Dear Haywood County School Board and Superintendent Dr. Bill Nolte:

As concerned parents and members of the Haywood County community, we strongly urge you to reconsider your decision to make masks optional in Haywood County Schools.  We all must do our part to protect each other from COVID-19 and an overburdened healthcare system, and wearing masks in school is a proven way to do that.  In fact, with your help, we did it last year!

Part of being a good leader is being able to adapt to change.  You proved that last year, as you deftly went from remote-only, hybrid, to fully in-person with universal masking, all with minimal in-school spread. You listened to the experts, and when many school districts decided to stay remote, you knew that the students, parents, staff, and teachers could come together and keep each other safe.

Now, it's time to be a leader again and adapt to the quickly changing circumstances due to the Delta variant.  It is hard to believe that since you voted to make masks optional on July 27th:

-          COVID-19 cases went from less than ten cases daily to almost 30.

-          Haywood Regional and Mission Hospital COVID admissions have increased five-fold.

-          There was a COVID-19 cluster at the Canton Police Department

-          There was a COVID outbreak at the Haywood County Schools maintenance department

-          Haywood County mandated masks in county facilities

-          Shining Rock, Buncombe County Schools, and Jackson County Schools all decided to make masks mandatory

-          There were several other outbreaks at Haywood County, including in nursing homes

-          A school district in Arkansas has had to quarantine more than 800 students

Wearing masks may be uncomfortable, but if we make them optional, we risk our children and teachers' health and the rest of the Haywood County Community.  We also take the chance that we will have to quarantine large numbers of children, which disrupts their learning and makes it difficult for parents to work and pay their bills.

You have often said that you work closely with the health department.  They have firmly stated that they are in favor of universal masking.  Also, prominent organizations like the CDC, WHO, and AAP have all issued guidance recommending that all students and staff be masked in school at least until pediatric vaccines are available.

Masks will allow schools to remain open, which is what our kids deserve. It will help us keep our healthcare system from becoming overwhelmed, which is what our community needs.  And, it will keep our loved ones healthy, which is what we all want.

It is not too late to reverse course; please make masks mandatory in Haywood County Schools at least until we can get the current surge under control.

Sincerely,

The Parents of Haywood County