This petition is in favor of mask choice and equitable access to education for children from K-12 grade in the Santa Cruz County Schools (both public and private).

As of April 2021, according to the CDC, the survival rates for Covid-19 are as follows:

0-17yrs:      99.998%

18-49yrs:    99.95% 

50-64yrs:    99.4%

65+:            91%

There has been absolutely zero cases of child to adult transmission reported. With overwhelming studies showing children are at the lowest risk, masks should at the very least, be a choice for each individual.  Even the language on the CDC website states "Cloth face covers are not protective equipment and do not protect the person wearing a cloth face cover from COVID-19." Children under the age of 19 are not super spreaders. Cloth masks are not even allowed in hospitals because of bacteria and possibly respiratory infections, yet we are requiring our children to wear them for hours.  Plus, our children need oxygen!

Recently, group of parents in Gainesville, FL, sent 6 face masks to a lab at the University of Florida, requesting an analysis of contaminants found on the masks after they had been worn. The resulting report found that five masks were contaminated with bacteria, parasites, and fungi, including three with dangerous pathogenic and pneumonia-causing bacteria. Although the test is capable of detecting viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, only one virus was found on one mask (alcelaphine herpesvirus 1).

The analysis detected the following 11 dangerous pathogens on the masks:

·      Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumonia)

·      Mycobacterium tuberculosis (tuberculosis)

·      Neisseria meningitidis (meningitis, sepsis)

·      Acanthamoeba polyphaga (keratitis and granulomatous amebic encephalitis)

·      Acinetobacter baumanni (pneumonia, blood stream infections, meningitis, UTIs—resistant to antibiotics)

·      Escherichia coli (food poisoning)

·      Borrelia burgdorferi (causes Lyme disease)

·      Corynebacterium diphtheriae (diphtheria)

·      Legionella pneumophila (Legionnaires’ disease)

·      Staphylococcus pyogenes serotype M3 (severe infections—high morbidity        rates)

·      Staphylococcus aureus (meningitis, sepsis)

Half of the masks were contaminated with one or more strains of pneumonia-causing bacteria. One-third were contaminated with one or more strains of meningitis-causing bacteria. One-third were contaminated with dangerous, antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens. In addition, less dangerous pathogens were identified, including pathogens that can cause fever, ulcers, acne, yeast infections, strep throat, periodontal disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and more.

With studies being published discrediting the idea that children are “super spreaders” we are demanding the right to protect our children from the negative effects of masks. All teachers who want to be vaccinated have been given the opportunity to do so, and the CDC has admitted that vaccinated people can be unmasked indoors with no social distancing required. 

The legal coalition who won against the state of California for the arbitrary guidelines preventing children to return from school stated the judge ruled distant education as an inferior way of learning. Offering distant education to a healthy child because he or she will not wear a mask is extremely inequitable.

By signing this petition we are in agreement distance learning is not FULL and EQUAL access with MASK CHOICE. The school is not paying for the electricity, internet, desk space for learning, or office chair, credentialed teacher helping with independent time work. We would then have the right for reimbursement for all of that, if truly equal.

We hope this information and petition signed propels our Santa Cruz County School Districts to advocate for our children. We also know the common "our hands our tied due to CDPH guidelines" response is not sufficient. Also, masking children is CDPH “guidance” and is not a law. When funding is cut due to low enrollment, maybe there will be change. The mental and physical damage that is happening from masking our youth must stop! We simply can’t wait and continue to put our children’s lives at risk!

Lastly, we wish to remind the school board members and county supervisors they are ELECTED officials and can be recalled or voted out of office. Please respect your constituents.

Sincerely,

Concerned Parents of Santa Cruz County Students

 

Below is a list of the elected officials who were voted in to serve OUR best interests.  Let them know how you feel on this issue.

Faris Sabbah (Santa Cruz County Superintendent) 831.466.5600   fsabbah@coe.org

Michelle Rodriguez (PVUSD Superintendent) 831.786.2100  Michelle_Rodriguez@pvusd.net

Kris Munro (Santa Cruz City Schools Superintendent) 831.429.3410 superintendent@sccs.net

Manu Koenig (District 1 Supervisor) 831.454.2200 manu.koenig@santacruzcounty.us

Zach Friend (District 2 Supervisor) 831.454.2200 zach.friend@santacruzcounty.us

Ryan Coonerty (District 3 Supervisor) 831.454.2200 ryan.coonerty@santacruzcounty.us

Greg Caput (District 4 Supervisor) 831.454.2200 greg.caput@santacruzcounty.us

Bruce McPherson (District 5 Supervisor) 831.454.2200  bruce.mcpherson@santacruzcounty@us

Gail Newel  (County Health Officer) 831.454.4476 Gail.Newel@santacruzcounty.us

Jennifer Holm (PVUSD Trustee)  jennifer_holm@pvusd.net 

Jennifer Schacher (PVUSD Trustee) jennifer_schacher@pvusd.net

Kim De Serpa (PVUSD Trustee)  Kim_DeSerpa@pvusd.net 

Georgia Acosta (PVUSD Trustee) trusteeacosta@gmail.com

Oscar Soto (PVUSD Trustee)  oscar_soto@pvusd.net

Daniel Dodge (PVUSD Trustee)  daniel_dodge@pvusd.net

Maria Orozco (PVUSD Trustee)  maria_orozco@pvusd.net

Claudia Vestal (SCCS Trustee) cvestal@sccs.net

Deborah Tracy-Proulx (SCCS Trustee) dtracyproulx@sccs.net

Shelia Coonerty (SCCS Trustee) scoonerty@sccs.net

John Owen (SCCS Trustee) johnowen@sccs.net

Cindy Ranii (SCCS Trustee) cranii@sccs.net

Jeremy Shonick (SCCS Trustee) jshonick@sccs.net

Patricia Threet (SCCS Trustee) pthreet@sccs.net