We demand an emergency meeting of the Garland Independent School District (GISD) Board so that members can hear from the public and allow them to go on record with their stance concerning the need for mask mandates within GISD, as well as a virtual option for all GISD students.

Regardless of Governor Abbott's Executive Order to ban masks in public schools, the students of Garland ISD have a right to attend a safe school by all measures. Texas Statute, Title 2, Subtitle A, Chapter 4, Objective 8 states, "School campuses will maintain a safe and disciplined environment conducive to student learning." With the Covid Delta variant on the rise, the ban on masks creates an unsafe school environment by putting unvaccinated and medically vulnerable students and staff at risk. 

If parents could have stopped any one of the many school shootings in the United States with several weeks' notice, there is no doubt we would have. We have had several weeks notice about the spread of COVID-19 (delta variant), and yet our leaders have chosen inaction rather than seeking input and making a decision informed by both concerned parents and public health officials. An emergency meeting is imperative.

Students need a safe environment to learn in person, as well as an alternative option of virtual learning while COVID cases continue to rise. School staff need to be empowered to keep themselves and their classrooms and offices safe and healthy.

Please sign this petition to support a safe environment for students and staff of GISD.