As DD2 parents, teachers, and staff concerned by the realities of COVID-19 and the lack of mitigation in our schools, we want to see masks required in every school across the district. We urge the DD2 school board to require masks in light of the following:

• DHEC, the CDC, OSHA, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and our own MUSC Pediatrics all advise that schools should require students and staff to wear masks where community spread of COVID-19 is high. 
• Community spread is very high in every SC county, including Dorchester. 
• The Delta variant is more transmissible, carries a higher viral load, and is infecting more children than the original strain of virus. 
• Our local hospitals are FULL, including pediatric intensive care units!
• The spike of infections happening now is comparable (and will likely surpass) to the spike we had in Dec/Jan when DD2 required masks and had additional mitigation in place. 
• Universal masking will mean less transmission, fewer quarantines, and more in-person learning without hoards of staff and students being ordered to stay home. We WANT our kids safely in school and learning without the frequent interruptions of quarantines.
• Dorchester County is requiring masks in all public buildings which should include our schools. 
• DD2 received money from the government to be put toward safe learning, and is required to report on its use of funds. Safety protocols described in the government grant include universal mask mandates.
• CCSD and other school districts across the state have already required universal masking.
• DHEC requires certain vaccinations for school attendance, which our schools abide by. It follows that the school board would abide by DHEC's COVID-19 guidelines as well.
• The majority of DD2 students are too young to be vaccinated. Without masks, they are exceptionally vulnerable to COVID-19. Immuno-compromised and chronically ill students and staff are at even higher risk of severe disease.
• It’s the duty of every public school district to provide a safe and healthy learning environment based on basic standards and guidelines. These standards and guidelines are determined by EXPERTS, not politicians. Any policy that ignores the facts of a deadly global pandemic, the advice of all major national and local health organizations, and the very real health-risk to our students and teachers in public schools is an UNJUST policy that must be fought with action.