HUTCHINSON, Kan. — An online petition has been started, stating that the gating criteria for schools is hurting students. The petition calls for a change to keep students in class.
The petition is aimed at the health department and the county’s six school districts. As of Thursday afternoon, nearly 200 people have signed the petition.
The petition was started on change.org and states that the gating criteria is based on positive cases in the community, not based on positive cases in the schools. The petition asks why this should be the determining factor for closing schools.
The petition goes on to say that 155 positive cases do not justify closing schools in a county with a population of almost 62,000 people. It closes by asking residents to help keep kids in school by supporting the petition.
While the petition is not official, it does bring awareness to those who are expressing frustration by action taken during the pandemic.