Petition is successful with 152 signatures
To: DIHS Head of School & Board of Trustees
Close DIHS and Shift to Remote Learning
The desired goal was accomplished.
COVID-19 is spreading throughout New York City at an exponential rate, causing potential infection of thousands of people, including our students, their families, and all DIHS staff. We must close DIHS immediately and create an emergency action plan that includes remote learning while also providing essential services to students in need.
Why is this important?
As of March 13th, 2020, virtually every major NYC charter school network - including Success Academy, KIPP Public Schools, and Uncommon Schools - has closed down and begun the process of transitioning to remote learning. Additionally, the NYC Council Speaker and the UFT President have called for the closure of NYC public schools. Although we have not yet had a confirmed positive case at DIHS, the reality is that there can exist several cases about which we do not know, as access to testing is minimal and inaccessible for most people. Furthermore, the virus can be incubating and spreading even amongst students and staff members with stronger immune systems who show no symptoms.
Teachers and other staff members - many of whom are at higher risk due to age or health conditions - are required to show up to work each day and risk exposure to hundreds of kids who may be unknowingly spreading this virus. As a Health and Science school, it is our responsibility to make proactive, knowledge-informed decisions, and at this moment, that involves shutting down DIHS and transitioning to remote learning. We should follow the lead of other cities' school systems, who have set up provisional systems to provide free meals and other basic services to students in need while schools are closed. Ultimately, by choosing to keep DIHS open, we are doing more harm to our students and their communities in the long run than we are doing to help them in the short run.
