A grassroots effort by Montgomery County educators – including unionized teachers – and community members has garnered over 3,000 signatures on a petition asking Montgomery County Public School (MCPS) not to change the health metric matrix for a safe phased-in return for in-person instruction. “We are asking that the health metrics grid that was approved on November 10th not be changed by the Board of Education in order to keep health and safety at the forefront of their decision-making,” says the petition. “We must continue to abide by CDC guidelines when considering the return to in-person instruction.” The Board of Education, which meets tomorrow, has asked MCPS to reevaluate its metrics for reopening on December 15 in order to lower the health standards for return to in-person instruction.