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Dear School Committee Members,
I want to extend my gratitude to each of you for your dedication to the School Committee during these challenging times. Since March 2020, you have been thrust into roles as public health advisors, social justice advocates, financial planners, and community counselors, often bearing the weight of parental frustrations. Navigating these high-pressure scenarios with professionalism is no small feat. Many states have shifted the burden of critical decisions regarding education during this pandemic onto local authorities, leaving our communities divided and struggling to heal.
Just when I think we’ve turned a corner, the situation shifts again. Last year, I was optimistic that the arrival of the vaccine would restore normalcy. Yet here we are, grappling with an issue I hoped we would have resolved by now: whether or not to mask our children in schools.
As a fully vaccinated adult with unvaccinated children at home, I have enjoyed the newfound freedoms brought by the vaccine but simultaneously feared the loss of the basic safety measures that helped us navigate the early days of COVID-19.
Last year, I opted for remote schooling for my children, concerned that schools might become hotspots for transmission. I underestimated the emotional toll of isolation and overestimated children’s ability to adhere to mask mandates. However, once data indicated that in-person schooling was safe, I eagerly enrolled my oldest children, who are healthy, back into the classroom. The evidence shows that for most, the benefits of attending school outweigh the risks, provided we implement sensible safety measures. Surprisingly, my children adapted well to wearing masks, and my twins, who are at higher risk, also managed to complete the school year in person.
Now, however, the landscape has dramatically changed. In Florida, one district reported over 470 COVID cases in just a week, leading to 1,000 quarantines, while three teachers tragically lost their lives within 24 hours. In Bowling Green, over 1,000 students and staff were quarantined just three days into the school year, prompting a mask mandate as a last resort to keep children in school. When I read the district superintendent’s warning that we might soon have to revert to virtual schooling, I felt a wave of dread for families facing that reality. The thought of returning to virtual learning is truly my worst nightmare.
It’s easy for those in regions with high vaccination rates to think such a situation won’t occur here. While towns with robust vaccination efforts deserve recognition, the fact remains that 100% of students under 12 are still unvaccinated. We’ve seen that some vaccines offer diminished protection against the Delta variant, though they continue to keep vaccinated individuals out of hospitals.
Before the Delta variant emerged, we perceived COVID as a mild illness for young children, making the risk seem manageable. Kids commonly contract various colds, which we accept as part of growing up. Yet, as Delta spreads, its heightened transmissibility has resulted in an increase in pediatric hospitalizations. In many hard-hit areas, pediatric ICU beds are scarce.
Last winter, healthcare professionals feared the dual threat of influenza and COVID overwhelming hospitals. Fortunately, mask-wearing helped us avoid a surge of flu cases. This year, however, with mask mandates lifted in numerous locations, we may face a resurgence of the flu.
Adding to our concerns is the early onset of RSV, a virus that can be life-threatening for children. Each year, approximately 58,000 children under 5 are hospitalized due to RSV infections. My own twins faced this virus in infancy, and although they weren’t hospitalized, we spent years dealing with viral-induced asthma as a consequence. The emotional burden of knowing that RSV may have contributed to their ongoing respiratory issues is heavy.
Now, hospitals are also witnessing a troubling trend of children being admitted with both RSV and COVID-19. The president of the Texas Pediatric Society spoke about the challenges posed by the combination of these two viruses, especially with flu season approaching. With both RSV and COVID-19 present as we enter the new school year, I find myself dreading the start of classes.
Many parents seem eager to discard mask mandates, even for unvaccinated children. Regardless of community expectations, I am grateful for your thoughtful decision-making in these complex times. My children will continue to wear masks, but I understand that their protection is limited if others in their classroom are unmasked. It’s inevitable that a contagious person will eventually be in their midst. We’ve already seen incidents this year, such as a parent sending their COVID-positive child to school in Nevada, potentially exposing numerous individuals.
Even if some students wear masks, the potential for disruptive quarantines raises significant concerns. How can we effectively manage close contact rules in a classroom where compliance is uncertain? Ultimately, while vaccination numbers may determine herd immunity, we must prioritize the well-being of our children.
Let’s work together to ensure our kids have the best possible chance for a full school year in person by implementing indoor mask mandates until younger age groups can access the vaccine. This may not be the most popular decision, but it is undoubtedly the safest for both children and adults.
Thank you for your continued commitment to our schools and our children’s safety.
Summary
This open letter expresses deep concerns regarding the potential return to virtual schooling amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in light of rising cases and the emergence of new variants like Delta. The author emphasizes the importance of safety measures, including mask mandates for unvaccinated children, to ensure that students can remain in school and avoid the detrimental effects of isolation.