This petition is to recognize the citizens of Blair, NE and,  specifically the parents/guardians of students attending Blair Public Schools, who do NOT want their children to be forced to wear a mask at school or while using school transportation. 

The ever changing CDC recommendations have caused great confusion and become over-reaching and unnecessary. The evidence is showing that strict mandates are not necessary for children who are SIGNIFICANTLY less impacted by COVID, especially with other precautions in place and with vaccinations readily available. 

Masks are distracting, especially for small children or those with disabilities or sensory issues. They are problematic for students in music and athletics. Students cannot work to their full potential with their faces covered and breathing inhibited.  Mask usage, especially prolonged,  can potentially contribute to headaches, as well as social issues snd emotional distress. A child that is a bus rider or in an extra curricular activity could be faced with upwards of 10 hours per day of facial obstruction. 
Please give the parents the freedom to CHOOSE what is best for our own children. Adults and teens can be vaccinated. Folks can wear masks of their own accord, but end the mask mandate to give us the freedom of choice our children deserve. 

**Please see the schools/universities COVID stats from South Dakota, where there were no unusual outbreaks and trends followed the low end of the National average despite having zero mask mandate. The same is true for Iowa where many schools opted out of the mandate and yet trends were less than or equal to mask mandates states. 

 Please join us if you would like our district to remove the masks from our children.