We know masking protects children. According to research done by the state of Arkansas during the last semester there was a 25% reduction of COVID cases in schools that had a mask mandate. As parents, students, caregivers, and concerned community members we know the current spike of active COVID cases due to the rapidly spreading and very infectious Omicron variant makes having face to face school a higher risk for many. We also know masking can help reduce the spread and protect students, teachers, staff, and the community when students return to face to face learning. We are asking the PCSSD school board to reinstate the mask mandate until the rate of COVID in the community is greatly reduced. Reinstate the mask mandate and revisit the issue during the 4th 9 weeks.