Trigger Alert: I acknowledge and understand that folks are going to be upset and disagree with what I am going to say and that’s okay. I can only ask that you reflect on these words and approach this letter with an open mind.

In March of 2020 the landscape of education changed forever. I remember getting the call to come downtown to assess a situation we had limited information on. Later that evening Former Denver Public Schools Superintendent Susana Cordova said “We have to close the schools.”

I never thought I would hear those words, for a while I truly thought it would only be a two week extension. Then it became a month, then a semester, then an entire school year. Throughout the pandemic I was one of the loudest advocates for remote learning, because we did not have a vaccine which led to people dying from the COVID-19 virus. Our public health officials agreed that opening schools was not ideal at that time, so we kept our doors closed.

Now we are beginning a new year and facing a new surge with a new variant. In Denver Public Schools we’ve reached 100% compliance with the Mayor’s vaccination order, children 5 and up can get vaccinated, and folks over the age of 12 can be boosted. The vaccine is saving lives and this is why the guidance from the health officials in Denver is to keep schools open. Out of the 105,000 + students and staff members of DPS less than 2% of the district this week has tested positive (that’s a plus) schools aren’t closing due to COVID-19 outbreaks. They are opting to go remote due to staffing challenges, which is an operational closure not a COVID outbreak closure those are two different things.

I get it, this isn’t ideal not all of the desired safety protocols are in place yet. I know first hand the fear folks have, I have many family members that work in Denver Public Schools, my little sister attends school in Denver Public Schools, and I am a father to an eight month old unvaccinated son. Everyday I go to meetings, visit schools, and support in classrooms I fear that I might bring something home that would infect my unvaccinated son, every time my family is around I fear someone might spread this virus to my unvaccinated son. I acknowledge the impact that parents especially Black single mothers like my mother will have if we close our doors again.

I maintain tha stance that schools are not daycares and teachers are not babysitters. Our schools offer opportunities that remote learning does not, the mental health of our students is at stake, and we can not have a one sized fits all option that could force families that look like mine on the streets due to the lack of childcare.

So I am calling on Governor Jared Polis to implement a statewide mask mandate as Denver Public Schools is a diverse district with many students and staff members that travel from various parts of Colorado to access our services. We need a mask mandate, NOW. We also need a comprehensive plan on how families and educators can be priority one for testing across the state with results that are delivered in a timely manner.

Please remember the Board of Education doesn’t make these decisions. We have opinions, we have families, and we are all in this together.

— Denver School Board Vice President, Tay Anderson