LAND O' LAKES, Fla. -- An estimated 100 cars driven by Pasco County Schools teachers circled the parking lot outside of the district's administrative offices for half an hour Tuesday evening. The educators were protesting next month's planned reopening of schools, saying they have a number of coronavirus-related safety concerns.

"We're scared, I think at this point is where we're at," said Land O' Lakes High School culinary arts teacher Jeremy Blythe. "We are scared to watch our co-workers and our students get sick. We don't feel like there are the proper measures that have been decided on in order for us to feel safe returning to in-person education with the kids."

"It's not just housed within the school itself because everybody's interacting with the community in some way," said Wiregrass Ranch High School Teacher Rachel Miller. "So, we really are trying to bring the focus to this as a community issue."

One of their main concerns: the social distancing needed to prevent the spread of the virus can't properly happen on campus or in classrooms.

"The distancing aspect is virtually impossible, and all these contingencies of, 'Okay, well, we're going to separate desks.' Well, you can't separate them six feet," said Miller. Even with some students not returning to brick and mortar schools this fall, Miller said she's been told she'll still have 28-30 students in a single class.

Signs displayed on cars and by teachers read, "Do what's right for students and staff!," "I can't teach from the grave," and "How many teacher and student deaths are you okay with?"

Another common message: "On Time, Online." Blythe said the group doesn't think simply delaying the opening of schools is enough. He said the group is asking they remain closed until Pasco county's positivity rate dips below 5% for two consecutive weeks. Until then, they want learning to continue virtually.

"Sometimes, I feel like maybe people are thinking that maybe we don't want to work. We've been hearing that and seeing that sentiment. I can guarantee you from my perspective as a teacher and all the other teachers in Pasco County that we've been speaking with, that's not the case," he said.

"We don't want learning gains to be missed, which can happen if you're going back on campus and you suddenly have a teacher that's sick and is out, and now you have a sub come in," Miller said about the benefits of virtual learning.

A district spokesperson said via e-mail that Pasco Schools shares teachers' concerns and continues to adjust its plans as circumstances change. He said they're trying to balance providing the safest in-person, on-campus options possible while complying with the state's order that schools reopen.

"There should be more activism and pushback against what the state is saying," said Miller.