Demand the Racine Unified School District Prioritize the Health & Safety of Staff and Students

Superintendent Gallien, RUSD Board of Education

Parents, teachers, and students want to return to school as soon as safely possible. Unfortunately, sufficient federal and state funding and action to flatten the curve and make schools safe enough to return have not been forthcoming. RUSD, and the City of Racine and its public health department have worked to keep our children and their teachers safe by continuing to educate our children remotely. We fully support remote learning when in-person learning would spread COVID-19 and increase the damage to our friends and family.

Unfortunately, people outside the Racine public schools, supported by a law firm with unknown funding, are trying to litigate away our safety. The Wisconsin Supreme Court could overturn a local public health decision and play politics with our kids' safety. Without further intervention, RUSD could send staff and students back to buildings within the next several weeks. There would be nothing to stop the reckless endangerment of children's lives.

Regardless, we DEMAND RUSD decision-makers honor established gating criteria and follow the guidance of the City Health Department and proceed with the plan in motion to safeguard the public health and safety of our community. Under no circumstances, should staff be forced to work under unsafe working conditions when they can perform the essential functions of their work remotely in the safety of their homes. Outside special interest groups should not determine how the community of Racine prioritizes keeping one another safe. The sooner spread of the virus is controlled, the sooner we can safely reunite our school communities.

To: Superintendent Gallien, RUSD Board of Education
From: [Your Name]

Parents, teachers, and students want to return to school as soon as safely possible. Unfortunately, sufficient federal and state funding and action to flatten the curve and make schools safe enough to return have not been forthcoming. RUSD, the City of Racine and its public health department have worked to keep our children and their teachers safe by continuing to educate our children remotely. We fully support remote learning when in-person learning would spread COVID-19 and increase the damage to our friends and family.

Unfortunately, people outside the Racine public schools, supported by a law firm with unknown funding, are trying to litigate away our safety. The Wisconsin Supreme Court could overturn a local public health decision and play politics with our kids' safety.

Regardless, we DEMAND RUSD decision-makers honor established gating criteria and follow the guidance of the City Health Department and proceed with the plan in motion to safeguard the public health and safety of our community. Staff should not be forced to work under unsafe working conditions when they can perform the essential functions of their work remotely in the safety of their homes. Outside special interest groups should not determine how the community of Racine prioritizes keeping one another safe. The sooner spread of the virus is controlled, the sooner we can safely reunite our school communities.