I am praying that Martha’s Vineyard schools make the hard decisions necessary to keep teachers, children and parents as safe as possible — now — when the risk is most severe. And that our teachers have a decisive individual voice, as well as collective voice, in that decision making process.

Like medical care and public health infrastructure, education and school culture must be emancipated from the dictates of economic growth for its own sake. Where universal personal and public health, youth care and education are the top economic priorities — and our students, teachers, staff, administrators and parents get the full support they deserve — our students will be able to catch up.

Chris Riger

Vineyard Haven