Dear NASD Board:

None of the NASD school kids under the age of 12 will be vaccinated before school starts on August 23rd.  Yet, NASD's Back to School Plan does not require that the unvaccinated children continue to wear masks.  Your email sent to NASD parents on July 19, indicates that the Back to School Plan reflects updated guidance, but it actually contradicts guidance issued by: (1) the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), (2) the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and (3) the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE).  See links below for actual guidance requiring masks.

The CDC is steadfast in its recommendation that masking for unvaccinated individuals should continue. The AAP also "strongly recommends the universal use of face masks in schools for adults and for all children older than 2 years.” Additionally, the PDE, also issued guidance to schools to continue the use of masks. These are the current guidance for school age children under 12.

Discontinuation of masking in NASD schools for children under 12 at this point shows willful disregard of expert medical and public health opinion and frankly may open up the possibility of litigation against NASD.

The CDC recently adjusted their guidelines to recommend that children who are wearing masks around other children wearing masks do NOT need to quarantine even if they are close contacts with someone diagnosed with COVID-19. These adjusted guidelines highlight how kids who wear masks in school, would not interrupt learning even if someone should become sick.  While children are less sensitive to COVID-19, some are still susceptible to getting sick, morbidity and death.  

Masking is simple to do, safe, and a cheap and not so burdensome intervention that could save lives and bring this school year to as close to normal as possible in light of the fact that vaccines are still not available for our children. Wearing masks would not only assist in preventing our children from getting sick, but also in assisting NASD from exposing itself to liability from a family whose child was exposed to COVID-19 at school because of the Back to School Plan.

Furthermore, lack of universal mask mandate in NASD elementary schools: (a) creates additional risk exposure that is easy to prevent; (b) could lead to bullying incidents where kids without masks bully kids with masks to remove them, and: (c) children who do not mask could cause disruption in learning continuity by putting other children at risk for illness and for quarantine.

We strongly urge you to reconsider the Back to School Plan as it contradicts guidance from the CDC, AAP and DEP with respect to mask requirements for all school children under 12 and anyone unvaccinated until vaccines are readily available to be fully vaccinated. This change in the Back to School Plan would strictly minimize exposure of COVID-19 and would limit school disruption. Mask wearing is easy, cheap and a minimally burdensome requirement which would keep our children as healthy as possible and avoid school disruption.

Thank you for your reconsideration of this very important, yet easy safety protocol.

Signed, the following parents of NASD school children.

Resources:

(1) https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/k-12-guidance.html

(2) https://services.aap.org/en/pages/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-infections/clinical-guidance/cloth-face-coverings/

(3) https://www.education.pa.gov/Schools/safeschools/emergencyplanning/COVID-19/SchoolReopeningGuidance/ReopeningPreKto12/CDCGuidanceInformation/Pages/default.aspx?fbclid=IwAR2eHgTj39FD2_ZzYasWEbnCjrW6b06mFgO7n7hUF1rbCwc-Mb0PNJvBchE