Lee County educators show opposition to in-person school

Dozens of Lee County teachers showed up in their cars, pushing for the school district to start school off with remote learning. Many of them are worried for their health once in-school learning starts in less than a month. Car after car, teachers and school staff inside them refuse to stop spreading their message.

“It’s pertinent for us to be virtual to start out the school year,” teacher Phyllis Lampman said. “I think it will be saving lives.”

“With the current numbers, we are going to be part of the problem if we go back to the building,” school counselor Susan Patti said.

Dozens went out for the “Lee Educators for Safe Schools” car rally Tuesday to make sure they were heard loud and clear.

Teacher Virginia Sisk says she thinks the line of cars was important for her daughter Grace to see.

“I like to show her that community involvement is important,” Sisk said. “You got to show up for the things you believe in.”

With more than 31,000 Lee County students heading back to school in person so far, Sisk and other school staff believe it’s just too dangerous.

“I am high-risk,”Sisk said. “I am a Type 1 diabetic in the top tier.”

“I’m concerned, not only for my own health, but also for my husband who has a medical condition,” Lampman said.

Even as the school start date approaches, teachers say they won’t stop fighting to make sure students and staff can go back to school safely.

Lee County school district is in the process of making many changes to what returning to school will look like. It has eliminated student temperature checks and also requiring high school teachers to be in their classrooms at 6:30 a.m. to keep students from congregating in common areas.