Dear School Board Member,
I want to start by expressing my gratitude for your service on the School Board during these challenging times. Since March 2020, you’ve been expected to navigate the complexities of public health, social justice, budgeting, and community support, all while facing the frustrations of parents. It’s been a monumental task to manage these high-pressure situations with such professionalism. Many states have left our schools to tackle tough educational decisions alone during this pandemic, which has only deepened the divisions within our communities.
Just when I think we’ve reached a turning point, the situation evolves. I was optimistic last year that with the arrival of vaccines, life would return to normal. Yet, here we are again grappling with the same question: to mask or not to mask?
As a fully vaccinated adult with unvaccinated children at home, I have appreciated the freedoms that vaccination brings, but I also worry about the safety measures that helped us navigate this pandemic. Last year, I opted for remote learning for my children, fearing that schools could become super-spreaders. I didn’t anticipate the emotional toll of isolation. However, when evidence suggested that in-person schooling was safe, I quickly enrolled my older children, who have no underlying health issues. The science supports that the benefits of in-person education outweigh the risks, provided we implement sensible safety measures. To my surprise, my children adapted to wearing masks quite well, and even my twins, who are at higher risk, managed to finish the school year in-person.
Now, the landscape has changed dramatically. In Florida, over 470 COVID cases were reported in just one district within a week, leading to the quarantine of 1,000 individuals. In one tragic instance, three teachers died from COVID within a 24-hour period. In Bowling Green, over 1,000 students and staff were quarantined just three days into the school year, resulting in a mask mandate to keep kids in school. When I read our district’s superintendent warn that we might have to revert to virtual learning, I felt a wave of dread for those families. The thought of returning to virtual schooling is my worst nightmare.
While it’s easy to say that such a scenario won’t happen in our area, I remind myself that 100% of students under 12 are still unvaccinated. Additionally, studies indicate that some vaccines provide less protection against the Delta variant, though they continue to keep the vaccinated population out of hospitals.
Prior to the Delta variant’s emergence, we understood COVID to be relatively mild for young children, making the risk seem negligible. Children are prone to colds, and we tend to accept this as a normal part of their development. However, the Delta variant’s heightened transmissibility is resulting in more hospitalizations among children. As we await comprehensive data on the risks associated with Delta, pediatric ICUs in hotspots are already nearing capacity.
Last winter, healthcare professionals feared an influx of cases as flu season coincided with the pandemic. Thankfully, mask-wearing helped us avoid a severe flu season. But this year, with mask mandates largely lifted, we can expect the flu to make a comeback.
Additionally, we are witnessing a concerning rise in RSV, which is circulating at peak levels much earlier than usual. Parents who are unfamiliar with RSV should consider themselves fortunate; it can be life-threatening and is linked to long-term respiratory issues. My twins experienced RSV in their first year, and although they weren’t hospitalized, we’ve spent years managing their viral-induced asthma. The guilt I felt after learning about the long-term repercussions of RSV lingers.
Compounding these challenges, hospitals are now reporting cases of children hospitalized with both RSV and COVID-19. The president of the Texas Pediatric Society highlighted the difficulties posed by the combination of these two viruses, expressing concern for what’s to come as flu season approaches.
With flu season looming and both RSV and COVID-19 present, I find myself anxious about the start of the school year. Although many parents seem eager to shed mask-wearing, it is imperative to consider the safety of unvaccinated children who remain vulnerable. It’s inevitable that there will be some dissatisfaction with any decision made, and I don’t envy your position. However, I appreciate your commitment to making thoughtful decisions.
Regardless of the choices made by others, my children will continue to wear masks. However, I understand that their protection is limited if contagious individuals are in the classroom without masks. It’s a daunting thought, especially when incidents like a parent sending a COVID-positive child to school arise, risking exposure for many.
Ultimately, while vaccination rates may guide some decisions, the health and safety of children should remain a priority. Let’s strive to ensure that our children have the best possible chance for a full in-person school year by mandating masks indoors until all eligible age groups can receive the vaccine. This may not be the most popular decision, but it is the one that will prioritize the safety of both adults and children, keeping them in school.
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Summary
In this letter, a concerned parent expresses gratitude to the school board while voicing fears about the return to virtual schooling due to rising COVID-19 cases and the spread of the Delta variant. The author highlights the importance of mask-wearing for unvaccinated children and urges the board to prioritize safety to ensure a complete in-person school year.