EMPOWER TENNESSEE SCHOOLS WITH TOOLS TO COMBAT COVID-19
Governor Lee, it is with concern and urgency that we ask you to please allow schools to enforce public health policies and practices that will keep people safe.
Our schools are in a crisis and state government, which is supposed to support our teachers through hard times, is making the problem much, much worse.
Tennessee is dealing with the worst COVID-19 outbreak in the entire country. In August, state health officials reported our millionth case and 777 new deaths. Infections, fueled by our state’s low vaccination rate, show no sign letting up.
What’s worse is that children now account for more than a third of cases in Tennessee – a larger share than at any other point in the pandemic. As we finish the first month of the new school year, the Tennessee Department of Health reported there were 14,000 student infections in a single week and more than 20,000 students have had to quarantine.
Dozens of schools have shut their doors completely due to coronavirus outbreaks, staff shortages and disrupted bus routes.
Local school officials and teachers are frustrated to say the least. They’re trying to
navigate this case surge with constant quarantines and a carousel of people standing in for teachers.
Tennessee needs solutions
Right now, Gov. Bill Lee and state policymakers should be offering clear guidance and solutions to keep students safe and instruction moving forward. Instead, they’re hearing mixed messages about masking, remote learning and quarantine policies.
As one educator told me: “Governor Lee may work at the state Capitol, but the coronavirus is in charge.”
And yet, these disruptions are only a minor inconvenience compared to the much more serious consequences of this COVID wave: Teachers, staff and students are dying.
At Riverwood Elementary, faculty and students are grieving the loss of Ashley Leatherwood, a second-grade teacher remembered as being supportive and outgoing, WREG reported.
The Westwood High School family is mourning the death of Azorean “Zo” Tatum, a 16-year-old member of the football team.
After a football practice, Zo’s mother said, “he could hardly breathe, he couldn’t stand up, he couldn’t walk,” according to The Commercial Appeal.
In August alone, six people under the age of 20 have died. The total number of COVID-19 deaths in these age groups was 10 before the beginning of this month.
Our hospitals are bursting with COVID-19 patients, including children, more than ever before.
Last week, I co-signed a letter to Gov. Lee with House minority leader Rep. Karen Camper.
We made two simple recommendations:
First, reverse the executive order undermining local mask policies. We believe local school districts deserve the authority to implement masking rules — without state interference.
Second, issue a clear order giving educators the power to conduct learning remotely until conditions improve enough to return to classrooms.
We don’t know what effects COVID-19 has on children in the long term or what happens when kids get infected multiple times.
What we do know is kids and adults alike can get infected in small rooms and masks reduce infections – especially among populations that aren’t eligible for the life-saving vaccine.
Medical experts have provided us all the guidance and resources we need to reduce infections and save lives. Not one more teacher or child should die a preventable death due to Covid.
Goveonor Lee, it is with the utmost concern and urgency that we ask you to please allow schools to enforce public health policies and practices that will keep students, teachers and staff healthy and safe.
Senator Raumesh Akbari represents District 29 in the Tennessee Senate.