If masks are not mandated this fall, the coronavirus will spread quickly through the Southeast Polk community leading us to become yet another hotspot for Covid-19. Currently, the Southeast Polk School Board plans to return to school full time and full capacity with no preventive measures beyond the basics like deep cleaning and the recommendation that students wear masks, all while Covid-19 cases soar to an all-time high. Without requiring students to wear masks(or face shields), every student is at a risk for taking home the virus to his or her family. Masks are worn to protect everyone around the wearer and are therefore status of human decency. With several immunocompromised students at our school (whether Diabetes, Asthma or survivors of cancer), it is vital for the protection of those students that everyone present wears a mask. This is the time for Southeast Polk School Board to show they care about their students and their families, as well as the community by requiring a simple thing like masks. A global pandemic is not the time for us to do the bare minimum.