Following the Montgomery County Department of Health’s unanimous vote on Friday to temporarily close schools for the two-week period that bookends the Thanksgiving holiday, talks of an organized protest immediately surfaced on Facebook.
Organized by Kaitlin Derstine and the Parents for In Person Education (PIPE) Facebook group, the protest is scheduled to occur on Saturday, Nov. 14 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. outside of the Montgomery County Office of Public Health, located at 1430 Dekalb Street in Norristown. Derstine was one of many parents who voiced their opposition to the closure during Thursday’s Department of Health meeting.
Derstine said her special education child had major issues when he was virtual, such as being overstimulated by the computer screen and distracted by his environment. Since he has returned to school, he has skyrocketed in his progress.
“My son’s future will suffer if you do this,” she said.
Nearly all of the feedback from parents and school officials during Thursday’s more than two-hour public comment period was in opposition to the closure, causing the meeting to end with a recess and a rescheduled vote. But despite the vocal opposition, the Department of Health reconvened on Friday at noon and unanimously voted to order the temporary closure, which will force county schools to go virtual-only from Nov. 23 through Dec. 6.
Colleges, universities and daycare centers will not be affected, per county officials.
The closure’s purpose is to cut down on the transmission of COVID-19 expected with the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, where social gatherings and travel will occur among families and friends. Of those 14 days of closure, most schools will be open for eight days, due to the Thanksgiving break.
Organizers for Saturday’s protest said that the event will be peaceful, and they are encouraging all participants to wear masks. For more information on the schedule protest, click here.
See also:
Montco Department Of Health Unanimously Votes To Temporarily Close Schools Amidst COVID-19 Surge
Montco Meeting On Potential School Closures Ends In Recess, Vote Rescheduled For Friday
Montco To Vote Tomorrow On Sending All Students Back To Virtual Learning For Two Week Period
North Penn Reports Additional COVID-19 Cases As Students Return To In-Person Schooling
North Penn Confirms 1 Student, 2 Staff Members Tested Positive For COVID-19
