing masks are working at Tarwater and most parents, teachers, and students are fully invested in making it work. It would be unfair to penalize all elementary school students by closing schools again because of higher cases in high schools or outside of the school setting. Virtual learning does not provide an adequate learning or social environment for elementary students, and it puts undue hardship on working parents. Please keep the current policy in effect for 2021. Thanks -
Criteria for Making Choices
Submitted by: Alyssa P
School: Casteel High Organization: Casteel HS
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep Students & Teachers Safe
Comment: First, please consider moving the board meeting to Monday prior to students arriving back on campus so that we can make a decision before the semester starts. Students, parents, and teachers are concerned about being back on campus after the holidays. All of our metrics are in the red, many families vacationed for Christmas, and a lot of our students went to NYE parties. Please consider going virtual for the first two weeks so that we do not add to community spread and overwhelm our hospitals. Not to mention, this will indicate to staff that the district truly cares about our safety and health. We appreciate all that you do. Thank you!Submitted by: Amanda F
School: CTA Freedom Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Opening of schools
Comment: I am shocked and outraged that it is even a possibility for the schools to reopen. I understand accommodating working parents or families in different situations than ours such as low income with no internet, special needs, etc. But to open for parents like me, who can be home with their children is selfish and irresponsible. This meeting will decide my children's future within CUSD. If we see that CUSD only views the students as dollar signs, we will live the district to go to an area more empathetic to their staff during a GLOBAL PANDEMIC.Submitted by: Amanda R
School: Hull Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: CUSD COVID Response
Comment: I am disturbed at the fact that the school board is not putting their teachers first when it comes to the start of school coming back from Winter Break. There should be a phased in way of opening up schools, just like the school district did for 1st quarter. Please put your teachers first and delay the start of in person school and phase students and teachers in. Please do the right thing and show that you care about your teachers. It's the very least you can do, given the fact that the teachersdon't get paid nearly the amount that they deserve.Submitted by: Amy D
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Thank you for consider all aspects of this situation
Comment: Thank you for consider all aspects of this situation. Although our daughter does better with in person learning and most students I service perform better in this environment, it is not safe to go back. My husband and I both contracted Covid-19 near the end of the last quarter and although we're past our length of quarantine, I continue to feel the affects of this virus. Many of my students were quarantined as a result of my proximity to them. I'm concerned this will continue to be the case as aresult of our states numbers. If a good portion of our teachers fall I'll, how will our schools be able to ensure students will receive the education we have promised them? Thank you for your time.Submitted by: Angela O
School: Rice Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: DO NOT CLOSE THE SCHOOLS
Comment: Well, here we are again submitting comments asking the board members who are supposed to be advocating FOR our kids to not close the schools. You have been elected to advocate for our kids and now are choosing to do the opposite. Let me ask you this, have you asked the any students how THEY feel about virtual learning? My guess is no, because you don't want to hear what they truly have to say. I told my 2nd grader and kindergartner that the board members are deciding if they want the students toreturn to virtual learning, they were so upset and asked me Do they not want us to learn and be happy ? Please answer that question for these young learners. My students thrive in school not in virtual learning, the emotional and mental trauma you are wanting to put them through again is unacceptable. If YOU choose to continue to hurt these kids mental and emotional state you will lose children to charter schools. I will not allow my children to think less of themselves because of you!Submitted by: Ashley G
School: Hull Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: School reopening after break
Comment: Thank you for moving the board meeting up to Monday, before students return. I am writing as a concerned parent and staff member of CUSD. The numbers for Coronavirus are out of control right now and I believe it would be safest for the district to go virtual for at least the first two weeks back from break. This would give time for students and staff to stay at home and decrease the spread of the virus following the holidays. It is frustrating to me that our district chooses to be reactive rather than proactive. The board could have voted to go virtual for the first two weeks back from break at the last board meeting and provided proactive leadership and given parents, staff, and students time to plan and prepare. Now, the district and teachers are in a no-win situation.Every teacher I know, myself included, would rather teach in person. We know it's better for students and staff to be in person. But, it needs to be done safely, and it cannot with the current community infection rate.Submitted by: Babara E
School: Casteel High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Listen to Your Teachers
Comment: Of all the school board members, only Lara replied to this email. You are newly elected and serve our community and student now. This is the email I sent before winter break. Since this email, things have only gotten more out of control. We are doubling up rooms in the hospitals and we do not have enough staff to meet the needs of all the patients. I am not spreading fear, this is the truth of what is happening. So far CUSD has been a disappointment as has the superintendent and governor.I hope you will help guide the superintendent to do what is best at this time, which is implement online learning except for students with special circumstances and or needs. You have lost teachers by forcing them to make literal life and death decisions. Those who have walked away are not wrong, however, forcing more students in each classroom and demanding teachers risk getting sick or worse, is. I am a nurse at Chandler and Mercy Gilbert hospitals, and a mom of a HS junior at Casteel. ISubmitted by: Bell S
School: Casteel High Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Do what you say your going to do
Comment: Contracts were signed between you guys and the parents just like Contracts were signed between you guys and the teachers. Teachers are being giving task to complete that are not in their scope of practice. Parents are sending kids to school sick, pending covid test or with covid. No one is being held responsible for what they are doing. Teachers need to feel safe and your promise to them needs to be kept.Submitted by: Bev b
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep schools closed. It is not safe for our community.
