The purpose of this letter is to surface the voices of parents who wish to support Los Olivos School and its leadership including the Principal and Assistant Superintendent, the Board, and the extraordinary teachers and staff.

It is the mission of Los Olivos School to create a safe and positive learning environment in order to develop the full potential and promote the well-being of all students. The school fulfills this mission through a dedicated partnership of students, families, teachers, staff, administrators, the school board, and the wonderful Los Olivos community.

Last year, Los Olivos School was able to provide relative normalcy in a highly abnormal year. This normalcy was due to many factors such as use of outdoor spaces, a small student body, and clear-cut requirements for social distancing, masking, and symptom monitoring.

With the highly infectious Delta variant circulating, removing masks indoors could be a recipe for disaster. Just one infected child could spread the virus to an entire class, especially in our elementary school where children are not yet vaccinated. This is why both the CDC and the Academy of American Pediatrics strongly recommend masks for unvaccinated children in schools at this point in the pandemic. In addition to both scientific and common-sense recommendations, the state and county have issued requirements for schools.

Last school year, Los Olivos Elementary school proved that kids could go to school and remain safe, even during a global pandemic. Masks worked last school year, and most children adapted well. And part of the reason masks worked well is because all children and staff wore them inside diligently.

In addition to safety, we also desire educational continuity. Masks are part of the equation. According to county guidelines, if an unmasked child tests positive, the rest of the children will be sent home even if they were masked. This unfortunate scenario played out just recently with all of kindergarten, first, and second grades being sent home for 10 days.

We trust Los Olivos School to consider the interests of our students, families, and broader community and maximize the normalcy we all want within the constraints this virus presents us.  

As a community, we place our shared interest over individual belief or ideology. Those of us living here cherish our community not only for what we gain from it, but also what we give. Please add your name to this open letter of support, which will be read at the Los Olivos School board meeting September 13th, and show your support for our school leadership and for putting our Los Olivos community first!