Dozens of parents and students in the South Bay are urging school officials to reopen classrooms as calls to do so grow louder across California.
The group from the Cupertino and Sunnyvale school districts held a Tuesday afternoon rally outside Sunnyvale’s Fremont High School, holding signs reading "Zoom is not school," "I’m not okay" and "Kids need teachers, not screens."
In all, it’s been almost a year of distance learning.
"I have the best teacher and I really miss my friends," said third grader Amit Yahalom, who goes to Christa McAuliffe Elementary School in Saratoga.
Meanwhile, parents believe some students are falling behind in school due to the lack of face-to-face interaction during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. That’s why Karen Boyman started sending her kids to private school so they could get back into the classroom.
"Even if the schools open up tomorrow, it will take a long time to get the kids back on track mentally," she told KCBS Radio.
A group composed of students and parents from school districts in Sunnyvale and Cupertino protests outside Fremont High School on Tuesday afternoon.Carrie Hodousek/KCBS Radio
These parents have signed a petition to recall board members because they said the districts aren’t moving quick enough to establish reopening plans like other districts have elsewhere in Santa Clara County.
Among those already back for in-person learning or have approved plans are the Los Altos School District, Los Gatos Union School District, Palo Alto Unified School District and Saratoga Union School District.
Representatives from both Cupertino and Sunnyvale school districts told KCBS Radio they don’t plan to reopen until the county has advanced to the red tier of the state’s reopening strategy and all staff have been vaccinated.