Comment: I'm pleading with you all to do the right thing and keep schools closed. I was 41 year old, very active runner with no underlying health issues prior to my Covid infection in March of 2019. It is 9 months later and I am still I'll. While I have lung damage, my husband (a healthy 44 year old) had heart damage appear months after our infection. The long term effects of this virus should not be ignored. Please reach out to me for more information. I spend at least an hour a day reading medical journals, reviewing studies, reading what others in my same condition ( with Long Covid) are going through. This is very common and affects any and all age groups. If you care about the CUSD staff and students, you will do the right thing here...at the very least do your homework prior to making your decision. Research Long Covid, Post Covid, Covid Long Haulers. You have lives on the line here, do your research prior to any decisions.Submitted by: Brad m
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Covid plan and safety
Comment: Please develop an actual plan with metrics for how you will address covid and when you will make a decision to go back to virtual or create another optionSubmitted by: Brenda
School: CTA Liberty Organization: Not applicable
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: The board made a promise and commitment to give parents a choice. Honor that commitment
Comment: We, along with many others, will be leaving CUSD if you close the schools. My children require in person in order to thrive. MS LOVE and MS BRUNER have no business imposing their political views on the rest of us. MS LOVE is very disrespectful and it is disgusting. the board made a commitment. The board made a plan. A good plan. Honor that.Submitted by: Brianna W
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Health and Safety Concerns for students and teachers as COVID metrics increase
Comment: Students, parents, and teachers were informed in October that if one of three metrics turned red that we would return to remote learning in order to protect the lives and safety of students and teachers. Two of the three metrics turned red last month and nothing was done. We are now moving into three of three metrics turning red. The district continues to move the 'goal post' and not follow through with their promises. We are dealing with people's safety and lives. I believe that the district should move to remote learning for grades 9 through 12, possibly even 6-12. These students move Multiple times throughout the day at school into multiple classrooms. This increases the chance of spread. I understand that this is not ideal. I myself do not prefer remote teaching as it is more time-consuming to plan, but we are getting closer to getting a vaccine to teachers, students, and the general population. I believe that peoples lives and safety should be our top priority.Submitted by: Carl
School: Frye Elementary Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual is NOT an option
Comment: Do not close the schools. This board has done enough damage to these children with this up and down game of who is more scared. We pay our hard earned tax dollars to ensure our children get a good education. This does not include watching a few prerecorded videos abs making them fend for themselves. Kids need to be IN SCHOOL being taught by a teacher. Quit putting our kids through this. Hopefully the new board members don't make irritations decisions based on a fear that isn't happening in the schools.Submitted by: Charles S
School: NONE OF THE ABOVE Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Put Student, Faculty & Community Safety First
Comment: Unfortunately you as Governing Board members have been put in a tough spot by our state's leadership. They know how bad our public health crisis is and that strict controls and limitations on public activities is needed to get this pandemic under control. They also know that the right decisions are going to be difficult for a lot of people and come with a lot of backlash. But what we need as a community almost as badly as we need a vaccine for everyone, is for you all to take up this unenviablechallenge and put the community first. That means closing down all in-person learning until Maricopa County is all in the green. Let's not endanger our grandparents, our vulnerable, our educators, our students, or anyone else just to get children into classrooms. Deaths have been piling up across the country, the state, and the county. Let's not leave these children to face the trauma that their school days killed loved ones, people they respected, or others indirectly connected to CUSD. Thanks.Submitted by: Colleen S
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Online classes
Comment: I believe teacher should be allowed to decide if classes are virtual. They are the ones there all day. They need a say.Submitted by: Crystal
School: Basha High Organization: 1000s of parents and teachers
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
Comment: Its beyond frustrating to watch LL not grasp any data, or concept outside of her viewpoint. She has no plan and no idea what to do, and if you show her any data that proves her ideas wrong in any way she malfunctions and cant process.. i dont know how they think we can go online last minute.Courtney Catch - LL is like nails on a chalk board for me. Silly questions and likes to hear herself speak. LB lost all my respect when she asked a bunch of questions and drug a meeting out for an additionalhour only to then read her pre-written speech demonstrating that she had her mind made up prior to asking all of her questions. Why waste everyone's time if you have no intention of listening to anything that was said? Just a showboat 'performance'. Just hope our new board members aren't swayed by these 2.Submitted by: CUSD t
School: Casteel High Organization: 47 CUSD teachers
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: I AM ONE OF DOZENS OF TEACHERS NOT BEING HEARD
Comment: Please when will this stop? I am part of a group of 47 CUSD teachers from multiple schools. All 47 of us agree we do not want the schools to close. We are tired of people speaking for us. We are tired of Lindsey Love trying to make a point at the cost of us as teachers. We are tired of hearing Lara and Lindsey say the majority of teachers want schools closed when that is simply NOT TRUE. You have a LOUD MINORITY, not a majority, of people wanting schools closed. I am a CUSD parent AND teacher. If people want their kids to stay home, keep them home. If teachers want to stay home, we were all offered opportunities to teach online. I respect those people who make those choice to but only Barb and the former board members respect our choice to show up to teach and send our kids. Stop this political craziness. Let's respect each others choices. And Lindsey Love needs to stop portraying that she is speaking for a majority when it is clearly a minority if you wanted to take an actual samplingSubmitted by: Dalton L
School: Hartford Sylvia Encinas Elementary Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Pending Closure
Comment: I am once again frustrated having to be faced with another pending closure. The parents have spoken that they WANT their children in school, hence the majority of children are IN school and not doing voluntary online education. It must be accepted that schools and education are a societal essential function. Schools allow people to work, contribute to commerce, and continue the emotional development of their children. If a decision to close AGAIN is made there MUST be a line drawn to allow children that need daycare and the most social development to be allowed to attend in person.Submitted by: Davide O
