GREEN BAY, Wis. (NBC 26) -- Dozens of Green Bay parents and students protested downtown on Saturday to bring awareness to their push to return to in person classes.
The event was started in a Facebook group after organizers realized that public events were garnering more visibility for their issue.
"We're striving for anything," GBAPS parent and protest organizer Brook Andrews said. "If you want to give us one day [per week], we'll take it. We will take whatever it is that they want to give us. We're not asking for overcrowding, we're definitely asking that the schools do it safely, because they got $8 million in CARES act funds to do so."
Many protesters cited frustration with the gating criteria to reopen the schools for in person classes. Currently, a primary data point is a calculated burden factor based on the number of positive cases in Brown County.
"I think there's differences of opinion on what are the best numbers to go back at," Board of Education treasurer Andrew Becker said. "I think numbers are still high although I feel good that they're starting to go down. I feel that there's a light at the end of the tunnel. But I think it's obviously -- if there's a group holding a rally, it's a sign that there's voices that need to be heard as part of this."
GBAPS Board of Education Vice President Kristina Shelton says that these protests are an integral part to the ongoing conversation that surrounds education during coronavirus.
"I fully support people that are peacefully going to demonstrate and assembly, to have their voice heard. I've been really impressed with the way parents have come together on the many sides of this issue," Shelton said. "There's a lot of organizing that's happening, a lot of advocacy and a lot of communication. Whether its in person like the demonstration today or through email or on Facebook, the level of engagement in our community is very high."
"I think the most important thing is that people need to remember that being heard and being listened to is different than agreeing on a solution," Shelton said.
Andrews says her children spend 10 minutes per 50 minute class period online and engaged with their peers. Several other students took the podium to share their experiences with disengagement and depression during the school year as well as gripes that other nearby districts are back in person.
"I feel this school year is a failure," Andrews said.
Organizers say they invited every member of Green Bay's board of education as well as the mayor. GBAPS board of education trustee Rhonda Sitnikau says she obligated to attend.
"I'm here today because the entire school board was invited, and I obviously felt it was necessary to come down and listen to our families and what they had to say about the impact of the decisions, or from the decisions, that we're making," Sitnikau said.
School board President Eric Vanden Heuvel shared this statement with NBC 26 via email:
"As a Board Trustee, I appreciate the outpouring of responses from our community on whether Green Bay Area Public Schools should be virtual or in-person. The Board has heard from individuals who feel strongly on both sides of the issue, and at Monday night’s Board meeting, we will take into consideration the feedback we have received from families, staff and students, as well as the administration and medical community when we revisit the current gating criteria and the proposed blended learning model. As a District parent, I truly understand the impact of the Board’s decisions on families. While everyone may not agree, I know we all want the best for our children and community."
Additionally, Superintendent Stephen Murley gave a statement via email:
“When the District started the school year with virtual learning, no one had anticipated that we would eventually have burden rates in Brown County of more than 1,000 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 within a 14-day period,” stated Superintendent of Schools and Learning Stephen Murley. “I join District families in feeling frustrated that students are not in classrooms, and understand how difficult it is to watch their children struggle with virtual learning and/or miss out on opportunities such as athletics, the school musical, and so much more. As District leaders, our first priority continues to be the safety of students and staff as we investigate ways to provide options for more students to attend school in-person. The recent downward trend in COVID-19 positive cases is allowing the District to open buildings to staff next week. The COVID-19 pandemic has been an ever shifting landscape, and we continue to be as responsive as possible to the changing dynamics.”
