Not everyone on Bainbridge Island is concerned about reopening schools.

Some are actually thrilled about it.

Katie Curnutte said she represents a large group of BI parents “who believe our superintendent and school district have done everything in their power to open our schools as safely as possible; and who fervently hope we are able to keep schools open.”

For her two kids, “returning to school has been incredibly positive for them. My son, in fact, told me yesterday that this was the first time he’s felt normal since March.”

Neither of her kids liked learning at home. Her daughter, a kindergartner, is too “young to sit in front of a screen all day,” she said. “It was more of a chore. It’s so important to love learning.”

Her son, 9, loves being back. “He’s just over the moon,” she said, adding last year after school she’d ask how his day was and he wouldn’t say anything. “Now I get a full report; it takes a half hour.”

Curnutte said he’s thriving in the smaller class size of eight students. And he loves the individual attention he gets from his teacher, even though she’s 6 feet away.

“Kids are so adaptable,” she said. “Even with masks and social distancing they still get a ton out of it.”

Curnutte said relationships outside the home with other people and peers is so important. “Nothing can replace in-person interaction.”

She said she supports parents who choose to keep their children home. “But the fact is 94 percent of the people who signed up for hybrid have sent their children back. To close them again would be a disservice to the children who are back, learning in person and thriving in the environment.”

Another parent, Heather Visser, also has had a positive experience. “Some of my kids have been really struggling with distance learning, and we were all nervous to return, but it has been such a great experience. The district and schools are working so hard to keep everyone safe and make it a positive experience for all.”

She said at-home learning didn’t work for her twin second-graders. “It’s hard to connect over the screen, and they don’t want to sit still,” she said, adding they had never met the other students or their teacher before.

Visser said one of her sons didn’t like putting his picture on the screen because, “He felt like everyone was looking at him.” Besides, in-person the teachers can better learn each students learning style.

She said she’s been sensitive to the teachers, many of whom were nervous about going back. But her boys teachers are “excited – way better than they even imagined. Everybody seems happy and positive.”

Visser suggested that the squeaky wheel makes a lot of noise “about not being ready to go back (but) doesn’t mean they are the majority voice.”

Sharing positive stories

She said many in the community have enjoyed sharing positive stories online.

“Being able to share and hear others happiness and joy made us all feel a bit less alone, and it’s the best connection between moms I’ve seen since this pandemic started,” she said. “We all used to see each other at school pickup, events, sports, etc., and that is really missing right now of course.”

Visser said those against reopening should take another look.

“I’m so sick of hearing the negativity and fear from all these parents who regret their decision to choose hybrid last August and now want the rest of us to be affected,” she said. “Maybe these positive stories will convince some of them that it’s not so scary.”

She said this issue does not have to be so divisive. “This really does not need to divide our whole community,” she said. “I will be devastated if a group of seemingly entitled parents ruin this joy for the rest of us.”

Meanwhile, Hema Megge, a pediatrician, also is glad schools are open. She said schools are safe because “instead of going unchecked as is happening in many communities, enforcement of social distancing procedures and testing access in schools are leading to cases being identified and contained early.”

She supports the American Academy of Pediatrics, World Health Organization and many global infectious disease experts that careful and planned school reopenings should proceed.

Asked if she has any concerns about reopening, she said, “As a parent with a baby on the way of course I do.” The variants of COVID are a concern, along with teachers not being higher up the line to get vaccinations. That’s “inconsistent with a goal of maintaining safe school opening.”

Megge said she’s impressed with school district leadership for making kids their top priority. “I’m grateful for them ‘putting their necks on the line’ to do the right thing,” she said.

She added that her preschooler and kindergartener had some advantages for at-home learning.

“We’ve had the privilege to be able to pay our way out of some of the pandemic pain – organizing pods, paying tutors, creating safe social environments,” she said, adding many can’t do that. “We should be prioritizing the well-being of all, especially those who are struggling the most, and not make existing inequities even worse.”

School board

During the public comment period at a recent school board meeting, four people spoke in favor, along with Superintendent Peter Bang-Knudsen.

He said the first week went really well, with more than 1,300 students returning in grades kindergarten through six. There was 94% attendance.

“That shows the enthusiasm for coming back,” he said, adding he heard laughing and people “having a great time together.”

Bang-Knudsen said the district has been planning to reopen for months and that everyone was following COVID safety rules and expectations. He said the district will be constantly reviewing its readiness and adjusting to Department of Health guidelines.

He noted the Kitsap Public Health District is reporting a large downward trend in positive coronavirus cases. He also noted a Center for Disease Control report that says as long as safety protocols are in place there has been little evidence that reopening schools leads to spreading COVID-19.

He added schools statewide are still pushing for vaccines for staff, and they are closely watching COVID variants to see how to respond to them.

John Hamilton was one of those who spoke in favor of reopening. He said he was glad the district “followed the science.” He said at-home learning led to mental health and risk of isolation issues for kids. He applauded the district moving forward with compassion allowing those who want to stay home to do that and those who want to go in-person to do that.

Nate Watson thanked the district for having the courage to do the right thing. He said the district’s procedures are allowing it to be done safetly. He said every kid is glad to be back in class, and he hopes high schoolers can return soon during this “crucial time of life.”

Thomas Greene said the district took a leap of faith. He said everybody knows the risks, but he hopes no one is doing something they feel uncomfortable with.

Casey Schmidt said BISD did the right thing as other schools have been open for some time with few outbreaks. He said people are social animals, and kids have been struggling, but as soon as school reopened it was like flipping a switch and his daughters were transformed.