School: Weinberg Gifted Academy Organization: Parent
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please go 100% virtual
Comment: 'Dear Board Member, Please call an Emergency Board Meeting before school returns in-person. Arizona is setting records with case numbers and hospitals are filling up while people in the community continue to attend large gatherings and refuse to follow mitigation strategies. Our numbers will continue to rise over the next few weeks due to holiday celebrations. Please have the Chandler Unified School District follow the original plan (as was promised to staff and students) and have the district switch to virtual instruction for the first two weeks following winter break for ALL STUDENTS. This will give the district time to review the data and make a safe decision for how to proceed after those two weeks. Please follow the science and help slow the spread in our community.'Submitted by: Donald L
School: NONE OF THE ABOVE Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: As a taxpayer
Comment: The voters of Chandler have been very supportive to the school district on bond issues and budget overrides. I think some our teachers actions not in the interest of the children. Taxpayers should remember this the next time they ask for more.Submitted by: Dr. J
School: Perry High Organization: Parent of Perry HS
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In person learning
Comment: As a physician, father of our 4th CUSD student and spouse to CUSD teacher, I am compelled to voice my concern. As a community leader, CUSD needs to support the hospitals that are on the brink of failure. Your students are watching your moves. The community will remember when it comes to budget overrides. Please do the right thing. Give us just a few weeks.Submitted by: Elizabeth R
School: Patterson Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Close schools until the metrics prove its safe
Comment: While I can understand that closing schools is a grave decision that may come with a lot of community pushback, it is necessary in order to protect our teachers including those at the elementary level as well as the students and their families. The board has been put in place by the community to act in favor of the community, not in favor of parents who do not believe in science or the metrics. While the majority of the fight has been to protect high school teachers, the mere fact is that all teachers should be protected. The metrics currently posted on the website or not an accurate reflection of the current pandemic. many parents have chosen not to report in an effort to avoid closure. In addition, The state has done a poor job at handling the crisis as made a parrot by the current metrics. Regardless of the difficult decision, I ask that the board act in favor of the community, educators and students and close schools until the metrics prove it is safe.Submitted by: Eric
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Decisions concerning in person vs remote learning
Comment: While observing the most recent board meeting I was struck by two things that seemed to be used to justify current CUSD policy. The first being the belief that high schools are following proper social distancing, and the out of context use of the CDC description that children are safer in school. Review of schools show students that's cannot social distance due to classroom size and population. And the CDC recommendation is clearly only true when the local infection rate is low and proper precautions are taken. Currently our community is at a high infection rate, and our students can't follow precautions. CUSD should establish real hybrid schooling akin to other schools, and should delay reopening after winter break to insure isolation until the impact of family travel can be mitigated.Submitted by: Erin
School: Navarrete Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Emergency Meeting
Comment: Please hold an emergency meeting before teachers and students report back in person. I have 3 in elementary and will not send them back in person until you address the increase in Covid cases. Please give parents and teachers options for virtual learning again. I only agreed for my children to be in person when the Board originally set guidelines I felt comfortable with and supported. You have since moved them twice and I no longer feel comfortable with them being in person. Thank you.Submitted by: Erin E
School: Casteel High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to in person
Comment: Hello board members. I understand the pressure you feel from all sides of the issue of in person versus virtual. Please honor the choice that we were given to come back in person after Christmas break. Those feeling unsafe can stay home for 2 weeks and quarantine. We need choices for our kids. Kids are suffering with the virtual option. Mine need socialization and do NOT do as well online. Please be a board that will honor those parents on both sides. We don't need decisions made for us. Pleasekeep an open mind and not be bullied into closing. My one daughter is a Junior and her grades have declined due to the virtual learning. These last years of high school are critics and can effect any scholarship she may go after. It's such a BIG deal for those kids in HS. Thank you.Submitted by: Geoff G
School: ACP Oakland Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Close in Person - Go to Virtual - Original Metrics is Red - Use Original Metrics!!!! - Part 1
Comment: Close in-person learning, use original metrics as committed to until CUSD is meeting the original metrics that allow schools to re-open safely for in-person learning. We are putting students, teachers and other CUSD faculty at risk for no logical reason. Essentially all other school districts in the area have supported the correct, data driven, approach of whether or not in person or virtually learning is appropriate. It appears that most of the CUSD board members do not have teaching background/experience and are following the guidance of district leadership that also do not have teaching background/experience and cannot fully understand the risk they are asking faculty and students to be exposed to. It is not clear what makes CUSD unique that CUSD can stay open, while other districts are closing or modifying? We are being somewhat forced into putting our students and teachers at risk. Students may be able to recover safely, however if a teacher becomes sick, in essence all of thatSubmitted by: Geoff G
School: ACP Oakland Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Close in Person - Go to Virtual - Original Metrics is Red - Use Original Metrics!!!! - Part 2
Comment: teacher's students are put at risk as well as the teacher's, also their families, health. Not to mention CUSD has no backup plan for teacher that is out for COVID. In-person learning is the best educational experience for both teacher and student, but in-person leaning should not be considered at this time until CUSD and the health of our community meets the appropriate metrics.Submitted by: Geydy B
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: The board must take into account the teachers' fear of going back to classes in person, they also have families to take care of and I think it is not
Comment: The board must take into account the teachers' fear of going back to classes in person, they also have families to take care of and I think it is not correct, that the schools return, the students are very exposed. Not all people attach importance to this disease. Let's think about the welfare of all.Submitted by: Jennifer H
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep schools open
