We are not going to change minds by posting our frustrations, challenges and solutions on social media. We should tell the people who can effect change what we are thinking. These are often people who we have elected. If you agree that our Glenn County kids should be in the classroom and not in front of a computer this year, please consider emailing the Glenn County Board of Supervisors, Glenn County Public Health Officer, our Assemblyman and Senator and don’t forget the Governor and do it TODAY!

Thank you, Colleen

Dear Dr. Garrison

I respectfully ask that Glenn County School be opened and students allowed back into their classrooms for in-person instruction as soon as possible.

On March 19, 2020, Governor Newsom ordered a shelter-in-place for the State of California. At the same time, a handful of industries were identified as “essential” including the agriculture industry which happens to be Glenn County’s economic driver. Essential meant agriculture employers and employees continued to work while others were sheltering in place.

According to the Glenn County 2018 Crop Report Plus, 1 in every 3 Glenn County residents works in agriculture directly and many more indirectly. How are essential employees supposed to teach their kids at home while continuing to provide for their families, especially during our most critical time of year in agriculture – harvest? How is any working family supposed to work outside of the home, take care of their kids at home, and help their kids navigate online learning?

On Friday, August 7^th, the Glenn County Health and Human Services Agency reported 24 Glenn county residents at home in isolation recovering from COVID19. Out of 28,000 Glenn County residents living across 1,400 square miles, our kids will start the 2020/2021 School Year in front of a computer, because 24 people are at home recovering from a virus. A virus that 99% of all people who contract, will recover from. Harvard Medical School, the Academy of American Pediatrics, and the US Centers for Disease Control have all said kids should be in their classrooms and not learning from home.

These continued mandates from Governor Newsom are doing more harm to families and our emotional well-being then they are doing good. Please help put our kids back into their classrooms in-person! Schools have committed to making the changes necessary to keep kids and teachers as safe as possible and will continue to offer distance learning for those that would prefer that option.  

I am well aware of the Governors school waiver option and know that Glenn County didn’t qualify at the time of the waivers announcement. Again, I believe Glenn County is being unfairly held to metrics that don’t weigh all factors, including the rural nature of our community and the larger family units that call Glenn County home. 

My two boys are eager to be back in their Plaza Elementary School classrooms with their extraordinary teachers, amazing staff and classmates. While my boys don’t have a paid union representative in the ear of the Governor, they do have me and their father, both working in agriculture, who will advocate to you and our elected officials, and ask that we all do better for our kids and our essential community.

I am not a doctor. But I am a Mom who needs to be realistic. COVID will continue to circulate through our community. Just like colds and the seasonal flu do every year. Every year we learn more. We know more about COVID now than we did in March and we know it can be managed. Thank you in advance for your consideration and your work for the county during this confusing time. 

Most respectfully,

Colleen Cecil
Orland, CA