Families who want schools reopened protest outside Pierce County health department
About 50 parents and children, primarily from private faith-based schools, gathered outside of the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department on Wednesday to advocate for reopening schools this September.
They gathered with signs that read, “In-person education is essential!” and “Let me learn in a classroom!”
Diana Agustsson was one of the parents who helped organize the protest. She has two children who attend the Cor Deo School, a Christian school in Tacoma.
Agustsson said she wanted to have her voice heard after Dr. Anthony Chen, director of health in Pierce County, sent a letter Aug. 12 that clarified his position on reopening schools amid the COVID-19 pandemic — specifically, that he is requiring all schools to begin the school year using distance learning unless transmission levels decrease.
Agustsson and other families said they felt their schools’ reopening plans, which included COVID-19 precautions like social distancing and masks, would keep their children and educators safe.
Suzanne Lackermayer, who also has children at Cor Deo School, said she doesn’t understand why other public places, like casinos and grocery stores and day cares, can be open but schools cannot.
“Why can’t we send our kids to school in a controlled environment?” Lackermayer asked. “We’re going to follow the health department guidelines — just give us a chance to try that.”
Lackermayer said that not having schools open is negatively affecting children’s mental health.
“We feel like so many kids are suffering right now, and it hurts,” she said.
The protest was held at the same time as a Tacoma-Pierce County Board of Health study session.
At the meeting, Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier said he was surprised by Chen’s Aug. 12 letter because it appeared that cases were dropping in the county at the time.
Chen said at the meeting the letter was in response to school districts, who were at the end of their planning for the school year and asked him to issue a letter so they could complete their reopening plans.
When the letter went out, Chen said the 14-day case rate per 100,000 people was around 130. Now it’s at 103.
Gov. Jay Inslee issued guidance on Aug. 5 that clarified when school districts can reopen for in-person learning. Counties with more than 75 cases per 100,000 people within a 14-day period are recommended for distance learning only.
Health Department deputy director Nancy Sutton said Chen’s Aug. 12 requirement was a letter and not a public health order, which is a more formal document and the last “tool in the public health toolbox.”
“We definitely hear the concerns of parents, teachers, school administrators and our larger community,” Sutton said. “We know it’s best for children to be in school. We’re looking at the social connection that is so important for children to have, and we know that isolation is taking its toll on children and on their family members. It’s taking its toll on everybody in our community. And we are ready to work with schools.”
Agustsson said that she doesn’t want children to get sick.
“I feel with the proper safety measurements in place, the benefit for our children can outweigh the potential risk at this moment,” she said.
This story was originally published August 20, 2020 at 5:05 AM.