Comment: "There are many concerns from myself and other teachers and parents when it comes to starting the semester virtual instead of in-person as was planned. Holding a board meeting the night before school starts to make this change is too short of notice. I have compiled a list of questions and concerns to discuss for the meeting Monday: 1. What are we doing for students that already returned their computers when we went back in-person and no longer have their access to technology? 2. How will food be distributed to low-income students on such short notice? 3. Will teachers be required to teach from their classrooms, or can they work from home? 4. If elementary is affected, will children be approved to come to school with their teacher/parents again? 5. What are students that missed finals due to mandatory quarantine going to do to make up their tests if they need to take them in-person? 6. How do we reach our low-income and minority students that won't participate in online learning? TheSubmitted by: Jenny N
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Please keep the in-person option
Comment: I am pleading with the school board to keep the in person option in tact with our kids going back on Jan 5. I have 2 children who were very depressed and struggling with online school. Since the have returned to school, I have begun to see them returning to their old selfs. Please don't force them to go back to online. It is detrimental to their mental health. The schools are not where the virus is spreading. My kids, and their friends, where masks for the entire day at school. They are doing their part. Please don't punish the children and families whose lives depend on the children being in the classroom. My children have been so happy since they were able to return to class. Please let our kids keep their return date of Jan 5, and stick to the plan set forth at a previous board meeting where each school would be looked at individually. Thank you!Submitted by: Jessica F
School: Knox Gifted Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In Person Schooling
Comment: Thank you for your time and service to the community, its students, its parents, and the broader population. I have a simple request - please allow scientific recommendations that reflect the current health state to guide your decisions. We need to follow the recommendations that will result in the greatest level of safety for our community while we work to eradicate this virus. The landscape will continue to change and thus so will the required mitigation procedures, but since the current scene is dire with far too many hospitalizations and deaths, please make the best decisions to resolve the life/death issues at hand. I support teachers and I support science and for greater good of our larger community, I support the actions needed to save lives and reduce the spread. Thank you, again... the position you are in is unfathomable and I'm grateful for your service.Submitted by: Jessica J
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Reopening of schools
Comment: I would really like the board to make a final decision regarding on-site schooling. If there is truly concern on the teacher's parts then let's just go to online for the rest of the school year. The staged sick outs and only meeting to discuss the final outcome The day before our first day is beyond poor planning. The pandemic has been hard on everyone but the 'evolving' changes especially affect our children and add stress, uncertainty and mental strain. My child was supposed to go back toon-site tomorrow. Let's just make a decision and stick to it. Either we offer both options or all teachers and students have to go to the online model. At the beginning of the year my child was in a classroomOf 57 students because there were tons of students and not enough online teachers. That is unacceptable. We can do better CUSD.Submitted by: Jim
School: Payne Junior High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Covid
Comment: While I appreciate the difficult decisions the board has to make regarding COVID and the welfare of the students and faculty, the board must appreciate the position their actions have placed parents in. We have been asked multiple times to make irrevocable decisions regarding keeping our kids in school, yet the board has continued to change the decision making criteria used. At this point, we have two of three metrics in the substantial category and the third is the least relevant. The board should realize the rapidly deteriorating COVID situation locally and nationally. Based upon this, deciding and communicating with parents regarding moving forward would go a long way towards recovering from this mismanagement.Submitted by: Joe K
School: Patterson Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: COVID 19 Response
Comment: I am writing to you share with you my utter disappointment in the district and governing board. Since March of 2020 this district has moved slowly and ineffectively while trying to balance student safely, learning, and teacher/safety. I tune in to your board meetings and listen to you all ramble on and try to sound intelligent and caring. In the end you just enjoy hearing your own voices and you have an agenda. You show no commitment to your teachers and staff. You ignore the state and county metrics. You pander to a vocal minority or same political views, and do not give science and expert opinion its due. Shame on all of you who are supposed to be leading our educational community. Additionally, there is no surprise to our current state of health and you have had two plus weeks to come up with an adequate response. Instead your collective heads have been in the sand and you only act when your teachers and staff threaten your operation of schools. I hope you all look to do better.Submitted by: John M
School: Riggs Elementary Organization: East Valley Family Healthcare
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep kids in school
Comment: It makes no statistical sense to keep kids out of school. It doesn't make sense to base in person attendance on community metrics alone. Children are at less risk of serious reactions to this virus than they are to other viruses. If you want to base in person attendance on community metrics, you should base it on the numbers of kids infected that are seriously ill, not over 65 year olds. This is my opinion based on the numbers I've seen and the patients I've seen in my practice.Submitted by: Julie F
School: Chandler High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: In-person vs. virtual
Comment: These poor kids are getting yanked this way and that. I understand that there are a lot of unknowns, but through this whole pandemic, I have felt like the board has stuck their head in the sand and hope it all works out. This has resulted in many figure it out as you go which is too reactionary. Pick a plan and stick with it. Virtual is an option, no, it's required, nope, it back to optional, but only for core plus language. Oh, but wait, some teachers are doing it, some aren't. Whatever the policy is decided upon, it needs to be clearly communicated to the teachers and ensure that they follow it. My son was on quarantine because of a positive exposure at school. They told us that his teachers would send him links for the Google meets. Then, it turns out it was just core + language, but even that didn't happen. He heard NOTHING from his Spanish teacher the whole two weeks and then he came back and was completely lost. His grades suffered across the board and also his learning.Submitted by: JW
School: Payne Junior High Organization: parent
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Move online
