​We support Dr. Ponds’ and the BOE decision to reopen the school buildings while keeping students and teachers safe. We support parents’ decisions on whether the hybrid plan is right for them or whether they choose to remain virtual. This petition is in response to the letter campaign released by the MEA and NJEA on The Action Network on 1/17/21.

The return to hybrid date has been moved so many times since August that parents have lost count. Specific metrics have never been released regarding the rates of infection and case numbers that are deemed to be too high for beginning in-person instruction. In-person indoor winter sports have resumed already in the Montclair Public School buildings with a few more sports to resume practice soon. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics continues to advocate for in-person learning to be made available to children and shared in their statement on 1/5/2021 “Children absolutely need to return to in-school learning for their healthy development and well-being, and so safety in schools and in the community must be a priority,” AAP President Lee Savio Beers, M.D., FAAP, said in this news release. “We know that some children are really suffering without the support of in-person classroom experiences or adequate technology at home.” AAP elaborated that “the guidance presents new research findings that schools have not been a significant driver of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in their communities when they take safety precautions. Transmission has been especially low among younger children. Schools should use science and data to make decisions about conducting classes in person and provide layers of protection for students, teachers, and staff. Those include requiring everyone 2 years and older (with limited medical exceptions) to wear cloth face coverings, enforcing physical distancing and improving air circulation.” The full AAP news release can be found at: https://www.aappublications.org/news/2021/01/05/covid-school-safety-010521

According to Dr. Ponds email update on 1/15/21 “We continue to prepare our staff and schools for a safe return to in-person, hybrid learning. our Engineering Consultants have inspected and approved all modifications to our ventilation systems.”

The MEA letter incorrectly states that positive cases of Covid-19 in Montclair are increasing daily by triple digits. In fact, positive cases of Covid-19 in Montclair have increased by an average of 13 cases per day in the last week. During the month of December Montclair saw 338 new cases altogether and in January there have been 219 cases as of 1/17/21. Data can be found at: https://www.montclairnjusa.org/news/headlines/novel_coronavirus_news.

Please take a moment today to sign your name to this petition to send a message to Dr. Ponds and the Montclair Board of Education, to thank him and the BOE for putting our children’s educational needs first. Please urge Dr. Ponds and the Board to stay the course and implement the hybrid education in Montclair schools as planned for 1/25/2021. Our children have waited long enough and their education, mental and physical health are suffering by indefinitely extending the virtual instruction plan until all teachers can be offered vaccination as requested by the Montclair Education Association.

​Signed,
Concerned Parents and Community Members of Montclair, NJ