Transylvania County Democrats want to share our appreciation and admiration to all the teachers, administrators, support staff throughout Brevard and Rosman schools for their willingness to teach in class during COVID-19 at considerable risk to themselves and their families. 

As good citizens of Transylvania County, we can support them by setting a good example for our children. By being respectful, listening to other opinions, knowing the difference between opinion and science. If we restrain our emotions and listen to our doctors and other experts, we model the behavior that teachers try to instill in students every day. How we treat each other is how we should anticipate our children will treat others. 

Two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, we are all weary, wishing for an end to this global virus. Let us come together to show our appreciation and our admiration for teachers and school staff. The least we can do is require masks and encourage vaccinations for eligible students. Our teachers, administrators, support staff are underappreciated and underpaid. They have really stood tall from the first. They did an extraordinary job with virtual learning. Now they are back in school with a much higher risk of infection from Delta.  

Let us all encourage our Board of Education to follow the science and the advice of local physicians to keep our children and their parents and grandparents safe. 

“The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) reported last week seeing a sharp increase in COVID-19 clusters among school sports teams.” 

“There is increasing urgency for everyone ages 12 and older to get vaccinated as soon as possible. For the week ending Sept. 4, children age 17 and under made up 31% of the state’s new COVID-19 cases. That is the highest percentage since the pandemic began.” 

Right here in Transylvania County, school age children were 19% of the new cases recently. Covid Dashboard 

“In addition to wearing face masks in indoor settings, NCDHHS also recommends sports programs practice social distancing, when possible, disinfect equipment frequently and avoid sharing water bottles.” https://www.transylvaniatimes.com/story/2021/09/16/covid-19/sharp-increases-found-in-virus-clusters-among-school-sports/51028.html  

“Transylvania Public Health on Wednesday reported the number of new cases in the county during the previous seven days had climbed in one week from 147 to 176, a rate of infection “very, very similar” to that of the pandemic’s January peak, said health department spokeswoman” Tara Rybka.

“Especially striking, she said, is that residents under 18 now account for 37 percent of active cases, compared to 11 percent in July — a trend partly attributable to the opening of schools. She added that the department has no reports of student-age residents being hospitalized.” https://brevardnewsbeat.substack.com/p/as-covid-19-surges-countywide-masking