Comment: Please move classes online. Please don't contribute to overwhelmed hospitals and put our kids and their teachers at risk. We agreed to send our kids in person when you assured us that when cases rose, hybrid or virtual options would be available. To change those guidelines without providing additional options to parents, teachers, and kids is disheartening and misleading. Two of our three children have been exposed at school so far this year.Submitted by: Kacie R
School: Elite Performance Academy Organization: CUSD
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Schools
Comment: I am a teacher in CUSD and I do not feel safe at work. I appreciate the efforts towards mitigation strategies within the school to prevent COVID-19 however, it is not and never will be perfect. I do not feel safe at work. It is important to me that decisions are made based on the benchmarks and based on science. I love being in my classroom with my students, but this is a pandemic and we have to treat it as such and follow the science. There is a light at the end of this dark and vast tunnel. People are getting vaccinated now. We're going to get through this. I personally believe we will see things ease up around March. Until then, we need to think of the community, the school employees, and most importantly, the healthcare workers who selflessly give of themselves everyday despite the lack of community support here in Arizona.Submitted by: Katie L
School: Auxier Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: COVID CLOSURES
Comment: Waiting until the night before school is to resume to make a decision on whether or not our children go back to in person school throughout the district is irresponsible. The responsible action to take would to be to evaluate each school & the severity of the cases to base a decision. District wide is not right. Or, to make a district wide decision, do it with adequate notice to facility & families.Submitted by: Kenneth E
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: CUSD Board Meeting - Jan 4, 2021
Comment: Our child is in the 5th grade and the back and forth of indecision and functionality of the online learning has not been beneficial to our son and a tremendous number of friends who have children at Tarwater. The social interaction is very important to the mental, physical and spiritual growth in our children and by missing out on this portion of learning, coupled with adults not standing in the gap for our children is not a good look, not a good move and not a vote of confidence in doing what is right for our students. I strongly encourage the Board to vote to keep the kids at school for in-person learning for January 5, 2021 through the end of the school year. Thank you.Submitted by: Kerri Z
School: Chandler Online Academy Organization: Parent of a Perry High School Freshman
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Instruction Should Be Implemented
Comment: Continued comments: 4) I have been a CUSD parent for over 20 years and a teacher in the District off and on for over 13 years. I have never been more disappointed, outraged and disillusioned by the the Board and the District. I have been fearful of reprisals for speaking out, but as a parent I am also a stakeholder. I pay my taxes. My voice counts and should be heard. CUSD needs to step up and be the community leader it claims to be. Virtual learning will not be forever, but it can make a HUGE difference for so many lives. Human life is worth more than the abhorrent 1% survive mantra being spouted. CUSD has suffered the deaths of staff and families. It is time for CUSD to lead and do the right thing.Submitted by: Kim P
School: Hamilton High Organization: In Person Teachers at the secondary level
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: In person learning post Winter Break and vaccinations
Comment: I request the the CUSD School Board: 1. Follow the original promise to teachers to return to virtual learning when the metrics became red, which they are. 2. Return schools,especially secondary schools, to virtual learning for at least a quarantine period of two weeks. 3. Contact the governor to apply pressure to get vaccine promised to school personnel ASAP and make a plan for distribution now so we can be ready when the time comes.Submitted by: Kim R
School: Basha High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep in person classes a CHOICE
Comment: Even Dr. Fauci says now to keep schools open as kids are not spreaders and their risk is low. Please board members do not allow Lindsay Love and Bruner to continue to be the only vocal ones in the meetings and in the media. We elected you to be the voice of the parents. All of the parents. Not just the ones that agree with you. We just want a CHOICE just like everyone else. Let those go to school that want to and let the others stay home. Even the teachers are all over social media begging to not close schools. Some of the teachers are saying opening schools are deadly yet they are out vacationing and traveling. The logic is missing. Keep the schools open. Stop hurting the kids.Submitted by: Kimberly L
School: CTA Freedom Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Safety of staff and students
Comment: As the numbers increase with COVID cases I find myself getting extremely anxious. I know many young and old people whom have been impacted. I realize it is not an easy decision to make and no matter what, one part of the population will be angry. However, I would rather the district air on the side of caution then put lives at risk. For me, one life is too many. This has impacted me personally this year and the decisions around the pandemic in our district have made me more anxious. I can only hope that decisions are made by our district and making safety a concern over everything else. Thank you.Submitted by: Lawana M
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep junior high and high schools open
Comment: Honored school board members... as you meet to consider a possible change in the current CUSD plan for 2nd semester, I implore you to continue with the current plan put in place by CUSD. That has absolutely been one of the strengths of the district, making a plan and then working the plan. At this time, people are seriously in need of consistency. Even my children, when I explained that the board was meeting to again revisit the decision of in person learning, their response was one of exasperation for the inconsistencies they continue to face each day. Please be the voice of consistency and reason for our children who aren't being heard at this point. I feel like this issue is a constant tug of war between those special interest groups as well as the AEU. My children (3 who attend Casteel JH and HS) have all had their mental health affected due to the past school closures. Please account for this in your decision this week.Submitted by: Lee K
School: ACP Oakland Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Commitment to follow through the 3 metrics for learning modality
Comment: The board needs to follow through the 3 metrics and their learning modality set in Aug 2020. We made the decisions for our kids to return to in-person with the assumption that the board would follow the metrics and guidelines. Currently, the board neglected the guidelines and we had no other options for online learning.Submitted by: Marisa
School: Haley Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Schools and Covid
