100 signatures reached
To: Bob Thompson, Hampstead School Board
Universal Masking in School in Substantial Risk Category
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (NH DHHS) all recommend universal masking in schools K-12. "Due to the circulating and highly contagious Delta variant, CDC recommends universal indoor masking by all students (age 2 and older), staff, teachers, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status" (CDC). NH DHHS has provided a decision making matrix for a safe return to school based on community transmission and risk. Our school district is currently in the "Substantial Risk" category (the highest risk category). The US Department of Education states their #1 priority is the health and safety of students, school personnel, and families. At the last school board meeting it was decided to alter the guidance to allow unmasked classrooms at HCS and Hampstead Middle School in the substantial risk category against all guidance from state and federal public health experts. If you feel our schools should be following the advice from our local health officials please sign and share this petition. Thank you for your time.
Why is this important?
I am asking you to sign this petition so that our children can return to school safely in-person 5 days a week. Remote schooling was extremely difficult for our entire family. In the times of delta we are watching in real time more kids becoming more ill with this variant. The New York Times reported this week that Children's hospitals around the country are seeing a surge in Covid-19 patients. "The crush of Covid-19 cases at Children’s Hospital New Orleans grew so dire this month that the state called in a federal “surge team” of emergency responders to help" (NY Times 8/30/21). At HCS our children do not yet have the option to be vaccinated. Our public schools should take this threat of Delta seriously and follow the guidance from our local health department to protect our children and our community at large. Universal masking, while our risk is substantial per NH DHHS, will reduce transmission of the disease in our schools reducing remote learning, quarantines, and infected kids.