DPS Students Create Online Petition To Get Teachers Vaccinated

Many of elementary school's youngest learners returned to in-person classes in the New Year.

As February approaches, high schoolers are also preparing to return to the classroom. And a group of high schoolers from Denver Public Schools is pushing to make sure the return is as safe as possible.

An online petition urging DPS leaders to have teachers and staff vaccinated for COVID-19 has been started by a group of friends from East High School.

The Change.org petition titled "DPS Staff Should Have Acess to Vaccines Before In-Person Learning Begins" was posted by a high school senior Hermela Goshu.

The petition is addressed to the Denver Public Schools School Board, DPS Superintendent Dwight Jones, and Governor Jared Polis.

In an interview with CBS4 Goshu voiced her concerns about returning to school during the pandemic.

"We were kind of shocked when we were told that we were going back to school on the 25th," Goshu said. "I don't feel safe in any sense of the word. I don't think our district has it figured out, and therefore I don't think any of our schools have it figured out."

It's a sentiment that many parents and students across the nation share. Over 1,400 people have already signed Goshu's petition as of January 20.

In a statement to Denver7, DPS said that they have notified about 1,600 staff members that they are now eligible to receive the vaccine.

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