Comment: I would like the board to consider how well the elementary schools have done with having a small number of cases of Covid this entire time since they started in September when also looking at the metrics. It is crucial for our children's mental health to be considered as well and the importance of in person learning. I would also hope the board would take a school by school approach when considering closing any schools due to Covid. Thank you for all that you do!Submitted by: Marsheila R
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Remote schooling/virtual option
Comment: I've had @ least 1 kid in district for 15+ years & I have never seen such mismanagement & duplicity before now. You wonder why enrollment is plummeting & teachers are rebelling? B/c cases are skyrocketing & you're not following the metrics you told us you would follow. Close the schools & offer a teacher-led virtual option for 7-12 instead of the disaster known as COA.Submitted by: Marsheila R
School: Ryan Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Remote schooling/teacher-led virtual option
Comment: I've had @ least 1 kid in district for 15+ years & I have never seen such mismanagement & duplicity before now. You wonder why enrollment is plummeting & teachers are rebelling? B/c cases are skyrocketing & you're not following the metrics you told us you would follow. Close the schools & offer a teacher-led virtual option for 7-12 instead of the disaster known as COA.Submitted by: Maureen S
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep in-person learning option
Comment: Once again I am reaching out to implore the board to continue to allow our children to have the option for in-person education. The evidence is clear that the incidence of COVID is no higher among students and teachers involved in in-person learning as compared to those on-line. Per the districts own data not a single school has even a 1% positivity rate. Experts have been clear, classrooms are safe and refusing to allow children to attend in-person learning is dangerous (depression, loss of learning, anxiety, suicide, etc). On-line learning is not a viable option for many students/families (I am certain many teachers dread the idea of returning to online as well). Please continue with the current plan and allow our children to go to school where they belong.Submitted by: Maureen T
School: Chandler High Organization: n/a
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Visit to Chandler High
Comment: I've read a great number of the comments posted on this site, and people are making good points, both for in-person learning and for overhauling the online option. Please consider spending a 1/2 day actually at school. Sit down in a classroom at Chandler High, then go eat lunch in the courtyard. See for yourself what this is like and how crowded it is. Listen to what the insightful students have to say, and please listen to the dedicated, hard-working teachers. Also, a Zoom call with COAstudents would be enlightening. Please move past the noise and learn first hand what students and teachers are experiencing in CUSD during this pandemic. I think you will be surprised. Overall, trust is broken, but the board and CUSD Administration could improve things a lot through compassionate listening and communicating. We appreciate Ms. Love and Mrs. Bruner's humanity, and we can tell they get it.Submitted by: Melissa
School: NONE OF THE ABOVE Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Learning
Comment: It was stated in September that when the three metrics were in the red for two consecutive weeks, the district would return to virtual learning. We have been in the red for over two weeks with conditions only getting worse. Please implement a district-wide return to virtual learning for at least the next two weeks so we can keep students, teachers, and all other staff safe.Submitted by: Merrilee M
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Keep schools open
Comment: Why do we, as parents of students in CUSD, have to continue fighting against the fear and personal agendas of board members who don't work in or have children in the district in order for our kids to go to school in person? We are losing WAY more youth to suicide than this virus. The experts are saying kids need to be in school in person. Please keep your promise to your constituents to allow for in person learning.Submitted by: Michael m
School: Bogle Junior High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Teacher who plan on calling in sick
Comment: Will a list of teachers who call in sick be provided to the parents? Will the district fire those teachers who call in on a planned sick day?Submitted by: Michelle
School: Carlson Elementary Organization: CUSD teacher
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Teachers voices should matter !!!
Comment: Please look at the numbers. The numbers of parents, certified staff, support staff that want to remain in-person is far greater than those demanding schools be closed. That is a fact. We trusted the board to listen and represent us. The last board had 3 people who listened to us. Mr Evans came out to speak to is and ask our feedback. He followed what we asked for. Others are using the position entrusted to them for their own motivations. The majority of your constituents have clearly said to keep schools open. Just because a minority group is causing quite a stir, that still doesnt make them the majority. The numbers currently show 23 percent want schools shut and 77 percent want to remain in person. That speaks volumes. Allow us to make our choice and be respected. If a school needs to be closed then that is fair. That is why the previous board made a solid plan. Do not throw that out the window.Submitted by: Michelle C
School: Basha High Organization: Parent
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Follow the Metrics
Comment: In order to return to school safely we need to follow the science. We need to follow the guidelines that were first established when schools re-opened last fall. My son is not able to be in school virtual or in person because he is a child with autism and lives with two people who are at high risk. His choice was taken away from him. It's up to the community to come together and get Covid under control so that ALL students can return to school and not just some.Submitted by: na
School: NONE OF THE ABOVE Organization: na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: teacher sick out
Comment: why is the pandemic bad for teachers but not for retail workers.Submitted by: Nikole
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: N/a
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Transparency
Comment: I'm not looking to debate whether we're in-person or virtual. Yes, virtual sounds nice looking at all the cases, but after doing both and seeing growth in the students when we're at school thatl oversees virtual in my opinion. What I'm looking for from the board and the district is transparency. Keep staff and teachers included in cases throughout the district, keep our best interests and safety in mind, please stop changing the benchmarks and going back on your word. It doesn't look good nor represent the quality of CUSD.Submitted by: Rachel P
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: No
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Online school
Comment: We had Covid over break. My Junior tested positive on 12/20 with no symptoms. The only symptom he had was loss of smell. Had we not had Covid in the home I would not have tested him and we would have not noticed the lack of smell. He would have been at school exposing all the teachers staff and other students. You say kids are safer at school but I think you are missing the big picture. There are hundreds of staff being exposed and that lies in your hands. Why not go online for two weeks oruntil metrics fall into the safe limits? I feel CUSD has not been prudent in the handling of this pandemic and am frankly embarrassed. Rather then thinking of safety of the CUSD it feels decisions are fiscally driven. There are other districts handling this so much better and I thought CUSD was an example but not in this pandemic. It feels like the experts you gather are only those who support your side. Please be more objective and I ask as a parent you go back online for community safety.Submitted by: Rebecca C
