Cobb County parents calling on district leaders to reinstate face-to-face learning

“The purpose of this petition is to regain our rights to choose, as parents and taxpayers in Cobb County, to send our children to school utilizing the traditional classroom setting,” organizer Michael Shelley wrote.

Shelley goes on to list why the face-to-face option is needed.

Last week, CCSD Superintendent Chris Ragsdale announced the district would begin the school year with all-virtual learning. Cobb County had originally offered face-to-face learning and a virtual learning model.

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Ragsdale said he made the decision based on the most up-to-date public health guidance.

“This decision has been weighing on me for a while. I know we need to get back to face-to-face instruction. That is why we tried to offer parents two options—in-person and remote—to start the school year. Unfortunately, public health guidance does not make that possible,” said Ragsdale. “Our teachers are awesome, and they will continue to do an awesome job virtually, but nothing takes the place of in-person instruction from our Cobb County teachers. I am not setting a timeline for how long our students will engage in virtual learning. We will continue to monitor the data and work with public health officials so we can open for face-to-face instruction as soon as humanly possible.”

East Cobb mother Amy Henry told Channel 2 Cobb County bureau chief Chris Jose that a group of parents and teachers have formed a “think tank” to come up with a strategy to get children back in the classroom on August 17.

“If we present a proposal, hear us! Chris Ragsdale, hear what we have to say. Because, by God, if there’s a will, there’s a way,” said Henry. “How many parents in Cobb County alone are CEOs, VPs and running corporations? Let us put a plan in place that we feel like will allow our children to have an education. That’s why we moved to Cobb County.”

Henry has four children in Cobb County schools. She and her husband intended to send their kids back.

The East Cobb couple both work full-time.

“We looked at the statistics. We looked at everything. The risk is so little. I’m willing to take that,” said Henry. “There’s thousands of parents who want face-to-face. Let us have our voices heard. There’s teachers, thousands of teachers, that want face-to-face because they feel like it’s their job and their duty, and they’re willing to take the risk.”