10/21/2021
I have a lot of time on my hands since going into COVID isolation. Mild symptoms, (fully vaccinated) but past the 6 month period so a booster would have helped, but just the same, feeling rather unproductive. I am going to try to put something out every week. By now I was hoping that we would have reached the 68-70% fully vaccinated level. That would have reduced our infection and death rates substantially. In fact, a significant amount of bus drivers calling in sick, teachers and staff requiring quarantining and the disruptions it caused is due to people not getting vaccinated. Normally, MPS transportation plans for a 10% absentee rate but with COVID those numbers run closer to 25-30%. Staff email me almost daily on growing frustrated by lacking staff in their buildings. Parents have similar complaints. I say all of this to state the obvious, the most logical solution to this is to get enough people vaccinated in order to reduce the rate of infections, with the subsequent number of drivers and staff that go down sick or are forced to quarantine. There is no magic solution to this. If we make the sacrifice to vaccinate and wear masks we protect each other enough to bring back an as semblance of order. For me, a board director, I must act on behalf of the children, staff and families that I represent. That is first and foremost. This is not about my rights and freedoms because first I must act on my responsibilities. To my family, my students and staff etc. the more of us that act on that sacrifice the greater chance we have of reducing this and getting back to normal order. I am humbly pleading with those of you who have not gotten vaccinated to help us with this-please. Sincerely, Director Leonard