School: Auxier Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: current crisis situation
Comment: To whom it may concern; I am writing to implore you to reflect on your reasoning as to why you chose to be a part of the school board. Were you committed to assisting CUSD in becoming a premier district in AZ or fueling your own personal agenda? Due to the current COVID spread and metrics per the health department, the recommendation is that we be virtual until spread is decreased. While guidelines are not law, the newest trend is showing that the virus is beginning to impact younger children and is more transmissible. By refusing to follow these guidelines you are complicit in the spread that is occurring and will occur at school. Virtual learning is not ideal, but school safety has always been the primary focus anyways. Again I ask you to reflect on why you chose to run for the seat you have been elected to. If you are truly there to benefit CUSD please look at data and leave your personal opinions and beliefs at the door.Submitted by: ROBYN S
School: Rice Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Stop the Spread
Comment: The board equation for virtual learning has long been past. I am sorry that the numbers are up and I am sorry that it does not equate to in person schooling but I am even nmore sorry that the CUSD that I have long touted as been the best district to work for is choosing to ignore its original stance. Please be fair and prudent. Do not allow dollar signs to rule your common sense. Please call an emergency board meeting on Monday to show your faculty and staff that you at least carte about theiir well beeing.Submitted by: Ryan R
School: Elite Performance Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Schooling
Comment: As someone with a small child and spouse in CUSD, I would like to address the board to share my concerns regarding the well-being of my loved ones. My message is simple, just follow the science and honor the benchmarks that were reasonably set up at the outset of all this. I urge you to be leaders in this moment and do the right thing by taking our teachers and children out of harms way and into the safety of virtual learning.Submitted by: S.R.
School: Weinberg Gifted Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Follow benchmarks provided
Comment: Please follow the benchmarks provided by the county! Ms. Bruner spoke up last meeting (Dec 9th) and reminded you that many parents and teachers transitioned back to in person learning with the understanding that the board and district would be working with department of health and following the recommended benchmarks. This is what made me feel safe sending my son back to school. I was under the impression that would listen to health professionals when making these decisions not the parents who are screaming the loudest to keep schools open so life can be normal. Unfortunately we are continuing COVID spreading and numbers rising significantly. We have many individuals in our own communities not doing their part to try and slow the curve. Many of refusing to report sick children, not getting tested for covid, and gathering unsafely in large groups continuing to spread the virus. Please keep your word and go back to following guidelines and benchmarks.Submitted by: Sara W
School: Casteel High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Cusd teacher and parent saying I want schools to stay open
Comment: I teach for cusd at elementary level and have a senior at high school. I am confident in the safety measures and the board decision to close schools only on a site by site basis. Just because many of us are not screaming about it and calling up media and planning sick outs and protests doesn't mean we aren't passionate. Please do not succumb to pressure from those making demands. All students have the option of staying home. Do not take away the option to continue in person for the rest of us.To the new board members, please follow the plans already in place and respect that previous board members actually talked to many of us to arrive at that decision.Submitted by: Sarah F
School: Casteel High Organization: Na
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Return to virtual while metrics are red
Comment: The county superintendent has recommended a return to virtual. This really should be the end of the discussion.Submitted by: Scott L
School: Hamilton High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: COVID Response
Comment: My wife and I are both teacher and support public education. We have watched over the past eight months as the CUSD administration has bungled, botched and blown their response to the pandemic. Numbers/metrics have been changed, lies have been told, and transparency has been ignored. A meeting to decide what would happen with the re-opening of schools was schedule for Thursday, when schools were to open on Tuesday. After three weeks of what would seem like a simple decision, the board meetingwas moved up to Monday, and yet we are still supposed to made a decision on our children's attendance without first knowing what the Governing Board decides. Students and teachers are unable to prepare and are stuck in limbo with little information. I expected there to be differences of opinion on this issue, but what I did not expect was for the decision making process to lack basic common sense. Frankly, CUSD has handled this worse than any district in the Valley.Submitted by: Sherri
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual Until Safe
Comment: Prior to the beginning of the 2020-21 school year, CUSD took a survey of staff members. Based on the results of that survey, CUSD assured staff that if we returned to work that CUSD would be following the state and county metrics. That was a lie. Instead, CUSD adopted their own metrics which can be manipulated so that we will never meet them. Meanwhile, ALL state and county metrics are currently in the red. The state and county recommendation is for education to be provided virtually. Prior to this, the recommendation was for CUSD to be in a hybrid model. We have never been hybrid. Having classrooms with 30+ students in them every day is not a hybrid model. It is business as usual. Walk into any secondary classroom and you would not know that we are in the midst of a global pandemic except for the fact that the students and teachers are wearing masks.Vote to go virtual until the state and county metrics improve. While we are virtual, come up with a plan for a TRUE hybrid model.Submitted by: Stephanie S
School: Basha Elementary Organization: Parent of students
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Return to school dashboard numbers
Comment: I'm extremely disappointed in the lack of clear and good options available to all. We are beyond 9 months into this situation. The metrics agreed upon need to be held. Even with all the accounting changes the metrics are out of control. Why is this important? Well, the hospitals are at capacity and beyond. Critically ill patients are being treated and left in the hallway with minimal monitoring because there just isn't enough staff or room. Immunocompromised people are being infected putting increasing pressure on the medical system, the families, and the community at large. Stop this madness! Make appropriate online options available immediately. Decisively. Move forward with confidence and stop this wavering!!!!Submitted by: Stephanie S
