By signing you name, you add your name to the following letter that will be sent out:

If you have commented on Facebook asking to have your name added, it is already added to the letter. This is for additional signatures.

Dear Superintendent Francesconi and School Trustees:

We write to you as a collective group of individuals in the community concerned about the recent decision to make facial coverings optional for the upcoming school year.

As you are aware, the CDC and the state health department are recommending facial coverings for all students and staff, regardless of vaccination status. Despite this guidance, the Corporation has failed to follow the recommendations in the recent decisions made on August 3rd.

The Corporation has and continues to pride itself on following science and safety measures during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. However, this new guidance is disappointing and irresponsible. Students under the age of 12 are unable to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The only way to protect them is if they and those around them were a mask. By making this optional, they are much greater to get sick, and it could be a serious illness.

The Superintendent seems to be trying to be the middleman by making everything optional. However, this will have real and serious consequences. If he does not want the blame on him, he should follow the CDC guidance as the logic, so the blame goes to them. The current decision puts the blame right on the Superintendent. Michigan City Area Schools (MCAS), South Bend Community School Corporation, Chicago Public Schools (CPS), and many more school corporations are requiring facial coverings for all students and staff. At this time, we do not know what the logic behind the Superintendent’s decision is—but we know health guidance did not play a role.

We should not treat COVID-19 lightly. With the new Delta variant, we need to keep staff and students safe. The school can do in-person instruction, and most families want that for their children. But they also want their children to be safe.

Also, allowing the water fountains to be open poses a risk of getting COVID-19. The new recommendations from your office re-opens this. The plan the Corporation’s plan currently has shown is as if there is no more COVID-19 in the County and things are back to normal. However, this is not the case. Schools across the country have tried going optional and have led to big outbreaks and consequences. We know that will happen if the current plans remain in effect. We do not want an outbreak due to the Superintendent not following the guidance from health agencies.

We urge Superintendent Francesconi and School Trustees to reverse course and follow the science. We ask that the recommendations set forth on August 3rd be repealed to follow guidance from the CDC and the state health department. Our kids need to be safe.