School: Payne Junior High Organization: Parent of student
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Covid metrics and return to school
Comment: I'm extremely disappointed in the lack of clear and good options available to all. We are beyond 9 months into this situation. The metrics agreed upon need to be held. Even with all the accounting changes the metrics are out of control. Why is this important? Well, the hospitals are at capacity and beyond. Critically ill patients are being treated and left in the hallway with minimal monitoring because there just isn't enough staff or room. Immunocompromised people are being infected putting increasing pressure on the medical system, the families, and the community at large. Stop this madness! Make appropriate online options available immediately. Decisively. Move forward with confidence and stop this wavering!!!!Submitted by: Terry R
School: CTA Independence Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Virtual school
Comment: As a parent of children enrolled in CUSD, I want to express my disappointment that the teachers and certain board members are advocating for teacher sick outs and a return to the virtual learning. I understand that Covid is increasing but the protocols that have been put in place have proven to be effective in minimizing the spread with the case rate remaining below 1% for almost every school. The virtual learning was not productive for our child who struggled when she typically was an all A grade student. She had Ds and Fs during the first part of the school year and it was very time consuming on us at the same time. Our particular situation is that we have a child in CUSD, our youngest daughter is a special needs low function child who requires around the clock care and my wife is currently undergoing chemo treatments for a recent diagnosis. All of this and then this pending return to virtual learning is just taking its burden on us both from a personal but also a financial impaSubmitted by: Tim O
School: Tarwater Elementary Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: COVID-19 Response
Comment: With Covid-19 numbers at all-time highs, is the school board protecting our elementary teacher's and students by allowing in-person learning to continue? School famies continue to congregate without masks outside of school and are contributing to the social spread. COVID-19 will be following many kids and teachera into school following the winter break. The board should implement a true hybrid learning option to allow for elementary kids to learn online if the families wish to do so..Submitted by: Tina T
School: Perry High Organization: NA
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Viable virtual option
Comment: All while I appreciate the complex situation you are in I cannot accept CUSD has not come up with an appropriate virtual option. I have written multiple times on how disruptive going in person has become for my child. This school district needs a plan. How can I believe the positivity rate of COVID is 27% in the community but some how magically at Perry it is less than 1%. I implore you to come up with a plan.Submitted by: Tracy G
School: Perry High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: Consider a different model for elementary vs secondary schools
Comment: Board Members, as most follow the science...both medical and psychological, we know that comparing risk among elementary kids is entirely different than in adolescents. Please consider different models as their risk and ability to learn in a virtual environment are significantly different. Elementary schools clearly can be safely at school. The risk is significantly higher for both students and staff in high schools. I teach 17/18 year olds all day long. They are nearly adults and have the samecompacting to spread as adults. They also spend a significant more time out of the home interacting with friends outside the home. Please consider in person for elementary and virtual for 7-12. Thank you.Submitted by: Travis S
School: Casteel High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Effective leadership in our schools starts with you.
Comment: We need you to step up as the leadership in CUSD and transition to online learning models. This pandemic has gone too far in Arizona. As Arizona we need to make the best choice for the long term solution. Continuing to support the spread by having options is not effective. Kids and families not taki g responsibility are increasing the seriousness and impact. As leaders we need to act now and put more effective controls in place. Online learning is viable. -
Communication
Submitted by: Ginga M
School: Hamilton High Organization: Steward Health Care - Mountain Vista Medical Center and Tempe St. Luke's Medical Center
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: TO BE READ AT THE MTG MONDAY PLEASE: Covid response from CUSD to improve safety and equitable education
Comment: Hello :) and Thank you for taking the time to read my comments. I have left many comments and emailed members of the board and district admin regularly. The short story is - you are not listening to science, the medical community and the data, and I need (WE need) you to start now please!. I know that the voices of those who want the schools open and learning to be in person no matter what are very loud. The bodies that show up in person will for sure outnumber those who disagree because ..... showing up in person is dangerous right now. I know that there are articles that say.. paraphrasing... Kids are safe in school! But those articles also say that they are safe only when the community spread is low and when all mitigation strategies are maintained. The east valley community spread is very high. Mitigation strategies are NOT being maintained-there aren't enough qualified teachers to help maintain them; classrooms are full. You MUST delay the start of in person learning!Submitted by: Jessica N
School: Chandler Online Academy Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Include COA families in communications from the governing board or the district
Comment: Families of students currently enrolled in Chandler Online Academy were excluded from recent communications about the governing board's upcoming meeting and related activities to determine the best course of action during the current COVID-19 surge. Those of us who selected COA for our children are still a part of CUSD. Please include us in any future communications from the governing board or district. Also, it would be helpful if the district could provide some opportunities for COA students to connect with their peers in virtual extracurricular activities or groups.Submitted by: Julie F
School: Chandler High Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Email filters
Comment: Communication with teachers/administrators during this whole pandemic is critical. However, the district email filters automatically send many parent emails right to spam folders. This adds a burden to teachers to try to find the emails or more importantly, results in a lack of communication with the teachers at a time that parents/teachers must work together. The district help desk confirmed that my work email goes straight to spam if I send it to the district. I requested that my email get added to the whitelist to prevent this and the response: We can't do that for every email. The district has our registered emails for communication, why can't they clear them from filtering to spam?